“But Wait, There’s No More” — Billy Mays
During the aforementioned Sunday Funday festivities, I learned of the death of television pitchman Billy Mays. While I tended to be annoyed at his rather loud advertisements initially, they kind of grew on me. Watching “Pitchmen” on Discovery was another way I actually grew to appreciate Billy Mays.
While his style was very much made to get your attention, there was something admittedly everyman about him. Of course, khaki pants, dress blue shirt, and beard became his signature style.
Of course, I have enjoyed the recent series of advertisements he was doing for ESPN360, ESPN’s online venture. The ads poked fun at Billy Mays’ style, but it was even more entertaining considering he was pitching the service in an ad that clearly spoofed his style.
“Now my job is way less soul-crushing!” Yes it is, all thanks to Billy and the miracle of live sports surrounding me wherever I go.
“Hey we all make mistakes. That’s what you told those Yakuza businessmen, but they did not want to hear it.” The most priceless part of this clip is Billy smiling after the sound of glass breaking outside of his motel room.
So, the next time you come across a clip of Billy Mays exhorting you to “TAKE THE HARD WORK OUT OF YARD WORK” with the Awesome Auger or to “FIX, FILL AND SEAL VIRTUALLY ANYTHING FAST AND MAKE IT LAST” with Mighty Putty, reflect on how much better Billy was then Vince Offer (the Sham-Wow guy).
An All Too Brief Weekend
Last weekend was all too brief, and, as my weekends have become, full of activity both mundance and exciting. Of course, the concept of exciting is a relative one.
- Friday Evening
- A farewell happy hour for a contractor becomes a longer evening of conversation and beverages. A good time was had, but I wound up staying out much later than expected.
- Saturday
- Early morning errands following a quick workout. Groceries from Wegmans, some house-sitting to check in on my friends’ cats, picking up some dry cleaning, and other miscellany. I am convinced to come out for a CD release party at the 8×10, and I wind up having a nightcap. While heading to my usual location, I ran into a high school friend of mine I have not seen for some time–near 15 years. I now have his business card, and I will be getting in touch with him soon.
- Sunday
- Some local folks I know from the Internets convinced me to participate in a “Sunday Funday” duck tour. Prior to meeting everyone in Fell’s Point, though, I stop off at the Farmer’s Market beneath the Jones Falls Expressway for some essentials–vegetables and coffee. It is then that I realize that even 8:30 AM is not early enough to avoid the onslaught of slow-walking and stroller-wielding shoppers. Clearly, I am not one for large crowds where I shop.
Sunday evening was spent in relative solitude, and I wound up napping on my couch for a little bit before going to bed. I am, however, looking forward to this holiday-shortened week. It will also help that I will be taking a couple of days off this week in addition to the company holiday.
RIP to the King of Pop and the Queen of the Pinup
With the death of Ed McMahon earlier this week, I said to sardonically said to someone "These always come in threes." I had no idea how prescient I was. Today, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson shuffled their mortal coils.
Anyone who is a child of the late 1970s and the early 1980s recalls both Fawcett and Jackson as icons in their own right. I can recall older friends of mine who had the red swimsuit poster on their wall. The blond hair, the white teeth, who doesn't remember that poster?
As for Michael Jackson, you could not turn on a radio and not hear a song from "Thriller" in the early 1980s. I remember my sister had a special commemorative album of Thriller that had a picture of Michael Jackson on the actual LP. I remember the Jacksons Victory Tour and the ill-fated live Pepsi commercial. Later in that decade, "Bad" was the next hit album. I would not call myself a fan of Michael Jackson, but I do have him to thank for "Weird" Al Yankovic.
Here is a YouTube video of the only Michael Jackson tune I actually own in my music collection.
Of course, there is also the infamous long version of the Thriler video that anyone who has watched an MTV Countdown of the greatest videos of all time knows, as it was always the video ranked #1.
And, I would be remiss in not memorializing Johnny Carson's sidekick. To enjoy his signature expression from "The Tonight Show," bookmark this link. As for McMahon doing his usual thing, here is a classic clip featuring Ed, Johnny, and Don Rickles.
A (Brief) Tale of Slamming by Cheap2Dial
I am posting this in the event anyone else encounters this. I was in the midst of paying bills online this evening, and I noticed that my Verizon bill--for both my home and wireless phone service--was higher than usual. My bill is currently running higher than normal on account of actually having to get local and long-distance service with my current houseguest.
As I was reviewing my bill, I came across the following charges.
I had to scratch my chin here, as I had no idea why my bill had a charge for $16.28. I clicked on the link in my online bill, and I was shown this:
I now find it quite interesting that I am being billed for Cheap2Dial Telephone, a service for which I know I have not signed up. Thanks to Google, I find their website and start poking around. I see that this service offers Domestic Long Distance plans. I clearly have no need for this plan, as I have the Verizon Freedom plan which covers all my needs. While reading further on the Cheap2Dial website, I see the following statement:
How am I billed for using Cheap2Dial?
Although Cheap2Dial is not affiliated with your local telephone company, the monthly recurring charges for the plan you choose will appear on your local telephone bill on the USBI portion of your bill on behalf of Cheap2Dial Telephone, LLC. You will continue to receive the monthly recurring charges on your local telephone bill until you cancel the plan.
It is now pretty clear to me that I have fallen prey to "slamming." I immediately call Cheap2Dial to have this service turned off. I also inquired as to when this change was made, and it was made on 7 May 2009. I find that interesting as I was in the office all day long, and the only person who could possibly have made the change was my houseguest. I inquired as to if she changed it, and she did not.
My next call will be tomorrow morning to Verizon to have this charge reversed. I will also be making sure that this does not happen again on my phone bill. My landline is not going anywhere anytime soon, but I expect to change my calling plan to the cheapest one once my houseguest is no longer here.
Cheap2Dial and USBI have gained a reputation for slamming customers. I can only advise you to ensure you look at your phone bill and are not a victim of slamming.
Recent Timewaster: Keyboard Cat
While incredibly simple, the Keyboard Cat continues to bring me untold joy into an otherwise normal day.
Keyboard Cat playing off Leo Laporte was pretty good.
My most recent favorite Keyboard Cat (via Twitter), though, has him performing with 80's pop sensation Daryl Hall and John Oates. The fun truly starts at 1:40 into the video.
Yes, Keyboard Cat, you are making my dreams come true!
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