Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

Politics 2.0

Would any British MP ever inspire anything like this?

I don't think so.

I wish that we could though.

(without any irony: I really do love America, despite her imperfections)

Thank you, Catch Up Lady

When you read the transcript of the speech, it really is pure poetry:

We've been asked to pause for a reality check. We've been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope. But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope. For when we have faced down impossible odds; when we've been told that we're not ready, or that we shouldn't try, or that we can't, generations of Americans have responded with a simple creed that sums up the spirit of a people. Yes we can. It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation. Yes we can. It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom through the darkest of nights. Yes we can. It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness. Yes we can. It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballot; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land. Yes we can to justice and equality. Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity. Yes we can heal this nation. Yes we can repair this world. Yes we can. And so tomorrow, as we take this campaign South and West; as we learn that the struggles of the textile worker in Spartanburg are not so different than the plight of the dishwasher in Las Vegas; that the hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in America's story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea – Yes. We. Can.

The anti Paris

Finally, someone tries to attempt to define exactly what "news" is...

I think that we need a little bit more stuff like this

The "retro-ghetto" 2012 logo PR disaster rumbles on

Catch Up Lady, I'm glad you're back from holiday - this is a gem...

Wolff Olins has come out of this all really badly I feel -  their website  says nothing about the issue, apart from a Press Release written before all the controversy began. They are not talking to the press, they are not saying a word. Given that they claim to be  "the world's most influential brand business" (BTW, was there a competition that I missed which Wolff Olins won giving them the right to claim this??), why aren't they doing a better job of managing their own brand?

Maybe the best thing about all of this public anger and dislike of the 2012 logo is that it is getting people talking and thinking about design and logos, which can't really be a bad thing I guess.

Does anyone like the  logo?

100 Culture Changing Ideas

The South Bank in London has created a fascinating program of multi-media events, talks and performances called 100 Ideas.

The aim to to re-imagine the role of culture in contemporary society, exploring connections between the arts and the way that people live. Though-out the series curators will compile 100 big ideas that come out of the debates and discussions - these could be generated and uploaded online from anyone of us or will be generated out of the events, these include some high-brow events, some low-brow events and maybe even a no-brow event or two (well Jade Goody is talking at "Reality TV - The New Reality")

"Does Architecture Matter" sounded interesting and thought provoking, as did "Slave City" and the "Culture of Spin." The discussions that are starting to take place on the site need some fresh comment and input but there are some interesting debates beginning. The 100 Ideas concept is still quite new, so I guess that it might take a bit of time for people to find out about it and engage with it.

I'd love to know if anyone has been to any of the 100 Ideas evenings.

It really sounds like this is a smart, new kind of cultural event - highly integrated and inteactive to the core.

Urban Junkies are the supporting media partner. Interesting that they have gone for a smaller, but hip online partner rather than the Observer, Times, Time Out etc.

Mapping Surnames

This is a great find by Dan Germain

It is has been created as part of a post-grad research project Spatial Literacy. The aim of the project, which has won all sorts of awards, is to help understand the concept of Britishness by mapping surnames.

This map shows the distribution of the Torode name across the UK. I am amazed. I knew that we had relatives in Newcastle and Norfolk, but it seems that there are a lot more of us than I thought.

Have a go.

There's an interesting article by an Observer journalist (who shares my first name) and one that goes slightly deeper into attempting to understand the movement of names and families by the New Statesman, both are worth a read.

(Note: When I spell checked this posting, it suggested replacing "Britishness" with "Brutishness". Hmmmm)

The Sun and race

What an amazing front page from The Sun. I was sitting on the train this morning and saw a lot of people reading this piece. As a piece of visual creative I think it is incredible. The juxtaposition of the kids and the signs really got to me. Quick straw poll of the agency (with a mix of ethnic backgrounds) and everyone agreed that it was really brave of The Sun and had huge power and shock value. I am going to be interested in seeing what it provokes.