Blog-Off 2008: This Is Your Brain On Water.

We began this BLOG OFF, in part, because we actually admire the Water Blog and the creative ways they’re teaching Portlanders about water issues. So I was quite happy to get the following challenge from our moderators today: Write a post for your opponent’s blog. The following will be written as if I was a Water Blogger…

Are you having trouble reading this blog post? Go get a drink of water!
According to Snyder Health a mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.
Did you get a glass of nice clean tap water? Good. Welcome back. Now you’re ready for some more shocking water facts:

– One glass of water deters hunger pangs for 98% of the dieters observed in a University of Washington study.

– The biggest trigger of daytime fatigue is lack of water.

– According to the Mayo Clinic, if you’re an average adult, every day you lose more than 10 cups (close to 2.5 liters) of water simply by sweating, breathing and eliminating waste.

So how do you know when you need water? When you get thirsty? *BZZT*! Wrong answer. According to AllAboutWater.org, by the time a person feels thirsty, his or her body has lost over 1 percent of its total water amount.
The point is we take water for granted.
We’re lucky to have an abundance of good, clean Bull Run tap water here in Portland. The only time Portlanders have to worry about safe drinking water is when they go out camping (and even then, there are easy tools to use).
But there are places in Africa (and, sadly, even in parts of the United States) where access to clean water is a daily struggle. And sometimes it takes a creative approach to remind us how rare a resource that is. Just take a look at this guerilla ad campaign by our water-awareness colleagues at The Netherlands branch of the most awesome humanitarian agency in the world….the Red Cross.
Pretty clever, eh? Clearly those marketers’ brains are getting plenty of water!
See what the Water Blog posted here,
and vote for your favorite in the comments below.
And please remember to be good sports – if you don’t have anything nice to say, just vote for the other blog.

42 comments

  • Just a note that this video is EXTRA EXTRA AWESOME as it’s got Beirut’s “Nantes” in the background.

    Can I go work for The Netherlands Red Cross? And do we get extra bonus points for exposing our readers to new music?

  • You certainly touted the benefits of water better than the Water Blog touted the benefits of the Red Cross. Point goes to you.

  • Safe drinking water is life
    It’s imperative to Spot, man and wife
    Portland is lucky to have easy access
    To this one substance needed to sustain us
    With no sign of drama or strife

    WATER IS LIFE!
    GO WATER BLOG!

  • If you guys blogged like Jennifer did on your behalf, I’d stop reading Cross Blog. Thank goodness that’s not the case!

  • Well, Bob P., the moderators did say they’d award extra points for creativity. And writing limericks takes creativity. We’ve certainly posted things just as silly on Cross Blog in the past.

  • I second Robin, but I’d say that the limerick contest itself reflects creativity while their actual limerick (as opposed to those from their readers) does not.

  • I thought you were going to pull it off until you threw in the Red Cross promoting video. Shameful self promotion. THat’s a serious deduction. Point goes to Water.

  • Wow such a well thought out and well written post. Thanks for the information, and I got to go get a glass of water….

  • Ouch, Anonymous. The video was clearly about water and how important it is.

    Besides, the Water Blog tooted their own horn about the Limerick contest…why can’t we do the same?

    Deductions all around, if that’s the case!

  • Well, anonymous, my own brain must often be lazy because I love rhyming (and alliteration) even though I didn’t do any of it today. Thanks for the vote, though.

  • The limerick that was written on your behalf isn’t nearly as good as what I know you would write, if given the chance.

    I think they deliberately tried to write a lame post, knowing that it would be “attributed” to Cross Blog.

    Victory over here.

  • I think making water seem interesting takes tons of creativity. I love that about the Water Blog, which is why I’m voting for you on this one.

  • It would be nice to see the Red Cross do more with guerilla marketing. Watching this video, it’s clear that these techniques catch peoples’ attention.

  • In the middle of Blog-Off ‘08
    Red Cross put up a post that was great
    They put Water to shame,
    Beat them at their own game,
    As always, the Cross is first rate!

  • This is a great post especially with Ramadan nearly upon us. As Muslims worldwide voluntarily go without food and water during the day, it helps us to keep in mind those who do so because they have no choice. Great post, Red Cross!

  • The Crossbloggers not only won this round, but they managed to pay homage to a cause near and dear to the Waterbloggers in the process. Sorry Water Bureau, I don’t think the limericks come close.

  • loved the limericks but loved the fact that cross blog can promote survival at an international level – GREAT VIDEO – sorry Portland Water – Bull Run is not as cool although the high standards set at the local level keep you in the running

  • Given that Red Cross staff aren’t really expected to be water experts, I think Robin did an excellent job touting the benefits of the stuff. Not only creative, but more importantly, informative.

  • Robin, thank you for raising awareness of “Thirsty Boy’s” fight for potable water. In fact, before crashing tonight, I, having been so inspired by your video, will place a glass of water by my doorstep, a tribute to “Thirsty Boy.”

    One Moved Red Cross Blog Fan,
    Jeff Anderson

  • Thirsty Boy. Although my dog, Chester, also craves unadulterated drinking water, and has been trained to ward off strangers dressed in Ninja outfits, I assure you safe access to the water by my door. Should the morning shed light on an empty glass, I will assume my doorstep, for but a brief moment, was blessed with your presence.

    Good luck, Waterboy.

  • Their entry consists of a stanza.
    Red Cross: a virtual bonanza!
    Compare them and see.
    I think you’ll agree.
    Red Cross is the boss like T. Danza!

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