Reader's Digest Reinvents Itself

A few year's ago Reader's Digest changed the font of their nationally recognized masthead to reflect the times. They've gone a step further in recent months with the addition of stories on the latest technology to reach the younger generation.

But finally they can honestly say that they have their hands on the pulse of their readership. After over 90 years they now understand what their readers want and where they read the publication...



























(If you're a Reader's Digest reader, this makes perfect sense to you. If you're not, think about where you were the last time you saw a copy of it.)

Goodbye Work Forever!!!!

That's right. I'm quitting my job today and telling everyone that they can kiss my foot because I just won the "CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY"...or, maybe it's the "WESTERN CANADIAN LOTTERY (LOTTO LORE) UNITED KINGDOM." I can't figure it out, but I know that I won it and I won big because I got the e-mail letter today. Who would have thought? I don't even remember entering it. Here's the "proof":

CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY INC.2008.

Western Canadian Lottery (Lotto lore)
United Kingdom

Dear Winner,

We happily announce to you the result of the National Lotto 6/49 lottery draws Held on Mon ,Sept 29th 2008- Lotto 6/49 , in Essex United Kingdom and Ontario, Canada. All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web site through computer draws system and extracted from over 10,000,00 companies and personal e-mail addresses. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: B9564 7560 4545 100 with serial number 046560 drew the winning numbers 5- 21 -35-38 -47 -45 Bonus 43,You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of US$820,000.00 in cash=2 0credited to file EAAL/9080118308/04. Please note that your lucky winning numbers fall within our African booklet representative office in AFRICA as indicated in your play coupon. In view of this, your US$820,000.00 would be released to you by an accredited commercial Bank in Africa.

Thanks, for quick and urgent release of your fund, fill this informations below and contact our claims agent is as
FullName:…………………
Contact address:……………
Phone numbers:……………
Dirth of birth:………………..
Age:…………………………
Nationality:… …………….
Occupations:………………..
Winning numbers:………….

Contact information of our claims agent is as Follow: -
Name: MR.PELL CHRIS
Email: verification.office31@yahoo.com
Tel: +2348036531971.

Yours Sincerely, Mrs. Cathrine Hall Customer Service : 680 NCA 85914

Since I'm such a big winner now (notice that the letter was addressed, "Dear Winner") I figure that I need a nickname other than "Big Doofus." So, I'm going to go with "Dirth of Birth."

Government Waste

While Congress is considering a $700 billion bail out to refuel the nation's economy, I cannot help but be reminded of some government spending that really irks me:

The United States Postal Service - Why do they advertise? Not only does the Federal government spend money on media air time and print advertising, but there is also money spent on creating the content for this advertising. I work in marketing and I KNOW that this stuff is not cheap. Think about it. Why does the post office need to advertise? Americans with any type of physical address or P.O. box get mail every day. When I've finished composing a letter I don't stop and wonder how I'm going to send it. I put it in an envelope and walk 20 yards to my mailbox to send it. I don't need to call anyone to pick it up or do anything special (other than stick a stamp on the envelope--and these days I don't even have to lick them anymore).

The Lottery - I realize that this is a state government issue, but it's another example of government spending gone wrong--and it also has to do with advertising. Again, I ask the question, why does this arm of government advertise? If people stop playing the lottery, then let it dissolve. It seems ironic to me that the government would spend money to entice people to gamble. I'm not so much against the idea of gambling a dollar or two on the lottery (although I've only played it a few times in my life), but why do we have to spend money reminding people about it?

Ok, that's my rant. I promise to get back to more meaningful topics like cardboard boxes and McRib sandwiches.

Back

I spent a week in Atlanta on business and I'm just now getting back into the swing of things. I haven't posted much this month as I've been preparing for a trade show and then actually attending it. It's a lot of work.

I guess there's another reason for my lack of posting lately. While I have nothing to hide (hence the blog), I accidentally posted the name of it in an email that I sent to my entire company (we're a small company of about 20 folks). It's no big deal as some of them knew about it already, but it was nice to have a work life and then sort of a private (although it's on the web for all to see) life with the blog. Thankfully, I've never said anything bad about my co-workers....UNTIL NOW!!!!! It's time for me to rip them all a new one.

Actually, I love my job and the people I work with. My guess is that everyone there really loves the environment, the work and the entrepreneurial spirit. We're fortunate to be a small, thriving company in an economy that's certainly seen better times. For those of you at work who are reading my blog, welcome. I doubt that there's much here about me that will surprise you--other than the fact that I wear women's clothing when I'm not in the office.

Precious Sounds from the First Floor

This morning I sat in my bedroom and worked on some last minute work items before heading out of town on business. The door was open and I could hear everything that was going on while school was in session with my wife and two girls.

It brought tears to my eyes.

The youngest was about to be given an answer to a problem and then she interrupted (in a good way) her mom because she wanted to figure it out on her own--and she did. A few minutes later they were running around the house (with permission). When my wife called for them to stop, they had to recite the scripture verses that they are memorizing this week. These verses are going to be stored away in their hearts and it's precious to me as a dad. Finally, I heard them singing the hymn Holy, Holy, Holy.

I am so thankful for the education that my girls are getting and for the work that my wife is doing with them. In case you're wondering, my oldest is now a freshman at a public high school and we've been pleased with his progress so far. It's still a work in progress, but he's applying himself and learning a lot about himself.

So, just thought I'd share a bit about life in our house--in case you cared.

Great Mysteries of the World - Volume 1

The world is filled with mysteries. For instance, why is it that the monarch butterfly migrates thousands of miles to Mexico every year (why not go to Disney World)? I think about things like this every day to the point that it makes my head hurt. Therefore, I've decided to start jotting some of them down in a little post I like to call, "Great Mysteries of the World - Volume 1." Enjoy.

1. The Disney Vault - Since I brought up Disney World, it only makes sense to ponder the notion of the mysterious "Disney Vault" where Walt Disney movies go to die or hibernate. Again, I bring up the monarchs--think of how much more money the folks at Disney could make if their vaulted movies were covered with beautiful frolicking monarch butterflies?. But what is this "Disney Vault" anyway? Who decides when a movie needs to go there? Is it like a punishment that a movie gets for bad behavior or poor box office performance? When a movie re-emerges after "serving time" in the vault, does it become tougher? For instance, if Mary Poppins serves a few years in the vault does that movie suddenly gain "street cred."

2. The McDonalds McRib Sandwich - Just when you think that the McRib is down for the count, it comes back and it's always announced with great fanfare by the marketing folks at McDonalds (well, it used to be this way--these days it just pops up somewhere under the golden arches). Even more mysterious is the fact that there are no actual ribs in a McRib sandwich. I think this has something to do with the fact that no real meat is used in the laboratory where the McRib is produced. And where does the McRib go when it's not around? I believe that the remaining supply of McRib sandwiches end up in...you guessed it...the Disney Vault. When Mary Poppins is released to DVD and Blu-Ray in 2010, pay close attention as the McRib sandwiches (which are scientfically engineered to have a shelf life of over 150 years) will find their way out of the vault and next to your french fries.

I'll come up with Volume 2 when I have enough good ideas. Feel free to send them to me by leaving a comment.