A 2:10 min compilation of what seems to be the most important scenes from a TV sequel called “Lost” - no wonder if they only use one word. What?
BTW - who’s going do the more appropriate Where? version…
Click on the image below for the link (multimedia)
Jules says: “…Say What One More Goddamn Time!”
…there’s no pulp in that fiction…
Topics: Humor, TV Series, Video
A decline in courage may be the most striking feature that an outside observer notices in the West today.
The Western world has lost its civic courage, both as a whole and separately, in each country, in each government, in each political party, and, of course, in the United Nations.
Such a decline in courage is particularly noticeable among the ruling and intellectual elites, causing an impression of a loss of courage by the entire society.
Alexander Solzhenitsyn, famous Russian dissident writer, Nobel prize and Templeton Prize winner, Harvard University address (1979)
Companies around the world - in an effort to create communities of users around their products - are picking up social networking approaches at a fast pace.
Earlier this month Segway has started to create a network and communications around their self-balancing scooters, allowing users to communicate, create groups, find like minded people around the world or just in their local area, discuss the latest news and share their experiences.
Like Nike and other consumer good companies, Segway with its Segway Social network is hoping to attract future buyers by providing them a platform where they can meet other users of their products and learn details first hand from within a peer group and not through marketing material or company events.
“Segway Social” will allow to channel and drive further previously user created fan sites that have been used to get together for group gliding or even to organize “Segway Polo” events. But will their platform succeed where others have failed?
Click on the image below for the link
Segway will also use the social site to further position its products as ecologically friendly and their use as an individual answer to climate change and a demonstration “to make a difference”. The Green calculator on the site already points towards that direction. But also those that just feel the rising fuel prices in their pockets are welcomed.
Whatever you think about the usefulness of social media there is one key driving element behind them for enterprises to create social networks or user networks around their products and services: They want to benefit from positive network externalities created by the users and are hoping that these benefits will materialize either in higher prices, increased sales, higher brand value or fortification of their position in the market place. If there is added value arriving with the user group or a product gets cult or increased status in the broader public by such interactions, the co-creation mechanism worked well in the past.
With an unique product like the Segway gliders and their private user groups around the world that in the past have show strong interest and dynamics to interact with each other, there is a good chance for success by providing them tools to do this more easily and on a broader scale.
The question remaining will be if there are already enough Segway users around the world to create the critical mass to get a social platform off the ground - meaning - making it enough interesting for others to participate. It might well be necessary for Segway to provide strong support to make this happen - at least initially.
Companies/Organizations: Segway
Topics: Companies, Social networks, network externalities
Products: Segway Social
The video for British Electropop band Hot Chip’s single “One Pure Thought”. The animation reminds us of pointillism drawings. Great work.
“…Hot Chip return with new single ‘One Pure Thought’ on 5th May, taken from the massively acclaimed album ‘Made in the Dark’ released earlier this year. With it’s infectious melody and frenetic refrain, ‘One Pure Thought’ has quickly become both a standout album track and live favorite…”
Click on the image below for the link (multimedia)
It is indeed an “infectious melody”. More information at the band’s web site. Here is another great video of Hot Chip.
Companies/Organizations: Hot Chip
Places: UK
Topics: Music, Animation, Video
Products: One Pure Thought
We love scooters and more and more people leave their petrol guzzling four wheels at home and again take a scooter, for the drive to the office, around town - or best - just to go for a ride.
With so many new (electrical / hybrid) and more ecologically friendly four stroke scooters coming to the market lets take a look back how it all began. The beautiful Lambrettas from Innocenti or the old Vespas from Piaggio that after the second World War were the only mean of transport available to many Europeans.
By now they have reached cult status, modded or plain original versions parked somewhere most of the times get you into a chat with some people admiring them. You get a happy smile on people’s faces reminding them of great times and a new start in the life of many.
Today you often find scooters prominently placed in advertising for products that have nothing to do with scootering. But for the real thing there are a few clips and videos that bring back the time and let you feel the wind in your hair. Those clips and videos we tried to find and the best ones we have listed below.
Ride on…
Click on the images below for the links
Italian commercial from the 1960’s.
Has a great cheesy retro feeling - weird and funny - in one word : great
(if there’s some interest we’ll post a translation)
Concha Velasco from “El águila de fuego”.
It’s a song from a Spanish musical but how could you better advertize the Vespa scooters than having 7 girls singing and riding vintage Vespas while “doing gymnastics”.
As one commentator put it - a bit like synchronized swimming but on Vespas.
German commercial from 1955 mixing real images with drawings.
Watch the bear turning the crankshaft and people flying around the engine and other parts.
(if there’s some interest we’ll also post a translation for this one)
Not really a vintage ad but it’s so hilarious we had to smuggle it into the list.
One of our absolute favorites. Must watch
Old English Vespa commercials compiled into one clip.
(Female) lifeguards in short no skirts. Driverless Vespa.
Get ahead on a Vespa!
continue reading the story after the jump
A new clip for the WWF to raise awareness about Global Warming. We are shown - with black humor - how people have adapted to the changes in weather patterns and natural disasters.
A couple taking a stroll with their baby during a Hurricane, campers out in the “wilderness” that has become a burning forest and the “good people” still washing their cars on the weekend even while they’re drowning in the flood.
Click on the image below for the link (multimedia - quicktime)
Agency: FCB, Production Company: UNTITLED, Director: Chris Sargent
Note: There are also Flash versions of this clip available here and here
Companies/Organizations: WWF, Untitled Films, FCB
Topics: Global Warming, Climate Change, Non Profit
People: Chris Sargent
A crash test dummy is tired of his job and wants to become a great magician.
“…he quits his job and decides to realize his dream. He succeeds in passing an audition for a very big show. It’s his opening night, his moment of glory…”
Click on the image below for the link (multimedia)
Topics: Animation, Short Film
A selection of our all-time video favorites by Kate Bush available online:
Click on the images below for the links (multimedia)
Babooshka Wuthering heights
Running up that hill The Man with the Child in his Eyes
Two more videos that need to be mentioned: Pete Gabriel & Kate Bush: Don’t Give Up and the hugging version
Topics: Music, Video, Culture
People: Kate Bush
We try to compile a list of things we “stumbled upon” on the web every day. The list might includes things that have been covered in the mainstream press but more likely also things we believe that should get more attention or would never make it to the cover page. Some funny stuff of course as well.
Note: If you don’t agree or do agree or just don’t like our “rants and raves” after each of the topics found, please comment on the post.
Today: 14 interesting things found (so far - 1 update)
US Senator want to spend USD 1 Billion to monitor P2P: on CNet News
from our how-to-waste-the-taxpayers-money dept.
European scientist say growing plants on the moon might be possible: on BBC News
seen as a tool to learn how life adapts to lunar conditions - how about getting this planet in order first - or is there someone wondering about turning the moon into the perfect high security prison.
Eight questions about the human body that kids always asks: on Quazen
there are a few more hard ones to answer - our favorite - do clouds travel faster than the wind.
European scientist develop robots with personality: on Queen Mary University of London
Marvin, how are you today?
UK consumers ripped-off USD 13.2bn a year by unfair treatment: on The Register
You know the standard phrase / cliche for the British plumber: (scratching his face while looking musingly at the device) Hmmm, that’s gonna cost you!
continue reading this post (9 more things) after the jump
On his long journey, intergalactic space trucker Eugene occupies himself with mail-ordering various useless gadgets to support his lazy lifestyle.
steampunks in space
Click on the image below for the link (multimedia)
Directed by: Pieter Engels
Duration: 15:49 min
Topics: Animation, Short Film
People: Pieter Engels
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