Dear Milk Ad...

Dear Milk Ad on the Side of My Cereal Box,

I don't understand why you're there, extolling the healthy benefits of having milk with cereal.   I've already bought the cereal (or if I'm seeing the ad at all, I'm obviously at least in the market for cereal of some kind).  That means it's pretty much a done deal that I'm going to buy milk, too.  How many people eat a whole box of cereal dry, I ask you?  And what else might I pour over my cereal?  Ok, I guess that these days they have all sorts of fancy non-cow's-milk milks to choose from, but most of us are loyal to Real Milk.

I'm just sort of baffled by your existence... Actually, come to think of it, why are there advertisements for milk at all?  It's weird.  Milk's one of those things you either drink or you don't.  If you drink it, you'll almost always have it automatically on your shopping list (or you won't need to bother writing it down, since you have a special ability to remember exactly how much milk is in the fridge).  If you don't drink it, there's probably a definite reason why you don't (health issue, don't like the taste), and you are unlikely to be swayed by an advertisement.  And it's not like milk's a new product that everyone needs to be made aware of... ("New in stores, it's MILK!" or "Look for our newest flavors-- "Chocolate" and "Plain Moo-Juice"-- in your local grocery store today!!")

...Just a few things you might want to consider.

Sincerely,
Me

P.S. ...You're not wasting tax-payer funded subsidy money on this sort of thing, are you?

Um... Okay...

Yes, whoever designed this ad, this demonic-looking photo of a child has inspired me to become a social worker in 1YR.  Especially after having seen Case 39. 

I Don't Know What to Say. . .

A link on Twitter sent me to this odd news story.

Doesn't that ad (the huge one on the right) in juxtaposition with the article seem a little. . .

(And that's all I'm gonna say about that. . .)

"We Know Where You Live", Etc.

(I do intend to eventually write here, again-- and about more than the occasional ad, too.  Just not this weekend, probably...)

First, the less funny of the two ads. 

I'm still not sure how I feel about these ads and things that like to throw around (what they think is) your location.  Like you're going to see the name of the town where you live (only in this case, they're off by a bit) and be overcome by the urge to (cue flat, hypnotized voice) click the ad. . .Must. . .click. . .the ad. . . I guess it's an eye-catcher, but do they have to rub it in my face that The Internet knows everything about me, including my present location?  I don't think I like it. 

Also, apparently people in F---y live in houses of matches.  (?) 

But this gem is the real reason I decided to log in to the old blog this morning.  Someone had to blog about it. 

What's the deeper meaning here?  Is the implication that only weirdos with ugly glasses, piggish noses, and really unfortunate smiles would be fool enough to fail to take advantage of Obama's refinance plan?

Yeah, that must be it.

Well, enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend!  Sorry I haven't written since last year (ha ha); I'll try to do better.

Argh! (More Ads)

What is it with these ad designers and Obama?

. . . Actually, what's with this particular ad designer in general? 

How did he choose these photos, and why are they such poor quality?  Why is the "mom" in the top photo making a silly face?  (Shocked at the thought of a Pell grant, perhaps.)  I finally recognize the second photo as a brown dog with his head hanging out a car window-- but it took some looking to figure it out.  And the third one. . . If you're advertising insurance relief for homeowners, why oh why would you ever paste in a photo of a jogging woman's back?  Am I missing something here? 

P.S.  I love how these sites put "ADVERTISEMENT" in (small-scale) all-caps on top of their ads.  Thank goodness for that clear labeling!  Otherwise, I'd never have guessed!  ;o)

Those Evil Ad Execs ;o)

I went to the TV Guide website this morning, just curious about what might be coming on tonight. (Wasting time, of course. Isn't that why the Internet was invented?) An ad caught my eye:

First, I thought, "Ah, trying to cash in on all the overeating people do this time of year." 

But for whatever reason, I couldn't look away, even though I actually haven't been overeating (or at least no more than usual) and didn't happen to be in dire need of the bubblegum-pink elixir.  No, I was transfixed for another reason-- namely, that the longer I looked at the ad, the more I felt that I could be queasy, if I just stared long enough. 

Is it just me, or does that Pepto-Bismol ad possess a mysterious nausea-inducing power?

I don't know if it's the shape of the. .  Pepto ooze, or its color. . . The sheen, perhaps.  The ease with which the mind likens it to the tumultuously quivering contents of an uneasy stomach. . .

Bleurgh. 

Or maybe it's just that I've taken Pepto often enough that the mere thought of it is enough to make me feel sick. 

Anyway, I wonder if the Pepto ad designer purposely tried to make anyone who sees it feel ill.  Anything to boost sales, right?  ;o)