Quality Gas is a Shell Game

Not all gasoline is the same. So say’s Shell.

Shell is pushing its new “Nitrogen Enriched” V-Power gasoline additive that promises to help reduce performance-robbing carbon deposit (a.k.a. gunk) build up in the engine. This can include sticky intake valves and clogged fuel injectors. Shell's Web site states:

“Gunky-build up can reduce an engine’s ability to breath, and can be a result of using lower quality gasolines. With five times the amount of cleaning agents required by Federal government standards, Shell V-Power gasoline can protect your engine and actively clean intake valves and injectors.”

According to NPD Group’s monthly customer-behavior research, 70-percent of consumers say price plays the most important role in their gasoline purchase decision. Price is king.

Many car owners are keeping their vehicles longer, and most gasoline companies are using some sort of additive to help reduce gunk. But it can be hit or miss. Is it worth taking the chance?

Andrew Buczynsky, General Motor’s fuel guru recommends using quality gasoline approved by one of the eight companies at www.toptiergas.com to help reduce your chances of getting a “check engine” light.

More than 700 reports of injector problems were logged with the Wisconsin Department of Commerce in 2004 due to low-quality fuel (40-percent from Citgo stations).

Are you willing to play the Shell game?

Try Ladies Tea

What's more social than a Ladies Tea? I found this wonderful site through a digital back door or sorts. A friend on Facebook forwarded a clever "Original Design Gangsta" video she found on YouTube. The video, produced in 2007, was good enough to keep my attention until the credits ... www.kyletwebster.com. Thought I'd check it out. Nice clean site - my attention was drawn to a plug on his site: "Noteworthy - My wife's BRILLIANT networking idea for women."

Click on it and it takes you to theladiestea.com created by Kyle's wife Sonja Webster (Bunzendahl). Brilliant it is. Beautiful design and a wonderful concept that blends a traditional social network idea (ladies teas) and brings it into the digital domain.

An excerpt from the FAQs page:

"The Ladies Tea provides quality lady-time that will inevitably open new doors for you. When you get a diverse group of open-minded and positive women together, so much can happen: a new friendship, an idea, a job opportunity, a valuable life lesson… host The Ladies Tea and see! Hosting The Ladies Tea definitely makes a positive statement about you and your interests. It says that you are a modern and classy lady, eager to network with other ladies who want the most out of life and are open to new ideas."

Who wouldn't want to be modern, classy and want the most out of life? Any time my wife comes back from a Ladies Tea she's happy. Anything that brings happiness at a minimal cost is bound to succeed in today's world. Sugar anyone?

Skittles.com is Social Slick

The Palm Pre promises to be effortlessly blend a sea of social networks into one easy-to-use device. We did something similar at the Jeep brand when we pooled all the social media sites into one hub. The innovative Jeep Experience portal is the collective home to Flickr, YouTube, Facebook, MySpace and more. It's your one-stop-shop for everything Jeep.

Now Skittles has launched skittles.com and it's based on a floating navigation menu that remains the same regardless of the social media site your on. Instead of importing videos or photos to their site, or linking the user out to Flickr, or YouTube - the navigation follows you on your path to social serenity. While this navigation system won't work for most applications - it is a strong hint at things to come in the future in regards to fluid infrastructure and seamless integration to social networks. Bravo to the Media Planner who bought into this elegant experiment.

Trend Tracker

You can search Google News for the latest on the web, but that's usually boring PR stuff. For more off-the-wall material use Google Trends. It's a great resource for seeing the election spike for Obama or more useful stuff like the celebrity look a like generator (#12 on the list for today). It's rated Spicy on the Hotness scale. http://www.pichacks.com/blog/?p=25

Clever Copy

Being lost on a site is never a good thing. TGSCOM, Inc. solved this problem with an ad stating they need help in their IT dept. Clever.

Fear Fuels Firearms Sales

Many moons ago I sold AT&T Security Systems in the metro Detroit area. We were trained by Chaz Robertson, one of the slickest salesmen this side of the Mississippi, in the fine art of using scare tactics to sell security systems. But, we weren't selling security systems; we were peddling fear-of-the-unknown to folks who couldn't afford our overpriced protection. This was back during the last mini-depression in the early 90's. There were over 2,000 people who applied for 50 positions. I was one of the "chosen" 50 who were put through a month-long training program and memorized sales techniques that came straight out of the classic Tom Hopkins book, "How to Master the Art of Selling." This was Mr. Chaz Robertson's Bible. We were his disciples. Those who mastered the techniques were considered "champions."

We memorized a one-hour plus presentation that was filled with FBI statistics and trips around the home to show weaknesses to would-be thieves. The tipping point for virtually every sale was when we would go through the motions of kicking in the front door and highlight the deficiency of dead bolts (or lack thereof). It was hard-selling 101.

The fact is - fear is the driving force behind the skyrocketing gun sales in North America. Sales are through the roof. These banner ads were found at xdpistols.com.
The Outdoor Wire, the Outdoor Sports Industry's Daily Transaction Newsletter recently named President Obama as the "Gun Salesman of the Year." Claiming that Obama is the impetus for the surge in sales. Look at the FBI's latest statistics and you'll find the highest number of National Instant Check System (NICS) background checks in the system's history. The official total NICS Checks can be found here, and here.
Fear of increased crime, a majority leadership in the House and Senate, along with the inevitable reintroduction of the National Crime Gun Identification Act have all spurred on the spike in sales. Having just gone down to the AKC Dog Show in Detroit this past weekend I have to admit that there were a few times I wish I had some extra protection along.

BMW's Secret Weapon

Remember Raiders of the Lost Ark when the Arc of the Covenant was boxed up and put away in storage in the Smithsonian warehouse? (The government warehouse plot device even has its own website) It turns out that BMW sealed up a secret weapon of its own for long term storage.

Recently revealed in Issue #3 of BMW Motorcycle Magazine, is the 1934 R7 prototype. This stunningly creative, art deco concept was boxed up and shelved as World War II approached. With the economy the way it is, we all need lift. Perhaps with sales down, some engineers decided to see what was down in the basement. As the story goes, they opened up a crate and found this 70-year-old 800cc treasure complete with its innovative hydraulically dampened telescopic forks. Perhaps this is BMW's secret weapon hidden behind a glass plate that says “Break glass in case of economy.” This wickedly beautiful bike is just what the doctor ordered.