What happens is that if you make a one-time donation to a non-profit, a sizable percentage of your donation will be spent on sending you postal mail. And you will be doing more harm than good if that donation is a one-time small donation. The affiliate postal mails that will also be sent to you will pretty much negate that donation you made, in the wasted printing and mailing costs.

So its important to only donate to a few non-profits whom you plan on giving to on a long term basis and to also request the non-profits to whom you are donating to, to not share your information with affiliates of any sort.

And you know what? It tastes much better than the healthy whole grain bread that I’d been consuming for the last decade. I do not each much bread to begin with and I figured that if I had to make a sandwich, let me do so from now on with a bread I truly like. The lesson here is that I should have done what I liked to do to begin with rather than buy into all the media health hoopla.

On the topic of ‘Hoopla’ one should note the 80’s and 90’s media campaigns on the benefits of blueberries as antioxidants. Then in 2000 we got hit with pomegranate. Now its the Brazilian wonder berry acai. The list of “super foods” in the US goes on and on.

I say just go with whatever fruit or food that makes you feel good, eat in moderation and get some exercise. You should do just fine. Or you may spend all your life eating something that really had no proven benefit in improving your quality of life.

Note: I am not promoting Wonder® Bread. I am not a dietician or have any special knowledge about nutrition.

To make use of this offer, first go to Live.com. Search for something like “Wii”. See the link around the top of the page for 30% cashback. (This percentage changes often). Click on the link to navigate to eBay. If your transaction is eligible, you will be told how much money to expect back before you pull the trigger.

This is possibly the best promotion I have ever come across. If you are looking for a new laptop or video camera etc. and you know the make and model of the product you wish to buy, just find out the best price through regular sources and then look for the products to see if they are listed on eBay with the “Buy It Now” option. This way, you know you are getting the absolute best price with a 30% off.

You can even buy gold. The Live.com cashback program also provides money-back on purchases made at various other stores such as TigerDirect.com. Although cash back on store purchases are more along the lines of FatWallet.com where you get to share in the referral fee.

eBay bids on posters ( including unauthorized reproductions of posters) created by artists for Obama’s campain offer a fair idea of the popularity of both the candidates on the younger and internet enabled population.

Here are two screenshots of results using the keywords: “Obama poster” and “McCain poster” respectively. Obama limited edition posters are on their way to becoming collectors items. McCain branded products are not doing any business and honestly look quite boring.

Using a female robot with that contains beer that clones itself is a sure way of getting attention.

I can honestly say that I have picked up a case of Heineken just because of the advertisement (since a ‘Heine’ is not my preferred beer).

Some research on the topic of beer ads, show that beer is a very competitive industry where successful advertising camapaigns like that conducted by Red Stripe Beer has resulted in strong brand recognition. I know about the Red Stripe Beer brand although I have yet to find it in a store. The same applies to Carlton Draught which I think would be impossible/difficult to find in the USA.

Another point to note is that beer advertisements are targeted towards a male audience which leaves an opportunity for beer brands aimed at women. Some studies indicate that women consume 25% of all beer consumed in the US.

Take a look at a small sample of creative beer ads. from around the world.

The Heineken – Robo-chick does the Robot

Carlton Draught Beer

Red Stripe Beer – Ugly People

Stella Artois – Belgian’s Stole the Viking’s Beer

Pilsner Urquell – First Czech Motorcycle

Brahma Beer

Marca Bavaria – Best of Brazil since 1877

Moosehead Light beer – Girls Tanning

Sapporo – Japan

Singha Beer

This is a site that is a spoof on speed dating. Essentially, the site is a slick organization of videos clips that have been stitched together using Flash to deliver a message – interactively. In this case, the message is about the effects of diabetes.  The whole concept is so innvovative that viral marketing alone would have made this campaign a success.

This innovative site is worth looking at both from marketing as well as technology perspectives.

Here are a few websites I’d checked out to see who was verifying what. I must add that liquor companies make brilliant websites.