" /> Ben Neumann: Views From The Trenches: April 2006 Archives

« February 2006 | Main | May 2006 »

April 07, 2006

Video of sponsored birth now online at DefyingGravity.com

Many of you have probably heard (it was all over the evening news in the U.S.) that Globat.com sponsored the birth of a Missouri baby last month. We have now published the video of the birth at our pretty crazy events website DefyingGravity.com. Our unique birth sponsorship attracted prime-time media attention worldwide and even spawned some controversy over the mother's decision to look for a corporate sponsor for this event. We're offering the video in both Windows Media Player and QuickTime formats.

The baby named Samiah Wynn Francis was born at 2.31am on Saturday, March 18th, 2006, at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital in St. Peters, Missouri. Samiah arrived at a healthy six pounds fifteen ounces and only missed out on being a St. Patrick's Day baby by two hours. Mother Asia and Samiah are healthy and in great form and are both getting ready to travel to Los Angeles later this month where they are scheduled to finally meet the entire Globat.com crew who followed Asia's progress with anticipation.

I find it a humbling thought that we've had a little part in bringing a new life into the world. Hopefully, Samiah will one day understand that she actually became somewhat of a celebrity by being the star of one of the world's first sponsored births. All of us at Globat.com have enjoyed every step of Asia's pregnancy, and now everyone interested can get involved one last time by watching the famous birth video online.

Samiah's birth was only one of a wave of unique sponsorships and events such as a tattooed human billboard and a first haircut in 20 years that we started under the banner of "Defying Gravity". Our ultimate goal is to launch at least one such special event in each of the 50 states. Who's next? ;-)

April 01, 2006

Are men really smarter than women?

Ok, I'm don't usually post any of the sometimes really funny stories I get in my email box every day, but this one was just too out there (for better or worse). A good friend of mine (female, btw) sent it to me today. Just for my own marriage's sake; this does not necessarily reflect my personal opinion. ;-)

Ok, here we go:
- - - -
One evening last week, my girlfriend and I were getting into bed. Well, the passion starts to heat up, and she eventually says "I don't feel like it, I just want you to hold me."

I said "WHAT??!! What was that?!"

So she says the words that every boyfriend on the planet dreads to hear... "You're just not in touch with my emotional needs as a woman enough for me to satisfy your physical needs as a man." She responded to my puzzled look by saying, "Can't you just love me for who I am and not what I do for you in the bedroom?"

Realizing that nothing was going to happen that night, I went to sleep.

The very next day I opted to take the day off of work to spend time with her. We went out to a nice lunch and then went shopping at a big, big unnamed department store. I walked around with her while she tried on several different very expensive outfits. She couldn't decide which one to take so I told her we'd just buy them all. She wanted new shoes to compliment her new clothes, so I said lets get a pair for each outfit. We went onto the jewelry department where she picked out a pair of diamond earrings. Let me tell you...she was so excited. She must have thought I was one wave short of a shipwreck. I started to think she was testing me because she asked for a tennis bracelet when she doesn't even know how to play tennis. I think I threw her for a loop when I said, "That's fine, honey." She was almost nearing sexual satisfaction from all of the excitement. Smiling with excited anticipation she finally said, "I think this is all dear, let's go to the cashier."

I could hardly contain myself when I blurted out, "No honey, I don't feel like it."

Her face just went completely blank as her jaw dropped with a baffled WHAT?"

I then said "Honey! I just want you to HOLD this stuff for a while. You're just not in touch with my financial needs as a man enough for me to satisfy your shopping needs as a woman." And just when she had this look like she was going to kill me, I added, "Why can't you just love me for who I am and not for the things I buy you?"

Apparently I'm not having "any" tonight either....but at least she knows I'm smarter than her. ;-)
- - - -

Now, as far as this guys comment about him being smarter than his girl friend goes, the jury is still out on this one.