Happy Holidays !!

Can you name at least two "brands" here that have disappeared? Hint: They were both HUGE in the early 1980's. When TV was near it's peak. Mr. T was a media phenom (back in the day). His real name was (and is) Laurence Tureaud, but he will forever be known as Mr. T.

He played B. A. Baracus in the 1980s television series The A-Team, was boxer Clubber Lang in Rocky III, and once did a stint as a professional wrestler. Mr. T is known for his trademark African Mandinka warrior hairstyle (often mistaken for a mohawk hairstyle), his gold jewelry, and for his tough-guy image. In 2006 he starred in the reality show "I Pity the Fool", shown on TV Land.

She was married to a President.

Mom is Almost Always Right!

When I was a child, my Mother said to me, "If you become a soldier, you will become a General. If you become a monk, then you will end up as Pope." Instead, I became a painter, and wound up as Picasso. - Pablo Picasso

Never Too Old To Rock and Roll

I've been reading the new Keith Richards autobiography "Life" and I'm fascinated by it. What a big life! And what a testament to the rock & roll lifestyle that has been chronicled ad nauseum in the pages of Rolling Stone and in the mainstream press as well. Stop to recall that Keith Richards is 67 years old! Did you realize that 4 famous rockers all died at age 27. It's true. Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Janis Joplin all went toes up at age 27.

Here's to Keith!

We're all Dilberts.

This year marks the fortieth anniversary of the office cubicle.

It started out as the "Action Office" from long time office furniture manufacturer Herman Miller, Inc.

Perhaps the most positive consequence is that it gave us the comic strip “Dilbert.”

And "The Office".

And "Cube Ranches".

No Softee Here

A truly great testimony to the power of American capitalism (and the ease ion which you can sue someone, anyone) involves those very familiar Mister Softee ice cream trucks in New York and New Jersey, which feature a logo of a smiling conehead wearing a bow tie and a big smile. Mister Softee’s lawyers recently won a $20,000 judgment against one: Akop Papazian. Papazian allegedly used the Mister Softee trademark (or a reasonable facsimile) on his own ice cream truck. While Mr. Papazian has yet to be reached ------ his renegade truck continues to be seen in various area neighborhoods. Now, Mister Softee is petitioning to have Papazian’s truck seized and sold, with all of the proceeds to go to Mister Softee.

New New York

I just spent a few days in New York City on business. Was completely amazed at the even more than usual abundance of ads, more ads, and (yes) even more ads. With the Holidays fast approaching, seemingly every available space is taken over by an ad.

Adding to all of this advertising pollution is the blatant disregard for those long forgotten old friends --- white space, peace & quiet. Yes, there is Central Park --- surrounded by ads on all sides.

Times Square is (literally) the LOUDEST PLACE ON EARTH (visually speaking) and that prime real estate is some of the costliest advertising space available on Earth, They have even blocked off the street and made chairs available in Times Square where you can have a seat and take it all in.