CAN RAZOR WIRE BE MADE BEAUTIFUL THROUGH DESIGN?
A company's giving it a shot.
Visit: http://www.sweetdreamssecurity.com
Here's how they propose making non-scalable fence railings more beautiful.

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A company's giving it a shot.
Visit: http://www.sweetdreamssecurity.com
Here's how they propose making non-scalable fence railings more beautiful.

And here's the ad.

I can't decide. A combination sink/bathtup.

I keep picturing myself in 2050 with my great grandchild, trying to come up with what I can tell her. I mean, how do you explain to someone that young that weed was ever illegal?


Ok - those of you who know me, know that I'll support the Mariners every chance I get.
But, I've had enough. Their manager, Mike Hargrove, must go. I've had enough.
I'm tired of him trying to win in Safeco Field as if it's a field that it's easy to hit long balls out of. Lou had the right idea. Win with small ball. Hargrove's got speed on this team Lou never had. And he still tries to win every game with home runs, rather than stringing solid innings together. For the love of God, he's got TWO Japanese players starting on this team. Let's embrace that style.
I'm tired of him going out on the field and "casually talking" to the umpires. Dude, if you're jumping out of that dugout - you gotta be ready to let them have it, and be thrown out of the game. Lou had the right idea. Throw a base (or two.)
I'm tired of him at the post-loss press conferences talking about how "he's glad that game's over," or how "we didn't play very well tonight." Dude, Lou'd be BURNING THE CLUBHOUSE TO THE GROUND. I'm not sure Hargrove's even into it anymore.
By the way, any guesses on who I'd like to replace him?
Well, wait - not the ACTUAL protocols -- the film by the same name.
In case you're not familiar, the Protocols of the elders of Zion is a fictional, anti-Semitic document first published in Russia in 1903, supposedly documenting a plot by Jews for world domination.
This is the same tripe that people cite for the nonsense that "no Jews died on 9/11," that they were warned and didn't show up for work that day - it was all part of a nefarious Jewish plan.
The movie, which I'd been looking forward to for months, was a purported expose on the document and its believers.
It pains me to report that - this is potentially the WORST documentary I've ever seen.
Thin research. No substance. Just basically the producer (Mark Levin) shouting at the protocol believers on the streets of New York. This film was basically a bad blog (yes, I realize the irony) - not providing any useful information but just basically being the daily life of the filmmaker as he interacts with the believers. No new information. Very little new brought to the table at all.
This makes me sad. This historical document is an anti-semitic, hate-filled justification for so much evil in the world. A film could expose this, and provide real consequenses.
Maybe someday that film will get made.
Here are some shows I've never seen a complete episode of:
Friends.
Sopranos.
Will and Grace.
Oh, and here are some movies I've never seen in their entirety.
It's a Wonderful Life.
Casablanca.
Gone With The Wind.
Vertigo.
Whew, needed to get that out. I feel better now.
Turns out that Britney Spears IS indeed, preggers again.
For those of you scoring at home, K-Fed has now helped create 4 children in 4 years.
My take? I'm convinced that it's all part of the master plan - Suri Cruise will rule with an iron hand, kept in power by a legion of Federline spawn. (With of course, Tom playing the role of Emperor Palpatine - pulling the strings from a remote location.)


The Birmingham Steeldogs, a team in the Arena Football League (who knew?) are having a game May 5 where they will suit up in what they call "biblically inspired" jerseys with "Samson" printed on the back.
Again, as always, prompting three questions...
1) WTF?
2) Samson?
3) The Arena Football League is still playing?

This makes sense. After all, he asked a few of Heidi Fleiss' "agents" to dress up that way anyway.

Cube Chic.
Stop it.
Just 'cause Judy from Accounts Payable likes her some Hula scene in her workplace does NOT mean the rest of us should be subject to a book legitimizing this kind of behavior.

This US Paintball championships were on this weekend.

Here are the current standings.

Now, I ask you - how can Joy and Evil be in the same league? I sat down to watch paintball, and suddenly it got all existential.
Sorry all.
Been really busy, and a little too tired to blog.
Truth is, I felt a little like the image in this file.
...you can send a silhouette of someones face, and they'll turn it into a nice art piece.
A friend of mine suggested we all do this with our faces, so that urns can be made with the same technique...you know, your ashes contained in something shaped like your face. Now that's being remembered for eternity, baby.


As many of you know, I'm a big Seattle Mariners fan. I try to support them - no matter what. But this off-season, they signed Carl Everett. They're pushing it.
Why? Here are my complaints.
1) The man has denied that dinosaurs ever walked the earth. "God created the sun, the stars, the heavens and the earth, and then made Adam and Eve. The Bible never says anything about dinosaurs. You can't say there were dinosaurs when you never saw them. Someone actually saw Adam and Eve. No one ever saw a Tyrannosaurus rex."
By the way, my favorite part is the "someone actually saw Adam and Eve" part.
2) Tolerance. "Gays being gay is wrong. Two women can't produce a baby, two men can't produce a baby, so it's not how it's supposed to be. … I don't believe in gay marriages. I don't believe in being gay."
3) The man once flipped off our best pitcher, Jamie Moyer. In 2000. Now, how do you then put these two guys in the same dugout?
4) The man's a Designated Hitter, and he's hitting just over .200. That's it. That's the last straw. I want Carl Everett out of Seattle. A man can only put up with so much.
is if these numbers are so low on a FOX NEWS!!!! poll...
how low are they in reality?


A dog in Fort Worth got its head stuck in a pipe.
Details at: http://www.10news.com/news/8858797/detail.html
By the way, this dog is to advertising agencies as the rabbit is to dot com new business opportunities in the late '90s. Discuss.

I love when they show their "historic issues" - showing the best of Onions past. Here's one from '81 detailing the dominance of Texas Instruments in the computing industry, and the announcement of Jodie Foster's upcoming nuptials...

This is a self-portrait.
Go here to make your own: http://images.southparkstudios.com/games/create/

...about the love of a dog and its owner, where the dog apparently "sniffed" and detected a brain tumor. This is a good story, but my HMO won't allow this kind of "advanced" treatment.
They still charge me a co-pay on leeches.

Flight Attendants. Upset at airline labor policies. Making a calendar.
Full details at: http://www.stewsstripped.com

We have a winner.

Apparently, the "winner" will get to play the character for one year.
Now, I know we're all living in the age of celebrity where everyone wants to be famous - but, this doesn't feel right. I mean, being the Elvira character for a full year is a lot of hard work. I mean, do you have any idea how many van shows take place across this country in a full year?

I'm tired of everyone picking on this guy. Have we forgotten the charm of Risky Business? The manliness of Top Gun? The wit of Cocktail?
I'm telling you - leave the man alone. He's done nothing wrong.
So he's a Scientologist. So he's a little forceful in his love of Katie. So he seems a little TOO excitable lately. It's not like the man's done anything truly weird. I mean, he's in LOVE, people!
This just in from GQ:
"I'm gonna eat the placenta. I thought that would be good. Very nutritious. I'm gonna eat the cord and the placenta right there."
See? Leave the man alone! I mean, how many women - experiencing the joy and afterglow of childbirth, WOULDN'T like to see their man pull a fork and a knife out of a backpack brought into the birthing room, and use that moment for such a loving demonstration of his happiness?
I mean, c'mon people - Cocktail.
...if you make your living turning live animals (insects or not) into jewelry - then Satan is warming up your own personal section of hell.
See it at:
http://www.jaredgold.com

and you're going to have an affair with one of your students - don't put a photo like this on your MySpace profile. At that point, you're just asking for trouble.

Then again, I thought we bid speed adieu back in the late 80s, but it's made quite a comeback.

A charter school in Utah apparently had a scheduling snafu.

Like this.

I'd say there might be a PR job opening up - if anyone wants to move to Michigan.
From today's Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
2 kids hurt at Mich. minor league event
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. -- Two children were injured in a scramble to grab cash being dropped from a helicopter as part of a promotion after a minor league baseball game.
About $1,000 in cash was dropped Saturday from the helicopter over Fifth Third Ballpark's outfield as children lined the outfield fence.
After the cash was dropped, the children scrambled. A 7-year-old boy was trampled and taken to a hospital, while a 7-year-old girl got a bloody lip after being pushed onto the ground.
The boy, Tino Rodriquez, of Grant, suffered bruises to his chest and back, said his grandmother, Rita Rodriquez.
The cash drop took place after the West Michigan Whitecaps' 3-0 win over the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays. It was the first time the Class A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers had conducted such a promotion.
"It's for fun and games," spokeswoman Katie Kroft said. "This is why we have everybody sign a waiver."
And, if you've been following the logic - he already did.

He's going to pull it out now. Prepare to be dazzled.
Because nothing celebrates the resurrection like breakfast pizza.

Everyone will be celebrating in their own way.


Take the quiz to find out which level of Dante's levels of hell you belong in. Clink the link at the bottom of this post.
For the record, I ended up in the second level.
Although I'm not really sure Dante had any formal position on "whether it's good to be a pimp."
The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Second Level of Hell!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:
| Level | Score |
|---|---|
| Purgatory (Repenting Believers) | Moderate |
| Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers) | Moderate |
| Level 2 (Lustful) | Very High |
| Level 3 (Gluttonous) | High |
| Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious) | Low |
| Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy) | Moderate |
| Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics) | Very Low |
| Level 7 (Violent) | Moderate |
| Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers) | High |
| Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous) | Moderate |
Goes to teenagers who create fake MySpace profiles for cops.
From the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:
"A 16-year-old boy who could no longer hang out with his best friend because of a police investigation into a harassment complaint sought his revenge against a police officer through a popular social networking Web site, police say.
The teen is accused of posting the officer's picture with false and derogatory statements on Myspace.com. He was given a ticket last month alleging disorderly conduct and had to apologize to New Berlin Officer David Olson, according to the police report.
You know, instead of worrying about warning teenagers about the dangers of MySpace, maybe they should be warning us.
get the story at: http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=413620
If you're eating while reading this blog, you might want to finish that bite.
Hollabacknyc.com
A place where women who've been verbally harassed can tell their stories, and post their camera phone images.

Peter Gabriel is involved in an organization called Witness.org, which encourages people in third world countries to document human rights abuses by recording them with camera phones or digital video. Then Witness.org gives them the server space to host the images, putting pressure on repressive regimes.
Pretty cool. Check it out.l
Witness.org.

Wow. Committing fraud takes its toll.
I'm not sure who the father is, but I think the mother is Arthur Dimmesdale. (Free prize to whoever gets the reference first.)
My thinking is that they should have at least dressed that big gulp cup up in some baby clothes.
And of course, gotten themselves a PUH-EAT-ZUH while they were inside the store.

A couple in Missouri fesses up to the fact that they didn't actually have sextuplets, as they claimed - and as numerous newpapers reported. Despite the fact that they never showed the reporters any babies, only baby clothing.
This couple is to the current administration as the newspapers are to the White House press core as sextuplets are to Weapons of Mass Destruction. Discuss.
Full story at http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/04/13/national/main1495349.shtml

that even one of the most well-managed brands in the world isn't immune to the "bad sales conference rah rah" treatment.
Go ahead. Click it. It'll be worth it.
Or maybe you wanted to check out the website.

I'm not kidding.

People.
PEOPLE.
It's consumer electronics.

In case you haven't heard, Washington State had to shut down its Internet voting site for our state quarter. Something about "clickfraud."
In other news, Diebold promised the salmon they'd "deliver Washington State."

This is the only cooking show I've ever seen where the host takes ingredients out of a Ziploc.

One of the people in this photo was roundly booed while throwing out the first pitch at the Washington Nationals home opener yesterday.
Sure, they're awfully gutsy when he's not packing.

Flashlight. Batteries. Whistle. Antiseptic Towlettes. Water. Mask. Bandaids. Survival Balnket. All wrapped up in a Interpublic Fanny Pack.
This prompts a few questions.
1) No toetag?
2) No Tamiflu?
3) Fanny pack?

By the way, judging from the contents, I do know one thing - plastic baggies will be no good as currency in the event of a major catastrophe.
And today I arrive at my makeshift desk to find this.
It's a hermetically-sealed emergency bag that has been given to all employees - just in case of "disaster or severe emergency."
Uh, is there something someone's not telling me?

Dude - you work in the advertising business.
And this is the most creative thing you could think of?

Oh boy, he's loaded it up.
Sausage, refrigerated dough, cheese, flavor enhancer - Midwestern goodness.

This is such a "Stop It," - I'm not sure where to start.
STOP - finding a way for Americans to eat more cheese.
STOP - the stupid product names that came out of "a series of insight-producing focus groups across the country."
STOP - taking food photography that shows loving condiments and plate presentation from something I'm getting from 7-Freekin'-Eleven.
STOP - featuring products like this on shows like the Apprentice.
STOP.
Just stop.

That is, until I saw this image from the announcement with the dancers carrying vials of enriched uranium.
Suddenly, I'm terrified.
By the way, I've already trademarked the word "Iranium." Hands off.

And the breakfast pizza begins.

I love this. Matches built into the candle.
Courtesy of Coolhunting.com.

If you haven't checked out The Colbert Report on Comedy Central, please do.
Colbert, in the role of severe right wing pundit - skewers the conservative perspective night after night.
And never breaks character.

Thirty-year-old guy. Writes for Letterman. Loses job. Goes to Florida to live amonst the retirees, to get a feel for what he's in for.
Genius.

It's for the Learning Channel.
Life's Lessons figurines.
Can you actually buy them? Yep.
Can you "create your own" to send to people over the web? Yep.
My favorites are the one below, and the one that reads "Merlot and e-mail don't mix."

Concerned, Incorporated.
Now this is just a guess - but I'd bet the employees of this place live in constant fear of layoffs.

Of course he will.
By the way, "Cookies Flavor Enhancer" was the name of a clarinet trio I once played backup in.

It's product placement time, old school style.
I watched this gem back in the midwest. It's a 30-minute infomercial posing as a cooking show, sponsored by Cookie's bar b q sauce. Bet you can't guess what company's products were in every recipe now, can you?
I'll be documenting what I saw on this program over the next few days.

By the way, this man's name is "Speed." Insert your own meth joke here.

Marketers are always talking about innovation. We always think about the "world-changing" types of ideas. Massive programs that fulfill the word "innovation" and that create "sustainable advantage."
But sometimes, we forget the "stunningly simple" differentiations, the ones that give the person buying a product a little extra satisfaction, a little smile.
Here's one - this is what the top of my latte looks like at Cafe Diablo, a coffeeshop on the top of Queen Anne Avenue in Seattle. Nice work by a barista. Artwork in foam.
Sometimes, it's the little things that matter.
Found this on Coolhunting today.

A new cell phone store that promises "not another phone shop."
Wow the employees are patient and intelligent.
And you can actually try out the phones.
And you're encouraged to come back.
Why is it the cellphone business is the only business where you can actually get credit for providing ADEQUATE service?
You know, it's amazing - we all carry these things around - yet we all despise our service providers. Imagine what would happen if someone actually brought the concept of good experience to this category?
Hey, it's just a thought.

So they're renovating George W. Bush's childhood home, so start making your vacation travel plans now.
Find it at bushchildhoodhome.org.
From their website: "This small home will be fully interpreted, leaving no space for offices, exhibits, ticketing, a classroom for school tours, a gift shop or an orientation theater. The Project will address this limitation in Phase II by acquiring two other neighborhood homes, by developing and sharing the parking lot of the neighborhood church, and by designing a new 4,000 square foot Visitors Center and Exhibit Gallery."
I've got two comments:
1) This project brought to you by the fine folks at Halliburton.
and
2) It'll share the parking lot of the neighborhood church. Of course it will.
Yep, it holds your book open. I'm expecting to see it offered as part of that McDonald's fitness program - as part of every Happy Meal.
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I imagine the guy in the white shirt in the photo below is part of after I published the photo to my blog.
"What do you mean you were at Famous Dave's? You told me you were on a sales call in Missouri. I don't sit here all day waiting for you to come home so you can hang around with those floosies from work drinking Strawberry Margueritas! You know, my mother was right about you..."
And, if you're like me - you always wonder, "Hmmm...I wonder what kinds of people would hang out at the bar at a barbeque chain restaurant at 3:00 on a Thursday?"
Well, wonder no more.

Don't make your restaurant mascot the source of the meat.
I repeat, don't make your mascot the source of the meat. It scares the kids, and you'll sell fewer kids meal deals.
You notice KFC uses Colonel Sanders, not a Foghorn Leghorn.

Why, an IMAX movie about Nascar, of course.
I mean, who would want an Imax movie about sharks or space travel?

By the way, sorry this is so out of focus - you can only hold a cell phone camera so still when you're laughing out loud.
You know folks - sometimes the comedy writes itself.

I think the figurine below is the only one that could beat the John Wooden figurine in a game of hoops.
Or a game of feeding a lot of people with very little food.

Congrats to Coach Wooden, released from the hospital -- and back atop the Pyramid of Success.

Look for retorts from Falwell soon.

Fossilized proof of fish that began walking on land.
Creationists, start your debate-anotors.

Here's todays' report from Iowa.
Remember the episode where Jerry and Elaine go to Florida to visit Jerry's parents and wonder why it's so friggin' hot in the apartment?
Well, welcome to "visiting Dave's parents in Iowa." I woke up last night in a pool of my own sweat.
Where was my lovely wife you ask? Oh, she was sleeping on the fold-out couch (too hot in the bedroom) - and dealing with the backache that fold-out's always cause.
Again, welcome to Del Boca Vista (the Iowa version.)
Well, there are other places where it's more like Web 0.1.
I'm in one of those place right now - Iowa.
Yep. I'm back on dial-up for a few days.
Reliving the Internet's early days.
Expect some non-image based entries for the next couple of days.
It's hard to believe there are still areas of the country where broadband is so prohibitively expensive.
You know how people fret that we're leaving the third-world behind in Internet access? Turns out that third world is Pottawatamie county in Iowa.
You end of with things like this.
Gethuman.com - a site giving you the quickest phone keypad codes to get to a real, live, human being.

They would never try pulling this kind of crap with an Akita or a Bloodhound.


This prompts three questions:
1) Did anyone besides me notice he was hitting on cheerleaders early in the second half? Not kidding. Oh, and by the way, UCLA cheerleaders.
2) Where were obvious "Noah" references last night? You know, "Noah's loading the boat", "He's bringing Florida a championship two by two", "Noah's raining down on them this time", -- that kind of thing.
3) Has anyone seen a photo of this guy with Malcolm Gladwell? Nope, didn't think so.

And here's the marketing copy from their website. I'M NOT MAKING THIS UP. Can't you just hear the meeting over the website copy, where the 50 year-old VP says to the 22 year-old webmaster, "you know, make it like the kidz like to talk!"
"Bong Water® Energized Soft Drinks™
Contain a unique blend of awesome flavors, cultural nostalgia, and adrenaline pumping vitamins! You get the best of both worlds, a flavorful soda & the kick of an energy drink.
Are designed to chill your thirst without bloating you up; to help kick your butt into high gear when you need the extra boost. Why worry when that sugar surge a regular soft drink or energy drinks deliver reverses itself knocking you into the dirt when you least expect it; or when you can't afford the brain drain.
Will not only satisfy your desire for a stimulating alcohol-free tangy picker upper; it will also satisfy your need to be socially cool and sophisticated without the negative vibes associated with alcohol abuse. Bong Water is packaged in stylish 20 ounce pet bottles wrapped in attractive, eye-catching, and vibrantly colored labels that will let everyone know that you're not drinking "the usual" ho-hum soda or the me-too energy drink."
By the way, nothing says "alternative" like a circle R and a TM.
Nor, by the way, am I buying it.

Physical fitness advice from a fictional character? Doesn't that fly in the face of someone's mission statement?
Yep, what a great idea. A pillow that you can hook your iPod up to.
Hey, why stop there - let's connect it to my bed! My desk! My dog! Let's implant the damn thing in my skull already!
Stop it.
Thanks to Ryan Peterson for finding this.

By the way, I'm pretty certain Ryan spends his weekends hanging out at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. That's apparently where he found this. I didn't ask him what this pillow was doing in the "hair removal products" section.
Hey, I've got a great idea - let's turn parking lot chalk lines into advertising space!
Ugh.

The show featuring a polygamist was advertised in the wedding announcements section. Three photos, same groom in each.
Nice job.

I don't like the "gold," "silver," and "bronze" level for NPR pledges.
My idea?
The bronze level ($50 or less) will be renamed the "Dirty Hippie" level. You'll be given a choice of NPR-branded ZigZag papers or a 1/300th share of a goat for an African village.
If you give between $50 and $300, you'll be called a "WTO Protest Organizer." Your gifts will include free webpage hosting by Seattleprogressives.com or a complilation CD filled with both kinds of sitar music.
Give over $301, and you'll be declared a "Berkeley Trustee" - and you'll be given all of the above, plus a bronze patchouli organizer.
as oil is to exclamation points.
That is, they seem to think our supply is endless.