Best Buy

Coca-Cola: Superstition

Coca-Cola: “The Catch”

Bridgestone

Budweiser – Return of the Kind

TaxAct – Free to Pee

Happy Grad – The Movie

Doritos – Man’s Best Friend

John Carter by Disney

VW – The Dog Strikes Back

America’s Got Talent – Howard Stern

H&M – David Beckham for Him

Chevy Sonic – Stunt Anthem

The Avengers by Marvel

Teleflora – Adrianna Lima

Cars.com – Confident You

Doritos – Sling Baby

New E-Trade Baby

G.I. Joe: Retaliation

Camry Effect – “Connections”

Hulu Plus – Hulubatory

The Voice – Vocal Kombat

Chrysler – It’s half-time in America

Smash Clip

Fiat 500 Abarth – Seduction

Toyota Camry – It’s Reinvented

Coke – “Aarrgh”

Dannon Oikos Greek Yogurt

Century 21 Real Estate LLC

Acura NSX – Senfield – Transactions

Budweiser – Eternal Optimism

Bridgestone – Performance Basketball

NFL Timeline

2012 Honda CR-V – “Matthew’s Day Off”

MetLife – Everyone

Act of Valor – The Movie

Hyundai Genesis Coupe – “Think Fast”

Bud Light – Rescue Dog

Time Warner Cable – Enjoy Better Anthem

2012 Kia Optima – “A Dream Car. For Real Life”

Career Builder – Business Travel

Thursday Comedies – Crank

Samsung Mobile USA – Thing Called Love

Prudential Financial – Linda Gutherie

Swamp People

NFL Fantasy Million Dollar Fan

Awake – Which is Which?

Cadillac ATS – Green Hell

GoDaddy – QR Code

Suzuki “Sled” – Ben Kahle

Football – Chase QuickPay

M&M’s – Just My Shell

Pepsi – King’s Court

2012 Chevy Silverado

To all of us, Diwali means something different, but there will always be commonality in all of the creative explanations of what Diwali is and what it means. There’s the Ram and Sita story, there’s the light over darkness theme and then there’s very naive explanation of Diwali being “Christmas for Indians”.

It’s the “light over darkness” theme that I’d like to highlight. The symbolism is usually drawn into a conversation of “good over evil” and while the symbolism is a very relevant one in the world that we live in today, there is another view. A view that is preached by some, ignored by many. Gareth Cliff has had a swing at it recently with his, “No Negativity Wednesday’s” campaign. Whether he is the source of the campaign or not, is irrelevent. What is relevant is his ability to make the message accessible. Accessible to his hundred’s of thousands of radio listeners, +/- 195 000 Twitter followers and the other channels that he chooses to channel his sermans.

His message is clear by its name alone. Embrace the positive, look at the brighter side of life. Not as a single isolated incident, day or day of the week, but as a lifestyle. Sitting in traffic, can be seen as an opportunity to listen to music. This list of examples can extend through every aspect of day-to-day life.

I’m not one to preach though, those who know me, know very well that my patience can be timed with a flaming matchstick, but today, I pledge to embrace the spirit of Diwali into my life. I know that it will be impossible to embrace it entirely, but I hereby accept the Chuck Bass challenge by saying “YES”.

Diwali’s lesson should not just be about one day, but about a lifestyle of good beating evil, light beating darkness and positivity nailing negativity to the wall.

Guru Krishna, a local priest in Cape Town, has often spoken about Seva, work offered to God. His talks are normally along the queue of everyone performing Seva at home, will eventually result in the world being a better place. Its this same theory that can be applied to Diwali’s life lesson, where if positivity is embraced by all, eventually the world will end up a better place. Accept the challenge and embrace the spirit of Diwali!

Lyrics:

B.o.B ft Hayley Williams – Airplanes Lyrics

[Chorus - Hayley Williams]
Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars
I could really use a wish right now (wish right now, wish right now)
Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars
I could really use a wish right now (wish right now, wish right now)

[Verse 1 - B.o.B]
Yeah
I could use a dream or a genie or a wish
To go back to a place much simpler than this
Cause after all the partyin’ and smashin’ and crashin’
And all the glitz and the glam and the fashion
And all the pandemonium and all the madness
There comes a time where you fade to the blackness
And when you’re staring at that phone in your lap
And you hoping but them people never call you back
But that’s just how the story unfolds
You get another hand soon after you fold
And when your plans unravel
And they sayin’ what would you wish for
If you had one chance
So airplane airplane sorry I’m late
I’m on my way so don’t close that gate
If I don’t make that then I’ll switch my flight
And I’ll be right back at it by the end of the night

[Chorus - Hayley Williams]

[Verse 2 - B.o.B]
Somebody take me back to the days
Before this was a job, before I got paid
Before it ever mattered what I had in my bank
Yeah back when I was tryin’ to get a tip at subway
And back when I was rappin’ for the hell of it
But now a days we rappin’ to stay relevant
I’m guessin that if we can make some wishes outta airplanes
Then maybe yo maybe I’ll go back to the days
Before the politics that we call the rap game
And back when ain’t nobody listened to my mix tape
And back before I tried to cover up my slang
But this is for Decatur, what’s up Bobby Ray
So can I get a wish to end the politics
And get back to the music that started this sh-t
So here I stand and then again I say
I’m hopin’ we can make some wishes outta airplanes
[Chorus]
[End]

Its the end of March, which puts us squarely at the end of the first 1/4 of 2009 and I think that its a good idea to see how well am doing against my resolutions. Doing this has also allowed me to refocus on them and those items that are still outstanding will now be highlighted again.

I resolute to:

• Listen without saying anything for 20 minutes a day (Apparently, I have too little patience for stupid people and I need to listen more!) I’ve failed at this totally. It is something that I need to work on!
  
• Feed a poor child at least twice a month. I have been keeping to this resolution and will continue to do so.
  
• Help educate a poor child. I missed the cut off date to set up a scholarship, but I will make sure that I do this in time next year.
  
• Study something that aids my career. I am currently enrolled at Stellenbosch University for an MDP.
  
• Study something that adds value to my life without affecting my career. I have slacked off a bit, but I am learning Mandarin.
  
• Find a friend that I have forgotten about and catch up. Still need to do this.
  
• Stop judging the artsy fartsy type, some people are just weird. Eeerrrh… do I HAVE to do this?
  
• Fix this thing called “my health”. I’ve bought a bicycle. That’s it! :s
  
• Spend more time outside. I have tried, I swear!
  

In 2009 I will greatly reduce the intake of: (not GIVE UP, just reduce!)

• Softdrinks (That whole theory that Coke adds life, is balls!) I now drink massive amounts of water. Soft drink intake has been reduced greatly. I don’t see any results… but I guess its the right thing to do.
  
• Chocolate bars (Happens rarely anyway, so less is bonus!) Done!
  
• White bread (Wheat and Grain is the way!) Not Done!
  
• Fries (Nando’s wedges is better anyway!) Done!
  
• Chilli (I’m Indian, so just know that this isn’t as easy it may sound!) Almost Done!
  
• Energy drinks (Those things are designed for athletes and not for people who have parts that wobble when they laugh!) Done!
  

In 2009 I will greatly increase the intake of:

• Tea I have become a bloody tea ADDICT!
  
• Cucumber (lol) Not Done!
  
• Peaches Not Done!
  
• Fresh Grapes Not Done!
  
• Whole grain bread Not Done!
• Water Done!
  
• Veggies Done!
  

Whether you’re suddenly unemployed or just looking to change up, starting out in a new career is daunting. Take our advice on how to write—and plan—your way into a new field.

Photo by Yo Spiff.

Why switch careers?

Blogger, career writer, and Brazen Careerist founder Penelope Trunk knows from jumping ship. From her own ups and downs at work, both office-based and freelance, she’s compiled a (relatively) low-stress approach to making the switch. More important: She lists reasons why you should and shouldn’t move on:

Here are some bad reasons to switch careers:
1. You hate your boss. (Switch jobs, not careers.)
2. You want more prestige. (Get a therapist – you’re having a confidence crisis, not a career crisis.)
3. You want to meet new people. (Try going to a bar, or Club Med. What you really want is to get a life. Pick up a hobby.)

Here are some good reasons to switch careers:
1. You want a role that is more creative, more analytic or more management-oriented.
2. You want to live in a location that does not accommodate your current career.
3. You want more flexibility or fewer hours.

Drafting the resume

Now that you’ve set your mind to making the big move, let’s talk text.

Alexandra Levit, career specialist and author of How’d You Score That Gig?, graciously offered to provide some guidance on writing a resume for a new career path:

• Getting past the minimum requirements: Use a functional format that lists achievements by general skill area. Most fields want your transferable skills, like project management and client relations.For example, if you spent a few years working at a toy store, but you want to get into architecture, you might highlight a project management skill and say that you managed a semi-annual special parents night, which included activities geared toward 150 regular customers. You should also focus on results you’ve achieved rather than job responsibilities—so instead of just saying that you sold infant-related toys and merchandise, you could say that you were named as the top infant toy salesperson, generating revenues of approx. $20K. By doing these things, you show that you have the right combination of talent and skills to get the job done, even if you don’t have specific experience in that industry.
• Avoid looking like a job-hopper: Hold each job for at least a year before you consider a change. Individuals who switch more often become known as chronic job jumpers, and employers either consciously or subconsciously avoid these candidates. Especially in this competitive climate, when a hiring manager sees a resume listing four jobs in three years, he won’t wait to hear your explanation. He’ll think that you can’t hold down a job, and he will move on to the next person.If you do have a history of moving around a lot, I suggest removing the months from your chronology line. For example, saying that you worked at a place from 2007-2008 sounds a lot more palatable than November 2007-March 2008. Also, if you have JUST quit a job or have been laid off, say that you have been at your last position from 2006 to present.

As for the rest of your text, we’ll recommend one of the five tactics we’ve suggested to rebuild your resume: Start with a list of reasons why you’re great, then distill it into your resume. All the other stuff—fonts, vertical bars, exact wording of “coffee-grabbing intern”—is just finesse. Start with a blank text editor or sheet of paper, and start throwing down whatever skills you have that the others don’t. By doing so, you form the basis for a punchy, concise resume, and (bonus!) you hone your talking points for your interview. Photo by emdot.

Now onto the cover letter, often as important in getitng a hiring manager’s attention:

Don’t bore your next employer with your layoff story

Cynthia Shapiro, career strategist and author of What Does Somebody Have to Do to Get a Job Around Here?, points out to the Wall Street Journal that taking the time to explain your layoff not only wastes cover letter space, but won’t win you many sympathy points these days, as there are a lot of layoff stories to be told.

When applying, avoid expressing bitterness or self-pity. Many layoff victims send cover letters that blame the economy for their job loss, says Ms. Shapiro. There’s no need to even point out the fact that you’ve been laid off. “If your last work day was in October, your résumé will say that,” she explains.

Photo by sunshinecity.

In the same article, an IBM hiring manager notes that in a crowded, competitive group of candidates for a consulting job, what helped her pick the winner was a “can-do attitude.” More importantly, that applicant didn’t make a lot of requests, requirements, or pitch themselves for an exact job doing a precise thing. Get the job first, then work your way into the working environment you dream of.

What to expect (and plan for)

Not to keep hitting on the suck-it-up nail, but crossing into an entirely new realm of experience and work probably requires a bit of sacrifice. To jump-start a stalled job search, you might have to start humble and work your way into career confidence.

Career specialist Levit explains that process in detail for us:

• Ease into a new career one foot at a time: Perhaps this means earning a paycheck at a more attainable job while doing a part-time internship in your new field, or taking an adult education class or workshop on the weekend. The only way to find out if you’re passionate about something is to try it – ideally with as little risk as you can manage.
• Remember that any progress is good progress: In the quest to uncover a source of meaningful work, your worst enemy is inertia. Make an effort to do one thing, like e-mailing a networking contact or attending an event, every morning, every day, or before you do something else—that moves you a bit closer to your big-picture goal.
• Have realistic expectations: Even if you’re lucky enough to finally get and hold a job in your dream career, there’s no such thing as the perfect work situation; dream job doesn’t mean “cushy” job. As your mom always told you, anything worth having in this world requires some effort. There will be some days you feel like shutting the alarm off and going back to sleep, especially if you’re being made to do grunt work at first, but many more ahead where you feel more energized by the prospect of work than you ever thought possible!

Your advice

If you’ve successfully gone from apples to oranges in your career, or even just from apples to different-colored, slightly sweeter apples, by all means—tell us how you got there in the comments.

[This is a repost from Lifehacker]

2008 was a really crappy year for me. Everything that could go wrong, did! Loosing my kid brother in a car accident was certainly the low point of 2008. It did have a few high points though. My trip to see IslandChic in Beijing was certainly the highlight!

2009 snuck up on me like a taxi driver at a four way stop. But its here and its first week is already drawing to an end already.

I’ve put together a list of resolutions that I feel are worth sticking to. I’ve tried to be realistic about it and I certainly won’t be promising massive weight loss!

I resolute to:

• Listen without saying anything for 20 minutes a day (Apparently, I have too little patience for stupid people and I need to listen more!)
• Feed a poor child at least twice a month
• Help educate a poor child
  
• Study something that aids my career
• Study something that adds value to my life without affecting my career
• Find a friend that I have forgotten about and catch up
• Stop judging the artsy fartsy type, some people are just weird
• Fix this thing called “my health”
• Spend more time outside

In 2009 I will greatly reduce the intake of: (not GIVE UP, just reduce!)

• Softdrinks (That whole theory that Coke adds life, is balls!)
• Chocolate bars (Happens rarely anyway, so less is bonus!)
• White bread (Wheat and Grain is the way!)
• Fries (Nando’s wedges is better anyway!)
• Chilli (I’m Indian, so just know that this isn’t as easy it may sound!)
• Energy drinks (Those things are designed for athletes and not for people who have parts that wobble when they laugh!)

In 2009 I will greatly increase the intake of:

• Tea
• Cucumber (lol)
• Peaches
• Fresh Grapes
• Whole grain bread
• Water
• Veggies

I think thats it for me. I’d love to hear yours!

This evening, I tried the new Vida e Caffe at Century City. I grabbed an Americano on the run. I love Vida e for the concept, for being the only “on the run” coffee franchise in SA and for the excellent branding. But oh dear is their coffee CRAP!

But I know this! I’ve known it for a while. Infact, most would agree, the coffee at Vida really doesn’t deserve to be called coffee, but more akin to dirty water with a bitter taste and a dash of milk!

I go back to their stores with this deep down hope that perhaps the refugee behind the counter with the cool personality and funky accent will by some great act of the heavens, pull off a great cup of coffee.

Kudos to the company for putting together an excellent brand identity and for a very slick experience everytime, but c’mon people…

The circumstances have been the absolute worst, with the loss of my little brother, Kiyashan aka KeyZ, a month ago in a horrible car accident.

He was the most full of shit person I knew , never let a day pass without making me smile about something. The guy was loved by everyone and was super friendly. He impacted everyone that he met in a positive way and I am so glad that everyone has good memories of him. I am sorry that at 24yrs old, he left us so damn surprisingly!

I’m going to miss him and life just won’t be right without him.

Kiddo, if you get to read this up there, I love you!

It’s the typical action-packed movie you’d come to expect from these two actors. Jason brings the same arrogance and violence from Transporter and Italian Job into his role here playing a FBI agent and Jet, well, what else would you expect? He plays a hired assassin and gets involved in the Chinese Triads and the Japanese Yakuza.

The movie has REALLY cool cars, with Jet driving a Spyker C8 Spyder throughout the film and Statham sporting a Mustang. There are shots of a few Lambos, Ferraris and Maseratis. The movie has a pretty cool car chase with the two of them going head to head in a decent battle. One would naturally assume the the Italian has the advantage, but the brutal muscle of the Yank gives it a run for its money in the traffic filled streets.

Lots of swords, pistols, snipers and automatic machine guns.

The movie is definitely nothing new, but it does have a fairly cool twist at the end. The action sequences are very well choreographed, and I am almost certain that John Wu himself couldn’t have done it better.

Definitely worth a watch if you like it rough!