Tunnel of Luggage

Tunnel of love?

No, tunnel of luggage. 

Nothing comes out the same on the other side. 

This is called bumps and bruises. 

Still it’s a long way to paradise. 😉

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

I Say Upside Down You Turn Me

I liked this advertisement for WOOW eyewear. 

Like the faces, the colors, the upside down and right-side up orientations. 

Seems cool, hip, with it. 

Happy hippie times. 😉

(Credit Photo: Michelle Blumenthal)

Gucci Bee Bag

Thought this was a pretty nice Gucci bag. 

Large decorated bee with expansive wings on the flap. 

Beautiful pink with white pearl studs. 

Brass chain and red, white, and blue shoulder strap. 

Priced around $1500! 

Small shoulder bag yet plush oversized and ornate make a big statement. 

Nice gift for that special someone or to treat yourself to Gucci! 😉

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Superhero Dress

This dress was a standout. 

Superhero dress by D&G. 

Comic style with the pow and bam!

I don’t get the pig superhero logo on the ugly green jacket and other similar merchandise next to it. 

Uh, who wants to wear and look like a pig?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  

D&G is off the deep end. 😉

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Ferrari Motor Furniture

This was very cool. 

The first is a coffee table for the living room.

The second is half of a nice desk.

Both are made out of working Ferrari engines.

The coffee table goes for $50,000.

And the desk goes for $75,000.

I will told that this is a bargain based on what a working Ferrari engine goes for. 

In a sense you can take your table for a spin around the block…LOL.

Truly the engine (and not just design of the car) is a work of art. 

It merits being a centerpiece of your office or home. 😉

(Credit Photos: Andy Blumenthal)

Sizzle Is Not Steak

There was an interesting quote in the Wall Street Journal the other day.

It was about how the stock brokers all too often hawked hot stocks to their unsuspecting and foolish clients:

You sold the sizzle, not the steak!

Wow, isn’t this all too often what happens with products and services in the marketplace?

People get you hyped up on all the excitement of something.

The latest and greatest widget or whatever. 

It’s gonna revolutionize the world!

Even when the thing itself may not be all that it’s cracked up to be.

Or in fact, it may be a complete dud!

But whatever sells goes, unfortunately, whether it’s right or wrong

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle. 

Doesn’t that sizzle really make you want to buy the steak?

The Greater Fool Theory in full blossom. 😉

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Capital One Cafe Catastrophe

So I’ve seen the advertisement for Capital One (Bank) Cafes on TV for some time now.

Well I saw my first real one in Fort Lauderdale this week.

It was big, bright, comfortable and had children’s games and a host of meeting and breakout rooms. 

They even gave us two cards for some free coffee at the embedded Pete’s Coffee.

It was a corner store in a large, expensive space. 

It was great place to get some work done or relax. 

But aside for a cash machine or so, there was nothing that I could see having to do with banking in this place. 

Also, there were also almost no customers for the coffee.

Basically, it is totally confusing idea from a marketing and branding perspective–Is it a bank or a coffee house?  And why would I go to Capital One to get coffee or to Pete’s Coffee to do my banking????

While I think that Capital One has literally outdone Starbucks in building a great cafe space, I don’t think anyone will actually get what this is or why it is!

My guess is that whoever came up with this idea is going to be looking for a job within about 6 big money-losing months. 😉

(Credit Photo:  Andy Blumenthal)

Cash Is King

This was a funny shirt this lady was wearing on the Metro. 

It mimics the Sweet ‘N Low artificial sweetener logo and says:

Fund R’ Low
Need a Sugar Daddy

This was one of those shirts that gets your attention. 

It’s different.  It plays off a familiar brand.  It bright pink, red, and blue and stands out.  And it could certainly have a sexual connotation.  

Anyway, this was a pretty bold shirt to wear into conservative Washington, D.C. 

But I guess wherever you go, fashion, sexuality, and cash is king. 😉

(Credit Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)

Nike Is A National Disgrace

Nike recalled their sneakers from retailers with the Betsy Ross American Flag.

And they did it right before Independence Day this Thursday.

NIKE is a national disgrace!

Nike, should be standing strong to proudly display the American Flag, but rather they are like the Evil Axis, Iranians, that put it on the heel of their shoe–step on it and spit on it.

This is what we get as a nation when patriotism is turned on it’s head, and people that want to bring down this country and destroy it are instead elevated as spokespeople and even fraudulent politicians for it.

Who would’ve thought after 9/11 that America would self-destruct from enemies within rather than from without. 😦

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Tie Dye Hammock

Loved this tie dye hammock by Enonation (Eno) from Australia that I saw at REI. 

 

It’s called “DoubleNest,” so I guess that means it fits 2 people. 

So open, colorful, and inviting to rest and relax in. 

Sillily, the store only carries the hammock and not the stand…so good luck with that. 

Also REI clumsily filled this gorgeous hammock with Nalgene bottles–on sale 30% off!

Uh, if you make even the nicest stuff look like junk for storage, you’re not gonna get the brand image you want. 

Anyway, the hammock was awesome!  😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)