My Blog! My Blog!

Alert readers who have visited my "User Info" page will have realized that today is my birthday. (No, I see no reason to tell you how old I am. I'm the same age as actress Emma Thompson--go check up on her, if you care.)

It has been a quiet day. landley and fadethecat have been visiting us for the weekend. This morning, we went to my mother-in-law's home for brunch, which included deviled eggs and tasty crabmeat quiche. A few very nice birthday presents and a sugar-free cheesecake were produced. After brunch, landley, fadethecat, and I took a walk to a local park and generally around the neighborhood, admiring the budding plant life, the squirrels, and the sunny warm weather. We met a friendly cat on the way to the park. She was a young calico, barely out of kittenhood, who insisted we pet her without even bothering to sniff our extended hands first.

Now, we are back at my place. fadethecat is sitting on the sofa playing "Puzzle Pirates" and landley and I are camped out on either side of her, kibitzing. Eric is off taking a nap, and the cat is nowhere in evidence. It's not a high-energy Sunday by any means, and after the hyperactive couple of weeks all of us have had, it's very pleasant.

Thus my birthday weekend. Next weekend, Penguicon!

The Coca-Cola company has produced yet another product that should not exist: Coke Blak! Because the website uses annoying quantities of Flash, I will not add a link to the actual product page, but you can read the press release here:

http://www2.coca-cola.com/presscenter/nr_20051207_corporate_blak.html

The beverage is, we're told, a combination of Coke and coffee--but let's allow the Coke marketroids to say it in their own words:

"Coca-Cola Blāk is not just a flavor extension. It is a blend of unique Coke refreshment with the true essence of coffee and has a rich smooth texture and has a coffee-like froth when poured. We believe we have created a new category of soft drink – an adult product in a carbonated beverage – and a whole new drinking experience."

The first thing I thought when I learned about this product from a nearby billboard was, "God, what a disgusting idea." But the second thing I thought was, "Why?"

If you think for a second, the answer's pretty obvious. The clue is "adult product in a carbonated beverage."

The Coca-Cola Company used to sell lots of beverages to both adults and kids. Then, the coffee craze descended upon us, courtesy of Seattle and Starbucks. When Starbucks took off, coffee-flavored beverages were everywhere! Now you can even purchase frappamochacinos and the like from Dunkin Donuts franchises and grocery stores.

The Coca-Cola people surely must have thought, "How can we capitalize on this massive thirst for coffee?" And Blak is their answer.

Or maybe it will be their biggest failure since New Coke. Time will tell--and those of us who follow the follies of the multinationals will be watching.