I Can't Believe It

For those who don't live in the UK there is a product here which you may or may not have heard of. It's a margarine called "I can't believe it's not butter". I believe it was originally from the United States but I have no idea if it's available elsewhere in the world under that name. I don't use it myself but I am quite taken with the linguistic aspects of the latest advertising campaign promoting the new improved version.
It uses the slogan "I can't believe 'I can't believe it's not butter' is better" which it subsequently expands into "I can't believe 'I can't believe 'I can't believe it's not butter' is better' is better than 'I can't believe it's not butter'".

Ain't English wonderful?


And for those who would like more on the subject.

Ongoing #42

The next doodle shows a group of people standing around a birthday cake.

The Birthday

He went and bought a birthday card
And sent it to himself
And when the postman brought it,
He put it on the shelf.

He wrapped himself a birthday gift
And tied it with a bow.
He feigned delight on opening
And cried, "How did you know?"

He baked himself a birthday cake,
For each year lit a candle,
And made the wish he always made
To lead a life of scandal.

He sang himself a birthday song
And finished with a cheer.
He opened up the fridge, then sat
And drank a can of beer.

He gave himself the birthday bumps -
The task was rather vexed
But tradition is tradition and
The bumps were what came next.

He allowed himself a birthday treat
And stayed up rather late,
Played Windows hearts and solitaire
And whispered, "Ain't life great!"

No real spoilers here.

Still a bit about the Doctor Who finale though so if you'd rather not take the chance, don't read on.

Just a brief note about a textbook example of how to write well but manage brevity. In a single scene, with entirely convincing dialogue, Steven Moffat managed to establish that we were in a new Universe, describe how the new Universe differed from the old one, explain that there were some people who remembered the old one, briefly give some hints about the social set up in the new UK, show that Amelia's aunt not only considered her to have mental problems but had tried to get them treated AND include a joke about Richard Dawkins.

It's taken almost as many words for me to describe it as he used to do it. If that isn't a model of concise writing, I don't know what is.

Public Service Announcement

On my "Forthcoming Attractions" post my friend David Love has posted a comment. In case you don't read the comments here it is again.

I'll do a deal. I'll let you show me yours on Thursday August 26th if I can show you mine on Thursday July 29th at the Brewood Acoustic Music club. Admission charge likely to be pretty much the same or perhaps one pound more just to keep up the quality threshold. All you've got to do is find Brewood Cricket Club. More info at http://brewoodacousticmusic.co.uk/whats-on

 I can't go but if anyone is in the area I'd recommend giving it a look. I've been listening to Dave's music since we were at school, far too many years ago to count, and it always makes me smile. (Sometime's it makes me laugh, but let's not be too critical. :) )

This has been a Public Service Announcement.