The arrival of Superstorm Sandy has brought an American brand that plenty like to forget about back into the spotlight. FEMA, the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, is generally not heard from as it goes about its business helping people recover from one nasty situation or another.

But when the agency flubs, as it famously did during its disastrous efforts after Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005, its name brings in a lot of bad publicity. After Sandy hit American soil and began devastating buildings and lives, FEMA was in action. As if on cue, Michael Brown, the man who had headed the agency during those Katrina days and resigned in disgrace in the month after the storm, appeared in Denver’s Westword magazine to talk about how President Obama had already blown it by meeting with FEMA on Sunday and having a press conference.Continue reading...

While your humbled (by Sandy) editor's NYC apartment is still without power, I've made it to a power outlet and Wi-Fi and finally catching up with some of the impact of the storm on the U.S. and Canada, with 107 people dead and an estimated $20 billion in damages and $30 billion in lost business:

• FCC estimates that storm took down 25% of cell towers in 10 states
• FTC warns consumers to avoid home repair and charity scams
• JFK and Newark airports have reopened for some flights as airlines pin hopes on Thursday flights
• NYC mayor Mike Bloomberg reopened the New York Stock Exchange in first post-Sandy trading day
• NYC subway stations in lower Manhattan are still underwater as MTA estimates it's losing $18 million/day
• NYC schools remain closed
• President Obama stops at FEMA en route to New Jersey to assess damage
• Ford Motor Company donates $50,000 to relief efforts
• Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac vow to aid those whose homes were damaged or destroyed
• NYC-based tech startups including Foursquare grapple with keeping their businesses going
• Con Edison is working around the clock to restore power, as calls for free public Wi-Fi increase
• Some NYC stores, restaurants and businesses (at least above 23rd Street) see surge in business, along with e-commerce sites
• Fast food restaurants and other businesses in Sandy's path struggle in aftermath
• American Apparel criticized for hosting Sandy online sale, while Urban Outfitters offends with Sandy tweet

Bank of America slapped with U.S. lawsuit over billion-dollar "hustle" of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

Elizabeth Taylor is Forbes' new Top-Earning Dead Celeb thanks to Christie's auction.

Apple's iPad mini already has a Chinese knock-off, while US judge says Samsung infringed four Apple patents.

Facebook wins back Wall Street, affirms social dominance and shares soar as looks to rebuild confidence.

AT&T beats estimates in latest quarterly earnings report.

BlackBerry loses grip as go-to phone for US federal government.

Buzzfeed taps Rdio for "social music advertising."

Cisco will fund 12,000 meals for World Food Program via Facebook app.

Tom Cruise sues gossip magazines for defamation of character.Continue reading...

Despite our objections over the poor grammar, Barack Obama's campaign is promoting "Gotta Vote" as its voter registration slogan with GottaVote.com and new spots released today featuring Barack and Michelle Obama.

With all the talk of "Walmart moms" in the US election cycle, the Obama re-election team today released a direct appeal to that demographic.

The video above, distributed on the Walmart Community YouTube channel, features the First Walmart Mom, Michelle Obama, who helped launch Walmart's healthy food platform. She talks about how she and Barack started married life in debt from student loans, and points to BarackObama.com/plans and, of course, vote.barackobama.com.

And in the interests of balance if not equal time, the Walmart channel also posted an appeal for the Romney campaign by Ann Romney, whose video clocks in at 5:25 vs 3:10 for Michelle:Continue reading...

Timed to tonight's townhall debate with CNN's Candy Crowley moderating, the Obama presidential election campaign released this commercial starring Jay-Z, titled "The Power of Our Voice." That voice, as described by the campaign:

Gotta vote? Go here: http://OFA.BO/7WVtHh

Jay-Z shares why it is important to exercise your right to vote and how President Obama represents the power of our voice. 

As Jay-Z shares:

"For so long, there was this voice that was silenced out there as far as exercising your right to vote. I think it was a voice that was silent because people had lost hope. They didn't believe that their voice mattered or counted."

"Now people are exercising their right, and you are starting to see the power of our vote. He made it mean something for the first time for a lot of people."

So is "Gotta vote?" the new "Got milk?" And why is it a question instead of a call to action — "Yes, you've got to vote!" 

The commercial highlights Obama's cameo-by-video during the performer's Bud Light-sponsored Made in America Festival concert, which took place last month in Philadelphia, where the Brooklyn Nets co-owner was emblazoned with logos for the team.

There's also an iPhone hoisted (by Beyonce - watch for the blue nail polish - at the :34 mark), and of course the Obama-Biden logo at the end.

Despite being effectively fired by Mitt Romney during the first presidential candidates' debate, Big Bird doesn't need the president going to bat for him. Obama's campaign released a TV commercial (description: "According to Mitt Romney, it's not Wall Street you have to worry about, it's Sesame Street") criticizing Romney for making the Sesame Street star, as the brand ambassador of PBS and the federally-funded Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Public Enemy #1. The Sesame Workshop wasn't amused, responding:

Sesame Workshop is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization and we do not endorse candidates or participate in political campaigns. We have approved no campaign ads, and, as is our general practice, have requested that both campaigns remove Sesame Street characters and trademarks from their campaign materials.

That's right — the president of the United States was schooled by puppets, but his campaign still has not taken down the offending video, despite the request, by this writing. Whether Sesame Workshop's lawyers sends a cease and desist letter (unlikely) remains to be seen.Continue reading...

KitchenAid apologizes for anti-Obama tweet during presidential debate, the most-tweeted event in US political history, which saw Mitt Romney gain the upper hand on Barack Obama. Romney's anti-PBS comment on Big Bird also took over social media, while "Walmart mom" is the new soccer mom. The campaigns, judged the most negative in recent times, inspire JetBlue to offer chance to pull an Alec Baldwin and leave the country after election result.

HP warns about grim outlook, sending shares to lowest level in almost a decade.

Facebook passes one billion users with plans to charge to promote user posts, while Twitter measures brand impact with Nielsen.

Amazon now offers loans to small businesses.

American Airlines pulls 47 jets after loose-seat debacle as image suffers.

Apple rumors of smaller iPad persist as the #2 Best Global Brand earns kudos for admitting maps screw-up.Continue reading...