I think they’re trying too hard.

Evidently the recession is making SanDisk resort to guerrilla warfare:

Advertising usually tries to convince the consumer that money buys happiness. That’s the nature of the beast, but this ad was just so damned transparent that I couldn’t leave it alone.

To add insult to injury, their website doesn’t display correctly in IE8 either. Seriously, SanDisk, if you expect us to buy your products online, then make sure that your website doesn’t suck in the first place. Even the most ludicrous of ads are best delivered in a user-friendly way.

---

I haven’t been blogging too much lately, at least not as much as I had been hoping, but suffice it to say that there’s a lot going on. Lots of projects, and family stuff. Hopefully once things calm down a bit I can really sit down and give this blog some more attention.

I guess I can't be trusted...

...to not buy anything. Thing is, today is Buy Nothing Day. In a gesture of good will and non-conformance -- because, (a), I'm a non-conformist, and (b), it's Black Friday and 25,000 children die every day of poverty -- I signed up for the associated Facebook event, having been invited by a friend (good thing you know who you are, because unfortunately I don't).

Easy enough, I thought. I never buy much anyway. Chances are -- Black Monday be damned -- I won't buy anything on Buy Nothing Day.

But today, during music council, our "Music Minion" t-shirts were distributed -- for $5 each.

So I bought something. On Buy Nothing Day. When I had already said that I wasn't going to buy anything.

<sarcasm>

Shame on me. On the other hand, at least there's 365 other opportunities within the next year to defy consumerism.

</sarcasm>

...

But shouldn't we be doing that everyday? I mean, you look at things like this and it should be obvious why the terrorists hate us, in a continent where more money is spent on pets than is donated to charity. When will we learn?

...

P.S. In case your head isn't reeling yet, yes, 25,000 children do die of extreme poverty each day. Think about that for a second, before you ask for that PS3 or iPod touch for Christmas.

Be David Suzuki For Hallowe'en!

Anyone need a last-minute Hallowe'en costume?