Life tends to throw me many softballs that won't ever make it into the "big leagues", that is, they just aren't enough fodder for a full blown blog/column. However, it's a shame to let these things pass completely without comment. So, I've decided on a 'bits and pieces' format to occasionally put in a word or two on such little insanities.
In many cases, they are a direct result of way too much morning TV. Hi, my name is Robin, I'm a news junkie. There, I've said it, and I'm proud of it! Unfortunately, it comes with some odd sidebars, and way too many commercials.
Case in point, a new product for type 2 diabetics called
Januvia. I cannot watch the commercials without wondering if anyone at the company ever watched the movie,
The Princess Diaries, the story of a private school waif who finds out she's the heir to the little known European kingdom of someone's imagination known as
Genovia. The pronunciation is similar enough to make me smile when I think that a product designed to lower blood sugar brings to mind a super sweetened offering for adolescent girls. (And me, yeah, I watched it, so what?)
Between commercials the
Today Show had a story about the top five friendliest towns in America; Denver came in fourth. Yeah!! That's great, but when it came time to list the top reasons we are so dang friendly, here's what they came up with, "the largest Mexican festival (ok,
Cinco de Mayo, that's a good one), Black American festival (I'm thinking she meant
Juneteenth), and
Gay Cowboy Rodeo."...huh?
Wait, what was that last one? Is there even such a thing? You bet, and there are, in fact, many chapters. I think that's great. I love the rodeo, and if members of the gay community love it too, and feel they need their own association, fine. But if you had to list the top three reasons the mile high city is so friendly, is this really the list you'd come up with?? I sense an agenda here.
Next up, a piece about the pros and cons of offering birth control in high schools. I was thoughtfully considering the positions and so I was caught off my usual cynical guard when a young woman with multiple piercings (who seemed to be an employee of
Planned Parenthood!) said, "Most of these kids who are getting pregnant aren't even old enough to buy cigarettes."
Is it me, or was that just wrong on so many levels? The story probably made a few parents wish they could pack up their teens and move them to a small, out of the way, little known European Kingdom...where teen pregnancy and high blood sugar are never a problem.
Finally, have you seen the latest
Rocky's Auto commercial tied to Father's Day? Their perky blonde is interviewing a "woman" (another frequent Rocky's player sporting his mustache, a blonde wig and dress) claiming to have fathered Shagman's (our "hero"?!) child.
When the results of the paternity test reveals Shagman is not the father, he drops to his knees in thanks and the words,
Happy Father's Day Shagman appear on the screen, followed by the recommendation to "Buy your next car from a more reputable dealer". So...what's the message here? Deadbeat dads welcome at Rocky's? Or think twice before you trust your auto needs to these nuts? Maybe the real message is Rocky's ads have"jumped the shark" and they need a new advertising campaign.
I'm just saying....