Blahsphemy

While it is easy to see billboards, it is hard to look at them objectively without getting bogged down in trivial or secondary criticisms; nevertheless let me try. It is so strange that billboards exist at all that the current controversy about whether outdoor advertising should be allowed along federal highways achieves the unreality of a debate on whether witch burning should be permitted in critical fire areas. Apparently no one has thought to wonder just what in the hell billboards are doing anywhere. Why do you suppose this is? It must be that billboards have somehow acquired an easement across our minds just as they have gained squatter’s rights on our visual air space. They’ve been there–everywhere–for a long time and we have grown used to them. It requires a conscious effort to recognize that a billboard has the same objective status as a "Jesus Saves" scrawled on a culvert of men’s room poetry; it is there by public sufferance. But there is this difference: while tho...

The author of this site teaches in the graduate program in advertising at Virginia Commonwealth University. The site is a supplement to the ongoing struggle between himself and the students. No guarantee is made that wisdom, truth or value is to be found herein, but thanks for dropping by. © Mark Fenske That was Mark Fenske © and all! This is one of the sites which I wish I had created. Just like those big and bright ideas one wishes one had cracked before anyone.

Yeah so what? My blog sucks. But then what can I do about it? Lots, you might say. I just hate it when you say that. Lots, what does that mean? Give me an example. Do I put up links to porn sites on my blog? Do I profess incest? Do I defame people? Do I display my skeletons on my page? Do I blab about my outdated cell phone? Do I ramble on about my bike? Do I cry out loud? Enough of these questions, right? I am going to do something about it and I am going to do it right now. So here I am rechristening my blog once and for all. It will be IdeaGym and nothing else. A blog that will help one develop that mental muscle. Wish me luck folks.

They have done it again and this time through a timely and thoughtful gesture. They have waivered all the penalties for not maintaining minimum balance. I hope all the other banks learn from HSBC. Kudos to the management which had the guts to implement it.

Finally I did. I too became a virtual citizen. My place YoVille! Today was my first day. Just stepped out to explore the world.

Just didn't feel like blogging all these days. Last month was mentally taxing for the fact that I lost my father to Multiple Myeloma. It was hard. Palliative care, DNR form, respiratory arrest, ventilator, calcium deficiency, potassium levels... a few cruel words that were flung my way.