This is a new K&G spot produced by advertising agency DeVito Verdi. (I work at DeVito Verdi as the interactive creative director.) The commercial depicts a fictitious 911 emergency call placed by a woman who has just been the victim of a robbery. It’s reveled that the perpetrator is actually high department store prices and not an actual crime. I’ll admit, I am one of those guys that spends a ton of money to look like a dirt ball. There have been times when I’ve walk out of Diesel $300 lighter and had a bit of buyers remorse. Now, I haven’t had it bad enough to call 911, but I can certainly empathize with the spot. We have gotten a bunch of complaints about the spot and I wanted to reach out and see if you felt it was offensive or if you thought the message was on point.  I really appreciate your comments and opinion either way. Thanks!

I’m interested in taking a poll on the take away from this commercial

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Everyday I hear about some new technology that is going to “change the way I consume media” or “reinvent how I gather information.” I feel like I have an illness and I’m hanging on to my multimedia lifeline fed through a Facebook Feeding Tube and RSS IV. One side effect of this digital epidemic is the slow painful death of printed media. Newspapers and magazines are going out of business as publishers desperately try to develop online media revenue to make up for what’s being lost offline. The New York Times for example only generates between 10 and 12 percent of total revenue through online channels.  Link

Recently I stumbled across a technology that I think could actually breath a little life back into paper. I don’t think that it’s going to save the industry, but admittedly it may “change the way you consume media” and quite possibly “reinvent how you gather information.”

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I do believe that we are at another sea change in human psychology and that media may be driving it. The last such change occurred with the invention of the printing press and the wide availability of the written word. Schools formed, facts could be recorded and stored reliably.  History was no longer transferred through the subjective medium of the spoken word.  The book became the dominant medium for 400 years. The process of decoding letters arranged on a page trained the left side of the brain to order and index. Where the right side (input and storage) of the brain functions on arrival, the left (output and grammar) takes as long as 12 years to develop. As education evolved into a literature driven methodology, historically Western psychology took on a linear form. This is manifest in the way that we inherently value and index hierarchically; we categorize and note based on differentiation.
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OK, admittedly that title is incredibly conceded, but hear me out. If you read any of my posts you know that I have ADD or ADHD. I’m not even sure which one at this point. What I do know is, most people consider ADD a disadvantage. But, this is a common misconception. I am here today to right the wrongs of many and set the record straight. Having ADD is like having an amazing superpower that one must learn to use for the good of themselves. Right now you might be saying to yourself, “Holy Corn Hole Batman!! What the hell is he talking about?” Well let me explain. Take a look at any typical superhero. They all seem to possess similar qualities. I’ll take you though my thought process and I think I’ll have you agreeing with me by the end of this article.
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I was diagnosed with ADD way before it was cool. Down in Texas back in the 80’s, the educational system wasn’t very forward thinking.  They thought the best way to assimilate the learning disabled was to corral all us special needs kids together and stuff us into a make shift class room / trailer home. I mean that’s the logical action to take if you have a group of kids who have trouble learning. Herd’em together and lock’um up in a white trash living room on wheels. Schools didn’t really know how to treat ADD then and I’m sure most of my teachers took my lack of attention, disruption and low interest and chocked it up as another slow learning pain in the ass kid. (Admittedly, there could have been some overlap.) Today, I manage my deficit of attention by working in an industry that I love coupled with high doses of brain stimulating medication. I’ve noticed that there seem to be a higher percentage of ADDers in advertising. I’m not sure what the attraction is, but the ad industry is a homing beacon for those of us who couldn’t seem to focus in class. You may be reading this and asking yourself…”I work in advertising, maybe I have special needs?” Well yes you probably do, but try not to misunderstand my point. Asking for a S500 instead of a Lincoln Town Car is a special request not a special need.

I have developed a custom advertising ADD test that may help you diagnose yourself and also aid in identifying if you have Attention Deficit Disorder or if you are just a Pain in The Ass. Depending on your personal results, I have also provided a couple links to help you deal with your situation. SEE BELOW.

If you have ADD. CLICK HERE

If you are a Pain in The ASS. CLICK HERE