When this alleged internal Microsoft Vista SP1 motivational video for the sales force, hit the Internet, so did speculation as to whether this Vista video is real or a spoof. Either way, we don’t know whom to feel the most sympathy for, end users of Vista, the sales force who must try to sell it, or Bruce Springsteen who is parodied in the video.

(The real Bruce Springsteen)

The Microsoft Vista SP1 video in question, “Rockin’ Our Sales” with Bruce Service Pack and the Vista Street Band

Long Zheng brought our attention to these two Microsoft internal video spoofs which are much funnier.

Microsoft O-Phone

Microsoft redesigns iPod packaging

Barbie has clout. She is No. 41 on the list of The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived. Now she’s going green with the new Bcause collection which “Reuses and Repurposes Excess Barbie(TM) Fabrics and Trimmings to Create Fashionable and Playful Handbags, Pillows.”

Smart Planet weighs in on the environmental impact of the Bcause collection.

The case against
Over one billion Barbies are reckoned to have been sold since their launch in 1959. According to auction house Christie’s, Mattel flogs three Barbie dolls every second, creating a nightmare plastic mountain that’ll probably take centuries to biodegrade and clog up our precious remaining landfill space. So who cares if Mattel sells a dozen bags and accessories that happen to have some reused materials? Shouldn’t Mattel be doing that anyway? And even worse than all that plastic (and Mattel’s recent toys recall), Barbie isn’t the UK’s own Sindy doll.

The defence
The new Bcause collection features bags, hats and pillows made from excess fabric and trimmings from other Barbie toys. Apparently those off-cuts would otherwise end up in the bin. The ten-strong accessory collection will spread the green word amongst young girls and may convince them to become climate heroes and eco campaigners when they’re older (our words, not Mattel’s).

Elle weighs in on the fashion impact.

No, thank goodness for future body dysmorphists everywhere, nothing about Barbie will change. But a new line of Barbie accessories for girls (handbags and totes) will include trim and detail made from factory seconds– those pieces of fabric left over from the huge bolts of cloth that are made into a thousand tiny Barbie swing coats or astronaut outfits. Instead of tossing these extras, they will be reused, a tactic many eco-fashion designers use to add fun details to their lines while still recycling.

Barbie is nothing if not versatile, from her 1959 origins….

To her many 2008 updates, of which this is just one….

Barbie Baby Phat Kimora Lee Simmons Doll

Looking for a one-stop destination for the Cyber Monday deals? Check out CyberMonday.com. The Web site showcases more than 500 retailers. All Shop.org’s proceeds from items purchased through CyberMonday.com go to the Shop.org Ray M. Greenly Scholarship Fund which provides scholarships for students interested in an eCommerce career.

Resource Shelf has some fascinating Cyber Monday statistics:

According to a Shop.org survey, conducted this weekend by BIGresearch, 72.0 million consumers plan to shop online from home or at work tomorrow, up from 60.7 million in 2006 and 59.0 million in 2005. The survey found that 31.9 percent of adults will shop on Cyber Monday, up 17.3 percent over last year (27.2%).See Also: Complete Stats (PDF)

According to the Shop.org/Shopzilla eHoliday Survey, 72.2 percent of online retailers are planning a special promotion for Cyber Monday, up from 42.7 percent just two years ago. Promotions will range from specific deals (29.9%) to one-day sales (28.9%) to free shipping on all purchases (24.7%).

Shop.org survey conducted by BIGresearch [this past weekend] found that 54.5 percent of office workers with Internet access, or 68.5 million people, will shop for holiday gifts from work, up substantially from 50.7 percent in 2006.