Pabst Brewing Company has started a new marketing campaign that is attempting to garner appeal of their 40 oz. malt liquor brand Colt .45 towards young, urban youth. The campaign includes graphic novel style advertising and decorative brown paper bags.
Read the full story on Adage.

There is no denying that with the rise of hip-hop in America that many aspects of cultural iconography have been appropriated by middle-class white youth. The 40 oz. has and continues to be an element of that in some ways. (Some of us may remember the St. Ides commercials aired in the early 90’s featuring prominent hip-hop artists of the time)

However, the 40 oz. has also been considered a product that contributes to perpetuation of keeping urban poor communities down. (lots of alcohol for a cheap price has never led to good results)

Pabst’s attempt at making the 40oz. hip is a bizarre response to the continued appropriation of urban, hip-hop culture. It’s also sort of amusing…I wonder if it still costs a $1.99? Maybe Jesse can buy this for his next state of the union drinking game.

Thoughts?

Somebody once told me that Michel Gondry had no guts. It was in relation to his last film "The Science of Sleep." I was having a discussion trying to determine the reasons why I left the theater pleased but with a feeling of emptiness-like something was missing from the film. Gondry's films are good but I came to realization that his characters only contain a certain amount of depth. Gondry chooses to utilize his kitschy surrealism and fantasy rather than ever explore the complexity of human emotion and memory. It is what Gondry does best, but it can leave the more skeptical viewer (as in my case) with a desire for a more involved exploration of the psyche that is only lightly touched upon in his films.

Starting on Tuesday of this week, E10(10 % Ethanol) fuel will be mandated in all gasoline sold in nine Northwest counties in Oregon.
The nine will be followed over the course of the year by two sets of other counties that will eventually see by September 16th the entire state of Oregon selling motor vehicles only gas that is cut with 10% ethanol. The blend requirement is apart of an amendement to Oregon's renewable fuel legislative bill that is following in the footsteps of the city of Portland which in 2007 became the first major U.S. city to mandate the 10% ethanol blend within its city limits.

A 10% ethanol blend can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 18-29% compared with conventional gasoline and in 2006 reduced CO2 greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 8 billion tons Argonne National Laboratory. The ethanol blend is expected to reduce smog pollution and has been certified by the EPA to reduce carbon monoxide emissions up to 30 percent.

In addition, two ethanol producing plants are currently being built in the state which will help create jobs and hopefully allow the state's ethanol supply to eventually come completely from local source. Oregon will become the 4th state behind Hawaii, Minnesota and Missouri to mandate the E10 blend in all gasoline sold.

While biofuels provide enviromental benefits, it is largely linked to feedstock production and fuel processing and therefore are only as sustainable as these industries. As reported in The Econmist, a major switch to biofuels could also increase food prices and have a major, possibly negative impact on world markets.
The switch to biofuels has even lead a U.N. expert to define biofuel a "crime against humanity"-stating that biofuels are leading to a worldwide food shortage due to increased food costs.

It may not seem strange for a Radiohead album to reach Number 1 on the Billboard charts. However, the band’s decision to originally post their recent album ‘In Rainbows’ on the internet with a “pay as much as you like” price tag seemed a likely exception to their success on the sales charts. Nevertheless, with the official CD/LP release on the first week of January, the album topped the Billboard charts with 122,000 units sold.

The experimental decision by the band marked a new chapter in how music is accessed via cyberspace. No official figure has been released on how many people downloaded the album but the estimated number is 1.2 million.

The success of ‘In Rainbows’ sales is an interesting phenomenon not only because of the free to download option. The music industry has suffered a rapid decline in sales over the last 6 years which has caused record stores to close their doors as bands and record labels look for new alternative ways to sell and distribute music.

In late 2006, legendary Tower Records announced that is was folding and the recent closing of staple and almost landmark-esque Virgin Megastore on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles this month is just another drastic testament to the increased decline in music sales.

Leave it up to Radiohead to practically give an album out for free and still be able to reach Number 1 on the U.S. Billboard charts in deteriorating music industry and a slowing American economy.

Nevertheless, it should be noted that despite the album’s success, the album has drastically undersold their previous album “Hail to the Thief” which was 3rd on the Billboard charts with 300,000 units sold in 2003.

Before passing judegement we will have to see how they handle the topic of the strike. However, both host have seemingly established a reputation amongst the American public (especially that of college students) as representative voices for those who desire an alternative to the stuffy news anchors of CNN or borderline comedic right-wing slant of FOX. The establishment of such reputations have caused us to expect alot out of them.

Furthermore, with the unlikely emergence of David Letterman as the vanguard supporter of the strike with the recent deal struck between the his World Wide Pants Inc and the WGA; Colbert and Stewart’s actions are looking even all that more disappointing. This has been further emphasized by Letterman's stauch support of the WGA on his most recent episodes since the strike beginning on January 2nd.

In addition, lest we forget his recent addition of a beard (which will unfortunately go away on Monday) which feels like a possible subtle stab at the heads of CBS who no doubt prefer a clean-shaven appearance. (Note: Conan has also grown a beard under what he stated as "solidarity" with the writers on strike. We will see if it stays...)

Of course, Letterman is in a better position that other hosts since he owns the rights to his show. Nevertheless, one can't help but feel that we expect more out of our beloved Stewart and Colbert.

Should we hold them to such standards? Maybe not...but either way we should wait to see what happens Monday.