For Your Consideration…need a hug?

Now I’ll be the first to admit that the ratio of hugs received to days passed has decreased significantly since I’ve graduated from college. Of course that could be brought about because I’m not around as many of my close friends now as I was then. It could just be attributed to the fact that I’m not as affectionate with friends as I used to be. Who knows. Either way, I think it’s always a struggle and transition to deal with the decline of social interaction from ones transition out of college into the “Real World.” Part of that social interaction is the use and application of cordial (mostly ) platonic, physical contact.

Again, I’ll default to the notion that sometimes I feel and dwell on the fact that I, for one reason or another, need a hug. Obviously I’ll gladly accept a hug from anybody I can call a friend or acquaintance, but I don’t yearn or desire a hug so much that it haunts me or I lose sleep over it.

Now everybody has hopefully seen the DMB video with the dude giving free hugs (at the end of this post if you haven’t) and probably most of you have seen somebody in your lifetime at one point or another with a “Free Hugs” sign. The Free hug phenomenon (yes, I’m going to call it a phenomenon) is a wistful, fun way for society to appreciate the human need and desire to share physical contact. I probably couldn’t recall the number of “free hugs” I’ve received or given for one reason or another (barring that parties involved were not totally creepy and actually quite delightful). My most recent discovery of the video below makes me wonder about the use and definition of the work “hug” in society now that this product is supposedly out there:

If you need more here’s a link to the website.

To be honest, I don’t know what to say. Again, I like hugs like any body else in this world. But this might be going a little too far. Sending a hug. Really. Sure the simple *hug* that we might send to each other through text or chat is fine and at times is the best means of showing genuine affection, but sending a set of big long hot dog pillows that look like fun noodles you play with in water with Mario hands attached to the ends? That’s just plain ridiculous. I think folks need to take a step back and examine their emotional issues before sending or even receiving such items.  AND the personally recorded message? Yes it’s sweet, but just entirely to cheesy. The pre-recorded message in a stuffed present has been done and should really stick to the first iteration, the Build-A-Bear.

If I wanted to be an ass OR to be entirely overboard with a prank, which I can be at times. I’d send a gram to a friend and have the pre-recorded message as some demonic voice saying “Take these hands so that I may envelop my evil around you…” or something of that ilk.

Oh well, just another modern marvel in ridiculous product manufacturing.

Now for something a little less creepy and just plain wierd, but more on the actually happy-feel-good way hugs should make you feel, the music video for DMB’s “Everyday” which features Judah Friedlander of more recent “30 Rock” fame:

For Your Consideration…

Being the consumerist whore and internet bum that I am (as well as many others I know), I’m constantly scouring the interwebs for random, obscure, funny, bizarre, amusing stuff to consider and maybe even share with friends.  The advent of the blog has allowed people across the world to quickly broadly showcase and document some of the more triumphant and fallible things/moments/thoughts of the the world.

I’ve found some crazy things on the net and discovery usually results in me posting something like that on my Facebook status or on the wall of a friend.  Well time to centralize. It is with this in mind that I’ve decided to posting things that I’ll tag “For your consideration…” Periodically when I find ridiculous, or ridiculously awesome things on the internet, I’ll post them here and maybe even put a poll up just to see if peeps think that same way I do.

For example the WUGGIE.

Upon releasing their most recent album, the band Weezer decided to market their own version of the kitschy TV paid programming sensation the snuggie. They took their band logo and put it across the front of a blue snuggie. Weezer fanboys quickly jumped at the bit and aptly named such a product the Wuggie (Weezer + snuggie, for you dense types).

Look at that thing! How awesome is that? Oh man, I don’t know how many units actually sold with the release of “Ratitude” but it certainly got my attention. One of my buddy Wes’ friends would be in a pickle if presented one of these, because on one side she LOVES Weezer as anybody in their right mind should. BUT she also HATES snuggies. How do you deal with that predicament eh?

Now when I saw this wonderous thing, I wanted it. I know that some others in the world might think differently, but that’s the whole purpose of “For your consideration…” I’ll be the first to admit I have certain guilty pleasures and am a big nerd, so there are some crazy things out there that I’d secretly love to have as long as nobody ever saw it, OR I would never run the risk of being scrutinized by all that I know.

I hope some of these ridiculous things I’ll find either bring a smile to your face or sort of just make you tilt your head to one direction and flop your hypothetical ear in curiosity.