I often watch commercials and wonder “Why didn’t I think of that?”
Most times I can rest assured since I am not an inventor or a scientist, I am  a reporter.
But a recent commercial has changed this. When I first saw the ad for the “Knowledge Generation Bureau” or KGB, I was shocked someone would pay $.99 for a text message answer to a question.
We all have been there — something is on the tip of our tongues, but we just don’t know the answer. I typically use the “phone-a-friend” option in life.
As more commercials ran I remembered this is America, people would pay for this type of service. I could have ran my research and texting operation from home, hired all my underpaid friends to help with research, probably paid off my student loan a lot earlier and live the good life.
So I decided, strictly for the purpose of this blog, to text a questions to the infamous 542542. After pondering the question I decided on: What is the name of the crime reporter for the Daily American newspaper in Somerset, Pa. I figured there were three names that could be possible answers —Judy Ellich, our courthouse reporter, Vicki Rock, our state police reporter or breaking news reporter extraordinaire Michelle Ganassi.
It took seven minutes to receive this response: “It appears a variety of reporters handle those stories. One is Judy D.J. Ellich. Phone: 814-444-5900.”
So the “special agents” may be worth $.99 to those in desperate need of information and do not have access to Google. I am sure the creator is rolling in the dough right now.
I visited kgb.com, where they have a list of questions in rotation being texted to “special agents.” While some were serious, others weren’t.
Here is a short list of a few questions:
How do you make a grilled cheese sandwich?
Does Kissing burn calories?
Is 0 a prime number?
How many bones are inside a horses hoof?
What are some sings of being pregnant?
What is the best pickup line to use on women?
Can a moose out run a human?
What time is the curfew in Brunswick, Ohio?
Tell me a Chuck Norris joke.
What is the meaning of life?
What are the names of the ninja turtles?
When is Labor Day weekend?
Is there a point to eyebrows?
Where is Hong Kong?
What Disney princess wears Pink?
How tall is Khloe Kardashian?
So I guess my list may not be defined as “short” but my feelings haven’t changed — KGB is a gold mine idea and I am jealous it wasn’t mine.
Maybe next time.
I welcome any comments, criticism or suggestions at michelleg@dailyamerican.com
Tags: KGB, Michelle Ganassi