Shouldn't the Cloud Cuckoo Land ad feature a bird?

The Economist, Now with Goofus and Gallant.

Seems pretty clear: they're differentiating themselves from Jayson Blair-ism and the cuckoo WSJ editorial page (and soon the entire Murdoch WSJ).

One of the few things the Economist is dogmatic about is free trade, especially as it applies to agriculture (given the paper's origins), and at the moment they have a point, with tariffs, subsidies and protectionism making the food crisis worse.

Always nice to be condescended to by the Brits. Fuckwits.

@Mediahohoho: I don't know if this is actually condescension as opposed to simple rank-stupidity being passed-off as advertising.

Sometimes it's hard to tell - but then, you aren't British, are you?

@Mediahohoho: I'm being faux-condescending in case you think I'm being a prick.

I work on many levels, but rarely take the stairs.

First thought:?
Second thought: They appear to be catering to balloon animal artists. Has there been an explosion in latex stocks?

It's just that British sense of humor--like trying to fool you into thinking that Tony Blair is a statesman rather than a poodle.

@contradicto: Economic Coverage With a Purpose!

@famousauthor: But Tony was such a good boy!

I'll bet these are student or spec ads. I used to work on The Economist advertising, and I don't think they would walk away from the red background. Ever.

The clown looks like W.

Ah, OK, cloud-cuckoo-land was a common Thatcherism:
[en.wikipedia.org]

Still, why does that potato-sack clown with onions for ears have an exploding penis on his head?

Makes me want to subscribe, I'll tell ya.

I have no idea what's going on but I really want to buy whatever that second ad is selling.

These are obviously instructions for writers, excerpted from the Economist Style Manual!

@VirusWithShoes: Fine. Then I'm faux-fended.

@niceguysorta: I think it kinda-sorta counts as intellectual because it's a reference to Aristophanes, not to Thatcherism, which is not exactly revered even at the Economist.