Happy One-Year Anniversary!

Hey everybody! I realized that January 15 is the one-year anniversary of me starting this thing.

I just wanted to say that the experience has been, for me, amazing. When my girlfriend Christy suggested I start a blog, I was skeptical, dubious. I mean, I've got no shortage of stuff to say, but I didn't really think anybody would read it. I have no idea how many blogs already existed by the time I launched mine, but it was inconceivable to me that anyone would find mine outside of family and a few FB friends. I'm glad I was wrong.

I've met some amazing new people since I started this thing. I was going to list all the people that have really touched me over this past year, but there have been so many that I'm afraid I'd leave somebody out and then I'd feel guilty and that would ruin everything. So I'm not going to name names. Okay. Maybe a few: Denise, Sarah, Shay (out from under her invisibility cloak), Tammy, Michelle and sorei – you ladies rock! I'm so glad I've gotten to meet you and share a part of your lives. (sorei, I knew you before, but it's still cool that you're here.) There are even a few guys I've missed of late: Sushi Lover, Night Owl, Grey Goose (I know you're still out there, Grey, hanging out with the Missus, but I still miss you).

(And Amanda and Betty Lou, where are you?)

There's been a little controversy, a little drama and lots of laughs. Most of all, it's gotten me thinking about so many things in a different light. I had/have strong opinions about a few things, but many of you got me to expand my views, and I'm better for it.

So, thank you. Thank you all for visiting, commenting, making me think, and making me laugh. You all – the ones who stop by regularly, the lurkers, the fly-bys – make me very grateful I started doing this.

I look forward to seeing you all throughout 2012! Happy belated New Year!

Steven

Yep, Mr. Clean is a Nazi

I'm here to make the world white!

I was in the shower the other day thinking about...stuff. (Great place for stuff-thinking.) I was thinking how cool it would be if companies started running some of their old TV ads from way back when. "Plop, plop, fizz, fizz..." (Speedy); "Where's the beef?" (Clara Peller); "Please don't squeeze the Charmin!" (Mr. George Whipple, played by Dick Wilson); "Motor-mouth" John Moschita from the FedEx ads. And I wondered what happened to the Jolly Green Giant and Mr. Clean.

Well, I can't speak about most of them because I have no idea what machinations twist and turn in corporate marketing departments. But Mr. Clean? Yeah, I've got his number.

A bald, tshirt-clad white guy? Nazi. There, I said it. The other "N" word. Or a white supremacist. Or a member of the Aryan Brotherhood. It doesn't really matter, does it? I guess in 1957, no one had a problem with skinheads cleaning their house. But in today's continued politically-correct climate, a Nazi spokesperson is simply unacceptable. So I understand why he's not on TV so much anymore.

Come to think of it, didn't the Jolly Green Giant hang out with a little boy named Sprout? A grown – and we're talking grown – man hanging out with a kid. Freshly canned and frozen food for thought...

So. Are there any other advertising miscreants that give you pause? (For example, they probably wouldn't let Mr. Whipple squeeze the Charmin ever-so-creepily on TV anymore either. Now we get to watch bears wipe their furry little bear-butts.)