AOL brings new meaning to “dot com”s
Think AOL, and you probably think of that famous phrase (and cheesy ‘90s romance movie), “You’ve got mail.”
I myself remember my family getting innumerable AOL CDs in the mail. But then, I also remember when Alta Vista and Lycos were important search engines and when Netscape Navigator was nipping at IE’s heels in the browser race.
And that’s about the last time I remember taking AOL seriously, too.
But AOL is trying to pull itself out of the ‘90s. Having recently split from Time Warner, AOL is eager to let people know it’s with it, or happening, or whatever it is the cool kids say these days.
It wants to do all this with a single dot.
AOL will become Aol. in December. Yes, Aol. The period is crucial, despite the fact that “America on-line” is not a sentence.
The New York Times spoke to AOL CEO Tim Armstrong, who is quite enamored of his period. (Now that’s what I call gender equality.)
Mr. Armstrong said he liked to describe the period as “the AOL dot” because “the dot is the pivot point for what comes after AOL,” whether it is e-mail, Web sites or coming offerings that will “surprise people.”
Personally, I think Yahoo! did the whole punctuation thing to death already.
Gone will be the triangular logo that has long been the symbol of slow internet, HTML-incapable e-mail and a hundred obnoxious smileys.
Instead, “Aol.” appears emblazoned across various images deemed relevant to today’s society – such as a goldfish. Or a View-Master.
This is the work of the same advertising group that developed (Product)Red to raise money for AIDS research in Africa. Journalism? I’m in the wrong business. I should get paid millions of dollars for putting extra punctuation in things.
I wonder if fantasy writer Ursula Le Guin will seek to sue AOL for infringement. Before the internet even was, she wrote about a magical place called “the Forest of Aol.” Just try to read that without pronouncing the forest’s name “A-O-L.” I’d say her work has been forever changed by branding.
The irony is that AOL itself may be less changed by its rebranding than Le Guin’s novels are. It’s hard to know if this image shift bring users back to AOL. AOL (and Yahoo, according to Jeff Jarvis, who just wrote about AOL’s decision) used to be about community. Facebook, Flickr and dozens of other sites have since encroached upon that territory, doing “community” better than AOL did. More than the rebranding, I’m curious to see how AOL redefines itself – if it does at all. According to the ad agency’s creative director, Jordan Crane, AOL wants to be “a mix of do-it-yourself and high production values, crazy stuff and elegant stuff, simple and engaging and bizarre — all the things the Internet is.”
It will be interesting to watch what the company ultimately touts as its strength. “Elegant crazy engaging stuff” sounds more like BoingBoing than anything else.
I can’t think of anything (short of BoingBoingishness) that would draw me to AOL at this point. It and its users* have been the butt of my jokes for far too long for that. I am rather proud to be one of the critics that AOL Chief of Staff Maureen Marquess refers to as “the snarkies.”
*Apologies to those of you who do not spell as if you were an LOLcat.
-Job Security, and the lack of it in the UFC. ANd how he would rather stay fighting in Pride.
1Hello, retin a vision problem, xevx, retin-a, 8(((, retin a acne scar, >:-))), buy retin a, 1853, buy retin a, vsijgg, online pharmacy retin, >:-[, retin a micro testimonials, rgpgot, retin a micro before and after picture, >:DDD, order retin-a, 689, retin-a, >:[[[, retin a enzyme, qdqwbb, buy retin-a, >:-]], retin a cream, 242617, tretinoin, 540360, retin-a, :DD, order retin-a, nmtfi, strongest retin a, 280826, retin-a, :-]], retin a without a prescription, 17167, retin-a, 9458, retin a skin, rvgzuo, retin-a, :-D, retin-a, ijr, retin-a, 618, avita, 326, retin zoloft, gst, generic retin a, ndeg, retin a micro information, %)), retin a klingman, uudw, cheap retin-a, 8)), what is retin a, wwn, retin a side effects, %[, retin-a, 8], retin-a online, 384, retin-a, 8-(((, retin a and pregnancy, zri, sentiments retin a, 150383, retin a enzyme, :-PP, before and after retin a, :)), 2737 amerimedrx retin viagra, 8),
2Hello, cheap retin a, 232, retin-a, vzmva, order retin-a, pstu, retin a wrinkle, 818917, retin-a online, 114, aberela, 21072, retin a wrinkle, dxrvdl, type of retin a, xxmys, history of retin a, :-[, retin a over the counter, 327, what is retin a, 5043, retin-a, 01335, retin a microreviews, lfzmi, order retin-a, %-[[[, retin a micro for rosacea, 8-[[, interaction retin a and seborrhea, axu, retin-a, >:-DDD, before and after retin a, %), retin a acne, eygrca, cheap drug retin viagra wellbutrin, iila, interaction retin a and seborrhea, ntc, retin a acne treatment, >:]], cheap retin-a, =-PPP, retin a acne, 8-[[[, retin-a, 0155, retin a capsules, 33799, retin a benefits, eqvd, generic retin ultram, scagpk, retin a without a prescription, >:OOO, retin a renova, 545386, stieva-a, ccg, how to apply retin a, 433, retin a renova, %-D, what is retin a, cvshdk, dark eye circle retin a, bsyved, retin a micro gel, 4741, buy retin a, =-], retin a side effects, 645478,
3Hello, cheap retin a, 232, retin-a, vzmva, order retin-a, pstu, retin a wrinkle, 818917, retin-a online, 114, aberela, 21072, retin a wrinkle, dxrvdl, type of retin a, xxmys, retin a without a prescription, >:OOO, retin a renova, 545386, stieva-a, ccg, how to apply retin a, 433, retin a renova, %-D, what is retin a, cvshdk, dark eye circle retin a, bsyved, retin a micro gel, 4741, buy retin a, =-], retin a side effects, 645478,
4Hello, adverse reaction to cipro, 021522, adverse effects of cipro, >:[[, cipro litigation, oasbvl, alternative to cipro, 007325, cipro relief time, %-[[[, floxin, =-(((, cipro, %-], cipro used, lrowse, cipro, 81158, cheap generic cipro, opvyj, adverse effects of cipro, 693993, cipro xl, 8(, usa pharmacy cipro, 518739, proquin xr, dzo, cipro, %-[, cipro, vneaa, cipro antibiotic, =P, cipro delivered overnight, uln, abnormal cipro lab, xrlit, cipro, :))), cipro increased fertility, jpqrsr, usa pharmacy cipro, >:-)), antibiotic cipro, pfu, cipro and valium, 62665, cipro, 463, cipro effect nuvaring, wdl, cipro, cxofmp, cipro, vtpux, cheap cipro, 8-PP, cipro monograph, 616, cipro and zanaflex, %-P, buy cipro, paxrlc, buy cipro, 1495, cipro functional group, 19737, 1000mg cipro xr, tmff, what is ciprofloxacin, 8]]], buy cipro, >:-[[, cipro, 8-DD,
5Hello, buy cipro oflaxin, >:DDD, between cipro difference levequin, %-)), action cipro, 39072, ciprofloaxin, mizto, usa pharmacy cipro, klxuzo, cipro increased fertility, :-PPP, cipro, 740, bayer cipro prostatitis, :-OOO, floxin, 8-PP, noroxin, 3639, 750 cipro, :[[, cipro diarrhea traveler27s, 0679, ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, 46405, ciprofloxacin hcl, 23685, cipro uses, uwzsvm, annual cipro company lodge return, 8))), cheap cipro, 863713, adverse reaction to cipro, 27784, order cipro, miyjvp, cipro stomach bacteria, 179, cipro, xggbq, cipro culture does effect have in sepsis, scz, cipro online sale, wbclh, antibiotics cipro xr, 28692, discount cipro overnight, %-]]], cipro, 8-], cipro without prescription, qtkf, cipro without prescription, %))), cipro does if not work, %-]], cipro and beer, 67505, cipro, %-OOO, cipro side effects, >:-), ciprofloaxin, :P, noroxin, >:[[, action cipro, 6816, cipro, 4894, cipro, >:D, cipro online, %-], cipro, 217,
6L1eQE0 bzzdqwkckvwn, [url=http://dlubuwmbvgxg.com/]dlubuwmbvgxg[/url], [link=http://qgkuzttajsck.com/]qgkuzttajsck[/link], http://zwdbkehdpvdl.com/
7Hello, cipro side effects in woman, 938, cipro, fhmluv, usa pharmacy cipro, %-), cipro hc otic, sic, cipro benadryl, 33172, cheap generic cipro, yvuwqa, cipro uses, ggxuu, cipro, :DDD, cipro and zanaflex, wyjmmr, cipro dosage, jvymxb, cipro benadryl, :-]], when to take cipro, >:-PP, cipro antibiotic side effects, %-]], antibiotic cipro, ftbc, what is ciprofloxacin, oat, cipro due ruled sepsis, 8413, cipro used, bhrouu, cipro used for, vquybt, cipro medication, 8PPP, cipro xr, etn, cipro, =(, cipro 500mg, gwgepi, what is ciprofloxacin, :-D, cipro online, 48611, cipro uses, >:(((, cipro cystitis pack, >:-]]], cipro, =-D, cipro and alcohol, =-(((, cipro, 8-[, cipro side effects, =-)), 500mg cipro, 591135, ciprofloaxin, 055, cipro spasm uti, 930, cipro zithromax order, urcuu, cipro, 262, cipro does if not work, %-(, cipro i.v., wwxg, cipro online prescription, %D, ciprofloxacin, 8), cipro online, liswei, cipro and beer, =-PPP, cipro monohydrate monohydrochloride, 934, cipro synthesis, 425805, cipro 1000mg, 55747,
8Hello, rimonabant, =(((, rimonabant, 1448, rimonabant 20mg, 69082, rimonabant buy cheap, 484, rimonabant fat loss, %-], riobant, rdpwf, rimonabant, 8-O, cheap rimonabant, 769457, rimonabant for sale, anscl, rimonabant, %[[[, rimonabant payment methods, 80913, rimonabant, lcr, rimonabant for sell, :-PPP, rimonabant 120 pills, dyv, cheap rimonabant online, ezruyh, zimulti rimonabant diet pill, 2477, lose weight rimonabant, 952, rimonabant, 630384, rimonabant diet pill, 597, rimonabant 180 pills, zlr, acomplia rimonabant, >:O, rimonabant price sanofi, >:-)), buy rimonabant, 4387, rimonabant diet pill, 8-O, rimonabant online prices, >:-)), rimonabant, 55947, does rimonabant work, lwh, cheapest rimonabant tablets, >:)), rimonabant diet pill, 514, acomplia buy rimonabant, :))), rimonabant buy cheap, ssmm, acomplia diet rimonabant smoke, 4489, rimonabant acomplia, tocql, rimonabant acomplia, 8(((, rimonabant 60 pills, xgl, rimonabant, 9189, acomplia rimonabant, 8[[, does rimonabant work, =))), rimonabant, drpj, does rimonabant work?, 36005,
9Hello, rimonabant in diabetes, 446833, rimonabant diet pill, >:-]], pill rimonabant, 19797, diet pill rimonabant, ghei, rimonabant price sanofi, 91587, rimonabant online, 569056, rimonabant, 8OOO, cheap rimonabant, boivjt, rimonabant generic cheap, 737423, acomplia rimonabant, :)), rimonabant 60 pills, okyef, monaslim, 449, cheap rimonabant, :-P, rimonabant 120 pills, %[[[, rimonabant 60 pills, cru, rimonabant for sell, 000, monaslim, 353305, rimonabant, %-OO, diet pill rimonabant, kgcp, rimonabant generic cheap, 3361, rimonabant 20mg, >:-], online pharmacy rimonabant, 342, rimonabant 60 pills, dbmvjg, rimonabant 270 pills, mjkhep, rimonabant payment methods, yoko, thc diet pill rimonabant, >:-OOO, rimonabant buy online, 480, order rimonabant, 052, rimonabant, irrpaj, the cheapest rimonabant, :(((, rimonabant, lobh, rimonabant payment methods, xru, buy rimonabant, xdls, rimonabant, 8PP, rimoslim, tyso, order rimonabant, ljfpxs, acomplia rimonabant, 8))), cheapeast rimonabant tablets, 044, acomplia aventis rimonabant sanofi, cplfuo, rimonabant, no prescription, upvo, rimonabant online no prescription, 1113, rimonabant reputable purchase, 8-[[[, rimonabant, tqezqn, order rimonabant, xru,
10Hello, strattera, 7878, combining wellbutrin with strattera, 2938, iodine strattera, :-(, strattera water retention, ppol, strattera, 773965, strattera liquid, knxkc, strattera pregnancy, hvu, strattera drug, ctgfa, buy strattera, rexvyw, strattera, 218, effects of snorting strattera, 11206, strattera, %-(, buy strattera, 186, strattera, 04842, strattera bipolar, qtbtu, stopping strattera, 8-[, dextromethorphan taken with strattera, 0560, strattera withdrawal, %O, medications similar to strattera, 672, strattera antidepressant, cgocti, buy strattera, %((, about strattera, 67008, buy strattera, 8-(, strattera, 75990, strattera, wyzqrw, strattera, iktrhb, strattera success stories, :]]], norepinephrine and strattera, %)), strattera breastfeeding, 39136, strattera, 8-OO, strattera sideffects, stw, buy strattera, diwg, strattera side affects, sipv, strattera dosage, iyl, side effects of strattera, 8]], adderall vs strattera, fspyfx, strattera and side effects, clflsu, info on strattera, 56880, strattera, %-]], buy strattera, 8-DD,
11Hello, strattera add adhd, 926831, strattera, 586660, strattera antidepressant, 4769, combining wellbutrin with strattera, 317577, strattera, qioj, strattera success stories, 21053, buy strattera, 5712, adderall xr vs strattera, xourfc, strattera, 18468, adderall vs strattera, vlls, strattera bipolar, 1001, zoloft and strattera, >:-(, strattera, >:(, strattera, 1903, buy strattera, %-))), strattera, 07630, generic strattera, >:PPP, strattera, 8((, prostate strattera, %PPP, buy strattera, 2034, buy strattera, %-PP, strattera alergic reaction, 367, norepinephrine and strattera, 8-), strattera sideffects, 14610, strattera, 09184, strattera, fauxry, strattera, pvzbvn, strattera, >:-(((, strattera buy, >:-((, strattera, 048400, strattera, >:P, side effects strattera, 3494, about strattera, 494, strattera, twzwxy, strattera abuse, 019, buy strattera, cad,
12Hello, strattera dosage, 6299, strattera coupons, 0109, buy strattera, iqwau, strattera sideffects, 744, strattera, mmt, strattera vs vitamins, >:-O, norepinephrine and strattera, vpvgs, buy strattera, 716594, strattera withdrawl, adax, from strattera to adderall, =-[[[, strattera and side effects, :O, strattera medline, 167051, buy strattera, bdaezh, safety strattera and herbs, zhio, iodine strattera, >:-O, strattera liquid, %-], adderall vs strattera, 8-[[[, strattera, 5503, buy strattera, 543220, snorting strattera, 8[, strattera, quc, effects of snorting strattera, hlsf, side effects of strattera, bgkk, strattera and side effects, 8PPP, strattera, >:-(, strattera and side effects, 04148, strattera liquid, lejl, strattera adult, 535962, norepinephrine and strattera, >:D, risperdal strattera prozac, >:(, strattera breastfeeding, 303, strattera prices, >:PP, strattera, 8-[[[, strattera, %-PPP, strattera, 174589, strattera side effects, bajci, from strattera to adderall, 7249,
13Hello, levitra 10mg, %-OO, levitra viagra, %P, levitra, 147, buy levitra, 259, book buy, :-P, buy levitra online, >:O, compare levitra and viagra, :[, cialis levitra viagra vs vs, 8509, levitra, 622, cialis comparison levitra viagra, 987, mail order levitra, ulf, buy levitra, zfl, order levitra, 8135, order levitra, 5907, levitra viagra vs, wwupta, cialis levitra, 983, cheap levitra, :-OOO, order levitra, 09248, comparison levitra viagra, 2555, levitra, 5885, buy levitra, >:-), 2003 cyalis levitra market sales viagra, npwoo, levitra link, :-], levitra generic cialis, 407516, order levitra, 614, levitra online, 478881, buy levitra, eikdtz, buy levitra, 037, levitra.com, ntbg, levitra and zoloft, pdhj, buy levitra viagra, 587, levitra fda, :-(((, levitra, 33311, levitra pill size, >:-OO, levitra link, wofpq, vardenafil levitra online, >:-[, levitra shemale yasmin lee, %]]], cialis levitra viagra, :-[, levitra, %-PP, cheapest online cost for levitra, 0485, levitra, 271, levitra professional 20 pills, nbbsdo, cialis levitra viagra vs vs, =-(((,
14comment2, alcoholic treatment antabuse, levitra 90 pills, celexa canada, meridia, zolpidem description, who manufactures ambien, order levitra, adipex-p, viagra, cialis fed ex, retin a klingman,
15comment4, phentermine, 250 antabuse generic mg, camel cigarettes, zithromax 500mg tablet, ativan for sleep,
16[url=http://observers.france24.com/en/profile/20100203-amanda-seyfried-nude]Amanda Seyfried nude[/url] Amanda Seyfried nude
17[url=http://voir.ca/members/palaumad.aspx]Alison Brie nude[/url] Alison Brie nude
[url=http://healthcentral.com/adhd/c/196726/profile]Michelle Trachtenberg Nude[/url] Michelle Trachtenberg Nude
[url=http://projectopus.com/user/51773]Zoe Saldana Naked[/url] Zoe Saldana Naked
[url=http://carrieunderwoodofficial.com/us/blog/kpn]Katy Perry nude[/url] Katy Perry nude
[url=http://123peppy.com/user/273397]Lady GaGa nude[/url] Lady GaGa nude
[url=http://profiles.friendster.com/119372107]Lindsay Lohan Topless[/url] Lindsay Lohan Topless
[url=http://lerparaver.com/blog/2617]Katrina Bowden Nude[/url] Katrina Bowden Nude
[url=http://blackamericaweb.com/?q=content/kristen-stewart-nude]Kristen Stewart Nude[/url] Kristen Stewart Nude
[url=http://maximumpc.com/user/snookie_nude]Snookie nude[/url] Snookie nude
Hello, levitra and viagra, 4255, levitra, 71523, levitra, wxyn, cialis levitra viagra vs vs, 07608, levitra plus 400 mg, pyi, levitra, dyj, book buy, ssto, buy levitra, twnim, levitra price, 64484, levitra, uqgf, levitra, 89945, buy levitra, :[[, levitra, :-], cialis generic levitra viagra, 63001, compare levitra and viagra, 148, levitra 20 pills, omests, levitra, vqlhwp, cialis levitra vs, 252954, buy levitra viagra, 428137, levitra cialis, fdpmyc, cheap levitra, chjk, buy levitra, 675, levitra and grapefruit juice, jfwvm, levitra professional 10 pills, 195, effects levitra side, 316, description levitra, 8-OOO, levitra, %-[, comparison levitra viagra, :-], levitra viagra, :))), levitra 180 pills, slqrp, levitra and viagra, 56475, cialis generic levitra viagra, 561, cialis levitra, noq, levitra, 1173, levitra online, 589, vardenafil hcl, 70427, book buy, 8], cheap levitra, =D, cheap levitra, pxs, effects levitra side, cxsy, levitra gamecube online games, =-[, buy levitra viagra, =-PP, levitra, lubsc,
18Cool share!Also I liked this blog’s layout.You will surely see me around your blog quite often as I like harvesting more knowledge.
19Hello, levitra, nzfkqw, buy levitra, oyei, viagra cialis levitra, 875055, vardenafil levitra, >:-DDD, buy levitra, vttq, levitra, ylh, levitra, 97306, levitra, rze, viagra cialis levitra, %[, cheap levitra, 586829, levitra generic cialis, 774614, full information levitra, >:-[[[, order levitra, lmg, levitra to buy, dqfs, levitra side effects, wswiz, levitra price, %PPP, levitra, 821545, viagra cialis levitra, zhcapa, levitra, %-O, levitra 10 mg order, 8-(, buy levitra, 36393, levitra webster university film series, vauwk, buy levitra, 923, compare levitra and viagra, 897578, levitra, >:(, cialis compare levitra viagra, 940, viagra cialis levitra, nvhnn, levitra, niuh, levitra online, %-PP, levitra, 06713, levitra price, 6683, comparison levitra viagra, :[[[, cheap levitra, myd, levitra online, 605, levitra, mjb, levitra, uujavz, cialis levitra viagra, 37778, levitra, qhooy,
20comment4, alprazolam 0.25mg, cialis, safe viagra online, buy viagra luxembourg, order viagra, information on reductil, cheap rimonabant online, diet pill acomplia, cheap levitra,
21comment2, alprazolam for sale, accutane, wholesale retin a, viagra, zithromax, acomplia, phentermine diet pills, lasix gout, europe discount cigarettes, zolpidem addiction, order levitra, edta tetracycline, propecia without prescription, rimonabant 60 pills,
22YES! I finally found this web site! I’ve been searching for this article for so long!!
23Can I get identical results as the dentist would give me?
24nice article, i just bookmarked it to regularly check it. i’d like to read on future articles. how can i configure the RSS again? thanks!
25