The Simon Tonekham Statesman

Wow. I can believe more and more people are visiting my blog just because I posted my own view about the Obay ads that were sprouting all across Ontario. One of my responders told me it’s from Ontario Colleges and he/she told me that the 2nd phase of the ads will be starting soon. We’ll have to wait and see. In the meantime, I tried to dialed the Obay hotline at 1-888-YOU-OBAY (968-6229) and when I dialed this number, it gives me nothing but this automated recording and at the end of the ad, it asks me to leave a message or press 1 for more options.

Here’s the transcript if anyone wants to see (I scoured that from a message board):

“Thank you for calling 1-888-YOU-OBAY. There’s nothing worse than a child who won’t do what they’re told. You raise them, feed them, cloth them, sit through their violin recitals; and how do they pay you back?? They go ahead and think for themselves!

It’s not right and it’s not what you had in mind… Thankfully there’s OBay! A new remedy from the makers of “why?BecauseIsaidso!” And “NotUnderMyRoof!”

Is your child ignoring your subtle suggestions? Are they not getting the hint when you tell them what to do!? It’s time for OBay; Are they making important life decisions without listening to your valuable irriputable input!? Hello OBay! OBay works where other parental controls, like shouting, don’t. Just one dose and you’ll see a difference… Your truculant teenagers will be transformed into dosile pussycats, open to your thoughts, your ideas and most importantly the future you’ve mapped out for them.

So order your supply of OBay today… Because YOUR Wish is YOUR command!”

The Toronto Star also posted an article about the mystery ads and had their correspondents called the mastermind of the ads, in this case Ontario Colleges. Ontario Colleges’ response: “No knowledge or comments on that campaign at all.” That’s one mystery solved for now. And while anyone is trying to guess which company (or companies) are responsible for this, it’s anyone’s guess on who is accounted for. I believe they won’t be having their Délice Artifice (Artific Delight) for sure.

Changing gears, I had a great time on seeing Simple Plan for the Live @ Much, but I didn’t stay for long. This is because of the colder temperatures and my feet were in the stage of numbness. I was also unsuccessful on getting a single autograph from the band, but I did manage to get a few shots of the guys meeting with the fans outside. I also saw my first “glimpse” of David Desrosiers of Simple Plan outside talking to the fans (he was also with his sidekick, Patrick Langlois (by the alias of Patrick Cunningham) who was outside at the same time), but I wasn’t quick enough to say a word from him. Oh well, better luck next time. MuchMusic’s blog offer the highlights of the Live @ Much in greater detail.

Anyways, I’ve posted a video if anyone wants to see what the Obay hotline sounded like when dialed and you can do so by clicking here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkqZ2Y4IDiA

http://jaiandthecity.blogspot.com/2008/02/whos-behind-obay-drug-ads-torontoist.html

http://www.joeydevilla.com/2008/02/15/mysterious-ads-for-obay/