Sterling-Rice Group Awarded Prestigious Gold Key by the Business Marketing Association

The Colorado chapter of the Business Marketing Association (BMA) presented the Boulder, Colorado-based Sterling-Rice Group, one of the nation’s leading marketing communication firms, with its prestigious Gold Key Award in the online communications category. Each year, the BMA recognizes outstanding B2B marketing efforts; thousands of entries are received and then judged by expert panelists for both creativity and generated results.

Sterling-Rice Group was awarded the Gold Key for their “Beanstalk Peelback” ad, the first in an ongoing online awareness campaign for their client, Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions. The winning ad appeared in a prominent online publication that specifically targeted Arrow’s customer base and featured creative “movement” and a beanstalk to illustrate Arrow’s position as a leader in the electronic components and enterprise computing solutions industry and its commitment to helping their partners grow. The ad had a .21% click through rate .7% higher than the average click through rate for typical ads placed in the publication.

“Our goal was to take a completely different approach and make a shift from the current online ads that are 90% tech intensive,” said Creative Designer, Peter Heppner. “The result was a softer approach with organic movement that really catches the eye; an ad that ultimately moves and inspires a potential customer to a new perception and awareness of the client.” The goal of SRG’s creative team on this project was to move beyond the typical flash driven mechanics and contrast this intensity with a subtler yet highly effective, user-friendly ad.

ABOUT STERLING-RICE GROUP

Headquartered in Boulder, CO, Sterling-Rice Group (SRG) is a global leader in integrated strategy, brand innovation and communications. SRG was founded in 1984 and employs more than 100 professionals who offer strategic and creative brand-building capabilities. SRG has transformed many of the country’s Fortune 100 companies and some of the most dynamic early-stage ventures with an integrative, unique and inventive approach to brand development. For more than two decades SRG has worked with some of the nation’s leading consumer products, financial services, technology, hospitality and healthcare companies. SRG also represents a number of Colorado-based firms, including The Children’s Hospital, Celestial Seasonings, Horizon Organic Dairy, Ball Corporation, Smart Balance, College Invest and others.

Tags: Tech & Biz

Will the Xbox 360 survive 2008?

Let’s face facts here, the Xbox 360 in terms of sheer technology was a little….yes a little behind the PlayStation 3.
Now looking back about what happened in 2007, which was a great year by
the way for the 360, I can’t help imagine what happens next? read more: http://thegamedruid.com/2008/01/will-xbox-360-survive-2008.html

Tags: gaming | Console | happens | opinion | platform | SURVIVE | terms | XBOX

Choices in life, make us who we are

I learned a lot from one of my earlier managers, from my previous work place, Varun Pancholi when he was one of the managers for a major insurance company. He told me something during the last few days of my tenure then, which opened my eyes. I forget the exact conversation, but we were talking about cricket, and I asked him why players don’t typically do a self evaluation and why do they have cameras and stuff helping them out. What he said was that “THe worse evaluator of talent is a player trying to evaluate himself.”

The same applies to business people and particularly to entrepreneurs and wana be entrepreneurs. We tend to be less than honest with ourselves about our strengths and weaknesses.

 I have been just as bad at this as anyone, particularly when I was getting started in the business world. For those of us who dream of starting and running a business, we know that we have to have a level of confidence in our own abilities. We don’t want to believe that there are things we can’t do. We want to believe that if we try hard enough, work long enough, and get a little lucky, that the sky is the limit. The problem is that we let our confidence cloud our judgments of what we truly know about ourselves.

I’m one of the least organized people I know. When I was 20 years old, sleeping on the desk and starting Sabretooth Studios, no assistant and no organization. I was a procrastinator. Accounting was an old floppy case of receipts. I was a mess.

 But I lied to myself and said that I could deal with it. That I would make time to get it all figured out and organized. That if I only set my mind to it, I could be a detail person. I could stop procrastinating. It doesn’t work that way.

 I did the things I was good at. I could sell. I could ideate, so I did, I could design, so I did. I could integrate PCs. I could set up systems from scratch. And I did. My business grew. But it also grew out of control. Setting up a machine or a software program or a design without any clear path ahead is a disaster waiting to happen. And they did. Not to the point where it killed my business, but to the point where I spent far too much time fixing things rather than selling new deals.

Fortunately, one of my best customers at the time was interested in becoming a partner in my business. Suhail ran a company called Intellimedia Technologies. I had worked there earlier, much before my Sabretooth days. He was not only smart and a great designer, but he was the most anal, detail oriented person I had ever met in my life. The perfect partner for me.

 

Our partnership wasn’t always easy. We had more than our shares of knock down drag out fights. He of course would want everything done with precision and if lack of perfection was an option, he didn’t want to do it. I of course was the exact opposite. I was the GO FOR IT guy. We were perfect partners. We knew and trusted the skills of the other and although many might not think yelling was the best way to work things out, we managed.

 

It all came down to choice. I had the choice between lying to myself and pretending that I could turn on a switch and become a details person, or accepting the fact that I’m not, and partnering with someone who is. Continuing to lie meant I would probably lose my business.

Of course, 2 years later, I sold off the business and got into a corporate career and so on. But the lesson I’ve learnt is this: Every entrepreneur faces comparable choices. Each of us has to face the reality of who we are and what we are.

What choice will you make?

Microsoft Cooking Up an Enhanced Xbox 360 Controller?

I should not have been talking about this until next year, but a story of a motion sensing add-on for the Xbox 360 controller forced me to interrupt my holiday break. First, let me tell you that the image floating around with supposed prototypes of a motion sensing Xbox 360 controller is FAKE.

The image in question, which you can see below, was taken from a Gizmodo article that showed the many prototypes Gyration and Bridge Design pitched to Nintendo in 2001; prototypes that eventually gave birth to the Wii controller.

TeamXbox.com can confirm that Microsoft has been researching alternative input technologies for the last two years, including vision-based recognition such as the one used on Xbox Live Vision, as well as motion sensing technologies similar to those seen in the Microsoft Freestyle Pro and the PlayStation 3 SIXAXIS.

Tags: India | India | Google | Technology

God Of War III Confirmed For 2009 – PlayStaion 3

Well, we were kinda hoping against hope that it would arrive in time
for the 2008 holiday season, but that was probably pushing it. Provided
this inside source is correct, God of War III is scheduled for release some time in 2009.

The game’s composer, Cris Velasco,
confirmed the title would release in 2009. Furthermore, the massively
anticipated action title will support full 1080p high-definition
visuals and feature both rumble and motion-sensing from the Sixaxis and
Dual Shock 3. None of that is really surprising, considering we should
be seeing such features on a routine basis by 2009, but they’re still
good to know. Now, if only we could get Sony or the Santa Monica team
to issue a few early details about the game itself, we’d be in
business. Above all else, we basically want God of War II only with better graphics, a new storyline, and perhaps a slightly tweaked gameplay system. But don’t you dare mess it up; it was close to perfect the first two times!

As soon as we hear anything new about God of War III -
anything – we’ll be sure to let you know.

Tags: Entertainment | God of war | god of war 3. | Playstation 3

Will the real me please stand up?

It’s been a while hasn’t it? Since I’ve looked at you in the mirror and thought who this monster is? Well I don’t pride myself in being one, but it’s what circumstances have made me. A social pretender who walks at all times among the “normal” people of society trying pretending to be one of them.

I’m empty. Devoid of emotions, fears and I don’t know what else. I’m different. Very different. Maybe its just the way I’ve been brought up. Broken home, divorced parents, broken relationships. people who look at me would say I’m someone without a care in the world. They’re wrong. Very Wrong.

They way things are going, life should have come to a stand still. Sometimes I get tired of pretending everyday. Pretending to be something or someone I’m not. I’m empty inside. Like a hollow shell waiting…not with baited breath though. Sometimes I wish I was the last person around…like after a holocaust or plague. Then I won’t have to pretend anymore. I can just be myself.

Sakshi. She’s the only person in the world who loves loved me. I think that’s nice. I don’t have feelings about anything, but if I could have feelings at all, I’d have them for her. I chose Sakshi because she is, in her own way, as damaged as me. May she rest in peace.

With the way the internet is expanding, Regalix is a great place for me. A great place for me to hone my craft. Viva Regalix.

There are no secrets in life, just hidden truths that lie beneath the surface. People fake a lot of human interactions, but I feel like I fake them all, and I fake them very well, that’s my burden, I guess.

I always prided myself on being an outsider… but now… I feel the need to connect with someone.

Weird enough for ya?

ok, this is totally nuts…i’ve been tryin all weekend to find an Andhra style chili chicken recipe…and trust me, no one on the net wants to give it out!! I mean, ya sure, lots of them have their “ASCC” recipes out there, but I know that ain’t the one.. I’ve come close to 80% of actually figuring out the recipe..I do know that it contains a lot of Green Chillis (duh..), GHEE, viniger and Soya sauce..yes..Soya sauce..if u want proof..just take a table spoon of ghee and mix it with a table spoon of soya sauce…u’ll get the smell and taste.

So i’m asking ya..does Someone..anyone have the recipe for  Andhra Style Chili Chicken?? Would be most greatful if you could pass it on

Cheers

Kiran

Plan B

Do most of us actually have a plan B in life? I dunno…and what if plan B don’t work? Do we look for a plan C????

Most of my life, i’ve always walked around, never looking for a plan B, maybe it’s high time I started looking for one. One thing that’s served me well in life, is the “do whatever it takes” attitude. No excuses, no holds barred, no Jazz, no swan song.  Just pure focus. Focus like the devil himself, looking into the healing light, knowing that too much of it may be bad, but can’t be worse than what is there now.

Things change. People change. I don’t believe in holding on to the past. The past is a way of telling us, what should have been but what is. If we look back hard enough at the past, you will see a sad picture of your present. Things we’re good back then…not anymore. I need to build my fortress of solitude right from scratch. The funny thing is the lack of direction this is taking is quite remarkable from a, let me put it as, “money in the bank” perspective. I haven’t had the least bit inclination to actually get this rolling. Maybe I made some bad judgments about people, maybe I didn’t. Maybe I’m not there 110%.  Maybe I trust people too much, maybe I trust them too little. This pit of self doubt is digging itself deeper. I just need that one sign to shake things off..Just 1 sign. Something…anything.

I’m through holding on to a future, that’s filled with people, happiness and health. This is reality and reality just sucker punched Fantasy into oblivion.  I have my plan B. But, what if plan B is just an imaginary situation, that never materializes. What if plan C is a lot more concrete than plan B, not that I have a plan C. The thing with alternative plans, is that they are just that…Plans…until executed, or in this case, the necessity for it to be executed.

The straight single line is the best line to be in..and by God, i’m going to stick to that. I’ll do whatever it takes. The Devil himself, can’t stop me if he wanted to.  I don’t need no hand holding my hand.

Hate me…

I have to block out thoughts of you, so I don’t lose my head
They crawl in like a cockroach leaving babies in my bed
Dropping little reels of tape to remind me that I’m alone
Playing movies in my head that make a porno feel like home
There’s a burning in my pride, a nervous bleeding in my brain
An ounce of peace is all I want for you, Will you never call again?
And will you never say that you loved me just to put it in my face
And will you never try to reach me, it is I that wanted space

I’m sober now for 3 whole months, it’s one accomplishment that you helped me with.
The one thing that always tore us apart is the one thing I won’t touch again.
In a sick way I want to thank you for holding my head up late at night
While I was busy waging wars on myself, you were trying to stop the fight
You never doubted my warped opinions on things like suicidal hate.
You made me compliment myself when it was way too hard to take
So I’ll drive so fucking far away that I’ll never cross your mind
And do whatever it takes in your heart to leave me behind

And with a sad heart I say bye to you and wave
Kicking shadows on the street for every mistake that I have made
And like a baby boy I never was a man
Until I saw your blue eyes cry and I held your face in my hand
And then I fell down yelling “Make it go away!”
Just make her smile come back and shine just like it used to be
And then she whispered “How can you do this to me?”

Hate me today.
Hate me tomorrow.
Hate me for all the things i didn’t do for you.
Hate me in ways, yeah ways hard to swallow.
Hate me so you can finally see what’s good for you.

The Hunt is on….

The time has come,

When ur worst nightmare will end,

only for a new one to begin.

I’m waiting,

I’m standing here,

you can see me right?

Well..just bring it.