The year is almost half over and I am sticking to my no candy thing.
1. I am eating more cookies and drinking too much soda.
2. I am suprised by what I am missing the most. I thought for sure I would miss Reese's the most. I do miss them, but I miss licorice the most. I want Red Vines.
3. I discovered/created a loophole. I eat candy if its in ice cream, or in a salad (I had a salad that is made of whipped cream, apples, and crushed snickers early in the year, and the loophole was born.) I prefer ice creams/desserts that are fruit based, not chocolate based, so this hasn't come up that much, but it has happened.
4. Still not sure I have a good reason for this, but on we go.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Commercials
I think that anyone who has watched more than 20 minutes of TV in the last few months has seen the advertisements for the Shake Weight, which is the newest fitness fad for women, which promises amazing results in a six minute workout.
Near the end of the ad, the announcer says that callers can get the Shake Weight Deluxe, which includes 3 bonus DVD workouts, all for the low price of $Whatever it is.
I keep waiting for them to say "But wait there's more. Order now, and you will earn the same results in only a 3 minute workout!!"
I think that would be hilarious.
Near the end of the ad, the announcer says that callers can get the Shake Weight Deluxe, which includes 3 bonus DVD workouts, all for the low price of $Whatever it is.
I keep waiting for them to say "But wait there's more. Order now, and you will earn the same results in only a 3 minute workout!!"
I think that would be hilarious.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Value
How should we ascribe value to a particular item?
Value seems to be a very subjective thing. A thing's value in money is the amount that someone is willing to pay for it. So value depends on how badly each individual wants or needs that thing. For some things, like airline tickets or a room at a hotel, while the value may not seem to be all that different, the price that people pay can be all over the map. How late you book, the availability of a substitute, these affect the value, and therefore the price.
What drives me crazy is infomercials or commercials where the advertiser is selling a thing. And the price of the thing is $79. But wait there's more! Order now and we will include a carrying case and an extra bottle of stuff to go with your thing. A $49 value, yours free! I can only assume that the $49 is made up. If the case and bottle of stuff had a $49 value, that's how much they would make you pay for it. But the idea is that if you are considering buying the thing for $79, because you think it represents that value, and now you also get the case and bottle of stuff, for no extra charge, what a great bargain! The thing, the case and the bottle of stuff, with a value of $500, yours for $79. The value is $79, because that's how much it costs. But not really. If I don't want the thing, or at least don't want it bad enough, then the value is less than $79, because I'm not willing to pay that much for it. If I wanted the thing bad enough that I would have paid $500 for it, then $79 is a great value.
My kids are the same way. Kids will pay any amount of money for something that they want bad enough. My kid would pay $5 for a candy bar if the moment was right. I think that it is partly because they don't appreciate the value of money, but also because they are driven to get what they want as soon as possible. Of course, I might spend $50 bucks on an old coin with a face value of $0.25, so who am I to talk.
It seems like I am rambling, so to summarize: Value is subjective, and I hate those commercials.
Value seems to be a very subjective thing. A thing's value in money is the amount that someone is willing to pay for it. So value depends on how badly each individual wants or needs that thing. For some things, like airline tickets or a room at a hotel, while the value may not seem to be all that different, the price that people pay can be all over the map. How late you book, the availability of a substitute, these affect the value, and therefore the price.
What drives me crazy is infomercials or commercials where the advertiser is selling a thing. And the price of the thing is $79. But wait there's more! Order now and we will include a carrying case and an extra bottle of stuff to go with your thing. A $49 value, yours free! I can only assume that the $49 is made up. If the case and bottle of stuff had a $49 value, that's how much they would make you pay for it. But the idea is that if you are considering buying the thing for $79, because you think it represents that value, and now you also get the case and bottle of stuff, for no extra charge, what a great bargain! The thing, the case and the bottle of stuff, with a value of $500, yours for $79. The value is $79, because that's how much it costs. But not really. If I don't want the thing, or at least don't want it bad enough, then the value is less than $79, because I'm not willing to pay that much for it. If I wanted the thing bad enough that I would have paid $500 for it, then $79 is a great value.
My kids are the same way. Kids will pay any amount of money for something that they want bad enough. My kid would pay $5 for a candy bar if the moment was right. I think that it is partly because they don't appreciate the value of money, but also because they are driven to get what they want as soon as possible. Of course, I might spend $50 bucks on an old coin with a face value of $0.25, so who am I to talk.
It seems like I am rambling, so to summarize: Value is subjective, and I hate those commercials.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Magic Phone
Do you ever wish you had access to an oracle of knowledge? That you could make decisions or predict the future? My friend has a phone that spins easily if laying flat on one side. We decided to turn it into a yes or no device. Decide which direction is yes, which is no, ask a question, spin the phone, and wait for the answer.
Should I order the burger, should I order the chicken.
Will I ever own a motorcycle.
Will I get a bonus this year.
Is it going to rain on Saturday.
Will I die before age 60.
The phone knows all. Just like the Magic Eight Ball on my desk. It would be nice if I could actually rely on the answers.
Instead we have to think, plan, and act. We have to trust in a higher plan, have faith.
I suppose in some ways its better that the phone doesn't know all the answers, but sometimes I think it would be easier.
Should I order the burger, should I order the chicken.
Will I ever own a motorcycle.
Will I get a bonus this year.
Is it going to rain on Saturday.
Will I die before age 60.
The phone knows all. Just like the Magic Eight Ball on my desk. It would be nice if I could actually rely on the answers.
Instead we have to think, plan, and act. We have to trust in a higher plan, have faith.
I suppose in some ways its better that the phone doesn't know all the answers, but sometimes I think it would be easier.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Marathon
Congrats to my brother Jacob, for completing his first marathon on Saturday. Jacob ran the Salt Lake City Marathon in 4:21. I think this is awesome, and is something that I will never be able/willing to do. Also, when he told me that he set his goal based on his determination to beat Oprah's time, I swelled with pride and respect. Good job Bro!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Daddy's Home
I get one of two greetings from my two year old son when I get home from work.
1. Yay, Daddy's home, hugs for everyone.
2. Finally, my manservant has returned, fetch me some milk and a fruitsnack.
I never know which is coming.
1. Yay, Daddy's home, hugs for everyone.
2. Finally, my manservant has returned, fetch me some milk and a fruitsnack.
I never know which is coming.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Confused indifference
Danyael and I like to get in the hot tub in the backyard from time to time to relax. We have to wait until the kids have gone to bed, then we will get in for awhile before bed. Last night we decided to get in, put the kids to bed, waited the mandatory time till we thought they were all asleep, and went out. Our hot tub is located in the yard right across from our kitchen, and there is a door there that goes from the kitchen to the yard, so we can see the kitchen pretty well. After we had been in the tub for about 15 minutes, we see Andrew wander into the kitchen. He has stretches where he will get out of his bed and have to be put back in bed a few times before he will fall asleep, but we thought he was asleep before we went outside. He was wandering back and forth looking for us, into the kitchen, over by the stairs, into the front room, back to the kitchen, back down the hall towards the bedrooms, with a confused look on his face. He never went downstairs, probably because the lights were off, and just wandered around for a few minutes. Then he started moving chairs in the kitchen, but gave up on that. We were in the tub watching this whole think and cracking up. Then he went back down the hall towards the bedrooms, and didn't come back out. We thought he might find us because we leave the door from our bedroom to the yard cracked a little bit so we can hear if either he or Megan is crying. We didn't hear anything, and he never came to the door. After a few minutes of not seeing him in the kitchen, we had to go back in to see what he was up to. He was lying on our bed, watching TV, without a care in the world. We thought he would be more concerned that his parents were missing, but nope, he just starting watching TV. Little stinker.
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