Spam vs. spam

[Peter Paltridge]

Spiced-ham maker Hormel Foods has announced a massive U.K. advertising campaign, in what may be seen as an attempt to separate its flagship "spam" product name from negative associations with unsolicited e-mail. For the first time, Hormel will advertise on British television screens next week with a campaign that cost 2 million pounds ($3.7 million), according to a report on the BBC.

The ads will feature an array of "typical" British characters--including builders, campers and pantomime actors--all enjoying spam. According to Hormel figures, the U.K. public consumes around $24.5 million worth of spam each year.

But in recent years, Hormel (http://dw.com.com/redir?destUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hormel.com%2F&siteId=3&oId=2116-1032-5435338&ontId=1023&lop=nl_ex) has become increasingly touchy about the use of the word "spam" to describe one of modern society's worst digital menaces (http://msn-cnet.com.com/Happy+spamiversary/2100-1024_3-5189340.html?tag=nl).

Last year, antispam company SpamArrest was sued by Hormel for trademark infringement over its use of the word "spam" in its company name.

At the time, Brian Cartmell, CEO of SpamArrest, said: "Hormel is acting like a corporate crybaby. Dozens of companies use the word 'spam' in their legal and commercial names, and no one confuses any of us with the Hormel canned meat product."

Seattle attorney Derek Newman added: "Spam has become ubiquitous throughout the world to describe unsolicited commercial e-mail. No company can claim trademark rights on a generic term."Poor Hormel. I figured this would eventually, you know, get on their nerves somewhat. Many Internet terms were formed from slang, and junk Emails ended up being referred to as "spam" because not many people like Spam. Spam has been the butt of jokes for decades; it's only now that it's gone so far as to name a major worldwide annoyance after it. I think the minority that enjoys Spam will still buy it generations from now (the entire state of Hawaii buys tons of it), and they don't have much to worry about regarding their hardcore base.

They've been mostly tolerant of all the past abuse though, with a few exceptions. Does anyone remember when Hormel tried to sue the Henson co. when a fierce pig named "Spa' am" was used in Muppet Treasure Island?

[Kury Wagner]

Yeah, who didn't see this coming? Hey, I don't like spam, so I don't care. :anime:

[Zach]

I've never ate spam before...

[Mr. Pedro]

I seldom eat spam nowadays. I didn't dislike it, but it's just no good for you.

I can't really blame the guy though. How would you feel if your lifesblood became nothing more that a euphemism for unwanted e-mails? I would be mighty indignant if I were that fellow.

[Sampo]

I seldom eat spam nowadays. I didn't dislike it, but it's just no good for you.
...
*Sampo attempts to go "Local"*

Eh Brah! Spam ono-kind! Spam Musubi broke da mouth! No dis Hawai'i kine food! :p

Gah, man that doesn't sound right. Ah well.

[Peter Paltridge]

*Sampo attempts to go "Local"*

Eh Brah-dah! Spam ono-kind! Spam Musubi broke da mouth! No dis Hawai'i kine food!

Gah, man that doesn't sound right. Ah well.
*warms up Pidgin Translator* I've gotten some education from writing the Keiki series, so let's see how I do...

Hey, you.

Spam is really good("ono" is Hawaiian for "good" or "cool").

(Space here, I have no idea what sentence #3 means)

"Kine" means authentic, usually when they are talking about something of their own which they're proud of they'll say it's "Da'Kine." So, the last sentence is "Don't knock the food we eat."

[Sampo]

*warms up Pidgin Translator* I've gotten some education from writing the Keiki series, so let's see how I do...

Hey, you.

Spam is really good("ono" is Hawaiian for "good" or "cool").

(Space here, I have no idea what sentence #3 means)

"Kine" means authentic, usually when they are talking about something of their own which they're proud of they'll say it's "Da'Kine." So, the last sentence is "Don't knock the food we eat."


*Ding Ding Ding* You are correct sir! As for your prize... you win NOTHING! Nadda, zilch, zippo. :D

Nice translation!

http://home.earthlink.net/~jfujita/musubi.gif

Spam Musubi. A pretty neat lunch snack. Get a ball of rice, compact it into a flat ball/oval shape. Put on a slice of spam that has been cooked well. Then wrap it up with some dried sea weed. Sounds strange but it is really good and easy to make. Here is a recipe (http://alohaworld.com/ono/viewrecipe.php?id=1051145728) from Alohaworld.com. [edit] The musubi in that article is the "rolled up kine" instead of one in the pic above.

As for "broke da mouth" means something like, "it's really really ono (delicious/good)."

Later.

[Lord Dalek]

I can't see why Hormel waited 10 years(!) for to sue them. It's silly.

[purplehairedwonder]

I can't see why Hormel waited 10 years(!) for to sue them. It's silly.Agreed. The term has been used so often that it's amazing it took this long.

And I'm with Mr. Pedro, I like Spam, but I don't eat it much because it's so bad for you (too many POINTS on Weight Watchers).

[Conekiller]

http://home.earthlink.net/~jfujita/musubi.gif
heyyyyy. who added Spam to that donught.....or was it a cookie....?

[Jave]

heyyyyy. who added Spam to that donught.....or was it a cookie....?It's an onion.

[Sampo]

It's an onion. Alright alright, here is a better pic :)

http://www-scf.usc.edu/%7Eapaikoun/apaikoun_lili_website/images/smusubi.jpg


heyyyyy. who added Spam to that donught.....or was it a cookie....? Yup white triangular or ball shaped donuts!!!

[Elven Moon]

I've never eaten spam, don't think I want to.

[ToOn~g@l]

Alright alright, here is a better pic :)

http://www-scf.usc.edu/%7Eapaikoun/apaikoun_lili_website/images/smusubi.jpg

Yup white triangular or ball shaped donuts!!!
For some reason it looks like a badly colored Hostess twinkie.

"Hey where's the cream filling?"

[Lord Dalek]

Alright alright, here is a better pic :)

http://www-scf.usc.edu/%7Eapaikoun/apaikoun_lili_website/images/smusubi.jpgUnless someone toldme that was spam, I'd have thought it was an unagi roll.

[Yash]

heyyyyy. who added Spam to that donught.....or was it a cookie....?
Sandwich.

Popcorn ball.

Y'know there was this one episode of Pokemon where they called it a rice ball.

But then there was an episode of One Piece where Zolo uses his ONIGIRI ATTACK.

...ahem. Nevermind.

[Ben]

Shut up and get me a [tea] to go with my Spam [donut]!

[Lord Dalek]

Shut up and get me a [tea] to go with my Spam [donut]!You realize there's only two people here who even remember that.

[MahouShoujo13]

Wow.

As from what you guys said...he waited several years to sue people. Do it earlier, dum-dum!

Spam....eaten it a few times, and I don't really like it. Seeing how he's a maker of the meat product, I bet he would get ticked. But hey...it's SLANG. People don't like junk e-mail like offers for Viagra or a penis enlargement or those pointless chain mail letters. They hardly like spam either. So...this is what you get from making horrible tasting meat and selling it thoughout the world...and then the Internet shows up.

[Ben]

You realize there's only two people here who even remember that.

Don't go making me feel old. There are a least a few other CNX expats still around.

[Juu-kuchi]

Don't make a fuss people I'll have your Spam. I love it. I'm having Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Baked Beans and Spam...

Much better than spam.

[Lord Dalek]

Don't make a fuss people I'll have your Spam. I love it. I'm having Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Baked Beans and Spam...We're out of baked beans.

[Nightflower]

All right, this is starting to get slightly too silly and nonsensical.

[Ben]

All right, this is starting to get slightly too silly and nonsensical.

One might even say this thread has turned into nothing but...

[Chris Wood]

Does anyone know of a program that lets you spam the spammers? Or send viruses to the spyware jerks? That would be something I'd pay for. Screw all those companies with nothing better to do than cripple people's computers.

[Fone Bone]

I might be more forgiving with Hormel if they didn't waste everybody's time with suing the Jim Henson Company over Muppet Treasure Island. They have zero credibility after that.

On a positive note I will probaby buy some more Spam in the near future because it is so gross it's good. Just never eat it while watching Ren and Stimpy.

[Juu-kuchi]

We're out of baked beans.
Well can I have Spam instead?

[Lord Dalek]

Well can I have Spam instead?You mean Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, and Spam?

[MahouShoujo13]

Does anyone know of a program that lets you spam the spammers? Or send viruses to the spyware jerks? That would be something I'd pay for. Screw all those companies with nothing better to do than cripple people's computers.
MmmHmm. I want to see them suffer in their own misery.

[Jave]

This thread is so stupendous, one might even say it's mediocre!

[Juu-kuchi]

This thread is so stupendous, one might even say it's mediocre!
BURMA!

[Nightflower]

You mean Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, and Spam?
All right, when a thread is reduced to repeating "Spam" over and over again, it's time to put the puppy down.