Happy Holidays !!

Can you name at least two "brands" here that have disappeared? Hint: They were both HUGE in the early 1980's. When TV was near it's peak. Mr. T was a media phenom (back in the day). His real name was (and is) Laurence Tureaud, but he will forever be known as Mr. T.

He played B. A. Baracus in the 1980s television series The A-Team, was boxer Clubber Lang in Rocky III, and once did a stint as a professional wrestler. Mr. T is known for his trademark African Mandinka warrior hairstyle (often mistaken for a mohawk hairstyle), his gold jewelry, and for his tough-guy image. In 2006 he starred in the reality show "I Pity the Fool", shown on TV Land.

She was married to a President.

Mom is Almost Always Right!

When I was a child, my Mother said to me, "If you become a soldier, you will become a General. If you become a monk, then you will end up as Pope." Instead, I became a painter, and wound up as Picasso. - Pablo Picasso

Never Too Old To Rock and Roll

I've been reading the new Keith Richards autobiography "Life" and I'm fascinated by it. What a big life! And what a testament to the rock & roll lifestyle that has been chronicled ad nauseum in the pages of Rolling Stone and in the mainstream press as well. Stop to recall that Keith Richards is 67 years old! Did you realize that 4 famous rockers all died at age 27. It's true. Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Janis Joplin all went toes up at age 27.

Here's to Keith!

We're all Dilberts.

This year marks the fortieth anniversary of the office cubicle.

It started out as the "Action Office" from long time office furniture manufacturer Herman Miller, Inc.

Perhaps the most positive consequence is that it gave us the comic strip “Dilbert.”

And "The Office".

And "Cube Ranches".

No Softee Here

A truly great testimony to the power of American capitalism (and the ease ion which you can sue someone, anyone) involves those very familiar Mister Softee ice cream trucks in New York and New Jersey, which feature a logo of a smiling conehead wearing a bow tie and a big smile. Mister Softee’s lawyers recently won a $20,000 judgment against one: Akop Papazian. Papazian allegedly used the Mister Softee trademark (or a reasonable facsimile) on his own ice cream truck. While Mr. Papazian has yet to be reached ------ his renegade truck continues to be seen in various area neighborhoods. Now, Mister Softee is petitioning to have Papazian’s truck seized and sold, with all of the proceeds to go to Mister Softee.

New New York

I just spent a few days in New York City on business. Was completely amazed at the even more than usual abundance of ads, more ads, and (yes) even more ads. With the Holidays fast approaching, seemingly every available space is taken over by an ad.

Adding to all of this advertising pollution is the blatant disregard for those long forgotten old friends --- white space, peace & quiet. Yes, there is Central Park --- surrounded by ads on all sides.

Times Square is (literally) the LOUDEST PLACE ON EARTH (visually speaking) and that prime real estate is some of the costliest advertising space available on Earth, They have even blocked off the street and made chairs available in Times Square where you can have a seat and take it all in.

See more Chwast

Seymour Chwast is one of the most recognized and critically acclaimed graphic designers of the 21st century. His memorable works have been long recognized as crisp, clean and contemporary with simple lines and powerful images. His packaging, posters, illustrations and identity projects have been in the pop culture for over 20 years.

See more at: http://www.pushpininc.com/

World's Greatest Time Suck

The internet. Period. Hard stop. End of story.

Question Authority? And Responsibility.......and Accountability.

Is This Really A Surprise?

The over 5000 outstanding, dues paying, card carrying, members in good standing of the Chief Marketing Officer Council would appear to be saddled with way more responsibility than actual authority. A recent survey of members of the CMO Council has discovered that less than 20% have authority over their company's customer service and customer support functions, 55% have oversight over public relations, and 48% have oversight of customer communications.

Sounds like a job description re-write may be in order.

Anybody Wanna Make Another Bad Ad ???

http://www.seattlepi.com/virgin/239765_virgin08.html

Privacy Pirates

The New York Times has just reported that Informtaion Technology folks had no problem reconstructing exact social security numbers for eight percent of the U.S. population born between 1989 and 2003 by starting their calculation with birthdates and the city and state of birth. This involved five million reconstructed social security numbers.

I Hate Ads That Speak Cliche'

I'm NOT a big fan of those ads that are so unoriginal that they have to resort to tired old cliches'. They're NOT funny, NOT current, and very much NOT creative.

If you rely on cliche' to make your point --- chances are your point could be made better in another way. Work a little harder and figure it out.

Notice: I've avoided cliche' in this post like a snowball in a rainstorm.

nutty as a fruitcake
cut no ice
there are two sides to every question
"If wishes were horses than beggars could ride"
tear to shreds
It takes two to tango
see eye to eye
false alarm
sweep the series
youthful folly
clean as a whistle
in cold blood
see eye to eye
hanging fire
quick as lightning
unwritten law
short and sweet
pull my leg
of mice and men
go for the kill
cat's pajamas
a charmed life
turn the tables
quick as a wink
it would be a black day in hell
If it looks like a duck and sounds like a duck...
between you and me and bedpost

Checking In Please........

Crypto Acoustic Credential technology. Now this is pretty cool. At long last there's a cell phone application to help anyone who has a problem with keeping up with your card key at a hotel. Crypto Acoustic Credential technology uses a unique sound, which is transmitted to a guest’s cell phone upon check-in. You carry your key on your cell phone (something you'll likley never leave behind).

About time.

"Art and Copy"

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