Novelist and former CEO, Tom Evslin endeavored to write a review of John Battelle's book, The Search. John Battelle is a strong supporter of having most everything searchable. Therefore, Evslin was surprised to see this disclaimer at the start of the book: The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by …
Bad Pharmacist
From South Florida Sun Sentinel: For years, Janey Karp has battled depression and anxiety with the help of prescription drugs. Though millions of Americans do the same, Karp admits she is intensely private and can't help but feel stigmatized for needing medication to feel normal. So when the 53-year-old Palm Beach resident read the Walgreens printout attached to her prescription last week for the sleep aid Ambien, …
Was Burnett Done In By A Lame Super Bowl Spot?
I've said it before that clients who run Super Bowl spots are the ones who really pay close attention to how the spots rate in contests like the USA Today Ad Meter. Now AutoBlog is suggesting that Cadillac's poorly received Super Bowl spot, done by Leo Burnett's Detroit office, may have been the catalyst for Modernista's new assignment. Cadillac’s Liz Vanzura was reportedly disgusted with the brand’s Super Bowl spot …
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Hugh Tilts, You Tilt, We All Tilt
Hugh MacLeod is an ambitious man. I like ambition in intelligent people. YOU WANT TO REACH PEOPLE ON A HUMAN SCALE. That's what Madison Avenue keeps forgetting. That's what Madison Avenue can't get their head around, because their business model has no credible answer for it. Part of my agenda here is putting ad agencies out of business. Or at least, trying to. Hugh wants to replace the monarchy with a more …
One Lego In Front Of The Other
TechEBlog is showcasing the 10 strangest creations made with Lego building blocks. I don't believe there is an organization, nor any brand sponsorship behind this collection. Not that it's needed. After all, brands belong to the customer. It's at that level where meaning is most effectively made. …
Twenty Years And Out
Adweek reports that Gretchen Erwin, co-founder of Erwin-Penland and the agency's media director, has retired. Erwin, 50, and her husband, Joe, formed the agency in 1986 after purchasing Penland Advertising in Greenville, S.C. The couple, along with partner Allen Bosworth, turned the one-person shop into an agency that currently employs 145 people and has billings of more than $120 million. Erwin is married to South …
Ad Age Joins The Movement
Ad Age editor, Scott Donaton discusses the of sipping his own medicinal tea: I’m not just the hair-club president; I’m also a client. From my perch overlooking the marketing landscape, I can report on, even judge, how companies react to the issues confronting them. But I’m in the middle of it as well, part of a small team at Ad Age tasked with figuring out the future of this brand and ensuring its long-term …
His Loss Is Our Gain
The Bullshit Observer on attending yet another meeting: I have a 2.5 hour meeting this afternoon. A full 95% of this meeting will be a fingernails-on-the-chalkboard waste of my time. I'm bringing an illustration in that I've been wanted to sketch. I've done some of my best drawing in meetings. As a plebeian worker ant in today's business world, one goes to A LOT of meetings. Some of the director-level worker ants I …