Half-demolished Kitchen of the Soul

Mr. Nature

There was a rabbit in the yard today. I thought it was just eating grass, but it was actually collecting it to make some kind of shelter or bed. Right there in the middle of the yard? Wouldn't somewhere in the woods be better? But that's where the grass is, so whatever.

Feeling like a nature filmmaker, I grabbed my camcorder and tripod. The rabbit obliged by going about its business.

As I was shooting, a cardinal flew into the yard and started poking around for something interesting. An old wasp nest caught its eye.

I don't imagine the pros shoot through not-very-clean double pane windows and a screen, but the results aren't too bad.

UPDATE: The rabbit has abandoned its construction project.

From the grave

One of our difficult clients wants to use a particular Chet Atkins song in their commercial. The marketing manager said, "Maybe we can have him rerecord it to fit thirty seconds."

Chet Atkins died eight years ago.

Roadside attraction

I've seen all sorts of roadkill over the years. Squirrels, rabbits, chipmunks, opossums, raccoons, rats, mice, cats, dogs, deer, moose, cows, horses, bobcats, foxes, coyotes, chickens (scores of them at one time when the cage door on a transport came open on the freeway), armadillos, snakes, lizards, turtles and some things that were just greasy spots with a bit of fur or feathers. But I saw a new one the other day: a turkey.

TED Tuesday: Being remarkable

Welcome to my frustrating business. I wish all my clients understood and really believed what Seth Godin says here. The old ways of advertising aren't working anymore, but most clients stick to them because that's what they know, that's what they can quantify and justify. Even before the economy turned bad, ad managers and their bosses wanted to do what was safe, not what was remarkable. And now that things are bad, they're even more determined to stick to the old rules. So they run our ideas through their patented Fear, Uncertainty & Doubt machine, beat all the life out of them, then watch as they have zero impact. But they have their documentation showing all procedures were followed, they have their focus group scores, and so they are blameless.

Music Video Monday: Grand Funk

It's alive!

My mechanical abilities—particularly in the hands-on department—are rather limited. So I was stretching my talents when I decided to do some work on my motorcycle over the winter. "Winter" lasted until today when I finally got the last of the beast back together. 

There were several opportunities for oil and coolant leaks, along with the possibility it just wouldn't start. But start it did. And, as far as I can tell from riding to the gas station and back, it's running perfectly.

Age appropriate

As I pulled up to a friend's house to help him move, his two little boys were standing in the front window wearing only their underpants. At what age does such a thing change from cute to creepy?

I love being right

I wish it were a more frequent occurrence. But I welcome today's little bit of vindication.

Yesterday I delivered the final final final versions of a video that has dragged on since November. The client called later to say the videos were playing funny. Good audio but really jumpy video. 

I had a moment of doubt because sometimes the stuff I make on a Mac suffers in translation to a Windows box. But I asked if she was trying to play them from the CD or whether she had copied them to her hard drive, because some CD players can't pass data fast enough. 

Also, from past experience, I've learned that corporate computers are rarely built for speed and that nonessential software, like video players, usually doesn't get updated.

Just to be safe, I sent one of the videos to another Windows user. He copied it to the hard drive of his five year old laptop and it played beautifully. And I haven't heard back from the client.

You May Be Right / Billy Joel

Elsewhere

Thanks to former coworker Keith for this wonderful strangeness.

Harmonic convergence

A weekend in the mid-eighties and no business nagging to be done. I might even get to knock off early this afternoon if no revisions come in.

Well, yeah, I promised to help someone move Saturday. But mindless physical labor, even in the heat, is better than trying to please clients.