Got this item from Darryl's Blog (thanks). It's a great concept. To commemorate the last 50 years of "branding", the Society has selected the top 50 brands over the past 50 years.

As the article states, it's a work in progress and is asking you to give them feedback as to what your vote would be. You can even go to the year you were born and see their choice for that year. Of coarse, being over 50 I don't get a fancy schmancy page for my birth year - but you can check out RMI's which is Microsoft for 1985.

I just read something I missed. Sorry, it has very little to do with DM but a lot to do with humor and the role marketing plays in our purchasing. Ken Magill's online column last week spoke of water. Yup just plain water. But what was so funny was that he got a little bottle of Jana water as a give a-way at a store. He goes on to talk about how strange it is to think that we would buy expensive, almost designer water when we can get the same thing out of any tap.

Ah, the beauty of marketing. That's what we're all about...no? No more hunching over that germ ridden water fountain at the department store or the car repair shop. No you've got your own personal dispenser with you at all times. Reminds me of the Lewis Black routine where he rails against Coke and Pepsi for being authorities on not soda but water.

But again, that's what we do. We present products or services to entice consumers to buy ours rather than theirs. Grey Goose, Kettle One, Smirnoff. We all know that one. Brilliant marketing.

My son swears he can taste the difference between Poland Springs, Dasani and Aquafina. I can't. But as long as there are people who say they can... that's all that matters.

If you haven't yet heard about Marc Ecko's 3/4 of a million dollar purchase of Barry Bonds' 756th home run baseball, come out of your cave and read up. The hip-hop fashion guru, and founder of ECKO Unlimited, let America decide on the fate of the ball via a week long online survey. By popular demand, Ecko branded the ball with an asterisk and gifted it to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Everyone seems so enthralled with the fact that he spent over $752k on a prank. But the amount of publicity? Priceless. What an absolute ingenious marketing strategy! Not only has his face (and clothing line) been plastered in newspapers, magazines and television internationally, but he drew thousands to his website - targeting consumers both in and out of his typical demographic. I wonder how many middle-aged men were surprised to find nice button up shirts and polos by ECKO. I also wonder how many Bonds haters purchased a clothing item just in support, and how many of those people will become loyal customers.

And talk about the campaign that keeps on giving. Thousands of people visit the Baseball Hall of Fame every year and will be constantly reminded of ECKO Unlimited. And to top it all off, as a business expense - it's tax deductible! So hats off to Marc Ecko. Coming from both a marketer, and a die-hard Yankee fan.