Since I read the Bee online, I have noticed a trend that makes me a bit uncomfortable. The Bee imbeds political advertising in political articles.

Of course, this is smart targeting of voters. People who read articles about the election are more interested in politics than those who don’t. No brainer.

My problem is when the advertising is sold to candidates about whom the articles are written.

Take a look at an article today here. It reports on the debate between the Republican primary candidates for the 4th Congressional District, which will be won by either Tom McClintock or Doug Ose. While reading the article, the reader gets to listen to and watch series of advertisements for McClintock who is (of course) slamming his opponent, Ose. Readers have to turn off the ad if they do not want to watch it or mute it if they do not want to listen to it. Even if they do so, a big “McClintock for Congress” remains on the page.

Continue reading “Are Political Ads in the Online Bee Fair?” »

A prominent billboard on 16th Street featuring the smiling, trustworthy face of Preet Kalirai, your CalPERS certified mortgage agent has been replaced by an advertisement for Lucca Restaurant. And here I thought Preet, with her market savvy, finance acumen, and ethnically ambiguous good looks, was recession proof. None of us is immune.

After working all weekend excavating about 10 tons of dirt and clay from my East Sac home, I kicked back with a bucket of chicken from our local KFC:
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This fact gives me my Sacramento tie-in to a delightful story that I just had to share with the rest of the ‘Raggers:

Those of you who have gmail know of the targeted ads posted on the sides of your inbox that “correspond” to the subject of your emails. After writing to one of my Nintendo contacts requesting some information, I noticed a target ad that stated “Like Super Mario Bros.? You’ll love this” with a hyperlink to a flash-based game for the PTEA-sponsored site Kentucky Fried Cruelty, adorably titled “Super Chick Sisters.”

From a quick perusal of Kentucky Fried Cruelty, it looks to be a celebrity-promoted, anti-delicious fried chicken, website spearheaded by the great philanthropist/philosopher Pamela Anderson. Thankfully Pammie also brought her think-tank of great minds to support her cause, including: Pink, Ryan Gosling, and Rev. Al Sharpton. Worthy of note is that the Dalai Lama is also one of those in Pam’s entourage who does not dig on the Colonel, which stunned me because I didn’t even realize that they had KFC’s in Dharamsala, India- go figure.

Continue reading “Finger Clickin’ Good” »

Mmmm, Red Bull.

The City of Elk Grove is requesting feedback from the general public on a variety of new logos and taglines to go with. I’d put up a sample of what they are considering, but apparently I’d have to get permission first and hell if I do that. You can check out all the different logos and taglines here.

Personally, I think that a picture of an elk standing in front of a grove of big box stores would be the best logo, but hey, that’s just me.

(Note to City of Elk Grove: if you don’t want people to steal your pictures, don’t put them on the internet.)

Since the sacrag’s inception, many of us have posted on our various real estate transactions. No doubt some of us have had to contract out work in the midst of either buying or selling, and many of us have surely engaged in the financing or refinancing of a mortgage.

Continue reading “A waste of advertising dollars” »

Lots of print advertising these goes for the stripped-down, don’t give too much away approach that focuses on snappy catchphrases and color recognition. Mikescars.com (no, it’s not a service where Mike comes to your house to give you a rad scar) is getting in on the action too with its local billboards. Like the one near my bus stop this morning, hanging over Maria’s/Pancho’s taqueria–”INTERNET PICTURES YOU DON’T HAVE TO HIDE FROM YOUR WIFE.” Eww! Stay classy, Sacramento.