Maybe it’s the odd weather (67 in New York while it’s 46 in Palo Alto, then reversed in 24 hours, ugh), but my mind at times like these turns to random observations about branding.

Good, bad, stupid, you decide. I was just wondering if anyone noticed that…

• The larger the company, the shorter the corporate brand name. HP. IBM. 3M. FedEx. The opposite is also true, quite often. (TransGlobalMegaConglomerated is actually two teens in a garage).

• Speaking of FedEx, how many people don’t see that dynamic arrow in the middle of the brand name, but are subconsciously influenced by it? (Yes, it was a deliberate inclusion)

• Another deliberate inclusion: Stephen “Steve” King named his Randall Flagg villain (The Stand, The Dark Tower series) after the roach spray, Black Flag. True story. Ask the Master himself.

• Speaking of roach sprays, anyone else notice that the animated television commercial for “Raid” and “Raisin Nuts” cereal are the same? (Small critters. “Raaaaaaid?!” “Raaaaiiisssin Nuts?!”)

• Some designer out there should be given an award for amazingly great hidden satire, for designing an Enzyte (“Natural Male Enhancement”) commercial series, featuring “Smilin’ Bob” that simultaneously pays homage to Bob Dole’s Viagra commercials (probably intended) and more closely to Bob Dobbs of  “The Church of the SubGenius” fame.

…aaaaand to finish off…

• You can buy NASCAR-brand vegetables. I hear the tomatoes are fairly good, if you’re into that kind of thing. No kidding. http://www.castellinicompany.com/nascar.html

That’s all for now – we’ll return to our regularly scheduled broadcast next week…

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