Jimmy Hoffa STILL Missing!

Now, THERE’S a headline!

What started as a serious crime investigation over the disappearance of a former Teamsters boss has, over the years, degenerated into the punch line for jokes and endless speculation over what really happened 34 years ago yesterday.

It had the makings of a mob hit from the start-Hoffa meeting at a Detroit area restaurant with a couple of shady characters-and then—he vanishes. The search soon turned into one for a BODY rather than a missing person. Where is he? What happened to him and where was the body disposed of? Speculation has ranged from somewhere in the concrete at the Meadowlands in New Jersey to an auto junkyard where his body was supposedly placed in a 55 gallon drum, then into a car which was crushed and melted down.

Check out this 2-part “In Search Of…” special on the Hoffa disappearance. Hosted by a very “un-Spock-looking” Leonard Nimoy, it is an interesting glimpse into the life-and death of one of the country’s most powerful-and mysterious characters:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7z4BUYSfVo



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyAVBpEuUUY

If you ask for my blog to be placed in your INBOX daily, I will do so gladly and I promise it will not “disappear” like Hoffa. Drop me a line: tim.moore@citcomm.com

Have a great-and SAFE weekend!

I Want A Beer Summit With The President

Far too much time in the media over the last few days has been centered on the Professor Gates situation-and we all know now that President Obama should not have weighed in on the matter. The combination of:

a) not having all the facts before offering an opinion and
b) knowing that the attention it would generate would distract from, say, HEALTH CARE
surely would have caused him to reconsider making the press conference remarks that he did. If you missed them, they are here for your review:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LucTPdK8VTc


Still, after all of this, a BEER SUMMIT? OK, maybe not meant to be a media event (but it will be anyway even if cameras are not allowed in),it is really not something that should be taking up the time of a President who has a few other things on his plate (and now he has a frosty beverage to go along with that meal)

I had the pleasure and honor of interviewing then-Senator Obama on the day of the New Hampshire primary last year. He was friendly, gracious, interesting to talk to and…well…someone you would like to sit down and have a beer with. Unfortunately, I would either have to be a black professor at Harvard (I am not) or a white policeman (I am not a cop)—or would need to find some other way to get into trouble on a national basis where the President could imprudently comment on in order to visit the White House and toss back a few with The Commander-In-Chief.

Not likely.

Frankly, I admire the President-and although I don’t agree with EVERYTHING he has done so far, nearly everyone would have to agree that his “to-do list” of urgent items upon taking office was perhaps the most daunting in U.S. history-and, like it or not, he has been a busy bee.

However, with two wars, an economy that is still on life-support and a health care bill to usher through Congress (among a thousand other important issues), I think we would be better served if the President spent less time courting the media and more time tackling the problems we face.

If you’d like my blog in your box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com

Now, let’s go have a beer!! (or eight!)

The Worst Music Video Ever!

I doubt there will ever be UNIVERSAL agreement on anything that has to do with the arts. Differences in taste account for the vast array of its expression-and this is good.
Take modern art. I’ll look at a painting and say, “wow, looks like a 3 year old did THAT one”. Another art aficionado may consider that same train wreck of colors a masterpiece.

Whatever.

There may, however, be 100% agreement that the video below could just be THE WORST MUSIC VIDEO EVER!

Which is not to say that it is not entertaining. It is hilarious.

What makes it funny is that one believes its creators intended to make a sensational music video. No doubt there seems to be a serious approach to the choreography on the part of the participants to the point that you are astounded that they are able to get through their routines without doing what the viewer is doing—namely, laughing so hard that you risk soiling yourself!

Check out this little masterpiece and see if you can get through it without so much as cracking a smile. No fair thinking about world unrest or the balance of your 401K while viewing as a strategy to suppress the laughter. Approach with an open mind and even temperament.

Then go ahead and enjoy!




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPnGPIMUnus

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Bonnie & Clyde Like Fords-Good Advertising?

During the crime spree that Bonnie & Clyde were eventually gunned down for, they stole a series of automobiles, switching often in order to keep the police off their trail. It appears, however, that Clyde Barrow’s love for Fords may have been his (and Bonnie’s) undoing.

The lore of Bonnie & Clyde was very real back in the 30’s. Due to the Depression and the hardship it imposed on average Americans, Bonnie & Clyde represented the survival instincts that many people identified with. Due to the extensive newspaper and radio coverage, they became folk heroes of sorts, equal in many ways to movie stars and popular singers. The unusual combination of a man and woman crime duo-with it’s romantic implications-made the two cult figures long before their death.

It appears that Clyde’s love of Fords may have caused him to hang onto one particular car a bit too long. Clyde even wrote something of a fan letter to Henry Ford regarding his product:

“Dear Sir,
While I still have breath in my lungs, I will tell you what a dandy car you make. I have drove (sic) Fords exclusively when I could get away with one. For sustained speed and freedom from trouble the Ford has got every other car skinned and even if my business hasn’t been strictly legal it don’t hurt to tell you what a fine car you got in the V8”

We’ll never know if Ford ever considered using that letter for promotional reasons, but he certainly did not incorporate it into the company’s advertising.

After their ambush killing by police, the car-originally stolen of course, was returned to the rightful owner following a court battle with police, who were making money off its notoriety. It was on this date in 1973 that the bullet-riddled 1934 sedan sold for $175,000 to Peter Simon of Jean, Nevada. It has been bought and sold several times.

Watch the interesting story of the Bonnie & Clyde Ford below:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzbLWto-bcU

If you’d like my blog in your e-mail daily, just let me know! Tim.moore@citcomm.com

Rudy Vallee: Westbrook Boy To Superstar!

The City of Westbrook, Maine rededicated Rudy Vallee Square just days ago, honoring the man who, although not born in Maine(he was born in Island Pond, Vermont)-was raised in Westbrook and then went on to international fame. When the square along Main Street was first dedicated-with Vallee in attendance, there were thousands of people on hand. Recently, about 75 showed up.

It’s hard to imagine the magnitude of Rudy Vallee’s star power. Without the instantaneous mass media and the internet, Rudy was every bit as “big” as the later stars who he is compared to. Perhaps it is more accurate to say that Elvis Presley was the Rudy Vallee of his day-rather than the other way around.

Rudy Vallee was the first. He was the original superstar, whose singing style-later dubbed “crooning” was attributed to later stars like Bing Crosby. He was a huge sensation, especially with the ladies. Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, The Beatles and yes, even Michael Jackson were icons in their time—but Vallee was the first.

He was a singing star-on the radio, of course, but also became a movie star and moved to television as well. The ability to project one’s voice was essential to be popular-as this was the age before amplified microphones. Vallee used a megaphone and his distinctive style was the soundtrack of an era where change was the order of the day. From the roaring 20’s through the years of the Great Depression and beyond, Vallee was a bona fide superstar.

Tomorrow marks the famous crooner’s birthday. Vallee lived until 1986 and is buried in St. Hyacinth’s Cemetery in Westbrook. A YouTube search will yield a lot of audio samples of his hit songs-including the Maine Stein Song. Below is a video of Rudy doing his thing in a movie:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb36JID2jRA

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Made In The U.S.A.?

Today is my birthday, so I am cheating on the ol’ blog! I received “one of those e-mails” this week…you know, the kind that everyone gets. This one made me think:

John Smith started the day early having set his alarm clock (MADE IN JAPAN) for6am
While his coffeepot (MADE IN CHINA) was perking, he shaved with his electric razor
(MADE IN HONG KONG), He put on a dress shirt (MADE IN SRI LANKA), designer
jeans(MADE IN SINGAPORE) and tennis shoes (MADE IN KOREA). After cooking his
breakfast in his new electric skillet (MADE IN INDIA), he sat down with his calculator
(MADE IN MEXICO) to see how much he could spend today. After setting his watch
(MADE IN TAIWAN) to the radio (MADE IN INDIA), he got into his car (MADE IN GERMANY) and filled it with gas (FROM SAUDI ARABIA) and continued his search for a good paying AMERICAN JOB! At the end of another fruitless day checking his
computer (MADE IN MAYLAYSIA), John decided to relax for awhile. He put on his
sandals (MADE IN BRAZIL), poured himself a glass of wine (MADE IN FRANCE) and turned on his TV (MADE IN INDONESIA) and wondered why he can’t find a good paying job in AMERICA!

The author of this ended with a disparaging line about our President which I chose to leave out, since (despite your political views) the U.S. manufacturing leadership position has been lost for years, in part because “good paying American jobs” included a combination of salary and benefits that made American workers uncompetitive with other countries around the world.

At least the United States can claim leadership in the manufacturing of some products-for instance the golf ball! Enjoy the following video:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy86YlsR0LU

Let’s hope that our economic revival includes the resurgence of manufacturing. Making things and selling them is what earned America its leadership position economically in the world. We shouldn’t be so cavalier about giving it up!

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All Hail, Dr. Ernst Pfenning!!

So, who the hell is he?

Dr. Ernst Pfenning of Chicago just happens to be America’s first car buyer!

The good doctor from Chicago-took delivery on a brand new Ford Model A on this date in 1903. Henry Ford told him he could have it in any color he wanted-as long as it was black.

Chances are that he received no rebate, no dealer incentives-and he probably didn’t haggle with a guy wearing a plaid sport coat.

His trade-in was a horse. HA!

We’ve come a long way from that first transaction-and the government’s “clunker” program that releases about $4,500 bucks to car buyers who trade in an inefficient car for a “greener” model should help bring car buyers back into showrooms-something desperately needed to fuel the economic recovery.

Although it was the Model T that catapulted Ford into the #1 spot among automakers, the Model A was the one that started it all. The second Model A, released in November of 1927 was a great success. Between ’27 and 1931, a whopping 4.3 MILLION were made!


I couldn’t find a video clip of a 1903 Model A, but how about a PRETTY FAST one from 1927?

Enjoy:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFSGSL3Nrmc

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Quality Blogs are JOB ONE.

Your Body Is Screaming So Loud I Can't Hear You!

I am fascinated by the science of body language.

Perhaps most interesting is the fact that most of it is subconscious. That is, we aren’t even AWARE that certain body positions, facial expressions and gestures are happening. They often exist in contrast to what we are actually saying.

Scientists estimate that MOST of what is communicated to another person is the body language we emit-and the tonality of our voice—as opposed to the words we use. The language itself is a very small percentage of the MEANING that is conveyed.

Nervousness betrays the speaker, in the form of fidgeting, twirling a pencil or fiddling with an inanimate object. We see this and regardless of what the person is SAYING, we are KNOWING they are uncomfortable. This discomfort can then be attributed to a variety of things, most notable being the possibility that the speaker’s words don’t convey their true feelings..i.e., they are LYING. The deception usually cannot occur without body language betrayal.

There are a number of excellent books on the subject—and some good videos as well. Enjoy the little clip below—and you’ll never approach a conversation with anyone the same way again!




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXRQyJbMhkA

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It’s free….REALLY…I’m not lying!

Roy Rogers Radio Ends-But TV Is Waiting

Aside from my paper route, delivering the Washington Post (which needs to be the sole subject of ANOTHER blog), my first real job was at the Roy Rogers fast food joint on Wisconsin Avenue in D.C .in the 1970’s.

Wearing my country plaid shirt, western string tie and hat (all of which were completely mortifying to a teenage boy trying to get lucky), I was flipping burgers and taking out the trash in style, no?

All of this made me a bit curious about the man for whom my restaurant was named. I knew even then that Roy wasn’t in some kitchen out west trying out new recipes. Since we knew Trigger the horse was dead, we were actually grateful that Roy wasn’t in the least bit responsible for the food. The Marriott Corporation co-opted his name and reputation (at a hefty price, no doubt) in order to capture that wild west spirit. When a customer ordered their burger well done, we were told to yell out, “BRAND IT!” No, I am NOT kidding.

The last episode of Roy’s radio program aired on this day in 1955, but the new medium of television was soon to beckon Roy for even higher levels of stardom.

A long way from his roots. Born Leonard Slye in Cincinnati, he came to California as a migrant fruit picker. Soon after he joined various singing groups-including the Sons of Pioneers, he began to play bit parts for Republic Pictures-and got an early break after singing cowboy Gene Autrey quit in a dispute with the studio.

He married his costar Dale Evans after his wife passed away-and proceeded to become one of the wealthiest men in Hollywood. Rogers died in 1998.

His radio show began in 1944 and then after a couple of years off following the end of the radio gig, it was the TV version that began in 1951—and ran until 1957. Below is a clip from a Roy Rogers TV Show-enjoy!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op1xX7bPzEU

In the late 50’s, interests began to shift from cowboys to space as the imagination of kids turned to the skies with the launch of Sputnik and the dawn of the U.S. Space program-this phenomenon is playfully-yet accurately displayed in the Pixar film “Toy Story”

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Happy Trails to you!

40 Years From The Moon Landing-Now What?

If you asked ANYONE in 1969 after they witnessed Neil Armstrong cavorting on the lunar surface exactly what we’d be up to in the year 2009, it is likely the answers would have been a variation of one of the following:

a) Americans will be making regular trips to the moon as a vacation destination
b) We would have landed a man (or woman!) on Mars by now
c) We would have a space station/city in orbit
d) All of the above

So…..what happened?

It is somewhat ironic that we lost Walter Cronkite this past weekend-as he was likely the voice you heard describing the Apollo 11 landing 40 years ago today. I think that he, too, was a bit disappointed that we had not made more progress in space.

National priorities change. In the early 60’s, the Cold War fueled the race into space. We had security incentives to conquer the upper atmosphere and beyond. The wartime potential of supremacy in space was obvious. This sense or urgency, articulated by President Kennedy in his “deadline” to get us to the moon “before this decade is out” helped to crystallize the mission ahead of us.

After we arrived, there was euphoria, a sense of relief, of pride----and a heavy dose of “NOW WHAT?”

The Space Shuttle program-to design, build and fly a reusable spaceship made sense, but once we did it, what were we going out there for anyway?

I was a HUGE fan of the space program-and I distinctly remember gathering with my family around the TV 40 years ago today. It was SO surreal-that a part of me can understand those people who STILL believe it was all staged by NASA-that we never actually landed on the moon. It was all an elaborate deception.

The question of “what’s next”? still haunts us. At a time that when dollars are scarce-and no clearly defined reason for being in space exist, it is hard to justify the fact that more is spent yearly on the U.S. Space program than on the search for alternative energy sources, clearly a higher priority.

Maybe there is an energy source out there that we can harness. It will take something of that magnitude to galvanize American sentiment that we should re-direct the Space Program to new “heights” (sorry)

A new mission is in order. What is the nature of that mission? What is the end game? The space program of the 60’s created an explosion in advances in technology from computers to consumer electronics. This time, it will take more than commercial leaps in technology to justify the expenditure of our national treasure.

I hope we can define a new focus—one that captures the imagination of the entire world, not just the United States.

If you want to get the goosebumps all over again, watch the video clip below-historic footage of the mission 40 years ago that defined our supremacy as a superpower:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCp2jTtay0w

If you’d like my blog in your inbox daily, just let me know-it’s really easy- a small step for man (or woman), but a giant leap for mankind!tim.moore@citcomm.com

The First Mickey Mouse Operation

The original theme park, Disneyland, opened on this date in 1955. Located on 160 acres of what used to be orange groves in Anaheim, California, it cost $17 million dollars to build!

Parlaying the success of Mickey Mouse and the other Disney cartoon characters into an experience for families, the original Disneyland was less than an absolute success on Day One.

First of all, thousands of counterfeit passes were printed-and Disneyland admitted hordes of uninvited people. The food and drink ran out and the Mark Twain steamboat nearly capsized from too many passengers. A woman’s high heel shoe got stuck in the still-wet asphalt of Main Street USA—and a gas leak forced a partial evacuation.

Needless to say, the bugs were worked out-and Disneyland became enormously popular-and successful! So much so that Walt Disney began a project even more ambitious-the construction of Disney World in Orlando, Florida, which began in 1965. Disneyworld opened in 1971, five years after the death of its namesake. The addition of Epcot,Disney-MGM have helped make Disneyworld Florida’s number one tourist attraction. Disneyland Tokyo opened in 1983 and EuroDisney opened in 1992. The newest Disneyland-in Hong Kong-opened in 2005.

Below is a clip of the opening day in 1955 of the original! Notice one of the young MC’s to come on camera with Art Linkletter-a guy by the name of Ronald Reagan!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rHjoimz5XI

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Have a great weekend!

The Manhattan Project

The very first atomic bomb was tested on this day in 1945 in Alamogordo, New Mexico.

Depending on your perspective, this development of nuclear power for warfare is either the heinous start down a slippery slope that we have yet to realize the full effects of (thank God)---or it was a necessary evil.

In hindsight of what was called The Manhattan Project, it is easy to look back and criticize the development of-and use of nuclear weapons. However, back then, facing Hitler and Hirohito and knowing that they too were attempting to develop the very same weapon will make you think twice.

At a time when Iran is developing such weaponry, the United States is declaring that Iran cannot possess such destructive capability. Some might argue that it is highly arrogant for the only country to actually USE the atomic bomb against people to sit in judgment of other countries, who (at least on the surface) assert its development being tied to their sovereign rights to self defense.

Perhaps THAT argument will never find universal agreement. The series of events during World War II, however, are more cut and dried.

The following program is an absolutely FASCINATING look at the Manhattan Project, a story told in the context of the times that the project was undertaken.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwpgmEvlRpM


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Tim Moore-Recording Superstar!

They say that everyone has a “double”…someone in the world who looks EXACTLY like you.

Well, I’m not sure that’s true, although I personally have been compared to Prince Charles, to which I say, “do I REALLY look that bad ?”. Makes me want to take a polo stick and shove it….well, anyway….

Having a “name double” has to be a lot more common, so I decided to Google myself. I then YouTubed myself.

This is fun. You should try it.

Aside from a deceased black vaudeville actor and a diver from Ohio State (who attended there when I did, which was worth a few choice tee times at the golf course due to confusion!), there is only one other “famous” Tim Moore out there that I am aware of.

He is a singer –and my cousins have been teasing me about him for years. He was actually said to have some real talent, but you may not glean that fact from watching the following video of his smash hit “Yes”.

You may be too busy laughing at the hair. And then, of course, there is the name of the TV network, to which I say....NO COMMENT:




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AwjvOIvICE

So, now that you know that I am a star, incognito for all those years, a refugee from the 70’s, maybe you’ll want my blog in your inbox daily….let me know at : tim.moore@citcomm.com

Just say….”Yes”

The All Star Game!

After the SNOOZER that was the Home Run Derby last night, it will be a relief to see a REAL baseball game tonight!

St. Louis’s Busch Stadium will play host to the All-Star Classic this evening-and unlike so many all-star games in other sports, this one actually means something to any participant whose team has a shot a post-season play. The winning league is awarded home field advantage for their represented team in the World Series. With the Red Sox atop the AL East with the second-best winning percentage in baseball (with only the NL Dodgers ahead of them), the motivation will be there for all Red Sox participants to give it their best!

It will be difficult to see Dustin Pedroia out of the lineup -as he attends to his wife during a difficult pregnancy. He has, of course, made the right decision and will likely be recognized for this during the telecast tonight. I’m sure that he will be watching it all. Dustin is more than an all-star second baseman. He is an all-star husband and future father as well.

Tim Wakefield makes his first All-Star appearance at the age of 42. Jason Bay, Jonathan Papelbon and Josh Beckett all belong there tonight—and will likely play pivotal roles.

After a dismal National League record over the last dozen years (1-10-1, I think) it now seems inevitable that the NL simply HAS to win sooner or later. Some say the best chance in years will be tonight……well, we will see now won’t we?

Below is a little clip from the pregame show of LAST YEAR’S All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium. Did I mention the American League won?



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gftxLl0TdQM

Grab a cold one (or 6), a bag of chips and settle in for baseball’s best-of-the-best tonight!
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Play ball!!

Where Is The New Millenium's "Live Aid"?

Outside of music circles, no one had ever heard of Bob Geldof before the runup to “Live Aid”, the global rock concert that took place on this date in 1985. My apologies if you are (or were) a fan of the Boomtown Rats, of which Geldof was the lead singer. Not exactly a household name. But Bob Geldof was the driving force behind "Live Aid", the most ambitious music/live performance undertaking in history!

Designed to raise money for Africans facing starvation, the concerts in Wembley Stadium in London and JFK Stadium in Philadelphia (among other arenas) attracted a worldwide audience of over a BILLION people in 110 nations and raised an estimated $125 million in famine relief.

What started as a trip to Ethiopia began a snowball effect. “Do They Know It’s Christmas” was the direct result of that trip. Performed by “Band-Aid”, composed of members of the Culture Club, Wham!, Duran Duran, Phil Collins and U2, the single raised $10 million.

Drawing on that success, “We Are The World” followed and then the thought of a global concert started to get traction. More than 75 acts performed that day-a virtual “Who’s Who” of the music industry. One of the highlights was the performance of Elton John in Philadelphia, who traveled from London via the Concorde after taking the stage at Wembley earlier in the day.

But back to the essential question: Where is the modern day “Live Aid”? Are we so self-absorbed in the economic crisis that we have failed to look at the millions of people worldwide who are STILL living day-to-day, keeping death at bay by the slimmest of margins?

I think that we are ready for the music industry to step up again and lead the world into a renewed level of awareness and shared responsibility for our fellow human beings. I know that the radio industry was instrumental in promoting this—and we certainly would be again!

Below is a clip of Madonna at Live Aid for your viewing pleasure!




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5YmzHOMBps

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Ya Gotta Love Southwest Airlines!

No one seems to talk about airlines nowadays without the blow-by-blow description of a late flight, a missed connection and/or lost luggage. Having to pay $50 (or more) for bags just adds insult to injury. It would be one thing if such horror stories were the exception. No, more and more, this is the rule—and so commonplace that stories of great service, an on-time flight and overall good experience make for the unusual story!

Southwest Airlines seems to be the exception.

While even their prices have gone up recently, they do not charge for luggage and the experience is almost ALWAYS superior to that of their competitors.

Southwest founder and CEO Herb Kelleher has always made PEOPLE his number one priority. His passion for the industry, his business acumen and goal of combining value with fun has resulted in a profitable operation when virtually all others have filed for bankruptcy protection. His model for the industry has revolutionized flying for millions of Americans-and has spawned competitors like AirTran, who, in their own way, attempt to emulate the success of Southwest, which started as a short-haul airline for business travelers in Texas—to being one of the biggest—and most definitely the BEST airline in the business.

Even casual travelers who consider all carriers to be alike—will immediately notice the difference shortly after boarding a Southwest jet. Instead of the usual boring diatribe about seatbelts and exits, passengers are usually treated to a info—with a twist. That twist is the personality of the flight attendant delivering the message. Jokes are commonplace, sometimes singing…and sometimes more.

While Air New Zealand has made news recently with their FILMED announcements, using flight attendants (male and female) clad ONLY in body paint to appear like their uniforms , the Southwest approach is better, because it is real, it is varied—and it is almost always highly entertaining! I have seen the Air New Zealand film (purely for research purposes, you understand…ahem) and it is most definitely G-rated (darn)

On my Southwest flight from Baltimore to Manchester a couple of weeks ago, I was fortunate to get the flight attendant featured in the video clip below. He was great, as you will see…..




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivjybzdXVmI


Now, THAT’S the way to do it!

Have a great weekend-if you’d like to receive my blog in your in-box daily, just put your seat into the upright position and make sure your tray tables are up and locked-then e-mail me: tim.moore@citcomm.com

Like baggage at Southwest, it’s free!

Why Won't This Song Die?

It was on this date in 1983 that the Police hit the top of the charts with “Every Breath You Take”. It was the first single from the group’s album “Synchonicity”, which also topped the sales charts. The British group, starring lead singer Sting had been together since 1977. Synchonicity was their most successful-and last album together.

Now, I’m not surprised that “Every Breath You Take” made it to #1. What surprises me is that over a quarter-century later, that song is still a research monster! What that means is that in radio research, a hundred or so people at a time are herded into an auditorium and are then subjected to nearly a thousand song clips. They vote on each one. The songs you hear on the radio-especially stations like 94.9 WHOM—use these results to help determine which songs to play. After all, this is the essence of going to the consumer and determining which tunes are popular, which ones folks are sick of hearing-and those that come up unfamiliar. If over a thousand people say “I HATE THAT!”, we have a pretty good idea (geniuses that we all are) to perhaps avoid that song!

“Every Breath You Take” is hugely popular among women radio listeners, even after all these years. This strikes me as odd, since the lyrics of the song have a certain “stalker” quality about them. Lines like “I’ll be watching you” don’t outwardly make me think, “Wow, I’ll bet women want to hear THAT from a guy!” More likely that a restraining order is on the way.

Whatever—to each his own. I am a huge fan of the Police, but not of that song, which we still do play on 94.9 WHOM—because the collective “YOU” says you still love it.

And if you like the song, you’ll enjoy this video of the song performed live in Montreal the year it was a hit-1983:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Rygpvh5bV4

Sting as STALKER? Maybe not, but I’ll dial 9-1-1 if you insist….
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I’ll be watching you….

Hey, Four-Eyes, Look At This!

After nearly 51 years, probably the last 20 of them with inferior vision, I finally made the move to eyeglasses yesterday. My distance vision has been a problem, especially at night, especially driving-and particularly driving in the rain. Well, since the weather has been SO SPECTACULAR lately (sarcasm at no extra charge), I decided the time was now. Reading is not an issue, but anything past 10 feet or so is fuzzy, blurred and unfathomable to me.

First of all, I eschewed contact lenses. The thought of placing my finger in my EYE repulses me-damn, I can’t even keep my eyes open for Visine drops! Same with Lasik surgery, which apparently would have solved the distance vision problem-but would have created a new one-the need for reading glasses. So, what’s the upgrade? I decided on good old fashioned spectacles.

After 24 hours of use, here are my observations:

Like someone who purchases a certain brand of car—and then notices that EVERYONE seems to also be driving the same one (the scientists call it your reticular activation system), it now seems to me that every human being on earth is wearing glasses. I even thought I saw my dog wearing them. I never noticed how many people wear glasses! I am not alone!

My wife was instrumental in keeping me away from styles that made me look goofy (OK, goofier) She helped me choose a set of frames that look alright-and people—perhaps just being kind—folks have said they look good on me.

The difference has been astounding! I can now read the score of the Red Sox game on TV without having to get up and walk across the room! I can see much better behind the wheel.

Taking them off to read or look at a computer screen is a pain, plain and simple. I will need to get used to it.

No headaches…yet! The optician said I’d get them, but so far I am pain-free!
Although the distance vision is FAR better, there is a distortion of angles. Trees that stand straight appear to be leaning back or away through these lenses.

People now say I look smarter. Of course, almost ANYTHING should accomplish THAT, no?

Here’s a funny eyeglass “commercial”…Enjoy!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YJxZM2uivU


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What A Dam Job That Was!

It was on this date in 1930 that construction began on the Hoover Dam. Five years and 21,000 workers later, it became the largest dam in the world at the time-and one of the largest man-made structures ever!

The enormous engineering obstacles overcome were staggering! How do you stop the raging Colorado River? How do you build a massive structure using the building technology of the time? Perhaps a testament to days gone by, the project was completed 2 YEARS ahead of schedule-and millions of dollars UNDER budget!

The goals of the dam were to provide flood control, expansion of irrigated farmland and a dependable supply of water for Los Angeles and Southern California. It also generates enough electricity to serve a million people each year!

Below are three videos that chronicle the building of the AMAZING Hoover Dam!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceoRxGjumOA




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5kgGDCr7b8



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhXMGEwnQUk




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Baby, That Is AMAZING!!

I often write about technology-and how advances in all areas are fascinating to watch. When it’s Twitter or something completely NEW, the attention is widespread. Less prominent-but no less amazing-are the visual special effects that have become commonplace in movies—and also TV ads.

I coming up with something to blog about today, I jumped on YouTube, as it is my custom to embed a video clip every day.

I came across this TV ad for Evian spring water-featuring infants on roller skates! Aside from being incredibly cute, it is nothing short of AMAZING from a video production point of view. Of course, there seems to be nothing that cannot be done, but when the creativity and humor shown here are incorporated into the piece, the it becomes truly a gem!

I have withstood the pressure to write about Michael Jackson, Sarah Palin or Governor Sanford over the last few days.

Let’s keep it light today!

Enjoy the following clip:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQcVllWpwGs


If you’d like my blog in your box daily, just let me know! Tim.moore@citcomm.com
(It’s free, but really, who would pay for this? It’s priceless..ahem)

The Corvette Macho Machine

What exactly is it about guys and cars?

I mean, we seem to take delight in DEFINING ourselves by the car we drive, whereas women (to the best of my knowledge) have none of this in their DNA.

The one millionth Corvette rolled off the assembly line on this date in 1992. Original designer Zora Arkus Duntov did the honors behind the wheel as it emerged from the Bowling Green, Kentucky assembly plant.

The Corvette was really America’s first sports car, allowing young men to drive fast and attract women-and allowing old guys to address their mid-life crisis by attempting to APPEAR young and ATTEMPTING to attract women(usually in vain). Convertibles sold to middle-age guys should have come equipped with toupee glue, just in case that hairpiece wanted to liberate itself from the head behind the wheel!

Do women have a problem driving, say, a pickup truck? I don’t think so. Their orientation is simply point A to point B (especially if Point B is a shoe store). Guys, on the other hand, feel downright UNMANLY behind the wheel of, say, a VW Bug.
“Please, God, don’t let any of my friends SEE me driving this car!”

Of course, sheer economics will drive what you drive.
As a younger man, I had not the means to purchase the macho cars of choice: Corvette, Camaro or…Firebird Trans-Am!! I drove whatever I could afford-and took the verbal abuse from my friends, whose cars may have been SLIGHTLY more testosterone-friendly.

My personal low point was the Pinto Wagon, which became my “ride” in the late 70’s. Talk about a chick magnet. As if the standard Pinto wasn’t bad enough, I had the WAGON, which ratcheted up the laugh index to new heights. At least I wasn’t so delusional to think that “tricking out” (or “pimping”, to use a more contemporary term) would make any difference to my prospects for getting girls. My friend put decals of flames and mag wheels on his VEGA! I can assure you from his many dateless nights that no one was fooled.

That said, it does appear that although women may not define THEMSELVES by their cars the way men do, it does appear that they defined their MEN by that standard. Not to say that George Clooney in a Yugo would lose out to Marty Feldman in a Maserati, but you get the idea. I have seen some homely guys with chicks WAY out of their league cruising down the boulevard in a Jaguar. That same dude in a Suburban station wagon (with genuine imitation woodgrain on the side) wouldn’t have had a chance.

Could it be that BOTH sexes are that shallow?

Yes….but at least the ladies can leave it at the curb. Men have to make monthly payments on their image enhancers, all of which eventually end up in the junkyard!

Check out this video, probably the VERY first TV commercial for the brand new 1953 Corvette!




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC8bwEQFx6M

If you’d like my blog in your inbox, let me know! Tim.moore@citcomm.com

Remembering The Wolfman

Maybe this one is just for radio geeks like me.

Whether you are now or ever have been “on the air”, you cherish the Wolfman’s reverence for his craft, for his listeners-and for the music that surrounded him. His crazy howl, high-pitched laugh and “ya understand” tag on virtually everything were his trademark, one that endeared him to generations of fans. Radio people may not have imitated him—there was simply no way to accomplish that. They did-and still do try to establish that intimate bond and playful vibe that made him an icon. If you are or were an avid listener to this incredible medium called radio, you know all about Wolfman Jack. This legend in the business passed away on this date in 1995.

Born Robert Smith, the Wolfman became famous in the 60’s broadcasting from Mexico. The stations there-not subject to the power limitations of U.S. stations-broadcast over much of the States. Wolfman Jack combined his antics-with an “illicit, we’re breakin’ the law” attitude that was just right for America’s youth in the rock and roll sixties.

It was his appearance (as himself) in the 1973 movie “American Graffiti” that propelled him to “household name” status. He inspired a hit record “Clap For The Wolfman” and hosted the TV show “Midnight Special”

Here below is a video of stills w/ audio from his very first show on WNBC in New York in 1973. Highly entertaining!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtNa9v9d5v4

I love this business, love being on the air-and although I am no “Wolfman”, I too revere the medium, it’s power to connect-and to spread positive vibes!

If you’d like my blog in your box daily, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com