Once upon a time I came so very close to going there. Bought the t-shirt, etc. Then changed my mind. I tend to do that. Can you tell us what the 47 means or is it a secret you have to take to the grave?

Good lord, no. A stats prof did a joke proof in the 60s proving that all numbers equalled 47. At the same time a couple students started counting the 47s around campus, which looked like they occurred more frequently. It's been a persistent inside joke ever since. 47 is the real campus mascot. An article on the history of the phenomenon. I just found out that 47 was included on intellivision game boxes, too. We're so goofy.

For some reason I like the Ford trucks in 24-- they are so muscular; they look different and neat-- but the GMs in Matrix Reloaded bothered me. A cadillac? Please.

Re: Product Placement.

The worst I ever saw was in a mid-season 3 episode of Alias. They are chasing someone, enter a parking lot and the person they are chasing drives off. Sidney yells "Get the Ford F150!". [never mind that the position of the truck made it a poor choice for a chase vehicle... too much time taken to get it and get it out].

But wait, that's not all. There's a good 5-10 second static shot of the "Ford F150" label on the truck before it drives off. That's where I got annoyed.

And I'm reminded of an episode of Futurama... "And Oscar nominees for best product placement are... Star Trek: The Pepsi Generation, They Call Me Mr. Pibb!, and Snow White and the 7-Up!"

See, if a) the car had been in a sensible place, and b) they'd called it either "the Ford" or "the F150," it might have sounded like real life. But real life isn't good enough for ads, is it?

The worst I ever saw was in a mid-season 3 episode of Alias. They are chasing someone, enter a parking lot and the person they are chasing drives off. Sidney yells "Get the Ford F150!".

God, yes, I remember that. Because it's so common for people to say "Ford F150" rather than, I dunno, "the truck." And you're gonna want one of those in a parking garage, with its tight turning radius and easy maneuverability.

When I was in Detroit, they'd certainly say "the F150" or less likely "the Ford," or perhaps "the Ford truck."

Brand names were all up in the conversation. However, "the Ford F150" implies that Chevy has an F150, and you don't want to get that one instead. It's like calling a close friend by first and last name the whole time.

If you're talking about a specific truck distinguished from other trucks, yeah. But if you're talking about a truck distinguished from all the other cars, then go truck. Vote truck.

The word has no meaning anymore.

Brand names were all up in the conversation. However, "the Ford F150" implies that Chevy has an F150, and you don't want to get that one instead.

Toyota wanted to call their big pickup truck the T150, but Ford asked them not to. I guess they're sensitive about the 150 thing.

If you're talking about a specific truck distinguished from other trucks, yeah.

NSM with the groups I hung out with. The cars were pretty much always named like that. It could be the only gas-powered vehicle in ten miles, and we'd be getting into the 325. Just never the BMW 325i.

ita, do you wear a sign that says "looking for people to contradict bon bon"?

I am suspicious of your so-called "friends."

I am suspicious of your so-called "friends."

Of course you are.

But if you check the timeline, you'll see you contradicted me.