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Andrew & Ian Go To E3 2005
Originally uploaded by cabbit.

It looks like  2006 may have been the last year for the massive media circus of the Electronics Entertainment Expo (E3) that descends on the Los Angeles Convention Centre every spring.

“To better address the needs of today’s global computer and video game industry, the 2007 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3Expo) is evolving into a more intimate event focused on targeted, personalized meetings and activities, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) announced today.” (link)

It seems speculation is running rampant on the ‘why’ of the whole deal but the general consensus among gamers and industry media is that the four major players (Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, and EA) universally decided to withdraw their support from the event in the form of a large-scale conference catering to tend of thousands of attendees. While the event is slated to continue as a number of more intimate mini-conferences, this is essentially the death of an event that I’ve dreamed about every spring since I was fourteen years old.

I was lucky enough to attend E3 2005 with my friends Ian Maclachlan and Alex Peake, which was one of the most fun trips of my life and I was looking forward to being able to go back in the future. There’s a small set of photos available here, but admittedly there are probably more photos with the hookers than there should be.

They’ve nailed down. The new format basically ensures that not only will I not be able to attend in the future but it really won’t be worth attending for fringe industry enthusiasts such as myself. Hell, if nothing else, I guess I can get my ass across the Pacific top the Tokyo Game Show like that lucky punk James Everett.

China is expected to test the ‘artificial sun’ nuclear fusion device on approximately August 15th on ‘Science Island’ in Hefei.

“Scientists told the newspaper a successful test will mean the world’s first nuclear fusion device of its kind will be ready to go into actual operation, the newspaper said.” (link)

Does it say bad things about me that I’m hoping someone has the foresight to get a good photo of the device in action?

What: Street Portraits!
Who: Myself, Navi, Nick Eddy, and Michael.
Supplies: Candy, Camera, Posterboard, Markers, Notebook, Pens.
Where: Downtown Vancouver, at the corner of Robson and Granville.
When: 6:00 to 8:40 pm on Friday July 28, 2006.
How: We gave people candy in exchange for letting me take their portrait.
Why: People love candy.

I had decided that for the revival event of The Last Fridays I wanted something small, simple, and fun. This meant something I could pull off on my own (or with just one or two people), something that didn’t require complex planning, and something that would be fun for the people we involved in it. Inspired by Youngna Park and Zachary Klein’s brilliant little project entitled ‘candy canes for portraits‘, I had decided to replicate it on the streets of Vancouver.

The event was a total success, with 50 different individuals or groups happily getting their photos taken for free candy. We got a lot of skeptics too, though. Although it wasn’t planned, once we got going I found myself getting curious about what people were more worried about: free candy or having their picture taken. It was a lot of fun to do.

Planning shall begin shortly for the August Last Fridays event. Again, nothing large, but something fun. Suggestions are always welcome.

All 50 photos are up in the Last Fridays section, so go take a look! Tell your friends! Tell your enemies!

If you’re in the Vancouver area and want to get involved with The Last Fridays, contact me.

Ian and the Dalai Lama
Originally uploaded by anapinta.

This really is one of those headlines that make you wonder if reporters from The Onion have secretly spent the last few years working their way up into key positions at major news organizations across the globe. They’ve been waiting patiently, biding their time until the culture of fear was so strong that they could slip in those ridiculous gems we love them for. Well, unfortunately for my overactive imagination, this one’s real. (link)

“An official Chinese commentary accused the Dalai Lama on Wednesday of collaborating with the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, rejecting the Tibetan leader’s overtures and casting a shadow over fence-mending talks.“

Am I the only picturing a ‘Secret Asian Man’ spoof? Maybe him and The Hoff could get together, collaborate a little.

Soon, we may not be able to escape these types of intrusive ads by shutting off the computer. The New York Times posted a news article (link) yesterday about CBS’ plans to have ads for their upcoming fall lineup of shows laser etched onto thirty-five million eggs.

Am I the only one who suddenly feels like I’m on the set of a MAD TV sketch gone horribly horribly wrong? I keep expecting Phil Lamarr to walk in wearing a costume that says ‘Popup Ad’ or ‘Spyware’ and start regaling me with tales of the cancer-healing benefits of watching CSI (Thursdays at 8 on CBS).

“The network plans to announce today that it will place laser imprints of its trademark eye insignia, as well as logos for some of its shows, on eggs — 35 million of them in September and October. CBS’s copywriters are referring to the medium as “egg-vertising,” hinting at the wordplay they have in store.“

The model can definitely be likened to a form of guerrilla advertising inasmuch as it is related to advertising appearing in a very unexpected place. People naturally become desensitized to the presence of continual advertising on television, on the Internet, and while driving around town. They even expect it on the packaging of food products, such as milk containers and boxes of crackers. Most often ads to convince you to buy more of the same product, but there are the occasional cross-promotional ads thrown into the mix.

However once you cross the line from stencilling packaging to laser-etching the food products themselves, you cross a subtle but important line in someones mind into the place where they don’t expect to find advertising. The article quotes George Schweitzer, president of the CBS marketing group as stating that “The best thing about the egg concept was its intrusiveness.“

I’m sorry, perhaps I’m a little confused. The best thing about your new campaign is that it forces it’s way in inappropriately, without invitation?

While this isn’t as offensive, I’m reminded of the intrusiveness of Acclaims infamous graveyard advertising or even Sony’s fake tourist campaign to sell phones. Just once, I’d really like to go a month without reading about some horrifying new advertising initiative that I’m subjected to without even so much as compensation (cheaper eggs? free omelette day?) that we’re all just going to sit here and take lying down.

I’m glad to be Canadian, if for no other reason than it takes at least a couple months longer for this crap to come this far north.