Corn Fed

[politicalprof]

I think he forgot about taking pictures of food, but this is pretty much it.

ht: George Takei

[winkmit]

White House photographer Pete Souza captures the Commander-in-Chief pretending to get caught in the web of a miniature Spiderman. 

The photo, taken October 26, was released to TIME magazine for its Person Of The Year feature on Obama. 

Adorbz

[winkmit]

We are now living in a yogurt-and-snack-bar world, where the fastest-growing foods are those that often require little or no preparation. "We're looking for how to make life easier," said Harry Balzer, an analyst with NPD Group, which follows food trends. "We don't want to change the amount of time we spend eating. We want to change the amount of time before and after."

Indeed, of the 10 fastest-growing in-home foods and beverage categories over the past decade, only two are routinely heated (pizza and pasta), while the rest are pretty much open-and-eat, such as nuts and chips, according to NPD. Even staples such as soup and cereal -- once considered easy -- have lost momentum to items that can be scarfed down on the go.

Ad Age

So, Americans are lazier than ever, but at least we are starting to eat more nuts and fresh fruit and less carbonated drinks and sausage sandwiches. Apparently cooking peas has even become too time consuming these days. Who knew?

[winkmit]

yikes.

[winkmit]

[stacylambe]

Christmas Is Officially Here. Target aired the first major holiday ad on Tuesday, October 9 during an episode of Parenthood on NBC. (Watch it here.)

[winkmit]

I saw this ad the other day. Even though I know it is coming, I am never able to fully cope with holiday ads in October.

[winkmit]

[theatlantic]

Is There Really a Global Bacon Shortage?

Not really. But there is a Chinese strategic pork reserve.

[Image: Reuters]

[winkmit]

I just like reminding people that China has a strategic pork reserve. 

[rojospinks-deactivated20181216]

[alexleo]

(via rojospinks)

[winkmit]

The Endangered DVR: VOD Could Make It Obsolete

After a decade of zapping past commercials using a digital video recorder, consumers may be gearing up to fast-forward past the device.

It won't happen tomorrow or even next year. But media companies and ad buyers say they are preparing for a day in the not-too-distant future when TV viewers exchange their ability to skip ads for the convenience of getting their favorite programming on any device at any time.

Just as Facebook leapfrogged MySpace, the DVR is finding itself outmuscled by new developments in technology, namely video on demand. VOD is expected to gain favor as the consumer's preferred way to watch TV and other video entertainment.

This trend should make lots of media companies and advertisers very happy.

At the end of the day, people only care about ease of use. They are willing to tolerate ads as long as the ad-backed technology makes their lives easier. DVR makes watching missed TV shows extremely easy -- fast forwarding through ads is an extra perk.

VOD makes watching TV shows even easier than DVR because a viewer doesn't have to do anything in advance. No programming their DVR to record a show. No missed recordings because the DVR had an error. No deleting unwatched shows because the DVR is at maximum capacity. With VOD, every show is just waiting to be watched as soon as it is available (potentially on any device at any time).

[winkmit]

Yep... this is right outside my office. Nothing major was going on when I arrived at work (besides chanting and lots of tambourines), but police in riot gear is always a bit disconcerting.

Great way to start my first day back from vacation...

[winkmit]

Taken with Instagram at Clearwater Beach

[winkmit]

Morning view (Taken with Instagram at St. Petersburg Beach)

[winkmit]

Mark Bittman explains the variations of shortbread. This flow chart is amazing.

[winkmit]

Homemade braised pork tacos with pickled onions, queso fresco and pineapple salsa (Taken with Instagram)

[winkmit]

Soooo this exists

[winkmit]

A perfect illustration of our changing video habits. Expect the "desktop only" category to keep declining as people get increasingly sophisticated with their online video viewing.