European car names top 10 sleepers

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Monday, October 25, 2010

Top 10 Brands

If you canvass the Internet for lists of top brands, you’ll most likely see the following breakdown: Coca-Cola, Microsoft, IBM, GE, Intel, Nokia, Disney, McDonalds, Marlboro and Mercedes. Now these are amazing companies, but we see top brands offering more than longevity, tradition and clever creativity. Today’s standouts are turning categories on their ear. Affecting cultural shifts. And making us gasp at their innovative aspirations. Who might these brands be? Here are our Top 10 Brands:

10. Coca-Cola®

Unless you grew up on Mars, you know what Coca-Cola is. This carbonated, caramel-colored beverage has consistently been an American favorite, despite the intense competition that arrives annually on supermarket shelves. How does it seem to hold onto its crown in the face of so much liquid brand competition? This is not just an American brand. It’s a global phenomenon. It even spawned the song, “I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing.” Coca-Cola, the world continues to sing your praises.

9. Disney

This is one company that does not rest on its laurels. Disney has their fingers in practically every proverbial pie from theme parks and movie making to hotels, cruise ships and more. Just the merchandising aspects alone are mind-boggling. Disney is one of those classic American brands we all grew up with and hold near and dear to our collective heart. It would take something fairly cataclysmic to knock Disney off its rarified perch.

8. Whole Foods Market ®

Walk into any Whole Foods Market and your eyes are dazzled by the perfection of fruits and vegetables tumbling from bins and barrels, aisles of interesting foods with brand names you’ve never heard of and a bakery and deli that makes you think you just walked into Mom’s kitchen. This unique shopping experience takes going to the market from chore status to fun adventure. Fueled by the growing natural and organic food industry movement, Whole Foods’ business methodology of “Conscious Capitalism” is most definitely resonating with a population yearning for something more in tune with our planet… and ourselves.

7. Nintendo®

“Wii™ would like to play.” This tiny little statement has caused a large-scale revolution in the competitive world of video gaming. Nintendo, having performed sluggishly over the last decade, found the right formula for success. By providing a social gaming experience, family and friends are now playing games together (yes, even Mom and Dad). As a result, Wii has outperformed both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, giving consumers considerable angst because Wii flies off shelves faster than you can say “Nunchuk.” Nintendo’s vision has the gaming industry turning another corner, yet again.

6. BMW

It goes without saying that the “ultimate driving machine” is a BMW. Performance coupled with aggressive styling has been BMW’s unique selling proposition for decades, and the brand has consistently and relentlessly delivered on this platform. The A-type attitude exhibited in product design and in advertising campaigns resonates with buyers who see themselves not just as BMW owners, but BMW enthusiasts. Talk about brand advocates. This is one mean branding machine.

5. Starbucks®

Ah… the aroma of a brand that started a coffeehouse revolution. Of course, we’re talking about that Seattle powerhouse, Starbucks. Whimsical and quirky with a corporate culture that practices environmental sustainability, this brand upgraded coffee from beverage status to fashion statement – Blackberry® in one hand, Grande Latte in the other. When you actually find yourself saying things like “barista,” “frappuccino,” and “double shot with soy hold the whip,” you know you’re not just buying coffee – you’ve bought into a cultural movemen

4. Target®

Every brand needs a dog with a bulls-eye. This company decided it no longer wanted to be lumped with the KMarts and Wal-Marts® of the world. There was a whole audience out there clamoring for cheap chic and Target delivered with red and white panache. Right on target.

3. Nike

Can anyone forget the 1984 Orwellian runner or the Lemmings campaign? It wasn’t just jaw-dropping genius. It literally broke the advertising mold. Ever since, Nike has attempted to one-up themselves with bold products and campaigns that offer enough attitude to spare, and they’ve done a pretty smart job of it. You know your brand’s doing just fine when you can remove the name from the logo and consumers can still identify the company. Swoosh!

2. Apple

Apple subscribes to the “less is more” theory and uses it to powerful effect, both in product design and advertising. Anything not absolutely necessary is stripped away to reveal purity and a sense of magic. From their iconic logo to iPod’s campaign of gyrating silhouettes against a kaleidoscope of color, Apple is more than a brand—it’s a culture.

1. Google™

When an actual brand name becomes part of our daily vernacular, it has achieved the epitome of brand recognition. Google, once dubbed the search engine for business, has leapt past Yahoo® into the communal pool where everyone swims for information. Tools like Google ADWords, Ad Sense and Analytics have become so widely proliferated and used, that the term “Just Google It” no longer sounds silly. In fact, it’s quite sensible.

10 Athletes That Died While Playing

Death is something that most people fear, simply because we don’t know what happens after we die. Others aren’t afraid to die, but I think it’s safe to say that a lot of us get a bad feeling when we think about what comes next. While we may not know when or what is next, we do know that it is sure to come.
Most people want to die a peaceful death; usually while asleep. However, let’s look at a few athletes from the last few decades that have been active and awake before the time of their death. All of these men died doing what they loved. Maybe this is the way to go…who knows!

10. J.V. Cain

J.V. Cain was a tight end for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1970s. He had been the tight end for six years and was racking up great statistics for the team. On July 22, 1979, Cain was taking part in the teams training camp in order to get ready for the new season. This day was also his 28th birthday. During camp, he was running a normal pass route and suddenly took a few steps backward, huddled over, and collapsed. Cain died from congenital heart failure. Though he didn’t die during the NFL Season, he still died doing something he loved.

9. Howard Glenn

Howard Glenn was an American football player for the AFL. He joined the AFL’s New York Titans in 1960 are a starting offensive guard. Glenn stands as the only player to die from injuries that were sustained during a normal season football game. While Glenn’s future as an offensive guard looked promising, he suffered a broken neck on October 9 in a game against the Houston Oilers in the first half. A few hours later, he died because of his injuries to his spinal cord. His #66 jersey was retired.

8. Bill Masterton

Bill Masterton was from Winnipeg, Manitoba and was signed by the Montreal Canadiens right out of college in 1961. He was an All-American player and was a great addition to the team. He spent most of his years playing in minor league and then quit for some time to work for a corporation. In 1967 the North Stars added him to the team and he became the first player to score a goal for the team. On January 13, 1968, the North Stars were playing the Oakland Seals. Masterton had the puck and was close to scoring, but passed the puck. Masterton was checked by two players of the Seals’ team and immediately feel backwards on the ice, his head slamming against it. He died shortly after due to a massive brain hemorrhage. It was so bad that even doctors couldn’t operate.

7. Chuck Hughes

Chuck Hughes was another promising player for the NFL. While in college, he set seven different all-time football records. A notable record is Hughes’ 17 interceptions in a single game against Arizona State in 1965. After graduating from college, he was a fourth round draft pick for the Philadelphia Eagles. He played for the Eagles for three years until joining the Detroit Lions in 1970. Hughes was listed as a wide receiver on the roster, but many of his plays were made on special teams. During the final minutes of a game against the Chicago Bears, Hughes suddenly fell forward without any type of contact. Players and fans thought he was faking an injury to stop the clock; however, Hughes had suffered a fatal heart attack. The game was concluded, but in silence.

6. Ray Chapman

Ray Chapman was a Major League Baseball player. He stands as the second player to have died as a result of injuries received during a baseball game. In 1912 he joined the Major Leagues and played for the Cleveland Naps. He was the leader in the American League in runs scored as well as walks. He was known for bunting and was a great shortstop. He was hitting .303 with 97 runs scored when he died. On August 17, 1920, the Naps were playing the Yankees. The Yankees’ pitcher, Carl Mays, threw the ball and it head Chapman on the head. Fans thought that the sound of the ball hitting his skull was the sound of it hitting his bat. Chapman was taken to the hospital and died 12 hours later. His death emphasized why players need to wear batting helmets and why the spitball has been banned.

5. Frank Hayes

Frank Hayes was a horse jockey. He was 35 years old and had been training horses for most of his life. He was chosen to ride a horse named Sweet Kiss by the owner. Hayes would participate in the Belmont Park racetrack in New York. Though the odds were against winning, Hayes was still ready to run the race and give it a try. In February of 1923, to everyone’s surprise, Sweet Kiss won the race. Once the race was over and the horse finally stopped, the horse’s owner ran out to the field to congratulate Hayes, but he was slumped in the saddle and not moving. Doctors confirmed that Hayes had a heart attack during the race. As weird as it may be, Frank Hayes stands as the only jockey that has won a race after his death.

4. Scott Brayton

Brayton was a race car driver from Coldwater, Michigan. He was able to take part in 14 Indianapolis 500s from 1981 until his death. During the 1980s, Brayton is well known for introducing a Buick stock-block V-6 to the racing world. He was able to score his best finish at the Speedway in 1989, finishing in 6th but still seven laps down. In 1993 he matched the same stats. When the Indy Racing League was announced in 1996, Brayton was considered a contender of the IRL title. Though the season started off rough, he was able to qualify and won his second Indy pole. On May 17, 1996, Brayton was practicing in his backup car when a tire blew. His car went into turn two, spun around, hit the outside of the wall, and eventually stopped. Brayton hit the wall at speeds higher than 230mph. He died because of the severe impact with the wall.

3. Ed Sanders

Ed Sanders was a boxer that competed on the minor level, the professional level, and even in the Olympics. His first Olympic boxing championship was in the 1952 summer games. He easily knocked out his opponent, Hans Jost, and went on to beat Giacomo DiSegni in his second fight. At this time, the only person keeping Sanders from the gold was Ingemar Johansson. After the Olympics Sanders went professional and fought eight fights in nine months, losing two of them. On December 12, 1954, Sanders was boxing Willie James. This would be his last fight. During the first ten rounds, the two traded heavy blows. By the 11th round, Sanders appeared to be tired. James hit Sanders with a punch combination and he fell and lost consciousness. He never regained consciousness and died after doctors tried to relieve bleeding in his brain.

2. Reggie Lewis

Reggie Lewis was a basketball player for the Boston Celtics from 1987 to 1993. He had an average of 20.8 points a game and finished with a career average of 17.6 per contest. In 1992, Lewis was chosen to play his first and only NBA All-Star Game which was held in Orlando Florida. He was able top play 15 minutes of the game and scored seven points. He also grabbed four rebounds. During a Celtics practice game on July 27, 1993, Lewis died suddenly. He suffered sudden cardiac death and was only 27 years old.

1. Dale Earnhardt

Dale Earnhardt was an American race care driver that is known for driving stock cars in NASCAR’s top division. He is greatly known for his success in the Winston Cup Series. He won 76 races during his career and was able to take home seven championships. He stands with Richard Petty as the men with the most championships held during a career. In 1998, Earnhardt was able to pull off his first and only Daytona 500 win. During his career, he took on many different epithets: “The Intimidator,” “Ironhead,” and “The Man In Black.” During his race in the 2001 Daytona 500, Earnhardt died in the last-lap of the race. His car slid off of the track and went on the flat apron, and then turned sharply back towards the outside retaining wall. His car was then hit by the #36 car, and both cars hit nose-first into the wall. Earnhardt hit the wall at a critical angle going about 150mph. His car was in ruins but many thought the crash was minor. Earnhardt died from his injuries sustained from crashing into the wall.

10 Dangerous Exotic Pets

Most countries have laws against them.  In most places around the globe it is illegal to capture, breed, or sell them.  Yet world wide there is a fascination with owning wild, bizarre, exotic, and most of the time dangerous pets.  What are this fascination with being different and the need to own something illegal and dangerous?  Who owns these animals?  And, what are these animals that are owned, sold, and traded worldwide regardless of the consequences?
The United With Animal Protection Institute issued a report of incidents involving captive held animals, which provided an interesting background report to base the list upon.  There are also stories like this in papers around the world concerning the practice of keeping dangerous and exotic pets.

10. Turtles

A turtle may seem harmless enough, but did you know that they actually carry salmonella?  It seems that the main concern is the baby turtles.  It is not that the little guys have more cases of salmonella, it’s that the smaller they are the more attracted little kids are to them.  And we all know how little kids can be; they will stick just about anything in their mouth – including their fingers after touching the turtles and the turtles themselves.

9. Constrictors

This is pretty much an obvious one.  Sure that red tailed boa at the pet store seems harmless and kind of cute.  But they grow quite rapidly; can get up to several feet in length, and speaking from a neighborhood experience, they have been known to escape.  Lets just say if you feed them rabbits, they would have no problem with getting themselves around a dog or a cat even.  One of the main concerns with owning constrictors is that once they start to get large, some people actually just let them go and return them to the wild.  Watch out for Fido!

8. Scorpions

Did you know that there is a guy that as a performance and a world record chaser, he actually puts live Scorpions in his mouth?  If you ask me, that’s not one of the best ideas I have heard of.  Seeing the little ones when I lived in the southern US was enough for me.  These little guys can pack quite a punch with their venomous sting!

7. Camels

Camels are known to be pretty temperamental guys.  According to a report on Fox News when a local TV news crew was out filming exotic animal farms, an 1800 lb camel named Polo must have decided that they were not shooting his best side.  When Polo became agitated he attacked his owner, kicking her and sitting on her.  Ouch.  Oh, and if you didn’t know, camels like to spit too.  And it’s pretty gross.

6. Ostriches

Sure they seem cute and awkward looking.  They hide their heads in the ground right.  But apparently these guys will also chase you and they run pretty darn fast.  Getting in the middle of an ostrich stampede just doesn’t sound like my idea of a really good time.

5. Chimps and Monkeys

They are adorable.  The human resemblance is amazing.  They are also known to bite and attack humans and animals alike.  I once saw the damage that a monkey caused when it attacked a dog in India and let’s just say those puncture wounds weren’t pretty.  The dog also lost an ear and an eye in the process.  Sometimes cute is pretty deceptive.

4. Venomous Snakes

Again I go back to my comments about the scorpions.  They are snakes.  They are poisonous.  They bite.  None of this is a good combination.  In Cincinnati a man was bitten by his rhinoceros viper snake, which is one of the world’s deadliest snakes.  He did receive anti-venom and survived.  But who really wants to take that risk?

3. Crocodiles and Alligators

Often people get crocs and alligators when they are little and cute and look like happy little lizards.  Have you seen the jaws on those things?  They didn’t make an entire TV show around hunting them out if there wasn’t some sort of risk and danger there.  So keeping one in a kiddie pool in the back yard may not be the best idea.  Just ask anyone who has lived in Florida and found one under their car.

2. Big Cats

Again it’s these cute ones that you have to worry about.  When these guys are babies, who could resist?  But no matter how young they are or how well trained they are, they can turn on you in a second.  They feed them raw steak for goodness sake, shouldn’t that be a sign?

 1.Lion

European car names top 10 sleepers

european car's May issue, hit the mailboxes yesterday and today. I flipped through it briefly and caught an interesting article, or at least a semblance of an article, buried 60 some pages back in the 106 page issue (man it seems like these magazines have shrunk).

They had a list of top 10 sleepers. For those of you living under a rock, a sleeper is something you would never expect to kick a flashy sports car's ass. It's a car that the 5-0 would never give a second glance. And the car that doesn't leave people questioning your manhood.

I have the full list after the jump, some I agree with, others are meh, and some are not really sleepers.

In no particular order:

1997 BMW 540i-still pretty quick, unassuming, however, I think the M5 should have qualified, I really don't think it is much "flashier" then the 540i

1992-98 Jetta VR6-lol, they must have had to get a VW on the list, 174hp and a 0-60 of 7.5 seconds don't a sleeper make. Fail.

1975-81 Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL 6.9 - 6.9 liter V8 with a whopping 286hp, lets just say efficiency really wasn't the name of the game back in the late 70's. But yeah, these kick ass. Especially, since you usually picture your liberal Philosophy professor driving one. With a pipe.

1999-2002 Saab 9-3 Viggen - It pretty much looks like a standard 9-3. This fits the sleeper category well, but I do wonder if the 2004 9-5 Aero Wagon would be a better fit.

1994-96 Audi RS2 Avant - ummm yeah, sleeper incarnate. This wagon hauled (litterally) with a 0-60 of 4.8 seconds.

2004-05 Volvo V70 R - Yes. That is all I have to say.

2006 Cayenne Turbo S - oh really? It's hard for me to justify any Porsche as a "sleeper." That being said, having ridden in one it goes from luxury cruiser, to ohmygodhowarewegoingthisfast! in no time flat.

2007 Audi S8 - big, fast, not too flashy

1991-94 Mercedes-Benz 500E - Great car for drug runners to get away from the police in. Or wannabe gangsters.