Questionable Drug Campaign

It rarely occurs to me to watch TV on the Spanish channels. Not that there's any problem at all with the language, my Spanish standard is about the same as my English. It's just that with Sky satellite I have more channels in English than I have time for; most of them I consider rubbish anyway. When I got so fed up of not able to find anything watchable a couple of nights ago, I turned to the Spanish channel, to watch a film called 'Express'.

 

The main actor in one scene of the film used his Visa card, casually and in matter of fact fashion, sliced up some cocaine to be used. Five minutes later, a brand new and excellently put together publicity 'sport' of the governmental campaign was shown, warning youngsters of the danger of drug use. The impact was sharp and cutting. The contrast of the two short scenes, one immediately after another, gave out very conflicting images to the audience, especially to the targeted youth to keep off drugs.

 

The actor in the film is Joel Joan, a well known & well loved star, a modern idol of the young and the cool. A positive personality admired and imitated, consciously or unconsciously, by many youths and some not so young alike. His conduct, though portraying a fictional figure, not exactly a hero but a 'goodie'in the story, could induce 2 reactions: or the behaviour of the character is condemned to be inappropriate and the actor loses his popularity, or the actor / character is so powerful that his negative conduct is looked upon as normal, hip and fashionable. As television reflects social habits as well as creates them.

 

I might be over reacting a bit. It's just that it doesn't make good sense to me to try to sensitise the public against the negative and damaging effects of cocaine, and at the same time showing it's consumption as a daily custom or habit of a favourite personality in public television.

 

Tags: DrugCampaign,TVPublicity

An Obituary Of Pillsbury Doughboy

Please join me in remembering a great icon of the entertainment community.

The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection, and complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 73. Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin.

Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects at his funeral, including Mrs Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies. Captain Crunch sent his apologies. The gravesite was piled high with flours.

Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy in the graveyard and lovingly described Doughboy as a man who did not realize how much he was kneaded. Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was not considered a very 'smart' cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes. Despite being a little flaky at times, he still, even as a crusty old man, was considered a roll model for millions.

Doughboy is survived by his wife, Playa Dough; two children, John Dough and Jane Dough; plus they have one in the oven. He is also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart. The funeral was held at 2:50 for about 20 minutes.

Tags: Obituary,Doughboy

A Salutary Chinese Tale

Never Judge By Appearance ~

 

At the final dinner of an international conference, an American delegate turned to the Chinese delegate sitting next to him, pointed to the soup and asked somewhat condescendingly, 'Likee soupee?'

The Chinese gentlemen nodded eagerly.

 

A little later, it was 'Likee fishee?' and 'Likee meatee?' and 'Likee fruitee?' and always the response was an affable nod.

 

At the end of the dinner the chairman of the conference introduced the guest speaker of the evening: none other than the Chinese gentleman who delivered a penetrating, witty discourse in impeccable English, much to the astonishment of his American neighbour.

 

When the speech was over, the speaker turned to his neighbour and with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, asked:

 

'Likee speechee?'

 

 

Tag: ChineseTale