iBuy

Spotted in today's SMH, a full page advertisement by a certain tobacco giant. As a result of the federal government's decision to make it illegal for cigarette packaging to carry any sort of marketing attractiveness, understandably these companies that sell their awful product by means of hoodwinking their customers with fantasy are none to pleased. But the question is, do they have a very valid point?

Rightious attacks on cigarette companies is the easiest game in town. These organisations could not be less desirable to the vile middle class even if they were to hand their durrys out to children in school playgrounds. Politicians, always keen to make an easy score to balance out their other myriad inabilities, know a wounded prey when they smell it and have little hesitation simulating moral superiority for our viewing pleasure and hopefully some cheap votes when needed.

The art of marketing to me is utterly repulsive. A technique whereby the details and realities of a product or service are camoflaged by a shroud of falsehood and scam. Imagine how many McDonalds burgers would be sold if the only way they could promote them is by advising us of their existence and the ingredients. How many cars would Holden sell if they actually detailed the true cost and effort of owning one? Would Apple have sold millions of iPads without the annoying jingles and lineups outside their glass encrusted stores?

Branding in itself is considered a highly valuable intellectual property. It is here to stay and is considered a valid tool of commerce. The Australian government seems to be happy to allow some pretty awful products to continue their disgusting trade without interference in the use of branding and marketing. It is hypocrisy to single out the tobacco industry.

Alcoholic beverage industry, you're next!

Getting a "Bit"

Very recently, Agent M and myself have had cause to prop ourselves atop my brown leatherish couch to absorb screenings of a favourite comedy duo hailing from the British Isles. Entitled, "A Bit of Fry and Laurie" and even indicated as such with a quadruplette of dancing middle and index figures by the former, it has unleashed upon us a dowry of mirth, mayhem, and very silly foolish fun.

Unless one has committed their lives to drudgery and blandness, the elegantly mischievous wit of Stephen Fry would be well known. He is rarely far from our television screens, an oasis of pure entertainment in a media sea of rotting detritus. If one has committed their lives to drudgery and blandness, Hugh Laurie would certainly have been observed playing the lead role in an American medical drama that will remain unnamed here for fear of cracking my head open with a croquet mallet to induce blessed release from a world where one more medical TV drama pushes me o'er the brink. For shame, as Laurie is the equal of Fry in every way but height.

From the opening scene, a play on awfully overpriced and over-marketed bottled smells for dedicated non-thinkers (entitled "Protention - by Fry and Laurie) to the conclusive concocting of a cocktail for guests that include such ingredients as a litre of air, and a measure of fried water all mixed by a rollicking brass medley produced by Laurie without a brass razoo and hysterical gyrations by the tall frame of Fry, the viewer is treated to something that is laughably ridiculous. One thinks that these gentlemen enjoy casting off the shackles of intellectualism and behaving in a manner unbecoming of sensible souls. Being a fool can really be so much fun, and I hope to improve my proficiency in this area along with grumpiness as I age.

Such things are worth seeking.