Orange on blue Nov 11, 2008
#entertainment
Best marketing ploy ever Nov 10, 2008
When I turned 18, I received a package in the mail.  It was from Gillette.  It was a Mach3 razor.  It's now more than 8 years later, and I still use this razor when I shave (which admittedly isn't very often).  This razor uses replaceable blades, which I've purchased several times throughout the lifetime of the product.  This might be the product I've owned for the longest amount of time, aside from my guitar (and my toothbrush [kidding]).  In my opinion, this was the best marketing ploy ever. #entertainment
Always wanted to Nov 10, 2008
I remember a year or two ago when that girl Jordin Sparks won American Idol.  When asked how she felt about being in the finals, she said, "...it's something I always wanted to do..."  I remember thinking how stupid it sounded:  A 17-year-old, saying something dreamy about a competition that had only been around for a few years.  For one, I tend to discount teenagers who think they know what they want, or what they've always wanted.  Teenagers are idiots.  That's why high school sweethearts break up.  Second, I tend to discount people who say they've always wanted something when that something hasn't been around very long.  "I've always wanted to be an American Idol, ever since I first saw it on TV two years ago." 

I guess my argument is about semantics.  It's trivial, obviously, but that's how I am.  I think that in order to say something about always wanting to do something, it needs to at least cover 50% of your lifetime.  So if you're 17 and you've always wanted to win American Idol, you better have been thinking about it since you were 8 or 9, which isn't possible because that was 1998 and it wasn't invented yet.  Sometimes I think about some of my desires like having fewer neighbors or driving across country on a motorcycle and I'm tempted to think, "Well, I've always wanted that."  But it's not true at all.  I've really only wanted it for maybe a few years.  I mean, heck, I actually wanted the exact opposite just a few years before I started really wanting this.  Yes, it's a matter of semantics, but I think it helps show how fickle our interests are and how we shouldn't get so caught up in our flavor of the week. #psychology
Recent annoying ads (4) Nov 10, 2008
That "Saved by Zero" commercial for Toyota is probably the most painfully annoying piece of advertising ever created.  I assume some advertising jerk achieved his goal of getting an idea stuck in the heads of millions of people, but it begs the question:  Will I buy something because a song is stuck in my head, or will I purposefully never buy anything from Toyota ever again because they ruined my entire fall 2008 football season with the most annoying commercial ever?  Thankfully, as Consumerist points out, the ad has failed, seeing that Toyota's sales numbers continue to drop. 

Also, on the subject of automobile advertising, who exactly responds by purchasing a new vehicle?  I mean, it's one thing if you're ready to buy a new car and you're just waiting around for a good deal.  But what about the rest of us who don't have $20k sitting around just asking to be wasted on a new car?  I for one can't see myself ever deciding to buy a new car simply because I see a commercial for 0% financing.  That's just me. 

The other annoying ad I wanted to point out was that "Five Dollar Foot-Long" one for Subway.  I have to give them credit:  (1) I know exactly how much a foot-long sandwich costs, (2) I know exactly how long of a sandwich $5 can get me, and (3) I have an easy-to-remember song that will never cease to remind me of the facts stated in (1) and (2). #entertainment
SMB2 Nov 7, 2008
Super Mario Brothers 2, the black sheep of the Super Mario Brothers series for Nintendo, was actually a remake of an unrelated Japanese game, but with SMB characters edited in to appeal to American audiences.  The real sequel to SMB1 was released in Japan but deemed too difficult for Americans.  It was later released as "The Lost Levels" and included in the game Super Mario All-Stars for Super Nintendo. #entertainment
Unwanted crossword help Nov 7, 2008
People are more than willing to offer unwanted help with crossword puzzles.  It seems like whenever I have a crossword in front of me in a relatively public place (say my desk at work or a table at lunch), people like to lean over and tell me their thoughts on answers.  The thing about crossword puzzles is that I don't do them to complete them.  I mean that's the overall goal, but it's not the primary task at hand.  I'd rather sit around and think about it, struggle with some clues, then feel like Superman (a nerdier version of the hero) when I complete the whole thing.  It's not like a homework assignment or some other menial task that I just want to get done so it's done.  I think I offended a girl at work when I told her, "I don't want your help."  I thought about it for a while and decided I couldn't have said it another way. #entertainment
No redeeming qualities (2) Nov 7, 2008
Most people have at least one or two redeeming qualities, as in,
Person 1:  That guy's a jerk.
Person 2:  Yeah but he sure can hold his liquor.
I think I know a person who has absolutely no redeeming qualities.  I was thinking this morning, "That woman is so mean.  But at least she...  Well she has...  That one time she...  Nope.  She's the meanest, grumpiest, most awful person I know."  But I'm still nice to her, hoping that one redeeming quality will someday become evident. #sociology
Koji Kondo Nov 7, 2008
Great little writeup of Koji Kondo, the Japanese dude who wrote the music for all the Super Mario games (except SMB2).  It was an interesting challenge to write music for "a strange game featuring a plumber trapped in a fungus kingdom ruled by an evil dragon".  I think he did pretty well.  You're probably humming the song right now. #entertainment
Movie investment Nov 6, 2008
Going to the movie theater is too expensive.  That's a given.  I'm not old, yet I remember when it cost $3.  What's changed in the past 10-15 years?  Bigger screens?  More comfortable seats?  Sure, but there's no way the overall experience is worth 300% what it used to be.  Because of this, I feel like it's an investment to go to the movies.  Since I'm part of a couple, it's a guaranteed $20 investment.  I always have to think, "Will this movie really be worth my $20?  Couldn't I just wait six months until it comes out on video, then borrow it from the library for free?  Is there something I'm actually gaining from my investment of time and money?"  Oftentimes, the movie will be so-so, and I'll feel shortchanged on my investment.  The solution is to only go to the movies (if at all) once or twice a year.  That way it's more of an entertainment expense than an investment. #entertainment
Overcovered (3) Nov 5, 2008
An election happened last night.  That's fine and all, but as with any major newsworthy event (presidential addresses, debates, etc.), there was an overabundance of coverage.  Of course the news-centric networks covered it (CNN, Fox News, MSNBC), but the major entertainment networks covered it too (CBS, NBC, Fox, ABC).  Yes, it was important.  And I actually agree that it's a good idea to have at least two networks cover it just in case one in overly biased.  But to have the same exact thing on no less than seven different channels is a bit much.  Thankfully, channels like TBS are still around to play reruns of funny shows, so I watched Family Guy all night. #entertainment