Thursday, July 23, 2009

"For Whom The Bell Tolls"...

Good-bye, Gidget...

At the ripe age of 15, Taco Bell's iconic 4-legged figure passed away...the pint-sized pitch-dog that gave a massive shot in the arm to the Amer-Mexican fast-food chain crossed the Rainbow Bridge...

As is the case with any sensation, it has a down side in that it spurs spontaneous human behavior that is not always a good thing. All of a sudden there was a surge in interest to buy Chihuahuas before understanding pet ownership and the breed...which led to price jacking because they were 'hot' dogs...and which leads to more abandoned pets when the cuteness wears off. 101 Dalmations, same thing. Beethoven and St. Bernards.

I'm all for someone having the choice for a purebred animal as long as they pursue it with the best of intentions. But I also know there are vast numbers of abandoned/rescued dogs of all blends in shelters and homes waiting to find their 'forever' parents, and they're a helluva lot more affordable, too.

Gidget did create quite the stir. One of my favorite ads was with Godzilla (click on links below)...

"HERE, LEEZARD-LEEZARD..."

Of course, the most famous line was the one in the picture above, and a great ad that went along with it....

"YO QUIERO TACO BELL!"

I just may have to go get a cheesy bean burrito in honor of Gidget, today...

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Strange work situation Wednesday at News 14 as serious equipment issues arose the night before at "command central" in Raleigh. It was actually a miracle that news was put on the air at all overnight and Wednesday, so kudos to the mad scrambling by the Raleigh crews and management. As of this morning I know no updates if things got at least patched or not.

Alas (with a big ol' smile), it's back to flute work today. That's always music to my ears!

Woof, y'all!


3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bob, you realize that Gidget was not a pure bred dog and was a rescue dog - according to this morning's paper. Her ears were too big for the standard Chihuahua. The smartest dogs are usually not pure breeds.
Abigail

Suzy said...

RE: purebred dogs … yep, same thing when “Uno” the Beagle won Westminster the winter before last … Beagles were all the rage that year. Then this year it was what, the Portuguese Water Dog or something that either won or placed high at the show … the Obama’s shopped for and got themselves one, and now THOSE are all the rage.

I read a news clip yesterday about a house where 80 (yes, EIGHTY! OMG!) dogs were rescued and taken to a local shelter for treatment, vaccinations, spaying/neutering, and future adoptions … even several pregnant dogs were removed. I ran the gamut of emotions while reading the story: initially sickened by the abuse and neglect, then outraged at the homeowner and hoping they get some sort of just punishment, then moved to tears with compassion for the dogs and hoping that all survive and find loving homes.

And yes, I’ll miss little ol’ “Taco Bell” Gidget too! That was a very creative and successful ad campaign. And I had forgotten about “Here Leezard, Leezard!” --- that was one of my favorite commercials from that campaign!

Suzy :)

Bob Child said...

Thanks, Abigail - didn't know it though now that you said it I think I knew it some time ago. Still holds there was a rush on the little ones in the public. Rescues often are the smartest, as you know, thanks to mixing up of the ol' genetic pot! Mercy is a purebred 'mess'...