No, that's not just a voice in your head..

Just when we thought advertising couldn't get any more annoying, we ran across this: CBS has successfully learned to embed talking video ads inside print magazines.

As a marketing stunt to promote its fall TV lineup, CBS is inserting thousands of two-inch screens in copies of NYC and LA- distributed Entertainment Weekly mags, which will play about 40 minutes of clips from shows like Two and a Half Men.

Check out the video example of this.

We have a few issues with this entire shenanigan.

First of all, when we read magazines, we like to read them in peace. Simply viewing a print ad is completely different from having to listen to/watch an irritating voice screech out to you about its company/brand.

And secondly, we can't even begin to imagine how ludicrously expensive this whole concept must be. To make up for costs, are magazine prices going to rise? Can you imagine if this became the future of magazines- spending $15 for Self or Us Weekly? If so, then this is the quickest way to send print media six feet under.

Photo pulled from CNET

A&F----Accidents and Follies?

The Cut from NYMag discusses Abercombie's latest move: after losing over 25 million in this second quarter, they are............lowering prices! And that's not at all- the label will be shutting down some stores as well. 

A&F, Abercrombie Kids and Hollister has always prided itself for its exorbitantly high prices and targeting pre-teens and teens with All-American looking, semi-naked, buff Caucasian models. People flock to the stores to buy a cotton, gray shirt with a moose/bird/some sort of creature on it for approximately $50. 

In response, the company's CEO Michael Jeffries said "We are young. We are sexy. We are controversial at times. That's what we know how to do and that's the business we own here and are comfortable that we can around the world." 

 It's definitely going to be interesting to see what happens to 'sexy' when "Sale" and "25% off" signs appear on the stores' windows. Maybe the sexy models who lurk in front of the stores will make the sales seem "sexier" by using the sale signs to substitute for clothing?