With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, there will be many sites out there that offer romantic viewing suggestions for you and your special someone. This is not one of those sites.
Read MoreThe hibernation of the mind
I have two basic states of being – creating and consuming – and I’ve found that they tend to be mutually exclusive. The interpretation of either state is relatively broad, but the main constant is that they remain separate. When I was younger, the transition was seamless. I would write feverishly for fifteen minutes, then…
Read MoreFrom the mouths of babes
When I was a teenager, over the course of about a week, three different companies starting building self-storage facilities along the same block. It was as if, unbeknownst to each other, they all bought the same consumer research poll that indicated my neighborhood was full of people with too much stuff willing to pay for storage.…
Read MoreHappy Spending Days
Let’s just get this out of the way, right off the bat: I don’t celebrate Christmas. When I lived in China this was inconceivable to people because they thought of Christmas as the quintessential American holiday. This was particularly evident in this classroom display my students prepared when I worked as a teacher. I probably…
Read MoreNow that’s a catchy tune!
Well, sort of. Catchy in that, dear lord I can’t get it out of my head (get it out of my head!) kind of way. Infomercials (which I love dearly) are often guilty of ridiculous soundtracks, but this list includes some more mainstream products as well. It seems that this economic downturn has finally reached…
Read MoreA Man and His Fan: A Self-Fulfilling Parody
Let’s be clear about one thing: I love James Dyson. I love him the same way I love researchers who spend twenty years living in the jungle watching one gibbon family eat bugs and breed. There is something fascinating about such single-minded dedication. Especially when that dedication produces something that’s useful, but not so useful…
Read MoreOld Spice, New Laughs
I was worried nothing could top “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like,” the first ad in the most recent Old Spice campaign. In addition to catapulting the handsome and deliciously deadpan Isaiah Mustafa into sudden stardom, the ad actually made me consider reconsidering my stance on the brand’s sex appeal. Previously having been mentally…
Read MoreIt’s Good to Be Bad
I know it’s been a little while since I’ve posted, but I’ve been rather busy with my internship (and loving every minute!) I’m not quite energized enough for a mega-post, but I thought I’d stop by and share some of my favorite spots airing right now. From silly to delusional to deadpan, these ads make…
Read MoreSocial Networking (now with s’mores!)
Coleman camping supplies is running a very charming series of ads where they declare themselves to be the “original social networking site.” It’s a refreshing look at how people come together in the real world, augmented in the digital world by the company’s presence on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Having lived abroad for quite some…
Read MoreUnlikely Celebrity Endorsements
Advertising often utilizes the celebrity voice to push products, and for good reason. These are easily recognizable figures who are larger than life. People who could eat anywhere in the world, but they choose McDonald’s. People who could wear anything, but they choose to shop at Brooks Brothers. Sometimes these endorsements make sense (like getting…
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Positively Natalie 