media+marketing business trend links

• The Top Small Workplaces Contest - A panel of small business experts chosen by the Wall Street Journal will select a list of small businesses [web 2.0 start-ups perhaps] in North America with outstanding workplaces - The Wall Street Journal
• Big Brands Create Bigger Brain Waves - Strong product identities can create more excitement than weaker ones, even in areas generally perceived as dull (such as insurance), according to new research that uses magnetic resonance imaging to study the impact of brand-recognition on brains. - The Wall Street Journal
• Zune, Creative Commons, Don't Mix - The Zune's wireless-sharing feature lets people transfer any song between two of the devices within a range of about 30 feet. People can then play the songs three times, for up to three days, at which point they become locked and inaccessible unless they are purchased. No money changes hands at the point of transfer, though, and the record labels are fine with it due to the Zune's "three-plays-in-three-days" policy. - Wired News
• Dr. Bombay Unplugged: A desperate grasp at the youth demographic - There is growing evidence that the marketing and advertising departments of several major corporations are either sadly out of touch with a new generation of Americans, or are on crack.  - Fort Worth Star Telegram
• Web Retailers Selling Idea of 'Cyber Monday' - With millions of Americans back at their office computers, savvy dot-coms are playing into their hands with promotional offers that might exceed some of those found at the malls. - Ann Meyer @ The Chicago Tribune
• Web 2.0 Still in Early Stages - A majority of marketers are not familiar with the term "Web 2.0," and of those who are only a third are using Web 2.0 tactics, according to a recent survey of marketing professionals by MarketTools' Zoomerang division. - Kevin Newcomb @ ClickZ
• LucidGuide - The countdown has begun....watch it until December 11, when LucidGuide blasts off.