Two Keys Chained Together

Posted on February 16, 2012

I think it’s great that every time I rent a car they give me a set of two keys!

So many, many circumstances could arise (I came up with three) where this would be handy.

Someone else might need to take the car out
I might (heaven forbid) lock myself out of the car and need to get in
I might (perish the thought) lose a key

Yes, having two keys to the rental car would be great … if they weren’t bound together on the same indestructible keychain without any possible way of ever separating them.

Why do you think they do this? Sound off in the comments below.

All images are from my flickr.

Renting a car? Take a picture first (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
Hints from Heloise: Prevent car rentals from becoming a problem (goerie.com)

When Pigs Fly in Texas

Posted on February 13, 2012

Everything really is bigger in Texas. The cowboy hats, the belt buckles, the hairdos and even the hood ornaments. I used to think that owning a Cadillac was a sign of maturity, stability, and class.

That was before I spotted this winged chrome oinker perched atop the hood of a Caddy at the office recently.

Clearly, you can’t buy good taste (or good sense for that matter). But, you can buy everything bigger.

What’s the tackiest thing you’ve seen lately? Sound off in the comments below.

All images via my flickr

Weekly Photo Challenge: Ready

Posted on February 10, 2012

Are you Ready for this week’s the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge? I bet you are. Because I’ve never been more Ready (even if I am a bit late).

It must be all the tests I’ve taken over the years, but nothing says ready to me quite like a sharpened number 2 pencil.

I love that moment right before you put graphite to paper. There are so many possibilities open to you.

Whether it’s a Scantron or a sheet of college-ruled notepaper, as long as you’ve got your trusty number 2 you’re ready for anything.

Want to participate in the challenge? Head on over to The Daily Post and follow the instructions below.

1. Each week, [they] provide a theme for creative inspiration. You take photographs based on your interpretation of the theme, and post them on your blog anytime before the following Friday when the next photo theme will be announced.

2. To make it easy for others to check out your photos, title your blog post “Weekly Photo Challenge: (theme of the week)” and be sure to use a “postaday2012″ or “postaweek2012″ tag.

3. Subscribe to The Daily Post so that you don’t miss out on weekly challenge announcements. Sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar or RSS.

Now, take a picture that captures this week’s theme and post a link to it in the comments below.

All images are from my flickr, unless otherwise noted.

This post was Freshly Pressed on February 10, 2012!

Superhero Toys: Then Versus Now

Posted on February 6, 2012

Superhero movies rock these days and so do their toy counterparts.

Growing up in the 1980s most superhero toys either looked like Ken dolls or like this.

My kids, however, gets to play with these.

Who do you think had it better? Sound off in the comments below.

All images via my flickr

Hot Links: PopRocksCandy.com

Posted on January 16, 2012

Sometimes a website is so ugly, it’s awesome. This isn’t one of those times. It’s just plain horrid.

Check out PopRocksCandy.com and see how many of the biggest web design mistakes it’s guilty of.

What’s the ugliest site you’ve seen lately? Sound off in the comments below.

All images via my flickr

82-Year-Old Grandma Tries Pop Rocks for the First Time (neatorama.com)

18-34 No More

Posted on November 30, 2011

I used to be with it, but then they changed what “it” was. Now, what I’m with isn’t it, and what’s “it” seems weird and scary to me. | Abe (Grandpa) Simpson

Grandpa Simpson
Image via Wikipedia

As of today, no one cares what I think anymore. At least that’s what I’m told marketers and advertisers believe.

Yesterday was my last day as a member of the coveted 18-34 male demographic. So to make the most of it I spent all day skateboarding while playing Skyrim and Battlefield 3 on my Xbox 360. I watched UFC and MTV on TV. I was so social—I tweeted, I poked, I plussed, I stumbled, I tumbled, and I pressed. I only ate super spicy Cheetos and drank nothing, but Mountain Dew.

It was so, totally, extremely, radically, awesome! Except none of it happened.

To settle in to my new demographic group today I got up before the sun rose to read the Wall Street Journal. Later, I did the New York Times crossword puzzle while my double fiber oatmeal cooled enough for me to eat it. Then, I drove to the grocery store in my Buick where I wandered aimlessly and complained about the weather, the economy, and Obama to anyone who would listen. Afterwards, I met my wife for the early bird special at Denny’s. Before bed, I resolved to finally get into this Facebook thing I’ve been hearing the young folks talk about.

I’m especially glad that that wasn’t how I spent my birthday.

The truth of the matter is that I don’t think I fit into the boxes that marketers and advertisers want me to and I’m pretty sure most of you don’t either.

Do you agree or disagree? Sound off in the comments below.

Seven Things No One Should Buy from Sky Mall

Posted on November 12, 2011

There are two parts of each plane trip I absolutely loathe—take-offs and landings. No, it’s not that they make me airsick, I just hate not being able to use any of my electronic devices.

The only thing left for me to do during this period of time is to browse the current issue of Sky Mall. While scanning the catalog is a guilty pleasure of mine, no one on any account should ever buy anything Sky Mall. Ever.

A few months back I remember seeing a post on Freshly Pressed highlighting some of the miscellaneous oddities to be found in the pages of Sky Mall. I’d like to contribute my own list of seven things no one should buy from Sky Mall (or from anywhere for that matter).

Below are seven items I can’t believe are for sale on SkyMall along with my snide remarks about each.

What does the Camo Slanket says about its owner? I’ve given up on life and I don’t want anyone to be able to find me.
The Toilet Dog and Cat Water Bowl really perplexes me. I thought the idea was to train your pets NOT to drink from the loo?!?
No, I’m sorry. No matter how you good you are at turning on and off the TV you and your Magic Wand Remote Control will not be getting into Hogwarts this term.
The Brobdingnagian Sports Chair was made for the outdoorsman who wants to feel like a kid and look like an idiot again.
Jumpin Jammers are the perfect nighttime apparel for the young lady who really, really wants to look like one of the Bratz Babyz.
The product description for the Golden Pierogi claims that it’s destined to be “become a family heirloom”. For what family, may I ask, the Clampetts?
I’m still of the opinion that giant inflatable animals do not increase car sales, but it looks like you can buy big blue inflatable gorillas (albeit sans yellow boxer shorts) from SkyMall.

With each release there are hundreds of ridiculous products no one needs and definitely should never buy. On the rare occasion that I find something that piques my interest the forces of reality drag me back to Earth.

What’s the looniest thing you’ve ever seen in Sky Mall? Did you buy it? Sound off in the comments below.