Since April, the Chicago Sun-Times has had an interesting mini-section on their web site called Chicagopedia.  It’s basically all things Chicago and is a handy guide for newcomers or out-of-towners or people simply interested in Chicago lore and terminology.

Maybe I’m being too picky but I sometimes wonder whether marketing executives are either a) geniuses for certain campaigns or product claims, b) ignorantly make ignorant claims which ignorant consumers accept as fact or c) purposely make misleading claims or ones that truly have no basis in fact.

Take my latest Cool Mint Listerine bottle for example.  A new sticker on the top face now displays “2X a day” in giant boldface on the left.

I got exposed to just another example of how much advertising is seeping into our life.  I went to my bank’s ATM yesterday and was exposed to an ad during the process.  Before I could select “Get your card back”, I had to read an ad carefully to make sure I pressed the proper “Please don’t charge me $25 for whatever service you’re offering” button (this is a touch-screen ATM).  If I’m using my bank’s own ATM, I’m not fond of this latest intrusion into our lives.  Most of us are “nickeled and dimed” with various surcharges unless you’re careful and this is my bank’s latest foray into trickery and legal thievery.

To begin with, let’s look at last week’s daily high temperatures here in Decatur, Georgia.

September 3 – 88 degrees

Now that I am back to work it took all of one commute to get out of the Lovey Dovey New Dad Second-Time-Over phase and back to the cynical wanker I’ve always been.  I must say that it was a fine 6 days off and I didn’t miss work even though this job is hands down my most enjoyable one I’ve had yet. When I got to thinking about it, I think 6 straight work days off is my longest time off from work since my wedding/honeymoon.  Since that was in 1998, it’s been far too long to not have a break like that.

Today is Audience Participation Day (and also Listen To James Whine Day).  Most of you who know me are aware of my not-quite-hatred-but-we-definitely-don’t-kiss relationship with hot weather and this week surely makes me wonder the wisdom of moving south.  Career-wise it was the right thing to do at the time but when the town you live in defies the laws of physics and has humidity in the 1000-2000% range, it makes me wonder what others see attract ...

I hate to not have visual or audio confirmation for myself before I pass information along but I’ve gotten enough reports from other coworkers about something that confirms my initial thoughts about another company.  Our company shares a floor in this building with a company called Pay By Touch.  Read this entry before you continue.

While we are a Blame It On Everyone But Ourselves society, there’s a new marketing program at Turner Field where I believe there is a direct correlation to something else.  Even though we have an obesity problem here in the U.S., I can’t blame people for taking advantage of a new All You Can Eat program for certain sections of the ballpark.< ...

This really isn’t anything new or revelatory but I went to see a typical summer blockbuster movie last night and was underwhelmed as usual.  It doesn’t even matter which movie it was because you can insert this rant into a common boilerplate for any action movie made the past 20 years with a few exceptions (Die Hard, T2, Gladiator). 

With home theaters now making waiting for a movie to come out on DVD a better option for most, a “blockbuster” movie now has to entice me in one of two ways.&n ...

Do you ever have those days, whether it’s real or imagined where it seems as though you are invisible?  As you’re driving, people are cutting you off left and right as though your car isn't there.  Then you continue your day by walking in a common area such as a mall and people act as if you’re not right in front of them.  A family of six will walk SIDE BY SIDE and seem to be surprised and annoyed when you’re forced to plow through the middle of them as if it were a game of Red Rover.