Westergaard Advertising does. I think it’s safe to say that everyone is still figuring out this intriguing mobile micro-blogging service that, as John Kenyon of the Corridor Business Journal says, “approximates a modern-day police scanner or back-fence conversation.” As we all learn to leverage this tool in 2009, we invite you to follow WA on Twitter.

It’s (about to be) the New Year and what do we all want to do after last week? Loose some weight, take care of that spare tire, etc. I myself was thinking of this as I got ready this morning. I had the news on in the background and heard a commercial about loosing weight AND saving money. Hey … I think as my attention is captured amidst my struggle with my belt, who’s promising this now …?

My wife’s family lives in rural Iowa, and for many essential items Wal-Mart is the only option. And so it passed that my wife, sister-in-law and I set out for food staples, grab bag gifts for an upcoming Yankee Swap, and miscellenous gift items. For part of the visit I was left to my own devices and wandered the aisles. Because I am insane and think of such things, I took in the modern facelift of the new Wal-Mart logo along with other in-store promotionals proclaiming the giant retailer’s slogan — Save money. Live better.

Say what you will about it — it’s basic, it’s dirivitive on Target’s “Expect More. Pay Less.” — but I think this slogan ultimately meets it’s needs and is relevant now more than ever. I found myself reading it aisle after aisle, end-cap after end-cap and thinking — “That IS what I want.” And right now that’s what we all want.

Don’t get me wrong. I think the company and the way it operates are often times reprehensible and I don’t think that a slogan that happens to be more topical now can somehow reverse or offset that. What I do think is that right now, Wal-Mart is doing an OK job of talking to a lot of people.

(Just to be sure to get one quick dig in — the photo I took above slays me. Now you can add a small, quaint Wal-Mart to your picturesque holiday village. The irony of course is that once you put the Wal-Mart out you’d have to remvoe the small town drug store and toy shop from your quaint main street …)

I am a bit of an anomaly. I can give or take Pepsi or Coke. I’ll drink either one or be perfectly content to have a root beer or raspberry ice tea. So I don’t have affinity for either brand but sometimes I feel like drinking a soda and end up purchasing one or the other. Recently I was strolling down the aisle of my local grocer when I saw the much discussed new Pepsi logos. Neat, I thought and put a couple of two-liter bottles in my basket. I don’t love Pepsi or hate Coke. It just struck me as new and interesting so I made the dive. And I’ll bet I’m not alone.