Citi – which loaned billions on crap mortgages – terminates account of gay social networking site because of "objectionable content”: And then changed its mind when the feces hit. “This situation had nothing to do with the content of his web site and any comments by our staff to the contrary were incorrect; we are [...]
Archive for February, 2010
NBC CEO’s campaign slogan: Proven incompetence!
Posted: February 26, 2010 in Election, elections, Fiorina, HP, Leno, Marketing blunders, NBC, PoliticsTags: Fiorina, HP, Jeff Zucker, Leno, Marketing blunders, NBC, Politics
If you think the selection of clowns in DC couldn’t get any worse, guess again. NBC CEO Jeff Zucker – the guy who gave us Lenovision and nearly killed his network and its affiliates in the process – says he would “certainly look at” running for political office. Speaking on the Joe Scarborough show, Jeff [...]
Who could possibly have seen the banking disaster coming?
Posted: February 25, 2010 in Banks, Economy, Federal Reserve, Financial follies, MortgagesTags: Banking, Banks, Economy, Federal Reserve, Finacial Fiasco, financial crisis, Glass-Steagall, History, Mortgages
What was the theory behind the Glass-Steagall Act? Foremost, it was meant to restore a certain sobriety to American finance. In the 1920s, the banker had gone from a person of sober rectitude to a huckster who encouraged people to gamble on risky stocks and bonds. As [chief congressional counsel Ferdinand] Pecora noted, small investors [...]
GM is so inept it can’t even sell a Hummer
Posted: February 25, 2010 in Bad Brands, Bad ideas, China, GM, Hummer, Marketing, Marketing blundersTags: Bad ideas, Brand failure, GM, hubris, Hummer, Marketing blunders
It took some time but Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machines Co. finally realized what a bad idea buying Hummer would be. Yesterday the Chinese company announced it was pulling its offer to purchase the brand. From the start, the attempt to dump Hummer has been another testament to the company’s ineptitude. GM began trying to [...]
Montblanc regrets “honoring” Gandhi with $24K fountain pen
Posted: February 24, 2010 in India, Irony, Marketing blunders, MontblancTags: fountain pens, Gandhi, Irony, Marketing blunders, Monblanc
Either Montblanc’s execs have a brilliant sense of irony or they’re complete idiots, you decide. Whichever is the case, they have “unconditionally apologized” to an Indian court about it – at least until the court rules on whether the company can continue to sell the pen. The pen was marketed as a way of honoring [...]
Buzzword bingo face-off: iPad vs. Google Buzz
Posted: February 22, 2010 in Apple, buzz, Buzz words, Buzzword Bingo, Facebook, Google, Google Buzz, iPad, Jargon, Jargon AlertTags: Apple iPad, Buzzword Bingo, buzzwords, Google, Google Buzz, iPad, Jargon, Marketing
What’s the best jargon generator, Google Buzz or iPad? Nobody actually knows what impact either of these technologies will have, but everybody still wants to say something about them. Here’s a totally unscientific sampling from a bunch of blogs highlighting the best jargon describing each of them. The iPad is being called a game changer, [...]
Robin Hood nabbed for ID theft and more
Posted: February 21, 2010 in humor, Romenesko, Waffle HouseTags: humor, Robin Hood, Waffle House
Why aren’t you reading The Obscure Store and Reading Room? It’s where all the best stories can be found. Here are three recent ones: Man with real name of Robin Hood charged with identity theft Man named Ronald McDonald arrested for marijuana possession Man beaten with high-heel during Waffle House Valentine’s date Man has had [...]
Medical-themed restaurants get all malpractice on each other
Posted: February 8, 2010 in lawyers, Marketing blunders, Obesity, Restaurant, Theme ParkTags: heart attack, heart attack grill, Lawsuits, Marketing blunder, Obesity, restaurants
The fact that “hospital food” is synonymous with inedible hasn’t stopped the opening of two different medical-themed restaurants. Taking the theming even further – one is suing the other for malpractice. Heart Stoppers Sports Grill in Del Ray, Fla. — which opened in December – is being sued by Heart Attack Grill in Chandler, Ariz., [...]
Canada dealers selling Olympic brand drugs
Posted: February 5, 2010 in canada, drugs, Marketing, Olympics, Sports marketing, TrademarksTags: canada, drugs, ecstasy, Marketing, Olympics, RCMP, Sports marketing
Organized crime groups in British Columbia have gotten the true message of the Olympic™®© spirit: Money. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (DOORIGHT!) says groups from as far away as Nova Scotia are selling ecstasy pills bearing the Olympic logo. So far three people have been arrested. "This typifies the marketing savvy used by organized crime [...]
