10/27/05 Magazine ads

Magazine Ads Today I just have to talk about some magazine advertisements. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be back in one minute to tell you why. Some magazine advertisements have moved real close to the top of my list of pet peeves. Like most pet peeves they seem pretty small in the face of real things to think about but they're important to me because they're my pet peeves. A lot of the advertisements are pretty clever with nifty little statements using a tricky play on words or humor to get your attention and I always think I wish I had thought of that line and appreciate the work involved in producing the ad. Now when advertisers seem to have a real problem, at least in my view, is when they try to depict "working" cowboys or ranchers using their products. If it's a fencing product the ad experts show they product stretched perfectly across level green pasture with cattle already contently standing behind while two workers put on the finishing touches. These guys are clean and dressed so perfectly I know with just one glance they are professionals and I've been doing it all wrong for years because I always get dirty and tear at least two holes in my shirt or jeans. I think most pictures are taken right at the start of the job since almost everyone has brand- new gloves that just have to be the reason the job gets finished at all. Maybe you are supposed to start every job with new gloves two sizes too big for you. But I'd still like to get some of those fencing supplies since I don't think I'd ever have to fence over a rock pile or across a dry wash-out again. I'm Jeff Keane.