According to Silicon Beat, Vizu, a San Francisco-based start-up that does interactive Web-based polling, has raised $1 million in a first round of funding. John Keehler of Random Culture says, "When a company that produces web-based polls can get 1 million in funding, we're in a bubble." That may be, or the people at Vizu may simply be well connected. After all, the world of venture capital isn't exactly a …
“Lay Of The Land” By Hugh MacLeod
Doodle courtesy of Hugh MacLeod For more on the long tail, see Chris Anderson's bloggy goodness. I think we already know all there is to know about evil big heads. …
Post Post-Modernism: The Art Of Branding
From Los Angeles Times: Here in remote West Texas, where rodeo means bulls and broncos, is a tiny store adorned with canvas awnings carrying the logo of the Italian fashion house Prada. On view inside are 20 women's shoes and half a dozen handbags — some in the four-figure price range. But the "store" is not a store. It's a work of art called "Prada Marfa." And the place turns motorists' heads as they speed along …
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Conservative Governor Ignores Pleas From Outoor Advertising Lobby
From The State: South Carolina Governor, Mark Sanford, vetoed a bill meant to prevent local governments from removing billboards that don't comply with city or county laws. In a letter to House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, Sanford said he vetoed the bill because it favors the outdoor advertising industry over other types of businesses and property owners. Conservationists and scenic highway activists were …
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Starcom Has The Star Power
From Lewis Lazare: Macy's department store chain, a division of Federated Department Stores, has completed a national media-buying agency review and named Starcom USA/Chicago, as the retailer's first national planning and buying agency, effective immediately. Starcom's assignment includes more than $200 million a year in media planning and buying for Macy's television, radio, print, out-of-home and Internet …
Sexually Explicit Double Entendre
In the sexually repressed North American nation where I reside, alcohol advertisements can not make claims that one's sexual attractiveness or performance will be heightened by the selection of the correct beer, wine or spirit. Apparently, Japan has no such controls. Witness this Ogilvy Japan ad for Corona: In case you missed it, the copy says, "Grind it in deeper." [via Hidden Persuader] …
If You’re Serious About Transparency, Try Public Office Space
Prime Pearl Street "office space" Om Malik's place has a guest piece from Jackson West. Mr. West's topic is coffee houses as Web 2.0 office spaces. Forget Palo Alto garages — San Francisco coffee shops are where to get your startup off the ground. Internet cafes are emerging as an important place to get work done, hold meetings and network. Since writers, designers, developers and anyone else who can work from their …
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Tell It To The Machine
Human beings hungry for rapidly made imitation Mexican food, must be computer literate to place an order*. Courtesy of Flickr user, "maju6406." *at participating locations, offer not valid via email [via Random Culture] …