ThoughtSpurs

Top Gear producers know how to create interesting TV. In this clip The Hamster races a fighter jet. The Bugatti Veyron drags in a mile (on the ground), then turns and reruns the course. Meanwhile the jet takes off from a standing start zooms to a mile above the ground then turns and heads for the ground, levels off then crosses the start finish. Who wins? You'll have to watch to find out. It's quite bombastic. But I enjoyed it. A Thoughtspurs exclusive! Actually, scratch that…it is one of the top 10 viral videos of the day. the graph, ironically, mimic the vertical performance of the Eurojet. But will its descent be as rapid. In a cynical footnote it's interesting to sell arms manufacturers finding interesting, contemporary ways to sell their weapons. The chequered flag was even replaced by a Union Jack (the branding, make my logo bigger, bit…). What Arab sheik doesn't watch Top Gear? Free Bugatti Veyron with every Eurofighter sold.

I'm sitting in bed with my laptop (2.04 a.m. - obviously I'm single) - writing my book Vanishing Act…Fiction is hard. In the past week I've managed a whole 20 pages. Pathetic. Nothing edited - that comes later. The tele's on: Mulholland Drive by David Lynch. Like it but haven't the slightest idea what it is about. Cool Soundtrack too…

Putting aside the deep psychological pain of being kicked to touch prematurely at the Rugby World Cup I was shocked to find that the 'Of this Earth' campaign for the All Blacks was created by Adidas in Holland by the agency 180 . Now that is just wrong Advertising for the All Blacks brand should be of this Earth. Aotearoa, New Zealand. Of course I'm being a hypocrite. How can I reconcile a point of view that it doesn't matter where your favourite kiwi brand's physical products are manufactured then squeal about the small matter of an iconic symbol of identity being jobbed out. Maybe if it wasn't a dutch agency - what was it that Austin Powers' dad, Nigel Powers, said: "There are two kinds of people I can't stand in this world. People who are intolerant of other people's cultures, and the Dutch." And yes, I've banged on about the joy of atheism, but I can't help but wonder if this was just bad juju…?

Picked up a copy of the new look North & South magazine. Its tidy up is very smart and much needed. The venerable title has a reputation for outstanding writing, nurtured by the steady and talented hand of Robyn Langwell. She left in June after 22 years (she was the longest serving editor in New Zealand and made a fantastic contribution to the standard of magazine writing in this country - she and husband Warwick Roger are, together, probably, the most titanic force in publishing here). "Much to admire and little to enjoy." Samuel Johnson - referring to a manuscript submitted for praise. By and large I like it the new N&S. It's better. I do feel that magazines are tending to look like very smart, interchangeable templates. Without being churlish, there are overtones of Notebook magazine and Marie Claire - possibly also Martha Stewart's Blueprint magazine. You get the point. Design, or rather good taste has become commoditised/generic. I have a feeling that d...

Watch this clip from the TED conference. An interface that is most interesting for the fact that it isn't there. Nothing comes between you and the task you are aiming to achieve. If you have hands you can create and manipulate data. Amazing stuff. I found the comment that you shouldn't have to conform to a machine's design to accomplish what you want perceptive and ≥more important…exhilirating! I haven't been to an Apple Store for a while - serves as a reminder to check out the iPod touch. Some of these ideas have been integrated into the touch interface on the iPhone and the iPod. Thanks to Publicis Digital for the heads-up.

Up at Waipu on the weekend. Saturday was market day. I came across these knitted things on a stall in the town hall - right next to a table of artisan honey. I have to say that I was impressed. The little old lady running the stall must spend half her life knitting these little figures. What I liked was the characterisation. Seriously. They reminded me of Tin Tin - or a mash up of Tin Tin, The Life of Brian and the Wombles. I took the shot but didn't notice the mad looking bagpiper in the background. It's crying out for speech balloons or a stop motion show (maybe for G3 mobile distribution). Might have to head back up next market day and see if I can commission the wee woman to knit some characters of my own cunning design... Caught up with Simon Morgan for pint and a chat last night. Simon is managing partner for Publicis Digital Australia and New Zealand. Interesting to hear some of his thoughts on the use of social media by marketers. He described a successful promotion hi...

I wrote about Prof Pausch a little while ago. His final lecture at Carnegie Mellon is Brilliant but and hour and a half of video. So here is his para-phrased and repackaged for a mass audience. It has lost some of its charm but it doesn't matter. He is a positive inspiration. I read that his cancer is responding well to treatment. Alright. Enough of that. Because I don't want you to think I've gone all wet… so here's some Charlie Brooker. It's been a while. Watch and weep. Don't show Randy Pausch though he'll stop taking his medicine. Though I suppose his work in virtual reality might have prepared him for it...