90's Rock

Excuse some of the language in this, but it's an interesting read.

Scratch and win....on this thing?!

This is pretty neat!!

---

New mobile marketing techniques and smartphone technologies are driving a unique 'virtual scratch-and-win' contest.

Smartphones users interact with the content through the touch screen capabilities of their device, while HTML5 coding and mobile connectivity are used to support customer interactions and document their contest entries.

Yellow Pages Group and Cossette are running the interactive contest under the theme 'Scratch and Win!' now through mid December.

Caroline Morin, Cossette's Director of Communications, told Mediacaster Magazine that the mobile application experience and programming were executed by the Cossette digital team, describing the contest interface as "a rich mobile banner that can be accessed within the app.

"What we tried to reproduce is an experience that comes as close to reality as possible to the physical scratch contest. So the touch screen sensitivity is key indeed. The faster you scratch the faster it appears!"

Users opt-in to the contest and agree to share certain data with contest operators through a basic sign-up form, Morin explained. Social media connections are also established with customers through the contest.

Participants have a chance to win a daily cash prize throughout the month-long contest. Users who also share the contest across their Facebook page become eligible for a $5,000-travel package grand prize.

What's the deal?

We continue to hear and read about the "occupy" movement. My view is (and this won't be a surprise) right wing. I wonder.....do they really have issues? If they do, and you asked ten random campers in the tent cities what those issues are, could they tell you? Or are they just sort of....there.

I found this comment interesting too. What do you think?

"The protesters, the demonstrators here in Calgary, have made a mistake. And the mistake they've made is they've let it become about the tents to the point we're no longer talking about the message, if any, the demonstrators have and I think that's a real shame because they had a beautiful opportunity and they have let it go away.

"I'm not saying it can't be saved. I'm not saying there is not an opportunity to continue the discussion on the important issues that matter, but here it's become about the tents and people pooping in the [Olympic] plaza and all sorts of exciting things like that instead of about issues of social justice in the community, and I think that's a real shame."

— Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi

If you're reading this, you already know it.

Vancouver, BC – If you want to learn how Canadians are communicating and interacting online, look no further than social networking sites. According to Ipsos’ most recent Canadian Interactive Reid Report special feature on Social Networking, one-half of all Canadians (50%) and the majority of online Canadians (60%) now have a social networking profile.

Social networking is no longer the exclusive domain of youth. While younger online Canadians aged 18 to 34 years (86%) are the most likely to have a social networking profile, other age groups are not getting left behind, as a majority (62%) of those aged 35 to 54 now have profiles and a good portion (43%) of those 55 years and older have one too.

What is more significant is the dramatic increase in the frequency in which they are using social networks. Nearly one-half of online Canadians (45%) are now visiting a social networking site at least once a week, and 30% visit daily, which compares to 35% who were visiting weekly, and 19% who were visiting daily this time last year. Momentum continues to grow as well, as 32% of those who have an online profile admit they are using it more than last year.

Snow!!

Snow and cold this weekend? No problem. Click here.

Pirate Radios "Meaning of Life"

Hard work - Smart work

My friend and co-worker Craig Hemingway passed this along. It's totally worth a read. When you're done, ask yourself which of the two groups you fall into. Click here.

Interaction....then and now.

I found this very interesting. Particularly the point about real time audience interaction. Remember when we used the phone for this? Heck, we still do. We just need to intelligently add new media.

The death of radio is greatly exaggerated, writes Michael Hedges in a piece adapted from his presentation to the Brave New Radio conference last week.

His look at the state of the medium across Europe comes up with some positive, and surprising, results.

"In virtually every audience survey in Europe radio listening is up," he writes. "Not simply up, but at record levels." He continues:

"In the last 30 years we've seen an absolute explosion of radio channels and stations. Within the 44 countries in the UN definition of Europe... there are roughly 15,000 broadcast radio outlets, about one for every 50,000 people. Ten years ago there were half as many."

He also takes on board the rise of the internet and its beneficial effect.

Essentially, his message is that radio is a first-class example of participation between broadcaster and audience. One examples he cites is Italian radio:

"Italian broadcasters have integrated radio and social media in amazing ways. Entire programmes are constructed in real-time around listener interaction.

When Tracking Fails

The vt'd weather from five minutes ago said "40 percent chance of flurries". There is a 100 chance that's still the Halloween witch hanging there. And there is also a 100 chance I am voting for the Saskatchewan Party tomorrow. Maybe we should apply those same odds to snowfall.

Being Happy

A few thoughts from Andy Rooney on life, and being happy an successful....

• I've learned .... That when you're in love, it shows.
• I've learned .... That you should never say no to a gift from a child.
• I've learned .... That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.
• I've learned .... That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.
• I've learned .... That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.
• I've learned .... That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.
• I've learned .... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.
• I've learned .... That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.