Swami-palooza

You'll love my nuts
Shamwow guy's got another infomercial. Watch it, buy it, never eat another boring lunch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUbWjIKxrrs

Worldwide focus group
Got a suggestion for Ford, go to http://www.thefordstory.com/our-plan-progress/ford-wants-to-hear-your-ideas/ . Not only will you be able to have your say, but others will get to comment on it. The most popular ideas will "receive serious consideration" from Ford's design folk. (source: Marketing Daily, 4/13/10)

Fast, slow, doesn't matter
In a study, whether viewers watched regular-speed ads or fast-forwarded ads, they gave them nearly the same likability ratings. They also had similar recall scores, particularly if they'd seen the ad before at normal speed. Surveyors say this is the case because you have to pay a lot of attention to fast forward. (source: Harvard Business Review, April 2010)

Who says funny doesn't translate?
Joe Wang, a PhD biochemist from China, manages to bridge the comedy gap in his US network TV debut on David Letterman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gD0s7gfTotk . Recently, he played in Beijing, but nobody laughed. He was inspired to change careers when he went to his first stand-up show. He didn't get the jokes, but found the concept fascinating. He's been studying what makes Americans chuckle ever since. (source: Wall Street Journal, 4/11/10)

Reminder: texting is calling
So, don't send any marketing texts without opt-in. And that opt-in language has to be very clear, not hidden in fine print. Both Simon & Schuster and FOX have tried to argue the case against the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and lost. (source: Chief Marketer, 4/12/10)

Shakespeare was wrong
A rose by any other name does not smell as sweet.
I love words. And as a recent study shows, word choice matters. While only 59% of Americans believe homosexuals should be allowed to serve in the military, 44% openly, 70% think gays and lesbians should be allowed to serve, 58% openly. Synonym, schmynonym. (source: Quirks, April 2010)

Mapathy
Unusual approach to war games http://www.mediapost.com/media/?f=ActivisionMapathyBleepViral.mov. More http://www.mapathy.com/

Yasgur's farm's got nothing on this
This week, over 100,000 people an hour, including thousands of holy men, took a dip in one of the Ganges' most revered spots during one the largest religious festivals in the world. Kumbh Mela rotates among 4 Indian cities, sites where holy nectar is said to have spilled into the river during a battle between gods and demons. Many believe it's not only a blessing to swim there, but that the water, if touched on the right day, has the power to end the cycle of reincarnation. I can't confirm or refute, but I can never get enough of Indian color aesthetic. Bring on the pink and orange. More marigolds! (source: NY Times, 4/14/10)