iPhone Films, Tree Art Transporation & A Diaspora

An iPhone Film, Tree Art Transportation and a Diaspora....What do these things all have in common?

Kickstarter a website that helps funds creative projects.

Flip through the projects and get inspired. Maybe even fund one or two and you could end up with a profile on IMDB (I'm miscellaneous crew) like i did when i contributed to a film a couple years ago!

ps. for anyone who was following our start-up Oponia, Diaspora is exactly the same product. Start up lesson number 245, timing is everything ;)

How To Get A Writing Gig With The Globe & Mail? Write A Blog First

I kept meaning to blog about my friend Jeremy Bell's blog 360 Winnett Ave. Jeremy by trade is a digital Creative Director, but has a particular love of architecture. When he and his wife Jessica decided to build a new home, not only did they decide to go the eco friendly route but they also decided to start a blog and document the entire process.

Since that time, I've completely enjoyed following along with the trials, tribulations and eco design choices Jeremy and Jessica have been making...and apparently, so has the Globe and Mail. Jeremey twittered this morning that his first of a five part series of articles on his project has appeared on the Globe & Mail Website.

For any aspiring journalists and writers out there, this is the way to do it. Create interesting content on your own and the opportunities will come.

Congrats Jeremy & Jess!

My New Gig: Twist & Shout

Mitch used 'Let's Twist Again' so i had to find me a new song metaphor.

Those who are linkedin to me probably noticed that I changed jobs to be the Managing Director of the newly opened Twist Image office in Toronto. Sometimes an opportunity comes up that no matter what, ya just can't pass up. Twist Image is one of those. As someone once said to me, if a rocket ship is about to take off, get on. And that's what I've done.

So i got a bunch of emails from people - what's a Twist?

Some people know of Twist from Mitch Joel. Hey just read his bio. Everyone should strive to have a bio like Mitch's. He and I had been on a panel a while back and I thought he was super smart but I wasn't sure how he'd be to work with. Firstly, we had such a fun interview. I loved him. He's totally humble and doesn't have one of those manly agency egos (you know what I'm talking about). Having worked with him for a while now, is a truly smart street savvy marketer who is a privilege to be working with.

Alongside Mitch is an incredible team. Mark Goodman, CEO who is formerly the founder and long time President of FCB brings his sharp business mind to the group. Then there's Mickael Kanfi ECD whose multimarketing skills in 3D animation, video and audio production as well as digital skills make him one of the most diverse CD's I've ever worked with. And finally Aubrey Rosenhek, Managing Director who brings a creative spirit to actually getting things done on time on budget but with the care that is required to ensure the quality of the product not just the profitability of it. (run on sentences must mean i'm excited).

For the Toronto office, we don't have furniture yet (it's coming!) but we have brought in the incredible and unique talent of Virginia Magaletta who worked with me years ago at the agency formerly known as Maclaren McCann Interactive. It's rare in digital to find someone who is both conceptual and understands brand but is also great at design and building a team. Virginia has it all and then some.

As well we are in the middle of hiring a whole host of staff including Account Directors, Account Executives, IA, Art Directors, Designers and Writers. Already we are getting some of the best. You'd be amazed how many people, particularly those that have been around for a while, who are ready to come on this new journey with us.

I've blithered enough. Won't say too much more. We will be having a more official announcement and office kick off after the summer once we've got the core staff in place.

Testing Disqus Integration

Couldn't add Disqus until my rating was above 1.
Now to see if it works.....

Ok appears as if comments aren't showing up at all for new posts (no really, click on the link that says comments and watch comments magically disappear)

Have sent a note to support at Disqus. I'm sure they'll help me fix it.

Blogger. Nothing is ever simple.

:)

Update: Apparently there is an issue with Blogger. Daniel Ha of Disqus is trying to help so we'll see. I hate having to integrate things with my blog. Every time i sit here in fear that i will accidentally destroy the whole thing. I think there is a new blog post idea in here somewhere.

Update 2: Ok, got a new template from Daniel. Let's see if this works! Fingers crossed....

Heroic efforts from Mr. Ha finally got it working. Yeah! Welcome Disqus to my blog.

The First Paragraph Of My Novel

Nicely abstracted by our friends at Wordle

Wikinomics Panel On Thursday

I will be on a blogging panel (does this make me a "blooger?") on Thursday hosted by Mike Dover of nGenera Research (formerly New Paradigm Research)

Check out the post on the Wikinomics blog where you can get links to the other great panelists joining me.

My Top Ten Thoughts When "Techmemed"

I find it funny to constantly read blog posts about people who are actively trying to get traffic to their blogs, wonder how they can get on to the Techmeme 100 list and/or become the next Louis Gray.

The few times I've been "Techmemed" or been in the coveted "pile on" conversation, my thoughts are less, "Yah, I"m getting blog traffic!" and more something like this...

1. Gee I wish I had more than 5 minutes to write my blog posts
2. I should consider doing grammar checks before hitting the button publish
3. I wish I could spell
4. I hope someone somewhere didn't say this exact thing somewhere else
5. I hope no one says anything mean
6. I hope I don't get mocked by someone I admire
7. I hope no one reads that 'other' post I wrote the other day which in retrospect was stupid and really poorly written
8. I wish I had called my blog something other than Leigh's Blitherings
9. I wish I had called my blog something other than Leigh's Blitherings
10. I wish I had called my blog something other than Leigh's Blitherings

Don't I Know You? Oh Wait, Your Maggie Gyllenhaal

I'm in the airport in NY and as I was walking along, I saw this woman walking who I almost went and stopped because I was SURE that i knew her. Luckily for her she was eyes focussed forward chit chatting to her baby on her chest so I didn't bother.

As I was walking away and I was trying to think where i knew her from - the lightbulb - Doh - it was Maggie G. It's amazing to me how much media has permeated our lives. The 24/7 always on network changes my perception and affects the lenses with which I see people. It's just like I know her. (just like it really!)

I'm just glad I didn't make a complete arse of myself and actually stop her. Didn't I go to high school with you? That'd be a capital "L" for loser.

Boycott CNN: Or Why I Will No Longer Watch CNN

Pass it on.

In his post about his firing from CNN for apparently blogging the wrong opinions. Chez quotes Henry Rollins - I'll just put that here and encourage everyone to read the full post.

"Henry Rollins saying these words: "All it takes is one person to stand up and say 'fuck this.'"

New Product Idea: Blogger Trading Post

I recently contacted some 'blogger friends' (that means i haven't met them in person but know them intimately through comments and other virtual networks of social ability) about getting some research in the various markets where they live.

I mean after all, it's one thing for me to find research, it's another to get it filtered by people who actually live and work in the country I'm researching. Got me to thinking about the notion of blog trading. You know, a little bit of you give me some tech trends in SE Asia and, I'll send you some cultural changes about families in North America.

What do you think?


photocredit: www.nau.edu/library/speccoll/exhibits/traders/

Your Life In Six Words Or Less

Nice simple idea.

Via Only Dead Fish Blog, Larry Smith, Editor of Smith, the US based online magazine,has set up a collaborative project which invited people to write their life story in just six words.

Some featured stories include:

this place is getting borderline crowded
- Lopaka

Married with children (and second thoughts).
- With Held

Like Charlie Brown, not as popular.
- Paul J

And here's a classic

Sold the saxophone. Got a computer.
- Ken H

I'll have to think on that one and come up with one of my own

(if i did it right now it'd be "to tired to think about it")

Note To Self

I was looking at my posts as of late, and I seem a bit frustrated don't I? I'm actually not. I think it's just a lot of exciting things going on - ripping down old models, building new ones and finding like minded people all over the place in all manner of agencies, companies and consultancies. I'm feeling a bit evangelical about the entire thing. And it's nice to see so many interested people challenging their ideas not only on what's going on in the market but how to adopt and adapt to it.

Note to self, less frustration, more excitement.

:)

Calm Before The Storm

We woke up this morning to what they are saying is only the beginning. Four cm have fallen in two hours. Looks like we're going to have a white xmas. That's going to make for one happy husky.

Looking For Some Desktop Tagging Help

Anyone know of any products that allow you to tag documents on your desktop that can then be searched by spotlight? I am having a helluva time saving my myriads of research for future retrieval.

Suggestions?

Game Over Documentary on CBC Tonight

Sara Marino a close friend of my brother's and his wife Nancy, has produced a documentary on the Nature of Things with David Suzuki called Game Over about conservation in Kenya.

It's on at 8pm tonight on CBC. Be sure to check it out.

Quote Of The Week

On discussing a trend that we see happening on the Web, my friend Bryce said

"Well, historically speaking - and by historical I of course mean, in the past month…"

Of course. :)

Hans Rosling Video From Ted - Brilliant

Peter showed me this tonight. You have to make sure to watch up at least until Dr. Rosling starts showing the global changes in population from 1962 until present day. Simply brilliant.

(i can't get the video to work in the posting so make sure you go to the url and watch it!)

Whose Got The Monopoly Money Now!

After years of apologising for the Canadian dollar...our time has come.

Thought Of The Day

Technology sometimes makes me feel like I am in kindergarten and I can't get my crayons to work.

There's Something About Gimpie

I knew there was something I liked about Gimpie Australia where we spent a couple weeks of our holiday visiting Peter's family. Found in the headlines of the Gimpie Times.

Too few cared to fight drug abuse

12.09.2007

GYMPIE anti-drug volunteers were forced to return a major grant because too few people cared enough to make the system work, Gympie MP David Gibson said yesterday.....read full story

Now if only we could get a correspondent from the Daily Show to go and have a visit to put a deeper context to this obviously important story about democracy in action.