The following “stories” went ‘viral‘ this past week, and are recorded below.

Thirty-two-year-old copywriter Janet Champ, working on the women’s fitness account for Nike, in 1999, wanted to appeal to women who weren’t hard-core athletes. What struck her was how women took responsibility and time for everyone else but themselves. She wanted to get the message across that women need to care for themselves (preferably in Nikes).
Champ decided to write the life story of a woman: an eight-page ad, which read, in part “You wanted boys to notice you. You were afraid the boys would notice you. You started to get acne. You started to get breasts …”
Nike worried that there was too much to read, Dolan says. A cardinal rule of advertising is to keep the copy short. Here’s the ad Champ came up with …

You were born a daughter.
You looked up to your mother.
You looked up to your father.
You looked up at everyone.

You wanted to be a princess.
You thought you were a princess.
You wanted to own a horse.
You wanted to be a horse.
You wanted your brother to be a horse.

You wanted to wear pink.
You never wanted to wear pink.

You wanted to be a Veterinarian.
You wanted to be President.
You wanted to be the President’s Veterinarian.

You were picked last for the team.
You were the best one on the team.
You refused to be on the team.

You wanted to be good in algebra.
You hid during algebra.

You wanted the boys to notice you.
You were afraid the boys would notice you.

You started to get acne.
You started to get breasts.
You started to get acne that was bigger than your breasts.

You wouldn’t wear a bra.
You couldn’t wait to wear a bra.
You couldn’t fit into a bra.

You didn’t like the way you looked.
You didn’t like the way your parents looked.
You didn’t want to grow up.

You had your first best friend.
You had your first date.
You had your second best friend.
You had your second first date.

You spent hours on the telephone.

You got kissed.
You got to kiss back.

You went to the prom.
You didn’t go to the prom.
You went to the prom with the wrong person.

You spent hours on the telephone.

You fell in love.
You fell in love.
You fell in love.

You lost your best friend.
You lost your other best friend.

You really fell in love.

You became a steady girlfriend.
You became a significant other.

YOU BECAME SIGNIFICANT TO YOURSELF.

Continue reading A New Week Begins With A Review of The Past Week (and more) →

Photos of the devastation caused by Friday’s 8.9 earthquake in Japan.

And videos …

And these 10 videos (courtesy, the Georgia Straight), and 10 more videos.

Yes, it’s another Friday morning. I mean, where does the time go?
So, this week’s potpurri of articles of interest includes a video trailer of a summer blockbuster we’re looking forward to, a throwback to the kind of films Steven Spielberg made back in the late 70s / early 80s, this time out, though, directed by J.J. Abrams, who didn’t do a bad job with Star Trek (really, it was our favourite blockbuster in the summer of 2009).

Although it took awhile for VanRamblings to find her, we’re pleased that we ran across British songstress Rumer awhile back, and thought we’d share some British soul music with you this inclement late winter Friday morning.

For those who find that Vision Vancouver has become, during their two-plus years in office, to be the worst civic government since the regrettable days of ‘Terrific’ Tom Campbell in the late 60s / early 70s, the following video from VanRamblings’ friend / associate Michael Klassen.

Yes, it’s true: a 75% turnover of senior administrative staff at Vancouver City Hall in the past two years, and devastatingly low morale among the remaining middle management and line staff. The November civic election cannot come soon enough to kick these ne’er-do-wells out of office!
And, finally for the week, Two and a Half Men’s Jon Cryer responds to Charlie Sheen’s accusation that he is a troll. From Conan O’Brien’s show …