Category Archives: TV Advertisements

Nullifying Advertising

Posted in Advertising, Priorities, TV Advertisements by

It’s crazy nuts. Big corporations, mostly restaurants spend fortunes on advertising to draw customers in. Then they let their staff stand around and chat while we, the hungry customers wait.

I know it happens because I have seen it. I don’t expect to be treated as royalty, but when I stand and wait a full 3 or 4 minutes and watch, it does make me suspect they’d just as soon I visit some other establishment.

In one case, I waited five minutes for the food and another five minutes for the drinks. Still trying to figure out that one. Then there’s the nice big restaurant (used to be my favorite). I waited close to 1/2 an hour for the food. Then, twice I asked for a knife and fork. The nice hot food was lukewarm by the time I was able begin eating.

Why do they do things like that. How long does it take to draw 2 drinks. Why should it take 30 minutes to fetch forks and knives. I was even willing to give the waitress a break. If she’d have gotten me something to eat with right away, I would have ignored it. However, the wife and I had to remind her twice and it would have been nice to have a good hot meal. I mean the cook did make it.

There are dozens of times this sort of thing happened. I don’t wonder why the employees act this way. Given the chance most employees have a tendency to be slack. My question is, why do the employees think they can get away with it. I suspect the managers are sending the wrong signals.

The restaurants have a lot of competition. They ought not treat customers like that. It sort of nullifies all their expensive ads. I mean, do we believe our eyes or the ads?

Something New… For Me

Posted in Advertising, Cable TV, Compromise, TV Advertisements by

I was under the wrong assumption that all TV stations transmitted 1080 video on all channels. It’s simply not so. Most of the main channels are 1080, or at least 720. However most of the others are, at most 720 and even 480.

On my little 30 inch screen it’s difficult to see the difference. Naturally, old reruns, especially b&w don’t fill the screen. There is generally a few inches of blank space on each side of the image.

Apparently, the stations transmit the information and my TV displays it at the bottom of the screen 4 or 5 seconds after changing channels. On the other hand, the cable hid it from me all these years.

So, near as I can tell, I should have saved the money and bought a 720 TV. As I said, can’t tell the difference. More over, I don’t have it on 1080 channels that much. Most of the time I’m looking at 720. Right now, I’m on 480 and it looks just fine.

By the way, does anyone know where I can buy a copy of that image of the valley they show to sell that noise for sleeping. Don’t have any use for noise but I’d really like a copy of that winter evening scene of snow covered mountains with the road going between them. Wonder what they might charge me for a 1080i copy.

Who knows? Maybe, perhaps, conceivably others would like a copy or two of that image.

A Word of Advice for All Advertisers

Posted in Advertising, Deceit, experience, Lawyers and Representation, Our Legal Systems, Over Advertising, TV Advertisements by

I know. I have no degree in advertising. I have no degree in higher learning at all. However, I do have eyes in my head and I have likely a little better mind for reasoning than most. That is to say, I can observe and draw reasonably sound conclusions.

Now, let’s say I’m watching a TV show and one of those irritating, highly over repeated ads come on. You know the ones. The ones by the lawyers seeking their 40% for legal fees; the ones advertising for Medicare part C; etc, etc and so forth.

Instead of leaving the room to make a sandwich, I change the channel to avoid the obnoxious blather. Then, no matter the reason, I don’t change the channel back. Maybe I forget. Perhaps I decide I like what’s on the other channel. I don’t know. Maybe the remote breaks or gets lost.

Your ad, which is immediately after the repetitive gibberish is not watched…the one for which you paid good money. The money, goes down the tubes, never to even be seen again. I imagine the ad agency as well as those writing the check don’t like like my little story.

Based on the above, it would seem to me that advertisers would not want to pay prime prices for time following “such fantastic works of art.”

Odd. While watching TV just now, one of those irritants came on. I’m not sure I’ll change it back. I sort of like this program better.

I mean, there are irritating commercials. Then, there are just irritating blabbing, if you get my point. I mean, I do believe we are all now well educated on bad water at Lejeune and the benefits of part c Medicare.

For Those Interested

Posted in Advertising, Computers, TV Advertisements by

About 5 or 6 months ago, I bought an Epson ET 2750 (I believe they call them Ecco Tech). It printed very nice. Then, about a week later, I tried to print something with it and I first had to clean the jets.

After a while, realized it was going to be a common problem. I realized, if I didn’t print daily, it was going to need cleaning before using it.

Frequently, it discouraged my using it because I knew I would first need to to wait for it to finish cleaning itself. This was made all the more frustrating as sometimes it needed 2 or even 3 cleanings.

At any rate, I made the switch back to laser. It’s more expensive and they use more power, but they work, even when there are a few weeks between uses.

Then too, the Epson always concerned me. Would the cleaning continue to work or would I have to get another printer anyway?

I guess that will teach me to believe TV ads, even the ones with famous basketball players.

As an aside, maybe Epson should have the things clean themselves every 12 hours, whether it’s used or not. Just a thought.

Medicare Season

Posted in Advertising, Deceit, TV Advertisements by

Medicare season is over, I think. During certain times, people on Medicare can make changes. Apparently, every insurance company in the states knows that. Also, they apparently know those who are on Medicare. I generally get a phone call every other day, sometimes two in one day. They all want to tell me how good their system is compared the rest. Sometimes, they don’t do this so well. For them, English is obviously their second or maybe third language.

I would hope no one in their right mind would discuss their medicare with someone who barely understands English. The other day, I had some sinus problems so I took some antihistamines, put my phone on the charger and went to sleep. I was just about dreaming really nice dreams when my phone started making noises. I jumped up, ran to the other room, picked up the phone and said, “Hello.” Afterward, a woman started her spill about her Medicare system. If you think I kept my cool after that, you don’t know me. Then I spent the next half hour going back to sleep. By the way, dreams don’t work like video machines. Not only was I not able to pick up where I left off, I had no dreams at all.

The irritating thing is, I pay for my phone. The advertisers don’t pay one dime to use my phone and yet they get full use of it. To be sure they advertise about their wonderful plans on TV. Through November and half way through December, all station breaks have Medicare ads, sometimes two. On occasions, I’ve seen the same ad twice in a row. Well, at least that is on them. They pay the bill, every bit of it. Do they help me pay for my phone? Forget it.

Then, of course there are the flyers that come in the mail. It ought to be illegal to make a flyer look like official mail. I have to scrutinize each and every one before I toss it. I have a fear the one I toss just might be real. That’s just not right. They do it on purpose. Everyone of the flyers look official as can be. If I were to respond to one, I would not chose any of those who are trying to deceive me.

I think maybe that I will put a special ring on my cell phone for those I want to speak to. The rest can just sit there and let it ring. After a while they just might get the hint. But then I am something of a realist. I’m not holding out much hope.

Egos

Posted in Abuse of Power, Advertising, Communism, Controllers, Deceit, Fantasy, Food, Important things, TV Advertisements by

The pro basketball players decided to go on strike, I’m not truly sure why. For that matter, I’m not sure they know why. The pro baseball players have decided not to play. The pro football players have decided to take a knee during The National Anthem.

They all make one mistake. They seem to think they are important. Because they draw a big salary and millions of people watch them, they seem to think they contribute something to society.

They all have big egos because people seek their autograph and wear their shoes. Men fight over the fowl ball hit by one of them. Yet, truth be told, if they all did absolutely nothing for the rest of their lives, the world would not lose a thing.

To be sure, those businesses around the stadiums would suffer. Those who sell the souvenirs would suffer for a while. TV and radio stations would have to find something else to air, but in the end, not one of them would truly be missed.

The actors, directors and producers of Hollywood fame also have the big egos. They think that what they do and what they produce is a necessity of life. The truth of the matter is that not one of them produced a grain of food. Not one of them makes an air-conditioner or automobile.

They all speak to the public as if they know something. However, most actors know nothing more than what is put in their mouth by screenwriters. None of them produce anything more than fantasies. If they all sat down and twiddled their thumbs, the world would be just fine. We would be forced to find something else for entertainment. We might actually play our own games. Some of us might turn to reading books. However, our world, our country and each municipality would be just fine without them all.

So. I ask, just what makes them think they are so important? Is there anything you can put your finger on that they contribute to solve the world’s problems. Why do they think the world spins around them. What makes them think that the world would fall apart without them.

To some degree, the networks are at fault. They pay the teams fortunes to let them air their games. As an aside they advertise the games. They advertise the teams and they imply the importance of the superstar. They get us all involved in points per game, completed passes, and home-runs.

When all is said and done, or, as they really like to say nowadays, “at the end of the day,” none of it matters. It is a fact that they would rather keep quiet. They don’t want us to know how unimportant they are. They want us to believe the world of economics would implode without the all important games.

Just because a man can throw a ball through a hoop, that doesn’t make him one bit smarter. When one of those big famous characters says something, remember, most of them never worked a day in the real world. Some played games for a living. Some pretended to be other people for a living. S were actually kings and queens… in movies. Some have nothing else on their mind other than a little round ball, or a big one. Most of them know nothing else. They have trained all their lives to be able to throw, hit, catch or kick the things. (I’m sure I must have left something out, but you get the idea.)

So, when one of them decides to go on strike, at the end of the day, guess what. I don’t care. It causes me no pain. If the whole bunch never returned to play a game or make a movie, it would mean nothing to me. Baseball, basketball and football are forms of entertainment. Movies, TV shows and stage plays are nothing. I don’t need any of it and neither do you. Don’t let them convince you otherwise.

More important, don’t let them convince you that they are smarter just because they wear a jersey. Don’t let them convince you that they know what they are talking about because they can memorize a script. Not one of them has the ability to put a roof over your family. Not one of them can produce an once of food for you. All their work is less important than the water you drink or the air you breath.

And, by the way, the air you breath is free, at least for now.

The Admiral Knows

Posted in Abuse of Power, Deceit, Dummycrats, Truth, TV Advertisements, Uncategorized by

A number of years ago, I saw commercial on TV.  I only saw it once.  Maybe they received some flack over it.  On the other hand, maybe someone realized how ridiculous it was.

A retired admiral said that he knew what it was like to be in the military and spend long periods of separation from families.  (sorry, I don’t recall the exact words.  I’m sure you get the idea.)

At any rate, it is one of the biggest mistakes a leader can make.  When I went in the Marine Corps, I went in as a private.  I did not get my first stripe for months.  When that Admiral went in the Navy, my best guess is that he went in as an ensign.  If he was a pilot, he likely never stepped aboard a ship before getting his first promotion.

Guess what?  It is not the same.  Disregarding the difference in service, an O-1s and O-2s are officers.  Officers, regardless of service they never undergo the true riggers of us who went in as E-1s.  I would expect that it is even more true in the Navy.  I would expect that that admiral never knew what it was like to live like an enlisted man on a destroyer… or a sub.  My guess is that his first assignment was on an aircraft carrier, though I don’t know.  It just is that most admirals get their start as pilots.  Few pilots get orders to destroyers or cruisers.

For him to say he knew what it was like for the enlisted men is a bold-faced lie and is very inconsiderate especially if he was unaware of his error.  He owes us all an apology, or at least the enlisted men in the Navy.

What’s more, I know he just lost the respect of most enlisted in all services.  I have heard others make such speeches.  When I hear them, it is rare I believe them, especially an officer.

When I went over to Vietnam, I was assigned an 8 by 8 foot space to live in and, compared to those in the infantry, I had it good.  If that admiral ever went to Vietnam, I wonder just how rough he had it.

Oh, and by the way, I wonder just how many ports of call he had while he was on duty in Nam.  There are a few Navy officers that fought on land during the Vietnam war, but even they had it better than the enlisted that they commanded.

I get it.  It is a fact of military life.  R.H.I.P.  (Rank Has Its Privileges.)  However, don’t ever try to tell me you had it as bad as I did.  Don’t tell me you had to serve on mess duty.  Don’t tell me you had to walk a post in the rain after little or no sleep.  That sort of thing just doesn’t happen to officers.  It is the sort of thing I would expect a dummycrat to say.

Outside Voter Influence

Posted in Abuse of Power, Alabama senate vote, Christian values, Communism, Communist Takover, Deceit, Immigration, Important things, Lawyers and Representation, News Anchors, Politcal Opinion, teriffs, TV Advertisements by

The Dems are all in an uproar over the Russians trying to influence our election.  First, it’s not new.  It is an effort that started with Stalin.

Second, they  are not the only ones.  The Chinese raised tariffs aimed at farmers that voted for Trump.  They haven’t said as much, but it is sort of obvious.  The Mexicans have been trying to retake the southwest every since the Alamo.  Moreover, it is no secret.  They said it publicly.

Actually, it’s not just the outside influence.  The Dems have been the main cheering section for first the Soviets, and now the Chinese.  They are helping the Mexicans every day and they don’t seem to care who knows it.

Those who call themselves journalists are right in there helping any foreigner they can find who will weaken the Republicans, even if it causes harm to the US.  They don’t much care what country they come from.

Personally, I believe it should be a felony to accept money from outside the United States in any election, I don’t care what country it comes from.  If it is proved beyond a reasonable doubt, those using the funds should be thrown in prison and he should be removed from office.

I only wished it could be so for funds coming from other states as well.  I suspect that if our founding fathers foresaw such a possibility, they would have tried to put something in the constitution to disallow it.  After all, whey should multi-millionaires in New York or California have anything to say about what goes on in Alabama or Arkansas.  People in their own state ought to have their own say  It is sort of the reason they included the Tenth Amendment.

Many years ago, the Mississippi Assembly decided to make it legal to have gambling casinos.  There was one requirement.  They had to get the permission of the county by popular vote.  Twice, Desoto County voted it down.

There was, to say the least, a big battle that ensued prior to each vote.  Millions of dollars came in from out of state, mostly from Memphis.  (Now I ask you, is it right for people who live in Memphis to decide gambling in Desoto County?)  Some came from New York and some from other places.

Memphis, by default had the big guns in advertising.  They had three TV stations and I have no idea how many radio stations that broadcast into Desoto county.  Much of it was straight forward advertising, but much of it was personal opinion passed in something of a casual way by many of the anchors.  Their attitude was, why not vote to allow gambling.  It is the fix-all for everything.

Those that apposed the gambling had very little money.  They certainly couldn’t afford the TV adds and radio was expensive too.  Mostly, it was word of mouth, churches and a few small organizations.  I feared the outcome.  To me, it looked like they were just going steam roll in here and set up shop.

What really angered me was that the mayors and councilmen got in the act.  The school teachers were telling about how wonderful the gambling would be.  These people were supposed to be representing the people, but it was obvious they had no idea what the people wanted…or worse, they were self serving.

Those that were for the gambling outspent those against it by more than ten to one, yet it was defeated by two thirds of the voters.  They told the outsiders, “We don’t want it!  We don’t want any part of it!”

…and so it was that Tunica County got the gambling instead.  From my observance of how things went in Tunica, I am very happy we rejected it.  The gambling brought everything that we thought it would, crime, corruption and, very likely, organized crime.  By the way, it also resulted in the worst schools in the state  It was the exact opposite of the promise made by the casinos.  The state had to take over the schools because they became so bad.

I don’t know about others, but when outside money comes to my state, I will be very Leary.  I don’t like outside wealth telling me how to vote or what to vote for.  I would suggest that others do the same.  Educate yourself well and guard your vote carefully.  It is very important.