Thank You, Axl

Enjoy your free Dr Pepper today, America. And by “today” I mean register for your coupon today and receive it in four to six weeks. Interesting note is the Dr Pepper website makes no mention of the fact the promotion is happening because Axl Rose is finally releasing Chinese Democracy. That’s like shaving your head after losing a bet to a friend and then telling everyone you just wanted to try something different with your hair.

Let’s Play the Feud

No one likes taking marketing surveys. Everyone loves Family Feud. Why not have marketing surveys that include a few questions that will be used on Family Feud? I don’t even know if they even tape the show anymore, but they should. And they should bring Richard Dawson back to host since he was the only good one. Not only will marketers get the answers to their questions, but they will also learn the most common response to “Name a food you can’t resist.” Potato chips.

His Confident Smile and Kind Eyes are an Inspiration to Us All

VictoryPlate.com (a video with sound plays automatically)
My favorite part, besides the bonus “cirtificate” of authenticity, is the way the guy admires the plate on his office desk. Yes you can…own a piece of history.

Make a MIXA

What you see here is an ingenious idea from British design house magneticNorth. A MIXA is a 1GB USB drive encased in a cassette tape. You can even customize your own sleeve. The picture here shows that you can customize the sticker on the cassette, but unfortunately I believe that was only the case with the first version of MIXA.

A MIXA will set you back about $30, which isn’t cheap considering how inexpensive 1GB USB drives are these days. However, the package also includes a USB extension cable and set of stickers to customize the cassette.

There are two limited edition MIXAs available on their website. Hip-hop artist Devin the Dude has a MIXA pre-loaded with his new album and a few extras. With more artists releasing new albums on flash drives these days, it’s nice to see an artist do it with packaging that gives a nod to the mixtapes of old. And in what seems like a perfect match, music blog aggregator The Hype Machine has its own branded MIXA.

There are a few things I would wish to see from MIXA. For one, it would be nice if you were still able to customize the cassette sticker. Perhaps they had problems making that happen, but there has to be a way. I wish there was a version available with two USB drives – an A-side and B-side. Or there could be a cheaper version with just enough space for the length of an actual mixtape so you can give it to someone as a gift.

If you would like to make your own MIXA, visit their site.

I Dare You to Complain, Hollywood

According to the Motion Picture Association of America:

The average motion picture cost the MPAA member companies $96.2 million to make and market in 2005. Six out of ten movies never recoup their original investment. Fewer movies will be made and fewer creative risks will be taken if piracy continues to rob those who invest in movies.

So is Hollywood going to blame piracy when the following movies fail to recoup what are sure to be extravagant budgets for the following green-lit films?

A remake of The Karate Kid starring Will Smith’s son, Jaden

A remake of the cult classic Berry Gordy’s The Last Dragon, with Sam Jackson as Sho’nuff

A film based on the board game Monopoly, directed by Ridley Scott

I’m not advocating movie piracy, however, I’m all in favor of a better product.

Well, That Pretty Much Sums It Up

Alan McGee, former band manager and founder of Creation Records (Jesus and Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, Primal Scream, Oasis) on why he is retiring after 25 years in the music business:

I think I’m a man of the times, kind of like Tony Wilson really. We don’t really have a place in the music industry anymore because we actually like music. I think the prerequisite for being in the music industry is not liking music and playing the corporate game, agreeing with your boss.

The Nation is Ready for Change

These past few weeks, Americans have been voicing their opinions in record numbers. They speak among friends gathered in their living rooms, classmates on college campuses, and even with strangers at their local bars. They have used the powers of social media like blogs, Twitter, and Facebook to get their message out far and wide.

All of these people have one thing on their mind – change. It’s time for a change, and that change is long overdue. They are tired of hearing the same old song and dance over and over and over and over again.

It’s time to get rid of that fucking “Saved By Zero” commercial. Seriously. Enough is enough. I can’t even watch TV anymore. Thanks a lot, [omitted Japanese auto manufacturer].

“Drinkability”…you’re next.

And here is a story from the Associated MFing Press that knows exactly what I’m talking about.