That’s what’s going on in Los Angeles, home of boutique recruiting/staffing agency Eleventh Hour, but here’s what’s going on around the “creative world”:
Shrekwon the weekend box office. (But, apparently, that’s not saying much.)
24finished it’s run last night, apparently on the low side of the ratings. (But, apparently, that’s saying much.)
New Facebook privacy controls arrive tomorrow. Are you ready? I’m sure you are. Not that you are looking forward to them, but I’m sure you are ready. Facebook makes functional changes seemingly weekly.
Brian Laesch is an independent blogger for the Marina del Rey-based boutique recruiting/staffing agency Eleventh Hour.
The Balloon Boy’s father (a.k.a. the poor man’s Bruce Jenner) just called me. He said he wanted to be mentioned in this post. Geez. Some people just can’t get enough publicity. I’ll let the lesser, CNN, cover him. We will continue to tackle the real, pressing issues.
Here are your links for the 21st day in August in the year 2009:
The Lebron James movie, “More Than A Game,” may be in 33rd place (with limited release) on Daily Variety’s Box Office list, but I think it should be first. I saw it this weekend. Great documentary. Of course, maybe everybody didn’t played high school basketball like I did.
Here’s another weird ad that will never be on television but is featured on CREATIVITY. I’m a big fan of New Balance shoes, so I won’t hold them accountable for this stupid advertisement. (Do I get a free pair now?)
Here’s an interesting interview with Twitter Co-Founder, Dom Sagolla. He answers every question in 140 characters or less. Hey-oh! (No? Nothing on that one? OK.)
Barnes & Noble has launched it competitor to Amazon’s Kindle: Nook.
Burger King has added the quarter-pound double cheeseburger to it’s $1 Menu. I guess it’s not really “creative” but it does make me hungry.
Adidas is making a push with their “Basketball is a Brotherhood” campaign to remind fans (and kids who remind their parents to buy basketball shoes) that they have NBA All-Stars on their roster too. It’s not all Nike.
Bing has signed a deal with Twitter and Facebook to include status updates in their results. Wow. I can’t wait to see more status updates! (Not really.)
Are you ready for Google’s new music service? It will be interesting. But, are you ready for cragislist’s new music service, in which you download text files of the song lyrics and sing them yourself? It’s going to revolutionize the digital music industry. (I mean, Google. I made up the craigslist thing.)
Welcome to Around the Creative World for October 13, 2009. I’ll be bringing you an assortment of links that cover an assortment of media-centric topics from an assortment of places. You can then sort through them and see what sort of links you like best.
Sointenly!
Shout-outs to the Three Stooges on that one. Rest in Peace, Curly. Stay up, homies. (It’s funny how that actually sounded kind of gangsta, but it was meant to be a joke.)
Anyway…
I saw Paranormal Activity this weekend. I think it’s been a Trending Topic in Twitter for a week straight. If you liked Blair Witch Project at all, you’ll like this movie. It was fourth at the weekend Box Office, pulling in $7,900,695, but I have a feeling it will be right back up there next weekend, if not higher. I’d also predict a good percentage of people (teenagers) going back to see it a second time.
Guess what? Bing is slowly starting to gain it’s share of search advertising dollars. I’m still not happy with them on a personal level…but I’m also rooting for them. (So I’m internally conflicted…about whether or not I like Bing. That’s all I’m talking about.) Is this a backlash based on Google elitism? Or do people simply like to view backdrop Ansel Adams photos as they search?
Is there a class divide in social networking? I’ve been saying for years that Myspace reminds me of a once-affluent neighborhood that lost a corporation’s national headquarters and turned into a ghetto. (That’s why I now rap about what’s going on in my Myspace hood. I’m from the streets. Not really.)
Welcome back to Around the Creative World. Today is 9/29/09. I really should have done that 9.9.9 joke this week. 9.29.09 works better than 9.23.09. Oh well. Live and learn. The next time one of these unique dates comes around, I’ll be ready to poke fun at the next preceding date that is best served for the purpose of a marketing phenomena to sell movies, etc. But for now…here are some links from around the creative worlds of advertising, marketing, entertainment, the Internet and more…
Burger joint Red Robin has had some success on Facebook. (Disclosure: I was moved to post this link due to a craving for Red Robin.)
Secret Service is investigating a Facebook poll regarding Obama. I won’t even repeat the question, but it’s horrible. What is wrong with people?
Here’s a cool new Gillette commercial featuring Atlanta Falcons’ Quarterback Matt Ryan. So glad that football is back. (What? Is Week 4 too late to say that?)
Are you ready for live CNN video news feeds via your iPhone? I know I am…but first I need the iPhone.
Here’s a weird/very creative way to visualize just how fast Comcast High-Speed Internet with PowerBoost is.
Apparently, I’m the only one who finds this Apple Store love song annoying. BrandFreak likes it, and it has a high rating on YouTube. It’s making me feel like I’m 60 years old, wondering what’s wrong with the youth today. Oh well. Gotta go tend the garden. I’ll be right back.
OK, I’m back from tending the garden. Speaking of gardening, Australia would not let me into their country if I really was. Good thing I just made that up for the purpose of illustrating that I’m feeling older.
Google Wave invitations (100,000) start going out tomorrow. Is it time for the next big shift in the technological plates that make up the Internet? Is this like a reverse-Pangaea effect? Am I getting too cute with this link? My bad.
Here is the entire pilot episode for The Cleveland Show on Hulu. I haven’t watched it yet, but I’m a fan of the Family Guy, and my brother interviewed to be a production assistant on this show, so I figured it was worth posting.
Have I mentioned that Eleventh Hour is on Twitter?
It’s 9.23.09 today. You know what that means? This is the last time “9s” will be on either side of “23″ in…I don’t have time to do the math. The effects of the recession are still lingering so I’ve gotta keep moving. Sorry. I know you were really excited to find out the next time “9s” will be on either side of “23.”
Now for the links…
Are you ready for a sequel to the Nicholas Cage blockbuster Ghost Rider!? …me neither.
Adidas helps some NBA stars speak directly with fans in China. (I think this is really cool…especially since my boy, D. Rose, is one of the stars. Go Bulls.)
I guess Ashton Kutcher has Facebook’s first hit series? Has anyone seen it? I’d check it out…if I had time between school, fighting the recession and pinpointing the exact purpose for my life. As soon as I check those off the list, I’m there!
Here’s a funny new Vitaminwater commercial featuring 50 Cent and Steve Nash, in which they ask the consumer to create their own flavor. I like 50’s “Slumdog Millionaire” line. Also, I swear Steve Nash’s new comedic media personality is inspired by my…let’s just call it…earlier work. Ha.
File this one under the category “Scary Cus It’s True.” The Onion never fails to offer a great, quick break from doing anything productive (not that I condone that type of behavior). I decided to share the viral buzz with all of you. (We have 100,000 readers a day now. Right, Matt?)
On the bright side, maybe knowing that your parents are now watching your every move online will help curb poor decisions that ultimately lead to an HR representative doing an unofficial background check and finding content similar to that on the Facebook page in this video. Hey, I had to tie it into Eleventh Hour somehow, right?
So take it from eMom, be careful on Facebook and Twitter. You never know who is watching.
By the way, did I mention that Eleventh Hour is on Twitter.
Brian Laesch wonders how many unofficial background checks have been performed on his name.
Welcome to the last day of August. This is Around the Creative World for your Monday, August 31st, 2009. I’m your host, Brian Laesch. I will now pause for station identification:
You’re listening to the Eleventh Hour: the world beyond recruiting blog. Number one in Marina Del Rey since 2008.
OK, we’re back…
Disney has acquired Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion.
Noww u cain support edumacation threw Sonic’s nu “Limeades for Learning” program. Itz 2 leight 4 me. Help this future.
Fox and Twitter hopes you are ready for “tweet-peats” (encore presentations of shows with cast and crew members simultaneously “tweeting” about the show). Sell now, Twitter. I’m just sayin’…
New random television spot from Old Spice and W+K Portland: Scents for Gents
Captain Morgan: Converting heavy uncontrolled substance users to rum consumers?
It’s Monday so you know what time it is. (No, not #musicmonday time on Twitter. What are you? 16?) It’s time for Around the Creative World! I know. You are pumped.
President Barack Obama would like to send you a 3 million dollar inheritance. Please respond with your bank account number, routing number and full contact information. (OK…not exactly, but as AdAge points out, the healthcare email spam was a misstep.)
French’s weird little Mustard Man has earned a spot at the upcoming Advertising Icon Museum in Kansas City, Mo.
Michael Moore is set to release his new documentary, ‘Capitalism: A Love Story.’ Oh boy! Can’t wait to hear more about the recession! (Fine…I’ll probably see it.)
Hope everybody had a great 4th of July. I spent mine in Chicago. Actually, I spent the 3rd of July in Chicago. I spent July 4th inside a condo, as it rained outside in Chicago. According to Matt, the weather in LA was great though. Looks like I missed out. But not as much as YouTube is going to miss out on advertising dollars once these iPods with video cameras catch on and flood their site with garbage! (Brilliant segway.)
Hard to believe the 4th of July is almost here. Where did June go? Maybe I spent too much time blogging… Nah! (I just high-fived my laptop. Too much time at the computer?)
Here are the latest links related to advertising, marketing, entertainment, the internet and anything creativity-related. Enjoy!
Rest in Peace, Billy Mays. It’s still very hard to believe that he died at 50, three days or so after appearing on Conan, and after the summer of celebrity deaths we have already had. AdAge wonders what will happen to his ads.
Remember those weird Bill Gates/Jerry Seinfeld Microsoft ads? The weirdness continues with Dean Cain.
Rest in Peace, Michael Jackson. Director Bob Giraldi remembers working with “the gloved one” on the famous Pepsi campaign.
Yes, We Cannes = A bunch of creative types try hard to pump themselves up in France, Obama-style.
Wear your favorite New York Subway line on a t-shirt! (I have a feeling these shirts are a lot cooler if you wear them outside the city.)
Are public bathrooms the new hotspot for advertising? Well, maybe it’s not a “new” concept…but the methods seem to be getting more creative.
Pringles switches from “once you pop, you can’t stop” to “once you click, you can’t stop” with this banner ad.
Remember “pokes” on Facebook? They’ve made the jump to Twitter. (I know. I’m not excited about it either.)
