Peeler Peddler Passes at 75: Joe Ades

When my fiance used to work in Union Square and I at home, I would walk through Washington square park to Union square and hang in the park or at the local Green market scoping for those elusive home made Apple donuts. There were many times I see this old cat, crouched over some cutting boards give his pitch for these $5 Swiss-made vegetable peelers in $1000 suits and a light British accent.

At first I was questionable of this man’s sanity and the more I saw his pitch and the rake in from it, I was amazed. This guy was out with a simple and friendly message for “the best peeler in the world” and “buy 4…. if you have friends unlike me”. He had a sense of accomplishment on his face, every time I saw him, as you would think any millionaire ceo would have. What I later learned is this guy has money, a Park Ave apartment, full 3 page article about him in Vanity Fair and goes out to all the nice restaurants in the upper west side. He survived his 4th wife and has put all his kids through college slanging vegetable peelers (or some product) for 60 years. He’s definitely a only in NYC type of character and will be missed by the community.

Here’s video of the pitch:

Here’s a bit done by NBC’s Today Show where Ades puts his wisdom in words, “Never underestimate a small amount of money gathered by hand for 60 years.”

George Carlin R.I.P.

Thank you for challenging us to think, and helping us realize what bullshit truly is.

A Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life not life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We’ve done larger things, but not better things.

We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete…

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent.

Remember, to say, ‘I love you’ to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

A moment of silence please…

The creator of the best fast food breakfast sandwich has passed: Herb Peterson, the inventor of the Egg McMuffin had passed away at the age of 89. Herb’s invention actually paved the way for McDonald’s to introduce breakfast to McDonald’s restaurants – previously only lunch & dinner were served.

Herb actually began his career with McDonald’s Corp. as vice president of the company’s advertising firm, D’Arcy Advertising. He even wrote McDonald’s first national advertising slogan, “Where Quality Starts Fresh Every Day.” Peterson then became a franchise owner of six McDonald’s restaurants in Santa Barbara and Goleta, California. As a fellow lover of eggs Benedict, the idea of a quick and easy to make replication this was the perfect introduction to the breakfast market, which as of now accounts for 30% of McDonald’s revenue (the breakfast menu).

Head out to your local McyD’s for a sandwich in his honor.