consistency

yes, surprise surprise, "I don't like the consistency." Or in this case, the lack thereof. Musical rant to follow, might as well tune out now if you're tone deaf. ;)

ok, I admire a good marketing campaign. It may not get me to buy your product, but at least I can appreciate the work that goes into it.

"ba da ba ba ba.... I'm lovin it"

It's become McD's new anthem. Which is perfectly fine; it's great to reinvent your image, and try to connect with the new generation. But can we be consistent about it?? PLEASE! I wouldn't even mind the change in keys with every commercial so much, but the change in moods has GOT to go. Sometimes minor, sometimes major, they don't even keep the same intervals for each version of the jingle.

I present Exhibit A. Let's overlook the tackiness that is the domain name. Not to mention the absurdity of linking Mcdonald's, an American icon, with a need to subdivide us by ethnicity. But wait, that's a whole 'nother tirade.

Anyhow, if you open up the link, you should hear E-F#-G-B-A for the ba da ba section. Let's break this down: whole step up, half step up, major third up, whole step down.

Next, Exhibit B. The notes for this version, A-B-C-A'-G. so you've got: whole step up, half step up, major sixth up, whole step down. The UK mixes it up in Exhibit C with C-D-E-A-G: whole step up, whole step up, fourth up, whole step down.

I'm getting tired of searching for more links to audio samples (they seem to be well hidden), but I think you get my point. Next time you see a McD's commercial or hear one on the radio, I can almost guarantee that it'll be different from the last version.

I know I'm alone in my neurosis to notice this, or more specifically: care. But unfortunately, I do, and it's ruined the entire campaign for me. Ah well, I'm sure Coke or someone will have something coming along soon.

inauguration

So good ol Dubya was sworn in again today (technically yesterday, but whatever, the day doesn't end till I go to bed dammit!).

The festivities started the night before. Stuck at work late because the traffic refused to move due to the inch of snow* on the ground, a few coworkers and I watched unexpected fireworks from the office window. Apparently the inauguration was cause to bring out four different launching locations for the fireworks, all over the river. It was a great view, but there was something unnerving about seeing green 'W' fireworks. I'm not making this up, these were more elaborate than the ones on the 4th of July.

Living within a 7 minute drive from work (yes, i've timed it, its exactly 7 ;) ), I often extol the virtues of my neighborhood. Today, however, the people that be decided to shut down the only direct routes from my place to work. Something about security or the inauguration parade or something... Anyhow, I decided the metro would be the best thing to do. It turned out to be a fairly easy commute since most of the govt people were off today (tough 3 day week). The train was mainly full of tourists and men in uniform, both headed to the inauguration. On the way back home this evening, it was the oddest sight. From every direction I saw men in tuxes and women in formalwear. It took me a few moments to realize they must be headed to one of the many balls tonight. I guess I just normally picture formally attired people to be stepping out of fancy cars and/or limos, not schlepping it in the metro with the rest of us commoners. Apparently there were 9 official inaugural balls held tonight. And according to the news, Dubya made it to all of them and was back to the White House by 11pm. The man obviously knows how to party hop.

All in all it was an interesting experience to be so close to the main event. Or at least much closer than I have been and will likely ever be. I never really knew there was more to it than the swearing in at midday.


*It snowed it snowed it snowed!! :) I was super excited about this until I drove home in the brown sludge that made me waste 45 minutes. Still, I look forward to the next time it snows. On a weekend night. Once I'm already where I want to be. :)

nostalgia

After an IM conversation with an old high school buddy tonight, I got to reminiscing about the various people that have been in my life. In high school, I lived in a bubble world where I saw everyone I was friends with every day, and everyone lived no more than 15 minutes away from anyone else. Hence, the thought that we would ever drift apart just never occurred to me.

Moving to college, I don't know why I didn't keep in touch, I guess I thought it was too much work? It was so much easier to let myself get sucked into the immediacy of my daily life, and let those friendships fall by the wayside. A few years after college, I feel that I've done a better job the second time around. But tonight was about remembering high school friends.

So I went on a dig. I would normally say an archeological dig, but since I was using the internet, what I found was very much in the present. I don't know what I expected, that these people would have ceased to exist merely because I was no longer in contact with them? How incredibly self-centered of me. And yet, when google came back with not just search results, but in some cases blogs with entries as recent as this morning, it took me by surprise.

I want to reach out and re-introduce myself, ask if I can be allowed back into their lives. And yet, I'm hesitant. What would I say? :) Doesn't look like I learned much in college after all.

amateur

looks like a sunrise

So, I'm no Ansel Adams, but I took this last night and thought it turned out nice. I tried fiddling with the filters, b/w, sepia, etc, but I decided full color is the most eye-catching.

Alright enough procrastination for tonight...

edjumacation

Lessons learned at la casa de sangeet tonight:

burnt rice smells like coffee

a shattered plate while being swept up sounds suspiciously like a symphony in the key of E

hot tea meant to soothe your thoat really does taste a lot better with sugar rather than salt

So, you know, another normal night at my place.

2005

The screen in my building's elevator, which delivers ads to an until now untargeted, yet captive audience (god forbid I spend a full minute of my day not staring at some type of monitor), informed me of the following on my ride this afternoon:

In Scotland, it is believed to be good luck if a tall, dark, and handsome man enters your home on the first day of the new year.

I'm so glad I was made aware of this curious old wive's tale. I must ask, however, when and in what country is it ever NOT good luck if a tall, dark, and handsome man shows up knocking at your abode? I'm just asking.

Well, another year is upon us, and that means it's resolution time. I'll go ahead and say that one of mine is to lose weight. As for one I'm more likely to keep, how about I take a crack at that world peace thing y'all have been talking about? ;)

Happy New Year, everyone! Good luck with your own resolutions. :)