The Great Debate…We Need Your Help!

As anyone who has worked in an office will know, thoughts and conversations tend to wander.  No one knows if it is the stress or the extended periods of time that you will spend with your co-workers but things tend to get a little strange.

One of the frequent subjects that the cataloging team here at Platrium discusses is what we refer to as the “Friday Night Fights”.  A Friday Night Fight is a hypothetical, often mythical match-up of any number of contenders, real or fictitious.  These contenders are pitted in a contest, to be discussed by us, in order to determine a winner.  For example, the King from Burger King© against Jack of Jack in the Box© in a cage match to determine the real “King” of fast food (it was determined that Jack would win thanks to his rough upbringing).

Now we call for your help.  We have been locked in a heated hypothetical match-up for quite some time and cannot determine a winner.  The contenders; Dog the Bounty Hunter vs. Steven Segal: Lawman (he has a new reality tv show in which he is a street cop).  In this scenario our contenders are both involved in one of the most notorious high speed chases of our time, OJ Simpson in his white Ford Bronco©.  The question, which of the two would apprehend the alleged criminal and bring him in?

THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE!

Kyle “Bad Kyle” Johnson

Hi Score? What does that mean? Did I break it?

I love taking a break by playing games on Platrium and have racked up quite a few jacks in the last few months.  In fact, I’ve got 2500!  I’m really interested to see what other people’s high scores have been and what they’ve spent their jacks on because I’m having a hard time deciding.

I used to divide my winnings between charities and auctions, but was always out bided.  In fact, I got so frustrated I decided that I would get so many jacks that no one would ever out bid me again.  Guilt has overwhelmed me though and I’ve decided to donate most of my winnings to our four charities.  Hopefully I’ll have enough left over for my potato gun.

Winning stuff is cool, but it doesn’t beat that warm fuzzy feeling you get when you help others.  Don’t forget to visit our charities page and cash in on some karma!

Rich Quick Coutee

Project Manager

A Useless Fact for Valentine’s Day

Ever wonder why Godiva chocolate picked the name Godiva for their company?

According to Wikipedia, “Godiva (Old English: Godgifu, “god gift”), often referred to as Lady Godiva (fl. 1040–1080), was an Anglo-Saxon noblewoman who, according to legend, rode naked through the streets of Coventry, in England, in order to gain a remission of the oppressive taxation imposed by her husband on his tenants.

The name “Peeping Tom” for a voyeur originates from later versions of this legend in which a man named Tom had watched her ride and was struck blind or dead.”

So there you go. Some pointless knowledge to drop on someone on Valentine’s Day.

Taste Godiva Chocolate for yourself here!

Brian Tenacious B Shannon

Engagement Marketing Manager

Dear Dyson, You’re an Animal

How much do I adore you? Let me count the ways…

• You’re powerful yet agile: with your signature Ball design, you’re built like a linebacker but move with the grace of a wide receiver
• You keep all of my dirty little secrets: a constant suction power of 220 watts combined with a easy-to-remove hygienic 1/3-gallon bin means you leave nothing behind
• I breathe a lot easier with you around: hello to HEPA filters and Root Cyclone technology; good-bye to pet dander, hair, dust, dirt and other allergens
• You come in such delightful lollipop colors

You’re certainly not a cheap date (find the best deal on Platrium Deals) and my dog doesn’t much like you, but I know we’ll live happily ever after.

Grace “Channel Your Inner Chih” Ellis
Senior Marketing Manager

Just Smile.

I live in Seattle.  January is usually a messy, wet, windy, some-times snowy mess.   Gloomy Gus central.   This year, we’re stringing together days and days of mild, sunny weather showering us with blue skies and snow-capped mountains towering above the city instead of cold, hard rain.    It’s quite a treat, actually.

Yet, there is still grumbling.   Just this morning a colleague asked “How’s it goin’ Val?”  And I started to go down that slippery path into griping about something that actually didn’t matter.  I caught myself and turned it around but still; the dark side loomed and I almost took us both over the edge and into the deep.

“Attitude is everything” is a cliché.  It’s trite.  It’s over used.  And not really that helpful.  Except, that it is.  A smile and a positive attitude is infectious.  It inspires others.  And makes tough work lighter.    A simple smile eases the way, makes strangers friends, and in general, brightens the day.

So give in.  Smile a little more today and see if you don’t get more smiles back.

Val Shaken-not-Stirred Sanford

Vice President, Strategy and Business Operations

For the People of Haiti

There’s a time when games just aren’t appropriate. The tragedy in Haiti has caused all of us at Platrium to pause and consider what’s most important – our friends, family, our health and our fellow human beings.

Our hearts are out to the people of Haiti and we look forward to the day when their country is rebuilt and the people can return to living their lives again.  

If any of you would like to give some additional help, here are some links that you might consider.

The American Red Cross Haitian Earthquake Relief

World Vision Haiti Earthquake Relief

Mercy Corps Haiti Relief Fund

US Aid from the American People – for Haiti Relief

 Peace,

Keith “Fish Sticks” Weinberger

Product Manager

Start Game Nights Off with a Bang!

At a recent Family Game Night (yes, people really do this), I was introduced to a Spaghetti Western-themed card game called Bang!, and pardner, it’s a whole lot of rootin’, tootin’, shoot ‘em up fun for groups of 5-7 people.

In Bang!, each player randomly gets a secret role to determine their endgame mission. Four different role types are available, each with a unique goal to win the game:

• Sheriff – Kill all Outlaws and the Renegade
• Outlaw – Kill the Sheriff
• Deputy – Protect the Sheriff and kill any Outlaws
• Renegade – Be the last person standing

After receiving their roles, only the Sheriff is revealed. Then, the mind games and deception come into play while some players saddle up to assassinate the Sheriff, and others must defend him/her. Each round, players are supplied with cards that represent loot like weapons, horses, bullets (a.k.a., Bang!s) and beer (to replenish life).

If you play with a spirited group, invariably people will start settling in to their characters and shouting Southern-twanged smack talk. It becomes every man for himself: guns blazing for glory and—in the right company—plenty of uninspired double entendres about “Banging”.

Does it sound like something that’ll get your trigger finger itching? Learn more about how to play Bang! or purchase it online, little doggies!

Erin Lay Lady Laye
Marketing Manager

Jumpin’ Jack January

December was mayhem.  With so many guests in town and so much holiday preparation to tackle, I had nary a spare second to go to the gym, cook myself healthy meals, and abstain from alcohol.  A long night of pigging out and cocktail consumption turned into a late morning of hitting snooze and skipping the gym.  Needless to say, January is detox/get-back-in-shape month for me.

Luckily, I already have a competitive advantage.  This past Christmas, I received not only a grip of new workout clothes under the tree, but a bright, shiny Wii Fit to whittle my waistline!  This month, I’ll be slapping on some stretch pants and lacing up my tennies, getting set to start virtually training, aerobicizing, and yoga-ing my way to 2010 fitness.

First step: figuring out how to plug this thing in.  That’s a workout in itself!

Kat Gets Physical Physical Malinowska

Marketing & Communications Specialist

All Rain and No Powder

As a snowboarder and overall outdoor enthusiast, I love the uniqueness each of the 4 seasons has to offer. It’s this in-between stuff that I have a hard time with.

Everyone can agree, weather across the U.S. as of late has been unusual. Last week my brother, who lives in Florida, sent me a photo of his backyard covered in snow. It’s not every day I can say Seattle is warmer than Miami, but last Friday was one of those days. Here in the Pacific Northwest, in the thick of winter, it’s warm and raining in the mountains. Which means when I should be snowboarding, I find myself gazing outside at the warm rain knowing that all my powder in the hills is melting. That’s It, That’s All has helped me cope. If you haven’t seen this DVD, please do yourself a favor and get it. It’s shot entirely in HD with the same camera equipment that was used for Discovery Channel’s “Planet Earth”. A heads up, if you’re not a skier or snowboarder, you probably won’t find much enjoyment with this film so stick with your Netflix queue.

Pray for snow.

Brian Tenacious B Shannon

Engagement Marketing Manager

No New Year’s Resolutions

I don’t like to make New Year’s resolutions.  I think it puts too much pressure on myself and on those around me as I draw a line in the sand and say “No longer will I …” or “From now on I will ….”    and I am old enough to know that the line is quickly erased and moved to a location further down the sandy beach of the coming year.

So no, I try not to make resolutions, but I do reflect on the year that’s past and — though it sounds old fashioned– I count my blessings.    I like to sit in front of the fire, Big Band music on the radio and write in a new, blank journal.  I count those things that made me happy, or made me a better person, or that fulfilled my life in some way.  Those things that moved me closer to my goals and those things that surprised me with joy get counted, too.   I count those times when I made a difference; when I helped someone else or gave back to my family, my community and the world.  I count those times I stood up for what I believed in and for those when I didn’t.  I count, too, the things that haven’t worked well, things I regret, and determine if I can make amends in some way for those things. 

Sometimes I do end up making resolutions and they often come down to this:  Be nice.  Have fun.  Say you’re sorry when you need to and move on.  And of course, always call for shaken, not stirred, Martinis.

Val Shaken-not-Stirred Sanford

Vice President, Strategy and Business Operations