from NY Times: In the haphazard world of instant messaging and dashed-off e-mail messages, where "kk" isn't a typographical mistake but just the latest bit of Internet slang (it stands for kays, or O.K.), does anyone really care about style and grammar anymore? Google does. Taking the stance that unorthodox usage and punctuation and slang create a less straightforward searching experience, Google's AdWords division, …
Gates Likes Bouncing Around The Room
While we took Bill Gates for a Journey fan, it appears he may have more updated tastes in rock music. In a recent appearance with Trey Anastasio from Phish, the legendary but now defunct Vermont-based jamband, Gates said he had attended several Phish concerts in the mid-1990s dressed in wigs and sunglasses, in order to better blend in. Click here for the real story. Gates credits the band with his move from CEO to …
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Winn-Dixie’s Doggin’ It
from Brandweek -- In a no-brainer of a tie-in, supermarket chain Winn-Dixie is linking to Fox's upcoming film, Because of Winn-Dixie, with a new effort designed to reward those who fill shopping baskets ever higher. This week, the Jacksonville, Fla.-based chain began offering free tickets to the movie for every purchase over $200. Those who tally up more than $250 also get a copy of the book of the same name. For …
Wal-Mart Acknowledges Critics. Responds With Traditional P.R. Onslaught.
Wal-Mart is many things to many people. For many, Wal-Mart is simply an affordable place to shop. And what could be wrong with that? For others, Wal-Mart represents all that is wrong with our out-sourced economy. Still others argue that Wal-Mart deteriorates the very infrastructure of a town center, and they vigorously fight the mega-retailer on land-use, zoning and economic fronts. USA TODAY says: The world's …
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Court Crandall’s Got Skills
I learned today that Court Crandall, one of the founders and principals of Los Angeles agency, Ground Zero, wrote the wildly popular farce on film, Old School. Mr. Crandall also has a children's book coming out care of Random House. And he runs one of the more creative places in the business on a day-to-day basis. I bet he doesn't nap much. …
Brand Architects Give Ground To Brand Geographers
Hugh MacLeod, the writer-guy who draws (sometimes raunchy) comics on the back of business cards, says brands are a place. "A place where something happens when somebody (not necessarily the customer) interacts with it: -By interacting with Gerber, she becomes a better-informed mom. -By interacting with The Wall Street Journal, she becomes more tuned into the world of capitalism. -By interacting with Apple, she brings …
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Danny G. All Up In My ‘Hood
Danny G., a copywriter called "insightful and irreverent" by Forbes Magazine, came to Chicago yesterday for an interview. He later treated this copywriter to a dinner at The Flying Chicken on N. Lincoln Avenue in Lakeview. Danny G. has gained some notoriety recently for editorials he publishes on Talent Zoo, the Atlanta-based headhunting and media firm. I can assure you, he's more reticent in person than in …
Working Around The System
Engadget points to this hack, whereby one's iPod can be made to record high quality audio--something Apple does not want you to do. The hacker says, "I suspect the next version of the iPod won …
