Midnight Mixtape

I grew up listening to my Mum's mixtapes and made countless tapes of my own via My First Sony, so I was among those saddened by the quick demise of Muxtape. But this seems to be picking up the torch. Saw it on another blog (thanks, happymundane.com), and couldn't resist giving it a try. Oh and in case you were worried, I did put Debbie Gibson on it. Oh yeah.

Free Pap Friday

You might want to put that plate of leftover yams and gravy aside for just a moment. Ready? Kay.

If you live in the Greater Indianapolis area and need a unique gift for a special lady in your life, look no further. You can now purchase gift certificates for Planned Parenthood. Yes, I said Planned Parenthood. Apparently a good papsmear goes for about $60 these days, so if there's someone you think could use a good swabbing, there you go.

Now, I'm not sure quite how I feel about this. On one hand, it's definitely practical, and if someone has put off their yearly girl-doctor trip because of the cost, then it's thoughtful and far more healthy than, say, a copy of the new Beyonce album. On the other hand, it just seems uber-bizarre to gather 'round the tree and give someone the gift of a pap, birth control, or std testing. "Merry Christmas! Here's to another Herpes-free year! Fingers crossed!"

Truly, the gift that keeps on, um, giving. Happy Friday y'all.

Time Machine Tuesday

Yo. So today we're travelling back to the year 1979. It was a good year. The Seattle Supersonics (RIP!) won the NBA Championship, President Jimmy Carter was attacked by a swamp rabbit, and I was born. Woot woot.

It was also a great year for weird liquor, flying Toyotas, and gratuitous butt shots. Enjoy.


Speak into my good ear, Jaclyn. You're freakin' me out.



Whoa. Wonder how many Tercels they went through making that one.



God I hope I can write a jingle like this someday. Amazing.

Movie Trailer Monday

Okay, so here's a complicated request: go see this movie. Just don't go see it at a Cinemark Theatre.

Apparently the CEO of Cinemark donated 10K to the "Yes on Prop 8" campaign in California. In case you aren't aware, Prop 8 overturned the decision of the California Supreme Court to legalize gay marriage. So I find it interesting that Cinemark would show a film about one of the most pivotal figures in the gay civil rights movement. I guess we're good enough to give them our money. We just aren't good enough to get married.

At any rate, the film looks brilliant. Just maybe check out Laemmle's or something. : )

Read this book.

This is The Cheese Monkeys. The first novel by graphic designer Chip Kidd. Of course just calling him a graphic designer is a vast understatement as he pretty much redefined the art of book cover design. But that's neither here nor there.

The Cheese Monkeys should be required reading for anyone in the "commercial" arts. It tells the story of Happy, a graphic design student before they called it graphic design. It's sarcastic, hilarious, and absolutely true to the experience of art school. And it has several passages that, depending on the type of person you are, will either make you more proud than you've ever been to be in design or advertising, or it will make you so ashamed that you sell everything, move to Jupiter Hollow and can peaches for the rest of your life.

Me, I felt the former.

Even the design of the book is worth getting it for. I may be a lowly writer, but I am a type geek, and I love the way Kidd uses it.

I am currently reading his follow-up novel The Learners. Will report back on that once I'm finished.

In summation: The Cheese Monkeys. By Chip Kidd. Go get it.
That is all.

Sunday Night "Ewwww...."

I admit that I wouldn't want to be faced with this creative brief:
Write an ad about toilet paper getting stuck on your ass when you wipe. Oh and use cartoon bears.

Nonetheless, I cringe every time I see these commercials. It's bad enough we have to see these bears popping squats behind trees all the time. But dingleberries? And that little weight pulling wet toilet paper along the carpet? Eww! Not a visual I need, thanks.

Advertising Darwin Award of the Week

Okay. So I see an ad on TV for the "Safe Cut", a nifty package opener that gets you into those ridiculous thick plastic cases that things like Walkmans (yes, I said Walkman) come in. "You'll never struggle with opening a package again!" the ad promises. AWESOME. Sounds great. Except that at the end of the ad, they show a product shot, and I WISH I could find a picture of it, but they package it in the KIND OF RIDICULOUS IMPENETRABLE PLASTIC YOU REQUIRE A DAMN "SAFE CUT" TO OPEN.

A+ guys.

Keith Olbermann goes to bat for the human heart

Okay, so this doesn't have anything to do with advertising, branding or design. But it is pretty damn important.

One of the most moving editorial pieces I've ever seen.
Thank you Keith.

The secret to happiness is...

Okay. Let's get right into the best news I heard today as my clock-radio alarm roused me from dreams of alien invasion. Seriously. It was scary. I'll tell you about it another time. As I was saying...

THE STARBUCKS RED CUPS ARE BACK!!!!



This causes me more happiness than it should. It literally makes me giggle like a schoolgirl. Why? Because I am a victim of amazing branding and an irrational love of Eggnog Lattes. It's just not the holiday season without them. Let Christmas begin.