January 2012
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How to: Defuse a Google Bomb →
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December 2011
2 posts
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Timing Influences Everything on Facebook →
In my day-to-day as a community manager at Edelman, I often have my head in Facebook. It’s interesting how the medium has such a social element to it, but also simultaneously has strong business power. Here’s something I’ve been thinking about - arguably the most important variable in merging the social and marketing sides of the ‘book.
November 2011
4 posts
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Will Trends in Technology Echo Fashion Life...
The funny thing about trends in fashion is the way we can live through them, get a number of years beyond them, regurgitate it and make what was once inherently uncool very cool.
Take a look at these guys:
The dual-shade spectacles, skinny tie and over-the-top patterned dress shirt scream out hipster to me. In 1984, these guys were meant to scream dweeb in the movie Revenge of the Nerds.
Then...
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Taking a Dive into Bath
I went to see the Roman baths in, you guessed it, Bath.
The baths and temple were a social and religious ground more than 2,000 years ago. The waters were thought to have healing power.
Dr. William Oliver wrote in A Dissertation on the The Bath Waters: ”If they can’t be cured by drinking and bathing here, they will never be cured anywhere.”
This got me wondering: What do we...
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Remembering Veterans
November 11th is a time to reflect on those who served or are currently serving for their country. Each year, it seems the people, stories and issues we reflect on expands.
A number years ago while in journalism school I covered an issue that in a very real way could still be affecting veterans of Canada’s world wars. I’ve since stopped following the issue, but for those who died...
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October 2011
2 posts
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Keep Your Head Up
You never know what you’ll miss when your head’s hanging low.
Ominous ravens watching from a widow’s walk, eerily set against a grey sky.
A spiral staircase fire escape juxtaposed with a modern covered walkway on this seemingly old building.
A rickety weathervane.
Chim-chimini-chimneys on this Victorian timber house.
(Photos taken in Battersea/Clapham Common,...
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July 2011
3 posts
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Keeping Your Love Locked Down
…Takes 3 simple steps:
1) Take him/her to the Pont des Arts bridge, Paris
2) Padlock it up and throw the key into the Seine
3) Enjoy everlasting love
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Seeding Product to the Supper Club
It’s not often that the advertorial content in magazines captures my attention, but Maille (makers of the Dijon mustard currently sitting in my fridge) got me.
Context:
Just last night a friend was telling me about a great new flat she found that had 13 bedrooms. While I debated whether that could actually be classified as a hotel, she told me about its kitchen. The flat/hotel comes with...
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Silent Disco
I went to the St. John’s College Ball at the University of Oxford this past weekend and discovered something awesome.
More than 600 glamourous revellers invaded the centuries-old college to spin in tea cups, jump on an inflated castle, take in a hot air ballon ride, have wine and cheese tastings, drink, gamble and beyond in the most elaborate display of splendor I’ve witnessed.
I was...
June 2011
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An Accidental Experiment with Neo-Luddism
Oh hai there, Tumblr.
Haven’t seen you for a while, and in my out-of-office hours, I haven’t really seen much of the Internet in general.
Love you, miss you, and however unintentionally, I’ve been avoiding you.
Making a trans-Atlantic move to London brought on a number of life changes: new job, new neighbourhood, new routines. Yet somehow I’ve settled into a lifestyle...
October 2010
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September 2010
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A look at cell phones in London
I’ve moved to London for some professional and personal adventure.
While spraying malt vinegar on my fish and chips today, I had some thoughts on the use of mobile phones in this city as my device buzzed from a letting agent’s texts.
Transplanting oneself from a country boasting the most expensive mobile bills in the world to a city with £5 pay-as-you-go phones exposes some stark...
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An old tradition is new again with high tea
A few months ago when my wonderful former colleague Elynn was about to get married, GCI Group hosted a splendid event in her honour.
We had a tea party!
When the office meeting invite came out, we expected cake and perhaps some bubbly. When we walked into the boardroom, we were delighted to see a setup of English bone china tea cups, scones, cream and jam, and a...
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The Evolving Online Egosystem* →
A recent York University study qualified what we’ve all been thinking - when Facebook activity is up, chances are confidence is down.
According to Soraya Mehdizadeh’s study, the more prolific the Facebook activity, the lower they rated on the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the higher in the Narcissism Personality Inventory.
Interesting that, as Brian Solis recently blogged, social...
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Becoming an E-in-C Using Paper.li
We know Gen Y’ers are not traditionalists when it comes to information. For example, while we’re manipulating words to fit into tny txt msgs, the print dictionary market is disappearing. Gen Y’ers are info hungry and hunting, but doing it in different and digital ways.
Print publications have symbiotic websites, with some pubs existing exclusively online (see the online MTV...
August 2010
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Toronto Redhead Summit
Today I had the quirky experience of meeting with my fellow redheads en masse.
I was amongst a group of at least 60 people who responded to an invite to attend the Toronto Redhead Summit. We drank Ginger Beer and discussed our experiences with growing up while standing out.
When the rain continued, we moved into the nearby community centre.
Film editor Gareth C. Scales explained that his...
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July 2010
2 posts
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Cybergrandparents step over the generational... →
Recently, a girlfriend and I discussed how we’d love to read advice columns penned by elders. Relationship advice, particularly, would be much more sound coming from a 60-year married couple in their retirement home.
I saw this article in the Toronto Star about a website that allows elders to do just that - provide life advice to interested younger people. This is an interesting example of...
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Street Promo: A Glimpse into a Gin-Filled Future
Yesterday a colleague and I were walking on Kings Street in Toronto, and a man carrying a crystal ball said he could read our future.
He had a thick Scottish accent and marched as we giggled and tried to figure out if he was a mad man.
He led us right to these guys:
Just our luck, that the crystal ball read free drinks in our future. We got four tickets for a taste of Hendrick’s...
June 2010
3 posts
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G20-Inspired Art
Conflict breeds craft.
So said George Stroumboulopoulos, essentially, in a speech I remember him doing from back in my journalism days. Somebody asked the music aficionado what would happen if a then-relevant major political decision was made, and he drew from musical experience.
Somebody’s going to write a brilliant record, I remember him saying.
In times of major social or political...
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Users Flex Collective Buying Power Online →
I took a look at online communities dedicated to bargain hunting and savings for profectio.com. With daily deal sites and coupon communities, the question “Why would you ever pay full price” can become somewhat of a consumer mantra.
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Capturing Everyday Moments →
Jeff Harris, a Toronto-based photographer, has photographed himself daily since 1999. He shares snapshots of a seemingly average life, but the moments are very intriguing as an outsider.
Hats off to Harris’s approach to the world: he’s found at least one thing each day that makes his experience interesting and unique.
What I thought was most interesting is how he turns the camera on...
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Temporarily Deactivate Facebook Day
Show of hands: who participated in Quit Facebook Day?
About 30,000 people did, according to the latest stats via iTWire.
Now show of hands: how many actually participated in “Temporarily Deactivate Facebook Day?”
I!
And I suspect I’m not alone.
I’ve read numerous stories speaking for and against the social service: It’s free! I can stay in touch with my mom!...
May 2010
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A Look at the downside of instant connecting →
According to this Toronto Sun article, “Students are so hooked on media that abstaining even for a mere 24 hours brings on withdrawal symptoms, similar to those seen in drug and alcohol addiction, a recent study shows.”
Perhaps the technology detox should be a regular part of our lives?
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Stickybits
Following my last update about technology detox, I’ve now returned to Canada, and my connected world.
Hello again Internet, and a special hello to my new Tumblr friends, particularly those I met at the April Tumblr event put on by Randeep Katari. To be honest, I had been wavering on my commitment to this platform (Made You Look may be better suited to Wordpress) but the community around...
April 2010
3 posts
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WatchI sat down with slimy, sass-filled windbag Out is Through (AKA my roomie) to discuss our attachments to technology, and how we’ll fare with a technology detox.
Are you addicted to technology?
Tell me about it!
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Vajazzling the Swarovski Brand
There is an alleged phenomenon going on, involving Swarovski crystals and lady parts. Jennifer Love Hewitt has become a spokesperson (unsure of how official that capacity is) - touting the benefits of decorating downtown to make yourself dazzle.
Of course, this is likely not news to anyone, but some us (case in point,) are still in shock.
This got me thinking about the relationship between this...
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Innovative Ads
I’ve been thinking a lot about advertising lately, particularly after all the attention one of my clients has received around this direct mail piece.
GREY Vancouver developed this portable record player from cardboard, which, when spun with a pencil, actually tells a story called “A town that found its sound.” Having tried my hand at it and learning that indeed, pencil and...
March 2010
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Are Business Cards Becoming Obsolete?
At a recent Third Tuesday Toronto, speaker Mitch Joel concluded his presentation by inviting the audience to get in touch. How? Simply meet his friend Google - the info is all there.
While this speaks to the larger message of the importance of maintaining a personalized digital footprint, it also suggests that our ultra-connected society’s dependence on the Internet is potentially...
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Plea for an Integrated Nike + iPod Running System
Spring’s preview sprung a new running season upon me yesterday.
Unfortunately, this year I’m going solo - the comforting voice of my Nike + iPod is no longer with me after the device broke last fall. (Something about being constantly stepped on?)
I’m now looking for a new running tool.
When Steve Jobs unveiled his latest Nano iPods last fall, I was excited with the prospect...
February 2010
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Those are skin tight. How do you get into those...
They’re called jeggings. Jean leggings. And they’re a great solution for anyone (present company included) who likes the look of skinny jeans, but not the experience of sucking in to do them up, or peeling them off to change.
I recently spotted these at H&M and the Bay. Wonder if this means I won’t be spotting the buckling zipper look anymore?
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Family Tracker App Has Huge Potential
Despite its creepy (and misguided) marketing, the Family Tracker is one of the coolest apps I’ve seen recently.
The App Store description reads:
“Your husband tells you he’s going to be late tonight due to a business meeting. Is he really at the office, or is he having dinner somewhere else? Your wife told you she is going out shopping with her girlfriends at the mall. Is she really...
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Life Mirrors Art for Jennifer Heil
This past September, luxury jewellery store Birks named Canadian freestyle mogul skier Jennifer Heil its ambassador. With the partnership came Heil’s signature all-silver collection, featuring Olympic references in bracelets, necklaces, earrings and rings.
Would the all-silver collection inspire a medal?
As we learned on February 13th, yes, and it seems life mirrored art. Heil won second...
January 2010
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Taking a walk with the Ampelmannchen
Top of mind lately for many Torontonians has been the growing toll of pedestrians killed by motor traffic.
We’re largely a jaywalking society, distracted by headphones and cellphones and gotta-be-there yesterday schedules, so it’s no question that some of these deaths could have been prevented.
If 14 deaths and counting is not enough of a heads-up against oncoming traffic, perhaps we...
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Bites about the Vampire Bar
A couple of weeks ago I tweeted about my curiosity about the vampire bar at Queen and McCaul.
Turns out, the pop-up store that includes IV bags of blood in a cafe setup is a promo for the movie Daybreakers. Unfortunately, I hadn’t heard of the movie until this week when Avatar was sold out in the theatre and it became my second option, so I was a little slow on the uptake.
Now passing by...
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Crazy for Curds
Smoke’s Poutinerie is one of my favourite Toronto businesses, and it’s not just because of my tasty New Year’s Resolution to eat through the menu.
I think owner Ryan Smolkin is a likable guy - I met him at the opening of his newest location at Dundas and Sherbourne in September. I think his likability helps inform the rest of his business strategy, too. When I met him a stripper...
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December 2009
3 posts
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