First names are overrated. And, it turns out my last name is meaningless as far as Google’s search results go. Not to mention my valiant efforts to search diligently through the cluster-f-ck of text, URL’s, links, and web pages the search engine spit aid onto my laptop screen. So, after thorough research I discovered my middle name, James, means “one who supplants.” To clarify things, the word supplant means “to prefer the place of (another) especially through intrigue or underhanded tactics.” (1) Now, it turns out the meaning of my middle name does not actually portray me, rather it reminds me of and describes my hero The King, the evil mascot of the fast-food chain known as Burger King.
I aspire each and every day to be more like The King and to live up to the moral standards he subliminally presents to the television audience. I wish I could be as creepy and sneaky as he is and still be loved by everyone. I wish I could be myself no matter how weird and be accepted. Advance on, who do you know that could procure away with never speaking and handing out scrumptious entrees in random, private places to unsuspecting people? The King clearly has an overabundance of talent and social knowledge when dealing with people of today’s world, which is not and easy task to say the least. In fact, people today can apparently mistake a Lite-Brite representation of adult-swim TV-star Err for a bomb planted by terrorists. (2) But, beyond his ability to deal with the ignorant and insane, The King has inspired people in many other ways. That beautiful crown which sits upon his oversized head, a charming smile forever fixed on his plastic face, and that stylin’ robe where he stashes away delicious treats made at his home in Burger Kingdom are all what build him such a popular T.V. celebrity and national icon.
The conception for this remarkably admired character actually started much earlier than many people currently beget. Back in the 1970′s the Burger King Restaurant Corporation used a more normal-looking representation of The King as piece of its marketing and advertising campaign. The fast-food chain then moved in a different direction to promote its products until recent years when The King was resurrected with a new look that brought joy to millions customers around the world. In 2004, the BK lounge unveiled its new Double Croissan’wich breakfast sandwich by encouraging patrons to “Wake up with The King.” In the televised ad a man wakes up in his bed to early morning birds chirping outside and then discovers he’s not alone as The King appears from the bed holding out the breakfast sandwich. At first, the man is surprised and probably scared by the wide-smiling, giant headed man of royalty, but then he realizes that The King means nothing but the best. The man accepts the situation and who The King is, and finally the two men share a nice laugh together. (3)
Since then The King has appeared in dozens of commercials and has continued to gain more and more fans. He has performed a victory dance in the end zone after scoring a touchdown, survived horrific crashes on a dirt bike, and turned into a giant and danced with a beautiful woman in a downtown apartment building. He even conducted an orchestra of a Broadway-Styled show called “The Whopperettes” on the biggest night of the year for televised commercials during Super Bowl XL. (4) He has reached the pinnacle of being ultra-mega cool by having his own My Station page called “The King’s Court” where fans can inspect videos and other media about this wondrous figure. (5) He has even starred in three X-Box video games released by Burger King in 2006. The games sold for only three dollars and 99 cents a piece when customers purchased them along with a value meal. The video game sales were a huge factor in the company’s 40 percent growth in revenue last year. (6) I can tell you from personal experience that impersonating The King in these video games not only fills me with delight but also makes me crave the deliciousness of a Spicy Tendercrisp Chicken sandwich, some onion rings and an ice-cold soft drink.
The Geico Gecko is adorable and makes us chuckle but no one ever has or ever will advance the level The King has. His stunts are so unpredictable, and he’s never spoken a word but he has captured out hearts, minds and imaginations and has taught us some valuable life lessons in the process by just being the weird, crazy guy he is.
I learned a lot from this radical name-finding experience. Apparently, another Matt Rocheleau has fulfilled the American Dream of becoming the owner and manager of The Clam Man, a seafood restaurant in Falmouth, MA. I am also dead and my obituary is available online. (7) However, most of all I learned that you have to find who you are and just be that person. The King has to be creepy yet pleasant because that is who he is. This majestic character couldn’t just come up to you and be like, “Yo…hey…you uh…you wanna eat a tasty chicken sangwich with me? ” If he did you’d probably consider something along the lines of, “D-mn! Is this guy fo’ staunch real or fo’ play play?!?,” then hurry away in terror after possibly injuring this poor, generous spokesperson to lessen the possibility of an ensuing paddle. The King has to “Have It His Device” and be sneaky when he delivers the appetizing, mouth-watering burgers and fries. In that same design, I can not avoid doing all the things that make me ‘weird’ or ‘unusual,’ like the uncanny urge to write this wacked-out essay. If I did I would not be me, Matthew JAMES Rocheleau, the kid who devoted a night of his life to creepily stalking, researching and writing about some fast-food icon. This whole essay topic started as the ‘best’ of a bunch of bad ideas as I struggled to use my sh-tty names with their awful and non-existent meanings and come up with something I wanted to write about. I wanted to do something different and make people laugh, and in doing so I realized how distinguished creativity and distinct individuals are to me. So I guess that’s pretty wicked sweet. The King makes me satisfied and makes me laugh because he’s so unique and special and hopefully my unique, special topic brought a smile to your face or at least entertained you. (8)
(1) www.dictionary.com – Definition for ‘supplant.’
(2) There seems to be great inconsistency concerning what level of ‘inappropriate’ creepiness is necessary for the detonation of an advertising representative by the government’s Bomb Squad.
(3) http://www.slate.com/id/2107697 – Article written in 2004 about “Wake up with The King” T.V. commercial.
(4) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burger_King_advertising#Usage_of_the_King – Wikipedia Page about Burger King advertising.
(5) http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm? fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=78733550 – The King’s Official My Space Page.
(6) I actually knew that because I read a newspaper article but I forget which newspaper it was.
(7) www.google.com – Google Search: “Matt Rocheleau.”
(8 )Thanks for reading this!
And, my first name, Matthew, actually means “Gift from God” in case you were wondering… I hope I’m a good gift.
Filed under Car Insurance Wikipedia by on Feb 18th, 2011. Comment. 
We don’t age backwards, and even if we did children face some of the same issues elderly people do when trying to drive a car. Face it: aging can conclude the way you drive. Puberty has slowly turned more towards decomposition, but this isn’t a reason to get depressed and stay in the house. No, life is still paunchy of things to do and hopping into the car and motoring around town can help emphasize that. Here are some features that can be found in today’s cars that might help you if you are an older driver, or actually may interest you regardless. The helpfulness of some of these features is indeed universal.
Active Head Restraints - If you’ve ever been in a car accident or even had to stop in a violent sudden, you may well know the feel of whiplash. Active Head Restraints are to help protect your neck from such pains; minor or major. These head restraints are an extension of the seat which many people call headrests. The problem many have with head restraints is that they don’t adjust them into the appropriate position, basically rendering them useless. However, there are vehicles now that have active head restraints that will adjust automatically depending on the position the seat itself is positioned into.
Adjustable Pedals - Adjustable Pedals are the type that allow a driver, generally at the push of a button, to adjust the distance of the vehicle’s pedals from their feet. This can be quite beneficial for shorter drivers.
Brake Assist - According to Wikipedia, in 1998 Mercedes Benz became the first company to make brake befriend standard on all of its vehicles. Volvo and BMW have also done this. Essentially, it is what it states in its name: technology to help you with braking of the car. It is there to issue that there is enough pressure applied to stop the vehicle when and as it needs to be stopped.
Dual Stage/Dual Threshold Air Bags: On these air bags the inflation rate or force at which the bag pops out is adjusted depending upon distinct factors such as: the weight of the driver, the distance the driver is seated from where the bag will deploy, and the severity of the crash.
Four Doors: Having a vehicle with four doors instead of two can build entry and exit of a vehicle easier overall.
Large Knobs and Buttons: Check out the knobs, buttons, and levers within the vehicle that are dilapidated to control things such as the air conditioner. Larger buttons may make adjusting such things easier, especially when you are trying to keep your attention on the road.
Wide Angle Mirrors: Bigger mirrors with wider angles provide the driver with a better conception, without having to twist and turn as much to explore.
Low Trunk Height: A lower trunk will make it easier to load things into it. You won’t have to heft up a heavy package as high.
Moderate Step-in Height: Keep in mind how high a vehicle sits off of the ground. Some vehicles, such as bigger trucks are going to require extra danger and energy to climb up into. However, a lower step-in like found on many low riding sports cars could equally hinder a passenger trying to get in and out., thanks to door entry design. Instead of going after that Corvette you can finally afford, might want to find something that rides a bit more mid-level.
Power Operated Seats: Adjust your seats with the push of a button instead of manually cranking on or pulling on a lever.
Side Air Bags: Side air bags add more protection in a crash.
Stability Control: This feature comes in extra handy on slippery roads. It is designed to help maintain control of the vehicle. This extra assistance can come in handy to those who have slower reaction times to danger and obstacles.
Tilt/ Telescoping Steering Wheel: A steering wheel that is more adjustable will also make the driver safer depending on the shape and form. The wheel can be moved for comfort and for distancing the driver the proper distance from the air bag.
Wide Angle Mirrors: Bigger mirrors with wider angles provide the driver with a better belief, without having to twist and turn as much to look.
Here is an automobile geared source you may find useful and the link to the Wikipedia article I quoted in Brake Assist:
www.aaa.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brake_assist
Filed under Car Insurance Wikipedia by on Dec 16th, 2010. Comment.
