I realise this is a pretty silly thing to get irritated by - but it's really annoyed me!!
The ASA have considered the verbal content of an advert promoting Maltesers and have found them to be in breach of advertising rules pertaining to low energy claims on products.
The advert involved a conversation between two supposd employees in an office whereupon one hands the other a single Malteser and comments that, in itself, it contains less than 11 calories.
The ASA thought this claim insinuated a healthy or 'low energy' connotation and broke advertising rules. What?! Has the world gone mad??! A statement of FACT was made. Do the public (and their apparent inherent stupidity) need protecting from facts in adverts?! Absolutely ludicrous!
It must have been a quiet year at the ASA.
Friday 17 October 2008
Obama v McCain
It was interesting, last night, to watch the BBC Newsnight special on the final televised debate between the two presidential candidates in the US election.
From early on in the race, I've liked Barak Obama. He's fresh, sharp and seemingly astute. As a stark contrast, in last night's debate, John McCain presented himself and his ideas really poorly - he looked frail, bumbled through ideas and proposals, flapped in futile efforts to retort criticisms levelled by his running 'mate', and made repetetive, petty jibes at Obama.
Obama was unphased. He looked confident, presented his ideas and arguments convincingly and succinctly.
I truly hope the right result prevails. I have two major concerns though. Firstly, I hope that enough intelligent Americans interpret the campaign's manifestos accurately and make the right choice. That might sound patronising, but a majority* voted in George 'Dubya' Bush (twice?!) and many of them supported his subsequent 8 years work! It's worrying to consider where the mindset is of those millions of voters..
Secondly, if Obama does win the race, I fear for his safety. In a nation of gun-toters (where high school shootings have become historical recurrences rather than isolated exceptions) it is surely vexing to contemplate the security and personal vulnerability of a prominent and powerful political incumbant of a distinct racial constitution.
I think (*read: hope) that sense will prevail and Obama will ultimately succeed. It's going to make interesting viewing/news in the meantime.
* Majority - in terms of the numbers required to win; assuming they were obtained legitimately!
From early on in the race, I've liked Barak Obama. He's fresh, sharp and seemingly astute. As a stark contrast, in last night's debate, John McCain presented himself and his ideas really poorly - he looked frail, bumbled through ideas and proposals, flapped in futile efforts to retort criticisms levelled by his running 'mate', and made repetetive, petty jibes at Obama.
Obama was unphased. He looked confident, presented his ideas and arguments convincingly and succinctly.
I truly hope the right result prevails. I have two major concerns though. Firstly, I hope that enough intelligent Americans interpret the campaign's manifestos accurately and make the right choice. That might sound patronising, but a majority* voted in George 'Dubya' Bush (twice?!) and many of them supported his subsequent 8 years work! It's worrying to consider where the mindset is of those millions of voters..
Secondly, if Obama does win the race, I fear for his safety. In a nation of gun-toters (where high school shootings have become historical recurrences rather than isolated exceptions) it is surely vexing to contemplate the security and personal vulnerability of a prominent and powerful political incumbant of a distinct racial constitution.
I think (*read: hope) that sense will prevail and Obama will ultimately succeed. It's going to make interesting viewing/news in the meantime.
* Majority - in terms of the numbers required to win; assuming they were obtained legitimately!
Wednesday 15 October 2008
Keith
I watched a film today called Keith.
I didn't know what to expect as I didn't know the plot or any of the actors so it was on a complete whim.
It turned out that I really enjoyed it. It focussed on the bits so many mainstream hollywood high school films don't and ignored the stuff those films are [unfortunately] filled with to make their 1h35m quota!..
It didn't try to force the emotional premise upon you; rather it let you interpret what you were watching. The lead role of Keith was handled brilliantly [did someone say DiCaprio in Basketball Diaries?].
If you get the chance, watch it. 7.5/10
I didn't know what to expect as I didn't know the plot or any of the actors so it was on a complete whim.
It turned out that I really enjoyed it. It focussed on the bits so many mainstream hollywood high school films don't and ignored the stuff those films are [unfortunately] filled with to make their 1h35m quota!..
It didn't try to force the emotional premise upon you; rather it let you interpret what you were watching. The lead role of Keith was handled brilliantly [did someone say DiCaprio in Basketball Diaries?].
If you get the chance, watch it. 7.5/10
Spiders..
I'm sat in my office looking out at the rain showering down over the garden. Gracing a corner of the widow through which I look is a spider, sitting happily in his web.
Why are spiders so horrible? I absolutely hate them: the way they look, the way they move, the way they dispatch their prey, everything! I realise arachnophobia is a quite common trait in people but why? Why are so many people fearful of spiders compared to any one of a number of other insects, bugs, creatures or animals?
Why do I loathe and fear spiders so much but have absolutely no animosity towards craneflies? I must surely blame direct nurtural influences from my immediate family. It just seems peculiar that I can be 'made' to fear spiders but not, say, heights?
Either way - spiders.. ugh!
Why are spiders so horrible? I absolutely hate them: the way they look, the way they move, the way they dispatch their prey, everything! I realise arachnophobia is a quite common trait in people but why? Why are so many people fearful of spiders compared to any one of a number of other insects, bugs, creatures or animals?
Why do I loathe and fear spiders so much but have absolutely no animosity towards craneflies? I must surely blame direct nurtural influences from my immediate family. It just seems peculiar that I can be 'made' to fear spiders but not, say, heights?
Either way - spiders.. ugh!
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