Happy Tree Friends Gone

I killed my subscription to the Happy Tree Friends video podcast yesterday. I'm not sure why, but episodes I had already downloaded were downloading themselves multiple times through iTunes. The additional downloads were identical to the first ones, except this time they contained ads. I'm not sure it was intentional, but to me, it came across as an attempt to push ads at me. Maybe it wasn't deliberate, but I'd be awfully tweaked if someone decided to waste bandwidth and HD space by pushing a new versions out just to get the ad impressions. That ain't right.

On another note, I can't believe that companies are so lacking in creativity when they sponsor podcasts. A while back, I posted that the really good podcasts are just the push portion of a push-pull mechanism that encourages interactivity. The podcasts ads I've seen don't really seem to want to be a part of that dialogue. The advertiser just runs their :30 or puts their logo on Amanda Congdon's shirt or whatever. I don't see companies soliciting audio comments or linking back to their blogs or anything like that. It just seems to be more of the same "buy my crap" messaging.

We Didn't Buy This Argument LAST Time

Looks like the RIAA is suing XM Radio for a device that lets people record XM's digital broadcasts. Remember that the RIAA complained loudly that tape cassettes and home taping would kill their business back in the day. It didn't, but that didn't keep the RIAA from collecting a fee on every blank tape sold. IMHO, this is extortion.

Conceivably, anybody who subscribes to XM could use the line out jacks on and XM receiver to bring the signal to a tape deck, and make tapes of the broadcasts so that they could be listened to at any time. They could burn CDs or audio DVDs if they ported the signal to a computer or a burner. So what's different about what XM is doing?

The government is going to have to decide whether or not it wants to be in the business of preserving outdated business models.

It's A Thread, Dammit

I don't know exactly when it happened, but at some point "thread" turned into "string" when referring to a discussion via e-mail, blog, message board, etc. It's "thread," people. The back and forth banter that is sum of the component threads is called a "threaded discussion," not a "stringed discussion." So quit telling me to reference the "attached string." It's a thread.

IDC, LiverPerson White Paper Has A Funny Definition Of "Engagement Marketing"

From a white paper that I downloaded a couple minutes ago:

Engagement marketing requires four key elements to succeed: * An ability to identify high-potential visitors while on a site * A framework for engaging those visitors at the right time with the right message * An engagement support staff well trained in e-sales and e-service skills * Robust reporting to assess and finesse engagement marketing programs on a continuous basis

I beg to differ. To me, engagement requires:

* A human voice, rather than machines * Conversations, not "messages" * A willingness to talk to ALL customers, rather than just the ones seen as "high-potential."

IMHO, engagement can't be faked. Yes, we can use technology and machines to help us, but we can't let those machines take the place of legitimate dialogue, or let them replace real conversation with pushed "messages."