Ten Things We Didn't Know

Each week, Jon Howard from Living Brands re-posts the BBC's "Ten Things we Didn't Know Last Week." The ten things have a tendency to be pretty UK-centric but there are always some cool trivial things that you never knew before.

Here is this week's "Ten Things We Didn't Know Before the 8th week of 2009":

1. Elephants kiss.
2. Members of the public can be New York police officers for one day.
3. The Catholic Church studies confessions.
4. British "superguns" defeated the Spanish Armada.
5. Hitler had bad table manners.
6. Injured turtles can wear artificial flippers.
7. Pills can banish bad memories.
8. Grizzly bears hate getting their ears wet.
9. Prawo Jadzy" means "driving licence" in Polish and is not a real name.
10. Chimps can log on.

There ya have it. Check out living brands weekly for plenty of things you never knew before.

Source: BBC via Living Brands

Nigel Tufnel explains his theories on Stonehenge for Nat Geo

To help promote last year's National Geographic special "Stonehenge Decoded," Nat Geo employed a strange partner in Nigel Tufnel. Tufnel was the fictional lead guitarist played by Christopher Guest in Spinal Tap.

Nigel's nonsensical explanations of things outside of his realm of understanding can leave a viewer in stitches. National Geographic recognized this and decided to create a series of Youtube videos that portray Tufnel being interviewed about his theories on Stonehenge. How does Mr. Tufnel explain the existence of Stonehenge? Well, "the original Stonehenge was made of wood...and by a process of rain, and peat, and saliva, it turns into rock."

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

Nigel's association with Stonehenge Decoded, seemed to be a good pairing, seeing that the five theory videos combined have received over 160,000 views and the fact that Spinal Tap actually has a song called Stonehenge.

Another notable Nigel Tufnel moment: "Lick My Love Pump" in D minor, "the saddest of all keys"

Who are these rockers?

I found this photo on one of my favorite art/image bookmarking sites, ffffound!. I have no idea who these guys are but there is so much "awesome" happening in this photo, I couldn't help but to share it.
At first glance I notice a beautifully worn-in Dean Cadillac guitar, and then further inspection reveals a giant safety pin on the crotch of the front man...puzzling, yet genius. Looking at the rest of the band one has to notice that the bass player is taking himself a little too seriously...aren't bass players supposed to be the ones who play it cool? Lastly, and most strange of all would have to be the drummer who appears to be lovingly placing a gentle hand on the lead singer's shoulder...huh?

My question is this, who is this band? Is it a real band or is this staged for TV or film? If you can name the band and send me a link to some info, I will send you a mystery prize worth a whopping $5.00 to $7.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

photo source: ffffound!

Mammoth Twitter Feed: A Pow-Gettin' Utility

I agree that the companies listed in the previous post are doing a great job in the social media space of putting out compelling content, being transparent, providing solutions, and engaging customers, but this week I discovered that a brand that is dear to me is using Twitter to provide its followers with the ultimate online utility. Others might not find it as amazing as I do but if you are a snowboarder who craves powder turns, first chairs and first tracks, You'll find Mammoth Mountain's Twitter feed totally invaluable.

The first bluebird day after a big dump is typically when the top of Mammoth and the backside of the mountain will open. Lifts open in a systematic order as weather permits and as ski patrol deems them safe. Getting first tracks sometimes requires sacrificing turns in lower parts of the mountain in order to wait in line at a lift that "might" open. If only there was a way to get notifications directly to your phone exactly when those chairs were going to open. Well, Mammoth has found a way...with the Mammoth Mountain Twitter feed.

Someone working for the mountain sends these real time updates, which I have been following for the last couple days and it appears as though the mountain does a diligent job making the updates (except when the updater is in a meeting).

Here are some examples of some updates that came today, a day that happened to be an epic powder day (that I missed because I am a working stiff).


How can your company's Facebook page, Twitter feed, or other social medium not just be an engagement tool but also provide your fans and followers with a useful tool that they can't live without?

Ten Big Brands Effectively Using Social Media

It seems that every brand these days is trying to get into the social media space. The problem is, they have no idea what they are supposed to do with it once they are there. Now you're on Twitter, now you have a Facebook page...so what?! Very few brands actually even know why they are there. Social media is not a promotional tool, it is a relationship tool, for engagement and interaction with your customers.

Internet marketing strategist, Samir Balwani recently posted a list of ten big brands (that I agree with) that are effectively using these interactive web 2.0 tools.

1. Blendtec on YouTube
2. Burger King’s “Whopper Sacrifice”
3. Starbucks asks customers for their ideas
4. Sun Microsytems CEO blog
5. IBM employee blogs
6. Zappos on Twitter
7. Comcast on Twitter
8. Ford’s Public Relations
9. Graco on Flickr
10. Dell’s multi-platform approach

2008 Top Earners in Action Sports

The action sports industry really has blown up in the last couple of decades. The sports' most visible professionals are really starting to make some coin. Forbes Magazine recently published the top ten earners in the industry:

1. Tony Hawk - Skateboarding - $12 million

2. Shaun White - Snowboarding/Skateboarding - $9 million

3. Ryan Sheckler - Skateboarding - $5 million

4. Travis Pastrana - Freestyle MX - $3 million (tie)

4. Kelly Slater - Surfing - $3 million

6. Laird Hamilton - Surfing - $2.5 million

7. Paul Rodriguez - Skateboarding - $2 million

8. Danny Kass - Snowboarding - $1 million

8. Dave Mirra - BMX - $1 million

8. Travis Rice - Snowboarding - $1 million

"The top 10 earners in 2008 were all male. Top female snowboarders like Torah Bright, Gretchen Bleiler and Hannah Teter make as much as $750,000 annually, but that fell short of their $1 million cut off."

Source: Forbes via Transworld Business

Ad Lessons, as Taught by Brassiers

I am a firm believer in the idea that the medium itself should be a part of the message and that good creative is always custom-tailored to each unique medium. I thought I would take a minute to illustrate this by sharing one of the Valentine's gifts I gave my wife. After she went to bed on Friday night I decided to place around 50 little Post-It notes all around the house that said some sweet nothings. I could have just left these random notes everywhere with no rhyme or reason as to placement but as I began placing the little yellow "I love you" ads, I realized that each placement should be unique to the message.

Why place a note that says "nice boobs" on the refrigerator when it could be thoughtfully placed in her bra and pantie drawer, a place where she is conscious of what her girls look like each day.

Why place a note that says "nice ass" on the TV in the living room when it could go on a place where her ass sits and gets toned...her bicycle seat.

And the last one, why place a note that says "I Love You" just anywhere when it can be placed on a photo from the day when we made the ultimate declaration of our love. She ate this stuff up.
Just some food for thought...and an opportunity to annoy my wife a little bit by putting her flashy red bra on the Internet.

Rob Dyrdek "DOES WORK" for Carl's Jr.

Rob Dyrdek, long time pro for DC Shoe Co. and Alien Workshop Skateboards is the star of some of the most entertaining, escapist hours on television. His shows, which previously included "Rob and Big" and currently include "Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory," have been MTV hits. Rob is currently being featured in some of the fast feeder, Carl's Jr.'s latest promotions and online content.



Online content includes a video on Carl's website of Rob skating around and playing on crazy contraptions in a Happy Star costume in the Fantasy Factory. Other elements to the campaign include signature series collectible cups at Carl's restaurants. The partnership should prove to be a successful one since the target demo and lifestyle segment that watches Rob on TV is similar to that of the young, hungry, fast food grubber that frequents CJ's.

If you aren't familiar with Rob's shows, you should check out the Fantasy Factory on MTV. It is mindless fun, with the occasional technical skate session, celebrity guests (like Lamar Odom), and footage of people having more fun than you.

DO WORK, SON!