Thank you, Telebrands, for bringing us two amazing things: a great new product (the Comfort Wipe) and this most excellent infomercial. Let it be known that I’m a sucker for DRTV.

A few highlights:

1. Microsoft Impact: an underrated font choice.
2. The release button on the end of the wand: definitely looks durable. That should last
3. The lack of discussion of the wand being easy to clean is probably a good choice.
4. Is it me, or is the TP attaching to the wrong side of the wand? I feel like it would be better on the other side.
5. Until I saw this spot, I had no idea that (a) being a big guy had its advantages and that (b) one of the disadvantages of extra male mass is difficulty with wiping. But I guess that makes sense.
6. The old lady looks like she’s trying to seduce me while talking about her dignity. Not cool, old lady. Should we talk regularity next? That should lighten the mood.
7. As Brow Beat suggests, this is hardly the first innovation to the TP world since 1880. Charmin and Cottonelle both offer moistened, flushable wipes. And can I get some respect for quilted tissues?
8. NUDITY WATCH: There’s some near-nudity happening at 1:31. My slow-motion analysis reveals no substantive evidence of nudity here, but it’s darn close.

So, Telebrands, can I re-do your site?

And Charmin and/or Cottonelle, can we launch a line of moistened wipes that target guys? I think that would be a winner. It seems ridiculous to me that most people stick with dry paper for this task. I don’t see dog owners reaching for 80lb bond to clean up pet messes around the home.

While we’re on the topic, why don’t we try other fabric types? I suggest a seersucker texture, for sanitation during the summer months.

That is all.

May I offer another post?

• August 6, 2009 — Ice Cube, Nike, Details (0)
• June 29, 2009 — MTV’s Taildaters (4)
• June 4, 2009 — Ego iPhone App (0)

These cats are wearing the Lippi Selk’Bag One.

I want one so bad.

Looks like it’s got vents galore and reinforced feet, and — I think — openings for the hands. I would wear it all the time, I think… first thing I’d do when I got home would be to get in. And I’d never have to wash my sheets. ‘Sposed to be comfortable to 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and they’ve got other models that go even lower. A closet full of ‘em is my only wish.

Get one here: Lippi Selk’Bag.

May I offer another post?

• No Related Post

I installed Akismet a few weeks ago and I love it. Nary a spammer has made it through to the comment section of my blog, and it’s seamless. And free (mostly). No quizzes, no mistakes, no Captcha, nothing. Before Akismet, deleting spam comments made blogging a chore. No longer!

So… Thank You, Akismet, for making my life better. And from here on out, comments are posted immediately. I hope that makes the experience of reading my blog a little better.
And, on their website, they have written the following:

Commercial Use

We still need to keep the lights on and the servers humming though. If you are making “mad paper” from your blog (more than $500 a month) or if you’re a Big Company we have commercial API keys available just for you.

That’s awesome. “Mad Paper”!? Well done with the copywriting.

May I offer another post?

• No Related Post

The above pic is from Cyclingnews.com. It’s a great site.

There’s only 50 of these being made. All handpainted. They’re being made to commemorate the 50th Wedding Anniversary of Ernesto & Vicenzina Colnago, and are fittingly named Colnago ForEver. The bike business is a very cool business. Check out the matching handpainted carbon fiber rims, seat and integrated handlebar/stem.

May I offer another post?

• No Related Post

It’s a mouthful.

Joining Dogfish Head Liquor de Malt, Rainbow Sandals, and Logitech mm50 iPod Speakers, exitcreative’s newest Product of the Week: Betty Crocker Ultimate Fudge Supreme Brownies. Introduced in July of 2006, these are General Mills’ “perfect brownie”. The press release touts them as the culmination of 100 years of brownie research, and I must say this has to be true.

Seriously, folks, these are some delicious brownies. I was maxin’ and relaxin’ with some friends last night. We debated making the brownies because of some expected difficulty. You know… ingredient gathering, mixing, baking, frosting, etc. We wondered if we had the required ingredients to make these brownies.

And then I looked on the back of the box.

One. Cup. Water.

Shock, awe, collateral damage.

The package comes with three packets: one for the dry ingredients, one for the fudge, and another for the drizzle topping. You add a cup of water to the dry, mix it up, and pur it in a pan. Bake, done. Nothing else. This is like seedless watermelon, folks.

But there’s more than just ease that caught my fancy. The packet of fudge is printed to look like a Hershey’s chocolate package. An extra $0.02 per packet (if that) to get a nice bit of branding in there. I appreciate that. It’s a nicer looking packet, certainly more so than a generic bag-o-chocolately-goo.

May I offer another post?

• No Related Post

Dogfish Head Brewery understands me. Like ESP. But with beer.

I’m a huge fan of really, really hoppy ales. Never been much of a lager guy, though in true American fashion, I’ve had my fair share. Since I’m from California (by way of many other states), my allegiance is to Sierra Nevada. But a few months back I discovered Dogfish Head Brewery in Delaware. Sierra’s got an approachable, easy hoppiness. The Dogfish lineup of ales takes it to the next level. They have brews that’ve soaked up hop flavor for 60, 90 and 120 minutes, and they’re just delicious. The 120 is even worth aging.

But a few days back, I found “Liquor de Malt”. I was in Binny’s and I noticed the nearly forgotten shape of the 40 oz. Malt Liquor bottle on the shelf next to the craft beers. Surely a mistake, I thought. But no! It’s Dogfish’s take on Malt Likka, and it’s excellent. It maintains the sweetness of Olde English but with less of the guilt. It’s certainly not a fall-back beverage. And get this: it comes with its own Dogfish-branded paper bag. Now that’s authentic. Anyone who’s ever had a 40 knows that it must go in a paper bag. Otherwise you’re trippin.

Anyway, it’s little details like a branded bag that make Dogfish great. They took the time to think about the things that beer lovers would want. Smart cats. Fish. Whatever.

FYI: I dissected a Dogfish in High School.

May I offer another post?

• No Related Post

Rainbow Sandals. I’ve had three pairs of these in my life. I’ve never managed to destroy any. Two were gifts from women. The only reason I’m on my third pair (I’m sure the first would have lasted to today — 4 years) is because I lost the first and my old roommate’s dog ate the second.

These sandals are so beautifully, simply constructed that they have no earthly rival. Every Californian owns a pair and many won’t put on anything else. They’re hard to find in Chicago, unfortunately, but they are even starting to make inroads here. This is one of those products that has a reputation that’s growing organically through word-of-mouth. I’ve never seen an ad and their website is decidedly old-school.

The funny thing is, they shred your feet at first. For at least two weeks of wearing them from brand new, you’re questioning the logic behind your $40+ purchase. But after you start to make a dent in the insoles, they start their journey toward being the best piece of footwear you can possibly own. And you’ll never go back.

Fashion-wise, they’re unassuming and utilitarian, but certainly a quintessentially Californian piece. Order yourself some online. They’re fantastic. My current pair is “Sierra Brown” but “Black Forest” is quite nice as well.

May I offer another post?

• No Related Post

The first Product of the Week: my Logitech mm50 iPod speakers, in black. They’re not as loud as I had hoped they would be, and they have a tad too much distortion at the upper levels on the bassier music in my collection.

Ohh well.

They’re clean, have a small footprint, and didn’t set me back too badly, especially since Apple wants $30-ish for a charger. Their onboard battery (7-hour capacity) allows them to be played anywhere: I bring them to work with me in the morning (without the AC adapter) and take them home at night to re-juice. They’re light enough to travel easily and come with a nice, protective case.

May I offer another post?

• No Related Post