Adventures In Marketing Etymology: Prescription Drugs v. Anne Hathaway

Watching football today, I saw a commercial for the prescription medicine Januvia, which treats Type 2 diabetes.

Which then prompted me to think of Genovia, a major pear exporter and the home of Princess Mia Thermopolis.

I'm thinking that when marketing companies are paid big money to create brand names for medicines, perhaps they should have someone on staff who reads teen chick lit, or at least can do a Google.

Non Sequitur of the Day: Inauguration Countdown Soundtrack

"It's been a long December and there's reason to believe /

Maybe this year will be better than the last"

No Fun: Ron Asheton R.I.P.

Ron Asheton has always been around Detroit and Ann Arbor, so we will miss his presence after his passing this week. For too long, though, our community and the rock world at large missed the presence of The Stooges: the exciting dynamic that Ron and his brother Scott uniquely had as the Stooges with one James Osterberg Iggy Pop.

When the Stooges reunited in 2003, it was somehow appropriate that their now-legendary gig at DTE Pine Knob was interrupted by an enormous regional blackout.

So, should the hugely influential Stooges finally make it into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the next month, that Ron would miss it is somehow, bittersweetly, unsurprising.

Check out this awesome memory:



When was the last time you looked at a YouTube video and wished you had been there?

Non Sequitur of the Day: Holidaze Edition

Happy Epiphany, a.k.a. the 12th Day of Christmas.

Now, go on, ya hosers:

Vampires Are Really Popular Right Now, So Ann Coulter Rises from the Dead to Profit

Time to break out the cross, garlic and sunshine: Ann Coulter is arising from the dead starting a new book tour.

Her horrific, hateful political track record speaks for itself. But in terms of questioning anyone's fashion sense, let along Michelle Obama's, Ol' Wire Jaw seems to be in no position to do that when she dresses like she's on a 24-7 walk of shame.

Minnesota Senate Recount: Was It the Dukes? Was It the Dukes?

"I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, we've finally figured out that enough people voted to make me the new junior senator from Minnesota."

And the incumbent, who said on Election Night that Franken, for the good of the state, should concede? His lawsuit got tossed out today.

I don't know. Sen. Al Franken must still account for the whereabouts of one Clarence Beeks, last seen on a train outside of Philadelphia. Check out the video @ 3:30:

Non Sequitur of the Day: Today's Agenda Reminder

Man Men should be at Work:

Running the NHL, Gary Bettman is a Blind Squirrel

In the sense of a blind squirrel occasionally finding a nut, that is.

So, despite Bettman (sucks!) being incomprehensibly coy about continuing a twice-successful annual event to number three and beyond, congrats to the league on its successful Winter Classic on New Year's Day, where the Wings downed the 'Hawks at Wrigley. I agree with my friend Hockey Dino that is was a great event: good hockey game, great aestethics, increased TV ratings. There were some pros and cons, like: as great as the unis were (especially the Chicago use of old school off-white), Bob Costas seemed like he was bummed slumming doing hockey outdoors on New Year's Day.

I personally thought the game should've been at Solider Field to get a bigger crowd in, but doing that would've eliminated the perceived North Side / Wrigley cachet, allowed the 'Hawks to keep Red Wings fans out, and, most importantly, would have prevented the NHL and Blackhawks from sufficiently holding up Chicago's season ticket holders.

As much as there are now calls for Michigan Stadium or Beaver Stadium (please, not Sidney Crosby again) to host the event soon, may I suggest that you have to spread this thing around: the next two events should be Rangers / Maple Leafs in New Yankee Stadium, and Bruins / Canadiens at Fenway. (A wild card possibility for next year: the Canucks hosting in the lead-up to their Winter Olympics). This way, there's no better way to go old school, playing outside, than by going with the Original Six.

The Baseball Hall of Fame Balloting is On Fire (Metaphorically, of course)

The Baseball Hall of Fame voting results will be announced on January 12. Some worthy candidates will make it, but one or two won't: Alan Trammell and Jack Morris.

I mentioned Trammell last ballot season, and while my position hasn't changed, I doubt he will make it this year. Nor will Morris, though many are continuing to lobby on their behalf.

This doesn't even get into Lou Whittaker, who was dumped off the ballot eight years ago, an oversight which the New York Times suggested remedying last month by eliminating the rule to require a player to get an annual 5% minimum vote to continue on the ballot.

Only one Hall of Famer exists from the 1984 Detroit Tigers, which was one of the top teams of that decade: Sparky Anderson, and he wears a Reds cap on his plaque. The dearth of representation from that team cannot be because baseball writers vote for the Hall of Fame, and it was baseball writers who looked outside of Tiger Stadium to see, and then walk past, the late (despite this MySpace link) Bubba Helms and his buddies "celebrating" the Tiger Series victory that night.

Can it?

Yo, Happy New Year, Everyone

No offense, 2008, but don't let the door hit you on the ass on your way out.

Welcome, 2009. Let's all do everything we can to make it a great one.

You, too, banks.

Cheers to you all.

Enjoy the video from Times Square here.