"His Master's Voice" (What you don't see is that Nipper is sitting on the coffin of his dead owner) In company logos and advertisements, animals are a fairly common sight. So common, in fact, that you probably haven't given these mascots a great deal of thought. But those whose job involves selecting an animal representative for an organization or company face no small task. With their choice, they will be aligning themselves with whatever qualities people tend to associate with that animal. Once they’ve found their totem, they may forever be associated with it. A prime example of logo longevity is "His Master’s Voice," a design trademarked by the Victor Record Company on this day in 1900, sealing forever in our minds the image of Nipper the dog listening attentively to a Victrola, and connecting it further with the Gramophone Company (later known as HMV). In the ensuing century, plenty of other corporate critters have made their marks on our cultural consciousness. How many times have you heard Leo, the MGM lion roar? Financial institutions have adopted symbols of strength, including an elk and a lion, though Merrill Lynch was wise to select a bull rather than a bear. Animals in advertising have also provided memorable and humorous moments. Cuteness gives many animal representatives their appeal. The Geico gecko is pretty adorable, as is Snuggle, the Fabric Softener Bear. Some creatures are simply effective because they are cartoons, and appeal to kids, such as the Trix Rabbit and Sugar Bear. Turns out there’s a science behind the success of animals (or "visual identifiers," as the marketing analysts call them). While some wine critics may claim they avoid "labels bearing cute animals," the rest of us are drawn to these images almost against our will, according to researchers. Did you pick up that bottle of Syrah because it had a kangaroo, chameleon, or a cute dog or kitty on it? It’s not your fault -– you're a victim of your own "perceptual fluency." In light of the incredible sway these animals have over us, some mascots may not have been the best selections. Joe Camel, for example, the longtime rep for Camel cigarettes, was no longer depicted in cartoon form due to objections that he appealed to children too effectively, and Budweiser’s Spuds MacKenzie faded into obscurity before anyone noticed that a dog in a Hawaiian shirt was probably not the most appropriate spokes-animal for beer. After all, wouldn’t you rather share a tall one with a creepy penguin? Suggested Sites... TV Acres - Advertising Mascots - take a four-legged walk down memory lane. "Of Frog Wines and Frowning Watches" - academic study on why we select animal-endorsed brands and respond to other visual cues. Live-Animal Mascots Get an "F" - PETA argues that actual animals should not be used as mascots. "Dinner With the Mascots" video on YouTube - amusing reunion of several iconic mascots.

Directory categories: Advertising, Commercials, Pop Culture, Graphic Design, Phonographs

Archived under: 19th Century, Advertising, Animals, Anniversaries, Bears, Birds, Brands, Cartoons, Design, Dogs, History, Images, Mascots, Music, Music History, Nostalgia, Records, Society and Culture, TV, Wine

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The Battle of Wine in Haro, La Rioja We've all heeded the call (or ducked out of the way) upon hearing the hearty cry for a food fight. In Spain, this type of culinary free-for-all reaches new heights. You may already be familiar with La Tomatina, the tomato-lobbing pulp fest that brings people by the thousands to the village of Bunyol every year. But have you heard about the great Riscos de Bilibio Wine Battle? On June 29th, wine literally flows through this sleepy little hamlet's streets in honor of San Pedro. Decked out in spotless white duds, celebrants arm themselves with boda bags, buckets, and super soakers, dousing anything that moves until everyone is wearing purple. And this is no spectator sport, amigos. Spray or get out of the way. A good time is had by all, although it does seem a waste of good Rioja wine. Maybe they could combine La Tomatina and the Batalla de Vino into one event, and at least get a good gazpacho out of the deal. Suggested Sites... Ciudad de Haro - most of the time, they drink the wine here. Find out about their history, traditions, and wine industry. RiojaWine.com - history, tasting manual, and a visitor's guide to the bodegas of Rioja. lastminute.com - find other weird and wonderful events in Spain, like the Running of the Nudes. Japanese Human Art - watch a performance of food fight in slow motion and reverse action.

Directory categories: Spain Travel Guides, Spain, La Tomatina, Wine Tours, Wine Events

Archived under: Cultures, Festivals, Holidays, Spain, Weird Stuff, Wine

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(photo by Grace) Wine isn't just for high society anymore. While Two Buck Chuck might offend the sensibilities of some wine snobs, the $1.99 bottle has many of us toasting for less than the cost of a cup o' joe. If you're a wine lover, you can still show off your tasting vocabulary, but why describe each sip as "herbaceous" or "cloying," when "accessible" says it all? And you won't be alone in letting up on the affectation. In fact, even corks are losing their pretension, with the growing popularity of synthetic corks and -- heaven forbid -- screw caps. Yes, thanks to 2,4,6-trichloroanisole, a chemical that usually stems from cork and emits a wet dog scent, screw caps are no longer just for college students swilling Boone's Farm for a buzz. They're still hotly debated, but if you're into zin, you can leave the corkscrew on the shelf. Sure, enophiles might enjoy pricy wines with real corks, a cigar box nose, and chocolate finish. But the rest of us can raise our cheap or screw-cap vintage in honor of the grape stompers who have brought wine down a level. Suggested Sites... Demystifying Wine - trying new wines doesn't have to be scary. Wine Glossary of Terms - brush up on your wine words, from "acetic" to "yeasty." Turn of the Screw - learn why putting a cork in it might just be outdated. International Wine and Spirit Competition Awards - find out which wines won the competition in 2005.

Directory categories: Wine Resources, Wine Blogs, Wine Shopping

Archived under: Alcohol, Fanatics, Food and Drink, Wine

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