Turns out that I was sort of correct with nos. 2 and 4. It’s British, all right, but it’s window cleaner. Hunh.
Gallery of telephone ads from the 1910s – 1970s. Interesting for the language (shall we bring back “to-day”? Let’s do!), typography, technology and sociology.
Via BoingBoing
The Freaky Universe of McDonald’s Commercials. Ugh, now I can’t get the groovy, dare I say, “shakin,’” theme out of my head.
the Tonies! Yay. Questions:
Overall, though, this was way more fun than the Oscars; better writing, better performances, and just way, way happier. One thing that would be great, is if in addition to all the musical numbers, they featured scenes from all the nominated plays.
Management’s role in creating passionate users:
Of course, most of us are not entry-level employees at a fast-food mall store, but it’s amazing how this attitude of mistrust exists in other companies for even the high-paid individual contributors from software developers to designers. Even if the company doesn’t have these kinds of “we don’t trust you” policies, their lack of trust still shows. Managers who question everything you do…who don’t believe you’re capable of working outside the strict procedures and rules set down by Those Who Know All Things And Make The Important Decisions.
I’m continually surprised by companies that hire someone for, say, a $100K a year position, and then treat them like they might do or say the wrong thing at any moment. They aren’t allowed to talk to the press. They aren’t allowed to blog. They aren’t allowed to make critical decisions about the customers. They aren’t allowed to do what they THOUGHT they were hired to do!
In the middle of a job interview*, I was once asked, “so – what are you not about?”**
wha?
What am I not about…? Being caught off guard, I thought of the situation I was in, and answered, “I’m not about working in big corporations.” This article nails what I hope I communicated that day, and it’s why so many good people prefer being in a smaller business environment: trust and flexibility reciprocate and reverberate, resulting in a happier place to work — and a more productive and innovative business.
*the whole interview was out of the blue; but that’s another story…
**I promise that if I ever interview someone I will not ask such a question.***
*** I prefer to ask what kind of tree you would like to be.
I sure as hell won’t be drinking any Anheuser-Busch products now. That was just insulting. Monkeys with whoopie cushions, however, I’ll take ANY day.
The Senate might vote on HR2391, the Intellectual Property Protection Act, a comprehensive bill that opponents charge could make many users of peer-to-peer networks, digital-music players and other products criminally liable for copyright infringement. The bill would also undo centuries of “fair use” — the principle that gives Americans the right to use small samples of the works of others without having to ask permission or pay.
The bill lumps together several pending copyright bills including HR4077, the Piracy Deterrence and Education Act, which would criminally punish a person who “infringes a copyright by … offering for distribution to the public by electronic means, with reckless disregard of the risk of further infringement.” Critics charge the vague language could apply to a person who uses the popular Apple iTunes music-sharing application.
The bill would also permit people to use technology to skip objectionable content — like a gory or sexually explicit scene — in films, a right that consumers already have. However, under the proposed law, skipping any commercials or promotional announcements would be prohibited.
OK, so you’re allowed to “skip objectionable content” but not commericals? HELLO? I object to the commercials… (except the Citi ones with the beeps and boops) The drug ads and political ads are particularly gory. You’ll get my TiVo when you pry it…
The perils of stock photography. Snerk.
Kostas Giannis, a Greek sports fan, said: “I don’t see why, after all the money that Greek taxpayers will end up paying to host the games, McDonald’s should dictate what I can eat in my own city.
List of company name etymologies. Add to that Sureblue Studios, which emerged when my brother misheard Shrdlu. I also like blue and it’s happy connotations, and the reasonable closeness of it to “true blue,” ’cause we’re service-oriented and very nice people to work with.
Via Reenhead
Now that’s a great name for a wheelchair. Looking at the site they actually seem pretty clueful, so I’m hoping they’re embracing the name ironically. Or something.
via Reenhead
House of Ugoff, from the brains that brought you the Subservient Chicken.
I love this Really neat ad (via JZ) but I’m not sure if anything ever will topple the Spongemonkeys as my favorite (this year). I’ve never had one of their sandwiches, but I sure want one now.
Old Schlitz billboards, among others. There are still similar ads painted on a few buildings in Milwaukee, and they’re maintained. And Fabulous.
Via Scrubbles
It’s the Subservient Chicken, make him dance like the Prince of Space you are! Bock!
Excerpted highlights from A History of the Brawny Man:
- * The Brawny man wears a red plaid shirt, with the top button open. His hair is parted at the center and his eyes are brown. Two trees appear from behind his right shoulder.
- * The two trees over the Brawny man’s right shoulder are reduced in size. They now reach to the base of his head.
- * The Brawny man undergoes a slight makeover, with a shorter haircut. His eyes are now green in color.
- * There is a new addition to the Brawny man’s closet, as he sports a green plaid shirt on the Designer towel packaging.
- * The Brawny man’s wardrobe is again updated, as he sports a blue plaid shirt on packages of Prints. He now parts his hair on the side.
- * For the holiday season, Brawny holiday prints are launched. The holiday prints come in red and green with matching solids and the Brawny man wears a Santa cap and holds a candy cane over his shoulder instead of his peavey.
- * The Brawny man now wears a purple plaid shirt on packages of his Big Roll.
- * The Brawny man wears a new blue denim shirt.
I really, really hope that they release a Brawny Man dress-up doll. You know there’s one in the marketing office. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I, for one, am pro-queer-Brawny-Man.
You know you’ll hear people in galleries declare, “I can do that!” Well, now you can too. Play Mr. Picassohead!
On the internet, nobody knows you’re not really British so go see the high-larious “video highlights” of the Trojan Games, Bucharest 2003. Do I need to tell you it’s not exactly safe for bosses?
Best. Ad. Ever. 605 takes and half a million dollars; it’s beautiful.
I was never a huge fan of the old UPS logo but the new one is equally lame… doesn’t it looks like it’s for a packet of cocoa mix? That being said I still always thrill for “The Ups Man” because he brings me boxes of goodies from afar.
Ads for Apple’s new music service: low tech, simple, and mostly good, but Nic here is my new Gianni.
Packaging history of Juicy Fruit, Doublemint and Spearmint gum. I love the new Doublemint look but the Spearmint isn’t quite right and the Juicy Fruit is a total miss.
Via Scrubbles.
