virus: infomercial

David McFadzean (david@kumo.com)
Mon, 29 Dec 1997 14:25:28 -0700


At 10:58 PM 12/27/97 -0800, Tim Rhodes wrote:

>Why not try to compose the script for a CoV commercial (or more insidious,
>an *infomercial*) here on the list? It would make for interesting
>discussions on the role of influence and belief (both the submission to and
>suspension of). And if *we* can't create an infectious idea here, in this
>forum, we should hand in our papers and disband the church right now. How
>can we rule the world if we can't even compose an advertisement? :-)

I like this idea. Does anyone know much about Macromedia Flash? What
I'm envisioning is a web-based infomercial, perhaps a leader into the
main site. The layout would look something like this (assuming you're
reading this in a fixed-width font):

+----+----------+
| a | |
| | |
+----+ |
| | c |
| | |
| b | |
| | |
+----+----------+

This could be centered on the page with a clever use of borderless frames.
(a) and (b) are both animated GIFs displaying a rapid succession of symbols
(for Wade :-) biohazard, crucifix, star of David, Nike swoop, the Ideohazard(tm),
no smoking sign, etc., etc., and images from pop culture: Scooby-doo, Hitler,
Warhol's Marilyn, Tiannemen square, etc., etc.

(c) is a Flash movie displaying just text like the titles of a movie (I'm
thinking high contrast, jittery transition text in hipster dirtied-up font
like the titles from "7" and "The Jackal".)

Now then, the hard part: what to say?

First pass (just brainstorming), each successive line will fade in as
the previous fades out...

we know what you want
happiness
well-being
a meaningful life
all are possible to attain
they are connected

meaning is effect
a meaningful life is an effective life
the name of the game is
influence

ideas spread like viruses
you are what you read
you are your ideas
choosing your experiences creates you

[someone else take over]

--
David McFadzean                 david@kumo.com
Memetic Engineer                http://www.kumo.com/~david/
Kumo Software Corp.             http://www.kumo.com