If you're here, you probably know these names....if not, escape while you still can!

A couple of years ago I started a thread about "late nite info-mercials" (they're better for general input than "Riley Puckett's fingerpick" ones). Since there are a lot of new catters around, I'm curious if there are others who are as fascinated by these examples of secular evangelism as I am.

Has anyone ever BOUGHT something from these TV spots?...anything..A Roy Clark Guitar, a can of spray-hair, a thigh-master, a no-money down Real Estate course, A Tony Robbins personal power course? How 'bout the little hyper Japanese guy who administers electric shocks to leggy models (and calls it "massage"), or remember "The Flowbee",(cut your hair with a vacuum cleaner...or was it a lawnmower?), how about "Make your own CHOCOLATE flavoured pasta" (if you think I'm kidding, someone back me up here), and remember "Cubic Zirconiams"?

My current favourite is the Guitar teacher with the dyed jet black hair, who promises you can "play the guitar in 5 minutes". The beautiful young shill sitting beside him cannot believe her ears when assorted dorks come out of the audience and INSTANTLY learn a "walking bass"....yeah, wait'll they tackle their first "F" chord...they'll find out how quickly five minutes passes! His main secret is to have so much reverb on his Carvin Electric, that King Kong would sound good first time out. I'll bet if your first guitar is an out of tune Roy Clark model, your first five minutes ain't gonna be that smooth.

I HAVE fallen prey in the past though. Bought one of those hand blenders that will mash potatoes in a plastic bag, and make A DELICIOUS LOW CAL DESSERT in a plastic cup, from whipped water. It's problem was that it ran too fast to mix anything in a normal size bowl. I also succumbed to a George Forman ("knock out the fat") grill. It actually works.....and I'm told that Popeil's chicken roaster is actually pretty good as well.

My first purchase years ago was "Popeil's Pocket Fisherman". Loved it....just never used it. Anytime I'd pass a little stream, I'd think "Why didn't I keep the damn thing in the glove compartment, like the add says"?

Rick (susceptable, but not too gullible)