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bianchigirl
Joined: 10 Oct 2006
Posts: 4063
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 Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 8:16 pm Post subject: And I thought it was the Tour de France... |
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not some Armstrong/Nike corporate vanity project
http://www.nike.com/nikeos/p/livestrong/en_US/chalk_messages
So sad when corporate America completely distorts spontaneous public gestures - and IIRC the chalk at the ToC caused all kinds of problems for riders and spectators.
Let's hope the great French public let's Nike know what they think of it's 'chalkbot' and overwrites all this sentimental tosh with LANCE = DOPER and the like
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berck
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Joined: 09 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 10:08 pm Post subject: Re: And I thought it was the Tour de France... |
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| bianchigirl wrote: | | IIRC the chalk at the ToC caused all kinds of problems for riders and spectators. |
Never heard anything about that. Where did you hear this? |
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Superbagneres
Joined: 09 Jun 2007
Posts: 1393
Location: Isle of Man
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| Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 11:12 pm Post subject: Re: And I thought it was the Tour de France... |
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| berck wrote: | | bianchigirl wrote: | | IIRC the chalk at the ToC caused all kinds of problems for riders and spectators. |
Never heard anything about that. Where did you hear this? |
There was a stage at the TOC where the sprint finish was almost invisible because of the cloud dust. I only remember because Cav won and I was waiting with my kleenex and had to freeze the TV to get a "money shot".
Anyway I think it's lovely that people should send words of hope, encouragement and inspiration to be chalked on the road. It reminds me of the story about when the Worlds were held in the UK at Goodwood in 1982, and the police arrested an Italian fan for writing on the road. Did they ever let him out? |
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bianchigirl
Joined: 10 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 9:35 am Post subject: |
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My point is, people already write on the roads, it's a long standing tradition of the race. So why does it have to be co-opted by Nike as a marketing exercise to promote brand Livestrong?
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SlowRower
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
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Location: Leeds - Centre of the Universe
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| Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 9:53 am Post subject: |
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| bianchigirl wrote: | | So why does it have to be co-opted by Nike as a marketing exercise to promote brand Livestrong? |
It doesn't have to per se, but because it (is assumed to) promote the brand and make money, there's nothing to stop it happening.
My only surprise is that the entire route hasn't already been painted with corporate logos. All that potential advertising space being wasted! If boxers can sell advertising space on the bottom of their boots, I'm sure there's scope for greater exploitation of French tarmac.
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bianchigirl
Joined: 10 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 10:06 am Post subject: |
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thank god it hasn't happened is all I can say - jesus, why does the money grabbing corporate capitalist model always have to be assumed to be the correct one?
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SlowRower
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 10:25 am Post subject: |
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| bianchigirl wrote: | | thank god it hasn't happened is all I can say - jesus, why does the money grabbing corporate capitalist model always have to be assumed to be the correct one? |
I don't think this is universally assumed to be the case; certainly not after the last couple of years in the financial markets. (It may surprise you to learn that I firmly believe that money ruins a lot of sport. I like people to do their sport because they enjoy the game not because they can make money out of it.)
That said though, ideals and traditions are all well and good, but money talks. We might not like what Nike are doing, but it's hard to see how it could be stopped other than on some manufactured "Health and Safety" grounds.
I'll bet numerous guesthouse, cafe, restaurant and campsite owners rack their prices up when the TDF comes to town, for their own financial gain, but no-one really worries about the small businesses exploiting sporting events (except when you get your restaurant bill!). It's only when the big corporations wade in that we get particularly upset.
As an aside, pro cycling as a business results in a lot of pointless "races", where the vast majority of riders are either riding for training or to satisfy their sponsors. There are very few real races where all the pros want to ride, are fully prepared to race and would ride for nothing.
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Mrs John Murphy
Joined: 18 Aug 2007
Posts: 5051
Location: Stepping on Cadel's dog
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| Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 11:02 am Post subject: |
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Because BG there are some people who still worship the likes of Thatcher and Reagan as economic geniuses.
Still the combination of the racist druggie and a company that uses child labour seems appropriate. |
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Hommedesbois
Joined: 27 Mar 2009
Posts: 377
Location: France
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| Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 11:30 am Post subject: |
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The reason for the Goodwood reaction was that the circuit is on private property belonging to the Earl of March, an historic motor racing circuit no less.
I wouldn't want anyone painting a giant penis on my road!
Champion have been taken over by Carrefour, whose publicity people don't seem to know much about the TdF except they have inherited the rights to sponsor a polka-dot maillot. The 'pub' so far is tacky but understated.
They are however rich enough to sponsor a whole team so should be encouraged.
TUE isn't going to see what is written on the road anyway as he will have his head up Popo's ass for 3 weeks - his view will be restricted. |
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Mrs John Murphy
Joined: 18 Aug 2007
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Location: Stepping on Cadel's dog
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HuwB
Joined: 17 May 2007
Posts: 7285
Location: Deep in the Black Mountains.
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| Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:39 pm Post subject: |
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Another shocker from Bikey Nike:
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Slapshot 3
Site Admin
Joined: 06 Oct 2006
Posts: 2594
Location: Scotland
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| Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:42 pm Post subject: |
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| HuwB wrote: | Another shocker from Bikey Nike:
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Looks like a bobble head doll
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Mrs John Murphy
Joined: 18 Aug 2007
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Location: Stepping on Cadel's dog
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| Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:44 pm Post subject: |
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| HuwB wrote: | Another shocker from Bikey Nike:
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Turning from a Hobbit into Golum
They say that HGH makes your head grow bigger... |
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bianchigirl
Joined: 10 Oct 2006
Posts: 4063
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| Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:52 pm Post subject: |
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And we haven't even debated the Armstrong 'settling scores by exploiting cancer patients' Nike ad.
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SlowRower
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
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Location: Leeds - Centre of the Universe
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| Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 1:03 pm Post subject: |
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| bianchigirl wrote: | | And we haven't even debated the Armstrong 'settling scores by exploiting cancer patients' Nike ad. |
Debate? Don't you mean facilitate (yet) an(other) Armstrong rant-fest?
To have a "debate" there must sure be some some attempt at objectivity on all sides, so I don't think there's too many debates going to break out here!
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mazda
Joined: 02 May 2007
Posts: 244
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| Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 1:07 pm Post subject: |
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| bianchigirl wrote: | | My point is, people already write on the roads, it's a long standing tradition of the race. So why does it have to be co-opted by Nike as a marketing exercise to promote brand Livestrong? |
I suppose the point is that now anyone not at the race can also write a "slogan".
Will the machine doing the writing indiscriminately write over other peoples artwork, or will it choose long, empty stretches of road to write on ?
Thinking of submitting "Come on Bertie", or even just "Vamos". |
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Slapshot 3
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Posts: 2594
Location: Scotland
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| Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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| SlowRower wrote: | | bianchigirl wrote: | | And we haven't even debated the Armstrong 'settling scores by exploiting cancer patients' Nike ad. |
Debate? Don't you mean facilitate (yet) an(other) Armstrong rant-fest?
To have a "debate" there must sure be some some attempt at objectivity on all sides, so I don't think there's too many debates going to break out here! |
It is objective.....Nike/pharmstrong/boss hog etc etc tell us what they think and we rip the piss out of it...fair honest debate.
That's one ad I'd like to see!!
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SlowRower
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 1693
Location: Leeds - Centre of the Universe
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| Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 1:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Slapshot 3 wrote: | It is objective.....Nike/pharmstrong/boss hog etc etc tell us what they think and we rip the piss out of it...fair honest debate.
That's one ad I'd like to see!! |
Doubtless good entertainment, but about as objective as an exchange between Mrs SlowRower and me when I suggest that no-one needs more than one pair of shoes for work. 
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Jackov
Joined: 27 Dec 2006
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Location: The Burbs of Merlin
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| Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 3:15 pm Post subject: |
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I finally followed the link and...Chalkbot is the coolest thing to happen to the tour since the internet. I don't do touchy feely emotional stuff so I'm not moved by the "hope" but I love the technology.
I can't believe it took this long. For years you've been able to get digital images turned into icing on cake. I suppose machines that could do this in paint have been around for a while, it must be a breakthrough in chalk. Thank the gods i've lived to see liquid chalk. |
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bianchigirl
Joined: 10 Oct 2006
Posts: 4063
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| Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 3:21 pm Post subject: |
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Hoorah - let's just sell off the roads to corporate sponsors and stop the fans expressing support shall we? 
This would be fair enough if it were uncensored - but try getting DOPESTRONG on the road via the chalkbot
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