Etc. - General

Oh, what a sad morning it was for me, as I went to grab breakfast at my local Burger King. The 700-calorie Enormous Omelette was no longer on the menu. True, I’ve been sticking to the BK Bargains since well before the economy tanked, but sometimes you need enough bacon, sausage, cheese, eggs and bread to clog your corrodded artery.

Worse, a few months ago, BK got rid of the Fully Loaded Steakhouse Burger. Whoever the BK marketer was who decided mashed potatoes would make a great condiment for a burger gets an automatic spot in the fat-guy hall-of-fame! more

Rumors of the demise of the Arena Football League may not be exaggerated. The original brand of indoor football, which of late had been driven by celebrity owners such as Jon Bon Jovi and John Elway, a lucrative (and past) television deal with NBC and sponsorship opportunities up the wazoo, is facing the same economic hard times as many companies.

Speculation is by week’s end, the league will announce it will cease operations for the 2009 season, though the league is telling fans to hold tight. History says that when a league has made that announcement, it’s been the prolonging of the actual obituary. And as a journalist who has covered both the on-field and business aspects of the game for several publications (including PROMO and Chief Marketer), I’m sad but not surprised. more

Back home, it’s 16 days until Christmas. In Kissimmee, at the NCDM show, it’s easy to forget we’re even in December. The temperature outside the Gaylord Palms (and the Westgate Villas, where I’m staying) is about 80, the palm tree leaves haven’t browned, and Santa’s not seen on every street corner.

But right next to our conference space, Gaylord Palms is hosting its annual Ice! at Gaylord Palms event. Richard Levey of Direct and I pass it every morning when we enter the conference, and again when we leave. It’s not overly extravagant from the outside (we haven’t paid to see Christmas), but I think it’s something that gives the resort and conference center a little bit of an advantage this time of year. more

So what has this recession brought us? A bunch of fat guys like me. Thanks to my new lunch budget that limits me to canned soup and Chef Boyardee mini ravioli (one heck of a buy at about $1 or less a can), I’ve expanded both my bank account and my waistline.

I had to wear a suit to a memorial service a few weeks back. From my knees to my sternum, I looked like a muffin. Just extra belly fat popping over the maximally-stretched suit pants. Maybe the fact I switched beer from Michelob Ultra to Pabst Blue Ribbon ($14.99 a 12 pack vs. $14.00 a 30 pack… which would you choose?) didn’t help me either. more

How’s this from today’s headlines? The New York Yankees declined arbitration on all its free agents, and is hoping to re-set all these ungodly salaries that franchise helped produce.

Bobby Abreau is no longer worth $8 million a year, and may have to settle for $7 million a year elsewhere. Same with Andy Pettitte and Jason Giambi. more

Even before we got married my wife started buying her own Christmas gifts from me. I’d get her the wrong size, something too tacky, or something I was more interested in than her (I though chicks dug Sony Playstation… who knew?). So I let Ursula get herself something she really wants, and she tells me “I’ll act surprised.”

To make sure I’m going through the motions, I’ll get Ursula some stuff for a dollar store or a discount store that I know she regularly uses or needs. A lot of times, it’s even “clearance crap.” And this year, if a recent survey by the National Retail Federation is dead on, it looks like I won’t be the only person out there scavenging the bargain bins this season. more