Storytelling Advice from The Economist

Worth remembering, ESPECIALLY if you’re doing cross-media stuff.

What we share with our dogs ... compressed in one little ad.

This certified tearjerker, by Leo Burnett for Purina, talks to dog owners the same way Blédina first did moms. It acknowledges that love -- and that being responsible for something besides yourself -- is complicated. But that's part of what makes it worth experiencing.

"Promise me we'll never end up like our parents."

I love this ad that begins and ends with the same fated line.

Angela's Superfast Super Bowl Ad Rundown

Ads that were reasonably okay: Fiat "Seduction" (above), Audi's Twilight jab, Samsung's controversial stylus revolution, H&M/Beckham's tribute to the classic CK/Wahlberg ad, and FirstBank's pee break (only in Colorado).

Chevy Sonic gets an honourable mention for its OK Go alliance; it would've been great if Chevy hadn't soured the water with the Ford rip in First Half.

And don't even talk to me about that Clint Eastwood Halftime in America crap. W+K are masterful storytellers but that piece reeks of politics and promises utterly hollowed by the fact those wankers took bailout money. That your enterprise exists is a privilege, not a right, and if you think otherwise you don't get to push the "bootstraps" button. We didn't get bailouts.

Otherwise, lots of Americana, cars and dogs this year. When I finally have Prohibition nostalgia maybe I'll like the Budweiser ads, too.

Awkward Gift Time

Kito, who is paying Europe a visit: So Angela. Do you have any feelings about Ghirardelli chocolate?

Me: I guess I like the peppermint kind.

Kito: Do you ever have overwhelming urges to eat it? Are you ever like, "God, I could kill for some Ghiradelli chocolate right now"?

Me: Not really. Why?

Kito: Oh. Because here is a pack of Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate that I brought as a present for you. Don't worry though, they were on sale and I got some for my ex-girlfriend too.

Thanks again, Keet. Image credit: Hungeree.

Recipe for Defeating the Mean Reds

1. Kusmi almond green tea.
2. Jean-Luc Godard's Une Femme est Une Femme. Anna Karina is magic in it, and it's probably the one Godard film where he doesn't kill her. Also, in the film her name is Angela, which makes me feel extra nice.