I’m glad this “special day” is here and will be gone with the sunset this evening. Why? So I won’t be exposed to Creepy Valentines Day advertisements on my teevee every 17 minutes. From these guys. (ed: video of the tacky commercial at the link) You know, the people who tell ya there’s “…only one gift guaranteed to get women to take their clothes off…” with “all that spa stuff that women just love,” the bottom-line being “she’ll think you spent weeks planning it.” Yeah. Right. To say these ads insult male intelligence is only scratching the surface. And were I a woman receiving a V-Day pajamagram, I’d seriously RE-consider the quality of my relationship. That goes for Vermont Teddy Bears, as well… perhaps double. I’ve read both businesses are owned by the same company. Which may or may not be true, but the ads for both products look very similar, so I tend to believe what I hear. About which…
Yet another business to add to my list of places to visit when I begin my post-retirement career as a midnite fire-bomber.
That was YrHmblScrb, ranting on St. Valentine’s Day last year. The supremely irritating ads for 
VTBs and PajamaGrams began last Monday evening, as best as I can determine, and tend to run in various late night slots. FNC’s “Red Eye” seems overrun with the ads, just to cite one example, which presents me with yet another case where my mute button gets the ultimate work-out. The PajamaGram ads are quite tolerable with the sound turned off, though. Nice eye-candy. The VTB ads? Not so much…
The thing that really gets my goat is the ads are the very same ones the companies have been running for the last two or three years. You’d think they would create some NEW ads… every couple of years or so. But nooooo…
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I mentioned Fox News Channel’s “Red Eye” in passing, above. This show has become my Guilty Pleasure, and I just LOVE it. Mainly for stuff like this. (I tried to embed the video, but Blogger won't display it.)
Andy Levy’s Halftime Report and Game Wrap-Up are arguably the best parts of the show, but the rest of it is pretty danged good… if a lil bit inconsistent. Edgy stuff tends to be that way… like Longfellow’s Lil Girl With the Curl… when it’s good it’s very good indeed; and when it’s bad it’s horrid.
Oh, and about the vid above… Red Eye had the absolute BEST commentary on the recent Michael Phelps incident of any media piece… written or broadcast… that I’ve seen so far.
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Serendipitous find, while googling “Red Eye:”
Diva duel: Etta James blasts Beyonce
Published
Watch out, Beyonce--Etta James wants to kick your butt. During a concert Jan. 28, James unleashed her fury at the actress who portrayed James in "Cadillac Records," for daring to perform her signature song--"At Last"--as the first dance for Barack and Michelle Obama at an inaugural ball, the L.A. Times reports. "I tell you, that woman he has singing for him, singing my song, she gonna get her ... whipped. I can't stand Beyonce, she had no business up there singing ... my song that I've been singing forever," James said during her
RedEye
You GO, Etta! I’m right behind you, in your corner, with you all the way, and whatever similar words of encouragement I can muster. I can’t stand Beyonce… what a frickin’ tart!… and her theft of your signature song is just beyond the pale.
Agreed on the damn Vermont bears. Seriously, what woman over the age of 8 wants a teddy bear for VDay?
ReplyDeleteThat said, I've been struggling to come up with an idea for a gift this year. I had an epic FAIL on the Xmas gift: bought her a great little Bluetooth headset for her cell phone. Problem is, her phone turns out to not be BT compatible. D'oh!!
I think I'm going with a bouquet of not-super-expensive flowers (cliched as that might be) and a decent (non-iPod) MP3 player. She really likes her music, and a non-iPod should work when plugged into the USB port on our amplifier so she can use it in the house too.
Wish me luck!
Men and gifts - makes me laugh. Toby asks me what I want, and I say, "If you have to ask, never mind." But it is always interesting to see what he comes up with. I had a friend whose husband once pulled out a little notebook from his pocket and wrote down the name of a book that his wife had oohed and aahed over. He was taking notes on what she liked so that he had ideas for gifts later on. Smart man.
ReplyDeleteBuck, one of the biggest reasons for my marriage being so successful, and for me loving MY WIFE as much as life itself, is that she has NEVER made a big deal out of Valentine's Day. We might send a card to each other, or we might not. If it happens, how nice! If it doesn't, nobody gets the cold shoulder.
ReplyDeleteIt has always bugged hell out of me, anyway, that somehow it's seen as a woman's right to receive gifts (and sometimes outrageously expensive ones) on VD, and men are just supposed to accept this as fact. But, I really don't have to rant about it since I have the best woman in the world as MY WIFE.
:-)
The merchandisers seem to be going overboard this year. I don't have TV and I still feel bombarded.
ReplyDeleteI am bah-humbug on all of the gift expected holidays - birthdays and anniversaries included...save for a giver's want to make a grand gesture - but that doesn't come under the "expected" heading.
My most treasured and memorable gifts have been the small somethings found or bought and given with "I saw this today and it made me think of you".
The discomfort here is twofold: The marketing and pressure is lousy, and so is the constant griping about it. I don't know which is more prevalent or unavoidable. I don't mean this as a slight to any of you, especially as I have my share of complaints, but I think the single most unpleasant thing about holidays anymore is how much time everyone spends complaining about them.
ReplyDeleteAgain, I am no angel in this space (as Buck would say), but I am trying to keep my complaining to a minimum. And also, I don't suggest for a second that there is nothing to complain about, because there is. By the bucketful. It just gets old to me, that's all.
Beyonce? Jesus. That whole damned election and inauguration was a festival of egotistical, presumptive behavior the likes of which I have never seen. Sick, really.
I never got into Valentine's day. It's just a made-up one for the commercialization of this country. True love lasts all year round. Nobody needs a holiday for it unless that love is for other people's money.
ReplyDeletewhat Michelle said!!! LOL!
ReplyDeleteYou are following Andy Levy on Twitter - right?!!!!!!!
@AndyLevy
Dave sez: think I'm going with a bouquet of not-super-expensive flowers (cliched as that might be) and a decent (non-iPod) MP3 player. She really likes her music, and a non-iPod should work when plugged into the USB port on our amplifier so she can use it in the house too.
ReplyDeleteSounds perfect to me! And congrats on your InstaLanche, Dave. Way-cool!
Lou sez: I had a friend whose husband once pulled out a little notebook from his pocket and wrote down the name of a book that his wife had oohed and aahed over. He was taking notes on what she liked so that he had ideas for gifts later on. Smart man.
Hmmm. I'm torn on this one. On the one hand, I agree. OTOH I think the guy is violating SOME sort of Man-Rule. Or making the rest of us guys look bad, which is probably closer to reality.
Jim sez: Buck, one of the biggest reasons for my marriage being so successful, and for me loving MY WIFE as much as life itself, is that she has NEVER made a big deal out of Valentine's Day.
The Second Mrs. Pennington was much the same way, Jim. Eminently sensible, in a male sort of way... if that makes sense. You DO have a Good Thing going... that much is VERY evident from reading your blog!
Speaking "eminently sensible..." Ann sez: My most treasured and memorable gifts have been the small somethings found or bought and given with "I saw this today and it made me think of you".
I like the way you think, Gentle Lady. Those ARE the best sorts of gifts.
Andy sez: The discomfort here is twofold: The marketing and pressure is lousy, and so is the constant griping about it.
Two things here, the first slightly out of context: I'm a sergeant... an enlisted man, by definition. It's our God-Given right to complain, as loud and as long as we want. I think this right is enshrined in the UCMJ, somewhere. ;-)
Second: I could bitch about The One... would you like that better? OTOH, I don't wanna go there. Yet.
All said in good fun, of course.
Michelle sez: It's just a made-up one for the commercialization of this country.
That was my closing thought in last year's post on the subject... wherein I called VD a "Hallmark Holiday." Great Minds, and all that!
Cynthia... I MOST definitely am following AL on Twitter!
I saw both the VTB and PJ ads this week and thought of you and last year's rant on the subject. Stuntman and I were watching TV and really had a good laugh about the stupid ads.
ReplyDeleteI'll probably make something nice for dinner that night, or not. We'll hopefully be out in the desert somewhere recovering from riding the bikes. It happens to be a long weekend for us due to school holidays for the kids :)
I also agree with what Michelle said. It's a made-up holiday to make men feel guilty.
BTW, your commercial convinced me to post about a horrible commercial that I see all of the time.
I loathe these sorts of holidays, prolly because I have no one to share 'em with (oh, poor pitiful me!) Oh, put a sock in it, Christina, and get over yourself...DONE.
ReplyDeleteWhat always aggravated me about VDay, was when my kids were still in elementary school and we had to (HAD TO!!) buy those stupid-ass cards for every blessed kid in each daughter's class. Torture, I tell you. Glad that's done with. And I never expect anything, holiday or not. That's so I can be pleasantly surprised when I DO get something.
We don't do Valentines Day, never have. We both the hate the idea that a "certain" day is when you're supposed show your love with an expensive three ring circus. What a bunch of B.S.
ReplyDeleteThe whole concept is insulting - buy a gift, get laid by your wife or girlfriend. I feel sorry for men who have to live with holiday obsessed women.
The commercials get on my nerves, too. Especially the diamond ones, who in the hell worth their salt wants a cheap chip from Zales? Don't get me started on the roses - overpriced, ugly red and so pedestrian.
I'd rather have my husband slip out of work some random day while the boys are in school, take me down to the lake with an adult picnic and the good rods, and just spend some time laughing, talking, fishing and reconnecting without anybody else around. Some pink peonies might be nice, though.
(no over the age of thirteen wants a stuffed bear, unless she's retarded)
One thing that annoys me about 14 Feb is that it's like amateur night, all of these couples suddenly appear in public.
ReplyDeleteI haven't celebrated VD since sixth grade.
Michele H's comment is spot on.
We "celebrate" VD everyday. Don't need no excuses. Certainly don't need a Hallmark-holiday for us to remind us.
ReplyDeleteAs for Beyonce - Etta James doesn't own the rights to the song, so anyone can sing it that wants to. She really can't gripe just because it's her signature song - if she feels that strongly about it she should buy the rights for her own use.
I think this is the video you need,
ReplyDeleteBuck. ;-)
As for the "At Last" kerfluffle; WFC?
ReplyDeleteMy favorite version was done in the Film, "Orchestra Wives", by the Modernaires.
I was truly amazed at how many of these comments said they do not celebrate VD and thought it was all just a ploy to get you to buy something and show your love. That is how I feel about Christmas only with lots more pressure. Very few people are willing to give up Christmas and the gifts as if it were some sort of God given command that you celebrate it.
ReplyDeleteSusan sez: We'll hopefully be out in the desert somewhere recovering from riding the bikes. It happens to be a long weekend for us due to school holidays for the kids :)
ReplyDeleteOh! "Envy 'R' Us!!" Dirt bikes in the desert sounds like MY kinda V-Day!
Christina sez: I loathe these sorts of holidays, prolly because I have no one to share 'em with (oh, poor pitiful me!) Oh, put a sock in it, Christina, and get over yourself...DONE.
LOL! FWIW... I have the same sorts of thoughts.
Daphne sez: I'd rather have my husband slip out of work some random day while the boys are in school...
That sounds good to me, as well. Almost as good as dirt bikes in the desert, LOL! And we're in complete agreement where the rest of your thoughts are concerned, Daphne.
DC sez: I haven't celebrated VD since sixth grade.
Sitting here wondering if I'm being hypocritical about all this... but I honestly cannot remember V-Days Past. So I gotta go with "did not celebrate."
Kris sez: As for Beyonce - Etta James doesn't own the rights to the song, so anyone can sing it that wants to. She really can't gripe just because it's her signature song - if she feels that strongly about it she should buy the rights for her own use.
I'll concede your point from a purely LEGAL perspective, Kris. But NEVER from an aesthetic or ethical one. I think some things in life deserve respect.
Doc: YEAH! That vid was good. But, ever the critic... I think the girl needs a few cheeseburgers. Just sayin'.
DC: I found Glen Miller's version of "At Last" on YouTube, but not the one you're referencing. I know the Modernaires sang with Miller, and I was hoping this was it, but alas...
Lou sez: That is how I feel about Christmas only with lots more pressure. Very few people are willing to give up Christmas and the gifts as if it were some sort of God given command that you celebrate it.
I have to admit I've never thought of Christmas in this manner. It's one of those things I've simply never questioned... and the "never questioned" category is pretty danged small in my life.
Beyonce's a skank.
ReplyDeleteEtta rules.
'nough said.
Yup! In SPADES.
ReplyDelete