Insurance ad wars – part 2

Well, gang, with the Super Bowl tomorrow, the ad world is abuzz with the upcoming vignettes of consumerism. And, my treatise on insurance ads is still only half done.  The first part is here.  Let’s get to the rest of them that confuse/annoy me.

Insurance ad wars – part 1

Years ago, in a much simpler time, the world was rocked by a conflict pitting two forces against one another in a no-holds-barred fight to the death.  Everyone chose sides, pitting brother against brother in a struggle that redefined how we looked at our society – and ourselves.  I’m speaking, of course, of the Cola Wars.

A post about the iPad…written on an iPad

Time in at 12:25 p.m. Today, I will attempt to write a blog entry on my new iPad. I am trying to do this touch-typing using the on-screen keyboard. I will make no corrections to any of the suggestions that Apple makes to my mistakes. We’ll see how this goes. Who doesn’t like a gimmick?

The world’s worst Halloween candy – and how it showed up in my house

Wow, this is easily the longest writing drought in Sweet Monkey Pie history.  For that, I apologize.  Like always, I’m suffering from the deadly duo of a hectic work schedule to go with an absolute dearth of writing topics.  Well, I solved both today thanks to a lazy Thanksgiving holiday and a peek at my son’s remaining Halloween candy basket.

The ravages of time (and tennis)

It’s been waaaaay too long since the last post, but I’ve been really busy. And creatively bereft.  But, since I’m using words like “bereft” again, tonight seems like a good one to get back on track. Luckily, the topic is quite easy.  How time can just throw you a curveball as you get older.

Movies for schmucks?

One of my favorite comedians, Eddie Izzard, has a great routine about how American filmmakers take great stories from British movies, rip off the general premise and add a heaping helping of explosions, aliens and other eye-candy.  I’d try to explain the routine in more detail, but why not let a crude Lego animation of the routine explain it for me.

A World Cup prep quiz for skeptical Americans

Not sure if I’ve ever mentioned this before (and I’m too lazy to search the archives), but I was once a soccer atheist.  Well, actually not an atheist… I mean, I was pretty sure that soccer existed, but growing up in rural North Carolina, there was little actual evidence of soccer as a sport. No youth leagues, no high school teams, no adult leagues… nothing.

Companion books for HBO’s The Pacific

If I had the time and the energy, I’d love to write a review of each episode of HBO’s The Pacific.  The miniseries has completely blown me away, as it shows the filth, despair, carnage and courage of some oft-forgotten World War II battles.  The war in the Pacific was really an entirely different affair from the European theater, and Hanks, Spielberg and crew are paying homage to those veterans.

Things I don’t understand about teen pop idols

This morning, I was able to catch last night’s SNL on the DVR. Host was Tina Fey with musical guest Justin Bieber. Besides a stellar effort by Fey in all phases of the performance – another dead-on Sarah Palin impression and a very memorable brownie commercial – this show was notable for all the Justin Bieber-ness that it put forth. Seriously, a kid hasn’t gotten this much SNL airtime since a pre-druggie Drew Barrymore hosted in the 80s.

The girl, the bunny and an Easter parable

Since we just got out of the Easter season, and several million folks just made their once-a-year church appearance (you know who you are… sinners), I felt like I needed to tell a story via parable. Here we go.