Over the last few days, I've read a series of blog articles decrying the representations of women in advertising, so much so that I've begun to feel pretty sleazy about my chosen profession.

First, there is this article from Adrants discussing an ad campaign for American Apparel, and asking whether it borders on pornography. Frankly, it's a question that doesn't need to be asked - the blurred line is whether or not this could be considered child pornography. I find the whole set of images very disturbing, much more so than the Calvin Klein ads from a few years back over which there was much ballyhoo.

Next there was this little item I happened upon from Japan - I don't know what a Pocky is, so I may be missing some subtle in-joke. I'd be happy to be told by anyone out there.

Finally, Transbuddha, one of my favorite irreverent blogs, actually produced a series of seven posts examining female sterotypes in advertising from around the world (1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7). It's not the most scholarly of examinations, but the point is made.

The ad agency I work for regularly claims the heritage of having one of the very first women Creative Directors in the 1930s. Doesn't seem like we've come a long way in the last 75 years.

You can spend 48 hours watching your NCAA office pool picks go down one by one,
or you can put down the nachos and do something.

Opening weekend at Coney. Free ride on the Cyclone for the first 200 in line.

If your tastes lean more towards furnishings than ferris wheels, the Pier Antiques Show is in town.

Second weekend at the Greater New York show at PS1, so the crowds will only be insane, instead of unbearable.

Check out one of the city's two bed-themed clubs, Duvet or B.E.D.

And finally, in the "now there's something you don't see every day in Manhattan" department, I give you the Big Apple Grapple.

Scaramouch - If you're looking to load up the site with some quirky-but-pointless bells and whistles, try changing the cursor into our YesButNoButYes logo.

We've all seen Photo blogs by now.
Bor-ring!!
There's a lot of good sketch blogs out there. Here's a smattering of them.

kristen's sketchblog

See Kyle Draw

Ivan Brunetti's Doodle a day

Pants Press Sketchblog

Mike Wieringo

David Lanham

Invisible Man

Gelatometti

Daily Scribble Sketchblog

Opipop Sketchblog

And so, Scott Peterson enters death row, guilty of murdering both his wife and his unborn child in cold blood, probably so that he could continue an affair with another woman. Lacey's mom sends him off with a request to "Burn in hell", which I imagine is more than likely.

Yet CNN is reporting that on his very first day on death row at San Quentin, two seperate women called to say they were interested in marrying him.

I know love works in mysterious ways, but can anyone please explain this to me?