Baby, it's hot outside

Magnet #875 - 2010 Vancouver Olympic Mascots

Remember when we were all watching the 2010 Winter Olympics, where we had these supercute little mascots, and I magnetblogged about them?

And like everyone at the outdoor venues were all bundled up in layers and layers of warm clothing?

Because it was cold outside?

Remember that? Remember how cold it was here? Remember?

Yeah. Those were good times.

Cold times.

The Olympics, the ads, and the mascots...sans Mukmuk!

Magnet #732 - 2010 Vancouver Olympics Mascots

Behind me on the wall of our golf event command center/war room here at work, is the giant tv that automatically goes on around noon, so that the boys can glance at the scores throughout the day. Scores for curling. For hockey. For skiing. But mostly for curling.

In fact, that's how my workdays seem to be breaking up. I know I've lost the morning when the TV goes on. I've lost the afternoon when the news comes on. And I've lost the night, when late-night repeat coverage goes on. Heh.

Oh, and then because the speakers are in my left ear, I can now totally tell what ads are playing by the soundtracks, rather than the picture over it. The P&G series about the moms and the laundry they do (unfair, I know, because I actually love the Moms/little Olympians execution). Coke. Toyota's I'm sorry ads. McDonald's chili sauce. That yourmarketingsucks site.

And tonight's newest that I just now noticed - Netjets? Really? That many people still have money that they can rent a jet that Netjets is advertising in primetime now?

Moving on...I know the IOC et al. frown upon unofficial Olympics merchandise. But, honestly, if you're not gonna choose the cutest magnet images for me to buy, and then on top of that, you're out of stock of the magnets I want on your online store, then yeah, I'm gonna make a magnet all on my own for myself.

I mean, how can you pass up these mascots?

Finally. Wow. Just wow.

I was going to do this whole magnetpost on who Miga, Quatchi, and Sumi are, but I just went to the Olympics site, and it's the best. site. ever! So great! Not only well-designed and just fittingly adorable as the mascots, but they've made the content relevant to kids - and adults - with mascot bios, fun games and not one, not two, but six Behind the Mascots Videos!

No way can I top that with a magnetpost. Just go spend time there. You don't even have to have a kid. Hahaha.

I am sad, though, cuz my Mukmuk the Marmot isn't in there. He's got a video, too, but basically, he's the big sports fan with the funny house filled with sport stuff! How cute is that guy? Dudes. He has a foam finger. Love.

Also? I won't lie. I just like saying mukmuk, really.

Mukmuk.

Mukmuk.

Mukmuk!

Go world

Magnet #721 - Canada

Got this one several years ago, and it only struck me to use a Canada magnet about an hour ago, when I thought, hmmm, I'm pretty much live-blogging the Olympic ceremonies right now on my Twitter/FB feed. Heh.

But, what's not to like about these ceremonies. I'm really enjoying them. Which is good, because they spent $30-40 million on it.

I love that it represents a lot of Canada that I don't always hear about. The four host First Nations introduction was awesome, though, I did hear there are something like 630 First Nations spread out across the country. That's kinda cool.

Plus, there's bears. Heh. And I almost want to drag out my church shoes and tapdance with this guy on my tv right now. Almost.

What I will say is that I am loving the ads during this broadcast - they're head over heels above the Superbowl ads.

Well, done, advertisers!

eta:
Huh. And then they brought in Peter Pan. Still, I love the Both Sides Now song, so I'll go with the Pete.

eta2:
Annnnd, I'll go even further out on the limb. I liked the slam poetry segment. A lot, actually.

eta3:
Oh, noes. That was really kind of sad. I feel bad for the apparent mechanical difficulties. Oiy. Someone didn't get to light a flame. Oops. But, man, 4 hours of intense mechanics, and it's down to the last 5 minutes. Dang.

Miso...oh no, you didn't!

Magnet #580 - The Eatery, Vancouver, BC

There's this fantastic article from MSNBC/Careerbuilder with an admittedly very "poor me, I still have a job" slant, that talks about the folks left behind. The ones who somehow, by the grace of the Protect the Bottom Line gods, still have a job.

It talks about about how "strategic eliminations" have basically left behind more work for less crew. And honestly? A crew of less-knowledgeable people who are now desperately running and gunning the vacated positions. That impact will have serious ramifications, at some point, and I anxiously await that day.

This is not that day. And this is not that magnet.

This superterrifically, somewhat inappropriate (and yet charmingly so) magnet, from the funky cool Eatery in Vancouver, came from a new friend I made out that way.

One, who, when I was frantically making calls late on a Friday night to set up a CEO video shoot for Tuesday, actually picked up the phone and took my call, even if he didn't know me from Jack. (Or Andy, given this magnet, I guess. Hee.)

He became a superterrifically valuable resource for me. He jumped in, guiding me through his questions, dealing with my manic, "OMG, how will we ever get this done and I have not a clue what I'm doing because we're so freakin' stretched they're letting advertising account managers do things outside their realm and even if it's not rocket science, it's now something that's totally getting added to my resume," so please help a poor soul.

By the end of a late night, we at least managed to set up the backbone of the shoot, ready for the real!producer to guide the rest of the process.

Whew. There are times when I love this business, and the people in it. It's not often, but when it happens, those people are like gold. Especially when they send you a magnet, without any clue why.

Hahaha, thanks for the help, the chuckles and the magnet, Jean Pierre with the supercool last name from Vancouver! Now you know!

Although, I will say, that after all that we went through all that agita on a Friday night (did I mention Friday?) to get that shoot set up, all we got from the client?

"Great. But note that our name is spelled wrong in the subject header."

Miso something, alright.

Sigh.