Ginger Ale : "Weirdest beverage I've ever encountered" Name the number of times you've heard in a restaurant, at a bar, or at a vending machine the words, "I'll have Ginger Ale" or "Get me a Ginger Ale" NO ONE ever orders Ginger Ale (at least in my experience) in the above scenarios. Yet last week while on a PLANE to Chicago, I heard the beverage ordered at least 7 times. And you figure that's just within an earshot... maybe 1 row up, 1 row back. What is it about Ginger Ale that makes it popular on a PLANE, yet nearly extinct among other beverages in the wild? Weird!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Royal Wedding to be streamed live on internet | Reuters
via reuters.com
Wow...... so this makes me wonder two things:
1) Will the total number of viewers increase over those that viewed the Princess Di wedding?
2) What will be the breakdown of traditional broadcast vs. internet streaming
Thursday, April 14, 2011
It's weird to me ...................why do excellent people gather in the same place?
It's weird to me that excellent people hang out in certain areas together.... my question : how the hell does that happen or start ??
Topical Example :
Music - Seattle : From the 90's w/ the whole grunge movement to today's hip hop resurrection w/ Blue Scholars, Dyme Def, Common Market
Technology - Silicon Valley..... please do I have to mention the companies?
Cultural Example :
Armenian's : Sherman Oaks
Vietnamese : Fountain Valley
Religous Example :
Mormon : Utah
Amish : Pennsylvana
Business Example :
Woodworkers : Slater Avenue, Huntington Beach
Bodyshops : Slater & Newhope, Fountain Valley, CA
Shipping Companies : Memphis, TN
Is it weird or am I just tripping ?
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Saturday, April 9, 2011
These medical warnings for @chantix_online are hilarious and super scary at the same time!
OMG !!! Thank God I don't smoke !!
Important Safety Information
-
Some people have had changes in behavior, hostility, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts or actions while using CHANTIX to help them quit smoking.
-
Some people had these symptoms when they began taking CHANTIX, and others developed them after several weeks of treatment or after stopping CHANTIX.
-
If you, your family, or caregiver notice agitation, hostility, depression, or changes in behavior, thinking, or mood that are not typical for you, or you develop suicidal thoughts or actions, anxiety, panic, aggression, anger, mania, abnormal sensations, hallucinations, paranoia, or confusion, stop taking CHANTIX and call your doctor right away.
-
Also tell your doctor about any history of depression or other mental health problems before taking CHANTIX, as these symptoms may worsen while taking CHANTIX.
-
Do not take CHANTIX if you have had a serious allergic or skin reaction to CHANTIX. Some people can have serious skin reactions while taking CHANTIX, some of which can become life-threatening. These can include rash, swelling, redness, and peeling of the skin.
-
Some people can have allergic reactions to CHANTIX, some of which can be life-threatening and include: swelling of the face, mouth, and throat that can cause trouble breathing. If you have these symptoms or have a rash with peeling skin or blisters in your mouth, stop taking CHANTIX and get medical attention right away.
-
The most common side effects include nausea (30%), sleep problems, constipation, gas and/or vomiting. If you have side effects that bother you or don't go away, tell your doctor.
-
You may have trouble sleeping, vivid, unusual or strange dreams while taking CHANTIX.
-
Use caution driving or operating machinery until you know how CHANTIX may affect you.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Venture-Capital Offerings Latest Tactic Being Used by Agencies
What's the latest offering from several of Madison Avenue's agencies? Venture capital. In just the past two weeks, two more agencies hung VC shingles on their doors. Bartle Bogle Hegarty announced it will partner with a venture-capital firm to launch a $16 million fund, while design firm Redscout took the wraps off its ventures practice, which advises entrepreneurs and private-equity firms. Those moves follow earlier ones by Kirshenbaum Bond Senecal & Partners and Rockfish to create venture-investment arms, as well as by Consigliere, a marketing consultancy cum investment fund. While each agency is positioning the mission of its venture arm a bit differently, in general these new entities are designed to invest in early-stage startups and provide them guidance. MDC Partners-owned Redscout's first two projects are Hapify, an app for "happiness" management, and an established designer's new luxury brand. Publicis Group-backed BBH, through its unit Zag, is launching its fund with established VC firm Spark, whose prior investments include travel site lastminute.com. Called the Black Sheep Fund, BBH and Spark will each provide 5% of the $16 million target. Agencies say their advantage is they not only have the dollars, they also have the creative capital that can't be found elsewhere. "Venture capital is just venture capital," said Roo Rogers, president, Redscout Ventures. "What's different is that we're investing in talent and relationships. ... Most early startups can't afford to go to agencies, they're too expensive. And many startups don't have leadership with business acumen that agency execs do." Still, it's hardly the first time agencies have invested in startups. Last week, at Interpublic Group of Cos.' investor day, CEO Michael Roth reminded the audience of his company's early stake "in a little company called Facebook." Five years ago, Interpublic invested in the then-Foursquare-size social network. When Facebook goes public in the next few years, Interpublic could bring in more than $100 million. Through Mediabrands Labs, Mr. Roth said the holding company will continue to bring startups in to learn about the ad business and to bring clients new opportunities. For all of the agencies' enthusiasm about the space, at least for now the jury's still out on whether startups are interested in agencies as investors. "There's certainly a lot of value in working with agencies, but they don't seem like logical investors for us," said Sam Altman, founder and CEO of location-based service Loopt. "We want someone who has a ton of experience building companies and understands what it takes to scale." Others are less skeptical. "One thing that's challenging is having the relationships to bring your products and services to market. Having relationships with agencies, especially if you're an ad-supported business, could be very important, "said David Levy, cofounder and CEO of social-TV app Philo. Observers expect we'll see more shops joining the trend. "Agencies are always trying to reinvent themselves and find new offerings for clients," said one agency search consultant. "It's been going on a long time. The difference is that before the agency community, they didn't have professional VCs as part of the offering. It was the new-business team, the agency CFO and CEO evaluating the offering. But now people who speak money as a first language are a part of the coalition, so that's different." And, he predicts, "We'll see more -- especially if there's success."Startups Get Branding Advice, Connection to Clients; Ad Shops Get Insight Into What's Next
Friday, April 1, 2011
You don't need to have a Masters in Marketing Communications to be a Marketer!
Published: 7:13 p.m. Thursday, March 31, 2011 By John Kelso
WACO — Lakita Evans may not get high marks for couth, but she should get an A for brass for the name she's given her new restaurant.
Fat Ho Burgers has drawn a big crowd. Not that everybody thinks it's a classy tag. But what the heck? It's a greasy burger joint, and they weren't having high tea anyway.
Lakita says a Facebook group tried to get her to change the name to something more sophisticated. But don't expect that to happen, because the Fat Ho brand is bringing them in. Even the New York Daily News has written online about the place. The bare-bones spot has gotten so much TV and press publicity that last week on opening day, they ran out of burgers.
Of course, this could come crashing to a halt if, say, competition pops up and Plump Prostitute Paninis opens down the street. But for now, Lakita is riding the wave.
"When they change the economy, I'll change my name," said Lakita, 24, whose restaurant sits in a modest neighborhood. "When they get these kids around here jobs, I'll change my name. If the crime rate goes down, I'll change my name."
Lakita says she invested a little over $11,000 of her own money to open Fat Ho Burgers. She raised the money by working overnight for three years in the Walmart produce department.
So what about the name, Lakita? Why did you pick THAT?
" 'Cause it's funny. I found it hilarious," she said. On Wednesday, she was ordering the T-shirts. I have a hard time imagining a lot of women wearing a "Fat Ho" shirt, somehow. At least to the symphony. Although you know they'll show up at a chili cook-off or three.
Consider the menu: The burger fare includes your Supa Fly Ho (one patty, with cheese), your Supa Dupa Fly Ho (add another patty, which justifies the Dupa), the Skinny Ho (no add ons, such as pickle or tomato), and the Dried Up Ho (plain meat, with cheese), just to name a few.
"The biggest seller is the Supa Fly Ho and the Supa Dupa Fly Ho and the Tiny Ho meals," Lakita said. The latter is the kid's burger special. Imagine hearing this at the dinner table: "Junior, listen to your father and finish your Tiny Ho."
Gentrification has yet to come to this part of Waco. An old maroon couch sits out front of the building. There's another couch in the yard next door, so I guess that's the patio. The glass in the front door is busted. A chunk of cardboard ripped from a box and turned into a sign is tacked to an outside wall. It explains the restaurant's pay policy: cash only and "No Big Bills." But the place is off to a rousing start. On Wednesday, I didn't get a burger, because I didn't want to get stuck in line for half an hour.
That, and not the name, has been the problem, Lakita said. "They complain about the wait," she said. "If you see a long line, why are you gonna come and stand in it?" She says she'll be hiring extra help soon to speed things up.
But even the pastor across the street doesn't mind the Ho part.
"I think it's all right, because they say the way they got the name was a friendly thing," said Pastor Michael Walker of the Overcomers in Praise Temple of God. "They were just sitting there, talking. If it's not cursing or offending anybody, it shouldn't be a problem. I know the people. They're good people. They're not trying to hurt anybody."
Besides, if it folds, it could become a British place, and they could change the sign to Tally Ho Fish & Chips.
John Kelso's column appears on Sundays and Fridays. Contact him at 445-3606 or jkelso@statesman.com.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
