I'm an unabashed Apple fan and Mac user, but this column on Wired News by Leander Kahney is quite an interesting read, talking about Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, their success, their charitable works, and their images. Gates is the cutthroat capitalist. A genius maybe, but one more interested in maximizing profits than perfecting technology. He's the ultimate vengeful nerd. Ostracized at school, he gets the last laugh by …
Beer Ads Have To Play By Updated Rules
I'm so glad they've cleared this up. From Ad Age, although it's a subject that seems ripe for The Onion: It’s now officially OK to show people drinking and people flirting in beer ads. The Beer Institute, as part of its move toward industry-self regulation, is modifying its advertising code for the first time since 2003. The changes allow brewers to show drinking and “romantic interactions,” within limits, in …
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Truckers Cry Foul
Ad Age: Coke may think the monster truck-cum-pied piper in its Full Throttle spot plays the hero, but America’s truckers are calling it reckless and have begun a letter-writing campaign to Coke demanding the ad be changed or dropped. The spot was created by Mother/New York. “Every year somebody in Madison Avenue gets lazy and does the old scary truck cliche. This year it was Coca-Cola,” said Mike Russell, …
The End
Live Science: After 145 years, Western Union has quietly stopped sending telegrams. On the company's web site, if you click on "Telegrams" in the left-side navigation bar, you're taken to a page that ends a technological era with about as little fanfare as possible: "Effective January 27, 2006, Western Union will discontinue all Telegram and Commercial Messaging services. We regret any inconvenience this may cause …
What’s Behind News Lite
Brand Noise reports that Coca-Cola will introduce Tab Energy this year. Comparable to Red Bull, Tab Energy will be available in 10.5 ounce slim cans patterned in fuchsia gingham. Tab was Coca-Cola Company's first sugar-free drink, introduced in 1963, and is still available in limited quantities. The new soft drink will not use Saccharin like original Tab. Instead it will contain Sucralose. In an odd twist, The New …
Repurposing Dishwashing Liquid
Lifehacker: MacGyver Tip: Dishwashing liquid ice pack My wife pulled her sciatic nerve last week. An ice pack was recommended but one of our friends gave us a great tip. Instead of an ice pack, partially fill a strong zip lock back with Dawn dishwashing detergent and freeze it. (I don¹t know if other brands would work just as well.) Just to be safe, we double-bagged it! The detergent stays cold much longer and it …
Doo-Woppers Triumph
USA TODAY: A judge has ordered PepsiCo Inc. and its advertising company to pay $250,000 to the 1950s doo-wop band The Flamingos for using their recording, "I Only Have Eyes For You" in a commercial without permission. A federal judge in Chicago on Friday upheld an arbitrator's decision in favor of the two surviving members of The Flamingos, Terry Johnson and Tommy Hunt, and the estates of the deceased members. A …
Our Food Is Fresh. Bobby Flay Is Spoiled.
NYT: The specialty grocer Trader Joe's is coming to Manhattan in a few months, but will not be advertising its opening. Instead, the company that has inspired cult loyalty by offering low prices on fresh produce, packaged and frozen foods will stick to its bare-bones marketing approach: sending direct-mail flyers to residents in the neighborhood. (In this case, the first Trader Joe's in New York City will open on …
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