Is red the new blue? Seems that red is the latest trendy branding cliche, as the Chicago Tribune launched RedEye and the Chicago Sun-TImes launched Red Streak yesterday. Both are newspapers targeting the 18-34 demographic, who are more likely to read alternative newspapers like the Reader (Chicago) or Creative Loafing (Atlanta).

So is red replacing Blue (JetBlue, SkyyBlue, Bluetooth) in branding as the latest cliche? It's always intersting how these things catch on. I remember One was big a decade ago or so, with the likes of BankOne, CellularOne, Capital One, CarpetOne, etc. And who can forget how in fashion it was to be a .com a few years back?

Update: In perhaps a telling indication of how little the two "red" papers understand their target demographic, the Trib's RedEye isn't even online! Oh, you can find out advertising info and editorial bios, but that's it. Red Streak does have some of its content online, but it still seems like it was pretty half-assed. If one's going to launch a new product targeting 18-34 year olds, then the web should be equally important as the print versions. And they wonder why (collectively -- I've got a Trib subscription) we've stopped reading the paper.

I'm always hated AOL use of spamming tactics in the real world to try and boost membership. So I love this idea! These guys want to collect 1,000,000 AOL CDs to deliver to the door of AOL's headquarters. Right now they're approaching 65,000, which means they've probably been collecting for a day or two.

What sweet revenge. I hate the incredible quantities of CDs I get in the mail from AOL, in DVD cases, in metal Altoid-like tins, shrink wrapped to my Sports Illustrated, in my sunday paper... and I love how the boxes have "1000 Free Hours" printed on them and then they add a sticker about a Bonus 25 hours, like I'm really going to take the plunge now that I can stay on 24/7 for the 45 day trial instead of only 23.5 hours a day.

And those stupid TV commericals... but that's another AOL rant.

According to this CNN article, the latest craze at the Arkansas state fair is Fried Twinkies!

My favorite quote from the article:

"We had a very slow night in the restaurant so we decided to buy a bunch of junk food and deep fry it," Hackett said...

Reminds me of Homer Simpson's deep fried shirt. And I bet Bill Clinton's wishing Hillary decided to run fot senate from Arkansas instead of New York now.

I usually don't think of athletes as heroes just because they can dunk a ball, hit a home run, or run through a defensive line.

But the Bears' Anthony Thomas proves that at least some athletes can be role models, as he pulled man from burning car.

Maybe we can get him to mentor the Bulls' Marcus Fizer?

I've always thought the NFL blackout rule was among the worst things in sports. Chris Isidore agrees, writing about the archaic broadcast rule in his "SportsBiz" column at CNN Money.

While I can understand how some might think that threatening to blackout a game may entice some to purchase tickets, is this really the case? I mean there is a BIG difference between wanting to watch a game on TV and in person. To attend the game live means shelling out $50 or more per seat (plus parking, food, etc.) and braving the cold and snow, etc. I'd have to be a pretty hard core fan to do that just because of the threat of a blackout, and if I were such a big fan chances are I'd already have my ticket.

But the casual fan, who wants to see their team play without breaking the bank or catching pnumonia, is out of luck.

I remember when I lived in Atlanta how the Falcons were almost always blacked out. I also remember how the city was so apathetic towards the team, in part because they never got to watch them play. Even the year they went 14-2 and played in the Super Bowl, it was nearly the end of the season before people got behind the team because it was only then that the games were televised.

The NFL really needs to change this rule. I just don't see the benefit. It's like making somebody buy a product, and then giving them a free sample when in the real world it works the other way. Lure them in with the free product (TV broadcast of the game) and then maybe they'll like it enough to pay for the game tickets.

According to this Ananova story, the EU may get new 'bar-code' logo designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. The design incorporates all the colors of all member states. Oh, say 45 colors or so. The resulting design looks a lot like a rainbow barcode.

Grasshoppa critiques the design on a number of issues, including the cost of reproduce such a flag with its dozens of colors. However, I am not so sure of that... I'm pretty sure IKEA has a sheet and comforter set with the same pattern, and we all know how they like to keep costs down.

I just want to know how they decided which bars are what width. Is it based on population? Geopolitical power? And what will they do when additional states joing the EU.

After receiving consideration every year for more then two decades, Jimmy Carter finally wins the Nobel Peace Prize. He really deserves this award for his tireless work promoting peace and democracy across the globe through his Carter Center, which is affiliated with Emory University, my alam mater.

In a related note, I attended an Emory alumni event the other night in which Kenneth Stein, Carter's Middle East advisor and Emory professor, spoke about the current issues involving the issue. I am more sorry than ever I never found the opportunity to take one of his classes. Not only does he teach about a fascinating topic, but he also did a great job presenting all sides to the issues in a charasmatic and humorous way.

Business 2.0 has a great article that explains why Ikea is so successful. Their unique product development process allows IKEA to offer attractive and fairly well-built funiture and furnishings for less and less each year. I am contastly amazed at the cool furniture and housewares I see in there for such low prices. My apartment looks like it's straight out of the catalog. And from their sales numbers, I'm guessing I'm not the only one!

Seattle columnist looks to Chicago's "big, loud, dirty and dark yet loved "El" to show his support for an elevated Monorail in Seattle.

Wouldn't it have been easier just to steal Lyle Lanley's song?

Meg over at Megnut discusses a passage from "Crossing to Safety" and her personal feelings are the same but in reverse.

I guess I hadn't put the feeling into thoughts or words, but I too have much the same feelings and decided to act upon it about a year ago.

I fled the cold Midwestern winters for Atlanta about 7 years ago to attend Emory. After graduation, I decided to stay in Atlanta. I enjoyed seeing the South on many road trips, loved the BBQ and their passion for college football.

But after a couple years, I realized more and more I was really a Midwesterner and there was nothing that could change that. I returned to Chicago and it was the best decision I made! I am much happier back in the Windy City. I am closer to family, have learned to love the city in ways I never did when younger and confined to the suburbs. Last winter wasn't to bad. And I'm a Big 10 fan anyway.

But I have brought a part of the Southern me back to the Midwest. I loathe the fact I can't find some decent BBQ to save my life, and I am still a Braves fan (though they're second in my heart to the White Sox).

Just as when I was in Atlanta I loathed the lack of real hot dogs and the Bears.

As we move across the country and even the world, we add to who we are, but I think we still always remain most firmly attached with where we came from.