If you're one of the meager 112 followers (as this post goes up) of this feed -- which displays no photo and essentially is a stream of Foursquare check-ins that extensively document his movements -- you'd know not only that Mr. Kenny, a onetime contender to succeed Maurice Levy for the job of Publicis Groupe CEO, spends an inordinate amount of time in airports and at horse shows, but also that he checked into Akamai, likely finalizing the announcement of his new gig as president of the web traffic management company, on July 21 and July 22.
Saying this campaign cycle is going to be more negative than last campaign cycle is akin to saying this year comes after last year. They're always more negative. Or they seem that way at least, what with the annual rite of bellyaching over the sorry state of our society. But this year will be more negative, Evan Tracey tells The Washington Post. (And Evan's one of the few political analysts I know who is usually right.)
"We always say this is the most negative cycle, but 2010 probably will be it," he told the paper. "The national issues are huge, and both parties hold the view that you have to blow up your opponent."
Between Tea Partiers, an anti-incumbent mood, anger over (fill in the blank: health care, war, oil spill, bailouts), contentious primaries and a Republican minority hoping it can win one house back, we're pretty much guaranteed some old-fashioned advertising ugliness. But here in New York, we tend to miss out on the best of this stuff. So remember: If you see something, say something.
Check out this ad for Jamba Juice's Cheeseburger Chill Smoothie. It's totally awesome. And, for those of you whose brains have been dimmed by a steady diet of greasy fast food, totally fake. "It does seem some burger chains are getting into the smoothie business," reads the company's website. "Which to us is about as weird as a Cheeseburger Chill Smoothie. So we're sticking to what we know." Those who get in on the joke can download a coupon as well.
Alvin Greene, the man who somehow won the Democratic nomination in the South Carolina senate race -- much to the consternation of the Democratic part -- has rolled out a campaign video. This much is clear about Greene: He's a fan of the sort of rap that Hollywood used in movies in the late 80s. And he "don't show porno to college chicks." Which, really, is all I ask for in a candidate. (Via.)
Thanks to Hollywood super-agent Ari Emanuel, Ad Age was able to fill in the details on how "The Decision" -- NBA star LeBron James' one-hour television special on ESPN last week -- was put together.
One of the more interesting nuggets that came out of the reporting was that the show was originally pitched to ABC, but the network and Mr. James' handlers could not find a suitable date. After it went to sibling network ESPN, the two sides considered having the one-hour special last night, July 14, prior to ESPN's annual ESPY Awards show. The plan was for Mr. James to announce his decision during the 60-minute program, and then walk out onstage live in Los Angeles to present the night's first award.
But that didn't come off, due to the logistics and timing of NBA free agency, so last Thursday, July 8, was the big announcement.
However, that doesn't mean a "decision" wasn't made during the ESPY telecast. Steve Carell and Paul Rudd, co-stars in the upcoming comedy "Dinner for Schmucks," spoofed Mr. James' "Decision" during the ESPYs -- and they nailed it with a hysterical three-minute conversation (after the jump).
New tapes with new tirades are keeping Mel Gibson in the news daily. And one New Jersey gym sees a promotional opportunity amid the foul language and heavy breathing: For $40 a month, you can stomp all over Mel Gibson's face.
You might call it The Y. The Y might now call it The Y. But The Village People will continue to call it The YMCA, thank you very much. A spokesperson for the band, which is "dismayed," released a statement today:
Village People, the disco icons whose hit YMCA has become a staple at nearly every ballgame, wedding and Bar Mitzvah, registered a comment from the road where they are still performing year-round after 33 years. "We are deeply dismayed by today's announcement from the YMCA that they feel a name change and a rebranding are in order after 166 years. Some things remain iconic and while we admire the organization for the work they do, we still can't help but wonder Y."
Village People will continue to perform all four letters in their concerts around the world, which this summer and fall include venues in California, Virginia, Massachusetts, Australia, Central America and more.
Via Momfinds, we discover that McNeil is offering an E.P.T. "keepsake" case for those mothers who want to chronicle Junior's life from very early on. I really don't have anything to add. Momfinds is right. Might seem gross, but the idea is probably genius.
With six months down, and six months to go in 2010, five ads have caught my attention. Each of the five ads had something in common: The star of the spot was multicultural and the agency that created the ad was general market. Effective, attention grabbing and clearly delivering the brand intention and message, these ads are proof that multicultural is indeed becoming the mainstream.
According to The New York Times, the YMCA will now join the rest of the world in calling itself "The Y." Not only is the name more "with it," as the kids might say, but no longer will all those non-Christians and non-men be so hesitant to join. (I'd crack a joke about old folks turned off by the "young," but geriatrics far outnumber the yewts at my local Y.)
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