Offbeat

Philippines second copycat ad row

Tourism promotion efforts in thePhilippines suffered another blow Friday over claims its new slogan copied an old Swiss one, having already ditched an earlier campaign that allegedly plagiarised Poland’s.
Hours after the government rolled out its “It’s more Fun in the Philippines” campaign, Internet pundits pointed to a 1951 Swiss National Tourist Office ad, which proclaimed “It’s more fun in Switzerland!”
Dennis Gorecho, who described himself as a Manila lawyer, criticised the tourism department for spending a large amount of money on a copycat ad and linked to a website of a more than 60 years old Swiss poster.
However Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez and other officials swiftly rejected the new copycat allegations.
“The line isn’t a manufactured slogan. It’s simply the truth about our country. Don’t be swayed by people who are trying to punch holes in it,” Jimenez tweeted.
“Uh, ok, so Switzerland used ‘It’s more fun – ‘ in 1951. That’s 61 yrs ago. Even intellectual property rights expire after 50 yrs,” Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said, repeating another lawyer’s Twitter comment.

Restaurant bans politicians
 
Cheeseburger and fries, hold the politicians.
With Republican presidential hopefuls blitzing New Hampshire ahead of tomorrow’s critical primary, one small eatery in coastal Portsmouth has had it with gladhanding campaigners disrupting diners until last Tuesday.
So the hand-drawn, red-white-and-blue sign on the door of the 28-seat Colby’s Breakfast and Lunch restaurant declares “No Politicians No Exceptions.”
The Portsmouth Herald newspaper reported last week that Colby’s manager Jessica Labrie made and posted the sign on Tuesday after patrons complained about the steady stream of politicians stopping in to court voters.
“They make a big deal when they come in here,” the newspaper quoted her as saying. “You can watch all this stuff on the news, but when you’re here eating breakfast, you don’t want to hear it.”
Texas Governor Rick Perry, Representative Michele Bachmann, and former Louisiana governor Buddy Roemer stopped by the restaurant over the past few months, it said.