Viral Marketing

Roger Freeman, an Encino, Calif., dentist and lecturer on infectious diseases, wants to start an epidemic. Well, not really: his new company is pushing a line of neckties with magnified pictures of diseases from microscope slides. “The gonorrhea tie is the best looking tie in the whole lot,” Freeman says, allowing that “The syphilis tie is gorgeous. The plague tie is pretty, [but] it’s sold out.” In addition, patterns showing tuberculosis, herpes, staphylococcus, AIDS, chlamydia, ebola, influenza and several other pathogens are available. Don’t want to wear your favorite disease around your neck? Matching underwear is also available. (Reuters) ...Next year, he hopes to debut a new line of condoms.