No, this is not a music blog nor can I admit to watching YouTube on any regular basis. Still I was caught by these videos, this story. It is an introduction or a warning about the Internet now, the 'Net to come and the changing demographics of fame.

The New York Times caught me up on this story under "Homemade YouTube Video Lands Singer in a Web Ad". Tay Zonday found the way. Tay Zonday is, in reality, a grad student at the U. of Minnesota named Adam Bahner.

Tay Zonday posted his video on YouTube. He sang his song, "Chocolate Rain" and people watched and listened -- 12 million hits now. That friendly Dr. Pepper fellow heard, too, and came for Tay Zonday to take him away and let him sing his Paul Robeson depths out to the world in grown-up video with a real-life rapper, Mista Johnson (sign to that effect wafts by), to advertise Cherry Chocolate Diet Dr. Pepper which is being given limited marketing for an introduction in January. I can hardly wait for cherry flavored, chocolate flavored Dr Pepper with fake sugar. If Tay can promote it then the Internet will have a new height to reach, a new bar to better.

Here are links to the original, home-made and the Dr Pepper slick version.










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The American Dream Of Eternally Sexy Youth

There are perks to the sponsored notes and reviews in one's blogs. The side trips that are offered (since every sponsor has to have at least their site checked by me personally. This one was fun. It would be more fun for a younger man looking for a sexy gift for the wife -- including "plus sizes".

Off to the lingerie halls. The site, Lingerie Diva, offers -- among other categories -- bustiers. "Aha!", said the blogger, "What is a bustier?"



Bustiers, I am informed, "are women's lingerie similar to a bra but extends down to the waist or hips to create a structured, supported look. Bustiers are often boned and include underwires and may have removable straps. Bustiers can also be worn as outerwear."

This pictured one stuck with me because it was the one that was actually sexy or it was the best photographed one by far.




Another under "sexy clothes" got to me for the same reason. Without the dangerous looking spikes on her feet. Now I have discovered the real nature of the new American dream.



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Photo © Howard Dratch, 2007.


When I was in Miami recently I, yet again, discovered the usefulness of a backpack. It shows my generation. One when we carried books home from school arranged atop the 3-ring binder. That was before the backpack idea swept the world and before every kid had a travel bag filled with cell phones, laptop, iPod, iPhone and maybe a book or two.

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It is the age that leaves me forgetful of the weight-balancing act of the backpack. In Miami I needed to walk some distance to a supermarket, the mall, the local Target and I would be exhausted by the seemingly greater weight of those bags held by each arm. Each step weighed upon you. The backpack helped those shopping trips, the journey by ship. Suddenly one carry-on with cameras and papers and another with computer played the same trip on energy. The backpack carried computer and one camera, second lens, lens-cleaning supplies, filter, cell phone and enough medications for a few days in case luggage sets were lost. One on-line resource for travel supplies and luggage, LuggageSource.com, also has some discounted leather backpacks that would be great to replace my $50 Target one.