'Senna' much more than a racing movie

I finally saw the movie "Senna," which has been released throughout the world for more than a year but screened only sparingly in major cities in the States.

It's now available on Netflix and Amazon streaming, and it's well worth watching, whether you're a racing fan or not. 

Ayrton Senna, for those who don't know, was one of the greatest Formula 1 and karting drivers ever, delivering electrifying performances that left fans, viewers and competitors slack-jawed. He was also a Class 1 jerk, blinded in a nonstop quest to finish first that left many friendships and relationships by the roadside.

Senna won three world championships in the late 1980s and early 1990s before dying in a horrific race crash in 1994. "Senna" chronicles his meteoric climb to the top of motorsports, his unwavering love of God, and the complex relationships caught in between.

The film is 106 minutes long and uses only archival video, some of it rare in-car footage that captures Senna's mad skills and just how magical Formula 1 was during those days. But it's the scenes showing interpersonal relationships, or lack thereof, that are captivating and keep the pace moving quickly. Throughout it all you're taken inside the mind of a complex man, particularly toward the end as he struggles to overcome a slow car and the death of a fellow racer on the same fatal weekend. You can sense his end is near, not because you might already know the story but because you can see it in his eyes and body language. It's disturbing in a way, but powerful nonetheless.

I became a hardcore auto racing fan in 1985 for two reasons: I moved out on my own and finally had access to cable sports channels and found myself getting up at 5 a.m. on Sunday mornings to see what fresh trick Senna would pull out of his hat in shaping Formula 1 his way. 

Some would argue his aggressive driving has changed all racing in a negative way, putting an end to what was long a gentleman's sport. There's some truth in that, but he also brought a level of intensity and drive that influenced many people outside the sport. He had a sole focus and gave his life in pursuit of being No. 1. He may not have died happy but I think he died satisfied.

Think Quarterly: The People Issue

 

I just finished reading the third issue of Google's Think Quarterly magazine, and it's a quick read with some key insights with the promise of more around the corner. 

"The People Issue" focuses on social media, something Google has dived into head-first with Google+. But it's more than a marketing push for G+, and delves into the real power of turning people's intent into tools for change. 

I've made notes to reread more than a few sections, but below are just a few bullet points that caught my eye:

• A surprisingly interesting feature/Q&A with Virgin's Richard Branson. 
• "Recognize and reward quality contributions. Give attention and praise to things that are constructive or interesting. Don't reward negative behavior with attention." So smart, yet how many of us who manage online communities devote 90 percent of our time on the 10 percent intent on causing mayhem?
• Continued excellent visual design. Think Quarterly is an easy read, and superb and invigorating design is a key reason. The creative space that precedes, intercedes and follows the text allows for perspective and time to think. (I'm thinking how I could translate this to longer, thoughtful stories in a daily newspaper). 
• "Hangover" is most commonly Googled on Sundays, one day after "vodka" peaks as a search term. As TQ notes, there's a reason "Searchblog's John Battelle has called Google 'the database of intentions.' "
• Monday is the day people are most likely to click on Google's AdWords, followed by Tuesday and Wednesday, when "online purchases peak." TQ adds, "Offline spending patterns have a greater lag, trailing by one week," evidence that online ads reinforce brick-and-mortar shopping.  
• Fifteen percent of all Google searches worldwide "are ones that Google has never seen before." Awesome. 

The theme of Think Quarterly's next issue is "speed." I can't wait. 

Hockey "homer" who holds his own

I've previously written with disdain about sports announcers who wear their team's colors on their sleeves but I've subsequently come to understand that homers have their place. 

Boston Bruins announcer Jack EdwardsAfter listening to this excellent Grantland.com podcast with Boston Bruins announcer Jack Edwards, I'm realizing "homers" can be intelligent, knowledgeable and persuasive. In a fast-paced interview with Grantland's Jonah Keri, Edwards shares bold opinions on a variety of hockey issues, including why fighting is better than legislating violence, why passion and salesmanship are important to announcing, and why late-blooming players often get short shrift among short-sighted NHL officials. 

Does this mean I like "homers"? Nope, but I now have grudging respect for those I can hear making an effort.