Greg Swan

Archive for November, 2010|Monthly archive page

My interview from the 2009 Minnesota PRSA Professional Practices Conference

In In the News, Social Media on November 28, 2010 at 5:56 pm

My takeaways from the 2009 Minnesota PRSA Professional Practices Conference at the 1:44 mark. I spoke on a panel at last year’s conference, and this was a post-event recap of takeaways from a few folks.

The 2010 event is this Thursday, Dec. 2. Register here.

Wanted: Sleep – Dead or Alive

In Family on November 23, 2010 at 9:21 am

Go Vikings!

Two nights ago the new baby didn’t sleep. The. Entire. Night. Seven week old humans just do this sometimes.

My wife took the 10-2 shift, and I took the 2-7 shift. I got a tiny amount of worthless sleep. Suffice it to say, yesterday was interesting. But last night – oh last night she slept in four hour chunks, and I experienced glorious REM sleep….and a dream. A DREAM!

It’s been seven weeks without a full night’s sleep, and you reach a certain point in sleep deprivation when reality becomes surreal. You haven’t dreamed, so your brain starts doing weird things to rest during the day.

Sometimes I can’t speak. Literally words just don’t come out, or worse, the wrong words come out — like quoting song lyrics at the drive thru or reciting O Captain My Captain into someone’s voice mail.

Go Vikings!

In Family on November 21, 2010 at 1:53 pm

Go Vikings!

Eden Prairie company creates gift boxes you’ll never throw away

In mn on November 10, 2010 at 1:42 pm

Just got this pitch from PrankPack.com with an Eden Prairie cutline:

Today, 30 Watt announced the second in the 2010 line of genuine prank gift boxes with the launch of the Pet Petter, a fully-automated animal petting device. The Pet Petter helps busy/germophobic/apathetic pet owners enjoy their animals while giving them the love and affection they deserve from a safe distance.

Prank PacksTM are gift boxes that appear to house the most ridiculous products imaginable. “The real gift is placed inside, then wrapped.” said Nordby. “Then you just sit back, watch them open it and revel in their half-hearted enthusiasm!” “And with six box sides of unique humor, it gets passed around and really helps move Aunt Linda’s party along.”

“We understand that most gift boxes are boring and that gift bags are just plain evil. Therefore, we decided to continue to make Prank Packs in 2010,” said Arik Nordby, Creative Director at 30 Watt. Previously, Mr. Nordby teamed with The Onion to design the first ever fake gift boxes.

Whoa – these are so great…

I’m just so impressed. And of course, wishing these gifts were real and available for preschool fundraising. Another example of super clever and smart thinking coming from the Twin Cities.

Get them here.

Preschool Fundraising with the Three Wolf Moon shirt

In Family on November 5, 2010 at 2:16 pm

I vaguely remember selling “stuff” for school fundraising in elementary. But in middle and high school, I certainly remember selling Boy Scout popcorn, magazines, candy bars and even koozies — often door to door. I also remember my parents taking the sign-ups to work and coming home with sales.

Oh, and all so I could win a stupid prize — probably something cheap, that although coveted in the prize catalog, would quickly lose my interest within hours of earning it.

My preschooler just brought home the catalog and sales sheets for his very first school fundraiser, and I’m sincerely impressed at how horrible the offerings are.

Turtle and Dolphin Poncho:

It’s Easy Being Green Ball Cap:

Raccoon, Duck and Butterfly Coffee Mug:

Tiger and Stallion T-shirts:

BUT then I turned the page and something mystical happened. My heart started beating fast, and I broke into a cold sweat. My wife ran into the kitchen and threw herself into my arms. Neither of us could take our eyes off the catalog. It was… it must be..but it can’t…but it was… a Three Wolf Moon t-shirt!

If you’re not familiar, a Three Wolf Moon shirt similar to this one has become a popular culture meme thanks to user-generated reviews on Amazon.

For example:

This video is living proof that you will get women, and fly. Most importantly my son was born without bones and when I put this shirt on him he grew bones. Don’t ask me how it happened but the magic is there

I arrived at Wal-mart, mounted my courtesy-scooter (walking is such a drag!) sitting side saddle so that my wolves would show. While I was browsing tube socks, I could hear aroused asthmatic breathing behind me. I turned around to see a slightly sweaty dream in sweatpants and flip-flops standing there. She told me she liked the wolves on my shirt, I told her I wanted to howl at her moon. She offered me a swig from her mountain dew, and I drove my scooter, with her shuffling along side out the door and into the rest of our lives. Thank you wolf shirt.

Unfortunately I already had this exact picture tattooed on my chest, but this shirt is very useful in colder weather.

As the UPS truck was driving down the street with my delivery, my female neighbors began opening their doors and stepping outside. I suspect the Three Wolf Moon T-Shirt contains powerful lupine pheromones…

The Three Wolf Moon T-Shirt gave me a +10 resistance to energy attacks, +8 Strength, and added 30 feet to my normal leap…

Since owning the Three Wolf Moon T-Shirt, I have successfully solved 7 crimes in my city, including 4 cold case murders. The local police force is currently wishing to retain my services.

I do have one complaint, and that’s that I must stay indoors on windy days. Last fall we had a windy day and I received notice that hundreds of women were suddenly pregnant, carrying my offspring, up to 12 miles away.

And although this is a slightly different design, this is by far the gem of the catalog. And at $16, it’s really a steal. I was so pumped to bring it to work and show it off.

This unintentional sale of a wearable meme got me thinking how much better school fundraisers would be if they sold pop culture tchotchkes, like a Star Trek pizza cutter from ThinkGeek.com or red Swingline staplers. Nobody really “needs” what’s being sold in these fundraisers (e.g., magazine subscriptions, chocolate, etc), so why not sell really compelling stuff that people don’t need?

So back to the t-shirt in question — I think you should buy one. Although I can’t promise it will help you swim in a sea of babes or help you cure athletes foot, I think this video speaks for itself:

If you’re interested in buying something to help out the preschoolers, shoot me a note. See you at the next full moon.

Melted Pumpkins 2010

In Chaska on November 1, 2010 at 10:42 am

How does this:
Halloween 2010

turn into this:

First-ever neighborhood trick or treating

In Chaska on November 1, 2010 at 10:37 am

Halloween 2010

Halloween 2010

Halloween 2010

Halloween 2010

More photos.

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