June 22, 2006

  • My childhood memories are someone else's tool

    I just saw this commercial (with Tivo I haven't been able to catch many commercials) with an aging Richard Dean Anderson reprising his role as Angus Macgyver.  While I appreciate this foray into my childhood memories watching this show on Sundays and Saturdays, I am somewhat chagrined that this walk down memory lane came courtesy of Mastercard.  This is nothing new, but I protest the exploitation of nostalgia to make us feel good toward a product.

    Today I got a haircut at this new place near my home.  The Belmont Barbershop is run by these two guys (one of whom I judge to be a true geek) who made it up like a real guy's place.  It's spacious and airy with just right touch of manliness.  I sat down on the couch and was pleasantly suprised to be able to take a comic book from the reading shelf!  And not some DC/Marvel (not that there's anything wrong with those,) but a Vertigo title, called "The Invisibles".  Cool.  I geeked out for a bit while waiting for my haircut, I also noticed a pool table as I walked toward the seat, which pretty much sealed the deal as this being the place where I'll get my hair cut from now on.  Sal's where I used to go, gave out free beer on Fridays (and some Saturdays) but I can get the same feel from these guys.  I looked around and saw a lot of really subtle touches, e.g. the stations for each barber is actually a rolling toolbox.  The guys cutting my hair was wearing a Micronauts shirt, which is why I judged him to be a true geek -- if you don't know don't worry, you will not benefit from any kind of explanation, if you know what I am talking about, where can I get one of those right?!  Oh yeah the haircut is pretty nice too, I was quite satisfied with it.