I understand the necessity of television commercials, but I, like most of the TV viewing public see them as a nuisance. Every now and then, one special ad becomes the show, and when it's over you sit hoping that during the next break you'll be treated to it again. For me, that ad is the Liberator Medical Supply "Catheter" ad. I know, that's a weird choice. There aren't any talking animals, and GEICO isn't involved. (Quick aside: I've never met anyone who has GEICO. I think they exist solely to make commercials.) If you've never seen it, take a look: Let's break down this incredible spot. Immediately, we are pulled into this commercial by a simple question: Personally, I don't use catheters at all, but I'd be lying if this question didn't at least make me stop and think the first time I heard it. Next we're introduced to our hero, Jim: What a cool guy. The shades, the thum

Greta Thunberg is in the news for being a crusader against climate change who delivered a scathing speech to members of the UN . Honestly, I don't know much about her or her cause, but I know that she likes the environment and would prefer that the polar ice caps didn't melt (she's from Sweden, and if my sources are correct, they like cold stuff over there). I tried to read up on her story, but I stopped when I stumbled upon this tidbit:  For about two years, Thunberg challenged her parents to lower the family's  carbon footprint  by becoming  vegan  and  giving up flying , which in part meant her mother had to give up her international career as an opera singer. The second I read this I checked out because I just couldn't relate to any of this. Let's unpack it shall, we? "She challenged her parents to reduce their carbon footprint"  Can you imagine "challenging" your parents to do anything without them promptly telling you to go

I tend to be a little behind when it comes to trends. I once mentioned to someone that I had started listening to the band Gorillaz and they responded by telling me that they used to listen to them fifteen years prior. I have numerous stories like that, and I have another one to add to my collection: The debate over plastic vs. paper straws. I was aware of this battle being waged on the internet and I just kind of sat there and politely nodded whenever anyone griped about how plastic is terrible for the environment or how paper straws are for snowflake libs. I was Switzerland in this conflict; completely neutral. That all changed when I was attacked and forced to select a side... *** I went to Starbucks to grab an iced tea. It was a hot day and I like to focus on the small things in life that bring me joy (my therapist told me to start doing that). I waited on my drink and my name was called by the barista. "Unsweetened, black iced tea for Matt." Wow, what

Preparing for Hurricane Dorian has been an exercise in extremes. One second we're goofing on it and having a good time, but on a dime, Dorian is back to being a Class III Killstorm  and our lives are flashing before our eyes. Here's how things have been going for me in the days leading up to the storm: Wednesday, August 28 I depart from the metropolis that is Harrisburg via airplane with my sights set on Orlando. The buzz in the airport was of a monstrous storm forming from the depth of the Atlantic. I laughed it off. "I've been through these before, there's nothing to be afraid of," I tell my fellow passengers. "Hurricanes are nothing but air and water. There's just a lot of it, and last time I checked, we need both of those to live." We took flight, I napped, and shot angry glances at the parents of a crying child. Friday, August 30 A tempest this way comes.  Dorian strengthens, fueling off the warm waters of the Caribbean.