You’ve probably seen those cool iPhone and iPod commercials on television; but had you ever wondered where they get these great ideas from? Try YouTube.
The latest iPod Touch commercial is the creative handiwork of Apple aficionado and amateur YouTube video producer Nick Haley. Nick made his own iPod fan video and uploaded it to YouTube last month, where it quickly became popular, receiving tens of thousands of views and only a few weeks.
One person who viewed Nick’s fan video happened to be an ad executive for Apple Inc. But rather than making a call to the company’s lawyers, the ad exec called Haley personally and asked if he would like his video to be featured in a primetime iPod commercial to air during the World Series!
Haley was quickly flown to Los Angeles to re-edit his creation and master it in high definition video for broadcast quality. The result is the new iPod Touch commercial that debuted during game four of the World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the Colorado Rockies. Talk about a lucky break!
The fan video, turned primetime commercial, is a sleek, sexy ad, featuring quick edits and clever but simple production values. The music selection of the video is one of its most outstanding features. The spot uses a track by the Brazilian group, CSS, entitled “Music is My Hot Hot Sex.” The suggestive but playful lyrics and pounding beat are the perfect complement to the fetish-like fan video.
Haley actually “assembled” the video with clips taken from Apple’s web site, so no external footage was shot to create the 30 second spot. This shows the kind of creativity possible when working within the limited confines of a YouTube video, and how even major ad campaigns can take advantage of the online video sharing phenomena.
Could this be the start of a new advertising fad–using YouTube fan videos as primetime commercial clips? Chances are you’ll be seeing a lot more of these types of ads in the future for several reasons. First, most of the major advertising players want to take advantage of the so-called “social networking” web sites and the cachet that sites such as MySpace and YouTube have with users.
Secondly, let’s face it; ads like this are extremely inexpensive to produce and get on the air. In the case of the new iPod Touch ad, the video was produced using only an iBook computer and a selection of iPod promotional videos freely available on the Apple web site. You can’t get much cheaper than that!
We’ve all known people who seemed unflappable; no matter what happens, they never seem to lose their composure or fly off the handle. But on the other hand, most of us also know people who seem overly excitable, or have a low threshold to stress. For many years the differences in how people handle stress were mostly attributed to their upbringing and personal attitude. But now there is new evidence that stress is actually linked to specific neural pathways in the brain that transmit chemicals used when we communicate. Could this mean that some of us are simply hard-wired for stress?
The University of Texas Medical Center recently completed research that suggests that brain cells used in communication operate differently from one person to the next. In addition, the research shows that this difference in so-called “communication brain cells” is also highly correlated with an ability — or inability — to handle stress effectively.
In studies carried out with white mice, for example, it was shown that mice who exhibited symptoms of depression had much higher levels of certain chemicals in specific brain cells. On discovering this, researchers examined human brain tissue, and confirmed that the same basic structure existed with in the brains of humans showing signs of depression. In particular, the compound known as BDFN was found to be much higher in certain brain cells of depressed people.
Researchers are now theorizing that there may be a way to control, or at least regulate, the release of the BDFN compound, increasing a person’s ability to exhibit resilience in the face of stress or depression. The research is still new and more studies are needed, so at this point scientists are unable to say which other brain processes BDNF may control. Researchers are hoping that additional studies will shed some light on the exact workings of the compound.
One of the biggest insights of this latest study is that it suggests that stress resilience is an ongoing and active process. This could change the way doctors and psychologists treat anxiety, depression and other stress related disorders.
If further research can confirm the current theories about BDNF, it could lead to a breakthrough in treating anxiety-related disorders and depression, as well as a new methods to pre-empt the occurrence of low stress tolerance in individuals who might be otherwise predisposed toward a more anxious temperament.
So the bad news is, some of us may in fact be hard-wired toward anxiety. Of course, this does not mean that a person will exhibit symptoms of anxiety-related problems, but only that they are more likely to experience the symptoms than some other people.
The good news is that once this stress mechanism within the brain is confirmed, it is much more likely researchers will be able to develop a way to control and regulate the production of the stress-causing compounds.
When in a business meeting we are expected to behave in a way we are expected to do: we dress up suited for the occasion or function, we come prepared and we do not allow any distractions. As a business owner, you are always expecting your employees to do their best especially when you’re facing them. But what are you going to think if one of your trusted employees is presenting something really interesting for your company, building up the hype then suddenly…his cellphone rings. It’s like having a meeting and someone comes in unannounced bearing news that’s totally unrelated to your business. Even though it’s not done in purpose, the whole mood of the meeting is gone. You even come to realize that the presentation is not that good anymore.
Aside from such important business meetings, many business owners also want to control the use of phone in their business premises. Businesses want their employees to concentrate on their work instead of their mobile phones. Besides company secrets will be protected since important files can’t be sent easily if the employees stay away from the phone.
Inappropriate use of cellphones is also found outside businesses. In churches, movies, funerals and other occasions that warrant an undivided attention, we also experience this kind of intrusion and distraction. Some people unwittingly forget about their mobile phones so that it creates uneasiness to the owner and the people around them. At the same time, there are also people who don’t really care about any phone etiquette, and they would answer the phone at anytime and anywhere.
There’s now an answer to anyone’s concern regarding these situations. Instead of taking away the phone that they really like, why not just cut off their connection? There are products right now sold overseas that enable premise owners to block all the incoming and outgoing signals. As long as these gadgets are activated, it’s sure to block all the signals for all the people in the covered area.
This gadget is called a Cell Phone Jammer. In various European countries, cellphone jammers are legal gadgets if they are placed in authorized areas. The coverage of these gadgets could range from a small office area to the whole floor of the building. The jammer costs less than $150.00 and hand held. There are also cheaper things that you can purchase which are smaller and could cover less ground.
Before you jump in and order this gadget, be sure that it’s legal in your country. In the US, this gadget is illegal, as it’s considered as “property theft,” where the “property” being stolen is the frequency spectrum that is supposed to be available in public. Although usage of this type of gadget can be noticed in some areas, no one has really been really fined with $11,000 (fine for use of this gadget). Other countries such as India or Mexico have allowed the use of these gadgets only in important areas.
Saving energy is not about being a miser, but being caring enough to save this planet from the effects of Global Warming. Our elders were more conserving than we are; they lived during the wars when resources were scarce. However, the post war generation, especially in western developed countries, became a very consuming society, where the motto was “live for today.” The result was that in the last 20 to 30 years, the ‘greenhouse gases’ that causes global warming have increased to an alarming level and a natural phenomena that made life possible in this planet, became a crisis, threatening the planet.
How Is Energy Consumption Related To Global Warming?
Energy we get today is mostly by burning fossil fuels like, coal or petroleum. They release CO2 which is the leading ‘Greenhouse gas’ to affect global warming. Therefore, saving energy will lead to less consumption of fossil fuels and reduce the emission of CO2.
How Do We Do It?
Every big journey begins with a small step; so start saving energy in your home first. Look around; almost every electrical equipment that you use has an energy saving feature, so use it. The traditional light bulbs consume huge electricity, but give less light; so change them to CFL lights. In fact, some countries are banning the making of traditional bulbs. Switch off light, fans, and other electrical application when not in use. During winter, wear worm clothes indoor, so that less room heating is needed. Make sure that you have closed the windows well before switching the air conditioner on. Do not use hot water to wash even ordinary everyday clothes. Turn off the taps, when not needed, to save water. While watering the plants, use sprinklers instead of garden hose. Walk small distance and try to use lead free oil. Use car pool for same destination and take public transport whenever possible. Cars do the biggest emission of CO2.
Another most important thing to save is “paper” as trees are cut down to make paper. Utilize a paper to its fullest. Go for recycled paper whenever possible. In office, try to use as less paper as possible. If you think that paper you subscribe are sending you unnecessary papers, write to them.
Speak Up
Just doing your part won’t be enough, speak up when you think that energy is being wasted. See to it that those streets light in your area are turned off during daytime. Ask the government to enforce carbon emission reduction seriously and persuade the authorities to use alternative energy source, whenever possible. Only then can we reduce global warming and save our future. Remember, if we do not act today, we will leave a world full of war, famine, and misery for our future generation to inherit.
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