You know, I’d like to consider myself a pretty savvy consumer.

Sure, you put something on TV and sell it for $19.95, I’m going to be interested. Chances are, I’m going to be totally convinced I really need it. (I’m looking at you, Slap Chop.)

I’m a (reasonably) smart enough consumer, also, to recognize how companies market.

Oh, you wily “Mars and Venus” concept, you.

I use Degree deodorant. Not because I have any affinity for the brand, mind you — I’m just cheap. Nine times out of 10, I can go into CVS or my grocery store and Degree is on sale as “2 for $6″ or, if you’re paying premium downtown D.C. prices, “2 for $7.” Because there are two people in my house who need to not smell, it makes financial sense.

So, the other morning, I’m getting ready for work and look down and the bathroom counter catches my eye. Not necessarily for the fact that it looks like a drug store exploded all over it, but for the two packages of Degree strewn next to each other. And, then, I saw the difference in how they market the exact same thing to men and women.

Allegedly, Degree’s kicked it up a notch with some “active ingredient” that ups the ante on their “responds to body stress” game. It’s even more awesomer, or so I’ve been told.

So, for the gents, Degree shows you this with a label on the cap.

See that? It responds to adrenaline! Grrrr!! You can lift and move a Ford Festiva and Degree will know, and make sure you don’t stink after it’s done. Or, say, you’re about to singlehandedly drywall your living room and you’re gearing up for the rush of the job? Degree knows. And you will continue to smell “extreme fresh” when you’re finished.

But what if you’re a lady? You’re surely not drywalling or lifing a Festiva for sport … so how can Degree help you?

Oh, no adrenaline here, ladies. This version of Degree is “extra responsive in emotional situations.” You know, like coming face to face with your crush, or the end of “The Notebook” or the season finale of “The Bachelor.” Then, you can still smell like “fresh oxygen” through your tears of joy and your nervous giggles.

… Boo, Degree. Boo.

I’m not a “Bachelor” type of girl, Degree. I’m more likely trying to find a Ford Festiva to lift.

It got me thinking … I get that some products need to be marketed specifically toward women, and I even get that some products (even deodorant) are made especially for women (Secret — Strong Enough for a Man, but pH Balanced for a Woman). Conversely, no women I know are rushing out to get “girl-approved hair” by covering in Axe.

It was amusing, though, to see it side by side. It’s not often you get to see it all laid out in front of you, and it’s not often I’m coherent enough at 7:30 a.m. to put the thought together.

So, any other examples you can think of? I’m curious to see where else this may be in use.

Popularity: 1% [?]

That’s the view this morning (around 9:30 a.m.) from the fourth-floor balcony. I’m not 100 percent sure of snow totals right now, but I have been entertained watching the bulldozer try to get the snow plow on U.S. 1 unstuck. This doesn’t bode well for getting myself unstuck tomorrow.

But no worries … I have TV. And movies. And buffalo chicken dip. It’s not like I’m suffering, here.

Popularity: 1% [?]

The little red arrow is about where the hut is in Malaysia. As you can see, things are going to get a little boring around these parts this afternoon, but I do hope I’ll have time to make a snow hula girl.

Oddly, living over in the western part where the mountains are would have been to my benefit this time …

Popularity: 1% [?]

(Updated with a new map to reflect that I’m pretty much going to be hosed.)

18 to 24 inches, minimum. Minimum, y’all.

So, though most of the grocering was done last night, I’ve decided to go tonight to up the ante — I’m making a weekend-long Super Bowl feast with buffalo chicken dip, lil’ smokies, chili … the works.

Oh, and I’m going to sleep. I’m going to sleep for days.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Motherscratcher, I’m sick of snow.

This is today’s hit, which should drop about three to six inches by morning. On Friday, some early models show a snow event of “historic proportion.”

Efffff. What’s going on? This is my second winter in Malaysia, and last winter, it snowed once. Once. About two inches. And it was over. This year, it doesn’t seem to stop.

Climate change. Pfft.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Alright, people of Earth, we’ll be live at 8:45 to pre-game and watch tonight’s episode of “24″ on Fox.

Again, I’m missing Frank Wycheck, possibly shirtless, on Monday Night Raw for this, so I hope you’ll all be around.

New to the show and seven-season veterans are both welcome. Bring your conspiracy theories, and a sense of humor.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Hey, y’all. My first official act upon returning to the Eastern time zone is to remind you about tonight, 8:45 p.m. (Eastern, you know, where things are normal). It’s our second edition of “24 all the way live” and I hope you’ll come by — I’m missing Frank Wycheck on WWE’s Monday Night Raw for this. Don’t make me regret that.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Well, y’all … things may be spotty around here for the next few days as I take this show on the road to scenic Nashville, Tenn.

I hope to have time to post while I’m on the road, but you never can tell, and I’m on a one-woman mission to track down the Abe Lincoln impersonator Friday or Saturday night, so I may not have much time for other minutae.

Oh, and thank you to all of my wonderful friends who send me the story today about PETA and their ridiculous nonsense about trying to replace my hero, Punxsutawney Phil, with a scary ass animatronic robot groundhog.

(Definitely more on that when I get home … I have a post in drafts, but have been too busy and tired tonight to get it done.)

Also, it’s never too early to remind everybody — fan or no — that I’ll be liveblogging Monday night’s “24.” It was a good time last week, so I hope you’ll think about it.

In case we don’t speak, have a great weekend, everybody!

Popularity: 1% [?]

Mark “cattle” off that list …

Kiefer Sutherland gets bum steer

Eat mor’ chik’n, bitches.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Worker deaths close Red Line between Rockville, Shady Grove

At this point, I’m not sure you have anything to lose by just closing down the Red Line altogether, because clearly, it’s hexed. I don’t know if you took out spotted owls, manatees, elves, people who love the “Twilight” series, bald eagles, Native Americans … but you’ve done something really bad to piss off the people in charge, and they keep taking it out on you. While I’m living here.

Definitely thinking of the friends and family of the killed workers. So sad, and likely so avoidable.

Popularity: 1% [?]