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“We’ve always been about social and about connection,” Ms. Anderson said. “And, as the economy is changing, we are evolving, and wanted to strengthen our fun and uplifting image.”
Tostitos chose a zany character “to get the message across and make it authentic,” said Ms. Anderson. “We wanted something that was magnetic, fun and approachable.”
Tostitos’ New Spokesman Is the Product Itself - NYTimes.com
This whole entire article is rendered in creepy, skeevy marketing newspeak. It’s fun to read, but also makes you want to strangle and kill. When did humankind get so weird and disingenuous?
Posted on January 2, 2012 with 5 notes
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First, he fed normal lab mice a diet full of probiotics. Then, Mr. Bravo’s team tested for behavioral changes, which were significant: When probiotic-fed animals were put in stressful conditions, such as being dropped into a pool of water, they were less anxious and released less stress hormone. How did the food induce these changes?
The answer involves GABA, a neurotransmitter that reduces the activity of neurons. When Mr. Bravo looked at the brains of the mice, he found that those fed probiotics had more GABA receptors in areas associated with memory and the regulation of emotions. (This change mimics the effects of popular antianxiety medications in humans.)
Jonah Lehrer on Yogurt, Gut Feelings and the Mind Body Problem | Head Case - WSJ.com
This study completely undermines the cunty Yoplait girls commericals. You know, the “burning this bridesmaid dress good” girls. Also, this study relieves Jamie Lee Curtis from having to allude to pooping and being constipated. Why and how did the yogurt demographic become so woman-centric?
Posted on October 4, 2011 with 15 notes
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Dole and other banana growers have turned the creation of a banana into a science, in part to manipulate perceptions of freshness. In fact, they’ve issued a banana guide to greengrocers, illustrating the various color stages a banana can attain during its life cycle. Each color represents the sales potential for the banana in question. For example, sales records show that bananas with Pantone color 13-0858 (otherwise known as Vibrant Yellow) are less likely to sell than bananas with Pantone color 12-0752 (also called Buttercup), which is one grade warmer, visually, and seems to imply a riper, fresher fruit. Companies like Dole have analyzed the sales effects of all varieties of color and, as a result, plant their crops under conditions most ideal to creating the right ‘color.’
How Whole Foods “Primes” You To Shop | Fast Company
We eat with our eyes. This banana pantone factoid blows my mind. But am I an outlier in the banana purchasing demographic? I buy bananas slightly underripe with a bit of green and let it ripen at home. A warm yellow would signal “too ripe and sweet” to me. I like my bananas on the verge of ripe with a slightest green, acrid taste left in it.
Ah, now Dole must engineer the customer who wants their Pantone 12-0752 bananas.
Posted on October 3, 2011 with 26 notes
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The amount of cheese was much less than normal, but that should be expected on this kind of pizza where they are clearly trying to mimic “authentic, handcrafted” pies. In fact, I really didn’t miss it all that much. Makes me wonder whether I’d miss the mountains of mozzarella on the standard versions.
GrubGrade | Food News: Domino’s Artisan Pizza
Domino’s thinks “Artisan Pizza” should come in a box with a signature from the store manager. Also they think being an “artisan” doesn’t mean wearing black berets. There is a legit sneak preview/review of the pizza, but I’m just stuck on this postmodern/post-postmodern interpretation of “artisan” as interpreted by Domino’s.
It’s been drilled into me that Domino’s pizza funds anti-abortion activities (which isn’t quite true). Someone else eat this pizza and tell me if it tastes of black berets and tortured semantics/semiotics.
Posted on September 5, 2011 with 10 notes
Source: grubgrade.com
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I was researching vintage Windsong perfume TV spots which all have the memorable jingle. This one is pretty creepy. The guy smells the perfume soaked note, sniffs the girl out (literally), and Frenches her without a word.
Also, Windsong is by “Prince Matchabelli”, which I thought was a fictional character or a concept based on the American dumbing down of “Machiavelli.” I’m so glad I googled this shit because Prince Matchabelli was a for reals person.
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I’m putting the Justin Bieber perfume ad here, okay? You don’t have to watch if you don’t want to, okay? Please don’t be mad at me if you watch it and wish you could unwatch it, okay?
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After the first week, the teams were allowed to tweak their bot’s code and to launch secondary identities designed to sabotage their competitors’ bots. One team unleashed @botcops, which alerted users, “You might want to be suspicious about JamesMTitus.” In one exchange, a British user confronted the alleged bot: “What do you say @JamesMTitus?” The robot replied obliquely, “Yeah, so true!” The Brit pressed: “Yeah so true! You mean I should be suspicious of you? Or that @botcops should be challenged?” JamesMTitus evaded detection with a vague tweet back—“Right on bro”—and acquired 109 followers over two weeks.
Are You Following a Bot? - Magazine - The Atlantic
Programmers created twitter bots that engage real human users and fool them into thinking they’re talking to humans. Companies and the military is interested in using such technology to astroturf or spread propaganda through social networks.
Source: The Atlantic
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“I wear Dockers,” he said, though he was clad in baggy gray sweatpants and a white t-shirt. “They’re comfortable. I’m a comfortable man.” Pause. “Dockers is a mature jean. You can wear it anywhere.” Pause. “Eh, plus, I just love Dockers.”
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“Can I still beatbox?” he asked in an as-if manner before demonstrating: “Bip pra kik bidda kkik kkik.”
Biz Markie, Dockers Team Up - WSJ.com
Aww, WSJ put Biz on the spot about shilling for Dockers. Leave the beatboxin’ teddybear alone, evil Murdoch publication!
Posted on April 24, 2011 with 1 note
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Gullov-Singh said Sheen’s record-setting Twitter run, gaining 1 million followers in a mere 25 hours and 17 minutes, is enough to convince brands that they should embrace Sheen despite his controversial quirks, to put it mildly.
“He had the No. 1-rated show for seven years. You’d expect brands would be lining up to be involved with him in social media,” he said.
Charlie Sheen to Start Tweeting Endorsements - The Hollywood Reporter
Oh, America, you really are the land of opportunities. You really are.
Posted on March 6, 2011 with 11 notes
Source: hollywoodreporter.com
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Marketing in the future is like sex. Only the losers will have to pay for it.
This quote came from some guy who left some fancy ad agency to start his future-forward digital marketing startup. But should a marketing superstar really be using a “is like sex” cliche? Is it so tired it’s edgy again?
Also, I notice a fundamental misunderstanding of the pay-for-sex market. Does he need his team of market researchers to know only a small portion of people who pay for sex are losers who can’t get laid any other way? Guys who hire $5000/night call girls don’t need to—there are tons of gold-digging charity ball crashers who’d eagerly drop panties and sign a prenup. But I’d think any guy—rich or poor—will think no-strings-attached hot piece of ass is priceless and rare. Law of supply and demand dictates one must pay for such privileges. Another reason to pay for sex? It must be like how I need to pay a plumber to dig out the clog that’s out of reach from my auger. Specialization equal being able to sell one’s services.
If advertising and marketing is bottoming out in the age of viral memes, it’s because these executives have a fundamental misunderstanding of cliches and sex.
Posted on January 2, 2011 with 2 notes
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I was laid off 2 days before my birthday in 2009, a dismal blessing. I miss health insurance and payroll, but I haven't bought bread since the pink slip because I have time to bake.
Sometimes I'm a serious job hunter, sometimes a serious slacker, but mostly, I'm an underemployed, freelance Jaqueline of many trades including writing and dogsitting. Either way, I scrapbook my finds and activities here for your benefit and amusement.
Follow me on Twitter if tv/movie/pro-cycling spoilers and unplanned live tweets won't hail on your parade. And yes, I do work blue so don't be huffy with me if you don't like cursing or merciless roasting of public figures.
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