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Agencies Beware of Crackdown

July 27, 2006

Advertising Age reports that "Promotion Firms Caught in Internet Gambling Crackdown." The article speaks for itself, so I'll only add the comment that the U.S. government is watching you no matter how big or small you are so don't mess with smuggling cars to Costa Rica as part of the compensation package.

The article continues, "DME Global Marketing & Fulfillment, Direct Mail Expertise and Mobile Promotions and four of its principals -- William Hernon Lenis; his son William Luis Lenis and daughter Monica Lenis; and Manny Gustavo Lenis, a nephew -- were named in an indictment unsealed yesterday accusing BetOnSports and its principals of illegally engaging in internet gambling and tax evasion.

Racketeering conspiracy
The indictment, issued in St. Louis, charges the ad execs and their companies with engaging in a racketeering conspiracy, saying they worked to illegally advertise and support several websites by buying ads, sending equipment and prizes for the site to Costa Rica and eventually serving as the fulfillment house for internet-gambling prizes.

Among examples of the support given in the indictment: a $99,620 check sent Sept. 6, 2000, to American Media Communications for advertising and the shipment of two cars from the U.S. to Costa Rica.

The indictment says the conspiracy was intended "to develop a scheme to defraud gamblers in the United States by inviting, inducing and persuading them to place bets ... As part of the scheme the members and associates [involved] created and disseminated advertising through the United States which falsely stated that internet gambling on sporting events and contests was 'legal and licensed.' The enterprise used radio and television to deliver fraudulent advertising through broadcasts and cablecasts in and across the United States."

View the full article at Ad Age >>

Comments (0) | Posted by ryan at 3:21 PM | Permalink

Please Take Our Short Email Survey

July 24, 2006

In an effort to expand our latest study we are currently working on, we would like to invite you to participate in this survey. This survey will help us to combine some key data points we analyze over our emailROI network and provide you with the combined results in August.

Take the short survey

Sign Up for our Study Release and download past studies.

Comments (0) | Posted by dylan at 6:39 AM | Permalink

Blogs are Growing Faster than We Thought

July 22, 2006

eMarketer published some exciting data on blog demographics and which group of people are blog power-users. Most blog neophytes assume that 12-24 year old MySpace users and "People" magazine readers are blogging about 50 Cent all day long, but the reality (from what this study shows) is that older, educated, affluent individuals are consuming and creating the bulk of the blog content. View the full article on "Blogs, Blogs, and More Blogs."

Comments (0) | Posted by ryan at 10:08 AM | Permalink

Human Space Invaders

July 19, 2006

Retro techie meets creative meets Web 2.0. This video shows the viral nature of YouTube and authentic, creative video showcased on the Web 2.0 site. I received an email from someone in my office, a friend in Belgium, and another business associate in the span of 2 days. Fascinating.

Comments (0) | Posted by ryan at 11:30 AM | Permalink

The Barber Brigade Has Me In Stiches

July 18, 2006

I opened my inbox this morning to an email from my buddy Joe calling me Scruffaluffagus and telling me my facial hair is as outdated as Hammer Pants. After crossing Joe off my list of people I’d buy a car for if I won the lottery, I followed a link to an audio/video message he created for me. What I was presented with was a talking head spouting out some critique of my hair stylings. Intrigued and slightly bruised, I ventured into the linked website, barberbrigade.com. The spinning barber shop stripe sign used as a loading status bar, along with the website’s URL, were enough to tie this all together. It’s a site dedicated to male grooming. All the outright and unwarranted abuse of my facial fuzz fashion fax pas aside, my experience with barberbrigade.com was a good one. The design of this website (it’s flash man, get with the program), is as sweet as Joe’s girlfriends lips (think honey with a touch of caramel). Almost everything on the site is clickable and interactive. The nutty designers of the site at Wexley School for Girls did a great job of flexing their creative creativeness. There are sound bites, birds that take dumps and even a fish that blows balloon animals. I was quickly hooked by the interactivity and design. So much so that I spent a good hour on the site (Yes, while at work but it’s cool, I put my hours under miscellaneous on the timesheet.). The site also succeeded in sparking my interest in the grooming products it is attempting to sell. I even showed them to my lady. Personally, I still have a hard time spending more than $10 on anything to do with hair so if she wants me to look pretty, she’ll have to dig into her pockets. Hey, I’m no $2 whore you know. Not like Joe.

Comments (0) | Posted by aj at 12:56 PM | Permalink

WURD Knows Email

July 17, 2006

So you would assume that as an email marketing company we would all be drinking the Kool Aid right. Well of course we are. One of the team has a band and seems a solid grasp on humor and personalization in emails. He had a show the other night and sent this out to the team to come watch him rock. My favorite thing (besides Mr T and free Fried Chicken - see the name of the other band) was that he added my name to the email under the photo. He has done this a few times with another using the TV show 24 (which I think he believes he IS Jack Bauer).

A simple showing of personalization that works.

View image

Comments (0) | Posted by dylan at 1:00 PM | Permalink

Adding Levity to a Serious Issue: Testicular Cancer

July 9, 2006

So, how do you add humor and potential viral marketing to a campaign surrounding cancer? You launch a site called NoticeYourNuts.com. Apparently, 99% of testicular cancer is treatable if discovered early. I would have never known that if I didn't get a couple emails from friends to tell me to check out this funny but poignant online video. Here's my question though: aren't most guys pretty in tune with their nuts? What I didn't get from the video is what to look out for - weird growth? something funky? Alright, I'm curious enough now to look it up on www.webmd.com.

How To Prepare

No special preparation is needed before a testicular examination by your health professional. However, for comfort, you should empty your bladder ahead of time. You will be asked to undress and put on a hospital gown.

Testicular self-examination (TSE) is painless and takes only a minute. It is best performed after a bath or shower, when the scrotal muscles are warm and relaxed.

How It Is Done

Testicular examination
The examination may be done initially while you are lying down, then repeated while standing. Your health professional will inspect your abdomen, groin, and genital area (penis, scrotum, testicles). The scrotum and both testicles will be felt (palpated) for their size, weight, texture, and consistency and for physical signs of swelling, lumps, or masses. The absence of one testicle usually indicates an undescended testicle. Shrinking (atrophy) of one or both testicles will also be noted.

If a mass is found in a testicle, your health professional will place a strong light behind the testicle to determine whether light can pass through it (called transillumination). A testicular tumor is too solid for light to pass through it. Also, a testicle with a tumor generally appears heavier than a normal testicle. A palpable mass or swelling caused by a hydrocele will allow light to pass through it. A hydrocele feels like water in a thin plastic bag. The other testicle also will be felt and examined to make sure it does not contain any lumps, masses, or other abnormalities.

Your health professional will also feel the lymph nodes in your groin and along your inner thigh for signs of enlargement.

Testicular self-examination (TSE)
TSE is best performed after a bath or shower, when the scrotal muscles are warm and relaxed. If you do the exam at another time, remove your underwear so that your genitals are exposed.

Stand and place your right leg on an elevated surface about chair height. Then gently feel your scrotal sac until you locate the right testicle. Roll the testicle gently but firmly between your thumb and fingers of both hands, carefully exploring the surface for lumps. The skin over the testicle moves freely, making it easy to feel the entire surface of the testicle. Repeat the procedure for the other side, lifting your left leg and examining your left testicle. Feel the entire surface of both testicles.

How It Feels

A testicular examination by your health professional may cause mild discomfort if your testicles are painful, swollen, or inflamed. Whenever the genital area is touched, there is a possibility your body will react, and you may have an erection. This is a normal response that your health professional is aware of and you do not need to feel embarrassed.

Generally, there is no pain or discomfort associated with a testicular self-examination (TSE) unless a testicle is swollen or tender. A cancerous lump usually is firm to the touch and usually is not tender or painful when pressed.

Risks

There are no risks associated with a testicular examination or testicular self-examination (TSE).

Results

Testicular examination and testicular self-examination (TSE) are two different methods to detect lumps or abnormalities of the testicles.

Testicular examination and testicular self-examination (TSE) Normal: Each testicle should feel firm but not hard, and the surface should be very smooth, without any lumps or bumps. The spongy, tubelike structure (epididymis) may be felt on the top and down the back side of each testicle. One testicle (usually the left) may hang slightly lower than the other, and one testicle may be slightly larger than the other. This difference is usually normal.

No pain or discomfort is experienced during testicular examination or TSE.

Abnormal: A small, hard lump (often about the size of a pea) is felt on the surface of the testicle, or the testicle is swollen or enlarged. If you notice a lump or swelling during TSE, contact your health professional immediately. Do not delay or wait for the lump to go away because it may be an early sign of testicular cancer. Immediate treatment provides the best chance for a cure.

One or both testicles are not felt. If you cannot feel one or both testicles while performing TSE, contact your health professional. This may indicate an undescended testicle.

A soft collection of thin tubes (often referred to as a "bag of worms" or "spaghetti") is felt above or behind the testicle. This may indicate a varicocele.

Sudden (acute) pain or swelling in the scrotum that is noticed during the testicular examination or TSE may indicate an infection (epididymitis) or blockage of blood flow to the testicle (testicular torsion), either of which require immediate medical evaluation.

A free-floating lump in the scrotum that is not attached to a testicle may be present but is not a cause for concern.

If you cannot feel both testicles in your baby's scrotum (descended), talk to his doctor.

What Affects the Test

There are no factors that interfere with a testicular examination or testicular self-examination (TSE).

What To Think About

Undescended testicles may be a risk factor for testicular cancer. Parents should check their children or have them checked by a health professional to be sure that both testicles have descended properly before puberty.
Expert recommendations on testicular examinations:
The American Cancer Society recommends that all men between the ages of 15 and 40 have a testicular examination as part of a regular physical examination by their health professional. However, ACS does not recommend regular self-examinations for men who do not have risk factors for testicular cancer.1
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends against routine screening for testicular cancer in teen and adult men who have no symptoms of cancer. The USPSTF recommends that men who have an increased risk of developing testicular cancer talk to their health professional about regular screening.2
References

Citations
American Cancer Society (2004). How is testicular cancer found? Overview: Testicular Cancer. Available online: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_2_3x_How_Is_Testicular_Cancer_Found_41.asp?sitearea=.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (2004). Screening for testicular cancer: Recommendation statement. Available online: http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/3rduspstf/testicular/testiculrs.htm#clinical.

Comments (0) | Posted by ryan at 8:52 PM | Permalink

Some E-Marketers Know how to Party

July 7, 2006

The eROI 2006 party got off to a good start and finished strong.

Over 400 clients and friends joined the eROI team at our office in NW Portland (Waterfront Pearl District area) to network, enjoy some frozen marguritas, dacquiris, and other assorted drinks, chow down on Russel Street BBQ goodies, and watch DJ Joel Skool mix it up with some notable acid jazz funk band members.

Comments (0) | Posted by ryan at 8:27 PM | Permalink