Musings on Mosquito Magnets

A new study on what makes some people “mosquito magnets” is making news.  The study indicates that it may have to do with skin odour differences, and the level of carboxylic acid on one’s skin.  The importance of that aside, the reporting makes for interesting reading.

Here’s a thought from the coverage in Scientific American:

If you find yourself covered in more bites than all of your friends, you can take solace in the idea that mosquitoes love your scent profile because it’s so distinctly human.

Here are a couple of statements attributed to one of the authors of the study:

This property of being a mosquito magnet sticks with you for your whole life—which is either good news or bad news, depending on who you are.

Mosquitoes are resilient. They have many backup plans to be able to find us and bite us.

Disbarred for Charisma

The New Zealand Bird of the Year competition is underway and, once again, things have got a bit delightfully heated, if you don’t mind my saying so.  This time it’s over the exclusion of a two-time winner from the ballot, on grounds of charisma (read: giving other birds a chance). 

Excerpts from a report in The Guardian:

New Zealand’s annual bird of the year competition could usher in another round of controversy, with perennial favourite the kākāpō struck from the ballot after twice winning the competition.

The fat, flightless and nocturnal parrot is the only species to reign twice as New Zealand’s favourite bird, in 2020 and 2008. This year, however, it will be conspicuously absent, amid concerns that its continued dominance could divert the spotlight from less charismatic candidates.

A spokesperson for Forest and Bird, the election’s organisers, rejected claims that the kākāpō had been banned for good.

“No, not banned from entry. It’s a hiatus. It’s definitely not a lifetime ban,” Forest & Bird spokesperson Ellen Rykers said. “You know, if the same bird keeps winning every year, that might make it not so interesting.”

Rykers said that this year, 40 people had taken up roles as “campaign managers” for individual birds. Organisers are attempting to boost the profile of less glamorous birds – dubbed “underbirds” – that usually get negligible votes. Candidates in this category, including the grey duck and shore plover will be highlighted on the online ballot, in an attempt to spark underdog sympathies among voters.

A ‘Speed-dating Plant Event’

From the event description:

Is your current plantner too delicate, needy, prickly, or drinking too much?

Maybe they’re giving you the silent treatment, they don’t get on with your beloved pet, or you’ve simply outgrown each other?

If you've answered 'yes' to any of the above, join TV houseplant guru Mr Plant Geek and plant inspiration site The Joy of Plants this October for a free speed-dating event - with a difference.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show winner Ian Drummond will oversee the transformation of Mayfair’s The Lucky Club into a lush and sexy jungle while TV houseplant guru Mr Plant Geek will host plant match-making sessions – finding you the perfect connection whether you’re a hopeless romantic, a quiet intellectual, an animal lover, or an adventurer.

Attendees can enjoy one-on-one advice whilst sipping on complimentary plant-themed drinks and snacks… before heading home with their free, perfectly matched plant partner - for more than just a one-night stand.

Phantasmal Metaverse

A tongue-in-cheek spot for Archer Roose Wines has Elizabeth Banks taking a dig at the metaverse.

Link to video

RIP Robbie Coltrane

The World is Not Enough (1999)
  -“I’m looking for a submarine”

Prime Cracker (with Helen Mirren, for Comic Relief 1997)

RIP Angela Lansbury

The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
  -“I wanted a killer”

One tribute described this as “the greatest villain monologue in film history” by “the most evil movie mother ever”.

Ads That Save You

From Thailand: a couple of wacky spots for Roojai insurance that extend the idea of ‘saving’- which is central to insurance- to the design of the ads. 

Save Your Emotions

Save Your Ears

When Fun Met Efficiency

Imagine two trucks rolling over each other.  Except that this is not an accident, they are- believe it or not- in love with each other.  That’s the surreal premise driving a new spot for Volvo Trucks.

Link to video

Bill it to Bezos

From Canada: an innovative idea to fund an impoverished community centre via a little-known option (“loophole”) available to Amazon Prime members (at no additional cost).

Link to the cheeky explainer video

Link to detailed report

Vegetarian Vampire PSA

For its Halloween promotion this year, Heinz has once again announced the release of a limited edition Tomato Blood Ketchup.  At the heart of the campaign is an ‘informational PSA’ fronted by a ‘vegetarian vampire’.

Link to video

Oral Ecstasy

Water flossing is made exciting in this series of spots for oral healthcare brand WaterPik.

  -Spot 1
  -Spot 2
  -Spot 3

Sex Toys and Winning

Against the backdrop of speculation rocking the world of chess that US grandmaster Hans Niemann may have used a sex toy to cheat, Swedish pleasure brand RFSU has launched a cheeky outdoor campaign. For me, though, it was this statement from its brand manager that stood out the most:

Finally, sex toys get their well-deserved time in the spotlight. However, we want to nuance the cheating accusations, since sex toys are incredible shortcuts to get people on top of their game in bed.

Dismembered Moments Luxury Candle

That canned water brand Liquid Death has come out with a candle in the shape of a hacked off hand clutching one of its products should be no surprise.  What is delightfully surprising is its side-splitting promotion of said candle in a spot fronted by Martha Stewart, who gives a note-perfect, darkly funny performance.

Link to video

Much to Apologise for Nothing

A faux apology to a former client for a hilarious, nonexistent screwup- that’s the idea at the heart of a series of spots from creative agency The Gate to mark 150 years in business.

  -Spot 1
  -Spot 2
  -Spot 3
  -Spot 4

A Very Diplomatic Reply

As given by the outgoing Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, to Elon Musk, in response to his goodwill-eroding, unsolicited tweet.

How to Approach a Pineapple

15 seconds of amusing silliness.

Link to video

The Motivations of Male Metal Guitarists

First, the tweet that brought the matter to many people’s attention:

Research shows that heterosexual men who learn to play extreme metal guitar are mostly motivated to do so in order to impress other heterosexual men.

— Quite Interesting (@qikipedia) October 2, 2022

It turns out that the research that was referenced is from a study published earlier this year titled ‘Extreme metal guitar skill: A case of male-male status seeking, mate attraction, or byproduct?’  To quote:

This study explores the idea that heterosexual male metal guitarists are motivated to invest heavily in getting good at guitar to primarily impress other men. The study’s results provide some support for this idea. Additionally, metal guitarists also seem to be somewhat motivated by a desire for casual sex.

Sugar Oasis

The message in this PSA occupies all of 30 seconds (a part of which is in slo-mo).  It is prefixed by 90 seconds of padding that is as surreal as you can imagine any spot from Thailand to be.

Link to video

‘Non-inflationary Tea Technology’

Ryan Reynolds is in great form in this new spot for Mint Mobile that piggybacks on the inflation-defying pricing of AriZona Iced Tea.

Link to video

Big Oil Bashing

A satirical PSA takes aim at Chevron (though the fast-paced disclaimer also mentions other oil behemoths).  Adam McKay, probably best known for directing The Big Short, seems to be the creative force behind this spoof ad.

Link to video