The opening ceremonies of the Chinese Olympics in Bejing last year were spectacular. Have you noticed that advertisers are starting to come out with strangely similar "people as art" campagins? Case in point, the Third Generation Prius ads by Toyota are remarkably beautiful, but are a definite cross between Anne Geddes and Bejing. Look for them. How can a car company afford to pay that many actors and director such an extravaganza for a 30 or 60 second spot?

On a smaller scale, the Palm Treo is also a shade of Bejing.

On the other hand - and I give them credit - Old Navy has been using manequins! A few years ago, Old Navy used sort of "has been" big and small screen stars. Now, the manequins' mouths don't even move! The concept is fresh and they are only paying for voice-overs. I haven't heard if Old Navy is having financial troubles or not ... Isn't everyone? ... but I give them BIG points for creativity. And the story line doesn't suck either!!!

        

Since I last blogged, Alltel Chad and his group of "loser company reps" filmed a commercial less than 10 minutes from my house. Argghh! That means that Chad is here to stay for a while. If they pull the half-wit family that is sitting under a roller coaster catching coins, sunglasses, and a new retainer, it might be worth it.

Does anyone (besides me) read USA today? Starbucks is fighting back against the McDonald's, "we can read gossip magazines again" and similar ads with a very classy, full-page series in this paper. Did you read classy? That's the difference between Starbucks and McDonald's.

I live in a small town. In Michigan. We have our own power plant (coal). Said power plant is raising their rates because too many people are conserving electricity and they aren't making any money. What's wrong with this picture? We can't catch a break. Personally, I am looking into a very cool (as in ART) wind turbine from France that only costs $800. I know. There's wiring and generators and stuff, but still, how awesome! Now if I can only get my Condo Board to approve it!

        

Okay, people. I am "of the age" when a Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head toy came with parts only and you had to supply your own potato. Can you even image how many laws that would be breaking in today's market?

There is a classic but modern Potato Head commercial by Bridgestone Tires that came out during the Super Bowl. Six months later, it is still making me laugh, so I thought I should share it with you.

Enjoy!

        

It has come to my attention that ARBY'S is in serious need of new advertising agency. They have a relatively high priced (for the genre) and decent product. So what's with the stupid commercials. I refuse to believe that such slap stick advertising will entice anyone into their stores. We are much more intelligent than that. Aren't we? Please, aren't we?

        

It isn't really BIG news, but somewhat interesting if you are into marketing. E-trade is back with the BABIES! It's the same little guy that spit up for us last year. This year he's giving advice on how to handle your investments in this economy. Does that really inspire trust? Why isn't this kid getting any older. It seems to me that babies grow and change like crazy during thier "talking toddler" years. This one hasn't changed a bit ... except that he is much wiser with his finacial advice.

        

I am so done with Chad/Alltel. Ever since Verizon bought out Alltel, the Chad commercials have become dumb and dumber. Also, Alltel pulled a bait & switch on me when I went to get my "free" phone during their prescribed "Qualification Period", and I can tell  you that I will be going somewhere else when my contract comes up this summer.

If I were Twittering right now, I would say that I am angry at Alltel!!! That's how I'm feeling.

My new favorite television commercials are:

1. The Honda Insight. The Insight is Honda's new high mileage vehicle and if you have seen the commercials you make be reminded of the old HP photograph commercials. They are sort of the same method but revamped, and dang, I LIKED those HP commercials.

2.  Sprint has a new data frequency commercial out (Ha, Ha, Chad) and I love it. I do wonder if the statistics that they spew out have any basis in reality, but I still like the concept and the graphics.

I have been reading USA Today religiously and find really interesting ads in that publication. It seems to be the primo spot for repositioning ads and my favorite in there is the Starbuck's side of the Starbucks vs. McDonald's coffee war. Who can relax in a McDonald's??? That place is full of screaming little kids.

So, that's what's on my mind, that's how I feel. I'm all tweeted out .... But I LOVE FB!

        

So much for the sticky note theory. I even used bright orange and and exclamation point! The best I can say is that the note on the computer has me blogging twice in one month ... just barely.

I am thinking about web design software today. I've  used a lot of it, mostly at client's request. I haven't found one yet that doesn't leave me searching for a way into the land of code. Clients like the CMS programs because they really do believe that they will make their own changes to their web site.

They will probably put an orange sticky note with an exclamation point on their computer that says, "Change Website!" I wish them luck.

        

I am Twittered and Facebooked and I have My Space and I am Linked in. Somehow it all just seems like MORE TO DO! I like it when my friends send me drinks - less calories but not as much fun as having them in person. Really though, do you REALLY CARE, what I am doing RIGHT NOW? I'm feeling pressured to be more interesting! Maybe it will make me a more interesting person.

I went to a seminar last Friday and the speaker/guru told us we should blog daily - at least weekly. I have now put a post-it note on my computer reminding me to blog. Stand back. Illustrious, wise, and creative words and works are about to spew forth.....

        

It's a new year. We have a new President. We are living through the same "stuff" we were living through at the end of 2008. I'm tired of Mac and Apple (not as tired as Steve Jobs). I'm tired of Chad and the repositioned other cell phone providers even if they are claymation now. It seems to me that all creativity is living on the Internet.

Where is color? Where is hope? Is it up to we designers to provide that? I wait, with eager anticipation, for the Super Bowl - only because I care about the commercials. I am so bored. How are you feeling?

        

It would appear that Mac is not as secure as one might think. They have definitely and directly responded to the PC "I'm a PC" campaign.

They're main point is that Windows should be spending money on fixing Vista, but instead, used all the money to run a big ad campaign. Poor "PC" is looking quite stupid again.

The ball is in Microsoft's court!