And Now for Something Mildly Depressing. . . .

Dinosaurs died out 65 million years ago.  That's a rough estimate, of course.  It's not like scientists have confirmed that the last T. Rex kicked the bucket on October 2, 64,997,998 BC.  But consider this: If scientists had discovered dinosaurs on the day Christ was born, that estimate would have been the same.  If, 800 years before that, as Homer sang of Sirens and Cyclopses, protopaleontologists had pondered the dinosaurs' demise, they, too, would have provided that 65 million year figure, as would those early homo sapiens who decorated the caves at Lascaux.  And indeed, 100, 500, 1,000, 10,000 years hence, should mankind somehow manage to avoid obliterating itself in the meantime, that 65 million year figure will. Still. Not. Change!!!

I don't know about you, but this thought depresses me tremendously!  Happy birthday to me!

And Schizophrenia Makes Really Good Omelettes

Awhile back, I wrote about a commercial for Abilify, an anti-depressant from Bristol-Myers Squibb. The animated commercial featured an obviously depressed cartoon-lady and an avatar of "depression," represented by a (frankly adorable) googly-eyed, floating black blob.  Now, I am no latter-day Don Draper--except for my perfect, perfect face--but it struck me that, if an advertiser wants to peddle a "cure" (or at least a treatment) for a disease (or "disease"), said advertiser might think twice before representing the disease as something you want to pet.

Shows you what I know!

The Abilify people have introduced a new commercial that actually doubles down on the cuteness factor.  No longer is cartoon-lady's depression merely a floating black blob; now, depression is a big, floating, googly-eyed blue bathrobe!  So, depression not only keeps this lady company, it keeps her cozy and warm!  AND it resembles Cookie Monster, to boot!

Cure depression?  I want to give it a hug!