When you drill down deep--real, real, deep--all you'll find is me clutching my weekly linklys.

Mind taking a look at all this stuff since you're already here? Will only take a minute.

CRUDE OIL

  • Clickhole.com. Infinitely clickable. Probably more interesting than any other clickbait site on the internet.

FOSSILS

What you'll be if you don't read this presentation by W+K's Martin Weigel. (via Sell! Sell!)


ROCKS AND MINERALS


Please use this song in a commercial. (via @Awoooooga)


Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin went to Russia. Shot a video for their song "Young Presidents."


Why is ketchup so hard to pour?


Smoking. Also hard.






This space intentionally left blank for that hamster eating a burrito video everyone has already seen. 

Weekly Linkly

Lots of stuff for you all this weekend so let's dispense with the chit chat and head straight to the links.

BY THE WORD

  • Writing Tips from George Tannenbaum. And good ones at that.

BY THE PICTURE


Harold Ramis' advice to filmmakers. (via @RobSchrab)


News report about Kenyan slang contains three languages. Puts US news to shame.


New Richmond Sausages ad from Saatchi London.


Most amazing instrument I've even seen.


Impressive security cam footage. 


Teaser for the upcoming Harmontown Documentary.

BY THE WAY
Thanks for stopping by. I mean I really, really enjoyed this. Kinda needed it honestly. Hope you'll call. Oh that? Yeah it happens from time to time. Well, bye I guess. Unless you want me to make you some food? You're okay? That's good. Should I call you an Uber? No. Alright, bye now.

The Lowest Common Denominator Isn't The Issue. The Issue is Us.

ALERT: Super Bowl reflection post below.

People complain that the majority of Super Bowl commercials are sub-par every year. In turn this gets blamed on the American Public or, as many others in the field like to call it, the lowest common denominator.

The problem is appealing to what we think is the lowest common denominator. Or thinking our ads have to be worse to appeal to all people*. They don't. But it does take a slightly different approach to make an ad that delights and sells when 100 million people are watching.

And it's not like there haven't been successful Super Bowl spots in the past. It wasn't long ago that Bud ruled the game with their frogs and wassup. It was just two years ago that Old Spice reigned supreme with The Man Your Man Could Smell Like (which actually ran before the game). Even VW's Little Vader was universally loved and slightly humorous (though the selling point was a little weak).

Contrast that with the "sophisticated" approach Bud Light Platinum took. Those spots were universally panned in polls and post-game commentary. They offered nothing to the audience and blended in with the blandervitisng we see every day. It was as though the creatives had never drank a beer in their lives (let alone a Platinum).

So while it's possible to make something that doesn't suck you have to understand where you're advertising. the point is to entertain groups of half-interested individuals. These people are cheering for a good ad. This is the one time a year they might actually care. It's not good to go in with the attitude that appealing to people sucks. That's something that should be celebrated.

It's easy to blame people when work doesn't go over well. They didn't get it, they just weren't smart enough, what does the public know? The issue is the public is our audience: including the lowest common denominator. An ad that doesn't work for them isn't really worth anything.

And if that doesn't make sense to marketers then the Lowest Common Denominator might be us.

*This is one point I disagree with George Tannenbaum on. For a balanced perspective check out his take on Super Bowl ads.

Getting Bit By The Book Bug.

I have often professed my love for books here. Literature, business books, short stories, and the like. But advertising books (including annuals) hold a special place in my heart.

So it came as a great surprise when I read this post by George Tannenbaum. The place I worked this summer (post forthcoming) everyone read books. When we weren't pouring our brains out onto paper we would grab any book sitting around and read it. That's one of the reasons I loved working there so much.

But apparently this is not the norm. Most people are not reading books about advertising on a regular basis. Sad. Because there are little nuggets of truth locked into those pages just waiting to inspire people.

The book I go back to time and time again is D&AD's "The Copy Book." I think it is tremendous and, as a writer, the best resource when I'm in need of a mentor. The people who provided their insights to that book are legends. Their campaigns make me drool in a mixture of awe, excitement, and. Maybe one day I'll be able to come up with something as brilliant as that*.

So for the past few weeks it has been my mission to introduce people in my advertising classes (and friends within shouting distance) to books and annuals. And when I open those pages and let people see the awe-inspiring work I see something beautiful.

Genuine excitment.

That twinkle in someone's eyes when you have opened up their world to something wonderful. I hear people ask the same questions I asked when I first starting reading these things. I see people get that feverish look on their faces like they need more.

The awesome thing about books is that insatiable thirst for knowledge they unlock. People think, "if this is out there, what else could be out there." And all it takes is something giving enough of a fuck to introduce people to these texts. So if you haven't been reading books like The Copy Book, Bill Bernbach's Book, Ally &Gagarno, Communication Arts Annuals, One Sow Annuals, pick one up and start exploring.

And if you own one share it with someone. The Book Bug is about the only virus you can feel good about sharing.

*then again, maybe not.
(image via the fantastic Sell! Sell! Blog, which you should also be reading)

Weekly Linkly (Labor Day Blowout Special)

We're selling links of all shapes and sizes! Drop on by today and buy, buy, BUY!

And we've got plenty of video too:


A London bus tour that "made London look cool like New York." (via)


 Laughs from the uber talented Everynone.


Show this to your friends when they say they don't understand why color grading matters.