random interview and other stuff
While driving back from work tonight, I heard the most random interview ever. On NPR's "All Things Considered," host Robert Siegel interviewed the guy who invented the pink garden flamingos. It was actually pretty interesting...
They were invented in the 1950's, and have just recently (this week I think) been discontinued. As is the case with many things, unavailability begets popularity. Apparently they are now harder than ever to come by, and stores, antique museums, etc are getting flooded with calls about the little guys. It was mildly comforting to learn that the inventor didn't actually think the hideous flamingos were fashionable. Turns out he graduated from art school with an unexpected dose of business sense...he realized it's much easier and much much more lucrative to market to people with bad taste rather than people with good taste. As he put it in the interview, "There's one simple reason for that...there's more of them."
Before tonight, I had no idea what a big business those flamingos are. I usually just see them kicking it next to some sort of garden gnome or something and think nothing of it. Who knew they were so groundbreaking? It was actually an innovative design choice to make them from plastic (the inventor said he had heard plastic was the "new" material). Also, I guess there was some sort of pink kitchen/appliance craze in the 50's and early 60's, and it all started with the pink flamingos.
Anyway, this information won't change your life or anything, but it's pretty interesting nonetheless. If you'd like to listen to the interview in it's entirety (which, by the way, I doubt anyone does) you can find it on npr.org in tonight's "All Things Considered."
I need your help with the ADA's Walk for Diabetes!
It's a little last minute, but this Saturday I'm participating in the American Diabetes Association's Walk/Run for Diabetes. It's something I care about, since a close member of my family was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes while still in middle school. Even though (pathetically) it's probably been a good month since I've gone running, I saw the poster up at Panera and thought I'd join in and do the 5K.
Here's where you can help...the "recommended" amount that each participant is supposed to try to raise is $150. Moving across the country has temporarily depleted my non-bill-paying related funds, so I clearly cannont do this on my own.
If you can donate ANYTHING, even like $5 or $10, it would defnitely help and I would certainly appreciate it. The website to visit is:
http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR?px=3079972&pg=personal&fr_id=4010&s_tafId=66316
There's a spot under the picture on the right hand side where you can click to donate, and you can use a debit or credit card. I think it immediately generates a receipt for you, so your donation would be tax deductible.
Thanks is advance to anyone who can help!!
3 not very important things
* It was freezing today, and it snowed. More accurately, it flurried. Except for a very brief moment when I thought I was going to die, I think I'm doing ok with it. I like snow. It is very pretty and can sometimes (such as Christmas Eve and/or Christmas morning) seem almost magical. Of all the various aspects of moving across the country, I was definitely most nervous about re-adapting to cold weather. After moving to Cali, I came home to Illinois one Christmas and remember telling my dad that I literally had no idea how I survived 22 midwestern winters. After experiencing beautiful 70-80 degree winters, I was in awe of myself for survivng that much cold. This sounds dramatic, but I really wasn't sure if I could readjust the other way. Until today, I still wasn't totally sure. But, I think I'm going to be ok.
* I neither claim nor aspire to be a political expert or prognosticator of any kind, but here's my guess for the '08 Presidential Race: Rudy Giuliani vs. Barack Obama. We'll see.
* Until yesterday I had never seen the television show "Veronica Mars." I'm now addicted to the DVDs. It's actually quite good.
wow
Last night I had the privilege of witnessing the most unbelievably breathtaking sunset I've ever seen.
and that's all i've got to say for now.
