Different Strokes

"Different strokes for different folks." That's the favorite proverb of paremiologist Wolfgang Mieder, who is quite literally a "proverbial scholar" -- someone who studies proverbs. "I would argue it had to grow on American ground, because it doesn't tell you what to do. It says, 'Accept the differences in people,' " Mieder says. "I think it's a truly liberating proverb." Mieder thinks the expression took popularity in the sixties with Sly and the Family Stone's "Everyday People" -- which I'm embarrassed to say, I recognize primarily as a Toyota jingle (but which is really so much more)! Thanks for sending the article, Mom.

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This commercial caught my notice through my coworker Deb, who, for the past several months, has sung the phone number every time it airs (and many times when it doesn't). Its the video that gets me -- with each viewing, I notice something new and incredible (banana-like lifeboat? pirate hacking the tail of the guy dressed as a sea monster?) ... Bottom line: This li'l tune by the folks at freecreditreport.com, my incumbent retail jingle fave, finally has some real competition. Jenny should feel threatened too.