Raindrops keep falling on my newspaper
I’m not sure which of the following is more annoying:
1. The city of Raleigh has announced the creation of the ugliest mascot to help urge residents to cut back on water usage.
OR
2. That the News & Observer chose to feature the poorly-designed mascot today on its front page .
The mascot’s name is “Rainy” and he’s an ugly, blue raindrop with a creepy, toothy grin. The N&O reports that the mascot was made by a graphic designer in the city’s public affairs office. It doesn’t look like the graphic designer logged a lot of time working on it because it’s so poorly designed. I guess that’s a good thing since the designer’s salary is most likely paid through taxes. A better idea would have been to have a contest and see what local high school and college students could have come up with.
OK. Turning to the N&O. Why is this on the front page? Sure, the story is cleverly written and actually features a little background on mascots in other cities. And it’s always nice to balance out the front page with a lighter story. But come on. A poorly designed mascot does not deserve front page play. Put it in the City/State section.
But props to writer David Bracken for this description of the mascot: “Dressed only in boots, gloves and a floppy hat, Rainy bears a striking resemblance to Mr. Potato Head caught in a downpour.”
What do you think? Does the creation of this mascot deserve to be on the front page? And do you think this raindrop makes a good mascot for the city’s water conservation efforts?
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14 Responses to “Raindrops keep falling on my newspaper”
Must be a slow news day. Looks to me like an advertisement for blue condoms or something.
By absent.canadian on Mar 26, 2008
Terrible design - I like your idea about the contest, would have been much better!
I was personally more upset about the lack of supervision by Lovette’s ‘probation officer’, though….. (also on the front page, today)
By Jen. on Mar 26, 2008
Crap on both counts.
By Critter on Mar 26, 2008
What’s next, Garbo the garbage disposal mascot?
By gregflynn on Mar 26, 2008
Ewwww. Not only should this have gone on the local section, it should have gone downpage on the local section. Why on earth was this on A1? Great idea to have a contest for the design too. I don’t think it’s all that bad, but it could have generated a little community interest by having a contest. The teeth are hideous though.
By Andrea on Mar 26, 2008
If there is a drought, wouldn’t Rainy be dry instead or even exist? Maybe he’s a hopeful raindrop, but very anti-social if he wants to protect himself from his own kind. Or maybe he’s uncooperative and doesn’t want to form a rain cloud.
Yes, the city needs to quietly retire this mascot and not publicize it on the front page.
By @netd on Mar 26, 2008
LOL. A mascot like that might deserve some news coverage. :o)
By Ginny on Mar 26, 2008
That store made me so angry. At least it deserved to be on the front page though. That was some good reporting.
By Ginny on Mar 26, 2008
I could see that. Maybe the city is trying to kill two birds with one stone and promote safe sex and water conservation.
By Ginny on Mar 26, 2008
I do think that this article should be on the front page, water conservation is a very important topic for this area. However, I do agree with you, they could have come up with a better mascot & holding a contest for students would have been great!
By carrie on Mar 26, 2008
Dude! You totally copied:
http://proactivebusybody.com/2008/03/18/ive-been-a-bad-bad-girl/
By Abby on Mar 26, 2008
For people who don’t know Abby (an awesome photographer, btw - do look at her blog and flickr photos), she’s probably teasing. I saw Abby’s post about Rainy first, but since Ginny immediately tweeted her shock at seeing Rainy on the front page of the paper yesterday, I’m confident that’s the reason she unknowingly repeated the dismay about the unfortunate icon.
By @netd on Mar 27, 2008
Wait until you meet Rainy’s friend Greasy, who warns against the evils of garbage disposals!
By Toastie on Mar 27, 2008
I love it! It could be a slick grease puddle puffing on a cigarette.
By Ginny on Mar 27, 2008