Steven Spazuk

Toronto Thunderstorm

Lightning TO by Jon Simonassi

Notankers

Great video by Notankers, a Canadian organization that protests the activity of large oil tankers in the Pacific north. Creatively powerful.

An Advertological Note

When I first saw the Diamond Shreddies commercial (above) back in 2008, I thought it was ingenious and hilarious and definitely memorable - three aspects of advertising I find imperative. Interestingly enough, this campaign won the 2008 Grand Clio Award for Integrated Campaign. Then I watched Rory Sutherland's TED talk about advertising (below), wherein he explained that this campaign was created by Hunter Somerville (an intern at the time) for Ogilvy and Mather Canada.

As he explains in the video, this is the perfect case of "creating intangible added value without changing the product in the slightest. [...] All it requires is photons, neutrons, and a great idea." I completely agree - what an inventive idea and so simple, too!

However I cannot bore you with my appraisal of advertising ingenuity and will continue on with the complainathon.

Recently, Cottonelle released a very similar ad campaign (below) called the Roll Poll, in which they ask everyday people to contact them (internet, text message etc...) and tell them which way they roll their toilet paper - over or under? They are renewing the brand without changing a thing about it - another great idea with less cost. Now, I can't seem to put my finger on whether or not I like this campaign - and it very well could have to do with my being faithful to the original Diamond Shreddies, but I can't seem to make up my mind. Is is funny and a good debate or is it illegitimate and silly?

Great minds think alike?

Song of the day: Alizee - Limelight

Atwater

A short excursion to the Atwater market in Montreal. Photos by Ted Oyama - budding photographic and architectural entrepreneur.

Reading horoscopes, most important part of the day.

I love this one!

Basically, the Atwater market is more expensive and further away, but has really beautiful and locally grown produce. We were lucky to have gone the day it started snowing!

Mix of the day: Love Thy Brother - The Young Canada Mixtape

Re: Moschino

I did it! Yehhhh! Well, it wasn't quiiite that hard, but it took patience and a long back stretch sesh afterwards. Being hunched over like that for so long is not the best posture - Mikhail Baryshnikov would not approve. At first, I couldn't decide whether or not to use the gold - I was convinced that silver on grey (gray? damnit!) was the best, but I only bought two boxes of safety pins and was therefore sort of forced to use some of the gold ones to fill in the spaces that needed a couple extra. I think it came out well, although the pins are a slight bit heavy and make the wrap droop, but I've decided that: a. the wrap is supposed to be drappy-droopy and b. it will probably take me forever to take them all off and then reapply them to an article of clothing with more structure, so that project will have to wait. Also, I like the way this looks. I like the way this looks. I like the way this looks. Right? Ok, smile and nod...

Safety pins: $1 per box, Dollarama (aka. HEAVEN)

P.S. For you francophones out there, please note that Quebecois call safety pins "epingles de surete"! hihi!

Song of the day: Mika - Blame It On The Girls (Not On The Starsmith Remix)

Reigning in our disposable lifestyles - DIY (pt. 2)

And another post of vanity!

Blazer - Village des Valeurs (Pie IX, Montreal, Quebec, CANADA) - about $4 - with black velvet lapels

Feather stencil - found at an awesome second hand clothing / costume rental store called Eva B on St. Laurent (in Montreal); thick ink (feels almost like black glue) on muslin fabric, made by local artist (unnamed) - about $7

Dark blue + black and white = great combo

photos by Kevin Colombu (http://www.kevincolombu.com/blog/)