Finger-rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?

Conseco is changing its name.

Feeling 'Conseco' still conjures up negative reminders of years past, they will soon be known as 'CNO Financial Group' ('CNO' is their stock ticker name.)

How will this affect "Conseco Fieldhouse"? Don't know. But the Conseco brass - check that - the CNO Financial Group brass will be deciding soon. One option would be: "CNO Financial Group Fieldhouse."

For the love of Slick Leonard, let's hope for another option.

I know, the classic stadium names like 'Candlestick Park' are rare. But we need more 'Lambeau Fields' and less 'US Cellular Fields.' Too many capital letters smushed together scare me. I say keep 'Conseco Fieldhouse.' So what if it reminds people of awful financial situations years ago? It can't be as bad as the awful financial situation fans are going through now.

Go, Bulldogs. Go!

Go, Dawgs, go.

Go by hustle.
Go by D.
Give-and-go. Knock down the three.

Go by Hayward. Go by Veasley.
Go by Nored. Go by Mack.
Go by Howard. Go by Stevens.
Keep it going. No looking back.

Bulldogs at work.
Work, Dawgs, work!

Bulldogs at play.
Play, Dawgs, play!

Go by Hinkle. Go by Cali.
Go by Salt Lake City.
Beat the best to be the best,
and take your place at Indy.

Stop, Dawgs. Stop!
You’ve earned your cred.
Go, Dawgs, go.
Your destiny’s ahead.

The Bulldogs are going up.
The Spartans are going down.

You’re almost there!
Now let's see
you climb that mountain and
storm the Final Four party.

Bulldogs, Bulldogs,
Bulldogs, Bulldogs.

What a Bulldog party it will be!


Lovingly adapted from the P.D. Eastman classic, which you can most certainly order through the Butler superfans at Big Hat Books.

We’ll leave the ambient lighting on for ya.

Watch out Ace, James and W. Motel 6 is coming for you. Well, maybe not exactly. But if you never thought “European and stylish” would describe the low-budget hotel chain with questionable taste, think again.

Starting with a few prototype locations (they’re calling the Phoenix project), the company is currently undergoing a major facelift lead by the London design firm Priestmangoode. Bright accent colors, platform beds, granite countertops, 32-inch flat-screen tvs and wood (effect) floors freshen the look, while multifunctional furniture pieces and modular storage optimize the room’s space….all this, still for $39.99.

“This design embodies the heart of Motel 6 – it’s no-frills, uncomplicated and efficient with a new modern edge,” said Jim Amorosia, president and COO of Motel 6 and Studio 6. “The Phoenix prototype offers the best of both worlds – an upscale feel at the lowest price of any national chain. True to the spirit of Motel 6, the new design is simple, functional and straight to the point.“

While the interiors will be updated in the next few months, so too will the exteriors, lead by the firm BOKA Powell. Motel 6 plans for about 120 properties to have the new Phoenix look by the end of 2010.

And competitors Super 8 and Red Roof Inn are beginning to renovate their properties similarly, all aiming for the budget traveler with design as the weapon of choice.

Redecorating may be a big task, but overcoming their brand perception might be the hardest challenge. Will the current customer base feel comfortable staying in a room resembling an IKEA or BoConcept showroom? Will prospective style-conscious patrons be able to overcome their Motel 6 fears?

And where does Tom Bodett fit into all this? Or does he prefer “Tomas” now?

This wasn't built in a day either

This all-type view of the Roman Coliseum was made by Cameron Moll using Bembo Pro, Goudy Trajan and recreating the calligraphy of M. Giovambattista Palatino.

Even the quick video showing how Moll resurrected the 460-year-old calligraphy in Illustrator is a bit spellbinding.

Serendipity? There's an app for that.

A new app is on its way that will automatically and permanently delete your text messages from the sender's phone, the receiver's phone and the server, making it impossible to retrieve.

What would one call this novel feature? Why not TigerTexts.

That's right. Developers at X Sigma Partners insist that their latest creation was named long before Tiger Woods' text message booty calls unraveled his marriage and career. Really? Please go on.

Co-founder Jeffrey Evans points to such inspiration for the name as the app was launched in the Lunar Year of the Tiger. He goes on to say, "Tigers are notoriously difficult animals to track; TigerTexts are difficult to track as well. So if you send a private text message it should stay private."

Well, we're convinced. Oh, what's that? You have more, Mr. Evans.

Furthermore, a series of tiger paw prints are left in place of the deleted message in a conversation thread.

See, albeit a bit suspicious on the user end of things - those paws could give pause - there's no way that piece of code could have been created between the Woods' scandal and the TigerText release.

Sounds more to us like X Sigma is just doing a smart job covering their tracks on a brilliant piece of naming.

It's been an awards kind of week

We're pretty excited about our TV, radio and billboard Addy wins on Saturday. We're also thrilled to kick off 2010 with another great campaign for VMS, including some attractive, custom-designed awards of our own. Still working on that national anthem, though.