I saw a bus shelter ad outside of my old apartment with a chocolate strongman. At first I thought that Steve Reeves, while on a tour of Willy Wonka’s factory, had succumb to temptation and fallen in to the chocolate river. No, that would make to much sense.

What I was seeing was Leo Burnett’s latest (and last) campaign for Altoids. In the ad, we see the allegedly iconic “Altoids Muscle Man” (I had to google it to find any references) with a fresh coat of glossy chocolate goodness. The line below it reads “The curiously chocolate altoids”. This is what really set me off.

The line is an obvious refresh of “The curiously strong mint”. However, whereas the old line begged the question “why are these mints so strong?” the new line simply begs “Why are these altoids dipped in chocolate?”

I was just wondering the same thing myself.

About The Author - My name is Stirling McLaughlin. I am married. I am an Art Director, Designer and Illustrator. I work at Atmosphere BBDO. I have lots of ideas. I have a baby girl named Nika Bean. I live in New York City. When I was in college, they put me on TV because I wore a mask and yelled at people. I have a reality show that I wil be starting… any day now. - See My Portfolio

I realized today that I haven’t posted anything to my blog in over a month. Oh the Horror! It isn’t that I haven’t had anything to say. It is more the case that I have had so much to say that I have been paralyzed by it. It is almost as if my life carried out a denial of service attack on my brain. I had to google that last sentence to see if it even made sense.

I had a whole list of prediction for the Oscars. I could post them now, but I don’t see the point anymore. Also, since they all came true, people would just assume I was lying to make myself look smart. I’ll have to remember to date stamp all of my better ideas from now on.

In other news, I moved to a new apartment at 190th street. I now have a dishwasher and an elevator! As I child I dreamed of having one or the other. But both? Ludicrous! Every morning I wake up and wonder when the fabulous rich people who’s pad I’m squatting in will come home from their vacation and kick me out. Then my cat punches me in the eye and I remember that yes, this is my life!

Sorry I was gone for so long.

About The Author - My name is Stirling McLaughlin. I am married. I am an Art Director, Designer and Illustrator. I work at Atmosphere BBDO. I have lots of ideas. I have a baby girl named Nika Bean. I live in New York City. When I was in college, they put me on TV because I wore a mask and yelled at people. I have a reality show that I wil be starting… any day now. - See My Portfolio