Personal Life Archives - The Cranky Creative Blog

A rusted, bent shopping cart overflowing with pixelated digital icons like shattered red hearts, a broken blue verified checkmark, and smiling emojis, set against a background of a crumbling, post-apocalyptic city street.

March 5, 2026 The Cranky Creative

Age of decay: the enshittification of everything

Am I the only one noticing that everything is turning to crap? Crap ads. Crap science. Crap food. Crap music. Crap movies. Crap people. Crap software that you “subscribe” to

Nuclear explosion symbolizing the explosive fallout from calling out hypocrisy in the 'bold' ad industry

January 21, 2026 The Cranky Creative

The creative farce: why the world’s “boldest” thinkers are actually the biggest cowards

If your “boldness” requires a permission slip from the HR department, you are not a pirate — you’re a parrot. WARNING: explosive post ahead. In the ad world, we worship

January 4, 2026 The Cranky Creative

Flu risk increased 33% after vaccination: Cleveland Clinic study

Trading the flu for something worse? They’re at it again. For more than a week now, my Facebook feed has been inundated with “news” channels from around the country posting

January 20, 2025 The Cranky Creative

When AI rewrites your future: my career pivot so far

When my boss asked me back in 2018 whether I, a marketing copywriter, was concerned about AI, I scoffed. Little did I know that a few years later, AI would

The Cranky Creative blog: Why better advertising is worth fighting for

January 5, 2025 The Cranky Creative

We can’t let them win: why better ads are worth fighting for

I’ve been feeling a little defeated lately, to the point where I considered quitting the blog. Ever since Google changed its search algorithm to shortchange small blogs like mine in

Out-of-work job seeker frustrated by a difficult job market

April 9, 2024 The Cranky Creative

The Great Creative Layoff: why finding your next job feels impossible

It’s become a bad joke: One moment, I’m reading a LinkedIn “news” story touting a booming jobs market — and the next, I’m doom-scrolling through endless posts from out-of-work creatives.

About my recent health scare (high blood pressure)

October 31, 2023 The Cranky Creative

So, about my recent health scare

There I was last Friday at the endoscopy center, awaiting my procedure. I was feeling pretty good, all things considered. Everything was going so well. I’d done the regimen the

Health care provider gives a woman a vaccine.

October 21, 2023 The Cranky Creative

They’re telling the truth behind closed doors [UPDATED]

I had a health scare yesterday. I’ll tell you about it sometime, but right now, I need to tell you something else. Something you won’t read in The New York

My USPS mail truck stuck on a pig trail in a very rural area

October 19, 2023 The Cranky Creative

My short-lived career as a United States Postal Service (USPS) mail carrier

Earlier this year, I’d vowed to get out of marketing. After burning out on writing for university programs, being ghosted by clients who owed me money, and hearing a prospective

Nick Cage running from an exploding building

June 29, 2023 The Cranky Creative

Why I’m calling it quits after 30 years of marketing copywriting

Well, I’m doing it. After nearly 32 years in marketing and copywriting, I am moving on. It’s a strange feeling, leaving a job I’ve done for so long. Interestingly, I

How I got scammed out of $75 and a free 30-day trial from Vidgo

February 22, 2023 The Cranky Creative

For live TV streaming, don’t go Vidgo

Consumer alert: Are you a cable TV cord-cutter looking for a reliable and affordable live TV streaming service? After getting scammed out of $75 and a free 30-day trial, I