Russell Davies

american copywriter

I've been listening to American Copywriter for ages, but it struck me this morning that I've never blogged about it, so now I will, by writing a highly reader-friendly list - 7 reasons why planners should listen to American Copywriter :

1. It's funny, clever and loud. You should listen because it's good.

2. You're a planner, if you don't know what makes creatives tick you'll be no good at your job. This is a chance to listen to some creatives thinking out loud. How valuable is that?

3. They remind you that strategy is only a tiny bit of the battle. Maybe the least important bit. The recent radio edition, for instance, should remind us all that the most important meeting in advertising is the pre-pro - this is where the things that make an ad good happen. You should try and get involved in them.

4. They remind you that making great communications is, above all, a craft. And that some skills - like getting a voiceover guy to deliver all the words he's supposed to say in exactly 14.8 seconds - are not going to replaced by any amount of social media widgets or clever digital doodahs.

5. They're enthusiasts. Enthusiasm is good. It's America's gift to the world. They're on their 40th of these things, ranting and talking about ads and stuff and you can tell that they're still enjoying it. Brilliant.

6. Again, in the Radio Edition, you get to hear some belly-aching about the US soccer team, which is always amusing.

7. I don't know. Just listen. You should.

spain 1-3 france

brazil 3-0 ghana

hans, ken and ted

Two of the best presentations I've ever seen are now available at TED, along with a bunch of others which are also dead good. And they've blogged them in a great way - making them available in all kinds of formats, including letting them be posted on your own blog. Like this:

The first is Ken Robinson, talking about education and creativity in a very funny, very wise and slightly strange way. No charts, no notes, just talking. Genius.

The second is Hans Rosling talking about development issues, the presentation of data and the gap between rich and poor. And by contrast he's all about the charts - and they're the best I've ever seen. And it doesn't hurt that he presents them with enthusiasm and a quiet, warm wit.

So hurrah to TED for sharing this stuff in a really, well, share-y way. But also full marks for them in joining the open world, which must have been a difficult decision for an organisation which gets a lot of perceived value from its exclusivity.

in real life

So, I've been thinking about social media. And I've been trying to make the blogging experience more of a chat and less of a rant. And I've tried a few things. The skype thing just worried me too much. So I backed out of that. The CollectiveX thing was a good idea, and I'm truly grateful to everyone who tried to kick it off, but I don't think I've got the time or energy to manage conversations in two different places. I'm going to think about a better way of using that. Maybe around a specific APSotW project.

And then I was reminded that my Mum used to go to coffee mornings with the Towns Women's Guild, and I realised that that was almost exactly what I wanted to start. A 'coffee morning', doesn't that sound nice? (Sure, half of me'll be trying to pretend it's some sort of salon, or Algonquin Round Table thing, but really it's a coffee morning.)

Anyway, my plan is this. I'll be in The Breakfast Club on D'Arblay Street every Friday at 11am until about 1.30pm. If you're around, drop-in. Just to chat. It'll be nice.

I am beardy, hear me roar

It seems monunmentally arrogant to link to an interview with yourself but hey, if a blog's not about startling levels of narcissiscm what is it about? I met up with Paul Colman a week or so ago and we chatted about all sorts of things. Despite his protestations of incompetence he's a really good interviewer. Asks good questions, doesn't butt in all the time like I do. Plus he's a very nice bloke (with a lurking air of menace due to his apparent ability to cycle for 6 days at a time with no rest and break planners in two with his bare hands). The first bit is here and it's about brands and that, the second one is about blogging and stuff (and I think it's more interesting). They're both pretty long which is testament to Paul's ability to keep people going and my love for the sound of my own voice. I originally thought this kind of thing was way too long but I'm actually wondering whether this extended interview isn't one of the merits of podcasting. It's not like you can do it in any other medium. And it lets you get beyond the soundbites. But maybe I wouldn't think that if it was an interview with someone other than me.

By the way, any conference organisers out there - can you please use this picture as the head shot for me from now on?

I thank you

switzerland 0-0 ukraine (0-3 on pens)

italy 1-0 australia

life poster

Remember that burst of posts about the guy who made a rather splendid Lifeposter for himself. I really wanted one, but the instructions seemed rather laborious and it involved owning a copy of Photoshop. Now, I'm as excited by Make as anyone (I'm a subscriber), but there are some things it's better to pay other people to do. And now, exactly that opportunity has come along. Qoop has turned up on the front page of flickr offering to make all sorts of things from your pictures, and all you have to do is send them some money.

With 5 minutes and $20, (inc shipping) I've got a lovely poster coming of every picture I put on flickr in 2005.

portugal 1-0 holland