Insights

Woody Allen’s Take On Living Backwards

Peter · December 4, 2015 · 2 Comments

Woody Allen’s Ultimate Happy Ending

In honor of Woody’s 80th birthday, I offer his take on life.

“In my next life I want to live my life backwards. You start out dead and get that out of the way. Then you wake up in an old people’s home feeling better every day. You get kicked out for being too healthy, go collect your pension, and then when you start work, you get a gold watch and a party on your first day. You work for 40 years until you’re young enough to enjoy your retirement. You party, drink alcohol, and are generally promiscuous, then you are ready for high school. You then go to primary school, you become a kid, you play. You have no responsibilities, you become a baby until you are born. And then you spend your last 9 months floating in luxurious spa-like conditions with central heating and room service on tap, larger quarters every day and then Voila!

You finish off as an orgasm!”

(Photo by Irving Penn)

Side Note

I am a New Yorker who grew up on the upper west side. A Jewish New Yorker to be exact. One of my specialities was explaining Woody’s movie schticks to my parochial school girl friends and two mid-western wives.

Ad Agency Holiday Cards Cheerful?

Peter · December 3, 2015 · 2 Comments

What Is Really Up With Ad Agency Holiday Cards, Etc?

A Tweet from ADWEAK I just had to echo… Hey, I don’t think that overdoing the advertising agency “creative” holiday message (cute cards, emails, videos) is warranted, necessary, distinctive or winnable. Did I say distinctive? How could it be when every agency tries to look cool in this same-time space? Yeah, I know, I’m being grinch-like. But, just sayin.

My advice. Wish your world a Happy New Year. According to the 2014 Advertising Age Assesment of Advertising Agency Self Promotional Stuff… 87% of advertising agencies spend over 60 hours of staff time doing Christmas greetings but only 12% of agencies do New Year’s greetings.

B.S. – Millennials Want Mobile Video Ads To Be On Every Device

Peter · November 23, 2015 · Leave a Comment

A Headline From ADWEEK: “Millennials Want Mobile Video Ads to Be Short and on Every Device”

I know it’s Thanksgiving week and I should be in the spirit. But, I saw this headline and could only laugh at the insanity. The insanity of saying, get this…

Millennials Want Mobile Video Ads to Be Short and on Every Device

The key insane word is WANT. Millenials do not want “Mobile Video Ads to Be Short and on Every Device.” Why does ADWEEK perpetuate this B.S. (like who wants ads all over the place?) I don’t, you don’t and Millenials don’t. Headline copy like this does a major disservice to the advertising industry. I’ve written about the insanity of advertising ubiquity here.

OK, last point. The article that follows this headline does not even support the headline’s point. Read the article by Yahoos Andrew Snyder here. The article is about what works not what is wanted.

Happy Thanksgiving. I know you want that!

How John Oliver Became One Of The Few Fantasy Sports Winners

Peter · November 16, 2015 · Leave a Comment

Fantasy Sports and John Oliver’s Daily Fantasy Sports Commercial: Yes You Can Be A Winner

You know fantasy sports is gambling and that’s why it’s actually illegal, for really stupid bored people who like to lose (and gamble), is addictive and has gotten virtually every major media and sports company to invest. I’d say ,”go figure” but, ya know, it’s just capitalism, baby.

Oh, it also makes a bit of cash – but not, apparently for 90+% of the players. But, you knew that.

That said. watch this John Oliver TV commercial and LAUGH.

Weekend Musica – Aterciopelados

Peter · November 6, 2015 · Leave a Comment

Aterciopelados Video To Start Up Your Weekend

So like I’m starting to re-study Spanish. Heading to Sayulita for XMAS with the family and moving to Mexico in 2016. Why not? I can work from anywhere and the time zone is right on.

From Wiki-Landia:

Aterciopelados (English: The Velvety Ones), also referred to as Los Aterciopelados on some albums and other promotional materials, are a rock band from Colombia. Led by Andrea Echeverri and Héctor Buitrago, they have been one of the first rock bands from Colombia to gain international notice and they are among the country’s top groups. Their music fuses rock with a variety of Colombian and Latin American musical traditions. Time magazine wrote that “Aterciopelados’s true skill lies in its ability to take north-of-the-border musical styles…and breathe new life into them, all while giving them a distinctly Colombian sheen.”

I say: Digo, visita este video y cavar a su sonido. Perfecto para un fin de semana de otoño.