It's time for an Oko-tober Fest!

Only the top left motto is real!

Okotoks is a town in Alberta, Canada. It recently unveiled a humble new tourism motto:

“There are a number of things to do in Okotoks.” 

The folks at the Calgary Herald thought that was pretty funny, and they came up with their own riffs on it!

I love summer, because I switch from sweaters to "textured vests"

Behold, the power of CUP NOODLE!

You HAVE to eat candy

I learn a lot by reading ads from the past. Like this one that a sugar company put up in 1946. It says “Pure, wholesome candy in reasonable amounts and at the right time is a valuable factor in balanced nutrition at all ages.”

Yeah, you NEED candy. It's as important as fruits and vegetables! “Candy is an energy food.”

I'm stoked! Do you know what kind of weather we have outside?

That's right: BEANS 'N' WEANERS WEATHER!

Via.

This is an... interesting shampoo ad

What?!

Okay, now THAT is a weird ad. (Via.)

too bad it was just my arm

Happy Valentine's Day

"For Valentine's Day, nothings says 'I love you' like affordable, reliable trash service!"

As my friend Donna said, "Nothing's more tragic than unrecycled love."

What a great ad.

Did you know that Caesar loved Twinkies?

I learned it from Captain America! See, there was this time warp and . . . oh, just read it.

• "These creatures are truly advanced. They have created these delicious golden cakes. Look, Caesar, they have CREAMED FILLING inside."
• "Delightful."

Marvel Team-Up ad, 1978.

Sweet kid

Dang, I actually LIKE this ad!

"Shhh! I'll see you at . . . the Fashion Shack!"

Why read on paper?

This modern ad in a retro style makes a case for it.

Via.

Wait a minute...

So the idea is that you put the invisible helmet on, and everyone is amazed because they can't see your head anymore. But wouldn't the same thing work with a bucket? (Via, by way of here.)

That's just ridiculous.

Look at this Harper Perennial book ad that's running in N+1 magazine:

Crazy. I mean, who's going to buy a book just because some marketing yokel stuck a kitten on it? Am I right, people?

By the way, if you haven't seen my Cute! blog, it's a great introduction to the material in my new book, Cute! A Guide to All Things Adorable. Thank you.

Macra-Mates must be eliminated.

"Babs Applegate" wrote the cover story? Of course she did.

Yesterday, my wife saw a guy with a bunch of macramé plant hangers crossing the street .

"Looks like someone's getting his weave on," she said.

And along DIY lines, this is still one of my all-time favorite ads:

Via.

In the days when children's books ruled the world...

Esquire, February 1958.

Eloise, the girl who lived at the Plaza Hotel, was the center of four famous books in the 1950s that were written by Kay Thompson and illustrated by Hilary Knight. She was so famous that despite the fact that Eloise couldn't drive (and was fictional), Renault hired the little moppet to advertise its latest offering, the Dauphine. 

(Memo to Nissan and/or GM: If you need a children's author to plug the Leaf or Volt, I'm available.)

"We pursue your litigation with tunnel vision."

Surprisingly, Brown & Brown Attorneys (specializing in personal injuries!) is real. And as my brother-in-law pointed out, they'll keep their eye on the prize . . . for a small retainer fee.

The jokes on the criminals! I've got nothing to steal anyway.

Because I've got nothing to steal.

From an ad that ran in Popular Science, 1938. (Via.)

"Six Finger": A delightful hybrid of toy and prosthetic limb!