Pow! Right Between The Eyes! Andy Nulman's Blog About Surprise

Big Nose

Here's a little bit of corporate nastiness that comes as a treat to end your hard workin' week.

Can't say who, or where he/she works due to legal and other possible ramifications, but here's the way a friend of mine describes his/her two co-members on a board sub committee, one perpetually clueless and the other a blatant, butt-kissin' Yes-man:

"One never knows;
the other never no's."

Have a happy weekend.

Best-Store-Name-Ever Now a URL

In a long-awaited follow-up to the Lesbian Haircut and Bike Store challenge of a month ago, I am happy to announce that the URL www.lesbianhaircutsandbikestore.com has been finally been claimed by J.J. Levine and Danielle Flowers (took you long enough!), and links to their store's pre-existing site.

I had the pleasure of visiting their quite unique retail establishment a couple weeks back, and not only did I find two truly hard-working entrepreneurs (J.J. was hand-spoking a wheel while we talked), but two women with vision of starting a distribution biz of hard-to-find track bike parts.  Adventurous investors with a taste for the off-beat would be well-served taking some time to listen to them.

Well, for now, this blog's contribution is taking their world-class, attention-getting store "sub-head" and converting it into a whup-ass URL.

Keep spinnin', girlz!

Pow! Goes Legit

I read it every two weeks, cite it quite often, but here's an article from the uber-respected Marketing Magazine I won't be quoting from any time soon...due to redundancy issues:

(To read the entire rant in a more eye-friendly manner, click here.)

Big shout out for Danny Kucharsky for corralling all my wildly-spouted words (jeez, that Suzanne Somers story still comes up after all these years).  And Dan Ward, your book gets yet another plug!  Jeez!

On a serious note, when the concept of Pow! Marketing is treated with such prominence in such a prestigious and widely-accepted journal, you know we're onto something here at Surprise Central.   

Today, Marketing Magazine.  Tomorrow, a major publishing house!

Unstained Melody

And while we wait for the outcome of yesterday's Briggs and Riley repair adventure, here's another Frequent Flyer story to regale ya...

As mentioned before frequent FOPs know I have used this blog to outline a few airline horror stories (like this one and this one), but here's one where the Surprise was indeed most positive.

Last week, on an Air Canada flight to Toronto to host the Deloitte Fast 50 Event, I was served a cup of coffee.  It came in a ceramic Second Cup mug, and left a slight ring on the tray.  I picked up the mug, blotted it on the napkin to wipe up the less-than-significant spill, and picked it up for a sip.

Uh oh.

Not only did I feel the large drips that stained my crisp white shirt, I heard them plop quite audibly.  Nobody could tell, but the cup had a hairline crack, which led to the an unscheduled landing of coffee on my chest.

Hearing me swear (sorry, fellow passengers), the Flight Attendant raced over with club soda and a towel (attention A.G. Lafley--here's another great market for your Tide To-Go pens), and after a minute of scrubbing and flooding, the coffee stain was barely visible (but the big water blotch was quite evident).

A drag...but such is life.  I tried to ignore my clammy chest, and continued reviewing some business documents.

Suddenly, the Flight Attendant returned and asked me to sign something.

No, it wasn't a waiver; it was an "On-Board Compensation" voucher worth $15 that reimbursed passengers for one of three bummers:

1. No Meal (Shortage)
2. No Special Meal
3. Dry Cleaning

"I'm so sorry," the guy said.  "But this should take care of your shirt.  And your suit."

Thirty seconds.  Fifteen bucks.  One fast-thinking guy.

That's the difference between me being pissed off at, or enamored with, Air Canada today.

And as I look down at my Kamkyl-designed, Egyptian-cotton, falcon-cuffed, stainless white shirt,  I'm happy to say it's the latter.

The Clint Eastwood Effect

Sometimes, the easiest way to conjure up some Surprise in marketing is by adhering to a lil' sumptin' I call The Clint Eastwood Effect. 

It's a seven-word credo that's incredibly powerful, but rarely administered.  To wit:

Use few words.
Live up to them.

There we go.  A la the screen legend, squint your eyes, follow the advice, and you'll be far ahead of the pack.

A fine theory, yes, but here's how it works in "da real world."

As FOPs know well, I am a frequent traveler, and last weekend, I bought my THIRD Briggs and Riley bag.  I have their "Wheeled Wardobe," their expandable carry-on, and now, their most incredible two-suiter classic garment bag.  Aside from the workmanship and the company's true understanding of the traveler, what keeps me coming back to Briggs and Riley is its 29-word, no-nonsense warranty, reproduced here in its entirety:

"If your Briggs & Riley bag
is ever broken or damaged,
even if it was caused by an airline,
we will repair it free of charge.
Simple as that!"

And after eight years of exclusively buying B&R travel gear, I've never had to enter the above comfort zone...

Until now.

Yup, while packing for a journey, the retractable handle of my Wheeled Wardrobe pulled right out.  This is the oldest of my B&R collection...and time to see if the company can pull off the second half of the Clint Eastwood equation.

I called the 1-800 repair number on the website, reached a HUMAN BEING within 30 seconds, who told me of a local repair center, literally five minutes from my office.  She didn't ask how it broke, who's fault it was, nor did she list some additional conditions or changes that may have been made to the bag's warranty in the near-decade I've had it. 

All I have to do, she said, is drop the bag off, and as promised, it would be repaired for free.

So, off I go tomorrow to the repair center.

So far, so good?  No, so far, so GREAT.

Let's see how they pull off the finale.

Go ahead, Briggs & Riley...Make My Day.

Tribute To The Late Marcel Marceau

The Silent Rage

Okay, let's get serious...

No matter what your feelings about the art of mime, the passing over the weekend of the legendary Marcel Marceau marks the end of an era.  I almost--I repeat, almost--had the chance to work with him two decades ago, and the story of how it all went down was one of the funniest in my former career running the Just For Laughs Festival.

Here's the tawdry tale in verbatim, as described in my 2001 book I Almost Killed George Burns:

"He was the living definition of mime.  I was a young punk producing his first major TV special.  Heading towards each other on a collision course, we became involved in a high-stakes game of chicken.  Who will be the first to jump off?  The answer will surprise you.

In 1988, we booked Marcel Marceau for a rare concert appearance in Montreal as part of the festival.  To help amortize our costs, we added Marceau to the lineups of both our French and English galas.  And, as a further tribute, we also included him in our HBO special.  Host John Candy was thrilled when he heard the news. 

Everything went perfectly on the French side.  Showcasing routines from his more than forty years in the limelight, Marceau was showered with adulation.  While his act was a little slow for some people's taste, most felt that seeing him live was a treat. 

Unfortunately, that treat would not be shared by our English audience.  At the rehearsal for the English show, Marceau was appalled to see that the stage he had performed on earlier in the week had been altered to accommodate Leo Yoshimura's elaborate HBO set, which included a majestic checkerboard square at centerstage, a platform that was not only cut into the floor, but also rose above it by about a quarter-inch.

This diminutive elevation may seem like nothing to you and me, but to Marceau's sensitive steps of silence, it was Mount Everest. 

And he wasn't willing to climb it.

'To perform, I need it to be level,' he explained, calmly at first. 'Why don't you just remove it?'

'I'm so sorry Mr. Marceau,' I said, 'but I can't.  It's a big part of our television look.'

'So why not keep it there for others but remove it for me?'

'It's not portable.  There'd be a huge hole underneath.  But really, it's no big deal; the Institut de Jonglage (a France-based, highly-mobile juggling team) performed on it with no problem.'

Ooops.  Bad association.  Comparing the man whose name is synonymous with silent expression to a bunch of street jugglers was like comparing a fine French champagne to a boxed Bartles & James wine cooler.  I had touched a raw nerve.

'They may have, but I won't!' roared Marceau, turning to leave.  Before he went out the door, he looked back, face fiery with anger, and snarled, 'This is an outrage!!!'

I couldn't fathom what had just occurred.  I had basically booted the great Marcel Marceau off a stage.  Although I did my best to bring him back, there was to be no compromise, no negotiation.  He was gone forever.

To this day, I'm embarrassed about the result of our confrontation, but that cloud had a silver lining.  How many other people on earth can say that Marcel Marceau, the Sultan of Shhhhh, actually raised his voice to them?"

Uh...rest in peace, Mr. Marceau.

Sometimes, Size DOES Count

This one from Shelly Lazarus, CEO of ad powerhouse Ogilvy & Mather, in the most recent Fortune Magazine, about how the ad and media business will survive the chaos it's facing:

"One thing that hasn't changed and never will...the importance of a big idea. 

"You can put in on the Internet or (on a billboard) in Times Square, but you have to have an idea to begin with."

One of the credos that cascades throughout this here blog (like here, here and here), is that in creating Surprise, little things can have a wildly disproportionate, gigantic effect.

But don't be fooled by size, or lack thereof.  Even the most minute of "little things" you put into play needs to be backed up by a big idea. (How many times have we been sadly saddled with the inverse, like a multi-million-dollar Super Bowl TV ad with vapidly little thought put behind it.)

Your tactics you choose may be small, but the larger your idea, the more powerful your impact.  Before you make your next marketing move, ask yourself that old line that cops say to kids in those 1940s black-and-white films:

"Hey...what's the big idea?"

Think or sink.
   

Fast Companies

Well ain't this cool...and somewhat of a Surprise.

I'm currently heading back from Toronto, where I hosted Deloitte's Fast 50 Gala at the luxurious King Edward Hotel last night.  Renowned as Canada's pre-eminent tech awards program, the Fast 50 honors biz growth, tech innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, and is part of Deloitte's continent-wide Fast 500. 

Winners are ranked on five-year percentage revenue growth, and last year, my company, Airborne Entertainment, finished #4 in Canada, and #3 overall with a--get this--33,322% five-year growth percentage.

This year, I had totally forgot about our entry, and given that we're one year older (therefore starting our new five-year cycle at a much higher revenue base), didn't think much about our chances.

So go figure that when I read the list of the Top Ten, there's little ol' Airborne sitting pretty at #9.

Still gotta lotta lift left in these wings, it seems.

On my way to the airport...but frankly, I've been flying since last night.

Chinese Take-Out

I've always had a saying about business trouble:

A problem is not a problem
...until it hits Main Street.

Well, given what I witnessed during a trip to Wal-Mart a couple days ago, this whole China "Tainted Toys" thing is a problem.
A big, big problem.

I was in the pet section and watched two people poring over the dog toys.  They were examining the labels like a scientist examines specimens under a microscope.  They dismissed the painted squeaky rubber toys outright, and after a few minutes of contemplation, they did the same to the stuffed animals and the rope toys. 

Total toy purchase: nothing.

Guarantee you one thing--this was not an isolated incident. 

If people are taking this much care over playthings for their pets, you know that this has some serious consumer ramifications.

Over 80% of all toys sold worldwide--for kids and for dogs and cats--are made in China.  Today.  Who knows, if Main Street speaks loud enough, pretty soon we could be in-sourcing our production right back to all the places we took it away from.

Beijing SHOULD be trembling, and if I were a betting man, I'd bet on a wave of "Made Here" hang-tags appearing on products everywhere, and soon.

"Local" is soon gonna be "The New Green."

The High Holidays (What Was I Smoking?)

Today is the halfway point between the almighty bookends of the high Jewish Holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.  And as I sat in synagogue celebrating the former last week, I recalled one of my favorite Surprise stories; one which demonstrates that sometimes, one man's Surprise is another man's heart attack.

Well, close to it.

In a nutshell, last year, the elders at my synagogue contacted me to help them out on their annual Cantorial concert. Now for those of you not familiar with the concept, traditional Cantorials are filled with traditional religious songs sung by Cantors...hence the name. Been done the same way for centuries.

Obviously, I was called upon to do something different.  My concept was a quasi-blasphemous twisting of the concert called--are you sitting?--Cantorama!

While it would feature many of the renowned traditional religious songs, they were to be sped up a bit and backed by a whup-ass rock band.   

And since most Cantors are blessed with versatile, booming voices, the plan was to have them singing pop standards and show tunes, but backed by the congregation's choir, with some of the musical arrangements changed to a more standard Jewish/Klezmer sound, including heritage Jewish instruments.  All in all, the goal was to turn the concept upside down.

Well, the Cantors loved it.  Gave them a chance to stretch their wings, their vocal chords, and have a bit of fun.  But the people who had to lead the orchestra, sell the tickets, and face the congregants were aghast. "Over my dead body!" many said.  And given the intensity of the yelling match Talmudic debate that ensued, it almost came to that.

So basically, Cantorama only got as far as my head...and the poster mock-up shown here.  But every time I heard the ceremonial blast of the shofar last week, I couldn't help but think how cool it would've sounded alongside a trumpet, sax and trombone.

Not for everyone's tastes, but trust me, it would've been un-ignorable.

One day...

The New (and Improved!) Dylan

If Bob Dylan were dead, he'd be spinning in his grave, but the new King of the Counter-Counter-Culture is becoming a marketer extraordinaire.

Purists will howl (subtle Allen Ginsburg reference, but I digress), but the buzz on his latest marketing missive has been quite positive.  I sent this to the staff at Airborne, and the reaction was a mix of in-the-know delight from the over 30s, to "Cool, but who is that guy?" from the kids.

The more I say, the less Pow!erful this is gonna be once you head over, but check out this ingenious blend of old school charm and new-tech marketing savvy.   Away you go...

www.dylanmessaging.com

Feels Like The First Time

As FOPs know oh-too-well, I go to the gym regularly and often.

It's become second nature; in fact, if I had better insurance and cared less about my fellow man, I could probably do my entire two-hour cardio and weight-training blindfolded.

Yet, I keep my eyes open and earlier this week, I watched with great interest as two newbies took to an exercise program for their very first time.

Now there are few things in life more intimidating than undertaking your first workout, and it showed with this pair.  The oblivious grunters and sweaters surrounding them could've been from another planet given their unbridled indifference.   The machines, barbells and dumbells, so familiar to me, were looked upon as obtuse scrap metal, or worse yet, devices of torture.

It was amazing to watch, and made me think back to how tough it was the first time I entered a gym, thinking, among many other things, "Oh jeez, I'm never gonna look like that!"

The Pow! point here is this--to the newbies, the gym offered up a world of Surprise.  The feelings, the motions, the equipment, the people, the politics...all new, and never before experienced.   It'll all change soon, and  become part of that same ol' dull routine.  But for this magic moment, albeit a scary one, everything is unknown.

So the next time you're called upon to create Surprise, don't see the world through your eyes.  Put on a pair of virgin contact lenses and imagine seeing things the way someone would for the first time.

Your stale is someone else's fresh.

Best Original Screen Play

I have giant plasmas and LCD TVs at home, with surround sound that penetrates my body like a sigmoidoscope. 

I can watch whatever I want, whenever I want to, with whomever I choose to.

That said, no matter what I'm watching, it still ain't "A Night at the Movies." 

Going to the movies is an experience!

Well, it should be.

And to that end, as promised Monday, this post about how to make it one. 

To show how easy this really could be, let's keep all the cinema "hardware" constant--the seats, the screens, the food, the box office...even the films themselves.

The only thing I'll change (for now, ha ha!) is the opening scenario.  So let's walk through it together. 

Let's imagine that we've entered the theater, taken our seats, and endured those chintzy trivia questions, the ads and the previews.  Suddenly, the screen fades to dark, a musical flourish rings throughout, and a spotlight hits a person, an actual live person with a mic, standing in front of the screen.

Imagine him, or her, kicking off the show by saying this to you:

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Nulman Multiplex and the 9:10 p.m. screening of Pan's Labyrinth.

"Our statistics show that our 9 o'clock screenings are our most popular, so please try to make room for all of your fellow film lovers who have bought tickets.

If you have to go to the bathroom, you have 90 seconds starting about now...so if you hurry, you can be back for my grand exit.  Anybody have any questions before I go on?"

More than just an "intro," this serves as start of a new kind of cinematic relationship.  The silliness of the bathroom joke/mention breaks the ice, and puts people at ease. The brave of the bunch may actually pose a question or two, graduating the moment to interactive status. Now it's time to bring people together with some soft-peddling of the usual warning announcements.

"Going to the movies is a shared journey, so let's make it a pleasant one for all of us.  Do each other a favor and turn off your cellphones, unwrap all your candies and gum, and whisper some last words, because for the next two hours, the only noise you should hear is the sound from our 27 speakers. 

"Okay, and your own shrieks of delight...

"And remember, not only is film piracy a bummer, but it's illegal.  But we know that none of you here would be foolish enough to do something so uncool, right?"

Again, a bit of interactivity.  And the hard stuff is out of the way.  Now, it's time to set up the experience with some inside info.

"You people are in for a real treat tonight.  This film has been nominated for the Best Foreign Picture Oscar, and although it's subtitled, the incredible story, the amazing performances and the eye-popping--literally eye-popping!--special effects will make the dialog come alive loud and clear in your heads.

"Something you may not know about this film is that director Guillermo del Toro insisted on building the whole mill set from scratch, to ensure proper camera angles and atmosphere. 

"Look out for Doug Jones, a mime who plays two integral roles: the Faun and the Pale Man monster.  He'll show you why they call this 'An Adult Fairy Tale Nightmare'.

"And by the way, who's sitting in row 17, aisle seat?  Well, this is for you...a card that entitles you to a free large popcorn every time you see a movie here.  Enjoy!"

Oooh!  Sneak previews!  Something to look out for!  A bit of Pow! (Well, what did you expect?) And now the close.  Just about every museum, theme park ride, even church, in the world ensures that nobody leaves without a chance to upsell 'em on something.  So why should cinemas be any different?  Consider this, then:

"So get ready for a wild cinematic ride.  And don't forget, on your way out, you can pick up the film's soundtrack, a 'Making Of' DVD, or advance tickets to The Simpsons Movie at our 'See You Next Time' booth.

Well, it's time.  Ladies and gentlemen, the Nulman Multiplex is proud to present...Pan's Labyrinth!

Okay, so I won't win the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. 

But the cost of this screen playing?  A few bucks. 

The benefits?  A multitude, starting with the conversion of what is now akin to herding cattle into something that's informative and personal.  Should be good for the bottom line as well, with additional revenue-generating opportunities.

It's not easy.  Not every multiplex employee has the composure or spirit to pull this off.  But with so many out-of-work or wannabe actors and comedians around, I think that this gig would be a cool one...and better than waiting tables.

So there you have it.  The way things would be done at MY moviehouse.

My work here is done.  I think I'll go grab a bag of popcorn.

Pre-Film Fuss at the Fest

Just back from Toronto where, in between the bizdev and the partying, I managed to catch five films.

Now most films at TIFF (what folks in-da-know now call the Toronto International Film Fest) are more than your standard Friday Night At The Multiplex variety. Here's the drill:

--A podium is wheeled to centre-screen.

--A member of the TIFF Programming team welcomes you, thanks the sponsors, gives you the "Don't pirate this movie!" warning, and then introduces the film's director. 

--The director says a couple words (in the case of Ang Lee, very touching; in the case of The Coen Brothers, shyly mumbled)

--The director then introduces the film's producers and stars.  The ensuring result ranges from polite applause (let's say for the international cast of Fugitive Pieces) to insane pandemonium (when The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford's Brad Pitt hit the stage).

--Then they wheel the podium off, and roll out a few more thanks and promos (to volunteers and more sponsors) on screen. 

--Finally, the film begins.

Now I have no problem with this.  Masters must be served, even at--especially at!--$49 a ticket.  And other than the annual Robert Lantos marathon, most of these go for about five minutes. 

But after five of 'em, I couldn't help thinking that there must be a better way.  And not just for these high-falutin' festivals, either.  What I propose could be--should be!--added to all film screenings everywhere for a bit of added drama and added value and added FUN for the people who love movies.

So, as a service to my very glamorous and impeccably-dressed friends Piers Handling and Michèle Maheux, co-directors of the TIFFany of all Film Festivals, I offer the following advice-slash-opening scenario.

But in the great tradition of Hollywood...it's a cliffhanger. 

Tune in Wednesday to discover what it's all about.

Branded (A Low Go...)

No matter what success I've enjoyed with Airborne, no matter what I do for the community, no matter how prolifically I blog, my time running Just For Laughs has left an indelible imprint on my "Personal Brand" (as Mitch Joel would call it).  Despite the fact that I left the event eight years ago, people still stop me in airports, in shopping malls or on busy streets and ask me to "say something funny" or--worse still--regale me with a joke...or eight.

However, after running into author Naomi Klein in the airport yesterday, I realize life could be much worse. 

On the road plugging her new book "The Shock Doctrine," the brainy agent provocateur is best known for her rabble-rousing tome "No Logo," which brings me--at long last!--to the point of this post.

As she passed by the check-in gate, one well-dressed woman turned to her equally well-dressed friend and sniffed:

"Psst...look.  That's Naomi Klein, the writer. 

No Logo?  Yeah right, just check out her jeans!"

Suddenly, telling jokes doesn't seem all that bad...

Opening Eyes, Hearts...and Wallets

I'm off to Toronto for a couple of days for some intriguing new Airborne business as well as my annual visit to the city's super-sized filmfest, but I figured I'd leave you with one last piece of Italian Pow! left over from my August trip.

Here's a cab I managed to spot on the streets of Florence.  It's a one-of-a-kind in both design and purpose: it raises awareness and funds for the Fondazione Tommasino Bacciotti, a memorial fund to help children with brain tumors.

The vehicle was an extreme visual contrast to the ancient grey-and-brownstone architecture of the city, and never failed to raise eyebrows (and spark curious questions) from those it passed by.  Great Surprise principles for an even greater cause.

Theory 15--The Eel Effect (Slippery, Electric & Wiggly)

I've been asked to speak to a class of graduating business students at my old school (sounds like a Steely Dan song, but I digress). 

This is a common occurrence at this time of year, but unlike most other times I've been asked, this one came with a special condition.

The condition was a simple one--given the rise of Airborne, this speech would have to provide special advice to budding entrepreneurs "who don't want to work for some 800-pound gorilla company"; in other words, a large behemoth that has 240,000 employees in 24,000 countries and tries to stomp all over the competition...and everybody else.

So I got to thinking: What's the antithesis of an 800-pound gorilla? What member of the collective zoology can be recruited to symbolize the traits and tenacity needed to start something from scratch, keep at it, and (well, I had to get the spirit of Pow! in there somehow) manage to Surprise a few people along the way?

Like half a Noah, I scraped the animal kingdom inside and out, from aardvarks to zebras and everywhere within, looking for the perfect fit.  And I was stumped...until last night when I had some takeout sushi before my workout. 

And there it was...laid out on a cot of rice, held in place by a ring of seaweed.

The eel.

What a revelation! Just think about it.  Here's a fish that looks like a giant worm, but acts more like a snake.  Despite their relatively dull appearance, these slippery guys are mean monkey-mofos; almost all eels are predators, and if hungry enough, will even eat their own family.  The electric eel variety are capable of generating powerful shocks, which they use for both hunting and self-defense. Ouch.

And although they lack pelvic fins and the associated skeletal structures common to their fish brethren, eels manage to rip through the water at speeds up to 30 km/hour. 

No ivory towers for these guys.  The CEO sharks may get their own week of glory on the Discovery Channel, but it's the eels who are the unsung streetfighters.

So let's compare the qualities common to both the entrepreneur and the eel:

--Deceptively dangerous
--Fast as hell
--Hungry
--Tough
--Hard to catch (despite the sushi...)

The most important factor though, and greatest similarity between eel and entrepreneur, is HOW they move. 

As mentioned before, the eel is a speedy little critter.  It knows where it wants to go, and gets there fast.

But NEVER in a straight line.

The wiggle of the eel is an important part of is physiology and its survival.  Same with an entrepreneur.  Having your eyes on the prize, but not being glued to a set roadmap and direction, is what separates the successes from the failures.

True entrepreneurs roll with the punches...and there are many.  Markets swing, tastes change and general shift just happens.  True entrepreneurs can change direction often and rapidly, without losing sight of where they're going. 

And how to get back there if they're knocked wildly off course. 

And how to find a new place to go if the original destination is blocked.

Just like the eels do it.

Obviously, I still have to add to the speech, but at least I have found a mascot for entrepreneurs everywhere. (One that shares a common initial to boot!)   

I'm no fool though.  I accept that on the corporate battlefield, an 800-pound gorilla can still stomp all over an eel.

Provided, of course, it can actually catch one...

A Holiday Surprise

Well, if today is supposed to be a holiday, I guess I should let somebody else do the work...

And I can't think of a better person than Stephan Patsis.  This is from his brilliantly-twisted Pearls Before Swine comic strip of last week.  Those old enough to remember Abbott & Costello's classic "Who's On First" routine will get an additional kick out of it. (Click on the comic itself to see it in full if, for some reason, it gets cut off on your screen.)

(And as all great FOPs will tell you, there indeed IS a place called Surprise, Arizona...a dastardly locale that is Pow!'s main competition in the brutal battle for the Google ranking of the term.)

300 (But Not The Movie)

Well, it's kinda anti-climatic, but this is Pow!'s 300th post.

Quite serendipitous that it falls on Labor Day Weekend, n'est-ce pas?

I'd like to thank my family, my agent, TypePad and all FOPs worldwide for making this possible.

How do I feel about it? 

Well, as the Doobie Brothers once philosophized so elegantly:

What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits.