This was odd

[waferdog]

I live in a medium sized town in the upper midwest that has seen better days. It used to be a bustling port town that had a lot of money flowing through it from the lumber and iron ore industries. Nowadays, it is a town with a declining population and fair amount of poverty. In all fairness, it is a beautiful area. It sits right on the western edge of Lake Superior and comprises 1/2 (along with Duluth, MN) of the largest freshwater port in the US (and possibly the world).

The last couple of days people in this town have been buzzing about a six-foot tall "cocoon" that was sitting near the public library. I didn't pay much attention, figuring it was some silly marketing stunt. It was. As it turns out, Microsoft chose this town to launch the newest version of it's MSN ISP service.

Why? I have no idea. I see no value for Microsoft here. Apparently, they shot a commercial featuring the MSN butterfly coming out of the cocoon, which will be used to launch the service nationally. Perhaps Microsoft is planning to launch a business presence here (I'll be first in line to apply). I really do not know, and to be quite honest, I am quite perplexed by this whole thing.

Does anyone have any idea as to why or how a company such as Microsoft comes around to choosing such a hodunk town for such an event?

Waferdog

It could have been for scenery for the commercial..
I used to live by the Taco bell in the national commercials the pic of the place you saw at the end.....

Why did it take place in Superior? Not just because of the name, said Bob Visse, director of marketing for MSN at Microsoft Corp. Although he did say that MSN 8 is a superior ISP and that, like the port city, it is a portal to the world of information.

“We’re coming to middle America to a town that represents similar things to the product,” Visse said

[Xeroid]

Kewl, I used to live in Duluth. Went to Duluth Central H.S. We used to run over to Superior on occasion.

Mike

[waferdog]

Found pictures of the event for anyone interested. Kind of weak.

Xeroid, then you would know what I am talking about when I speak of Superior. I can make a fair guess of why you made trips over to Superior (hint - it involves booze).

Waferdog

[vass0922]

feel sorry for the girl that has to wear the butterfly outfit
Hmm I'm guessing she snuck into the cocoon that night or something

that'd be kind of eery having some big nasty lookin' 6' cocoon in the city lol

[Brainchild]

Was the Steve Jobs in there

[caddmannq]

HeeHee...

<---ex-Duluth resident too...Endion Elm. School & Woodland Jr. High (circa 1968)

[waferdog]

See what I mean...everyone leaves this area. They usually love the area, but there isn't much keeping people here.....except for 6-foot cocoons with butterfly women in them.

Waferdog

[Blood_Luster]

Man... swear... if I ever saw that, I'd freakin' get a huge stick with rusty nails and Declar it "Hit the cacoon with a big wooden' stick day!" and have me some P-H-U-N!

[Xeroid]

Xeroid, then you would know what I am talking about when I speak of Superior. I can make a fair guess of why you made trips over to Superior (hint - it involves booze).

I was going to be nice and not mention that part.

HeeHee...

<---ex-Duluth resident too...Endion Elm. School & Woodland Jr. High (circa 1968)

I was class of 73 but we moved in 72 and I ended up a Rutherford (Panama City, Fla.) grad.

See what I mean...everyone leaves this area. They usually love the area, but there isn't much keeping people here.....except for 6-foot cocoons with butterfly women in them.

I realy enjoyed the time we spent there (4 years). Dad was Air Force and we had to transfer.

Mike