Great branders think alike

Me: Man, I thought that sign over there said "Please No Dumpling!"
Dan: Look closer Rich, it does!

Recession Special/False Advertising

I saw a hairdryer in the window for $22.

Comic-con

Define the argument (but also, "Get off the fence!")

I just read this article about Kobe vs. LeBron for MVP, and it got me thinking about the silliness of MVP awards, just like the silliness of the Oscars.

MVP awards are among the most oft-debated topics in sportswriting and sports fandom. I have to think that on the whole this is a good thing for each sport because it gets fans to passionately discuss the issue and it gives writers something to write about. However, as a matter of "fairness," these debates are absurd.

I understand that the final vote is always going to be subjective in some way, but amazingly, as much as every writer always complains that he's not sure whether MVP means most valuable to his team or best player or highest revenue-generating (as if), no one seems to call for any reform to the process. Each writer just randomly decides on what is most important to him at that moment or thinks about which player is "due" or is a "good guy." How about actually defining the issue? The NHL certainly doesn't want to do that:

And since they don't, I'll give you my two cents. My MVP vote is based about 1/3 on who is most valuable to his team and 2/3 on who is the best player in the league (based on various stats, who would go first on the playground, ability to dominate, etc...). This way, someone like Kobe is not penalized as much for being on a much better team than Wade or LeBron, but at the same time, those guys do get credit for how much they have to carry their teams. I think Kobe would sacrifice an MVP award for a title, right?

Even if my criteria is not correct (some stathead can probably find something better/much less subjective), it would be fun to see a more well-defined race in each sport.

As for my NBA ballot? I'll be the first to admit to a bit of man crush on LeBron (for his basketball skills, mostly) and I know I'm not alone. But I also think that anyone who doesn't vote for LeBron for MVP this year is crazy. He's simply unstoppable on the court (best stats in the league/he plays defense too) and that Cavs team is gonna win 65+ games without another legit All-Star (best record in the league). Are you serious?

Rest of my ballot:

2. Wade, 3. Kobe, 4. Chris Paul, 5. Dwight Howard

PS If leagues wanted to be less subjective, they could offer a "Most Outstanding Player" award in addition to the MVP trophy. Most of the time it would be the same as MVP, but especially in baseball, I think there would be separate winners.

Crime Scene Investigation

The Fruit Loops murder:

Gossip Girl and Edith Wharton

I'll make this brief, but after seeing the Gossip Girl crew perform The Age of Innocence on Monday night, of course I had to read a recap of the book on Wikipedia (reading the Wikipedia article about something after watching a TV show/movie is such a classic meme). That started me into a vortex of reading about Edith Wharton, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, Manfred von Richthofen, and eventually The House of Mirth.

When I read about The House of Mirth, I noticed that the main character's name is Lily Bart. If you watch GG, you will know that Lily van der Woodsen was married to Bart Bass and has some notable similarities with Lily Bart. Could the names of these two characters be related to the book? Are the TV writers/Cecily von Ziegesar huge Edith Wharton fans? Am I insane?

What has become of SWS?

I couldn't resist

I spent too many hours at home yesterday with this stuff (Happy Birthday Mom!), so can someone at least say how cute Dan and I look in this photo?

Am I crazy or is this a meme?

When you are typing something and make a minor mistake, you are more likely to just delete whatever you typed after the mistake than you are to leave the correct part intact and go back and fix the minor mistakes one by one. This leads to a lot re-typing, but still might be fastest, right?

On Fashion

The only thing I like double-breasted is my women.

I'm still waiting...

...for the amazing Tim Ferriss expose piece. Looks like a lot of other people have the same idea:

MEME!

Overheard at The Yale Club

Dan: So, you think...

Rich: Fuck DC, Philly, and Boston. We're going to Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis!

I think there's MSG in my Chinese food...

 

...and it's delicious!

Alright Apple, I'll Give It Up

Any time that a company helps me save $30 or more, I'm willing to consider writing a blog post about it. After spending a few minutes @applestoremeatpacking reading the latest anti-Twitter content to hit the net (and leaving it on the screen to enlighten the masses), I went upstairs to find a new pair of shitty iPhone headphones to last me the next 7.5 months. I noticed two options, one being the standard pair that I was replacing and the second being strictly dominant, costing the same amount of money and having all the same features, plus volume control.

At that moment, a young (is there any other kind?) Apple employee walked over and advised me that I couldn't use the dominant pair on my old iPhone. However, being a graduate of Upsell University (h/t AG), she recommended a good case that I could use to protect my headphones in the future. But a funny thing happened as we were walking over to take a look at a selection of things that I had no chance of purchasing: she told me that my headphones were covered by a one year warranty!

I quickly remembered that Apple very intelligently e-mails receipts to its customers, found my old one on my phone, went downstairs and walked away with a brand new set of headphones for "free." Thanks, Apple!

Why did I feel bad about this??

I just went into my local sushi shop specifically to order their two rolls for $7 special deal. It's one of my "good, cheap, quick solo meals" and something I probably get about once every 10 days. I was listening to music and asked the gentleman behind the counter for the special deal and much to my surprise he told me to take a look at the menu and see some new deals (poor is the New Deal). Then, a waiter came over to me and explained the benefits of the $17 bento box. I stared at the menu of normally priced sushi and special rolls for about two minutes, trying to decide whether or not to order something out of shame.

The Tom/Dan on my shoulder said (for completely different reasons), "Richard, just pay that nice man his money for a mediocre tempura and California roll situation. Or get a special roll, they come with 8 pieces." Meanwhile the other side of Tom on my other shoulder said, "You came in here to buy a product that they no longer offer. Stop staring at the menu and get out of here."

Finally, after saying to myself, "Don't tell them you're gonna think about it, just leave," I muttered something to the effect of "I gotta go right now, but maybe I'll be back later." At least I didn't buy anything!

Shakespeare revisited