The Official Website & Blog of Paxton Allewell. Communications Specialist, Educator, Writer and Designer.
Communications
Sand Animation Viral Video
Jun 8th
My friend shared this “Sand Animation” video with me last weekend and I was pretty impressed. The video has had over 14 1/2 million views, so it’s gotta be pretty good!
The “sand animation artist” in this video is Kseniya Simonova – winner of the 2009 Ukraine’s Got Talent tv show contest. The depicted scene, according to wikipedia, “portray[s] life during the USSR’s Great Patriotic War against the Third Reich in World War II.
Sand animation is a unique art form and storytelling technique that I’ve never seen before. It’s fun to watch and it has helped get my creative juices flowing again.
You can see more videos of Kseniya Simonova’s animations on monkeylog.com. Enjoy!
Interview with Kseniya Simonova:
New MacBook…Awesome!
Jun 2nd
Photo taken with my new MacBook
I purchased a new MacBook this week and I’m lovin’ it! I had an iBook before, but it had to be plugged in to work and it’s time had come. I spend so much time on the computer for work and personal reasons, so it was really an essential tool and upgrade for me.
As an homage to the blog/book 1000awesomethings.com I declare the MacBook “Awesome!” Not only are all the programs awesome, as I expected. But the TrackPad is incredible. I love how I can just use my fingers for everything on it, and can even avoid pushing down to click on links (etc.) – I set it up so I just have to touch the TrackPad with one finger when I want to click on something – similar to a touch screen. It saves my wrists the extra effort.
I know some of you will have already figured the TrackPad out, but it’s new for me, because it’s really only when you have something new that you take some time to get familiar with it…which is what I’ve been up to the past few days since getting my new laptop. If you don’t know a thing about the TrackPad, you can watch a video tutorial of the TrackPad here.
On the weekend it was my nieces 7th birthday and at one point in the afternoon my brother-in-law’s brother was raving about his new iPhone and gave me a demo of all the apps, etc. I’m typically a late adopter for technology (I don’t have an iPhone) and tend to not want to get caught up in it all. But here I am too raving about technology! Before I got this laptop I tested out the new iPad and it was really cool too, but it didn’t have all the functionality I need with programs etc. so I didn’t get it. But regardless, I’m still happy with my new laptop!
See you next time!
Video: Starbucks’ New Green Stores
Feb 27th
Starbucks “aim[s] to achieve LEED® certification for all new company-operated stores beginning in 2010.”
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As someone who worked at Starbucks for three weeks because I liked their coffee and business values (at least at the time), and as someone who takes advantage of the Starbucks environment to do work online, and as someone who prefers Starbucks to Tim Hortons, I was pleased to see the new and green concept stores – they look pretty cool. I just hope that they also find a way to better deal with excessive noise and traffic “pollution” to enhance the experience as well.
So far three new stores “showcase” the new approach. Two stores are in Seattle and one in Paris. For more info about the new stores and a virtual tour of these stores see Starbucks’ new website>>
What do you think of the new stores? Are you a fan of Starbucks? Is LEED certification enough? Please comment here>>
Zellers: Because the lowest PR is the Law
Jan 11th
I took this picture just before dark at the Pen Centre in St. Catharines. I had to play with the lighting a bit, but you can image that it’s quite noticeable at night. The sign has been like that for awhile now and I just had to take a picture of it! Any one hear of any good PR from Zellers lately? I think their sign answers that question.
Are you in retail? Make sure to replace the lights on your exterior signs because you never know what it might say when one goes out = bad PR!