ziitrend is on to something

Techcrunch recently covered a hot new web 2.0 startup called ZiiTrend. At first glance, it may appear to be another Inkling Markets, but it has a twist.

DISCLAIMER: So you can't accuse me of "pulling an Arrington", let me say that I'm friends with the Inkling Markets guys (they're also YC alums). In fact, I've been a friend ever since they launched -- over a year ago.

Back to ZiiTrend, I really like their logo. I've been harping on the Inklings to get a more futuristic-looking mascot since day one.C'mon guys.

ZiiTrend doesn't have this problem.In fact, I think they have fantastic taste in mascot design. I would have made the eyes a bit bigger, though. People like things with big eyes -- like babies, puppies, and cuttlefishes.

lolcats have sold out: advertisers strive to show they're still "with it"

This is not a laughing matter -- let alone a lol one.

Looking forward to the new Geometry Wars: Galaxies?
A video game with "geometry" in the title -- who wouldn't?

Well, as if that wasn't enough to ensnare any high schooler, they've also got a lolcats ad campaign.

Highlights include this poorly-photoshopped tv with angry cat:

A cat looking bored as hell while its owner games like a champ (not a good sign):

And the ever-popular demon cat. Look closely, part of its tail appears to be severed. That ain't right:

As if it wasn't enough to take this dated Internet meme and produce some exceptionally unfunny ads, they even botched the lolcat syntax. Didn't one of these advertisers have a 14 year old they could have called over to "help daddy make an ad?"

Once this appears in AdAge and the rest of the advertising world jumps on the bandwagon, it'll stop being cool. And then what will be the next sell-out Internet meme? Hmm...

Big tip o' the hat to S.I. for sending me teh lols.

squelching rumors of a cuttlefish-based startup

I was surprised by more than a few inquiries about "my next startup" after it was mentioned in Saturday's entry.

In case you missed it:

I was diligently researching for my next startup last night and came across an entry on The Free Dictionary.

Not that I don't appreciate the wholly undeserved attention on my startup ambitions (I am, after all, an only child) -- I just figured folks would click on the link and appreciate the reference (hint: it was a link to an entry on cuttlefish).

But really, you'd think Valleywag would have at least mentioned it. They'll report anything.

As a preemptive measure against these ruinous rumors, let me be clear: I am not -- nor am I planning on -- doing a cuttefish-based startup.

Nevertheless, I remain a devout supporter of the cuttlefish movement. My activism doesn't stop with promoting the cuttlefish cause; I've also followed the virtuous example of the Marriott Corporation and added a recycle logo to my blog header. It's not because I recycle old blog content.

Hello, world. Prepare to be changed.

reddit, not rabbit - the problem with randomly changing your logo

I was diligently researching for my next startup last night and came across an entry on The Free Dictionary.The good folks at Farlex, Inc. (who evidently like their company name so much that they include it in the logo?) aggregate a bunch of reference sources from around the web and place their ads next to them.

At the bottom of each entry is the ubiquitous set of icons -- only much bigger. That, and something else is atypical...They had the bad timing of ganking our logo on one of my more creative days (I know, changing the logo is a total Google rip-off, but hey, what I lack in originality, I make up for in quantity and randomness).Granted, reddit still isn't a social bookmarking site, but when I saw that rabid rabbit standing beside the giant Y, I didn't care.
It's particularly amusing considering the distinction we've made in the past between "reddit" and "rabbit." They may sound similar, but they're very different organisms. I even went so far as to create an instructive shirt to enumerate the differences.
A sleeveless shirt with a wide-eyed alien and a bunny on it -- I still can't imagine why it hasn't sold well...

Remember:

someone send this thing some cuttles

Less then two weeks after championing cuttlefish as the new medium of Internet expression, Cute Overload has found the saddest cuttlefish ever.

This should be seen as a call to arms (all eight of them) -- send some cuttles, folks.

We're clearly not doing enough as a movement, so despite all the recent allegations of inappropriate Wiki-editing, I've gone ahead and updated the Cuttlefish Wikipedia entry.

Let us rally behind this sad, sad cephalopod and further the global pro-cuttlefish agenda.


UPDATE: Curses! Those Wikipedians work quickly. My addition was deleted within five hours on the preposterous grounds that it was "self-promotion." Pfft.

Let me assure you all that I am not, nor have I ever been, a cuttlefish.


*Tip of the hat to ikirigin for finding the above pic.

send some cuttles

Matt Douglas, a friend of reddit from back in our Boston days, celebrated his wife's birthday on his startup's blog. I suspect he's using MyPunchbowl to plan the party.

Jessica (his wife) has evidently been quite supportive throughout his startup and this seemed like an appropriate gift on her birthday. Flowers wouldn't hurt either, Matt. Or maybe give her a reddit shirt...

Seriously though, startup life is wrought with uncertainty, but of the few guarantees is that it will test your relationships -- all of them. Some will thrive (e.g., Steve is now engaged, sorry ladies) and others won't.

You'll be counting on some kind of a support group through these times, it may even be a group of one, but it will keep you going. It's easy to forget to thank them.

So as a service to Matt and the rest of the startup world, I've created this image for you to send "CUTTLES!" to express just how you feel. It's cheaper than one of those lame Hallmark cards. (Click to enlarge)

Thanks to Liz for finding the original cuttlefish picture. I think they're cuddling. But look at that one in the back just watching... creepy.