Archive for: March, 2007

Killer Flash

Mar 23 2007 Published by under Marketing, Miscellany, Technology, The Internet

While strolling through way too many posts exploring the “Did de Vellis Act Alone?” conspiracy, a note on audio editing reminded me of the flash intro for a website I stumbled upon years ago. The site, for an audio loop and effect company called Killer Sound, featured a flash intro that still impresses me today. It’s probably been five or six years since I first saw this, but it’s still good.

Killer Sound

If you’re interested in good design, check it out here. Admittedly, the flash presentation is dated, and we’ve moved beyond limited audio to full motion video today, but that’s not really the point. We’ve also moved in color advertising, but the Daisy Ad still gives you chills…

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Locke, Bad Daddies, And The Magic Box

Mar 22 2007 Published by under Programming, Television

If you didn’t catch Lost last night, you really need to take a trip over to ABC.com and check it out. If I haven’t said it enough, let me reiterate that this season is SO much better than last year. It’s just leaps and bounds ahead.

So where to begin? There’s not a jury in the world that would convict John Locke for killing his dad. After stealing his kidney, dad pops up in John’s life again. It seems dad’s going to get hitched, and his new son-in-law is not too keen on the new guy in mom’s life. He seeks John out to check up on Dad’s background.

Locke confronts dad, tells him the kid is checking up, and instructs him to break off the relationship. Dad, great guy that he is, kills the son and throws Locke out an eighth story window. Locke’s confinement to the wheelchair is explained.

Back on the island, Kate and Sayid get caught trying to rescue Jack. The good doctor tells Kate he was on his way off the island and would send back help. Before he can pack his bags on the submarine, however, along comes Locke to detonate the submersible.

Henry Gale/Ben had told Locke of a great magic box on the island that would give you whatever you wish for. As a way to say thank you, he shows Locke what it belched up when he opened it. They lead Locke to a cell, open the door, and… TA-DA!!! There’s dad, taped to a chair and looking scared.

Now what would you do if you’re Locke? Having given up a kidney for this guy, and then getting tossed off a building for my trouble, I know for a fact I’d charge the chair, rip his still beating heart from his chest and hold it in front of his face so he could see how black it is before he dies.

But that’s just me…

I’m curious to see where they’re going with this storyline…

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Edwards’ Smokescreen?

Mar 22 2007 Published by under Candidates, Democrats, Elections, Politics

I’m eagerly awaiting the announcement by John Edwards that is scheduled for noon. As I wait, here is my thought. While I fully appreciate his wife’s illness, and wish her no harm, I’m not quite sure that her ailment is the only reason for his campaign suspension.Earlier this week, Patrick Ruffini detailed the trouble Edwards was having in campaign fundraising. Despite his standing among the leftroots, Edwards is raising less than stellar amounts of money. His ActBlue total is a little over $1.1 million now, and that is pretty weak by the standard of what Hillary and Obama are raising. His campaign can’t possibly have much fuel and the one thing he has been able to get press on was the poor decision to hire Amanda Marcotte. He’s not exactly a juggernaut.

While I respect Edwards for putting his family first, I’m doubtful that this was the whole reason for his decision.

UPDATE: Well, at the risk of being completely cynical, it’s even worse than I thought. The whole purpose of the press conference seems to have been “Hey, look at us. My wife is sick and I’m running for President.”

I’m not sure exactly why we should care about the fact that a) Elizabeth is sick, but treatable, and b) it’s not going to have an impact on his campaign. I hope to God this doesn’t start a trend where POTUS candidates call a press conference to get attention any time their spouse sneezes.

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ParkRidge47′s Gift To The Democrats

Mar 21 2007 Published by under Democrats, Operatives, Politics, Republicans, Technology, The Internet

While a lot of hand wringing has begun on the left, and much fretting over the impact on Hillary and Obama’s campaign has commenced, the real impact of ParkRidge47′s handiwork on the 2008 campaign will likely never be seen. The real impact will be felt in the Republican party, and for our guys, it’s not good.

At this moment, there are a bunch of Communications guys in GOP campaigns and consultancies who are using this as justification to avoid doing anything interesting on the web. They’re pointing to the 1984 ad as evidence that doing anything that isn’t “strictly on message” is inherently bad. They’re going to use this to reinforce their position that the Internet is simply too wild, too hard to control, and has no place in their well oiled machine.

For that reason, people in the Republican Party who understand the power of the Internet, and see the positive contribution this video represents, have just had their lives made harder. Those in the GOP machinery who are fighting for more openness, more transparency, more participation, and the empowerment of the individual have just received a swift kick.

When YouTube produced the Macaca moment, it made GOP operatives skittish. Despite the fact that this happened outside the GOP and involved Dem operatives savaging Dem candidates, it will be seen as further confirmation that the Internet is where bad things happen. The Net has not yet yielded a win for the GOP, only losses. Most of the anecdotal evidence to its effectiveness is stuff like this – and it is seen as a distraction.

So ParkRidge47, despite what you may hear on the news for the next few days, is not a rogue operative who as done damage to Hillary or Barack. He ultimately will be seen as a hero to Democrats, because he will have kept the GOP from realizing the potential of the Internet for a little while longer.

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Pointless RNC E-mail

Mar 21 2007 Published by under Politics, Republicans, The Internet

The RNC tonight sent out what may be the most pointless e-mail of all time. With the Administration thumping its chest and preparing to go to war over what may be either the most inept or the most dishonest bureaucrat our country has seen in a long time, and Democrats thumping their chest over holding hearings to investigate said ineffectual bureaucrat, the RNC decided to send out this little bit of pabulum.

Dear Michael,

Alberto Gonzales is a man of integrity and high ethical standards. He has pledged to cooperate with Congress and I am confident he will. I have said that it is irresponsible to pronounce judgment on the replacement of the U.S. Attorneys before we have the facts. Unfortunately, some would prefer to make political pronouncements instead of getting the facts. There is no question that U.S. attorneys, like all political appointees, serve at the pleasure of the President. That was true when Bill Clinton’s Justice Department replaced all 93 U.S. attorneys, and it remains true today. The Democrats may feign outrage to distract from their discord on the serious issues our nation faces, but sooner or later they will have to face the real responsibilities of governing.

Below, please find the President’s remarks on this issue that he made last night.

Sincerely,

Chairman Ken Mehlman
Senator Mel Martinez
Republican Party General Chairman

That copy is followed with the text of President Bush’s remarks from last night.

On one level, it’s typical of the RNC’s problems with the Internet. Their online operation is done for nothing more than simple messaging. It doesn’t allow anyone to participate (whether they agree or not). If you want to assume that the party is going to be solidly behind the President on this one, why not offer a chance to show their support?

On another level though, the message this particular message sends to the receiver is, “Hey, you’re too dumb to fully appreciate what’s going on, so just take our word for it. To make our point, we’re just going to regurgitate what the President said. Show’s over… Move along now….”

It is really a condescending message to send to your own people.

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