A look at advertising under a new light, a scientific slant; the study of how the human brain works when shopping and how we think it works (which is wrong!). Martin Lindstrom's book Buyology: Truth and Lies About Why We Buy takes an alternative view to the classic selling tactics that are taught ad nauseam in marketing classes. After reading this I have attempted to become more aware of how my thoughts direct me in my purchasing decisions; like the fact that I won't always pick the cheapest brand, or how there are some brands that have so solidified my loyalties they'd have to really screw up to lose my business. As far as how this affects my professional life as a graphic designer, well - I see a long hard road for anyone who reads this book and tries to put it into practice. To change people's ideals of what sells, after years of having pounded into them that repetition repetition repetition works (and other such sells) how can we now go to them with and entire different line? Especially if they're absolutely convinced that it is their business card that sells best. (Tongue in cheek here!) Really most advertising will have to be re-worked in this new age of internet, dvds, kindle and dvr (aka tivo). Note: I listened to this book on audio. Excellent Read!
I do plan to work my way through all of the Giller Prize winners, and one of the first was Through Black Spruce. Joseph Boyden brought light to a part of Canada I've never been to, don't know anybody from there, and really I don't know anything about. Well, part of the book being as it hopped between major cities and the boondocks. I found the characters intertwining pasts, their mysterious current life and the journey finding themselves completely enveloping. So encompassed I was with the book that I didn't notice I'd run out of pages... you know that feeling of dread you get when you know that soon your joy of reading will soon end because the amount of pages can be held back with your fingernail... or is that just me? While I was was satisfied with this book I felt a need to read more of Boyden's books, and so I shall.
When I got to the end of this book I was so disappointed, only because I finally got around to checking out the author's bio on the back flap, awww! Lucky for us, before he passed away Steig Larsson had submitted some manuscripts to his publisher (as per the flap), so we will be allowed another brilliant story of his.
If you like scary books, if you like books that you can't put down... than this baby is for you! I actually listened to the audio version of this which added so much more depth. I generally like to hear the characters voices in my head, but having the audio clues, the twangs of accents... it made it all that much more creepy. It was a rather long read, but it was more than worth it, my concern for the fates of the characters drew me in further and further into the novel. If you were to ask me what else was going on in my life during my reading (okay, listening) of this novel, I wouldn't be able to tell you, I don't think! I don't think it was scary enough to give me nightmares (thank goodness), but the twists and turns, the surprises... it was an exhilarating read!
So, anyways, The Gum thief is another gem. I always suggest Mr. Coupland's work, and this is no different. I felt like I was each different character, even in the fragmented way the story comes through. I felt what the character was feeling, their emotions, failures and success'. Just another tribute to Mr. Coupland's outstanding writing, I can't wait to see what's next.
Tongue in Cheek: Maybe he'll even save the world...if it could be done, he'd be the one!
BTW... the tv execution of jPod is really beyond awesome... I know I'm addicted to the good ole television, but i truly adore this show and again can not wait until the next season!
PPS: I didn't know the CBC had cancelled jPod! Ughh! Go to Save jPod to sign the petition they've got going. The link to the petition os on the right, and remember to confirm your email address! gee whiz people!
It's probably the best piece of science fiction melded with western world history I've read. I'm usually not big into sci-fi, which is why it took me such a long time to finish it... But I would suggest the read to anyone interested in either genres, or both.
My brother introduced me to Kurt Vonnegut, and I found the writing a bit of a stretch. I also recognized that it wasn't the right time in my life to read his work. I started out with Hocus Pocus, and believe I've read a couple of others too (perhaps the Breakfast of Champions). And upon the news of his death, I researched him once again and borrowed his most recent book from the library. Thank goodness he wrote something else, after so many years.
I've just finished this book and have found once more that Bill Bryson has made me want to do things that I've never had the inclinations to do before! Now i go to sleep dreaming of the Appalachians, again, I've never before cared to know more about. And to be honest, I've had this book hanging round my house for a while being that it was lent to me in october. But since I get most of my books at the library, and there is a three week limit for the books that I've put on hold... I haven't gotten to my personal library lately. 
I was listening to Ideas on CBC Radio One and the episode was Taking the Pulse of the Planet David Suzuki and Stephen Lewis in conversation with Eleanor Wachtel, host of Writers and Company, on the politics of the environment and Canadian values. A personal, passionate and wide-ranging evening with two of Canada's foremost activists.I've always enjoyed David Suzuki and have believed that he truly has had his finger on the pulse of the environment for many years (decades) now. (and once i was behind him at airport security, right behind him, but was too shy -as usual- to say how wonderful I thought he is, sigh... how canadian) And I followed the if YOU were Prime Minister... tour through the blog on his David Suzuki Foundation. I think that Suzuki is one of the most influential people in media and I hope that more people listen to his warnings of the impending climate change.
Preserving the environment with a balanced action plan including rebates on fuel-efficient vehicles and efficient alternative fuel vehicles, an incentive to get older polluting cars off the road and a Green Levy on fuel-inefficient vehicles; by developing a new National Water Strategy; and by providing $1.5 billion to establish a Canada ecoTrust for Clean Air and Climate Change.We're talking about the earth here, historians theorize that carbon pollution killed off the dinosaurs and began a ice age, and here we are doing it to ourselves. There are few things that survived that ice age, and none of them were human. Even if were able to buy ourselves a bit of time with the use of our non-renewable resources, it's not a long time solution.
If you like scary mysery novels, like I do, this book is for you! I've always enjoyed Tess Gerritsen's novels, and usually pick them up as son as I see them on display (yes at the library).
I've always wanted to travel, and I've read more than a few books on travelers and their journeys through different lands, and almost always find them fascinating. This book was no different, I loved it! I generally pick up a Bill Bryson book on the suggestion of a friend or article, and get through the first chapter and put it down because I've got books from the library that are due, so I've got to read them quick! (Three weeks is just not enough for me)
This book is about Australia in the viewpoint of a visitor. In North America we are generally oblivious to this entire continent, as self-centered we are (or, as the u.s. draws all of our attention, certainly enough to fill our news broadcasts). Only recently, after the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the explosion of the internet and sites like youtube (online communities) have we been exposed to this marvelous country. I went through a lot of National Geographics in highschool for art projects, and probably learned most of what I know about Australia, other than that it was only necessary to remember the spelling and difference in location to Austria (which I easily got mixed up with).
I've been remiss in returning this book to the library... sorry folks, but I had to finish it!
This book is a great read, and I may be getting another book from the library by this author, it's just that good. Basically you know the ending before you begin reading it (it's on the book jacket), but Steven Johnson's take on the outcome the outbreak of cholera in nineteenth century London is eye opening. I found this easy to understand, and only felt once or twice that I really should look up a word for a clearer understanding (that might be because of my cold, and I faked it anyways. Perhaps what I enjoyed most out of this book is what I completed today, the epilogue. It brought a long ago event of the cholera outbreak into todays terms, how it set out the premise that todays human populations will survive. And just maybe it reminded me to be open-minded when it comes to new ideas in science and medicine, among other things in life, and not go with the consensus because that's the way it's always been done.
This is my tree this year!
I'm quite proud of myself. My mom off-loaded all of the decorations given to me over the years a few years ago, but I've never purchased a tree (in my life) and don't like the idea of picking a tree out of a lot (getting a tree at home included a trip into the hills to take a decent-sized tree [nearly two stories] off of crown land). So, usually I put the decorations on my standing lamp, and then up on the walls. But last year I got the great idea to use wreathes and hang them! It's spectacular for storage, fishing line and wreathes, how hard is that?
