First it was the Internet, a fad that traditional news media would tolerate. This was the beginning of the end as it berthed blogs and last I checked some papers still don’t want to admit that blogs and other forms of online media have made the morning paper as outdated as a VCR.

Aside from killing the traditional newspaper Industry, the Internet, along with cable television, created a 24-hour news cycle that began to challenge evening news. However the assault on mainstream media had always been lacking something- live video to go along with news that could go along with the pulpit that anyone with a computer was given with the Net.

Well that all looks like it changed when Google announced Reporter’s Center on YouTube. Not only does the site promote the ability to help shape and create news, it also gives pointers from reporters and credible news sources. For Google it is a genius move as any video that’s uploaded onto their site has the chance to go viral if it hits one news source. Imagine if Twitter had this during the height of the Iranian protests. Google obviously saw this and is looking for a grainy cell-phone video to become the next big thing and add popularity and capital into their video money pit.

Here’s a how-to video on starting a citizen journalism organization, which just furthers the assault on news as we know it.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL3CeFUp5EI]

After reading about Burger King getting their identity hijacked on Twitter, I thought hey its an isolated incident that can happen to any company. However adding to a list of other gimmicks that got backlash that includes Whopper Virgins (more here, here, and here), I wonder if Bk just doesn’t understand the Internet or prefers the shock and awe style of branding on the Internet.  I would almost suggest that they don’t think that ads can grow virally and be shared on the Internet. On top of the edgy campaigns that appeal to the pimple-faced high school kids, I would think that they wouldn’t have to go to this style of  campaign that I saw over on Fast Food News (in Singapore none the less).

When thinking of the backlash they received with the Global Warming is Baloney ordeal with a few stores, you’d think they would avoid controversy. This campaign should have been reserved for thier booth at an upcoming porn convention.

But hey any publicity is good publicity.

Over the weekend, my fiance let me know that she had a salesman coming over on Monday night to show her this carpet/furniture shampooer and asked that I come home early enough so that she wasn’t home alone with the guy- a reasonable request.

After coming home from the gym, I was hoping to catch a quick shower and a bite, but that was not to be had as she was walking in the door at the same time. Enough of my rambling and back to what I was talking about – the salesman. I thought that door-to-door salesmen were a thing of the past, but the guy that she was meeting with brought the whole kit and caboodle from a company called Kirby. Now the only thing I knew about Kirby was that he was a hero of sorts from my Nintendo days but he did suck things up.

During the hour plus schpiel that she was given, I saw her cleaning with this miraculous tool in a number of ways from the floor to the cieling and carpets to hardwood and tile floors. I must say that the guy was a talker and showed the vacuum’s versatility and cleanliness. (more…)

On my Yahoo this morning, I came across this video of Josh Womack:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YngyMco72QA]

While he may have not have made a big enough splash on the farm to make the Bigs, he still got his 15 minutes of fame.

A few weeks back I came across an offer online for a free pack of hot dogs from Oscar Mayer. The offer was to celebrate a taste test win over Hebrew National and it tied into Memorial Day. I didn’t concern myself any of this nonsense as I was blinded by my love of the mixed meat treats.

A week after plugging in my email address I received a coupon for my pack of franks, which I have yet to redeem, but am looking forward to seeing what all of the fuss was about. Normally when I get a coupon in the mail its usually a safe bet that I won’t hear from the company anytime shortly. However with Oscar Mayer, it was different. On Monday I got an email with the following heading: Frank follow-up from Oscar Mayer (R)‏. At first glance, I thought that it might be another survey to answer or a follow up coupon. (more…)