The truth about youth

Welcome to Idealog Weekly, the free email newsletter for New Zealand commercial creatives, entrepreneurs and anyone rich with ideas.

In this week’s issue: the truth about youth, on the map, simple minds, FYI, beware of the alien, the big event and quote of the week .

The truth about youth

If you’re getting a bit long in the tooth but want to keep up with those who’ve not long had theirs, check out Peter Urlich’s words of wisdom. Among the pearls: if you don’t want to be a grumpy old man, don’t be grumpy.

On the map

If you’re still wallowing in despair over our recently reported state of the economy, don’t visit this site. If you do, you’ll find an American map where states have been replaced with countries with a similar GDP—like ‘New Zealand’ over the tiny Washington DC. Never mind, just seeing a U.S state renamed ‘Iran’ should cheer you up.

Simple minds

If you hanker for the simple old days, when hedgehogs weren’t sonic, here’s a lovely old Russian children’s animation called Hedgehog in the Fog. Made in 1975 by the talented Yuriy Norshteyn, it now lives on YouTube, where it’s doing much more for the idea of marriage between young and old than Rod and Penny.

FYI

We all know we’re known for our sheep overseas, but how many of us know what they’re doing with them? Er, let me rephrase that: do you know what they’re doing with our wool in say, Sweden? They’re giving it one of their top designers, Calle Henzel, who’s weaving it into carpets with graphic designs like the Heimlich maneuver. Oh, but of course.

Beware of the alien

Last week we pointed out the quirks of Australian law, the place where you can wear speedos anywhere but pink hotpants only before 12pm on a Sunday. Well the okkers are at the helm of hypocrisy again. Adland is reporting that an animated McDonald’s ad depicting a girl being abducted by aliens has been pulled, following complaints from parents clearly concerned their child will jump in the next UFO that pulls up to their child’s school.

This Nando’s ad however, showing a naked pole dancing mother, can stay, says the country’s ad watchdog—despite provoking a mere 200 complaints. But maybe we shouldn’t be surprised. This is the same bunch of people who canned an ad featuring a man in a bunny suit being tripped up by a shopkeeper—because of one complaint of animal cruelty.

The big event

If you’re in the capital this weekend, pay the king a visit. Becoming King Kong is on at the Dowse, and it promises to be huge, gargantuan even.

Red hot
If you’re a bit of a secret fashionista, but you don’t want your friends to think you’re shallow, here’s the perfect event for you—a fashion show in aid of the Auckland City Mission. To the tune of 48May, Steve Abel, Motocade and Frankie Stevens, the ‘I see red celebrity fashion show’ will feature red designer outfits on red-hot celebrity bodies.

Check out Idealog’s events guide, Agenda, online and in print. Anyone can add an event to Agenda—just fill out the form on our website.

Quote of the week

“I wake up in the middle of the night and think, ‘Oh God, I’m in the public spotlight and people are going to think that I’m a wanker.’ So I wrote it on my shirt—before someone else did.”

—Peter Urlich in Staying forever young

More at Idealog online

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  Gena Tuffery
  Senior writer

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