The best website we have seen on the subject of emergency preparedness for you and your family resides at 72 hours.org. The name of the site refers to the notion that you’ll have to be able to fend for yourself for at least 72 hours in the event of a disaster. This site presents information in a way that should serve as a shining example to all other government web projects. Hats off to everyone involved. A must read. And you might consider downloading and printing the most important info, in PDF form here and here , as you probably won’t be able to get online post event.

If you can’t say “Henry Wadsworth Longfellow” without repeating the last two words and chuckling, we may have found a name you’ll love. The name of this furniture store comes from the founder’s family name, but c’mon. And mind you, this is not a “one off”, this name sits proudly in large letters on over 300 brick and mortar stores throughout the southeastern U.S. The name? Badcock. Yes, Badcock.

Our question is, with that last name, how do you make reservations for dinner, hotels etc? Would they page you at the airport, or refuse? Would you have trouble getting a credit card? So is this name just crazy or crazy like a fox? Given that the name is sucessful and hasn’t hurt business one whit, does that give you added courage when choosing your own company name? Does it drive home the point that consumers aren’t literalists and a good laugh is good for business? Or does it just mean the conversations you’ve been having with your favorite sweater could be relevant and meaningful? Probably the latter.

Audi’s latest print ad campaign reads thusly:

The Audi A6, 2005 World Car of the Year, demonstrates progress through intelligent design and imaginative engineering.

I drive an A6. Does “intelligent design” mean that God is my copilot? Since mine is in the shop every two months, I may have missed that option on the contract. And the Audi tagline, “Never Follow”, would seem to contradict the religous implications of the pitch. Opposing messages like these are just bad branding.

The mystery intensifies with the claim of “2005 World Car of the Year”. Never heard of such a distinction? Neither had we, and for good reason. This is the first time the “independent award” has been bestowed. The World Car of the Year website resides here. You tell us if it looks like an ongoing concern, or if it will it quietly fade away when 2006 rolls around and Audi runs a new campaign. We’ll be watching.