Monday, October 1, 2012

Collective individualism

Flipping between sports games tonight, I repeatedly saw the slogan of a sportswear company: "Fly your own flag"... by wearing their brand.

Doing what some company tells you (and thousands of others) to do will make you an individual?

It's not the first time I've seen this sort of non sequitur in advertising... but apparently the sheeple are falling for it, if it keeps turning up.

Le sigh.

No wonder it's so easy to convince the gullible to vote against their own best interests.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Framing the debate

From CNN Money (emphasis mine):
The DOJ said it would "vigorously" pursue its claims against Apple, Pearson and Macmillan, which opted not to settle.
With 2 of those cited being corporations, who seems more appropriate, since corporations are people...

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

MIA Mario

Why does Mario Batali keep abandoning TV shows?

First he pretty much disappeared from Iron Chef America, now he's slowly oozing away from The Chew. When he does bother showing up at The Chew, he is frequently "too good" to participate in their themed programs.

Not everybody is a team player, dude — if you need to fly solo, dooooo eeeeeet!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Open letter to our "representatives"

Dear Congress and Senate,

With the publicity generated by today's internet blackout, I'm sure you have heard many arguments as to why SOPA and PIPA are horrible ideas.

(I'm sure you've also seen plenty of arguments in favor of such legislation — many of those arguments measuring about 3" x 6", with your personal/campaign/foundation/wife/dog/PAC's name appearing on the line after "To", and at least one comma in the $ box. Money is the best form of speech, after all. Steven Colbert says so.)

Well, turn up the light bulb a little bit and consider this.

You see, the internet is the modern-day bread and circus. It doesn't even require any scheduling on your part. No reserving the Colosseum. No making sure the vendors have goat kebabs and wine. You don't have to get water in to fake a naval battle. You don't have to contribute any of your slaves to fight the gladiators or be fed to the lions. All you have to do is LEAVE IT THE FUCK ALONE.

And if you don't?

The unwashed masses will not only have a lot more time on their hands to pay attention to what you're doing — they'll also be pissed off at you for fucking up their entertainment.

Remember who kept you from making this mistake when FEMA starts looking for warm bodies to liven up its concentration internment disaster camps, 'k?

Your pal,
J. M. Nsho

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Adding fuel to a financial fire?

Al Jazeera just reported (over the air, sorry no link) that Greece imports 35% of its oil from Iran.

What effect do you suppose it will have on their teetering economy if they lose access to such a large chunk of their energy supply?

The only question is... have anti-Iran forces failed to consider this possible consequence? or is it a bonus — or worse, an intended result?

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

I is edjamacated

This Rosetta Stone ad is annoying for a variety of reasons, but I cringe every time that alleged teacher says her students' Spanish-speaking parents are "alleviated" by her ability to communicate with them in their own language.

Relieved, perhaps? Conditions are situations are alleviated, not people.

God I hope she's not teaching English.

Commenters on the YouTube site also reveal that "te amo, teeth"... er, tita... is wrong, too. (Never mind the lingering question of why a child who presumably has one English-speaking parent doesn't just say, "I love you, Grandma"?)

Annoying and wrong? Time for this one to go, Rosetta Stone.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Evolution(?) of language

If the word "fuck" is an F-bomb, then euphemisms such as "WTF" and "effing" must be F-grenades?