BusinessCasualBlog.com: Just for fun

February 07, 2010

Twitter Was All A Buzz During Superbowl 44

As I was watching the Superbowl today, I got to wondering if analytics providers like Radian6, Hubspot, Compete, Sysomos and others have made a killing with new clients in those who plunked down $3M for a Superbowl Ad spot. They had better. Or, more to the point, the advertisers themselves would be well-served to have taken up with one of these service providers.

Taking just a little snapshot at key points along the Superbowl timeline, it was interesting to see what was working and what wasn't...

Superbowl First Quarter

About halfway through the 1st quarter (below), the Betty White / Snickers commercial and Doritos have taken an early lead with our laugh-meter.

After the end of the 1st Quarter (below) Joseph Addai is catching the attention of fans. And, the Doritos commercial is still buzzing from the second spot with the guy in the jumbo coffin "living it up" with a casket full of doritos and TV set. (LOL... yeah, I was kinda chuckling about that one.)

Superbowl Second Quarter

About halfway through the 2nd Quarter (below), the conversation seemed to be about how the heck did they get Jay Leno and David Letterman in the same room? And, the Budweiser commercials are still a hit.

And at the end of the 2nd Quarter, just starting in on half-time, the Dodge Charger commercial ("Man's Last Stand") has tugged at the laugh-meter of tweeps everywhere. Meanwhile, the Johnny Depp flick, "Alice In Wonderland" seems to be piquing some interest. Curious: I saw a couple of Flo-TV spots that I thought would've generated some buzz. They seemed to be trying pretty hard with a new product launch. But, it's only a blip at the moment.

Ahhh...wait for it... wait for it...there it is. The buzz around Flo-TV seems mixed. With references to the iPad, I'd say, on net, tweeps aren't a crowd that's gonna go rushing out to buy one.

Superbowl Halftime

Ouch. Apparently I'm dating myself here... while I still dig The Who (the Half-time show band), it apparently fell flat with some tweeps. Folks were actually dissin' them indirectly by blaming Janet Jackson's ill-fated wardrobe malfunction for the "type of" shows we now get on the Superbowl. Ouch.

Superbowl Third Quarter

Woot! Right after that onside kick by the Saints, is there any question what tweeps were buzzin' about? "Wow. That's the gutsy move I ever saw, Mav." (All you Gen-Ys still lamenting about Janet Jackson's role in The Who, get over it.) ;)

And, by the end of the third quarter, clearly Google's ad made a positive impact. For my part, I thought it was a great rebuttal to Bing.

Superbowl Fourth Quarter

Ha ha... part way through the fourth quarter, how about that 2-point conversion by the Saints, eh? "Challenge" refers to tweeps taunting Peyton Manning to answer the call... Interesting, too, how this far after the Google ad, it's still making the rounds.

And by the end of the game, it was pretty obvious what the buzz was all about. Beginning with the second quarter, much of the conversation had shifted from commercials and ads to events that were related with the game itself.

Congrats to the Saints for some kind of football game. Absolutely awesome. From the onside kick at the start of the Second Half, to the touchdown AND 2-point conversion and that last interception, the Saints played an absolutely stellar game. Congratulations, champs.

Posted by mel on February 07, 2010 in Active & Sports, Current Affairs, Just for fun | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

December 14, 2009

Brain Teasers... Hint: What I wanted to do to the guy who came up with photo enforcement zones on Arizona freeways!

Yup. I sure wanted to give 'em this...

(Click here for the answer.)

If you liked this, or any of the articles on this site, please subscribe!
Are you a fellow "Tweep"? Follow me on Twitter (@melaclaro)
Or, connect with me on LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/melaclaro.
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Posted by mel on December 14, 2009 in Brain teasers, Facilitation Tools, Just for fun, Meeting facilitation | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

December 11, 2009

Brain teaser - Hint: we try to do this for our clients and customers

In case you missed it, or aren't (yet) connected with me on Twitter or Facebook, here's the brain teaser I posted yesterday.

Give up? Here's a thread with the answer.

Posted by mel on December 11, 2009 in Brain teasers, Facilitation Tools, Just for fun, Training | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

December 10, 2009

Brain Teasers... do you have "the inside track?"

A couple of days ago I wrote about how helpful I've found some of these simple "brain teaser" activities for training classes and workshops. I posted a couple of them in my blog the other day and also on Facebook and Twitter. I was pleasantly surprised to find some goodly interest in them. Some of my friends asked that I post a new one at least once a day. I think I've got enough content from my old notes to comply with that for a while... at least until my notes run out. ;)

Here are the ones I shared with friends yesterday.

Hint: "John said he's got the job promotion locked in because he's got this..."
Answer (click here)

Hint: "Some days progress just like we do this."
Answer (click here)

Posted by mel on December 10, 2009 in Brain teasers, Facilitation Tools, Just for fun, Meeting facilitation, Training | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

December 08, 2009

Brain teasers to pull your trainees back after a break - "Life in the big city"

If you've ever facilitated a workshop or a training session, then you know how difficult it can sometimes be to pull everyone back into the room right after a break. But, that's usually the first challenge. Once you have them back in the room, the next challenge is to get the brain juices flowing again.

"Brain teasers" were fun little activities I found helpful in getting folks back into the groove again. The trick is to make 'em short, not too difficult so as to be a turn-off, but also not so easy as to be boring. The little snip above is an example of one from a series of 5-10 slides I'd have up on the screen for people to try and make sense of. I've been known to throw chocolates and candy around the room to those who guessed correctly. (I found the sugar was a good little booster, too.) :)

The brain teaser above is an easy one. After all, I give it to you right in the title to this post. But, how about the one below? Any takers?

Posted by mel on December 08, 2009 in Brain teasers, Facilitation Tools, Just for fun, Meeting facilitation, Training | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

November 25, 2009

GOING to thanksgiving or GIVING THANKS?

(Courtesy: Gisella Giardino via Creative Commons.)

Last year at about this time I shared a long-ish memory about another Thanksgiving celebration in the year before last. Though you wouldn't know it as I started the story, but we had a fantastic time with my in-laws. (You kinda had to read my post through to the end.)

I won't recount the whole thing, but as I started telling it, I grumbled -- as I'm prone to do. (I'm akin to a spoiled-stomp-my-feet-on-the-ground-and-walk-in-circles-and-pout-punk-brat sometimes, I really am) -- about missing my side of the family. (See? "me, me, me.")

GOING to Thanksgiving

If I wasn't grumbling about GOING to Thanksgiving to someplace other than with my siblings, I was griping about GOING to Thanksgiving through the traffic, or moaning about GOING to Thanksgiving where the weather was something other than what I had hoped, or just otherwise GOING to Thanksgiving.

The Gift of Time

It wasn't until after we arrived that I actually allowed myself some time. Just...time.

Time to not have any expectations or perceived remorse about "what could have been" and to simply allow things to just "be." That time allowed me to share in the stories from my brother-in-law, gave me time to see how my wife and her sister re-connected after a lengthy time apart, time to share stories with my mother-in-law, and time to laugh, time to reconnect with my niece and nephew.

I remember my niece and nephew challenged me to a race around the corner to the local park. I was game. First we raced to "the corner of the building." Of course, the trick to winning any race is to "make up" which corner marked the winner's line. My niece and nephew were too green to understand why I kept shouting "I win!"... but they're quick studies. (Hmm...or maybe they understood more than they let on.)

Getting a Clue

Anyway, after I won the to-the-corner-of-the-building race, they won the to-the-little-tree race; then the to-the-swing-set sprint. By the time we had completed the to-the-slide winner's cup, I was fully engaged. It happened gradually. Somewhere between the laughs and smiles in the living room and the bantering at the swing set, I finally gave up GOING to Thanksgiving.

I can't remember which one of us had our butt firmly planted in our claims to "my swing," but I do remember the "let's do it again" gleam in the eyes of my niece and nephew. And, somewhere in the middle of all that the rest of the family had evidently also found their way to the park. The sisters were engaged in close sibling revelry, my brother-in-law and mother-in-law were laughing (at me?), while I was about to enter another race with the kids.

In the middle of all that, the recognition finally clicked. The whole time I was busily rounding the bases of GOING to Thanksgiving, I had forgotten to allow the spirit of GIVING THANKS to come to me.

And, again, I took time. Time to look around and think... Thank You.

Posted by mel on November 25, 2009 in Faces, Just for fun, Places, Rants, Travel | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

November 11, 2009

Free and Promotionals for Veterans

My friend, Bucky Elkins, was kind enough to respond to my request fornfo about restaurants and other businesses offering some kind of promotional in honor of our Veterans. Bucky is a great guy to follow and was kind enough to dig up the following list:

11/11 - Free pizza or meal for veterans when another entree is ordered at Uno Chicago Grill locations. http://uno.know-where.com/pizzeria/

11/11 – Veterans can choose from a special menu of free meals on Veterans Day at Applebees from 8am to midnight. http://www.applebees.com/vetsDay/default.aspx

until 11/12 -Veterans, military personnel and their families can enjoy a 10% discount on all purchases at Lowes. http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=pg&p=Promos/veteransDay07.html&lks=hps#

until 11/11 -All active duty personnel, reservists, retired military, veterans and their families Veterans can enjoy a 10% discount on all purchases up to $2000 at Home Depot. http://ir.homedepot.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=63646&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1352351&highlight=

11/11 – Free Bloomin Onion appetizer & drink for veterans and active military at Outback Steakhouse. http://www.outback.com/companyinfo/veteransday2009.aspx

11/11 – Some Denny's are offering 20% off the entire meal for veterans.

11/11 – Some Arby's will offer free Regular Roast Beef Sandwich to all veterans and active duty military men and women on Veterans Day.

11/11 – Krispy Kreme will give away 1 free doughnut of any variety to all veterans and U.S. military personnel that stop in. http://investor.krispykreme.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=422165 http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS155889+05-Nov-2009+PRN20091105

11/11 – Sam’s Club is giving away 25,000 Hugo free foldable walking canes. No Sam’s Club membership required. Each store has about 40 canes to give out for free. http://www.hugosalutes.com/About-the-Free-Cane.asp

until 11/11 – Colonial Williamsburg honors America's Veterans with a procession down Duke of Gloucester Street, 4:30 p.m., beginning at the Capitol. The parade culminates in a public ceremony, with militia and cannon crew firing volleys in recognition of those who serve. Active duty military, guard and reservists, retirees, veterans and their dependents enjoy free admission passes Friday through Wednesday, Nov. 6-11. http://www.history.org/visit/eventsAndExhibits/specialEvents/index.cfm#VetDay

11/11 – In appreciation for service to the the U.S., Shirley Plantation in Charles City is offering free admission for all Vets on Veteran's Day, November 11th. http://www.shirleyplantation.com/veterans_day09.html

11/11 – Public Lands Veterans Day Fee Waiver - All military personnel, active and retired, and their families will receive free admittance to any National Park Service site on Veteran’s Day. U.S. Veterans, members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families will be admitted free-of-charge on Veterans Day to most public lands managed by the Dept. of the Interior and Dept. of Agriculture. http://home.nps.gov/news/release.htm?id=924 http://home.nps.gov/news/release.htm?id=922 http://www.nps.gov/pub_aff/veterans/honor.htm http://home.nps.gov/applications/parksearch/atoz.cfm

Battlefields and Military Parks http://www.nps.gov/pub_aff/veterans/honor.htm

National Register of Historic Places http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/feature/va/

National Park Service http://www.nps.gov/

Fish and Wildlife Service http://www.fws.gov/

U.S. Forest Service http://www.fs.fed.us/

Naturally, it is a good idea to contact the facility you plan to visit for details and check if reservations or permits are required

11/16 – Golden Corral's 9th annual Military Appreciation Monday dinner will be held on Monday, November 16, 2009, from 5 to 9 pm in all Golden Corral restaurants nationwide. The free dinner meal is a special "thank you tribute" to any person who has ever served in the United States Military. http://www.goldencorral.net/military/

Nov – Many NFL, NHL, MBA, and college teams celebrate a Military Appreciation Night in Novemember. Check you team's website to see what discounts they provide.

11/13 – L.A. Clippers will host a Military Appreciation Night on Friday, November 13th at 7:30 pm as they take on the Toronto Raptors. Service Men and Women and their families will be honored and all military personnel in attendance will receive a commemorative T-shirt. http://www.nba.com/clippers/groups/militaryappreciationnight091113.html http://krla870.townhall.com/pages/MilitaryAppreciationClippers

11/21 – Portland Trailblazers have invited all military personnel and families to an appreciation night basketball game on Saturday November 21st (against the Minnesota Timberwolves). http://www.mfso-oregon.org/2009/10/12/join-us-at-the-blazers-military-appreciation-night-nov-21st/

11/22 – 5th Annual Houston Aeros Military Appreciation Night Saturday, Nov 22, 2008 http://www.aeros.com/news/News/index.html?article_id=1916

until 11/26 – Knott's Military Salute, November 1 - 26 only; Knott's annual tribute to our Military, past and present. FREE admission for Veterans or current serving military personnel and one guest with proper I.D. presented at turnstile. (DD214, Veterans Administration Hospital ID or current Military ID) Past and present military personnel plus one guest will be admitted Free and up to six additional tickets may be purchased for just $15 each. http://www.knotts.com/public/admission/prices/deals.cfm

2009 – Knott's Military Discount - Show your military I.D. all year and get in Knotts for just $29.99 (NOT valid for special ticket events e.g. Halloween Haunt)

2009 – Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks - Here's to the Heroes Program http://www.herosalute.com

until 12/23 – Walt Disney World Resort in Florida: Through Dec. 23, 2009, each active or retired member of the U.S. military may obtain one complimentary 5-day "Disney's Armed Forces Salute" ticket with Park Hopper and Water Park Fun & more options. http://www.disneyworld.com/military

OnGoing – Free O.C. Transportation - Show your military I.D. and ride OCTA buses for free throughout Orange County - any time, any day. For more OCTA info visit http://www.octa.net/ and the OC trip planner http://justclick.octa.net/Trip2007 You can text 628246 with the format "bus (stop#) (route#)" to recieve the next 3 pick-ups times at that location. (The route# and stop# are posted on the sign at each OCTA bus stop.)

Posted by mel on November 11, 2009 in Current Affairs, Just for fun, Lists, Places | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

THANK YOU.

And, though I'm a veteran, I'd be all for this, too...

"Why not, instead of commemorating Veterans Day, we establish and work on what we could call a "No War Day."

~Andy Rooney

Courtesy - CBS News Videos Online

Posted by mel on November 11, 2009 in Current Affairs, Just for fun, Rants, Web videos | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

November 04, 2009

Crap...! It's 3 o'clock in the morning...Somebody's in the house.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/grimages/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

(Note: This qualifies as one of my occasional off-topic posts.)

This is a true story... for some inexplicable reason, I faded awake at about 3:00 this morning. As I was dozing back to sleep, the sudden reflection of light caught my attention.

I opened my eyes and could see light reflecting off the part of the wall along the top floor landing that I could see from bed. It took me a couple of seconds to realize that it wasn't reflecting from somewhere outside. Rather, I recognized it as light from the floor lamp in the living room.

The lamp had inexplicably winked on...INSIDE our house.

A quick headcount told me all I needed to know. My wife was next to me. Everybody that should be in the house was accounted for. Nobody else was authorized. Yet, the floor lamp in the living room just came on; that shouldn't be the case.

"Crap," I thought. A charge streaked through my mind, "I've got a bonafide 'no-shitter' here."

For reasons of security, I wont' share in this public forum what weapon I had available. Suffice to say, I grabbed it. Then a beeline out the bedroom door, over the landing and down the stairs. It was all of about 5 seconds, but it felt like a lot longer than that. I was expecting confrontation.

Instead...nothing.

I made a quick tour for any open doors or windows. All locked from the inside, as they should be. Did somebody break in and then lock the door after entry? I checked every nook-and-cranny downstairs: behind doors, under tables, slapping drapes, opening closets.

Nothing...nobody. Thank god? Yes.

Turns out, the switch on the floor lamp was on all along. Only, the electrical cord had loosened from the wall outlet earlier in the evening causing the lamp to wink out. Later, due to atmospheric or other subtle natural forces during the course of the evening, the 'trons reconnected causing the lamp to wink back on.

Needless to say, it took me a while to get back to sleep. I was pretty keyed-up, so I had some time to think: I would like to have done some things differently.

First, when I rushed out the bedroom door, I should have shut it and locked it behind me while engaging the door stopper we installed for just such a worry. That would at least keep another layer of separation between what I was worried about and my wife inside the room.

Secondly, we should have kept at least one of our mobile phones upstairs. If our worse fears had materialized, I would have wanted my wife making that emergency call ASAP. Instead, all phones were in their respective chargers--downstairs.

Thirdly, short of installing a panic room, I would have wanted my wife to have her own avenue of defense--and escape--in case I was, you know, incapacitated. :(

This non-event definitely got us thinking. A good thing. The three points above are the immediate steps we've remedied. But, while we have the luxury of time, we're taking other measures, as well. For security reasons, I won't share them all, but suffice to say, many of the "common sense" preventative measures will be the first line of defense: reinforcing doors with strike plates, jamb locks and window braces are definitely in the offing.

In any case, I thought I'd take a moment to share this non-event with you. As the holiday travel season looms, it might be a good idea for you to revisit some home protection measures before taking off. And, if you have any additional good tips and thoughts to share, I'd love to hear them.

In the meantime, I thought I'd share some of these interesting articles with some good prevention tips to consider:
o 3 Ways to Prevent Home Invasion using Home Self Defense, Andrew Youtz
o Home Invasion Robbery: Protect Your Family With a Security Plan, Chris McGoey
o Home Invasion Defense, Doug Wright

Be safe!

Posted by mel on November 04, 2009 in Current Affairs, Just for fun, Rants | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

October 22, 2009

Is Comic Sans font really that bad?

Gawd. I didn't know there was such a hubbub about comic sans until I came across the video below. But then again, I count myself amongst those who don't know much about typography. :)

And, maybe you agree that, as Vincent Connare says, sometimes, it's just better than Times New Roman.