I can't count how many times I have voluntarily and involuntarily watched that advertisement. All those adorable computer generated hamsters rolling around in toasters and washing machines set to that infectious tune that drew us all in and bestowed pop culture credibility upon a little car from Korea. That clever bit of advertising used the images of toasters and washing machines to reference specific cars, but it reminded me of how often I referred to many less-than-entertaining automobiles as appliances. I applied that term with a bit of condescension and even disdain. I pondered the point of building a car or truck that had no real character or soul and who would care so little about these things that they would actually buy one. Then I acquired two appliances of my own. The first didn't strike me as an appliance until I had used it up and replaced it with another item just like it. I'm on my fourth one now. Just as my househo...
Some charming bits that explain how I got here.