In response to robogeek's rant regarding holiday political correctness, I thought I'd mention the Chrismahanukwanzakah viral ad that I've been working on.  It's primarily a cell phone advertisement, but you'll find it's heavily mixed with a holiday helping of seasonal satire.

Yeah, it's a bit offensive, but it's nice to see that some people aren't taking things so seriously when this season is arguably designed to celebrate consumerism rather than any particular religious event.

Not that that's a bad thing, but let's call it what it is (just don't try spelling it).

Kids love them. Parents love them. They are used as teaching aids in school and extra-curricular programs.

Nerd adults such as myself have their own secret stash in the basement.

Mindstorms seemed like the killer toy when they first appeared. The MIT programmable brick was reborn as a full fledged consumer product. Geek life was good.

Seven shopping seasons later, the product line has eroded into a single boxed set which, I can confirm, is relegated to a bottom shelf, back aisle position even at the Mall of America Lego store.

I visited the kickoff Minnesota First Lego League regional tournament the weekend before last. As the season progresses, kids all over the world will be testing their software design and mechanical engineering mettle. 4th graders will be solving robotics challenges that have parents scratching their heads.

So how does a product so well regarded, with so much appeal to both kids and educators, fall to the wayside?

It seems like there was a saying that went something like: marketing is the fine art of convincing a person that something is needed where it was never previously wanted. Convincing the need for a product requires proving that this product solves a customer problem - satisfies some deficiency. Have a spill? Wipe it up with Bounty paper towels. Need to be safe on your 10 mile commute to work? Drive a Hummer H2.

Too ugly for grade school? Rhinoplasty to the rescue.