Missed Marketing Opportunity

I came up with a great money-making scheme a little too late. It goes like this: First, I would have driven down to Pinellas Park about a week or so ago. Next, I would have dropped by a Home Depot to purchase some dowel rods, thin pieces of leather strap and carpenter tacs. Finally, I would quickly manufacture some flagellation sticks to sell to the mourners at ten bucks a pop.

Believe me when I tell you that I do not mean to be unkind. However, I remain unsympathetic to the group of people wailing and moaning in front of a South Florida Hospice. They chose to sit and cry over the (legal) death of a woman none of them personally know and who likely could not discern one of them from a lamp post. Meanwhile, so many other strangers, who are just as much in danger of starvation, could be helped by some, you know, constructive actions. I guess it's more glamorous to be a drama queen for the cameras than it is to be an anonymous Samaritan.

But at least it's all at an end, now. Rest in Peace, Terri. Such deserved Peace has been a long time coming.

Update on "Skippy" Blockbuster

I previously posted on this subject over a month ago. Here's the update via Studio Briefing:

BLOCKBUSTER PAYS FINE FOR "NO LATE FEES" PROMOTION

Blockbuster on Tuesday reached an agreement with the attorneys general of 47 states to settle charges that it misled consumers with its "no late fees" promotion. The video rental company agreed to pay $629,000 to reimburse legal costs and to reimburse customers who were misled by the promotion. The case centered around Blockbuster's policy of charging a $1.25 restocking fee if customers returned rentals after eight days. "A fee by any other name is still a fee," Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said in a prepared statement Tuesday. "This case is important to remind advertisers that catchy slogans can be misleading and even violate the law." Blockbuster, however, did not do away with the fees, saying only that it intends to post more signs in its stores that the describe them and to print the information on sales receipts.

Hi, I'm Larry. This is my law partner Daryl, and this is my other law partner Daryl.

Even if you've never hired a lawyer in your life, you'd be hard pressed to forget the names of the more popular firms wherever you live due to the ubiquitousness of the advertising.

Several months ago, the local firm of "Harrell & Johnson", which advertises on the back of the local phonebook as well as on numerous commercials, all of a sudden changed to "Harrell & Harrell". The story behind this change broke not too long after, which seems to stem from a disgruntled partner being booted out.

Recently within the past week or so, another of the big firms, "Morgan, Colling and Gilbert", started running commercials, again with no acknowledgment of the change, for the new name of "Morgan & Morgan".

Good lord, folks. The lawyers are circling the wagons and only placing their solemn trust in their own kin. Best get the womenfolk to safety.

Never mind the cotton. How 'bout a BIG expensive dinner!

Monday marked the 2nd anniversary of the day Mrs. Mosley and I got married. Instead of exchanging gifts as we did last year, we decided to treat ourselves to dinner at one of the nicer restaurants in town: Bistro Aix.

Although they did have it one the menu, I did not indulge in their Chicken Caesar salad on this particular occasion. However, being that it was reasonably priced I will probably return there one afternoon to sample it for a review.

Instead, we shared an appetizer of shredded fried fish with a creamy garlic dip for starters. We also shared a "Chocola-tini", which is composed of "Van Gough vanilla vodka, Godiva white chocolate liqueur, & cream de cacao". Very tasty.

Then for entrees she had the Grilled Tuna with whipped potatoes, baby spinach, lemon-garlic butter & chive oil, and I had the Fettuccini Alfredo with baby spinach, prosciutto & shitake mushrooms and shrimp. The dishes came quick and we made quicker work of them.

We topped all this off with a shared warm chocolate Belgian Cake with chocolate sauce & sweet cream (as well as a coffee for myself). The check, which came to us in a cardboard sleeve with "The Damage" printed on it, came to $88 with tip, which was cheaper than I imagined.

Afterwards, we came back home to settle in and watch Mansfield Park from Blockbuster, which was very good and perfect for the occasion (review to follow soon).

It was a lovely dinner and a lovely evening overall. Happy Anniversary, sweetheart.

Taking the Bad with the Good

The Bad: Christian Fundamentalists want legal protection from being fired if they refuse to fill birth control prescriptions (i.e. if they refuse to do the job their paid for and licensed to do).

The Good: The Maryland Senate passed a bill allowing unmarried couples (including homosexual couples) to have medical decision-making rights if they sign a domestic registry.

The Bad: Some IMAX theaters here in the southern states are refusing to show a film about Volcanoes because it makes mention of Evolution. These include theaters that are located in SCIENCE MUSEUMS!

The Good: Uh...well...I got nothin else. Pretty much par for the course these days.

South Asian Hopscotch

Twenty-five years ago, Russia was our enemy. The United States government forged close ties with Russia's neighbor and enemy, Afghanistan. In return for their help in fighting Russia, we help them by furnishing them with hi-tech weaponry and training.

Afghanistan is now our enemy. The United States government forges close ties with Afghanistan's neighbor and enemy, Pakistan. In return for their help in fighting Afghanistan, we help them by reversing a 15 year ban and selling them hi-tech weaponry.

Message to India: When 2030 rolls around, let's do lunch.