I used to like flipping through the info-zine sent to me by my health insurance provider (the AOK). At least there were occasional tips on regional bike tours and colorful recipes. I was frankly impressed at any communication beyond, "Yes [or no] this is[n't] covered." Suitable bathroom reading. Then one day I stumbled across the ad for diet pills. The perfect cliché: a somber-looking woman in a white leotard, big boned but delicately featured, crouches in a dimly lit corner hugging her knees. OK, it was an advertisement. But any semi-serious publication has to use a bit more discretion. I mean, corralling women into eating disorder clinics? Isn't that expensive? I still like that they subsidize my yoga classes, but the magazine tends to land unopened in the recycling of late.
This morning another schizophrenic moment, brought to you by the Frankfurter Rundschau:
The headline on the left reads: "Climate Legislation Refused". It lightly chastises the Merkel administration for failing to enact binding measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Germany. "Great!" I thought. "Climate change hasn't completely disappeared from German consciousness, and the newspaper gives weight to Merkel critics."
To the right: Frankfurt to Dublin for 44.99 Euro round-trip.
Moment of outrage, flying breakfast cereal: "Is this an earnest attempt to inform the public, or just an opportunistic rag?"
Moment of calm, sip of juice: "Maybe the ad was subversively placed."
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