FOX News Blocked By Angry Independent

Apparently at his wit's end over the conservative journalistic bias of FOX News, Tulsa Oklahoma resident Sam Kimery is selling a device that blocks cable subscribers from receiving FOX News. The device, just like the device cable companies install to block premium analog channels, this device is set to block only FOX News.

Celine Dion Launches New Fragrance

Canadian pop star Celine Dion has teamed up with perfume maker Coty to launch a new fragrance called Belong. Dion says, "This fragrance is about celebrating life. It's about a woman's inner beauty, her confidence, her passion and her sensuality. It's the way I like to feel about myself." The ad campaign, as with the product's packaging was photographed by Peter Lindbergh.

Web Analytic Firm Parts With Parent Company

Private equity firm Francisco Partners, yesterday, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the WebTrends business unit, a provider of web analytics, of NetIQ Corporation. The transaction is being undertaken with the full participation and support of the WebTrends management team, members of which will be investing in the new business together with Francisco Partners. Greg Drew, currently general manager of WebTrends, will continue to lead the business and will assume the role of president and chief executive officer of the new standalone WebTrends business.

Study: Marketing Most Important Business Profession

According to a survey of U.S. senior executives, marketing will be the most important area of expertise for the next-generation of business leaders. The survey was commissioned by the Institute of International Research, organizers of LEADERS LIVE -- a two-day forum on strategic leadership that will take place in New York City on June 13-14, 2005 .

Of the responses from more than 1,300 business executives, marketing was the clear choice with 29 percent of votes, followed by 22 percent for operations and 14 percent for financial expertise. Sales and engineering were deemed least critical to leadership with 8 percent each. Seems there's hope for us advertising folk.

OptInRealBig FIles For Chapter 11

To protect itself from a Microsoft initiated law suit claiming the company engaged in alleged acts of spamming, email marketing firm OptInRealBig filed Chapter 11 last week ADBUMB reports. Microsoft is reported to have seeked damages of $38 million from OptInRealBig but other sources have said the figure is much higher and that OptInRealBig, by filing for bankruptcy, will push the suit to federal levels where damages are limited favoring the outcome for OptInRealBig.

Aquent Launches 'Interim Marketing Professionals' Service

Aquent, a global professional services firm, has launched an interim marketing services initiative, called Interim Marketing Professionals, to better serve the burgeoning needs of marketing. This latest strategy is designed to address the challenges brought on by fluxuating business conditions. The new site hopes to illustrate the value of interim marketing professionals, formerly referred to as temps, and how these interim marketers can provide expertise in many areas of marketing — from brand management to online strategies — in a manner that is quick, efficient, and cost-effective for companies.

Lebron James Powerade Eighty Footer Fake. Who Knew? Who Cares?

John Brock sent us this Snopes analysis of the latest Powerade commercial showing Lebron James making four full court, 80 foot slam dunks. While Snopes goes into lengthy detail on how the commercial has been digitally manipulated to make it appear James is actually making those 80 footers, they forget to mention the obvious: in every shot, the ball leaves the frame then comes back making fakery very easy here. Then again, who really care? It's just a stupid Powerade commercial.

Lebron James Powerade Eighty Footer Fake. Who Knew? Who Cares?

John Brock sent us this Snopes analysis of the latest Powerade commercial showing Lebron James making four full court, 80 foot slam dunks. While Snopes goes into lengthy detail on how the commercial has been digitally manipulated to make it appear James is actually making those 80 footers, they forget to mention the obvious: in every shot, the ball leaves the frame then comes back making fakery very easy here. Then again, who really care? It's just a stupid Powerade commercial.

Beautiful Blogger Becomes Brand Babe For T-Shirt Brand

One day after randomly finding XiaXue's weblog upon seeing it linked from Tony Pierce's busblog during one of our routine visits, we read she's now spokesmodel for LocalBrand, a Singapore-based T-shirt maker. Back in December, Wendy was shopping at a store in Singapore that carried LocalBrand t-shirts and bumped into LocalBrand founder Turodrique Fuad. Faud struck up a conversation with Wendy (who wouldn't try to converse with this beauty?) and told her he read weblogs, she said she wrote one and boom, the two struck a deal. Wendy's face is now all over the LocalBrand website along with pictures of her modeling the product. Catch her story here.

ABC's 'Grey's Anatomy Does Well in Ratings

While a show would have to be an absolute horror to fail following Desperate Housewives, gen Y ER-like medical show Grey's Anatomy did quite well. It retained 67 percent of Housewives' numbers and delivered 16.2 million viewers. Not bad considering the show's slot it took temporarily, Boston Legal, averages 12.6 million.

Creatively, the show's not bad. The angst-ridden voice over might get tired though as well as the cleanly defined, neatly categorized characters. Starring 80's icon Patrick Dempsey, Sideways' Sandra Oh, hottie Katherine Heigl and intriguingly cute Ellen Pompeo, the show has some promise as long as it doesn't become too self absorbed with itself. Hopefully, as the show grows, the characters will as well. There's potential here but the premiere was no blockbuster.