Newspapers Run Ads About Fake Derrie-Air

I was just reading this amusing story of a fake airline, and ad, and the buzz that it is causing. I hope you enjoy this Friday afternoon "humor" snack!!

Derrie-Air has been exposed. Readers of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News opened their papers Friday to see ads for a new airline called Derrie-Air, which purportedly charges passengers by the pound.

But the new carrier will never get off the ground. It's a one-day advertising campaign about a fake airline by Philadelphia Media Holdings, the papers' owner, and Gyro ad agency.

In light blue banners throughout the papers — as well as on their Web site, Philly.com — Derrie-Air cheerily trumpets its policy: The more you weigh, the more you pay. The ads direct readers to the Web site http://www.flyderrie-air.com.

link to full story

ID-Protection Ads Bite Pitchman

This first story is funny, because it is one of those where you say "no kidding" or "How did it take so long to happen". It is about the Lifelock guy and his ads advertising his social security number, and saying how safe his company can make you. Right away I figured some smart hacker would use his number and access services, credit, etc., and while what happened was not too bad, it still shows that his company cannot protect you from "real" criminals.

It reads:
Todd Davis has dared criminals for two years to try stealing his identity: Ads for his fraud-prevention company, LifeLock, even offer his Social Security number next to his smiling mug.

Now, Lifelock customers in Maryland, New Jersey and West Virginia are suing Davis, claiming his service didn't work as promised and he knew it wouldn't, because the service had failed even him.

Attorney David Paris said he found records of other people applying for or receiving driver's licenses at least 20 times using Davis' Social Security number, though some of the applications may have been rejected because data in them didn't match what the Social Security Administration had on file.

Davis acknowledged in an interview with The Associated Press that his stunt has led to at least 87 instances in which people have tried to steal his identity, and one succeeded: a guy in Texas who duped an online payday loan operation last year into giving him $500 using Davis' Social Security number.

LINK TO FULL STORY

Ad Says bin-Laden Should Hide In New Orleans

“Bin Laden would be smart to hide where the U.S. pays the least attention -- New Orleans,” reads one of five advertisements prepared for the nonprofit, which raises money to supply clothing, shelter and other services in the area.
The above advertisement is using a bit of humor to get the point across that we have forgotten about New Orleans, and that there is still a great need for aid to this region. It would seem that there has been a tendency to assume that because we do not hear about it everyday, that everything is going well, as the city continues to try and right itself.

Just last week there was also a story about illnesses that have come about from the FEMA trailers that many resident's live in, and the lack of interest by the authorities to address their concerns about these illnesses.

I know everyone enjoys bashing Bush over the mishandling of the situation during and after Katrina hit New Orleans, but I have not. I think there was enough blame to be leveled at the Governor, the Mayor and others who were on the ground, and everyone misjudged the ferocity of the storm. I think that people like Kanye West are totally wrong, when they say that Bush ignored what was going on, because he hates black people. What nonsense!

Personally, I do not think that they should have rebuilt New Orleans in the same location, but that is up to the powers that be. Perhaps these ads will get people to open their hearts and wallets and give a little more assistance to our fellow still suffering Americans. We are a very generous nation and as long as they do not play the Bush blame game, I would be willing to help a little more as well.

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