For the second installment of Memenatomy 101, I bring you the LOLCat. I think that this is my favorite meme of all time. A LOLcat is a picture of a cat with a funny and usually grammatically incorrect caption – this language has been termed kitty pidgin or LOLspeak. As with any language, it has evolved to a point where the language has converged to a new set of rules in spelling and grammar. If you are unfamiliar with LOLspeak, you can refer to the LOLspeak glossary or if you’re feeling a bit lazy, check out the LOLspeak translator. If you want to make your very own LOLcat, checkout the LOLCat Buildr. I’ve posted mine below.

moar funny pictures

Common Themes

LOLcats have several themes that are extremely common, below are some of the most common themes that you will find

• “Im in ur noun, verb-ing ur related noun.” This is the theme that I’ve used in the above LOLcat picture.

• “I has a noun” shows a cat in possession of an object.

• “Invisible noun” show pictures of cats apparently interacting with said invisible object.

• “flavor” shots specifically show a cat (or another animal) licking/eating an item, person or animal (including sometimes themselves) and remarking how “[noun] haz a flavor.”

• a cat with a specific look, which is described by adjective, and the text, “[adjective] cat is [adjective]“, “[adjective] cat is not [adjective]” or “Your offering pleases [adjective] cat.

• sub variation:”adjective cat is not amused”, or “[adjective] cat has run out of [noun]“

Variations

LOLrus – This is the same as LOLcats but featuring Walrus’ and usually a bukit.

LOLcode is a programing language inspired by LOLspeak

HAI
CAN HAS STDIO?
I HAS A VAR
IM IN YR LOOP
UPZ VAR!!1
VISIBLE VAR
IZ VAR BIGR THAN 10? GTFO. KTHX
KTHX
KTHXBYE

LOLTheist is a take on LOLcats, using religious icons and imagery.

This blog post could have had many different titles: overused, asinine, worst, overplayed – you get the idea. I’ve listed the 5 that annoy me the most, some of you will agree others will have there own. I’d love to hear what meme irks you the most.

L33t Speak
**This one made my list with much argument between Dario and I. He thinks that l33t rocks and that I’m a n00b for including it on this list. His position is that it’s classic and awesome, only slightly less awesome than the pic on the right (which is actually posted on the door to his office). But I’m writing this so it made my list. Feel free to let me know if you support Dario on this one.

0K, S0 7h12 0n3 12 pH1n3 1n sm4LL D0s32, 8u7 u K4n 7h4NK 4Ll 0F 7H023 d0UCH38492 0U7 7H3r3 wh0 48u23 12. N0, 1 d0 n07 W4N7 70 r34D 4 3N71R3 P023 1n l337, 17’2 4nN0Y1N’, s70P 17 n0w, Ph0r 7H3 L0V3 0F 90D, pl332 S70p 17.

For those of you who are less than fluent in l33t, here is the English translation:

OK, so this one is fine in small doses, but you can thank all of those douchebags out there who abuse it. No, I do not want to read an entire post in l33t, it’s annoying, Stop it now, for the love of god, please stop it.

Chuck Norris

Chuck Norris has always been at best a C-list celeb, and then the internet embraced his awesomeness and made him a full on internet phenomenon. But then Chuck had to go ruin it for us all. First he sues the publishers of Chuck Norris Facts and follows this up with stumping for Mike Huckabee. Chuck, if you’re reading this, you should know that on the internet it’s all about Ron Paul. RIP Chuck.

Numa Numa

You were awesome with your first video, but you really really should have left it at that. You’re like most sequels…they are never as good as the first, and we like you a little less with each subsequent installation, till we can’t quite remember why we liked you in the first place.

Don’t Taze Me Bro

I think I’m going to scream if I hear one more person use the phrase ‘Don’t Tase Me Bro’ or some sort of derivation. When I went and played laser tag and everyone was yelling ‘Don’t Lase Me Bro’, I knew it had gone too far (well that and the MC Hammer remix). This one was funny for like a week and now needs to go somewhere and die a nice quiet death.

Tub Girl and similar parodies

This one really needs no explanation. These meme’s make me wish that I could unsee things. Really I think I may need some therapy after being subjected to these.

With the end of the year fast approaching, I thought that I’d put a list of some of my favorite meme’s of 2007. Vote for your favorite meme in the poll on the left and see how your choice rates amongst our readers. If I’ve missed your favorite meme of 2007, let me know in the comments. Below are the videos or links to each to refresh your memory in case you missed any of them. Enjoy:)

Dramatic Prairie Dog/ Hamster
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHjFxJVeCQs]

Michael K. Brandow

I Like Turtles
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMNry4PE93Y]

LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHmvkRoEowc]

Chocolate Rain
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwTZ2xpQwpA]

Prison Thriller Dance
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMnk7lh9M3o]

Don’t Tase Me Bro
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgrFSHZfD1o]

Pretty Ricky
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHdvruqZwz4&feature=related]

David Hasselhoff Eats Cheeseburger
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82-FJyniP7A&feature=related]

THIS IS SPARTA
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yddMQ6eXqEk&feature=related]

Paula Abdul Drunk on TV
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zt5-wn3fvlw]

Miss South Carolina Answers Question
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww]

Spiders on Drugs
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHzdsFiBbFc]

Ron Paul
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG2PUZoukfA]

Aqua Teen Hunger Force Bomb Scare
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJkTNJ7BM9I]

Airline Complaint Letter – Stink Shield

Stephen Colbert Runs for President

Prank War – Fake Wedding Proposal
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMHidjDB_Uk]
Mattress Mack

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv3nxaQbPu4&feature=related]

Grocery stores always act as a seasonal alarm clock luring us to summertime rooftop patios, and winter hibernation indulgences. My most adored time of year is when the eggnog hits the shelves, reminding us that the season of attempting to make parkas look cute even though it’s physically impossible when you are 5’1 is upon us.

There are consequences to all options that come with the holiday season. For instance- don’t wear a parka if you are under 5’6 and want to be taken seriously. If you miss the next Christmas family function you may be written out of a will and loose out on a mint ’57 Chevy. And lastly, failing to include online marketing in your next campaign in the upcoming Q1 will leave you behind the pack. Well, help is on the way. Says Leigh Householder of Advergirl, here is the one piece of advice every client needs to hear in 2008:

If you don’t back up every broadcast and print campaign with a personal, relevant online experience, you’re wasting your money. If you haven’t already, its time to apply some social media, viral trends, and new applications to your campaign.

Here’s why: Consumer shopping behavior has fundamentally shifted. Trial no longer starts in-store. It has moved online.That makes the barrier at once lower and longer. Here’s how it works:

While most consumers don’t choose to buy online, the vast majority go online to ‘pre-shop’ for products and information. Before we undertake any in-person shopping, we want to “try on” brands online to see if they fit with our complex choice models of price, perception, and utility. That means pre-shopping product catalogs, readings reviews, comparing prices, etc. From there, we head into stores with a more educated perspective and spend more than our offline-only counterparts. This relationship is can also be quantified with some recent numbers:

• 89 percent of consumers shop for information about products online
• Less than 7 percent of retail sales actually take place online
• Online pre-shoppers spend an average of 41 percent more in-store compared with consumers not exposed to online advertising (BIG research, Comscore)

Integral to this online presence is the company you keep. You are wanting to be a brand that they want to spend time with- so finding a way to talk with your consumers is essential. Keeping that conversation going is an investment that will sustain your presence, increase your reach, and the depth of the relationship.

So while you are cozying up this season with your fondue and ice wine, trying to plan your next move for 2008, don’t forget about the basics in relationships. Listen- provide- and keep them coming back. Throw in an online platform for a video contest and I predict a great year ahead.

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