Like many people, I spent my Thanksgiving and today watching the horrific events in Mumbai unfold.  I have learned over the years that the less said, the better in times of tragedy, but it breaks my heart to see India experience such carnage, but more so played out over several days. There are a billion people in India, but countless millions living overseas who want to know something — anything — about what is happening.  Feeling that disconnected to your homeland must provide a sense of immeasurable longing and powerlessness.

I have been trying to follow the coverage on BBC America, but with two young children popping in and out of the room, it’s hard to catch anything consistently.  Some of the best updates I have been getting are from Shonali Burke and I have also been following #mumbai.

All I can say is that one of my Tweeps, Shonali, and one of my students, have both been affected by this tragedy — which makes it more personal for me — but not nearly as personal as for them.

Like I said, the less said is the better — I’ll just state that that the Indian people and my friends and colleagues are firmly in my thoughts and deepest hopes for this thing to end.

And the best and most up-to-date news I have seen has come from #mumbai.

Mark

Recently, Dunkin’ Donuts, in a attempt to further their brand equity using the world of online advertising, hired super-perky gadfly Rachael Ray in an exclusive online ad, pimping their coffee. Nice try, right?

Wrong.

Michelle Malkin saw the ad and blogged that the scarf that Rachel was wearing looked like a kaffiyeh:

”The kaffiyeh, for the clueless, is the traditional scarf of Arab men that has come to symbolize murderous Palestinian jihad.”

Michelle, the only thing that Rachael Ray does is irritate me with her perkiness. I sincerely doubt that she is the 20th hijacker. But, I digress.

Here’s where it gets strange: Dunkin’ Donuts, hearing pressure from people who read Malkin’s highly popular blog, PULLED THE ONLINE AD, stating that Ray’s fashion was “paisley” and not a keffiyah. But they still pulled the ad, likely fearing a backlash or boycott. There’s a good move.

My unsolicited advice to Dunkin’ Donuts is that they have done about the dumbest thing imaginable. I am not even talking about pulling down the ad, which was beyond stupid. Had the company defended their right to advertise online, what and where they choose and left the ad up, people who have not seen the ad would be scouring You Tube to get a look at it, or at least the still photos.

Bottom line for Dunkin’ Donuts? Probably a hundred times more impressions than they would have received without the controversy had they left the ad up.  The should be kissing the ad agency.

Me? I’m a Starbucks guy, but the next time I am in Boston and can only find a Dunkin’ Donuts, I am going to keep walking.

And now that I have piqued your curiosity, the ad is here:

Mark