11 February, 2009

What's the diff?

There are so many little quirky coinky-dinks happening of late, that I just have to make note of them here.

On the eve of the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln, I want to mention that I went to the Chico library to not only apply for a library card ( they sure require more ID these days to check out books) and be a full-fledged Chicoan; and to get a few books on Lincoln to find some significant quotes for my newsletter and talk this week. Those facts are not the cosmic bits to which I bring your attention. At the checkout stand, the clerk took note of the number of Lincoln books I had collected and asked if I was a teacher. "Yes, in a manner of speaking...did you know this is the 200th anniversary of his birthday?" The clerk seemed disappointingly non-plussed. Until I gasped when he stamped the return date card and it said February 12th. He looked up to me and I explained that I found it ironic that these Lincoln books were due back on his actual birthday. "Oh, is that his birthday?" As a matter of fact it is, Mr. Baby Boomer-aged gentleman who somehow missed that in history class about our 16th President of the United States.

Harumph.
(Wonder if he knows that February 22nd is Washington's real birthday? Guess that doesn't really matter anymore now that we celebrate President's Day in February anyway).

For reasons and excuses, I had not been back to the gym for a couple of weeks. Today, I made the effort to attend the gentle yoga class at 10:30. After class, I decided to find the little room for ladies only and use one of the three treadmill machines as I had done on my first visit. As I looked up at the big screen TV (of which there are several around the club) I quickly saw that it was one of the morning interview shows (you can tell by the tall stools that are de rigeur upon which guests even in short, tight skirts, sit) and that it was an NBC show because of the background.

Now this of itself doesn't automatically qualify as a coinky-dink because A). this would be about the same time of day as the last time I was at the gym; and B). this television might always be set on NBC; and finally, C). the same Today Show would be the program being viewed. Even though it was a different day of the week -here's where it gets weird --

As I looked up at the screen today, the three guests on stools looked vaguely familiar to me. I was trying to not be rude by staring at the screen instead of greeting a friend who happened to also be there. Yes, there are two stunning young women sitting next to a man in a yarmulke. And wait, yes, the tag line on the bottom of the screen was saying something about sex and healthy sexual relationships. Weren't these the same three people interviewed on the Today Show hosted by Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford, on the same subject, just a few weeks ago when I got on the treadmill? And now, the same three author/guests were being interviewed again by Hoda Kotb but instead of Kathie Lee, there was a handsome young man (whose name I never caught since I came in at the end of the program) talking to these people about their book on having healthy, sexual relationships in today's modern society.

For the life of me, I cannot ascertain or even guesstimate why these particular three people would warrant a second interview on the same book and topic within weeks of the first program--unless they were offended or off-put by Kathie Lee (as I was).

My quick two Lincoln pennies: I think morning talk shows are due for an overhaul. The basic format, sets, guests, hosts and interviewers, all seem very stale to me. For me, it doesn't feel that these shows have moved into this new millennium despite having a commentator sitting on the set typing into and from Facebook during the show. Except for being very ripe fodder for Saturday Night Live skits, I think someone in programming needs to think outside the box do some renovation and innovation.

Guess it doesn't make much of a difference in the scheme of things that I preferred watching the commercials more than the daytime show itself in this case.

And since I don't often speak or write about commercials, I want to mention a few favorites. Of course, I am usually drawn to any commercial with a cute puppy/kitty animal theme product. Among my faves are the ones for Petco with the white terrier dog that stops and appreciates his/her reflection in the mirror; and the one for Comcast cable with the Slowsky turtle family trying to take digital timer pictures of themselves and Mrs. Slowsky keeps saying "cheese" while she waits for her husband to join her and the shutter to click. (For those of you who don't get Comast broadcasting or promotion, these turtles are now popular enough to have their own fan sites on line where you can download ringtones or screensavers).

Happy Birthday and thank you, Mr. Lincoln. Guess it doesn't make much of a difference to you if we celebrate it tomorrow or on Monday with the rest of the folks taking the day off...

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090212/ap_on_re_us/lincoln_s_birthday_penny

New penny designs to celebrate Mr. Lincoln.

Each penny costs two pennies to make. Or so it is reported.

Inspired Service said...

"Lincoln, Lincoln Bo-Blinkin." Another Boomer memory.

I watched a two-hour documentary on Lincoln the other night. As the narrator talked about the assassination, it never struck me in the past the obvious Divine timing of the event. He was the last casualty of the terrible war. On that faithful night when he chose to finally relax and take in a play, it was if God said, "Your work in this life is done."

Although very sad, it seemed that his death needed to take place in order for the nation to start anew. John Wilkes Booth actually was surprised and saddened that he was not considered a "hero" for his deed.

Abe was, as so many examples throughout history are, the right person, at the right place, at the right time. Then when his job was done, he left. Where would we all be right now without the things he accomplished in his short stay?

Happy Birthday indeed Mr. Lincoln.

Anonymous said...

Isn't it interesting that on February 12, 1809 that not only was Abraham Lincoln born but so was Charles Darwin. Amazing that 2 great men were born on the same day.

Thank you god for 2 of our greatest thinkers of any generation.

John K

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