But boy is this product video bizarre. It’s about the Dobson Blendie, a blender that “responds to human communication. The person speaks the language of the blender.” So if you growl at it, it goes at low speed, and, well, you have to watch it yourself.

And I can’t help but picture bartenders at an evening function growling up some margaritas for folks. Or better yet, letting them blend their own. It would be beyond a hoot to watch, wouldn’t it?

The saddest part of this story about how federal investigators had no problem smuggling bomb bits past TSA screeners is that it appears that TSA screeners were even warned by headquarters that the tests were happening, and “described the methods and appearance of those conducting the probes.”

And they still missed it.

Cindy of AE on the Verge has been at the National Association of Realtors conference in Las Vegas, and she has some great observations for meeting planners. For example:

To get thousands lined up before doors open for Grand Assembly (featuring Bill Cosby), facility staff had everyone file into holding area outside ballroom in pattern similar to how Disney parks cars - filling single rows at a time. Picture doesn’t do justice. When doors opened, no more order, no more rows of people — and certainly no filing around the room the way we filed in. Claustrophobic merge towards the opening — seemed dangerous. Made me think that sometimes half a plan can be worse than no plan — especially if tens of thousands involved.

She also has observations about the Frontier Hotel implosion and meeting Seth Godin (I’m glad I missed the first, jealous about the second), among other musings. Great reading.

Have you thought about using one of those automated voice messaging services to promote your event? I’ve been on the receiving end of one lately (not for ASAE and The Center’s Great Idea Conference, but reading this post on the topic on Acronym by Ann Oliveri made me think about it). I know some people love them, and from press releases I’ve gotten, the companies who provide them say they improve attendance. But I’m with Ann: They make my skin crawl.

Is it worth it to use these services if, say, 75 percent of your audience loves them, but they turn off 25 percent to the point where they feel tele-spammed and those warm fuzzy feelings turn sharp and spikey? I wouldn’t do it, but then again, I’m in that 25 (or whatever) percent.