Category: Brooklyn

Check out the latest “Explainer” on Slate.com on a humorous look about to whom Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean is NOT related.

The latest “Build-A-Bear” commercial, where this blonde kid’s singing an odd song before she goes to “Build-A-Bear” for a custom-made bear that has a microchip that replays a recording of said child’s own song: the kid’s singing voice reminded me of someone who thinks too well of her voice before Simon of “American Idol” cuts her down to the size of a teddy bear. It’s not something that’ll convince me to go to the store for the product (then again, I’m too old for it). Or to endorse the child’s continuing singing career. (pardon the harshness; I just saw the commercial, and it didn’t make me feel good anyway).

December is the perfect storm. Partially because of my November travels and partially because I have several unexpected expenses totalling a few thousand dollars, this month’s budget is extremely tight, as in it’s going to be instant noodles and microwave burritos until at least the 24th. Thankfully my college friends have Christmas on the Saturday after Christmas. Much elsewise in the way of worries, but I’m not going to get into it here. I’ve received a lot of love and affection, though, for which I am grateful.

Not to mention Verizon sent my DSL bill for collection when it was actually paid. As soon as Time Warner gets phone service operational, I’m switching.

Happy B-day last week to SSL!

The latest Sprint commercials are interesting. Actually, what I’ve really loved is the crossover Sprint commercial with the Pillsbury Doughboy. Sprint Guy (the man in the trench coat with the mission to educate customers on the values of Sprint) is at a family dinner table listening to the woes of a family who should have used Sprint. The wife’s upset; Husband was supposed to pick up her uncle at the airport. Pillsbury Doughboy is walking sadly on their table; Husband says, “You said he’s short and wears a hat.” Husband apparently had picked up the Doughboy by mistake. (Query: why did Doughboy even go into the stranger’s car from the airport? Maybe Husband picked him up and there was no way for Doughboy to get out of the car.)

Wife says, “‘Uncle Pillsbury Doughboy?!” Doughboy, being a nice guy, waves to the little kid; little kid looks like she’s pretty sure she has no Uncle Doughboy. Sprint Guy then introduces the family to a camera cell phone, so that Husband will be able to identify the uncle appropriately. Sprint Guy then says to Doughboy, “Do you mind?” Doughboy sighs and says, “Everyone does it.” Sprint Guy pokes Doughboy’s tummy and Doughboy, of course, giggles. Great commercial. Stays on message (“yes, go get Sprint” and avoid picking up the Doughboy at the airport”) and is very entertaining.

The fraternity/sorority commercials aren’t so bad either (the ones where Sprint Guys tells the college kids about the new plan where Sprint counts evening from 7pm on and the kids are REALLY happy, shrieking at the top of their lungs at 7pm). But, those ads do seem a little on the dumb side (what do we expect, they’re just the kids of the Greek system, so they’re apt to react in a certain manner, even if they’re not that intellectually challenged).

Click here to view the commercials on-line…

So it’s still snowing. The meterologists must be enjoying themselves. All news, all the time. Channel 4 (NBC) seems to have sent all the reporters outside, braving the storm. One was smart enough to go into the airport to make his interviews, and he got a good-nature ribbing by the anchormen. One reporter at Paramus Mall, outside; she conceded that she snuck in between on-air moments to buy some sweaters. That people are out in the malls seem just a little crazy; it is a little dangerous there. But, there are only two weekends left before Xmas and when you’ve got nothing else to do at home, well, you could go out there, if you’re that foolhardy. At least in NYC we can still use subways to get around and so it’s not that bad.

Last night’s “Joan of Arcadia” was quite good – the angst of Joan’s wheelchair-using brother is momentarily abated and so is Joan’s angst (sort of; God’s still pushing her to do things that are good for her and that cause that chain reaction of miracles that this series specializes in; in this episode, Joan gets her driver’s license). Joan’s dad, the police chief, finds that he’s questioned about being a good person, not just a good cop; it doesn’t get easier when the chief is a victim. Joan’s other brother Luke learns that coffee may make your brain smarter, but you start coming up with real weird ideas.

Stay warm.

It’s nice and snowy. Makes you want to stay inside…

It’s not a secret or anything and not like I want to be egotistical about it, but if anyone was wondering, it is my birthday today. Yahoo.com had a nice birthday Thought For Today on my yahoo account – “Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius.” — Attributed to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791).

Little trivia that I already knew: I share a birthday with U.S. President Martin van Buren (of NYS, to boot) and Walt Disney (the founder of the corporation that currently in turmoil).

Trivia that I didn’t know: turned out that in 1791, Mozart died on this date. Bummer. No wonder Yahoo had the Mozart quote attribution.

Now, that I’ve done this birthday observation, I can return to being in denial about getting older. So, let’s press on.

Notable book that I’ve just finished: “A Fearsome Doubt,” by Charles Todd. (Published by Bantam, paperback, 2002). Historical mystery: Inspector Ian Rutledge of Scotland Yard, is a World War I veteran; it’s 1919, a year after armistice and Rutledge is still in recovery from his pychological wounds. In fact, in his mind, his constant companion is Hamish MacLeod, the Scottish corporal who was sadly executed by senior officer Rutledge for refusing to obey orders; Hamish the ghost/conscience is the representation of Rutledge’s perpetual guilt and his Watson; and, no, to even be more blunt, Hamish isn’t a real ghost. In “A Fearsome Doubt,” Rutledge is assigned to find out who’s been murdering veterans in the countryside. As a mystery, I found the solution a tad odd and incomplete, but strangely satisfying; then again, the Rutledge series generally ends with sort-of cliffhangers that leave me wanting more. As a novel of psychological and emotional exploration, it’s spectacular. Rutledge is so guilt-ridden, wavering, but still determined. Really good subway reading.

Enjoy the snow…

New York Times’ Quotation of the Day, for 12/2/03:

“You can be a social conservative in the U.S. without being a wacko. Not in Canada.”
– Chris Ragan, McGill University economist.

(in the article on the increasing political differences between the United States and its neighbor in the north; fascinating article; which leads me to wonder – aren’t there wackos in Canada? Aren’t we all wackos in the end???).

Oh, and check out what’s new on CNN, where there’s Anderson Cooper’s laugh-out loud funny commentary on the recent news of Roy Disney’s resignation from the board of Disney (which included a demand that CEO Michael Eisner resign). (although, you’ll have to scroll all the way to the bottom of the transcript to get the interesting lines…) . My access to cable is limited, so I didn’t actually watch Cooper make the remarks, but the textual “look” of the commentary just made me gasp with giggles. Among other things, Cooper said, regarding Roy Disney’s complaint that Eisner micromanages the corporation: “So what exactly is micro-management at Disney? Well, CNN has learned that, in the past, Disney management has used small people, some of whom are seen here in this video, not only to work as miners but also to sing and dance, a clear OSHA violation.” Hehehe. Give the man a hand; not only was he an interesting host for “The Mole,” but he’s an anchorman with a little bite.

Yesterday’s episode of “Alias” was quite good. Some gore, the usual amounts of violence, bizarre dream sequences, plot twistiness to jumble the brain (“uh, ok, so Secret Agent Sydney and Crew have to create a cover story to fool the Feds, and then do this, but then the Feds are on to them, and so Sydney et al. have to do what? And, Sloane has to kill Sydney, but guess who’s alive after all…??!!!”). Plus some really eccentric guest characters (were the writers taking some narcotics? Considering that one flakey character who likes hugs and making untimely remarks, hmm.).

Actually, come to think of it, the bizarreness reminded me of the “Star Trek: The Next Generation” episodes (the one with Data and his dreams and all the crazy ones about the holodeck; but Star Trek never had the levels of gore and violence “Alias” has). It’s all about kooky fun, wrapped in a nice sci-fi/dramatic setting.

Ah, and will there be a revelation, as Sydney opens the door in her mind, to finally (!) resolve the half-season’s worth of questions? Am I glad next week is a new episode; the suspense will get to me…

True Value commercial – wherein Santa, the elf, Frosty, and some girl who looks like she’s the Tooth Fairy, are all on a road trip in an SUV. True Value says buy stuff from us. The elf says, “Read the map, Santa.” They see some plastic Santa up ahead and the real Santa says, “Am I that fat?” Uh… (funny commercial; but still wouldn’t know what True Value wants from me).

Target’s post-Thanksgiving weekend sale commercial – great. Bespectacled man plays a rockin’ drum beat; a young woman next to him plays along with her identical drum set. They look like they’re having loads of fun and yell, “Let’s go!” and played even more. Yeah, Target’s trying to get some energy into you to go out there and shop.

Not bad; right on message. Extra credit to Target.

Thanksgiving on tv involves: parade and football. I seemed to have been watching an excess of food shows (Jacques Pepin on PBS a lot this week), not to mention the Kennedy documentaries. The National Dog Show, on right now, after the parade on NBC – it’s a beauty contest without the swimsuit and question segments. Cute dogs.

Have a happy Thanksgiving. Try not to overeat, but live well.

Yes, Thanksgiving is coming. Check out the article on slate.com where they sample the turkeys and determine what’s the best. Look’s like Butterball beats the organic turkeys. Oh, well, big corporations have to be good at something, right?

If turkey is not your thing, consider an evaluation on Slate of “healthy” fast food (the new McDonald’s salad; the Burger King chicken baguette sandwich; and Taco Bell’s al fresco/salsa menu). I had liked the NY Times’ article about the subject, so I thought this complete contrast was a nice perspective. Personally, I’d go with Wendy’s, but I guess it’s not for everyone.

If you like more serious reading than what I’ve referred above, consider reading John Dean’s fascinating articles (Part 1 and Part 2 ) on Findlaw.com, where he’s analyzing the book, The George W. Bush Presidency: An Early Assessment, a collection of essays on the current administration. Yes, it’s that John Dean, the one of the Nixon/Watergate fame, who has been a contributor on Findlaw.com’s legal commentaries. Usually he’s extremely critical about the current administration, but he seemed very open to what sounded like a relatively balanced anthology. Even though the current administration can be very polarizing, it doesn’t hurt to consider something… less polarizing.