Roger went to California last month be part of a shoot for an upcoming ad campaign from Honda called “Difficult is Worth Doing.” (http://www.difficultisworthdoing.com)

Honda is taking the bold step of running a series of unbranded TV ads about skydiving to build interest ahead of the launch of a car model. The campaign, developed by ad agency Wieden & Kennedy London, consists of four short teaser clips that are devoid of any Honda branding. The only clue as to what company, or product, is behind the ads - which vary between 10 and 20 seconds in length - is a web address that flashes up at the end, www.difficultisworthdoing.com. The website address sends viewers to a blog that has information on skydiving but gives nothing away about the wider upcoming ad campaign. “By giving people understanding about the ad before it launches, not after, it gives substance and authenticity to what Honda is saying,” Tapper said.
Honda launches skydiving ad campaign | guardian.co.uk

The coolest part (for me) has been watching the blog and videos unfold. I know most of these folks, so every time I see an update or a new video I hoot and holler and can’t wait to tell all my friends. I’m impressed with Honda’s execution of the campaign, not all companies get how to launch an online teaser. I’m not sure if I would be so enthralled if I weren’t related to all this, but still. I give them props. Skydiving, in general, is hard to explain, let alone competition or career skydiving. It’s very different than a weekend hobbyist. These guys work their butts off to stay current and challenge themselves. I think Honda has done them right.

Categories: Friend-ish · Skydiving · The Fam · Video

These are links from my del.icio.us feed for May 18th:

• keri’s tattoo! on Flickr - The tattoo on her wrist gives me an idea…

Categories: delicious

These are links from my del.icio.us feed for May 12th through May 17th:

• ZipLens - Online Lens Rentals for Canon and Nikon (d)SLR - For about $40 per week ($60 for two) you can rent a killer lens before you buy it - or just to use it for a really special occasion. They include pre-paid return shipping to use with the original packaging it came in.
• Stunt Junkies - Base Jumping From a Moving Truck - This is my good friend, Marta Empinotti, doing a base jump off a bridge from a moving truck for the TV show 'Stunt Junkies.' She is an amazing woman.
• Amazon.com: Dawn’s End by Larry W. Bills - My very good friend, Amy's, husband wrote a book and it's on Amazon! If you like the horror genre, or know anyone who does, buy a copy (or four).
• ABC News - Time Management - Arial Meadow Stallings of Electrolicious in an ABC segment on "How some businesses are embracing a slow-down at the office." I can't imaging my company ever doing this, but it sure would be nice.

Categories: delicious

The She Craves’ show at Emo’s on Saturday was HOT. The A/C broke on the warmest day of the year (so far) so it was a hot, sweaty mess. At one point Christine, the lead singer, said “It’s hot. We all know it. Let’s just get over it and enjoy the show.”

Despite the heat, it was one of the best shows I’ve seen them play so far.

Categories: Austin-ish · Friend-ish · Music to My Ears · Shutterbuggin'

These are links from my del.icio.us feed for May 4th through May 10th:

• Lowepro Fastpack 250 Camera Bag Review - I bought a Lowepro bag a few months ago and LOVE it, but it's a little small, especially when travelling. Considering selling mine and getting this one. Very similar function, more room (and a laptop sleeve).
• Makin’ Music with John Mayer - Funny or Die - I had no idea John Mayer was so funny. (via Jef @ Indidream)
• happy mundane: cinder block planters and pretty vases - I loooove these. Not sure where I could put them, but I love them none the less.
• Grocery Shopping at 99-Cent Stores - I am spending more and more at the grocery store, so I'm definitely open to this idea.
• Web Worker Daily » Archive Web Worker Tips and Tricks - Some good tips for getting the most out of Outlook, Word and IM.
• Farmer’s Market, Plastic surprise (via Adfreak) - "To put beach pollution into perspective, trash was collected from various beaches, packaged it to look like seafood and displayed it at local farmers' markets." I sure hope the packaging is biodegradable.
• AdFreak: NBC tests sanity with pretzel-like ‘Earl’ ads - Make it stop.
• No Pants Day is May 2nd, 2008! - Oh man, I missed it! Although… I did wear a skirt on Friday, does that count?
• Digital Photography School - 10 things to consider when building your rockin’ photoblog
• How To: Make A Mini S’mores Grill - Totally impractical and absolutely adorable. (via Not Martha)
• 15 Fun Fabulous Fisheye Photos - So freaking awesome. "It may surprise you, but this ultra-wide angle lens is incredibly versatile, and gives a unique perspective on just about any subject you turn it to."
• Chile Relleno Casserole | Simply Recipes - This looks amazing. On my list to make … someday.
• Ask Metafilter | Wine in small doses - At Ask Metafilter - "What's the best format for an extremely lightweight drinker to buy & store wine, to enable very gradual consumption without the wine going sour?" (via Not Martha)

Categories: delicious

I had dinner with a group of non-work friends tonight and we were talking about upcoming vacations. Some people are worried about missing too much work, some people don’t care. I laughed and said, ‘In the end, we’re all replaceable. No one should get TOO comfortable.’ They laughed. I said “Really. one of the first things my mom taught me when I got a job was that I would be amazing at whatever I set my mind to, but I was ultimately replaceable in a corporate setting.”

They seemed sad about that, but I didn’t mean that I was replaceable as a PERSON (for real, no on makes narcissistic camera faces like I do), but business is business. And the job I do, no matter how WELL I do it, could absolutely be done by someone else. Maybe it would take TWO people, and they’d miss the shit out of me, but I could be replaced.

You can be depressed about it, or liberated. Because if the sad day comes that you get the boot, there is a job out there someone else is getting booted from that needs a replacement. It’s all a big circle of life, full of opportunity. You just have to keep your eyes open.

Categories: Giggin' · R-R-Rambling

When I was 8 or 9 we lived in Zephyrhills, Florida for awhile. We actually lived there a few times, I don’t remember what installment this was from, my sister might. That’s not the point though. We were living at a dropzone called Skydive Phoenix, named so because it had burned down and was rebuilt from the ashes some years before (if you’re new to all this, my mom and step-dad skydive, check out some previous posts). I remember it was the height of the season because there were a LOT of kids. There were different kinds of dropzone kids, those that lived there and those that came out w/ their parents on the weekend - we were the kind that lived there. We knew all the ropes - knew the people, knew who would buy us lemonade, knew who would help us with our homework and knew who didn’t like kids.

I remember one particular weekend a young French girl was there. The other kids didn’t like her, I think because she didn’t speak very good English and it was hard to translate and play with her. They were being mean, not letting her play and getting frustrated. I wasn’t being particularly friendly either, and one of the adults pulled me aside. They said they weren’t sure about the other kids, but they knew me and I knew better than that. I needed to play nice. I remember feeling embarrassed, I didn’t get scolded very often. What was I *thinking* getting caught up in what the other kids were doing. I don’t remember apologizing to her, but I hope I did.

The power of crowds was a big realization for me, and one my mind goes back to (clearly). I like to think as an adult I’ve learned my lesson, but it’s still a conscious effort. I’ll find myself not raising my hand when I know the answer, or getting gossipy at work when I know it could hurt people. It’s much harder to be a strong individual when you’re riding the wave of what everyone else is doing.

I don’t have any big moral lesson here, we all know the RIGHT thing to do. I guess it just struck me how EARLY I learned that lesson and how I’m reminded of it, even now. My mom was worried I was holding on to a bunch of guilt, but it’s more of a ‘don’t forget.’

There’s safety in numbers, but it takes more strength to be just ONE.

Categories: R-R-Rambling · Skydiving · The Fam

These are links from my del.icio.us feed for May 4th:

• Yard Dog Gallery - Clint Griffin - I fell in love with these pieces in 2004, but had no money to buy one. I can't get them out of my head, I may have to track down the artist. They are maps of the world etched in layers of paint of weathered wood scraps. Simple, but so beautiful.

Categories: delicious