Sunday March 14, 2004
Hey, you guys up yet? I've been up and enjoying the quietude. First inside my little hovel and then out for a walk before the streets got busy.
I'm back and have a bit of 'splaining to do regarding the relatively uneventful journal entries to date. If you were expecting action adventure stories, you'll have to be a little bit patient: the past year's 'adventure' has been pretty well internal.
Although the meditation on my journey thus far and search for significance and meaning (presuming there is some =^) is nearing an end, there are still parts of my new perspective that do not yet feel settled or completely unfolded, so to speak. So, that will come later.
A year ago, I was so (burned out, exhausted, stressed) that I couldn't concentrate enough to read. I wasn't sure I was sane, either. Bummer.
But now: my head is back. I knew that for sure when I started earnestly working on this web site about a week ago. I started emacs to edit a stylesheet and, after a few minutes, found my fingers remembering things I hadn't used in a couple of years. Even weird shit, like marking, cutting and pasting!
My body is still recovering, but I am now ready to pursue the medical care I need. A known but as yet unrepaired injury results in pain for which I am taking medications. Far too many in my opinion.
My current living situation is not conducive to rest and rehabilitation. This will be addressed shortly, too. First up is the landlord battle. Then a much needed vacation on a nice warm beach. Followed by the search for better accomodations. Things I wasn't about to take on without my head in the game. One thing at a time and all that...
There's a health care rant pending, but today is about advertising and in particular a bit of humourous false advertising. Keep reading!
When I first saw this item, I was intrigued. First by the concept of steel soap. Here's something Mike and Tyla don't already have, I thought. But then, I was struck by what at first appeared to be truth in advertising. I bought it for its intrigue and humour. And it might work... I haven't tried it yet. But every time I look at it, I smile and that may be where its real worth lies.
Did you catch the humour?
The last word in the 4th bullet in the english description sounds like it would cover the company in the event of consumer dissatisfaction. How could you complain, after all, if it said right on the package that it was "unusable"? Brilliant strategy.
But I thought there was something more to it.
Turns out this is really an amusing example of the problems with bilingual advertising. The product is made in France. The french language version of the description lists "inusable" in the 4th bullet, last word. En francais, "user" means "to wear out" or "to use". So, "inusable" means you cannot wear it out or "hard-wearing".
The product was made for and imported by a company in Quebec. I suspect that is where the translation turned truthful into false advertising. I found it wonderfully humourous. I know. I am odd, but at least I'm having fun with my oddness. I'm not sure everyone can say that.
Larousse helped me unearth the details - my french is only just good enough for me to know something was amiss.
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