Obama Chia Pet

The Barack Obama Chia Pet

So there's been a lot of products made to try and cash in on the fame and let's be honest, the marketability of Barack Obama.

He's not just a politician, he's a celebrity. Barack Obama has become a symbol, which means he carries a "symbolic meaning" to people completely separate from and beyond whatever he IS in "Reality".

Because of his celebrity, people are ready to make money by slapping his image on anything they can; the same way they would for Paris Hilton or Hannah Montana. That means posters, lunchboxes, t-shirts, baseball hats, trading cards, watches, anything you can think of and anything that someone might buy.

And that includes a rare honor: The Barack Obama Chia Pet.


As soon as I saw the Obama Chia Pet head, I knew that it was special. I've seen Obama's image slapped on a LOT of products, hundreds of products but you could just tell that the Obama Chia Head was something different. Even with all the Obama collectables out there, this was still unexpected. This makes you go WOW.

So what has the reaction to the Obama Chia Pet been? Apparently either you love it and you want to buy the Obama Chia Head, or you hate it and want it removed from store shelves.

The Obama Chia Head is a huge seller. I heard the owner of the company that makes them on WGN radio this morning and he says it's been a huge hit. He says it was created to honor the president and that the reaction to the Obama Chia head has been hugely positive.

But not all is well in the Chia World.....

The Obama Chia Controversy

The Walgreen's drug store chain, which was the exclusive retailer of the Obama Chia Head, has chosen to remove the Obama Chia from it's stores.

Typically Walgreen store managers are allowed to choose products they want to sell and market in their individual stores, and many Walgreens stores in Chicagoland were selling the Obama Chia Pet.

But when Walgreens corporate management began receiving complaints that the Obama Chia Pet was racist, they immediately ordered the Obama Chia removed from all stores.

This has decreased the number of Obama Chias out there but the publicity has predictably increased the demand. They're selling out anywhere you can actually still find them.

Me, I just think the whole thing is funny and a little bit stupid. That's my typical reaction to most things though.

Is this a scandal you can believe in?

Do you believe the Obama Chia Pet head racist? Can something be racial without being racist?

Are you bothered by the commercialization of Obama?

Or do you think the Obama Chia Pet ROCKS and you have to own it?

All of the above and none of the above are also acceptable answers, please explain.

Hail to the CH- CH- CH- CHIEF

DUH

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(UPDATE - The Obama Chia Pet has SOLD OUT on Amazon.com!!!)

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The Obama Chia is available in "Happy' or "Determined" poses.






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Sources:

Obama Chia Pet Pulled From Stores - The Huffington Post
Citing Racism, Walgreens Pulls Chia Obama - Wired
Stop Making Money Off My Vote Already - PYLB

The 2009 Chicago Cubs Old Style Fan Can

It's the surest sign of spring in Chicago!!!

When the Old Style Cubs fan cans hit the stores, you know that it's almost summer.

Cubs baseball, long bike rides, neighborhood festivals, long summer days and cookouts with your friends are all on the way.

I love summer, I love beer and I'm a delusional cubs fan, so you can imagine the wave happiness I felt as I bought my first Old Style fan can of the year.

It feels like all is right in the world right now.

Sure there's that whole economy thing the fact that I got laid off. Oh well, you just have to savor the simple pleasures in life sometimes. Today is a great day for a frosty mug.

GO CUBS!!!






OLD STYLE MERCHANDISE

Wacom Intuos4 Pen Tablet

The New Wacom Intuos4 Pen Tablet is now available and ready for shipment! If you are a media professional or digital artist and illustrator, then the Wacom graphics pen tablets have always been your friend. If not, they should be!

The first time I used one of these I was amazed by how cool this was. In the years since, they've continued to advance. Although it's not really a part of my everyday job to use one, I have used an Wacom Tablet many times and they rock.

You can edit photos and create artwork just as if if you were using pen and paper. It's much more intuitive for many artists to use than simply using your standard graphics tools. When you do combine it other design tools like Photoshop though, you can really create amazing work.

The new Wacom Intuoso4 Tablet is now in stock at Amazon.com. If you buy it from Amazon, it will ship within 24 hours and you get FREE shipping as well as 30 days to return it now questions asked. CLICK HERE to buy the Wacom Intuos4 Pen Tablet today!

Wacom Intuos4 Pen Tablet Video

Intuos4 Features:

• Professionally edit photos and create digital artwork quickly with natural, realistic pen control
• Advanced pen sensor technology lowers tip activation force and captures each and every nuance of pen pressure
• Precise pressure control with 2048 levels of pen pressure sensitivity
  
• Save time with user-defined ExpressKeys™ & multi-function Touch Ring with shortcuts, modifiers, scrolling, zooming, and more at your fingertips.
• Illuminated ExpressKey displays provide a constant reference each Key's setting
• Custom radial menus for rapid simple navigation
• New Precision Mode simplifies detail work

CLICK HERE for more Wacom Pen Tablet details and customer reviews

The Obama Special Olympics Joke

It's the joke America is talking about. (For about 15 minutes I assume)

It's Barack Obama's Special Olympics joke from The Tonight Show with Jay Leno appearance on March 20, 2009.

Barack Obama Special Olympics Joke YouTube Video










Now that you've seen the Obama Special Olympics video, here are your topics of discussion:

Is this offensive, stupid, funny, or none of the above?

Will the "PC Police be busting Obama on this one?

Should they be?

Bad joke or joke in bad taste?

Do you think it was funny?

Are the Special Olympics only funny if it's on South Park?

Do you even give a sh**?

Some Republicans criticized Obama for appearing on the Tonight Show in the first place and "lowering" the office of the President. When taking into consideration the last 10 presidents, do you think it is possible for the office of the President to get any lower?

DUH
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Related Obama Special Olympics Stories

Obama 'Special Olympics' Crack On Tonight Show (VIDEO, POLL) - Huffington Post (If you've got a lot of time to waste reading blog comments, this is the spot)

Obama's 'Tonight Show' appearance could become a 'special' event - LA Times

Obama Likens His Bowling Game to Special Olympics - Washington Post

President Obama makes a Special Olympics joke - staffer apologizes - Christian Science Monitor


Bonus Special Olympics Photos

Chinese Freaking Democracy!!!! Does Anyone Care?

It really happened. The long, long, long long awaited Chinese Democracy album by Guns N Roses was finally released on November 23, 2008. I can't be the only one who's shocked.

I've been waiting half my life for this album. Actually, that's completely false because I gave up on Guns N Roses about 15 years ago. The half my life is just to get some perspective, because I was still a little High School metalhead when the last "real" Guns N Roses album (Use Your Illusion) came out. Half my life has passed since then. At one time you could say I "highly anticipated" this album but by the time it finally came out, I could really care less.

Okay, that's not entirely true either. For one, here I am writing about it. But I write about Chinese Democracy because this is a mythic album; an album that was legendary years, perhaps even a decade before it actually came out. This album has been receiving press for years and may have been the most talked about album release ever. Only Radiohead's In Rainbows album can come close as far as it's release being talked about in the press.

Unfortunately for Axl Rose, the legend of this album is in it's making; it's myth is in it's delay. It's a legendary album for many reasons, none of which have anything to do with MUSIC.

In my opinion, it's much more fun to READ about Chinese Democracy than to listen to it. I've been reading about it for years and been thoroughly entertained. For instance there's that classic article from the NY Times in 2006 "The Most Expensive Album Never Made" which is a really interesting read. Hell, you could make that article into a movie it's so full of twists and turns and drama.

Then there's Chuck Klosterman's review of Chinese Democracy, which is also a fun read. I think this review really makes my case that the REVIEWS of Chinese Democracy are way better than the actual album.

A sample quote: "Reviewing Chinese Democracy is not like reviewing music. It's more like reviewing a unicorn. Should I primarily be blown away that it exists at all?"

and "I've been thinking about this record for 15 years; during that span, I've thought about this record more than I've thought about China, and maybe as much as I've thought about the principles of democracy."

Exactly. This album is so much more valuable as Rock N Roll Mythology than as music. I've enjoyed reading about it, speculating about it, making jokes about it, but I can't say I've enjoyed listening to it. Currently I have been unable to make it through the entire album in four attempts. I should have given up at three, it's just that my fifteen year old Appetite for Destruction worshiping self forced me to try one more time. Sorry little me - I just couldn't make it. Maybe that's just because I've changed so much in those years but whatever the reason, I just can't do it.

So what was the reaction by the rest of the world to Chinese Democracy? It sold 261,200 copies in it's first week to chart at #3 in the Billboard album sales. That put it behind the #1 Kanye West album which sold 450,000 (considered a disappointing sales number) and Taylor Swift (whoever that is) who sold 267,400. Not too exciting of a debut for the triumphant return of Guns N Roses. Even AC/DC's "Black Ice" sold 700,000 copies it's first week, and their albums have been indistinguishable from one another for over 25 years. It may be a disappointing debut for Chinese Democracy, or maybe we should be shocked that a quarter of a million people even still gave a sh**.

It turns out, many more people cared about getting a free Dr. Pepper (street value 75 cents) than cared about Chinese Democracy. Dr. Pepper apparently said that if Chinese Democracy came out in 2008 that they would give everyone a free soda. Not a bad deal considering the publicity it generated Dr Pepper. So many people rushed to their website to claim a free soda that it crashed the site.

This of course resulted in an inevitable lawsuit from Guns N Roses (Axl Rose). Check out some of the hilarious claim:

"As we all now know, Dr Pepper created an expansive and highly-publicized advertising campaign based solely on the exploitation of my clients’ legendary reputation. In and of itself this campaign brazenly violated our clients’ rights in numerous respects. Unfortunately, Dr Pepper has now magnified the damage this campaign has caused through its appalling failure to make good on a promise it made to the American public."

One more ridiculous story cementing the legend of Chinese Democracy. Of course, it has nothing at all to do with the music.

DUH

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Fifteen albums that came out in 2008 that were way cooler than Chinese Democracy:




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Related:

BUY Chinese Democracy
Chinese Democracy Review - Chuck Klosterman - READ
Chinese Democracy Review - Rolling Stone - READ
Chinese Democracy Review - SPIN - READ
Chinese Democracy's Sluggish Sales - MTV
Chinese Democracy Falls Flat on Charts - National Post
How Axl Rose Spent All That Time - NY Times
The Most Expensive Album Never Made - NY Times
Guns N Roses - Wikipedia
Guns N Roses Demand Apology Over Dr Pepper Fiasco - Rolling Stone

Black Friday Zombie Mob Kills and Eats Wal-Mart Employee Like a Scene from Dawn of the Dead

BLACK FRIDAY, shockingly(?), turned DEADLY in Long Island, New York when a mob of crazed bargain hunting zombies broke through the doors of the local Wal-Mart and trampled, then ate, the seasonal temporary employee who stood in their path of destruction.

Actually, that's not entirely true. There seems to be no evidence the mob actually ate the poor temp who got in their way, but they almost might as well have, because they did trample and kill him.

I guess there's no evidence they were actually zombies either. From all apparent descriptions and from what the police have disclosed from viewing the walmart security cameras, only humans were involved in this incident. No zombies. I guess it's just wishful thinking that people wouldn't stampede and kill someone just to get a plasma television or an Xbox, only the undead would do that. Or the living dead.

So just the other day I was feeling cynical about both Black Friday and Buy Nothing Day and that maybe there were some bigger enemies in the world to worry about than Black Friday shoppers. But this story about Wal-Mart Shoppers trampling and killing an employee is just crazy! Now that I think about it, it seems shocking that noone died in a Black Friday stampede already. It seems stupid to me that according to some, that the economy is at fault of this. These kind of things happen every year. According the NY York Times "Ugly shopping scenes, a few involving injuries, have become commonplace during the bargain-hunting ritual known as Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving." It was practically inevitable that someone would die.

Some people are already ready to blame WalMart. It's easy to place blame on the "evil global corporation" but don't overlook the people who actually put their boots in the throat of this guy. That said, mobs of shoppers is exactly what these stores want on Black Friday, so they can be faulted in setting up this whole situation, helping create a hysteria and perhaps not placing proper crowd controls into place. Maybe the local police should have been there in anticipation of possible threats to safefy. Maybe it was just an unfortunate accident. I don't know. I just know it's freaking crazy.

I guess the time for Buy Nothing Day has become necessary. Just voluntarily say NO to all this Black Friday craziness and holiday consumerism materialism induced zombie like madness. Spend some time with the people you love instead.

DUH.


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Rest in Peace Jdimytai Damour. (WalMart Employee whow was the Victim of the Black Friday Wal Mart Stampede 2008)

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Photo is a still from "Dawn of the Dead" - The George Romero film where a group of people try to survive in a shopping mall hiding out from a zombie mob. This Black Friday Walmart Story made me think about the Classic 1978 horror zombie film classic "Day of the Dead", which makes not so subtle swipes at consumer culture through it's setting in a suburban shopping mall. Watch the trailer below, then watch some zombies storm through the doors at Wal-Mart and see what you think.

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Dawn of the Dead 1978 Trailer

Notice any Similarities Between Dawn of the Dead and the Black Friday at Walmart Videos?

The Doors Open at Walmart on Black Friday Video - Woman Gets Trampled but Lives to Regret Shopping at Walmart




Black Friday WalMart Video - Chaos Breaks Out


Wal Mart Black Friday Shoppers Fight Over Sale Items While Dudes With Camera Laugh at Them

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Which is More terrifying, the Zombie Movie or the real Black Friday?

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MSNBC Video of Report of Black Friday WalMart Stampede that killed a Wal-Mart Employee

Related Stories

Wal Mart Employee Trampled to Death - NY Times

Wal-Mart worker trampled to death by frenzied Black Friday shoppers - Seattle Time

Cops hunt Wal-Mart shoppers after worker dies - MSNBC

Black Freakin Friday : Also Buy Nothing Day - Which One Will You Choose - Duh ONly

Dawn of the Dead - Wikipedia

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Not much of a stretch from Dawn of the Dead to Black Friday unfortunately. George Romero was unfortunately more than a cultural critic with his film Dawn of the Dead; he saw into the future, and the Future looked like Black Friday at Wal Mart. These scenes were repeated in several stores across the country, from Best Buys to WalMarts and Kohls and Office Depots: The Living Dead came to feast on the corpse of civility and the myth the commercialism run rampant in media has no effect in the real world.

Best Rickroll Ever? : Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Gets Rickrolled.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Rickroll Video featuring Rick Astley

So how far has Rickrolling meme gone in 2008? Although many of them didn't know what was going on, on Thanksgiving Day millions of unsuspecting Americans got RICKROLLED.

BUH-BAM!

This looks to be the biggest Rickroll to date. Who thinks they can top this one? I have a feeling that someone is scheming to do so right now.

So What is the definition of a Rickroll?

Are you one of the uninitiated? There are a couple of different ways I could explain to you what a Rickroll is. The best possible way I can think of is to show you this video that's too wierd for words: Watch this crazy video of William Shatner, David Hasselhoff and Britney Spears discussing what a Rickroll is over drinks (Before Britney falls over drunk) after Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's secret wedding.

Now that's a Rickroll! It may be modest rickroll but the bar has been raised so high now by the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Rickroll that I'm not even going to try. But it's in the spirit of the OG Rickroll.

Have I ever been Rickrolled?

Of course! I got Rickrolled for the first time back in June. I was visiting some site, might have been Digg, and saw a link to a story about Michelle Obama caught on tape calling somebody "Whitey". I wondered if the Republicans had finally dug up something to slow down Barrak's momentum so I clicked the article. And I was Rickrolled! Like many others who have been Rickrolled before, I didn't even know I was just Rickrolled. I was just confused. Later on when I found out I had been drawn into a classic internet prank, I finally smiled and laughed. It's hard for your reaction to your first Rickroll to be anything other than WTF?!

How do I Rickroll Someone?

That's easy, especially if your intended Rickroll victims don't yet know what it is. First, see my above definition of a Rickroll. Now bookmark that URL on YouTube so that you can use it later. Now think of what your story is going to be. You need to figure out who you're targeting, and what kind of innocent hoax could get them to click your link to the Rick Astley "Never Gonna Give You Up" video. Something that will peak your victims curiousity, morbid or otherwise. Controversy always works good. Now lay the trap, create your false story and insert your link to the video. All Done! Now Rickroll your friends and family.

How to Rickroll a Friend by Phone

The Rickroll has became so popular that it's moved beyond the original internet prank. There's the Thanksgiving Rickroll of course, but you can also Rickroll by phone. You can go to PrankDialer.com and send your friend a phone Rickroll. I haven't actually used this and can't vouch for the service, so use caution when giving out your cell phone number online. But at least it won't be your cellphone, so who knows, maybe it will be the prank that keeps on giving.

So How Does Rick Astley Feel About All This?

Well, he agreed to take part in this Rickroll didn't he? And when was the last time you saw Rick Astley on TV? I had forgotten that he had ever even existed until recently. Rick apparently has a sense of humor and has the good sense to ride this wave while he can. Rick Astley was also interviewed in the LA Times regarding the Rickroll and said “I think it’s just one of those odd things where something gets picked up and people run with it,” Astley said. “But that’s what's brilliant about the Internet.” and also “I just think it’s bizarre and funny. ” So he's got a sense of humor and is probably enjoying his little and bizarre resurgence.

More Rick Astley Macy's Parade Rickroll Photos




Related Links:

Rick Astley, King of the Rickroll, Talks about his second Coming - LA Times

Rick Astley Phone Rickroll - PrankDialer.com

Rickroll Wikipedia Entry

Black Freakin Friday!!! (Also Buy Nothing Day - Which One Will You Choose?)

Did you know there are these CRAZY sites where you can see all the Black Friday sale advertisements BEFORE Black Friday?

It's like, totally illegal to post those ads, because the last thing that retail stores want in this dark economic climate is publicity for their upcoming sales. So the people that run these sites somehow STEAL the advertisements from the retailers, and then PUBLISH them online for everybody to see before the sale! It's just so AMAZING how you can see these ads! It's so TOTALLY DIFFERENT than that mammoth stack of newspaper ads that came in the mail this week, because the big box stores DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW about these amazing sales! People will find out about these sales and tell other people about them and the SECRET WILL BE OUT!

I mean just today my boss jumped up from his computer and announced to the WHOLE OFFICE about this totally secret 42 INCH PLASMA SCREEN TV SPECIAL that's for ONE DAY ONLY. And now EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT IT! And now some people from work are planning on going to these sales and BUYING these ADVERTISED SPECIALS!

And now there's a TON of these Black Friday Websites and yesterday my local paper even PUBLISHED A LIST of these sites in the FREAKING NEWSPAPER! DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE READ THE NEWSPAPER!!

It's so INSANE! I'm totally thinking about waking up at 3AM so I can get to the mall by 4AM and take advantage of these AMAZING SALES. Then I'll totally be STICKING IT TO THE MAN!!

DUH

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Or... You Can Go the Buy Nothing Route

If Black Friday makes you want to stay even farther away from the mall than usual, then Friday November 28 2008 is "Buy Nothing Day", as celebrated for the 17th year now by Adbusters Magazine.

According to the Buy Nothing Day website: "As the planet starts heating up, maybe it’s time to finally go cold turkey. Take the personal challenge by locking up your debit card, your credit cards, your money clip, and see what it feels like to opt out of consumer culture completely, even if only for 24 hours. Like the millions of people who have done this fast before you, you may be rewarded with a life-changing epiphany. While you’re at it, what better time to point out real alternatives to unbridled consumption – and the climate uncertainty that it entails – by taking your BND spirit to the streets? "

So if you don't feel like shopping us out of the recession, or you're a scrooge, or maybe your an unpatriotic liberal media type, you can celebrate this day instead. Dress like a zombie and throw blood on Christmas shoppers or whatever your personal method of observance is.

Buy Nothing Day Video from Adbusters

Personally, I found the "Americans are Pigs, stop consuming so much you piggy Americans" video ad on the Website unconvincing. Most of the people involved in this are all well to do Americans who probably don't own SUV's and McMansions, but probably still own iPods, laptops, "less" harmful cars, and homes full of shiny things (purchased at thrift stores and hipster craft fairs rather than malls). Unless you're out in the barn milking the cow and churning the butter, we're all consumers.

Don't get me wrong, I see the point, and am sympathetic at heart to the cause. I for one will not be shopping, but not as some mighty act of defiance against the capitalist machine that has cursed us with one of the highest standards of living in the world. It's just that shopping is not how I choose to spend my days off.

DUH