New York City's ban on selling beverages bigger than 16 ounces that passed last month doesn't seem to face a major threat as it heads toward implementation in March. It's fat from popular with many New Yorkers, and the beverage industry and others certainly hate it, but the regulation has begun to assume the momentum of inevitability.

That's why the American Beverage Association, which represents Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Dr Pepper Snapple Group among other companies, has launched a last-ditch effort that now includes a lawsuit against the city that the organization, as promised. The suit argues that the unelected New York health board, which approved the ban spearheaded by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, shouldn't be telling people how much soda to drink, according to CBS Radio. The suit also said that the rule "burdens consumers and unfairly harms small businesses."Continue reading...

Former Goldman Sachs exec Greg Smith revealed in his now infamous resignation letter published in the New York Times that some GS employees refer to clients as "Muppets." Now, The Muppets are striking back — via a (somewhat) NSFW video produced by Funny or Die.

It's estimated that more than 10,000 athletes from 200-plus nations will be competing in this summer’s Olympics in London, but there will be an even fiercer competition going on behind the scenes.

Ambush marketing, the art of getting your corporation’s name attached to an event without spending the kazillions involved in officially doing so, could be entering its heyday with the London Games — even though organizers and lawmakers have made all sorts of rules and regulations against such things happening in order to protect the companies that have already forked over big bucks (and powerful pounds) to be involved.Continue reading...

The long winter of discontent for the discontented is setting in, historically early in the Northeast. Just as the Occupy movement is claiming some victories (Bank of America rolling back its $5 monthly fee in response to Occupy and social media outcry), some of its most important outdoor encampments are facing winter weather.

Now, a second wave of activism tangential to the global protests sparked by Occupy Wall Street is popping up. As supporters move to raise Made-in-the-USA money to help the movement through the winter, others are boycotting businesses perceived to show sympathy — or not.Continue reading...

As rival Old Spice Guys Isaiah Mustafa (the original Old Spice Guy) and Fabio (the "new" Old Spice Guy) continue playing out their duel for fan votes with push-ups, challenges and other manly feats on YouTube and their Twitter feeds, it appears that folks are getting a tad tired of the schtick.

According to TV ad-tracker Ace Metrix, the comparative effectiveness scores of Old Spice’s new commercials featuring Fabio and Mustafa show that the Mustafa ads are 23% more effective than the Fabio ads on average, and 19% more likeable.Continue reading...

Australia's Foster's Group, which last month officially spun off its wine interests, has rejected an unsolicited $10 billion takeover bid from SABMiller because the bid "significantly undervalues" the company. According to The Australian, the SAB move follows a revised deal with its joint venture partner, Coca-Cola Amatil, and another unsolicited run at Foster's — by Mexico's Modelo brewery — last week.

Click here for the NYT's take, or watch SABMiller CEO Graham Mackay's comments below.

American political debate has become so dysfunctional that partisans have finally begun speaking with each other solely through Post-it notes, like a nearly-divorced couple that can't bear to look at each other.

In a new anti-Obama campaign that is picking up steam in the US, frustrated fuel consumers have taken to posting sticky notes on gas pumps with messages such as "How's that hope and change working for ya?" and "Nobama 2101!"

Clearly, there can only be one winner here.Continue reading...

After 52 years of lubricant brand dominance, WD-40 is being challenged by Liquid Wrench. There is only one WD-40 product. There are six for Liquid Wrench, including Chain Lube, Dry Lubricant, and Penetrating Oil.

“We pride ourselves on being very application-specific, and on not being generalists,” Aaron Martin, director of marketing for Liquid Wrench, told the New York Times.

The Liquid Wrench campaign never specifically refers to WD-40, but the intention is apparent. “We never name them, but most people will know what we’re talking about,” commented David Moore, executive creative director and president for Liggett Stashowner, who created the current campaign.Continue reading...