Brand Central Station

Oh well, from a rant on the need for multicultural to this little gem exploiting the US’s first African-American President a full sixty days before he’s even sworn into office.  We all know a person’s right to privacy flies out the window when he’s voted to be the next “most powerful dude on the planet” – but seriously, shouldn’t there be a law about this kind of hucksterism?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWN1Au4HNFY]

Well, at least it’s not real money.  I guess it could have been worse.  In Bermuda, monetary officials are having to explain why they allowed their engraver to change the bill of the White-tailed Tropicbird to more closely resemble that of a Red-billed Tropicbird instead.  Huh?

So they now have a “mashup” of two birds to create some kind of hybrid, megabird for their $50 bill. Next thing you know, they’ll put a Pushmi-pullyu on the $100.  Hugh Lofting would be proud.

(Bet you never thought you’d get a D.D. allusion in a marketing blog, did you?)

Hat tip to the “Make the Logo Bigger” blog for the tv spot.

Are the expectations for the incoming Obama administration too high?  The Obama-Biden campaign certainly re-set the rules of political campaigns with their 2008 effort – raising more money, spending more money and engaging people on a level unlike anything in living memory.  But will the public’s anticipation and expectations of the new administration and, more specifically, the promise to continue reaching out and engaging the public, be met to everyone’s satisfaction?

It reminds me of the expectations and constant chatter surrounding Social Media.  In fact, I don’t think there’s any question that an Obama Administration will be the first to fully embrace the uber-democracy that is the online/Social Media world.

My only question is: can a 18th century institution like the US Federal Government adapt quickly enough to not get completely balled up in an avalanche of 21st century Social Media interactivity?

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As in many parts of the country, it’s been “Obamamania” here. Expectations are being set very high, despite the incoming administration’s best efforts. But if Americans are anything, they’re optimistic and President-elect Obama’s soaring rhetoric seems to reinforce that.

But what is the “upside” to an Obama administration as viewed by those people not living in the USA? We took a moment to ask some of our partners in the ECCO International Public Relations Network – all owners or managers of small and mid-sized public relations or marketing consultancies. What they told us was insightful, especially for those US-based brands who rely on exports to buoy sales revenues when the going gets tough at home.

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When I heard the news about last night’s Grammy Awards, I was shocked.  Herbie Hancock won Album of the Year for his tribute to Joni Mitchell and made a point of thanking Miles Davis, John Coltrane among others.  It was a fitting tribute and a well-deserved honor for Hancock.

I’m a jazz fan (huge) and was pleased to see us get one over on all the other genres in the musical world.  After all, two AotY Grammies in 50 years is hardly a Patriot-style dynasty now, is it? 

Hancock ended his acceptance speech with a little tip of the hat to Barack Obama by claiming “Yes, We Can” to close.  And that’s when the announcer came on and explained that Barack Obama had won his second Grammy, beating out Bill Clinton in the “spoken word” category. (more…)