Pecha Kucha Vol. 5 - Fresno

This week was a big week for me as I FINALLY presented at a Pecha Kucha event here in Fresno.

I have had some ideas in the past as to what I would present if I ever decided to do so, so I finally decided to share some of my passion with the people of Fresno.

Watch my presentation here, thanks to James for putting this video together!

I think my presentation went well. I got a lot of compliments, and a fairly boisterous applause at the end (although I think I am attributing that to the 10-20 friends in the audience). My height was a disadvantage during the presentation, as I was probably the tallest presenter, and the mic was a little short (and I didn't bother raising it up). But overall I am very glad I presented, and I am looking forward to the the next time I can present.

What is 230?

If you've watched TV recently, you may have seen this commercial.

It's one of the simplest commercials, or rather teaser commercials I've seen. It just has a winking power outlet that makes the zero in the number 230, and 8-11 below it. The background of the commercial is green, which emotes an environmentally friendly theme.



This article from Advertising Age has some insights, but mostly just guesses. However, the Internet community is fairly certain that this commercial is being run by GM, which narrows the guesses down quite substantially.

One idea that the entire US electrical grid is going to be converted from 120 volts to 230 is probably the least likely of them all. This kind of change would require an act of congress (I'm quite sure) and the government wouldn't spend money on teaser commercials for a switch like that. Did you see any teaser commercials for the switch to Digital TV broadcast? So a big change like this would be in the news while still in the bill stages in congress.

As far as marketing strategy I think it's a good technique to use on GMs behalf. It's creating mystery, and people are spending time trying to find out what it is. One aspect that is different in this case is that the commercial does not even include a website to go to. With a search on Google of "230 8 11" the top sponsored link is the Official Website, which has only slightly more information than the commercial. The website includes a flickr photostream and a twitter link that will allow you to twitter "I spotted 230. #whatis230". This strategy of not including a website address makes people a little more interested in what it is and forces these people to go out and search for it, rather than just type in an address in their browser.

When people take more initiative and time researching your marketing, then it's going to stay with them that much longer.

The biggest thing you have to watch out for is that people don't get too frustrated and just forget about it completely.

Alice in Wonderland

In case you haven't seen the trailer for Tim Burton's new film Alice in Wonderland or for that matter heard about it coming out, check it out below. I think it is going to be really great.

Virtuality

It is a very long time coming, but I said I would blog on this and here it is.

Within the last few weeks I watched a feature film/show on Hulu from Fox called Virtuality. Unfortunately the show is no longer available on Hulu, so you'll have to wait until they might post it again.

Virtuality is basically a science fiction set in the future when the Earth is quickly becoming uninhabitable and a crew of scientists are sent into space to explore a nearby star system. The two things that make this show unique is that the lives and experiences of the crew is being video taped and sent back to earth as a reality TV show, and the ship is fitted with a virtuality reality system to occupy the crew's time and keep them sane. Both of these two aspects of the show seem to be adding the conflict, keeping it from being boring.

I liked the show a lot, and I hope Fox (or someone) picks it up. I think it has potential to be really good, and I liked the acting so far.

Wine for the Confused

After work last night I fired up Hulu and watched one of the videos in my queue. I got home at 11:45pm, so I didn't want to watch a full 2-hour movie, and I'm caught up on all my shows, so I found the shortest video in my queue. Wine for the Confused narrated by comedian John Cleese.

I don't consider myself a completely unaware about wine, as I've been wine tasting a number of times throughout California and even in Washington, but I'm by no means at the top of my game. The two things that have been the most helpful in enjoy wine are the wine tasting class I took at Fresno State University, and the numerous wine tasting trips I've taken where you can just chat with the people at the winery/tasting room and sometimes even the wine makers. I do enjoy wine and I am ever increasingly learning about wine and finding out what I enjoy and what goes well with what.

When I saw this show/film on Hulu I thought I might enjoy it because it is about wine and is narrated by a great comedian.

I was not disappointed. If you have about 43 minutes, I strongly recommend watching it. Cleese goes through such topics as wine tasting basics (flavors, smells, etc.), 3 red grapes/wines, 3 white grapes/wines, choosing a wine, price of a wine, and serving wine.

Jump Rope Dance Routine

Quite possibly one of the best choreographed routines I have seen in a while.



http://soonereyo.blip.tv/#1826380

It just keeps getting better and better, and by the end you are wondering if there is not some CG trick to it.

Thanks to Sean for emailing this to me.

Eating Challenge

While I have been involved in numerous unofficial eating challenges by my friends, I've never done a real eating challenge at a restaurant. It has always intrigued me, because I can eat a lot of food very quickly. I think I could do very well, especially at a contest like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtMhPZpmL0Y&feature=player_embedded

The burger doesn't look that big, and ten minutes is a long time for me when it comes to eating. The description of the contest is at 3:35 of the video. The other great thing is that this is local, so I don't have to travel outside of Fresno to participate.

Anybody want to join me?

From The Guys Who Like To Eat Via Mike Oz at the Beehive

"Oldish" Fresno Retail

Here is a video showing retail stores in Fresno, CA from probably 15+ years ago, although I don't have a good idea as to when it is from. I enjoyed this video. I have only lived in Fresno (and area) for around 7 years, so a lot of the stores on this video are different than what they are now. I also like to see the evolution of retail, and shops like that.

This video is a little more than 10 minutes, and is a little painfully slow. It also has a very strange soundtrack, but I hope you enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_qIcyRg1Rc&e

Via The Fresnan

Chicken Heads

Watch this very interesting video showing the phenomenon of how chickens keep their head almost perfectly still no matter what happens to their body.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dPlkFPowCc

This reminds me of when you look at your eyes in a mirror and start moving your head side to side and nodding up and down while keeping eye contact with yourself.

Via BoingBoing

A Political Jesus

I came across this video the other day and found it to be VERY provocative and challenging. It is basically a satirical political attack ad aimed at Jesus. I encourage you to watch, but make sure you have a sense of humor and an open mind (you may take offense to it if you don't understand/appreciate satire).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ1L4eeu5KI


I love satire, and I think this video does a decent job of bringing to light some of the things Jesus actually does stand for, but obviously does it in a satirical matter. There are only a couple of parts which I disagree with (a big one being the fade away to Osama bin Laden).

What do you think of it?

(Via estewartartist)

MultiTouch Cell

From a Finnish company MultiTouch, check out this new, scalable, multi-touch display.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur2qKbtapnc

Looks pretty sweet, but I'm sure not very affordable at this point.

Via Josh Spear

Bird Poop

People and organizations often don't move even though they know the situation is not good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzjLlqIuVhI

Via Vertizontal

Presidential Campaigns and Jingles

What would happen if more campaigns used catchy jingles like this?

http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1960/jingle

Via kottke.org

Yakety Sax

I guess I had always known, but I did not fully realize the implications until today.

Almost anything, put to the music of Benny Hill (Yakety Sax by Boots Randolph), is hilarious.

Case in point

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMO8Pyi3UpY

Xeni Jardin's post on Boing Boing lists some other videos with the same music that prove this point. I'm just not too sure I agree with the landmines one...

Dark Story 2 or Toy Knight 2

Here's a mashup of the Dark Knight movie trailer with Toy Story 2. It's pretty clever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QFWBFIEuig

Via Kottke.org

Classic Sesame Street

Since the economy and a lot of things in our world aren't going so well right now, I thought I would introduce a little happiness by sharing some classic Sesame Street skits.

Here are a few of my favorites:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4VNMERVsC4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhUFxaauNTE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8IfCSnYPYo

Honorable mentions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG-0_p_yefg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvTFv5xJUQc

If you don't crack even a small smile from watching these you probably have some issues for which you should get help.

Got any other favorite Sesame Street videos?

Stop Motion Aging

This guy created a stop-motion type video of himself aging by taking two different pictures of his head every day for the last 17 years. I think it is really interesting especially to watch his hair styles and facial hair change as time goes on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd4f2xeKg08


Via Hack a Day

The Opposite of Helium

Everyone knows what happens when you inhale helium and then start talking, but did you know there is a gas that can cause the opposite to happen?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-XbjFn3aqE

Via BoingBoing

New Target Commercial

As is definitely expected, I pay a lot of attention to marketing from Target Corp.

This week they released a commercial that strays from their "normal" routine of advertising. A commercial first broadcast on Sunday uses price points in the advertisement. This is the first time Target has done that in quite some time.

Here is the commercial.

When I first heard this commercial would be coming out, and that Target would be using price points, I was a little worried. I am under the strong conviction that marketing on price alone is a bad idea. Seth Godin is a big believer in this, and it is one of the biggest lessons my Dad has given me over the years. The idea is that people will buy your product or service if it is the cheapest, however, theoretically someone will always be able to go cheaper, so there is little point in trying to market on that angle.

My first thoughts as to what this price point commercial advertising might entail looked something like this. I thought the commercial would be something where price would be the focus and they would be stepping away from the really artsy, fun commercials with good music we are used to.

Fortunately when I actually saw the commercial, I was pleasantly surprised. The commercials are quite similar to what they've been in the recent past, with scenes focusing on a certain product or two, the biggest difference is the specific price points for the items.

What is your take on this new commercial and new direction from Target?

All Foam and No Beer

Watch this video of a guy who looks like he is trying to win the fight before it even gets started by showing off and intimidation. It doesn't work.