Hard Rock Bet Taught Me A Lesson

I’ve sat at tables in Las Vegas and slot machines in Kentucky. I had an account with DraftKings. Here are a few things I learned from a recent experience using Hard Rock Bet (I don’t want to get the jingle stuck in your head but Hard Rock Bet is legal in Florida!). Sorry.

Here’s what I’ve learned: I suck at gambling. It was ridiculously accurate in the last month or so that whoever or whatever I picked to win, the other choice wins almost every time. And I know what you’re thinking. Do the Seinfeld thing: Decide what my pick is, then do the opposite. But even this doesn’t work. I couldn’t ever catch a real break. Not only am I a bad gambler, it also makes me feel terrible. That’s another thing I learned.

From the very first day I opened my account with Hard Rock, I got this uncomfortable feeling, a sense of loss. I thought putting even just a few dollars in my account would make watching games fun, but it actually did the opposite. I wasn’t enjoying watching football on the professional level or college. Instead of rooting for the underdog and celebrating when big upsets happen, I was more concerned with whatever bet I had made. It changed the entire sports viewing experience and not in a good way.

If you’re on the fence about throwing some cash into a betting app, I’d advise against it. Instead, go buy that thing you’ve wanted for awhile. It’ll be money better spent and you’ll have something to show for it. The last thing I learned… I’ll be voting against any legalized betting in the state of Florida. I don’t want other people to feel the way I felt, or to lose lots of money. Either can happen at the drop of a hat… or the drop of a perfectly fine pass from a star quarterback.

-Out of the Wilderness

The Progressive Football Commercial – Jamie Gives Up On His Father’s Dream

During the recent football season, Progressive is airing a commercial starring everyone’s favorite Progressive agent… Jamie. He always keeps us on our toes, doesn’t he? I had no idea he was a football player at Football High School but this commercial proves it’s true. It’s also hilarious. In fact, it’s worth your time to watch it at least 5 times to catch things you might have missed the first 4 times.

Everything being so literal is my kind of humor; Everything from FHS (Football High School) and the College Football Scout wearing a lanyard that says “Scout” to Jamie’s teammate saying, “Jamie, we need you out here for football!” as if there was some other reason they might need him out there. I also love the subtle moments of the cheerleader turning all the way around to watch Jamie run towards (not-the) exit, the scout being left-handed (how do you know someone is left-handed? answers here), Jamie is playing defense for his football team, an 11-man unit tasked with protecting the end zone from the opposing team. It makes sense that he would be interested in protecting Progressive customers, it’s in his DNA to protect things.

The parody of every sports movie’s climatic moment is the climax of this ad, too. Jamie and his dad are finally being honest with one another.

You’re giving up on your dream, James.

No, Dad, I’m giving up on yours.

I felt that. The extended cut (on YouTube) includes a final scene that I didn’t see on the TV version. Remember when they cut to Flo watching through binoculars? That scene doesn’t get much explanation unless you watch the extended clip. Spoiler alert: Flo is a scout, too! But not for football. She must’ve been eyeing Jamie for awhile, thinking he’d be a good fit for her Progressive team.

Jamie never put on another football helmet, married that cheerleader, and hasn’t spoken to his dad since*… and now you know the rest of the story.

*I made all of that up.

-Out of the Wilderness

Is The Best Decade of Music Up For Grabs?

Dividing music into decades is one of the easiest ways to make categories to judge by. It’s kind of funny too, that each 10-year catalogue is so recognizable, even with some gray areas in the late or early years of a decade. My brother-in-law and I, when we’re riding around together, like to try guessing what year a song came out. Our guesses usually start with something like, “This played all the time when I was working at McDonald’s so it had to be mid-90s…” or “We lived in Rhode Island so the song definitely came out in 1988…” and I can almost guess some songs by where I lived growing up. Moving every few years helps to cement certain songs in my core memories. For instance, “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” (early childhood in south Florida), “Tubthumping” (college in Tallahassee, FL), or “What Hurts the Most” (being a new resident of Nashville, TN). Those and so many more are etched into my memory by location but these can also represent music of the decades, too. So which decade of music is your favorite and why is it the 1990s?

There is no decade that everyone would agree is the best, but I heard a song the other day that was released in 2022 and now I’m wondering if the best decade of music is the one we’re in right now. The song is that good. It’s got a retro 1980s vibe and it’s by one of my favorite bands (so I guess I’m biased already?). Lots of people would pick the 1980s and 1990s as the best decades, maybe the 1970s gets in with a few people. But the 2000s and 2010s wouldn’t be at the top of anyone’s list. Feel free to try changing my mind but now that we’re almost halfway through the 2020s, I gotta say… this might be a phenomenal decade for music. Rap is sounding great thanks to artists like Kendrick Lamar and NF. Rockers from the 80s and 90s are touring again (Tears for Fears, Creed, etc). Folk/rock bands like the Lumineers are well-established and making great music. Even instrumental songs are becoming hip because of talented musicians like Lindsey Sterling. But this band I mentioned… I got to see them twice in the last couple of years and I’d gladly go see them again. Check out the nostalgic 80s sound of “scream!” by Judah and the Lion.

I’m starting to believe the 2020s will be remembered as an incredible decade of music. Maybe the best.

-Out of the Wilderness

Liberty Mutual Wax Figure Commercial – The Actor and More!

Give me liberty or give me… a commercial? Liberty Mutual is back with the Statue of Liberty as their backdrop in a new ad where a wax figure suffers from a hot summer. This is the latest in a series of commercials from Liberty using New York City as the location, although I don’t think they’re actually in New York at all. I explain my green screen theory here. Check out the melting wax in the commercial then scroll down for more info!

The Actor. You might recognize the actor starring in this commercial from a wide variety of shows and movies (here’s his IMDb page). His name is Joe Hursley. You can also follow him on Instagram — @JoeHursley — where he posted this about the commercial shoot:

Can you name another current commercial starring Joe Hursley? I’ll give you a hint, it’s an ad about unexpected combinations. Comment below with your guess! Also, if you like what you read today, consider making a tiny donation to help me continue posting every day at 1pm. Thanks for coming by today…

Donate to Out of the Wilderness here

-Out of the Wilderness

The iPhone 16 Commercial – The Smug Actress & the Music

New phone alert! If you have an iPhone 15, you’re behind the times now. Take a look at one commercial in a series Apple has released for the iPhone 16 featuring an actress from “Game of Thrones” and “The Last of Us,” among other projects she’s been part of.

The actress is Bella Ramsey, a 20-year-old actress who’s already earned a lot of success in Hollywood. I can’t blame her for what it is I don’t like about this commercial. It must be the writers because they’ve created a character who’s smug, entitled, and condescending. In each of the ads she has the same arrogant attitude so even though these ads are still new, they’re already on my mute list.

The 5 seconds at the end almost makes up for the previous 25 seconds. Almost. Great choice in music with a cool song by an artist named Krizz Kaliko. It’s called “Genius,” here’s the full track.

I’m sure the features of the new phone are fine. It’s hard to know because according to feedback, and the fine print, most of the stuff they’re advertising isn’t even available yet for anyone receiving and/or using the iPhone 16; Some are saying Apple rushed the production just to get the phone out there; a premature move that’s impressing no one. That can be as frustrating as the characters flippant cocky attitude, can’t it?

What do you think about the ad? Am I overthinking it that Bella’s character is very, very annoying? Chime in below…

-Out of the Wilderness