So I’m trying to figure out which of the following is the worst part of this experience:

1. That today’s biggest “news” as visually displayed on today’s NY Times online edition is not Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, but rather a ginormous ad from Apple, the evil empire of modern technology, fully enveloping over 50% of my screen.
2. That the experience of trying to actually read the news was distracted by the fact that this “banner ad” was in full motion before I could even stop it.
3. That not only was this a full-fledged TV advertisement stealthily cloaked as a web page banner ad, but that it actually took up TWO banner spaces and interacted between the two! Or maybe even worse yet,
4. That despite all my hankerings about Mac, Apple, and what I consider to be vastly inferior technology guarded by a thick callous of elitism, the “Get a Mac” ads are (cringing as I say this) some of the most creative and entertaining pieces of propaganda in media today! I love watching them because they’re fun and they’re good fodder for trash talking with some of my mac-loving friends.

4 Responses to “The End of the World”

1. mr jacob says:

   January 17, 2008 at 11:44 pm

   Of course if you used Linux or even Apple’s command line lynx app you could read the web sans annoying ads. Windows – Sheriff of Rottingham, Apple – Robin Hood with a massive ego, Linux – Little John, Amiga…

   Reply
2. Kyle says:

   January 18, 2008 at 7:20 am

   Nice….nice…
   How about this—
   Linux: Brian Eno (wonderful, easily accessed, and incredibly influential, yet too unfamiliar to most to be of apt value)
   Mac: The Flaming Lips (Overrated, faddish, and grossly self-absorbed)
   Windows: Jon Brion (powerful, confident, and elegantly versatile)

   Reply
3. Matt D'Accurzio says:

   January 20, 2008 at 4:06 pm

   Kyle – I think your analogy of Brian Eno to Linux is just about perfect. Here’s what I think for the other two:

   Mac : Spoon (“cool” but not in a mainstream way, occasionally unfamiliar but are lauded for their simplicity and internal cohesion)

   Windows : The Rolling Stones (hugely influential, clearly dominant number-wise but also arrogant and prone to occasional crashes)

   Reply
4. mr jacob says:

   January 20, 2008 at 6:16 pm

   Really? You are willing to say only one of three Jon Brion albums doesn’t turn you blue with disgust. You are willing to say that Brion hasn’t changed is fundamental structure since 1994. You are willing to say Brion spends focus on agreeing with antiquated standards, than to just go ahead and live in the modern era. Why don’t you just say Brion stinks.

   Reply