Andrew Miller

Andrew Miller has done some crazy stuff since joining Fast Horse in 2010. We all remember the time he downed like six hot dogs during a BBQ at the office.

He’s also completed some impressive feats, not the least of which was the stunt he pulled this week.

Some setup: We surprised Jörg with a Fatboy chair for his birthday. (It’s a big beanbag thing … the chair, that is.)

The big box tempted Andrew … and soon the challenge was on. Could Andrew jump into the box?

Let’s find out!

But these have all been done time and time again. When you’re looking for something a bit more distinct, fresh, or just that certain something else, check out the Lost Type Co-Op.

Yes, a co-op for typefaces. Two Canadian designers, Riley Cran and Tyler Galpin, started Lost Type as a way to share a single typeface. The co-op has grown into an influential collection of more than 40 typefaces, from designers all around the world.

Another unique thing about this type foundry (as if they need anything more to set them apart!) is its “pay-what-you-want” model, where 100% of the profit goes to the designer of the face you purchased. Love a typeface? Pay $500 and know each dollar goes to the creator of that beauty. Not so sure about another? Pay $2, and still, all 200 cents goes to that designer.

I’ve found some Lost Type favorites. Deming EP made an appearance in our latest Summer Internship Campaign (along side such classics as Gotham and Trade Gothic Bold No. 20).

As well, Lavanderia is a beautiful script face that balances between feminine and strong, and made our 2012 Valentines Day dmail sing when paired with Cubano.

Finally, Pompadour Numerals is a bold set of numerals. Again, this typeface walks the line where a designers application could make an ultra girly impression, or stamp a masculine strength. These elegant numbers were the perfect typeface for the clock in my bathroom (a re-vamped IKEA RUSCH clock, to coordinate with my wide striped, white and mustard shower curtain!)

Deming EP from Lost Type (the word "summer")

Lavanderia and Cubano from Lost Type in action

Pompadour Numerals from Lost Type

Ofeibea Quist-Arcton – 11%
Mandalit del Barco – 88%

Yuki Noguchi – 43%
Douali Xaykaothao – 23%

My favorite, Douali Xaykaothao, falls to the mighty Yuki Noguchi — indeed, formidable competition — and it appears some Facebook campaigning on the part of her friends put Mandalit del Barco well over the top in her match-up with Ofeibea Quist-Arcton. She seems to be a strong favorite heading into the final round, but with such intense competition (tongue planted firmly in cheek), one never knows what might happen.

So here we are. Cast your vote in the final round to determine, once and for all, who has the Best Name in Public Radio. Voting will Thursday, May 17, at 2 p.m.

One minute you’re playing in the backyard with your friends, and the next you’re checking on your in-stocks for the weekend Mother’s Day shopping rush. Wait, what?

It’s not the typical life of a pre-teen, but to Sofia, proprietor of Sofia’s Candle Company in Chaska, it’s what happens when a fun art project turns into a suddenly booming business. Sofia runs her candle company out of her mother’s shop, La La Land, located in the heart of the historic downtown district of Chaska. Growing up in a world where your mom refurbishes furniture and finds new purposes for discarded antiques gave her the entrepreneurial bug at an early age.

Offerings from Sofia's Candle Company

This little businesswomen is involved in practically every step of the business, from product creation (except the hot wax and pouring) to sales and accounting. And don’t forget about marketing: she’s got a growing Facebook following, as well. Her full display, complete with a hand-drawn sign, offers customers several scent options and an unscented option, all in refurbished mason jars. Now that’s one savvy kid!

If you’re in the area, it’s a must see…and a must buy.

Sofia's hand-sketched sign

Isn’t it enough that we had to wait nine months for “Game of Thrones,” or a year and a half (!) for “Mad Men,” or that we’re still waiting for “True Blood” (June 10)?

Makes me long for the days when I didn’t watch television, on television. “The Wire,” “Deadwood,” “Battlestar Galactica,” “Dexter,” “LOST,” all viewed at least a season or two behind on DVD or iTunes. As it is, I’m still at least a week or two behind and watching on OnDemand.

Anyway, am I really going to hang in for months and return a loyal fan when the next season of “Walking Dead” begins? Yeah, probably.

Networks are working hard to keep fans engaged throughout these extended intermissions with original and exclusive content, and it’s working. SXSW had a session last year solely on True Blood’s content strategy and success in keeping their fans coming back for more.

The session focused on “a ‘True Blood’ drink campaign for a beverage that had yet to exist, creative that ‘hacked reality’ and spoke to the vampires living among us, a Jessica Hamby character video blog, opposing web sites for the American Vampire League and Fellowship of the Sun, and merchandise ranging from Lafayette’s ‘L’ necklace to Sookie’s Merlotte’s apron.”

Although they didn’t mention it, I feel inclined to include Snoop Dogg’s “Oh Sookie” video for a laugh:

So, what are we “Walking Dead” fans to do while we wait to find out what the heck was up with the spooky hooded figure with the “walkers” chained to either side? For those of you familiar with the comics – Yes. It is surely the badass character Michonne. But, still, the question remains what will AMC do with her?

Michonne

Here are a few suggestions to pass the time:

Take the Walking Dead personality test to find out which character you are most like.

Choose wisely

Or play the Walking Dead Dead Reckoning Adventure Game.

Adventure Game

And soon, you’ll be able to play the highly anticipated Walking Dead Social Game on Facebook (if you can get over the fact that “Walking Dead Social Game” is the worst name ever).

Facebook Game

Or, like me, you can just be grumpy and wait. Well,OK. Full disclosure: I DID take the personality test.

Personality Test Results

Round 2 voting just closed, and we’re left with just four remaining competitors for the Best Name in Public Radio championship. Ladies and gentlemen, here are your Final Four:

Ofeibea Quist-Arcton – 50%
Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson – 38%

Audie Cornish – 33%
Yuki Noguchi – 54%

Douali Xaykaothao – 44%
Lakshmi Singh – 43%

Neda Ulaby – 31%
Mandalit del Barco – 68%

To be honest, no surprises there, really. What a shoot-out between Lakshmi and Douali, though! Just five votes separated them.

Again, based on random numbers generated in Excel, here are the match-ups for the semi-final round. Voting for round 3, the Final Four, starts right now and will close at Tuesday, May 15, at noon Central. Go get ‘em!

Anyone familiar with the cautionary “Seinfeld” tale of the New York Yankees’ jerseys knows the field environment is critical to the success of a baseball team. Frankly, the current Top 40 jams being pumped through the Target Field loudspeakers aren’t inspiring, motivating or local.

Whether it’s Surly, a Pearson’s Salted Nut Roll or the limestone used to build Target Field, amazing Minnesota-made elements are heavily represented at the stadium. Why leave out great Minnesota music?

During the inaugural season, the previous music director kicked off each Twins game with a song from a Minnesota band, complete with a nod on the big screen. But last year, everything changed and programming assistant Dan Edwards, from the former 96.3 FM, became the new Target Field music director. That was the day the music died. (And the day the “Cha-Cha Slide” became an omnipresent musical force at the stadium.)

I’m not complaining about the “walk-up music” players choose to hear as they begin an at-bat. Most of the Twins aren’t native Minnesotans, so I don’t expect them to request some deep track from a Hüsker Dü record. I’m talking about the song clips that get played during various lulls in the action.

In an effort to shed some light on the great local music that should be playing at Target Field, I compiled my Minnesota Twins playlist to get Twins fans, and maybe players, a little more motivated.

Minnesota Twins Home Game Playlist

Game time - Doomtree – “Bangarang” (“Gimme The Go” also would suffice.)
Down by five runs and raking the infield - Solid Gold – “Armoured Cars”
Willingham hits a grand slam - Motion City Soundtrack – “The Future Freaks Me Out”
Embarrassing couples everywhere with the kiss cam - The Honeydogs – “I Miss You”
Gardy storms the field - Atmosphere ft. Prof, Mr. Gene Poole & Felipe Cuauhtli – “Minnesota Nice” (A girl can dream, right)
Sing-a-long during the 7th inning stretch - Prince – “1999″ (could go with The Lemonheads – “Mrs. Robinson”)
Team regroup on the pitcher’s mound - Polica – “Dark Star”
Rick Anderson visits the pitcher’s mound - Peter Wolf Crier – “Hard As Nails”
Proposal on the Jumbotron - Bob Dylan – “Til I Fell In Love With You”
Rally at the bottom of the 9th - the 4onthefloor – “Lionhearted”
Game’s over, Twins win - Rogue Valley – “Onward and Over”

Inning breaks (in no particular order)

Howler – “Back of Your Neck”
Mark Mallman – “Minneapolis”
Tapes ‘N Tapes – “Freak Out”
Trampled By Turtles – “Victory”
I Self Divine – “Ice Cold”
Cloud Cult – “No One Said It Would Be Easy”
The Jayhawks – “Save It For A Rainy Day”
Lookbook – “True to Form”

If you’re on Spotify, you can listen and subscribe to my Minnesota Twins playlist here.

As a marketing professional, I have supposedly developed a hypersensitivity to trite marketing ploys and tactics. It comes with the territory. Working in marketing hasn’t coarsened me as a consumer so much as it’s made me more observant. I have come to understand how I operate as a consumer, but that doesn’t mean my habits have changed.

Now and then, I willfully suspend my skepticism and morph into Consumer X, the free-spending rube who will buy exactly what his favorite brands want him to buy, thus rendering his favorite brands’ marketing campaigns successful.

I bring it up because I recently became a runner. That’s strange to write. What I mean to say is while I ran at other times in my life, now I do it recreationally. You know, on purpose. I like to run along the Mississippi downtown before work and around Lake Calhoun on the weekends. I hope to run my first half-marathon this fall.

Running requires appropriate gear — or so we’re told — which is why in the past month I have purchased:

• Four long-sleeve shirts designed to wick away sweat
• Three pairs of running socks
• Two pairs of running shorts
• One pair of running shoes

All of these products were made by Nike. That’s no coincidence, either.

In 2006, the Nike unveiled Nike+, a technology that featured a special chip placed in Nike+ compatible running shoes that sent a signal to a synced iPod, relaying information like mileage, pace, splits and calories burned. The data could then be uploaded and stored on Nike+’s website, which acted as a social network for runners. Nike+ has since evolved. Runners no longer need shoes with Nike+ compatibility and the software now exists in watches, heart monitors and mobile apps developed by Nike. The website now includes coaching tips, personal challenges and the ability to share workout information through Facebook and Twitter for peer motivation.

Since I’ve started running, I’ve tracked my progress on the Nike+ website. I now associate Nike with all things running, so when I shop at an athletic store, I never once consider buying a different brand. Compression shorts, sweatpants, replacement running shoes — I buy Nike.

Now, I know, as a consumer, I’m acting exactly as Nike hoped I would. I know I’ve been hypnotized by Nike+ and there’s absolutely no reason I shouldn’t explore products from Asics, Brooks, New Balance and other quality brands. Maybe I should be resentful of Nike for understanding me, a perfectly unique snowflake, so implicitly.

But sometimes, the gimmick is so great, the product lives up to its hype and the brand understands the consumer so perfectly, one is compelled to just go with it.

Or, just do it, I should say.

Monday we kicked off a light-hearted bracket-style competition to find the best name in public radio — and there’s plenty of stiff competition. The results from the Sweet Sixteen are in, and we’re ready to kick off round two of the voting. Here’s how the first round shook out.

Yuki Noguchi - 68%
Lynne Rossetto Kasper - 21%

Ofeibea Quist-Arcton - 64%
Zorba Paster - 24%

Lourdes Garcia-Navarro - 35%
Lakshmi Singh - 54%

Audie Cornish - 55%
Quil Lawrence - 34%

Mandalit del Barco - 60%
Sonari Glinton - 37%

Neda Ulaby - 46%
Kai Ryssdal - 44%

Sylvia Poggioli - 42%
Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson - 48%

Nell Greenfieldboyce - 28%
Douali Xaykaothao - 62%

Nothing against the winners, but I’m particularly sad to see Quil Lawrence, Sonari Glinton and Kai Ryssdal defeated. But in the interest of moving forward, here are the match-ups for round 2. Voting will close at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 11. Go get ‘em!

UPDATE: Voting for this round is now closed. Check out the Final Four here.

Just the thought of the bare bones floor-to-ceiling warehouse atmosphere overwhelmed me. Adding to my excitement: I had no choice but to bring along my two kids. Let the adventure begin!

As we made our way to the big box, I spent the drive bartering with the kids. No freak outs and we’d get cookies at the grocery. Let Mama get the items on her list and I’ll grab you lipgloss at Target. Anything to let me get in and out as quickly as possible. I’m that kind of mom.

Little did I know that once we stepped inside, I would barely be able to pry them out of the store.

As soon as we arrived, we were greeted with balloons at the door. It was “Kids Workshop Day” at Home Depot, they explained… a free hands-on clinic on the first Saturday of every month. I had heard about it but never really thought to attend. Assuming I was only there to make crafts, they practically ushered us into the back room – boy am I glad they did.

As the girls donned their little personalized orange aprons and safety glasses, they were each handed a “planter box in a bag.” With a little hammering and a bit of wood glue, we had a structure that was ready to decorate. Some stickers, paint and voila! We spent nearly an hour making our planter box. As the girls marveled over their creations and munched on free popcorn, I got my shopping done in a jiffy. It was an errand to remember.

The Home Depot gained three new female fans and you can bet we’ll be the first to don our orange aprons at the next event in June!