Bitcoin, the virtual currency anonymously exchanged through an online peer-to-peer network, has hit the mainstream radar as ironically, a technical glitch caused a “flash crash” this week, sending Bitcoin on a 23 percent tumble and into financial headlines.

Created by Satoshi Nakamoto, “Bitcoin is not controlled by any government or central bank,” explains Business Insider. “And two, it’s private. In the world of conventional finance, governments can see every time you use your credit card, withdraw cash at an ATM, or make a wire transfer. Yet with Bitcoin, they don’t have this ability. And this is a key reason why Bitcoin has become so popular, especially in places like Argentina where people are getting squashed by their government.”Continue reading...

Coca-Cola released its first 3D spot in Buenos Aires — watch above.

Coca-Cola's Open Happiness campaign that launched with a musical splash during American Idol in 2009 has taken its message on the road with a CLIO award-winning Happiness Machine with a sense of humor; a Happiness Truck, dispensing soft drinks and fun items in Brazil and beyond; and a Happiness Store, offering convenience and smiles (also in Brazil).

Another variation: the Friendship Machine, an elongated version of its Happiness Machine — 11 feet tall, so that people have to help each other get the coin in the slot, with the payoff of getting two drinks for the price of one.Continue reading...

Similar to how dollar and discount stores are thriving in the ongoing recessionary climate, people are drinking just as much as ever – if not more – only, they’re selecting cheaper varieties.

And these varieties are not limited to domestic sources. Foreigners are actually drinking more Chilean wine than ever, with shipments up nearly 18 percent in 2009, as opposed to California wineries, whose 2009 shipments dropped by 4 million cases, according to consulting firm Gomberg, Fredrikson & Associates.

The problem is that people are choosing cheaper vintages, preventing Chile's wine brands from being able to "break out of the $10- to $20-per-bottle price point," said Bill Crowley, professor emeritus at Sonoma State University.Continue reading...

A cultural milestone was reached last year in Argentina when Pepsi changed the word “Pepsi” to “Pecsi” in their ad campaign. “Pecsi” is an easier pronunciation given Argentine Spanish phonetics. The motive: closer affinity with local consumers.

The ad campaign also expressed that Pepsi was on the side of Argentineans affected by the tough economy. A Pepsi, or “Pecsi,” costs one peso less than a Coke, making it the obvious choice for budget-conscious consumers. The campaign has resulted in – even in the upscale neighborhoods of Buenos Aires, such as Recoleta and Palermo – soda drinkers asking for a “Pecsi” rather than a Pepsi.Continue reading...

Steve Jobs attends Apple conference and addresses issues facing his health and the brand [NYT]; Apple reveals upgrades, but no new technology [LA Times].

GM sells majority of its interest in Opel and Vauxhall to Canada's Magna International. [London Times]

Warner Bros. restructures DC Comics to take on competition. [LA Times]

Fashion designer Derek Lam takes his style and vision to New York Fashion Week. [WSJ]

Alcohol brands in Britain consider abuse vs. consumption. [London Times]

(More headlines: Jameson, NFL touchdowns, House of Frasier.) Continue reading...