It’s that time of year when we’re all supposed to ‘get in the mood’ for the festive season. Although I’ve never really been quite sure what this ‘mood’ is that we should get into. So I’ve decided to take a break from the normal natural history/educational slant my postings take. This time I thought I’d highlight a few fun things I’ve come across in the world of advertising and other media…
Great Literacy Errors
This is a genuine advert from our local newspaper small ads section:
You’d think someone working in journalism would be able to get that one right? But curiously, I’ve shown this one to many people and they often don’t see the mistake (For those without a grown-up to help, there’s a ‘w’ missing).
Another one, this time from the local free paper, it irritates the hell out of me, it is bold and jumps out of the page at you, my eye is always drawn to it (so from one viewpoint the advert sort of ‘works’), and secondly it is so grammatically incorrect it is unbelievable.
It’s either ‘no call out charge’ or ‘ free call out’ it can’t be a combination of both you dolt. Almost as stupid as when people say ‘guesstimate… And what makes what this firm does so ideal for OAPs? Are all their repairs done in bifocal?
Weird Cat Person
Now, I know there are loads of people out there who think dressing their pets up in costumes is a good idea, and apparently the internet is full of sites that show such things. I know there are loads of people out there who like cats too, but think about this next time you’re stroking one: it’s just cleaned itself intimately with its tongue, then cleaned the rest of its fur, with it’s tongue… So this one from the local paper ‘Found‘ column intrigued me, it seems that not only are they dressing them up, but they’re letting them walk the streets unaccompanied too…
Feed your own birds
This Special Offer Voucher, from our local garden centre, for a free suet-cake for the birds, is one of those that really takes the biscuit (it’s the last line that does it for me):
I would like to point out the shoutingatseahorses does not endorse this garden centre, and that ‘other garden centres are available’
I saw a similar one many years ago for a ‘cat scratching post’ that included the disclaimer ‘kitten not included’.
I must say at this point that I wish sellers of lingerie would add a similar note along the lines of ‘model not included‘. If they did, I wouldn’t have such a large collection of the stuff I’ve bought over the years. I’m always massively disappointed when only the slightest amount of lacy material arrives in the post with no model inside…
Season’s Greetings
In view of a couple of shocks I’ve had lately, coupled with my normal lack of enthusiasm for this time of year, here’s an alternative greetings card/image:
And (Almost) Finally
WARNING. I’m going into borderline obscene and totally out of character territory now. I had the misfortune a while ago to see about a second of the awful BBC TV programme Autumnwatch, fronted by some of the most disagreeable and objectionable people to have walked the planet. A few moments later, it occurred to me that ‘Autumnwatch’ is an anagram that perfectly descwibes how I feel evwytime I see the main male pwesenter on my television, and that seems to be far too often these days: “Um, What A C*nt“.
BUT WAIT, Finally, something properly festive
To help you get over the shock of that, a link to a proper festive song. I’ve heard many versions of this over the years (including just two weeks ago at a Mostly Autumn concert), but this one, even with a slightly off-key note, is still far and away the best. No-one can or will top it. The effortless way in which it is performed never fails to impress me, 3.48 of anyone’s time well spent. Enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh3pFC65CnE
And on that note.
Until the next year…