COLUMN: Google monitors e-mails for contextual advertising matches, and few people seem to mind. Scott G wonders if these are the same people who will allow Pudding Media to monitor their phone calls.

PALM BEACH, Fla. — Finding the right contractor can be a daunting experience and a new web site, YourContractorDirect.com, makes the process more streamlined; it connects consumers with local contractors. In lieu of today’s shaky real estate economy, many homeowners are choosing to remodel and renovate their existing homes rather than selling in a slow-moving market.

NEW YORK, N.Y. and LONDON, U.K. — Campbell Belman, an established pharmaceutical analytics company, today introduces its new name: Eularis. This announcement reflects the significant growth the Company has achieved across its full range of pharmaceutical analytics products, which have helped tailor the advertising and marketing programs of its global top-tier clients.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — As we mark the sixth anniversary of 9/11, a new poll conducted by Nader Anise Lawyer Marketing asks lawyers whether they would represent the World’s Most Wanted Man, Osama Bin Laden, in court if he were found alive. (The assumption of course being that a criminal prosecution would ultimately ensue.)

BOSTON, Mass. — ThePeeq.com has hired Boston-based alternative marketing agency Street Attack to run its September 2007 launch. ThePeeq is a witty “Sex-Centric” online magazine and community geared toward women and men in search of a positive place to talk and learn about sex and related topics. Street Attack will be running ongoing grassroots and viral marketing efforts for ThePeeq.com’s September 2007 launch.

TORONTO, Canada — Voices.com, the leading online marketplace that connects buyers and sellers of voice over and voice acting services, was named a winner in CRM Magazine’s 2007 CRM Market Awards.

TORRANCE, Calif. — Neotrope(R), a leading California-based advertising, public relations, and Internet Marketing firm established 1983, today announced that Puerto Rico-based international marketing and PR firm I:Avalanche Corp. has selected Neotrope to provide promotion assistance for LetsGoToPonce.com, South Puerto Rico’s (Porta Caribe) only highly segmented network of North American corporate and consumer customers who have expressed explicit interest in the region’s tourism, business and relocation opportunities.

COLUMN: Ever since the invention of mail delivery, we have had to endure direct response solicitations. These ads-to-your-door may be informative, helpful and economical. But as Scott G points out, they can also be sneaky, intrusive and surprisingly distasteful.