Our economy and our future direction

Myself, much like many others, have been watching the series called "Addicted to Money" on the ABC in Australia. The series highlights serious truths about capitalism in our society and the price to be paid in having an economy based on darwinian assumptions of pure competition. However instead of merely criticising the economic system much of the world has relied on in the past centuries, the program presents a solution. This solution rests in infusing the capitalistic ideals into innovation and development of a better system of energy, food and resource efficiency.

Someone who has seen this opening is Shai Agassi, the CEO and founder of Better Place, a company that aims to promote green transportation through electric cars. And has been named as one of TIME magazines 100 most influential people of 2009. The direction of Better Place is going to be more and more common among organisations in the future decades as oil supplies (which have now reached peak levels and are only going to fall and fade to nothing in the next 40 years) diminish and create exponential prices. Companies need to be proactive in seeing the changing landscape and aim to be part of the solution to the problem and fund research into alternative methods and actively seek to support organisations that are focussing on that direction.

The next 40 years are going to be an interesting time as the world attempts to redefine its directions and ideas of consumption and usage of energy.

You can watch addicted to money streaming here

Road Accidents and OPSM

OPSM has taken its marketing strategy in a new direction from its usually light and cheery advertisements to using a social responsibility focus to now focusing on the dangers of driving without being able to see. I think this latest advertisement may be more effective in the short run, but I question how long they can continue with these sorts of advertisements without them becoming like many of the speeding adverts that are just depressing. This is definitely their best advert in my opinion, however it doesn't differentiate OPSM from any other glasses outlet in the market, and I think consumers are going to be left with the message but not the brand in their mind. You can check out OPSM's new commercial by BMF here

Morgan Stanley really published this??!!

Reading through some articles on marketing I noticed report published by Morgan Stanley research. I read the article due to the buzz it had created on the internet and marketing blogs, the main draw card is that the article was written based on insights given by a 15 year old summer intern working at Morgan Stanley. I am shocked that Morgan Stanley published this, although it may detail some relevant information from the perspective of the intern's own experience, it does little to give someone any sort of assurance that these are accurate assumptions.

Although I am shocked they published it, I take my hat off to Morgan Stanley for publishing this. I am currently conducting some of my own research for Morgan Stanley, using pre-school children to speculate anticipated currency movements between AUD and USD by drawing lines with green and blue crayons, this report will be published later this year.

You can read the non-sarcastic Morgan Stanley report here

Obama's Speech to the Arab World

A couple of days ago, Obama made a landmark speech in Cairo outlining his intentions for a partnership based on mutal understanding and respect between the west and the Arab world. There was no one better to do this, than Barack Hussein Obama, a man who is of african heritage, who spent part of his schooling in an Indonesian Pesantren in Jakarta (an Islamic school). Obama demonstrated this by greating the Arab world with the words "assalaamu alaykum" which translates to "peace be upon you" in in Arabic which is used by Muslims to great one another. This was something that many of the news channels did not speak of which is a shame because i believe it not only demonstrates his courtesy in speaking the language of his hosts, but also of his understanding and respect for Islam and its followers. Obama's obvious understanding of the religion is further demonstrated with his quotes of the Qu'ran.

I am particularly impressed with Obama's approach to this speech, this is something that has never been done by another US president and it is through such actions of selfless mutual respect that Obama proposed the US repairs its damaged relationship with the Arab world. The first step the US president made was admitting the faults of America towards the issue, accepting the responsibility meant more to the Islamic world than new promises ever would. Obama added that changes were not only one way and that the Arab world had many to make as well - notably the violence between Israel and Palestine (of which he used the name - another landmark admission).

I hope this speech put in the ground work for new beginnings between the two worlds and i hope that America will understand how essential these actions are.

Sacha Baron Cohen & Eminem

I really didn't know what to make of this when i first saw it. But it remains one of the funniest things i have seen on live TV in a long time! Sacha Baron Cohen continues to push boundaries with his characters, this time with the gay, austrian, Bruno. If you haven't seen it you can watch it on youtube. Some have said that Eminem was in on the act others go on to say that he didn't realise it was going to happen that way or that "Bruno" was going to be wearing such revealing pants while sitting on his face. I don't really care about who was in on what, as far as i am concerned, it was a believeable reaction by Eminem that cracked me and the rest of the world up and if it was planned, then Eminem is not only a talented rapper but a very good actor!

Tiananmen Sqaure Massacre

Well its been 20 years and China still refuses to acknowledge the massacre that occurred in the midst of a friendly student protest about democracy in China. Still, the new generation of chinese people have no idea of the horror that occurred at the hands of their own government. It is an outrage that such a government has been able to sweep such an atrocity under the proverbial rug. It is even more of an atrocity that the Olympic Game- something that symbolises freedom and unity was allowed to be held in a country that can't even be honest with its own people or diplomatic with its neighbours (Tibet). China remains to be one of the dominant financial superpowers and since the economic turmoil has gained greater power in the financial world lending the US Government another trillion dollar loan. However, if China wishes to be recognized as an emerging super power, it must make some serious changes to its government's leadership methods and diplomatic relations.

Twitter for Marketing Campaign

The new Nissan 370Z is going to be targeted towards tech savvy buyers given the new campaign proposed by Whybin/TBWA Melbourne. The campaign will feature a Twitter page supported by a customized website. The twitter page will be updated with reasons why consumers should buy the car. This is utilizing current social networking trends and is leading the charge in innovative campaigns. I hope this is a successful campaign for Nissan and TBWA.

Who is white mike??

This shark has been surfacing everywhere lately and even has its own twitter page! I was curious as to what it was so i decided to do some research. I have now discovered that this is a environmental movement that is trying to get the message out that sharks are endangered. There is a documentary that everyone should watch called Sharkwater, it exposes the illicit hunting of sharks for their fins off many primarily third world countries and as of 2004 the great white population has dropped 70%!!

You can learn more about this issue on on their webpage

This is such a serious issue and it really needs to be addressed as Sharks are often neglected in environmental fights and there is NO international governing body that is in charge of enforcing illegal fishing off coasts! What is up with that!!!

Twitter for promotions anyone????

For those of you who thought twitter couldn't be utilized to get the word out, here is proof. #Hoppusday was devised by a blink 182 fan site which started in Brazil and then went viral on twitter. It increased the exposure of blink 182 and mark hoppus and left millions of twitters wondering who or what was #hoppusday? Guesses were a religious holiday ie something to do with opus dei as well as people just thinking it was meant to be "helpusday" LOL

Twitter is the new medium of marketing and promotion jump on people!

follow mark hoppus here

Sounds of M83

M83 is a band i have been listening to recently. They are a french electronic band with a really chilled out sound that is similar to Postal Service or Air. Their latest album came out last year and is called Saturdays = Youth. 

You can download the album from this site

Bottled Water

This video is so true and yet sooooo FUNNY!!!Anyone who is interested in marketing i strongly urge you to watch this!!!!

I can't believe they charge so much for this shit!!! 1000 times the price of tap water!

The Truth About Bottled Water

Best new show!

I have recently been watching a UK show called Skins. It is amazingly funny and really enjoyable to watch. I highly recommend it to people! Watch it.

~ Dev Patel, from Slumdog Millionaire got the lead for that film because the director's daughter saw him on Skins and recommend him for the role! Pretty cool trivia!

Dammit O'reilly. Enough!

Eminem has just released a single called "We Made You". And the music video for the song contains a parody of Sarah Palin among other well known (as bad as they are!) figures such as Jessica Simpson. Prominent news journalist Bill O'Reilly decided to take a shot at Eminem for promoting obscene imagery and lyrical content saying he was "obviously on an obscene rant about Sarah Palin" finishing by saying "eminem means nothing....this video means nothing. Its played for kids that are confused". 

I can understand O'Reilly's angle but i think he is out of line to criticise rap music because he doens't listen or understand it. I also think O'reilly should focus on all the other people that are vilified in the video if he is going to take issue with it, Sarah Palin gets a lot of this kind of stuff O'Reilly should be over it by now. 

I often watch the O'Reilly factor to get the other side of some news, however i believe O'Reilly is wrong about Eminem, his fans know his songs are just small shots at people and his music video reflects that and its what we come to expect from his videos. Eminem is gifted with his rapping ability and Rap is a popular musical genre with many talented artists and it is something O'Reilly should acknowledge. 

Watch the video here

Southpark + Kanye West +his Ego = Hilarious Comedy!

Kanye West often finds himself being the subject of much criticism due to his ego, not that i don't give him credit, that guy is talented!! However southpark decided to pock fun of this on their latest episode (S13 Ep5). Really funny stuff! I don't know how they come up with it! Anywho this is the song they did which closely resembles Kanye West's song "Heartless". Enjoy 

Kanye West (Trey Park) - Gay Fish Song

Do not ever tell this guy "no"

Ok, so lets get this right. The president of Fiji Frank Bainimarama besically gets angry with a court ruling that stated his military coup in 2006 was invalid. So in reponse to this, he sacks the judicial committee and then tears up the constitution??? hmmm. Now i am no expert on this subject but this seems kind of dodgy....

Welcome

Welcome to my first blog post.

My name is Dane, i am going to be talking about anything that is going on in the digital world as well as music or whatever is on my mind.