A viral video happy ending
The world’s worst parking job attracted a million-plus views on YouTube. Hyundai was watching. Very clever marketing.
Don Mecoy
Business Writer
Tiger roars past $1 billion
Tiger demonstrates is pitching skills in this Buick ad.
Forbes.com’s SportsMoney blog by Mike Ozanian estimates that Tiger Wood’s $10 million payday last weekend pushed his career earnings — on and off the course — past the $1 billion mark. That would make him the world’s first billion-dollar athlete, Ozanian said.
Ozanian writes:
The scary part is that Woods is only 33-years-old and might have 15 years of competitive golf left in him and 30+ years of designing golf courses. This is only the first $1 billion for Woods.
Comments on the blog claim that Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Formula 1 driver Michael Schumacher already have eclipsed the billion-dollar mark. But Woods’ financial accomplishments at such a tender age are impressive.
Don Mecoy
Business Writer
Mad Money’s Jim Cramer coming to OU
Jim Cramer, money maven of the rolled-up shirt sleeves and sound effects, will visit the University of Oklahoma next month. Cramer, host of CNBC’s “Mad Money,” will tape an episode of the show before a live audience of OU students on Oct. 30. He also will be the keynote speaker at a dinner for OU business students and alumni on Oct. 29.
OU President David L. Boren said Michael Price, the former Wall Street money manager who the OU business college is named for, arranged Cramer’s visit.
“Jim Cramer’s visit will give OU students an excellent opportunity to hear one of the most prominent personalities on Wall Street,” Boren said.
Anyone have any questions they would like to ask Mr. Cramer? Submit them in the comments.
Don Mecoy
Business Writer
I flunked the “smarter than a seventh-grader” quiz
In Sunday’s editions of The Oklahoman, I posed the question “Are You Smarter Than a Seventh Grader?” and ran a quiz testing our readers’ financial knowledge. As scores of our highly informed readers have informed me, one of the questions was wrong.
Question 6, which asked at what age one is required to take distributions from an Individual Retirement Account, listed 59 1/2 as the correct answer. The correct answer actually is 70 1/2, which was not among the options offered in the multiple-choice quiz.
Distributions may be taken from IRA accounts at age 59 1/2 without penalty. But the required withdrawals don’t begin until 11 years later.
My sincerest apologies. I have personally rapped my own knuckles with a ruler.
Don Mecoy
Business Writer
Disney-Marvel team-up spawns new rivalries
The folks over at Woot (and a few thousand others online) are already mapping out the possibilities of Disney’s $4 billion purchase of Marvel. My favorite: Colossus vs. Pinnochio.
Mary Poppins vs. Dr. Strange: The Cloak of the Vishanti vs. A Spoonful of Sugar! The Faltine dimension vs. the racetrack full of penguins! “Abracadabra” vs. “Supercalifragilisticexpialadocious”!
Spider-Man vs. Jiminy Cricket: Seized by arachnid instinct, the way-out web-slinger craves cricket meat! Will an enchanted umbrella be enough to shock him back to his spider-senses?
Hercules vs Hercules: The battle the public domain laws demanded! Not a dream! Not a hoax! Not covered under the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act!
Colossus vs. Pinocchio: The building materials who walk like men! Who will triumph: Italian wood… or Russian steel? There’s no flesh in this supersaga – but plenty of blood!
Wolverine vs. Tramp: One is a scruffy loner with heroic instincts and a heart of gold! The other has giant adamantium claws! Who will win the good girl’s heart?
Bambi’s Mother vs Uncle Ben: “With great power comes great responsibility” – or, “If you’d just been a better kid, I’d still be alive.” The neuroses of tomorrow begin here!
More here.
Don Mecoy
Business Writer
“District 9″ director started with commercials
“District 9″ is getting rave reviews, including this solid thumbs up from our own George Lang. Director Neill Blomkamp displayed his creativity and ability to work with special effects in several television commercials, including this classic.
For more examples, go here.
Don Mecoy
Business Writer
Madoff sentenced “forever”
The Awl takes a well-deserved shot at Ponzi prince Bernie Madoff:
Bernie Madoff has been sentenced to 150 years in prison for his Ponzi scheme. That’s the maximum sentence, although Madoff has reportedly hinted that he could turn it into 350 for you with almost no risk.
Don Mecoy
Business Writer
Switzer always liked the pitch
Barry Switzer has hired on as a spokesman for Dunkin’ Donuts, and a new set of ads trades on his willingness to do crazy stuff, along with his intensity as a coach — even when he’s coaching chess. (via Sporting Press)
Don Mecoy
Business Writer
Ellen’s advice for college graduates
Ellen DeGeneres offers advice (”don’t take anyone’s advice”) in a commencement speech to Tulane graduates. Funny and uplifting.
Don Mecoy
Business Writer
Vigilantes Rick roll telemarketers
Everyone has had it with the vehicle warranty calls. Oklahoma authorities have filed several legal actions to stop the annoying telemarketing pitches. Their counterparts in other states have tried similar tactics. The feds have gotten involved.
Yet the calls — “This is your second and final call notifying that your vehicle warranty is about to expire…” — continue unabated.
Michael Silveira called out the big guns, the Wall Street Journal reported. He Rickrolled them:
So last week, Mr. Silveira began calling back an auto-warranty company that has become the focus of an Internet crusade. He left it voice-mail messages that contained nothing but a recording of Rick Astley’s 1987 hit song “Never Gonna Give You Up.”
Using phone numbers for Auto One Warranty Specialists Inc. that users posted to a Web site called Reddit.com, Mr. Silveira joined dozens of activists who have peppered the warranty company with messages including elevator music, threats and offers of rude services.
Don Mecoy
Business Writer
