Odd or Genius I can't tell

Yesterday I bought Stuart Maconie's book Pie's and Prejudice. It's a really great book already only on page 46.

When I bought the book in Adsa, the odd thing was that the book was in the Cookery section. Now as far as I can see Stuart hasn't put any recipes in the book it's more of an explanation of what makes the north the north, which is why it appeals to me.

All I can think is that whoever placed the book in the cookery section either just saw the word Pie on the cover and made an assumption or it's a work of pure genius lateral thinking.

I'm hoping its genius.

Gmail ads

The ads on my Gmail account can be very very funny.

Just got this one no idea how it connected to my email content but never mind.

Professional Mole Catcher - www.EssexMoles.co.uk - Mole Control, Domestic & Commercial No Mole - No Fee.

To the point and utterly brilliant if I lived in Essex and I had a mole problem I'd be straight on to this guy!

Badmovieclub and Graham Linehan break Twitter!

Last night was the first and who knows last Bad Movie Club on Twitter. Maybe this was becasue it was Friday 13th or maybe becasue it was such an insane and easy idea.

Everyone watch the same bad film at the same time and give a running commentary
on Twitter

Well here are the numbers

• On 13th Feb 2009, around 2000 people watched the same ‘bad’ film at exactly the same time and shared their collective ‘disappointment’ via Twitter.
  40,000 individual comments were sent and tracked ‘live’ by the film’s audience.
  A total of around 80,000,000 ‘Tweets’ were therefore viewed in just 2hrs 40mins. To generate this much Twitter traffic, both Barack Obama & Stephen Fry would each have to sustain posting 68.4 Tweets an hour ‘at the same time’... on Friday they collectively averaged 1.7 per hour.

#badmovieclub on Twitter

Twitter is being used in the most imaginative ways. Just found Graham Linehan on Twitter @Glinner had he's running an experiment with the Bad Movie Club. Tonight at 9pm the club are watching M. Knight Shayamalan’s ‘The Happening’, which I paid to see in the cinema and I can tell you it really sucks.

Anyway the point is that all the members are watching the movie at the same time and tweeting their thoughts on this truly dreadful film. A great experiment and a good laugh to as well.

I don't see how this kind of collective event could have been managed without the use of Twitter. People all around the world are now using the Internet as it was envisage, well at least this far.

Amazing Light Graffiti

Just found this amazing light graffiti on the Guardian Website. It's all done using long exposures and light pens. No photoshop cheating!

Oh god someone at Sony is gonna hit the roof!

The Onion have made this really, really funny spoof story on Sony's products. It's bound to come under a litigation soon so make sure you watch it before it is removed from the web.

Utterly brilliant!


Sony Releases New Stupid Piece Of Shit That Doesn't Fucking Work

Make sure you stay as an imposter

I often wonder how I get through stuff. Sure I know lots of things but I'm always learning, I like to think I'm an expert, but don't they know everything?

This post about staying an imposter shows that you shouldn't be scared to feel like a fraud, you're always learning and that's the whole point.

Hey it made me feel better!

The Mad Men are getting clever on Twitter

Yesterday I Twitted a story from the BBC about how the series Mad Men is influencing fashion.

Very quickly after posting this I got two new followers Peggy Olson and Betty Draper both characters from the show.

Betty Draper has a blog Welcome to the Drapers which showcases life for an American housewife in the early 60's complete with recipes and hits for around the house. All perfectly put together to show the underlying stresses Betty is under in the series.

Peggy Olson has a LinkedIn site which states her experience as:

Peggy Olson’s Experience
Copywriter
Sterling Cooper
(Marketing and
Advertising industry)
1961 — Present (48 years)
I've worked on print and broadcast campaigns for clients such as Belle Jolie, Clearasil, Samsonite, Right Guard, Mohawk Airlines, Martinson's Coffee, and Playtex. I'm eager to learn and do all I can to improve my skills. I hope to be a creative director some day, but I know I have a lot to learn first.

This is such as perfect way to promote a series all about Ad men in the 60's by using modern methods.

Only question is what would the ad men of Sterling Cooper do with a smoking a drinking ban in the work place?

Computer Tan

A colleague has just shown me Computer Tan. This is a great viral website with a very serious message.

The site is amazingly believable and the production is exquisite. It's been produced by Mcann Erikson and has already duped over 30,000 people into believing they can get a tan from their computer screen.

PR on a budget

Here are my 8 tips for getting PR on a budget

1. Get some good, interesting pictures
   Journalists love good, interesting photos always help you getting in the publication. Always supply hi-res, colour, pictures. But don't email then unless specifically asked, they'll jam up their email and you annoy the journalist.


2. Write a brief company history
   The journalist needs to know who you are and why you should have space in their publication. They need to look good to their editors, make sure you play to that by giving them something interesting


3. Read your relevant press
   Sounds obvious, but a little research into the right journalist will pay off


4. Contact the journalist
   Again obvious but make contact. Don't email, phone just before lunch is best. Most journalist don't do early mornings and after lunch is getting close to deadline you'll just annoy them.


5. Arrange a personal meeting
   If at all possible go and see the journalist. Take them for lunch, it'll give you a good chance to tell them all about your company. Plus they'll get to know you personally. When you meet them make sure you have things ready for them to take away a CD with your great hi-red pictures on, your company history, your latest press releases. Make it easy for them.


6. Follow it up
   After your meeting, write a personal note to thank them for their time. Don't just wade in with a release, see next point.


7. Only contact with relevant stories
   Journalists have their own interests, you'll know this you did your research (see point 3). So don't start sending them everything you produce, make sure you only send them relevant stories they are likely to want to run. And ensure your release has an image to go along with it, if requested. One way to get a picture over with out blocking up email is to send over a low-res version with the offer of the print quality one should they want it.


8. Always say thank you

Designer's Repulic closes it doors

Just checked my email and I truly gutted that Designer's Republic has closed. Growing up in Sheffield it was difficult to miss their influence. From nightclub flyers, I still have my full set of flyers from the opening of Republic nightclub. To the covers of Pulp records, Designers Republic was the place to work for a creative, just wish I'd been good enough.

Goodbye Designers Republic

Giving a great presentation via the web

In today's world thinking about the environment and your carbon footprint is very important. That's why it's a great idea to use web presentations when you really don't have to make the journey to see your customers. If you get it right, giving presentations via the Internet can be far more fulfilling than you may think.

Here are my tips to ensure you give good presentation

Presenting via the web has it's own issues. Most notably that you're not there in person. Here are a few tips to help you out if you do that same as we do.

Your PowerPoint presentation

• Keep it simple and to the point
• Avoid bullet pointed lists that you're going to read out to them. Save yourself and them the time and just send them the document so they can read it themselves.
• Be passionate

Your desktop

• Make sure your desktop is as clear as possible. If for any reason you have to click on it you don’t want customers to see other customer’s files or clutter on the screen.
• Ensure you have your company wallpaper on your screen. It's easy to do and look so much more professional than a picture of your favourite car or your wedding day, or your cat (however cute)

Your Customer

• Your customer may have a different screen resolution to you. Make sure they can see what you can before you start your presentation. You don’t want a customer to miss something at the edge of your screen. You can do this by moving your mouse from corner to corner of your screen and asking if they can see it moving.

I'm sure there are loads more tips, but getting these few basics right can make a huge difference.

Over on Presentation Zen you'll find loads and loads of information about putting together presentations which work.

Obamicon.me great little idea

Just found this site which creates an Obamicon of any picture you like. Above is my little effort.

A nice little viral idea which is spreading quickly and rightly so. Thanks to Dave Gorman's Blog which is where I found it

Goodnight Tony Hart

Like a lot of people my age I grew up watching too much TV. One of my favourite shows was Take Hart, presented by the best art teacher you could ever want Tony Hart.

Tony Hart had a gentle way of showing you things you never thought could be possible. We would take old bits and pieces and show you that you too could create anything you wanted. To a kid living on a council estate in Sheffield this was near to revolution.

Tony Hart probably more than anything I've ever seen on TV inspired me, and thinking about it now still does. It's a really sad day to hear that he has died.

In a very short space of time the country has lost two truly great inspirational people Tony Hart and Oliver Postgate. I think its time that something was done to celebrate these two truly amazing people who inspired generations to think that anything was possible.

Compare the Meerkat

The guys at Compare the Market are very brave and clever. If you've ever been on their site to look for financial services or the whole host of things they offer, you'll know that they are very good at giving you a great service that saves you cash and time.

But I guess for them and you probably its pretty dull stuff, I mean just how excited can you get about it, not very is my guess.

Which is shy their Compare the Meerkat campaign is go good. My first glimpse of the campaign was the spoof email I got from Aleksandr the annoyed Meerkat running his site comparethemeerkat.com which is losing visitors to comparethemarket.com. The great thing is that its done with total conviction, no giveaway that its really from compare the market. The team there have given their customers the benefit of having a sense of humour and not had to explain the joke to them. When you click through the email you get a fully functioning website, which delivers a way to actually compare Meerkats, to tricks or gimmicks shoved in the way.

Here's the TV ad too, which completes the whole set.

On top of that there's even a FaceBook group for compare the Meerkat which already had 17,000 members. All this results in a fantastically executed campaign which has great viral qualities and makes what could have been a very conservative campaign work very, very well.

At home with Eric Clapton

Amazing picture! More rockstars at home on the Guardian website

Stop worrying and enjoy life

Just found this over on Dave Gorman's Blog. Bus ads for Atheism. About time all us non believers had a voice!

Truly the worst ad ever made

I've just seen what is truly the worst TV ad ever made. It's for a piece of software from Microsoft for singing with your laptop. Now not only is that a really crap product, yes another one from Microsoft, but the song the little girl sings will make you want to throw-up in seconds. The direction is awful, the script terrible, the acting appalling generally there aren't enough words to describe strongly enough just how bad this ad is.

I'm almost ashamed to post it here but without doing that you'll not understand just how excruciatingly bad this ad is.

Now before you watch it you have been warned - have a bucket ready. Click play at your own peril (this is not a "joke" video, this is Microsoft video).



To see a great ad take a look at this recent Virgin ad, now that's how to make TV

News at 10 spin the figures

Just watched News at 10 and they announced with a fantastic set of graphics that there were over 7,000 job losses announced this week alone. Which is terrible news and was rightly reported as a main item. And they did use a very striking graphic to ram the figures home.

Thing was that once the figure had been taken off the screen they then announced that 15000 jobs would be created by the major supermarkets.

Now call me cynical but isn't that a net gain of 8,000 jobs? Why on earth didn't the graphic come back on and then move the other way?

Clearly we're not ready for good news stories yet.

Twitter is really changing the world

Twitter and social media in general are changing the world - no really!

A guy using the ferry in New York posted some of the first pictures of the plane crash from his iPhone on Twitter within minutes of the incident.

This just would not have been possible even in the last two years. The news flashed around the world literally in seconds.

If anyone doubts the power that the Internet and social media have given the world now then they really are crazy. The world has changed, soon there will be two sets of people those on the inside and those outside.

Grattan announces job cuts in the UK

It's a sad day today as Grattan the giant of the British mail order companies announces job cuts.

Especially sad for me because I used to work in the Bradford office on the customer retention team. Grattan is an amazing place for anyone in marketing to hotbed their skills. You learn so much at such a quick pace a, because you have to and b, because there is an enormous wealth of skill and knowledge in the teams over there.

Thinking back there are people working at Grattan who had been there 30 years when I left around 4 years ago.

And maybe that is there downfall as well as their strength. Grattan and the associated brands, Freemans, Look Again etc where jut too big a ship to turn around.

It's odd when you think about it because mail order is the way that business is now going. Every company with a website takes orders online and delivers direct to your door just like Grattan has for over 100 odd years.

The problem is that their model for mail order, or the "Club Book" as it was know on my street when I was little, is based on people not being able to get credit. So one person in the area would be the agent for the Club Book and customers would pay that person in small weekly installments. The agent in return gets a commission.

All was well for Grattan until the advent of the credit card, then suddenly there's no need to get credit form the agent anymore.

This did so much damage to the traditional mail order companies like Grattan because their entire business model was built on having this credit system which they handled.

Even more of an irony now is that due to the credit crunch, the Grattan model should in theory be perfect again as people can't get the credit they could in the recent boom.

Unfortunately it would seem its too late for Grattan and that's a big shame.

Twittersphere here we come

Hey I'm getting advanced now. I've decided that just using Twitter via Twitter is so last week, so I've jut downloaded TweetDeck which seems to be the platform of choice at the moment. I'll let you know how I get on.

Bringing all your sites together

Maybe I'm a little slow on the uptake, I don't know. I'm only just realising that you can tie all your sites together.

Since I posted on being able to have my blog content appear in FaceBook and Linkedin I've now just found that I can also syndicate it to Flickr as well. So needless to say I did it.

Here's a link to the Flickr Account, let me know what you think to the pictures.

Great Twitter Tool

As A new user of Twitter, I was a bit lost on how to see how effective it was. Just found this great tool, after following a Twitter post.

http://twitter-friends.com/

Twitter Friends allows you to see all your twitter stats at a glance and even compare it to other twits (not sure that's the right term)

My Lomo LCA has arrived!

I'm very excited!

Yesterday my Lomo LCA arrived. With trepidation I opened the package to discover it. I got it off ebay so didn't get the whole lomo packaging, box and books etc which is a shame. However there's a recession on and buying it second hand meant I saved a few hundred quid.

Also as it's not new it means that its not one of the newly made LCAs from China. This is one of the old Russian ones. It even says Made in the USSR on the shutter cover.

I'm off out today to take my first two rolls of film, I'll post on how I get along.

Spreading your blog content around the web

If you are like me, and I'm sure you are or you wouldn't be reading this, you'll be on various Social Media websites my main ones are Twitter, FaceBook and Linkedin.

Did you know that you can easily syndicate your blog content to FaceBook and Linkedin? I didn't until recently.

To add it on FaceBook just nip to the notes application and point it at your blog. On Lined in add the Blog application and it'll automatically add your blog and all your connections blogs as well.

Then hey presto! All your blog entries will be automatically added to your profile as you post them increasing the scope of your readership instantly.

By the way the one caveat is that no matter where your blog is syndicated the content still had to be worth reading.

Blimey its Benny Hill

I was just watching BBC4, and saw one of the first colour series ever recorded by the BBC. In this particular twee episode the poshest lady I've ever heard presents a 20 minute show on Fashion. While not a hottest subject, it was great background viewing.

About half way through a little section on moustaches caught my eye. As the posh lady talked, Benny Hill and two other men from the the Benny Hill show are shown spotting bizarre face furniture. Totally priceless, Benny Hill can't help that little look from under his eyebrows.

Four Twitter Tips

I joined Twitter just before Christmas. It's very odd at first but soon becomes pretty addictive.

Since I began to use it my Blog visits have gone up a huge amount which pleases me no end. It's tough to get hold of an idea what the etiquette is yet. But here are my thoughts:

1. Referencing your own blog entries is fine as long as you don't over do it. The whole point is to spread the love not blow just blow your own trumpet.
2. Saying nothing in particular some of the time is fine. There's only 140 characters so saying nothing on Twitter is fine too. Is this why the name is so close to witter? Sorry I realise that I'm wittering on myself now.
3. Following celebrities is fine, then encourage it. Just be warned that they can be just as boring as the rest of us when they only have a few words.
4. Butting in on someone else's Tweets is a bit rude, but can be very tempting. If you are going to do this make sure you give a good answer.

Learn from Geece

Sorry lots of video clips on the blog at the minute, but hey that's how it is.

Here's a great video from Satchi and Satchi about team work. Very nice.

David Ogilvy speaks from the past about the future

I just found this video of a film David Ogilvy sent to a conference years ago. The film is very old which adds a huge amount of gravitas to the message. What Ogilvy, the pioneer of Direct Marketing says is still true today, even more so with the dawn of the Internet.

If your marketing is meant to sell products then forget clever creative, flowery copy, cryptic text. Sell the product or service, ask for the response - making it easy to do so. Measuring marketing spend has never been easier than with the Internet, even more so than it is with Direct Mail. Testing is quicker and easier and the results can be in almost instantly.

Take the time to watch David Ogilvy as he talks to you from the past and see how you can apply this to how you are marketing today.

Best Practices for Content Optimisation

Apart for the American spelling I love SEOMoz. Rand has just posted a great article on Best Practices for Content Optimization. His spelling not mine.

It is very detailed and quite techie but the overriding theme is that there is no short cut to getting good ranking. Unique content and a usable site are the only way to get there.

Now that's a great TV Ad

Tongue in cheek, cocky, right on the money, well done, perfect branding, funny, memorable, leaves you with a smile. Need to fly over the Atlantic, lets fly with Virgin - Brilliant!



That's how you use TV, Norwich Union (soon to be Aviva) please take note

How to waste money and piss people off in 1 minute

How stupid are the people at Norwich Union? Let's set the scene: There's a global recession, particularly in the finacial sector. People are losing thier jobs left, right and centre. What should a financial institution do in this scenario?

I know lets pay a ridiculous amount of cash to Hollywood stars, models, aged "Rock Stars" (Alice Copper and Ringo Starr) to tell everyone that where changing the name of our company from Norwich Union to Aviva! That'll be a great idea, we all saved!

Sorry wrong time wrong planet! (sorry for all the exclamation marks)

Wouldn't a better idea to be to use all that money to improve their service, improve conditions and job security for their staff. Reduce the cost of their insurance for the hard pressed population. Hey I think that would be much more effective.

Lets run that scenario: Letter drops through door "Oh Marjorie, you'll never guess what Norwich Union have suddenly drop the cost of our premium by £5 a month and we get exactly the same cover. Aren't they amazing, they also say that if we tell all our friends and they join then they'll give us even more and all our friends will get reduced premiums too!"

Of course it will never happen because the head of Norwich Union (soon to be Aviva) wouldn't get the chance to meet Film stars, Models and Ringo bloody Starr!

Here's the ad, what it and chunder. Nice production values mind

Twitter changing the world

At last the old firms are engaging in face to face marketing using Twitter. Giving direct answers is a big deal for the big companies who love to hide behind carefully crafted press releases, well now they are actively engaging and reaping the rewards

The Financial Times reports how they're doing it

I'm using twitter now myself and 140 words is tough but its getting easier plus its very quick on responses.

Looking for little glimmers

Just found this amazing picture on the Guardian website by Sarah Moon. The chances of getting this picture are ridiculously small but that the beauty of photography. To catch the moment perfectly because it can't ever be repeated.

Seth Godin inspires me

Just getting ready to go back to work. No one knows what 2009 will through at them but one thing is for sure if you sit back and let stuff happen to you you can't complain if its not what you want.

Why not take hold of the opportunity the uncertainty is bringing to everyone else and make 2009 a great start. Seth's post has just inspired me to do just that I hope it does the same for you too.

Happy New Year

Are all these business going under just inevitable?

Morgan has just filed for administration in the UK. They join a long list of companies going under, now I now we're in a recession but don't you get the feeling that a lot of these were inevitable? Woolworths have been going down hill for a long time, Zavvi had a bad business model since they bought it, why do you think Branson sold it?

The time has come to pass when the public will no longer stand for companies wearing the "Emperors New Clothes". The outcome is that weak businesses will go under and the recession is just a convenient cover for a badly run company. Its going to hurt, but the horse has already bolted and tidying up the pile of shit left behind is only good for the roses.

Don't be good in 2009 - be great!

Being good isn't enough. When someone asks you how you are what do you say? Stock answer is "alright" or "ok". How does that make the other person feel? Are they energised? Probably not, but then neither are you. If you say you're great and have a big smile, then they'll feel surprised at first and then feel really good, its a natural reaction to an answer like that and the smile tops it off. Only an android could fail to smile back.

Being great is much better all round than being ok. How do you feel after an ok sleep? Still tired. An ok meal? Still hungry. So why not be great?

I'm not sating that just thinking that will make you a genius but genius starts somewhere. Their minds are clear of all the crap that pulls them down so they can work on being great. Their failures spur them on to get stuff right. Over on Seth's Blog he sums this up better than I ever could.

So for 2009 don't be good - be great!

Marketing Lomography

As I've ranted about on here before, I love my Lomo camera. The way the lens gives an odd light and that no two are alike makes amazing shots. The camera I have the SuperSampler also has the disadvantage of not having a view finder. Add to that that they use 35mm film and you have a little issue. Namely that you have no idea what you have until you collect your prints. It's this very fact that makes me love the little thing. Its also what has made Lomography a worldwide cult.

The images the camera makes are so individual that they make ideal shots for marketing and advertising. The issue is that there can be no standardisation, no given quality. What's needed from a client or agency is a lot of good will that the images will not be highly technical or even pin sharp or even that the images once shot will even come out. What does ensue though is great, no amazing pictures.

I'm going to make it a personal mission if mine in 2009 to get Lomography more widely used, even if it's just by me.

If you've no idea what I'm taking about then take a look at the Lomography website you'll be amazed. Once you've seen what can be achieved you'll want to try it yourself I'm sure.

My list of the 8 best things in 2008

As a last post of 2008 I thought I'd list the best things to happen to me in 2008. Yes its self indulgent but this my blog!

1. My children.
   Obvious I know but as any dad will tell you they are the most important thing in the world. I'm so proud of the way they are becoming amazing people in their own right. I'm very lucky indeed. I can state for a fact that this will be number one in the list until I die.


2. My friends.
   I only have a few good friends, they know who they are. Friends are the most important people in your life. You'll only ever get a few really really good ones make sure you cherish them. It'll pay off for your whole life.


3. My cameras.
   This year I've become obsessed with my cameras, I've a standard compact digital which goes everywhere with me. But my cherished camera is my Lomo Super Sampler. I love this little camera with its weird lens and the four pictures it takes at once. If you don't own a Lomo Camera them buy one now, your life will be enhanced I promise.


4. Glastonbury Festival
   This year was the first time I've been in 13 years and Glastonbury didn't disappoint. It was bigger, weirder and more amazing than I could have imagined. Got my ticket for 2009 already. Hey if there are any left get them booked!


5. BBC Radio Four
   Never, ever thought I'd find myself listening to this! But radio four has opened up my mind. I know find it impossible to drive to work without listening to the Today Show. OK some of the comedy is a bit ropey sometimes and I still can't listen to the Archers. But nothing is perfect.


6. Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie on Radio 2
   Driving home up the M1 is made into a joy listening to these professional northerners rattle on seemingly to themselves. Their knowledge of music old and new is amazing but they aren't condescending at all. The whole show feels like you've just nipped down to the pub with a few mates and the pub happens to have the best jukebox ever.
7. QI
   Stephen Fry and QI are a match made in heaven I can watch this programme forever and never ever be bored. The title Quite Interesting actually undersells the show, its the most interesting programme you'll ever see.
8. The Book of Dave by Will Self
   Completely bewildering in parts but still utter genius. Taking a while to get through it but I can't put it down. Buy it and be bewildered today.

Are printed directories dead?

It's a long tradition I know but is there really any need for printed directories? I mean as soon as they are printed they're out of date plus they cost an absolute fortune to print and distribute.

The main culprits, at least in the UK, are phone directories Yellow Pages and Thomson. Every year they print one for each house in the UK about an inch thick and rammed with as many number and ads as can be printed on the toilet roll paper they use.

And what happens to them? They go on a shelf and stay there for a whole year until the new edition arrives.

The main purpose of these directories is to give you access to numbers and services you need, mainly its Pizza/Curry/Chinese take-away restaurants, when you're drunk.

But stop just there, don't you like me get at least 4 menus shoved through your door each day. And not only do these have the contact numbers on they also have the whole menu. So no need to call up and guess what they can cook for you.

I'm sure there are advertisers who will say that directories work for them, they must they continue to use them. But for the vast majority of business they are next to useless.

In a time of recession being front of face and shouting that you're the best fit for a customer, and then delivering are vital. Do you think this can really be achieved from a page of loo role left on a shelf?

It's all about the added service

When times are tough like now do you remember the business that gave you an ok product but left you feeling a little let down and tell your friends about it? Or do you think of the companies who gave you that little bit extra and made you smile?

Even the smallest company can do a lot to ensure that their good deeds are passed on. Here's a small example of how a humble fish and chip shop could have left a great impression on my friend but instead left her really annoyed.

Feeling peckish she entered the local Fish and Chip shop, which by the way has a great reputation for good food, and sat at a vacant table. After sitting a while she was asked to move tables as they were expecting a lunchtime rush and as she was sat alone the tables wouldn't be used efficiently. A simple enough request. Just badly handled by the staff member making the request. Because as it turned out the rush never happened.

My friend ate her fish and chips and left, there was no apology for making her move for the phantom lunchtime rush, no free cup of tea, no extra slice of bread and butter, no voucher for her next visit, nothing other than a disgruntled ex-customer who may well have gone on to tell all her friends about the amazing way she's been treated in the Chip Shop.

But now what does that chip shop have? One less customer who's already started telling people about her experience. And each one of them will think twice before visiting that chippy again.

I guess the lesson is when times are tough turn up the service to 12. Empower your staff to go that extra mile because every customer counts now. There's no room for bad products or service anymore.

Who owns the right's to the image of Che Guevara?

I love the image of Che Guevara. Last night I wondered who owned the famous image? I'm no historian and only ever have a vague idea on things. I figured someone must own it.

We 10 minutes of digging on Wikipedia and there it all is. The guy who took the picture Alberto Korda, never registered it under copyright law so it falls under common use. Basically that means that if you want to use that image you can, no questions, no charges.

Does that support or go against Che's ideas? Surely freedom of speech and thought is what he was about. But this free usage means that it can be used for commercial means as well totally what he was against.

The V&A Museum declared it "the most reproduced image in the history of photography" it's been used for good and bad.

If only the copyright had been asserted maybe the use of Che's image could have helped the people he longed to free from poverty and oppression. But then again if there had been restrictions them maybe the image and ultimately his legacy wouldn't live on?

Goodnight Oliver Postgate

It's with real sadness that I write this post about the death of Oliver Postgate who passed away yesterday.

Like a lot of people my age I grew up with his amazing stories and even more amazing rolling kind voice that lulled you into his magical world. His programmes touched an entire generation and I'd be surprised if we ever see a story teller as strong and witty as Oliver was.

Oliver surely goes into the annals of Animation greats along with Mel Blanc. Though his voice wasn't as varied in his own very British way he was every bit as magical.

Oliver Postgate RIP

Duarte Design Annual Pumkin contest

Duarte Design, revered by Garr Reynolds on Presentation Zen, each year have a Halloween Lantern Competition. The designs get better and better each year. Truly creative companies always run these type of annual events. Does your business, group of friends, family do something similar? If not why not? Accountants, tree surgeons, builders, bin men and all use their creative skills shouldn't you be encouraging them?

People who can use their whole brain are more productive and are more likely to give your company the edge which will make a difference in these time the media are calling a recession.

What can you do to stimulate your team/friends/life.

What ever it is do it today!

Six things to remember when you have a stand at a trade exhibition

Yesterday I went to the Interbuild exhibition at the NEC. I'm not a builder but was there because several of my agencies clients where exhibiting. Walking around the massive hanger that is the NEC I was amazed by the amount of money, time and energy companies waste at exhibitions.

I've done exhibitions myself before and they are very expensive and are really hard to quantify the success of. There are a few things that should be considered before booking your companies expensive slot. Here we go.

1. Have a clear goal. Most of the exhibiting companies had done all the work, complex stand, loads of staff, shiny brochures, boxes full of pens, widgets and competition entries - you know the score. Thing is their company hadn't given the staff a reason to be there. There they stood not really knowing what to do. Am I collecting names, ensuring I get rid of all the pens/brochures/widgets etc, am I pushing a new product. Hardly anyone knew.
   
2. Look interested. Most people on stands were bored, twiddling their thumbs, texting, picking their nose etc. Look, if you're bored and un-interested then why the hell should a slightly nervous visitor come to your stand? Would you approach someone who looked like they had an ASBO but what wearing a suit? No, so why are you doing it at a very expensive exhibition?
   
3. Get people on the stand. You're there to speak to people that's the whole point to ensure you do it. If things are quiet leave your stand and venture into the isles if they're really quiet wander around the exhibition yourself. Engage people, pull then into your stand. The more you get on to the stand the more passers by will want to come to the stand too. People are nosey to see what others find so interesting.
   
4. Don't waste money on a flashy stand unless it was a purpose. Lots of the stands looked like they were designed by Norman Foster! Lovely to look at but they had no tie back to the product, brand or exhibition. They were cold and uninviting and the staff, yes them again looked bewildered and lost. Save cash on the stand but ensure you have a well thought out reason for people to come to speak to you.
   
5. Have knowledgeable staff on the exhibition stand. So many stands had, sorry to say this, "Dolly birds" on the stand. At Interbuild I can see how this tactic works after all the place is full of male builders. But once people have been to the stand, ogled the girls and left a business card to win a bottle of Champers, have really got a good lead? The answers probably not. Save the cash and save the poor girls dignity too. Have people who know what they are talking about who can finish the lead and ensure that when you follow-up that lead they'll remember you for your knowledge and great products, rather than the eye-candy.
   
6. You are going to follow-up those leads aren't you?! So many get put in a drawer when you drag yourself back to the office after a hard few days at the show. What a waste of time and money. Ensure you follow -up all the relevant leads and lose all the time wasters. That includes all the bag/pen/widget/competition entries. You don't need or want millions of leads if each day you get 10 good leads and convert 2 into orders later then you'll have an amazing conversion rate.

Is it just me?

Is it just me or can no one else see the "Smile" on the new Pepsi logo? I've looked and looked but I can't see what's supposed to be a smile. Clearly a lot of work and cash has gone into it but all seems a waste. If it's supposed to lift sales I'd say that's a waste of time too. Coke has a clear lead and there's no changing the majority of people. Pepsi need to build on thier story not tey to hide behind a new logo becasue they've run out of ideas.

What if... We all refuse the recession

Each morning on Radio 4 more and more news comes in of the world wide recession. In reality there's not much I alone can do about the recession.

I realise that I'm only small and even if I put everything and every penny I've ever made or am likely to make into a bank or business it would absolutely no difference at all. I like most people of the world am small fry.

But what if...

But what if all us small people did something amazing. What if we all refuse the recession? I know it sounds fanciful and impossible but think about it a bit more. All this mess has been made by only a few people who someone gave a load of cash and power to. What if a huge number of people got together and collectively made a difference. What if we all refuse to have a recession or change how we live so that we don't care and don't let the recession effect us? What would all the big wigs do then? How would they cope with the fact that their cock-ups and messes didn't matter to us because we just got on with life and supported each other?

I'm not saying I have any answers. What I am saying is that there's a recession because they told us there was one and there telling us that we're all going to hell in a hand cart and what do we do we sit here and take it!

My profession has a lot to answer for Marketing as a whole has a way of putting spin on everything. Government now runs on marketing, it'll tell you what's good for you, doesn't matter which party it is or even which country.

My mantra is that marketing and everything in life should be used for good, there's no reason why not. So let's market ourselves mentally and physically out of the recession. Positive Mental Attitude is what's needed.

Keep looking for glimmers.

Use some common sense with your double yellow lines

Contractors in Leeds have had a serious loss of common sense. While painting double yellow lines in the Hyde Park area they found a parked car. Instead of painting the lines at the back and then in front of the car and returning later, they simple went around it!

I'm presuming that no one told them they could use their initiative!

Animal Farm at the West Yorkshire Playhouse

Last night I went to see Animal Farm at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds.

I'm not a theatre goer normally, but I love George Orwell so I booked as soon as I heard about it. I was lucky enough to get tickets for the first preview night and I wasn't disappointed.

Before entering the theatre I wondered how the animals would be represented. The result was a great halfway house so that the characters where visibility human but took on their animal characteristics. The set was fantastic to showing a whole range of aspects of the farm from the chicken shed to the farm house itself.

Sound and music was used to great effect to give a feeling of terror and wonder at the same time.

This is a great adaptation of a great book, if you get the chance go and see it, If not at least revisit Animal Farm the book, or try out the film which was funded by the CIA and used as anti Soviet propaganda.

Amazon slash delivery charge

Amazon have made a very brave and clever move in light of the credit crunch. One of the first things to go at times like these is the purchase of luxuries, like books.

Lowering the minimum order value to get free delivery is a great move by Amazon.

It says to it's loyal customers that Amazon knows that times are hard but that you still want to buy things from Amazon, so it's making life easier for you. For none or infrequent users its a reason to log on and buy stuff from Amazon while it's competitors still have high delivery charges.

Amazon are clever enough to know that trying to hang on to margins is a recipe for disaster and that doing this know rather than trying to hedge its bets is a way to keep going when they'll be a lot of casualties.

Email Experience Council - Email irony

I signed up for email alerts from the Email Experience Council recently. They do a great job and are to be congratulated.

The ironic thing is that their emails keep arriving in my spam box!

Iran nearly has the worlds biggest sandwich!

This really out of the blue and not related to what I usually blog here it just made me laugh out loud.

Today officials in Iran where upset that they have supposedly failed to beat the world record for the worlds largest Ostrich sandwich. The sandwich making had gathered huge crowds but before the sandwich could be measured by the Iranian officials the crowd rushed forward and ate it.

It just made me chuckle!

Missed opportunities

Last week I cancelled my car insurance and switched to a new one. Nothing odd in that happens every year.

The insurer I was with was an online only broker they play on the fact that they give the best price cover because they don't have a call centre. Well clearly that's wrong because I beat the cost from another supplier.

The missed opportunity was that when I hit the cancel button on the site there was a question about why I'd switched but that was it. No attempt to see if they had a better deal for me, not even a sorry you're leaving. Nothing!

What a waste of a great opportunity, with the amount of data available on car insurance and the data they hold on me they could have given a perfect option for me - instead they did nothing and lost a customer.

For me this throws up another question.

How on earth do you ensure loyalty in the insurance market?

It's very cut-throat, most people don't make any claims for years and there's little interaction with the insurance company. The market at the moment seems to be all about cost, which is great for consumers but means that everything is driven to the lowest common denominator. Sheila's Wheels is one which stands out as it's niche is women drivers, but once you're insured how do they create loyalty and avoid the end of policy switch dance?

Stand for something

I read Seth's Blog each day. There's always a great insight into his mind.

Today's is relevant not just for Business or Marketers but for the population as a whole. Stand for something! You can't be everything to everyone, no matter how much you'd love to. You have to make tough decisions and stand by them that's what make you - you!

Have a good read and think over how you can stand for something, something important to you. Be yourself - no one else is going to do it for you!

Don't Panic

Sorry that title is a blatant rip off of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

The point is the same. All around at the moment is doom and gloom, banks going under is pretty scary stuff make no bones about it.

But the best thing you can do is Don't Panic. Sure be a little more careful, but don't stop being creative in your life and work.

If you stop taking risks then a few things will happen:

• You become very dull and you won't have many friends left
• You stop having energy, when that stops people aren't energised by you anymore
• You stop having new ideas
• You fulfil the prophesy "They" want. You become subservient and under control

In a climate of fear and uncertainty whats needed are new idea, new approaches. The old ways may be tried and tested but look where that's got us so far. Be brave cos its the only way you discover what'll work in the future and the future is all you ever have.

The past is great, I know I spend enough time there. But you can't change what's gone only what's to come.

Be brave and Don't Panic.

Rant over

Thanks to Douglas Adams

Guess the new brand identity - A quiz with no prize

Who in the world has a new logo like this?

Answers on a comment please. Sorry no prize, other than for the agency who pocketed £600k (part of a £1.5m identity makeover).

Aids pandemic

I'm watching Current TV and I've just seen one of the most disturbing things I've ever seen. In the video a women has asked her husband to use a condom. He thought that she didn't trust him so he gathered a mob to beat her.

Please take the time to watch this video and then make a promise to change something. You really don't know how lucky you are.

What will you do with £1.40 today?

Sorry I know I don't do politics. But I just had to post about this.

Today the Tories announced at their party conference in Birmingham that if they win the next election they'll freeze Council Tax for two years.

(Big cheer)

Hang on...

The report on more 4 news then tells you how much that'll mean in your pocket - £1.40 per week! Hey wait for me in the charge to the shops I can now buy a loaf of bread!

Come on, if you're going to make a policy which in these times of financial crisis then at least don't take the piss.

But, on the bright side, if these guys get voted in then at least we can all afford a round of butties as we cry hopelessly for four years.

Mark Rothko at the Tate

The Tate are holding a large exhibition of Mark Rothko works. Regardless of if you love his work or think it's just a blob of colour on a board. Rothko's work definitely makes everyone have an opinion. The BBC have put together a virtual tour of the exhibition which gives you a feel for the scale of the works.

£946 Million Profit for Lloyds of London!!!!!!

Listening to the news today a warning came from Lloyds of London the insurer. They have issued a profit warning they've only made £946 Million profit this year. Which is apparently down about 50% on last year (I was driving so please excuse any inaccuracy here).

Somehow I find it really hard to feel sorry for them!

Day in my Life

I really love my digital camera. The really cool thing about it is that there is no cost involved in using it, other than batteries. With camera 1.0 film and processing where quite a cost, which is why when I was a kid photos where only taken on special occasions and everyone had to be positioned and smiling at the camera, or holding something or pointing at something. Pictures where still a luxury.

Well not any more. Now I can take as many as I like and if they are crap they can be deleted. My thought is that if they are essentially free and instant, why should they be deleted?

What better way to catch your life and what's important to you than capturing an image of it. When time's passed you can never, ever get it back so if you have a picture of it you should keep it, cos you can't go back.

Today I took my camera everywhere with me. I shot over 170 pictures, some great, some crap but not one can be re-created. I've just uploaded them here on FaceBook.

Album 1 Album 2 Album 3

The idea was to catch the day from the dull to the mildly interesting. It was my day no one elses.

Google Phone er not quite finished I think

I love all things Google, but they do have a habit of pushing things out a bit too quickly sometimes. Chrome isn't quite there, though I'm sure it soon will be.

They seem to have done the same thing with the Google phone. Their main competition is clearly the iPhone. Now the open source code used on the Google Phone will mean that creating software will be easy and quick and that new iterations can me sorted out very quickly, which is where Apple don't quite get there because they have strict controls over programming which holds them back.

The trick Google have missed is the design element of the Google Phone. It looks old and clumsy when compared to the iPhone or most other designed handsets so its going to lose out. I'm sure they'll get there but they need some some design support. It must be hard for them they're not product designers there are more dimensions than HTML to deal with.

I'm sure the software and the actual phone will be amazing but until it appears on a credible handset to complement it, it's going to struggle.

BBC Lomography Documentary

Lots of people keep asking me where I first heard of Lomo cameras and what they could do. I first saw this lomography documentary on the BBC a long time ago. It stayed with me and I only just got round to buying the camera. The camera gives me a lot of joy and has re-newed my interest in photography in general. I like to use the 10 lomography rules with my digital camera too.

1. Take your LOMO everywhere you go & whenever you go.
2. Use it anytime — day or night.
3. Lomography is not an interference in your life, but a part of it.
4. Shoot from the hip.
5. Approach the objects of your lomographic desire as close as possible.
6. Don't think.
7. Be fast.
8. You don't have to know beforehand what you've captured on film.
9. You don't have to know afterwards, either.
10. Don't worry about the rules.

Here's the first part of the BBC Documentary.

Current.com TV

I've been watching current.com TV on proper TV for a while now. I've just registered for the website too. This is just the kind of thing the Internet and now digital TV was made for. The content is generated by the viewers and voted for by the viewers. You can sit a criticise the shows and you can make them yourself. This is total democracy because your stories and videos will be voted for by your peers. If only TV was more like this.

Still it take a dedicated amount of people to control this and take enough of an interest which is why the vast majority of the population will just stick to Eastenders. There's no thinking involved to handle that.

Cibelle

On Friday I want to the Brudenell Social Club for a free gig by Cibelle. I had no idea what to expect. What I didn't expect was a voice from the past so clear and true mixed with improvisation and live mixing on stage. Really something very special she really deserves a stage bigger than the one on Friday night.

Having said that I'm really privileged to have been there that night. Her gigs are surely impossible to repeat.

Scary Rabits

I visited the Yorkshire Sculpture Park today near Huddersfield. They have some amazing scary rabbits. Check em out!

Make a difference

I don't normally get involved in politics, I don't know enough and can't construct a strong enough argument. However, I do see that aside from the normal political turmoil all the parties, are very very similar.

I see this as a marketing issue. When you have a homogenised market you need to stand out. All the parties follow the exact same rules. Party conference, broadcasts, Direct Mail, tour of the country etc. Same old thing year after year no wonder the general public are so apathetic.

Why not do something radical and wrap it around a policy? I've no idea what policy, that's not the point here.

How about scraping the party conference? Admit that the country is in turmoil and that posturing is just for your own gratification. The coverage you'll get for not having a conference will be immense. Sure the next time it comes around your opposition may use the same tactic, but you've got first mover advantage.

Wrap it all up with a great policy announcement and you have a winner. That's just one idea, there must be thousands they can do. If nothing radical is done very soon the UK will have only one party and one view and surely that not what democracy is all about is it?

Unwinding the credit crunch

I've just read the Credit Crunch Glossary on the BBC site. My got no wonder it's all gone wrong, have you seen what these jokers have been doing!

Unwinding

A lot of the trades carried out by big banks involve agreeing to buy or sell or deliver or receive something on a particular date in the future. You might, for example, pay $10,000 for 100 barrels of a particular type of oil to be delivered in November.

To unwind a position, you just do the opposite of what you did in the first place. So if you bought 100 barrels of oil to be delivered in November then to unwind the position you have to sell someone 100 barrels of oil to be delivered in November. It is very important to unwind a position because otherwise you end up having 100 barrels of oil delivered to your desk, which is embarrassing.

Also, you do not get the $10,000 back or make any profits until you have unwound your position.The problem at Lehman Brothers is that there are all sorts of trades that have been made that will not be unwound because the traders have been laid off. So the challenge for the administrators is to unwind all the positions before they start receiving oil or gold or whatever the traders have been dealing in. This will be an enormous task and the administrators need to try to lose as little money as they can while doing it.

Meanwhile, the banks that have done deals with Lehman don't know when they will get their money back - until all deals have been unwound.

Credit Cruch hits home

OK lets get this up front. I know bugger all about the markets I'm not a follower of finance and I struggle to balance my own finances.

Having said all that. Know that the credit crunch is hitting home, exactly where it should with the big banks, don't you think this is karmic justice?

All these years the fat cats in the City and on Wall Street have been gambling with investors money and paying themselves massive unsustainable bonus'. Now they're all upset that the end of million pound bonus' is here and they can't continue to arse up our economy and the world with it.

How on earth where they all so blinkered to think that if they just kept stacking the odds they could keep winning. Well it's beginning to fall, and they've only themselves to blame. The firms that have already gone or have be bought by competitors or a government will actually release all the tension and allow the market to re-group.

Posters of the cold war

I love propaganda posters, they play on the most basic of human instincts - hate. Not that I condone hatred.

The way that the simplest of design styles portrays a powerful message which entrances a country or state has always fascinated me. Though the styles vary massively the simplicity always stays. These posters are designed for the lowest common denominator and give people something to rally round, it makes them feel part of a group - protected in their collective hatred of another group. As an artform I'm not certain how beloved it is, such amazing graphics but with a very dark meaning.

The V&A are holding an exhibition Cold War Modern to highlight the works.

Elbow win Mercury Music Prize

Say what you like about the Mercury Music Prize but at least the line up of contenders is mixed. The prize awards the best album of the past year and this year Elbow deservedly won this year with Seldom Seen Kid.

I only discovered Elbow this year at Glastonbury. If you've not heard the album yet it's well worth a go. The lyrics are so perfect, small stories within themselves.

Shame is now that so many people will discover them that they could turn into just another band who dilute their essence once they become popular. I hope not because that would be a real shame.

Genuis of Bruce Lee

Since I was a teenager I've loved Bruce Lee films. No matter how badly dubbed or acted I can watch them time and time again. Just showed my boy his first Bruce Lee clip and he loved it. The thing that most people miss in my opinion is that its not about violence its the artistry of it.

The control and discipline it takes is phenomenal. Just wish I could make the same achievement.

The end of the recesson has been announced

I said it would come didn't I! I was just reading the BBC website a guy from the Nationwide said that UK house prices would drop by 25% from their high point but that all would be better by 2010.

All reported by the BBC wrapped up inside a bad news story.

The media announce the beginning and the end of the recession in one fell swoop!

Lomography Wall in Yorkshire

I've only just got my Lomo Supersampler and as you can probably tell I'm pretty excited. I'd love to organise a Lomography Wall exhibition in Yorkshire, ideally Leeds.

Can't do it on my own as I've not got enough pictures yet. If you're in the area or know someone who is then please let me know. You can leave a comment or contact me directly.

Lomography is so amazing

My Lomo camera just gets better and better. The few shots I've had out of it are amazing. I've just started building my profile on the Lomo site and for the camera I have the Supersampler there is a feature where the site will animate the shot. This works best with a picture with lots of motion in, clearly, but the effect is amazing.

I'm trying to link to my profile but can't see how to do it easily. Here's a link to the Lomography Homes search for Richard Michie and you'll find my stuff (I hope). If not you'll definitely find a whole new world of images you never knew existed.

Google Chrome screen draw

Still testing Google Chrome. First gripe: I don't think the screen draw or the font rendering is a nice as IE. It all looks a bit to sparse and doesn't add enough weight to the page. What do you think?

Google Chrome

Just downloaded Google Chrome and I'm using it to write this post.

At first glance it's very bear. Maybe I'm used to all the clutter of IE and the shock of the new is always a bit off putting. Literally only just loaded it so not had a chance to test it properly.

I'm kind of surprised it doesn't have the functionality of the Google Toolbar built in to it. That seems like a lost opportunity especially as early adopters of this will be SEO and web builders who almost insist on having those tools. Maybe they are for further down the line.

All in all it looks good. I'm going to try using it all day today and see what I think later.

Odd Things

Driving through Hillsborough in Sheffield tonight.

Saw two guys carrying a piano, which is pretty odd in Hillsborough.

100 yards down the road a one legged man!

All too random for a Tuesday night

Google launch an IE killer

Google have just announced they are about to launch their own web browser - Chrome.

Just the next step towards the Google virtual desktop as far as I can see. Question is why has it taken them so long to do it? I still use IE can't get used to Firefox. I'll give Chrome a go, I use most Google stuff anyway.

Reaching your audience

A great way to acquire new customers is to take your existing database and ask a data company to supply you with "look-a-likes". These customers will have similar characteristics to the ones you already have. If you're starting from scratch you can tell the data company who you'd like and they can supply that for you.

Problem is that these people are cold. They've never heard of you or your service, or they'd already be customers. A great idea is to begin to spread your product/service by piggy backing your product with something that similar customers will buy.

Great idea if you have something you can distribute free. If it's close enough you're getting your self into the hands of the right customers without giving them any risk. If you're close enough they become your marketing strategy all on their own. Seth Godin sums up the idea here.

If you're small enough and the product fits why not try it?

Glimmer

Life's full of little glimmers.

So keep a good watch out for them

Lomo pics

Just got back my first lot of pictures from my Lomo Supersampler. I'm well impressed.

Becasue you get a stream of pictuures they seem to capture life, because it captures movment on one frame the Lomo captures the moment in an amazing way.

How did you get here?

I don't mean to work, your PC, out of bed or even to this blog. I mean how did you get to do whatever it is you do? Why do you live where you do? Why do you like certain food? Love a specific tune? Have your world view?

Lots of things have changed for me recently and maybe because of that this question has been playing on my mind.

In my mind I'm so far removed from my upbringing that when I drop back into it, it seems almost alien. I know that my upbringing has built my psyche this far, it's helped me develop to where I am and made me who I am. But when I analyse it I struggle to see these connections.

For the record I had a great upbringing with no major traumas and I have a very loving family. Just sometimes I can't see the connection.

Hey make a list

Not a new idea granted but something that most people overlook.

When you have loads of stuff to do, I know you're just like me, break it down into small parts and make yourself a list. I used to use pen and paper only problem is that way you write down what's at the front of your mind which isn't necessarily what is your most important job.

I now use word and use the auto number function. I brain dump it all and then rearrange it on screen. If you get it right you should get quite a long list of pretty small jobs.

The reason small jobs on the list are important is that having one big job summed up in a line means it's too daunting. Break large jobs into smaller chunks.

I said it's not a new idea. But I bet most of you don't do it.

Ikea Presentation Style

I just read this great post on Presentation Zen about the simplicity and effectiveness of Ikea's signage and how it can be used as a direction for presentations.

I love doing presentation design and follow the Presentation Zen ethos. I've never thought of slides as billboards before but after reading this I think it gives the idea more clarity and it's a easier way to get across the message to any slide designer.

Design it like it's a billboard.

Comment spamming

I thought that the practice of content spamming had died. It's unethical, stupid and is done without much thought. On here I have verification for comments, the who ever spammed me had to do it manually. I love people adding comments and links to their own or other sites which help or add to the discussion. That's what blogs are all about as far as I'm concerned.

But just adding a list of keywords with links to your sites and no comments is just dumb. Needless to say I removed the comment spam. My site I'm sure doesn't have much clout but if you want to use whatever it has please do it constructively.

Michael Stipe on the One Show

I'm just watching the One Show on BBC 1. It's a throw-away magazine programme, just now it's doing a report on Cabbage White butterflies. For some bizarre reason they've got Micheal Stipe on. God knows how they got this booking.

Michael looks totally bewildered especially as he was sitting next to Gyles Brandreth! This is one of the oddest things I've seen in ages. I'm assuming that Stipe's Agent is about to be fired after this.