July 2008
Selling it
Reality check
Real strawberries? Yup, freeze-dried strawberries appear midway through the ingredients list. But what’s farther up? "Strawberry flavored apples." In other words, there are unreal strawberries, too.
Real strawberries? Yup, freeze-dried strawberries appear midway through the ingredients list. But what’s farther up? "Strawberry flavored apples." In other words, there are unreal strawberries, too.
What’s old is new
"Since 1835, Lea & Perrins has been the one truly authentic brand of Worcestershire Sauce," the bottle notes, with "only the finest ingredients sourced from around the world to produce a flavor unmatched for over 170 years." A reader wondered how this age-old tradition made room for the sauce’s third-listed ingredient: high fructose corn syrup. That was introduced in the 1970s.
"Since 1835, Lea & Perrins has been the one truly authentic brand of Worcestershire Sauce," the bottle notes, with "only the finest ingredients sourced from around the world to produce a flavor unmatched for over 170 years." A reader wondered how this age-old tradition made room for the sauce’s third-listed ingredient: high fructose corn syrup. That was introduced in the 1970s.
Why is this woman smiling?
We doubt she’s anticipating the "certain things" cited in this pitch for Macy’s Credit Protection Program, which include losing your job, being hospitalized, becoming disabled, being deployed by the military services, and receiving "a terminal medical condition diagnosis."
We doubt she’s anticipating the "certain things" cited in this pitch for Macy’s Credit Protection Program, which include losing your job, being hospitalized, becoming disabled, being deployed by the military services, and receiving "a terminal medical condition diagnosis."
Ever heard of John Adams?
He was the actual President No. 2 and was said to have been somewhat vain. So he would have been honked off to find that he was replaced by Jefferson in this ad for a bust from the United States Commemorative Gallery, "a private gallery not affiliated with the United States Government."
He was the actual President No. 2 and was said to have been somewhat vain. So he would have been honked off to find that he was replaced by Jefferson in this ad for a bust from the United States Commemorative Gallery, "a private gallery not affiliated with the United States Government."
Black Hole Award
This unsolicited mailing was remarkable not only for its attempt to rope in a nonsmoker but for its waste of paper. The "bold new pack" inside the nesting boxes was empty except for a coupon—for one full pack.
This unsolicited mailing was remarkable not only for its attempt to rope in a nonsmoker but for its waste of paper. The "bold new pack" inside the nesting boxes was empty except for a coupon—for one full pack.
Grows like a…weed
According to this ad, the Royal Paulownia tree ($3.98) is "one of the most incredible sights in all of nature!" It also "zooms another foot higher every time you water it!" But do you want it to? The Plant Conservation Alliance lists this non-native tree among its "Least Wanted." The group notes that mature Paulownias are "often structurally unsound" and gives advice on how to control their spread. One state, Connecticut, has actually banned the tree as potentially invasive.
According to this ad, the Royal Paulownia tree ($3.98) is "one of the most incredible sights in all of nature!" It also "zooms another foot higher every time you water it!" But do you want it to? The Plant Conservation Alliance lists this non-native tree among its "Least Wanted." The group notes that mature Paulownias are "often structurally unsound" and gives advice on how to control their spread. One state, Connecticut, has actually banned the tree as potentially invasive.
