Designers vs. consumers vs. marketing at PepsiCo

Battle #1: Tropicana Winner: Consumers

Tropicana is now going back to its old design. Woopdeedo. I preferred the new design, it was clean and simple. People argued that it was too "generic brand" for them. I say wow, because last time I checked we're in an economic crisis and everyone is trying to save a buck.

Clear loser: Designers. 

Battle #2: Obama team's drink choice

Winner: Coke

TIME reports that Obama's team drinks Coke even though Pepsi's redesign looks a lot alike Obama's logo.

Loser: Marketing. 

Blank walls+label everything+put a spotlight on it=SO IMPORTANT!

We Love Museums...Do Museums Love Us Back?

This is too funny, cute, and smart not to post.

"Nothing is allowed to get old or fall apart, which of course is impossible and goes against the law of nature. But museum people fight nature everyday with the latest technology in order to slow down the effects of time as much as possible."

I died a little when this was said. That and a museum is basically a box and stimulates time travel.

This makes me feel a little less of an asshole when I tell people that I believe in preserving art not conserving art.

Tapes for playing

Sunday's Favorite Selection #28:

Tapes for Listening (Tapes for Dancing). from Michaelkelly Kelly on Vimeo.

Side note: I stop buying albums on tape in 2000.

The Rookies do a lot of poopies

I see what you're trying to do. A super cute little girl uploading pictures to see how simple it is. I have 2 problems with this.

1. Have an elder do the same and record. The result-not the same. Children now easily adopt to technology. By the time I had the internet in my house (I was in high school) within 4 months I had 3 websites. I learned html pretty quickly. If Microsoft really want to stand the test on how easy it is to operate Windows Live Photo Gallery have an elder do it. I'm also on your game to have someone way younger than the Mac dude, to have our 'future' on these Rookies commercials. I wonder how much money these kids are getting. I also wonder about their future. It will be a mess, everyone knows that. Child stars later become hot tranny messes. Avoid this. Avoid selling your kids to say they are a PC.

2. Why is she sending photos to her mom and dad? Where is she? She's obviously in a house. This is making me worry.

Is this real life?

Sunday's Favorite Selection # 27:

Kittens Inspired by David after Dentist

Side note: Kittens inspired by kittens is hands down my favorite viral video of all time (even more than hamster on a piano-eating popcorn). I think I've watched it over 100 times this past week. Though I gleamed when I saw this video because last week I couldn't stop watch David after Dentist. Kids sure say the darndest things. I think of David as a philosopher with his deep questions regarding life, and Kitten girl is a lot like having a conversation with my 4 year niece. Best of all, my friend and I are making a book about his cats and told me yesterday he thinks he has this now famous Kittens book!

You're scum between my toes

A very special favorite selection #2:

News worth obsessing over

Aside from Madoff and the constant up to date report on the Rose Museum at Brandis University, I've found other news report to obsess over.

1. 

The Sun reports on a 13 year old boy and his 15 year old mum girlfriend having a child. So no that photo isn't a photo of a 20 something mum and her 8 year old son and her new baby. I don't even what to think further than this photo because it's the biggest WTF moment I had yesterday.

2.

The New York Times reports on the Artist Shepard Fairey (you know the OBEY dude) files a lawsuit against the AP. The AP is saying that it owns this image of his work of Obama and the word Hope underneath. Fairey had used the photo taken for the AP as template for his work. The LOL part of this story is that the freelance photographer who took this photo Mannie Garica says he owns the photo not the AP and he's happy that the photo he took was the source of this now infamous image of Obama. I just find it a little odd that there's a dispute over an image of Obama and who owns it. I thought Obama owns his own image, right?

3.

If you even a little bit of tv you've most likely have seen a commercial to Heat Surge Roll-n-Glow Fireplace. Once again The New York Times has an interesting article on it. When my brother and I first saw the commercial we were a bit confused so we pressed rewind to better understand how the Amish made this. If you're still confused read the article.

4.  There are few viral videos I'm obsessing over, but I'll post the ultimate for tomorrow's favorite.

Richard Halloran: Owns Home Computer

Newspaper on home computer? now that's the future.

I really do wonder though if the actual "newspaper" will actual die. It's dying yes, but will people just let it die? I don't think so well, at least in my life time. It has to slowly be forgotten, then die. It will make a comeback though either by a hipster being ironic or VH1's Remember When...

On a slight side note: Roger Ebert on blogging. 

edit: Not even 30 minutes later...on the Daily Show right now Jon is interview a guy named Walter Isaacson talking about how to save our newspapers. Jeeze I can tell the future just like this news report.

The textbook committee part 2. (decided to leave you out, not even mention)

Sunday's Favorite Selection #26:

LCD Soundsystem-Someone Great (directed by the great Doug Aitken-one of my favorite artists)

Side note: This song and video makes me feel so depressed, but I love it like no other. Over a year ago I made a mix for a friend who was leaving town. All the songs were about getting psyched, but the last two songs I couldn't help myself and get serious. I put Someone Great, and ended it with Guided By Voices' Smothered In Hugs. These songs at first didn't seem like they would fit well together, but not true. Both amazing songs, both about (well to me) people who you love/once loved leaving/left your life and/or you're planning to leave with them. Your memories of them will always remain with you until the end, even if everyone has forgotten them. I was so struck with these two songs together after I made the mix that I googled it and this came up:

There was a moment at an ACL afterparty when the DJ followed by Guided By Voices' Bee Thousand jam "Smothered In Hugs" with the Silver sounds of "Someone Great." Doesn't sound like it should flow, but somehow it was perfect, prompting us to say something intelligent like "this song's fucking awesome" to nobody in particular. But three kids around answered back and started a discussion in which all agreed -- "Someone Great" is something 'fucking awesome.'

-Stereogum

I wasn't the only person who had thought of these two songs together. Since then I'll slip one of these two songs to people who I will never forget in a mix. Even if I want to forget them now.

G with the P

I have a new daily route, which is put on the Today Show to fully wake up. This caught my ear:

President Obama knows about Jessica Simpson's weight "issue". I would love to know if our president not only gets foreign policy news updates 7 days a week, but also gets celebrity news. In this post modern western world it's equally as important. Or that's what we're suppose to know? But really Matt Lauer, Us magazine? I guess fluff is good for Super Bowl weekend. 

I do have to note-I hate the Today Show and I'm not sure why I tune to it every morning. It creeps me out. Good Morning Matt, Good Morning Meredith, and Good Morning to you America now for today's top stories. 

Those creepy stares to the camera from the people who about to get interview haunts me for the rest of the day.

While you're out being a hot tranny mess

Sunday's Favorite Selection #25:

Miller High Life's outtakes of their one second commercials.

Side note: Eels (you know the band) made a one second commercial for Super Bowl last year, but the NFL rejected it because 29 other advertisers had to fill in the spots for the typical 30 second ad. To buy a spot during Super Bowl is about $100,000 per second. The real genius here- Mark "E" Everett.