Bill-O'-Notes® » Business

Coke Lawyers: It’s Sugar Water

Bill O'Neill — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:43:42 +0000

Vitaminwater. Healthy, right? The folks at Coca-Cola would want us to believe as such through its positioning and marketing of the product as a more healthy alternative among beverage options. And it worked. Until now. Coca-Cola lawyers: “…no consumer could reasonably be misled into thinking vitaminwater was a healthy beverage.”

Sears & ‘Woe’-buck?

Bill O'Neill — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 11:27:14 +0000

Perhaps a name change is in order at SEARS? How about Sears & ‘Woe-buck’? SEARS’ online catalog has definitely ‘flipped the switch’ and has decidedly… “Another [SEARS online ad] reveals two topless women embracing, wearing only the skimpiest of shorts, a model who appears to be wearing some water and a small sponge, and a group of women wearing revealing lingerie.”

Howard Johnson: Under the Orange Roof

Bill O'Neill — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:51:37 +0000

I was checking out this HoJo memorabilia site today – it’s at America’s Landmark: Under the Orange Roof. The site mentions that the Lake George, NY Howard Johnson may have opened for its last “season” this summer as it is up for sale. I discovered this 1957 radio jingle for Howard Johnson. Download audio file (Howard_Johnson_1957_Jingle.mp3) Check it out!

Daniel Hannan at International Leaders Summit in Brussels

Bill O'Neill — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:15:12 +0000

“Almost nobody now argues for the inevitability of socialism for the desirability of state planning…and yet the percentage of wealth taken by governments continues to grow.” If you have ten minutes, grab a cup of coffee and check this out. Even if you are apolitical. The courage of this British member of Parliament could teach us something about standing firm. www.youtube.com/watch?v=boMTNjj-YfE “Just as the Asian powers are learning the benefits of decentralization, of devolution, of competition, we are adopting our own version of the Ming, Mogul, and Ottoman path towards ever closer union, harmonization, more bureaucracy, more rules, higher taxes.”

Hey Superman, duck and cover. Or, Up, up and over there.

Bill O'Neill — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 18:05:01 +0000

Tatiana Siegel, in her Hollywood Reporter piece today slugged, “Superman eschews longtime patriot act” found HERE reminds us that even our superheroes have gone the way of the latest attempt at a flag amendment. Siegel quotes co-writer Michael Dougherty as saying We were always hesitant to include the term ‘American way’ because the meaning of that today is somewhat uncertain,” Ohio native Dougherty explains. “The ideal hasn’t changed. I think when people say ‘American way,’ they’re actually talking about what the ‘American way’ meant back in the ’40s and ’50s, which was something more noble and idealistic. Dougherty, a “more noble and idealistic” time? Back when? You mean during the very time when Congress was closely examining film makers for their left-leanings? When people of color and individuals of differing orientations were summarily defiled and put aside? Or, perhaps you are referring to a time in America when the very notion of a second car or even a second television was all but a pipe dream for most Americans. Politically, you must be referencing a more “noble and idealistic” time as Tommy Turtle sang the “duck and cover” theme to millions of school children as they would practice hiding under Continue reading →

AOL Out-of-Line…

Bill O'Neill — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 00:33:13 +0000

From NBC10.com An incredible video from CNBC shows an AOL customer trying to cancel his account, but a phone rep won’t let him do it. What customer Vincent Ferrari got when he tried to cancel his account was a lot of frustration. It took him 15 minutes waiting on the phone just to reach a real, live person. And, what happened next was recorded by Ferrari on audio and lasted about four minutes: CLOCK READOUT – 00:00 AOL REPRESENTATIVE: Hi this is John at AOL… how may I help you today? VINCENT FERRARI: I wanted to cancel my account. AOL: Sorry to hear that. Let’s pull your account up here real quick. Can I have your name please? VINCENT: Vincent Ferrari. CLOCK READOUT – 00:30 AOL: You’ve had this account for a long time. VINCENT: Yup. AOL: Use this quite a bit. What was the cause of wanting to turn this off today? VINCENT: I just don’t use it anymore. AOL: Do you have a high speed connection, like the DSL or cable? VINCENT: Yup. AOL: How long have you had that… VINCENT: Years… AOL: …the high speed? VINCENT: …years. AOL: Well, actually I’m showing a lot of usage on Continue reading →

WCAP Radio’s 55th Birthday & Reunion Bash Live Broadcast

Bill O'Neill — Mon, 15 May 2006 15:46:48 +0000

Event: WCAP Radio’s 55th Birthday & Reunion Bash Live Broadcast When: Saturday Evening, JUNE 10th from 6- 10 pm Where: Gary’s Ice Cream, 127 Merrimack, Street, Downtown Lowell Hosts: Bill O’Neill and Gary Francis Featuring Live Appearances by WCAP Alumni: Joe Corcoran, Dave Faneuf, Mary Blake, Bill Smith, Doug Barker, Chuck Jenest, Mark Adams, Joe Abrams, Gordon Hamilton, Don & Anita Hill, Fred Faust, along with Congressman Marty Meehan, State Senator Steve Panagiatakos, Lowell Mayor Bill Martin, and a host of others.