JZ Monday Rant About TV commercials

Hi all:

A new feature, probably weekly on my blog, I am going to rant about television and well web commercials I find to be extra lame.

Okay, Snuggie is a pretty lame product to begin with, but singing about a snuggie to the Macarana should really be considered a crime against humanity. Yes this is even worse than putting a snuggie on a pet. If anybody ever really actually showed up to a football game in snuggie I'm pretty sure they would be laughed out of the stands. Nothing says NOT football like a snuggie. But singing about a snuggie to the Macarana my brain is still hurting.

You can see for yourself here....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN_Ml4PKdVU&NR=1 Be warned it's not for the faint of heart.

The other super lame commercial is the one for the McDonalds dollar menu at breakfast. The one where Mark is trying to impress the pretty woman from 3C. Mark has failed to impress the nameless woman before, but now he strikes home by bringing up the McDonald's dollar burrito at breakfast. According to the commercial, "she's interested". Of course what beautiful woman couldn't help but to be impressed with a guy with intimate knowledge of the McDonald's dollar menu? Yes sir, nothing impresses a lady more than saying, "I know how to spend a dollar."

You can view that one here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK6imn8a77s

Sign Suggestions for the Rally for Sanity

Since I can't go to the rally for Sanity (since well I have work to do, okay I'm not a big fan of big crowds) I am helping contribute my suggesting sign slogans for folks who might need help coming up with slogans. I call these my Sanity Sign Slogans (or SSS's)

Mr President. I know you were born in this country. I know you aren’t a Muslim. I know you aren’t a socialist. I know you can do better.

Disagreeing with something doesn’t make it communist.

Louder isn’t better.

Let’s not take opinions as facts and facts as opinions.

I don’t care whose fault it is. It’s all of our faults if we don’t make it better.

It’s easier to complain about something rather than fix it.

Yea for sanity! The other mental state.

Sanity may not sell in short run but it’s much better for the long run.

This sign made in the USA. (So see we do make stuff.)

Anti-defamatory Pro-Sense.

“We the People” pretty much means everybody.

I’m only here cause there’s nothing good on TV right now.

I’m not angry but I still think things could be better.

Compromise is not a sign of weakness…

I would have been here soon but I’ve been working.

Things I don't understand... (Note not comprehensive)

Why they have to wrap dog chains in tightly sealed plastic containers that I need a knife to open...

Why anybody would want to run for politics?

What makes Jennifer Lopez qualified to be an Idol judge at 12 million dollars?

How could TBS cancel My Boys after not letting two of the stars work on other shows due to contractual agreements?

The Mets...

Why people don't seem to comprehend that if you disagree with an opinion that doesn't make the other opinion wrong?

Calculus... It truly was take it and then forget it.

Carrot Top...

Why did Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds feel the need to take steroids?

The Bills...

A Brief History of Time.

Why do I like pizza but not spaghetti?

Is there really a need to Twitter?

Apple

Okay I admit it. I watched the Apple press event today. I even delayed my lunch so I could eat while watching it. Yes I admit it I am a geek.

My thoughts.

First the negative: I am not impressed with Ping at all. I really don't care what music my friends are downloading. I like music because I like music. I'm glad they didn't end the event with ping because that would have been ending with a ping instead of a bang.

Now some kind of negative: not sure what to think about the new Ipod nano. Sure it's cool being touch and all, but they removed the video. I always thought that was a nice touch.

The complete indifferent: Apple TV. The price is cool. I guess if i didn't have digital cable I would be more excited. It's still not something I want. At least not yet.

The good: IPOD touch. Now we are talking. A great game machine. A nice camera and HD recorder. A beautiful screen. Finally a mic. Lots of memory... Finally a front facing camera. Now they need to make a mac version of facetime. Of course I am still not sure what facetime offers that skype doesn't...

Now if they add all the new Ipod touch goodies to the Ipad-2 we've got a real winner. We've got the product I will replace my macbook with. Yes, yes I will.

Dieting....and more

Well, after seeing my gut in some shots from Cooperstown I have decided I must loose the gut. Therefore I am giving up white foods and trying to increase my exercise. In order to help guilt myself into losing weight I will weekly be posting my weight on my facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/john.zakour

Other thoughts:

So Japan has lost track of their two oldest citizens. That seems like something out of a sf novel...

Is Mr. Farve really really really retired? If he comes back now he risks LeBron style scorn.

Forums

Ya know, back in the 1990s I use to love internet forums. The way people from all over could share their opinions with each other with the filter of an editor deciding rather something was worth sharing with the world or not. Now, in 2010 I am starting to rethink all that.

I'm still for free speech and people being able to post whatever they want. The thing is I'm not sure how useful it is. Looking at the comment sections of places like Yahoo and CNN are pretty depressing for me. It's amazing the amount of animosity you see on these boards. There is a lot of US vs THEM attitudes. Be it, Republicans vs Democrats, Real American vs Terrorists, America vs North Korea. It doesn't really matter. There's just a lot of bile being tossed around by both sides.

Part of the problem is, the Internet allows a person to be anonymous therefore they can say whatever they want without fear of reprisal. Plus on the Internet you don't see the consequences your words have on other people which makes it easier for you to insult somebody. I like to think most people are basically good and they don't want to hurt another persons feelings in person. Yet the internet makes insulting somebody else easy as you can't see the hurt or anger in a persons face after you insult them.

I also like to think we're a lot more a like than we are different. That most people have the same common goals and that a lot more good can be done learning how to work towards common goals than looking for issues that separate us. Yet being anonymous on the Internet makes it easily to be belligerent. You don't see who you are dealing with therefore you tend to forget that you are arguing with another person not just a collection of electrons shown on a screen.

So don't get me wrong, I'm a geek. I like the Internet. I just feel it makes it too easy for us all to act like jerks without having to worry about consequences. Finally after 20 years I'm starting to see the value of both face to face communication and editors. Who would have thunk it.

Somebody about the rank.

Thinking

Hi all:

First off, hats off to John Isner and Nic Mahut for their classic, never to be duplicated 70-68 final set at Wimbledon. Wow, 11 hours of playing over 3 days. An amazing match.

Speaking of amazing, it will be amazing if the US can beat Ghana on Saturday to go to the great eight in the World Cup. I can't believe I am looking forward to a soccer match.

I am traveling for the next two weeks, man I miss my 27 inch mac.

Yes I am a geek.

This weeks (and next weeks) Working Daze is very bewitched inspired. What can I say I watched a lot of Bewitched as a kid. Now I even watch the russian version. They actually cloned some of the episodes it is surreal. I may have to have my Russian cowriter (on a hypnosis book) Elena Beloff to translate them for me some day.

Pac Man is 30

Wow, Pacman is 30 Today! I feel soooo old. It is way cool how google has a playable version of pacman on their front page. Heck the maze spells google!

Scott and Mine Newest project

Hi all:

Here's a sample of a new serial comic Scott and I are working on: Albrut the Barbarian. A Barbarian looking for a simpler life.

Also here is my latest Zuda entry done with Greg Smallwood, Universal Sales Pitch: where a race of alien women hire a top NY ad exec to help tell the world of their existence.

I almost forget

Oh I almost forgot.

It would be nice if readers could go to wow.com's two bosses enter poll. They are having a poll to determine which Boss to bring back into their tournament of bosses that I am a judge for. I am pushing for Eadric the Pure as he is much more fun the Lich King. The Lich King is so boring. (Like I said on twitter it's like voting for Dick Cheney to come back. Okay, the Lich King isn't that evil but still!)

So if Eadric wins a return i will give away 2 books of my books to 2 people who post pro Eadric comments (and vote for him) on the wow.com site. (By 2 books I mean 1 book each to 2 people.)

Thanks.

Checking In

Hi All:

Sorry, between books, a documentary movie deal and other projects it's been busy. Plus my mom was recently diagnosed with Myeloma so that's meant at least two trips to the oncologist a week.

The good news is she seems be responding to treatments quite well. They have come a long way since the 80s and even the 90s. I have to tip my hat to the folks at Interlakes Oncology they have been all been wonderful.

In news from around the world:

This is kind of a sad setback for Nasa: with the ballon crashing...

I also found Steven Hawkings comments about alien life a bit narrow minded. Yeah, Mr. Hawkings is way way way smarter than I am but as a SF writer I have a more optimistic view of alien contact. I like to think any race / civilization advanced enough to travel here would be advanced enough to be peaceful, at least mostly peaceful. We can't assume aliens will act as violently as human explorers. At this that is my hope.

On a more earthly level. I really like ABC's Modern Family. In fact I like the entire lineup of ABC's Wednesday night comedies. Those combined with In Plain Sight, make a nice evening of must see viewing.

Speaking of "must see" I remain hopeful that NBC will renew Chuck. This has been a strong year for the show.

I am also glad to see Smallville coming back for season 10. Yeah, yeah. I think it's fun.

Still not to sure what to make of the New Dr. Who. I do Mr. Tennant as the Dr. I do hope Rex is Not Your Lawyer gets picked up for the fall 2010.

Last Giveaway Winner

Hi:

The last giveaway winner was Sheri. Who now gets to pick a working daze mousepad or clock once she give us her address. The email to send your contact info to is: johnzakour@yahoo.com. I sure hope you live within the continental US as that makes shipping so much easier.

I used Numbers to pick a random number to pick the winner. I am really surprised google doesn't have a random number generator.

I'm still a bit cranky this Monday as I generally feel sad when I watch how our politicians bicker and fight. This us against them mentality can't be good for the country. We have a lot of challenges ahead of us. We need to find ways to meet these challenges in ways that let us adapt to changes while still preserving the basic core that made our country so strong. We also need to think globally. We all share the same world. Things would be a lot smoother if we all learned to work towards common goals instead of trying to stop or beat the other side. We're all really on the same side.

Wow, so much for the rant.

Baseball season is almost here and the Ipad is almost out. Woa...

Grumpy This Week

Okay, a lot of things have me grumpy this week.

A new study published shows that the I-Phone maybe addictive. To this, all I can say is, Duh.

Buzz Aldrin the 2nd man to walk on the moon is going to moonwalking on Dancing with the Stars. Sigh. I wish I was making that up. Buzz, why why why? What does anybody gain by watching an 80 year old man shake his grove thing on national TV? Sigh. Grumble.

Speaking of 80 years Betty White is going to appear on SNL. I actually can't be grumpy about that cause I think it will be cool. As long as she doesn't dance.

I actually thought Avatar had a shot at best picture. Sure it wasn't the best screenplay or story but it was an experience.

Sarah Palin doing comedy on The Tonight Show. Wow, I hope she choses standup as her new career. I support that.

Roy on Facebook

Roy is now on facebook at:

http://www.facebook.com/WorkingDazeComicRoy

Roy was tired of all the partisan ways. It's like if one party came out in favor of "love" the other party would start a "Pro Hate" campaign. Roy is hoping enough people will friend him to unite the world under a common cause geekdom.

Thoughts of the Week

The Winter Olympics has been fun. I am glad NBC is showing a fair amount of live coverage, though I wish they'd show the skiing live. Everything doesn't have to be in primetime. I am amazed at how some of these winter athletes can master their sports without dying! Shaun White can really fly on a snowboard. Curling has been interesting to watch it's kind of like winter's version of bowling. It's the one winter Olympics sport I think I could actually do.

Tiger Woods is talking about his "ordeal" this week. Talking about it in a closed controlled environment of course.

Reading this article on CNN about abuse of zero-tollerance policies at schools. So schools are arresting kids for doodling on desks... What a misuse of police resources and it seems kind of lazy on the schools' part too. Part of the problem with society today is we always let somebody else handle it. Yes if it's a violent crime the police should be called, but for writing on a desk, not so much.

Evan Bayh is resigning basically saying he is sick of congress not being able to get anything done and all the strident partisanship. Well duh. Like I read on yahoo I believe, one party could proposal a puppies are cute bill and the other party would immediately start their anti-puppy campaign. It's time we remember we'll all on the same side here.

Sarah Palin is mad at the Family Guy for making a not so veiled reference to her mentally challenged son. I actually, agree the son should be off limits. But truthfully I think Family Guy was busting Sarah not the son.

A tribute to my mother inlaw

Hello all:

My mother inlaw passed away this week. I wrote a tribute to her at TheMacGamer. (I write a World of Warcraft column for them.)

More "Thinking" Such As It Is

So, the Apple Ipdad doesn't support flash. Wow, as much as I am not a fan of flash as it has seemed to cause a lot of "hiccups" on my Macs over the years, I think this is a booboo from Apple. A lot of people who buy Ipads (snicker) will be expecting to be able to run utube and hulu on them. I believe both sites are still heavily reliant on flash.

Yes, eventually sites will switch to HTML 5.0 which allows videos to be imbedded without flash but that move is "awhile" away. Currently I think only Safari and Chrome support it. And Chrome is still in beta form on the Macs.

In a way this is kind of good for me as I promised my wife that my 27 inch Imac would be my computer buy this year. As the Ipad currently stands I don't want one.

Hopefully the next version will have a web cam (then it becomes a great skyping machine) and by then the flash / HTML 5 thing will be more settled. Then I will want an Ipad to replace my macbook.

One more mouse pad

Hi:

Scott and I are really pleased with the number of entries in our "I want free stuff" mouse pad / clock giveaway. Who would have thought that people like free stuff!

Well we're still letting a few more entires trickle in. We're also adding another another lucky random winner. All you need to do to enter is respond to this post.

Oh it would be nice if you read more of the blog too.

The Ipad

Okay, first off every time I say, "I-pad" the 13 year old boy in me giggles. Outside of that though I can of like the name. It does fit well with Ipod and Iphone and well it is in that family.

The Ipad looks like a neat device at an okay price. I can certainly see my son replacing his Ipod touch which he uses as his "couch web browser" with and Ipad.

Now do I want an Ipad? (Snicker.) Well, and Ipad may eventually replace my Macbook when it goes but not yet. The Ipdad looks like it can be a great traveling device except when I travel I need skype and when I do skype I want video. I think it's a shame the first Ipad's don't have a web cam, but the first Iphones didn't also. I think (well hope) it's only a matter of time before we have Ipads with web cams which will be the ultimate portable skpying devices. We all won't be like it was on Dick Tracy with our little wrist tv communicators but this will be close enough for me.

What does this say about?

I'm not sure what to think about this but I find myself being much more interested in Apple's announcement coming today than I do the President's State of the Union address...

Updating more and more

Hello all:

I will update this blog and more and more often now in hopes of making it a place for Working Daze readers to turn to and hang out and share ideas and thoughts and all.

I hate to admit this but I am very excited about whatever the heck Apple is going to announce tomorrow. I told my wife I don't want a slate I need a bigger screen not a smaller but I am still fascinated by the idea. It will either be a Newton style flop (the device not the physicist) or an Iphone style success story. Apple doesn't usually go halfway. I promised my wife no matter what it is I won't buy one. I certainly won't buy one this year but I am still interested in seeing what the heck it is going to do. If it was a good webcam it could become the ultimate skyping machine.

I do have to say I am loving my 27 inch Imac. The screen is like wow. As a writer it is so nice to be able to keep a document on screen and outline on screen and a web page with information on screen.

Bill Gates was on the Daily Show last night. Jon Stewart busted out the Zune jokes. I wonder if even Bill Gates uses a Zune?

Wow

Hey All:

After reading all the comments on CNN about the special senator election in Ma. (it's a special election not for a special senator...) to replace Ted Kennedy I see the country is still very much divided into us and them. What ever happened to common ground and being a united country? Democrats and Republicans are suppose to be two parts of the same system but it's almost as if now they each represent different systems.

A year into the Obama administration and he is just as much a polarizing figure as GW Bush was. I actually like the president. I think he is an intelligent man with some good ideas. I like the idea that he tends to think first then act. I also believe that he has strengthen our standing in the world some. This is good. But man domestically he really needs to come through on something. I know it takes time and the situation he inherited was a mess but the economy needs to pick up for the general public not just for the people that the government bailed out. People who are no cashing big pay checks! As for the health care reform I really don't see much reform coming in this package if they get the package passed which they may not, despite the Dems vast majority in the house and senate. (Even without the seat in MA they still have an 18 person majority.)

The sad thing is (at least in my opinion) a good portion of the politicians today are much more interested in keeping their jobs and serving special interests than actually helping make this place a better country. We need more politician (or some or any) politician to say, "hey what's best for everybody not just my party." In order for that to happen I think we may need to find a president that both parties can get behind. I'm not sure such a person exist...

Actually, when I look at the Daily Show and see how Jon Stewart does such a great job of pointing out the ridiculous things both parties do, I wish Mr. Stewart would make a series run the presidency. :)

Winners have been notified

Hey all:

The winners of the Working Daze free book contest have been notified by e-mail.

If you didn't win this one, don't worry there is a new contest coming soon.

Jz

Just some random thoughts

Hi all:

This week's post is a little (well much lighter). Just some thoughts from my brain.

Wow, NBC really messed up with the Jay Leno show by putting it in prime time. Leno seems like a decent enough guy but as a writer I hated seeing TV lose 5 hours of scripted shows a week. I'm glad the show is leaving primetime. Of course this begs the question will Conan accept being pushed back to 12:05 or jump to Fox. A lot of it is about ego, I am betting on the jump. The interesting thing is Leno and Conan were both funnier than they have been in a long time, yesterday when they were busting NBC. (Deservingly so.)

Wow, Sarah Palin will be on FoxNews. I really thought she'd be heading to CNBC. Maybe NBC will give her a 10 o'clock show?

Who will replace Simon on American Idol? I don't think he can be replaced. I think the show will eventually be usurped by Simon's new X-Factor America show.

I am so glad Chuck is back on the air. Yes, I am a geek.

In politics, our congressmen and senators can't really be as dumb as they appear. Can they? Do the senate and congress buildings have some sort of intelligence draining devices? Devices that drain your intelligence to the point that you are capable of agreeing with what your party has to say but nothing else? Yes I am looking at you Harry Reid.... Sigh.

According to ex-NY major Koch I mean ah, Giuliani, there were no terrorist attacks during the Bush administration. I guess they have that intelligence draining device in mayor's offices too. This is a really surprising statement coming from a man who's every other word is "9 11". Sigh.

Yeah, Delta is raising their charges on checked baggage! Now it will cost $23 for your first bag and $32 for your second. Yes, another reason not to fly delta. Sigh... Actually I think this is delta's master plan to help us all get into great shape by carrying around even heavier carry on luggage.

Mark McGuire admits to using steroids. Surprisingly no one not even my mother.