Hey, It Could Happen

The World Health Organization said today that 2 billion people could get the swine flu.Here are some other things that could happen:Chickens could learn how to yodelCool Ranch Doritos could be dried-up aliens from another galaxyWolf Blitzer could dance the tango nakedAutomobiles could run on pretzelsThe World Health Organization could be clueless hysterical bureaucrats who don't know when to shut

Too Big For Our Own Good

Here at The Ad Contrarian global headquarters, we don't know what to make of this.Yesterday we were ranked #145 in the Ad Age Power 150 marketing blogs listings. We're used to hovering around #637 or something.Part of the fun of being a contrarian is being on the outside and throwing rocks through the window. But when you're in the "Power 150" do you lose your outsider status? Do you compromise

Announcing The First Ever Online Advertising Science Fair

Are you sick to death of bullshit masquerading as facts?Are you tired of smarmy-young-things and their bounty of hyperbolic new-age marketing jive?Then you, my friend, are ready for First Ever Online Advertising Science Fair.Here's the deal.The Editorial Board of The Ad Contrarian is looking for a few good facts. Not opinions, not bullshit, facts about contemporary advertising and marketing that

Didn't Take Long

Yesterday I wrote about 3 lines of nonsense we would hear this week from people trying to cover the asses over the imaginary swine flu "crisis." The first was this:"Now is not the time to get complacent." Sure enough, from the AP:"Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told reporters Monday that now is not the time to rest..."

You Just Don't Get It, Do You?

From TVWeek:"Although research shows viewers are spending more time watching TV and surfing the Web, many marketers are reluctant to integrate their traditional and online efforts. Clients often don't fully understand the digital world..."Let's clear something up here.Simply because a client is reluctant to do an online campaign doesn't necessarily mean she doesn't "fully understand the digital

Clueless And Cluelesser

Last week, 800 people worldwide caught a cold and you'd have thought the freaking bubonic plague was sweeping the planet.The brilliant and sensible readers of TAC, however, called bullshit on the lurid coverage of swine flu right at the beginning of all the hysteria.This week look for the media to start covering their asses. There will be three major lines of nonsense:1. "Now is not the time to

Hysteria Update

World Health Organization, yesterday: "All of humanity under threat."LA Times, yesterday: "In fact, the current outbreak of the H1N1 virus...may not even do as much damage as the run-of-the-mill flu outbreaks that occur each winter without much fanfare."Huh?:"Authorities in Mexico urged people to avoid hospitals unless they had a medical emergency, since hospitals are centers of infection." Huh?