BDC Now: Honda is Raising the Bar for Car Commercials Everywhere
Tired of the same old car commercials? Well, Honda has a treat for you. Watch its new commercial tell you two stories at once on today’s BDC Now, and read more about Ford’s new “black box’’ for police cruisers, the origins of bacon, how to talk to your barber, and the rise of solar power.
A Tale of Two Drivers
Car commercials are rarely revolutionary. Get a closed course, add a professional driver, throw in some engine sound effects, talk about pricing, and call it a day. Well, Honda’s tired of that game and decided to basically start a new league of car commercials. Running nearly three minutes, the commercial is a bit long. But trust us when we say it’s worth it. As you watch an innocent father turn down the volume and head to school to pick up his daughters, go ahead and hit the “R’’ key on your keyboard. With one keystroke, you’ll learn more about dear old dad than he would ever want his family to. That’s how it goes for the whole commercial: Press the “R’’ key to watch the dangerous tale of a getaway driver who fools and helps take down two thieves; Let go of the “R’’ key to watch a happy father take his kids to a costume party. Does anyone else really want a Civic right now or is it just us?
The End of The End
Congratulations, humanity! It actually looks like you’ve found a way to stave off your extinction and the utter destruction of the planet you call home. After years of spewing noxious stuff into the your own atmosphere, some of your smarter brethren are making solar power a more viable and affordable option. According to a report from Deutsche Bank, solar electricity will be “as cheap or cheaper’’ than electricity from fossil fuels in 47 US states by 2016. Solar will also become the world’s biggest source of electricity by 2050. Things are going so well that Denmark, which pledged to use only renewable energy by 2050, is on track to eliminate coal use entirely by 2025. The future is looking bright, folks, and that’s a good thing because we’re going to need as much sunlight as possible.
Ford Wants to Watch the Watchers
There are few things in this world more frustrating than seeing cops speeding or using their sirens just to get through traffic lights. If we have to follow the laws, they should, too. Thankfully, cops may soon not have a choice whether to abide by traffic laws. Ford has developed a “black box,’’ of sorts, that can track behavior when an officer is behind the wheel. It records everything from speed, braking, and whether the officer is wearing his or her seat belt. And you’ll never guess who’s on board with the idea: Police departments! According to one of the product development managers for the new technology, car accidents kill more police officers each year than any other cause and reigning in risky driving behaviors could help keep cops (and their cars) safe. For police departments, that means lower liability costs, fewer repairs to their cars, and, of course, fewer complaints from the rest of us that our local cops should slow down.
See How the Bacon is Made
It’s a known fact that everyone loves bacon. Even the people that don’t eat bacon love it because of its heavenly smell and how happy it makes everyone who does eat it. And as consumers of bacon and bacon-related happiness, we have some obligation to know where it comes from. It comes from pigs, obviously, but butcher Tom Mylan has done us the wonderful favor of showing us what part of the pig it specifically comes from. The idea of watching three minutes of a man butchering a pig may seem a little gross, but it’s ok – there’s very little blood or other gross stuff and lots of delicious-looking pork. So before you throw some more slabs on the skillet, take a moment to appreciate the pig it came from and the skills of the men who trim it for you.
Learn a New Language: Barber-Speak
Getting a bad haircut is the worst. Not only do you have to quietly deal with the shame of looking like an idiot, but there is no real quick fix – you just have to wait for your hair to grow back and look normal again. So it’s probably for the best if you simply avoid the whole issue altogether by learning to speak your barber’s language. And while that may sound difficult, we have two things to say about your complaint. First, when it comes to cutting hair and making a person look good, the odds are that you have no idea what you’re talking about. Your barber does, and he or she also has access to scissors and other sharp things. It’s probably in your best interest to make things easier for him or her. Second, there’s now a handy video guide to help you explain what you want. Watch it. Talk to the person who cuts your hair. Never again be made fun of for looking like a 12-year-old hillbilly.
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