The line between advertising and content becomes thinner by the day. Here's today's example from Variety. Winner for most unusual piece of development this pilot season goes to ABC, which has turned a series of quirky Geico commercials into an actual half-hour comedy project. "Cavemen" will revolve around three pre-historic men who must battle prejudice as they attempt to live as normal thirtysomethings in modern …
Absolut Liquidation
According to this this news story from A.P., Absolut is for sale. The vodka distilled in the southern Swedish town of Ahus is the world's No. 3 premium spirit and one of the country's most recognizable brands. It's owned by the Swedish government, who will likely make billions on the transaction (while gratifying those Swedes who contend their government needn't be in the spirits business). …
The Puritans Are Still In Power
Pamela Grossman at Getty Images reports that the Dove spot depicted above has been banned by the FCC for showing too much skin. However, the ad is airing in Canada, according to Canoe. And on the internets, obviously. Grossman fights the Feds logic with: How can it be that Ms. Spears is allowed to gyrate in a bikini top on MTV with a snake whilst singing “I’m a slave for you” to 12 year olds, but 50-something women …
Industry to Kennedy: Restrict Us Not
Senators Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. and John Cornyn, R-Texas, along with 29 sponsors from both sides of the aisle, recently introduced a bill designed to significantly restrict tobacco advertising--particularly to minors--by giving the FDA authority over the product's marketing. In the House, Reps. Henry Waxman D-Calif., and Tom Davis, R-Va., introduced a similar measure with nearly 100 co-sponsors, and that number is …
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Twitter De Twitter Dum
Web Host Industry Review offers a concise look at some possible uses for Twitter, a Web 2.0 darling du jour. You can use Twitter as a shorthand newsletter. The example that LifeHacker gave was a video store, whose employees can post new movies now available for rental, holiday business hours, limited-time sales promo, etc. Likewise, web hosting providers can keep customers posted on network status ("some DC2 circuits …
The Populists’ Primer
Christopher Carfi published a WWWWH guide to "business-driven Web 2.0 efforts" today. I like what he says about who Web 2.0 is for--the people! Web 2.0 is about people. Period. Who are the people involved? Who will be the primary contributors to the effort? What are their backgrounds? Who are they as people? In addition, who are the other people who will be interacting with the environment, even if they don't …
The Fine Art of Marketing Scotch
According to The Wall Street Journal, sales of super-premium liquors costing $150 or more a bottle were the fastest growing category in the U.S. last year, with revenue rising 18% to $2.19 billion. Johnnie Walker Blue Label--a $200 bottle--is working to capture a larger slice of that revenue. The brand sponsors about 100 gallery openings and events in New York, as well as private gallery parties in Chicago and Los …
The Human Processor
Seth Godin was recently afforded the privilege of seeing the uber geek in action. He noted it in his journal, like an ethologist in the field. I sat next to Cory at a conference today. It was like playing basketball next to Michael Jordan. Cory was looking at more than 30 screens a minute. He was bouncing from his mail to his calendar to a travel site and then back. His fingers were a blur as he processed inbound …