I'm sure you've seen them on sites like Craigslist and Kijiji: Ads that offer money for articles, people looking for freelance writers. Many of them will ask you for sample articles.
Well it turns out that in many cases that those aren't job postings. They are just looking for free content for other people's web sites and they are getting paid for your sample articles.
"Heyya peeps, haven't been on in a long while since the hack attacks, but got into this AC thing. So far its shit cause they're real big bloody assholes about what kind of articles they want; kinda like a little kid who picks at his food.
Well I guessed they couldnt turn professionally written articles down so here's what I did short and simple. I went to craiglist put up a job listing in suburbs and shit like that (since the cities cost $25), it was for a writing position on how-to's and guides. I instructed them to send me a newly written sample 500 word article on a topic that I chose for each ad. I also asked for a resume to make it look more authentic.
Took about 4 days, but I got maybe 10 to 20 articles on good subjects that I submitted to AC and got paid a good $35 bucks total for the articles since they were very nicely written.
Try it out and enjoy!"
Remember that if it seems too good to be true it probably is. Be especially wary of job sites that don't charge for posting (Craigslist in particular is primarily a spam board now.) Do not apply for jobs unless there is a legitimate company attached to it. Even if it is through an employment agency they should have a website somewhere that you can look at.
Don't give them anything, not even a resume (which could aid in identity theft), if you don't know who they are.
Microsoft has pretty much built itself on 'borrowing' other people's ideas, and then when possible patenting them and gaining a monopoly. Here are few small examples but the internet is rife with examples, just Google it. Perahaps nothing more is needed to understand Mircosoft than their new ad campaign.
Microsoft
Oscar Nominated Short by Josh Raskin "I Met the Walrus"
This isn't anything new or surprising. People in business borrow each other's ideas all the time. The point here is that Microsoft is not, and never has been a creative organization. They are not driven by innovation, they are driven by taking what's already there and putting it in a pretty package. It is more of a marketing company than a tech company, it just happens that what they are marketing is technology.
""Fact is, truth is an essential part of any successful ad campaign. Smart advertisers have known this for years. That's why the advertising industry created the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards. For more than 40 years, the Code has set the standards for acceptable advertising in Canada. It helps ensure that the ads you see and hear are truthful, fair and accurate. Check it out for yourself. Because the more you know about advertising, the more you get out of it."
Julie Wilson runs the brilliant blog Seen Reading in which she catches people reading books around Toronto, takes a good guess as to what page they are on and then reports it on her blog along with a short exceprt from the book. Because Julie cannot actually buy hundreds of books a year she does her research in book shops. She finds the book and the page and copies an excerpt (about 50 words) to go along with the blog. In this manner she plugs books daily in an age when publishers are going under and literacy rates are declining rapidly.
Fortunately the Indigo Copyright police were on hand to put a stop to such nefarious behavior.
"Seems Wilson was caught up short by the Indigo staffer’s allegation that what she was doing was “illegal.” When she explained that excerpting 50 words from a novel-length text for the purpose of review or commentary falls under the fair dealing provisions of the Copyright Act, she was informed that it was only fair use if copied from a book that she owned. It’s illegal to do so from a book on Indigo’s shelf. (Which, by extension, would mean that it would also be illegal for Wilson to copy a passage from a library book, but let’s not split hairs.)"
Thank goodness the upstanding employees of Chapters/Indigo are on their toes, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice to protect the world from independent local bookstores and the dark underworld of people who try to promote literacy in their spare time. Without their diligence the world would surely turn into a cesspool of scum, villainy and book piracy (with all of the illegal volumes copied out by hand no less)!
Sure there are a few bleeding hearts out there who think that Indigo should apologize to Wilson, promise to leave her alone in future and give her a big, fat gift card for the trouble but rewarding book crime and unlicensed literary promotion is a one way ticket to total anarchy.
Sirius Canada says that they want you to 'discover music again' in their ad. But the Truth is that Sirius doesn't trust you to discover music on your own, or to choose your own radio stations. They, apparently, don't think enough of Canadian music to think that it can survive if you have other options.
In front of the CRTC recently Sirius Canada argued in favor of Geo Blocking internet radio that doesn't meet Can-Con requirements. Geo-blocking is exactly what it sounds like. People in Canada would not be able to get any internet radio that did not meet Can Con requirements.
"Kerr claimed that the two satellite radio companies in Canada contribute more to Canadian content development than any terrestrial radio company. Further, Sirius plays materially more Canadian content on its channels than does terrestrial radio. Kerr claimed that Sirius’ 65 channels play more CanCon (at 85%) than 65 regular radio channels because it has no commercials and is on the air 24 hours a day. Internet radio, on the other hand, faces no such obligations to satisfy content requirements. Essentially, this is an unfair situation which hurts satellite radio and does little to achieve the goals of Canadian content. Kerr asked the CRTC to question how regulating the tiny satellite radio element of broadcasting satisfies these goals. Satellite radio is primarily concerned with the situation where users have unlimited access to content. Traditional broadcasting is relatively closed and limits the user’s access to non Canadian content. This excludes a great deal of content and shapes the listening experience of the user. Kerr admits that any effort to establish symmetry between internet audio broadcasting and traditional broadcasting in the content that is delivered to users would “thrill” satellite radio. The best case scenario for satellite radio would be one where internet audio providers were required to geo-block non-Canadian content. In fact, Kerr said glibly, if such an unlikely course of action were to be taken by the CRTC, Sirius would likely “throw a party” in celebration. Kerr added, however, that she realizes such an approach flies in the face of the principle of an open and neutral internet. But in suggesting such a course of action, Kerr wanted to highlight to the CRTC the dangerous situation that is immediately facing satellite radio."
Make no mistake, this isn't about Can-Con. This is about satellite radio which was never a good idea trying to protect itself from fair competition by a vastly superior technology and asking to be protected by law. They are willing to sacrafice net neturality, sacrafice your options as a consumer and hold back technological advancement in order to protect themselves - all of this in spite of the fact that they have never turned a profit and are not likely to. Not onloy are they unprofitable but the pending doom of their U.S. counterparts and the loss of US audiences and stations would almost certainly mean the end for satellite radio in Canada as well. So, they are willing to sacrifice the freedom of the internet, your choices as a consumer, and to stall technological advancement so that they can put off their imminent demise just a little bit longer.
It is true that internet radio does not have can-con requirements, nor does it have limits to the amount of advertising it airs. However, each internet radio station will be in competition with thousands of radio stations like it and if they do not provide good content or if they run too many ads they will not survive. As for the content, Canadian musicians have more than proven for more than a decade now that they can compete anywhere, and that they have appeal not only in Canada but all over the world.
So, yes, absolutely, discover music again. Discover the world of internet radio out there. Pull the plug on satellite radio before they pull the plug on you and listen to radio online or get yourself one of those wonderful new internet radios if you can afford it. Don't send any more money to a company that is willing to sacrafice your rights and your choices so they can keep going for a little bit longer.
""Fact is, truth is an essential part of any successful ad campaign. Smart advertisers have known this for years. That's why the advertising industry created the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards. For more than 40 years, the Code has set the standards for acceptable advertising in Canada. It helps ensure that the ads you see and hear are truthful, fair and accurate. Check it out for yourself. Because the more you know about advertising, the more you get out of it."
There is probably no more famous commercial in Canadian history than the Molson, "I Am Canadian" ad. As a patriotic symbol it is up there with "O Canada". But, in 2005 Molson merged with Coors. Merging with an American company makes Molson somewhat less Canadian but that is not the end of the story. You have to be careful with your brand and what it represents, especially when stepping into the realm of politics and Coors, it would seem, is little more than a money gathering operation for U.S. extreme right wing politics.
These groups have obviously strongly supported right wing Candidates in the US but have also gotten involved in a number of issues from funding the Nicaraguan "Contras" in the 1980s to opposing a woman's right to choose, opposing labour rights and equal rights for gays. The full list would make this post far too long but if you're interested I would urge you to read:
Just to get you started. I don't know about any of you, but I used to not buy Molson because I didn't like it very much. If you're buying it though out of some kind of patriotism you might want to think again. Buying Molson or Coors is now a political act. It makes a statement about what you believe in and puts money into the pocket of some of the most extreme right wing groups in North America. Just a little something to think about the next time you see an ad for Molson.
""Fact is, truth is an essential part of any successful ad campaign. Smart advertisers have known this for years. That's why the advertising industry created the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards. For more than 40 years, the Code has set the standards for acceptable advertising in Canada. It helps ensure that the ads you see and hear are truthful, fair and accurate. Check it out for yourself. Becausethe more you know about advertising, the more you get out of it."
and who..it appears paid a visit to the site recently (from Washington, D.C. no less)!
In case you don't remember, Scholastic is the company that makes the flyers that your teachers used to give you in elementary school. You could pick out books and, if you could convince your parents to buy them, your school would get some free books out of the deal.
If it helps jog your memory the flyers look sorta like this
The problem is that while scholastic's tag line is still "Helping Children Around the World to Read and Learn" the flyer is increasingly filled with stuff - marker sets, glitter things, pens and stuffed animals and various toys, plus an assortment of 'books' based on TV series, books based on consumer products (barbie) and (as you will see) the M&M's Kart Racing Wii where you can "Choose your favorite M&M's character and race one of 7 vehicles on 10 different tracks - ages 5 and up" and it is reduced from 39.95 to only 29.95 (order now kids).
So whichever side of the border you live on you can now Contact Scholastic and tell them to F*** off or ... well... at least ask them to knock it off. If they are going to be given the opportunity to sell things to elementary school students while they are in school they should be books, or at the very least educational.
The most frequent type of misleading advertising has to be the type that tries to convince you that using their product will increase your sex appeal or improve your love life. There is almost no evidence at all to suggest that any product - cars, clothes, cosmetics, soft drinks, etc., etc., actually make you more attractive or will make anyone attracted to you who wouldn't have been attracted to you otherwise. And believe me, if there were any evidence that any product did make you more attractive advertisers would have engraved that evidence in gold and built a shrine to house it in.
"So what can we do to make ourselves more attractive to the opposite sex? The simplest answer for women is to reinforce the gender difference. Everything men are attracted to in women points towards an emphasis on femininity. Therefore a woman should dress herself as femininely as possible, emphasise her feminine features and wear make up. In this day and age, that sounds almost sexist! Does it just come down to clothes? Science also tells us that smiling and eye contact make people significantly more attractive, to both sexes. As for men, if looking for a stable relationship, the opposite advice applies: reduce the gender difference both in looks and behaviour, and emphasise the loving and caring partner aspects. Both sexes should try to remember, though: it's the men who compete and the women who choose. If it's something else, you're doing it wrong."
There is more information and links to resources on the topic at Wikipedia.
Basically though, yes you should brush your teeth, use soap and shampoo, launder your clothes but these are all things you do to avoid being unattractive. None of them, by themselves, is going to cause someone to be attracted to you and what brand of toothpaste or soap or shampoo you use makes no difference whatsoever. Cologne/perfume may smell nice (in small doses), but again it's not going to make you attractive to someone who isn't attracted to you otherwise and, with allergies on the rise, you may want to use some caution - triggering an allergic reaction will not make him/her like you more.
The reality is that the only product that will significantly improve your chance of having sex is an effective prophylactic, but then we're back to that part about how you were probably going to have sex anyway.
""Fact is, truth is an essential part of any successful ad campaign. Smart advertisers have known this for years. That's why the advertising industry created the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards. For more than 40 years, the Code has set the standards for acceptable advertising in Canada. It helps ensure that the ads you see and hear are truthful, fair and accurate. Check it out for yourself. Becausethe more you know about advertising, the more you get out of it."
and who..it appears paid a visit to the site recently (from Washington, D.C. no less)!
Want to know what a company is really like before you do business? Scryve is a new web site/tool to help you find out. Scryve rates companies on a scale of 1 - 10 (10 being the best) on their environmental and community responsibility.
"Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Fossil fuels fuel their revenue. Their centralized inventory means that goods travel enormous distances to arrive at their final destination. That same system also means that there is very little likelihood of walmart stores being a significant supporter of local economic efforts with out a lot of effort and long term commitment to change. They dispose of materials in an unsatisfactory way..."
General Motors, despite some recent progress, still ranks a 2:
"In early 2008, the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) ranked GM as the 19th worst polluter in the US on its Toxic 100 Index. This organization is an independent branch of the University of Massachusetts and seeks to promote human rights and environmental sustainability with the use of research. Some of the criteria that are used to rank the Toxic 100 Index include the amount of emissions, the toxicity of the emissions and how close the plant is to large population areas."
"A significant proportion of this company's income is generated by goods that support a healthy environment. The environmental impact is clearly an important factor in their decision making process, and reduction of greenhouse gasses has been a priority. We see this as a strong step towards them becoming responsible stewards of this world. Starbucks Corporation Fossil fuels fuel their revenue; a lot of effort and long term commitment is the only way these guys will ever be green. They dispose of materials in an unsatisfactory way."
If you'd like to check the rating of the companies you do business with, or work for visit scryve.com. Scryve is a wiki, which means if you know alot about a particular company you can contribute and share your information. I'll try to include Scryve ratings as I continue the Truth series.
The first installment in the Truth series is so obvious it almost goes without saying but since it continues I'll mention it anyway. High level professional athletes do not drink pop or eat fast food on a regular basis. This ad is particularly cute because it is, to an extent, downplay itself:
The reality is that if you drink alot of pop, including Sprite, or eat alot of fast food you are far more likely to grow up to be diabetic than you are to grow up to be in the NBA or the NFL.
There was a bit of controversy recently when I suggested that there was nothing wrong with Feist endorsing Ipods and there's not. Feist probably has an iPod (they are pretty good mp3 players), she probably has a Mac and uses iTunes. What is wrong is for athletes to suggest that soda or fast food contribute in any way to being athletic. The athletes and the companies that hire them to do these ads are lying to you and your children.
It is shocking, given the outrage over steroid use, that there is not broader condemnation of athletes pimping products that obviously harm the health of others but that they likely don't use themselves. Again from Advertising Standards Canada
""Fact is, truth is an essential part of any successful ad campaign. Smart advertisers have known this for years. That's why the advertising industry created the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards. For more than 40 years, the Code has set the standards for acceptable advertising in Canada. It helps ensure that the ads you see and hear are truthful, fair and accurate. Check it out for yourself. Because the more you know about advertising, the more you get out of it."
Many of you have no doubt seen the new ads being run by Advertising Standards Canada trying to get you to trust your local advertiser. The video ads look something like this (sorry it's not embeddable). A full list of the ads they are running on television, radio and in print can be found at http://www.adstandards.com/en/Resources/psa.asp. The basic gist is:
"Fact is, truth is an essential part of any successful ad campaign. Smart advertisers have known this for years. That's why the advertising industry created the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards. For more than 40 years, the Code has set the standards for acceptable advertising in Canada. It helps ensure that the ads you see and hear are truthful, fair and accurate. Check it out for yourself. Because the more you know about advertising, the more you get out of it."
The problem is that there are alot of misleading ads out there. "Truthful, fair and accurate" hardly describes most advertising. If nothing else there is alot of falsehood by omission. For example, this ad by the "Advertising Standards Council" doesn't tell you that you don't have to belong to their organization, or adhere to it's standards. For example Bell Canada was reprimanded for misleading advertising by Advertising Standards Council. Bell decided to ignore it completely:
However, Bell Mobility justified its absence from the panel's proceedings because the company is not a member of the ASC and therefore not obligated to comply with its procedures.
That said, Bell spokesman Mark Langton explained the company's view that the ASC and Rogers were taking the claim out of context.
"The actual phrase is `fastest and largest network across North America,'" said Langton, explaining that the claim is based on the size of the CDMA network of which Bell is a part.
I can also safely say that very few people know how to file a complaint with Advertising Standards Canada (maybe they could have publicized that?) but they do still get regular complaints. Yet in 2008 almost 1,500 complaints were filed - and they do find someone in violation it is rarely (and barely) publicized. So, basically Canada's advertisers 'tell the truth' except for when they don't and if they don't it doesn't matter if they aren't a part of Advertising Standards Canada and if they are a part of Advertising Standards Canada it matters! It just doesn't matter very much.
So I'm launching a new label, in honor of this campaign, called Truth - under this label I'll put ads I find that are not telling 'the truth, the whole truth and only the truth'. In other words when a post starts with "Truth" it will generally mean I'm calling bullshit.
I'm sure you've seen them on sites like Craigslist and Kijiji: Ads that offer money for articles, people looking for freelance writers. Many of them will ask you for sample articles. 
