March Challenge - Day 17: Another fucking election...

Okay, I've been terrible this week at posting any entries. Since Sunday, I've been lazy and haven't posted anything. That will change this week.

This week, Ottawa has been abuzz with talk of an election and today, it was confirmed - the government was defeated in a historic vote in which they were found in contempt of Parliament. Great, we have a government who has been labelled liars by the opposition - the result is a $400 million boondoggle for an election that will produce what will be another minority government (party to be determined).

This will be the four time Canadians head to the polls since 2004 - four elections in seven years makes for very grumpy voters, especially considering the 24 years before 2004, Canadians headed to the polls only six times. If the cost of an election is truly $400 million, we've spent $1.6 billion - that money could have been better spent for social programs or needed tax cuts for lower income families.

Albert Einstein famously stated that the definition of insanity is doing something the same way over and over again and expecting a different result. This is a perfect description of this fourth election. There are so many things that are the same from the last election in 2008 that Canadians should not be surprised that we get yet another minority government this April.

What's the same you ask?

(1) Same guys running the show - Harper, Duceppe, Layton, May...are we back in the election of 2008 again? The only leader change up has been Dion to Ignatieff, which in my opinion is trading someone incoherent and boring for someone who's just boring. How will one decide between such uninspiring leaders? I mean, you have one candidate who's party was just found guilty of lying to Parliament, another who's party's motto is "go fuck yourself if you're not from Quebec", and one who's struggled in the last three elections (and several by-elections) to try to even get a seat in the house. It's time Canadians demanded a change at the top of each of these parties - boot Harper, Iggy, Layton and Duceppe (well, I'd say boot Duceppe's party altogether) and ask for fresh talent that inspires Canadians to care about politics.

(2) It's doubtful any of the platforms are going to be anything inspiring. In elections where the parties have a feeling that there might be a minority government, a strange phenomenon occurs - rather than heading up bold and aggressive party platforms that would likely motivate people to vote in your party as a majority, parties revert to safe platforms that barely rock the boat, which ultimately causes a minority. I hold no high hopes for any big policy proposals from any parties. What would I like to see a party have in their platform?

- how to overhaul the failing Canadian health system by investigating how private health care can play a bigger role in helping to improve services and reduce procedure waiting times

- a focus on supporting our big cities by developing better transportation infrastructure

- incentives for companies to go green and a more aggressive plan for the environment portfolio

- tax cuts for small and medium enterprises as they are the ones who will provide the job creation in many communities

(3) A lack of cooperation from any party to work together. With five major parties set to fight it out, it's likely none of them will get a majority, which means that from the get go, parties should at least look to one another and say alright, how can we work to form a majority? Many might remember my staunch disapproval of a coalition between the Liberals/Bloc/NDP back in 2008, and say, why the change? The difference here is that the coalition was proposed after the election in a bid to steal power. If a coalition started out during an election, at least people know what they are voting for.

(4) Voters won't be showing up. People are tired and the latest round of shenanigans on Parliament Hill isn't impressing anyone to show up to the polls to make sure things change. Politicians are to blame for making voters fatigued, voters are to be blamed for not standing up and saying enough and firing these jokers who've made our government so unworkable for four years. Then again, you're not really firing them because it's the same people at the helm.

In any case, things won't be changing anytime soon. I look forward to seeing what the parties have to throw at each other in the coming weeks.

March Challenge - Day 16: Dummies posting video opinions onto the net

Alexandra Wallace, a student at UCLA, posted this video last week in regards to her views about Asians in the libraries (*Note: the link does not go to her Youtube page, rather someone who reposted the video - Alexandra Wallace has removed herself from ALL forms of social media). The video went viral and drew scathing comments and video responses from people of all cultural backgrounds. There are a number of funny responses to Alexandra's original video, two of my favourite are here and here.

Poor, misguided Alexandra. Her attempt at humour (she later claimed in an apology letter she really didn't think people would take offence to her video) crashed and burned like the Hindenberg (God bless those who were lost). And when you post a rant for the consumption of the entire Youtube community, there are a few pointers to keep in mind:

1) Wear something appropriate - I fear that her rant was caused by a lack of oxygen circulation to her brain as the corset she had on to push out her cleavage was likely causing severe asphyxiation. The choice of poor camera attire was likely due to obstructed vision from the 5 - 10 layers of mascara and eyeshadow this poor girl has on. She's channeling her inner Tammy Faye Baker - all she needs is to cry for sympathy.

2) Don't target your hatred on one group of people, cast a wider net. Had she said, I hate people who talk on their phones in the library as opposed to Asians who say "Ching Chong, ling long, ting tong," (which by the way Alexandra, is Chinese for "Bitch, don't listen in on my phone call.") she would have had many more likes as opposed to death threats from the UCLA campus triads. Remember - hate everyone equally, that way, you're an equal opportunity hater.

3) You're less credible when you have slutty pictures in the background. Gurl, we all like people who like to have fun. And what better way to show people you're a fun person by displaying your drunken photos in the background of your vlog? The only problem is, you're trying to do a "serious" talk with the Youtube community. Those pictures ain't helping you out sista friend. Do you see President Obama with his keg stand photos in the background when he does a speech from the Oval office? Okay, Bush might have, but let's get real here, pick a nice backdrop that will give you credibility - for you, I picture burning cross and men with white ghost costumes on as a nice background for your intellectual presentation.

4) Mixing dumb talk and trying to use big words does not work. Alexandra apparently bought a dictionary recently. In the video, she uses words like "epiphany" and one wonders, does she really know what that word means? She mixes that word in between her various valley girl vocabulary (likes and blah, blah, blah) which is like eating $1000 caviar with Premium Plus saltines as a base cracker. You are not kidding anyone - leave the big words to those with +100 IQ.

There are so many other things wrong with this video, but most of the response videos have already addressed those points. The story didn't end well for Alexandra - she has left UCLA, fearing reprisals against her and her family (girl, why you afraid for your family, it's not like your brother, father, sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, etc. visit you on the weekends - you're not Asian). On her way off the campus, she was greeted by the hordes of Asian students who brought their families along to wish her a fond goodbye by waving their cellphones up in the air and chanting "Ching chong, ling long, ting tong." By the way, that phrase has a second translation - it also means "Goodbye ugly pig girl."

PS - I wonder if like every other trashy sorority chick on US campuses, she has an Asian character tattoo - OH THE IRONY!

March Challenge - Day 15: Youtube Symphony Orchestra

For all you music lovers out there, at 5AM EST, Youtube is set to premiere its first Symphony Orchestra by streaming it live from the Sydney Oprah House. A year ago, Youtube asked people to audition by submitting their videos, and the public voted on who should be selected for the orchestra.

If you're up early enough, check it out at:
http://www.youtube.com/symphony

Youtube showcases each of the members of the orchestra and their audition videos. Google Maps features the locations of where the musicians are coming from around the world. They are also getting the audience involved through augmented reality - users can either print out or snap a photo of it onto their mobile device, activate their webcams and start making their own music by moving the AR bar code along a series of virtual strings. You can record your masterpiece and email it to a friend.

However, Youtube / Hyundai seems to have missed out on an excellent opportunity to design a contest around this and allow a channel for all recorded masterpieces created by this AR experience to be posted, viewed and perhaps voted on by the online community. They also missed out on other SM channels like FB and Twitter and to attract others who might not have known about the Youtube Symphony to go to the site and create their own video.

Try it out - and share with your friends your musical talent using the AR experience. Better yet, if you can wake up early enough, enjoy the symphony play live from the comfort of your own home.

March Challenge - Day 14: Sh*t My Dad Says

I recently borrowed the book Sh*t My Dad Says from my friend Jean. This has got to be one of the funniest books I've ever read. It's so funny that I almost fell over the stairclimber at the gym while reading.

This book started off as a Twitter account and soon grew to be so popular that it was turned into a book...and now a TV show. Fuck, if only my Twitter feed could take off that way!

The book led me to think about all the funny things my dad has said over the years. The difference between my dad and the dad in the book is that my dad rarely means to be funny, it just comes out that way due to the fact he doesn't know English all that well. Some of the best lines were:

- "Hello son Terence, please do not drive to Ottawa. It is far, and you will get sleepy, tired and die." (I'm thinking he meant to say, I'd get tired and fall asleep at the wheel causing an accident, but it seems he cut right to the chase)

- "Hello son Terence, I have started eating healthy and no meat. I am a vagetarian" (true spelling, caused torrents of laughter.)

- "Hello son Terence, I've given your brother $1000, $500 to spend on his next flight to Taiwan (um, does he know how much a round trip cost to Asia?) and $500 for him to go buy meat." (apparently, it's okay for us not to be vegetarians).

I do love that my dad provides my brother and I with such great entertainment. Perhaps I should start my own Twitter feed on him.

March Challenge - Day 13: Assholes

I'm sure most of you are as devastated and shocked as I am by the footage you've seen coming out of Japan. Day after day, the news doesn't get better. With an earthquake then tsunami, they now deal with nuclear meltdown.

But was is more sickening than the horrific video captured by people stuck in the disaster, are the number of fake charities popping up to take advantage of people's generosity. CBC did a feature on this tonight and I am pissed. Now, this is not new - with every disaster comes scammers trying to take advantage of the situation. To avoid being scammed, donate to charities that are easily recognizable (Red Cross), beware of emails that don't link back to a credible website, never send money wires or transfers to a paypal account, and make sure that a tax receipt is issued.

To read more about scammers - go here.

March Challenge - Day 12: Those who pervert "God" to suit their motives

Today, while on Facebook, I stumbled across a video a friend posted of some lunatic with a webcam professing that God is great...because he caused the earthquake and tsunami to wipe out the "atheists" of Japan. If you have the stomach to sit through the whole video, click here.

Sadly, she is one of many fanatics who have perverted what God is supposed to be (like so many before her) to spew venomous hatred towards others that are not like her. Those of us with any thought process should pity this girl - clearly misguided, most likely brainwashed, her rants make no sense to anyone (except a horrifying few who seem to have liked this video).

A couple days ago, I wrote about Representative John King (R-NY) opening up a new MacCarthy-era style committee to investigate Muslim extremism in the US, after watching this video, he might consider shifting his focus.

Yes, people of all religions pervert the idea of God and use it to manipulate others. Rather than the love that most religions teach, these zealots bend the texts and target those most secceptable to this kind of preaching. They turn love into hate and open-mindedness into intolerance. They do exactly what the devil does - lead people away from the love and hope that God provides.

Now, I'm not religious by any means. In fact, the last time I stepped into any church was back in 2006 when I visited Notre Dame, and that was only for photos. I can't really remember the last time I attended a church service, but I do remember I was bored to tears. But I did realize at an early age that the concept of God was good in my life. His followers (well, in the New Testament anyways) preached love and acceptance of others, something I have yet to fully grasp as I have somewhat of a judgmental nature. His followers lived by a set of rules, that are pretty much common sense - don't cheat, steal or kill. Nonetheless, the idea of being accountable to a higher being does often make one think and evaluate the consequences before doing something foolish.

However, starting from about the eighth grade, it was apparent to me that while God aspired his followers to be one thing, because we're human, mistakes will happen. Fear and anger are natural emotions we feel and it can manifest into terrible actions, while using God's name to justify it.

I am thankful I did not grow up in or near a community with any religious wingbats. In fact, many of the deeply religious people I know were taught the right message. And those people that I know who are deeply religious don't often find it necessary to criticize or demean others for not believing in what they do.

My position is this - if you have to bully or make the big sell (cough...Scientologists) to anyone to join your religion, don't you think you're on the wrong team if you have to work that hard to convince someone else you're right? Would people be naturally curious about what you believe in if they saw that you were doing well for yourself and others around you and engage you in a conversation about it? Why must these fanatics berate the rest of us with their lunacy?

There are laws in many countries where racist or hate-filled remarks can be prosecuted and people cannot hide behind free speech (for example France, where anti-semitism is illegal as John Galliano recently found out). Shouldn't that be extended to this type of hateful religious rhetoric as well? In the video, the girl clearly was wishing ill will towards all "atheists," and praises God for "shaking them". One should think, if she felt God didn't act on her prayers to do harm to the atheists, would she have done something in God's name?

Social media is a great reflection on democracy. People voice their opinions and are applauded or shut down by the masses around them. While I, along with many others, I'm sure, are disgusted that people like this nutjob exist, it is comforting to know that the large majority vilify her as much as I do. It shows, that no matter what you believe, common sense and decency still reigns among us.

March Challenge - Day 11: Retaining Talent

Ever since university, I've been told that your success comes from the people you have around you. Your team, whether you are the leader or a member of the team, you are important and have a contribution to make. I took a course in university called "Managing People for Excellent Performance," which not only re-emphasized the previous points, but helped you play the role as the manager of this team. I also had first hand experience leading a big team of my peers as the head of a student council - looking back on that experience, there were definitely areas where I succeeded in leading, and others where I failed miserably.

With all of these lessons learned before I entered the workplace, you could imagine the shock I had when I entered it and finding out that seasoned managers and executives still had problems getting this right. It's not that they are stupid or emotionally inept, but they continue facing the problems I did when I led a large group of people, there's always areas where we succeed and places we fail when it comes to human resources.

In a recent conference, Andrew Bennett, the CEO of Havas Arnold Worldwide stated some shocking statistics during a speech on Agency/Employee Loyalty. While I say shocking, I mean for people outside the industry - people within advertising are less than surprised by any of the following statistics:

- 30% of the collective agency workforce will be gone within 12 months

- 70% of employees call recruiters back if one reached out to them

- 96% of employees said they can easily find another job

- 37% expect to stay 1 - 5 years in the industry, 66% plan on staying 5+ years

- 90% of employees said they learned to figure out problems on their own as opposed to formal training (Bennett asserted that an average Starbucks barista has more training than any person entering the advertising industry)

So what's happened? Why have we as an industry given into the fact that this is a reality of our industry as opposed to doing something about it? In my five years in this industry, I've seen several factors make people quit and jump agencies - good people, who would have stayed if any of these issues were addressed:

- low compensation and recognition

- performance reviews and development plans not completed or discussed

- lack of advancement opportunities or challenging projects to work on within the agency

- lack of training or funding to training outside the agency

- managers not mentoring direct reports for the next level

So many of these issues could be addressed easily if open communication is involved (ironic that our industry is all about communications, yet we cannot seem to grasp that internally). This jumping of talent from agency to agency doesn't serve any agency any good - managers might think, oh, well, I'll just get someone better who's looking to advance from another agency to replace the employee that has quit. But if you consider the amount of money that is involved in recruiting, interviewing, training and getting that new employee acclimated to their new role, would likely superceed any amount that old employee was asking for to stay in their role.

Trust me, managing people is incredibly difficult. It gets astronomically more difficult as you manage 50, 100, 200+ people and try to balance it so that you keep them all happy. No one can say that they have a perfect workplace, not even those on the Canada's top 100 workplaces list (not surprisingly, no advertising agencies made that list). But managers have the onus of being able to keep their ears to the ground and figuring out how to address their employees' concerns, and it's up to the employee to bring up the concerns and open up the dialogue, as no one can read minds. As much as the discussion might be difficult, if you don't get it off your chest in a professional manner, no one will know that you're not happy.

One other point that ad agencies do a terrible job of is recruitment. Mostly based off of the fact that we can never gage where our business will be six to twelve months from now, we rarely go out to schools and recruit, we let the graduates come to us. It's an incredibly narcissistic way of looking at things. Even the best companies in other industries go out to schools to recruit, that's one of the reasons why they continue to be the best, because they attract the best talent by reaching out to them. This is what is going to make an agency stand out from another one - those that actively goes to schools and recruit, they will get the best talent submitting their applications.

It's doubtful that the industry will change anytime soon based off of Bennett's speech or this blog entry. The focus is still on the bottom line and no one is willing to take the chance of being disruptive in the way they manage their team.

But I am hopeful - with agencies taking more chances due to the shifting of traditional media to digital media, maybe that risktaking will carry over in their approach to managing and retaining people.