tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353965552012-01-20T16:36:26.020-05:00maul [mawl] -noun 1. a heavy hammer, as for driving stakes or wedges. 2. Archaic. a heavy club or mace. –verb (used with object) 3. to handle or use roughly: 4. to injure by a rough beating, shoving, or the like; Also, mall.Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.comBlogger9281100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-63668043581610261352012-01-03T10:32:00.001-05:002012-01-03T10:32:45.813-05:00

Maul of America has moved! The new address is http://maulofamerica.com.

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-80683895271870085962011-08-30T10:41:00.002-04:002011-08-30T10:44:19.183-04:00

Once again, I struck out in The New Yorker's 298th "Cartoon Caption Contest." But I still like mine best:  "François, we're going to need another one of your fabulous sacrifice bundts." The finalists: "O.K., we learned a lot this game, including you can't rush a soufflé." - I don't really see the baseball connection "First base wants to know if you have anything gluten-free." - Meh. "I

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-85352580127732772782011-07-01T11:17:00.004-04:002011-07-01T11:22:50.470-04:00

An Open Letter to the Production Staff at Red Eye: Hey Greg (and Friends), I have no doubt that the bean counters at Fox News bean are reluctant to spend a lot on your excellent show because it's broadcast at 3:00 a.m. So, it's understandable (even admirable) that the RedEye production staff takes it upon themselves to purchase set props, such as the plastic water cups, at local retailers

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-56821256099127546502011-06-27T09:43:00.012-04:002011-06-27T11:40:47.155-04:00

Wow.  I received a scathing comment from a guy named Benjamin in Florida (according to the New Yorker website) to something I posted OVER A YEAR AGO who must be suffering from membrana (that's Latin for "thin skin")! A finalist for the 192nd New Yorker "Cartoon Caption" contest from May 2009 (YES, fucking May 2009), Benjamin took issue with the fact that I didn't  LOVE his entry (original post

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-72730122805570046342011-05-09T12:10:00.007-04:002011-05-10T07:39:31.703-04:00

Almost predictably, whenever news of major import breaks, ancillary stories about entrepreneurs cashing in with t-shirts seems to follow close behind.  Such was the case of Maurice Harary, a 23 year old business student out of New York, who reportedly sold 120 thousand dollars (or more) worth of "Osama is dead" themed apparel (at Osamadeadtees.com).  He struck while the Internet iron was still

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-17761987895658338942011-05-06T06:29:00.001-04:002011-05-06T06:30:27.345-04:00

Fun with Google Autocomplete.  Typing in "is" generated this roster of eclectic choices.  

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-39345931311072662482011-05-05T23:49:00.005-04:002011-05-06T09:58:53.783-04:00

In case anyone is curious about what the people in the now famous Situation Room photo were REALLY thinking:

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-84223287473788099822011-04-25T03:29:00.001-04:002011-04-25T08:25:07.902-04:00

As someone who hasn’t been on a “first date” in over a quarter of a century, I’m well out of the loop in understanding how people currently engage in this age-old social ritual. So, my excessive display of surprise when recently told by an old high school friend that he met his wife through a web dating service was borne out of honest ignorance. In fact, Online Dating Magazine estimates that 20

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-60965670812447693262011-04-24T07:30:00.001-04:002011-04-24T07:30:00.766-04:00

I've always had a genuine interest in ostensibly "non-religious" films that evoke Christian imagery and yet tell a conventional story. Often, these are more insightful and less melodramatic than movies specifically about Jesus. One of the most obvious examples is The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951). Klautu, the alien visitor with an important message for humanity, takes on the name of "

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-28191722382457348772011-04-18T09:34:00.000-04:002011-04-18T09:34:11.243-04:00

2009's A Single Man depicts the pivotal events that take place in the life of the title character on November 30, 1962.  Colin Firth is excellent as an English professor, George Falconer, who is going through a severe depression after the death of his partner, Jim (Matthew Goode), eight months previously. Through Falconer, the film explores the depths of emotions faced by individuals who are

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-62629861704516283432010-11-05T11:42:00.001-04:002010-11-05T14:34:43.008-04:00

Casey Chan at Gizmodo describes a curious practice in New York that manages to infuse viral networking with the nervous anticipation of glory holes. ("glory hubs?")Why Is There a USB Drive Sticking Out of This Wall?Across New York, there are USB drives embedded in walls, buildings and curbs. The idea is to create an anonymous, offline file-sharing network in public space. The drives are

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-19877741926064052992010-11-05T00:09:00.003-04:002010-11-05T00:13:43.211-04:00

Question: Which Washington, D.C. rally featured a religious extremist who once advocated the murder of an author and acts of violence against women?a) Glenn Beck's "Rally to Restore America"b) Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert's "Rally to Restore Sanity and/ or Fear"Answer: b. Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) supported the fatwa against Salmon Rusdie and defended the practice of stoning women for adultry.

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-2085819054281698542010-11-04T17:58:00.002-04:002010-11-04T18:02:49.876-04:00

In a Sept. 3 Los Angeles Times article, Fred Fox Jr., the writer of the infamous Happy Days episode where Fonzie jumps over a netted section of ocean containing a shark and inspired the "jump the shark" meme, addresses his dubious claim to fame in pop culture history.Was the "Hollywood 3" episode of Happy Days deserving of its fate?No, it wasn't. All successful shows eventually start to decline,

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-48764899258277786822010-11-02T11:55:00.005-04:002010-11-02T12:02:11.770-04:00

Interesting polling analysis from James Pethokouk at Reuters.It's certainly fair game to argue about which economic and tax policy approaches work best. But those who would characterize the people currently disenchanted with the president and Congress as simply angry and self-deluded seem, to me, mostly angry and self-deluded.A "few observations" from Pethokouk:Americans don’t blame Obama for the

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-48561433083286390342010-10-19T14:15:00.001-04:002010-10-19T14:15:00.145-04:00

A scene about half-way through "Tommorrowland," Mad Men's Season 4 finale, pointedly shows Bobby and Sally, on their California trip, having a heated "debate" in a restaurant about evolution. As with most spats between young siblings, things get heated and Sally knocks over her milkshake. At that moment, observing her calm response to the strawberry mess, Don seems to cement his choice of Megan

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-84975978066315185352010-10-17T09:49:00.004-04:002010-10-17T09:54:06.319-04:00

Oh yeah, this is a great idea. In fact, they should just project the driver's Facebook page RIGHT on their windsheild.From The Detroit News: GM moves on with in-car Facebook appFeds slam driving distraction, but firms say technology is legal, safeGeneral Motors Co. still plans to roll out its new OnStar feature that allows drivers to listen to Facebook messages and update their status, despite

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-85895788931945398372010-10-15T17:02:00.004-04:002010-10-15T17:10:52.191-04:00

The "Screenshot of the Week" is of Kieth Olbermann leaning backward in one of MSNBC's "Lean Forward" ads. The perennial cable news ratings loser calls their new re-branding effort the "biggest campaign in network history". (h/t Jon Stewart @The Daily Show)

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-73109677325186022992010-10-12T12:02:00.000-04:002010-10-12T12:04:00.233-04:00

I had planned to post about the plethora of numbers which were thrown into "Blowing Smoke." But as that's already been discussed in the comments for Deb's post from yesterday, I decided to change directions a bit. The result is this collection of eclectic observations.Full Post at Basket of Kisses...

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-11627366922598653092010-10-11T16:11:00.003-04:002010-10-11T16:19:57.259-04:00

Today's date is 101110 (binary for 46). Yesterday's date was 101010 (binary for 42). Coincidentally, 42 years ago saw the release of 2001: A Space Odyssey.So, to honor an event that won't happen for another 100 years, here's the scene from that film where Dave turns the HAL 9000 computer OFF (another great "binary" moment).

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-14500137243014696202010-10-08T12:17:00.004-04:002010-10-08T12:26:57.640-04:00

The "Screenshot of the Week" comes from an October 7th Wall St. Journal article titled: "Delays to Tax Tables May Dent Paychecks." Basically, even though Congress could take time to hear Steven Colbert's "testimony" on illegal workers, the whistle blew before a vote on extending tax cuts could happpen. As the article points outs, this affects MORE than just the "rich."Treasury officials' most

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-50120382956104843472010-10-08T11:55:00.002-04:002010-10-08T11:55:00.526-04:00

Peggy's relationship with Abe Drexler marks a point of personal growth on her part which is conveyed through her work on the Playtex account. Whether it be Pete Campbell, Duck Phillips, or Mark Kerney, Peggy's past involvement with men has been characterized by a noticeable level of detachment on her part. For a variety of reasons, something has always kept her from being, as Megan might say,

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-17197873842902851092010-10-07T09:15:00.004-04:002010-10-07T09:23:00.579-04:00

Today marks the 50th anniversary of Stanley Kubrick’s Spartacus. The 1960 epic set in ancient Rome boasts an all-star cast led by Kirk Douglas and includes: Tony Curtis, Laurence Olivier, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, Jean Simmons and John Gavin. Kubrick was called in to direct replacing Anthony Mann when creative differences with Douglas (who also was producing) caused him to be removed from

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-22674947684102000952010-10-05T15:00:00.003-04:002010-10-05T15:16:00.412-04:00

Because I teach business courses part-time, I often watch Mad Men and imagine how I'd apply marketing concepts discussed in class to a particular episode. It's been difficult to do this in Season 4. At the risk of splitting hairs, Mad Men takes place in an ad agency, but it's not necessarily about an ad agency. Certainly, the writers do their homework and Men Men gets the advertising stuff more

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-61944931992345034832010-10-01T08:57:00.004-04:002010-10-01T09:04:21.957-04:00

When he surprises his daughter Sally with Beatles tickets in "Hands and Knees," Don Draper quips that he'll be wearing earplugs to the concert. Coincidentally, James Bond, another fictional 60's character had the same reaction to the "Fab Four."In Goldfinger, 007 (Sean Connery) is assigned to observe international smuggler Auric Goldfinger. Bond (being Bond) has a tryst in Miami Beach with one of

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-44204169456578405112010-10-01T07:00:00.001-04:002010-10-01T07:00:11.742-04:00

Did Christopher L. Hoyt, the author of How To Raise Your Daughter Without Reading A Book: One Dad's Rules to Live By, realize the irony of its title?The editor?Anyone involved in its publication?I guess not.

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-76636115896513469412010-09-30T10:55:00.003-04:002010-09-30T11:11:54.450-04:00

Tony Curtis passes away on the same day that the Flintstones turn 50. The "Stoney Curtis" episode is one I still remember from childhood.

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-27056795624386848972010-09-30T07:00:00.001-04:002010-09-30T07:00:14.267-04:00

I'm calling it. George Lucas is "officially" trying to milk us.From MTV (bold added):'Star Wars' Series To Be Re-Released In 3-DGeorge Lucas plans to roll out converted films one at a time, beginning with 'Phantom Menace' in 2012....Lucas' famed Industrial Light & Magic special-effects shop will oversee the 3-D conversion. Considering the flack some filmmakers have received for converting to 3-D

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-86268036829948146042010-09-29T07:30:00.001-04:002010-09-29T07:30:00.799-04:00

The unfortunate "demon" picture taken of Hillary Clinton is the inspiration for the "Screenshot of the Week."Caption this photo. Some intials suggestions include:Merrin. Send us Merrin!I must think of a brick wall... a brick wall... brick wall... You're next, YOU'RE NEXT!'Cause this is thriller, thriller night.

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-20950394371484254032010-09-28T11:26:00.000-04:002010-09-28T11:27:04.988-04:00

A recurring device used in "Hands and Knees" has characters putting on performances for the benefit of others upon exiting private personal conversations. While this device is overtly employed throughout the episode, the last occurrence of it is perhaps the most subtle and interesting....Full Post at Basket of Kisses.

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-63058796154651415692010-09-27T09:17:00.006-04:002010-09-27T09:29:30.933-04:00

Edward Copeland takes us on a "strange journey" as he celebrates the 35th anniversary of The Rocky Horror Picture Show with an eclectic collection of anecdotes (including one from yours truly).I propose a toast!

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-44092313457034145402010-09-24T11:18:00.001-04:002010-09-24T11:18:55.843-04:00

When Joan and Roger are robbed at gunpoint by an African American in "The Beautiful Girls," they deliberately avoid making eye contact. Roger hopes that by not looking at the criminal, the two represent less of a threat (i.e. they won't be prosecution witnesses later on) and avoid an escalation of violence.Interestingly, that posture also mirrors Mad Men's use of minorities in Season 4. Nine

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-48214752642712195532010-09-23T09:20:00.002-04:002010-09-23T09:23:15.255-04:00

Respected historian Stephen Ambrose liked to tell an anecdote about having been contacted by President Eisenhower to write his biography. However, as reported by Richard Rayner in a New Yorker article, such a request probably never took place. John Eisenhower, son of the late president, said that Ambrose had a "tendency to sacrifice fact to narrative panache."One of my favorite contemporary "

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-83250596521162582872010-09-22T08:54:00.005-04:002010-09-22T09:19:23.713-04:00

Here's the first entry in my new "Screenshot of the Week" feature (hopefully I'll keep it going).It's an unintentionally funny shot from my SECOND favorite accidental nuclear accident movie, 1964's "Fail-Safe." It's good (very good) for 1964. But, it certainly hasn't aged anywhere near as well as "Dr. Strangelove" (also 1964) which feels like it could have been made yesterday. And as last lines

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-78643024444231147422010-09-21T15:27:00.003-04:002010-09-21T15:32:35.415-04:00

Tonight the premiere episode of "Detroit 1-8-7" airs on ABC. So, I finally decided to figure out what the hell "187" meant. It didn't correspond to anything local I could put my finger on. To my surprise it actually refers to the section of California legal code dealing with homicide.California legal code?Jeez. Why have a West Coast term as the basis for the title of a show touted in promtional

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-37435944795166949952010-09-21T12:07:00.001-04:002010-09-21T12:26:06.493-04:00

Miss Blankenship's improved vision after eye surgery was a metaphor for Don's increased awareness of the world around him in "The Summer Man." Her "health" is again used as a motif in the aptly titled "The Beautiful Girls." Similar to how the death of Gene (fascinated by the fall of the Roman Empire) signaled that change would be coming last season, Blankenship's death seems to denote the start

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-79483052644196602372010-09-18T14:38:00.005-04:002010-09-18T14:48:51.691-04:00

According to The Daily Beast, which of these college campuses is the safest?a) Harvardb) Stanfordc) University of Michigand) Wayne StateAnswer: My alma mater Wayne State University in DETROIT! Go Warriors!!3. Harvard University - Cambridge, Massachusetts Total enrollment: 27,651 Murders: 1 Negligent Homicides: 0 Forcible Rapes: 128 Non-forcible Rapes: 0 Robberies: 151 Aggravated Assaults: 170

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-53504012930119432622010-09-17T16:45:00.002-04:002010-09-17T16:48:03.066-04:00

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,That saved a wretch like me.I once was lost but now am found,Was blind, but now I see."Amazing Grace," John NewtonA very pointed use of metaphor in "The Summer Man," has Miss Blankenship wearing dark glasses after eye surgery. Quoting from "Amazing Grace," John Newton's famous hymn partly inspired by the biblical story of a blind beggar (New Testament hobo) who

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-1559461578169731502010-09-17T16:43:00.000-04:002010-09-17T16:44:29.837-04:00

I previously posted a comparison between Don's state of mind in Season 4 to "Scotty" Ferguson's (Jimmy Stewart) in Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo.In Vertigo, Hitchcock visually depicted the unsteadiness caused by Ferguson's condition through the use of what's now known as the "dolly zoom" effect. A camera is rolled in one direction while the zoom level is adjusted in the opposite direction. Steven

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-33391339254253634152010-09-16T17:01:00.003-04:002010-09-16T17:08:52.295-04:00

This Axe YouTube "infomercial" had me in stitches.

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-83933094212381975982010-09-10T11:41:00.000-04:002010-09-10T11:41:00.146-04:00

Don's rejection of Cassius Clay/Muhammad Ali in "The Suitcase" reflects more than the simple bigotry exhibited by Miss Blankenship. There's no denying that the dislike for Ali felt by many whites had a racial component to it. However, I think in the context of the episode, the boxing champion who, like Don, reinvented himself by changing his name hits too close to home (Don bets against Ali right

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-69197800395944371462010-09-07T18:05:00.007-04:002010-09-07T18:14:43.581-04:00

Fred Fox, Jr.'s LA Times article defending the script he wrote for the infamous Happy Days episode is the first item listed in a brand new website called: "protesttoomuch.com."From The LA Times:First Person: In defense of 'Happy Days' ' 'Jump the Shark' episodeContrary to pop culture belief, when Fonzie jumped the shark, it hardly marked the demise of the show. ...Thus was born an expression

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-46816671862438371272010-09-07T11:09:00.006-04:002010-09-07T11:14:02.839-04:00

As much as I hate forced comparisons between Mad Men and Matthew Weiner's previous television hit The Sopranos, one element of "The Suitcase" is worthy of such consideration. Specifically, the suitcase motif parallels a similar use of the device in "Mayhem" from the last season of The Sopranos.In "Mayhem," Tony, on the brink of death, has a coma induced dream (which could be interpreted as an

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-43305348770140609762010-09-03T11:26:00.007-04:002010-09-17T16:59:12.399-04:00

Car key technology has come a long way from the days when keys were "little more than a ground sheet metal blank."According to Dave Proefke, who led one of GM's development teams, their new smart key “does a lot of thinking for you. It tries to determine your intended action and perform that action for you.”Hmmmm... that's progress I suppose. But why does this make me feel so paranoid?From The

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-52254692583244346432010-09-03T11:15:00.003-04:002010-09-07T11:18:42.678-04:00

In their heyday, the "Rat Pack" had a running gag where Dean Martin would pick up the diminutive Sammy Davis, Jr. and drolly "thank the NAACP" for presenting him with an award. I detected a variation of that joke going on at the end of "Waldorf Stories." All throughout the episode, Peggy is clearly miffed at being shut-out of the accolades for the SCDP's successful Glo-Coat spot. She feels that

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-19170423599986173262010-09-02T12:09:00.004-04:002010-09-02T12:14:05.296-04:00

Which of the following could be described as "predominantly white?"a) MSNBC's primetime lineupb) The casts of this year's Emmy winning television showsc) The crowd at Glenn Beck's rallyd) The population of the United Statese) All of the above.

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-14882595834845791612010-08-31T07:21:00.001-04:002010-09-07T11:14:31.185-04:00

I had previously posted that the Glo-Coat television ad shown in "Public Relations," Mad Men's season opener, represented Don's perception of his life. The boy, a proxy for Don, was "imprisoned" by his domestically inclined mother (Betty).This idea is continued at the Clios banquet depicted in "Waldorf Stories." Don comes up to the podium to accept an award for the ad. He then victoriously trots

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-35325003121014545032010-08-30T18:19:00.005-04:002010-08-30T18:26:21.676-04:00

The best part of this article are the comments it's generating. People are discussing whether or not "the explosive ring" emanating from the Death Star in Star Wars: A New Hope matches "the position of the equitorial (sp) trench."From Neatorama:Astronomer: Star Wars Explosion More Realistic Than Star Trek ExplosionOn the left, you can see the destruction of Praxis, the moon of the Klingon

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-56508939829449475012010-08-27T11:45:00.000-04:002010-08-27T11:45:00.688-04:00

One quick bit of business in "The Chrysanthemum and The Sword" has Sally and Bobby watching television as Don dresses for his date with Bethany. On the air, a news anchor covering the murder of Unitarian minister and civil rights advocate James Reeb reports the following (emphasis added):The body of the 38 year old Unitarian minister was cremated within an hour of his death last night.The shot

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-84387158306442436812010-08-26T15:19:00.005-04:002010-08-26T15:32:02.683-04:00

Apparently a rolling stone can gather moss as evidenced by Rolling Stone Magazine's questionable decision to put "A Day in the Life" at the very top of their 100 "Greatest" Beatles songs list.Rolling Stone’s Top 10 are:“A Day in the Life”“I Want to Hold Your Hand”“Strawberry Fields Forever”“Yesterday”“In My Life”“Something”“Hey Jude”“Let it Be”“Come Together”“While My Guitar Gently Weeps”IMHO,

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-39207045417414314392010-08-23T10:55:00.003-04:002010-08-27T11:10:42.711-04:00

The opening shot of "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword" shows Miss Blankenship doing a New York Times crossword puzzle (in pen, no less). I painstakingly listed the words in the squares she had filled in thinking they may somehow relate to the storyline.leaksboresplanscarsdogsgleeburtutah (I think)tiredGiven time, I suppose I could somehow tie most of them to the narrative. For instance, Don comes

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-31767346380211741792010-08-21T17:41:00.001-04:002010-08-21T17:44:25.046-04:00

Because "Fuck Me, Harlan Ellison" just doesn't have the same ring to it.

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-91073069294767311572010-08-20T09:35:00.005-04:002010-08-27T11:11:18.342-04:00

An area of character development established in “The Rejected” is the idea that Peggy and Pete are beginning to follow diverging cultural paths. A device that drives this point home and links their storylines is the use of two different poles in the set design. While the window motif taken from the focus group scene (discussed in my previous post) allows characters to see aspects of others more

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-56837327756177088822010-08-17T11:20:00.004-04:002010-08-27T11:12:53.910-04:00

One thing that struck me about "The Rejected" is how the focus group motif is used in a number of different places. Of course, the actual Pond's focus group moderated by Dr. Faye Miller is the centerpiece of the episode. At this event, Allison, one of the participants, has an emotional melt-down in the aftermath of her sexual encounter with a now distant Don. Don nervously watches Allison's

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-32813792831157706902010-08-16T11:30:00.001-04:002010-08-16T11:30:53.499-04:00

RIP Elvis (he died 33 years ago today). Yeah, he spiraled into a pathetic self-parody at the end. But if there's a better LIVE performance of a song than this one, I can't think of it.

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-31711953955499395282010-08-15T11:18:00.000-04:002010-08-27T11:21:06.652-04:00

As part of Don and Lane's "distraction" in "The Good News," the duo heckle the screen at a showing of Gamera. This got me to thinking that a great spin-off for Mad Men could be a movie review show based on Mystery Science Theater 3000 called "Mad Men Flask Theatre 1965." In it, a drunk Don and Lane would provide esoteric pop-culture references to the period flicks they pan.But seriously, one of

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-59308990468296314102010-08-10T11:08:00.002-04:002010-08-27T11:12:19.585-04:00

Don painting over a water-stained wall in Anna’s house is a device used in “The Good News” to advance the storyline of his visit to California and (apparently) close that chapter of his life. Ostensibly, the discoloration is the result of a leaky roof. Anna tells Don that she has fixed the roof but not gotten around to removing the stain.The morning after finding out that Anna is dying, Don

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-78459040525823809102010-08-06T11:19:00.002-04:002010-08-27T11:14:00.726-04:00

There's a lot of discussion regarding Lee Garner, Jr.'s shameless bullying of Roger Sterling in "Christmas Comes But Once a Year." But I'll add my own two cents anyway. Roger strongly encourages Joan to wear her sexy red dress with "the bow on the back" because he thinks it will appease S-C-D-P's biggest account. So, there's poetic justice later when Lee forces ROGER to put on a red outfit.And am

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-83425672860171255622010-08-06T00:49:00.006-04:002010-08-06T16:43:51.433-04:00

According to a study by DoubleClick, 41 percent of US customers used search engines to research a purchase. Only 10 percent used a print ad and 9 percent a TV ad. So, effectively using search engines is clearly an important element of modern product marketing.Simple free search engine listings (also known as "organic rankings") can take a long while to percolate and generate the desired web

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-52908426480035682342010-08-04T12:24:00.004-04:002010-08-04T12:32:36.656-04:00

Make of this what you will, but the BP "disaster" may be turning into another "killer bees" story.A June 2, 2010 New York Times editorial said, "The spill, the worst in United States history and growing more damaging by the day, cries out for accountability and appropriate punishment."Today, the New York Times reports:U.S. Finds Most Oil From Spill Poses Little Additional RiskWASHINGTON — The

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-55512138364535788782010-08-03T07:32:00.003-04:002010-08-27T11:15:21.124-04:00

When Mad Men’s promo poster was released in June, there was much speculation about what it may have been hinting at for Season 4. For instance, TV Guide noted that the image could represent Don Draper’s fresh start as a single man in a new ad agency. After Don embraced the role of de facto figurehead for S-C-D-P at the end of “Public Relations,” I thought the poster was highlighting the fact that

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-37355702016987878462010-08-01T21:27:00.004-04:002010-08-01T21:30:58.816-04:00

In case you missed it...From Geekosystem:Today Is Lisa Simpson’s Wedding DayYesterday, someone famous got married, and it was supposedly a pretty big deal. But today marks the date of a wedding that we’ve been anticipating for the past 15 years: Lisa Simpson’s, as foretold in Simpsons Season 6.

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-15981439358877331492010-07-30T09:00:00.001-04:002010-08-27T11:15:57.873-04:00

One of the things that caught my eye about SCDP’s new office layout, as unveiled in “Public Relations,” was the new glass conference room. Unlike other work areas that are shielded from view by solid or opaque walls, the conference room is a virtual fishbowl surrounded by clear windows. Intentionally or not, this new production design element corresponds neatly with one of the narratives

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-83605586368656224462010-07-28T17:21:00.005-04:002010-07-28T17:26:34.898-04:00

"Twelve Cylon models. Seven are known. Four live in secret. One will be revealed."From PopSci:An Order of Seven Global Cyber-Guardians Now Hold Keys to the Internet...it turns out there are now seven individuals out there holding keys to the Internet. In the aftermath of a cataclysmic cyber attack, these members of a “chain of trust” will be responsible for rebooting the Web....A minimum of five

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-81104719699889421692010-07-27T07:00:00.002-04:002010-08-27T11:16:22.300-04:00

In "Public Relations," (Mad Men's Season 4 opener) a Glo-Coat advertisement brings Don Draper notoriety amongst his marketing peers. He explains to an Advertising Age reporter that his approach is to hook the viewer with a movie-like narrative so that they are receptive to the product information.However, I’d argue that whether he realizes or not, Don Draper’s inspiration for the ad are the

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-10835822139014874862010-07-26T22:20:00.005-04:002010-07-26T22:40:57.597-04:00

I feel like a monkey's uncle for my sad, sad entry in The New Yorker's "Cartoon Caption" contest (#247).My wooden submission was:It just hasn't been the same since they went to the metric system. The winners were a mixed bag:Personally, I think Prozac is a lot easier. - er, um, noThe monkeys themselves should come in three to six weeks. - mine was just as good (bad)They'd probably be more fun if

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-38872933291269924712010-07-24T08:16:00.001-04:002010-07-24T08:16:00.111-04:00

He's "not a flag-waver." He just happens to wear a costume that looks exactly like an American flag. But, I repeat, he's "not a flag-waver." Well, the shield he waves does evoke an American flag. But he's "not a flag-waver." And yes, he calls himself "Captain AMERICA." But he's not...oh, never mind!From the Los Angeles Times Blog:COMIC-CON 2010: 'Captain America' director has different spin on

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-24343348183007435312010-07-23T07:38:00.001-04:002010-07-23T07:38:00.286-04:00

Harry Reid on the auto bailout:Isn't it a good thing today in America that we have an automobile manufacturing sector? If it had been up to them [Republicans], General Motors would be gone. If it were up to them, Ford Motor Company would probably be gone. Chrysler definitely would be gone.There's only one small problem with that statement: Ford Motor Company didn't get (or need) ANY bailout money.

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-3355354654593764262010-07-22T23:19:00.004-04:002010-07-22T23:37:05.732-04:00

I love the smell of petard hoisting in the morning.It turns out that Keith Olbermann and others were wrong to blame Fox News for the Sherrod fiasco. Olbermann even cut his vacation short to come in and take a cheap shot at the network that's eating his lunch.Part of Olbermann's diatribe included:What you see on Fox News, what you read on Right Wing websites, is the utter and complete perversion

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-22649231560132899502010-07-22T10:33:00.004-04:002010-07-22T10:40:21.439-04:00

Here are my possible leads for the Shirley Sherrod fiasco depending upon the editorial persective of the news organization reporting it:"NAACP Audience Cheers USDA Worker's Admission of Racial Bias Against White Farmer" - Fox News"Brietbart/Fox News Gin Up Controversy with Selective Editing of NAACP Speech" - MSNBC"Fearful of November Landslide, Obama Adminstration Acts Hastily to Get Past

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-37591974018313543782010-07-19T11:02:00.005-04:002010-07-26T15:04:18.107-04:00

I didn't get a charge out of the results of the 246th New Yorker "Cartoon Caption" contest.My entry was:"You'll find that our concept of a 'golden parachute' is very unique for this industry."Here are the winners:"And this is our new incentive plan." - that one is okay, but mine was better"Or we go to Plan B and slip something in his coffee." - how did THAT get in the final three?"Your father's

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-48096366959253413652010-07-18T09:30:00.002-04:002010-07-18T09:34:34.130-04:00

Frank Rich offers up yet another simplistic and strained analogy written on too much caffeine.His argument holds about as much water as suggesting that Al Gore's masseuse assault incident signals the death knell for the global warming movement.From The New York Times:The Good News About Mel GibsonThe reckoning has arrived for the creator of “The Passion,” whose self-destruction parallels the

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-3542629183702478942010-07-15T22:01:00.006-04:002010-07-15T22:06:54.977-04:00

There's gotta be something in the Geneva Convention about this.I'm really gonna have to read one of these books someday just to figure out what all the hoopla is about.From Fox News: (bold added)Gitmo Detainees Serve Time By Playing Games, Talking to Family on Skype, Taking ClassesWhile the 181 men being held in the prison wait to learn their fates after the administration fell through on its

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-75025829349287845892010-07-13T07:31:00.001-04:002010-07-13T07:31:00.098-04:00

I wonder if during those "two years of research" anyone involved with the decision pointed out what "the Y" is a euphemism for. It certainly is "more inviting."From The USA Today:YMCA shortens name, now known only as 'the Y'The YMCA is now known officially as just "the Y."The Chicago-based U.S. non-profit announced Monday that it is changing both its logo and name to "the Y," marking its first

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-58662038325585794222010-07-12T07:23:00.001-04:002010-07-12T07:23:00.229-04:00

Nothing says "I'm really pissed off" like a typeface used in cartoon talk bubbles.From The Wall Street Journal:LeBron and the Revenge of Comic SansLost in the vitriol over the letter Dan Gilbert wrote to Cleveland Cavaliers fans Thursday night is the counter-vitriol from tech geeks about the type of font he used — the dreaded Comic Sans.Gilbert, the Cavaliers’ majority owner, wrote an angry

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-25644516633414779982010-07-11T19:46:00.003-04:002010-07-11T19:48:41.718-04:00

A perfect use for this song from the boys at Tabloid T-Shirts:

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-82043438700286166212010-07-08T21:47:00.006-04:002010-07-09T12:48:04.793-04:00

This is probably just another Illuminati trick to throw us off the scent.From RedOrbit:Cyber Command Logo Has A Secret"9ec4c12949a4f31474f299058ce2b22a" is the coded message found inscribed in the logo of the Pentagon’s newly created US Cyber Command, causing a stir among bloggers and curious techies raring to crack the obscure message.

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-75364490288400688032010-07-07T11:54:00.001-04:002010-07-07T11:55:49.646-04:00

On the 50th anniversary of its release, many of the same issues addressed in Elmer Gantry, Richard Brooks’ 1960 adaptation of the Sinclair Lewis novel, are very much a part of the current debate between aggressive people of faith and the more secularly oriented segments of society. Front and center in the narrative is a display of Christian organization leaders engaging in shameless

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-76979269876966281152010-07-06T12:11:00.001-04:002010-07-06T12:14:02.640-04:00

Oh yeah, and that mission to Mars thing too...From Fox News:NASA Chief: Next Frontier Better Relations With Muslim WorldNASA Administrator Charles Bolden said in a recent interview that his "foremost" mission as the head of America's space exploration agency is to improve relations with the Muslim world. Though international diplomacy would seem well outside NASA's orbit, Bolden said in an

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-65918785810097664022010-07-04T22:46:00.020-04:002010-07-23T19:54:54.260-04:00

Last week I got so many emails from companies inviting me to use their services to submit "Oil Spill Compensation" claims, that I considered submitting a claim for the time spent having to delete "Oil Spill Compensation" spam.I don't really want or have to read EVERY piece of email that comes in. And quite frankly a lot of the messages that constantly keep filling up my inbox get to be an

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-26972187797282326962010-07-03T10:27:00.003-04:002010-07-03T10:33:16.715-04:00

It was funny watching 4G users attempting to follow Apple's original antenna "fix." This involved awkwardly cradling the iPhone in their hand (sorta like a tripod) while making calls. HA!From NBC Bay Area:Apple's iPhone Mea Culpa: We're 'Totally Wrong'For two weeks, Apple dismissed rumors of a faulty antenna in the new iPhone 4 as nothing more than scuttlebutt. Any phone has these problems, Apple

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-91023553382006723972010-07-03T10:17:00.004-04:002010-07-03T10:25:57.442-04:00

"...it's a beautiful day, the beaches are open and people are having a wonderful time. Amity, as you know, means 'friendship'." ~ Mayor Larry VaughnFrom Comcast.net:Boaters told to be alert for sharks off NortheastAs the summer tourist season ramps up, the Coast Guard told recreational boaters and paddlers Friday to keep an eye out for predatory sharks in the ocean waters off the Northeast,

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-11271198801062573932010-06-30T07:29:00.002-04:002010-06-30T07:33:31.559-04:00

A continuing theme presented in Mad Men is how people deal with the various roles society and happenstance have cast them in. Dick Whitman didn't like his lot in life. So, when the opportunity presented itself, he shed that identity and put on the Don Draper persona. While other characters haven't reacted so drastically, they are often equally conflicted by their assigned roles. This idea is

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-62945152798923732452010-06-29T11:17:00.005-04:002010-06-29T14:47:59.844-04:00

Here's my last rant on the recent death of Robert "the conscience of the Senate" Byrd and all the fawning over the ex-Klansman which ensued.Andrew Sullivan's comments caught my eye:Speak no ill of the dead? Well, let me simply say that the racist, populist, larcenous bigot of a Senator - a man who robbed the American tax-payer to pave his state with baubles and bribes - is not going to be much

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-81386873370841413742010-06-28T10:09:00.006-04:002010-06-28T13:59:17.943-04:00

Well, it looks like 1 out of 3 for the 244th New Yorker "Cartoon Caption Contest."I think my timely entry deserved to be in the finals:"I hate to admit it, but this iCroc is all marketing hype."Here are the actual winners: "I feel a vibration. Can you call my cell phone again?" - Actually, that's pretty good."These executive desk toys are becoming a nuisance." - Are they picking winners out of

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-78557932798265516492010-06-27T20:10:00.005-04:002010-06-28T10:17:26.113-04:00

I hate to kick a guy when he's down, but Robert Byrd has always been a hot button of mine. As usual, notice how this one sentence is buried in the last paragraph: "A former member of the Ku Klux Klan, Byrd later became a champion of civil rights."For the life of me, I'll never get how Byrd, a former Klan RECRUITER, got a free pass all his life for those activities, while Strom Thurmond who, for

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-70843285002011158522010-06-26T09:01:00.002-04:002010-06-26T09:01:00.071-04:00

An 86-year-old bedridden grandma took an "aggressive posture?" Seriously?From Courthouse News Service:Police Said to Taze GrandmotherPolice Tasered an 86-year-old disabled grandma in her bed and stepped on her oxygen hose until she couldn't breathe, after her grandson called 911 seeking medical assistance, the woman and her grandson claim in Oklahoma City Federal Court. Though the grandson said,

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-16022560767939713522010-06-25T12:33:00.008-04:002010-06-26T01:32:46.728-04:00

The Holy Grail of web marketers is to somehow find a way to get their site “ranked high” in search engines results. And by “high,” people usually mean being listed in the top three dozen results for a particular search (hopefully, within the top ten). Since the GREAT majority of users don’t look past the third page in any given search, anything short of that is a waste of time.Ensuring that a

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-70013456635595434862010-06-24T18:34:00.002-04:002010-06-24T18:38:32.421-04:00

My sentiments exactly.

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-19681716410131532432010-06-23T00:19:00.004-04:002010-06-23T00:25:31.042-04:00

From MSNBC:Nurse in V-J Day kiss photo diesA nurse famously photographed being kissed by an American sailor in New York's Times Square in 1945 to celebrate the end of World War Two has died at the age of 91, her family said on Tuesday.The V-J Day picture of the white-clad Edith Shain by photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt captured an epic moment in U.S. history and became an iconic image marking the

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-91860375676979373622010-06-21T08:47:00.004-04:002010-06-21T08:51:00.006-04:00

I wish I hadn't neglected to submit my entry in The New Yorker's "Cartoon Contest" #243. I know I wouldn't have won, but I could have complained with more zeal.My idea was:"It's for you." I was sure someone else got that in before me and made it to the top three. Instead, the "winners" were:"That was the wakeup call from Hell." - huh?"Terrormarketer." - groaaaaaaaan"I think the collection agency

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-28177718272403268802010-06-14T22:40:00.003-04:002010-06-14T22:45:25.529-04:00

Revisiting my comments about past Mad Men episodes is often a cringe worthy exercise. Like chapters in a book, each episode is part of a collective whole. It’s easy to over emphasize many individual plot trees that ultimately turn out to be of minor significance in the forest of Season 3. That said, one motif I continuously harped on was the juxtaposition of the colors blue and green. I saw many

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-37163771053702306022010-06-13T09:47:00.003-04:002010-06-13T09:52:46.523-04:00

If and when the current administration's Department of Justice prosecutes BP for the Gulf oil spill, expect the current administration's Department of the Interior to be called in as a defense witness. BP was a finalist for the 2010 "SAFETY Award for Excellence" which recognizes "outstanding safety and pollution prevention performance by the offshore oil and gas industry."The announcement of the

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-37118399696541017872010-06-08T18:28:00.007-04:002010-06-08T18:38:58.620-04:00

Here's a new definition for genius: selling running shows to consumers in the ever-growing baref00t jogging market.Vibram Five Fingers is the most interesting/unusual looking in this new category of athletic gear.The typical human foot is an anatomical marvel of evolution with 26 bones, 33 joints, 20 muscles, and hundreds of sensory receptors, tendons and ligaments. Like the rest of the body, to

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-23211836070038411292010-06-07T15:53:00.004-04:002010-06-07T18:32:55.637-04:00

Janis Ian's "At Seventeen" came up in conversation while celebrating my own daughter's 17th birthday. I had forgotten how impressive a song it is as nine stanzas are worked into a complicated melody. And has there ever been written a more profound lyric than this?We all play the game, and when we dareWe cheat ourselves at solitaire Light years ahead of today's Taylor Swifts and Lady GaGas.

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-44418817117792875172010-06-06T14:10:00.007-04:002010-06-06T14:25:33.457-04:00

A very observant Peter Sciretta posts in Slashfilm.com about the "Wilhem Scream" of props. Look close and you may notice the same newspaper showing up over and over again in a number of television shows and films. Sciretta postulates that "it was created as a royalty free prop for television shows. Somewhere along the line, the prop became a reoccurring gag between propmasters."Shots of Ed

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-37467772615785094442010-06-04T21:45:00.008-04:002010-06-04T21:55:05.797-04:00

Video Highlights From SpaceX websiteFrom CNet News:Falcon 9 rockets into space in dramatic maiden flightPowered by 10 engines and the vision of an Internet entrepreneur, an untried Falcon 9 rocket blasted off Friday and successfully boosted a dummy payload into orbit on a maiden voyage intended to help pave the way for commercial missions to the International Space Station.In a major milestone

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-78036760196482396612010-06-03T12:24:00.003-04:002010-06-03T12:28:47.816-04:00

Mock James Cameron's display of smug, self-importance if you will. When we're attacked by killer robots from the future, you won't be laughing!From Reuters:Director James Cameron says BP turned down help offerFilm director and deep-sea explorer James Cameron said on Wednesday that BP Plc turned down his offer to help combat the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico."Over the last few weeks I've

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-89771320174153529112010-06-01T22:09:00.005-04:002010-06-01T22:16:02.703-04:00

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi confusingly expounds on the importance of the "word" in her life.Pelosi never REALLY explains what she means by "word." Could THIS be it?

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-3347863804529260412010-05-28T18:55:00.009-04:002010-05-29T00:10:26.986-04:00

Andrew Sullivan called Peggy Noonan "unhinged" for her Wall Street Journal piece taking the Obama administration to task over their handling of the BP oil spill. Frankly anyone (like Sullivan) who is still spreading the rumor about Trig Palin being Sarah Palin's illegitimate grandchild shouldn't be calling anyone else "unhinged."But, I digress...After cherry picking one sentence out of Noonan's

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35396555.post-61670417919643667162010-05-26T17:41:00.003-04:002010-05-26T17:47:31.123-04:00

If this fails, BP is going to try using golf balls and scraps of rubber tires to clog the leak (I'm totally serious).From USA Today:BP starts 'top kill' planBritish energy giant BP said in a news release Wednesday that the "top kill" maneuver to try to stop the gushing oil from a rig in the Gulf has started, but the move has never been tried before, and company officials say it could be a couple

Matt Maulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786715057322458327noreply@blogger.com0