BlueBadgeMojo.com

TPKE, baby!

Last summer my org had a huge offsite in alignment with the annual company meeting, during which we launched some new organizational services standards - which guide us in how we service our customers. To help cement these standards in our minds, a group of guys pulled together a fake boy band (ClickThru) and lip-synced to an awful boy band tune, creating a dance routine and a video. They then performed live on stage for us. It was hysterical, and I loved the idea of an organization theme song. But I hate boy band music. So I took a couple sound clips, removed all of the music (to get it past legal, the only thing that could remain were the voices), and recorded and remixed a more hip, cool version. Check it out. Download tpke_cbuck_redux.mp3

And then I went a little crazy, creating an industrial/goth version: Download tpke_cbuck_vs_nitzer_ebb.mp3

Look Stoopid No Mor

Yes, MSN marketing has come up with some marketing that all of us can understand: use MSN to save yourself from looking stupid. Brilliant.

Post Mid-Year Career Discussion Foodfest

It's been quiet for a while over here on Blue Badge Mojo. I guess people have been busy, possibly working or something. In celebration of the end of the mid year career discussion process here at Microsoft, I thought it made sense to get together for lunch next week for an official post mid-year discussion foodfest, or PMYCDFF2k7. Fluffy hats or feather boas welcome.

Where: Bldg 26 cafeteria
When: Thursday, April 5th, noon

Zune Envy

I'd love to see the storyboards behind the creation of this viral video for Zune. And I'm sure the conversation between creator and manager was worth recording:

Designer: "It's artsy. It's odd, and therefore hip. Oh, and it's eye catching. Literally."
His Boss: "Um, don't you think it kinda looks...well....phallic?"
Designer: "I hadn't noticed."
Boss: "Really. And you went with a flesh color."
Designer: "It's called 'Sahara Tan'."
Boss: "Ok, I'm sold. Let's run with it."

Video: ZUNE WTF EYES 

People have been posting comments about it all over the web, trying to understand the "deeper meaning" behind the choice of creatures, colors, storyline. But I think the spot was brilliant, because it achieved exactly what was intended -- people are talking about it.

I was walking througha  building last week and came across one of the many Zune posters flanking our halls these days, and noticed a similar design theme:

               

Ok, someone has been listening to a lot of Pink Floyd.

Halloween on Campus

              

I was expecting a grand display of Halloween celebration, but was sadly disappointed. Maybe I'm just hanging around in the wrong buildings, but people just weren't dressing up. What's up with that? Then again, I love Halloween and always tend to go a bit overboard. Last year I was the weird mullet guy -- I wore a skin tight turtle neck sweater, gray slacks pulled up over my belly, and big brown shoes. With a mullet. I wasn't trying to "be" anything. My goal was just to make people feel uncomfortable around me, and I achieved that goal.

This year I borrowed a friends pimp/disco outfit and wig, and turned my windowless office into a discotech, with fog machine, two pulsating/spinning light effets, and blaring BeeGees/ABBA tunes throughout the day. You know it, baby.

Video: Halloween at Microsoft