Nütrl and State Farm Bundle-Rooski… Commercials I Mute ASAP

There are a couple of commercials I can’t mute fast enough. I’ve already written about how much I dislike the Jersey Mike’s ads with Danny DeVito. Maybe I’m the problem but that short man has never, ever made me laugh even on “Friends” and “Always Sunny In Philadelphia.”

New additions to commercials I despise– the State Farm Bundle-Rooski with Patrick Mahomes, Coach Reid, and Jake. Something about how Andy Reid keeps repeating “bundle-rooski” as if he’s sped up 1.5x irritates me so much. His voice doesn’t even sound the same each time. It’s weird. Plus the tagline at the end (Jake: “Well…”) doesn’t land as comedy. Maybe if they were to cut the ad just as he starts to say “We—-” it might be more funny.

The next one is the woman in the Nütrl ads. I guess she’s a Saturday Night Live actress but her accent and the way she talks in these ads is SO irritating. I don’t drink but if I did, I still wouldn’t be buying Nütrl.

Danny DeVito, Coach Reid, and the Nutrl girl can go on, git!

-Out of the Wilderness

There’s Something Weird Going On At Coca-Cola

Is Coke going to be the October surprise we never saw coming? Especially because it’s now November! Something weird’s happening with Coke and it’s not just the AI they used in their 2024 Christmas commercial. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s not *that* bad. Take a look here. No one is letting it slide, though. How did executives at the world-renowned brand justify the use of artificial intelligence when their slogan is “the real thing”?

But then I saw another Coke Christmas commercial and thought to myself that they must be putting the AI thing to rest. This new one had real people. Real trucks. Real Santas. But hold your reindeer, it’s not that simple!

The tagline ends in the Spanish language. Awesome! Cool! Me gusto! But as I scrolled the portfolio of videos on Coke’s YouTube page, something odd came to light. There’s barely any English. Anywhere. Their videos are in Spanish, Greek, Hindi, Chinese, Vietnamese, and I only found one that was in English. That’s fine, too. I mean, Coke is a global brand. But wouldn’t it make sense that you’d have at least a few videos/commercials in the most common language in the world? When I’m scrolling their page, I get the same uneasy feeling I had watching Sleeping With the Enemy. Like something sinister is afoot. Either that, or the entire brand is struggling to find its identity…. which doesn’t really make sense because… it’s Coke. A beloved soda for generations.

OK, I’ve decided people need to be fired over there. If not for the strange obsession with Español (their top 17 videos are Spanish), then definitely for their depiction of a typical American Christmas in the ad below. @Dobro271 pointed out very perceptively…

We need something to bring us together this season. It should be Jesus but if not him, we’re looking at you, Coke, so get your act together… rápidamente!

-Out of the Wilderness

The Coke Christmas Commercial – Holidays Are Coming with Artificial Intelligence

Ahhhhh, it’s the holiday season! Cool mornings. Lights on houses. Bing Crosby on the radio. And Coca-Cola commercials. Except this time, one of these things is not like the others. With such a volatile culture, where it feels like we’re practically walking on egg shells, it’s nice to know that around Christmas time we’ll always have a warm, cheerful Coke commercial to bring us together. Well, folks are coming together but, unfortunately for Coca-Cola, it’s for all the wrong reasons. Met with firm rejection from most everyone with real intelligence, here’s Coke’s 2024 artificial intelligence-created Christmas ad.

As the kids would say… srsly? I find it hard to believe this was approved by X number of departments and executives. Needless to say, the obvious use of AI is not going over well; no one on social media is holding back. If you want a more detailed break down of the ad and the work that went into making the AI look real, check out this Forbes article.

If it weren’t for the song, I’d fully agree that the ad comes off more like a well-done high school project by a student who has a promising future. But for a billion-dollar brand that uses “always the real thing” as their catchphrase, maybe using fake intelligence isn’t the win they think it is. Plus, it pales in comparison to its predecessor from nearly 30 years ago, which looks a thousand percent better than the new one.

I actually felt a few goosebumps watching this old one. With the new ad, I feel nothing. It makes me wonder if other brands will embrace AI, too, and I’m thinking about the Budweiser clydesdale horses. If they’re turned into artificial intelligence, I’m moving out of the country. I’ve always wanted to live in Texas anyway.

-Out of the Wilderness

Triathlon Bicycle Accident – A Stitches Update

Over a month ago I experienced my first in-race accident as I cycled back towards the transition area for a sprint triathlon in northwest Florida. Did I crash into another cyclist? Bump pedals battling for the #1 spot? Nope and nope! If you guessed hitting a traffic cone, you win. Here are two recaps: The setup and The pictures (warning: Pics are detailed including cuts and blood).

But like I said, it’s been about a month and a half now. I’ve only ridden my bike a few times since then and I think part of that is because of a stress tucked back in my mind, not wanting to have a sequel, even if the accident wasn’t *that* bad. I went out for 18 miles this morning and just felt slow and cautious. Cars rolling by, sticks on the ground, a few wrong turns, deer crossing in front of me, and yes I definitely rolled over a squirrel but it scurried away so I’m going to assume it’s just fine. Run training has been fine, getting back into neighborhood runs as well as morning interval training. I’ve been swimming, too, and might have finally solved the pool chlorine allergy.

So the stitches. It was a horizontal mattress suture, I removed the stitches myself and everything has turned out really well. I’m so impressed with the doctors and staff at Gulf Breeze Hospital in the Pensacola area. Here are a couple of photos of “then”: the first few days of stitches and “now”: how the scar is looking today.

Then…

Now…

I don’t have any races planned for the rest of 2024 which makes me feel a little lost. I guess having something to work towards–an event on the calendar– is a huge motivator for working out. Who knew?

Do you have any scar stories you want to share? Leave a comment below…

-Out of the Wilderness

Apple Pay and Babe the Blue Ox Commercial – The Music and More

Do you know anyone who collects weird things? Or are you that someone? It’s ok, this is a safe space! And you’re not alone. I have little metal rings from all the dog collars one of my pups chewed through. And the woman in this commercial collects plates with various folktale images painted on them, displayed for all her friends and family to see. Completely useless without food on them but hey, ‘Merica! Freedom!

However, in this collection of plates, one is missing. This is where Apple Pay comes in. Check out the ad then scroll down for more info…

You can see the look of approval on the face of Paul Bunyan once the woman secures the plate. Never mind that he looks like the pastor at the church I used to go to in Nashville. Shoutout to Church at Avenue South and AB! I had to look up Babe the Blue Ox to be reminded of the connection with Paul Bunyan and then also found the random, large statues erected in Minnesota.

[pic from Google maps]

The Music. The soundtrack for this commercial is a song called “One Track Mind” by Chromeo, which couldn’t be more fitting for someone who gets fixated on something they MUST have, and then the adrenaline when there’s only one left. Here’s the full song from 2018.

I’m glad Darla Davidson was able to find the plate she’s probably wanted for a long time! It’ll give her such satisfaction having a full glass case of cherished antique plates. And yes, according to her Apple Pay credit card info, that’s the woman’s name. What can I say, I got fixated on finding little details about the ad!

-Out of the Wilderness