I’ve been too busy on a number of fronts to write this week, so here’s a plug for my nephew’s Sundance-nominated movie, which will be exhibited at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival next Saturday. Check it out!
Feb
27
Though NBC is still sprinting to make a profit on the 2010 Winter Olympics, they have already won the gold in marketing. I made this observation during my own mid-day sprint Friday at WOW Fitness — struck by the power of the NBC watermark at the bottom of “Days of our Lives.” You know how us big burly men enjoy our soaps.
But I digress. You see, for the past few months, the NBC peacock has been paired up with the Olympic logo, reminding me of the penguin in “Happy Feet” that gets his neck stuck in a plastic beer can holder. But I digress again. For the average TV viewer, this teaming of the titans invokes powerful, instant associations. In the microsecond that Vivian attempted to smother Melanie with a pillow in the hospital, I unconsciously ascertained that:
A) I was watching the TV network known as NBC
B) NBC is hosting a sporting event known as the Olympics
C) Victor is not being forthright, and the Greek tycoon is clearly out to get Carly.
That’s a massive amount of information to involuntarily absorb in less than a second. Even more miraculous when you consider that the sound was turned off and that the logo was partially obscured by misspelled closed-captioned subtitles.
Clearly, I was watching two of the worlds greatest icons at work, confidently beaming their programming directly into the cortexes of millions of housewives, grandmothers, and sweaty guys in gymnasiums. All within 80 pixels of screen real estate — 180 if you’re watching in full 1080p.
That’s efficiency, yet nobody will be talking about it at the watercooler. Scary efficiency. Icons like these ingrained into our consciousness, labeled and filed along with an amalgamam of crosses, stars and swastikas. The mere sight, or even mention of one of these symbols brings an automatic, uncontrollable response from deep within, along with a warehouse of involuntarily associated information — like mental pop up windows opening uncontrollably one after the other.
In the words of another icon, U.S. champion snowboarder Shaun Miller, that is “freaky deaky.” Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get my Days Of Our Lives spoilers for next week.
Feb
26
Spooky. A bunch of us have taken The Dewey Color System® test at careerpath.com and can confirm it’s amazingly accurate! Check it out, it’s free! Note: you don’t have to give them your email address, and scroll down when you get to the big ad page. (They’ve hidden the “no thanks” button at the very bottom.) Here’s my profile:
Best Occupational Category: You’re a CREATOR
Nonconforming, Impulsive, Expressive, Romantic, Intuitive, Sensitive, and Emotional, these original types place a high value on aesthetic qualities and have a great need for self-expression. They enjoy working independently, being creative, using their imagination, and constantly learning something new. Fields of interest are art, drama, music, and writing or places where they can express, assemble, or implement creative ideas.
CREATOR OCCUPATIONS
Suggested careers are Advertising Executive, Architect, Web Designer, Creative Director, Public Relations, Fine or Commercial Artist, Interior Decorator, Lawyer, Librarian, Musician, Reporter, Art Teacher, Broadcaster, Technical Writer, English Teacher, Architect, Photographer, Medical Illustrator, Corporate Trainer, Author, Editor, Landscape Architect, Exhibit Builder, and Package Designer.
CREATOR WORKPLACES
Consider workplaces where you can create and improve beauty and aesthetic qualities. Unstructured, flexible organizations that allow self-expression work best with your free-spirited nature.
Suggested Creator workplaces are advertising, public relations, and interior decorating firms; artistic studios, theaters and concert halls; institutions that teach crafts, universities, music, and dance schools. Other workplaces to consider are art institutes, museums, libraries, and galleries.
2nd Best Occupational Category; You’re a DOER
Emotionally Stable, Reliable, High Energy, Practical, Thrifty, and Persistent. These adventurous types prefer action-oriented, concrete problems rather than dealing with thought-provoking, ambiguous, abstract dilemmas. Fields of interest include mechanical, construction, and outdoor careers. They might also enjoy working with machines, tools, and equipment to repair or build something.
Categories : Consciousness, Me, Uncategorized, Woo Woo
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Feb
21
The WNBA unveiled its 2010 television promo spot last week during the NBA All Star Game. The spot is cleverly edited, exciting to watch, and totally flubs what should have been a slam dunk.
To my recollection, this is the first time in the league’s 10-year history that the women’s game has been advertised alongside the men’s game. As a casual Sun fan and Celics fan, I can tell you that both leagues have their strengths. But to say both are interchangeable, as “Basketball is Basketball” clearly implies, somehow manages to discredit both leagues while insulting the intelligence of basketball fans everywhere.
Is a car a car? Is an mp3 player an mp3 player? Nope. Different “brands” have different strengths and weaknesses. I am reminded of a recurring theme in my youth when my mom would buy me the store brand version of, say, sneakers, while defending herself by saying “sneakers are sneakers.” If that were the case here, I might as well save my money and take the family to a high school game instead.
I feel sort of tricked, like one league was photoshopped into a picture where it doesn’t belong. On the other hand, I can’t wait to see Diana Taurasi take on Kobe Bryant.
Feb
19
From Wikipedia: Cheez Whiz is a thick processed cheese sauce or spread sold by Kraft Foods. It was developed by a team led by food scientist Edwin Traisman (1915–2007) and was first marketed in 1953. The bright yellow, viscous paste usually comes in a glass jar, and is used as a topping for corn chips, hot dogs, cheesesteaks, celery, and other foods.
Cheez Whiz is one of a number of “processed cheese foods”, a category including some types of individually-wrapped cheese slices. These products contain regular cheese that has been reprocessed along with additional ingredients such as emulsifiers and stabilizing agents, such as xanthan gum or carrageenan. These products derive their tanginess and flavor from additional ingredients such as citric acid and flavoring compounds. Annatto is used for coloring.
The product has been sold in a narrow jar that tapered towards the base when sold as a spread. When Cheez Whiz is advertised as a dip or a sauce, the jars are larger and more of a squat cylindrical shape.
Products include:
Cheez Whiz
Cheez Whiz Light
Cheez Whiz Tex Mex
Salsa Con Queso
Cheez Whiz Italia
Cheez Whiz can also be found
in “Handi Snacks”, such as
Ritz Cheez Whiz ‘n’ Crackers in Canada.
Cheez Whiz was reformulated in the early 21st Century to include both a changed formula, and a new, wider jar that allows dipping straight from the container. This new formula applies to the Cheez Whiz Light 15.5 oz and the Original Big Cheese 15 oz packages.
Categories : Uncategorized
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Feb
18
Technical Journal Entry: Today I learned how to back up my entire website, most importantly the WordPress XML that contains all the writing and linking and, you know, the personality of the thing. I’m already up to 1.07 GB!
For those WordPressers who need to attempt similar actions, there is an “Export” function under the heading of “Tools” in your WP dashboard. That’s half of it. The other half of the backup involves using an ftp client to copy all your images, mp3s, movies and the like. I’m sure I’ll come across an all-in-one solution eventually, probably a plugin of some kind, but I just wanted to “git ‘er done” before I “fergot.”
Feb
17
From Wikipedia: Napoleon Hill (October 26, 1883 – November 8, 1970) was an American author who was one of the earliest producers of the modern genre of personal-success literature. His most famous work, Think and Grow Rich, is one of the best-selling books of all time. Hill’s works examined the power of personal beliefs, and the role they play in personal success. He became the advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1933-36. “What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve” is one of Hill’s hallmark expressions. More From Wikipedia
Feb
17
Just me again, talking to myself as I chronicle the building of this website. Late last night and early this morning I viewed Sridhar Katakam’s excellent video tutorial on setting up a Dynamic Gallery area with rotating images and auto-generated text. Thing is, I don’t have a place for this feature right now, but probably will as I keep building out the pages. Or maybe I’ll want to build a site for someone else. Who knows. Now I’m going to insert a completely random picture of myself so the blog stays, um, pretty-looking.
The good news is I’m making real progress in my WordPress skills. The bad news is you have to look at my face again. Too bad. If you’re interested in what the Dynamic Content plugin can do, check out my dummy page. If you’d like to build one for yourself, check out Sridhar’s Awesome Tutorial. Thank you Sridhar!!!
Feb
11
I haven’t felt this excited since the new phonebook came out! Google “Paul Tedeschi” and look who comes out numero uno! Ahead of the Dentist in Edison New Jersey, the CMO of the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, the Paul Tedeschi who’s marrying somebody named Lianne Koguc and the PAUL TEDESCHI of 14 STUYVESANT OVAL APT 4F NEW YORK NY 10009 who apparently mailed a mysterious package to himself from London with the tracking number HLCULIV881015122. There must be dozens more of my namesakes, so it’s great to be on top. Sure glad I changed my name from “Free Porn.”
Feb
11
Got my blog working. Learned to Twitter-enable my “about” page. Got my video jukebox streaming nicely. Now all that’s left is my “play” page. I’ll probably include my homemade music files, plus this Flash banner I made a few years ago. I’d make a new banner, but I haven’t touched Flash in a while. Nice teeth. Rather “Ozzy,” don’t you think?
About me block
Welcome to the pages of a
21st-century creative director,
a cosmic dot connector,
and a chicken crossing the road,
frankensteined together
into a bouncy, bespectacled
ball of befuddlement.
I am honored to have you here,
and hope you will find something
that will educate you, inspire you,
or at the very least, amuse you.
Creativity Logo
Paul Tedeschi | Brooklyn, CT | 860 774 8740 | Cell: 860 798 2134 | email