Washington Post has an interesting article on the PR Debacle that is the Katie Holmes/Tom Cruise "Oh we love each other so much" story. How do you make something real when 62% of the public says it’s BS? In other Katie and Tom news, I heard from a source who heard from a source (which makes the original source 50% value, at best) that a magazine or six are going to come out with photos that prove that Tom Cruise is confirmed Gay. You know, just in case there was one person left in the world who still thought he was straight.

Here is my prediction for the day. The second half of 2007 is when we will witness the death of the first "big" newspaper from the convergence of blogs, podcasts, and the like. by this, I mean we will see the shuttering of a "major" player – think the Times, the Journal, something like that, and in its place will rise up the digital-only version. Be it "digital paper," (which will probably be cheaper than regular paper) or web/cast based, the newspaper will die as we know it, and others will follow. My prediction for the day. Thoughts?

American Express Financial Advisors become "Ameriprise Financial." Um… OK. Is it me, or does this just NOT work. American Express has SUCH a strong name. Ameriprise? What the hell is that?? Why? Full disclosure – AmEx Consumer cards has been a client of mine in the past – not the group that I’m discussing here, though. Tell me your thoughts on this one. I’m dying to hear what you guys think. PS:  BugMeNot username and password for Star Tribune is: albymangels

Reporter sent this to me – His words: "Good story about Sarb Ox, moderately interesting, but they buried the lead. I don’t want to waste time trying to find it." Can you find it? I’ve deleted the name of the company to save someone’s job. “Company Name Deleted” is the company that issued the release, and “Blank” is the company with whom they’re working. BLANK CHOOSES COMPANY NAME  DELETED FOR CONTINUOUS CONTROLS MONITORING AND COMPLIANCE SOLUTION Vancouver, BC, CANADA – May 25, 2005 – COMPANY NAME  DELETED Services Ltd. today announced that BLANK Communications Inc. is using COMPANY NAME  DELETED Continuous Controls Monitoring (CCM) technology within two critical business processes – its overall purchase-to-payment cycle and its purchasing card program. [...]

Way 1: Craig’s List is a scary, scary place Way 2: People are freakin’ idiots. Personally, I’m going with #2… NY Post: "John Has He-She Hooker Nightmare"