Semper fly

Monetizing Twitter for charity
Spend too much time dorkin' around in Facebook? Then check out this site www.procrasdonate.com . It lets you make a donation per hour to a charity you choose, whenever you visit the URLs you designate. So either facing your credit card bill will force you to waste less time, or since you're doing something good by surfing, you can rationalize that you're no longer wasting time. Either way, a great idea. (source: Springwise, 4/14/10)

8-legged prankster
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5DyBkYKqnM&feature=player_embedded

Still zippy
At age 16, Eddie Feibusch opened a shop in NYC that sold zippers he reclaimed from used clothing. 70 years later, ZipperStop is the only zipper merchant left in the city. 502 colors, every shape, size, and application from wedding dresses to hot air balloons, from 50 cents to $100. Tagline: Unzipping America since 1941. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/19/nyregion/19zipperman.html

It sounded like a good idea at the creative review
An agency in New Zealand charged with getting something viral going for a new assassin video game, did indeed, but of the wrong nature. There's been global news coverage of the guy they sent out to lurk around a popular Aukland entertainment district covered in bandages and carrying a toy gun. At least a dozen people called the cops, and said cops nearly shot him. Says the agency's rep: "It was just marketing gone wrong." (source: The Consumerist, 4/19/10)

Always be prepared
Kevlar-lined jeans, ‘cause you never know what life throws at you. Also available, shirts, jackets, and caps http://www.dragginjeans.com/category.aspx?categoryID=1

Brilliant in Argentina
Way outside the box, a CPG romance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tTQ53OQY0M

Seeing-eye phone
Every day when I walk by ABVI, I'm thankful for my very nearsighted eyeballs. It completely boggles me how those lacking even lousy vision get along. The new LokTel app is helping. Just point a phone at an object and it will clearly tell you what it is - 5 bucks, medicine bottles, signs, whatever. It's preprogrammed, but can also learn. Plus, it has a text reader and interfaces with PCs www.looktel.com (source: Springwise, 4/21/10)

It's time to sell happy
Forbes is seeing a trend toward positive images and messages in advertising again. Brands not only want to encourage spending, but to be associated with winning, as soon as the "post-recession" vibe gives them entrée to do so. (source: Forbes, 4/20/10)

Librarygate
George Washington owes the NY Society Library $300,000 for two books he checked out in 1789, but never returned. One, "The Law of Nations," is an essay on international relations. The other, is a collection of debates from the English House of Commons. At least he was doing his presidential homework. (source: Christian Science Monitor, 4/19/10)

Soon, very soon, my delicious ones
June 4th is National Donut Day.