I'm a history buff, and as I totally bit it on the slopes of Deer Valley yesterday, I was moved to wonder "hey how long has downhill skiing been around?" Turns out people in northern Europe were using skis -- probably for "cross-country" travel -- as early as 5,000 years ago. Modern downhill (Alpine) skiing was invented in the first half of the 19th century by Austrian enthusiasts, as part of the Romantic back-to-nature movement. The first downhill ski race was held in 1850 near Oslo, Norway.

In a major public policy push, the Interactive Advertising Bureau this morning announced a reorganization and has created an Office of General Counsel.As part of the move, Mike Zaneis was promoted to senior vice president-general counsel from vice president-public policy to lead the effort. Zaneis already was the IAB's primary face to regulators and the industry on public policy issues, and has been overseeing the industry's self-regulation efforts to stem the tide of public interest groups calling for government regulation of some controversial online advertising practices, especially ones that relate to consumer privacy. As part of the reorganization, …

Some of the biggest TV advertisers have called on television networks to immediately stop their practice of superimposing logos and promos around the borders of the television screen. In a white paper just released by the Association of National Advertisers' influential Television & Video Committee, the trade group said the so-called practice of "filling sidebar pillars with network logos and promotions" – often on the right- or left-hand side of the screen while some TV commercials air – are violate time and space that belongs to the advertiser. The practice, which typically occurs in digital TV transmissions, especially high-definition …

Copyright troll Righthaven has sued right-wing blogger Matt Drudge for allegedly posting a photo from the Denver Post on the Drudge Report. The lawsuit marks the second time that Righthaven has sued a blogger for allegedly infringing copyright by reposting material that originally appeared in the MediaNews-owned Denver Post. Until this month, Righthaven's lawsuits dealt exclusively with material that originally appeared in the Las Vegas Review-Journal and other publications owned by Stephens Media.

To help spur expansion of mobile advertising, the Interactive Advertising Bureau has launched a Mobile Marketing Center of Excellence, an industry-funded and staffed unit inside the IAB. The new center will focus on market and consumer research, mobile ad case studies, executive training and education, creative showcases and developing best practices in mobile media and marketing. Led by former Ericsson executive Anna Bager, the Mobile Center has received funding commitments from sixteen IAB member companies; eight have already provided advanced support and will serve on its board including AT&T Converged Services, Cars.com, Google, Microsoft, The New York Times, Univision …

In what can only be described as a natural partnership, the Tim Hortons is linking with the National Hockey League in a multi-year partnership. The quick service restaurant chain, founded in 1964 by NHL hall-of-famer Tim Horton, former hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the New York Rangers and the Buffalo Sabres, has signed as the title sponsorship of the 2011 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic. Also as part of the agreement, Tim Hortons has become the Official Quick Serve Restaurant Coffee, Donut and Breakfast of the NHL in Canada. The 2011 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage …

Forget resale value, new-vehicle owners say fun cars and trucks is what makes them loyal to brands. So which brands benefit from the syllogism "If most fun equals most loyal, and brand x has the most loyal customers, then brand x has all the fun cars"? The new J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Customer Retention Study released today, says Ford and Honda are giving their owners a thrill. Ford and Honda rank highest in a tie among automotive brands in retaining vehicle owners, with each retaining 62% of owners. The study, in its eighth year, measures the rate …

Forgot to mention, this spot will also run in the Super Bowl. The in-cinema portion, starting Friday, comprises a buy in 17,000 theaters nationwide, which Kia says means over 70-million show-goers.  The spot is scheduled to run into early-January.

Needham & Co. issued a report today initiating coverage of AOL with a buy rating and $35 price target--the company is currently trading at about $25.50. Martin Why? Because employees aren't stampeding out the door. "We think the best question for AOL is Why aren’t the employees leaving? Tech employees are the most innovative, hard-working, risk-tolerant group on Earth. They are also mobile," wrote analyst Laura Martin. She argues that AOL …

Kia Motors America is launching its largest campaign ever in the U.S. in support of its 2011 Optima. The campaign, via David and Goliath, the brand's AOR, begins this weekend as a new made-for-cinema 60-second spot and will begin running at movie theaters nationwide.  Titled "Sweet Dreams," the ad is based on the premise that "nobody ever dreamt of driving a midsize sedan . . . until now," and follows a young boy as he experiences a series of magical, dream-like adventures through the streets of San Francisco, along a beach, and through a snow-covered countryside inhabited by unicorns, …