Crazed with Google-envy, Microsoft promises to make your drive fun and productive with in-car advertising.  I have to snicker, because the last thing I want in my car is the MS blue-screen of death. 

Personally, I’ve steered clear of having anything TV-like in my car.  This is because I’m a very poor driver and I’m easily distracted when driving.  I won’t even let my husband watch movies on his laptop or iPod while on long drives because I have a tendency to glance over and, unfortunately, the car goes in whatever direction I point my head.  Sad …

As for in-car advertising … well, I got satellite radio to avoid advertising and slowly over time advertising has crept in.  I’ve now gone back to listening to CD’s to avoid distracting channel flipping.  Why would I want my dashboard advertising to me?  When am I supposed to look at this advertising while my eyes are supposed to be on the road?  I wonder, though, whether safety is factored into these designs.  Like I said, I haven’t gone for in-car navigation because it’s too distracting.  Even the voice stuff is too distracting for me.  I sorta feel like anything that takes the driver’s eyes and attention away from the road should only be active when the car is stopped.  I wonder whether others have the same problem as I do?

Anyhow, enjoy the article below.

Here’s a link to the article

Here’s an interesting editorial from “Ad Age” Magazine about branding and owning a word.  It starts by explaining the the success of Barack Obama’s campaign and how he owns the word “change” and then goes on to talk about success and failure of other companies slogans.  I like the quick blurb about how an individual can own a word to help jump start their career.  I thought about this for myself for quite some time — what is my “brand?”  I haven’t come up with it yet, but I feel it’s something I need to do in order to crystallize what I’m about before making my next career move.  How about you?  What is your brand?

Here’s a link to the article

Why You Can (and Can’t) Learn From Obama

Change Isn’t Always the Best Prescription

By Al Ries

Published: February 04, 2008