 OUR TAKE -
Foolin' Around with the Brand
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However big the fool, there is always a bigger fool to admire him.
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Nicholas Boileau
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Happy April Fool's Day. I like a good prank as much as the next guy . . . maybe a bit more. In the spirit of the day, let me share some epic corporate pranks from years past.
In 1996, Taco Bell announced that it had purchased the Liberty Bell, which would accordingly become the "Taco Liberty Bell." Not to be outdone, Burger King two years later promoted a Left-Handed Whopper, with condiments “designed” to drip out the right side. On the same day, Guinness announced that it would be the official beer sponsor of the Old Royal Observatory and as a part of the deal, “Greenwich Mean Time” would become “Guinness Mean Time.”
And lest you think the rocket scientists at NASA don't have a sense of humor, they reported a story with pictures of water on Mars. The actual photo showed a glass of water resting on a Mars candy bar. And you might remember when Google introduced its new MentalPlex which could read a user’s mind to determine his search query--before he even touched the keyboard.
We are in for a new round of creative corporate pranks today. Keep a keen ear and eye. You've been warned. What's the best 2010 corporate prank you found today?
Gary Lemke, Publisher
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