The
Journal
Volume 1, Issue 3
Nov 16, 1996
© 1996, The Gathering
The Mentos Journal is maintained by the Core Six Pack of "The Gathering":
Jeff (Wayman@Mentos.com), Kevin (Kibble@Mentos.com),
Sean (Radagast@Mentos.com), Dave (Burgundy@Mentos.com)
Brian (Macleod@Mentos.com), and Stacey (Genie@Mentos.com).
Freshen up, gang! It's time for Tropical scented Issue # 3 of the
The Mentos Journal! Save the wrappers and make wallpaper! Yes, you heard
us! It's crazy, but your house will destined to be fresh!!!
The Mentos Journal will be posted (along with the Mentos FAQ)
in alt.tv.commercials, and rec.arts.tv. On the web, it can be found
at Chad Jones' (cjones@mentosfaq.com) site:
www.mentosfaq.com
In this issue of the Mentos Journal, learn why it's unfresh to
let your Speedos meet your Mentos, the commercialism of Freshness, and
yet ANOTHER Boba Fett reference!!! Plus: WE GOT REGIS!!!!
Hey! Hey! Special Note!!!
In your mass-mailings to us, drop a line and tell us where you saw
this document and/or the FAQ. We'd like to know where we're being
spotted!
As always, keep sending in those letters, and keep fresh!
"But what about Kathy Lee and Cody??"
a bold foray into stardom by Jason Allan Pfaff (p7a77@concentric.net)
So there I was. I was in New York City over New Year's 1994-95. I had
no money (a common plague of nuevo-hippie college students such as
myself). Actually, I *still* have no money, but this story takes place
over a year ago, at a time when I was younger, more nimble, but still
about as broke as I am today. I thought to myself, "Those perky young
kids in the Mentos commercials seem to have lots of fun without having to
present legal tender. Perhaps I should obtain a pack of Mentos and have
some fun on my own." Actually, that last bit isn't exactly true as I
usually have a pack of Mentos with me anyway. It sure sounds good and
adds to the story, though.
I thought to myself, "Self, what else does one do when one is in New York
City with no money?" The answer was obvious: television shows. I
normally don't watch television at all (except for the Mentos ads, which
I have on tape anyway), but I figured going to see them taped wasn't as
bad. I'm good at rationalizing things to myself that way. Anyway, one
of the shows I had the pleasure to view was "Live with Regis and Kathie
Lee". (Okay, so that show wasn't being taped, it was live, but it's the
same idea. Well, actually, I'm sure it was being taped as well, but
probably just for clerical reasons and not for rebroadcast.) The show
was wonderful, let me tell you. Sinbad and Charles Grodin were on. What
a combination. Sinbad was wearing leather. Or at least something black
and shiney. Maybe it was vinyl. Charles was just wearing black cloth.
I don't think either of them had Mentos, tho'.
After the show, the wonderful people who are the producers of the Regis
show allowed fans to have their photos taken with Regis. I figured I
wasn't doing anything with my soul that day anyway, so why not have it
stolen along with Regis'. On the way down, Regis noticed me (I tend to
wear fun hats. That day I was wearing a big multi-coloured jester's hat,
complete with bells) and started looking worried and saying things to his
producer such as, "That guy with the hat is coming towards me!" At that
time, I figured that Regis needed to have a bit more Freshness in his
life, so I pulled out a brand-new roll of Mentos from my pocket. When it
was finally my turn to have my photo opportunity, I thrust the roll at
Regis, said, "Here, hold this and smile," and proceeded to have my photo
taken. In the photo, Regis looks more worried than happy, and he's not
holding the roll in the proper manner, but what can you expect from
celebrities, eh?
On a briefer note, I also happened to be wandering around the Today Show
and saw a big four-foot smilin' Bryant Gumbal head (almost
manic-looking, even). It wasn't levitating in the air or anything, it
was an advertizement on a wall. I quickly held up my roll of Mentos (in
the proper manner) and struck a Ment-pose for the camera. The giant
smiling head of Bryant Gumbal only contributes to the feeling of
Freshness that radiates from the photograph.
That is all.
"Uh, we've got a Code 027: Mentos Abuse"
As a Senior in Lynbrook High School (San Jose, California) I have
witnessed a most hideous of crimes. Not only has the freshmaker become
an instrument of evil, but certain flavors are now "discontinued" in our
cafeteria.
The freshmen on our campus have begun using mentos as weapons, throwing
them at classmates they consider to be "losers". It is understandable
for this kind of thing to happen to M&M's but it saddens me to see the
power of freshness abused like this.
I have, however, conceived of a remedy for my predicament. As the
Computer Operations Manager on our school magazine I convinced the
Editors to publish the FAQ and include mention of it on the cover.
I am hoping you will let me publish it, completely or exerts so that I
may spread the ways of Mentocism to my classmates .
"Net Ramblings......"
JD Wrote:
Cool, fresh, minty?
You must be talking about Mentos Boba Fett! I love the scene where Boba' s
at the mall and some crazy old woman's chasing him around, then he pops a
Mentos and pretends to be a lifesize cutout at a comic store...so fresh
and full of life!
Mentos, the Fettmaker!
"Letters, we get letters....."
(sung with a nod to the Late Show)
Alyssa Patrisha (alyssa@ix.netcom.com):
Please consider producing a Mentos add consisting of US Military soldiers
negotiating with Red China to disarm Nuclear Weapons...to no avail...that
is, until a MENTOS appears. Very 90ties..Very Hip!
Quotes!
Alyssa Arrigo (alyssaa@websecure.com):
"Ok well, I didn't actually check out every damn Mentos site, but at
least you guys had sound."
Leah Sumner (proxima@zork.tiac.net):
"Thanks for making me realize I must get out more."
"The Mentos/Coca-Cola Connection"
Okay, here goes:
The Coca-Cola Company just released their annual shareholder's report for
1995, and in it (http://www.cocacola.com/co/chairman.html) they make a
very startling assertion:
"We sell a product that ... meets the fundamental, frequently recurring
human need for refreshment. The average human body requires at least 64
ounces of liquid every day just to survive, and our beverages currently
account for not even 2 of those ounces. For every person on this planet,
consuming at least 64 ounces is not an option; but choosing where those
ounces come from is."
Now, at first my brother and I found this statement regarding refreshment
(and thusly freshness) to be directly contradictory to Mentos, the
Freshmaker, and we assumed that the battle between Coca-Cola and Mentos
was gearing up to be as large as the Deathstar vs. Borg clash. But after
further analysis, we were able to see the situation for how it really
is...
Actually, the two exist in a beautifully symbiotic relationship.
As you well know, Coke "meets the fundamental, frequently recurring human
need for refreshment." The key word in this sentence is "refreshment".
The "re" in "refreshment" indicates that the subject, at some prior time,
was fresh, but is no longer.
Now, consider Mentos. Mentos is the Freshmaker, or literally, "makes
fresh". Thus, Mentos is the source of all that is fresh in this universe,
while Coke and the Coca-Cola family of products serves to "re-fresh", or
make fresh again. See, without Mentos, Coca-Cola could not exist, but
without Coca-Cola, the freshness that Mentos creates would dissipate,
with tragic consequences to the entire human race.
So, to draw an analogy for easier comprehension:
Mentos is the equivalent of subscribing to a magazine.
Coca-Cola is the equivalent of renewing that subscription.
Now one may argue that if the Freshness that Mentos creates actually
dissipates (as I assert above), then the true value and power of Mentos
is diminished greatly. I disagree; if Freshness was imparted upon a
subject, and that subject stayed permanently fresh, then there would be
no recurring need to consume Mentos. (I believe that one is either Fresh
or not Fresh, and there is no other state of Freshness being.)
Okay, so you are probably saying to yourself right now, "Who are these
freaks, and why do they have too much time on their hands?" Well, the
answer is simple: we both work for really large companies! Anyway, if you
find this information interesting, please feel free to investigate
further, or contact be about it or whatever. Use it if you like, share it
with the others. All we ask is that it gets attributed to its' sources:
(see above - SQ)
Thanks for your time, and May the Freshness Be With You.
"Push. Push. PUSH! It's a....mixed fruit?!?!?"
early memories with Chuck (address: womb)
Methinks you give quite short shrift to a good deal of the magic of the
Mento, that is, its' texture. It's like nothing else! Silky smooth but
chewy. Needs further embellishment on your page. And, true, the way they
come out of the package---a smooth squeeze---is totally hypnotic. A
back-to-the-womb kind of catharsis as you imply.
"Is that Mentos in your shorts, or are ya happy to see me?"
I'm a swimmer, and before meets, I always stop at the base Shopette
(Air Force speak for really cheesy convenience store)to buy those happy
little powder-blue mint Mentos. I haven't seen any of the four packs
here in the Tidewater, but the rolls we do have retail for about $.75,
have the JUMBO ROLL labeling and contain the usual 14 candies. I have
yet to see the spearmint or cinnamon varieties down here, however while
visiting my sister at George Mason Univesity last year I spotted a roll
of spearmint at the Quick Stop on campus.
Mentos are helpful before swim meets because the fresh mint flavor and
smooth texture calms any anxiety induced stomach ickiness. It should
be a part of the U.S. Olympic team's regimen.
Also, when I was taking CPR to complete my lifeguarding
requirements, a group of us hightailed it over to the Shopette to grab
a roll of Mentos before we had to do demos of technique. Yet again the
mints saved the day by calming our nerves, while making morning a lot
less unpleasant. At this point the Mentos' breath feshening qualities
were appreciated seeing that we had to demonstrate several techniques
on eachother.
One bad thing about mentos is that they don't store very well in one's
swim bag. If you forget to twist the open end before placing it in
your tote, the mentos escape from the roll and ahere themslves to your
brand new, state-o-the-art Speedo. Mint are the worst, because after
you peel them off the suit, you're left with a chalky white residue
that doesn't come off with plain water. The laundering instructions on
Speedos state that detergant shortens the life span of the suit. If
you know of a non-detergant Mento solvent please write. If not, I'll
have to scrap the suit for my "drag" suit drawer.
Wannabe Pseudo Car-Mover
a tale of minty success by Sean Quinn aka Maintainer Sean
I'd heard about it, yet I never thought it would happen to me. And certainly,
not in this fashion.
I had a Mentos moment.
Finally, I had a true moment of Total Freshness bestowed upon my humble soul.
It was during the aftermath of the giant blizzard that struck upon the Eastern
US this past New Year. My sister, not being fresh at all, decided to dig her
Volkswagon Beetle after the snow and ice were plowed on top of the thirty-plu
s inches that was uncerimoniously dumped upon the poor vehicle. I thought it
was, at the very least, a valiant attempt. However my expectations were soon
shattered and rebuilt, as I found out the car was released and stuck again.
My brother and I, in order to escape torture of guilt, elected to push the car
out of its newly found predictament. However, the victory was not immediately o
urs. After we were both soaked with Arctic ice water, the car would not relinqu
ishe its physical domain. A neighbor came to help. Suddenly, I found a roll of
Mint Mentos in my pocket. With a newfound sense of freshness, we heaved the
vehicle out of its snowbound prison. I popped a Mento, nodded at my neighbor,
and proceeded back to homely warmth.
Hi. I'm Jon...and I'm fresh
Hello.
I have to tell you my experience with mentos. When I was a little lad
my grandma would always buy me mentos. She spoiled me with mentos! I
learned to love them. I kept a secret stash of mentos in my bed room. I
had to face it I was addicted to mentos!
My parents saw this problem and cut me off. 32 M.A. (mentos anonymous)
meetings later my problem was solved i occaisonally bought
mentos, but not constantly.
I am now 13 years old. With these new catchy mentos jingles and the
neat commercials, the craving came back. I am now again addicted to
mentos, today I just bought a box of mint flavoed ones.
I will always love mentos!
Mentos lover #163
---- Editor's note : a BOX?!?!?!
Stay Fresh and Full of Life!
© 1996 The Gathering