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 …
How To Crack Consumers Up
Advertising for Peanuts brings our attention to yet another medium for advertising—eggs. EggFusion of Boulder, CO seeks to "promote freshness with every impression." With most marketing communications, consumers may briefly see or hear a message, but rarely do they tangibly engage with it. Yet with eggs, consumers hand-select, feel, break and interact with the message several times. This engagement becomes …
Your Country Needs You
I was surprised last night to hear President Bush freely admit that our nation is addicted to oil and that we need to correct that problem in a hurry. He aslo admitted that we're falling behind in math and science, and that we need to address this problem to remain competitive in the global marketplace. Naturally, these issues are plain as day to anyone paying attention, but to hear the President admit to our …
Hollywood’s Re-org
William C. Taylor and Polly LaBarre for The New York Times: Sure, Disney's deal last week to acquire Pixar is about big money — how Steven P. Jobs turned a fledgling outfit that he had bought for $10 million into a juggernaut valued at $7.4 billion. And, yes, it is about a big strategic shift at the Walt Disney Company, as Robert A. Iger, the chief executive, exorcises the ghost of his predecessor, Michael D. Eisner. …
Direct Marketing Is Shit An Embarrassment
Eric Weaver, a Seattle-based marketer who believes that the Reign of Fluff is over, delivered his own State of the Union address today. One side is standing and loudly applauding his commentary, while the other is none too pleased. Here are some snippets: I'm sitting in on an American Marketing Association webcast/conference call right now called "B-to-C Customer Acquisition: Ten Steps to Success". And I'm stunned by …
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“The Man” Is Snooping Through Facebook
Daily Bruin: Employers are beginning to use sites such as Facebook to access personal information of candidates for employment, said Kathy Sims, director of the UCLA Career Center. And not all employers are pleased with what they find. Sims said there have been several cases of employers rescinding job offers to student candidates because of information obtained through Facebook. She said employers will find content …
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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 …
