Here's something you don't see anymore: someone that eschews social media celebrity:
I know jack about the NBA, and even less about Mr. Leonard, but I'll tell you one thing - I'm a fan.
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Goodbye Grannie
In a continuing housecleaning mode, the Minnesota Wild traded their second-leading scorer to Nashville for Kevin Fiala. Granny started the season hot but has cooled substantially, and has never lived up to his potential. He also was a significant salary cap hit, with an additional $7.5MM owed for next year.
The way he and they were playing, Granny was going to go. The fact that we got someone with the potential like Fiala is a bonus.
In the recent past, we’ve moved the dead weight of Niederreiter, Coyle, and now Granlund. All needed to happen. With Mikko gone, it leaves us short at center, and we’ll see how they cobble the lines together, but at this point, it looks like a good move.
The other trades seem to have lit a fire – both with the new guys joining the team as well as those guys left. We’ll see if the fire continues to burn enough to get into the playoffs.
As they say in poker, all we need is a chip and a chair.
The way he and they were playing, Granny was going to go. The fact that we got someone with the potential like Fiala is a bonus.
In the recent past, we’ve moved the dead weight of Niederreiter, Coyle, and now Granlund. All needed to happen. With Mikko gone, it leaves us short at center, and we’ll see how they cobble the lines together, but at this point, it looks like a good move.
The other trades seem to have lit a fire – both with the new guys joining the team as well as those guys left. We’ll see if the fire continues to burn enough to get into the playoffs.
As they say in poker, all we need is a chip and a chair.
Monday, February 25, 2019
Wrestling with the Garage Door Opener
The brutal winter continues up here in Minnesota completely unabated. It has been Biblical in terms of its wrath. We've put up the snowiest February in history and suffered horrible cold that has been the admiration of places like Siberia. The simple act of going outside is painful, and common acts like walking the dog and taking a nice stroll haven't been done for over two months now.
With all of the snow, drifting has become a significant issue. There is snow everywhere, and when it blows, it creates significant challenges. Take my garage door for example. A northwest wind can blow loose snow under the small gap under my door, when then, in turn, melts due to my heated garage. The water then runs back toward the door, where it freezes. That results in an ice dam that prevents the door from closing due to the automated safety feature thinking the ice is a little kid or a dog or something.
Hence, every time I leave, I back out my vehicle and hit my garage door button, only to see it close and rise again due to the ice. That's when I start cussing like Ralphie's dad battling the furnace, grab my ice pick and shovel, and go to work. Pick pick pick, shovel shovel shovel, try the door, cuss cuss cuss, pick pick pick...
This morning, I wanted to get to the club for a run. Instead, I worked on closing my garage door for 20 minutes. In -20 temps, and -40 windchill. I finally did get it closed, but after so much time, I really wanted a warm cup of coffee instead of a treadmill, so I punted on working out and stayed home.
Good thing all that picking and shovelling is good cardio.
With all of the snow, drifting has become a significant issue. There is snow everywhere, and when it blows, it creates significant challenges. Take my garage door for example. A northwest wind can blow loose snow under the small gap under my door, when then, in turn, melts due to my heated garage. The water then runs back toward the door, where it freezes. That results in an ice dam that prevents the door from closing due to the automated safety feature thinking the ice is a little kid or a dog or something.
Hence, every time I leave, I back out my vehicle and hit my garage door button, only to see it close and rise again due to the ice. That's when I start cussing like Ralphie's dad battling the furnace, grab my ice pick and shovel, and go to work. Pick pick pick, shovel shovel shovel, try the door, cuss cuss cuss, pick pick pick...
This morning, I wanted to get to the club for a run. Instead, I worked on closing my garage door for 20 minutes. In -20 temps, and -40 windchill. I finally did get it closed, but after so much time, I really wanted a warm cup of coffee instead of a treadmill, so I punted on working out and stayed home.
Good thing all that picking and shovelling is good cardio.
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Friday, February 22, 2019
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Not Writing
It's been a tough year of writing. Frankly, I've just not been feeling it. There are a couple of reasons driving this:
Despite the dearth of new content, the site is still attracting good traffic. A lot of that has to do with the body of content that has been developed over the years, and it is nice to see people still engaging with it.
Not sure how long this funk will last, and I'll try and do better, but I'm just not feeling it.
If you're here for new content, I do apologize.
- Politics have been a veritable shit show. We have socialists that are legitimate presidential candidates. Hate rules the day. It's ugly out there, and thinking about writing on it is just depressing.
- Speaking of shit shows, how about Minnesota sports?
- The weather up here has just been brutal and has limited our ability to get out and have any adventures whatsoever.
- I've been doing a lot of copywriting as part of my job, which I thoroughly enjoy. I've not written this much copy since early in my career, and I'm having a ball with it. Due to my work, the muse for my writing is getting fed.
Despite the dearth of new content, the site is still attracting good traffic. A lot of that has to do with the body of content that has been developed over the years, and it is nice to see people still engaging with it.
Not sure how long this funk will last, and I'll try and do better, but I'm just not feeling it.
If you're here for new content, I do apologize.
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Chris Pratt Attached for His Religion
In recent news, Actor Chris Pratt has come under attack by Hollywood and the LGBT community because he's a Christian. His church is claimed to be "anti-LGBT" which is a pretty broad brush with which to paint.
If his church actually preaches that you should hate people of a different sexual orientation, that's one thing. However, what they actually preach is that it's a sin.
Like lying.
Or using God's name in vain.
Or sex out of wedlock.
Or any of the other Commandments.
This is nothing but an anti-religious attack. When "sin" now becomes defined as "hate," religion ends.
And, it seems to me, that is EXACTLY what some people want.
Surprising as well that nobody asks freshman superstar Rep. Omar what her religion thinks about the LGBT community...
If his church actually preaches that you should hate people of a different sexual orientation, that's one thing. However, what they actually preach is that it's a sin.
Like lying.
Or using God's name in vain.
Or sex out of wedlock.
Or any of the other Commandments.
This is nothing but an anti-religious attack. When "sin" now becomes defined as "hate," religion ends.
And, it seems to me, that is EXACTLY what some people want.
Surprising as well that nobody asks freshman superstar Rep. Omar what her religion thinks about the LGBT community...
Monday, February 11, 2019
Prince Gives Advice About the Internet
I'm not sure the date of this video (likely early 00's), but truer words have not been spoken.
Heed the message:
Heed the message:
Saturday, February 9, 2019
Monday, February 4, 2019
Super Bowl Commercials 2019 - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
I must admit that the 2019 version of Super Bowl ads seemed to lack punch. Is it because more firms can't justify $5.2MM for a :30 spot? Especially in the age of social media, where reach can be dwarfed at a fraction of the cost if things even go a little viral? Perhaps.
I also did appreciate that we were not forced to muddle through a lot of sanctimony. Given what Gillette just produced, I feared this would be the "woke" Super Bowl, and that is clearly what we did not have, with the exception of the Washington Post ad (yuck).
With that, here's this year's Super Bowl commercial instalment of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly:
The Good
Hyundai Elevator
Probably the winner of the night. Did a great job of playing off human emotion associated with buying a car and offering a solution. Funny, memorable, on brand:
Audi Cashew
A lot like the Hyundai ad, just not as effective. Still, very well done:
Bud Light - Game of Thrones
This one is the hands down winner in terms of buzz generated. Bud needed to do something with the dilly dilly arc, and for them to take it where they did is remarkable. I'm not sure I've seen two brands pull off something this aligned, especially two such divergent brands. This will make for a fantastic business case:
The Bad
Kia Telluride
I have absolutely no idea what they were trying to pull off with this ad. From the weird voice over to the shots of nondescript citizens, does it make you want to buy a car? I think not. Not sure what their agency was doing with this:
Burger King - Eat Like Andy
1) Does anyone that traditionally eats fast food know who Andy Warhol is? 2) Will this sell any incremental Whoppers? The answer to both is "NO":
The Ugly
Mint Mobile - Chunky Milk
Disgusting, especially considering that most of your audience is eating at the time. Terrible ad that uses a gross-out factor to try and drive brand preference. Really
Olay - Slasher
This one is disturbing as well. I'm not sure how this production is going to lead to a lot more incremental sales. How does something like this get green lit for a cosmetic?
I also did appreciate that we were not forced to muddle through a lot of sanctimony. Given what Gillette just produced, I feared this would be the "woke" Super Bowl, and that is clearly what we did not have, with the exception of the Washington Post ad (yuck).
With that, here's this year's Super Bowl commercial instalment of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly:
The Good
Hyundai Elevator
Probably the winner of the night. Did a great job of playing off human emotion associated with buying a car and offering a solution. Funny, memorable, on brand:
Audi Cashew
A lot like the Hyundai ad, just not as effective. Still, very well done:
Bud Light - Game of Thrones
This one is the hands down winner in terms of buzz generated. Bud needed to do something with the dilly dilly arc, and for them to take it where they did is remarkable. I'm not sure I've seen two brands pull off something this aligned, especially two such divergent brands. This will make for a fantastic business case:
The Bad
Kia Telluride
I have absolutely no idea what they were trying to pull off with this ad. From the weird voice over to the shots of nondescript citizens, does it make you want to buy a car? I think not. Not sure what their agency was doing with this:
Burger King - Eat Like Andy
1) Does anyone that traditionally eats fast food know who Andy Warhol is? 2) Will this sell any incremental Whoppers? The answer to both is "NO":
The Ugly
Mint Mobile - Chunky Milk
Disgusting, especially considering that most of your audience is eating at the time. Terrible ad that uses a gross-out factor to try and drive brand preference. Really
Olay - Slasher
This one is disturbing as well. I'm not sure how this production is going to lead to a lot more incremental sales. How does something like this get green lit for a cosmetic?
Saturday, February 2, 2019
Saturday Song Share: Kevin Gordon - Colfax/Straight Ahead
I have never been a kid in a marching band, nor have I ever been to Colfax, Louisiana but this guy sure paints a picture.
That Ted Nugent line killed me...
That Ted Nugent line killed me...
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