Think of an idea for a DORITOS commercial. Shoot it and upload it on YouTube. If the judges place it in the top 5 videos, you’ll win $10,000 and a trip to Miami for a private Super Bowl XLI viewing party. Then, if America votes it their favorite, your video will be aired as a real DORITOS commercial during the Super Bowl XLI broadcast.

Go to Crash The Super Bowl to upload and watch!

This commercial was developed by Maxis for the upcoming Sims City 4 video game for the PC.

The Japanese finally have invented something not that strange. This high tech vending machine has a touchscreen display and built in digital camcorder which allows you to watch to process of how drinks are made in vending machines.

Created by Pablo Garcia, this Wii commercial is a spoof of Sony’s Play B3yond advertisements. What are your thoughts? Video after the jump.

Wal-Mart has launched a new toyland website that encourages children to review a parade of toys presented by two animated elves, Wally and Marty. The retail giant offers 100 options, some as pricey as the Fisher-Price Power Wheels Ford Mustang for $249 and children either discard them into a dump truck or send them to a rocket ship to be delivered electronically to their parents when the kids provide their addresses.

“If you show us what you want on your wish list, we’ll blast it off to your parents,” say the elves. “We’ll help plead your case.” The kids are offered words of encouragement when they send toys off to the rocket ship. “I love when it does that. Nicely done,” say the elves.

But the marketing strategy has elicited a backlash among some parents and advertising executives. “The child has no choice,” said Ottawa’s Camille Lechasseur, a mother of two girls, aged two and five. “These toys appear `Do you want it, yes or no.’ What child wouldn’t want it? It’s trying to dupe the parents that it’s their child’s choices. That’s laughable.”

Kessa Edwards of Calgary said the toyland site takes marketing to kids to a new level. “I was actually quite shocked by it,” Edwards said. “Just the fact that kids can have an e-mail sent to their parents. I haven’t seen anything like that before.”

New website added to the Caffeine Marketing network. Check out CollegeLoanz.com for some more great articles.

According to lifestyle entrepreneur Heather Moore, like many who make any resolutions, people who are eager to start a home business are often filled with hope.

Many scams are cleverly packaged, making it hard to determine the legitimate work opportunities from the fraudulent ones. Common cons include Nigerian letter schemes asking for money, pyramid schemes, and “work at home” offers that involve stuffing envelopes or assembling crafts.

Moore offers some tips to find a legitimate business

* Trust your gut. If a business sounds too good to be true, more than likely it is.

* Go with recommendations from a trusted source. Moore’s Web site - Women In Biz - offers some proven business opportunities that have been carefully screened.

* Check the Better Business Bureau.

* Be wary of large start-up costs. If someone is trying to convince you to go into business with them or to start your own home business and they want you to hand over a small fortune, walk away. Read the rest of this entry »

Before even graduating from ASU, Corey Kossack started an online business that raked in sales of half a million dollars last year. Kossack, a computer information systems senior, started Koss DVD - which sells DVDs, video games and books on eBay - two years ago. This year’s sales will surpass the 2005 numbers, but he doesn’t know by how much, Kossack said.

The business became more successful as he learned how to build a positive reputation and get good deals from suppliers, he added. But getting suppliers to take him seriously was tough at first.

“I learned how to ask the right questions,” Kossack said. “I had to prove myself.” Kossack also got help from his mother, Stephanie Kossack, who now helps him manage inventory and process orders.

He said he’s now living comfortably while also investing profits back in the business. Despite working 70 hours a week, Kossack said he hasn’t had trouble juggling work, school and his social life.

Tired of battling hordes of shoppers for Tickle Me Elmo, the latest Xbox 360 game and other hot holiday items that feed your children’s rampant consumerism?

Eager for a present that gives your kids a financial jump on life and is still, well, fun? See what gifts can help your children learn how to save and spend wisely, with payoffs that last well beyond the season.

Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday
Price: $6.99 at most bookstores

Who it’s for: Four- to eight-year-olds

What it’s about: In this charming story by Judith Viorst, Alexander gets a gift of $1 from his grandparents. He has lofty plans to save the money for a big-ticket item but instead blows it all in the face of life’s temptations and regrets it. Read the rest of this entry »

Over the last couple of weeks the Nintendo Wii has unlaunched a fury of television advertisements aimed at American buyers. TiVo boxes around the country have captured a behind the scenes ‘meet the people of wii’ clip as part of the “Experience Wii.. the season’s hottest gift” campaign. In the clip, we are presented with the average joe schmo characters that are featured in the Wii commercials speaking about their experiences.