|
Written by Eric Courtney
|
|
Tuesday, 06 May 2008 01:19 |
|
As most of you know by now, I am currently self-employed and out from underneath the grasp of the Anchorage Daily News. Excitedly so, I am doing very well, and I am very busy making a living on my own. I still watch tv when I decide to turn it on, and as I spend most my time at home, it is a rule not to turn it on until I have completed some production (earned some money) during the day. I feel the Shit-Box, as I like to call it, is a tremendous distraction from getting anything done. Imagine that... But it is when I do watch television that has truly inspired this post! Advertising is what I like to pride myself on when determining whether it is solid or a complete failure. I have been involved with advertising, all forms, for the last 10 years. I, of course, have my own opinion as to what works, and what does not. I am very well versed when it comes to Online advertising, and I would like to think I have a masterful knowledge of what works and what does not in said industry. But it is television advertising, however, that I love to critique. There are a few examples that I love, and a lot that I do not. Good examples of television advertising are commercials that entertain you while planting the message in your head that will trigger a reaction out of you when the industry is mentioned in conversation, or the thought of when demand for investigation of commerce is eminent. A few of my favorite examples: FreeCreditReport.com: Let's face it, those jingles are catchy. And they are catchy enough to make you think of them when you are standing in line at the bank. They are also fun to sing at the top of your lungs when you are the sole person at a party when you want everyone to know who you are. You don't think so? Try a verse at the next gathering you find yourself at -- as just another body in the crowd. You'll get laid. Trust me! Geico Insurance: The caveman bit? Genius! So what if the sitcom series failed... It worked for advertising! And that is just a portion of the effect they have on consumers nationwide. All their commercials are great. Every washed up piece of talent in Hollywood is clammering to get into one of those spots. All-be-it painful to watch at times (i.e Peter Framton), You know that the formula is working when other insurance companies are trying to emulate the success of Geico's spots. Burger King: The SteakHouse sandwich commercials are hilarious! Who hasn't been in the drive-through annoyed by the person in front of them? I have only seen two versions of the current spots for this particular product, but I loved them both. I definitely want to try the sandwich. A few of my "not-so-favorite" spots: Valtrex: Am I the only one who finds these spots uncomfortable? When the actors show up for filming these spots, do you think they flip a coin to be the one infected with herpes? If you're not familiar with the spot, they always begin with a couple committed to each other. One half claims to be infected with herpes while the other proudly proclaims he/she is not (and how Valtrex is the answer to their issue of affecting each other). I mean really... As an aspiring actor trying to get work... Do you really want to be known as that person, when somebody notices you at the grocery store, as the person on tv that has herpes? Could be a career-killer, but maybe that is just me. Viagra: I play a little guitar, and I've played the drums in my past, and I have participated in my share of mini-jam-sessions, but I have never... ever... thought of thinking it was cool to do a little diddy about a pill that makes my Johnson hard. Gawd forbid the King, Elvis, could hear this blasphemy of the song he made famous about Las Vegas! He'd surely be spinning in his grave! Perhaps the marketing firm behind these spots could stick to the spots that list 800 side effects as a result of consumption of the medication instead of trying to be cute... JG Wentworth: "It's my money, and I want it now!" This is easily the most annoying commercial on the face of the planet! Do you really have to have 10 people scream that to make your point? Besides the Geico commercial with Joan Rivers, this spot is the most popular for the mute button on my remote! This repetitive slogan advertising is as bad, if not worse, than the Jared jewelry spots! Jared, The Galleria of Jewelry: As mentioned in the previous paragraph... If you are going to insult us with repetitive branding, please invest your marketing dollars in radio. These spots are ridiculous and annoying. These spots do nothing more than steer me toward Kay Jewelers as a place to buy high-priced gems! If you are an intimate person of interest to me, now or in the future, rest assured... I will not have gone to Jared!!! And if you ask me if I went there, it is immediate grounds for termination of the relationship. No exceptions! There you have it. I know it has been a while since I have updated this blog, but when I do, I hope it is a little entertaining to you. Write me and tell me what you think. Or not... |
|
Written by Eric Courtney
|
|
Tuesday, 06 May 2008 01:19 |
|
As most of you know by now, I am currently self-employed and out from underneath the grasp of the Anchorage Daily News. Excitedly so, I am doing very well, and I am very busy making a living on my own. I still watch tv when I decide to turn it on, and as I spend most my time at home, it is a rule not to turn it on until I have completed some production (earned some money) during the day. I feel the Shit-Box, as I like to call it, is a tremendous distraction from getting anything done. Imagine that... But it is when I do watch television that has truly inspired this post! Advertising is what I like to pride myself on when determining whether it is solid or a complete failure. I have been involved with advertising, all forms, for the last 10 years. I, of course, have my own opinion as to what works, and what does not. I am very well versed when it comes to Online advertising, and I would like to think I have a masterful knowledge of what works and what does not in said industry. But it is television advertising, however, that I love to critique. There are a few examples that I love, and a lot that I do not. Good examples of television advertising are commercials that entertain you while planting the message in your head that will trigger a reaction out of you when the industry is mentioned in conversation, or the thought of when demand for investigation of commerce is eminent. A few of my favorite examples: FreeCreditReport.com: Let's face it, those jingles are catchy. And they are catchy enough to make you think of them when you are standing in line at the bank. They are also fun to sing at the top of your lungs when you are the sole person at a party when you want everyone to know who you are. You don't think so? Try a verse at the next gathering you find yourself at -- as just another body in the crowd. You'll get laid. Trust me! Geico Insurance: The caveman bit? Genius! So what if the sitcom series failed... It worked for advertising! And that is just a portion of the effect they have on consumers nationwide. All their commercials are great. Every washed up piece of talent in Hollywood is clammering to get into one of those spots. All-be-it painful to watch at times (i.e Peter Framton), You know that the formula is working when other insurance companies are trying to emulate the success of Geico's spots. Burger King: The SteakHouse sandwich commercials are hilarious! Who hasn't been in the drive-through annoyed by the person in front of them? I have only seen two versions of the current spots for this particular product, but I loved them both. I definitely want to try the sandwich. A few of my "not-so-favorite" spots: Valtrex: Am I the only one who finds these spots uncomfortable? When the actors show up for filming these spots, do you think they flip a coin to be the one infected with herpes? If you're not familiar with the spot, they always begin with a couple committed to each other. One half claims to be infected with herpes while the other proudly proclaims he/she is not (and how Valtrex is the answer to their issue of affecting each other). I mean really... As an aspiring actor trying to get work... Do you really want to be known as that person, when somebody notices you at the grocery store, as the person on tv that has herpes? Could be a career-killer, but maybe that is just me. Viagra: I play a little guitar, and I've played the drums in my past, and I have participated in my share of mini-jam-sessions, but I have never... ever... thought of thinking it was cool to do a little diddy about a pill that makes my Johnson hard. Gawd forbid the King, Elvis, could hear this blasphemy of the song he made famous about Las Vegas! He'd surely be spinning in his grave! Perhaps the marketing firm behind these spots could stick to the spots that list 800 side effects as a result of consumption of the medication instead of trying to be cute... JG Wentworth: "It's my money, and I want it now!" This is easily the most annoying commercial on the face of the planet! Do you really have to have 10 people scream that to make your point? Besides the Geico commercial with Joan Rivers, this spot is the most popular for the mute button on my remote! This repetitive slogan advertising is as bad, if not worse, than the Jared jewelry spots! Jared, The Galleria of Jewelry: As mentioned in the previous paragraph... If you are going to insult us with repetitive branding, please invest your marketing dollars in radio. These spots are ridiculous and annoying. These spots do nothing more than steer me toward Kay Jewelers as a place to buy high-priced gems! If you are an intimate person of interest to me, now or in the future, rest assured... I will not have gone to Jared!!! And if you ask me if I went there, it is immediate grounds for termination of the relationship. No exceptions! There you have it. I know it has been a while since I have updated this blog, but when I do, I hope it is a little entertaining to you. Write me and tell me what you think. Or not... |
|
|
Written by Eric Courtney
|
|
Thursday, 06 March 2008 01:16 |
|
I can't help but comment on emails like these that claim to help out in tough times, and they are usually written by somebody who thinks they know everything... But in all likelyhood, they're full of crap! Please review the email here, then return for my comments You will appreciate them. Trust me! If you can squeeze an extra mile out of your full tank with some of the suggestions listed here, great. If you want to wait twice as long filling your tank on the low level of nozzle flow, while paying $3.50 a gallon, you're torturing yourself. Me personally? Filling my tank is depressing enough for me to willfully watch the numbers on the pump reach $60.00 slower than had I just locked the nozzle on high! If we lived in the world Mad Max lives in, maybe I would give this public service announcement a little more credit. The fact is... Everyone fills there tank too soon to take advantage of a measly extra ONE mile! Because their time is worth money too. Gimme a break! WHERE TO BUY USA GAS, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW. READ ON
This is the most amusing part of the message... Quit sending your money overseas to the Saudi's, when there is American gas readily available (insert visual of a gun-toting redneck being slapped across the face here)! And my favorite quote of the message... "Nothing is more frustrating than the feeling that every time I fill-up the tank, I am sending my money to people who are trying to kill me, my family, and my friends." Yeah... Because everyone in the middle east feels this way about the USA (insert visual of an ordinary bigot being kicked in the crotch here). Absurd! If we're all dead, who's going to buy their oil. The message goes on to inform you of where to buy American oil instead of Middle Eastern oil. That's very convenient. I already do buy American oil. But let's just say that this message has a profound effect on all Americans who read this and start to heed it's message... The Alaska Pipeline provides a mere 20% of our nation's oil consumption. Give or take a percentage here and there (insert visual of a light bulb turning on over a Texas oil tycoon's head here)...* We also depend on a few other nations for oil outside of the Middle East... But the fact of the matter is, The Middle East rules the playground in this little volley of oil trade. SO... If we, as a united nation, decide to become totally self-sufficient on our own natural resources, the message is to force the Middle East to drive down prices (insert visual of Middle Eastern Oil Company's board room executives applauding here)... NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, PEOPLE!!! As good as it sounds, what will ultimately happen is that we deplete all our natural resources completely, and quickly, and become 100% reliable on the Middle East" (insert visual of Middle Eastern Oil Company's board room executives applauding - and sarcasm here) where everyone wants to kill us," and watch them raise the prices at their leisure (insert visual of a board meeting filled with powerful men, wearing "rags" on there head here). And they would because we are a rich nation, and of course they want to (insert sarcasm here) kill us because they all share the same notion that the only good American is a dead American... So yeah... Take a stand! Boycott the holders of the largest keepers of natural resources to show our pride! That will show them! I am by no means a Bush supporter (insert visual of President George W. Bush's photo with the word FAIL stamped over it here) or condone our presence in the Middle East, but I am a strong supporter of NOT letting stupid people rally more stupid people into believing that our nation is so strong that we don't need anybody else to help us live convenient lives! Check yourselves! As much as it pains me to say this (because I drive an eight cylinder American pickup truck), perhaps the real message behind this little rally is to start thinking green. Instead of buying a Hummer tomorrow, maybe you should consider buying something a little more fuel conservative. Perhaps a vehicle besides a Hemi or something that is going to cost you $100 a tank by the end of the year... Just a thought, and a better alternative to being a proud patriot. That is my view. Take it however you want to. * The Alaska Pipeline is currently flowing half-full at best right now. There is a reason why Congress is fighting to open up ANWR for drilling. We're running out of natural resources people!!! I live in Alaska; I know this first hand! Observe this! Know this! Act Accordingly! But don't, by any means, be drawn into stupid rallying viral emails from people who are full of bologna! |
|
Written by Eric Courtney
|
|
Thursday, 06 March 2008 01:12 |
|
VERY IMPORTANT! this is worth the read / if you drive a car................. Subject: Fwd: TIPS ON PUMPING GAS & WHERE TO BUY IT.... INTERESTING Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2008 03:17:27 +0000 TIPS ON PUMPING GAS I don't know what you guys are paying for gasoline.... but here in California we are also paying higher, up to $3.50 per gallon. But my line of work is in petroleum for about 31 years now, so here are some tricks to get more of your money's worth for every gallon. Here at the Kinder Morgan Pipeline where I work in San Jose, CA we deliver about 4 million gallons in a 24-hour period thru the pipeline. One day is diesel the next day is jet fuel, and gasoline, regular and premium grades. We have 34-storage tanks here with a total capacity of 16,800,000 gallons. Only buy or fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. T he colder the ground the more dense the gasoline, when it gets warmer gasoline expands, so buying in the afternoon or in the evening....your gallon is not exactly a gallon. In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products plays an important role. A 1-degree rise in temperature is a big deal for this business. But the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps. |
|
Read more...
|
|
