Fat guy in a little shirt

I bought a slim cut dress shirt. When I got it home I unwrapped it, unfolded it, took out 15 pins, removed 4 pieces of cardboard, and a piece of plastic and held it up to see what I got. Pissed. The tent wasn't a good shirt. I don't have anything against a company selling a ready made shirt, there is certainly a huge market for it. I have a problem with the business model behind the product.

Coke does a great job at drastically changing the message, while keeping the product real. They don't sell Coke in Mexico as "tastes just like horchata". They market Coke, just as it tastes, into the hands of connected soccer fans cheering on the national team. They don't sell Coke in So Cal as "will guarantee the Lakers an NBA title this year". They market Coke, just as it is, flashing you an image of a relaxed group of friends heading to the beach.

5 guys burgers does a great job of not differentiating because they believe in 1 simple burger, in a paper bag. They do 1 thing perfectly, and you'll almost always have a hard time finding a table.

If your company differentiates its products, it should be because you can effectively please the number of markets you differentiate into, not because you think you can trick a more selective demographic into buying a niche product. If you do the later, you've lost me for good. You've insulted my intelligence, betrayed my trust, and lowered your own standard below that of mine. I will take back the shirt, never buy one from you again, and never recommend the brand again.

I can't wait to get to 5 guys for a burger and a Coke after I take back my shirt.

Bad driving

The problem:

Just because I knew how to drive in 1998 doesn't mean I know how to drive in 2010. There are people on the road today (that I passed on the freeway today going 40) behind the wheel who took "drivers ed" in 1940. Seat belts weren't even required in cars until 1968. I slept through most of my drivers ed. Somebody out there knows even less about driving than I do (like the guy that I passed going 50 on the freeway, from Oaxaca).

We have all different types of people speeding (or slowing) past us all day long, from crooked seated farmers checking out the crops to emergency response professionals. With so many personalities and drivers education levels (taught in 7 different decades), why is an eye test sufficient? The Government loves to grow, it loves to hire, run things, and well... govern. You want zero fatalities on the road? Tell us how! Quit chanting a slogan and do something smart.

The solution:

1. Mandate drivers education testing every license renewal period (written and road).
   
2. Allow an evolving curriculum so that it stays current with our world.
3. Allow (private sector) educators to assist in test preparation.
4. Introduce drivers ed as a small part of curriculum in public schools at various ages. (teens learning to drive are always checking your speed limit and telling you the rules, why can't our 3rd, 6th, and 9th graders do the same?)
   
5. Fund state radio and television spots reminding us of essential and advanced driving tips.

I don't want to have to do any of this, just like I don't want to have to lock my doors at night and my car doors when I go into the store. The summed 7.2 hours of my life that it takes to lock my doors is definitely worth the tragedy or nuisance that it prevents, and prevents, and prevents.
I rarely give the government permissions, but on this one I say go for it!

Why?

I'm opinionated. It feels good to vent. I like to speak my mind. I can.