CAVWORLD

Hazards of a Destination Wedding

Sure its funny. However, there are so many iguanas at the resort we are staying at in Puerto Rico that this is a definite possibility. Something to look forward to, I guess.

Another Ass Clown Update

I can see him now, a snivelling busy-body who just can't deal with the fact no gives a rodent's tuckus about anything he has to say. He grabs the phone thinking, "This will show them! Bua-ha-ha-ha!"

It's the Ass Clown of the Day!

 

This is the sort of behavior that gives sheiks a bad name. All of the environmentally-aware sheiks in line at the Riyadh Jiffy Lube must find this very unseemly indeed.

When will then be now?

My significant other got me thinking. She said she wanted to get back to that blessed state of childhood satori, living completely in the moment with not a thought to the esoteric concepts of past and future. She described the joy of playing as little girl, the hours passing unnoticed, engrossed in the totality of the now.

I've only known that feeling once as an adult, at the wheel of race car. One blessed lap when the voices in my head--the ones who keep a running commentary on personal failures, missteps and Things That Have to be Done--were silenced. Eventually though, the spell was broken and I haven't enjoyed that since.

Modern life sometimes seems designed to keep us out of the moment and focused on myriad things we cannot affect or, in some cases, understand. Focusing on what has to be accomplished next week deflects attention better spent on what is actually right in front of you. Obsessing over global warming, the war and the "evident decay" of society conveniently distracts us from the dysfunction that tatters our own lives. It's avoidance, plain and simple, channeling our finite supply of time and energy away from where they can do the most good. Away from our issues, away from the people we love and care for. People we can affect positively with our light and knowledge if we only stop long enough to listen and care.

The real payback from living in the moment is sustained positive impact on the accessible universe. The real-time beneficial effect of interacting with the world and seeing the immediate result. It promotes a sense of well-being through incontrovertible evidence that we are alive in this world, impacting the reality around us.

It seems like a small thing. However, playing peek-a-boo with a toddler is a far more substantive act than stewing over the "idiot" in the White House or the "surrender monkeys" in Congress. If you don't understand why, well, then I can't help you. But I do recommend switching to decaf and trying again in a few days.

This is just bad advertising.

Psychic Hummer, originally uploaded by cavcopy.

I don't know about any of you, but I would prefer my psychic to be the one who knew that a Hummer would be poor choice because $4+ gas was just around the corner. Then again, that's just me.

It's a Destination Wedding!

So my fiancée and are back from lovely San Juan, Puerto Rico where we engaged in a four-day orgy festival of wedding planning. Everyone at work thought I was on a short vac-ay so they were all surprised when I arrived back at work with a set of Samsonites under my eyes.

Over the course of Saturday, Monday and Tuesday we booked a venue, a caterer, a photographer, a officiant and we rented table linens. So, let's face it, we're pooped.

This degree of achievement was due to the intervention of my Aunt Techi--yes that is a nickname--who is, quite simpy, a force of nature. She showed us the right places and seemed to know everyone everywhere. She was our own personal Franck and we could not have done it without her.

So, yes, it nice to have that behind us. On November 12th at 7:00 PM AST, Ana and I will be joined in lawfully wedded matrimony at Antonio's in the tony environs of El Condado. Puerto Rico will have seen me born, almost lost at sea, and married. Not bad for a place I haven't lived in full-time since 1974.

 

'Our respected leader, who is an outstanding theoretician, and is possessed of noble virtues, is the great sun of the 21st century!'

I had some fun with an essay question in my critical thinking class this week:

Read the following paragraph. What are the assumptions of the writer?
"Some members of our society receive outrageous sum of money each year. Athletes, entertainers and executives receive incomes that most of us can hardly imagine. At the same time, in the same country, other people are unable to heat their homes, afford nutritious meals or finance automobiles. No one should be allowed to make a salary that is 100 times larger than that of the average person."

My answer:
In this paragraph the writer makes several incorrect assumptions that make the statement untrue and showcase a basic lack of knowledge of market economics and capitalism in general. Incorrect assumption number one: That anyone that earns a very high income is somehow being paid in disproportion to the economic value they bring to an organization. While inequities do exist, by and large no organization has any motivation to compensate someone with no regard to their corresponding value. An actor making $20 million a movie is worth it if he or she can secure a $100 million opening weekend. Incorrect assumption number two: that economics is a zero-sum game. This is simply not true. There is not a finite amount of wealth. If there were, there would not be such a thing as "economic growth." Just because someone makes $1 million a year does not mean that someone else must do without $1 million. Incorrect assumption number three: That the concept of limiting the amount of money an individual can make is at all compatible with a free society.

Frankly, someone with these values has other economic systems they can choose from. I hear there is dandy one just north of the 38th parallel.

Thanks to NK News and--of course--the KCNA for inspiring the headline.

Billy, come kiss your son the sex gargoyle hello!

Look up self-loathing in the dictionary and you'll find this.

'Round here every day is "Take Your Dog to Work Day!"

 

Yes, I am one of those luck few who can bring their puppy to work everyday. Here at Miami Ad School the dog population varies from four to as many as ten dogs depending on the day. On this Take Your Dog to Work Day we had our usual complement and a few more. Here's a pic of Chloe at work to brighten your perennial daily existence.

   

One of My Students Made the Cannes Shortlist!

The Cannes International Advertising Festival is the most prestigious festival of it's kind on the planet. Recognition there is a big deal, especially if you're still a student. Patrick Buchanan, one of my former students and a recent Miami Ad School grad landed on the short list for work he did while interning at BBDO Guerrero Ortega in Makati City, Phillipines as part of our Quarter Away program. I think he was the voice talent for this radio spot as well. Too cool, man, too cool.

Download cant_hear_you_rc45s_apr9_mix.mp3