Life In The Weeds

New Look McDonald's

If the old saying is true - imitation is the sincerest form of flattery - well, Starbucks and Apple should be over the moon with McDonald's biggest makeover in their 50 plus years of business.

The fast-food chain is spending over one billion dollars to transform the majority of its 14,000 stores into Starbucks-like hang outs by 2015.   According to their senior director of U.S. restaurant design, Max Carmona,  "We're not trying to be Apple, but we can be inspired by them. When you're inside an Apple Store, you almost feel like you're inside an iPad -- and you want to stay there. We want people to walk into McDonald's and have the same feeling."

When you are inside the new look McDonald's, I guess you are supposed to feel like you are in the deep fryer or a happy meal box?

I have been watching the transformation of the McDonald's on 8th avenue and 34th.

Here is a shot I snapped on the way to the station (pardon the glare!)...You have to admit, it looks nothing like a typical MickeyDees.  I am not sure it has the appeal of an Apple store, but it certainly rivals a Starbucks.

Comfortable seating, cool atmosphere, free WiFi...what more could you want?

I like the direction of the brand, as it is a huge departure from the Ronald's big red clown shoes and the mustard yellow signage...

However, I am by no means the demographic they are trying to appease.  My family of six hits McDonald's once, twice, maybe three times per year...on road trips.  So, my only care (if I really had a care) would be how the drive-thru will function throughout this transformation.

If McDonald's service levels, and not just their "look" can rival that of Starbucks and Apple...well then, they might really be onto something!

mj

Kate Upton, not Caitlin Upton

Kate Upton is on a meteoric rise in the world of being a super model...

Last year, Kate was named the Sports Illustrated "rookie of the year" and now, the 19 year old was revealed as the cover girl for this years Sports illustrated Swimsuit issue.   If you Google Kate Upton and happen upon her web-page and then happen to watch the Guess? video opening video...well, let's just say my computer melted!  But, I digress...

While they look very similar, I was relieved to find out this is not the same girl as Caitlin Upton.  Remember Caitlin...Miss South Carolina from 2007?  She made quite a name for herself answering a rather basic question.  This video has been viewed over 53 million times...poor thing!

 

mj

 

 

Mamadou Ndiaye

You may not know this name, but maybe someday you will.

Certainly, you would notice Mamadou Ndiaye as he enters the gymnasium.  

At 7'5", you can't not notice him!

The 17 years old stars for the Huntington Beach Brethren Christian School basketball team and is taller than any player on a current NBA team roster.  As you watch him play against his opponents, it's quite laughable.  It's as if I "subbed-in" on my daughters 9 year old YMCA league...on 8' foot rims!  

 

Ndiaye's trek to the U.S. from Senegal is a feel good story. The first school he attended, Simi Valley Stonridge Prep, helped him get a student visa … and a physical examination, where they discovered he had a large tumor on his pituitary gland which was likely contributing to his rampant growth and also impinging on his sense of sight. Through charitable donations and one very generous couple, Ndiaye was able to get the tumor removed and appears to be quite healthy.

Remaining healthy (and injury free) will be the key for this young man...if he does, he'll become a very rich Senegalese NBA player.

mj

Please Silence Your Cellphones

You never want to be "that" guy!  You know, the one who forgets to silence his cell phone at your kids recital, at the movies or, worse yet, at a concert.

Just last month, a conductor completely stopped a New York Philharmonic performance when an obnoxious audience member let his iPhone "Marimba" ring-tone continue to ring and ring and ring, out of utter embarrassment. 

Well, check out this Slovakian musician, Lukáš Kmit.  He is performing a beautiful piece on his viola when a cell phone goes off. Instead of reacting negatively, Lukáš picks up on the ring-tone noise and begins playing it beautifully.

A true musician.

 

mj

How to become an overnight Social Media Success

Here is a great story for all you struggling 20-somethings who spend 24 hours a day gaming, tweeting and face-booking.

Long story, short...

The Philadelphia 76er's ran a contest to allow their fans to vote for the name their new mascot - they gave three names to choose from.  However, they did not think about creating a social media campaign using twitter.  So, a Sixer fan registered a couple of twitter accounts - @PhilEMoose and @BFranklinDogg -  and started tweeting like crazy.  Instead of acting like total a-holes and taking legal action against him, the owner of the Sixers invited this kid into his office to talk Social Media strategy...next thing he knows, he's hired!

Here is the long story, long.

mj

Size Matters

The Icelandic Phallological Museum, which draws about 12,000 visitors a year, is all about the penis.

"There's nothing dirty or pornographic here," insists the museum's proprietor Hjörtur Gísli Sigurdsson, whose 71-year-old father started gathering phalluses after receiving a whip made from a dried bull's penis as a gift.

I mean, once you get a dried bull's penis, WHY wouldn't you start a penis museum?

The museum has some other interesting item, but their specialty is clearly penis's of all shapes and sizes.  But, their prize possession is a Sperm whale penis - just the tip, mind you. This gem is around 6 feet long and 120 pounds.

I hope the Homo sapien display is not to close...though, when John Holmes finally passes away, I hope his penis finds its way to Iceland.

mj

The how-to of Fire-pitting

This is how you enjoy a Firepit during the cool, fall season.  Big, roaring flames bring hours of enjoyable warmth to the the fire-pitting crowd.

Now check out this poor, disgraced firepit.  Not only has this firepit remained unused since it's purchase, but the owner has deposited a Duraflame log in it's belly.  This firepit owner must be the devil. 

mj

Talent,Talent, Everywhere

Remember that kid I blogged about a ways back, Greyson Chase?  You know, he was the middle school kid who "covered" Lady GaGa's Paparazzi at his school talent show. As you may already know, he blew up...big time.  He was signed, has a hit song and has a video playing on MTV...oh, and his little YouTube clip has been viewed over 43 million times.  One day a normal student, the next day a pop star...

Check out this hidden talent.  This couple is covering an Adele song, Someone Like You...half a million views already.

Who needs reality shows, when we already have YouTube!

mj

 

iPad II - does it really need to be better?

Is it? Of course!  Bbut with sales of 15 million units, the original iPad has already been a runaway best seller...and, a new version just means another instant Apple home run!  Quick math tells me 9B in original iPad sales.

The iPad II seems to deliver everything the consumer was looking for, with the exception of a USB port.

A few highlights:

• the new iPad adds front and rear cameras that permit the kind of FaceTime video chat that is so appealing on the latest iPhones and on Mac computers
• the VGA camera on the front of the second-generation iPad can capture video (and audio) at up to 30 frames per second, a standard measure of smoothness; the rear camera can shoot in high-definition, up to what techies refer to as 720p.
• the presence of cameras also permits the Photo Booth feature popular on Macs that lets you snap pictures with a bunch of wacky special effects, one of which can morph your head into two.
• The hardware itself is a head-turner. New tablets come in black or white — Apple says both will be available on day one — and are noticeably slimmer. In fact, they're 33% thinner than the first iPad and, at 1.3 pounds for the Wi-Fi-only model, a tad lighter.
• Apple will also be selling a new $39 accessory that will let you plug the iPad into an HDTV with an HDMI port so you will be able to "mirror" the apps and whatever else is on the iPad screen on a bigger display...this is pretty dam cool.

I admitted a long time ago, when the iPad was first introduced, that I did not see the value in having one...then I got one and have become a convert.  With more and more Apps being introduced...and with everything moving to the cloud, the iPad can allow you to eliminate your laptop all together.

mj

 

Does the English Language Make Sense?

This young man has a few compelling arguments as to why, it does not!

 mj