Sneaky Advertising

Two words: Product Placement

Back in the days of "The Andy Griffith Show", it was not uncommon to see Andy stop by the gas station to buy a Coke (the actual product).  Sometime during the 70's though, there was a public backlash away from this kind of overt advertising during movies/TV programs and, as a result, products in shows became generic and unrecognizable.

Advertisers are sneaky though; they've realized that TiVo, Netflix and YouTube are effectively eliminating the effectiveness of commercials.  They have slowly worked their marketing efforts back into movies and television over the last 30 years or so--some of them quite subtly...and other's not so much.

Enjoy!

Great Video about Product Placement in Movies

Will Smith Advertising Converse in "I, Robot"

I don't even like Converse and this video kind of makes me want to try them out.  

Thought Process: Will Smith is cool--Will Smith wears Converse--if I wear Converse, then I will be cool like Will Smith!

"Transformers" Plugging for ... just about Everything

And last but not least, the famous (or infamous) daytime soap opera "Days of Our Lives" has made a shameless contract with General Mills to market Cheerios.

I actually just found out that Proctor & Gamble/WalMart are producing family movies with their brand names products all over them as well.

So keep your eyes open the next time you see a movie or TV show--you might be surprised by what you didn't see before!

I'd love to hear of any other good (or bad) product placement that you've seen / heard about.

Please comment below!

The Top 5 Shows from My Childhood

TV these days just isn't what it used to be.  I sit down every so often with siblings and all I see are shows with bratty, know-it-all kids with morons for parents and "laugh tracks" in the background.

People used to tell me that the shows that I watched as a kid were just as dumb so I decided to watch a few of them again (now that I'm older) and I still argue that they are better than the mindless garbage that is on these days.

Thus, I give you: The Top 5 Shows from My Childhood (in no particular order):

Pokemon

Dexter's Laboratory

Yu-Gi-Oh

Magic School Bus

Recess

What were your favorite shows from your childhood?  I'd love to hear what would make your "Top 5 Shows" lists!  Post comments below.

Craziest Commercial Comparisons Over Time

Have you ever noticed that companies change their target market and advertising tactics over time?

Burger King from the 1960's:

Burger King: Hilariously New

Ancient Geico (no pun intended):

Geico: Oldie but a goodie

Geico: New

Facebook Nightmares

Do you ever wake up in a cold sweat, horrified by the thought of Facebook coming to an end?  Can you imagine life without it?  Do you even remember life before online social networking? 

(1)

And no, MySpace is not the correct answer. 

I mean, do you really remember the early days of social networking when online hooliganism was just beginning to hit its stride? 

Think hard. 

I know that it's difficult to even imagine life without Facebook at your fingertips and Twitter tweeting at you every second of everyday about what Britney and Justin (Bieber or Timberlake) are up to.

Well, if you ever lose sleep at night worrying that someday the Facebook fad will pass and you will be stuck with 9,000 friends that never read your status updates, then check out this video:  

The Social Media Revolution 2011

It's actually pretty shocking!

(1) http://www.insidefacebook.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/facebook_logo.png

Selfishly Selfless, Gratefully Greedy

Does anyone else find it funny the way that our holidays transition from:

A Pagan holiday of "Give me Candy or I'll play a trick on you" (Halloween)

(1)

To a uniquely American one of Thanks and family togetherness (Thanksgiving)

(2)

Immediately followed by a Friday of "That's mine!" and "I had it first" (Black Friday)

(3) 

 (4)

Then we finish off the year with the spirit of Gift-giving mixed with Consumerism

 (5)
 
(6)

 It's almost as if we can't decide whether we want to be greedy or grateful, selfish or selfless. 

1) http://www.imperfectparent.com/topics/2011/11/02/trick-or-treat-10-year-old-pulls-gun-on-halloween/

2) http://holidays.kaboose.com/img/family-dinner-thanksgiving-photo-270-jsub-3182635.jpg

3) http://myblack-friday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/black_friday_2011_sales_crowds_2.jpg

4) http://www.destructoid.com/black-friday-your-guide-to-the-best-deals-update--188208.phtml
5) http://therefreshedhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/gift-giving.jpg

6) http://www.freecoupons.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/santa-christmas-shopping.jpg

Grow Some Hair, To Show You Care

I have always wanted to be like Santa Clause.  He really is an idol for me with his bowl full of jelly, long flowing beard and heart full of charity and Christmas spirit. 

Although I'm not too fond of the bowl full of jelly part, I am definitely excited about growing out my long flowing beard in order to help out those less fortunate this Christmas season! 

The Christmas Beard Foundation is trying to raise awareness (and donations) to help out orphans in the Ukraine that really need some help.

So why not be a little bit more like St. Nicholas this Christmas season by donating even a few dollars to help those in need and by growing out your beard to raise awareness for this worthy cause. 

Ask yourself this: What would Santa do?

http://www.christmasbeard.org/

When Rats and Steroids Collide

So, we don't have any kids yet and Christmas is coming up pretty soon, so I was thinking that maybe it is time that we make another addition to the family.  I know, it seems a little bit soon but I've thought a lot about this and I think it is the right decision.  Do you think that my wife will go for it?

Meet the Capybara!  Although it may just look like an oversized rodent, and it is, it's also a beautiful example of why it is that I don't worry too much about "endangered" animals.  I mean, really, what's all that about? 

I know, I know, people are always raving about the beached whales and the spotted owl but honestly, if people are working this hard to protect a 150lb rodent (no joke), do you really think that we are going to lose the bald eagle?  And even if we did, we'd have an intimidating new symbol for our nation. 

 From This...

To This!

                                                                  

Not to mention their effectivness in germ warfare!  Think about how much damage a few tiny rats did to Europe during the 1300's--imagine if these guys had been around!

Photo Credits:
1) http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/59885796/ShowThread.aspx
2) http://www.wallpapers-free.co.uk/background/countries/USA/Bald-Eagle-Montana/
3) http://www.windows2universe.org/headline_universe/images/capybara_big_jpg_image.html
Fun References for the endangered animal junkie:

http://library.thinkquest.org/11353/e-animals.htm

http://www.zoovilleusa.com/adopt%20an%20animal.htm?gclid=CNrypLXKv6wCFYwaQgodXCLdrw

The World Just Isn't Safe Anymore

Lawn eats old man in Florida!

(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45101955/ns/us_news-life/)

Fantasy land and Middle-earth aren't the only places that plants and trees come to life.  Hoping to wage war against his lawn, this man decided to walk into enemy territory to retrieve his paper. 

As you can see, he paid the price for his arrogance.

Robo-Dumbo walks again:

From 2010 to the present, approximately 1,000,000 people died of cancer in the United States, Haiti was devastated by the largest earthquake in 200 years, and the U.S. government almost 'shut-down'.

But wait, there is a shining ray of hope: Dumbo is walking again!

http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/04/8633536-wounded-elephant-walks-again-thanks-to-jumbo-sized-false-foot

After 4 years of scientific innovation with the express aim of realizing this elephant's dream of walking again--Robo-Dumbo was born.

It is good to know that our best and brightest are making headway in the noble, uphill battle for elephant prosthetics.

Oh, Ohio: The Jungle Book Gone Bad

 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/04/exotic-animals-charged-deputies_n_1076476.htmls

Don't you just hate it when your neighbor lets their dog pepper your lawn with its "Christmas Gifts"?  Well, at least your neighbor doesn't own Lions and Tigers and Bears! Oh my!

There is an important lesson to be learned here.  If your neighbor is a recently released convict with 56 "exotic" animals on his property, you might want to look into relocating.