Brand Mix

There are things you've always wondered about and then, one day, you finally find out the answer. For example, why are those carpets in Las Vegas so hideous?

1) what's with the ugly carpet in vegas? brandflakesforbreakfast
This important question has been on everyone's mind ever since Chris Maluszynski put together a gallery devoted to these spectacular carpets. Wired, Gizmodo and Marginal Revolution and their readers have all joined in the speculation as to why they are so ugly. Do they somehow keep people gambling? Are they designed to hide chips that fall on the floor so that the casino can pick them up later? Or are they just part of the Vegas tacky vibe? Unfortunately, the most likely answer is the most mundane--they are just designed to cover up stains and wear and tear.

2) Who is the UK's most unwanted author? telegraph.co.uk
By comparing the ratio of books sold to the books donated, Oxfam (a UK charity) says that Dan Brown is the winner of this unwanted title. He was the #1 author donated but only #10 on the author's bought list. (Best sellers at Oxfam are: Ian Rankin, Stieg Larsson and JK Rowling.)

Dan Brown is the author that other authors love to hate. The Economist explains why, referencing a Geoff Pullum critique that points out that the Da Vinci Code may be the only novel ever written that begins with the word "Renowned" as in "Renowned curator Jacques Saunière staggered through the vaulted archway of the museum's Grand Gallery." As Pullum says: "I think what enabled the first word to tip me off that I was about to spend a number of hours in the company of one of the worst prose stylists in the history of literature was this. Putting curriculum vitae details into complex modifiers on proper names or definite descriptions is what you do in journalistic stories about deaths; you just don't do it in describing an event in a narrative."

3) When will the last CD be sold? Thought Gadgets
This was Apple-announce-a-lot-more-stuff week and one of those things was "Ping," a social network based on music. "It's like Facebook and Twitter meet iTunes," Steve Jobs said. Coinciding with the announcement, a new iTunes logo was unveiled, one that no longer has the CD image as part of its background. The death of CDs foretold.

4) Does a Whopper really look like that? boredpanda
Bored Panda has a guest post from Dario D. who wondered what real fast food products would look like compared to what they look like in their ads. Not close, it appears. Olivier Blanchard shared his thoughts about these results also referencing this famous clip from Falling Down: "Breakfast at Whammyburger" which includes its own variation on the theme at 04:06.

5) How do I get my kids to eat carrots? USA Today
Maybe by making them look like junk food. USA TodayI reports on an effort by Bolthouse Farms and nearly 50 other carrot growers to change the image of carrots with the industry's first-ever marketing campaign (developed by Crispin Porter + Bogusky).

6) Should I wear a monocle? Len Kendall
There's no decision that can't be put through the lens of a SWOT analysis. Len has started up this Tumblr dedicated to bringing SWOT analyses to the masses. "These four pillars have been hogged by business & marketing people far too long. It's time to take back these quadrants in the interest of over-complicating the simple things in life."

That's it! Back soon with more stories from the world of brand strategy. More thoughts and comments also available on Twitter (@martinjbishop).