Expiration dates

So here I am, its December 31st, and I haven't posted to my blog in a while.  Because ideas for topics are ephemeral and depart from my mind before my hands reach a keyboard, mobile phone, or even a good old fashioned pen, I have neglected this website that earns me millions of Zimbabwe dollars yearly in revenue. 

And I'm looking around and I notice kellogs coupons to receive $5 in free gas should you postmark it before the 31st.  Oops too late.  Note that the cost of a stamp  makes the reward meaningless.  Might be why I never bothered. Kellogs could have made use of an ingenious invention I call the internets.. But that assumes they wanted you to redeem the prize.  Newsflash: they don't.  Like the mail in rebates you see attached to various purchases, even if you do mail it out, you have a 50/50 chance of getting your measly reward.  Because if people don't receive it, they'll be less likely to bother next time.  The dealer always wins.

Anyways, back to kellogs.  When I was a child they had some sort of mail in thing for NHL team mini pennants.  I wanted them, so I got some cash and some change and threw it in the envelope, little me not knowing anything about cheques or money orders.  I never did receive my NHL mini pennants.  Did some mailman abscond with my meagre $5 and change or whatever it cost back then?  Or did kellogs say f this kid let's keep the money. I'll never know.. But to this day i will refuse to deal with mail in rebates.  I will walk the other way.  I will use a different website.  The price including the rebate is a fiction. 

But all the same, here's to another year of ignoring rebates and coupon expiration dates!  Happy new year!

Ad bombers

I've been hearing and seeing a lot of Winnipeg blue bombers advertising lately.  It made me think of how different their tactics are from the the goldeyes and jets.  The goldeyes advertise a fun family summer outing for a reasonable price.  Its simple but effective.  I couldn't give a crap about baseball but I've gone to more than a couple goldeyes games. The jets don't really even have to advertise, but when they do it is on the calibre of players and canadians love of hockey.  When the moose were in town they used the affordability and game experience angles.  It worked.

The blue bombers ad spots all seem to focus on how tough and rough football is.  Which seems to me to be preaching to people who are already going to the games.  They also try to evoke "Manitoba Pride". Whatever that is.  I wonder if the same dimwits who came up with spirited energy are in charge of the bombers advertising.  I wouldn't be surprised. 

They aren't really even using the new stadium experience to appeal to people.  I give them no points for their advertising method.  Tough guys growling at the camera is professional wrestling tier.  Doesn't do it for me.  Its not enough.  The bombers haven't changed their advertising strategy in years as far as i can tell.  Doesn't matter how tough they are if they can't win games. 

Why is the annual winnipeg police bike auction being held in a part of the city without transit service?

Generally speaking, I consider the police bike auction a ripoff.  Might as well get a new bike than overbid for some rusty Canadian tire castoff found on the banks of the red river.. I bought a bike from it years ago when it was held in the more sensibly located maples multiplex.  It wasn't worth the effort.

The bike auction is taking place this weekend in the south part of the city at the varsity view multiplex.  Its been there for a couple years now.  I haven't really bothered to go because by the time I hear about it, I have plans already.  Also its too far.  But today I learned even if I wanted to go, I can't get there by Winnipeg transit without walking for about half an hour.  Well has nobody complained about that in all this time?  Why would they choose such an inaccessible place for a bike auction?

The varsity view community centre gets to charge a fee for parking.  How convenient that there's no other way to get there.  Maybe by bike, but you won't be buying another bike if you get there by bike.  Does the city get a discount for that particular arena?  If they do, I wonder if its offset by the lower prices being offered for the bikes, since there must be fewer people attending such an event in the more affluent part of the city if they are missing an important method of transportation to get there.

Is it the auction house dictating where it is held?  If so, they're not doing a good job for the inhabitants of this city.  Here they are auctioning off stolen bikes in a part of the city with less crime.  Far away from those who might actually have had a bike stolen from them. 

I'm not saying it should be moved back to the maples multiplex.  I don't know what instigated the move after all.  It was however a better location any way you look at it.  But it should be held somewhere with transit service and close enough to an area where people have a higher chance of their bike being stolen .

Stolen spring

I'm driving I see a billboard that says Spring comes sooner in thief River Falls fuck you thief river falls..
Do you even have a waterfall.  I doubt it.

Road Rash

Inkster Boulevard should be renamed Sinkster Potholevard.  Just sayin.

Mega millions

I'm glad today is the last day to buy st Boniface lottery tickets.  The commercial is so annoying.  I swear it reminds me of the theme song to different strokes.