Archive for September, 2008

  • 23 Sep

    Posted by
    Muhammad


    Category

    South Africa’s Government disbands, WTF?

    0

    “What the Hell?!?” is almost every South Africans response right now as the news is coming thick and fast right now with news of 11 Ministers in Government resigning today, including Trevor Manuel (No! Don’t Go!) including 3 Deputy Ministers. This after The Deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, resigned yesterday citing that she wants to allow the “new president” to choose their own deputies and “personal reasons” (Yeah, right.)

    The Ministers who have left are…

    Deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka;
    Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel;
    Minister of Defence Mosiuoa Lekota;
    Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad;
    Minister of Intelligence Ronnie Kasrils;
    Minister of Correctional Services Ngconde Balfour;
    Minister of Public Enterprises Alec Erwin;
    Minister of Science and Technology Mosibudi Mangena;
    Minister of Public Works Thoko Didiza;
    Minister of Provincial and Local Government Sydney Mufamadi; and
    Minister of Public Service and Administration Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi.

    …and that’s not including the three deputy ministers: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad; Deputy Minister of Finance Jabu Moleketi; and Deputy Minister of Correctional Services Loretta Jacobus.

    Following the President’s resignation, which was a blow enough to the country in terms of stability, etc. and now this… This is DEVASTATING. With no doubt, this is the biggest Political upset in South African history. No doubt, the ANC National Executive Committee is probably shitting itself after coming to the decision to chuck Mbeki out of the presidency, citing the recent case against Jacob Zuma in which the case was thrown out of court due to “political interference” (which they blamed on Mbeki)… I bet they didn’t see this coming, or maybe they did, maybe this is what they wanted.

    Kgalemo Motlanthe, Zuma’s ally has already been chosen as the care-taker president since the other Deputy President had resigned, os now they have the opportunity to replace EVERYONE.

    I don’t know what’s going to happen now, this cannot be good for investor confidence in the country , the Rand is most probably going to get shot to hell and there goes the 2010 Dream. Negative, I know, otherwise I’m hoping for a miracle.

  • 15 Sep

    Posted by
    Muhammad


    Category

    The “Watchmen” Preview

    0

    For all the comic book fans and especially those of Alan Moore’s absolute classic comic/graphic-novel “Watchmen”, the highly anticipated movie version is set to launch in 2009. Directed by Zack Snyder(300), the trailer has already been getting comments across the blogosphere for having extremely cool graphics.

    Not all’s good in Watchmen land though, the series creator, Alan Moore, doesn’t support the comic being adapted to the big screen…

    “I would rather not know [about the movie],” said Moore. “[Zack Snyder] may very well be [a very nice guy], but the thing is that he’s also the person who made 300. I’ve not seen any recent comic book films, but I didn’t particularly like the book 300. I had a lot of problems with it, and everything I heard or saw about the film tended to increase [those problems] rather than reduce them: that it was racist, it was homophobic, and above all it was sublimely stupid. I know that that’s not what people going in to see a film like 300 are thinking about but… I wasn’t impressed with that… I talked to Terry Gilliam in the ’80s, and he asked me how I would make Watchmen into a film. I said, ”Well actually, Terry, if anybody asked me, I would have said, ‘I wouldn’t.”’ And I think that Terry [who aborted his attempted adaptation of the book] eventually came to agree with me. There are things that we did with Watchmen that could only work in a comic, and were indeed designed to show off things that other media can’t.”

    Zack Snyder’s comments on what he thinks of Alan Moore’s reaction to him making the movie…

    “We all want to please Alan, and I think that’s a noble thing to want to do. There’s nothing wrong to get the guy who frickin’ created the thing to not hate it, I don’t think that’s an outrageous thing to want,” said Snyder. “I think the approach is to assume that the movie is better, and that’s a mistake. I would never make any assumptions.”

    He also has told fans at Comic Con last year that the best he can hope for is that Alan Moore will someday watch the DVD and say, “You know, they didn’t fuck it up that bad.”

    In terms of the character line up we have Billy Crudup as Dr. Manhattan, Patrick Wilson as Nite Owl, Matthew Goode as Ozymandias, Jeffrey Dean Morgan as the Comedian, Malin Akerman as Silk Spectre, and — in an inspired bit of news — Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach.

    So far the movie looks to be about 3 hours long, which is pretty long for a super-hero epic, but I can understand the length from just reading the comic book and the mazing amount of detail that went into it. What is interesting is that the “Tales of the Black Freighter”, which is the story-within-a-story in the Watchmen comic, is set to be released as a seperate DVD (obviously to make more money off the fans). either way I’d buy it, I just hope that, as Zack had mentioned, they don’t fuck it up too badly.

    From what I’ve seen in the trailer though, at least it looks cool. For everyone reading this, get the comic, I very highly recommend it.

    Link
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  • 12 Sep

    Posted by
    Muhammad


    Category

    Coke Zero Zero 7 : Bond Brand Tie-in

    5

    Coke in the UK is doing a tie-in with the New James Bond Movie, Quantum of Solace. How cool is the Coke Zero Artwork for the tie-in? I Love it, I’d drink that.

    from Adage.com

    Coca-Cola Great Britain has teamed up with Sony Entertainment to help promote the upcoming James Bond film, “Quantum of Solace,” by renaming the Coke Zero brand as Coca-Cola Zero Zero 7.
    In addition to the name change, which will last for the duration of the tie-in, Coca-Cola Zero Zero 7 will have specially crafted bottles featuring the 007 logo, a picture of star Daniel Craig and the new film’s title. (Bond fans will most certainly note the gun-barrel detailing on the Coke bottle’s familiar contour.)

    …

    Coke Zero will be seen in the film, but traditionalists will be pleased to learn that James Bond will not be drinking it — Agent 007 is sticking with his martini.

    …

    Coca-Cola Great Britain is just one of many sponsors to have poured around $100 million of marketing money into “Quantum of Solace,” the 22nd instalment of the Bond franchise. Other marketers include Heineken, Ford, Sony Ericsson, Sony Electronics, Smirnoff, Omega, Virgin Atlantic and Bollinger.

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  • 12 Sep

    Posted by
    Muhammad


    Category

    Zapiro’s Double-whammy on Zuma

    0

    Zapiro’s at it again today with this absolute gem, given the current fight launched against him by the protagonists in his first cartoon. Well, here they are again with another satirical Zapiro-style hit.


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  • 09 Sep

    Posted by
    Muhammad


    Category

    Zapiro Gives it to Zuma…

    2

    This has got to be one of the baddest cartoons I’ve ever seen and I am sure that Zapiro’s going to get in trouble with the protagonists in the cartoon, if he hasn’t already. The thing is, even though I sort of cringe at the story unfolding in the cartoon, it rings true. The thought ( or the concept) has crossed my mind a few times about Zuma and I know the same thought has crossed the minds of many others. Zapiro, utilising his creative licence just put those thoughts into pictures.

    Another reason why I’m one of Zapiro’s biggest fans.

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  • 04 Sep

    Posted by
    Muhammad


    Category

    Marketing in Ramadan

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    Functionally (mostly from an FMCG perspective), Marketing in Ramadan poses real business restrictions and opportunities. For example, you can’t flight certain TV ads during Ramadan, not because of content but because the space will already be booked out and it will be mostly food brands which market their stuff during this time. You have to also take into account that Muslims in general watch less TV during this time.

    In terms of actual launches of innovation in the Middle-Eastern/Muslim markets, launching a product in Ramadan doesn’t ever happen. The local marketing teams in these countries will feed this back to anyone trying to push it. Project plans for any launches in or around Ramadan are generally shifted to be either a month before or a month after Ramadan.

    Other things which need to be taken into account is that people generally work shorter days in Ramadan, also when it comes to the end of Ramadan, the festival of Eid, most people in the Middle East will be off for a week or two on holiday, very similar to what happens at Christmas time for the western world.

    Interesting stuff, eh?

    However there are brands that are increasingly starting to market themselves in Ramadan and specifically to a Muslim Audience…

    This year, Ramadan really seems to have gotten marketers in a buzz with new product launches and even, as I had mentioned before, New artwork on current products (Coke). Starbucks has also jumped on the band-wagon by introducing a range of Arabic coffees and pastries for its Middle-Eastern consumers specifically for Ramadan. The new coffee range will feature its ‘Anniversary Blend’ coffee along with the traditional ‘Arabian Mocha Timor’ blend.

    Rana Shaheen, CSR & Communications Manager, Starbucks Middle East & Egypt said:

    Starbucks is committed to provide its customers with the best it can offer during this special time of year and there is no better way to welcome the holy month but with the Traditional Arabian coffees coupled with delicious pastries – a perfect treat you can enjoy after breaking your fast.

    From Dubai City Guide, we get this glorious wonderful marketing verbiage on the range Starbucks is proposing for its Ramadan range…

    Ramadan pastries include the ‘Fig and Coconut Bar’, a delicious fruity filling of plump figs blended with a taste of exotic coconut on a shortbread base. This marvellous combination of fig jam, walnut and biscuit base, topped with a layer of coconut, is designed to perfectly complement Starbucks featured coffees and iced espresso beverages.

    Another treat includes the ‘Pistachio Delight’, a mouthwatering and delicious cake, flavoured with pistachio, creamy filling and rosewater, the perfect traditional combination for Ramadan sweets. Customers can also enjoy the ‘Date and Apricot loaf’, the home-made fruity flavor of Arabia with a hint of apricot and a twist of nuts.

    The featured coffee beverage for this month is the classic Iced Caramel Macchiato, a sweet, indulgent treat, available hot as well. Sweet and rich with caramel and featuring a pronounced espresso flavour, Caramel Macchiato delivers an indulgent sweet coffee experience. The cold versions of the beverage provide a revitalising experience for the warm summer months.

    It’s okay dudes… we like Starbucks, you don’t have to sell it to us like that… that’s just cheesy. When will Marketers Learn to talk to people and not AT people! The quote above looks like it comes directly from a product pamphlet or maybe even the PR department.
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