Weird adverts etc

There are some very strange advertisements on American television. I remember when we moved from South Africa to Australia, we were all shocked at the notion of comparative advertising, but in the US I am amazed always by the amount of prescription drug advertising. There are some classics at the moment - a group of women lunching (all glossy and gorgeous), when one pipes up about the new contraceptive pill she is taking. She then continues eating her salad whilst saying things like "but those with a high risk of liver disease or a family history of strokes should consult their doctor first!" Her friends of course are all blown away by this, and so excited to try this new product. Then one says "Wow, you really know your stuff" and she smirks and replies "Well, I didn't go to medical school for nothing". Gee, just who you want to be having lunch with I say - such interesting conversation.
But my current favourite is for the new Frommers Guide which provides those unfortunate people with Overactive Bladders their own travel guide on where to find the nearest restroom in major holiday cities in the US. The advert is quite long, and involves a group of people of a certain age (ie glossy skin and toned bodies but coiffed greying hair) on various holidays. Pick the one with OAB - could it be the woman who, whilst hiking with her gang of OAPs, ducks behind the nearest tree? Spot her again when out to lunch in a capital city somewhere, looking pensive then making furtive hurried enquiries of the waiter. There are a number of scenarios all involving this poor woman ducking away from her friends, then coming back with a big smile. Now if only she had the handy guide, she could stop looking so pensive. Aaaah, she does have the guide - now they show her ducking off just as often, but with an air of assurance. For more information (and to prove I'm not joking) please check out the following website ... www.WheretoStopWheretoGo.com
I don't think it is such a bad idea for the rest of us though - given that Arthur Frommer has personally done the research (hands up who thinks Mr Frommer might be suffering from OAB?) I would be surprised if he doesn't give star ratings also. And it is always nice to know where the nearest convenience is even for those of us without OAB...
So what other adverts on TV are cool? Well, there is a whole series of adverts for California cheese. Whilst I refuse to eat the stuff (I am guessing it is that nasty orange variety), the adverts are quite funny. They involve a series of adverts about the Happy Cows, each with our heroine up to various tricks (our heroine is a sassy cow and her friends (not cartoon ones)). In one, she and her friend play "knock and run" on the farmer. In another she joins in a game of football with some bulls, and so on. But they are very funny. You can see these online too ...
http://www.realcaliforniacheese.com/happyCows/default.cfm?sub=happyCows&page=2&start=1
Oh, and last night on TV they replayed Broken Trail - I didn't watch it again, but what a fantastically put together mini series. I bought the book afterwards and that was a pretty good read too - highly recommended.
I also have just finished reading "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston. Fantastic book. I mainly read it because I will be staying at the Akwaaba Inn in Washington DC, and the rooms are named after famous writers, including Zora Hurston. But I raced through it - very well written I thought, and I didn't really want it to end. So now at the breakfast table I will have something to talk about. I am now halfway through "The Man in my Basement" by Walter Mosley (who also has a room named after him). I am going to be able to hold my own anyway if a literary discussion starts up!!