This just isn’t right, not at any time or circumstance. Yet, these witty ad-wizards have decided that sexism sells and are trying to promote a translation device that allows you, as demonstrated, to creep on non-English speakers. Awesome. Cringe worthy to say the least.Filed under: Feminism, Media Tagged: Advertising, Creepers, Feminism, Oh those normative […]
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Scripturient: The Gauche in the Machine
Rudibus ex machina: criticizing Collingwood’s latest newsletter feels a bit like punching a puppy. Or commenting on the sloppy grammar of local bloggers. Both are far too easy, like catching fish in a barrel, and I feel guilty when I even think of doing it. But since your tax dollars
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: This seems pertinent
In light of the Cons’ latest misleading ads, let’s take a quick stroll through the offence provisions of the Canada Elections Act: 480.1 Every person is guilty of an offence who, with intent to mislead, falsely represents themselves to be, or causes anyone to falsely represent themselves to be,(a) the
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: the doubt factory, a young-adult thriller by paolo bacigalupi
A thriller about public relations? And for teens? It sounds improbable, and The Doubt Factory by Paolo Bacigalupi is an improbably terrific book. Marrying a somersaulting plot with heart-pounding suspense to an unabashed political agenda and a hot love story, Bacigalupi has delivered a stunning youth read. On the political front,
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Attack and response
Earlier this week, Andrew Coyne mused on Twitter about how parties seek to make hay out of attacks by their opponents, with particular emphasis on the Libs’ response to PC and Con attacks on their leaders in 1993 and 2004. But I’d think it’s worth noting some distinctions between then
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: We swim in patriarchal soup
Snapped at a red light on the way home last week This ad only makes sense in the presence of the following cultural subtext: Women’s anger is not valid in the same way that full adult humans’ (i.e. men’s) anger is valid. You don’t need to get to the root
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On needless machinery
Those of us who have seen the Libs focus much of this year on criticizing the Cons’ partisan advertising might be rather surprised to learn they don’t think there’s any room to cut or redirect any current federal spending, and in fact consider it offensive that anybody might suggest such
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On messaging tests
Following up on yesterday’s post, I’ll make clear that nobody should hold any illusions that the NDP’s opponents will abandon their own efforts to pursue seats simply because the NDP holds a strong position for the moment. And on that front, Bob Hepburn floats a few trial balloons as to
Continue readingA BCer in Toronto: Election ad review: Ready (and repeating vs busting the narrative)
After months of the Conservatives carpet-bombing the air waves with an ad declaring Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau just not ready, the Liberals finally responded with an ad of their own yesterday: Ready. While many initially dismissed the Conservative ad as lame and ineffective (as they have every ad they’ve released
Continue readingA BCer in Ottawa: Election ad review: Ready (and repeating vs busting the narrative)
After months of the Conservatives carpet-bombing the air waves with an ad declaring Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau just not ready, the Liberals finally responded with an ad of their own yesterday: Ready.While many initially dismissed the Conservative ad…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On teasers
Yes, this will do nicely as the trailer for the long-awaited film The Fall of the Harper Conservatives: But let’s make sure people know where to find the full screenplay. (And putting some more of it in front of the camera may not hurt as we approach the election campaign
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: Purity Factories’ advertising no treat at all #nlpoli
Venerable local food manufacturer Purity Factories has a new advertising campaign featuring its delicious cream crackers. On a billboard in the east end of St. John’s, the line in big letters opposite a shot of the product says “not gluten free.” The tag below it right next to the company
Continue readingLeft Over: Adblock is Adhoc Answer to the Ugly Ad Dilemma
AdBlock Plus mobile browser could devastate publishers About 215 million people will use ad block services on their computers by June, company estimates CBC News Posted: May 25, 2015 5:00 AM ET Last Updated: May 25, 2015 5:17 AM ET Twenty-four hours after Ad Block Plus launched its Android browser
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – Joseph Stiglitz laments the corporate takeover of policy-making processes, including by imposing trade rules which impede democratic decision-making: The real intent of [investor protection] provisions is to impede health, environmental, safety, and, yes, even financial regulations meant to protect America’s own economy
Continue readingScripturient: Blog & Commentary: Bad Designs
I’m not a graphic designer. I was not formally educated in that art. However, over the years, my jobs in editing and writing for books, newspapers, magazines and publishers have required me to learn the rudiments of layout, typography and design. I am the first to admit my design talent
Continue readingRob Maguire: I’m teaching copywriting at UBC
This week I begin teaching a UBC Continuing Studies course on copywriting. While I’ve given plenty of workshops and conference presentations, I’m very much looking forward to working with the same group of students for a full two months. After all, the enjoyment I get from teaching communications skills is
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Saturday Morning Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading. – Lana Payne writes that by finally recognizing the unfairness and ineffectiveness of Alberta’s regressive tax system, Jim Prentice may be starting a needed national debate: Alberta Premier Jim Prentice talks up taxes for individuals including a sales tax (Alberta is the only province
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: Does YOUR Favorite Corporate Exploit Tragedy for Sales?
It’s not like capitalists deserve your pity when they accidentally offend people while they try to embrace their communities to build spirit. And profit. It is partly because corporations are pretend human beings, with no emotions, no social conscience [beyond PR gains] and no capacity for human empathy, which is
Continue readingScripturient: Blog & Commentary: Facebook, Likes and Big Data
I suppose you could call it ironic. There was a story from a ‘friend’ on my Facebook news feed today called “Quitting the Like” all about escaping Facebook’s data collection processes by simply not “liking” items or comments you see. Right below this ostensibly anti-Facebook story were three related links
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Here, on how we’ll soon be seeing both federal and provincial governments alike try to block out their real history with glossy ad campaigns – and why we shouldn’t let them get away with the plan. For further reading…– Torstar reported here on the Cons’ use of public money to
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