Songs in Commercials

Category : Music, Randomness

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There are currently two car commercials getting a lot of play that use clips of songs. One affect me positively and one negatively.

On the negative side is the “Saved by Zero” Toyota commercial using a cover version of a song by The Fixx. I vaguely remember the song, but I’ve read some comments saying it wasn’t a good song when it was new, why would anyone bring it back. The commercials seriously make me feel negatively toward the Toyota brand. There are even “support” groups on sites like Facebook dedicated to those who are affected by the spot.

‘Saved by Zero’ Makes Viewers into Victims on Adrants

On the positive side is the Chrysler commercial featuring Soul Coughing’s “Super Bon Bon”. I personally love the band and the song, and while I won’t rush out and buy the gas guzzling luxury car they are pitching, I at least have a positive feeling about the Chrysler brand. Acckkk! Sorry…they just played the “Saved by Zero” commercial.

Another song I like, “Every day is like Sunday” by Morrissey, is being used for promoting the NFL. It’s ironic that a song that says “Come, Armegeddon, come” and “come, come nuclear bomb” is meant to instill a warm feeling towards the NFL Network. The hook makes sense, of course, every day can be like Sunday when you have the NFL Network, but it’s still somewhat ironic. I like Morrissey and football, but I never though the two things would be intertwined.

I guess the way I feel about some of the music I grew up liking being used in commercials is the same thing fans of Led Zeppelin, The Eagles and The Beatles have gone through when hearing the music that affected their lives used to pitch cars or items at Target.

Letter to my ISP

2

Category : Tech

I just want to voice my opinion regarding the recent letter I received regarding the download caps put in place. I’m not sure if this was a Click! Network decision or Advanced Stream, but I think it is pathetic attempt at trying to keep users from streaming content that the cable companies are deluded enough to think will interfere with normal television viewership. I think that NBC’s recent success using their web site to supplement their coverage of the Olympics proved that these forms media can be more symbiotic than parasitic.

Also, since there is a specific cap being put into place, there should be a way to monitor usage like what can be done with cell phone plans. That way if someone does go over their limit, they had been given an opportunity for warning before having service disrupted. There should also be a tier system for those who think they might actually go over the imposed limits. I do web development and my wife is a graphic designer. We both work at home on occasion and need to send and receive files (sometimes very large), so having our internet service disrupted could be a major inconvenience. Like a lot of pseudo-monopoly industries like the music labels, the cable companies seem to be extremely out of touch with how people use the Internet. I know I am often on the web WHILE the TV is on. I pay for both services, I should be able to use both of them.

Moustache Revival Party

Category : Me, tacoma




Moustache Revival

Originally uploaded by Rusty George

We had a great time at the Moustache Revival Party held by Rusty George Creative and The Harmon Hub on September 30th. There was a band, Nine Pound Hammer, and a very nice turnout at the event. All proceeds went to the American Cancer Society.

I started growing the ‘stache about three weeks prior to the party, when I first saw a flyer at Satellite Coffee. Actually, I grew a goatee and shaved immediately before heading to the Stadium District of Tacoma for the party. I chose the “horseshoe” from one of the links provided on the party web site. I’m glad I did because it one me a fantastic trophy for “Synchronized Staching”. My brother-in-stache Wes(?) connected in time to form a syncronized staching team, and were declared the winners by crowd applause.

First, I’d like to thank my parents, who gave me the tools I needed to accomplish my stache-growing goal. I want to thank my wife, Dianna, for dealing with the stacheburn these last couple of weeks.