Dear Costco:

I’m not a happy member right now.  I came across this article tonight: Costco stops carrying Coke products.  A polish hot dog and a Coke is something I look forward to when I go to your store during the lunch or dinner hour.  I remember it being a big treat when I was a kid to go to Costco and get a Coke and a polish dog.  I really hope those days aren’t through. :/

I hope you are able to work something out.

Sincerely,

Shelly (Sad)

Winning the lottery got me hooked on the dollar store… This shit’s the best! Paul Stanley wrestler ripoff, a bottle of coke, peanutbutter cups galore, big bag of greasy chips, Wrath of Khan dvd, 4 viking/monster action figure set. Look at my JACKPOT!!!

I feel like Roberto Cavalli designed this Roberto Cavalli Coke on a lot of coke. Mmmmm, coke.

And just for the hell of it:

“Come on, Tom. It’ll be fun!”, I pleaded. “It’s just you and me. I’ll set up my camera, and you grab your meat, all nine pounds of it.”

Tom’s YouTube debut! How To: Make Elk Jerky

The Coca-Cola Company announced today that beverages in its innovative PlantBottle™ packaging are beginning to arrive on store shelves in select markets throughout the world, initiating the Company’s journey toward a goal of producing 2 billion of the special PET plastic bottles by the end of 2010. PlantBottle PET plastic bottles are made partially from plants, which reduces the Company’s dependence on a non-renewable resource – petroleum. Other benefits are that it is 100 percent recyclable, and preliminary research indicates that from the growing of the plant materials through to the production of the resin, the carbon footprint for the PlantBottle packaging is smaller than for bottles made with traditional PET.

PlantBottle packaging is currently made through a process that turns sugar cane and molasses, a by-product of sugar production, into a key component for PET plastic. The sugar cane being used comes from predominantly rain-fed crops that were processed into ethanol, not refined sugar.”Coca-Cola is currently sourcing raw materials for its PlantBottle from suppliers in Brazil, where third parties have verified that best-in-class agricultural practices are the norm,” said Dr. Jason Clay, Senior Vice President of Market Transformation for WWF. “Preserving natural resources through sustainable agriculture is essential for businesses like Coca-Cola as they search for ways to alleviate environmental challenges.”

MY GRADE:

Tasty and Refreshing. With just a hint of... um... ???

(NOTE: When I speak of Dr. Pepper I am referring to Mr. Pibb too. Because to me Mr. Pibb is basically Dr. Pepper without the doctorate)

Soft drink companies have never been completely comfortable with owning up to what their products are:  a 100% artificial concoction.

So in order to imply that their fizzy beverages are plucked directly from nature, commercials for 7-UP and Sprite and Sunkist and Welch’s Grape soda bombard us with earthy, agrarian imagery: a lime tree, a waterfall, cascading lemons, a man in a panama hat and white suit, two limes waterskiing, a lemon saving the rainforest, two oranges helping Brian Wilson compose “Good Vibrations” while his psychiatrist looks on, two Frenchmen stomping grapes directly into a soda can at a lush French Vineyard.

Even Coke and Pepsi cling to some far-fetched notion that their product is a crisply refreshing natural substance by having all forms of arctic creatures guzzle down 12 ounces of their carmelly delicious brew.

Dr. Pepper’s commercials, on the other hand, have always been honest.  Irritating but honest:

I’m convinced some kind of mad genius created Dr. Pepper:

“I have an idea for a new soda.”

“Is it onion?  We’ve tried that already.  Shockingly, it was kind of unpleasant.”

“No. My inspiration is neither fruit nor vegetable nor root of beer. I’m not interested in creating some kind of faux-fruity concoction.  I’m going for more of a generic, nondescript sugary taste. As if you took twenty Pixie sticks, mixed in a half a pound of Juju-bees and then liquified it. With kind of an ass-y aftertaste.”

“Ooooh. Sounds refreshing. Count me in!”

And the world hasn’t looked back since.

So consider me a Dr. Pepper fan.  Because in its refusal to create even the slightest pretense that it is anything but 13 varieties of sugar and sweetener and corn syrup blended together,  Dr. Pepper is the world’s only “honest” soft drink.

So, nachdem sich der mir völlig unerklärliche Hype um das dahinscheiden des Robert Enkes wieder einigermaßen gelegt hat, kann ich micht wieder den wahren Kickern zuwenden, welche sich Wochenende für Wochenende auf den fiesen Hartplätzen dieser Republik Hautabschürfungen holen.

Geschockt hat mich der Trainer der Gästemannschaft am letzten Wochenende. Gut er tat alles um seine A Jugendlichen (neudeutsch dann U 19) zwischen den Zigarettenpausen zu motivieren und die Mannschaft nach vorne zu treiben. Angesichts des Rückstandes und der verbleibenden Restzeit ein nicht unbedingt einfaches Unterfangen. Aber als der Anschlusstreffer zum 2:3 fiel, sah er sich bestätigt und feuerte seine Mannen zündete sich erst mal eine neue Zigarette an, um Kraft für die Schlussviertelstunde zu sammeln.

Seinen Sturmführer schrie er zu: “Geh auf den letzten Mann und provoziere!” um dann im Nachsatz anzufügen: “Der ist reif für einen Platzverweis!” Sofort bewegt sich der Mittelstürmer zum gegnerischen Libero (Viererkette ist hier meistens noch unbekannt) und versuchte ihm auf die Buffer zu steigen.

Meine Welt des sauberen Amateurfußballs bröckelte gerade auseinander, die einsfuffzich Bratwrst wollte auch nicht mit der Coke für nen Euronen richtig runter, da fiel dann der Führungstreffer für das Heimteam, ein Abpraller trudelte ins Tor zum 4:2. Ausgleichende Gerechtigkeit dachte ich mir, Fair Play zahlt sich eben aus und die Bratwurst schmeckte sofort besser.

Am Ende der Partie stand es noch 4:4 und mein Glauben an den Fußballgot hat einen gewaltigen Knacks bekommen, ich werde mir wohl eine Heimmannschaft suchen müssen, die nicht in schwarz-gelb aufläuft und genauso gute Food- und Getränkepreise hat, ich schau dann heute Abend mal im Internet.

Economic Times has published Brand Equity’s Most Trusted Brands. Colgate for the fourth year in a row topped the list. The first ten positions in the list looks like this

1.Colgate
2.Vicks
3.Lux
4.Nokia
5.Britannia
6.Dettol
7.Lifebuoy
8.Pepsodent
9.Pond’s
10.Tata Tea

The top ten service brands are
1.LIC
2.Airtel
3.State Bank of India
4.Reliance India Mobile
5.BSNL
6.Tata Indicom
7.Indian oil
8.ICICI Bank
9.Bank of India
10.Reliance Petroleum

Cheers

Most Trusted Brands: India 2007

Brand : Canada Dry

Company : Cadbury Schweppes ( Later Coca Cola)

Agency : Mudra

Brand Analysis Count : 371

Canada Dry india

One of my colleagues yesterday showed me a 1989 issue of Business India where he pointed out an ad of a long forgotten brand – Canada Dry . We passionately talked about the brand which we both liked.

Canada Dry was launched in India in 1995 . The brand ,from Cadbury Schweppes ,was a highly popular brand of softdrinks across the globe. Canada Dry was a much hyped brand because it was from the house of Cadbury. Cadbury Schweppes launched Canada Dry a

nd Orange Crush in the Indian market with much fanfare.

Canada Dry India

Canada Dry was a Champagne Softdrink. The brand has positioned itself as a champagne and the taste was different and refreshing.

The brand was also promoted heavily in various media. The ad featuring the snow and tiger brings back the nostalgia about this brand. The brand was positioned as a premium cooldrink . The brand gained immediate acceptance because of its association with Cadbury. The brand had the potential to become a premium softdrink brand in India .

But alas, the brand did not last too long in the market. In 1999 CocaCola took over the beverages business of Cadbury Schweppes and like GoldSpot and Limca , Coke killed this brand.

It is sad to see such brands being killed for no reason connected with customers. The only reason for Coke to kill these brands was to make way for Coke’s original brands. In the case of Canada Dry , the brand only had a negligible presence in the Indian market.

Look at the Indian market now – Is there a premium softdrink brand in India ? Neither Coke or Pepsi was able to create a premium softdrinks category in India. They have not even tried yet…….

marketingpractice.blogspot.com/2009/01/canada-dry-rip-1995-1999.html

Brand : Coke

Agency: McCann

Baseline : Piyo sar Utha Ke

Well ……..

Marketers some times behaves like fools !!!!!!

Why the hell one should change their best positioning statement ? Every one loved the ” thanda ” campaign, there were rave reviews about Aamir and Coke. People looked forward to the next Aamir avatar ………

coca cola

Then it was a surprise.. there is no thanda but some blabbering about drinking coke ” Sar Utha ke?

Coke never had good time with respect to its advertising in India. Never in their second life in India, they have delivered good campaigns. Pepsi always scored with their campaigns like” Ye dil maange more” Yehi hai right choice baby”, ” Nothing official about it”.

Then came the Thanda matlab “Coca- Cola” campaign which blew the hell out of Pepsi. Well how can anyone own some thing like ” Thanda”. Similar to XEROX, Coke was trying to own a whole category as such.

Then Coke changed the campaign , Why? I don’t have the answer may be the creatives in McCann may have it. The current campaign speaks nothing. I use a straw to drink Coke, so how can I drink coke sar Utha ke? Most of the time when I tried drinking directly from the bottle, I had encountered some unpleasant taste of “rust” from the cap of the bottle. What about the South Indians and othe non Hindi speaking consumers? Will they be impressed by the base line?

An opportunity lost for Coke . they had one BIG IDEA in ” Thanda Matlab Coca-Cola “and they blew it off

marketingpractice.blogspot.com/2005/11/coca-cola-thanda-nahin-hai.html

Co-Branding, as defined by Philip Kotler, is “Two or more well-known brands combined in an offer”. Co-Branding refers to a situation where a product or service offering holds the brand names of both the participants to influence brand preference and incentivise purchase of the product or service in concern by delivering a perception of the existence of the brand values of both the brands involved to the consumer of the product or service. This essentially tries to incorporate the advantages or brand associations of both the brands involved into one product or service offering.

Co-Branding carries a strong list of advantages, partly relating to brand associations and values, and partly with the product or service offering itself. The former is done to enhance customer experience and influence behaviour, the latter is done to incorporate usage of technology or brand attributes like design, aesthetics et al in the product or service in order to offer an enhanced or augmented product or service. New product launches often depend on Co-Branding for establishing market position by having customer identify new brands and their offerings through an already existing brand. This can often be combined with Synergies offered by particular brands. An example of this would be, although in its nascent stage, the Mahindra-Renault partnership where Mahindra’s expertise in the Indian market was used to develop distribution and service channels, and Renault’s product portfolio is used to produce and design cars. Mahindra benefits through Renault’s expertise in producing sedans and hatchbacks for their future portfolios, and Renault benefits in saving huge dealer development costs and having its current mid-size offering, the Logan, being identified as a cheap to run, frugal and reliable automobile, all values housed by Mahindra brands such as the Scorpio and the Bolero. Image re-enforcement has become another common trend in the marketplace where two complementary brands come together and market their offerings together. A very apt example of this would be Jack Daniel’s and Coca-Cola, or as they call it, ‘Jack & Coke’. When this campaign was carried out in pubs and bars across the United States, Jack Daniel’s was perceived more as a rugged brand or rednecks, and coke has a wider appeal to the youth. The middle ground was the newly legal adults who had experienced Coke for decades, but hadn’t experienced Jack Daniel’s whiskey. This Co-Branding exercise was carried out to appeal to the market in between the typical Coke and Jack Daniel’s markets, i.e., 21 to 35 year olds. It became such a success that Jack & Coke has become a favourite amongst not only the targeted segments of the market, but also with older, more mature audiences. In a nutshell, Co-Branding essentially has to take into consideration the brand partnership that the customer perceives (purpose, advantages), the common values the brands and its customers share and what the co-branding offering means to the target audiences.

Brand Loyalty, when it comes to Co-Branding, is a tricky business. When a service or product offering is similar to the brand value or image offered by the Co-Branded offering, success is often witnessed. An example of this would be the limited edition Tonino Lamborghini Espresso Machine. Only 1000 units were produced, priced at about $1750. Since the offering appealed directly to the Lamborghini target market, it was sold-out within a matter of days. The buyers were not just Lamborghini car owners, they were also people who admired the Lamborghini brand and couldn’t own the car, so the association created with the espresso machine goes a long way in delivering customer delight, even without owning a Lamborghini is truly astounding. However, this can be often fatal to the image of brands as well. The formerly GM owned SUV cult brand Hummer had launched a mobile phone with a company named ‘Fly’. The product was, for lack of a better phrase, inadequate. Where the Hummer brand stood for rugged looks and go-anywhere attitude, the Fly Hummer phone stood for neither. The phone was perceived by the market as flimsy and basic, whereas the Hummer brand stood for all else. The Co-Branding was a failure where even Hummer car owners were also turned off by the entire exercise.

Famous examples of fairly successful Co-Branding include ICICI and Hindustan Petroleum Credit Cards, Lease-Plan and Mondial assistance, Intel with major computer manufacturers like Hewellet-Packard, Dell etc., Acer-Ferrari Laptops, Asus-Lamborghini Laptops, Puma-Ferrari merchandise, Fiat-Mattel Barbie Fiat 500, TataSky digital Dish TV, The Global Fund (Red) with various brands like Apple, American Express, Dell, Starbucks, Hallmark, Converse etc., Jack Daniel’s and TGI Friday’s with multiple Jack Daniel dishes, and the list goes on and on. However, failures have included British Telecom and AT&T, Mahindra-Renault, Braun-Gillette Body Shavers, Fly Hummer Mobile Phones, and many more.

Co-Branding, hence, is a double edged sword, with each side being sharp enough to cut through titanium. Organisations have to be very careful while co-branding and aiming for success simply because of the fact that a wrong move can result in stupendous disasters that may plague the brands involved for a long period of time where the organisation may end up spending millions to revive the brand.

Photo:  Awaiting Return – Happy Hollow Farms – Mt. Juliet, Tennessee

Well i have had a good day health wise, I have been feeling terribly tired at points but doing stuff “thats what I call a mixture of work and play on the pc” its taken my mind off of it and diverted my attention and brain, so strangely enough its kept me awake oh and the snickers bar “I still call it a marathon” and 2 packets of Wotsits and some Coke.. Yeah I know sugar rush or what lol..

Its now 3am and I am still awake and still doing stuff.. that means blogging too… anything to keep me occupied.. if it works then im not complaining.. and because i have been so ill over the last 6 months ive not been making lots in fact ive been making no money and paying out all the time..

Homeless Man: You see, I’ve been sniffing and…

Guy at ATM: Dude, for the last time, FUCK OFF, I DON’T WANT ANY OF YOUR COKE.

State Street

Overheard by Burger Eatin Guy

Coca Cola is distributed all over the world – including places where there is no access to medicine or clean drinking water.

ColaLife is voluntary movement and campaign to get Coca-Cola to open up its distribution channels in developing countries to help save lives – by carrying much needed products like oral rehydration salts, mosquito nets, and vitamin tablets in its crates between bottles of Coca-Cola.

These ’social products’ can be transported in simply made ‘aidpods‘ which fit neatly between the bottles of Coca-Cola in the crates.

Simon Berry, Founder and Leader of Colalife talks more about the campaign

A simple, effective, and completely plausible idea, and one which shows that a small action can make a massive impact.  ColaLife is a completely independent, community run group – and they need support!  You can show your support for this campaign by:

• Becoming a fan on Facebook >>>
• Following the campaign on Twitter >>>
• Joining the GoogleGroup >>>
• Reading the Blog >>>
• Make an aidpod >>>

“He… bribed me to give him a free taco and a Coke” – Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner

Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco was fined another $25,000 for a Taco Bell stunt

When it comes to getting monetarily punished for unsportsmanlike conduct in the NFL, the old saying goes like this: “Get penalized once, shame on them. Get penalized twice, shame on you.” But the pundits may have to come up with new words of wisdom for former Oregon State standout Chad Ochocinco.

The fines for Ochocinco continue to accumulate after his latest escapade with the Taco Bell in Cincinnati, Ohio.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he was appalled that just one day after Ochocinco was fined $20,000 for jokingly offering a referee a dollar bill during a replay challenge against the Baltimore Ravens, that “Chad would have the chutzpah to pull another stunt like this.”

As part of the Comish Vanquish World Hunger Act initiated by former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue in 1994, every week during the season, the current NFL commissioner volunteers his time at a restaurant in one of the cities that holds an NFL franchise.

Goodell chose Cincinnati’s Taco Bell on Montgomery Rd. to be his charitable restaurant for the week. Purely by coincidence, that destination is also Ochocinco’s favorite hot spot for food.

The commissioner took on the role of window server for the day, but that’s when the controversy started.

“He [Ochocinco] came up to the window and bribed me to give him a free taco and a Coke,” a disappointed Goodell said. “He said on the intercom that he would give me three dollars for the items, which put me immediately into shock. I thought a man of his caliber would have enough professionalism to not repeat this bribing act again.

“Going into this, I was not aware that Chad [Ochocinco] visited here frequently. While this did occur off the football field, I had to bring it up with the NFL and it was their decision to follow through with the fining, mainly because it was his second offense.”

Within just one week, Ochocinco has been fined $45,000 for offering four dollars.

“It’s sad that on my day off, when helping for an altruistic cause that these circumstances took place,” Goodell said. “I surely hope this is the last time we hear of any bribes.”

Ochocinco was not available for comment, but his agent said they will fight the ruling and that it was “all a misunderstanding.”

To see some of Chad Ochocinco’s celebrations throughout his career, click on the link below:
Ochocinco Celebrations

On the basic premise of Coke’s hook-and-eye bus shelter ads, I’ve got to agree with Jesus Diaz at Gizmodo:

I don’t know what Coca-Cola was thinking when they used these ads to promote their Grip Bottle in bus stops. They are made with velcro, so if you lean or get anywhere near them wearing woolly cloths, you’d get stuck.

The ads were designed to highlight the better grip the new bottles offer. They placed them in bus stop shelters in Paris, ready to rip cashmere sweaters and expensive clothes. But instead of hating them, the French bought 3.8% more of their sugar water.

What I want to see is an image of one of these ads after a week of being there. I can imagine giant balls of dust with cats and drunk people inside.

But “cashmere sweaters and expensive clothes”? Come on, everybody knows rich people don’t take the bus.

In fact, I venture that the 3.8% sales boost came from wealthy folk who delighted in the sight of destitute commuters hung by their velcro-ed scarves while trying to get to their menial jobs.

If you follow the brand valuations for the IPL here, you would note the vertical cliff between revenues after season 1 and season 2. Also, the same is likely to repeat again in season 3. However, most of us would find the pricing for outdoor/theatrical rights for IPL coverage which in fact may not cover public radio and is unclear about use of team logos etc, seems to have been a cheap affair for ESD. OR, if Lalit Modi has done his job right, then there is as of now a very minimal revenue share for the TV network, the teams and the On ground sponsors are also getting away scotfree..it probably would be a very tightly monitored roll out as all the stakeholders would want to be visible and / or paid for the game in action and the real brand value would probably factor in this roll out of IPL at even 10 times the bid of INR 3300 crores at the very least.

Apart from this, team revenues would also need to rise vertically again for season 3 as time for rebidding is close at hand and some voices will already be contemplating new team mates in the pits. If not, trading is likely to get very ham handed despite the adding teams in during seasons 3 and 4

Here are the few tweets about the rights being granted and what has been happening:

What are the revenue share arrangements for ESD? and ESD with Mall/Theatre operators? MSM pays 80% to IPL till season 5, 60% till season 10

As per GoI broadcast Ministry rules all DTH providers have to get the channels from MSM, now if ESD uses at theater?

Big TV had earlier pulled out of a on ground sponsorship whn Airtel earned on-air DTH rights from MSM, Coke has on-air rights, Pepsi on grnd

MSM had earlier paid $1.79 billion to IPL for telecast rights for 10 years and the 160 cr settlement later for season 2

ESD would thus control IPl coverage in cinema, stadia and other public places for 10 years..they should pay the TV ntwrk used for broadcast?

Entertainment Sports Direct wins IPL ‘theatrical’ rights for $71.7mln till 2019 from Season 3 on, That means TV networks would now bid again

Lakers shining the Suns! At least NBA fans in India are happier with the new ESPN India imports

The Sales numbers from Apple $AAPL though their self congratulatory notes don’t sound too polished http://ping.fm/DESi9

la suite de ça, bande d’assistés

Salif – ça n’a aucun sens, déjà je vois pas comment tu peux exister tout court, et en plus si tu m’appelais vraiment ce serait du passé, vers 98 ou un truc comme ça.
Fon – tu sais moi et les chiffres…
Salif – mais tu viens de quelle époque, tu sors d’où bordel ?
Fon – là je sais juste que je sors des chiottes
Salif – … je hais ce mec.
il raccroche.

Zox – allo Salif ? kdb zic niggaz !
Salif – ouais c’est qui ?
Zox – c’est zozoxeazea ! sages pozoeze !
Salif – tu es bègue ?
Zox – mais non bordel… c’est zoxea quoi.
Salif – ben fallait le dire tout d’suite, quoi d’neuf ?
Zox – ben déjà bravo pour l’album, c’est du bon ça !
Salif – mais tu l’as pas écouté mon album
Zox – j’ai pas besoin de ça pour savoir qu’il est bon.
Salif – ah.
Zox – c’est normal je suis le king de boulogne.
Salif – ah, c’est pas fini ça…
Zox – tu sais que je prépare mon album là ?
Salif – tu me crois si je te dis non ?
Zox – ouais ça va être un événement, parce que tu vois sur celui là j’écris pas !
Salif – hmm.
Zox – non mais ce sera vraiment tout dans la tête là !
Salif – j’ai bien compris oui.
Zox – mais ça s’est jamais vu en France là ! c’est une première !
Salif – en fait non : y’a déjà eu oxmo y’a 10 ans avec l’amour est mort qui n’écrivait pas. sinon moi ça fait pas mal d’années que j’écris plus non plus, je l’ai dit dans une vidéo y’a pas longtemps.
Zox – …
Salif – mais c’est bien, ça fait plaisir de voir que t’as la pêche. allez à plus.
Zox – hahaaaa ! salut ! zilizoxea !
Salif – brrra !
Zox – c’est du bon çaaa !
Salif – yeaaaaaah !
standardiste – bon les autistes vous avez fini ? vous me niquez les oreilles avec vos conneries.
Salif – hein ? écoute salope. tu m’empêcheras pas de dire au revoir à mon pote. tu vois je suis un mec très respectueux. et si t’as un problème avec ça tu devrais aller te faire foutre et dégager avant que je te pète ta gueule.
Zox – mais d’ailleurs mon album est pas bouclé, si tu veux tu pourrais poser
Salif – ahaha, elle est bonne, lâche rien.
Zox – mais…
Salif – allez à plus (à la standardiste) mais raccroche bon dieu !

Salif – allo
Joe Lucazz – ouais mimil !
Salif – ah salut joe
Joe – j’appelle pour dire que j’ai beaucoup aimé le son cash converter.
Salif – merci c’est sympa.
Joe – par contre y’a une grosse incohérence dans l’album. dans un son tu dis que tu veux arrêter la vente du shit, c’est une sage décision, mais dans un autre tu dis que t’es heureux de pas vendre de coke.
Salif – oui, c’est vrai.
Joe – mais qu’est-ce que c’est que ça mimil ? si t’arrêtes le shit et que tu vends pas non plus de coke, ta vie n’a plus aucun sens.
Salif – non mais moi c’est pas mon délire ça.
Joe – ah, tu vas te mettre dans les extas ?
Salif – non plus non.
Joe – l’héroïne ?
Salif – non, t’as pas vraiment…
Joe – les amphets ? crystal meth ? crack ? codéine ? morphine ? opium ? croquettes pour chat ?
Salif – non, non, rien de tout ça putain.
Joe – mais si tu vends rien de tout ça, tu veux dire que… oh mon dieu. tu arrêtes la bicrave tout court ?!
Salif – c’est le projet, oui.
Joe – t’as repris l’alcool ?
Salif – mais non.
Joe – je tiens à te dire que je suis sincèrement désolé salif. j’espère que tu te reprendras bientôt.
Salif – …
Joe – mais faut pas t’inquiéter, on a tous nos périodes de doute.
Salif – non, je vais arrêter définitivement.
Joe – bon mimil, je vois que je te convaincrai pas.
Salif – voilà t’as tout compris gringo.
Joe – bonne chance pour les braquages alors.
Salif – bordel… appel suivant.

Mano – allo salif ? c’est monsieur Mano, ton ancien prof de math. c’est madame Castellan qui m’a donné le numéro.
Salif – fait chier…
Mano – non mais j’appelle pour te féliciter. j’ai écouté le son cash converter et je vois que tu as bien assimilé mes cours
Salif – mais dans ce track je parle de kilos de shit
Mano – ah ? je m’en suis pas rendu compte
Salif – comment vous avez fait pour pas faire gaffe ?
Mano – oh j’ai aucun mérite, je suis alcoolique.
Salif – et en plus je compte que jusqu’à 5 dans le son.
Mano – tu sais dans ta classe y’avait aussi lim, cens nino, exs, boulox, sir doum’s, et brams. c’est quand j’ai appris le redoublement de mala que j’ai fait ma 1ère tentative de suicide. alors je me console comme je peux.

Fon – ah, enfin. surtout raccroche pas
Salif – va falloir que tu m’expliques comment c’est possible
Fon – c’est assez simple, suffit de garder le combiné près de ton oreille
Salif – je veux dire parler à une ancienne version de moi-même abruti, comment CA c’est possible
Fon – ça intéresse qui, ça ? je suis là pour te délivrer un message de la plus haute importance
Salif – vas-y je t’écoute
Fon – …
Salif – …
Fon – …
Salif – t’as oublié c’est ça ?
Fon – oublier quoi ?
Salif – appel suivant.

Salif – cash converter
Joe Lucazz – jamais
Salif aka Fon – Sous Basse Et Drum Obligé
Salif – j’hésite

Here is an interesting perspective from the CEO of Coca Cola, explaining how their reputation continues to be harmed and blamed for making Americans big fatsos when they are doing the right things by reducing sugar content in their products. In fact, lack of exercise and other products are contributing to making people fat.

This was published in the Wall Street Journal on October, 7, 2009.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703298004574455464120581696.html

Coke Didn’t Make America Fat
Americans need more exercise, not another tax.
By MUHTAR KENT

Obesity is a complex issue, and addressing it is important for all Americans. We at the Coca-Cola company are committed to working with government and health organizations to implement effective solutions to address this problem.

But a number of public-health advocates have already come up with what they think is the solution: heavy taxes on some routine foods and beverages that they have decided are high in calories. The taxes, the advocates acknowledge, are intended to limit consumption of targeted foods and help you to accept the diet that they have determined is best.

In cities and states across America—and even at the federal level—this idea is getting increased attention despite its regressive nature and inherent illogic.

While it is true that since the 1970s Americans have increased their average caloric intake by 12%, they also have become more sedentary. According to the National Center for Health Statistics 2008 Chartbook, 39% of adults in the U.S. are not engaging in leisure physical activity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that 60% of Americans are not regularly active and 25% of Americans are not active at all. The average American spends the equivalent of 60 days a year in front of a television, according to a 2008 A.C. Nielsen study. This same research data show that the average time spent playing video games in the U.S. went up by 25% during the last four years.

If we’re genuinely interested in curbing obesity, we need to take a hard look in the mirror and acknowledge that it’s not just about calories in. It’s also about calories out.

Our industry has become an easy target in this debate. Sugar-sweetened beverages have been singled out in spite of the fact that soft drinks, energy drinks, sports drinks and sweetened bottled water combined contribute 5.5% of the calories in the average American diet, according to the National Cancer Institute. It’s difficult to understand why the beverages we and others provide are being targeted as the primary cause of weight gain when 94.5% of caloric intake comes from other foods and beverages.

Those pushing for this tax lack some essential facts, not to mention some basic common sense. Over the past 20 years, the average caloric content of soft drinks has dropped by nearly 25%. This is due in large part to a determined focus by our company and others on the diet/light category with brands like Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero and Powerade Zero. Even soft drinks with sugar, like Coca-Cola, contain no more calories (140 calories in a can) than some common snacks, breakfast foods and most desserts served up daily in millions of American homes. And while obesity rates have skyrocketed, sales of regular soft drinks decreased by nearly 10% from 2000 to 2008, according to the industry publication Beverage Digest.

So where are all of the extra calories in the American diet coming from? Research from the United States Department of Agriculture shows that added sugars, as a percentage of total daily available calories, have declined 11% since 1970. Yet the percent of calories from added fats and flour/cereal products has increased 35% and 13%, respectively, during that same time period.

Will a soft drink tax change behavior? Two states currently have a tax on sodas—West Virginia and Arkansas—and they are among the states with the highest rates of obesity in the nation.

Obesity is a serious problem. We know that. And we agree that Americans need to be more active and take greater responsibility for their diets. But are soft drinks the cause? I would submit to you that they are no more so than some other products—and a lot less than many, many others.

As a leader in our industry, we have a role to play in solving this issue. Globally, we have led the industry for nearly 30 years with innovations across the diet and light beverage categories. Today, more than 25% of our global beverage portfolio is comprised of low- or no-calorie beverages.

Policy makers should stop spending their valuable time demonizing an industry that directly employs more than 220,000 people in the U.S., and through supporting industries, an additional three million. Instead, business and government should come together to help encourage greater physical activity and sensible eating and drinking, while allowing Americans to enjoy the simple pleasure of a Coca-Cola.

Mr. Kent is CEO of the Coca-Cola Company.

Most people are concerned about money right now.

I am in need of an IV drip connected to a money bag myself.  The place where I bartend is only scheduling me for 3-4 shifts a week, and like many restaurants, is struggling.

So one part of determining if raw food eating is “worth” it is the dollars spent. I’ll do my best to give a dollars & cents breakdown on what eating this way is costing me and how it compares to when I ate a “normal” American diet.

Another price to pay for eating raw is taking an honest look at the things you give up to do so.  Pizza delivery and cheap beer.  Pitchers of mojitos to wash down some gourmet Cuban cuisine.  Street food (especially TACO TRUCKS!)  BBQ joints…did I mention Taco Trucks?

I knew my moto was back in Cali when I came across this taco truck on a cold night just south of the border. The Oregon border!

Finally, anytime you examine somethings true cost you have to figure out just what the hell you’re getting out of it.  AKA…what are the benefits?

So is it worth it? I’m no expert and I can’t answer this (or any other question) for you.  But let you inside my abnormally large head and show you exactly how I feel at this juncture about the costs of eating raw…

Today (part 1) will focus on the monetary cost.  Tomorrow (part 2) will look at the cost of giving up things you love and are used to…like taco trucks.  And in (part 3) I’ll wrap it up with a snazzy cost/benefits analysis (sorry no charts or Excel spreadsheets) that attempts to explore the sometimes measurable, sometimes intangible benefits of a raw food life.

Part One

IS EATING RAW MORE EXPENSIVE THAN COOKED?

First few times you walk over to the raw “section” at the health food store (you know you’ve become a radical marginal member of society when you are shopping in a specialized section of a specialty store) two things will probably jump to your attention…

My first thought was “This is a really tiny section.  Not really a section actually, more like an end-cap.”

My second thought was, “Holy shit!  $14 for peanut butter!?”

Bulk Items

To make matters worse, a lot of the things you “need” to get started are bulk items. These types of items will probably last you a month, but they require payment in full today.

As an example, I bought a big bottle of spirulina for $43.  Two weeks later I’m only halfway through it.  But when I

Spirulina bringing someone else back from the dead...

was standing there in the store trying to imagine how bad something that grows on top of a swamp might taste, and ruminating on the sad fact that lately I don’t even make $43 some nights, well lets just say it wasn’t easy to hand over the green required to buy the green. (Spirulinas really more blue-green).

My conclusion? These items aren’t in actuality expensive and can actually make raw eating more economical in some instances. At $1.4o per serving, roughly the price of a Coke, instead of corn syrup, chemicals, and an ingredient list that reads more like toilet bowl cleaner than beverage; you get the most concentrated bio-available protein on the planet.

So, score one for the spirulina and other bulk raw items you might want like cacao nibs, hemp oil, and raw honey.

Pre-packaged stuff VS. Produce

When you are new and trying to “adjust” to raw  for the first time you will naturally gravitate to the expensive pre-packaged raw items because they sorta look like what you think foods supposed to look like.

I stood there having a Homer Simpson style conversation with myself that went something like this… “Ahhhh…crackers!  I know what crackers are! This is a peculiarly small little bag with only 6 crackers in it…not exactly a Costco size box of Wheat Thins…but it says here…sun-dried tomato crackers…mmm…sounds yummy…and they are only…let me just turn this little package over and find the price….$9!  WTF!”

I bought them anyways.  Because I was scared of not having what I refer to as “food-food.”  And you know what allows you to psychologically pay NINE BUCKS for SIX CRACKERS?  The little sticker on the package that says “raw.”  And do you know what those crackers taste like, I’ll give you a hint…it’s a 4 letter word…start’s with an “S”…and it’s not sun dried tomatoes!

I’ve been reading a lot of other raw foodists blogs and watching their You Tube channels and tweeting with them and I’m starting to get the feeling that the longer one eats raw, the more likely they are to do almost all of their shopping at a Farmer’s Market, or in a good organic produce section.

My conclusion? Go ahead and buy the pre-packaged stuff.  Try it.  See what you like and what you don’t.  Soon you will save the dehydrated breads and little $4 baggies of superfood trail mix for when you need the convenience or the comfort.  Spend the bulk of your dough on fruits & veggies that are pound for pound, yes even at organic prices, the best value for your food dollar.

11/14 UPDATE!  Went to Farmer’s Market today and loaded up on fresh veggies/greens/and fruit.  I even bought a big jar of raw wildflower honey.  Grand Total = $40  Because I’m 100% raw I also got “free” breakfast out of the deal just walking around enjoying all the samples being handed out.  When I came home I took everything out and put it on the table so I could see what all I bought.  I had to take a picture…amazing isn’t it?  The honey will last a couple weeks and I’m sharing this with my girlfriend, so the real cost to me for the week I estimate to be closer to$25!!!

How Much Are You NOT Spending?

This is really fair question to ask, and the one that pushed me over the edge on the money issue.  Do this little exercise yourself, and be brutally honest about it.

I added up what I spent each week on:

• Coffee. Up to 2 weeks ago I was spending over $6 per day at Starbucks.
• Booze. I’m talking drinks out (w/ tips), drinks in, wine, beer, all of it! For me drinking on the cheap was still costing  me over $70 per week. And that’s with a job where I can have a drink or two for free.
• Cooked food groceries. I love to cook.  Shop pretty smart at Trader Joe’s.  My share of weekly groceries is about $40 per week.
• Eating out. Make sure you include any fast food, lunches out, frozen yogurts, movie popcorn, brunch, all that!  I had really cut back lately.  In the past my girlfriend and I would grab sushi or Mexican food at least 3x per week. But due to lack of work and recently moving, I’m gonna say I was spending about $25 per week eating out.
• Cigarettes. I don’t smoke cigarettes, so this wasn’t an issue with me.  But if you do smoke, we’re talking big bucks here, and you ARE going to stop smoking if you go 100% raw.  Maybe not immediately, but soon.
• Other drugs including prescriptions. In one way or another, to quote Weezer, “We are ALL on drugs.”  I like to party, and think recreational substances have their place. But for arguments sake assume you won’t be spending money on that after you get hooked up to nature’s crack–raw food.  Also include most (not all, like I don’t think eating raw is going to do anything in the contraceptive department) pharmaceuticals.  Especially meds for cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, acid reflux (my GERD is 100% GONE), etc.

So for me…about $200 per week.  What’s your total?

So that’s $200 per week that I can apply to eating 100% raw food, drinking fresh-squeezed vibrant juices, and even eating out every so often in a little raw cafe or gourmet raw eatery.  $200 is A LOT of vegetables and fruit.

Another aspect of how much it really costs to eat raw vegan organic foods that I hadn’t thought of until I read Derek Markham’s blog today…is all the money not spent at the Doctors office.  In his case he acknowledges that as a father he chooses to spend a large portion of his families income on fresh organic food.  Derek says, “Our kids deserve the best fuel for their minds and bodies, and eating this way is our ‘health insurance’.” That blew me away.

What I’m NOT suggesting is that you cancel your health insurance (if you have health insurance) and count that as potential savings if you go raw.  But imagine the money you, your family, and the country would save by having less sick days, co-pays, depression, and chronic illness…

My conclusion? Money should have nothing to do with whether or not someone chooses to go raw.  If anything, I am spending a little less money each week to give my body an abundance of nutrients and delicious food.

Tune in tomorrow if you want to read about some of my misgivings about going (and staying raw long-term), as well as a candid lament about things I’m not sure I can live without (or want to).