Sometimes you have to be direct to get your message across. Like this beautiful bit of package design courtesy of the Hain Celestial Group:
Apparently organic foods and subtlety don’t go hand in hand. Although I suppose it is somewhat attention grabbing and effective, in an annoying sort of way. I’m fine with my rice crisps not having any attitude, thank you. Anyway…
Once again, I’m in the process of moving again, although just a few miles away this time – not half way across the country. So at the moment, I have no internet and no substantial time. Add to it the duties involved with showing a visiting friend around the area, and unfortunately the blog has fallen by the wayside. Dare I say it, I’m on a non-blogging staycation! (imagine regurgitation sounds here).
The naming of products is a difficult matter… or so it seems. It’s just a prototype at the moment, but product design specifications aside, this might be one of the worst product names I’ve seen in a while.
yep. I would have loved to be part of the discussion where they decided that “Beanzawave” was the name they would plaster across the world’s smallest microwave. And that’s not even considering that the product is powered via USB and theoretically uses phone radio frequencies to heat mini cups of beans for those who can’t bare to leave their desk for even a moment. Apparently the Microwave Association doesn’t think too highly of the product at the moment… I’ll be curious to see if this one ever hits store shelves.
And hopefully, it will have a better name than Beanzawave.
I’m not usually a huge fan of overtly manly guides to anything, thus I was leery about Gear Patrol’s upcoming “Be A Better Man in 30 Days.” But Gear Patrol, a blog that defines itself as “The Definitive Resource for the Ever-Evolving Man” and typically is a blend of luxury, style, sports, and technology may be on to something with this series.
Yesterday’s feature was tie and shirt pairings, today’s post was a brief rundown on “properly ordering a steak.” Simple, well done, and an interesting blend of style, commentary, and just enough machismo to give it character without coming off as a bit contrived. If you’re bored, it just might be worth watching (which is more than I can say for most stuff out there).
I keep seeing this billboard on my way to work, and it bewilders me. Not necessarily clever enough for me to chuckle, it feels a bit contrived and a bit forced. Plus, it’s on the side of a highway in Beaverton, OR, home of Nike, Tektronix, etc… not exactly the urban basketball hot-spot… Then I see this:
I want to find it funny, but I just can’t quite. It just doesn’t go quite enough into the bizarre, and just kind of flounders around in some gray area between weird, funny, and boring. Other billboards, OOH, and commericals in the new “Snacklish” campaign include “Put Your Hunger in a Nougaplex” that will run as :05 TV bumpers during wrestling programming, and “Get a Degree in Snackanomics” in, yup, financial districts, and “ride four hourses of the satisfocalypse.” what?!? It all just feels a bit contrived and like first round ideas that somehow got pushed through. I’m still not sold… maybe I’ll change my mind with time. But personally, I miss Mr. T yelling “GET SOME NUTS! ARRGH!“
I’ve been adamantly aganst the cocept of “Diet Coke Plus” since it was first announced. It just seems wrong. And apparently the FDA agrees. Last month, they sent a letter to Coca-Cola outlining how Diet Coke Plus is in violation of labeling laws. Apparently usage of the term “Plus” has been standardized as a comparative term and may only be used for certain fortified foods and beverages. And since Coca-Cola didn’t specify a reference product that this one is “Plus” verison of, it’s pretty much in violation.
The FDA decided to add another zinger in their letter:
Your product Diet Coke Plus is a carbonated beverage. The policy on fortification in 21 CFR 104.20(a) states that the FDA does not consider it appropriate to fortify snack foods such as carbonated beverages.
So basically, Diet Coke Plus was a bad idea on multiple levels. I’m curious to see what ends up happening with this one. Maybe it will be relabeled as Diet Coke sort-of-plus.
Nevermind the fact that i want something for Chanukkah as well… that’s beside the point. This video that I stumbled across is bizarre on so many levels. My gut wants to chock it up to being from England. Although I’m not positive that’s it.
For more info on Christmas, Diarrhea, and a whole slew of other interesting stuff, check out GermWatch. It’s all the brilliance of Farm London, on behalf of the Food Standards Agency.
Many have tried, but so far nobody has been able to pry the decade-in-the-works Guns N’ Roses album “Chinese Democracy” from the hands of lone remaining original member Axl Rose.
Now, Dr Pepper thinks it’s up to the challenge. The soft drink company says it will give a free can of Dr Pepper to “everyone in America” (excluding ex-GNR members Slash and Buckethead) if “Chinese Democracy” arrives anytime during the calendar year 2008.
Well, it’s finally happening. It’s been announced that the album, lying in waiting since 1994, will finally be released this Sunday. And to celebrate, Dr. Pepper is honoring it’s word.
“We never thought this day would come,” said Tony Jacobs, Dr Pepper’s vice president of marketing, reports the Associated Press. “But now that it’s here, all we can say is: The Dr Pepper’s on us.”
A voucher for the free drink will be made available on drpepper.com for 24 hours this Sunday at 12.01am. Those who print the coupon will have until February 28, 2009 to redeem it.
Awesome. and pretty awesome publicity for all parties involved. While I’m curious to see how many people actually utilize the coupon offer, I think the word of mouth response will be the big winner, as I’ve already heard people buzzing about it – and not just on-line.
In an interesting UK-only cross-promotion, Coca-cola is pairing up with an interesting partner – Bond. The Quantum of Solace is opening soon (November here in the states) and Sony Entertainment has teamed up with Coca-Cola to come out with the semi-oddly named Coke Zero Zero Seven. According to Coke UK’s brand director,
the edginess of the Bond persona matches that of the Coke Zero identity.
Interesting. Is the Bond persona artificially sweetened and zero-calorie? While I’m not sold on the new bond movie (the title makes me want to see Scott Bakula), coke zero, or this specific cross-promo, I’m game for any non-traditional promotions, so I’m diggin’ this one.
Western Spaghetti is the newest short film released by PES, who you may remember as being responsible for the Sneaux Human Skatboard spot last year. The awesomeness factor is pretty high, yet on the whole, it’s frightfully simple. Amazing what can be done with a bit of creativity and a bit of time. Check out all of the PES films over at eatPES.com.
I’ve been adamantly aganst the cocept of “Diet Coke Plus” since it was first announced. It just seems wrong. And apparently the FDA agrees. Last month, 
