The Daily Populous

Research suggests sexual appeals in ads don’t sell brands, products. Research found that not only were study participants no more likely to remember the brands featured in ads with sexual appeals, they were more likely to have a negative attitude toward those brands

An analysis of nearly 80 advertising studies published over more than three decades suggests that’s the case.

Wirtz and his co-authors conducted a first-of-its-kind meta-analysis of 78 peer-reviewed studies looking at the effects of sexual appeals in advertising.

Their findings were posted online this week by the International Journal of Advertising.

Their research found that not only were study participants no more likely to remember the brands featured in ads with sexual appeals, they were more likely to have a negative attitude toward those brands, Wirtz said.

“We found literally zero effect on participants’ intention to buy products in ads with a sexual appeal,” Wirtz said.

“The strongest finding was probably the least surprising, which is that males, on average, like ads with sexual appeals, and females dislike them,” Wirtz said.

“This means that our results present a more accurate picture of what happens when someone sees an ad with a sexual appeal.”. »

Turkish schools to stop teaching evolution, official says

Authored by theguardian.com

Evolution will no longer be taught in Turkish schools, a senior education official has said, in a move likely to raise the ire of the country’s secular opposition.

Durmuş said a chapter on evolution was being removed from ninth grade biology course books, and the subject postponed to the undergraduate period.

Another change to the curriculum may reduce the amount of time that students spend studying the legacy of secularism. »

Miami Man Fined $120 Million for Making 96 Million Robocalls in Three Months

Authored by miaminewtimes.com

They await the arrival of a new Prince of Darkness, a Bringer of Sadness, a Miami man named Adrian Abramovich, who is accused of making 96 million illegal telemarketing robocalls in just three months — many to people whose numbers were on the mythic National Do Not Call Registry.

In December 2016, the FCC obtained Abramovich's call records from October through the end of that year — and found he was making more than 1 million robocalls per day.

For the last couple of months I have been receiving robocalls to my cellphone — typically one per weekday. »

Under pressure, Western tech firms bow to Russian demands to share cyber secrets

Authored by reuters.com

A view shows a sign with the logo of technology testing company Echelon outside its office in Moscow, Russia June 18, 2017.

In a statement, McAfee said the Russia code reviews were conducted at "certified testing labs" at company-owned premises in the United States.

In a company statement, SAP said the review process assures Russian customers “their SAP software investments are safe and secure.”. »

Vladimir Putin gave direct instructions to help elect Trump, report says

Authored by cbsnews.com

A report Friday morning claims Russian President Vladimir Putin gave direct instructions to help elect Donald Trump president.

That report "captured Putin's specific instructions on the operation's audacious objectives - defeat or at least damage the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton.".

The Post reports that U.S. intelligence agencies had sourcing deep inside the Russian government capturing Putin's direct instructions in the operation. »