Posting daily at 1pm central about all kinds of things. One day it's dating, the next it's TV commercials. I hope you're entertained. Professional photos on SmugMug – https://benwilder.smugmug.com
The first time I remember hearing “Unchained Melody” was in high school and the memory has been imprinted and linked to a girl I had a crush on at the time. In south Miami as a timid boy going to a private school, I was enamored with this girl who could burp on command. Be still my heart! I also think of her when I hear Elton John’s “Can You Feel The Love Tonight?” But my high school crush isn’t the point of this post. Neither is my very first crush, Cyndi Lauper, although she has a stirring version of “Unchained Melody” that might actually be better than the Righteous Brothers. I know, that’s crazy to say. Which of the versions below is your favorite?
Apple has an adorable commercial advertising the iPhone 14 but the real stars are the dogs running around for 30 seconds. Take a look at Trip (the main dog featured) and a few other pups in the commercial…
Here’s another video explaining more of Trip’s story.
The music in the 30-second ad is “All the World & You & Me” by Walter Martin. Here’s an extended version, or if you prefer Spotify, here’s the link for that, too.
Sometimes at the end of these kinds of posts I ask if you like the commercial, what you might do differently, etc. I can’t do that for this one because it’s just perfect. These dogs are amazing, strong, resilient, so it’s no surprise Apple titled the ad “The Invincibles.”
It was about 5 years ago that I borrowed a bike to go on a leisurely ride with friends in Nashville. We pedaled around a few country roads before stopping for lunch at Arrington Vineyards. I had no idea way back then what that one bike ride would turn into. It’s like I was a kid again, loving every second of riding a bike. So not too long after, I bought a bike of my own to ride around the neighborhoods. Found this gem at a Nashville estate sale for $35!
My loyalty to the bike is so deep that I even used it for two sprint triathlons in north Florida(recaps here and here). Looking back at those two races, I am kind of baffled that I thought it was a good idea to ride it! But with that said, it did so well. Was I working twice as hard to go half as fast as everyone else? Absolutely. But having spectators and race officials compliment my bike made me really happy. The bike is Secretariat in my eyes. And it will always be a legend! It’s time, though.
Time for something new.
Today I picked up my brand new Trek Domane. To say I’m very excited and full of anticipation for taking this bike out for another sprint triathlon is the biggest understatement of the year. I can’t wait to use it in my next race (October) to see how much faster I can be and maybe, hopefully, I can finish in the top 3 of my age group.
I’ve seen this Chic-Fil-A commercial a few times now and the more I see it the more irritated I become. At first pass, it’s fine. A dad, a daughter, a helpful Chic-Fil-A employee. But if you break the story down, you’ll probably understand why it’s a tad on the irritating side. Here’s the commercial then scroll down for my take…
I’ll start with the only positive thing I can extract from this: I applaud the sentiment behind the ad. As consumers, it’s generally a nice thing to be helped by employees of the business we’re trying to do commerce with.
But they must be kidding to think this story is remotely as altruistic as they let on. I have a very hard time believing no one in the drive-through, the employees, or anyone else involved was not just a little PO’d that this man is crying in the drive through, wasting time while people are trying to get their food fast because they have they’re own drama going on. Everyone’s in a rush because it’s lunch time.
I understand that the employee in the ad wants to help. She’s trying to be encouraging but my guess is that deep down, she’s trying to keep the line moving. She’s thinking, “The faster I can get this weeping father outta here, the better.”
The ad itself is a little weird, too. A dad FaceTimes his daughter then proceeds to hand the phone to the Chic-Fil-A employee who’s never met this girl in her life. Maybe I’m not very compassionate or social, but if I were that employee I don’t think I could care less about FaceTiming a call with a random guy’s random daughter who I’ve never met and will never be friends with after the random moment her dad came through the drive through at my random Chic-Fil-A in Midlothian, Virginia.
Am I just being insensitive? What am I missing here?
I was attending a small worship service at a small church in a small city when I heard this song for the first time. It was Brentwood Baptist Church at a Tuesday night gathering called Kairos. The city… Nashville, Tennessee. OK, nothing about Brentwood, Kairos, or Nashville was small back then. A big worship service at a big church in a big city. But the song, on the other hand, starts small. Stays small. Then gets BIG. Real big.
Listen to this powerful worship song from Amanda Cook back in 2015.
It’s a wonderful reminder that in some respects, God is not complicated. His offer of love is full, whole, complete, and for everyone. He doesn’t love us “if”… He loves us… period. A great message in 2023.
Out of the Wilderness 