"Like ghost towns. Or Fresno."

It's probably wrong, but I LOVE the new Prius commercials. In spite of the Fresno vs. Toyota nonsense that's gone on with the media. FRESNO *IS* A LOW BUDGET TOURIST DESTINATION. GET OVER IT.

Thanks to TiVo, I'd not heard about them pre-NPR, but I think it's brilliant. I also think it's brilliant that Toyota had to issue an apology to Fresno because the Mayor of Fresno is clearly a fuckwad who doesn't realize that any media is good media, and Fresno will see a thousand times as many visitors as a result of it being featured in the advertisements of the most popular vehicle in the world.

Dear Mayor of Fresno,

I would have come to Fresno immediately upon purchasing the new Prius I intend to buy as soon as I'm done with my vow-to-purchase-no-new-things. Just so I could have taken pictures of the kitchy things in which Fresno takes pride. But now that you have proven to the world that you are an incompetent moron who has no understanding of the value of marketing and free publicity, I will instead take my Prius to Sedona to convene with the spiritual powers and to wish you peace.

Kind regards,
A would-be Fresno tourist

Actually, I've been to Fresno dozens, if not hundreds, of times in my lifetime. And each of those times, the purpose of my visit-to-Fresno has had nothing to do with Fresno, but rather, has been a result of the fact that Fresno is a good place to stop for Gasoline.

So here's to Fresno. And to Toyota. And to my friend Rachel, who is actually from Fresno.