This commercial has been bugging me all holiday season. I don’t understand the scenario (other than cute chicks wanting coffee)
The single cup Keurig coffee makers are getting popular and this device shows up on the market (still has a Keurig relationship).
Stanley sits at the machine and brews a cup of coffee to be thwarted by gal after gal until he sees the gal he digs (so it seems). It’s somewhat flirty or her manipulation. I don’t quite understand it.
Where is Stanley in the scene? Is it a workplace kitchenette? Is this some upscale Hostel? Soberhouse? It’s weird.
Watch and ask yourself the same question.
I really avoid engaging in this type of political trash talk, but over the past few years this sentiment has been shared.
You win
It’s the beginning of the new year (an election year) and TV is cluttered with every different kind of commercial for exercise equipment, workout gadgets, workout DVD’s, weight loss pills like Hydroxycut, and diet plans. Oh, I totally understand it. It’s the new year and we all want to start our weight loss efforts.
It’s the constant bombardment this time of year that is so crazy. Are we that stupid? We must be. These commercials come back this time every year.
As a followup to my last post about politics. We are collectively stupid about voting too. We fail to educate ourselves with the issues and vote based on superficial sound bytes. Politicians are not stupid. Narcissists yes, but stupid no. The politics industry is full of professionals who craft the messages to the stupid (or apathetic).
We’ve stopped thinking for ourselves. I can’t say for sure when it started, but you can see it all around. The Movie Idiocracy portrays where we are headed. It is funny in its construct and gives us a laugh but you can see the possibility of our future within.
TV is full of reality TV, game shows, and pundit shows who repeat themselves with the same blah blah blah. All of which spoon feeds us fructose media info. It’s crap. I don’t want to keep people from enjoying the release of 30 minutes of Snooki, but step away before you are tempted to buy her book.
Reality TV used to be a novelty. Now almost everything is reality. Somehow we turn these “normal” people into stars. Why? Cuz we are the stupid ones. The end result, more reality shows. The real housewives? …please.
News Pundit shows are almost as bad. These programs simply reinforce what you already believe (by and large). They talk about the days events without any true analysis. They just nitpick and try to bring on other mouthpieces. I can’t stand when they talk over each other. It’s insane.
I recommend watching a show from the network that is mostly opposite of your views (MSNBC or FOX). You will quickly find it frustrating when certain facts are skewed and personal attacks are used to make a point. Don’t go back to your comfort channel either. You already know what they are going to say. Find some true thought provoking media. Read this piece from LifeHacker regarding Reading Comprehension.
Movies are no different. Franchises are the comfort food of the movie biz. Same Movie characters rehashed stories. Not that the movies are not entertaining but it speaks more to how sequels get people to buy tickets. Admittedly, I liked Rocky Balboa.
Start thinking for yourself. Read more. Watch a documentary. Question your own beliefs. Read: How to Watch TV News.
I also understand the digest version of everything around us. There is a lot of information to absorb and it can be confusing. We are busy. It’s hard to make the time to go in depth. We often try to find trusted sources for the information. I wish we’d not trust the major networks as much as we do.
One of my resolutions this year is to pay less attention to politics. This will be a difficult task given this is a presidential election year.
I am tired of the hard left and hard right consuming the news media. I already know what they are going to say. It’s boring.
The “base” for each side is not going to switch teams. Recently I read that 25% agree with Occupy Wall Street and 25% agree with the Tea Party. I paint with a broad brush here, but it is safe to say those 25%-ers will vote along their party line. That leaves 50% of the country who will listen to common sense despite a liberal or conservative tilt. I have never understood why a politician burns so many calories “appeasing the base”.
I digress…
I plan on keeping up with the issues and voting with an educated mind, but I will try to avoid the fringe opinions that infuriate me. These are the same expressions that turn people away from politics. This is the 25% of each side. I want to focus on the issue and the serious analysis. This analytical content is hard to find. It’s out there, you just have to find it.
I wish the voting public would pay more attention to politics to the level of who they are represented by at their local, state and federal levels. The 60% voter turnout is too low and of that 60% too many people base their decisions on sound bytes and negative ads. Too often people ignore what is really going on and then wake to see some douche-bag elected to a seat that represents their district. I get the frustration of voting then the other candidate wins, but you still need to cast your vote. I encourage anyone who votes to take a serious look at your true needs and wants, and find that in your candidates. Let your candidates know how you feel. Remind them of your disagreement. Congratulate them when they represent you well.
Crap… I am rambling. This blog post may evolve into something else.
I just wish in 2012, we see a better educated voting public.
Instead of writing something new, I will repost what I wrote last year. Cuz…. it’s the same thing. Why try to re-invent something that is a simple as losing weight. …that is… the formula for losing weight. The execution is another story.
Read the original then see below for my cheap way to create a walking workstation.
Treadmills…
Many health articles recommend 30 minutes a day of activity. The photo below is my treadmill retrofitted with a platform so that I can walk and still use my laptop (work etc). It’s a pic from my facebook page.
You can buy workstation treadmills, but they are mucho $$$$. You can use something like the SurfShelf for $40.
This DIY below was about $25 of materials and 2 holes drilled into the side frame of the treadmill.
Materials (Lowe’s): white pre-cut shelf, 2 bungees, 2 3″ eye bolts.
1. (key) Place the shelf across the arms of the treadmill where you think it fits best, measure from the board to where you need to drill for the eye bolts the distance it takes to stretch the bungee just enough to keep the shelf in place but not too tight that you stretch the bungees too far.
2. Drill holes in the shelf board where the bungee hook can connect. Drill holes for the eye bolts.
3. Insert and bolt down your eye bolts.
4. Connect bungees. Bam!
Walking Workstation
80 years is a good life.
Your acting career was fruitful.
You outlived Andy Rooney.
You saw an African American voted in as President of the United States.
We are glad you didn’t fall prey to drugs and alcohol like many child actors. However, you had a brief battle with booze and won (see video). See minute 5, he’s an angry drunk.
RIP Cheetah
Best of 2011
Like many people, I get time of the year end “best of…” or “the Year of…”. They are slightly annoying and lazy, but yet we watch and we listen and we talk about it.
I thought I would throw together a list of the best lists. Criteria: there is no criteria. It’s my blog and I can post what I want.
10. CNET’s top viral video ads. I like this because I too am lazy and watch TV.
9. Time’s List of Lists. This is getting quite deep. Time offers a bunch of best and worst of content areas.
8. Celebrity Death List of 2011. This one keeps growing.
7. Forbes Billionaire List. The 99% only wishes to be on this list.
6. Paste Magazine Top movies. Some of these are a bit pretentious.
5. Best Travel Photos – Huffington Post. Me like pictures.
4. Best and Worst Fuel Economy cars. Note: looking ahead to 2012.
3. Best Engagements of the Year. This is for the ladies.
2. Top 10 Cell Phones. Nerd alert!
[drumroll......]
And the best of the best list of the best thing to be best of…..
1. Maxim’s Hot 100. Again, this is my blog. I post what I want.
This is a great video. I agree that we need to be more active.
I would like to point out that the researcher shown in the video is somewhat portly.
When is this playboy issue coming out? I hear the articles will be good.
http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/lindsay_lohan_ROCuH2oblOt7IwivuVIdyH?photo_num=1
If you shop Amazon and have spent enough to have $80 in shipping for the year, you need to signup for the Prime account. You get 2 day free shipping and you also get the instant video service.
The instant video service can be used on your laptop, PC, etc. If you have a TV with apps (this is the year more and more people will have one), you can use the instant video service like you do Netflix.
Click below and signup. It’s worth it.
