Real world MadMen Advertising

These 1960s commercial clips are not from the television series MadMen, although I'm certain that men in Modern advertising had something to do with them!

BABY BABY BABY

D & D

D & D - What the nerdy me once thought stood simply for Dungeons and Dragons takes on a completely different meaning in Elko Nevada's "Red Light" District.

For another perspective of the trouble one can get into in Elko, please read Hunter S. Thompson's "Fear and Loathing in Elko" - an article written for Rolling Stone magazine in 1992 (although Gonzo's story has very little to do with Elko, much other than some whiskey and a shotgun).

Mormon Crickets Are The REAL Terrorists!

Mormon Crickets: the sight of these little bastards is nearly as bothersome as the name. Turns out they are actually katydids, not crickets. As seen in this photo taken from my car, they often travel in swarms. Swarms so large (100 crickets per square meter) that when squished between car tires and road they can make a vehicle slide. That's right, hydroplaning from bug guts.

Another unpleasant fact about Mormon Crickets is that swarming is caused by cannibalistic behavior. They have to keep moving forward from getting bitten from behind. The infestation of swarming Mormon Crickets is chemically controlled in populated areas, or areas with crops. This photo was taken in the Owyhee Mountain Range of Northern Nevada, a desolate but beautiful area.

The title "Mormon Cricket" was given to the pests in the 19th century. Pioneering Mormons were said to have been saved by the seagulls that ate the insects that were known to destroy their crops causing famine. The seagulls migrated from California to the desert area of Utah to feast on the crickets, and thus the California Seagull is Utah's state bird.

Like their namesake, Mormon Crickets are reported to dislike hard rock music. According to farmers and townsfolk dealing with Mormon Cricket infestation, the insects are deterred by loud hard rock music playing from stereo systems and boom boxes. Seems to me that Mountain City, Nevada should consider some Twisted Sister.

I love SCANWICHES!

Seriously, one of the greatest blogs of all time!

scanwiches.com

Weirdness

Where do I begin? The hair? The long jackets? The limo? The "Kevin Spacey's brother?" ... I'm writing about Boise local Randy Fowler. If you live in Boise, or spend anytime in Idaho's capitol city... you've probably seen or heard about Randy, aka Rod Stewart. Here is what I can tell you about him:

• Rod Stewart impersonator
  
• Limousine Company proprietor, www.rodslimos.com
• Kevin Spacey's (aka Kevin Fowler) brother
• Professional drummer
• Author

Randy reported to Sunday Mirror.co.uk that his estranged brother is indeed Kevin Spacey. Randy also told The Mirror many of Spacey's "secrets" would be revealed in his up and coming book (although this article was posted in 2004, and it appears the book has not yet been written), and calls his movie star brother a "lying weirdo."

For more information on this Boise gem, here is a link to Randy's website: randybfowler.com

The Information Machine, 1958

I found this gem on my new favorite website, Archive.org - wish I had known about this while in college!

thoughts on summertime

i remember cramming into the cruddy non-air conditioned family car & road tripping to national forests & peaking in strangers cars. i always wished we'd go to disneyland or the beach, like everyone else. but now i appreciate that we didn't; that i saw the land. i'll never forget driving cross country in the '79 camaro, hot and sticky, with my smelly little brother who always crossed over his half of the back seat. i was familiar with the stereotypical parental arm flailing around from the front seat to grab whichever seed was making it a long trip.

CupCakeCamp to Benefit TrICA

I am very excited to announce that the borrowed "Cup Cake Camp" concept (originally of Ariel Waldman and team in San Francisco: cupcakecamp.org) is resurfacing in Boise Idaho to benefit TrICA (Treasure Valley Institue for Children's Arts, www.tricarts.org).

Boise's creative company of cupcake coordinators have been working on ideas to incorporate CupCakeCamp to benefit cupcake lovers and TrICA. Boise will celebrate it's first ever Cup Cake Camp and Cup Cake Collective on August 15th 2009, 11-2pm at The Linen Building.

Everyone (individuals, families, businesses, and organizations) will be welcomed to submit cupcakes to the Cup Cake Collective, and everyone is invited to eat the tasty treats, and submit a vote for their favorite cupcake! Cup Cake Collective will feature cupcakes to be judged and eaten, an awards ceremony, live music, performances and fun!

Cup Cake Camp is a children’s culinary art class focused on the baking and decorating of cupcakes. Kitchen etiquette and safety will also be taught. A local celebrity chef will head each class with an assistant. Cup Cake Campers will have the opportunity to include their cupcake creations at Cup Cake Collective (a cup cake celebration and contest among Boise’s cup cake comrades). Cup Cake Camp will be held in three sessions (approximately 15 students per class) according to age on August 14th 2009. Cup Cake Collective is scheduled for the following day.

Call to Artists! The Mend Project

The Mend Project, a Boise based arts and crafts non-profit organization has put out a call to artists for their newest project. Spectacled is a fundraiser for The Mend Project at The VAC March 5th and 6th, 2009. An $8 donation is requested at the door, or $5 with donation of used eyeglasses. Proceeds fund The Mend Project, and eyeglasses donations will help those in need through Unite for Sight.

More information can be found by following the image link below.

Wanted: Somebody to do my homework.

I found this on Boise Craigslist last week. It was flagged for removal, but I copied the text. It is truly classic. Do you think this kid has balls and initiative, using the web to get what he/she wants, or do think the student is lazy, and could've written such a simple paper in the time it took them to post the ad?

Reply to: job-982998177@craigslist.org [?] Date: 2009-01-06, 4:59PM MST

I am a college student looking for help.

Project Description: I am looking for a person who can write a 3 1/2 page paper on YouTube. What needs to be included in the research paper: 1. Who the co-founders and management team are 2. How they thought up YouTube 3. How they attracted so many users to their site

Also, the paper needs to have at least 2 references.

Document Length: No more than 3 1/2 pages double spaced

I need the following: Editing, Proofreading, Research, Writing

The professional must provide the following: Final Draft, Research Documentation

Other items the professional must provide: Cover page which is not part of the 3 1/2 pages.

Desired File Format: I need to receive the final product in a 2003 word document format.

Project Start Date: 1/7/2009

Project Completion Date: 1/20/2009 (Must be done by this date because I have to turn it in by the 1/25/2009).

* Compensation: I will pay $35. Reason being the research should probably take about 1 hr. max and to write the paper should take 2-3 hours max. * This is a contract job. * Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster. * Please, no phone calls about this job! * Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

PostingID: 982998177

Broken Barker Bash

Artsy and craftsy friends - please read.

I am calling on you to please help with this benefit. Jeff Barker is a wonderful human being who was mashed by a drunk driver fleeing the police. Jeff was riding his motorcycle when the speeding car hit him. His hospital bills cost more than my house, and he still needs two more surgeries and at least a years worth of physical therapy.

I know many of you don't know Jeff, but your kindness in donating a quality craft or art piece to be auctioned silently at his benefit concert "Broken Barker Bash" is appreciated, by me, Jeff's family, and our art community.

I will be donating something as well - so if you want to help, please let me know! (ladufurrena@gmail.com)

Also, if you can please come to the benefit concert - $10 gets you Bill Coffey & Ned Evett, Travis Ward and Hillfolk Noir, Soft Gong, and DJs from the Vinyl Preservation Society! The Linen Building, Friday January 23rd, 2009 - 7:00pm - $10

All proceeds from the Broken Barker Bash will help pay for Jeff's medical expenses.

Thanks!
Leigh Ann

Practice human kindness through ethical reciprocity.

For more info on Jeff Barker, the accident, and the Broken Barker Bash, please visit the Broken Barker Blog

Rumor has it: Brad Pitt is in town for premiere of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Rumor has it that Brad (oh sweet Brad), aka Mr. Pitt, aka Angelina's baby's daddy, is in Boise for the premiere of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, in which he stars alongside the wonderful Cate Blanchett. This movie, an adaptation from an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, is produced by Frank Marshall - who will most definitely be in Boise on Wednesday December 10th, to promote the film.


More info here: Boise Contemporary Theater Presents
A special night with Frank Marshall, Producer of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
On Wednesday, December 10, 2008
To Benefit Boise Contemporary Theater
Boise, Idaho, October 28, 2008– Tickets are on sale now for a very special benefit reception for Boise Contemporary Theater. This event will be held on Wednesday, December 10, 2008, with a scheduled guest appearance by Producer Frank Marshall. A cocktail hour will start the event at 5:00pm at the Egyptian Movie Theater, followed by a reception and Q & A with Frank Marshall at the Rose Room (718 W. Idaho). As a bonus there will be a screening of Paramount Pictures’ engaging new film THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett at the event. The film opens nationwide December 25, 2008.
In addition…BCT invites you to a Breakfast with Frank Marshall the morning of December 10, 2008. $250 Includes Breakfast and all Evening Events.

www.bctheater.org

www.benjaminbutton.com

Have extra an extra ticket? Let me know! This movie looks very sweet, and who knows, I might bump into Brad (oh sweet Brad)!

Boise was recently graced with Travel Channel's Ghost Adventures to film at The Old Idaho Penitentiary. This eight minutes of video gives us a good idea of what the full-hour television show must be like. The host, a Chris Angel wannabe, Corey Feldman lookalike, is scared of snakes - enough so that he decides to "face his fears" during a hike in Boise's foothills behind the Old Pen. In all of my hikes in this area, I've never come across a snake, not even a little one. This yahoo found several, and thought it was a good idea to pick one snake up, for a closer look. Needless to say, besides "hunting" ghosts, this *dude* is an idiot.

All you need to know about Lili