I received my degree in marketing and minor in psychology, so I'm probably one of the few people out there who enjoy analyzing advertisements carefully for content, message, and other variables. It's become apparent that ads for a wide array of marketers ranging from Progressive and State Farm to Geico and Aflak are making their ads decidedly obnoxious these days. Take Progressive, for example. Never has Flo -- the character portrayed by actor and comedian Stephanie Courtney, who's appeared in more than 100 commercials for the company since 2008 -- made me crack even the slightest smile. The Aflak duck was amusing in the 90s, but not anymore -- now you almost feel like throwing a rock at your television set whenever it pops up. Companies are incorporating more animals, loud noises, and silly antics to grab the consumer's attention. What many of these marketers fail to realize is that the most successful ads in recent years -- those of Budweiser and car companies l...

When Kiran Gandhi realized she was going to be on her period on the day of her first-ever marathon, she decided to do something that has left some people in utter shock: She opted to run the entire race while free bleeding. The 26-year-old spent a year training for the London Marathon, which took place Sunday, April 24. She said she chose to nix the tampon because she wanted to highlight how women are often shamed for having their period. I understand her wanting to make a statement, but here's a guy's take on the matter: I think it was unnecessary. After reading several of my posts, I'm sure you've noticed me to be very pro-women's rights. Truthfully, though, I don't respect this woman any more for doing something like this than I would if she'd simply led a protest or written a book on the issue. Some things are really best left unseen, and I just think she went a little overboard. I've never heard of anyone -- neither someone I know nor anyone i...