July 2008
22 posts
The Denial Disease
In the automotive world, which I write about occasionally, the Big 2.5 (Ford, GM and Chrysler) continue to attrite. Cases in point: last year Toyota overcame GM to become the world’s largest seller of automobiles; and today comes news that Volkswagen has overtaken Ford in units sold. Those sad nuggets are more than enough of a punch to the gut, but the recent news that is Chrysler stopping...
Do you oscillate?
Can you focus too much? Yes, according to a recent article in the New Yorker:
“Many stimulants, like caffeine, Adderall, and Ritalin, are taken to increase focus — one recent poll found that nearly twenty percent of scientists and researchers regularly took prescription drugs to “enhance concentration” — but, accordingly to Jung-Beeman and Kounios, drugs may...
Lesson in perception: How loud is a car?
Does the color of a product affect how loud or soft we perceive it to be? A study that came out earlier this month from the acoustics center in Paris has concluded that it does.
Sixteen people were asked to rate the sound level from an accelerating car’s engine while looking at pictures of four identical cars in red, green, light blue and dark green. Sounds were given at different volume...
You know your TV campaign is memorable when...
You hear a story like this:
A Sandy man is facing criminal charges after police say he pulled a gun on a driver trying to act out a 1980s mustard commercial.
On June 19, a driver at the intersection of 900 East and Winchester pulled up to the 22-year-old man’s SUV and asked him to roll down his windows, according to charges filed Tuesday in 3rd District Court.
“Excuse me, sir, do...
Let's pick apart a tagline
“Find More. Use Less.” Have you heard this tag line lately? It’s the Republican’s answer to high gas prices. This is NOT a political blog, so let’s not get into a political debate here. It’s a lot more fun to pick apart the particulars and logic of the argument and criticize them.
Since the phrase is so prominent as of late, we’re overdue for an airing...
7 Deadly Sins of a Belly Up Business
Here’s what Roger Ehrenberg says are the biggest mistakes Monitor110 - a startup he was involved with - made that caused its demise:
1. The lack of a single, “the buck stops here” leader until too late in the game
2. No separation between the technology organization and the product organization
3. Too much PR, too early
4. Too much money
5. Not close enough to...
GM, when will you learn?
Anyone want to spend $132 on a tank of regular gas? How about getting 10 miles per gallon? No? Well, then, does the thought of a a $900/month car payment get you excited?
No again? Me neither.
Which is why the sales of Hummer, one of GM’s brands, have plummeted 54% in the last quarter and continue to decline, prompting speculation of GM drastically lowering Hummer production and R&D...
Are you weaving baskets?
Not long since, a strolling Indian went to sell baskets at the house of a well-known lawyer in my neighborhood. “Do you wish to buy any baskets?” he asked. “No, we do not want any,” was the reply.
“What!” exclaimed the Indian, as he went out the gate, “do you mean to starve us?” Having seen his industries white neighbors so well off, - that the...
Why is my iTunes receipt so late?
What’s the deal with iTunes receipt emails coming so long after purchase? I can’t figure it out. Last week, for example, we had a luau and, since no luau is complete without the limbo, I of course bought Limbo Rock by Chubby Checker. The party was a week ago today, but I didn’t get get the receipt for my purchase until today. What’s more, the email lists the purchase date...
Are gas pumps pumping slower?
Are gas pumps pumping gas more slowly than before? My last several fill ups have seemed to take much longer than usual, taking almost double the normal time for my tank to fill up. It’s happened at two different stations, at two different chains, and both very recently.
I think there are a few possible explanations as to why this may be happening:
Gas companies are slowing down their...