The state of user generated digital content

A quick update on where shit is headed.

Web 2.0 has been around for a number of years now.

User generated content and social media is a bigger part of the Internet (for consumers), than any other type of site.

But where does that bring us?

Blogs

The numbers are ridiculous. More pop up every day, and even more die. With the rise of services such as posterous, tumblr and twitter, traditional post-a-week blogging is slowly grinding to a halt. The only blogs that people still read consistently have a loyal following established from days when the medium was hot.

Mini blogs

Twitter, tumblr, posterous etc.

Why write long-ass articles when you can share your thoughts a bit at a time. With mobile increasing it's reach as one of the main access devices for Internet, bite-sized blogging has definitely become the preferred method for the masses. Typical with gen-y, anything that's more convenient and takes less time is instantly better. Simply because we don't have time or attention span to cram everything into our schedules. I'm guilty of this myself, I don't have an inane desire for web-celeb, and if my friends want information or to stay connected to me, facebook and twitter are just fine.

But I must admit that this has severely reduced the quality of articles. Less space means less depth. No matter what you say. Please don't reference things like haikus being minimal yet engaging, you fucking hippies. Sometimes you need a bit of length. Just ask the ladies.

Web 3.0

Geolocation and augmented reality. Nothing new really, but we haven't seen any major use for these technologies yet. Foursquare aside that is, and even that's just a game with some promo gimmicks tacked on (just in the US for now).

So that's a quick update on the digital landscape.

Sometimes before client meetings

we head out to this massive balcony and have a cigarette.

5 things you love that were created by Advertising

A regular point of discussion I bring up with strangers is how almost everything they know and love, they happen to know and love because of the ad industry.

Now this usually sparks up a huge discourse. People don't want to feel as if they were 'influenced'. They want freedom of choice. How dare I suggest that advertising has played any part in their lives!

Now I'm not saying we fucking mould society to the whims of our clients. Sometimes a good product is a good product and the advertising doesn't have to work very hard to sell it. Apple makes incredibly sexy gadgets, so it's not very hard to sell those, a more generic item like Gatorade would need more branding behind it and so on.

There are instances though, where we do something and it just blows out of proportion. Here are some examples:

1) Santa Claus

Probably the most famous story here, the modern image of Santa Claus was created by Coca-

Cola. As mentioned on their website:

Most people can agree on what Santa Claus looks like -- jolly, with a red suit and a white beard. But he did not always look that way, and Coca-Cola® advertising actually helped shape this modern-day image of Santa.

Coca-cola advertising? Sounds like something that was created in an agency. So you have us to thank for the big blokes you take photos with in malls. And of course, Santarinas.

You're welcome.

2) Boxer shorts

Helping the bros hang loose since the early 20th century, advertising didn't create boxer shorts. They did however, make em' popular, but not on purpose. Here's the story from wikipedia:

In more recent decades, boxer shorts got a fashion boost in 1985 when English model and musician Nick Kamen stripped to white boxers in a 1950s style "Launderette" in a Levi's commercial.^[1] Since the 1990s, some men also opt for boxer briefs as a compromise between the two.

Ever since then, they've been a staple in every dude's drawers. Stolen by ex-girlfriends, riding high above the jeans of hip-hoppers and protecting my eyes at the gym changing room.

3) Practically every 80s cartoon

Not many people know, but practically every cartoon in the 80s was produced so that some toy company like Hasbro or Mattel could sell toys. Looking back at the various toys I had when growing up, they did a pretty good job.

4) Barack Obama

Yes we can. If there's anything I can say about Obama, it's this: what a fucking great ad campaign.

If you kept tabs on the last election, you may also remember a public service announcement from Sarah Silverman asking Jewish folk to get their rellos in Florida to vote.

Created by the wizards at Droga5, who have a habit of creating awesome viral videos, there's no doubt it played a pivotal part in getting Obama into office.

5) A whole bunch of great ads we enjoy every day!

Sure there are a ton of shitty ads out there, but isn't it great when you watch something and it makes you laugh, or shed a tear, or whatever man. Ads aren't all that bad. And besides, shit's changing.

Check out this ad from the 80s:

And what advertising is today:

My Malaysia

Panic on the streets of London.

Panic on the streets of Birmingham.

I wonder to myself.

Would life ever be sane again?

That oh-so-familiar tune from The Smiths has been on constant repeat in my mind over the past few days. Except I substitute London for KL and Birmingham for PJ.

Recently several churches in the KL and PJ area were torched by mysterious villains. If you don't keep track of current events, here's why.

Raised Catholic, I've kept quiet on the issue. But after much thought I've decided to speak up. Religion, skin colour, accent and the rest aside, I'm probably as Malaysian as you can get.

'Well how is THAT possible, Mr. Rudolph Christopher La Faber?'

You may ask.

Well.

1. I am a fucking minority. I honestly get tired of people complaining about being second class citizens. Technically, I'm not even on the list. I have to tick Dan Lain Lain in every fucking government race criteria. Do you know what that means? OTHERS. You OTHER PEOPLE. I know what it's like to be discriminated against.

2. I also happen to be bumiputera. Which makes me part of the majority. So I know what it's like to be in that group.

3. I've renounced my faith many years ago. So I'm not going to play favourites here for the "bros". Whatever beliefs I adhere to are unique to Rudyism (Hey that's my blog url, I haven't mentioned that's where I got it from after all these years).

4. My mom is part Iban. Ethnic yo. My ancestors were here looooooooooooong before anyone else.

So now that I'm a credible source, what do I think?

Honestly it doesn't matter.

And therein lies the problem.

Please register to vote in the next election if you haven't done so.

Then vote responsibly.

Starbucks vs Coffee Bean

Also known as why I never go to Coffee Bean but find Starbucks rather pleasant.

Let's briefly touch on branding for these two places.

They're both coffee joints

Starbucks set the standard for the "hang-out" cafe but Coffee Bean has followed suit

They're priced evenly

They're both more upscale than Old Town Kopitiam.

So why does Starbucks do so much better in Malaysia? Some might say the Berjaya Group holding company has the money to keep them springing up, but I think there's a little more to it than that.

A lot of companies bring more than just the food and ambience to a place, they also bring a culture. Here are two of my own experiences:

Starbucks

I walked into a Starbucks and was greeted by warm hellos and smiling faces. After ordering my drink I went to sit down and waited. After awhile I got that uncomfortable feeling that surfaces when you realise that you've been sitting down at an empty table for too long. So I glare at the counter, the baristas realise they forgot/were too slow and rushed out to get my my drink, gave me a coupon for a free one and apologised frantically. I was annoyed, then felt guilty for coercing them into giving me a free drink. I eventually gave the coupon away or used it to dispose of gum.

Coffee Bean (just today!)

Went it and ordered my drink, felt mechanical and dull. Waited at the counter for my drink. 7-8 people who ordered after me get theirs and I'm still waiting. After 20 minutes of standing at the counter, made to look like a bloke that's just been ditched on a date, I ask the guy where my drink is. He looks like I've called his mother a guinea pig and starts asking questions 

"What's your drink?"

"Chocolate banana?"

"Sure it's not chocolate?"

"You ordered chocolate right?"

"Your name is Din"

"Do you want this instead? I think I forgot to add the banana"

I tell him I wouldn't lie about my fucking name and to get me the drink I bloody paid for, instead of trying to pawn off whatever he had at hand. Especially if it was another customer's. He turns back and does whatever it is he does. At this point Din, the owner of the drink, shows up and says his name and claims the beverage.

It's so awkward when you're proven to be a liar, and a bad one at that. For some reason he goes on to say he made the wrong drink, even though I see nothing remotely close to my order in sight (disadvantage of an open bar). As he wanders off, more drinks are being distributed to other customers and I wait even longer. After 10 minutes-ish I literally have to yell

"STOP MAKING DRINKS FOR OTHER PEOPLE"

before he realises that an irate customer made to wait almost 30 minutes for a single drink shouldn't have to endure anymore balls attitude. Anyways I go and sit down and pout before I finally get my drink a grand total of 45 minutes-ish after ordering it.

Moral of the story?

Your brand is more about looks, taste and a name. Take Coffee Bean.

Here's some advice:

 Spend some money and train your fucking staff the way you want them to behave. And get your managers to fucking MANAGE SHIT instead of being useless lying cunts. I can honestly say I will share my stories with anyone who even suggest going there, till they either

-Get the fucking picture

-Go bankrupt

Though I wouldn't know if they've changed as I don't plan on setting eyes on said venue ever again.

*I say this for benefit of the doubt, because I can hardly believe the already shit service can be even more abysmal than it already was. Who finds time to talk to other customers about random crap when you're trying to catch up on other orders.

Death and Advertising

There is much demise in the industry.

Some might say even more so, blame the economy huh?

I've ridden this out with fake empathy and naive awe. It's the combination of youth, enthusiasm and a quote from Steve Jobs reminding me to stay foolish and hungry.

But recently things have become more stark in their appearance.

My grandmother passed away last night at 2am and it is one of my biggest regrets not to have spent more time with her. This is a common lament from persons whom relatives have passed away, but at the risk of sounding self important, I must at least say the effect is magnified for those who work in advertising. It is simply the nature of the beast, but I can't help but feel an immense guilt that I must confess to.

My grandmother had a stroke a few months ago, which she was slowly recovering from. I told myself that I would visit her more often, and also document her life. My grandma is one amazing lady, raising 6 kids in the toughest of times and being the picture of vibrance and optimism throughout it all. I really wanted to document all of that, for her, myself and everyone else.

I remember her watching me spread butter on a bun and asking me if I liked butter. It was an odd question and I replied, "I suppose I do, grandma. Bread's just bread without it." And she told me, "Well I love butter".

I must have looked puzzled as she continued to explain, "In the war, we couldn't get butter. Once in awhile we would get a little with the rationed supplies. But not often. When the war ended, it was a lot easier to come by and I ate butter all the time! I love butter".

And I thought to myself, "Wow, my grandma really likes butter."

It's stories like those I wanted to put on paper. And now I can't. Because I was at TV shoots, recordings and stuck in the office 3 weekends out of every 4. And when I wasn't, I was a bastard and told myself I needed time off to rest instead of seeing her for maybe even an hour.

I'm still dealing with it.

But here's to the lady that would give my friends and beers whenever we visited, who gave my friends money just because they drove me to see her, who told me every single time I saw her that one day she would win the lottery* and give me so much money I need not worry, who always told me she loved me.

In hindsight, I may not know my grandma from before, but at least I've known her all my life.

I love you grandma.



*This was hilarious because she is a devout Catholic and never gambled. It just made me smile every time she said it.

Current trends in design : Movie posters

Don't ya love movie posters? A constant reminder of the biggest blockbusters coming up.

Growing up in the 80s, I'm more familiar with this style:




For some reason people then preferred the faded illustration treatment.


However, at Apple's trailer site, I noticed a blinding amount of blank space. Upon closer inspection, these were identified as movie posters. Keep in mind these were taken from just the first TWO pages and are among the latest movies. Click to enlarge:


In Apple's attempt to redesign the fucking world, they've convinced movie execs to ship posters ala iPod aesthetics.

Bit much? Not sure how much this helps/harms a movie trailer's chances of being viewed.

In the works

The saying goes

Creative people, do.

Unfortunately there's only so much I can do. With x hours in a day, a full time job and a loving girlfriend I like to spend time with.

So a lot of my projects have had the pause button switched on :(

Some shit I'm working on:

Real estate website for Malaysia
If you've ever tried to find Malaysian property online, you'll realise how incomplete the current services are. A new website has opened recently but having navigated through it, I still think the design is rather crap.

I must say redesign
The process of creating an online footprint is going swell. However I feel it's time to move on. Look out for some pretty big changes as soon as I can find the fucking time. Involves an archive of projects in the past, ones in the works and those to come.


Super-secret patent for some gimmicky technology
Involves mobile media. If all goes well this will be fuckin' awesome.

The never ending book project
What sort of two-bit copywriter would I be if I wasn't attempting a book?


The photography book project my girlfriend will never approve of even though she was the first to agree to doing it before we were dating
Involves semi-naked women.

The great trip to Cannes Lions Advertising festival
There is an upcoming competition held by Youtube and the Cannes organisers involving a viral video submission. Young Lions competition, 48 hour deadline, then 2 weeks to get the most views. Judging also based on the most creative idea. The brief hasn't been released yet but I know part of what we're doing to try and win it.

TWO STRAIGHT PARTNERS. ONE MISSION. TO GET TO CANNES.
We take pride in being manly men, creative men, men with talent and balls. And we're putting those balls on the line. If we win, my partner and I will make out live/recorded and paste it on youtube. So rack up those views as soon as the videos are up!

More info: here

The Ruud Update

I feel an immense guilt for not writing consistently. I'm hoping by writing this down, it will amend my lack of activity on this blog. The only people with a consistent update on my life are

1)Agency Fellows
2)Girlfriend


So for the rest of youse, here's a quickie

The Girlfriend
She's very sweet, and understands my job (at least for now). I remember telling myself that if I were to date again, it'd have to be someone who knew and understood what I did for a living. Good thing she does.

4mbps Internet connection
I know this is nothing to people overseas, but in Malaysia this is the fucking speed-o-light.
Perks: Can now download porn faster than male fortitude allows.
Cons:Girlfriend would dismember, my member.
Solution:I watch my favourite TV shows, she gets access to chick flicks and romcoms*


TVC Production
I love the almost sinful environment/treatment at recording studios and post productions. We've got a bunch of boards currently in post, a super cool radio ad and more TVCs waiting in the wings. So if all goes well, I stand to gain 10 kilograms by the end of May.


Between work, a full-time girl and a speedy Internet connection, it's no wonder I barely have time for my poor cyber journal. But the updates will come. I believe Twitter has consumed by megalomania for now. Bits at a time anyway.




Anecdote: I suspect the gf often wonders to herself what I love more. Work, the Internet or her.


*ALL LEGAL

Miniature movies reviews

I have an Internet connection again! So of course I've been legally obtaining movies on the information super highway. Here are my thoughts on a few. Oh, spoiler-ific btw. So avert your eyes if you're, you know, a fucking prude or something.

Marley and Me

Owen Wilson gets a dog. It's really annoying and eventually it gets old and dies. No plot twists, nothing.

Quantum of Solace

Bond tries to dismantle a secret organisation. Succeeds. Severe lack of sex scenes for a Bond flick.

Paris Je T'aime

Bunch of directors make short movies ranging from 5-15 minutes. Compiled into one long movie and charges you the price of a full one. Some are good, some SUCK FUCKING BALLS.

Man on Wire

Documentary on french guy trying to walk on a tightrope between the WTC in NYC. Succeeds.

I'm allergic to penicillin

An allergy of the worst variety.

The sort that leads to anaphylaxic shock.

So what's that like?

I was watching Boston Legal with the GF (amazing show btw) and felt kind of drowsy so I went to bed. At that point I had ingested the pills for about 10 minutes.

5 minutes later, I felt a terrible itch in my hands, followed by my scalp and then face. It felt like a swarm of red ants had just given themselves a full-on fucking go-ahead at my flesh. Everything then heated up to sun-surface temperatures, and according the the GF I looked terribly flushed.

Now here's the thing, I watch a lot of House M.D and for whatever reason knew that this was an allergic reaction. I remember saying, "Babe, this isn't good. I'm having an allergic reaction to the meds, I think you should call an ambulance."

After which I could feel my face and hands start to swell (I'm not sure if this was just a mental thing or panic induced), and fell to the floor from lack of energy/breath. Typical of Malaysian Emergency Services, no one was picking up, so the GF calls a cab instead. At this point I was just trying my hardest to breathe, a fucking monumental task when you feel like your throat has swollen in on itself.

Not stopping there, I suddenly felt like throwing up. A stagger to the toilet and much projectile vomiting later, I still didn't feel better. But on the bright side, if my throat was able to let out that much gunk, I at least knew I could breathe slightly. I crawled back to the living room and collapsed on the floor, and that's when the diarrhoea hit.

Another stagger to the toilet and an attempt to balance myself on the stool without falling over. I hadn't realised at the time because I had trouble staying conscious, hence my eyes being closed more often than not, but my vision was terribly blurred. I couldn't see anything in front of me. Just a mish-mash of objects melding into one another.

After I was done ejecting bodily fluids, I staggered back into the living room, and basically fall onto the floor again. Spent the next few minutes just trying to breathe before the cab arrived and my life-saving girlfriend verbally coaxes me into walking to the lift and into the cab.

Got back to the clinic that issued the antibiotics (a few minutes away) and had a steroid injection, where he also explained anaphylaxis to me. To which I replied, "Oh, you mean like in House?"

Anyways, I'm not sure how close I was to kicking the bucket. I've heard differing opinions. I know at several points I was thinking to myself, "Man, this really sucks. Dying blows. It's so fucking overrated." And whenever I lost consciousness there would be a feeling of imminent blackout and telling myself ,"I wonder if this is going to be it". I drifted in and out of that state for a bit.

So that's that. I went back home and passed out. Felt perfectly fine the next day. Told some close friends what happened and had a few good comical responses. Thanks to the peeps that called and texted. Nope, didn't want to be admitted, I fucking hate local hospitals and I can't afford the fancy private ones.


From Ashley, "From prescription meds? I always thought you'd go from sex, drugs and rock and roll!"

From Raj (upon being told I almost kicked it) , "Huh? AGAIN AH?"

Testament to my luck in recent times -_-

Did you know?

Interesting to know that shit you learn at uni will be outdated by the time you graduate. Pays to keep in the know. Sometimes I wish I had more drive to learn essential skills when I was younger. I think so few of us realise that the things we figure are fun/cool can be essential skills at future jobs if taken seriously.

The amount of people I've met recently that have valuable skills to constribute to a work environment that they gained through a random hobby: way too many.

I suppose I have my current job because I loved to write and think/talk about stupid shit. It's great when movies = homework.*



*Where a lot of ideas are born. Tell me these guys weren't Monty Python fans

The power of names

It wasn't too long ago I read Freakonomics. My opinion? Interesting but too skewed on specific American events. I'm aware the writers are American, but I had hoped it would be more globalised. I guess Malcom Gladwell has created a response to fulfill my inane desire.


There was this one chapter in Freakonomics though, talking about names. How people with certain names did better and the ones named Honeytree Beesforfree* weren't exactly the world beaters we know today.



How I was named
Story goes my dad had a good friend called Rudy Frei(sp?) and I was named after him. German fellow. I never met the man, hence I suspect I'm some sort of biological homage. Which is fine and dandy, but turns out the guy's full name was Rudolph. This is what I was told.

On occasion I wonder if it was just some cruel joke, debated how much my parents liked Christmas, pondered on the possibility of it being a character building procedure.

Or maybe they were just fucktards that didn't think that far ahead. I was their first kid after all.**

Anyway.

Cue a decade and-a-half of mocking from Children and even authority figures.

I guess it did build character. It's just one of those things, you let it eat you and deny with full vehemence the true nature of your calling. Or you deal with it and tell them, "So what? Are you some sort of bigot? DO YOU HATE ZE GERMANS?".

Love the irony of playing the racist card because of a German name.

I think it was just last week someone added me on facebook, where my full name is displayed. Having been introduced to her as Rudy, I waited for the inevitable response.

"OMG YOUR FULL NAME IS RUDOLPH HAHAHAHHAHA".

Before I respond with my usual:

"Yes, it's German".


It's really grown on me. I like it. Besides, how many reindeer do you know?



*I'd like to digress, I'm sure she's head of a hippy commune.

**I love you guys ;p

From the front lines

Things have been rather rushed around here lately. For a good idea on what I'm up to you can follow my twitter.

Inspired by the twitter style of updating, here are some bite sized opinions





iPhone launch in Malaysia
Too expensive. Look overseas. Feel ripped.

Work
Actually pretty decent. Lots of time in the studio/post-house.

Sex
Good. Sore.

Money
I NEEDS IT

Realistic views

First, some real life stuff.

If you never work for something, it isn't going to come to you
I think a lot of us (myself included) assume that because we want something, it will eventually come to us. Either because someone will randomly give it to us, or we will somehow find the time to get it. Unfortunately it doesn't work that way. I've been meaning to learn a foreign language, and for some reason I don't wake up knowing more Japanese every day.

Love is quite bollocks
I may be saying this because I don't have a clear perception of what is. If you do, please contact me so I can belittle you. Storybook romance dictates that every single moment you gaze into the eyes of your lover, you're meant to be overcome by a wave of happiness, horniness, satisfaction and what have you. But I think most of us can count on one hand how often this happens in a relationship. Maybe more than one hand (and feet) in the first month, but how quickly does this fizzle-pop into something more complacent. Not that I'm complaining, but COME ON you promised me more.

And now some advertising related stuff.

Scams and the like
Adfest is over, and no surprise the poster section has once again been dominated by Malaysia. I have never understood scams and I hope that I never do*. It is such a bane to the industry and I truly commend BBH for pulling out a full-page press condemning this act. How sad is it that our local industry has welcomed this heinous act with open-arms, comparing creative penis size & girth based on the amount of fake work that has won metal. Even worse, there are many agencies paying good money if you're capable of being a scam-meister. I may not be the most amazing ad-man in the world, but at least I'm not a lying whore. I'm also thankful that the people I've worked with/for share the same notion.

Art directors
I've really come to appreciate having a partner that is as capable with words/selling. Not just that, Amir's a great guy and we've grown to become really good friends before we're colleagues. I really think better work is created when you're having more fun and you have great rapport. I honestly don't know if I'll find a partner I get along with more.



*Brings in business blablabla sure, but I could argue the exact opposite just as well. This is open for debate and has been for the last two decades. Scams and Asia are synonymous. I just wish more people would do something about it.

5 facts people don't learn about relationships

Although I still haven't learned em'

1) Hot girls will always have guys hitting on em
In your noobie years, you will assume this to be the girl's fault. "Why is she not turning them away?" you may ask. Well, it's not that easy to tell someone to just FUCK OFF. Eventually it just gets tiring to turn down everything with a penis and they put up with the annoyance. Yessir, you're annoying.

2)Hot guys will eventually cheat on you
A man that knows he can get laid is a dangerous thing. The more success he gets, the more ravenous he becomes. Even in relationships, this one gets bored eventually, and moves on to the next sweet thing as if it were nothing in the world. And trust me darling, he will do it.

3)Boys want tits and ass, girls want the ching ching
If you're ugly, I'm sorry. If you're broke, don't be mad when she steps into that guys BMW.

4) I love you (sometimes)
Good old refrigerator lights only come on when you open the door. Much like your relationship that you think feels fantastic all the time. But honestly, how many times can you remember thinking to yourself, "Oh my Lord, I love this person so0o0o0o much". Because if you don't do it constantly, I'm calling bluff.

5)It won't last
We're biologically engineered to spread our seed and populate the world with our personal DNA. If you're not planning on having kids, good luck. If you do have kids, it'll be a great few years followed by 2 decades of prepping your spawn for world domination.*

On a last note, I envy those who are oblivious. Much like religion, it seems that these people are unfairly happy.

So if you think I'm snarky fucker that can't know love, be assured that I'm jealous of your capability to believe in something non-existent.

End.




*I kinda like kids. But despite thousands of years of evolution why do our genes tell us this is the best way to get ahead?

Marriage

Should not be a life-long binding contract that allows the other party to lay claim to half your shit if things don't "work out".

Why do people need to get married anyway?Because it's romantic? Because you've always had that little fantasy of walking down the aisle hoping everyone in the room wishes they were you?

The notion of marriage to me, at this point, is ridiculous. This archaic contract that's forced upon us time and time again because of archaic organisations called religion.

I feel the only time one should sign anything resembling a contract is when there are children involved, and even then things should be absolved once the kid is capable of mature thought and doesn't require a family unit to ensure stable growth .

Should you DESIRE the decadent ceremony of matrimony for exhibition's sake and tax breaks, the license should only last 5 years. If a renewal is wanted, then so be it. If there's any doubt, then don't get a new one.

I suppose I am an advocate of free love. Or perhaps womankind has proven to me time and time again their instability due to hormonal imbalances forces heavy consideration when something long-term is brought to thought*.

However, I'm not a defiler of romance. I love unecessary acts of love that lead to steamy bedroom activity.

I just don't believe in unecessary pieces of paper. Love is love baby, and I don't need anything to prove it but me and you.

I'm just saying.



*I still love all of y'all, but really, you're batshit crazy sometimes

5 ways to get more reading time

I miss reading. If you're a bookworm, and work a fulltime job, you just might too.
I hope this helps.

1. Read in the toilet
Seriously.

2. Carry your books with you
In your bag/man-bag*. Pull it out whenever you have some time. Or if the person talking to you is a complete moron. (If I do this, be certain that you are a complete moron)

3. Get a kindle!


If you're often interrupted or lose bookmarks, the kindle is perfect for you. Also it's lighter than lugging 3-4 books around. One dedicated device and you don't have to loan shit out with the fear that you'll never get them back (HINT HINT HINT YOU FUCKERS)

4. Start reading graphic novels
There's always been a misconception that comics are for kids. That's changing a bit nowadays with the mass influx of comic-cinema adapatations. However there are a few titles that any adult can enjoy. They're easier to read, and the artwork is often mesmerising.

I recommend:

-The Sandman
-Preacher
-Ex Machina
-Fables

5. Less TV more books
It's a trade-off I'm willing to make. Or combine the two and read between commercials.


*Or laptop bag, whatever, you metro hating homophobe.

The unfamiliar weekend and being happy in general

The weekend

It's been awhile since I've had a full weekend to myself. The month of February was rather lacking in the "time off" segment.

Friday was:

-Work

-Chivas party w/colleagues

-TAG w/usuals

On Saturday night I wondered out loud to myself, "What does one do on the weekend?"

I then rediscovered the joy of watching a movie in bed without falling asleep 10 minutes into the show. It's quite nice, isn't it?

Sunday was spent taking Mr.Zac man-shopping before going to a Sunday TAG.

Being happy in these times

I've received even more news of people getting laid off. I think a lot of us fear this possibility even more now. Despite this adversity, I think many of us will eventually discover opportunities to be happier.

Recently, it has become more apparent to me how many of us work in careers that have been determined for us by fates we have not even considered. There is far too much emphasis on education and far too little on guidance.

I doubt I will ever be able to comprehend the desire to cram a child's head full of knowledge, most of which he will never be able to use. I understand the importance of general information such as history, math and your basic sciences but what effort is being made in guiding a child into the career of his choice.

This is something your child will have to dedicate his entire life to. And I really do mean his entire life. Imagine graduating at 23, spending maybe 3 years at your job. Then you realise you don't like what you do. But wait, you're 26 now. You can't afford to jump ship. Besides, your parents paid ALL THIS MONEY for your education. Do you even have the necessary skills available for the career that you really want to do? So what now? I guess you stay and work at something that you despise. Until you retire 30+ years from now.

Yes, that's how long you'll be doing it.

So how fair is it to ask someone who's been capable of mature thought for maybe 2 years, "So what would you like to dedicate your being to?"

And then.

Ask yourself, are you really happy at your job?

And if so, is it because of what you do, or is it the money?

So to those who have been let go, stop, and reconsider.

To those who haven't been, also stop, and maybe reconsider.

Maybe what you want to do won't pay as much as that white-collar-corporate-company-that-is-currently-sinking-into-the-depths-of-financial-disaster-does.

I'll tell you what though, I wake up everyday and I go to work. And I'm happy.

If this happens to you, then I'm happy for you too.

5 tips on becoming a copywriter

It's a lot easier to preach than practice, but here are some essentials

1)Keep it brief
Write hot, cut cold

2)Don't use big words
Unless necessary. You're meant to communicate, not condescend.

3)Write
Start a blog or something similar. Write articles for magazines. Writing is a muscle you can train.

4)Start a portfolio if you haven't already
This is an industry that doesn't care if you have a Harvard degree. If the other guy has a better book, he's in.

5)Keep working at it
It's a hard industry to break into.