Ad Nauseam.......

Derek and Clive Ad Nauseam is the third and final recording made by Peter Cook and Dudley Moore of their characters Derek and Clive. The record is difficult to listen to in places as it also charts the breakup of their partnership.For an advertising ploy when the record was released itcame with its own airplane sickbag and is still to this day the only record to do that. The quality of the material is more variable than that of their previous two offerings; it is widely regarded as a wise place for the duo to have stopped recording. Moore walked out before the end of this recording, unable to cope with Cook's drunken verbal attacks any longer. The two never worked on a major project again. Cook filmed some of the proceedings and these were released on the documentary Derek and Clive Get the Horn.

“A Global Voice for Marketing Agency Leaders"

Much as been written by unimpressed clients who question both the cost and performance of their chosen advertising agencies. However, until March 2009, seemingly little has been documented about how advertising agencies view their relationships with key clients. Published on March 25, 2009 by Scan International --- their in depth report is entitled “A Global Voice for Marketing Agency Leaders”. It truly reflects frustration on the part of agency executives. Asked to rate clients regarding compensation for the value created for clients, the feedback was:

─ Excellent 3%
─ Average 49%
─ Weak 49%

Among the most significant feedback: when asked to rate the most important areas for improvement of client performance with agencies, 56% of the 619 executives polled said “strategic direction and briefings.” It just goes to show you that more and more unskilled clients expect an agency to formulate competitive differentiation and other strategic issues. In reality, most of those issues involve long standing corporate culture and company histrionics and should be formulated by the cient.

The agency’s key role should always remain ------sterling execution.

The full report can be viewed at: http://www.scaninternational.com/download/pdf/SCAN%202009%20Europe-North%20America%20Client%20Survey%20Press%20Release.pdf

Pretty Soon We're Talkin' "Real" Money............

The USA NAtional Debt continues to grow, exponentially. We hear (almost daily) about government expenditures of a trillion dollars and more. Millions and billons are for rookies. Did you even know what comes after trillion?

It’s “quadrillion.”

Bad Guys ----- Collect The Whole Set !

Topps trading cards, long established and known throughout the USA for baseball, basketball, football and even hockey and golf trading cards, will soon publish a special set of cards devoted to “the world’s biggest hoaxes, hoodwinks, and bamboozles.” These new Topps cards will include Enron, Bernard Madoff, Charles Ponzi, and other unsavory characters and ethically challenged companies.

Laptop Losses Loom Large

A recent study released by The Ponemon Institute estimated the actual cost of a lost or stolen laptop computer. Based on a study of l38 missing laptops, their study reported that the actual cost to an enterprise averages approximately $49,246. Another recent survey, this one conducted by Tech Republic, indicates that close to 10% of all laptops are stolen or lost ── and 88% of those are never recovered.

France Figures Five Far From Fair

Rachida Dati is France’s Minister of Justice. She is 43-years-old. She is also a single mother who recently returned to work just five days after giving birth. Rather than congratulating her on being a conscientious public servant, French voters are condemning her for setting a bad example. France mandates sixteen weeks of maternity leave.

How Do You Cope with Stress ????????

The American Psychological Association has conducted a survey to determine methods used by Americans to cope with stress. The results (respondents provided multiple answers):

Listen to music - 52% Attend religious services- 21%
Exercise or walk - 47 Drink alcohol - 18
Read - 44 Shop - 18
Watch TV - 41 Smoke - 16
Nap - 38 Go to a spa - 9
Play video games/go online - 37 Meditation/yoga - 8
Pray - 37 Refuse to do anything - 8
Eat - 34 Gamble - 4