Great game yesterday.
The ads weren’t particularly awesome but here are a few I liked. I thought Career Builder’s “46 banana daquiris” was funny. Because monkeys like bananas. I thought Chevy’s “Apocalypse-proof” trucks were a creative twist and appropriate for 2012, even taking a dark but good-natured shot at Ford.
Bud Light Here We Go. Need to train Moch to fetch the beer!
Volkswagen Fat Dog. Cute and creative.
Hyundai Think Fast. Pretty funny and actually features the product.
I’m on the fence about Clint Eastwood’s Chrysler ad. I really liked their’s last year, and I really like the “Halftime in America” metaphor, but I’m not sure if Chrysler is the best messenger. I think their bailout is still fresh in everyone’s mind, and makes the bootstrapping/innovative/optimistic/self-reliant message of this ad seem hypocritical. What do you think?
Ferris Bueller in a CRV didn’t do it for me. Nor did Seinfeld, Uncle Jesse, the Coca-Cola bears, or even my usual fave the E*Trade baby. But these were some of the worst:
Cars.com Confident You. Good idea, not well-executed.
Pepsi King’s Court. Meh. Does Elton John need money?
Tags: marketing, super bowl ads
UPDATE: On Friday the Susan G. Komen Foundation reversed their decision. Wonder how much damage they did to their brand though.
Everyone’s favorite pink charity is at it again this week.
In the past, they’ve been known to sue other breast cancer charities for unknowingly infringing on their trademark.
Because they’re the only ones allowed to be working “for a cure”.
This week they cut off funding for breast cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood, giving the BS reason that the organization is under federal investigation.
Come on, at least be honest. The conservative Christian lobby is really powerful. You’re certainly not the first group to cave, and you certainly won’t be the last.
After all, abortions make up well over 90% of what they do, right?
But for the Komen foundation, the backlash has been quick and cold.
For an organization whose words spell an outward and very public goal of ending breast cancer, their actions say something else.
Obviously it’s their money and they can allocate it how they see fit.
But I’d like to see a charity that stands for its cause in the face of whatever political pressures come along. I’d like to see a charity whose mission transcends politics.
The fight to end breast cancer is a goal I think everyone can get behind. It’s bigger than politics, or at least it should be. It isn’t a Democrat / Republican thing.
That is, until you made it one.
Tags: susan g. komen
Bryn and I listened to The Top 10 Distinctions Between Millionaires and the Middle Class during our drive home from Seattle. It only took about 2 hours to hear the audiobook version so you could probably knock out the paper version in under an hour. It would be worth your time.
Author Kevin Cameron Smith shares his financial wisdom is easy-to-digest chunks. He starts out by addressing the goals of various economic classes:
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- The poor seek to survive.
- The middle class seek comfort.
- The rich seek freedom.
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It’s not a how-to book or a get-rich-quick manual. Success is a journey, the author explains.
And since you probably don’t want to read the book, here are the 10 Distinctions. How many of these apply to you?
- Millionaires Think Long-Term. The poor think day to day or week to week. The middle class think month to month. The rich think year to year or even decade to decade.
- Millionaires Think Ideas. The poor and middle class are consumed by things and other people.
- Millionaires Embrace Change. The poor and middle class are threatened by change.
- Millionaires Take Calculated Risks. When evaluating an opportunity, ask yourself three questions. What’s the best thing that could happen? What’s the worst thing that could happen? What’s the most likely thing to happen? If you can live with the worst thing, and the most likely thing if positive, maybe it’s a risk worth taking.
- Millionaires Continue Learning. School may end, but education never stops.
- Millionaires Work for Profits. The poor and middle class work for wages, while someone else profits.
- Millionaires are Generous. See The Go-Giver.
- Millionaires Develop Multiple Income Streams. The poor and middle class rely on just one or two, and they’re usually trading hours for dollars.
- Millionaires Think Net Worth. The poor and middle class think paychecks.
- Millionaires Ask Empowering Questions. Think “How can I realistically double my income?” vs. “How can I get a raise at work?” ”What would make my life more meaningful?” vs. “What is the meaning of life?”
Does the evil antagonist Voldemort share any similarities to our own Republican party?
| Republicans | Voldemort | |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname: | The GOP | The Dark Lord |
| Favorite Animal: | Elephant | Snake |
| Hates: | Immigrants and poor people | Muggles and mudbloods |
| Ticket to Eternal Life: | Accepting Christ as your savior | Splitting your soul into horcruxes |
| Stance on Torture: | The ends justify the means | The ends justify the means |
| Non-Traditional Marriage: | Men shouldn't marry men | Wizards shouldn't marry muggles |
| Right-Wing Protesters: | Are patriots | Are patriots |
| Left-Wing Protesters: | Get all the pepper spray they can handle | Get all the cruciatus curse they can handle |
| Environment: | Humans don't cause climate change | Causes climate change |
| Censorship: | Media censorship is occasionally necessary | Censors Daily Prophet |
| Least Favorite Subject in School: | Evolution | Defense Against the Dark Arts |
| Taxes: | Everyone should have some "skin in the game" | Tattoos followers to make sure they have some "skin in the game" |
| Government: | Should be smaller | Does a little housecleaning at the Ministry of Magic |
| Foreign Policy: | F those guys | F those guys |
| Harry Potter: | Promotes witchcraft and must not be read | Foils diabolical plans and must die |
| Secret Weapon: | Newt Gingrich | The elder wand |
| Health Care: | The individual mandate is unconstitutional | Avada Kedavra, bitches |
Did You Know?
Author JK Rowling has compared Voldemort to Hitler, and the Wall Street Journal has drawn parallels between Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge and Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain.
If you drive I-5 in Northern California and Southern Oregon, you may notice some references to the State of Jefferson. There’s a barn near Yreka with a giant sign and lots of cars on the road have “Resident of State of Jefferson” license plate holders.
photo credit Jill Fredrickson
What’s it all about?
In 1941, Port Orford, Oregon Mayor Gilbert Gable launched a semi-serious — but mostly symbolic — secession movement involving the counties of southern Oregon and northern California.
Frustrated residents felt like their voices and their issues weren’t being heard in the state Capitols of Salem and Sacramento. The main beef was over state-maintained roads, namely how their lack of improvement and maintenance was hurting the local economies.
The new state would be called Jefferson, after President Thomas Jefferson. In late November, 1941, armed citizens in “patriotic rebellion” distributed informational Proclamations of Independence to passing motorists. The pamphlet explained their intention to secede “every Thursday until further notice.”
Days later, Pearl Harbor was attacked and the fledgling movement took a back seat to the war.
Today
Seventy years later, how much has really changed? Like everyone else, would-be Jefferson residents are still disenchanted with their state governments.
Jefferson gives the sparsely populated area a sense of community. They’re not quite Californians and not quite Oregonians, but maybe something different entirely. Something independent.
Jefferson is a state of mind. It’s a beautiful territory. With Mt. Shasta and the Siskiyous and kind of this high plateau in between, it’s the most picturesque part of our annual journey.
Did You Know?
Two bears led a torchlight parade through Yreka in 1941. They’re names?
Itchy and Scratchy. Not even making that up.
“A little rebellion now and then is a good thing…” –TJ
Tags: california
