TheFunTheory.com is a Volkswagen initiative dedicated to promoting their theory that the easiest way to change people’s behavior for the better is to make something fun.  It’s a really interesting idea and certainly furthers VW’s corporate social responsibility.

For example, we’re told to take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator because it’s a healthier option and burns more calories.  So, why is the elevator always packed and the stairs deserted?  Would we ditch the elevator if taking the stairs was more fun?  Here’s a guerrilla video that helps answer that question.  It’s called “Piano Stairs”.

Check out other interesting and fun award entries.  My favorite is the Wiki Traffic Light.

Oh, Twitter.  How I love thee – 140 characters at a time.  Here are a few Twitter resources that I enjoy:

Share pictures – http://www.twitpic.com/
Twitter Survival Guide - http://www.twitip.com/
Directory of Awesome Lists on Twitter (new feature in Beta) – http://listorious.com/
Automatically follow those who follow you – http://www.socialoomph.com/
Receive Twitter Alerts – http://www.twilert.com
Social Compass (iPhone only) – http://www.loopt.com/
How much is your Twitter profile worth? – http://tweetvalue.com/
Tweet Clouds – http://tweetclouds.com/
10 Features That Will Make Twitter Better – http://sixrevisions.com/web_design/10-features-that-will-make-twitter-better/

Follow me: http://twitter.com/corleyroberts

I’m breaking my blog silence.  So, what’s my excuse for the past 6-ish months?

1) Freakish busyness
2) Perfectionism

The first reason is obvious and self-explanatory.  Work has been absolute insanity for the past couple of months.  I’m not talking “oh my gosh, I don’t even have enough time to give myself a daily manicure” crazy.  I’m talking “I couldn’t even give myself a manicure if I tried because I don’t have any fingernails left as a result of my recently-developed extreme nail-biting feast” crazy.  Yikes.  Well, those days are over… because that’s neither healthy nor fun. And, I’m in desperate need of a manicure.

The second reason is reflective and deep.  Prepare yourself for some mind-blowing psychoanalysis.

“Hi, my name is Corley and I’m a perfectionist.”

Come to think of it, that analysis doesn’t require any level of reflection whatsoever.  It’s a fact.  A scientific fact, at that.  For example, let’s analyze my approach to topic selection.

Okay, it’s that time again.  Time to update the ol’ blog.  What should I write about?  It should be interesting and hilarious, just like me.   Err… I hope I’m still fooling everyone (well, all 3 people that read my blog every so often, includng my mom) into thinking I’m interesting and hilarious.  What if my blog is becoming dull?  Uh oh.  I need this blog post to really “hit a homerun”.  Oh yeah, and please don’t use sports analogies in your post.  How about augmented reality?  No way.  That topic is far too overanalyzed and already outdated.  Think of another.  How about that article you found the other day?  How about you write an entire 4-page analysis of that article and then scratch the whole thing because it’s dumb and boring?  How does that sound?

And that’s just topic selection.  Don’t even get me started on how I must correctly type each word as  I go because typos just don’t fly.  What if I don’t catch them before clicking “Publish”? I can’t continue typing a word until I know the previous is correctly spelled.  Annnnnd, how I follow the ever-efficient “write a sentence, re-read the sentence, rewrite the first half of the sentence, re-rewrite that section of the sentence, realize that word isn’t perfect, scratch the entire sentence and rewrite it, continue with the paragraph, reread the paragraph, notice sentences that end in prepositional phrases, rewrite sentences 2,3,4 and 7 out of 9, reread the entire paragraph……” process.

That’s exhausting.

Heck, although I’m extremely close to attaining perfection (because my Mom says so), my blog doesn’t need to be perfect.  There aren’t character limits, my blog won’t win awards, and spelling certainly doesn’t need to be absolutely perfect… Ehh, okay, let’s be reasonable and understand that spelling still needs to be perfect.  Or, as accuratte as possible.

… Yeah, that extra “t” is killing me. But, I’ll keep it because I’m taking a new HPBW approach.

You thought the Internet couldn’t get any more delicious? Well,  now you can scan your savory sandwich and share it with the world.

Interactive eating experience? That’s HPBW style.

How would you define the best job in the world?   Does Caretaker of the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef sound about right?

Caretaker responsibilities include living in a beach home for six months, sampling new luxury spa treatments, snorkeling, watching whales, and blogging about the experience.  Salary for this job is AUD $150,000 (USD $98,434.07) for a six-month contract.  That’s what “paid vacation” SHOULD mean.

Apply now!  Just don’t do anything stupid in your video application.

Art Nerd Post #2.  Heck, even an HPBW has an artsy side.

This weekend, I attended the first annual Dallas Art Fair.  I spent 4 hours perusing 2 floors of incredible artwork by talented, influential artists like Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, and Jasper Johns.  Truly, I was in the presence of greatness.

However, a few (lesser known) artists really caught my eye including Robert Standish whose work is featured below.

Untitled (Triptych Lights), 2008

On a different note, I advise against using the following line when picking up girls at an art fair: “Can I ask you a question?  Why the heck would anyone pay $10,000 for a painting?”

Based on my writing style, Typealyzer determined that my blog has the following personality: The Guardians

The organizing and efficient type. They are especially attuned to setting goals and managing available resources to get the job done. Once they have made up their mind on something, it can be quite difficult to convince otherwise. They listen to hard facts and can have a hard time accepting new or innovative ways of doing things.

The Guardians are often happy working in highly structured work environments where everyone knows the rules of the job. They respect authority and are loyal team players.

In addition, the program produces a chart revealing which parts of my brain are dominant when I blog.

Although the above assessment is fairly accurate, this program would be much cooler if it didn’t generate new results upon refresh.  Come on, HPBW isn’t THAT moody!

Today marks the birth of the late Jackson Pollock in 1912, an American abstract expressionist painter.

Lavender Mist: Number One, 1950

As an art history nerd, I’m fascinated by the mixed reviews of his artistic work– people either love him or hate him.  To some, his paintings have been described as “not art” and “a joke in bad taste”.  Those same critics are “astonished that decorative ‘wallpaper’, essentially brainless, could gain such a position in art history alongside Giotto, Titian, and Velázquez.”  On the other hand, his creative approach inspired an entirely new style of art: action painting.  His departure from traditional art and conventional techniques challenges the audience to question what art really is.  How is art defined? And, who judges what is or is not art, good or bad?

Create your own Jackson Pollock painting.

America’s youth is tired of the lazy, unambitious, self-absorbed Barbie.  There’s more to life, honey.

My next big idea is HPBW Barbie.  She’s a successful, charming, ethical, powerful, and intelligent executive with style and class to boot– she’s got it all!  I’ll sell millions and take the country by storm– maybe even inspire a generation of young girls.

* HPBW Barbie accessories sold separately, including Versace business suit, matching Louis Vuitton briefcase and file folders, Christian Louboutin pumps, and Chanel timepiece.

I have good news for my friends still in college (soon to be, alums!)– CNN.com reported that drinking is good for a Senior’s health.