Highways, byways and the price of things to come.

Some interesting facts to consider.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is proposing that we spend $1.9 billion on reconstructing and widening I-94 between Illinois and Mitchell Field.

The Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee commuter rail line has been given zilch. And there is no meaningful plan for any kind of regional transportation upgrade to serve our urban and lower-income residents.

Hold those thoughts while we mention some more facts.

For the first time ever, the price of oil has topped $100 a barrel. Today, oil is almost five times more expensive than it was just five years ago.

If we think that’s going to turn around, here are some more facts to face: oil is getting harder and harder to find and produce. Developing nations that need the oil are asking for it in ever increasing amounts. The countries that have the oil are trying to get their hands on more of the profits. And ethanol made from corn is really just robbing Peter to pay Paul.

So how are we dealing with this situation?

By investing all our money – all our money – into bigger freeways.

Speaking of Mitchell Field, here’s a historical fact: in 1921, General Billy Mitchell, the man the airport was named for, demonstrated how a couple of new fangled things called airplanes could sink a battleship. But the people who built those battleships didn’t want to give up the present and face the future. Mitchell was demoted and eventually court martialed.

Oil. Five times more expensive in just five years. $1.9 billion for roads. Nothing for anything else.

Anyone want to buy a battleship?

We’re better off with Brady!

Blue Horse is proud to announce our first new client of the year! We’ve been selected to partner with Brady Worldwide, Inc. Brady is an international manufacturer and marketer of complete solutions that identify and protect premises, products and people. Brady products include high-performance labels and signs, safety devices, printing systems, and software and precision die-cut materials.

We’re starting out by developing and implementing a marketing communication program to promote Brady handheld labelers to electrical and data communication leaders.

Brady Worldwide materials use the line “When Performance Matters Most.” We’re confident that Blue Horse will live up to that standard. When we began our discussions, the Brady folks were very interested in a careful analysis of the ROI for the project. This is obviously a growing area of concern for all marketers. However, using state-of-the-art techniques, we’ve been able to offer a number of smart and economical ways to track how we’re doing.

Welcome to everyone at Brady Worldwide! We look forward to sticking with you for a long, long time.

RIAA says Happy New Year, now pay us!

Our latest article is courtesy of Blue Horse art director Brad Bauter. Your opinions are welcome!

Here is a prediction for the new year. The RIAA is going to sue more people.

This morning, I read an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about how the RIAA wants the courts to interpret the idea that making digital music files from CDs you own illegal. We all know distributing that music to others through dubbed CDs and file sharing is illegal; but did you know that the RIAA wants people like myself to pay them for making a digital copy of CDs I own (so that I may use them with MY iPod and Roku Labs Soundbridge). I still have all of the CDs in plastic bins in my basement, but in the eyes of the RIAA, I am breaking the copyright of the CDs in my basement.

Let’s face it. File sharing of copy-written work is illegal, and should not be condoned. If you do it, stop, IT IS STEALING! Instead, buy DRM Free music from iTunes, Amazon.com and Wal-Mart (still does not work on a MAC!). In turn, I ask the RIAA to let the majority of honest consumers who payed for thier music cds to be able to digitize them so that they may use them the way they want to for themselves. CD Players will soon be dinosaurs, like the record players and 8-track tapes of yesteryears. I understand technology has opened up new opportunities for pirating music. But if you make the music, and even movies DRM free and useable over multiple platforms, people may, I venture to say, discontinue stealing music and movies. Unfortunately, the RIAA is only trying to make a new revenue model out of old technology instead of embracing the new technology and using that as a new form of revenue.

Sad to say, but my music purchases and listening have gone way down since it became harder to listen to what I want, how I want to. That is why I listen to more podcasts and only look for DRM Free music now when shopping, because those content producers are embracing the technology. Maybe the RIAA will see the light, but somehow I doubt it!