From Charleston Post & Courier: A state senator says the University of South Carolina needs to rethink its Fighting Gamecock mascot if the Legislature passes tougher penalties on cockfighting. If the bill passes, "how can we as lawmakers and other leaders of this state justify a major institution in our state running ads and logos on billboards with a fighting gamecock with spurs on the feet?" asked Sen. Darrell …
Social Software My Ass
You know something's big when the satire commences. From Sean Bonner: Since the internets were invented we've all been trying to figure out what they can be best used for, how that can improved our lives, and how we can monetize the fuck out of that. Who ever could have guessed that I'd be the one to figure it out? Well, it's been a long three days since this was conceived in the back channel at etech, but the …
Hummer Can’t Buy A Break
From Austin 360: The Thermals, a rambunctious rock band from Portland, Ore., were en route between gigs last year when they got a phone call from their label, Sub Pop. Hummer wanted to pay them $50,000 for the right to use their song "It's Trivia" in a commercial. "We thought about it for about 15 seconds, maybe," lead singer Hutch Harris said. They said no. Washington D.C.'s Trans Am were offered $180,000 by Hummer …
The Corporate Coffee Backlash: Coming To Your Town Soon
In a comment seeming to stary from their party line, Consumerist says: Normally we’re not into anti-consumer agitprop but this one butters the biscuit. You can't see it in the photo, but this stencil is directly adjacent to a brand-spankin'-new, soon-to-open Starbux. Click over to Consumerist for more photos. …
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Talk About An Explosive Post
In a case of extreme customer empowerment, Paul English really "started something" last fall when he published a directory of unlisted 1-800 customer service numbers on his blog. According to The New York Times, following more than one million visitors to his blog in January alone plus appearances on MSNBC, NPR and the BBC, "Mr. English has transformed his righteous indignation into a full-blown crusade." He started …
Free Speech Not Free
Consumerist points to a maddening customer service story. Matthew Ghali created GoldenGateVW.com, to share his poor customer experience with Golden Gate Volkswagen, and its owner, Mathew Zaheri. In May 2003, my fiancee (now my wife) and I took her Jetta to Golden Gate Volkswagen for a few simple repairs. This experience at Golden Gate Volkswagen turned out to be unpleasant. While the car was at Golden Gate Volkswagen …
A Reductive And Immeasurably Harmful Code Of Public Discourse
Do you know about the First Things First manifesto? I did not, until today. According to Wikipedia, this is what it's about: The First Things First manifesto was written 29 November 1963 and published in 1964 by Ken Garland. Today we may not understand the significance of the document which at the time caused consternation. It was backed by over 400 graphic designers and artists and also received the backing of Tony …
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Forget Marketing. Focus On Manufacturing Something Of Value.
Hugh's buddy, The Head Lemur, really let one fly today. Marketeers always deny that what they do is harmful. They create the most convoluted and 'plausable' justifications for what they do. They will tell you that marketing is good for you. They will tell you that you can't live without them and you are somehow incomplete without them. They are wrong. Not because of the creativity, but because of the format of the …
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Beware Of 29E
I-Am-Bored posted this hand-written consumer complaint against Continental Airlines last year. I was unawre of it until today, when Consumerist picked it up. It begins, "Dear Continental Airlines, I am disgusted as I write this note to your about the miserable experience I am having in seat 29E on one of your aircrafts. As you may know, this seat is situated directly across from the lavatory, so close that I can …
Bud Light Scores High Marks With High Schoolers
According to The New York Times, Americans under the age of 17 dug the Super Bowl spots from Bud Light. In fact, Bud Light ads ranked first, second and fourth in popularity for the under 17 demographic. Bud Light's brand team should feel good that they're connecting with this crucial segment of emerging beer drinkers. There's only one problem--beer ads are not supposed to appeal to underage drinkers. Amon Rappaport, …
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