When I moved to Indianapolis, I discovered something of whose existence I'd been hitherto unaware: commercials for farming stuff. Ads for seed and such from Monsanto or DeKalb just didn't have enough potential buyers in the broadcast markets of Atlanta or Knoxville.
I wonder if this video ad, via Borepatch, plays during halftime in the Icelandic Mixed Doubles Cod Juggling Championship?
Still, the book was better.
ReplyDeleteThe commercials for farming stuff... I'm in Georgia and on regular broadcast, that'd be a new one on me too. On satellite its another story. On RFD-TV there's commercials for everything related to animal or vegetable. On the Weather Channel, Case IH seems to be a pretty big sponsor. I've seen commercials for ATVs geared to farm/ranch use on entertainment channels. Same for vet supply products.
ReplyDeleteOn UP, they run Heartland... there's one break where I feel like it should be Vetricin or something, but they run ads for Western Sky Financial. I guess the Indians have a lot of money to buy ads and loan. Maybe they figure they'll win because the white man generally can't stay out of debt. Or maybe it's you women can't go a day without hitting the plastic. I don't know.
At the same time, starting during GW Bush's administration, I've been noticing ads from various firearms manufacturers on stations that have little to do with guns and hunting.
The ads that confuse me are the ones for Norfolk Southern. Do you really have to advertise freight train service?
ReplyDeleteMany of you may not be aware. But you HAVE to mix doubles to juggle cod.
ReplyDeleteBut I thought you gave a listen to NPR? Mosaic is one of their biggest um, "supporters", as they euphemistically call their advertisers.
ReplyDeleteBut being giant agribiz and on the hitlist of envirowhackos, I'm guessing they target that market for reasons other than actually selling their chemicals.
I gave a paper many moons ago here:
ReplyDeletehttp://mitags-pmi.org/
They had a number of simulators built on the same frame as the 747 pilots train but set up as a bridge on a container ship.
They ran a night approach to Rotterdam harbor. It was real enough to get people a bit sea sick.
Gerry
Imagine the shock moving from a farming community to Southern California. We went from seed and herbicides to cosmetic dentistry and fake titties.
ReplyDeleteThanks to DVR I rarely watch commercials.
ReplyDeleteI'm addicted to it but Ann Barnhardt has a rant that edges just enough into my personal Venn diagram to have me thinking about cutting it off: http://www.barnhardt.biz/2013/10/31/the-one-about-your-pinch-of-incense-to-al-gore-cable-satellite-fees/.
That almost $90 a month we send DirecTV would buy a lot of reloading supplies.
For more on ship collisions, a great read is John McPhee's "The Ships of Port Revel"
ReplyDeleteMustanger,
ReplyDeleteSee the adds on Dish network for the loans from Indian Nations. I love the line, "Sure it's expensive..."
They charge something like 120%!!!!!!!!!!!! interest. Legal loan sharking...
Anonymous 7:27 a.m. -- Great comment, but have you checked the price of the book?
ReplyDeleteA quick review of situational awareness and delegating responsibility would do the same thing for less money .
ReplyDeleteCurrently in Duluth/Superior- there's commercials for ice augers. "Drill holes in the lake faster than Brand X!"
ReplyDeleteFirst time I saw a commercial for tractors was when I was stationed at NAS Lemoore in CA's central valley. Later some farms introduced a new raisin drying tray which was lighter than the old model and also held the fruit above water in case of a sudden rainfall.
ReplyDeleteI think if the President had been assassinated that week we wouldn't have known until the interest in the new tray died down.
"Great comment, but have you checked the price of the book?"
ReplyDeleteHoly SHIT! I should sell mine!
That OOD is an idiot. First thing I learned is that all the other ships are treacherous death dealers that want to cut you in half, and to never let them out of your sight.
ReplyDeleteNJT:
ReplyDeleteyep, always assume the other vessel has a bridge crew paying less attention to affairs than yours. Hell, assume there is NO ONE on their bridge, and act accordingly. Arguing right-of-way with ships is really stupid. Worry about that after the fact.