Down the rabbit hole. A music video game Escape.

Japanese band, Androp, breaks out from the mold with an interactive music video for their single ‘Bell’. Created by creative company, Party, listeners are given an opportunity to be part of the music video as they play the game.

Found at the Androp site, you are able to create an animal, which varies from a rabbit to an elephant depending on the number of words you type in, that you control to dodge oncoming obstacles. 

Beautifully illustrated with simple black and white graphics, each time you knock into an obstacle, a letter of your message changes. Thus you’re challenged to make sure your message stays intact, while the band’s song plays in the background.

Have a go at it here.

http://www.androp.jp/bell/

Some Surprising Health Benefits of Coffee

Many of us here at SMZ view our morning cup of coffee as a momentary Escape before the start of a busy day. We were surprised though by this infographic about the benefits of one of our favorite Escapes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MV69vhiz1I

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee

Reading has been the Escape of individuals around the globe and throughout history since man first created writing. But as the population of the planet has exploded so to has the written word. The enormous volume and choice of books you can find both online and in your favorite independent book stores these days is both fantastic and daunting. Online reviews and social book websites can be useful and sometimes point us towards other interesting books, but in the end we often turn to friends and family for book recommendations. Fortunately we’ve come across two wonderful websites that help you narrow the field to the subjects that interest you so that you can Escape back to lounging on the couch with your favorite blanket and a good read.

http://whatshouldireadnext.com/

http://www.yournextread.com/us/

Summer in the City

For those in the city with limited means, their escapes start at home, in the neighborhood, and in the parks. Places to escape to, not escape from. Thank you Summer in the City for your commitment to painting, planting and playing all around the City of Detroit.

For those over 17, get to know Summer in the City - Detroit. This program was started by students, is run by students, and dispels all myths about the lack of initiative of the students in “generation next.”

http://www.summerinthecity.com/

http://www.facebook.com/SITCity

Infographic: Life in the Year 2050

What do Americans think the world will be like in 40 years? More technologically advanced, more equal, and environmentally friendlier. Let’s take a brief Escape together and have a look at what our fellow Americans believe the future has in store for us.

http://awesome.good.is/transparency/web/1106/future/flat.html

Naming a Thoroughbred Horse

A couple of our fearless leaders at SMZ mark playing the ponies as an Escape of choice. Which got us to thinking, what is the process behind naming a racehorse?

So we bring to you the knowledge we gleaned about the Escape of horse racing, and the names of those who compete in it. Also, give a listen to an interesting NPR.org report on the subject as well.

http://horseracing.about.com/od/breeding/a/aanameingtb.htm

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4634884

We love pets here at SMZ and count them among our loves and Escapes. In fact Webster Michelson, our hardworking resident labradoodle, would hardly agree. 

Well according to the 2011-2012 American Pet Products Association (APPA) National Pet Owners Survey, 62% of U.S. households own a pet, which equates to 72.9 millions homes. So it comes as no surprise to us that one of America’s favorite online retailers Amazon.com has launched a store for our pets.

And thus it was that millions of us began spending millions on our pets at Wag.com.

Say Wag, SMZ would be very happy to fetch some advertising and marketing for you if you threw some business our way.

http://www.wag.com/

http://news.cnet.com/8301-19882_3-20077068-250/wag.com-summons-ghost-of-pets.com/

http://gigaom.com/2011/07/06/amazon-launches-pet-e-commerce-site-wag-com/

http://mashable.com/2011/07/06/wag-com-amazon-pets/

Do You Have an Idea Worth Hatching?

Fostering “crowd entrepreneurship,” Hatch Detroit pools ideas, talents and resources to help “hatch” and support businesses to impact communities in Detroit. 

Hatch Detroit — The Contest

Do you have an idea for the next great retail spot in Detroit?   

Have you always dreamed of owning your own business, but never taken the plunge?

Hatch Detroit is giving away $50,000 in cash, and a suite of business services to the winner of their inaugural contest.  They are currently accepting submissions, and the deadline to get your entry in is September 1st.  They will choose the top ideas, and the public will vote and ultimately choose the winner!

http://hatchdetroit.com/the-contest/

http://hatchdetroit.com/

We have a couple of employees whose Escape is putting the pedal to the concrete. And being that we are in the advertising business we were excited to discover the following article on Marketplace®.

Bicycles become trendy marketing tool

As more cities get bike lanes, the culture and cache of bikes grows. Now retailers are jumping on board.

New bike lanes in many U.S. cities have boosted the popularity of wheels and spokes as a way to get around town. And now that trend is working its way into advertising. Some retailers that usually sell sofas, shoes or purses are now adding a new item to their lines: bikes.

http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/06/09/pm-bicycles-become-trendy-marketing-tool/