Observations from my trip to the US

One thing about going back home to the US only once or twice a year is that it allows me to see changes that I probably would not perceive living. It is sort of like seeing your sister's kids only once a year and notice how much they have grown.

New Cars:
In particular, I like seeing the news cars on the road. Here in Western Australia, the car market is just too small and slow what the car companies have come out with. I noticed that the new cars seem to have a military inspiration. They have a boxy shape, sharp edges, low roofs, and narrow windows that look more like gun slits than windows. They look like troop carriers. Perhaps the designers are inspired by the current War On Terror.

For example, look at Chrysler's new 300 model. To me it looks like the Civil War warship the USS Monitor. It looks like it needs a gun turrent on top!

I was very surprised to see that Honda now has a pickup truck, and a full size one at that. But, I think it is ugly.

I got to see the new Cadillac XLR, their new two seater convertible. I first thought it was a Mercedes-Benz SL until I saw the Cadillac badge on the grill. It looks like they totally ripped off Mercedes.

Needless Products (1):
It is also fun to see some of the ads for new products and services. Some are for things are just simply a waste of money. The worst has to be these thing called "Sling Box". I saw an ad for it on TV. It is a consumer electronic device that you plug into your television and broadband connection. It captures a television program and broadcasts it, live, across the internet to your laptop computer. The television ad features a guy sitting in the back pew of a church in a funeral. He is watching a football game on his laptop computer and is yelling encouragement to his team in the middle of a somber funeral.

I was stunned. I could not believe it. How totally lame and pathetic do you have to be to need this? Watching a Football at a funeral? Why did the subject of the ad even bother to go to the funeral if he felt that game was more important? What on earth could be so important on TV that you can justify spending money to broadcast it live across the internet? I can't imagine.

If there was a show on that you want to catch, then record it on the VCR (or Tivo) and watch it later when you have time. If it is so important that you can't wait for later, then stay home.

I really hope that this product fails and no one buys it. It scares me to think that someone might find this to be worth it. What has me totally baffled is that the damn thing has won awards all over in late 2005 and early 2006 as best new product. WTF?

Needless Products (2):
The other "solution looking for a problem" that I saw is the electronic ultraviolet toothbrush cleaner. It is a case the you put your toothbush in, which is then bathed in ultraviolet light in order to clean it. Some of the ads I saw to justify this expense give reasons that border on the ridiculous.

One ad presents the "problem" of your children accidentally using the wrong toothbrush when rushing to brush their teeth, which might spread germs among them. Huh? I grew up with a mom, dad, brother and sister on a small boat with one head. I never remember having any problems confusing who had what toothbrush. If your kids are in such a rush that they grab the wrong one and fail to notice, then perhaps you should question why they are in such a rush that they can't take care of their teeth.

Another ad presents the "problem" of house guest using your toothbrush because they might have forgotten to bring their own. Oh please. The US is the land of Seven-Eleven and 24-hour grocery stores. Can't your guest just run out and buy themselves a toothbrush? I have been a guest of many homes, and I have never, ever, considered borrowing a toothbrush from anyone. Gee. How often does this "problem" happen? How about if I just buy a couple of extra cheap toothbrushes for $3 each and keep the in the house for guests? Wouldn't that be better and cheaper?

Funny Products:
In Los Angeles, I saw billboards all over for a drink called "Pom". It is a pomegranate drink that claims to prevent cancer. Whatever... but what cracks me up is that word Pom is mildly derogatory Aussie slang for an Englishman. It was funny seeing that word all over the place.