A: His children.

If you haven’t seen the Google Chrome spot on fatherhood, check it here. You won’t be disappointed. In fact, the storyline will get you, the score rocks, you have to read it to get it (which everyone says is a no-no) and it leaves you both happy and hopeful. In a word, this TV spot is perfection. And in my mind, it’s the best 1:32 you can spend on YouTube.

A: McDonald’s.

This question comes as proof to two things: One, I’m old. And two, I’ve been at the mercy of advertising since I was a kid. Because I loved this commercial. When I was a kid. Which is way before other people that I work with were kids. And that was made clearly obvious when I asked a few people if they knew the answer to this question and they missed it without the help of our friend Google.

Here’s what else this tells me… just because you’re nostalgic about a brand doesn’t necessarily translate to spending money with a brand. Yes, I loved this commercial. Yes, I had a birthday party at McDonald’s when I turned 8. Yes, a Big Mac is the bomb. But I don’t eat there. I haven’t eaten there in eons. And my 5 and 7 year-old kids have never even been inside a McDonald’s. (Not kidding.) What I love about the McDonald’s brand is what it used to mean to me. Not what it can do for me now.

So when thinking about creating content for the brands that I work on, there’s a line that has to be drawn between advertising that makes you feel good and advertising that makes you buy. Because if people aren’t buying, then there is no brand.

Oh, and if you want to watch the silly old commercial that got this whole thing going, you can find it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBwv3DoQNCA

A: It’s now possible, with Fatty Natty Light.

I almost ran into the outdoor board when i saw the headline: Wrap Your Hands Around a Fatty. A Fatty Natty? Is this for real??? Apparently so… it has it’s own facebook promotion. So what did I learn from this lunch experience? I’m NOT (maybe never have been?) the target audience for this campaign. Now… can somebody pass me a Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout?

A: Haw and Caw are incorrect.

And I wasn’t the only one who guessed that. But we were close -
it’s Heckle & Jeckle! Hello random knowledge.

A: Have you ever asked anyone if their meal is authentic?

I know, you’re not supposed to answer a question with a question. But both answers are a resounding no (except if your are indeed David Anderson, who has no problem asking if lunch is authentic). I’ve now worked with David for 14 years. Gulp. That’s hard to even type. But he’s brought me up right, I guess. Because at the stroke of noon, my body says it’s time for lunch. Even today, when we were prepping for a 1:00 client meeting, he told me to write faster so we could go grab some grub. I did, naturally. And while we dined at the famous Groucho’s Deli, I got to hear how he took his youngest to college last week, how he needed at least two dill pickles to finish out his meal and how my heels were too high. This is typical DA style – he tells it like he sees it. I just wish he was in Columbia more often so we’d get numerous chances to reminisce over 14 years of crazy stories. Is that authentic? I thinks so.

A) It’s almost basketball season!!!

As a Tar Heel, I frequently get razzed about our football team. This year is no exception with coachgetsfired-gate going on at my beloved school. Just ask Tim Kelly – he gives me hell constantly (on more topics than just athletics, BTdub).

Frequently during lunch, I’ll see what’s abuzz in ad news. Today on AdAge I found an interesting tidbit about an agency review for Under Armor’s basketball shoe. Here’s what I find interesting about the article, which you can read here: the creative featured in the jump is freaking awesome. Under Armor used twofifteenmccann for creative and the directorial beauty of Peter Berg to create this TV spot titled Footsteps. Check it out. Now. Because even this college basketball fan can appreciate the anticipation of football season after watching this spot.

PS – For the record, I wish the other three contenders for the Under Armor’s basketball campaign good luck. Because beating out twofifteenmccann is gonna be tough.

A: Looks to be mid-70s, but it is indeed 2011.

We took a stroll a lunchtime stroll to my favorite place to eat and drink beer – Hunter Gatherer. I promise not to digress about how good the food is. Promise.

Me and the two twin towers (that’d be the much taller than me Andy Riley and Mark Newsome) decided to walk back to the office through campus, since it’s the first day of class. What did I see? A tall pair of tube socks circa 1978 on a girl waiting on the bus and a guy riding a bike with a red headband. (My seven-year-old would so rock that.) Also happened to run into Intern Sally – she was awesome when she was here last semester – as well as Larry Pierce, the Director of University Publications.

So, while I’m name dropping, I guess I should also mention that while at HG for lunch I got to meet Mr. Shop Tart and Robby Robertson – and I saw my buddy Jennifer McSwain as well. Oh, and guess who else was there? David Campbell. Because he knows people.

All in all, it was a great lunch hour. And I’m honored to let you know that the sports styles made famous in the 70′s are now playing at a college campus near you.

A: Bob Garfield knows.

Bob Garfield taught me something new. But Andy Riley is who raised my awareness. Earlier today I sent out a message to our colleagues about the downside of tweeting – basically that you are held accountable for anything you publish. Anything. Did I mention ANYTHING?

Anyways… Andy read the article that I had posted, then jumped to another one on the same matter by Bob. I can call him that, right? You can find it here: http://adage.com/article/bob-garfield/chrysler-tweet-controversy-shows-brand-journalism-a-lie/149489/

In the article, the famous AdWeeker references hagiographic near the end. Hagio-what? That’s what Andy and I both said. Merriam-Webster lists it as having to do with a biography of saints or other venerated persons. (You can get the full definition is here.) Bob’s using it in reference to Chrysler’s famous “Imported From Detroit” ad campaign. The article is interesting, but the language in it (and I don’t mean the expletives) taught two writers a new word. Good job, Bob!

A: 8.8 million people watched the Jersey Shore premiere last Thursday night. 8.8 MILLION! What else I learned: PaulyD is a DJ, he’s on the road with Britney Spears (she’s touring?) and he likes to keep his hair on point – like his style.

I’ve decided that I need certain segments to make sure I’m blogging more regularly. That’s why I’ve started a lunch and learn post. Can’t promise it will be everyday… but I’ll try my best. And what goes better with lunch at your desk than a quick peek at today’s news? Or should I say un-news in this case. I decided to watch the Hoda & Kathy Lee interview of PaulyD. First off, I should say that I don’t typically watch Hoda & Kathy Lee. Secondly, I should quantify that I don’t religiously watch Jersey Shore. But I do catch up on the reruns every once in a while. I didn’t realize it started this week, so when I saw this clip, I watched to see what all was going on.

Want to hear more? You can check out the clip here: PaulyD

Hope you feel more intelligent now knowing this all-too-unimportant info. And may your lunch be yummy in your tummy.