so this explains it

i haven't checked the validity of this map, but i think it illustrates a key frustration shared by many of my friends... i'll admit, mostly girls. the orange dots stand for single women and the blue dots for single men. yes, it is basically the new red-state blue-state map for me.

but, to me, the most interesting fact of this map is the numbers listed on the two coasts - 185,000 more single females on the east coast, and 40,000 more single men on the west coast. the disparity is even more glaring when you think that there are nearly 150,000 more single women in the major cities. just one less indicator that the cards really are stacked against us.

desis makin' waves

i just read this article in usatoday - it's about south asian actors making inroads into hollywood. it is a very superficial read, but still, i gotta publicize anything that shows indians doing better. i gotta say, the character of kelly in "the office" is easily the most non-stereotypical desi role on tv right now... she is such a great addition to that already amazing show!

controlling our minds (and our pockets)

so starbucks has arguably cornered the market on coffee - but it's still not enough for them:

"Starting today, guests at Omni luxury hotels will find small scented stickers on the front pages of their free copies of USA Today. A blackberry aroma will suggest that the guests start the day at their hotels with a cup of Starbucks coffee "paired with a fresh muffin." The promotion, to be tested for at least six months, is being sponsored by Omni Hotels and Starbucks Coffee. (NYT)

so, it's not enough for them to be the coffee choice, now they want to use subliminal mind-control tricks to manipulate the public's cravings. i agree, it's terrific advertising/marketing strategy, but it's a little too scary for me.