I went back and read Questionable Content from the beginning. It's a great, if frustrating story. Of all the comics, I think I like Number 360 the best.
Dora is hot anyway, but this one just makes her even hotter. Meow.
So far the only response to my critique about the crappy diamond ad I wrote about previously is that my comments have been handed off to the creative team.
I just saw the finale on T.V., so it would seem that I wasted my time in clicking through their stupid map. And just for the record, I made up my mind not to go back to the website and watch how it all ended.
On the one hand, I'm kind of glad that I saw how it ended, just to have seen the wrap up. At the same time, I really don't care, since I became disillusioned to the whole campaign long ago.
Now the only question that remains is, were they always going to air the final spot, or did I influence their decision?
Way back when, I mentioned that Morah drew my blood and I would post the results once she typed me. The results were in ages ago, but the paper she wrote them on kept getting shuffled into piles of stuff on my desk. I'm making a modicum of effort to get (and stay) organised, so I figured I'd post the results now and check that task off of my (figurative) list.
Turns out, I'm an A-positive.
She wrote a bunch more stuff on the paper, but I don't understand any of it (it's stuff that she needed to know in order to type me). If you really want to know what it all is, I can get her to write an explanation and post it.
So, as you may have noticed, the Friday Funday for this past Friday got bollocksed up. I forgot to set the category, so it wasn't showing up anywhere. Fixed now. -)
Did anyone watch Crossing Jordon last night? I didn't get to find out who the copycat killer was and am curious to know, but am too lazy to Google it. Also, what was in the box of cigarettes that he/she stole from Jordon? And is it just me, or is Alicia Coppola a fox?
Have you seen the new holiday-themed Target ads? They remind me of the Old Navy ads from a few years ago. Their trendiness aside, one of the main reasons I dislike Old Navy is because I hate their ads. The new Target ads are eliciting the same reaction as their Old Navy predecessors. Too bad, since Target has had some really kick-ass ads in the past.
I got my business cheques in the post today. They're awesome. I also got my endorsement stamp. Time to start making money and putting all this stuff to use!
There was something else I was going to mention, but I can't remember what. If I remember, I'll update.
Oh, by the way: LOOK! Snow on the outdoor webcam!
I thought there was an official "Boycott Black Friday" web site, but I guess I was wrong. I did, however, manage to find this article that, while it sounds a bit like insane ranting, actually describes pretty well why I hate Black Friday.
For those not in the know, Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving and is traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year. It's called Black Friday because it happens on a Friday, and because it's usually the day when companies actually start turning a profit (also called going into the black).
I don't understand why people feel like they have to go shopping on Black Friday. The majority of the sales offered are available for weeks afterward. As the article points out, the "bargains" (which usually aren't) are often not worth the hassle it takes to get them. I don't like people much as it is, so being packed into a shop with hundreds of ravenous shoppers, fighting over the fast-dwindling inventory, and standing in several-hour-long lines is not my idea of a good time.
I am going to do my very best not to spend any money at all today. Hopefully you'll do the same. If you spread the word, perhaps we can begin to show Big Retail that we control when we make purchases, not them.
And if you're already gone shopping today, don't worry; there's always next year.
Actor Pat Morita, most famous for his role at Mr. Miyagi in the Karate Kid films, has passed away.
As some of you know, I met Pat on several occasions and attended his wedding in Honolulu. I recall one time when he called our house trying to get in touch with my mum (because she was a producer and he had been hired to star in some commericals). I answered the phone and he knew who I was (which really impressed me, because this was around that stage in puberty when everyone on the phone thought I was my mum) and we ended up chatting for a few minutes. It was pretty cool.
Friday Funday brings you some fun and interesting links from my travels around the internet during the previous week.
Cannibalologue [del.icio.us]
I'm not really sure, but I think it's an artist's website, based on the content.
Private Islands Online [del.icio.us]
If you're like me, you'd like to live on your own island. If, unlike me, you have the means to purchase one, this website will help you achieve that dream. Invite me over sometime, will you? I'll bring my famous (and recently improved) mashed potatoes...
My Diamond [del.icio.us]
A goofy little game. It took me a while to realise that if you go off one edge of the game window, you come in on the other side.
Kitten Cannon [del.icio.us]
I know, I know. This really does seem like something that I would eschew, but my high score after about ten minutes of playing was 998 feet.
Most Watched Pet Stars [del.icio.us]
Including that stupid squirrel on water skis (Twiggy is its name). On a side note, in the 2004 film Anchorman, they say, "What you're about to see
is a Channel 4 News exclusive. His name is Nutty the Squirrel, and he's three years old. How 'bout that? That squirrel can water-ski." The joke here is that =every= station in the world had this damn clip and they show it =every= year at least once.
Did anyone else see Family Guy this past Sunday?
Best internet meme ported to T.V. evar.
Sad, sad news. Rumble is one of the best surf songs ever. Of all the '50s rock/surf guitarists that I like, Link Wray has always been in the top three.
Friday Funday brings you some fun and interesting links from my travels around the internet during the previous week.
This week I'm presenting a roundup of the comics I'm currently reading. Have any others to add?
Penny Arcade [del.icio.us]
Geeky. Often gamer/computer related. Often not.
Questionable Content [del.icio.us]
Also geeky. Indie-rock, young-adult-angst. Comic girls that I wish were real girls.
For Better or For Worse [del.icio.us]
One of the few comics from the newspaper that I actually like.
Non Sequitur [del.icio.us]
This was always my favorite comic from the newspaper.
Diesel Sweeties [del.icio.us]
Also geeky. Psuedo-Iso-Pixel fun. And robots. Glorious robots.
The Joy of Tech [del.icio.us]
Ultra-geeky. Easily the geekiest comic of the lot. Often Apple/Mac related, but still funny.
I've been ired by a few television ads lately, and I think it's time to vent.
I just watched a Circuit City ad that made me realise something: contrary to real life, everyone in ads can touch-type. The truth is, very few people in real life can touch-type. I can (more or less), but I know a lot of people who can't. A lot of people. A lot. Yet, everyone on T.V. seems to be able to =look at the screen= when they type, instead of the keyboard.
Moving on...
Yesterday I saw an ad where this guy is snowed in at an airport. He calls his wife/fiancée/girlfriend and tells her that he won't be able to make it home for Christmas. We also learn that it's Christmas eve. He pulls out a little black box and inside is a diamond necklace. He looks as though he has an idea, then jumps up and runs off. Fade to black with a graphic that reads something like, "find out what happens at adiamondisforever.com"
So I visited adiamondisforever.com, because the spot piqued my interest. What would you expect to find on the website? What I expected to find was an extended version of the video where the guy gets home somehow. But no. When you get to the website, you are presented with a map. The first video you watch is the T.V. spot. Then you have to follow this stupid, 15-point trail along the map to see how the guy gets home. Most of the points are audio, not video, and the few video clips that you do get to see are so pointless that I wonder why they even bothered to shoot them.
The problems that the guy runs into are pretty legitimate, but in my opinion, how he gets out of the situations are cop-outs on the part of the writer(s). It seems like he can't move more than a few miles at a time on the map, yet suddenly, the last leg of his journey just flies by as if by magic.
BUT! Absolutely worst of all is the message I got when I clicked on the final point: "See how the journey ends in 7 days."
That's right, all that work with no payoff. Their whole campaign was for naught.
To be honest, I was bored three clicks in. What started out as an ad that made me curious and left me wanting to see more, quickly degraded into a lackluster experience. Will I go back in seven days to see how it ends? I haven't decided yet, but considering how the whole experience has left a bad taste in my mouth, I'm leaning toward not returning.
Actually, the worst part of it all was that after all that crap, I couldn't figure out how to access the rest of the site so I could write a letter of complaint (I have since figured out how). Bad for business? You bet. Three of the most sought-after goals in web design are interactivity, longevity of visit, and repeat traffic. While they're striving to achieve all three of these, they're not going about it the right way. In my personal and professional opinion, this site is actually driving business away. Obviously, I can't say that for certain since I don't have access to the server logs. However, I consider myself a =very= web-savvy user, and if I found the site difficult to use, I can't imagine how "average" users must feel.
On Sunday, Morah and I both got food poisoning.
It sucks. Big time.
I'll spare you all the gory details, but I will say that neither of us have ever thrown up so much in our lives. It's been awful. We're both staying home today to recuperate.
For the next couple of days, we're limited to the BRAT diet. Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast (or crackers). It's bland, but at least we can eat something.
Ugh. I can't wait until I feel better. I'm going to go back to work tomorrow, but I'll probably still feel gross. At least I'm not throwing up anymore.
Friday Funday brings you some fun and interesting links from my travels around the internet during the previous week.
I've been playing with Google Video a lot this week, so here are some videos that I found, which I think are funny or interesting.
Fun Video Cats [del.icio.us]
This is the best compilation of cats doing funny things that I've ever seen.
Morning Musume [del.icio.us]
I'm not exactly sure what these are from, but it's TV from Japan, which is always funny. These particular videos seems to star the girls from this site, which from what I can tell, is some sort of band. Or something.
Google Factory Tour [del.icio.us]
I haven't actually watched the entire thing, since it's almost =six hours long=.
House Completely Covered in Cups Filled with Water [del.icio.us]
Now =this= is what I call a prank.
OK Go - A Million Ways [del.icio.us]
Music video for A Million Ways by the band OK Go. A little cheesy, but overall pretty cool.
Is it just me, or is today's Penny Arcade spoofing Terry Pratchett's first Discworld novel, The Color of Magic?
I'm watching America's Most Wanted right now and they just said that the collar bomber used equal signs to stress words. Which is =exactly= what I do. And the FBI said it's completely unique. Scary.
Friday Funday brings you some fun and interesting links from my travels around the internet during the previous week.
Wow, this Friday Funday really gets back to those good old Friday Funday roots with a complete mish-mash of stuff.
Bravia Advert [del.icio.us]
I have been waiting for Friday Funday to show this to you (if you read Kris's Blog, then you've probably already seen this). Every once in a while, a commercial comes along that actually makes you want to leap out of your chair and purchase the product. This is one of those commercials. The sheer beauty if this commercial defies description. It is at once turbulent and tranquil. It celebrates life and colour and manages to speak to one hundred percent of its audience. It captures your attention and, more importantly, your imagination. This is, quite possibly, the greatest commercial ever.
700 Hobo Names [del.icio.us]
Read by the author with musical accompaniment by Jonathan Coulton. Also be sure to take a look at the 700 Hoboes Flickr group.
Defend Your Castle [del.icio.us]
I said it when we played Warcraft (that's right, the original Warcraft) and I'll say it again: "archers."
The Brights' Net [del.icio.us]
Are you a bright? Visit this website and find out if you can join the ranks of the intellectuals, or just stand outside and peer in through the windows.
Baby Mama Drama [del.icio.us]
You know how hip-hop videos always have scantily clad women? Those video videos have nothing on this one. If MTV starting airing more videos like this one, I think I'd have to get cable.
Actually, NaNoWriMo 2005 kicked off yesterday. I meant to post this yesterday, but I was just so busy writing my novel. Yes, writing my novel...
I'm pretty busy this year, so I decided to rewrite last year's novel, which was pretty lousy. Yesterday, I created an outline of the story as it exists currently. Today, I plan to edit that outline so that it reflects how I actually want the story to run. This is a process that will probably take longer than just today to do, but hopefully it doesn't take too long, because I need to get working on the actual novel itself.
I think I've finally settled on a title. Last year's title didn't reflect what the story was about at all, but this year I have decided to name the novel after the main character. Ergo, it is currently titled, "Kodo the Tempest: A Bunn-Ingram Novel". Bunn-Ingram is where the novel is set, and will likely be the setting for many of my future novels.
As to whether I will be making the novel public this year or not is still up in the air. I would certainly like to, so that I can get feedback from people. I'm going to work hard to get the book finished this year so that I can release it.
On a somewhat related note, I was recently thinking about the phrase, "might as well" and what it means in everyday speech versus what it actually means.
In everyday speech, one would use the phrase thusly:
A: "I doubt if you'll find her in there."
B: "I might as well check, just in case."
In such an instance, the phrase means something like, "there's no reason not to". However, if you break it down into its separate parts, "might" and "as well", you'll realise that this phrase is not being used correctly.
The word, "might", implies a binary state of possibility; there's a possibility that he will, but there's a possibility that he won't.
"As well" is a phrase more commonly used in International English to mean, "also" (the American English equivalent is, "too").
When one puts the two together in their correct forms, something entirely different is created. Ergo, our example becomes:
A: "I doubt if she's in there."
B: "Perhaps I should see for myself."
A: "Perhaps you'd better had."
B: "I might, as well."
Questions for discussion:
Does the addition of the comma in the second example reinforce my argument, weaken it, or leave it unchanged?
What is your stance on the use of this phrase with respect to my argument?
What are your thoughts on the improper use words and phrases becoming accepted as proper as a result of popular/common misuse in speech and writing?
ALLO v5.13 © 2008 Thomas J. Brown under a Creative Commons License.
Be my boss!
If you visit my Amazon.com PayPage, you can pay me as little as $1. I could be your underpaid employee!
