Finally, a Sister post...

I know I haven't posted in a while. With Brother potentially not blogging for two weeks (although he could probably go to a public library to use their computers!) I decided I'd better get back in the habit.

Fortunately, I saw an infomercial today that compels me to comment on it. Have you ever heard of the "Little Giant Ladder System"? It's one of those ladders that can change from an A-frame to an extension ladder due to hinges placed at equal intervals. "It's a truly amazing product!"

First of all, let me say that this ladder seems perfectly wonderful. It does indeed look sturdy, versatile, and very safe. I would be pleased to own such a ladder--in fact, I do own a similar ladder, just not Little Giant brand. What compels me to write about it was not outrage or wonder at its quality, but rather the absurdity of an infomercial for a ladder. I mean, it's just a ladder! Come on!

As with most infomercials, the product demonstration (hosted by the inventor of the ladder along with PBS's Hometime hosts Dean Johnson and Robin Hartl) was intercut with testimonials from satisfied users and bits that are made to look like a commercial interlude. The testimonials included one man who was amazed that people would bring him their ladders, and he'd realize this was a 20 year old Little Giant that "still worked." Wow, a ladder "still worked" after twenty years! Whoo-hooo. I've got a screwdriver that "still works" after twenty years, too. I wasn't aware that ladders ever quit working. I was also urged to consider the cost of not having a Little Giant, and the shame I feel owning unsightly, dangerous ladders.

In the very commercial bits, I was told to "imagine never again feeling afraid at the top of a ladder." Wow, could that be possible!? But the best selling point was the assertion that the Little Giant Ladder System (I love that it's a "system" not just a "ladder") "eliminates the need for a 2nd person." I want to see the testimonial from the woman who says, "Thanks to the Little Giant Ladder System I was finally able to divorce my husband. Before owning a Little Giant I was so afraid to stand at the top of a ladder and needed my husband to steady it. Since buying a Little Giant, I haven't needed him to hold my ladder and found he wasn't good for anything else. Thanks, Little Giant!!"

On a completely unrelated note, while looking at our site statistics I saw that more than one person has been brought to our blog while searching for "brother sister 1nce5t". (I didn't spell it right because I don't want us to show up in search engines for that.) In case anyone hasn't figured it out, this blog has nothing to do with that. Maybe I should have been more careful when I picked the name for the blog, but it honestly never crossed my mind.