Online and back offline

I have been very busy these weeks and that’s why I did’t write a thing. BUt don’t you think that nothing interesting happened. Oh no. I was working a lot and I finished my diploma, well almost finished. And tomorow I’m going on a 5 week offline break. First on to our scout (guides – taborniki) camp in Bohinj and from there I’m going straight to Corsica for almost 3 weeks. With my good old Peugeot 306 off course. And this is still not enough, because I’m going to host a group of french scouts for two weeks (Bohinj and Maribor). Oh yeah, quite an adventourus summer. The most interesting thing of all is, that I expect the final “defence” of my diploma thesis to happen next week – when I’m in Bohinj. WoW, it will be interesting…

Because I won’t be blogging that often in coming weeks, I will be twittering through my cell phone. So, please feel fre to follow me on Twitter. The link is: http://twitter.com/drLisica . I will also try to put some photos on my Flickr. Well, have a nice summer!

drD

Kletka goes online!

UPDATE: The Kletka project is on-line and you can check it out and spread the word. I think the idea is original and it sure is funny. We just started officialy (yesterday) and the reality show will finish in 4 weeks. The voting will start next week. Heh, I’m just watching them and laughing out loud. Check out for yourself on www.mamut.si and wave at them.

I now, I now… I was really busy these weeks. My diploma is almost done and the other big thing I was working on, was long a well kept secret, but now, I’m allowed to talk about it . Together with the Mamut.si team we have been preparing the first animal reality show with small furry mamals – degus. You can find more in this week’s special edition of Mamut.si and I will get back with more info and funny facts. But now, it’s barbecue time! Woohoo!

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Me, myself and Mac

Update. Hell it just works. I have to admit, that I’m still getting used to all the new things. Keyboard for example and some applications. But I’m glad that Adobe works perfectly  ’till now. All the mayor shortcuts are the same as on Windows machines, so it’s not a problem. I admit, that I use MS Office, because I have my diploma and other important stuff in long .doc files which are mixed up in Pages. I must also say that the build in WiFi works amazingly, much better than my extern wlan card. So, I’m really glad I made the switch, even though it was an expensive one. For example, I got 300 euros for my old PC, which was not that bad. But, my Maggie (that’s her, laptop’s name) is worth every cent. She’s just lovely and amazing

Finally. I made the switch. Changed religion. Been reborn. Discover the New world.

What the hell am I talking about? About my new MacBook Pro which I got yesterday. Ok, I’m still getting to know it, but the first impression is… impresive! Now I just have to test the Adobe CS3 on it and I can compare the performance and more important stability. Hope it’ll continue to impress me

First Wikipedia post censored – Mamut roars!

We always find information on Wikipedia.org, and so do I. And I was always asking myself who are the »no life« people who contribute and provide us with some really great articles. But, today, something amazing happened.

I have posted my first Wiki article. And it was censored. Really. And it was totally legitimate. Why? Because the post was too commercial. Now, when I look at it more objective, I agree with the ones who censored it. Those things happen. I recently joined the Mamut.si team and I wanted to post an article on Wikipedia, but I guess I got carried away. Heh. Check out what is left of my original post.

Yes, I joined the Mamut group and help them mainly with the promotion and as a guest writer. For now, all I can say is that the »crew« is amazing and I feel like in high school again. Hehe.

The FreeMagenta campaign

Today, Špela sent me a link to the freemagenta.nl page.

It is a very interesting contra campaign aimed against the company T-Mobile, which is treating everyone who uses the magenta color with lawsuits. Well, not only that this is immoral and will cause T-Mobile a great deal of negative publicity, it is also interesting that I witnessed when T-Mobile complained and wanted to fill in a lawsuit against our project Hitmania.tv because we used the magenta color. Bullshit!
OK, I’m not going to write anything more, because I think it is stupid. Yes, I believe that people’s work and intellectual property should be protected, but, to protect a color? Once more it is clear that those who have enough money, have the power to do everything what they please. Even if it is as stupid as that.

As a sign of my personal protest against T-Mobile I will wear my MAGENTA sneakers all week. Even at night Later I will post some proof.

Back on track

And here we go again. After a long break and 4 weeks spent in Sudan, I returned. Like Lassie

Before my trip to Sudan, I made some decisions about my future, about my work, study etc. I decided to take some time off, to clear my mind and to finally begin with the work on my diploma. That’s why I decided to leave Vobis and start a life of a more flexible freelancer. It was a hard decision because we were a great team, but you know what they say; no risk no fun. But still, I will continue to cooperate with the Hitmania.tv project and with Vobis.

And Sudan? you ask. Amazing. Unforgettable. Rewarding. No, it wasn’t like the adventure in Thailand and Cambodia I took last year together with Katja. Sudan is something totally different and special. Especially because of its fascinating people which are one of the friendliest I have ever seen. I visited my family (uncle, aunt, cousins) there which helped me big time and without which I would have been lost in this big and vast country. Thank you once more! I was also invited on a traditional wedding, I’ve seen quite a big piece of Sudan (from Khartoum to Port Sudan); have seen the pyramids, snorkeled in the fabulous Red Sea…

Oh, and the main reason I went to Sudan. I almost forgot. I went “down there” to do a research about the mobile phones among the youth in Sudan. I wanted to see the impact on the culture and on the everyday life in Sudan. My mentor, Zala Volčič suggested that I try out the ethnography method and that’s why I tried to blend with the locals and to absorb as much as possible. Did I succeed? We’ll see and as I proceed with my study I will keep you informed

I went to Sudan with my head full of worries and I returned with my mind cleared and my head full of new, crazy ideas. As my friend Tomaž (Krajnčevič) would say: Rock ‘n’ Roll.

For now, let this be it. Check out some photos on my Flickr account: http://flickr.com/photos/drlisica/sets/72157602202911961/show/ but there is only a quick selection of photos. I experienced some problems in Sudan with taking photos, because you have to have a permission an even then you are not allowed to photograph some scenes. And the Sudanese people, as friendly as they are, they don’t like being photographed. That’s why I took only a few good shots. But, the memories are invaluable. Oh, I sound almost like a MasterCard commercial

Adventurous 2008

And of course, a year full of Courier and the most important thing: May the force be with you!

New president, same job, no time

I know, it’s been a while, but… I just don’t find time to write anything at all here on my blog. Hell, I don’t have time not only for blogging but also for anything else. You could say I’m fu*** but hey, we’re young and stupid they say

Becouse I have to much to do at work I decided to share some links so you can see what I’m actually doing. I’m fully occupied with the Hitmania.tv project, so please check it out: www.hitmania.tv ! I also moderate two blogs, especially for the youth which wants to participate. One is for young songwriters (besedila.hitmania.tv) and the other is our “team blog” (blog.hitmania.tv).

But not only work, I’m also occupied with my diploma, which I would like to finish ’till March next year. I’m writing about “mobile tribes”, the cell phone as the 7th mass media and the social change it brought. But because of all the other stuff, I think that my degree is not getting enough attention and my quality time.

Becouse of everrything mentioned, I will take a small break from social networking, blogging etc. But I will let you know how are things going

For any suggestions or whatever, please e-mail me at damjan.obal@gmail.com

Presidental elections – round two?

Glorious… Scandalous…

I’m not totally into politics, but I like to stay in touch with things and the (tragic)ironic state of politics in Slovenia. This year we have the presidential elections, we are deciding who’s going to be the third Slovenian president in our “great” history. I wanted to comment the campaigns of some candidates, but haven’t found time for it. And now, it’s too late I guess. Why? Because it doesn’t matter who’s going to win, because once more our great political system revealed its glorious face. Yes, once more, there is a scandal hanging like a shadow above our so called democracy. We don’t even know if there’s going to be another round or if the elections will be annulated, because there were some “big” issues with voting tickets for Slovenian people leaving abroad etc… It’s not tragic, it’s tragicomic! But, who cares, let’s take a look at the campaigns of mr.Türk and Peterle.

And if? Campaigns in general

OK, let’s assume we’ll have the second round with Lojze Peterle and Danilo Türk battling for the prestigious title. There were already some great articles (especially in Marketing Magazine) about the campaigns, but there is not much said about the strategies (from both candidates) on web sites and blogs. Almost everyone will agree that Lojze Peterle has (had?) by far the best campaign, and it’s because he arranged a marketing agency (Arih) which really did a fantastic job. Oh, forgot to say, I’m not Peterle’s fan, even more, I wish and hope he’s not going to win. But if I was not aware about the background and would decide only because the image and only upon the first impression… Shit, I would vote for him.

And dr. Türk? Well I admit, he’s my favourite and he was from the beginning. But he’s got the worst campaign. From jumbo posters to the TV spot. The only smart choice was I think the “magazine” which almost every household got in its mail. Hell, but he still managed to reach the finale. If there’s going to be a second round off-course. Ah… mr. Turk… You look totally introverted, mysterious and completely NOT-friendly on you photos. And the colors… it looks like the photos were taken without any lightning and without professional touch.

And ON-LINE?

I think that on the “on-line war front” both candidates are more equal. Perhaps Peterle is in slight advantage with the looks, but hey, he’s got professionals taking care about that. But otherwise, Türk is well presented on the web. I guess it’s because he’s got the support of THE expert – mr. Vuk Čosić. He’s page is easy-looking, transparent, and very WordPress-like. Mr. Türk has even links to his Facebook, Flickr, YouTube and Del.icio.us profiles. Very “blogy style” and web 2.0-like and I like it. And I’m not the only one, for example Had shares the same opinion. And the most important thing; it looks like mr. Turk is refreshing he’s blog more frequently than mr. Peterle and I got the feeling that he’s actually writing about “personal” things which is common for blogs. Because mr. Peterle is writing very political, very “shallow” and not honest. Ok, this is only my opinion, I know.

WHICH HORSE WINS?

We’ll see. I have made my decision, and you know which. All I can say is that, both candidates have still a lot unused potential. Especially in the direct “marketing” and perhaps even more on the internet. It’s not enough to write something on your blog, you have to do something to attract the untouched masses – the youth, not interested in politics… So, let’s lay your bets and wait.

Award winning stuff?

Yesterday at the award ceremony at Golden Drum Mister Ami Hasan (president of the jury) was shocked in he’s speech, because there were two entries that were as he said: “A disgrace for all the advertising industry.” The two print ads were for Sony Playstation and the motive was the concentration camp in Auschwitz. I didn’t see the controversial ads because I arrived at Wednesday when they already removed them. Mr. Hasan was shocked and so was the whole audience, and yes, so am I. But what I noticed was that there were at least several ads that were also controversial.

Especially THIS ONE (please follow the link because I couldn’t post it here)

I admit that the ad is somehow funny and it delivers the message. But hey, hold on! What really is the message? If you watch it carefully (hell, you understand the message even if you look at it very quickly) the message is simple: If you got acne problems you can become a Muslim. But if you don’t have the problem, then you could show your face and therefore “don’t have to convert”. You can call me conservative, which I’m definitely NOT, but I think the message here is blurred and some kind of controversial. Especially if you look at the creative’s: McCann Tel Aviv (Israel). You could easily take this ad as a joke carried to far, a joke on Israel Muslim neighbor countries. And the news of the day is, that this add was awarded yesterday. Hm… I’m really confused where the lines are, where is the ethics or better said: Should we stick to it or not?

But hey, don’t take me wrong, I like new controversial ideas. All I meant to say was that I think you shouldn’t proceed with your idea (motive or whatever drives your creativeness) at all costs. Especially when the matter is delicate as in the before mentioned ad. But, McCann Tel Aviv was awarded also for another great (this time even appropriate ) ad in category self promotion.

Well done guys!

Here are some other winnig TV spots… Really great. And funny. Enjoy it!

http://www.goldendrum.com/en/showcase/entry/22353/details.html

http://www.goldendrum.com/en/showcase/entry/22421/details.html

http://www.goldendrum.com/en/showcase/entry/22632/details.html