TresSugar

Flashback: Volkswagen Ad Makes Me Want to Run Over the Copywriter

TresSugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Women are soft and gentle, but they hit things. If your wife hits something in a Volkswagen, it doesn’t hurt you very much. VW parts are easy to replace. . .Most other VW parts are interchangeable too. Inside and out. Which means your wife isn’t limited to fender smashing. She can jab the hood. Graze the door. Or bump off the bumper....So when your wife goes window-shopping in a Volkswagen, don’t worry. You can conveniently replace anything she uses to stop the car. Even the brakes.

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Heidi Klum Talks to a Car for Money

GiggleSugar — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 03:00:00 -0700

It's one thing to film a commercial spot and quite another to sit down and have an on-camera conversation with a friggin' car. But Heidi Klum can sit pretty and talk to inanimate objects or pretend her boobs are lethal bazookas all she wants. As long as she's the host of Project Runway, our German supermodel can do no wrong.

A Car That Gets 65 Miles Per Gallon?! Not in the US

LibertySugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:00:10 -0700

Picture this: a brand-new, five-seat compact car, complete with a navigation system, gas mileage up to 65 miles per gallon, and a $1,300 tax deduction with purchase. Are you ready to buy? Well you'll have to move to Europe first!

High oil prices mean that Americans are hungry for more gas-efficient cars. But, the new Ford ECOnetic Fiesta,, which runs on diesel, will not be offered to the American driver. To find out why diesel is a deal breaker, read more.

Diesel pollution risks have motivated state lawmakers to tax diesel pumps more than gasoline. In addition, there are not enough refineries to produce large supplies. Mix in the fact that the Fiesta's diesel engine is made in pricey Britain, Ford doesn't think it can sell enough to make the car a smart business decision in the US.

There are indications that other (ironically foreign) companies will start selling ultra-clean-diesel cars in America. Volkswagen and Mercedes have cars coming out soon, which include a pollution trap that must be maintained. Purchasers of these new diesel cars will also receive a tax credit.

Do you think diesel will solve the US's gas woes, or will it just risk more pollution when the cars aren't maintained?

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Has the Peace Sign Sold Out Its Meaning?

CitizenSugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 06:00:57 -0700

I remember drawing them on my notebook during the first Gulf War and not really knowing what they meant - and now the peace sign is turning the big 5-0. The famous symbol made its first official public appearance in 1958 to advocate nuclear disarmament, and has since been used to graphically support a range of efforts from economic justice to environmentalism. Nearly every altruistic group has used this iconic logo as a way to communicate the idea of universal brotherhood.

The designer of the symbol, Gerald Holtom, created the logo while in a big funk. He explains the symbol: “I was in despair. Deep despair. I drew myself: the representative of an individual in despair, with hands palm outstretched outwards and downwards . . .” (I never saw that until I read this, but now it makes sense!) Holtom died in 1985, and some say if he had lived this long, he might really understand the true meaning of the word “despair."

How has a simple symbol morphed from a cry for help to a price tag? To see how, read more.

In a time of conflict and relative prosperity, like many things the peace sign has become a commodity. For those with some bucks to blow advertising their quest for peace, Tiffany is hawking a platinum and diamond peace symbol pendant to celebrate the symbol's creation. The pendant holds 4.8 carats of round-cut diamonds and costs $4,000. It makes one wonder what kind of good that money could do someone whose life was really torn by war. Tiffany isn't the only company using what could be the world’s most recognizable cry for understanding to make a profit. The peace sign has adorned everything from Fendi bags to Volkswagen cards and Ed Hardy t-shirts.

Of course, there are those who cry "poppycock!" After all, it’s just a symbol (and one free from copyright protection), and is free to be interpreted by anyone, from a clothing designer, jeweler, or a car manufacturer. Plus, won’t more exposure of the “brand” give it even more power? Simon Doonan, creative director at Barney’s British, thinks so:

Sure, it’s probably not what the hippies had in mind, for it to become a marketing campaign for a department store. But it’s a symbol of the mainstream of counter-culture ideas, of things that were part of the alternative lifestyle - like environmentalism, and organic food. Isn’t that ultimately what the hippies would have wanted?

Perhaps, though the worry remains that the only power the symbol is going to gain is purchasing power. Is the peace sign on the verge of being played out? Does a peace sign done in $4,000 worth of diamonds still mean the same thing?

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GiggleSugar Reader Spotlight: Urban Bohemian

GiggleSugar — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:24:41 -0700

Urban Bohemian's great screen name reflects her awesomely sophisticated yet whimsical comments. I love that she traffics in books and volunteers for silent film festivals! Sweet!

GS: What's your motto?
UB: I love the quote “Life is a journey. Enjoy the ride.” I heard it on a Volkswagen commercial and it resonated with me.

GS: Where are you from?
UB: I am from a town in Central Massachusetts called North Grafton. If you took out a map of Massachusetts and pinned a hole through the center of the state (minus that monkey tail where Cape Cod is), there's a good chance that you'd hit my hometown.

GS: What do you do?
UB: I work at an antiquarian bookshop that specializes in rare books and antique children's books. How sad of me that I couldn't find a deeper motto from any of these books instead of using a line from a car ad on television. And I volunteer for the city's silent film festivals here in San Francisco, CA.

GS: How would you describe your sense of humor?
UB: I love kiddie humor! Stuff that someone no older than a kindergartener would laugh at, basically. But I also appreciate good sharp humor, and a well-timed quip or dialogue that is snappy and smart always works for me. And anything campy or kitschy is fun!

GS: What's your favorite GiggleSugar post?
UB: Twin Peeps is great and makes you wonder at the same time. I also love the random videos. Any parodies that are pop-culture oriented are funny, like the Muppets, the old Batman T.V. show or High School Musical. Plus I got a cat ten months ago, so Happy Caturday makes me smile every time. My go-to article is definitely The Kitty Cat Dance video that was posted over last St. Patrick's Day. I probably play that at least once every day when I'm working!

GS: Who's the cutest funny man and funny woman?
UB: Paul Rudd is one cute funny man. He's been hot since Clueless, and has humor to throw in the mix. Isla Fisher is also really cute, and she's not afraid to put herself out on a limb for a laugh. I think Cookie Monster is quite a looker, too .

GS: Who are your favorite male and female comedians?
UB: Woody Allen is the man. He is so witty and neurotic. For women, I've always loved Goldie Hawn. When she was younger she had a wide-eyed wonder, and such a contagious giggle!

GS: What's your favorite comedy of all time?
UB: God, so many to name, but here's a list: My Cousin Vinny, The Full Monty, City Lights, Can't Buy Me Love, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and A Fish Called Wanda. Finally, Annie Hall and The 40-Year Old Virgin are also wonderful. Just a side comment: I love the way that both movies use humor to grasp life's tricky stepping stones. In very different ways, of course! And I think Judd Apatow is going to be our generation's Woody Allen. Mark my words! Now should you have any questions, comments, approvals, or anxieties about this list, drop me a note.

GS: If your life were a comedy, what would it be?
UB: Reality Bites. Just as someone who's just trying to get a hold on living in the real world and trying to separate what I do from who I am and fighting that quarter-life crisis in a Gen Y society. I've also been prone to dancing around to the radio at 24-hour convenience stores with my friends!

GS: Do you look like someone famous?
UB: I've been told I look like a few dark-haired, fair-skinned celebs. They're all beautiful, but I think the comparisons stop after the hair! But I once reminded someone of Anna Paquin, and that struck me. Not sure if I see that either though!

UB free for all: If you've made it this far in the article, it means that you like me, you really really like me! And congratulations! Your prize is simply a thank you from me to you for reading, only because I have nothing else on hand. Cheers, peace and have a lovely weekend! *sigh*

Thanks Urban Bohemian!

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(Urban Bohemian, Goldie Hawn, Isla Fisher, Woody Allen, Paul Rudd)

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