Hooray for the B-Holes!

Once in a rare while a company creates a cool, cutting edge commercial and what’s the response of the American people? Ban it!

It seems Hardee’s has once again raised the ire of the NC conservatives with a commercial asking people to decide whether they like The A-Hole over the B-Hole. While it’s probably not the greatest commercial ever, it’s a breath of life in an otherwise bland, generic sea of advertising. When’s the last time you saw a commercial you actually remember?

I’ve long enjoyed the creativity of European commercials and wished I could see something like them on American television. It’s pretty weak that America has one day (Super Bowl Sunday) where we push the limits of the commercial but even this once proud day has been reduced to watered down spots no better than the everyday commercials. Maybe companies would take more chances if it wasn’t for people like this guy:

"The Hardee's marketing team seems intent on pushing the boundaries at every turn whether we're talking about 'iced B-holes' or the company's attempts at turning hamburgers into sex objects," said Parents Television Council president Tim Winter, in a statement. "Each and every local franchisee can and should object and every Hardee's customer has the right to patronize a more responsible fast food restaurant chain."

Responsible fast food chain? What the hell is he talking about? Given the nutritional value of the food they serve, I’d say pretty much anything you’d consume from any fast food place should be considered irresponsible. He's right about one thing...“every Hardee’s customer has the right” so maybe I'll exercise my right to enjoy some “frosty dippas” (although I’ll never buy any "Bisticules"! : )

Mr. Winter (and the other self-righteous protectors of my decency) should lighten up on Hardee’s and focus on more important things like finding real jobs and making meaningful contributions to society. They’d also be well served to remember no one likes the A-Holes!

Bumper Sticker Wisdom…

I received a call the other day from the Wisnerd and his opening line pretty much set the tone of the call…”OMG, you’re just not going to believe this”. He often starts his calls this way and never fails to deliver the goods as the most weird, unusual, improbable things happen to him. In keeping with past experience, he didn’t disappoint this time.

One thing you have to know about him is how much he stresses about money… I don’t mean worries a bit when things get tight but becomes completely obsessed with the topic to the point of developing all these plans like cashing in life insurance policies, selling furniture, etc. I’ll spare you all the details of the call but it seems he cashed out a life insurance policy to pay down some credit card debt only to discover the wife had gone behind his back and spent $1400 on botox injections (on the very card he was trying to pay down). Not sure I’ll ever know what it’s like to realize your life’s value (or at least policy face value) has been reduced to a temporary cosmetic procedure but quite positive it’s not something anyone really wants to experience.

In the course of our conversation, he mentioned his lack of “options” and how he was “stuck” in a relationship with no exit. It’s on this point I have to disagree because we have options in every situation…they may not be pleasant but we always have options. I’ve always marveled at how easily people give up or simply accept a situation without opening their minds to all the possibilities. It’s this acceptance that makes people believe they have no options when, in reality, they simply lack the will to act or the courage to “suffer” through the negative aspects of the other options.

Those calls always make me think about things in my own life (like how much I truly enjoy being single….or at least not married to someone who’s devoted her life to ruining mine) and times I’ve taken the easy way out for fear of the challenge/change. There is one defining moment in my life where I failed to act and I keep it in that deep, dark place inside to remind me fear of failure never stings as bitterly as regret.

I was thinking about the whole Wisnerd situation when I saw a truck with a bumper sticker proclaiming “Screw it…Live a little”. Most bumper stickers are stupid or boring but this one was right on the money. Life is too short to stay in a bad situation believing you have no other possibilities so figure out what you want and go get it! Maybe some people are content with living a little but I say "Screw it…live a LOT!”

Slacker...

I'm not usually so slack as to go weeks without updating the blog but here I am staring at ZERO entries for July. It's not that I don't have anything to say (quite the opposite...as usual) but short on time. The usual suspects (work, work, work) and a couple of other unexpected things (all good...don't get excited as none of them are dates) but planning to update this week so get ready! : )