This is interesting...I don't really understand how I could score a tie between Brazil and the UK, what the similarities are I just don't know!


what country is the right for you?
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Marketing Madness!

It is so incredible that consumer attention spans have erroded so much in the past year that marketing practices that have been the norm for the last century are as fickle as the weather here in Toronto. Could this be a result of over stimulation? mass marketing reaching into to many corners of our lives? or simply consumers adapting to an environmental stimulus that serves little purpose for survival and thus is tuned out as unimportant.

Recent research done by the United States military demonstrated that a soilders vision is approximately three degrees of clear vision or less, and that a mind constantly analyzes that soilders surroundings and refocuses their eyes on the most eminent threat in the vicinity. By using electrical stimuli the US military has been able to create a devices that better enables a soilder to prioritize targets according to the danger level poised, not just the threats proximity. Enabling soilders to track more targets faster, and avoid danger before it actually becomes dangerous.

If we translate this into an urban environment, the urban jungle not urban warfare, we may be seeing a stage in our development influenced by mass advertising. Constant bombardment by advertisements each trying to trick our brain into identifying that ad as "the most eminent threat" and theirfore gain our attention for 3-4 seconds to convey a message we don't need may mean that our minds have learned to de-prioritize these messages as they never pose a threat and do not hinder our lifestyle. This then causing us to focus on other threats in our environment, like traffic, bicycle messengers, and beggers.

Long Over Due Updates!

Alright, so this has sat empty for quite some time, due to rash over-committing that has only recently come into perspective and focus enabling me these few moments of rest to update this weblog. I find it particularly fitting that this time of rest comes during my trip to Vancouver on business, as everything here seems relaxed and contemplative.

Speaking with my friend Carolyn today, after a meeting with the Vancouver Olympics Organizing committee we were discussing the differences between Canadian cities. Carolyn said that in Vancouver people work to live, as opposed to Toronto where people seem to live to work. What struck me was that I could not determine if I thought that was a good thing or not. Its odd but I had a hard time with this concept. Its very simple really, yet at the same time I began to think about how much my work defines what I do, and who I am. I began to wonder if I could live in a city like Vancouver because of this, or if Toronto was that much more suited to me.

I like the pace, the movement, the purpose behind everything. At the same time I find a trade off between the natural environment here that pulls you in, and makes you want to go exploring, and the drive that I feel in Toronto to do more, be more, and experience it all. Here in Vancouver, I feel like I can just sit back, relax, and let the world slip by. I don't quite fit in with that lifestyle yet although its nice for a vacation. I will enjoy the pace when I get back to Toronto on Wednesday.

Even more I'm looking forward to experience New York next weekend, and comparing the contrasting impressions between these three cities further!

It seems I get bloggy once in awhile, then it fades away for months before I even remember I have this thing.  While I'm posting today I might as well keep going with some updates!

AIESEC Windsor,
Transition is starting soon.  We have elected our new president who's term will start on March 1st 2007.  I have to admit this is just now becoming difficult to accept.  I've been spending my nights thinking about all of the work that still needs to be done before our local committee is secure.  Much is left unfinished and now I leave it in someone elses hands while trying to accomplish as much as possible before its time to hand in the keys to the office.

And then what happens?

I have to start considering what my next steps are.  Two paths in front of me.  I can stay in AIESEC, either locally or apply for a national team or I can head for the future.  Lots of thinking to do very soon.  Any suggestions?

Our Invisible Nation Builders

This post (the first in too long) is actually a response to another blog written by an old aquaintance of mine. Reading her post left me wondering a great deal about what a nation builder to a Canadian is. In the end, after reading comments to her post I found myself being more concerned with what a nation builder IS NOT. To see the original post please click below:

Tara Janzen

To credit Harper with unifying the public and getting them more involved in politics I think would be jumping the gun, or atleast not giving credit where credit is due. To use an example given earlier,

Mr. Bush unified Canadians againsts the United States...while I do not agree with that statement he did win the award. (puzzled)

The last person to unite the political will of this country was not Harper, or even Martin (although he was the victim of that will). The last time I remember seeing a unified Canadian will was when we ousted the Liberals. We would have to give credit to Justice John Gomery for that miracle. (or even the liberals who started the whole mess if looking for the macro elements responsible)

Any political interest that Harper has generated in Canadians is certainly overshadowed by the carelessness exhibited when declaring, without the consent or even debate by parliment that Quebec was a nation within a nation. Purely political purpose, meant to steam liberal momentum (it worked) but destroying in one single sentence the work of hundreds of people, and millions of dollars that were spent over decades in an attept at unifiying this nations english and french factions.

Just when I was starting to like him too.

While political interest across this country as risen, I would credit that to a public that was
rudely awaken by the sins of the former Liberal party. People have realized that a political system only works when the people are actively involved. Harper is not the cause of this new involvment. He is more the product.

We did it!

AIESEC Windsor Signs its First JQ Since 1999!!

We did it.  AIESEC Windsor will be bringing in an intern to work at the R J Cyr Company developing export markets and opening regional offices abroad.  I can't tell you how proud I am of our team right now!

Are You Kidding Me!

Today I began a new job.  It was just an introduction to the team and a brainstorming session for a few hours but I left bewildered none the less.
Its a high tech firm based here in Windsor.  They have jointly developed with DamiliarChrysler (DCX) a series of ultrasonic microscopes for the purpose of non-destructive testing (NDT).  Let me explain why this is so important...back in the dark ages, every hour or so a manufacturer such as DCX would take a car off the line and begin ripping it to peices.  Just to make sure that everything was solid,  If they found weak welds then they would have to go back over every single vehicle produced since the last tear down and find where the problem started.  One word..EXPENSIVE.  With Ultrasonic Microscopy a machine can test the integrety of a weld as it is being made.  Right down to the internal structure of the weld nugget itself.  If a problem occurs that machine can sound an alarm, or stop the assembly line, or take corrective action.  It can even keep a record of every weld and its internal structure for statistical analysis later!  Say it with me now...HOLY COST SAVINGS BATMAN!  
Now I went for an interview with this company.  They are partnered with the University and decided to hire a group of three students to co-ordinate all marketing and expansion activities.  I am currently an undergraduate student, and my job will be opening an entirely new division of this company headquartered in Dublin Ireland that will cater to the bio-medical industry.  I will be responsible for developing all our marketing strategy, and possibly product development to address the needs of this booming sector.  For most companies such a position would only ever go to a senior executive with the experience required.  Did I mention however that I'm an undergraduate student?  
This is career launching stuff, after three or four years here I'll be 15 to 20 years ahead of my peers in the job market.  I just love the fast track.  Lets hope I'm up to the task, one things for sure...I've got a TON of homework to do tonight!  

Check This Out!

To much time on your hands, not enough hobbies, and an excess stockpile of Diet Coke and Mentos equal a Las Vegas style water fountian show in your own backyard, or should that be carbonated beverage show in your own back yard?


Also check out an animators hilarious life or death battle with a new animation that seems to have a mind of its own...click the link and select replay to see the whole scene.
War of the Stick Men

Angela's AIESEC Blogger

As you may know my girlfriend is in India right now on a program AIESEC runs called CEED. (Cultural Envoy for Exchange Development) Check out her blog to see all the crazy adventures they get into! Some of these posts worry me tons!
"crossing these roads is like playing Frogger and we don't exactly have the best concept of our location. Haha."
Love the humour...don't like the playing in traffic! ;-)

Angela's AIESEC Blogger

You can also check out Llorene's blog if your interested in more updates about the trip and some photos!

Llorenes Blog