Airline in-flight magazines
I pay too much attention to the magazines on the back of airline seats. If you’re fortunate, there are usually the standard three items: (1) a magazine by the airline company, which usually features a random city that belongs in its flight path, assorted in-flight amenities offered, and exercises you can practice to prevent blood clots from forming on your legs (2) a thin cardboard insert detailing the make and model of the aircraft, and (3) Skymall magazine.
typical Skymall cover
Ah yes, Skymall magazine.
I certainly have no financial interest in Skymall, but for some unexplained reason, I’m familiar with a disturbing number of its eclectic offerings, especially since I’ve never bought anything from them. For the last year or so, the back cover prominently displays a bright, yellow ad for The Rosetta Stone, an expensive language learning software. The ad portrays a midwestern farm boy prominently displaying the Italian edition the software box and a phrase that goes something like this: He was a farm boy. She was an Italian supermodel. He knew there was only one chance… Hold it right there buddy. If it were that easy, we’d all be dating Italian supermodels.
Then there’s the pet staircase, for those pets with arthritis to hop onto your bed more easily (the one I saw in the magazine actually had foam-cushioned steps). Who’s actually going to buy that? Well, if Fluffy deserves a set of steps, he’d better be on NSAIDs or DMARDS as well.
The donut maker is particularly fascinating. All you need to do is throw in some dough, and it fries a delicious dozen of greasy donuts in under 6 minutes. Donuts are some of my favorite foods, but you’d be hard pressed to find one of these appliances in my kitchen.
Donut maker
The list is endless. The hidden litterbox and utility box rock cover are winners as well. Regardless of what you find in Skymall magazine, it’s full of hidden gems.
Let me know what you’ve purchased on Skymall!