Nike Harnessing the Power of Social Media

This is an incredible social media campaign (tied in w/ Livestrong) that Nike is executing during the Tour de France. Check out the vid below -- and for more info read here.

Microsoft v. Google - The Green Challenge!

Very interesting piece on CNET News (http://digg.com/d1vuQj) - Microsoft is unveiling its Hohm application that helps users reduce home energy costs. This competes with Google's PowerMeter - although both are still in Beta stages. However, this really paves the road for an all out tech war over energy cost reduction applications - which can't be a bad thing! Below is a snapshot of the Hohm interface.

South Carolina Republican Party Votes to Censure Gov. Sanford!

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Something Funny

Trying a new iTunes widget

Service with a Smile?

Through a chance click on a promotional e-mail I received from Calvin Klein, I was directed to their Facebook page - where - to my surprise, the very first post on the public wall was from a very disgruntled customer discussing how she feels she was taken advantage of via some shady pricing practices. She included a link to her personal blog (here) where she includes photo evidence. It'll be very interesting to see how, if at all, CK responds to the allegations. Stay tuned!

UPDATE (7/6/09)

Interesting development since this story was posted. I noticed at the end of June that the CK had removed the customer complaint from Facebook. I checked the customer's blog page and saw that CK has responded to her and offered recompense. BUT, does that justify them removing the post from their Facebook page? Would it not build better trust with customers to keep the negative criticism posted and comment on how that customer had been recompensed? I know I would appreciate that more than being paid to basically shut my mouth. Other companies have failed in this regard (i.e. Wal-Mart and Dell) by underestimating the intelligence of social media users. I'm sure I'm not the lone person on Facebook that was following this story nor was I the only one to notice that it mysteriously disappeared from the wall posts. When I contacted the blogger she confirmed that it was not her that removed her own post. She also noted that not only was her initial wall post removed, but also a comment of hers in response to another angry customer's dismay with a controversial CK billboard in New York City. It truly is a bummer, because I like the fit of all my CK clothes.. but now the brand has been tarnished by shady practices. Hmph.