August 04, 2003

Cutting Edge Innovation
entry,

Innovation is not something that experience leads us to expect from the major players in any industry, let alone mature, billion-dollar businesses. Big companies usually see innovations from their R&D groups as threats to revenue, or to jobs, or to existing sales channels. In established industries the primary innovations are of the "better, faster, smaller, less expensive" type, and many of these rattle the mini-empires of the self-centered management types who thrive on status quo.

Thus it is with startled glee that I partook of an innovative new product from one of the oldest players in the industry that defines our current age.

(Here's the part where I don't say "the computer industry," and instead deliver a punch-line. Drum-roll, please....)

I bought a McGriddle.

Sweet mother of Edison! It's GENIUS! There is freakin' pancake syrup right in my hand, and I'm not getting sticky! I mean, it's been baked into this little pancake sandwich, and it goes "pancake, sausage, pancake," and it tastes just like I'm having pancakes and sausage! Only I'm NOT USING A FORK!

If you want, you can get one of these things with egg and cheese, too. That's even MORE innovative, because now there's a decent amount of protein in your breakfast, but your mouth still thinks you're eating pancakes. And if your mouth is anything like my mouth, that'll shut it right up. "We're having pancakes?! But we're DRIVING TO WORmmmph mmble mmmm mmm chew chew chew chomp mmmmm...."

Seriously, if you live near a McDonald's, you HAVE to stop in and try a McGriddle. Go for the "sausage, egg and cheese" and let it go all Eli Whitney on your bad self. Then you can email me and thank me. If you hated the McGriddle I still want to hear from you because you have one of those mutant mouths that does not like pancakes, and I want to read the words that comes out of it.

In non-innovative news, the buffer hit 21 on Saturday after a marathon scripting, pencilling, and inking session in which I completed nine rows. I had to ice my hand afterwards, but it was worth it. My only regret is that when I was done, McDonalds was no longer serving breakfast.