Endorsing controversy

A few days ago, the Sierra Club endorsed Clorox Greenworks.

Allegedly the Florida S.C. chapter was banned due to its public opposition (or was it because of chapter corruption?)

Pondering:
Sell-out?
Or a recognition of embracing mass to have the most potent impact, given how (big brands, thoughtlessly) and where (Wal Mart)people shop?

Is the cash to help Sierra Club do greater good thus justifiable?
Or is really going for virgin paper Post-Its?

Must third parties always be NGO for street cred?
Or should a household name win on salience to the average Jane?

Is the endorsement worth the sell out?
Is it worth the renewed exposure to a gigantic audience?

In the future, maybe corporate do-gooding will be less about Earth Day clutter and more a matter of powerful badge brands endorsing charities, especially charities pursuing legislation.

Mini did it rather boringly a few years ago by giving (branded) billboard space to already well-known, non-objectionable charities like Habitat for Humanity.

Moveon.org endorsed Obama and is now asking members for their input on local/regional candidates.

Can't wait to see who is helped, hurt or rather unaffected by all these bedfellows.

Are Women's Demons that Boring?

No one's been talking about the '08 Weight Watchers campaign - except my friend Heather and I. And she works at McCann.

Is it good? Is it interesting? Or it is just shot and cast well enough so that first-tier suburban women under 50 can relate?

I kinda forgot about it until I saw a new restaurant execution (unfindable) and then watched BBDO's New Balance work.

As an unrepentant one-time WWer and a intermittent runner, I got thinking about what's lacking in both.

WW - In a quest for empathy, it flirts at truth and settles for the giant, lecturing lie. Of course it's a diet. The huge opportunity was to go naked on what sucks about the food/body thing with intelligence, wit, honesty or some of the above.

Anyone who's done WW knows it does work, it is a diet,and it's a matter of points algebra and good old fashioned portion control. The unspoken truth of WW - you have your booze, the occasional nacho and still be on the diet. If that's not pro-women, what is.

Then there's NB. Another passion/guilt category.



Anthem of the rip-it-and-pitch it school, and nicely done at that.

But... so what? In a spot all about tension there isn't any. Running is usually best when you just finished doing it, even on a great day. And I like it.

In both cases, the strategy shouted down a huge opportunity.

But, speaking of honesty I would be far from ashamed to have done either. Would love a crack at round 2, though.

No adcritic haters here.

ultimate flattish screen

Wearable media goes beyond t-shirts. This could be a great thing not simply for marketing, but for self publishing.. or those hockey mom buttons.

Made in China - it's not just for discounters anymore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPzdJz-zHHA&NR=1

Big Brother thinks you don't need that cookie

Amazing - a new voice-enabling technology that will essentially read thoughts aloud.

This is Nobel-prize winning stuff. The inventors could probably do just about anything now and still retain a slight karmic advantage over Mother Teresa.

But as with any technology there are potential moral implications. My mind went immediately the impact this could have on

business meetings...
focus groups...
the longevity of romantic relationships...
thanksgiving dinner with the family...
the nightly income of an exotic dancer...
etc

Honesty should be part of the conversation. But does anyone (consumer included) want the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

next stop...

Lazy/Forgetful Consumer Alert.

Continental is allowing people to check in via mobile device. Finally! The NYTimes indicated that Northwest is doing the same (though I certainly haven't seen it).

This is another fabulous enabler for people like me who can misplace anything at just about any time.

On my dream list: movie and concert tickets, gym memberships, loyalty programs and the offers that come with them - though I guess that would wreck the secret not-many-points-get-redeemed model.

now, fairly close to never

This time, it's for real.
Really.

ok time to start again

Why? Because it's there. And I'm here in LA for the week.

Greetings from Flyover Country!

Welcome. All those who love NYC, San Francisco and LA, but particularly on expense account. Those who believe women can have double-digit sizes and still be sexy. All those who've eaten Velveeta both with and without irony. We may read gawker, defamer and the nytimes, but that doesn't mean we have to feel bad about it. Now pass the chips.