alt="Just as I thought." height="200" width="850" border="0">
February 23, 2008
11:49 pm
Person equals something to be sold
I admit to not liking Oprah.
Scary but true: I'm more afraid of posting an anti-Oprah post than an anti-Bush post. In other words, I still believe enough in the inherent goodness/incompetence of our government as opposed to the reach of Oprah's empire.
But I have to say that I really have the hots for her Nate Berkus automaton -- another guy that she glommed onto and decided to make into an Oprahifed commodity.
He's cute -- adorable, hot, really -- and has suffered a horrific tragedy in the form of losing his lover in the tsunami, something I can't imagine. But tonight I discovered something about him that makes me sick to my stomach. Yes, if you visit his website you'll see it too: his name is trademarked.
It's the ultimate in making one's self into a product, and it disgusts me. So, I've decided -- just in case -- to follow suit. Since trademarks don't actually require registration but only consistent use and the TM symbol, I've decided to trademark myself (Gene Cowan™) for protection against someone using my name in the future. Maybe it will be Oprah, maybe it will be some salesman trying to sell phallic enlarger. Regardless, I've got to protect myself, right?
Hope my father, Eugene Cowan, Sr. doesn't mind the pre-emption of his name.
I admit to not liking Oprah.
Scary but true: I'm more afraid of posting an anti-Oprah post than an anti-Bush post. In other words, I still believe enough in the inherent goodness/incompetence of our government as opposed to the reach of Oprah's empire.
But I have to say that I really have the hots for her Nate Berkus automaton -- another guy that she glommed onto and decided to make into an Oprahifed commodity.
He's cute -- adorable, hot, really -- and has suffered a horrific tragedy in the form of losing his lover in the tsunami, something I can't imagine. But tonight I discovered something about him that makes me sick to my stomach. Yes, if you visit his website you'll see it too: his name is trademarked.
It's the ultimate in making one's self into a product, and it disgusts me. So, I've decided -- just in case -- to follow suit. Since trademarks don't actually require registration but only consistent use and the TM symbol, I've decided to trademark myself (Gene Cowan™) for protection against someone using my name in the future. Maybe it will be Oprah, maybe it will be some salesman trying to sell phallic enlarger. Regardless, I've got to protect myself, right?
Hope my father, Eugene Cowan, Sr. doesn't mind the pre-emption of his name.
Not to defend Nate Berkus -- hot, hot man that he is -- but I assume his name is trademarked in association with his eponymous brand of home decor products? (Just walk into his section of Linens N Things to be surrounded with Nate-ness.) Though, yes, it is weird to see his TM'd name alone up there in the banner. Man and brand are one.
Posted by Jeff on 02/25 at 11:11 AM
It must be a bizarre experience being plucked for installation as an Oprah Brand, to have your identity transformed into a brand name and your personage packaged for mass consumption by Oprah's disciples. A lot of people look upon her as a god figure; I think the way she selects and packages people smacks more of selling one's soul to the devil.
Oh, and I wouldn't mind at all being surrounded by Nate-ness. But not at Linens N' Things.
Oh, and I wouldn't mind at all being surrounded by Nate-ness. But not at Linens N' Things.
Posted by Gene Cowan on 02/25 at 12:23 PM
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