Cool Commercials

A few weeks ago I saw a really peculiar commercial on TV. It featured a little boy facing a child's worst fears: the Boogie Man, the monster in the closet, the monster under his bed, and broccoli. The monsters in the commercial are actually really creepy, so I was surprised when I found out that the ads were for Cold Stone Creamery ice cream! Check it out.

Several days later I saw two additional ads for the same campaign. They featured Bigfoot and an Heiress facing their worst adversaries on their way to get some delicious desserts.

I think the ads are really unique, and although the idea of a Brazilian bikini wax doesn't really make me want to eat dessert, they are really funny and make me remember the name. You can watch more videos, including some hilarious bonus footage over at the LoveIt-LoveIt website. Thank goodness there's a Cold Stone in walking distance from my apartment.

Black 20 News!

It's time for another edition of Black20 News with Jessie Cantrell. In this week's episode Jessie talks about the very controversial "gay bomb" that made news recently, but the best part is the bird that dive bombs joggers. Hilarious video. Watch and enjoy!

So You Think You Can Dance

You can argue with me all you want, but I will say that So You Think You Can Dance is probably the best show on TV this summer. As I said in my previous post, I really don't like much of anything that's on the telly right now, but SYTYCD has always been one of my faves.

Now that the audition episodes are over and the actual competition gets going, the real fun has begun. In case you are unfamiliar with the show I'll tell you how it works. Much like American Idol, it has two nights; a performance night and a results night. Performance night pairs up the dancers and makes them do a routine in a particular style (hip-hop, ballroom, contemporary, etc) and then the viewers vote to keep their faves on. On results night, the three pairs w/ the lowest votes each perform solo dances of their choice, and then the SYTYCD judges cut one guy and one girl from the show. I definitely like the fact that although America chooses the bottom six people, the judges (people with actual dance experience) vote off the worst.

My favorite part of the show is the beginning of results night, when all the remaining dancers perform together in a group number. They always seem to be shockingly good, and it's really fun to see everyone together dancing for fun. Last week's show featured a dance choreographed by Wade Robson that still gives me goosebumps when I watch it. Even if you don't appreciate dance as much as I do, you can enjoy this piece. The choreography is awesome, and I don't just mean how the dancers are moving... the camera moves are amazing, too. I can't imagine having enough creativity to think that up. That's probably why Wade is the man. Check out the performance of "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See" before big brother yanks it off the web.
Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See


Wade Robson also choreographed one of last season's best dances to "Ramalama (Bang Bang)" so check that out, too.
Ramalama (Bang Bang)



So You Think You Can Dance airs tonight and every Wednesday at 8pm with the results Thursday at 9pm. You can head over to Fox.com/dance to learn more about this season's contestants and play some random trivia game. Unfortunately, the website offers little in the way of videos. People (like me) want to watch the performances over and over again... you should get on that, Fox!

Caffeine Cravings

A story for you... I was in the elevator last week with 3 other people. I was holding my daily iced coffee and a man and a woman each had a coffee in their hand. They were talking about their need for morning caffeine when then other man chimed in with, "Never had a drop in my life." You would have thought he just admitted to murder. We gasped. He said he had never had a cup of coffee in his whole life, to which I replied, "Don't start now!"

Is it weird that we were stunned at his lack of caffeine cravings? It seems almost inhuman to me! I stop every morning on my way to work and get a coffee from Starbucks. In the colder months I normally get a tall coffee in a grande cup (to avoid the inevitable garbage pour out) and get the same, iced version in the warmer months. I feel like I need it. It's an addiction. It's a routine. I guess there are much worse things to be addicted to than coffee, but I still feel the cravings like it was anything else. I feel like most people in the working world are the same way. We need it!

I was just crunching the numbers and now I am sick to my stomach. A tall coffee (non-iced) is $1.84 here in New York. I don't know why (I'm sure my barista friends will enlighten me,) but an iced version of the same drink is $2.22. It's the age old question: why is the ice more expensive? Aren't I, in reality, getting less coffee because the ice takes up so much of the cup? Regardless... if I am drinking a coffee every morning, five days a week, hot coffee for 6 months a year and iced for the other 6, I am spending $527.80 a year! ON COFFEE. Sick.

Please share your caffeine confessions with me by leaving a comment, but in the meantime, check out Wikipedia's Starbucks entry. It's really interesting. And check this out- a map of all the countries in the world where Starbucks exists. Maybe I'll get a free cup of joe out it.

Misheard Lyrics

Every so often I come across a web clip that literally makes me bust out laughing at my desk. Today I found one on CollegeHumor.com that had such an effect on me. There are lots of popular songs out there that everyone likes to sing, even if they don't know all the words. In this clip we learn the words (with funny pictures) to the Pearl Jam song "Yellow Ledbetter." I don't even know if that's the real name... but I'll take it. Watch this clip and make me fries.


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