Well there is another law that has been written that demands our attention. This law has no politics and has no religion. This law is impartial and absolute. This law shows mercy to no one. Yet this law, when understood, can help us avoid catastrophes of epic proportion. It is the Law of Diminishing Returns.
I will give you a few examples of how this law works to help you see how powerful it really is. The other day I was not my happiest. Yes - I was at work and that was lovely - but it just wasn't my day. So, naturally, I went to the grocery store to purchase some Oreos. That sort of thing can get a fella moving again. The delicious, creamy middle of an Oreo is enough to make even a Cubs fan feel better, even if it is just for a few moments. Well . . . it worked! The Oreos immediately began to sooth and uplift my battered emotions. Bliss was discovered. Felicity and euphoria inadequately describe the pure joy and goodness that now pulsed through my veins.
So naturally I continued eating this sweet morsel of goodness. By Oreo number 10, I was still felling good, but perhaps the honeymoon was over. After 15 - 20 of these delectable little nuggets of lard, I suddenly started to feel a different feeling all together. The contrast to my initial response to the Oreos was sudden and violent. No longer were the Oreos my friend - they had become my enemy in an instant. My stomach and those Oreos spent the next several hours battling it out. Eventually, my stomach won the battle by tossing the cookies out for good. I won't go into any more detail because I think you understand the "gravity" of the situation. The law of diminishing returns was swift and punishing.
Then there was the time that I went to a cute, sweet little theme park with my children. There was in this cute, sweet little theme park a cute, sweet little ride. The cute, sweet little ride had some cute, sweet little music. Well this cute, sweet little music didn't ever stop. This cute, sweet little song just kept going and going. It put the Energizer bunny to shame! Little psychedelic puppets and dolls kept dancing to this cute, sweet little song. They danced and danced while the song played and played. Soon, the cute, sweet little song was blasting through the speakers at such a volume that my children began to cover their ears and cry. But we were on a boat and their was no way out of our cute, sweet little prison. We screamed in agony, but the stupid little dolls kept dancing and the music kept playing.
This is not hyperbole, my 8 year old daughter got off that cute, sweet little ride and looked at me and said, "Dad, can we never go on that ride again?" I assured her that we never would. And we never have.
The point is - that too much of something can be dangerous and uncomfortable. Sometimes it is good to stop while you still have fond memories and positive feeling about something. So, with that in mind, I would like to be make a sad but needful announcement. We have decided to not move forward with the 2012 Film Festival. This will come as a shock to some, and I admit that I will miss it greatly. We have had quite a few years of successful films and no shortage of good laughs. However, the time commitment to the CPS Film Festival is extensive. Keith has spent a lot of work time over the past couple of years preparing and getting things ready for the film festival. Those efforts were not in vain, as the film festival has been an absolute bulls-eye. The films have brought so much fun to our company and they helped make the Christmas Party a great experience.
However, we feel like right now is a good time to put the Film Festival on hold. We have a lot of marketing ideas and projects that demand our attention for the year - and we just don't think we can justify the time commitment it would take to do another film festival this year. We appreciate all of those who have expressed interest in directing and acting. We truly have a ton of talent in our group and it has been very fun to see all of you in action. We appreciate everyone's support of the film festival and we hope we will all have fond memories of the fun we had with it.
Let me close this post by extending a hand of mercy to each of you to help you get through this sad news. This has to be better than turning to Oreos . . . right? Just click on the link below!

Ben, you owe me Oreos for sharing that link.
ReplyDeleteBen, I believe that you are incorrect. I don't think you can relate the "It's a Small World" ride to the Law of Diminishing Returns. At no point during the course of that ride are you receiving a "positive return". It only applies if you count nightmares and headaches as a return.
ReplyDeleteAnd that infernal song being stuck in your head for months, causing psychotic rage.
DeleteFrom Remember the Titans: 'Let the boys play ref, let em play'
ReplyDeleteMMMMM......Nuggets of Lard. (spoken in Homer Simpson voice)
ReplyDeleteBen, your research is correct. Oreo cookies do in fact make a Cubs fan feel better for a small, fleeting moment. I think you took a wrong turn when you bought the regular Oreos. You have to go with double Stuf, otherwise the ratio of delicious creamy middle is not quite right. In fact, the best thing to do is tear apart two double stuf oreos and stick them together. Quadruple stuf baby!
ReplyDeleteActually - they were double "stuf"ed. But just the thought is requiring me to consider a visit to the Men's room.
DeleteI think we should make a movie about it.
DeleteSean is a cinematic mastermind.
DeleteOnce sentence: "WHY do you HATE me?" Now I shall have nightmares for months....
ReplyDeleteThat Stinks! I really enjoyed the Film Festival at the Christmas party. Great films, lots of laughter. I was so looking forward to giving Stephen Post a run for his money, like Matt Lamb has been trying to do for so many years. I am sorry to see it, "go on hold" this year.
ReplyDeleteBen you are a little wimpier than I thought, if you can't eat a box of double stuff Oreo cookies in one sitting with out tossing them, next you will tell me you can not drink a gallon of milk in one hour with out keeping it down.
Not only have I been trying to give Stephen Post a run for his money, I've also been encouraging people to spell my last name correctly. Apparently I still have some work to do.
DeleteSorry my Baaaad!
ReplyDeleteBa Ba Black Sheep have you any wool.
ReplyDelete