Seth Godin had a great piece today on companies that don’t react fast enough to a changing marketplace. Really what he’s discussing in his examples, at least, is a changing platform for delivery of either applications or content.

In terms of the clients that I advise on being online every day, mostly Atlantic Canadian businesses, the biggest platform change happening right now is the shift to mobile, or more accurately what I call the pervasive web–ways to interact with web based technologies on an array of ever present devices and screen sizes. I’d argue that companies with websites and an online presence who aren’t seriously considering what they can be delivering to clients on mobile platforms are falling behind.

The pervasive web isn’t something we need to worry about for the next 6 months or a year. It’s here now. Social sites like Facebook and Twitter are seeing more users from mobile devices than from the traditional desktop based web right now.

Progress Magazine has a created a website about their initiative to recognize the best employers in Atlantic Canada. The deadline for applying is this Friday, February 5th.

We didn’t have a hand in the creation of there website or the initiative, but we definitely know some clients who are great employers.

So did you hear? MLA for Fredericton-Nashwaaksis TJ Burke is officially a supah-staaah. He’s on TMZ. I mean if that’s the not the big-time, what is?

Here’s how a guy from Freddy-beach goes viral:

A week ago, American Idol broadcasted an audition by 62 year-old Larry Platt, who wowed audiences with his original ditty: Pants on the Ground. You can view it in all its glory on YouTube. The best part was Simon saying: “I have an ‘orrible feeling that song could be a hit.” Since then - millions of hits on YouTube.

Sun Jan 24, after making a comment in the Legislature about Opposition Leader David Alward’s CBC interview regarding NB Power, TJ hits YouTube and goes global. Since then he’s got almost 40,000 hits and 50 comments.

Mon Jan 25, TMZ posted the video on their site: “‘Pants on the Ground’ Used in Political Attack” As of today, there are 53 comments associated with their posting.

Tues Jan 26, CBC news posted the following article on their website: “Rapping MLA an Internet Sensation”

So how did TJ go viral? What did he do right?

1. He was topical - right now everyone is trying to put the words “Pants on the Ground” into a sentence to get big laughs. Don’t deny it, you know it’s true.

2. He was timely - stuff like this has a very short life cycle. You gotta get in and get out - fast.

3. He was unexpected - um, politicians just don’t do that sort of stuff.

4. He was gutsy - funny is hard.

The above points are four of the eight “Factors for Goin’ Viral”. The more factors you’ve got, the bigger you go.  Can you figure out what the remaining four are?

We’ve all seen the images and stories emerging from Haiti in the last couple of days. This is just a quick blog post to encourage you to donate to Red Cross Canada’s relief efforts.

Donate Now

Even the most successful writers still come up with some real groaners. The Telegraph drew up a list of Dan Brown’s twenty worst sentences (he’s the author of The Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons).

For a taste, here’s number 18:

“18. The Da Vinci Code, chapter 4: He could taste the familiar tang of museum air - an arid, deionized essence that carried a faint hint of carbon - the product of industrial, coal-filter dehumidifiers that ran around the clock to counteract the corrosive carbon dioxide exhaled by visitors. Ah, that familiar tang of deionised essence.”

It’s a total hoot. You should check it out.

Loooverly Flickr photostream by a dude named, ahem, “powerpig“.

There are over 700 children in New Brunswick without a permanent family. - Adoption New Brunswick website.

The New Brunswick Adoption Foundation works to promote the adoption of children in the permanent care of the province.

I had a chance this morning to talk briefly with Suzanne Kingston, the executive director of the organization, and I’m hoping to do an interview with Suzanne soon where you can hear about the work the foundation is doing in her own voice.

Yvon Gallant, PANSIES IN A TEAPOT, acrylic on linen, 50 x 40 in., unframed

Revolution is a silver sponsor at the Foundation’s upcoming November 5th art auction. Co-chairs Roxanne Reeves and James Ross will host the event.

I did a double take when I saw the list of artists involed. Artists like Joanne Hunt, Tessa May. and David McKay among a host of others.

Home is where the heART is event details

Check out this new and improved version of the Snuggie commercial. It’s hilarious! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKBbgH2AU0Q

I cannot believe that it’s almost the end of September. Every year as the summer months come to a close, and September rushes in, I am overcome by a feeling of new beginnings. A crisp new season, beautiful weather, and a fresh start to the year. It’s the same feeling I got every year when school began. (Yes, I enjoyed back to school time even as a child.)

But somehow, I had about an hour of that feeling and completely misplaced the month of September! I don’t know where it went. I even missed all of the back to school clothing sales! Well, I’m taking back the fall! I’ve fallen prey to those lame Old Navy commercials with the manequins and I’m going to buy some fall/winter sweaters this weekend…just to make myself feel new again!

And speaking of feeling new again, here’s a new song I’d like to pimp out - Relator by Scarlett Johansson and Pete Yorn. I have always like them separately, but who knew they were so great together! Can’t wait to get the entire album. New sweaters and new music..retail therapy - here I come.

-Kay