GOD BLESS LILI ST CYR

In case you ever wondered who Susan Sarandon was namedropping in Rocky Horror:

Especially recommended if you like burlesque pics set to The Cramps' cover of "Fever".

She had her own line of lingerie, you know. You may remember the ads.



Elvira was a customer, evidently.

Good morning!

Undressed for success,

This is dF

GREAT MOMENTS IN MARKETING: HAVE IT YR WAY, AS LONG AS IT’S MY WAY

ITEM [via popfiend ]: Like many of you, when I need incisive hard-hitting political analysis or the latest scientific data on global warming, I check the signs at Burger King. And the verdict on global warming has been issued. At least in Memphis.



The Memphis Flyer investigates, and after being informed that the signs are legit and not a prank, eventually works out that the signs are not authorized by The King (a.k.a. Burger King Corp.).

The going theory is that the sign messages are the brainchild of someone at Memphis-based fast-food management company MIC, a franchisee which operates over 40 BKs as well as three Popeye's and five All-in-One's. MIC hasn’t given an official response yet.

Anyway, this interests me because it does highlight the risks of franchising a business. I wonder if BK or other franchise-based businesses have rules about that kind of thing, and what happens when you break them. If nothing else, a BKC spokesperson says the signs have since been changed.

Either way, this kind of thing makes zero sense to me. Whatever you think about global warming – or whatever side of the political spectrum you reside – I can’t see how it’s good business to turn yr sign into a political platform that could alienate a certain portion of yr consumer base. I’m not saying CEOs aren’t allowed to have political beliefs or act on them in a private capacity, whether yr Tom Monaghan or Ben & Jerry. And I’m not saying you can’t build a business case on a target demo that agrees exclusively with yr personal politics and/or religious beliefs – phone service resellers do it all the time.

But when you’ve already built up a mass-market, it seems like the last thing you want to do is ask them to pick sides on a hot-button political issue for no apparent reason. Especially during a recession. And especially for something as apolitical as hamburgers.

Oh, that’s right. I forgot. Hamburgers ARE political.

I should have known. The Vandals told me that years ago.

Anarchy burger (hold the govt),

This is dF

BETTER ROBOTS THROUGH PENGUIN BIONICS

ITEM [via Neatorama]: Fascinating corporate video from robotics company Festo on their Bionic Learning Network program, which basically replicates penguin swimming motion, and uses that as a base for developing better robotic hand grips and walls that react to yr movement.

Waddling to the future,

This is dF