UPS has unveiled a new logo. The new logo replaced the original Paul Rand designed logo.

My first thoughts of the new logo are not very positive, including:

1. It doesn't say anything about what UPS does. The old logo included a wrapped parcel which said something about their business
   
2. It seems too trendy, with the bevel and all. Looks like web site navigation from Gateway, Citysearch, etc. This look may work for a web site that will most likely last a year or two before being redesigned, but does will it have much of a shelf life? The old logo has lasted 40 years? What will we think about this one in 5?
   Posted by blipsman at 11:33 PM | Comments (0)

Weblogs are among the new technologies that allow for more in depth coverage of the war in Iraq. In recent days, CNN.com has had stories about how bloggers close the situation have brought the war to our computers, including this story that mentions soldiers' blogs as well a passing mention to one written by an Iraqi in Baghdad (there was full story on CNN on 3/24 but it seems to have been pulled).

However, the irony regarding CNN's coverage of bloggers and the war is that CNN forced one of its own correspondents in Iraq to stop writing on his blog!

The guys at 37 Signals have started an interesting discussion about coining a new phrase for making change, which quickly transitioned into a more general discusssion of ATM usability in addition to the terminology discussion.

I was just having a discussion recently with some friends about how annoying it is that ATMs only give out $20 bills...some give $10, too. But invariably at any group outing, everybody whips out $20's (or as some call them, I learned, Yuppie Food Stamps) and then it's the complicated game of trying to sort out each person's portion of the bill without asking for change.

But would it really be that hard for ATMs to give the last $20 broken out into change? And how much more effecient would restaurants and bars be if the waitstaff wasn't contantly tracking down change and if tables each cleared 5 minutes earlier because people weren't doing calculus to figure out the bill? Maybe this is why 90% of restaurants fail?

Chris Pirillo, of Tech TV fame ponders the Raging Cow hype of the past week. He wonders if they expected the blogger backlash and the ensuing press across the web. Maybe they did know what they were up to?

Look at some of the blogs who've picked up on this story:
Doc Searls
Glenn Reynolds
Blogroots
me3dia.com
In My Experience
Jeneane Sessum
Stir
and I'm sure there'll be more to add once I relocate them...

Plus there's already parody sites popping up:
http://ragingcow.blogspot.com/

But the thing I haven't seen anyone grasp onto yet is that in addition to the 6 bloggers invited to Dallas to become "influencers"

www.aboutagirl.org
www.suchadork.net
www.aboutagirl.org
www.kelleyrogers.com
www.italianize.com
www.sparkley.net

there are at least a couple associated blogs which tie directly into the storyline of Raging Cow.

Barnyard Rant is supposedly the farmer's daughter's blog. She's run off with the Raging Cow on a little road trip, it seems. Notice the “Raging Cow” tile on the left and the webcam shots go to some of the 6 indoctrinated bloggers.

This pig's blog is supposedly written by a pig from the family farm. Raging Pig bacon-flavored milk? Or will it be fruit-flavored bacon?

And this fly's blog is also part of the game. Haven't figured out where they're going with this one...

This whole campaign is bigger than we first suspected. What is Dr. Pepper up to????

So who's to blame?
Here's a link to the agency responsible for this program:
Richards Interactive

And here's where bloggers can register to become shills:
Project Blogger

Dr. Pepper is attempting to create a grassroots marketing campaign for its new milk-based beverages via a weblog called Raging Cow.

But can such a tactic work? MSNBC reportsthat not only has Dr. Pepper created their own blog, but that they've also recruited other popular bloggers in the target demographic to help with the campaign. Six bloggers and their parents were flown to Dallas with their parents for an induction session.

Dr Pepper hopes to develop a "blogging network" to hype Raging Cow and "be part of the ‘in the know’ crowd," says its brand-marketing honcho Andrew Springate. Those spreading the news via their blogs won’t disclose their flackitude, says Springate, because officially they’re not paid Dr Pepper employees; they only get promo items like hats and T shirts. "We’re independent and can advertise Raging Cow the way we want," says Nicole, 18, a Louisiana high-school senior with a popular blog.

But are these bloggers really going to be impartial, even if all they've received are hats and t-shirts? And what Blog reader isn't going to see through the product plugs and just disregard the message like he/she does with traditional marketing messages? Maybe had this story not slipped out and people didn't know what Dr. Pepper was up to, maybe then it might be effective. But in the effort to drum up some PR, the campaign will backfire. Blog readers will know it's just a corporate shill and not only not listen to the message but also probably tune out to whatever else these bloggers have to say.