Category: Deep Thoughts
February 1st, 2007

Boston flips the bird to Cartoon Network.

MooniniteseBay has Mooninites for $1,215.00.

What? You missed that two operatives for New York-based Interference Inc. are being prosecuted for executing a guerilla stunt for Adult Swim?

The campaign brought Boston to a stand still yesterday.

The neon systems featured exposed wires and batteries — sparking what was tantamount to the biggest bomb scare since 9/11.  CNN reports:

"Peter Berdovsky and Sean Stevens were released on $2,500 bail, said Mike Rich, their attorney. The next pretrial hearing is scheduled for March 7. Both men were cooperative with authorities, and neither has a previous criminal record in Massachusetts, Grossman said.

At a news conference after the hearing, Stevens and Berdovsky stepped to the microphones and said they were taking questions only about 1970s hairstyles.

When a reporter accused them of not taking the situation seriously, Stevens responded, "We’re taking it very seriously." Asked another question about the case, Stevens reiterated they were answering questions only about hair and accused the reporter of not taking him and Berdovsky seriously.

Reporters did not relent and as they continued, Berdovsky disregarded their queries, saying, "That’s not a hair question. I’m sorry."

Um. No. We’re not making this up. See full article here.

Hey Julie, looks like there will be an opening at Turner very soon….

January 31st, 2007

Monk-e-mail 2: The return of a viral idea.

Picture_17 It had to happen. Careerbuilder is the first to stoop low and produce a fracking sequel to its massively popular viral: Monk-e-Mail.

The original idea outpulled its companion SuperBowl spot. No wonder the boys from the Windy City jumped at a rerun.

Hey. People. Its the SAME IDEA. In a new wrapper. Hideous.

Why can’t I shake the idea that the client thought that maybe, just maybe, the monkeys were just too obtuse. Say it ain’t so.

Someone should write a letter.

January 31st, 2007

Mini? Me?

MimPushing one-to-one marketing to yet another level, innovative marketer Mini has launched a series of talking billboards.

The billboards identify Minis via  a coded radio signal embedded in the car’s key fob.

"As drivers approach, a
customized message flashes on the billboard. "Hi Jackie! Don’t crash
the car." comments Church of the Customer Blog.

"The messages are personal, based on questionnaires that owners filled out: “Mary, moving at the speed of justice,” if Mary is a lawyer, or “Mike, the special of the day is speed,” if Mike is a chef….

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January 29th, 2007

Leading biologist says you are nothing. And so is the guy next to you.

Atom
Oxford university professor and evolutionary biologist, Richard Dawkins, points out that if our conception of the atom is correct, 99% of the things we touch are not really solid at all.

Take a look at the image again. The "space" an atom takes up is mostly empty.  Not only that, points out Dawkins, but electrons are so widely spaced that they are more  accurately thought of as flies buzzing around football stadiums. 

Our perception that objects are solid is therefore a figment of our imagination and does not conform to how things really, well, are. 

There. We really can walk through walls. Its just a matter of reordering how we see things. Hey don’t take my word for it. Listen to the Ted podcast "Queerer than we suppose".

January 29th, 2007

Dating sites cross the chasm. Older dates lead Match.com subscription growth.

"After years of losing subscribers to racier rivals and new social-networking sites geared to young singles, Match has become the largest online dating site in the U.S. by subscriptions, with 1.3 million members. One big reason: older daters like Mrs. Williams."  writes Sarah Silver in Saturday’s Journal.

Choice points include:

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