Global Mechanic Media blog

Smack Stephen Harper, Then Use Your Words!

Recently, I introduced to you one of our little side projects: SmackStephenHarper.com, a refuge for those bitter and angry about what the current government (leader) is doing to our state of affairs.

Global Mechanic launched this mini blog approximately three years ago with the aim to relieve stress and increase levels of happiness in fellow Canadians.

Give it a go! (And don’t forget to turn up your speakers when you visit!)

Here are some particularly entertaining comments from some of the visitors who came and smacked Stephen Harper:

(I’ve only edited for grammar and spelling, I promise!)

In response to why they smacked Harper…..

- For completely screwing up the fishing industry

- In particular for the cuts to the CBC and in general for being a liar!

- One smack for Steve Harper ……One giant smack from Canadians

- For the oil pipeline into B.C.

- Harper is destroying our future. I voted for him; now I am disappointed in him. For lying. About everything.

- OMG! Where do I start. For the cuts to the CBC, NFB, and Telefilm. For The fighter jets fiasco, for Kyoto, scrapping the gun registry etc etc etc.

- For my grandchildren

- He said he was writing a book about hockey. That was four years ago. I don’t see no book about hockey.

- As they say in French: “Parce que c’est une vraie tête à claques.” Why doesn’t English have an idiom for a face that just cries out to be slapped?

- For trying to reopen the abortion debate. Stay the **** out of my vagina.

- For believing the earth is only 6,000 years old and still having people refer to you as “smart”.

- For Bill C-15 and other bills that strive to create a police state in Canada. Down with the Americanization of Canada.

- I’m in Health Care/Social Services. The cuts have been devastating

- For thumbing down Kyoto. I can’t stop smacking, and I have to get back to work. Is there a way to automate this?

It doesn’t stop there, but this blog entry does. But you can still join the ongoing discussion!

Tidbit: This may also cheer you up: Leonard Cohen donated his $50,000 Glenn Gould winnings to the Canada Council for the Arts! Way to pay it forward and back.

“The truth is without the help and encouragement of the Canada Council, I would never have written The Favourite Game or The Spice Box of Earth,” Cohen said, referencing early writing scholarships received from the council that helped him launch his career. (cbc.ca)

Global Mechanic Signs New Director Team: Yes Please

We’ve signed a new team to our roster of directors!

Anouck Iyer and Lee Schultz are Yes Please, a multidisciplinary studio specializing in visual communications. Their powerful type work, live action & design mix, and sophisticated (but happy and quirky) style help us offer even more diverse talent and experience to our clients.

“Yes Please’s spots, typography and print work are a great complement to our already diverse studio output,” said our CD, Bruce Alcock. “Their design sensibility is a great addition, and they’re super nice people, which makes all the difference. I’m very excited these guys are with our group.”

Global Mechanic has offered print and digital services to our clients for years through agency representation in Canada and the US. More recently, we’ve decided to open our doors to deal with clients directly on projects that are suited for a more intimate working relationship – one that affords us the space to communicate freely with our clients during the iteration process.

We are excited to be offering full service in brand systems – from visual design and web development (logos, UIs, and print ephemera) to consultation on brand positioning and continuity, and the offering of customized content strategy and strategic social media plans. With a more diverse roster of directors – like Yes Please – we will be able to build on our own experience while aligning our aesthetics and mission in a collaborative environment.

Offering a complete branding strategy package directly to our clients helps communicate their vision best. We’re thrilled to have Anouck and Lee join us as we grow. Welcome!

Tidbit: Visit yes-please.com or view their work on our site.

Vote for Ian's Desk!

We recently heard from Ian Godfrey, one of our former employees and he had some fantastic news!

Click to vote for Ian's Pippa Desk!

Ian’s made it to the final 10 in Dwell’s Live/Work contest by pitching a design: the Pippa Desk. His design was one of 587 entries, and was chosen to be a finalist by Design Within Reach/Dwell judges.

Until May 21st, vote for Ian’s design and he may just get the chance for the piece to be manufactured!

The Pippa Desk is a solid wood work space solution for either home or office. Sitting on a splayed base, the “floating” work surface contains storage troughs which are ideal for stowing pencils, pens, and other items out of sight. Subtle finger recesses invite the hand to open the flaps which prove quite fun to play with in themselves. Full of playful details, the design of the Pippa Desk focuses on simple form, function, and craft.

Tidbit: The grand prize winner will be announced at this year’s Dwell on Design, June 22nd through June 24th. Vote now!

#wanteddesign

Reimagine CBC - and our government?

Last night I attended the Reimagine CBC Live event at the Vogue. It was a great turn out!

#ourcbc was trending in Vancouver during the event (though the number of references to the “interwebs” made the audience in physical attendance feel a bit undermined, I think). The presence (and the presenting) of Canadiana – what is at the heart of the CBC – was strong and inspiring and really reminded me of what our public institutions need to keep preserving.

The storytelling was intelligent, funny, and informed (thank you Ivan Coyote especially!), as was the discussion, for the most part, (which is yet to continue online). And the music – one of my favourite mandates of the CBC – was fantastic and brought everyone in the theatre together for one last applause (thank you Dan Mangan, Aidan Knight, Hannah Epperson, and Zachary Gray!)

Though it may have been preaching to the converted, the event, I think was a success. I think many people hadn’t realized the positive impact the CBC has on the lives of all kinds of Canadians – like those living in rural townships that are off the private grid; or those who’ve connected through CBC blogs and made lasting friendships; or those who’ve had their art promoted across the country and beyond; or those who generally enjoy the content (like the great repository that is radio 3 – that’s me!).

Looking back, anyone who attended the event will remember the eloquence that were Kathleen Cross (Senior Lecturer at SFU School of Communications) and Wade Davis (author, anthropologist, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence) as they ventured to explain the importance of Canada’s (cultural) landscape and the importance of public broadcasting.

Some poignant quotes from them, as well as others who made the night so memorable:

“The CBC is the glue that is the soul of this country” – Wade Davis

“83% of Canadians would be willing to support more funding to CBC” – Kathleen Cross

“There’s a war in this country, a culture war over what is the Canadian identity – and the CBC is the front line” – Sean Devlin

“Countries aren’t imagined, they’re created by human beings.” – Wade Davis

“What are we doing that we haven’t done before to protect the things that we love?” – Sean Devlin

Song dedicated from Aiden Knight to James Moore: “Would have heard of me if it weren’t for the CBC. This one’s for him.”

Another thing that will be remember is all the Steven Harper bashing. And while often funny, a CBC re-invigoration event is perhaps not the best place for this kind of expression (how is one to convince the current government to stop cutting funding to the CBC in this way?)

In reference to all this, I bring you SmackStephenHarper.com where you’re welcome to take out all our anger without angering policymakers on whom we rely to get arts funding.

Global Mechanic launched this mini blog about three years ago – and it’s mandate? To relieve stress and increase happiness. Give it a try! It feels pretty good.

Now get smackin’!

Tidbit: Also, check out Sean Delvin’s ShitHarperDid.ca, but you may have to go back to smacking after spending some time there.

An Artist's Studio: Call for photo submissions!

Are you a filmmaker? animator? sculptor? illustrator? painter? photographer? designer? ARTIST?

I recently stumbled upon a neat photography collection: Matthew Yake’s In the Studio. I was instantly inspired. I thought we could use it as a starting off point for a UGC blog idea: Lets share the brilliant work and projects of our readers! Please read on for more info about how you and your work could be featured on our blog!

Matthew Yake’s collection is a series of photos of artists in their studios, surrounded by the materials and tools they use to produce their work. The photos leave viewers with a sense of inspiration as well as curiosity as it’s not always easy to tell what kind of art the artists actually produce in their studios.

In the same spirit, I thought it would be great if you, our readers would share a photo of yourself in your studio. After we collect enough photos, we’ll post a special entry dedicated to all of you and the fine work you produce!

We here at Global Mechanic really believe in collaboration, community, and the garnering of connections with local and international artists, so we really urge you to get involved! It’s a great chance for you to get exposure as well as find out what others are doing.

Please email socialmedia@globalmechanic.com (or use our contact form) and include:

1. An original photo* of you in your studio

2. A short blurb* (max 100-word) that includes the following information:
- Your name
- Where your studio is located
- What kind of work you do
- A little about your current project (optional)
- An anecdote about something funny that happened in your studio (optional)

*By submitting your work to us, you consent to the following guidelines.

We hope to hear from you soon!

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Smack Stephen Harper, Then Use Your Words!

Global Mechanic Signs New Director Team: Yes Please

Vote for Ian's Desk!

Reimagine CBC - and our government?

An Artist's Studio: Call for photo submissions!

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