livingbrands

A gorilla drumming (UPDATED)

The latest bit of creative genius from the man who brought us Sony Bravia Balls.

Or a steaming heap of poo that slipped under the radar emperor's new clothes style from the man who brought us Sony Bravia Balls.

You decide.

Personally, I know where I stand on what looks to me like 90 seconds of profligate nonsense which has nothing to do with Dairy Milk (it's not even featured), and needs a start and end frame to tell you what the brand is and what the idea is (and even then it's tenuous at best). But it's technically outstanding, I'll admit.

Maybe I'm just a bit old fashioned, and will be proved wrong when everyone starts raving about it. No changing my mind now though! Ah, the dangers of blogging.

UPDATE

It seems I really am in a minority of one on this, judging from all the other posts I'm reading. However, I have made my bed and, as they say, I will have to lie in it!!

A planner joke

Heard Irish poet, mystic and ex-Catholic priest John O'Donohue speak at the weekend.

Very good. And he even included a great joke for planners (and others as well obviously).

Rene Descartes goes into the pub and orders a beer. As he's knocking back the last drop, the bar man asks, "Mr Descartes, can I get you another?". "I think not" says Descartes and, poof, he disappears.

More meat

It's always nice when a client rewards success work by giving you some more brands to work on.

Without a pitch!

So, building on our work with Mattessons and its Fridge Raiders off-spring, Kerry Foods have given us the opportunity to work with their Richmond and Porkinson sausage brands. And that great English staple, Mr Brains Faggots as well!

We've just got to do the business now.

But thank you!

10 things we didn't know before the 34th week of 2007

1. The number of pounds in circulation doubles every 15 years due to economic growth and inflation.
2. Each slug eats twice its body weight a day.
3. Performers cannot even smoke herbal cigarettes on stage in Scotland, which has no dispensation for "artistic integrity" in its smoking ban, unlike other parts of the UK.
4. Voyagers 1 and 2, launched in 1977 and still beaming back data from billions of miles from the solar system's edge, run on generators that produce 300 watts - which would power several standard light bulbs.
5. Chickens can be diagnosed with depression.
6. There are almost four times more knife-related killings as firearms killings.
7. You can be arrested for using someone's wi-fi network without permission.
8. One in 10 people claim to have had out-of-body experiences.
9. More than half the books on the fiction charts are crime titles - a genre predominately read and written by women.
10. Queen Victoria and Pope Leo XIII were among the celebrities to endorse charities.

(Source: BBC)

God speaks today

And now, in his desire to be an 'open deity', he's also got a corporate blog...

No question too small. And in a fit of transparency, nothing goes unanswered.

No prizes for guessing who the LGA's blogging instrument here on earth is tho!

The People Project (July 07)

The latest People Project is up online and free to view (filmed at the end of July, with a slight delay in up-loading given holidays etc.).

So if you want an unrepentantly unrepresentative view of what the world thinks about stuff, here's what we asked this time on the streets around our office...

• What are you wearing?
• What are you watching on TV?
• What music are you listening to?
• What brand or product couldn't you live without?
• What are people talking about?
• What was the last thing you had an argument about?
• What would you do with £500?
• Make a prediction
• What was the last exciting thing you did?
• If you could change one thing, what would it be?
• Tell me about your hero
• What are you doing this summer?

And we're still looking for partners.

So if there's anyone out there (different places in the UK, countries, whatever), who wants to join in the fun (hey, open source vox popping!), get in contact.

It would simply mean asking the same questions, filming the answers (natch!), sending them over to us, and we'll edit, up-load and credit you. And share our footage in return, if you want it.

10 things we didn't know before the 33rd week of 2007

1. Uncollected council tax totals £760m.
2. Some otters don't like swimming.
3. The Rubik’s Cube can be done in 26 moves.
4. Crows can use tools.
5. CDs were nearly called mini-racks.
6. CDs have 74 minutes' audio capacity, originally to accommodate Beethoven's 9th Symphony – before that they were just an hour.
7. Attractive people are, on average, less selfish than moderately attractive people.
8. The name Hells Angels was coined by a squadron of World War I fighter pilots.
9. Seven double espressos can land you in hospital, with caffeine intoxication.
10. Left-handed people are called sinistral.

(Source: BBC)

Meerkat garden wobblers

"Create an interesting talking point with these fantastic MEERKAT GARDEN WOBBLERS...This family of meerkats will add humour and originality to any garden...Simply stake into the ground, poke their heads out of bushes, shrubs, flowerbeds etc and watch them gently sway in the slightest of breeze".

Nuff said!

And one even comes with a jaunty red neckerchief. Why?! Who knows. Maybe he's a bit of a rebel.

Do people actually buy this stuff? Particularly at £19.99. And from the Guardian of all places!

If anyone from Coopers is passing by, I'd love to know.

FutureScoping 67

Just to let you know, the latest edition of my trends newsletter is now out: "emerging trends, new ideas and general thought stimulation"...or so it says on the cover.

Having ideas...or not

(Alexandra84)

Funny old thing ideas.

I'm having a very different experience with two of the bigger projects I'm working on at the moment.

Both are markets I know well. Neither are rooted in challenges I can't get my head around. All I need to find is that illusive 'clever solution'.

And here's the annoying thing. Because one of these is proving particularly illusive. The answer's there: I can taste it, touch it…almost. But it's just not coming to together. Which is starting to get just a tad annoying.

But in comparison, with the other one I just read the brief, looked over the supporting evidence and, bang, there it was.

The answer just seemed really clear, simple and obvious. And just very right (well I think so any way). So much so, I reckon I could have walked in and sold it there and then.

Strange thing we do really. And I just wish the other project would come together so easily.