Schwag Hag

Media folk love some schwag...imedia vendors delivered in that department. This is what I came home to last night. Everything from free movies for a month from Fandango to private labeled sunscreen from Reuters. And a big box to put it all in which they will drop ship to your home. It's a new media christmas!

You've Been Buzzed

I love interactive media folks. Whenever we get together in one place, not only is it like a Star Trek convention (speaking our own language) new words to describe what we do float to the surface. When I attend events like the one im at right now, these new buzz words reveal themselves in presentations, discussions and even in written form in program copy. Social Media, UGC (user Generated Content), contextual, and many many more idioms like that have graced the wall of buzz word shame.

So now I reveal the new buzz marketing word of choice for interactive marketers around the world. I expect to start seeing this word on every agency website, in almost every vendor presentation and probably on a few t-shirts somewhere as well. We will use this word until it sickens us to hear it. Like "social networking" or " new media", just hearing this word will cause severe hot flashes, blood to drip from your ear and eye sockets and and an uncontrollable need to throw a random object at a presentor or vendor.

I now present to you........drum roll...............

Marketecture (mar.kuh.TEK.chur) n :The design and structure of a market or a marketing campaign.

Me: "So how can your technology help my clients reach a better online audience."

Vendor: "Well, we'll need to look at your marketecture to determine what the most appropriate course of action will be..." "It's really all about how you've approached your marketecture, what new media strategies your employing and whether or not you're contextually reaching the social networking community in an efficient way"

Me: "Note to self: Remove vendor from my contact list"

Palm Springs Eternal

Love it here. See why....



Low Hanging Grapefruit


Window to the world


where the desert meets the sky


Lush


Framed by Date Palms


Desert Roses


Mi Casita es muy linda!


tangerines in the front yard

Simply Merv-oulous

Despite my travel-weariness, Im loving life right now. Im here. For work.. Go figure.

I just picked an orange from the tree outside my casita and ate it by the fireplace on my bougainvillea covered rooftoop terrace as I looked out across the 360 degree view of the Santa Rosa mountains on a clear blue 60 degree day.

Im gonna eat up these next 5 days like Merv Griffin gobbled up slightly rare steak dianne at his fabulous dinner parties just up the street. Or maybe like Paul Lynde gobbled up ....... in the bathroom (smirk).

A guy sitting across from me on the plane had on an ascot. I knew I was finally headed in the right direction.

Where and when

Where am I anymore?

Austin (11/21/07)
Raleigh
London
Amsterdam
London
Raleigh
Dallas
Austin
Dallas
Washington
Dallas
Austin (Today)
Dallas (Tomorrow)
Palm Springs
Dallas
Austin
Raleigh
Dallas
San Francisco
Sydney
Auckland
Melborne
Rarotonga
Melborne
Sydney
San Francisco
Dallas
Austin (1/12/08)

Emotional Disconnection

It was emotional and a disconnect, but not appreciated so I deleted.


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Snapshots in Time

John Goes National Geo

Jason Contemplates Life in a Wooden Shoe

Mark in deep thoughts about miniature windmills

Casey, mobile as always.

A Dutch Mini Miracle

We took the train to the Hague today and hit up Madurodam. Holland's miniture city. Everything is scaled to 1/25 of actual size. It was cold and windy and the fall leaves that often found their way into the streets really screwed up the visual scale. Nonetheless, it was really cool and we shot some great pics. The only thing that could have made it more fabulous was if they would have built a scale model of Madurodam and included it in the city. Now that would be worth the 9EU admission price.

For Black Peits Sake

So we've been seeing this strange character in blackface all over Holland. Hes on every store window, Television commercial and street poster. He called Zwarte Pieten (Black Peit). Black Peit accompanies Sinterklaas (Santa Clause) and some people say he helps identifies bad children who will, as a result, receive rocks in their wooden shoes rather than a present or candy. Whatever he stands for, hes a white man, dressed as a clown in complete black face, afro hair and bright red lipstick on that people literally run away from. I guess it's strange to see a country still celebrate something that includes an obvious racially-motivated stereotype without racial riots and a cease and desist order from some sort of overly sensitive interest group.

Yeah I said it...!

"Black Peit loves him some candy...."

This Black Peit was grabbing my ass while I took this picture. Really.

Wanna get beat up on Halloeen?

Amsterdam'n it

Canal homes with hoisting beams

Room with a view

The Dutch are well heeled.

Red Light Chocolates

Fry Guys

bike jam

Fat girls doin' it for themselves...

I have no idea where CR dug this chick up from, but she's beyond fierce. Walk on sister!

Hag Envy!!!

I love Ina Garten. I'm totally jealous of all her sophisticated gay friends I see eating with her on the patio on Martha's Vineyard. Pick me damnit!!

Broadway or Park Avenue?

I finally met Mr. Big, the 42 y/o international trade attorney who I’ve been chit chatting with in typing class. We had lunch near my office yesterday and exchanged bios, glances and some serious veiled innuendos. All was fine until he confessed to his 8 year long “relationship” with a married guy, which is still in full swing. To accommodate, they both escape to his home in San Diego once a month for their “alone” time. Evidentially the Guys wife knows all about it and tolerates it. It’s amazing what the fear of being alone will do in a person. A wife and mother who’s OK with her husband gallivanting around the globe with another man. Furthermore, a man willing to “date” another man who has a wife, kids and a life that he will never be able to share in. To his credit, he explained further that he is looking to get out of his current situation as he’s “recently realized he is getting the short end of the stick”. Well no shit Sherlock. Meeting me was his first attempt at finding a distraction. I’m not sure if I should be impressed or offended.

I’m so fucking sick and tired of all these married guys flooding my dating pool with their selfish behaviors and pathetic situations. Im as equally disgusted with the Gays for accomodating these guys sexual (rarely emotional) whims. Grow some balls folks. Who settles for a 25% relationship? The good news is I think that we are almost finished cycling through the “married, 2.5” generation, which hopefully means a new, more well adjusted crop of guys who feel comfortable living their lives honestly is on the rise. Im telling myself that anyway.

I’ve moved on to candidate number 2. He’s normal, single, educated and employed. He is a Yankee though, and that carries along with it some red flags. Im not letting it stop me. As I get older, I realize life is a lot like a game of horseshoes. It’s all about getting as close as you can to the pole and as long as that pole’s not in someone else’s yard, im good.

Status Check

The world seems to be whizzing by me these days. I’m working very hard at my job, keeping Coal cool among other election focused impossibilities. I’ve got 2 major trips abroad quickly approaching which are feeding the late nights and work-filled weekend plans. There’s nothing really profound in the news cycle that I feel the need to speak out about. I have been reaching out romantically, and have a few fish nibbling on the hook. I recently changed the bait I use, so the test and learn strategy is in full swing. I have an exciting new business venture that’s growing legs quickly. I’m angling for the cover of Wired, but I’d settle for a local piece in The Statesman. KV is moving back from San Francisco and were gearing up for his reinvention tour. And lastly, my house is being invaded by raccoons again. I may just let them stay and charge them rent. Other than that, its life as usual.

I leave you with this photo depicting what happens when you source and buy 30 lbs of Jerusalem artichokes and send them to your grandmother who makes enough artichoke relish to last a millennium.

When Good Goes Euro

I still love Eurotrash...Even when they murder good songs.

Coal part deux

Blanketing the earth with our new coal spot this week.

Bigfoot Contessa

KV's in town and right where we like him.. In my kitchen, cooking dinner for us.

The Life and Death of a Pumpkin

COAL comes out!

Wanna See It?

Thanks Coal!

(Please excuse blog owners feeble attempts at making COAL cool again, it's his day job right now)

California Dreamin'

This is America and I do believe that everyone is entitled to government sponsored disaster assistance when needed, but my sympathy is a bit limited in the case of the victims of the out-of-control California Wildfires… I watched 4 or 5 families speak about the absolute devastation to their multi-million dollar hillside homes that carried NO INSURANCE. So now our tax dollars are going to help pseudo-millionaires rebuild their lives again in the same high risk area. Several of those who were interviewed admitted that they couldn't’t afford home insurance but would rebuild again in the same spot…and CONTINUE to be uninsured. In my opinion, when you can’t afford home insurance, you must move into a home that you CAN afford it in. Because when it burns down, you won’t need to rely on government handouts to get your life back together.

Suze Orman, power lesbian financial guru gave harsh advice on the Oprah show to a California couple seeking help out of the financial disaster they made for themselves in Orange County. “Move out of California”, you can’t afford to live there anymore. I say this with a bitter-sweet tongue, as I know as more and more Californians are forced to flee the high cost of living there, they are settling here and in other parts of the country; spreading their nuevo riche lifestyles far and wide and increasing the cost-of-living for the rest of us.

I’d wish an earthquake on em, but that’ll cost me too. I’m Bad!

Attic Attache'

Finally, I can sleep again..

Surreal Estate

CR and I took a Sunday drive today and swung by "Agave", Austin's first, true "green-cubist-neighborhood-o-the-future" which is being built waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out on the last available hill in town. We browsed some homes and must have said "how cute is this" like 5000 times. Prices aren't bad at all, low 200's to high 400's depending on your view. There are 25 floor plans each designed by a hand full of edgy Austin architects. I call them "pocket homes"...so cute you just wanted to put them in your pocket and take them home with you.

See Why:

Model Madness

Last night was crazy fun. Scott and Kerri were in town from Dallas for a model casting for her Agency at The Belmont, and CR and I tagged along for moral support (and to sit in bitchy judgment). I can say, I had no idea Austin had so many good-looking guys and gals running around. Kids showed up in drones in hopes of becoming Americas Next top Promotional Model. Before you judge, these girls (and guys) make serious dough doing this. Kerri’s Agency is slammed with bookings in multiple states and can’t seem to find models fast enough. This business is booming… Hmmm side business? Me Likey!

Im now addicted to This Site .

Bird Watching

The cardinal is the state bird of my home state of North Carolina, but more importantly it has always reminded me of my last living grandmother. Every time I see one I immediately think of her. I know she doesn’t have a long time left on this earth and I get very sad when I think about what my life will be like without her. Even though she’s enjoying her life, she’s miles and miles away from me and I often feel bad about not being closer to enjoy these last years with her.

While I don’t know how long she will be with us, I do know that she will communicate with me forever in the form of this red bird.

On Friends and Lovers

I’ve been thinking about a conversation CR and I had the other night. I don’t need tons of people in my life anymore. As I get older, I’ve begun to focus less on my ‘idle’ friendships and focus more on the ones that actually take an interest in me and my well being without being prompted (by, me, an event, or an emotional or physical need of theirs). That may sound ugly, but I think most people naturally do this as time drags on. They just don’t formally define it and write about it on their blog.

In the meantime, I am waiting for my Fall relationship cycle to kick in gear. It has never let me down before. Like the leaves on the trees, I tend to fall into something this time of the year. Maybe that’s because my fall wardrobe makes me feel really good about myself? Maybe it’s because the cool air helps accentuate my modelesque bone structure by turning my cheeks red? OK.. it’s the harvest moon.. we all know what effect that has on our libidos.

BDAY4ME

Pornification

Did you know that the demise of the BetaMAX tape format in the 80's was directly realted to the Porn industry's VHS tape standardization? Sony (BetaMAX) and JVC (VHS) were going head to head in the late 70's/early 80's to make their format the household standard. When video rental stores started popping up on every corner and offering "adult" sections in the back, this forced many people into buying VHS VCR's so they could rent the porns which were only avaialable in VHS format. The porn industry liked the fact that VHS tapes were cheaper and could hold more video. Sales of Beta machines slumped and eventually Sony stopped making them, folding to the VHS format. And the rest is totally useless VCR history.

Next Time: How the Porn Industry founded and perfected the online subscription model.

Seeing a trend here?

Patron Saint of Denial

And the Catholics continue to insult our intelligence... bless their heart...

As if the Pope wearing Prada wasn't enough.


VATICAN CITY (AP) -- A Vatican official suspended after being caught on hidden camera making advances to a young man said in an interview published Sunday that he is not gay and was only pretending to be gay as part of his work.

In an interview with La Repubblica newspaper, Monsignor Tommaso Stenico said he frequented online gay chat rooms and met with gay men as part of his work as a psychoanalyst.
He said that he pretended to be gay in order to gather information about "those who damage the image of the Church with homosexual activity."
Vatican teaching holds that homosexual activity is a sin.

"It's all false; it was a trap. I was a victim of my own attempts to contribute to cleaning up the Church with my psychoanalyst work," La Repubblica quoted Stenico as saying.
Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said Saturday that the monsignor had been suspended pending a Vatican investigation.

Stenico is a top official in the Vatican's Congregation of the Clergy. The Vatican acted after officials recognized Stenico's office in the background of a television program on gay priests that was broadcast on Oct. 1 on La7, a private Italian TV network.

Stenico was secretly filmed making advances to a young man and asserting that gay sex was not sinful. In the Repubblica interview, Stenico said he had met with the young man and pretended to talk about homosexuality "to better understand this mysterious and faraway world which, by the fault of a few people -- among them some priests -- is doing so much harm to the Church."
He said he had never been gay and was heterosexual, but remained faithful to his vow of celibacy.

Italy's Sky TG24 said Stenico had written a letter to his superiors with a similar defense. Calls to Stenico's home and Vatican office went unanswered Sunday.

Believe it or not...

this is for The Doc... He'll know why...

What the $#@*^!!!!

OK. So Our upcoming trip to the Cook Islands waaaaaaay out in the Pacific Ocean has just become a little less appealing. JH sends me this today... Evidently they are found all around there.

The competition for my worst nightmare is neck and neck... Room full of tarantulas v/s a coconut crab under my bed. You decide.

True Colors

Today is national coming out day, and while I don't normally treat it like any opther day in my life, it does hold special meaning for myself and other gay/lesbian people. I've been very lucky to have the support of my friends and family over the last 10 years that many GLBT people don't get from theirs. I always think of this song by Cyndi Lauper. She wrote it for her own sister who at the time was struggling with coming out as a lesbian.

Hand Soaps Anyone?

This is the kind of press one receives when they reach a level of fame and recognition that few in this world can appreciate. While it fails to meet expectations factually, It is well crafted and much appreciated. I felt deserved to be published outwardly. I will let this serve as an official response to Mr. Michael E's numerous attempts to contact me over the last week despite the dead silence that befell our friendship after his last visit to the Austin metro area over a month ago.


Noted Austin Marketeer and Socialite Reported Missing

Austin (AP) Noted Marketing executive and Austin socialite, Jason M, has been reported missing. Michael E, close esteemed friend of Mr. M contacted Austin authorities on Sunday reporting that Mr. M has failed to return e-mail and voice mail messages. “I know Jason has been busy traveling, but it is just not like him to not return at least every third message. His internet blog, eyeque.blogspot.com, continues to have updates, sometimes even multiple daily entries. But what makes me suspicious is the grammar has been correct and it lacks his notorious misspellings.”

Detective Dixon Cox of the Greater Austin Police Department reports initial inquiries are pointing to foul play. Local gay establishments have reported a sharp decline in business over the last month and part time drag queen Anita Hoare states, “The general energy of the patrons seems depleted.” At Charlie’s, Austin’s oldest gay bar, dancer Seymore Dick states he has ..”had to take another job without the big tips normally received from Jason.” Close friend Charles “Bunny” R, declined to comment, but sources close to the Austin legend confirm he is deeply concerned about Jason. But it is not just gay establishments that are suffering. The Lobby Lounge at the Four Seasons reports that sales of Kir Royales had plummeted dramatically.

Michael E has posted a substantial reward of $2 for anyone with information leading to the were abouts of Mr. M. Michael described his feelings to reporters during his press announcement by stating, “I feel just terrible. Jason had just introduced me to my future lover and life partner and then fell off the earth basically M.I.A.” He went on to describe how..”Jason and I share a close bond and we really have never gone this long without contact. I know Jason would never avoid my calls or not return them unless he was in great distress. My biggest fear is that his trusting nature has been compromised. Jason has been known to pay for male companionship and I fear that perhaps he hired someone who is holding him against his will…or….or…” At this point Michael broke down and had to be carried off stage where he was taken to the hospital and reportedly admitted and given sedatives to calm him.

Austin society continues to pray for his welfare and everyone across the area is reportedly double checking their doors before they go to bed wondering what has happened to Jason M.

Sad But True

The lead story on cnn.com, msnbc.com, abcnews.com, cbsnews.com and even foxnews.com....



Britney Spears Loses Custody of Her Children.



America clearly needs an info-enema.



And as a side note...someone needs to save this girl.

It's Electric.....

I wish I had something more profound to say today.. but this is all I got:

I stuck a Duracell AA battery in my mouth a little earlier and got shocked.

I should probably leave my office for a little bit...

Feeling alive...

This is my end-of-summer song. The one I roll down all of the windows for and open the sunroof and drive into the evening sun thinking about all the fun I had these past few months. I love the Fall, but there's nothing like a good summer...

COAL: Not just for stockings anymore!

Our latest scare tactic coal creative. Burn coal or suffer another 911.








Up Next: Using solar power is UnAmerican.



Here I go again, manipulating the political process one middle american at a time.....

ughhhh