Kitty Blues

Meet Tabby...*

At least twice a day, my kitty Tabitha tries to bite me. I've become a wonderful player at the game I've aptly titled "how fast can I move my hand away". But sometimes I'm too slow.








* Yes, she's in a cage. But it's by choice. The door is always open, yet she usually decides to stay within the metal bars.

The Sun and the Sand

I went to the beach this weekend with some friends. Relaxing wouldn't even begin to describe it. I love waking up in the sand and then taking a dip in the water.

I reapplied my sun screen five times and I still have a great base tan. Go SPF!











My toes and the beach

Enter Monday...

To Space or Not to Space...

For as much as I try to stay on top of things, I'm surprised to know that I am behind the times regarding how many spaces to put after a period at the end of a sentence. Apparently people are putting only one space after a sentence. I've been a two space girl all my life and this transition is going to be tough. How long has the one space thing been going on?

You may say "So what... no one notices!" but it does make a difference. I tried to use an example to show how it looks but when I hit "Publish Post" it changes all two space sentences to one spacers. At least Blogger is looking out for me.

Anheuser-Busch Rejects Bid

Maybe it's because I'm tired. Maybe it's because I love beer. Maybe it's because I've grown up around the corner from one of their main attractions so Anheuser- Busch has been in my vocabulary since I was a child. And maybe it's because I don't think people should mess with a good thing (and Anheuser-Busch is doing more than a good thing when you look at it from a business perspective). But, I am SO HAPPY they rejected the bid from InBev to buy them out. I'm a blogger so it's not my job to report breaking news, but I just had to share this.

Sure the economy sucks and Auggie Busch could have made a pretty penny ($46 billion to be exact) but I appreciate that he's sticking with their business plan and trying to get through tough times without, literally, selling out. Plus, what would have happened to all the Clydesdale's?

Exit Here: Driving typefaced

The Road to Clarity, an article by Joshua Yaffa published in the New York Times on August 12, 2007 answered the question I've recently pondered while driving but never remember to research when I'm off the road: Is the typeface on Interstate signs changing?

A fellow Twitterer lead me to Yaffa's aforementioned article in reply to one of my tweets (gotta love social networking).

Yaffa writes, "Clearview is the typeface that is poised to replace Highway Gothic, the standard that has been used on signs across the country for more than a half-century. Looking at a sign in Clearview after reading one in Highway Gothic is like putting on a new pair of reading glasses: there’s a sudden lightness, a noticeable crispness to the letters...

...The letter shapes of Highway Gothic weren’t ever tested, having never really been designed in the first place...

...The Federal Highway Administration granted Clearview interim approval in 2004, meaning that individual states are free to begin using it in all their road signs. More than 20 states have already adopted the typeface..."

So, if you're noticing a lighter, brighter way of travel you can thank Don Meeker, an environmental graphic designer, and James Montalbano, a type designer.

All Marketers are Storytellers

My brother-in-law and I are writing a book. Rather, he's writing it, I'm adding to it, and we may use other sources like my sister or maybe Barbara Walters (that woman really knows how to write a bestseller).

It's going to be a simple book, resembling Purple Cow's simplicity if we're lucky. I haven't yet read anything he's written yet but the ball is now in my court. All I know is the document I'm about to open is named "All Marketers are Storytellers". That sounds like a great Chapter One to me.

So with that title I pose this question to you, marketers or not, what's your story and will you tell it?

Consumer Feedback: Heaven or Hell?

Just watched a snippet of Joseph Jaffe's presentation on "The Social Media Mistakes of Five Big Marketers". Check it out here.

He mentions some great ideas and even tells companies who "don't have the money to respond to every consumer query" to take it from their media budgets. Ironically, at the end of the video, a phone number pops up to advertise with AdAge. Bahaha!

Jaffe is spot on when he says companies should make it a habit to respond to each and every legitimate customer inquiry (paying no attention to the "you suck!" e-mails that are sure to come). Why even have a feedback option if you can't learn from it?

When I recieve a response to my feedback, especially one that has a name signed at the bottom, it creates a type of brand loyalty for me. I know someone there. They'll listen to me.

Question: Have you ever contacted a company regarding their services and recieved an unusual response? Do tell...

Twitter in Plain English- from Common Craft

... you don't want to see me when I'm angry!

All I was trying to do was login to my MySpace account. My computer started to act funny and I noticed the giant Hulk head on the right and thought "Wow, that's great media placement." Also, it's a great use of creative space, since in order to login you have to basically stare into The Hulk's eyes.

Then, in a most unsettling way, The Hulk "burst" through my computer screen. I had enough time to take a screenshot before my computer froze (I'm assuming out of fright). Now really, how necessary is that?*

Click on the image for a larger view... if you dare.


*Yes, I'd still love to see the movie. Yes, I did yelp out of surprise when The Hulk popped out. And yes, I think it's a cool advertisement.

Putting Mal's Mom on the Map

Check out Mallory's blog entry for her company, TMG Strategies. It's about the new Google Map Street View feature rolling out in the Hampton Roads market. Cool or creepy?

If you want to see a cool feature click here, then select "Street View" and scroll your screen to the right to see King Neptune and the Atlantic Ocean. Yes, you can zoom in...

I'm a lazy, lying, no-good PR Millenial

I just came across this article calling everyone who works in my profession a liar. I love the comments. If you insult the Public Relations industry you won't get irrational comments on your story*. You'll get well thought out responses telling you where you went wrong, why we think you did it and how you can fix it in the future.

Perhaps people are still associating PR with its image from many decades ago. Perhaps people are using mass generalizations. I suggest the people who are doing this get flown to an island where I've already condemned people calling Millenials "lazy", "needy" and "high-maintenance".

Stepping down from soap box.






*for the most part. good PR move with the asterisk, huh?

Don't mess with the kitty

My LOL moment of the day. I wish this cat could go to work with me!

more cat pictures

I'm in love with a Sasquatch

Jack Link's Beef Jerky's "Feed Your Wild Side" campaign inspires me. You've probably seen the commercials about "Messin' with Sasquatch". Above and beyond the hilarity of this campaign is its complete dedication to covering all the angles in the online realm. Let me explain:

First, the interested consumer can check out the Jack Links homepage.

Then, they can visit the Sasquatch's Web page. I recommend checking out Sasquatch's journal. There he writes about his BFF the Owl. Or, for an even more interactive experience, you can Hit Things with a Stick.

From there, the consumer may be inclined to check out what type of content is on Sasquatch's MySpace page. He even made a special "Chillin' in the Woods" track for his MySpace friends to listen enjoy while browsing his page. Speaking of MySpace friends, Sasquatch has over 100,000 friends on MySpace. That's 1/3 the amount of friends that Barack Obama, the United States Presidential Candidate, boasts on his MySpace page.

Further than this, remember that Sasquatch's best friend is the Owl? Well guess who is his Number One friend on MySpace? THE OWL. Check out his blog.

Sasquatch has his own YouTube Channel, and over 35 Facebook Groups dedicated to messin' with him. The team behind this campaign covered all the bases that their consumers rounded. I think it's incredibly well done. I would love to be part of a campaign this unique and committed. Note that the YouTube page was created two years ago so this campaign wasn't a spur of the moment thing.

Below is my favorite commercial of the campaign, it's nasty, I love it.

FacebooGoogApple. Can't I have all three?

This Time article is great. It's informative, witty and well-written. While some of the info in the article is over my head, I think the next few years in social media and Internet platforms will be super intriguing. Ch ch check it out.

"Take what man makes and use it
But do not worship it.
For it shall pass."

Who Will Rule The New Internet?
By JOSH QUITTER/SAN FRANCISCO

deep pockets

My BFF and I discuss our futures over gchat. This is the latest development:

Mallory
how many more years until we can retire?
Meghan
a million
maybe more
Mallory
dang it
how broke would i be to retire at 30?
Meghan
as broke as ed mcmahon *
probably broker
Mallory
dang.
i think i'm gonna start playing the lottery.

*note: i love ed mcmahon and if i had $644,000 laying around i'd help him out.

Thanks Goodness Someone Thought of This!

How did anyone ever live without a shirt displaying their favorite CNN.com headline of the day? The person who thought of this idea is definitely like a billionaire by now.

*For other thoughts on CNN.com, please see Cross Town Rival.

Eyes Right for Buick

My most recent project has been researching Buick ads that ran locally in the Boston area around 1940. Why? My Nana was the model. The photo below is what was used. Wasn't she a Betty? If you're interested in helping me search for the ad let me know. I'd love to have a copy.

EYES RIGHT FOR BUICK