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Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Media Today in New Zealand Advertisements

Posted by Paul Constant on Tue, Jul 7, 2009 at 3:28 PM

You have probably heard of the naked airline safety video from Air New Zealand. If you haven't, here it is:

But on the other end of the New Zealand advertising spectrum, New Zealand also is home to a couple of roadway safety signs that feature faces of children. The children's faces bleed when it rains to remind drivers to be careful:

Between these two ads and Flight of the Conchords, New Zealand is looking weirder and weirder all the time.

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... and the New Zealand postings on It's Lovely! I'll Take It! (which features questionable real estate photos) are consistently the oddest, with gems like spot the weird dude and cement armchairs.

Posted by Kalakalot on July 7, 2009 at 3:50 PM

No wonder they are crashing all the time. They're driving on the wrong side of the road!

Posted by Max Power on July 7, 2009 at 3:54 PM

Jesus Christ, Paul, do you ever think that you are a fucking weirdo and not everyone else?

At very least you are an ignorant, jingoist slob who thinks America is the baseline and everywhere else's weirdness is defined by the divergence from that line.

If you were half as smart as you think you are you might be able to see that maybe your own culture is the fucked-up one.

Posted by Max J on July 7, 2009 at 4:07 PM

I miss New Zealand.

Posted by Washington Outsider on July 7, 2009 at 4:10 PM

@3 - I understood Paul to be saying that NZ, based on the evidence he presents, is weird in a good way. Maybe you'd prefer quirky.

Really now. Relax.

Posted by shabadoo on July 7, 2009 at 4:24 PM

Also: wow. those billboards are weird. And disturbing. But I guess that's the idea.

Posted by shabadoo on July 7, 2009 at 4:27 PM

Max @3, alright, we get it: You think Paul is an idiot. But you don't really need to say it in every post he makes. Honestly, it's making you look like the stupid one at this point.

Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty

on July 7, 2009 at 4:36 PM

@7.

No, I know he's an idiot. And I don't give a shit whether you get it, I wish Paul would get a fucking clue and stop ruining this fucking blog.

Of course I couldn't possibly care any fucking less whether anyone as mentally deficient as you thinks I'm stupid.

Posted by Max J on July 7, 2009 at 4:45 PM

The video of the blood-crying kid on the billboard is freaky as shit. Not gonna lie.

Posted by Zach Annon on July 7, 2009 at 5:13 PM

I was so disturbed by the severe eyebrow plucking the first flight attendant had undergone, that it took me quite a long while to realize she didn't need to take anything off to get naked.

Posted by Lurleen on July 7, 2009 at 5:14 PM

So, putting up a billboard the puts an excessive demand on a drivers attention during the very weather, raining, when you're trying to get them to pay more attention to the road is effective how?

Posted by JJM on July 7, 2009 at 5:28 PM

@8: Seriously? Paul Constant is ruining this blog for you? Paul Constant?

I can't imagine why anyone would single Paul Constant out for this honor. He doesn't hate men. Or women. Or Obama. Or pitbulls. He's probably the most mellow dude on the staff.

Max J, anyone who gets this worked up over someone like Paul has issues that could likely benefit from professional counseling.

Posted by seandr on July 7, 2009 at 10:16 PM

I especially love how the alleged "naked airline safety video" contains no nudity. Seriously, my prurient interest was all piqued and I sat through three and a half minutes of (admittedly sexy) people not being naked at all.

Posted by I have always been... east coaster on July 8, 2009 at 1:18 AM

One of my brothers lives in NZ with his Kiwi wife, and family. I was visiting back in Feb. & March. It's a beautiful country. It's different, but I can see why they decided to raise their children there.

Many folks do drive micro cars, and most of the roads are narrow, winding, one lane in each direction deals. There no multi-lane highways between major cities, although in Wellington, there was a short stretch to the surrounding suburbs. Through the mountains, it can be a bit unnerving, but it's sort of nice if you're not in a hurry...not that you have a choice if you are.

Posted by Rob in Baltimore