Fuze Blog | © Bryan Landaburu (aka Willie Vega) | Reno-Sparks-Nevada Blogger

The Tonopah Tales 2007 - a Reality Show Brewin'

 

Tonopah remains a town fit for a reality show based, in the words of George Costanza, on NOTHING. Here in tonopah...there is the acronym AAA. Which stands for...

• Anger
• Alcohol
• Ammunition

...the mix of which are the basis of all the charm and hospitality that ooze out of this ol' mining town. Once a bustling mining & military town, Tonopah presently feels D E A D. The town is a mix of boarded up shops and businesses coupled with roadside fare (namely fuel) to nourish weary travelers headed between reno & vegas. Its income is derived from the tills of the remaining local business and TICKETS (Esmeralda County is the most expensive speeding ticket in the state - believe me I know). The place seems completely impossible for kids to be positive, connected with the world, stay out of trouble and achieve greatness because there simply isn't anything to do.

Yet, to me, for all its ill, there is still something inside that wants to take a week or so off, camp it here, and learn via the power of osmosis what makes these folks tick.  Maybe even work on my ill-fated book idea, or any of my countless other web ideas. I have my journ to the middle of nowhere for 2008 planned already, Speed Week at Bonneville, but perhaps 2009 I will rain down on this town and answer my internal question...what's up? I just have to get to this before the renaissance happens and the Starbucks & Ultra Lounges roll into town shakin' their little behinds for the men folk...

If you're behind me on my drive, can you catch the lights?

WBV

NOTE: if you want to represent Tonopah, historic jewel of the desert, please comment here.  I dont mean to give the place a bad rap, i just speak from my own observations.

(another treo post - sorry for the typos)

walker lake...still ugly after all these years

[photo depicts the literally 2's of people who packed the walker lake beaches today]

Many thousands of dollars
+ an award winning advertising agency
+ an award winning photographer
still add up to some head-scratchin'[false] advertising

Walker lake remains an alkali filled body of water not fit for man nor fish, surrounded by dirt, sagebrush, ammunitions, and dirt.

The campaign i speak of features beautiful billboards, ads, etc, with wonderful photography depicting this 'prehistoric' landmark as the cats meow, and something to see with your family before you die.  If you buy into this campaign, you will head out on the open road seeking some real good ol fashioned family adventure.  Here is how i predict it all going down:

metro family of 4 embarks on journ, singing and laughing, without a concern in the world that they have forgone the Disney California Adventure in favor of Walker Lake Landmark. They roll up in the SUV, throw open the doors, shout, "we're here!", look around, kick some dirt, someone says "I'm hungry", mom claps dad over the head with today's fishwrap, teenage son says "this sucks", family loads back into SUV, and motors 85+ to Las Vegas where they partake in Nevada's real past-time, good ol fashioned GAMBLING [and family entertainment].

While I am certain this year's addy's will be filled with loads of hi-fives and back slaps for the absolute beautiful campaign they created, visiting walker lake is no more desirable than visiting Hazen, Moundhouse, Yerrington, Silver Springs or any other sleepy, dusty, rural desert nevada town [err 'landmark'].

Visit Walker Lake...

...still vacancy.
...still dirt.
...still gambling.
...still fossils (mostly ones hiding from society for some reason).

But alas no...

...adventure.
...ammenities.
...good food.
...entertainment.
...viable reason to be here.

Lord advertising sucks some[most]times.  Ever forward on my annual pilgrimage to Vegas for SEMA.

WBV

(another treo post - sorry for the typos)

This a blog post from...

This a blog post from jott to TypePad. Recovering from lasic(?) is no fun. [..] to be back in the office next week, try and load up photo of my insanely(?) puffy eyes, I look like rocky [...]. Have a good weekend. listen

Powered by Jott

Now I'm a Ninja Fan

 

I have to admit that I always saw askaninja as something gimmiky Ask.com dreamed up to promote its 4% market share search engine...but I stand corrected with a new opinion. The tie was a bit of marketing genius laced together by Federated Media to co-promote  Ask.com and AskANinja.com in a very clever, engaging, and almost transparent way. After a recent presentation at Influx Ideas in San Fran, I found a new love of the ninja format and I will be glued to new posts from these enterprising lads. It's worth giving another look if you aren't already a fan.

Do Ninjas love Fuze?  Come on...I don't even have to ask because I already know that ninjas love Fuze (and so should you).

WBV
this is another Treo post | sorry for the typos [and grammar]

Fuze Event Follow Ups...

At last, long awaited post event follow ups for all y'all who have inquired: who won?, where's the presentations?, and what do you all damn day?  Here you go people...

Reno Tahoe Young Professionals Leadership Summit 2007
I was on the Professional Development & Entrepreneurship Panel along with Hal Lenox, President of AT&T, Jean Vanneman, Vice President of Product Development for IGT, and Claude Sapp, Founder of Infinifuel Biodiesel.  Fuze was also an event sponsor & exhibitor.

• iPod Touch Giveaway went to Molly @ Plumpjack Squaw Valley
• Bryan's Slide Deck from the Panel Presentation - [ Download PDF (198.5K) ]

Sparks Chamber Business Forum
Fuze was a sponsor & exhibitor at this year's Business Forum.  Our booth was staffed by Fuze stars Calder Chism & David Bobzien.  The event drew in representatives from all of the areas top businesses.

• iPod Nano Giveaway went to Kellie @ Clearstar Financial Credit Union in Reno
• no presentation available

A2N2 Power Lunch
Panel discussion on the topics of Web 2.0. I was on a panel that included: Stu D'Alessandro of Design Science, Ryan Jerz of NCOT, and Josh Kenzer of 12Horses.  As part of this panel, my presentation focused primarily on how I utilize Web 2.0 technologies in my every day business & personal life, what i see as emerging trends in advertising that Web 2.0 helps foster, and some exhilarating case studies on Fuze clients who have all their web bases covered - demonstrating the quantifiable results we achieve for clients through sound strategy, proper design, search marketing, analytics, and creative testing. Feedback on the presentation was very positive, and I feel good that we sent people away with something tangible...which is always my goal when speaking. 

• Bryan's Slide Deck for Web 2.0 & You - [ Download PDF (4779.7K) ]
• sorry ad guys...no giveaway
  (now before you bitch, note I was the only panelist that is an actual member of A2N2, and I have a slide-deck takeaway - so will y'all forgive me?)

In funny follow-up fashion, if you want to learn to talk with the other fancy lads on the stage, try the Web2.0 Bullshit Generator.  Lots of fun terminology to impress your friends at your next pancake mixer.

Ok, that should satisfy my civic responsibilities.  Congrats to all the winners, and enjoy the light reading in my presentations.  Should you have any questions...ask the 8-ball :-)

WBV

Panel Presentations & Winner Selections Coming [I promise]

With a couple weeks of "LIVE" Fuze events under our belt, we are scrambling to follow up on all the Glengarry leads [coffee is for closers].  Several folks have asked for my presentations at one, or more of these events, and even more have inquired about who won all the iPods we were giving away as bribes for beez-neez cards.  I vow that both the winners and presentations will be posted here on the blog between now and Monday the 15th.

Now, if you read the fine print on the giveaway, it did say that we would draw whenever we felt like it, but here I draw a line in the sand.

Thanks to all who attended the YPN Event, A2N2 Powerlunch, and/or the Sparks Chamber Business Forum.

NOTE: if you attended the A2N2 Powerlunch today, while you await the slide deck, be sure to watch this video from my previous post.  Really sums a lot of the comments from Stu, Josh, Ryan and myself in an interesting way.

Lots of great feedback and new friends!

Muchos gracias, adios, bye-bye...

WBV

I'm all Joost up!

This week Joost released their first public beta of their new video-on-demand service and let me tell you, it is damn impressive.  In my opinion, you are looking at the future of broadcast television.  While the platform is primarily clip based now, you can certainly see the potential of this new medium which all runs through a thin client you install on your PC (works on Windows & Mac's).

Screen Shot:

Some interesting features i thought were cool after about 10min of review:

• Channel chat - chat options while you are watching a show
• Targeted ads - ads appear in the lower part of the screen and seem to be logical when they display.  they also don't seem to get in the way of the experience.  There are multiple ad units that run and all seemed well timed. For instance, while watching the Red Bull Fighters Video, I was shown the subtle title sponsor Red Bull logo, and an ad for Degree Antiperspirant.
• Widgets - platform is going to be open which will allow developers to build around it
• Channel list - you can create your own programming list and watch what you want
• Major players - i was impressed to see things like the MLB Postseason '07 and Comedy Central featured in their respective genre's
• Depth of content - there already is something for everyone on Joost.  I was surprised to see so much content already available in the Beta
• Speed & Quality - application is very fast to load, and there is no loading time. shows queue instantly - video and sound quality are very good, clear, very little (if any) clipping at all.
• User Interface - the UI is sexy, and slick, and easy to understand & navigate
• A real power button - just cool and simple, when you click the power button the entire box shuts off like an old TV console.

I could go on and on.  Looks like we have another time killer on our hands. In my head, when I combine this technology with video tagging technology like VideoClix, I see a whole new platform emerging, and, a whole new way to think about the TV box & the movin' pictures.

Remember, this is just in BETA - imagine what is coming.  Start thinking now advertising braniacs - could it be Web 4.0?  Why not?

Join us wont you...

WBV

Problem: I want to build MySpace [but i have no money]. Solution: Ning.com

We continually receive calls from delusional folks with the intent to "build something like MySpace - but different".  To which, our response is always, huh? Lets start the bidding at $1mil.  While the social network concept continues proliferation and exploitation, we thought we would pass along our prescription for "creating a social network" with no money.

It's called Ning.com and it is a social network in a box.
and look Fuze has a social network up and running inside of 5 minutes. Whooptie woo!

Now everyone without a budget can have their own MySpace. Ning is currently ad supported and free. It covers all the basics of a social network.  Ning.com has been around since 2004, but has just started sprouting legs...currently powering the largest number of social networks on the Internet.

There, now you have 1 new friend request - and it didn't cost you a thing.

WBV

Dove - Viral Done Right

More news from the redundant (since there is a buzz about these). I, like many others in the know, feel the following Dove spots are both amazing pieces of work.  Both are multi-medium, demonstrate social responsibility, true viral power, excellent creativity, and both communicate a spectacular message to young women.  Women who are constantly bombarded with "beauty" advertising messages, and the relentless pursuit of perfection which they must chase.

I was lucky enough to see the original campaign (Evolution) presented at FOOA in New York this July by Carla Hendra, the Co-Chief Executive Officer of Ogilvy North America. Their follow up effort is just spectacular.  Here are the spots from the Dove campaigns.

Spot 1 - New - Just started running
Dove - Onslaught

Spot 2 - The original
Dove - Evolution

Spot 2 spawned the sincerest form of flattery:

Now, I know there are no missing cows or the fun viral things we are accustomed to here in our fair city, but there may be a little magic all the same. I hope you enjoyed these examples of great work from the people who don't just read about the terms of marketing, rather from the folks that invent them.

WBV

A little diversion - The Rendezvous (oldie but a goodie)

While most car freaks will have likely seen this video at one point or another, I still find this fascinating.  Our friend Alex Roy of Team Polizei fame (who has a new book coming out next week) brought it back to my attention so I thought I would share it here as well.  The video depicts a Ferrari 275 GTB racing through the streets of Paris at insane speeds - one take - incredible driving - beautiful scenery.

Even if you're not a car guy, you cant help but love the shots of Paris streets when you watch this insane video.  A few notes to read AFTER you watch the video (so it doesn't spoil it for you):

Claude Lelouch
He was arrested after his 1976 film, C'était un rendez-vous, reportedly at the time featuring a Ferrari 275 GTB being illegally driven at speeds approaching 140 km/h through the streets of Paris by a Formula 1 driver, was first shown publicly.

Recent claims made by the director himself, however, suggest he drove his own Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 in the film and dubbed the sound effects of a Ferrari 275GTB. Several independent groups have verified that the car in the film never reaches past 140 km/h (85mph) [1]

All that said, pretty impressive time killer considering the state of 'special effects' back in the Spirit of '76.

Nothing else to report today.  Just another IN-sane week here at the Fuze camp...

Live well.

WBV