tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34851226832870328232008-05-05T20:58:29.397-07:00DanMBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3485122683287032823.post-52769996305018404362008-03-31T08:52:00.000-07:002008-03-31T09:15:45.308-07:00

People on a whole treat each other like crap. It's every man for themselves and unless we're trying to sell them something, we don't give a hoot what's going on between their ears. I hate it. I truly hate it and I especially hate it when I don't even get false politeness when I'm being sold something...which happens all too often in the lower mainland of BC. So here's a nice little life lesson

KatieMtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3485122683287032823.post-24300238330375484632008-03-25T09:50:00.000-07:002008-03-25T10:12:59.982-07:00

I am a Battlestar Galactica fan - the new one, not the original crap version. If there is a show on television that any warm-blooded geek should be watching, it's Battlestar Galactica. Here are a series of propaganda posters you can buy from ThinkGeek (22"x17"). They are a series of 5 for one low price ($29.95US). These posters are awesome and I'm seriously thinking about decorating my office

KatieMtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3485122683287032823.post-4586660618836815262008-03-21T11:49:00.001-07:002008-03-21T11:49:14.388-07:00

When we started High Concept Design & Media our intentions were the same as most new business owners: Felt there was a gap in the services that our clients required Knew we had the experience to address their issues Convinced that we had a better work methodology that we had as an employee Figured we could make a living at it Ethics and integrity played a huge role in every aspect of how we

DanMtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3485122683287032823.post-17389751014842520592008-03-17T20:55:00.000-07:002008-03-17T22:11:53.096-07:00

There's something about being incredibly busy that makes me want to spend all my "free" time collapsed in front of the television. Here is my ridiculously LONG! shameful list of 'new to me' movies I've watched in the last 4 weeks. Definitely, Maybe (2007) A political consultant tries to explain his impending divorce and past relationships to his 11-year-old daughter. STRONGLY RECOMMEND This

KatieMtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3485122683287032823.post-86539248710154013192008-03-10T14:58:00.000-07:002008-03-10T20:19:16.694-07:00

I'm scared of the boogeyman. I admit it. I'm terrified that I will wake up one night to a knife at my throat or in a pool of blood. That's the life we live in now. A life where I obsessively check all my locks before bed and sleep with a hunting knife in my headboard.Here are some over-the-top intruder-safety inventions. One is more defensive, the other offensive. Personally, I'm just going to

KatieMtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3485122683287032823.post-56951915444056983922008-03-07T10:59:00.000-08:002008-03-07T11:05:18.495-08:00

We do lots of things here at High Concept, but at our core we are a design company. I pride myself on applying due diligence when it comes to consulting and developing a solution that fits each specific client – but like everyone else, I am not perfect and sometimes our first outing (our second, or third) we produce nothing but a dud. This week I had a painful reminder that no matter how well

DanMtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3485122683287032823.post-50010665190919700932008-03-03T16:35:00.000-08:002008-03-03T16:56:19.839-08:00

I love finding art objects that speak to me. I don't care how about the price, but it has to be quirky, unique or have a story behind it. There are figurines on my shelf that look ugly as sin, but because they were my grandma's, I will claw out someone's eyes if they try to take them down. In my house you will find comic figurines, movie memorabilia, African art, family photos, muppets, and a

KatieMtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3485122683287032823.post-246038353542621542008-02-29T13:14:00.000-08:002008-02-29T13:23:28.375-08:00

Our company, High Concept Design & Media Services is the only Corel Training Partner in western Canada and a continuing education provider for the Architectural Institute of British Columbia. What does that mean? It means we position ourselves to provide technology training to our clients on the products that we specialize in using every day. It also means that we spend even more time taking

DanMtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3485122683287032823.post-10663176991117876232008-02-27T09:32:00.001-08:002008-02-27T09:49:40.055-08:00

I love baths. Honestly, I can't get enough of them. It's very relaxing to light some candles, drop some scented oils into the steaming hot water, and step into 30 minutes of tranquility. I'd have to say the furthest thing from my mini-vacation would be getting Mario stuck up my butt. I appreciate bath bombs and I love video games and toy miniatures. But why did someone combine these two? If

KatieMtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3485122683287032823.post-62087473075693303162008-02-25T10:49:00.000-08:002008-02-25T10:52:04.003-08:00

I have to admit that I am a technology junkie – I love it. In my view, computers, software and electronics do things that even 50 years ago would have been considered magic. I love finding software that does things better than I do it today, or solutions that save me time in my daily tasks or help me better communicate with my colleagues and clients. Technology is also fun – networked PC games

DanMtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3485122683287032823.post-4040062017896053902008-02-18T08:33:00.000-08:002008-02-18T09:59:37.525-08:00

I've been fighting off bronchitis for the last couple of weeks and all of these movies were watched during my suffering. This does not mean I wasn't paying attention but it does mean I had a lot more patience. If you find that I am way off base with any of these reviews; now you understand why. Otherwise, I stand firm in my opinions below and hope you will find them helpful. If not, you can at

KatieMtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3485122683287032823.post-39077617638438332342008-02-11T11:07:00.000-08:002008-02-11T11:32:34.810-08:00

Here are two beautiful examples of how perspective can change everything. Two epic movies edited to tell a different story. The first one, Shining, was done flawlessly. The second, Must Love Jaws, has slightly chopped editing and a forced soundtrack but is still very well done. Enjoy and happy Monday. Shining Must Love Jaws WARNING! Blood, gore, and general shark-yness will ensue

KatieMtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3485122683287032823.post-64977207527028149682008-02-04T08:39:00.000-08:002008-02-04T08:50:38.235-08:00

We define who we are. Our lives change in a split second, constantly rotating around the choices we make daily. These stories and life experiences should be shared with one another. In that effort, here is a simple little story of one of my personal acheivements. Let's call it "Going Against The Grain" I was up for a job. It wasn't awesome and I had a perfectly good job, but I desparately wanted

KatieMtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3485122683287032823.post-9518547076566075622008-01-28T09:57:00.000-08:002008-01-28T10:45:25.426-08:00

So, I'm jumping on the bandwagon of spreading this insanity around. Maybe you saw or heard about these videos, maybe you haven't. Regardless, watch them now. The first is the real Tom Cruise viral ad for Scientology. The second is Jerry O'Connell beautifully mocking it. Please keep in mind that if the first video doesn't work, Scientologists took it down. They have been prowling the internet

KatieMtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3485122683287032823.post-40445589583374745832008-01-21T15:04:00.001-08:002008-01-21T19:40:12.904-08:00

Okay, I'm starting a regular monthly blog. I will be reviewing a few movies I have watched in the last 3 or 4 weeks. I watch a lot of movies, plus I work as a make-up artist in the industry. I promise never to review something I've worked on. My taste is not as wide-spread as some people, but I do try to vary my genres. It really depends on my mood. If you don't like it, don't read it. These

KatieMtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3485122683287032823.post-22441054679434691802008-01-19T14:54:00.000-08:002008-01-19T15:22:32.312-08:00

I grew up in rural New Brunswick and my Great Uncle Bob played an integral part in helping me develop a love of reading and, in particular, comic books. Every week he and my Great Grandfather would run across the border to Calais, Maine and retrieve their necessities to make the trek to the "old camp" that was 10 miles away -- then would stop at our home which was along the way. Without fail,

DanMtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3485122683287032823.post-52747686320975451442008-01-14T16:55:00.000-08:002008-01-14T18:03:23.615-08:00

Got a New Year's resolution or just trying to get rid of some extra December weight? Here is a program I highly recommend. It's simple, keeps you out of the busy gym, and really requires effort. Because let's face it, you're not gonna lose weight without some sweat and tears. BILLY BLANKS: BOOTCAMP ELITEThis program combines the best of Tae Bo and bootcamp techniques, but with the addition of

KatieMtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3485122683287032823.post-44762443735907717982008-01-11T16:00:00.000-08:002008-01-11T17:17:54.194-08:00

Boy, if only tuning into what your boss was thinking were as easy as pushing a couple of buttons! Over the years I have had a number of jobs and I always thought I worked hard and was pretty good at what I did. Turns out I was wrong. Now that I run my own company, I am beginning to realize that there is another perspective on things. There is a difference between working hard and working smart

DanMtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3485122683287032823.post-41419740952401343182008-01-09T22:48:00.000-08:002008-01-09T23:20:53.756-08:00

The famous author and playwright, Karel Čapek, was born on January 9, 1890. A Czech, he has been compared to Aldous Huxley and George Orwell, as one of the originators of "social" science fiction - stories dealing with the social and political effects of advanced science, rather than the rocket-ship adventures so common during the early twentieth century. Čapek first used the term "robot" in his

JeffMtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3485122683287032823.post-74995131876562017302008-01-07T08:35:00.001-08:002008-01-07T08:49:24.593-08:00

Kitty Wigs is a company that supplies wigs for felines (http://kittywigs.com/). You have 4 colours to choose from and they ship in their own special metal container carefully wrapped in a hair net to maintain their shape and luster.Now this blog post is not meant to judge anyone. If you want to put a wig on your...hold on a second, scratch that. I'm gonna judge you. How could I not?Your cat is

KatieMtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3485122683287032823.post-42036683224592267032008-01-04T16:49:00.000-08:002008-01-04T17:41:07.855-08:00

Welcome to 2008! In reviewing my 2007 blogs I noticed a trend in my topics -- a lot of duality. Compare and contrast. Yin and yang. Apparently, 2008 will be no different from me. High Concept deals with a lot of architects and we get a lot of feedback about renderings -- the 2 schools, the traditional "Mike Brady" way and the high tech 3d visualization route. We position ourselves as a 3D

DanMtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3485122683287032823.post-69948195321066065472008-01-03T14:39:00.000-08:002008-01-03T14:49:37.915-08:00

While I whiled away the evening hours a few days ago, surfing the Wide World Web of Useless Knowledge (do I really need to know how badly Britney is at parenting or how many different ways Chuck Norris can kill me with his thumb? - (647) - I accidentally stumbled across something actually useful to me. Google Earth. Since the existence of this program will be of no great surprise to most of you

JeffMtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3485122683287032823.post-49642580391879479052007-12-31T16:07:00.000-08:002007-12-31T17:06:02.771-08:00

My childhood was rocky. I'm not really ashamed to admit it because I was taught several lessons and avoided potential pain by watching others make those mistakes. I got to see the true effects of alcoholism, drug addiction, loveless relationships, abuse in it's various verbal and physical forms, etc. Yeah, I know...cry me a river. Anyway, what has it made me? A prude. Yup, and happy to be one.

KatieMtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3485122683287032823.post-27574630025404193242007-12-21T11:23:00.000-08:002007-12-21T11:32:28.763-08:00

I have never been a holiday guy. The reality of my holiday experiences have most often consisted of bickering, disappointment, unfulfilled expectations, commercialism, and strange rituals that have more to do with long gone pagan religions than what we are told to associate with them. See the Gaffigan video below to see how I REALLY feel. I like the THEORY of the holidays – the nostalgia, the

DanMtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3485122683287032823.post-53155350593473342022007-12-21T11:18:00.001-08:002007-12-21T11:18:24.211-08:00

Jim really gets where I am coming from when I am trying to deal with the holidays...

DanM