Jimmy Wales, will shill for timekeeping device Options

[thekohser]

This could be the beginning of a hilarious wave of Jimbo endorsements.

Bob Geldof, Jimmy Wales and Justin Rose: The Inspirational New Ambassadors for Swiss Watch Brand Maurice Lacroix

ZURICH, January 25 /PRNewswire/ --

- Cross Reference: Picture is Distributed via EPA (European Pressphoto Agency) and can be Downloaded Free of Charge at: http://www.presseportal.ch/de/pm/100005598/?langid=2

Maurice Lacroix has created an inspiring, meaningful and above all, authentic brand campaign: "Follow Your Convictions". With the help of their new world-renowned ambassadors Sir Bob Geldof, Jimmy Wales and Justin Rose, Maurice Lacroix are inspiring the world to be who they really are across a variety of media, from print and TV to online.

Just as Maurice Lacroix creates its award-winning designs and ingenious movements by hand, each world-famous ambassador was chosen because they too have never veered from their beliefs in their journey to success.

"You can't just say you're authentic or that you have substance," explains Sir Bob. "That won't wash. You've got to prove it. You've got to be it. In everything you do." And he should know. In his lifetime Sir Bob has been a music journalist, had a succession of international hit records with his punk band The Boomtown Rats, organised arguably the most successful global fundraising events of all time in LiveAid and Live8, created his own TV production company and is an accomplished businessman in his own right. "Let nobody tell you who you are."

Justin Rose is an extraordinary golfer who defied all odds by going pro at just 17 years old. "That decision was always controversial, but I don't care about controversy. I just believed in myself." And it paid off. In his career, Justin has won multiple titles and even made it to European no.1. Today, he is considered one of the most consistent competitors on the PGA Tour as well as finding time to be a devoted husband, father and charity worker.

Then there's Jimmy Wales, the incredible internet entrepreneur who founded Wikipedia. "I imagined a world where every single person on the planet was given free access to the sum of all human knowledge. Then I created it." Staying true to his convictions, Jimmy quickly turned Wikipedia into a non-profit foundation to ensure his dream of free knowledge for the world remained intact. Today, Wikipedia.org is one of the five most visited sites on the whole of the internet.

With these truly authentic and inspiring ambassadors beside them, Maurice Lacroix have the perfect partners to support their unique positioning in the marketplace. As CEO Martin Bachmann concludes, "Our ambassadors achieved greatness without the need to compromise their principles. We at Maurice Lacroix share this incredible passion, as our innovative and pioneering watches prove, time after time."

Contact for press inquiries:

Maurice Lacroix S.A.
Katrin Roth, International PR Manager
Tel. +41(0)44-209-12-73
Email: katrin.roth@mauricelacroix.com

Free accessible database on: http://www.mauricelacroix.com

Oh, dear... shave your neck, Jimbo -- and help us clean up our vomit when you're talking about "authenticity"!

"If you try to pretend to be something you aren't, that shows through." -- Jimmy Wales, "Founder" of Wikipedia

This post has been edited by thekohser:

[thekohser]

If I did an endorsement campaign where I was paid $15,000, and I then turn around and donate that to ProCon.org and/or other tax-deductible charities, that's still a net advantage to me financially of about $5,000 come April 15th, is it not?

Jimbo's taking the high-and-mighty route with his story, but I guess the tax break is lost on most Wikipediots who have not ever filed a Form 1040 with attached Schedule A.

[Milton Roe]

If I did an endorsement campaign where I was paid $15,000, and I then turn around and donate that to ProCon.org and/or other tax-deductible charities, that's still a net advantage to me financially of about $5,000 come April 15th, is it not?

Jimbo's taking the high-and-mighty route with his story, but I guess the tax break is lost on most Wikipediots who have not ever filed a Form 1040 with attached Schedule A.

It's not a write-off if Jimbo donates all proceeds exactly. In that case they are deducted from his income and it is as though they never existed for him, taxwise. He pays the same tax he would have if he'd never heard of these people.

If you were paid some sum and you donated the whole thing, I fail to see how it would have affected your taxes, either. (IMG:smilys0b23ax56/default/happy.gif) No doubt Anthony will have some words of wisdom on this.

[Cock-up-over-conspiracy]

It's not a write-off if Jimbo donates all proceeds exactly.

The problem is, there are contradictory statements flying around in amongst all the huffing, puffing, chest swelling and butt licking ...

On one hand the Maurice Lacroix is said to have paid ALL the money directly to the Foundation.

We do not know that. On past record, we cannot believe that without evidence. As it is likely to be an ongoing "ambassadorial" contract over a number of years, with spins off and unaccountable or personal values (... free watches, golf open tickets, flight and hotels to Switzerland, dinner with St Bob and the CEO etc ... who knows), what are the specifics?

OK, he wrote it was paid directly to the Foundation, therefore it will appear in their accounts.

So why all the huffing and puffing about "personal finances and personal giving"? Trading off the reputation is an important issue.

Probably most people just think, "gosh, I wish it was me" or "gosh, I will be more special if I can just be close to him". If it, or parts of it do go through his personal finances, it will impact on his tax paying.

Are the people who see the adverts in the Polo mags and business class inflight magazines going to believe the BS?

[carbuncle]

The problem is, there are contradictory statements flying around in amongst all the huffing, puffing, chest swelling and butt licking ...

On one hand the Maurice Lacroix is said to have paid ALL the money directly to the Foundation.

We do not know that. On past record, we cannot believe that without evidence. As it is likely to be an ongoing "ambassadorial" contract over a number of years, with spins off and unaccountable or personal values (... free watches, golf open tickets, flight and hotels to Switzerland, dinner with St Bob and the CEO etc ... who knows), what are the specifics?

OK, he wrote it was paid directly to the Foundation, therefore it will appear in their accounts.

Jimbo did not say that all the money was paid to the WMF. He said that the largest recipient was the WMF, which means that there were other, lesser recipients.

All of the money associated with this deal is allocated to my charitable giving, which I consider a private matter and none of your business. The largest recipient, as always, is the Wikimedia Foundation. The details of the entire thing were cleared with the Foundation, and Maurice LaCroix very cheerfully at my request donated to the Foundation directly to induce me to agree to this.

The only way this makes sense is that Maurice LaCroix donated a portion of Jimbo's fee directly to the WMF as a donation. It is unclear if the rest went directly to Jimbo for him to distribute or was also donated directly by Maurice LaCroix.

No disrespect intended to Jimbo, but in that little movie he comes off, as usual, as slightly nervous and uncomfortable. I doubt he will be a very successful pitchman for Maurice LaCroix.

[GlassBeadGame]

The problem is, there are contradictory statements flying around in amongst all the huffing, puffing, chest swelling and butt licking ...

On one hand the Maurice Lacroix is said to have paid ALL the money directly to the Foundation.

We do not know that. On past record, we cannot believe that without evidence. As it is likely to be an ongoing "ambassadorial" contract over a number of years, with spins off and unaccountable or personal values (... free watches, golf open tickets, flight and hotels to Switzerland, dinner with St Bob and the CEO etc ... who knows), what are the specifics?

OK, he wrote it was paid directly to the Foundation, therefore it will appear in their accounts.

Jimbo did not say that all the money was paid to the WMF. He said that the largest recipient was the WMF, which means that there were other, lesser recipients.

All of the money associated with this deal is allocated to my charitable giving, which I consider a private matter and none of your business. The largest recipient, as always, is the Wikimedia Foundation. The details of the entire thing were cleared with the Foundation, and Maurice LaCroix very cheerfully at my request donated to the Foundation directly to induce me to agree to this.

The only way this makes sense is that Maurice LaCroix donated a portion of Jimbo's fee directly to the WMF as a donation. It is unclear if the rest went directly to Jimbo for him to distribute or was also donated directly by Maurice LaCroix.

No disrespect intended to Jimbo, but in that little movie he comes off, as usual, as slightly nervous and uncomfortable. I doubt he will be a very successful pitchman for Maurice LaCroix.

The slightly nervous and uncomfortable are an important demographic. As a group they need to be watched more than most.

[Lar]

The slightly nervous and uncomfortable are an important demographic. As a group they need to be watched more than most.

I forgot one of your favorite pastimes was making puns. Well played. You're second to none in our hearts on that score.