Semantics.

Looking for the bathroom in Nordstrom's? Well, look no further than the "Women's Lounge" - the new, hip form of bathrooms that includes a carpeted area with furniture stolen from my grandmother's living room.

I love a good bathroom. In fact, if you have a great bathroom, chances are I'll like whatever establishment is attached to it (restaurant, bar, clothing store). But "Women's Lounge" just sounds dirty. They might as well name it the "Ladies Lounge."

***I also enjoy the baby bottle graphic in the sign, and its overall art direction.

****Can AdCenter please host a contest: "Redesign the handicap sign" ?

Creating Conversations

A week or so ago, I had a post titled "Too Carbonated." I came across this vending machine at Richards with a warning about some Diet-Dr.-Pepper-gone-bad. I returned to that machine yesterday to find some new entries (and post-its) on the original comment.

People whose previous mission had been to acquire some form of thirst-quencher from this machine had been diverted by this little piece of communication. They had to locate a pen (which may not have been that hard in a copy room) and scribble their thoughts on the matter.

People felt compelled to either revoke the statement ("I'll take my chances") or confirm it ("I agree") or start a new thread all together (re: the 2nd post-it). This little warning of a simple nature had sparked something. It made people think about an ordinarilly routine drink selection. It made use of an underutilized advertising medium. But most interestingly, it created a conversation.

Back in February, we had a Friday Speaker at AdCenter talk about brands that created conversations. Ironically enough, that person is a Richards Group Planner, Christopher Owens. He spoke about something that I find very true - most great advertising creates a conversation with its consumer.



He used Patron as an example, but many other examples exist. Geico is a great example - whether it's "Good News/Bad News," "The Cavemen," or "Celebrity Endorssment." Even what Kevin Proudfoot showcased (the Nimrods) created a conversation.

And really, that's how it should be. It can be traced back even to the most rudementary forms of communication - a power point presentation. If I've fallen asleep during your presentation, don't wake me up. You deserve it. I don't fall asleep when my friends are talking to me. I fall asleep when "boring, preeching, or ignorant" are talking to me.

Chances are, many of you have stopped reading by this point. And that's my fault. If I've failed to engage you in conversation, my bad. I'll pick a better topic to talk about next time.

Since I've Been At Richards I have:

- Had my chair stolen (didn’t have one when I arrived)

- Had my computer used by unauthorized personnel (at least once that I know about)

- Become a fan of everyone else’s blog

- Grown an appreciation for starring out the window

- Become an expert at editing weekly specials for minute grocery stores

- Realized Financial clients can sometimes be your best clients

- Become bilingual (the woman who sits next to me esta de Espana and <3’s>

- Had no dirty martinis

**Had my phone used by someone random while I'm sitting at my desk. Not a quick, 2-minute, "hey, meet me downstairs" call. But a good 10 minute, in-depth, "where's the billing for this form" call. And she knocked over a few things on my desk for good measure. (she's still talking as I finish this...awesome.)
__

Disappointment.

I spent a good hour today trying to relocate one of the 7-11s that had been made to look like a Kwik-E-Mart. A friend from Richards had taken me there back in June and I had forgotten where it was exactly.

It was pretty cool that one of the 11 stores that had be re-designed was here in Dallas. But since 7-11 is HQed in Dallas (as well as Tracey Locke who was behind all the buzz), I guess it makes sense.

But when I pulled into the parking lot, I was greeted by an ordinary 7-11. It must have been "for a limited time only / until the movie premiered last weekend". Damn the fine print.

My only consolation was a giant, blown-up Squishee on top of the gas station canopy. Should they have continued the promotion even after the movie launch? Or is it the fleeting nature that makes it so exciting and worthwhile?

A little older and a little less A.D.D.

Pieces of Richmond in Dallas

Brought to you via an editing house called Reel FX.

A pretty cool place just outside of downtown Dallas, the inside of which reminded me more of a swank NYC club featured in Sex and the City.

Went there today to edit some silly grocery store ads. The abandoned warehouses and brick road being swallowed by concrete made me feel like if I closed my eyes, I would open them to find BDubs and Tuesday night wings before me.

Alas - the only thing I saw was a rising storm, threatening my Tuesday afternoon.

Google key words and my Daddy.

Is anyone else annoyed that Google peruses your emails and then posts "relevant" links up and down and side to side on the remaining space of your screen? Sometimes, it's ok. But other times (like when I type an address in my email and it says "find out who lives at 1313 E. Main Street") it's just annoying.

Another instance of annoyance happened yesterday. And I don't think it was annoyance so much as it was humor. When opening an email from my dad, I happened to catch a glimpse of the lower, right hand side links. To my amusement, Google had successfully "key-worded" my dad's signature at the end of his email, "Daddy" (upper left corner), and turned it into 4 or 5 links to wanna-be, thug-life, gangsta rappers (lower right corner).

Thanks, Google. That's just what I'm looking for when conversing with my 56 year old father. A rapper.

My weekend, brought to you by A/V aids:

Mr. James

Clara and The Baby Daddy (my bro)

Clara ordering a Guinness

The Boy and the Babe

Me and the Babe

Those sunglasses are hot on you

But, they're hotter on me...

Weekend Cont'd

The Dark Side of Computing

Over the past 5 years, I've learned a lot of Apple tricks. For example, Apple + Shift + 4 - a convenient way to snag a screen shot (and an equally sly way to save copyrighted material, like ads that adcritic doesn't want you to own.)

Of all the tricks I've learned so far, this is by far the coolest. I just found out about it last week and was slightly disappointed I hadn't known it for the entirety of my Mac-Loving life.

The trick: ctrl+option+apple+8.

My muse?

Laughing Babies.

All I want for Christmas...

Baby teeth - out. Big teeth - in.

Not. Cool.

I guess this is a good idea / way to tell people your crap-ass site is broke. But it kind of pissed me off. "Sorry - our site sucks, but here's some of our favorite stuff." No, Google Video. No.

I hate you.

BABY (comes) BACK

The drought is over. My brother and sister-in-law are in town for a college friends' wedding. They're staying with the Boy and I. Ordinarily this would be a huge downer - transporting family all over town while having to comply to their every request doesn't generally strike my happy chord. The bonus that makes everything alright? They brought a baby.

Bed for one, or two?



In baby sign language, panting = doggy.

Teaching a young dog new tricks.

He hasn't quite gotten the hang of it yet. But he's on to something.

Too Carbonated.

Richards is filled with nice people. People who would go out of their way to help you, to show you a good time, or to warn you about bad soda. Came across this post-it on the 13th floor soda machine and it made me laugh.

It also made me think about negative advertising. Will anyone dare buy a diet Dr. Pepper from this machine again? Will the 3 slots of diet Dr. Pepper remain on reserve for all eternity? My guess is no, but it will be interesting to see how long the note lasts. Something tells me a wary Dr. Pepper machine-stocker will dispose of the post-it with grace.

I'd be interested in buying one just to see what "too much carbonation" tastes like.

(Treston, were you behind this?)

Boom.

Fear not fellow AdCenterans. All is well here at The Richards Group in Dallas. Downtown Dallas is a different story. Above is a view of Downtown from the 12 floor agency window. Smoke billows from buildings on the right. More info.

The one good thing about Tay-Has (Texas)?

A Mexican Market.

Behold, Northerners! Behold! Miller Chill - a crisply refreshing beer with a hint of lime and a dash of salt. The distribution seems to be limited to the Lone Star, but perhaps, one day, the Chelada Style will make its way North.

I don't tend to enjoy the Mexican slums around my humble home, but this beer reminds me of the old saying - if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Call me Juan.

***I have been informed that the Chill has found its northern roots. Damn. But you can still call me Juan.

Celestial Joy - Fries with no salt!

After some investigative research, I've discovered you can indeed obtain fries with no salt. Now, before you get too excited, this theory has only been tested at the Chic-fil-a on Greenville, Dallas, TX. Question other establishments at your own risk.

Do I like Coke or Pepsi? Advertising, what do you think?

A pretty awesome t-shirt that makes me feel good about what I do. To buy it, go here.