I understand targeted advertising. I understand the presumption of qualified consumers. I worked two of the primary areas in the advertising world, both on the agency side and on the media property side. So I get it. I really do. No need to explain the value proposition.

Still, I think that technology, the answer to the prayers of target-marketing professionals sometimes fails. MISERABLY.

Lately I’ve been playing an iPhone game called Crack the Code a lot. It’s about figuring out a pattern of colored dots in a limited number of moves. It’s not ridiculously challenging, but occasionally you need to stretch your cranial muscles a little. The funny thing is that I have been playing the ad-subsidized free version, and one of the most frequent ads to scroll below the application promises Effective Cocaine Rehab.

Get it? CRACK the code. COCAINE rehab. Really. this is the best the Google-style keyword advertising module can come up with?

Or maybe they think I’m playing too much and need some sort of addicted gamer rehab.

What’s next, ads for loose diamonds on Bejeweled? Flight Simulators sponsored by Dramamine? How about diet pills shilling while you play Hungry Hungry Hippos?