Please don't frown, it spooks the penguins.

The Independent: Brand designs: The lure of the names we know

2009-02-12T05:07:00.001-05:00

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/brand-designs-the-lure-of-the-names-we-know-1607049.html

An evening with Chuck Palahniuk

2008-08-15T03:19:00.001-04:00

If only we all listened to Tim Minchin the world'd be a better place

2008-08-14T05:33:00.001-04:00

Cavalli Coke

2008-08-14T05:20:00.002-04:00

Just in time for Milan fashion week at the end of September as reported here Coke has unveiled a range of limited edition bottles.

Aside from the PR side of things it does make you wonder whether these moves have an impact on sales or if it's all about the column inches.

"Feeling less like a freak..."

2008-08-14T04:57:00.003-04:00

This piece in the New York Times leads on from where Chris Hoy's recent post on the BBC's Olympic blog left off.

It looks at another, almost as enjoyable, spectator sport where you can simply marvel at all the different body types on display in all the very different events. From squat weightlifters to the stretched basketball players it really does show the dedication and specialism required to excel.

back in the game.

2008-08-14T04:50:00.002-04:00

here's what happened when i met the tiny masters in a library

2007-08-16T16:58:00.000-04:00

the greatest band in the world ever?

2007-08-01T17:37:00.000-04:00

why aren't ad's like this any more?

2007-06-28T16:56:00.001-04:00

genius camouflage

2007-06-28T16:52:00.000-04:00

my new BAPE sweater

2007-06-20T02:43:00.001-04:00

sunrise

2007-05-21T15:10:00.000-04:00

tommy sheridan - imagine

2007-05-18T14:58:00.000-04:00

closing down sale

2007-05-17T15:09:00.000-04:00

destroyer of worlds

2007-05-16T15:06:00.000-04:00

For the perfect family Christmas...

2007-05-12T10:25:00.000-04:00

one of this year's finest Eurovision offerings

2007-05-11T10:29:00.000-04:00

If only my desk had one of these

2007-05-08T13:33:00.000-04:00

Missle balloons

2007-05-07T13:17:00.000-04:00

Ever wanted to get more attention on the motorway? Well these balloons might just be the answer

Mmm... bacon

2007-05-05T13:31:00.000-04:00

The anatomy of a balloon poodle.

2007-05-04T13:00:00.000-04:00

Jason Freeny

Get Nike to release the McFly 2015

2007-05-03T12:37:00.000-04:00

Join the campaign here.

Teens in tractor chased by police

2007-05-02T17:26:00.000-04:00

From BBC Scotland

A pair of teenagers were involved in a 23-mile police chase in Aberdeenshire after stealing a tractor, a court has heard.

Garry Stewart and Alistair Stewart, both 17, left a trail of destruction including ramming a police car which tried to stop them.

The teenagers drove in the dark with the lights off and weaved from side to side in the face of oncoming traffic after taking the tractor from Pitmedden and heading towards Aberdeen city centre.

Garry Stewart, who was driving the vehicle, rammed the back of a marked police car and shunted it along the road while his passenger threw items. The driver also attempted to force other police off the road by swerving towards them. He repeatedly drove erratically, ignored no entry signs, failed to stop when asked, repeatedly sounded the horn and gesticulated at police.

The teenager, of Macduff, Aberdeenshire, admitted driving dangerously. He also admitted stealing the tractor from Millbank, Pitmedden, and driving without a licence or insurance, on 25 June last year. Only 16 at the time of the offence, he had originally been charged with assault to the danger of lives.

Alistair Stewart, of Whiterashes, Aberdeenshire, admitted culpable and reckless conduct. Sheriff Alexander Jessop noted that Garry Stewart had previous convictions, and deferred sentence on both teenagers until later this month for the preparation of background reports.

definitely how I see the world

2007-05-01T15:28:00.000-04:00

The Graffiti Project - Kelburn Castle

2007-04-30T13:20:00.000-04:00

The Graffiti Project will cover one side of Kelburn Castle and bring together some of the finest exponents of the genre for one week. The organisers hope that by then seeing the finished work outside of the usual urban context perceptions really will be challenged.

Mr Cat's Sunday

2007-04-29T13:37:00.000-04:00

"What you know about math?"

2007-04-28T09:36:00.000-04:00

Soup

2007-04-27T12:27:00.000-04:00

Sheep become Poodles to con Japanese owners

2007-04-26T09:50:00.000-04:00

Cairngorm

2007-04-25T16:15:00.000-04:00

Loch Morlich

2007-04-24T16:14:00.000-04:00

Birds

2007-04-19T15:54:00.000-04:00

Coming to a toy store near you

2007-03-04T05:15:00.000-05:00

Would this make toast more appetising?

2007-03-03T04:59:00.001-05:00

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=br_1_8/602-8384631-7643830?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asin=B00021HBU4

Nash

2007-03-01T16:32:00.000-05:00

the broccoli must die!

2007-02-24T14:46:00.000-05:00

At least one person's got the measure of the man

2007-02-23T14:22:00.000-05:00

still my favourite song of all time ever and the single best video ever made

2007-02-22T11:40:00.000-05:00

mmm tasty

2007-02-21T14:19:00.000-05:00

http://www.gadgetshop.com/pws/ProductDetails.ice?ProductID=1175

rabbit show-jumping

2007-02-14T15:30:00.000-05:00

http://www.kaninhop.dk/uk/

I'd shop here

2007-02-13T13:26:00.001-05:00

A usual Friday morning

2007-02-09T09:30:00.000-05:00

From Kirkcaldy to Abu Dhabi

2007-02-08T09:08:00.000-05:00

Abu Dhabi Performing Arts Centre (2006 - TBD)
Zaha Hadid

Gordon Brown post-match, Rovers 3 Alloa 0

2007-02-06T15:15:00.000-05:00

Dog walker

2007-02-05T16:31:00.000-05:00

belluna.net

Roger Federer in super slow motion

2007-01-31T15:12:00.000-05:00

Woman gets 75,000 bank statements

2007-01-30T15:13:00.000-05:00

From BBC Scotland - An Aberdeen woman who asked for her bank statement was sent those of 75,000 other customers.
Stephanie McLaughlan, 22, was shocked when Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) sent her the unexpected financial details by mistake. Ms McLaughlan received several large packages in the post and said she was concerned it could happen. HBOS apologised and said it was carrying out an investigation into the "serious" but "isolated" incident.

'Concern caused'

HBOS said in a statement: "We are treating this matter very seriously and are investigating in full. "This is a very specific, isolated incident and we will take steps to ensure there is no security issue for customers as a result of this matter."We apologise for any concern this has caused customers." HBOS was formed in 2001 with the merger of the Halifax and Bank of Scotland and has millions of customers.

Doesn't it just inspire confidence in one on the world's biggest banks!

Uffie

2007-01-29T16:13:00.000-05:00

I'm going to get married so we can do this

2007-01-26T15:01:00.000-05:00

Procrastination - Dave Walker is spot on...

2007-01-25T15:18:00.000-05:00

I still like this front cover

2007-01-22T15:34:00.000-05:00

It's for your own good

2007-01-19T15:32:00.000-05:00

It's all he would have needed

2007-01-18T15:27:00.000-05:00

rather than contacts...

2007-01-16T16:25:00.000-05:00

Brad 'Ron Burgundy' Gilbert on Andy Murray's intensive gym routines

2007-01-12T09:09:00.000-05:00

"We were hoping that he could bust sleeveless at Wimbledon '08 but now, if he works hard enough, it could be Wimbledon '07," said Gilbert yesterday, "That's the litmus test, busting sleeveless. Then you've got some guns."

The beauty of empty space within a built environment

2007-01-12T05:42:00.000-05:00

Carsten Meier

The Rise of the Idiots

2007-01-11T05:34:00.000-05:00

Dan Ashcroft's article was right.

Did you know goats climb trees?

2007-01-10T19:11:00.000-05:00

Remo Savisaar

We must question hanging a man, not whether we did it with appropriate aplomb

2007-01-09T18:57:00.000-05:00

The last week or so has been an incredibly depressing time to be in the West. Rather than recognising the role we all have to play in the various global crises that exist across the globe we have been discussing the "deplorable" way in which Saddam Hussein's execution was conducted. Should we not be discussing and outlining the "deplorable" act of capital punishment? - that would be a debate that better serves the future.

Or is that all we amount to? All our aspirations extend to? Questioning whether or not a man hung from the gallows in the right way. As far as I am concerned there is no acceptable face of capital punishment, regardless of the crime. It creates and fuels a violent society.

It is wrong.

sadly this cover still applies to some people

2007-01-09T18:45:00.000-05:00

Thankfully some kind people have bought me some of The Onion's books over the years and it still delivers week, after week.

Read it here

Yume-Neko Smile - he's back!

2007-01-08T18:43:00.001-05:00

Give a little

2007-01-05T09:43:00.000-05:00

I love these little tokens of affection that can help you to brighten anothers day.

Siezing an opportunity

2007-01-03T05:04:00.000-05:00

My sister, Laura, remembering I'd stated that I'd like to eat there (she has and said it's not the best) sent this picture showing that after a slow start Itsu has learnt to embrace its legendary status. Apparently there are moves afoot for a rapid international expansion to capitalise on the events that occurred within.

It's Hogmanay, time for a tiny horse

2006-12-31T15:04:00.000-05:00

Guide Horses

I'm old gregg

2006-12-30T13:16:00.000-05:00

The tale of my Chrismukkah. Nottingham to Glasgow to Nairn to Edinburgh to Nottingham.

2006-12-29T18:07:00.000-05:00

It's like eating little bits of a rainbow

2006-12-28T16:30:00.000-05:00

Oh my God. This is the greatest piece of work ever created. R Kelly's rock opera, "In the Closet", deserves to be seen by every human being on the planet.

This is genius by any measure and could nourish a million starving children.

A new wardrobe for all the sale purchases

2006-12-27T08:20:00.000-05:00

Naomi Dean

And that is why I don't like cricket.

2006-12-26T17:12:00.000-05:00

I love Bob Fossil

Still genius

2006-12-25T17:58:00.000-05:00

The worlds greatest park?

2006-12-22T15:04:00.000-05:00

Attack of the killer fog

2006-12-21T05:44:00.000-05:00

When things are as better than you imagined

2006-12-20T08:39:00.000-05:00

It's not often that things are better than you imagined. Like when I met Noel Gallagher in a second-hand shop in Greenwich and he didn't ask me to replace Liam in Oasis. But this weekend, I went to The Reindeer on the edge of The City and it was better than I'd hoped. Run by the people who are behind Bistrotheque and designed by people like Giles Deacon and Katie Hillier, with even the hats in the crackers being made by Stephen Jones it was simply brilliant - the food was great too!

From the moment you got to the front door it was a fabulous experience and at no point felt pretentious or over-concocted. Good food, great venue, genuine atmosphere.
The PR really whetted our appetite, with the restaurant featured in everything from Vogue,Harper's, Pop and Dazed to the Times and The Telegraph.

The Observer even seemed to like it without being able to get a table!

This Chrismukkah I would like...

2006-12-15T12:55:00.000-05:00

An alternative flag to reflect America's militaristic and imperialistic approach to the world

2006-12-15T09:33:00.000-05:00

Oh no! Asimo's dead

2006-12-13T23:41:00.000-05:00

Having seen a preview of the new Honda ad's they are indeed splendid, but it seem the star, Asimo, isn't beyond an accident or two. At a recent showcase in his native Japan, he climbed the stairs and was then forced to exclaim "help I've fallen and can't get up!". My favourite bit is where the curtain appears from nowhere, to shield our delicate eyes, as they reach for the shotgun and put-him-down like a good racehorse.

Sad, so sad.

The Greatest Ad's of the 80's

2006-12-13T14:49:00.000-05:00

Giant magazine has pulled together a list of the "greatest ad's of the 80's". You can't look beyond this ad for the McDonald's DLT as far as I'm concerned - now that's a song that is up there with the very best Lennon & McCartney could manage.

See the full list here

snoopy as Jane. Genius but so wrong.

2006-12-12T14:46:00.000-05:00

It'd make the M1 easier of a morning

2006-12-11T14:49:00.000-05:00

Dictate don't follow.

2006-12-10T10:56:00.000-05:00

An interesting piece in today's Observer that highlights the influence of pollster, Frank Luntz on the rise of David Cameron. It serves as a warning to PR's who refuse to trust their own sense of news and simply chase the positive research figures of a few.

PR is, and always will be, about judgement.

You have to take note of what researchers provide but it is not a universal panacea. It is part of the solution but good PR's have instinct and an ability to create long-term moves to see thier clients dictate the thoughts of focus groups, not chase their positive approval - that can be done by the idiots who think PR is about press releases or cheap stories.

i can do this.

2006-12-09T04:34:00.000-05:00

Mexican newspaper ad

2006-12-08T02:04:00.000-05:00

A Complicated World, Needs Simple Explanation

i heart terror

2006-12-07T14:51:00.000-05:00

Hanging on the telephone

2006-12-06T04:07:00.000-05:00

This is indeed, very cool.

Traditional mediums become toast!

2006-12-01T16:50:00.000-05:00

Zuse has developed this quite marvellous toast printer that can be use to create Christ on a crumpet, Tolstoy on toast or simply turn the humble slice of bread into a tasty billboard, ready and primed to take the brand message to the breakfast table.

To date our repsonse has been shameful. Use today as the excuse to make a stand.

2006-12-01T04:04:00.000-05:00

Google's Christmas card

2006-11-30T16:57:00.000-05:00

Just how do I get on Google's Christmas card list? This years effort is a not-insubstantial digital photo-frame.

The simplicity of language

2006-11-29T11:47:00.000-05:00

When you spend all day everyday looking at the appropriate nature of language when someone casts a grave sin against English it really makes you sit-up and take notice.

Listening to radio 4, the other day, one of the representatives on the panel described herself as being a "Intermediary Management and Information Consultant for the Economically Inactive" or in other words she works in the job centre.

Genius

For a 'monster' Christmas

2006-11-29T03:37:00.000-05:00

I like it but can't help but think it'd give me nightmares...

2006-11-28T03:34:00.000-05:00

The world's greatest scarf

2006-11-24T04:02:00.000-05:00

Why am I not featured in the Independent today?

2006-11-24T03:59:00.000-05:00

Brilliantly lampooing the NME's annual sorjourn into the realms of complete idiocy where they decalre the "fifty coolest people", today's Independent takes a far more interesting look at a top fifty.

The Fifty Most Uncool People

Google Earth font

2006-11-16T03:29:00.000-05:00

This neat little site, www.geogreeting.com, lets you use Google Earth to write up to 40 characters at a time.

the only way to turn off the alarm is to catch it once it's taken off

2006-11-15T18:04:00.000-05:00

Bunny letter opener

2006-11-11T03:25:00.001-05:00

If only all PR was this easy...

2006-11-10T23:59:00.000-05:00

There'll be a Southbank Show featuring Ardman Animations on the 26th November. For the pre-show publicity they've circulated this shot of Melvyn Bragg and one of the studio's main protagonists.
Perferct fodder for broadsheets and mid-range tabloids alike.

Continuity

2006-11-10T15:08:00.000-05:00

You realise sales are falling. You are dealing with the fall-out of "Supersize Me". But yet the change to 'healthier options' (like the salad that has more calories than a Big Mac - genius) hasn't quite filtered through to the merchandise and licencing department.

These kids toys were spotted in a supermarket near the office, just yesterday. Brilliant consistency of message from McDonald's or as I prefer, "how I learned to undermine our PR and advertising campaign and act as if the landscape hasn't shifted."

Laying the foundations for future generations to continue our nation's proud heritage

2006-11-09T18:54:00.000-05:00

So that's what to wear to work Monday & Tuesday, but what then?

2006-11-07T15:28:00.000-05:00

They don't make them like this anymore vol.2

2006-10-23T11:28:00.000-04:00

Lt Col John Pine-Coffin

Lieutenant-Colonel John Pine-Coffin, who has died aged 85, had a distinguished and adventurous career in the King's African Rifles and the Parachute Regiment.

John Trenchard Pine-Coffin was born in Kashmir on June 12 1921 and educated at Wellington. After Sandhurst, he was commissioned into the Devonshire Regiment and then served with the King's African Rifles (KAR) in East Africa.

His African-born sergeant was not best pleased when Pine-Coffin advised him not to wear medals that had been awarded to him by the Germans, but he quickly won the respect of his men without them. Pine-Coffin subsequently accompanied the KAR to Burma.

Stealth was often the key to survival during the Burma campaign. One night, while lying low in an attempt to conceal their presence from the Japanese, Pine-Coffin impressed on his African troops the need for complete silence. They had, however, acquired a taste for tea and one of them, in his search, perhaps, for a superior brew, had placed the billy can on a fire piled high with full ammunition boxes.

On another occasion, when a strong Japanese patrol was preparing to attack his unit, his soldiers threw down their arms and disappeared into the darkness.

Pine-Coffin and his brother officers had resigned themselves to their fate when the men reappeared from the jungle with rather sheepish faces and said: "We like you too much to see you killed." They collected their weapons, regrouped and helped to beat off the enemy assault.

After the Japanese surrender, Pine-Coffin went to Pakistan to look for his father, who had been a prisoner of the Japanese since the fall of Singapore. He scoured the hospitals treating soldiers from PoW camps but was unsuccessful. Eventually his father was repatriated to England.

Pine-Coffin then joined the Parachute Regiment and was posted to the Middle East where he saw action during the Suez crisis. Following a move to Cyprus, he was involved in counter-insurgency operations in the Troodos mountains.

When he came across a number of heavily bearded men hiding in a monastery, Pine-Coffin suspected that they were Eoka terrorists in disguise and asked his sergeant to give their beards a sharp tug. These all stayed firmly in place and he had to make a swift tactical withdrawal.

During his 28 years with the Parachute Regiment, Pine-Coffin served with all three battalions and in 1961 took command of 1st Parachute Battalion. His parachuting career was brought to a premature end when he landed in the dark on a tractor and broke several bones in his feet.

A series of staff appointments followed. In 1963 he was in Nassau when he was ordered to investigate a party of Cuban exiles that had infiltrated Andros Island, part of the Bahamas. His seaplane landed in thick mud and Pine-Coffin decided that his only chance of reaching dry land was to strip off.

On coming ashore, plastered in mud and wearing only a red beret and a pair of flippers, he was confronted by a party of armed Cubans. Mustering as much authority as he could in the circumstances, he informed the group that they were trespassing on British sovereign territory and were surrounded.

The following morning, when the Royal Marines arrived to rescue him they were astonished to find him and his radio operator in a clearing standing guard over the Cubans and a pile of surrendered weapons. He was appointed OBE.

Pine-Coffin attended the Joint Services Staff College and the Imperial Defence College before retiring from the Army in 1969. He built up a large farming enterprise in Devon and established a 3-star country hotel.

He was involved in many local charitable enterprises, including the British Red Cross and the RNLI. In 1974 he was appointed High Sheriff of Devon.

John Pine-Coffin married, in 1952, Susan Bennett, who survives him with their son and two daughters.