Look! There's KarrieInauguration from space as seen by the GeoEye1 satellite. Visit Somali pirates, the Pentagon, and more in ½-meter detail at
http://geoeye.com/CorpSite/gallery/Default.aspx
Recession dating
Match.com now offers a free service, http://www.downtoearth.com/#pagebottom . To keep daters honest, members have the opportunity, ebay-style, to rate the people they meet on the truthfulness of their profiles. (source: Iconoculture)
Why bother?
Common logic among employers is that employees who survive layoffs work harder out of gratitude, but 75% of employees who’ve survived downsizing admit their productivity is declining, and 7 in 10 say that their company’s products or services are in decline since the layoffs, too. (source: Workforce Management, 12/08)
Stockholders be damned
Somebody finally had the stuff to say it. In an interview with the BBC, the founder of Papa John’s told consumers it’s not his pizza’s fault they’re fat. "You can't eat five or six slices," he said. And suggested sticking to one or two would be healthier. (source: Media Daily, 2/9/09)
Tonight, Andorran
According to the Packaged Facts ’09 food outlook, ethnic cuisine is gaining momentum. Expect to see more Spanish, Nigerian, Korean, Japanese, rustic French, Peruvian, Laotian, Ethiopian, and even Somali offerings, as well as cross-over foods like mojito flavorings in your dinner. (source: Marketing Daily, 2/9/09)
Hot night on the town
SuperValue/Albertson’s CEO Jeff Noodle says his best-performing stores are the ones that have been recently renovated. He thinks that people are treating trips to the grocery store as a form of recessionary entertainment or refuge. (source: Christian Science Monitor, 2/11/09)
My cooking Valentine
64% of respondents to a recent survey said that dining at home is more intimate or special than dining out. While 73% said that Valentine’s Day dinner at home, prepared by a significant other, is “more personal, thoughtful, or caring.” Half also cited concerns about the economy and the increased cost of dining out as a reason to stay home during Valentine’s Day. (source: Harris Interactive for Whole Foods/Supermarket News, 1/29/09)
The passive American
As newspaper and book readership continues to decline, during Q4 ’08, we watched about 142 hours per month of TV, up 5 hours from Q4 ’07. Internet use averaged more than 27 hours monthly, an increase of an hour and a half. 31% of internet use occurs while we're in front of a TV. 100 million of our cell phones are video-capable for even more viewing opportunity. (source: Nielsen/International Herald Tribune, 2/8/09)
B’Addy
Worst line extension of the year—Burger King boxers. Took 46% of the vote in an annual survey of marketers, followed by Kellogg’s hip-hop street wear, and Kanye West’s travel site. Best extensions:
Undies with a purpose
We’ll think nothing of toasting our sweethearts this weekend, but a group of fed-up Indians has launched a campaign to protect their right to do just that—without fear of being beaten or worse. They’re asking people all over the world to send pink underpants to the offices of a Hindu extremist group as a protest against values-based violence. (source: Ad Age, 2/13/09) http://thepinkchaddicampaign.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=49641698651&ref=mf
Quote of the week
“In using social media, a company should try to be the most memorable guest at a party, not the guy who’s the most annoying because he won’t stop talking.” – James Burnes, media consultant (source: Rochester Business Journal, 2/6/09)
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