LanceWillett.com

Why do you have to be a nonconformist like everybody else?

—James Thurber

Overheard on a local radio station:

This commercial-free hour is brought to you by (company name).

It is not really free of commercials, now, is it? It might just be me, but that statement seems ludicrous. Isn’t mentioning the hour’s sponsor a type of commercial?

I love to see how people play with words and meaning—especially in media and advertising. This reminds me of the slogan for shoes made of “genuine imitation leather.” At first glance you are thinking, “Wow, what a great deal.” Then, “Wait a minute. That’s not right!”