So have you heard the word meme? It gets bandied about in social media circles but, really, I don’t think most people know what it means. A meme is new word (surprise!) used to describe a catchphrase or concept that spreads quickly via the Internet.

Last Friday I got tagged by Jason Baer, our digital guru, on a meme making the rounds in which you post seven things about yourself that people probably don’t know. I usually do what Jason tells me to (except if my husband says no) cause he’s pretty smart. So here it is:

1. I’m a high school drop out. It was soooo boring!

2. I used that time to travel as much as possible, including 3 months at an ashram in India. Now you know why I stay so calm and centered…

3. I sneeze in multiples of three, which is fine, except when I’m driving. Then it’s scary.

4. The primary pet in my home is a very large, very ugly African frog named Tady. Tady has eaten all the lovely fish I have ever put in her tank (yes, she is a she). Now she gets minnows for company.

5. I should have had Dorie Greenspan’s job. I am a frustrated baker who takes it out on her family and friends with high calorie treats.

6. When I was a teenager, I was a member of an African dance performing group. It was the 70s.

7. I couldn’t do what I do without the support of my two husbands. Jon Bailey, my day husband going on 14 years, makes me laugh everyday. Paul Bowers, my night (and legal) husband supports me in ways I didn’t even know I needed. I love them both. Madly.

Part of this meme is to tag 7 other people. So here’s my list of people whose lists I’d like to read. Sorry guys. It’s actually painless.

Caron Golden

Alice Q. Foodie

Brian Branca

Paul M Bowers

Steve Cody

Matt Kucharski

Erin Reilly

Here are the rules.

1. Link your original tagger(s) and list these rules in your post.

2. Share seven facts about yourself in the post.

3. Tag seven people at the end of your post by leaving their names and the links to their blogs.

4. Let them know they’ve been tagged.

Some things are just funny. And they manage to be passed around by email to thousands and/or millions of people. But sometimes you’re left wondering: who’s behind this anyways?

This is the blessing, and curse, of viral marketing. Your message, application, widget, video or website has made the cyber space rounds, but no one knows who’s behind it. If this is the case, have you succeeded?

In light of the holiday season, the hilarious and successful Elf Yourself is making the rounds again. And it’s been evident people are still a bit confused on who’s behind it by the numerous tweets (there we go referencing twitter again - are you on yet???) in the past few days about people linking to Elf Yourself and posing the question. The answer is Office Max. And due to the success of the promotional viral video site, perhaps OfficeMax should have brought it to life in its stores for some PR or incorporated dancing elves into its ads. Really tie it together so the millions of people who have and will forward their Elf’d selves know they are able to do so courtesy of OfficeMax.

And since I couldn’t resist, a little something for your viewing pleasure: Carrie the dancing Elf

Have you ever wondered what you and your co-workers would look like if you had lived in the 17^th century?

We have.

A few weeks ago while standing around having a chat with Kelly Johnson, and Jennifer Williams our Account Director this very topic came up.

Completely normal right?

We thought it would be fun to take a photo of each person in the office and Photoshop their face into a creepy 17^th Century portrait. So we combined forces, conjured a plan and set it fourth into motion, hoping to have it completed in time for our Halloween Potluck Party.

I should mention that this was solely a side project. We’ve got plenty to keep us busy around here, but when you get a few creative brains together some weird stuff is going to happen.

So I found a few images off shutterstock.com and Gettyimages.com that I thought would fit our BG staffers. Some fit better than others, but since this project didn’t have a work order I couldn’t get too picky. On average, I’d say it took me about 10 minutes to do each portrait. Susannah chipped in and did a couple as well.

As you could imagine, being in a small office with a 23” monitor at your desk surrounded by very curious co-workers, the project was bound to leak. Word got out and our secret project became public. But to see them all up on the wall just in time for the Halloween party was awesome.

During the party we all got a chance to laugh at each other’s portrait. Questions like, “why does my head look like a cone?” or “who is that?” and even, “is that a dead lamb in my lap?” were all asked. Executive Creative Director/Canadian Ian Graham even put voices to the portraits insisting that Sr. Web developer Ivan Prokic’s character (Black haired warrior with red sash) spoke with a lisp.

I’d say all in all everyone in the office was a good sport about having their faces put onto someone else’s old and weird body. As unflattering as it may have been, it was awesome nonetheless.

Enjoy.

Ever felt so stressed-out or angry that you could just break something?

Now there’s a place you can do just that.

The Smash Shack—located at 1353 6th Ave. in downtown San Diego—is a unique business that allows you to throw, break and destroy your favorite fragile items in one of their two rooms devoted to “constructive destruction.”

Each participant chooses their smashable items from a menu, is outfitted with safety gear and given a private room where the demolition takes place. Wanna synchronize your smashing to your favorite tunes? No problem. Each “break room” has an mp3 player hook-up so you can bring your favorite songs along with you.

Want to throw your objects at something? The Shack will frame your favorite poster or picture as your “target.” They also have markers available for you to write on your breakable items pre-throw. And they even offer group discounts—I’m thinking Bailey Gardiner PR & Advertising retreat 2009.

And yes, in anticipation of Election Day angst, the Smash Shack will be open late on November 3rd. Until all the votes are counted (or later if need be).

Speaking of creativity, this Häagen Daz web site caught my attention for its clever cross pollination of advertising ice cream and generating public awareness on the alarming disappearance of the Honey Bee. You can also create your own animated Honey Bee to email. Here’s my creation. You can make one too. Oh, and I’m really craving a bowl of Vanilla Swiss Almond ice cream right now. Darn it.

This video says it all. Brilliant.

It’s been a long hard week here at Bailey Gardiner and our creative teams have been busting their humps to meet deadlines. This one’s for you all -