I hate this word. I loathe it. It makes me so mad whenever I hear it! (I first mentioned it in this post.)

It is used colloquially most often near the word “innovation” or “idea”. It is nasty, shallow and cheapens(!) everything into monetary terms. It is the epitome of the failure of capitalism to look after humanity in general. It is why many so-called “business innovation” magazines …

I saw a TV piece on the pet food contamination scandal in the US recently which affected many dogs and cats. It was interesting to note the initial confusion amongst consumers as the contamination affect many different brands across different price points and market positions. This is because like many other mass manufacture-based industries, the pet food sector sources its base products from relatively few manufacturers …

“I think, though, that the age of actions without consequences is drawing to a close. Let’s hope so.” Sam Leader, FlyingSolo

Consider:

Educators are increasingly using the Internet to identify plagiarism.
The blogosphere acts as a global fact checker – make claims that are untrue and you will be found out.
It is easier than every before to conduct quick character checks - Google someone’s name!
Email is often used …

Spotted in Chinatown - this sticky plaster you put on your navel that will help you loose weight. “Immediate results”! This is of course assuming the slimming tea, slimming mud, or the slimming electrode therapy did not work for you.

Funny and amusing on one hand, but also sad and maddening at the same time. Where do these people get off? Sure we all know obesity …

Ah, nothing like good old poo humour to laugh out the week, and the financial year!

AngryAussie’s post: alli: Miracle diet pill with teeny-tiny side effect is a very funny read and obviously struck a cord with many - 322 comments to date!

It is a great (and rather extreme) example of how marketing as a profession has devolved to the point of literally spinning sh*t. Many of …

Spotted on ebay - a pair of fluffy slippers with integrated USB-powered heaters. Come on, do we really need something like this? Can we justify the waste of resources that goes into manufacturing, packaging and shipping things like this?

I came upon these two “No Thinspiration” blog posts recently while doing some research on eating disorders*:
The stunning size 12 model branded ‘too fat’ for TV competition
Marianne Berglund from ‘Make me a super model’ TV show

The comments are quite telling - so many (presumably from their names) female comment posters seem to support and look up to these unwell-looking ultra-thin models, and don’t really …

It’s a microwave, with a TV and DVD-player built-in.

Why?

How long does a microwave TV-dinner(!) take to “cook” anyway? The time it takes most DVDs to play through the mandatory anti-piracy rant and painfully animated menus perhaps…

Then what? You stand there in the kitchen holding a burning hot foil tray to watch the rest of the show? Or you move the food, and the disc …

“CHINA’S former top food and drug regulator has been given the death penalty in an unusually harsh sentence against a backdrop of widening international and domestic concern over the safety of “Made in China” food, pharmaceutical and other products.”

This article by Mary-Anne Toy Death sentence for corrupt food and drug boss in the Sydney Morning Herald made me wonder (not without a huge amount …

Another great post from Everyday Ethics:

Anheuser Busch, makers of alcoholic beverages like Budweiser, have launched a new product named Spykes.

I thought it was a bit tasteless(!) given the crimes around drink-spiking in bars and pubs. Was it intentional?

Other parallels come to mind:
Splatz - the baby capsule for parents with chic for brains.
Slasha - personal security for busy women.
PowerPurge - the detox solution for the fibre-deprived.

Read the …