Just another WordPress site
I have chosen a site to be dubbed the world’s coolest. As you can imagine, it wasn’t an easy decision. There are thousands of sites that have cool videos or photos or whatever. But there is one site that showcases everything cool – from design and architecture to gadgets and food. It’s called, appropriately, The Cool Hunter. The cool Ads section features unique, unusual and creative ideas from around the world. It’s worth a bookmark and a weekly visit.
http://www.thecoolhunter.net/ads
While I was out of town this past weekend visiting a friend, he took me to a local restaurant that he claimed had “the best” deep-fried cauliflower I would ever eat. I tried it, and sure enough it was probably the best I had ever eaten. Then I thought to myself, “Self, what are some things you have tried over the years that you would consider to be “the best”?
I decided to share with you some recommendations over the next few months that I would call “Bobbo’s Best.”
One little letter is all that separates stationary and stationery, two words with the same pronunciation but very different meanings.
Stationary is an adjective that means not moving:
Because Max knew the pyramids of Egypt to be stationary, he realized he was hallucinating.
The Bride of Frankenstein will not be roaming the village today, for she has pledged to remain stationary.
To reduce the need to repair potholes, the city bought a fleet of stationary buses.
Stationery is a noun that means writing materials:
I make a certain impression when I write letters using My Little Pony stationery.
What stationery would you recommend for death threats and ransom notes?
The epistolary outdoorsman hiked into the wilderness with only his backpack, canteen, hunting knife and vellum stationery.
Mnemonic device: When you’re referring to letter and paper, match the er in those words with the er in stationery.
Wondering what to do with those millions you just won from the lottery? Could I interest you in your own Caribbean island? Yep. For a mere $25,000,000 you could own a 225-acre paradise near the Fiji islands. White sand beaches, 9-hole executive golf course, runway, private villas. Think of the parties you could throw. Think of all the new friends you would make. Think how jealous your neighbors would be. What’s my point, you ask? I think it’s good to dream once in a while. It’s good for the soul. It stretches the imagination and enhances creativity. If you’d like to visit my future island, go to:
http://www.privateislandsonline.com/katafanga-island-fiji.htm
Yesterday, I saw a preview for Hollywood’s latest alien invasion epic, Skyline. There’s a scene near the end of this trailer which shows what appears to be giant extraterrestrial Shop Vacs literally sucking millions of humans off the planet.
For some reason, this particular image impressed on me the utter stupidity of the whole idea of alien invasions, alien abductions … or alien canasta tournaments for that matter. Think about it. What could advanced beings of any type possibly want with this planet?
Our Natural Resources — Fat chance. What would any civilization that has mastered the almost-impossible logistics of intergalactic space travel want with wood, coal and petrochemicals? Hell, one good look at the Gulf of Mexico from space would send any sensible alien running for the moist towelettes.
Our Culture – You mean Jersey Shore, Lady Gaga, Bridezillas, Paris Hilton and Saw 4? Try again.
Our Bodies – Over 50% of U.S. citizens are severely obese. Aliens could probe us for weeks and not find anything.
Starbucks’ Mocha Frappuccinos – OK, I’ll give you this one.
Football season is my favorite time of the year. And one of the best parts about football season is playing fantasy football. Now I don’t get too caught up in player rankings and draft strategies. I would rather spend my time doing something productive. Like coming up with the best team name in my fantasy league. So here’s some quick tips to make sure your team name doesn’t suck – even if your team does.
DO be original. Anyone can Google search “Funny Fantasy Football Names.” Respect is something that is earned (so I’m told). People respect originality.
DON’T be lame. Ted’s All-Stars or Omaha Huskers is neither original nor awesome. Even if you’re “not creative”, you can always steal a lyric from your favorite song by the Eagles.
DO embrace pop culture. Movies, VH1 celebreality shows, music. It’s all fair game. And thanks to Twitter and TMZ, we know everything about players and celebrities so you should have no trouble finding inspiration.
DON’T try too hard. Everyone thinks they’re a comedian. Some people are. Most people aren’t. If you have to explain your team name, it probably sucks.
DO be corny. Puns are not only acceptable, they’re encouraged. Is your favorite player Chiefs rookie Eric Berry? How ’bout The Eric Dingleberrys?
DON’T be offensive. This is actually a DO in my league. Just make sure you know your audience. If you’re playing with your buddies, nothing should be off limits. Your father-in-law? Might wanna steer clear from sexual innuendo.
Think you got a good one? Leave me your ideas in the comments and maybe (just maybe) I will rename my team to the best one.
I have been watching the new series on Bravo TV called “Work of Art — The Next Great Artist,” and I am really amazed but often disappointed in some of the artists’ work. I admit the show comes up with some very difficult challenges for the artists, but that’s what makes it so compelling. I also try to imagine how I would handle the projects if I were in their shoes. It is interesting to watch the artists concept each project and come up with the end result.
The show is down to the final three contestants, and of course most of the artists I thought were deserving of the title Next Great Artist have been eliminated. Not sure where the show got these judges, but I usually disagree with all of them. The front-runner is the artist Miles, whom the judges seem to really favor. He could puke on a plate and they would think it is absolute “genius”! What bothers me most about him is that the artists are given a certain subject matter for the week, and oftentimes Miles disregards the theme and does what he wants. To make matters worse, the judges don’t seem to care. I admit the guy can be creative, but most of his art I would never consider viewing in an art gallery, much less buying one of his pieces of crap … errr … art.
There is only one artist left in the competition who I feel deserves the title of “The Next Great Artist.” Abdi is by far my personal favorite. Most of his art is very creative, inspiring and visually interesting (see image below).
To find out more about this series and to view some of the artists work, visit http://www.bravotv.com/work-of-art
Don’t mix up principal and principle. They sound the same but have different meanings.
Principal can be an adjective for a person or thing meaning first in importance, rank, worth or degree:
The principal export of Chuck Norris is pain.
My principal problem right now is the zombies on my front porch.
Principal also can be a noun, meaning a person who holds a presiding rank, especially in a school:
My high school principal was voted the third ugliest drag queen in New Orleans.
Her uncle is a principal in Amalgamated Graphic Novels Inc.
Principal can also mean the money owed in a debt on which interest is figured:
The loan shark will break my arm if I don’t pay the interest and my leg if I don’t pay the principal.
You must pay eleventy percent interest on your principal of half a gazillion.
Principle means a basic truth or law:
My attorney assured me it was all about the money, not the principle of the thing.
Despite years of disappointment, we support the principle of Groundhog Day.
Principled is the adjective form:
As the world’s most principled plumber, Alfred never took a leak.
You must admit he is a principled collector of Dan Quayle memorabilia.
I love people who swing for the fences. People who put it all on the line for an idea — even if that idea has some serious kinks. If I had to make a list of such fence swingers, it would include Jonas Salk, Andy Warhol, M. Night Shyamalan, Ron Popeil, the rock group Kiss, Steve Jobs … and at the top of the list, an obscure architect from the 1960s and 1970s named Paul Rudolph.
Although he was never as famous as Frank Lloyd Wright, Paul Rudolph was just as talented and five times as crazy. He designed buildings that were bizarre, complex, confusing, inexplicable … but never EVER boring. He once designed a mental hospital with a staircase that lead to nowhere, a courthouse with 87 roofs, a New York townhouse with a balcony off the bathroom, and my favorite, a condominium tower in Singapore that looks like it was built with Legos. The next time you need some creative inspiration, go to the Flickr group called “The Art and Architecture of Paul Rudolph” and look at photos of some of his incredible buildings.
In the early 1950s, Rudolph experimented with sprayed-on asbestos in many of his commissions. Sadly, this lead to his death in 1997 of mesothelioma, the lung cancer caused by inhaling asbestos. The crazy, brilliant architect spent his last years in his 17-level plexiglass penthouse in Manhattan (which, incidentally, featured a see-through bathtub).
So why is this guy my hero? Because in his eyes, creativity came first and everything else came second. Rudolph was always sure of his vision and hated when people tried to suggest any changes to it, or worse yet, tried to collaborate with him. My favorite Paul Rudolph quote is “Architecture is a personal effort, and the fewer people coming between you and your work the better.” I love this line … especially since you can substitute anything for the word “architecture.”
Over the years, I have interviewed dozens of college graduates looking for a job in advertising. Maybe I’m too picky, but it seems like the pool of ideal candidates has all but dried up. Recently I interviewed a person who didn’t even bring a resume or portfolio. They just wanted a job in advertising. So I started thinking - what do I want out of a prospective new hire at SKAR?
I want someone who didn’t get straight A’s in college.
I want someone who has struggled and worked three jobs to get through school.
I want someone who makes me laugh out loud.
I want someone who has some kind of musical background.
I want someone who has a passion for advertising and would sell his/her soul to get a crack at working at my agency. Not just any agency – SKAR. And they better be able to tell me why.
They also better be able to name at least three of our current clients.
And for God’s sake, they better not tell me they don’t care where they work in the agency. I want someone who will turn down $50, 000 to be in account service so they could take a minimum wage job as a copywriter.
I want someone who has joined the local ad club.
I want someone who is hungry to do great work and try new things.
I want someone who will go to the monster truck show or opera with equal enthusiasm.
I want someone who can come up with ideas so bizarre, they border on psychotic.
I want someone who has several hobbies.
I want someone who can quote David Ogilvy and Leo Burnett.
I want someone who will come in to work on the weekend without telling me they came in to work on the weekend.
I want someone who plays well with others at the agency.
I want someone who has a portfolio filled with stuff they created on their own – outside of school.
That’s what I want. Is that too much to ask?
follow: RSS
