Progressive Insurance & Quaker Oats - very deceptive

It seems that a lot of foreign owned companies want to hide any indication that they aren't Australian.
When I discovered that Red Rock Deli had made sure that their American owners (Smiths Chips & PepsiCo) are not acknowledged anywhere on their packaging or website, I've been looking out for other American/Foreign companies that are deceptively releasing products in Australia as if they are locally owned (by not declaring their parent companies, which could be seen as bad publicity for not being Aussie-Owned).

In the last couple weeks, two big name American Brands suddenly started appearing on our TV screens... and it would only be obvious to people who have spent time in America.

The first is Progressive Insurance. And the DECEPTION in this instance is redubbing their iconic commercials in "Aussie" accents.
For those who are unfamiliar, the Progressive Insurance commercials have a cult following in America, because they have this one lady (Flo) in a white "store", talking about all sorts of weird things during the commercials.
Okay... go have a look at this commercial on Progressive's own youtube channel, and watch a few others (there are heaps over the years). Flo has a very distinctive American accent, so when I saw the Aussie-dubbed version for the first time last week, it felt "wrong" because I was looking at something I was so familiar with, but not hearing it the way it should be.
Then I realised that it would have been a marketing decision.  For that American company to enter the Australian market, they would have assessed there being a certain level of resistance by consumers here if they heard the American speaking, leading them to find out that it was an American company taking our money. Marketing would have ascertained that people would be more comfortable risking their money on a local company... or at least, a company that "sounds" local.

The Second is Quaker Oats.
I saw these at a Coles Express, and immediately recognised it as being a long-time American brand (owned by PepsiCo).
Nothing so wrong there, as Oreo's broke into our market some years ago before the exchange rate was as good as it is now... it is only natural that we are going to see a lot more American brands in Australian retails stores while the AU$ is above 1 US$.
The thing that got me with Quaker Oats as being DECEPTIVE though, was when I saw the TV commercial. It emphasised the product as being made from Australian Oats, with no mention of it not being an Australian company (which it does mention on the packaging).

Maybe we should have tighter advertising laws in Australia, that forces products to declare their source (where they are made) and their owners (where the profit goes)... without being able to highlight just one, without mentioning the other that would work against them.

Unplanned purchase

Went out yesterday to buy a new battery for my notebook computer, and came home with a whole new notebook computer instead. (shrug)

My current one is about 3 or 4 years old now, bought about this time of year for my travels to Toyfair and BotCon... so needed to upgrade.
With Windows 7 and Intel i7, for only $900*, this should cover me for another 3 to 4 years.

*the old one was about $1500 when I bought it, so it feels good to get something more powerful for a lot less... and the guy in the store knocked off $100, bringing it down to the same price of the i5 version sitting next to it. Free upgrade... very nice. :)

Stupid drivers

Why is it... when you're long-distance driving, and approaching a temporary over-taking lane, the moron in front of you who's been stuck at 20ks under the limit and holding everyone up, suddenly goes up to and over the speed limit so that you can't legally overtake them in that short space of twin lanes. Then when the over-taking lane ends, their speed drops again.
There should be a law against it... or at least one that legally allows you to nudge them off the road like a bumper-car. :p

Birthday thankyous

Now that the last of my own Birthday presents has finally arrived, I wanted to recap and thank those who sent me presents or messages on my birthday about a week ago.
This was the first birthday since my Grandmother Jocelyn died, which made it feel a bit more empty than usual.  She would always get the date wrong, and send me a birthday card a month early, but would always remember. I always felt bad for telling her that she got it wrong, because you're supposed to be thanking someone for caring enough to send something, but every year it would be slightly spoilt by having to point out that I hadn't had my birthday yet.  But I'd gladly have that back, if it meant having her around for a few more birthdays.  She died well before her time, and was a great loss to everyone around her.


Back to the birthday stuff... sooo, I'd like to thank myself for all the toys I got for my birthday... oh wait, that's just wrong... :p

Okay, aside from the toys (most were in that November photo I posted up the other day), I got 3 DVDs from my friend Julian (who had the cheek to remind me of my age :p ), an e-card from Pam, and TXT messages from my younger brother, sister and friend Jimmy.
Thanks guys. :D