This is what I'm thinking about at the moment

ford fusion 2010
Originally uploaded by jalopnik

The 2010 Ford Fusion kicks ass. Seriously.

The hybrid gets 41mpg in the city (that's 49mpg for the UK folks) - a whopping 8mpg more than Toyota's same sized hybrid. It drives less like a slug too. And it's got a 390W stereo, an 8 inch navigation screen, voice recognition (even for your i-pod), a 6 speed box, blind spot monitoring, cross traffic alert and cup holders that light up in various colors. The last Fusion was America's most reliable car. Every review of the new one has it winning its tests by miles. And I haven't even started on the gauge system - which is very video game-y and really rather fabulous.

Should sell itself right?

Well nobody can get credit right now
And a lot of people are worried about losing jobs; so new cars are out
The auto industry has declined as a whole by about a 3rd vs this time last year
People believe that the big three make shoddy gas guzzlers
And that belief is almost unshakable.
The news is full of bailout stories
And Detroit seems to make people angry

So it's a case of excellence in the face of uncertainty, prejudice and anger.

Should be an interesting couple of months.

It really, genuinely does kick ass though

All aboard the start-up

siggi's
Originally uploaded by khoalaMA

2009 certainly is looking kinda scrappy and adventurous for the people that I know at the moment.

I have one friend finishing a book about magician's assistants
Another (less close friend) launching his own yogurt brand
Another has launched a gift exchange / gallery in London
A fourth is looking at a knowledge exchange idea
A smart cookie is looking at the Opportunity Identification market
Another has become a political commentator

Almost all come from advertising and are keeping the money rolling in via that channel. But they all have a better idea. And I like that.

I'm working on a couple of book thoughts that this year will actually get written - mainly because I too am looking to cut my 'working for the man' week by a fair bit. Not sure that they'll get published, but there you go.

I tell you - it's gonna be a year of scary messiness, tangled webs and (hopefully) beautiful model mutations.

2009 - the year of Frankenstein Fruit

2009 is shaping up to be the year of Frankenstein Fruit.

All of the smart people that I know (and I know more than I should I realize) are out looking for new ways of doing business. New models. New ideas. New ways of thinking. New ways of being paid.

It seems that there's a belief out there that the machine grown fat on the complacency of easy profit is suddenly awake and hungry again. Hungry to grow leaner, fitter, to get back some of its spark and energy.



Actually it's a lot like the heart attack victim who survives and heads for the gym mind full of thoughts of gratitude and promises of Iron Man Triathalons to come.

And all of the smart people are looking for ways to train him. Ways to break him of bad habits. Ways to make him fitter.

It won't be pretty - they're interested in ideas not in polish. And it might mean some unholy alliances between schools of thought but this Frankensteinion (?) new world might just lead to something better. And that has to be exciting - right?

Late resolutions

So the resolutions this year are pretty big but also pretty achievable I think



1. I want to throw myself at the job I'm in right now and get some great work out

2. I want my French to be good enough to venture out alone by the time we get to Montreal

3. I want to keep the fitness thing going so that I can recreate the photo here as our Xmas Card next year



4. I want to run in the Santa Speedo run in Philly





5. I want to see great work out in the world and feel smug rather than jealous

Idle hands

Have a White Picnic
Originally uploaded by Kathy~

Okay I've now officially been away from work for too long.

I'm getting antsy.
My feet are tapping
My hands are twisting

And my computer wants to scream "It doesn't matter HOW MANY times you search for something to do in this arctic enclave the answer is still - not until April buster"

Luckily I have a conference call today.
And a few things to catch up on over the weekend

Good thing as with the dog at daycare I don't even have the option to walk her through the snow in double digits minus temps,

Gnnnnrrrrrrrrrr

post process noise added... weirdly

post process noise added... weirdly
Originally uploaded by stevenjude

A new year - a new lay out and a deceptively noisy pic

Have just ordered a couple of Zeiss lenses from a lens rental place and am now very, very excited indeed.

The noise here came in post - not sure WHAT I did but there you go

This just an excuse to test whether the update upset any settings

[ Happy New Year ]

[ Happy New Year ]
Originally uploaded by Đя εℓ7σв ♥ ~

So everyone says that 2009 is going to be 'painful'

And I'm sure that to s degree they're right

But screw it... let's all go out and do twice as much interesting stuff and sweat the boring stuff half as much to make the time for it.

That way it'll be phenomenal.

Life's too short to be doing shit you hate...
And way too short to be doing stuff you don't care about

So here's to a passionate '09

Happy New Year All