Corvair---"Unsafe At Any Speed"

THE FOLLOWING IS AN UPDATED ENCORE TIM MOORE BLOG:


As a teenager, I worked for my Dad one summer, at the Highway Users Federation For Safety And Mobility (say THAT three times fast!)-mostly in the mailroom.

The offices at 1776 Massachusetts Avenue in Washington were frequented by one Ralph Nader, back when he was known more as a consumer advocate than as a politician. We’re talking about 1974-75.

All I remember was a disheveled man in a crumpled suit who would stick his nose into the mailroom from time to time. I had to ask my co-workers who he was. Meeting him was not a thrill, but rather a curiosity.

Although I have to say that I believe Nader is a “space shot” (waaaay beyond the moon) politically, one has to admire his tenacity to successfully attack General Motors, at the time THE most powerful corporation in America.

It was on this date in 1965 that Ralph Nader’s book “Unsafe At Any Speed” was published. The book, which mercilessly attacked GM and the Corvair, citing numerous examples of safety concerns, including items like the STEERING WHEEL COMING OFF WHILE DRIVING (most likely an inconvenience for both the driver and anyone unfortunate enough to be a passenger at the time)—became an instant bestseller. It also prompted the passage of The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act a year later.

The truth hurts sometimes—and the truth in this era was that many Americans were dying on the country’s roadways. In 1956, nearly 40,000 Americans died in traffic accidents—and the numbers kept creeping upward. Those who cared about safety could seek out---and pay extra for—a Ford car with seatbelts and padded dashboard. Only 2 percent of Ford buyers opted for the $27 seatbelt option.

GM’s initial response to the scathing book was to discredit Nader himself-hiring private investigators to follow him and dig up dirt. Unfortunately for GM, what they found was a workaholic who didn’t drink, smoke or chase women. Nader made a name for himself with the publication of that book-and consumers still owe him a debt of gratitude.

Here is a TV commercial for a 1965 Corvair-enjoy:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59voKreB2j8


The irony is that these cars, soon the butt of jokes following the expose’, ended up becoming collectors items as their scarcity made them valuable following GM’s wise decision to cease production.

A sense of social responsibility should exist in the corporate boardrooms of America. Unfortunately, the primary motive is greed—often at the expense of the safety of consumers. No one would advocate excessive government regulation, but those who are critical of the bureaucracy should at least understand that both laws and entire agencies exist as a direct outcome of the abuse of capitalistic freedom by companies who allow the gleam of profits to blind them to the obligation to build and sell SAFE products to their customers.

The story of Ralph Nader—at least in this instance is that ONE person can make a difference.

This one did.

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The Case For Christmas Music

Every year we do it.

Every year, we get both complaints and compliments.

“It” is flipping to an “all Christmas music” format from Thanksgiving through Christmas Day.

When first attempted about 6 years ago, it was novel, a bit daring---and very controversial. We received A LOT of complaints—and braced ourselves for a big drop in audience as a result.

And then a funny thing happened.

The ratings went up. A lot.

Since then, several competitors across New England have copied the strategy, although 94.9 WHOM remains the dominant station for the holiday tunes. The complaints have gone WAY down—and people start asking about when we’ll be going “all Christmas” starting in late October.

We still do get some complaints—most focused around the following points:

1) Why do you start on Thanksgiving Day?

We used to start the day after, but to many people, Thanksgiving Day is the traditional start of the Christmas season. It’s not a Turkey that rides last in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. It’s Santa Claus. Since we also play generic “holiday” songs, like Kenny Loggins’ “Celebrate Me Home”, it could be argued that we are not at all “disrespecting” Thanksgiving or overlooking it. Since the only “Thanksgiving song” I know of is by Adam Sandler (and WHOM doesn’t play it), I would state that an all-holiday format is way more appropriate than our regular format. In the past, we did make the mistake of going too early (the week of Thanksgiving)—and you let us know about it! That said, there were radio stations playing all-holiday music at the start of November. (I’m not kidding!) If you’ll notice, most retail stores are fully decorated for Christmas immediately after Halloween.

2) Why ALL Christmas? Why not “sprinkle them in”?

That’s the way we used to do it. From one song an hour, gradually working up to all Christmas by the couple of days before the 25th. The audience drove this one, preferring 100% commitment. It was this research which made 94.9 WHOM take the plunge the first time.

3) Why not more “religious” songs in the mix?

Hey, it’s not our fault that “Dominic The Donkey” is our #1 request! While we do play the religious titles like “Joy To The World” and “Oh Holy Night”, we have ample evidence to suggest that they must coexist with a heavy dose of “Rockin’ Around The Xmas Tree” and “Jingle Bells”. As we get closer to the Christmas Day, the percentage of the religious versus “secular” songs goes up, particularly when we program our commercial-free “Home For The Holidays”—36 hours of nonstop Christmas music from noon on 12/24 through the 25th.

4) Why do you STOP at midnight on the 25th?

Good question. Many people think we should play holiday music through New Years Day, but since most songs are about Christmas specifically—and since a lot of people are tired of the holiday tunes after a month, we have made the decision to stop then.

5) What about the audience that HATES Christmas music?

This is the hardest part. Even though we know the audience growth is without question much higher during the all-Christmas format, we also know that it is definitely NOT for everyone. That said, we get a few—“we’ll be back on the 26th!” e-mails. I totally respect that—and in the future, we hope to have a “non-holiday” stream up at www.949whom.com for those who would choose to listen online to our regular format.

6) What is your stance on “Christmas” versus “holiday”?

As you can see from above (and on the air as well), we use both interchangeably. There are some stations that go all Christmas—and are deathly afraid to say “Christmas” on the air for fear of alienating someone. Here at 94.9 WHOM, we are not at all “politically correct” as far as that is concerned. There are some songs that are truly “Christmas” tunes (“I’ll Be Home For Christmas”, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”) and those that are merely “holiday” tunes ( “Winter Wonderland”, “Sleigh Ride”, etc) We use both terms.

7) Why do you play the SAME songs over and over again?

This is a common complaint for all music stations all year long. Oddly enough, the audience is driving this one too. Study after study, huge auditorium tests where parts of hundreds of songs are played for thousands of people have yielded the same results, no matter which city they are performed.

Namely, the audience wants the hits. We play several versions of “The Christmas Song” for example, but the most popular version BY FAR is the original by Nat King Cole. A local band doing their version (usually badly produced) of the same song is bewildered when I tell them I won’t air their song. Why? The audience is telling me something totally different. Listening to the audience and giving them what they want is my one and only mission.

Nothing says “BAD MUSIC” like the holiday season. I personally get inundated with CDs from all over the country—from major acts to local singer/songwriters—all of whom believe they’ve penned and performed the next “White Christmas”. Frankly, much of it is horrible.

There are a few (and I will admit very few) that rise above the others. The Windham Chamber Singers debut Christmas CD years ago is unbelievably good. Top notch performances and production/sound quality that stands up to anything coming out of a major label recording studio. From New Hampshire, The McClenathans original “This Christmas Eve” is a winner—and we get requests for this song. There are others, local, regional and national—and we add many new songs each year. An original title stands a better chance of “making it” than someone’s cover of a Christmas classic.


OK, that’s about it….

This blog was meant to be an “idea starter” for the format, which is constantly evolving and being updated. New songs are on this year, from major stars like Mariah Carey, Josh Groban, Susan Boyle and others. There may also be a new “local” song that gets a few spins as well.

We are gratified at the ongoing positive feedback we have received—and if you’ve been on the opposite end of the spectrum, we appreciate your honest criticism.

Here’s hoping that you have a wonderful Holiday season.
Merry Christmas!

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Ringo's "Photograph" Hits #1

What was I thinking?

Back in the late 90’s, I had a chance to meet Ringo Starr at some radio convention in Los Angeles---and I passed.

The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet a Beatle in the flesh—and something else (I can’t even remember what) took its place. Had the meet & greet been with Paul McCartney or even George Harrison, I’m sure that I would have been right there.

And that about sums up Ringo—a measured drop in comparative stature---with no logical reason to back it up. The Beatle who never got respect was nonetheless an integral part of the Fab Four.

It was on this date in 1973 that his solo hit “Photograph” hit #1 on the Pop charts, becoming the third former Beatle to reach the top.

The most humble of the four, he characterized his inclusion as being “just happy to be here”. When he replaced Pete Best as drummer in 1962, it was not a popular move—as the handsome Best had a bevy of fans, mostly young women (shocker!). Rumors that McCartney and Lennon were jealous of Best may have been true, but one thing is for sure.

Ringo was a better drummer.

Further, his quiet personality and deflection of attention endeared him to a legion of fans-and added depth to the collective personality of a band whose every nuance was to become public knowledge.

Here’s a short video of “Photograph” featuring photos of Ringo through the years:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MubU8qHutY

While Ringo would never claim to be the most popular of the Beatles (he wasn’t), it seems to be quite factual to say that within the group itself, he WAS the most popular. Despite the acrimonious breakup of the band, Ringo managed to maintain a very friendly relationship with all three of his band mates. This was evidenced by the fact that his solo effort “Ringo” in 1973 is the only solo album in which all three former Beatles made a contribution.

That album gave Ringo two #1 hits, “Photograph” (co-written by George, who also performed background vocals) and “You’re Sixteen” (featuring background vocals by Paul).

The former Richard Starkey, beginning life as a lower-middle class lad from Liverpool---did OK for himself in the end—and undoubtedly deserves more respect and credit for the success of the Beatles than he has been given thus far.

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Go Ahead And Grope Me

How soon we forget.

In the immediate aftermath of the 2001 terrorist attack, my guess is that the majority of Americans would proudly walk naked onto an airplane rather than risk being a passenger on a flight commandeered by murderers.

Fast-forward nine years and now the furor is over the body scanners and TSA personnel pat-downs that violate our “rights”. What is meant to protect us is now the fodder for late-night talk show jokes , YouTube videos and blogosphere hysteria.

America, get over it.

First of all, you don’t have a “right” to fly commercial airlines. If you are offended, embarrassed or feel violated by the screening procedures, then go ahead and drive. This country cannot simultaneously protect us and keep intact all intrusions of our person. Frankly, I’m more concerned about the safety of the machines themselves. If there is even a hint of radiation dangers, then I propose that we suspend their use immediately. As you can see, my opposition has nothing to do with our “rights”.

The minute that someone boards a plane with a bomb in his or her sneakers or in their UNDERWEAR, the game has changed.

Here’s the “don’t touch my junk” cellphone video that has caused much of the stir:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3lbnSLalWQ&feature=related


I can understand the man’s position—as he seemed cooperative—until his one statement caused TSA officials to withhold his progression through the security check. Made as a threat, this passenger made the mistake of not choosing his words carefully in what is a tense situation for everyone involved.

That said, I am not entirely pleased with the current TSA screening procedures or the political correctness that goes hand-in-hand with them. Were I in charge of TSA security, I would institute the following procedures:

1) EVERYONE gets a pat-down and a once over with a wand. No more charges of “profiling” please—although that’s not my reason. It is a plain and simple fact that virtually all terrorist attacks both in the U.S. and abroad have been perpetrated by young men of Middle East descent. To avoid checking out EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM out of concerns for profiling is INSANITY. Passing over a Middle-Eastern man to scan a nun or elderly woman is ludicrous. I advocate that everyone go through the exact same procedure—with more extensive and thorough examination for individuals who either fit the “terrorist profile” (a factual reality) or are deemed suspicious based on their behavior.

2) KEEP THE SHOES ON. If everyone gets the once-over, it will take longer, but a hand-held scanning device can reduce the delay by allowing passengers to leave their shoes—and for that matter, jackets and sweaters on.

3) PASSPORTS FOR ALL- Everyone needs one to get on a plane—and travel history is displayed to detect unusual activity, destinations or one-way extended stays.

4) MARSHALL ON EVERY FLIGHT- Expensive? Maybe, but I see enough idle TSA employees to shift the cost to highly trained and armed U.S. Marshals, whose mere presence would be a deterrent.

5) FAILSAFE COCKPIT LOCKOUT—Useless if the objective is to simply blow up the plane, but a lockout mechanism that prevents a terrorist from gaining access to the cockpit would ensure that no airliner could be used in the manner that destroyed the World Trade Center and damaged the Pentagon on 9/11/2001

6) LOSE THE BAGGIE- Let the x-ray machine see the bottles packed and if there is suspicion over any of it, a more detailed examination can result. There is nothing magical about 4 oz. More goods have been trashed unnecessarily (and time wasted) by passengers trying to board with 8oz of highly dangerous SHAMPOO. Just as the specs for pen-knives have relaxed, this too should go away.


Not all-inclusive, but a start.

I want to fly safe. I want my family to be safe. This desire trumps my inclination to avoid a pat-down.

Feel me up.
Just get me there in one piece.

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The Kennedy Assassination--A Different Perspective

THIS IS AN UPDATED ENCORE TIM MOORE BLOG.

I defer to Oprah Winfrey the power to recommend a book and have it LEAP to the top of the best seller list.

I’ll just recommend a book I found fascinating—and let you decide whether or not you’d like to read it.

It’s called “Brothers: The Hidden History Of The Kennedy Years” by David Talbot. It’s been out for a few years—and I picked it up in a bargain bin, but this former New York Times Bestseller is painstakingly researched—and reads much like a mystery thriller.

Today is the anniversary of JFK’s assassination in Dallas in 1963. Forty-seven years have done little to diminish the investigation of that fateful day—with the basic premise being that a lone gunman, acting alone was a false conclusion of the evidence.

Less than 2 days later, Lee Harvey Oswald was himself gunned down by Jack Ruby in Dallas. This murder was shown on nationwide live TV-here is some rare footage from a perspective not often seen:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLF9_Hp-IyY


The murder of Oswald only confirmed what many believed at the time—and others have come to believe—namely, that President Kennedy’s assassination was a conspiracy. Jack Ruby’s role was to silence the killer of record, even though it appears he was not acting alone. An official report from The Warren Commission has done nothing to quiet the feeling among many that the “lone gunman” theory has not sufficiently been proven.

I won’t give away the conclusions of the book---and author Talbot does have some riveting evidence as to the likely individuals he believes were involved.

It is simply the PREMISE of the book that fueled my interest. Namely, since Robert F. Kennedy was the nation’s top law enforcement officer in his capacity as Attorney General, why didn’t HE lead an exhaustive investigation?

A valid question, no? After all, the President was his brother, his closest ally and his hero all rolled into one. Why didn’t RFK pursue the real story?

The reason is simple—and terrifying. RFK did indeed conduct his own investigation, but flew it “under the radar” because he knew that officials in his slain brothers government were behind the murder. To overtly seek the truth would be futile—and fatal—as the younger Kennedy eventually found out. Kennedy and his closest aides have left a long trail of evidence gathered without arousing the suspicion of those within the U.S. Government, particularly the CIA who had their hands dirty in the scheme.

“Brothers” is the story of the relationship between JFK and RFK—and the SECRET investigation orchestrated by Robert in the years following that fateful day in Dallas. If you are a history buff, you will love it. If you are a Kennedy conspiracy believer, you will also be enthralled, although there is little discussion of the “grassy knoll”, multiple shooters and such.

Motive from the highest echelons of government and the means to carry out covert operations drive this true-life tale of treachery against our own President. The fact that more has not been leaked since that November day 46 years ago is testament to the code of silence employed by the two groups most likely to have joined forces-the mob and the Central Intelligence Agency.

Kennedy’s (and virtually any President’s) inability to control forces within their own government is a threat to our democracy. In retrospect, we can look at the Cuban situation through the lens of history—and relative harmlessness. In the early 60’s however, President Kennedy’s unwillingness to send in U.S. forces to support the Bay of Pigs invasion—set the course for events that would eventually turn many in his own administration against him—and in a deadly way.

Some will argue that the nation needed the band-aid of a closed case-and a single shooter, the conclusion of the Warren Commission—in order to move on. Unfortunately, this cover-up only emboldened those who disagreed with the democratically elected leaders to commit treason and take matters into their own hands.

If the truth will set you free, then we are still being held hostage to a lie—“Brothers” is a necessary step toward that journey to full disclosure that democracy demands.

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Tommy Boy---Funniest Movie Ever??

Those who know me are aware that I’m a huge Chris Farley fan (may he rest in peace!)—and know of my affection for the movie, “Tommy Boy”, which came out in 1995.

Together with David Spade, Rob Lowe, Dan Akroyd, Bo Derek and others, it was-and is a nonstop laugh fest. In fact, I cannot think of any other movie during which I laughed so hard—or—the litmus test of cinema---one from which I quote the funny lines more often.

Is it stupid?
Yes.
Is it infantile?
Yes.
Is it hilarious nevertheless?
Hell, yes!

It’s difficult to rank ONE film above all others. Also in my top ten are: “Blazing Saddles”, “Trains, Planes and Automobiles” and “Black Sheep” (another Farley-Spade partnership)

And yet, I am astounded at the number of people who HAVEN’T seen this film yet! Fifteen years after the fact, there are many people who still need to be indoctrinated!

Below is the official movie trailer—and also a bootleg copy of one of the funniest scenes.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-xFypjUqTM




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiTIqLuOmjA&feature=related

Damn, he was a mess---and a comic genius as well.

If you’re looking for more than an occasional chuckle, rent “Tommy Boy” this weekend. I’ve often said that I’d pay anyone $100 if they could sit through this film in its entirety without laughing out loud at least ONCE.

It cannot be done.

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The Next Big Thing---I'm Waiting....

The last two decades have seen such a HUGE explosion in technology that we have become somewhat accustomed to having our purchases from just a few years ago become “obsolete”.

Really…I thought the DVD was about as cutting edge as you could get—and then along come Blue Ray, making my DVD player appear to be an early incarnation of the horseless carriage.

Think about it.

Remember when FAX MACHINES were the newest thing? That was less than 20 years ago. Thermal paper, curling files in the drawers of some cabinet may be all that’s left to remember the original machines, replaced by plain paper faxes. But back then, it was nothing short of miraculous that a document could essentially travel through a phone line.

E-mail was the next revolution, with the dawn of the internet right on its heels. The digitization of everything from documents to music and video has fueled a tidal wave of change.

Devices like the iPod to store vast amounts of audio/video and the smartphone, which brings incredible assets into the palm of your hand.

In your iPhone or Blackberry, a little box that’s smaller than a deck of cards, we are able to:

1) send text messages
2) access any website worldwide and interact, make financial transactions and download programs and audio and video
3) listen to music or watch full-length movies
4) use the GPS features to pinpoint our location and/or get directions to anywhere
5) take digital photos or videos and send them anywhere worldwide
6) get stock quotes or weather instantly
7) use as a calculator, conversion device, stopwatch, alarm clock or compass
8) read, compose and send e-mail
9) buy movie or concert tickets in advance, getting locations and showtimes instantly
10) download and read entire books
11) play sophisticated games
12) manage your contacts and calendar/datebook
13) check facebook or twitter/upload and update
14) store and recall documents

And…oh yeah…it’s a PHONE, too. Talk to anyone in the world from virtually anywhere in the world. That alone is amazing when you think about it

Am I leaving anything out?
Yeah, probably—tens of thousands of applications that do all sorts of things on these little magic boxes.

All of this said, we are all collectively yawning at the latest “app”—or device that uses technology we are already familiar with. Been there, done that.

What’s next?

Indeed, what IS on the horizon that could be a real game-changer like the internet?

The Edison awards recognize the most intriguing innovations, but this year’s list of eight is not exactly earth shattering:

1) a motorcycle with an electric engine
2) a wind turbine that operates at as little as 2mph of wind
3) a scribe pen thingy that transfers free hand to your computer screen
4) a hand-held miniature projector
5) an alarm clock that, coupled with a sensor band—records and analyzes your sleep patterns
6) an LED light bulb that is somehow revolutionary
7) a “carMD” handheld diagnostic tool for your auto
8) the droid cellphone

I was hoping for something like a TIME MACHINE or a TRANSPORTER like on Star Trek that would disassemble me into molecular particles and then put me back together in another location.

Of course, the next big thing could be a different form of energy to run our cars...like....SALT WATER...check this out:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU47blakiiI&feature=related



Somewhere, right now, some guy in a garage is putting together the NEXT BIG THING.
After reeling at new-technology adoption at breakneck speed, we have entered into a lull period of unknown duration, one that will be blown apart by the next big thing.

I can’t wait—and I hope I have the vision to invest in the IPO!

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Folk Music Tops The Charts

It was on this date in 1958 that The Kingston Trio did the unlikely: they took a nearly 100 year old folk song—and made it #1 on the pop charts!

“Tom Dooley” was a watershed for several reasons, not the least of which is that it—and the trio that performed it---are credited with paving the way for the 1960’s folk singers who might never have gotten the chance to be exposed nationally. Bob Dylan, Peter, Paul & Mary, Joan Baez---all owe their success in part to the Kingston Trio.

Dave Guard, Bob Shane and Nick Reynolds. Unlike the counter-culture, protest-based artists who would follow them—were clean cut, all-American young men who honed their act as fraternity brothers at Stanford. What they did---which allowed the others to follow—was to prove that folk music could be commercially viable.

Their ability to SELL made the record labels much more receptive to the artists who would use the genre of folk music to convey political messages.

The song “Tom Dooley” was probably first sung in 1868—based on a true story about a man named Tom Dula. Charged with the murder of his fiancée Laura Foster, Dula was the focus of national media attention, particularly in the New York Times. Professing his innocence right up to the gallows, Dula was hanged for the crime. It’s not known who originally wrote the song, but the Kingston Trio decided to record it after hearing it performed by a singer during an audition at the Purple Onion Club in San Francisco.

Here is that huge hit:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZYjc57V55U



The song actually broke out of Salt Lake City, of all places! DJ Paul Colburn at KLUB started playing the song extensively in his show, which resulted in strong local sales. Released nationally, the single sold more than 3 million copies.

The song earned the trio a Grammy award in the “Country & Western Performance” category in 1959, the first year of the awards.

The release of that debut record kicked off a remarkable 3 years for the group. They earned some $25 million dollars for Capitol Records ($180 million in 2010 dollars!)—and they reported accounted for 15% of the labels assets. For five consecutive weeks, four of the Top 10 selling LPs nationwide were Kingston Trio albums.

A feud within the group followed, with personnel changes—and the waning sales that were largely attributed to The Beatles and the British Invasion. Nevertheless, The Kingston Trio occupies a special place in pop music history.

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Redskins Rout Really Reeks

I’ve always been a Redskin fan, but last night, I WAS a “redskin”----out of sheer embarrassment.

The final score was 59-28, but it really wasn’t that close.

While the magnitude of the slaughter may have been smaller with anyone other than Washington as the opponent, I firmly believe that Michael Vick and the Eagles would have destroyed ANY team in the NFL last night. My bet is that other NFL players watching the spectacle from their La-Z-Boys are secretly glad that their team didn’t draw the Eagles this week.

They say there’s no defense for the perfectly thrown pass---and that’s exactly what Vick kept tossing all night long.

Darts.
Lasers.
Scud Missles.

The Washington defenders were so fearful of Vick’s arm that they forgot (constantly) about his ability to run. It was almost like gliding, not running. He was ten yards downfield before anyone even had a shot at him. Vick never broke a sweat. The only thing more annoying was listening to Gruden and Jaworski gush nonstop about how Vick had paid his debt to society and was a “new man”.

I get it, OK? Tell it to the ASPCA.

Of course, the true insult was the pre-game news that Donovan McNabb signed a contract extension for some $78 million bucks. If he didn’t actually SIGN it before the game, my guess is that his sprint to the contract table today with pen in hand might set a land speed record. Yeah, Donovan, sign that deal before Daniel Snyder changes his mind.

The Redskins were actually quick to set the record straight on the magnitude of the offer-namely, that “only” $3.5 million of the money was guaranteed as a signing bonus, in addition to his $5 million dollar salary and a $6.2 “roster bonus” (whatever the hell THAT is)—bringing his total for this year to $14.7 million. My heart goes out to his family, who may have to supplement their income by selling video compilations of McNabb’s interceptions in Philly and other NFC cities.

After being benched by Coach Mike Shanahan in the closing minutes of the Redskins LAST embarrassing loss, there were charges of racism and rumors of a deteriorating relationship between coach and player (see: Albert Haynesworth). The idea that McNabb’s “cardiovascular endurance” was the issue speaks volumes. If true, there is seriously something wrong with the Redskins conditioning program, McNabb’s work ethic or his age---or all of the above.

Don’t get me wrong. I am actually a Donovan McNabb fan. Enduring several years of the totally inept Jason Campbell at the helm will do that to you. Nevertheless, I believe in rewarding PERFORMANCE, not attendance. McNabb’s play has not justified a contract extension. I wonder what Shanahan thinks about the whole deal.

The Washington Redskins are clearly in a rebuilding year—and no one really looked to McNabb as the future of the organization. I think his role was simply to “steady the ship” and bring some sense of leadership and experience to the squad—and perhaps be used to groom the next Mark Sanchez, whomever he might be.

The road doesn’t get any tougher. After beating the Cowboys, Eagles, Bears and Packers—the ‘Skins have mixed in drubbings at the hands of the Eagles last night, another clinic of ineptitude against the Rams (of all teams), a solid loss against the Colts and an embarrassing collapse against the Lions. That, plus a loss that should have been a win against the Texans.

This team (as inconsistent as they’ve been) SHOULD be 6-3, not 4-5. Here are the remaining games:

At Titans
Vikings
At Giants
Buccaneers
At Cowboys
At Jaguars
Giants

Of these 7 opponents, they have the potential to win 4 of the 7—maybe more. If so, they would finish 8-8, which would likely NOT be good enough for a Wild Card spot.

The Redskins penchant for losing to bad teams means that no outcome is guaranteed. If they can win 5 of the 7, a record of 9-7 could get the job done—and trust me, a Wild Card berth is all they deserve this year. Once the Playoffs start, anything can happen.

There is no question that pipe-dreams of Super Bowl glory (which spring eternal in D.C. yearly) have largely gone up in smoke. This is one of the worst offensive teams in the league, dead last in third-down conversion percentage.
They were 0-10 last night.

With the Head Coach’s SON as the Offensive coordinator, you can be sure that things will be tense around the Shanahan Thanksgiving table next week (maybe Mom should carve the turkey this year)

I have no doubt that the Redskins will rise to glory again—and I think that Shanahan and GM Allen are the guys to get it done.

How they rebound from one of the worst drubbings in franchise history will go a long way in determining what the Redskins are made of.

Based on last night, the defense was swiss cheese and the offense was limburger.
Both stank.

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Crying Babies On Airplanes

The rightly maligned airline industry may soon have another issue to deal with---but, in their own resourceful way, one it will likely capitalize on.

Crying babies are the issue—and a proposed solution to either segregate them or create a class of flights that are childfree.

I agree that a screaming infant can be more than simply annoying in such a confined space where exit is not an option. However, being a parent, my sympathy tends to go out to the little loudmouth and especially his or her parents. When any of our three kids were young, air travel was a challenge on many fronts. The extra luggage that kids require, from car seats to strollers to formula and diapers, not to mention carrying the baby too—means that Mom or Dad will be stressed out long before the wheels are up. Babies pick up on that stress and then, combined with the physiological effects of hurtling one’s body through space— the results can be explosive.

The New York Times has devoted some of its editorial space to dealing with the issue—and possible solutions. Much of the irritation comes from a perception that the parents are doing little if anything to calm the child down. If that’s the case, I might likewise get worked up. Generally though, I see parents doing EVERYTHING to change their baby’s frown upside down. If wearing the barf bag on your head like a party hat will do the trick, I can see the whole plane joining in.

Here are a couple of videos—one from an angry mother who was ticked off by insensitive parents—and another with tips on how to calm your baby down:




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6pIQNpE7NY&feature=related




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR91ph4HVSQ&feature=fvw



The issues facing airlines are many, but customer dissatisfaction has never been lower. Moves to charge grossly overweight passengers a double fare have common sense behind them. I’ve been stuck in a middle seat between two sumo wrestlers and to say the flight was “uncomfortable” is not doing justice to the experience.

Luggage fees have likewise galvanized the public into a collective loathing for airlines. With the exception of Southwest (“It’s On!), the airlines are making millions in baggage fees. This trend has caused everyone to attempt air travel with “carry-on” baggage the size of a cow. Overhead bins are crammed so tight that a hard landing can cause the doors to burst open and its contents to shower on everyone below.

Headphones cost extra. Wi-Fi is an additional charge. And now, there’s talk of a “family section” where the only adults subjected to the concert of screams will be the parents and grandparents?

But, be careful what you wish for.

Any parent can tell you that a nearby baby crying can cause a chain reaction. To squeeze them all together in, say, the back of the plane---could backfire and create a symphony of bloodcurdling screams that could rival the noise of that jet engine outside your window. Unless a hermitically sealed, sound-proof barrier is part of the design, it might be a better idea to give the airlines another item to sell you:

Ear plugs.

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

Veterans--They Don't Question, They Just Go

Whatever the conflict, wherever the war, it is the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who drop everything and go.

The professional military person may train for many years to see that day when “exercises” become instead, a “mission”. Voluntary and reserve personnel abandon their families, their jobs—their LIVES—to follows orders they may not agree with or even understand.

Behind every military action is a quagmire of politics. Decisions made by politicians who then step aside and send young people into harm’s way.

It is not the job of the soldier to question the decision. It is not their place to argue the merits of entering any country or within their authority to debate the pros and cons of any action ordered from above.

They just go.

Throughout history, corrupt politicians have shared the responsibility with honorable ones to change the course of history through force. Young men (and women more recently) have fought and died on foreign shores to protect freedom, be it their own or the rights of another people with whom they may share little in common.

But still they go.

The advancement of civilization should inevitably expose war as a no-win situation. Soldiers die, innocents are slaughtered—and the treasure of a nation is wasted on implements of death. Resources that could be diverted to humanitarian uses are instead squandered on missiles, guns, bombs and the tools of devastation.

At what point will we learn?

While it can be argued that the frequency of wars has decreased, the severity, the killing potential and capacity for mass destruction has never been higher. The only winners are the defense companies whose implements of war are sold (often to both sides).

And while we, the citizens of the United States can influence the duration of wars and perhaps aid in averting them, we too can fall victim to the righteous fervor that creates the conditions for war (as was the case in the wake of 9-11)

Our military?
They just go.

So, on this Veterans Day, let us honor those who served-and those who continue to.
And, let’s strive for the day when such service can be accomplished without wartime service being a part of it.

Check out this tribute video—featuring country star Toby Keith’s song “American Soldier”:





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK7QxWDZ1yo



To all our servicemen and women—and our veterans:

Thank you.



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Breakfast At Ginger's

Thanks to 94.9 WHOM’s overnight guy (and our sister station Q97.9’s midday host) Teddy McKay, who posted this video on his Facebook page.

If you love animals—especially dogs, you’ll adore this clip. Our family has a Golden Retriever—and I must admit that I’m a bit partial to this breed. I think Goldens are the most beautiful and loving dogs out there…great with kids and good natured in general. Perhaps not the smartest hounds in the canine world, but as we say about our dear Molly—“when they were handing out brains, she was in line to get another helping of “cute”. She may have gotten “thirds”.

What’s really cute is this video:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaAVZ2yXDBo&feature=channel


Ha!
There are several other “Ginger” videos, all with about the same modus operandi.
You can find them all on YouTube.

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How Many More Laws Do We Need?

Everyone has heard the phrase, “There oughta be law!” when faced with an unjust situation.

Chances are, there is one.

In fact, there are likely SEVERAL laws to address whatever hypothetical situation you can come up with. These similar laws will sometimes negate each other or maybe deal with the exact same issue in opposite ways—perhaps none of it matters, since most laws are not enforced anyway.

In short, we have too MANY laws, with a significant percentage of them being redundant, unnecessary or downright stupid.

Little wonder, since we elect law-MAKERS at virtually every level of government, from city and town, municipalities, at the state level---and, of course, the big one: The United States Congress.

Check out this simplistic path for legislation from the classic movie, “Mr. Smith Goes To Washington” starring Jimmy Stewart and Jean Arthur in this scene. And we wonder why the whole thing is a mess?



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZFRP67sX8o&NR=1


We the People, send these men and women to their jobs as law-MAKERS with the mandate of creating NEW laws. After all, that is their name and their job description, no? New laws represent their OUTPUT. Show me a lawmaker up for re-election who has not written, co-written or sponsored new legislation and I’ll show you a loser on election day.

It is how they are judged.

And, with each new law, a small fraction of your freedom is sliced away.

If you Google the question, “How Many Laws Are There?”, the answer will be: IMPOSSIBLE to tell (given all the levels of government), but easily into the hundreds of thousands.

So let’s just take ONE sliver of the entire “law pie” (if you will) and go to a source where such things are actually kept track of. Let’s look at “Federal crimes”—and reference the U.S. Justice Department to get some stats:

Since the start of 2000, Congress has created at least 452 new crimes. As of the end of 2007, the total number of Federal crimes exceeds 4,450. There are so many criminal laws that the odds of you or I going through a lifetime without breaking AT LEAST one of them is astronomical.

For a humorous look at what the output of some of our elected officials looks like, log onto to: www.dumblaws.com and you can sort by state. Here are a few in Maine:

In Augusta, to stroll down the street playing a violin is AGAINST THE LAW.
Mercury thermometers may not be sold in the city of Freeport.
Dog leashes must not be over 8 feet in length in Waterboro.

In New Hampshire, the insanity continues-these are state laws:

It is illegal to pick seaweed up from the beach.
You may not run machinery on Sundays.
And here’s a doozy from the White Mountain National Forest:

“If a person is caught raking the beaches, picking up litter, hauling away trash, building a bench for the park, or many other kind things without a permit, he/she may be fined $150 for ”maintaining the national forest without a permit”.

Are we actually PAYING people to come up with stuff like this?

I propose that we should institute a system that for EVERY law enacted, two are repealed. A noble objective, but it's more likely gridlock will take on new meaning and that absolutely NOTHING will be passed.

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING PASSED........hmmmm

Good idea, no?

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X-Rays Discovered-----By Accident

If you land on Google today, you’ll see the familiar logo modified to honor the discovery of the X-Ray—on this date in 1895.

Like many inventions, this one was by accident. Physicist William Rontgen was testing cathode rays in Germany, to see if they would pass through glass. At some point, they passed through Rontgen himself—and the outline of his bones on a chemically-coated screen astounded the scientist, who dubbed the beam an “X-ray” because of its unknown nature.

The discovery was hailed as a medical miracle—becoming an important diagnostic tool. Without surgery, doctors could see inside the human body.

Although quick to discover the upside of this discovery, the world of science was slow to comprehend the inherent dangers of radiation passing through the body. Burns and skin damage was reported—and several scientists, including Thomas Edison’s assistant Clarence Daily, died of cancer after repeated exposure to the radiation. X-rays were prevalent outside of medicine, even to the point of SHOE STORES utilizing the technology to size footwear!

Here are a couple of videos—one a documentary on X-rays from 1940---the other an animated look at how X-rays work:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3s5HFQ2YME&NR=1\





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vSH-dlM5U8


William Rontgen won the first Nobel Prize for Physics in 1901. Despite the numerous accolades he received, he remained modest and never tried to patent his discovery.

Today, x-ray technology is still used extensively in medicine, materials analysis and airport security.

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NBC Defies Racism--And Makes TV History

It’s hard today to imagine the courage displayed by NBC on this date in 1956.

It was 54 years ago today that the first TV show with a black host made its debut.

“The Nat King Cole Show” hit the airwaves, starring a man who today is considered an American musical icon. Back then, however, he was viewed as a talented singer and pianist who could be tolerated as a GUEST on someone else’s program---but----an African-American with a SHOW OF HIS OWN?

Unthinkable.

Not to the executives at NBC, who launched the program without a sponsor. No American business was willing to be associated with this harmless music and entertainment show. Starting as a 15 minute pops showcase, it was expanded to a half hour in 1957.

Many of Cole’s friends in show business appeared for union scale or no pay in order to help the show save money. Peggy Lee, Mel Torme, Ella Fitzgerald, Frankie Laine and Harry Belafonte appeared on the program.

Here’s a clip of an early show:




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5tZrH2O4jc


The show lasted more than a year, airing its last episode on December 17, 1957. In the end, it was Cole himself—and not the network that finally pulled the plug. It is believed that Nat King Cole himself was losing personal wealth in keeping the show alive—and NBC was also in the hole, having never landed a national sponsor. It should be noted that Rheingold Beer was a regional sponsor for a time.

Although routinely beaten in the ratings by ABC, the show did have a decent audience—and some TV critics insist the show’s ratings struggles were more due to the genre of the music/variety show, which also claimed casualties with white stars at the helm, namely Frank Sinatra (1957), Judy Garland (1962) and Julie Andrews (1972)

In commenting on his lack of sponsors, Nat King Cole remarked, “I guess Madison Avenue is afraid of the dark”.

Regardless, the show was a milestone, a breakthrough moment. Nat King Cole is to be commended for the fortitude he exhibited in the face of overt racism—and in a rare display of corporate courage, NBC is to be applauded too, for taking a stand—and making television history.

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Marketing Has Changed

You’re gonna love the video that is part of today’s blog!

The internet has opened up new avenues for businesses to promote their products---and has created new challenges for traditional media to adapt.

Here at 94.9 WHOM, it used to be enough to create a compelling commercial---the basics being:

1) Write and produce a message that motivates the listener to try or return to a specific brand, product or service.
2) Broadcast that commercial to the correct audience.
3) Play the spot with enough frequency so that the prospective customer is exposed to it at least three times.

These basics have served both radio and TV fairly well---and they still hold true. With a weekly audience that averages a quarter million people in Northern New England (and many thousands more listening on the web), our clients have enjoyed resounding success with campaigns that don’t violate any of the above. Making their cash registers ring ends up making both of us successful!

The web has afforded opportunities to showcase different approaches to the tried and true-check out this “commercial”:





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAH0rImQozQ


If you didn’t read the masthead/title, it likely took you by surprise! In good taste? Maybe not, but effective?

Probably.

It’s doubtful that you’ll see 94.9 WHOM create anything that approaches the video above, but we are definitely spreading the word about our advertisers in different ways.

Since the audience is always experimenting with new modes of entertainment— radio and television have to evolve as well. In fact, 94.9 WHOM has become a multi-media entity that, in addition to the traditional “spot” schedule, routinely supports its clients with:

1) Streaming videos on the website
2) Stream-only spots on the internet
3) E-mail via our Listener database
4) Text database
5) Facebook
6) Web-based promotions
7) Podcasting
8) iPhone and Blackberry applications to listen to 94.9 WHOM
9) Blogs like this one

There might be others I’m not thinking of—and there are certain to be more in the future.

Creating an emotional connection is key—and although the Immodium “ad” above did so in a very unconventional way, it was entertaining, memorable—and probably effective, too!

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

All The Single Babies

Thank goodness the election is over. For at least awhile, no attack ads, no debates, no roadside signs (note to all candidates: TAKE THEM DOWN now)

So…how about something lighter today, OK?

I’ll get back to politics at some point-maybe tomorrow! But today’s all about the video. Thanks to Lorenzo Rozzi---whom I call the “Mayor of Portland”—he owns the newsstand at our studios at One City Center in Portland. When he’s not busy trying to strike up a conversation with every single woman who walks into the building, he is a purveyor of excellent e-mails.

This video is from Lorenzo and will definitely make you smile. Not new—it’s probably been up on You Tube for a year, but seeing it again made me want to share it with you.

Enjoy:



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


THAT’S what it’s all about. That little guy (?) doesn’t care about the elections, the deficit or the economy.

He sure can shake that booty though.

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Vote Today, But Beware Of Tea Party's Confused Agenda

OK, so the polls are open and the conventional wisdom is that the Democrats will take a serious bath tonight as the results roll in. Losing the House is a foregone conclusion by many—and the Senate is also in play. Governorships are heavily favored to shift Republican tonight.

ANGER is driving this election. Anger over the state of the economy, anger over the deficit, health care—and on and on.

The Republican Party will be the beneficiary of all this venom, but we should be clear on the following point:

Americans, by and large—are angry and distrustful of BOTH parties. Their dislike of Republicans is about as high as Democrats. However, being a Democrat is most definitely a liability this political season.

I’m re-posting the lion’s share of a blog I first published in May about the Tea Party. I have read SO much and heard SO much about the so-called “Tea Party Movement”, that I was curious re: their “Platform”. I mean, I get the whole “anger” part. They’re pissed off, feeling disenfranchised and generally mad as hell about everything to do with government, taxes, etc.

This anger is an appropriate fuel to initiate CHANGE---the Tea Party kind, not Obama’s.

That said, there must be something BEYOND THE ANGER—principles, ideas and plans that transform meaningless platitudes like “create jobs” or “cut spending” into CONCRETE decisions. That is, the actual decisions which cannot possibly be universally popular but those which must be made.

What are they?

I’m no expert on the so-called “Tea Party” movement, but those who align it with the Republican Party are misguided, I think.

From what I’ve seen, the Tea Party movement is party-neutral. Since fiscal conservatism and strict adherence to the U.S. Constitution-literally interpreted –as well as support for state’s rights are a cornerstone of the mantra, the vast majority of Tea Party “members” are probably Republicans.

Many of them, however, are disenfranchised GOP people who are looking for anything that they can align themselves with and be enthusiastic about. Nothing happening out there right now speaks to them-from either party.

Incumbents in both parties are being targeted for ejection from their seats. Maybe this is all well and good. After all, they are the problem, no? They are all corrupt, no?

I Google’d “Tea Party” to find a platform—an uniform set of beliefs that would somehow define what this “movement” stood for. What I uncovered was a fair amount of contradicting beliefs, alignments, goals and aspirations.

So, is that a “movement”? Or is it merely an umbrella term for “throw the bums out”?

The closest thing to a Tea Party Manifesto was the so-called “Contract With America”, listing ten points:

1) IDENTIFY THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF EVERY NEW LAW- I think that this is already done when drafting legislation. While implying that recent laws violate the Constitution, no law is drafted without undergoing a “vetting” process for constitutionality. If laws passed do indeed cross the line, they will be challenged in court. In short, this is a largely useless “objective”—as it is already in place.

2) REJECT EMISSIONS TRADING- Stop “Cap and Trade” I don’t know enough on this to offer an informed opinion. I wonder how many Tea Party people are versed in the pros and cons of this approach. Hmmm.


3) DEMAND A BALANCED FEDERAL BUDGET- Great concept, but at least one of a couple of distasteful scenarios appear. To accomplish this objective, Congress must either a) raise taxes (which I think violates #10 below), b) reduce entitlements like Social Security (which I’m thinking won’t be popular with the Tea Party crowd, many of whom are collecting same) and/or c) permanently stop the practice of prosecuting wars (like Bush did) without actually accounting for the cost within the budget framework. President Obama has at least made the accounting for war transparent, placing it in the Federal Budget where it belongs. Previous Presidents conveniently leaving it “out of the budget” didn’t mean we weren’t deficit spending. OK, Tea Party people—which will it be?

4) SIMPLIFY THE TAX SYSTEM- I am completely on board here. Complexity of the U.S. Tax code favors the wealthy, who use their accountants to evade taxes by using loopholes that ongoing rulemaking means to close—and yet, ends up having the opposite effect. In fact, I support the “consumption tax” proposed by then presidential candidate Huckabee.


5) AUDIT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENGIES FOR CONSTITUTIONALITY- This advocates creating ANOTHER bureaucracy-a so-called “blue ribbon commission” (are you SERIOUS?) that puts everything the Federal government does under the microscope. I could support this if I felt it could root out waste, inefficiencies and have teeth. How many “blue ribbon commissions” have the force of law? Zero, maybe?

6) LIMIT ANNUAL GROWTH IN FEDERAL SPENDING-Again, a great concept. This strives to limit the growth to the inflation rate plus the percentage of population growth. A worthy goal-perhaps attainable.


7) REPEAL THE HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION- Not only unrealistic, but regardless of the claims of “government takeover” of healthcare, to say so is factually incorrect. The free market system was simply not working—mostly because the medical ethic of NEVER DENYING CARE to those without insurance only meant that this cost was ALWAYS shifted to those who DID have insurance—and did so at a much higher cost, as a disproportionately high number of these uninsured patients received their care through the avenue of the local Emergency Room—the highest cost possible. The independent GAO determined that the Health Plan as passed was not only “deficit neutral” as was proposed, but would actually reduce the Federal deficit. Time will obviously tell, but all evidence points to this legislation as being both fiscally and socially positive over the long run. In short, don’t make as an “objective” the repeal of something that could not be defeated politically as legislation. Removing an existing law-one that benefits millions of Americans—will be nearly impossible. When the Tea Party controls both houses of Congress AND the White House, then we’ll talk.

8) PASS AN “ALL OF THE ABOVE” ENERGY POLICY- Authorize the exploration of additional energy reserves to reduce American dependence on foreign energy sources. Reduce regulatory barriers. With the exception of that last sentence (given the oil spill in the Gulf), I think we can all agree on this point. How we arrive at this objective will differ. I’m assuming that Federal tax incentives to invest in such alternate energy projects would be agreeable to all, but am I right?

9) REDUCE EARMARKS- Place a moratorium on ALL earmarks until the budget is balanced—and then require a 2/3 majority to pass any earmark. I can agree with this, but as a percentage of the Federal Budget, all earmarks together comprise such a small percentage of the total amount spent—that it is largely window-dressing. When our local Congressman or woman scores Federal funding for a local project, he or she is hailed as a hero at home—those not benefiting from it (in other states) call it “pork”. The ability to deliver pork to the home folks is a prerequisite for re-election. In short, we love OUR pork, hate the pork of others.

10) REDUCE TAXES- “Permanently” repeal all recent tax increases, including those to the income tax, capital gains tax and estate taxes. Again, who ISN’T in favor of decreasing taxes? I am. You are. The problem is that such consensus evaporates when discussing which programs go away.


So, there you have it. Ten goals, of which maybe only 3 or 4 have a realistic chance of achievability---even among Tea Party “members”—who could not be counted upon to agree on the so-called “tough choices” they advocate for. No consensus? Gridlock? What happens on Capital Hill may be a reflection of the lack of the same in our population.

When considering the hacking of Federal Programs, let’s “do away” with the following big wasters of cash—your cash:

1) SOCIAL SECURITY- Here is the biggest waste. Who cares if Grandma cannot support herself now? Let’s slice that entitlement in half. After all, the extended families that are such a part of other cultures are a social benefit, no? Granny will move in with you and your family.

2) MEDICAID- Wrought with fraud and waste, this too should be on the chopping block. Our refusal to deny medical care will simply move these costs, many of which constitute nursing home care—to the consumer in the form of even higher health insurance costs. But hey, it’s a free market system—and the capitalistic way to solve the problem, no?


3) ELIMINATE THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION- No barriers to keep companies from bringing drugs to market. Without all that pesky testing for safety, not only do we eliminate a huge bureaucracy, but maybe drug prices will go down as the pharmaceutical companies will not need to spend nearly as much to bring a drug to market. The tens of thousands who may die as a result of using untested drugs are merely the collateral damage that any free capitalistic society must endure.

4) ELIMINATE THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION- Like the FDA, think of the savings! We’ll be able to increase our imports of dangerous Chinese goods without the threat of federal intervention. In fact, we’ll be able to make our own dangerous goods right here in the U.S.A.!


5) ELIMINATE THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY!- Repeal those oppressive laws that restrict companies from dumping raw sewage into our water and carcinogens into our air and soil. These laws seriously diminish the profitability of these job-creating industries.

6) ELIMINATE THE FAA- Without the stringent regulations that require companies to perform regular safety checks on their airplanes and restrict a pilot’s flying time, maybe the airlines will become profitable again!


7) ELIMINATE THE SEC- Hey, we don’t want to further burden the Wall Street companies that almost brought us to the brink, so why not wipe out ALL consumer protection with regard to investments? Publicly held companies that need not publish a prospectus or adhere to accounting principles that guarantee the viability of their businesses to prospective investors will be able to raise a lot more capital.

8) ELIMINATE OSHA- Worker safety on the job is over-rated. Companies have the best interests of their employees at heart anyway, right? Think of the savings!


Those are just a few—I could go on! Who needs all that oversight, all that regulation?


In our justified frustration, let’s be careful not to demonize everything that smacks of government. Let’s not paint the scene with so broad a brushstroke that we lose sight of what life could be like WITHOUT these awful services that are paid by our taxes.

Excesses? Absolutely.
Inefficiencies? Without a doubt.

Sheer indignation and a “throw the bums out” mentality without some thought to whatever their replacements COULD accomplish is immature and unrealistic.

If Sarah Palin is the face of the Tea Party movement, that fact alone should send shudders up your spine.
By gosh, by golly.

It’s often said that the government we have is the one we deserve. Be careful what you wish for. Just as there is “no free lunch”, there is a consequence to all attempts to achieve the objectives that we say we want.

Sacrifice—and in some cases, profound sacrifice is the only alternative. And, no matter the candidate, promising “shared sacrifice” never got anyone elected—even a Tea Party candidate.

So, today, before you vote, think hard about the efforts throughout our history that have promised to “restore integrity to politics/government/Congress”. Have any of them worked?

Think about what you WANT as well as what you DON’T want. Tossing all the bums out will make you feel good for a minute---until we collectively realize that they’ve been replaced with OTHER bums---some of whom may have “incompetence” as added feature.

Let’s hope for the best—and vote our dreams, not our fears---or our anger.


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Beatlemania Firsthand

Life is a series of moments, a stream of seemingly chance encounters—and the results of these random events can---and do change history.

It’s possible that music history was changed forever on Halloween of 1963.

That’s the day that Ed Sullivan---by the sheer coincidence of being at London’s Heathrow Airport the same day the Beatles returned from a successful tour of Sweden---witnessed Beatlemania firsthand.

The pandemonium he experienced in trying to make his flight back to New York would pave the way for his desire to have them appear on his hugely popular TV show. Heathrow was mobbed by hordes of screaming teenagers. It was nothing like he had ever seen before—and really no one has seen since (at least not to that degree).

Some people will say that the Beatles would have “made it” regardless of Sullivan’s booking them on his show. Perhaps, but consider the following:

1) Beatles manager Brian Epstein had repeated tried and failed to convince Capitol Records to release their singles in the United States. The American arm of EMI, it was believed that the “Mersey Beat” sound would simply not translate and appeal to American audiences.

2) Capitol declined to release “Please Please Me”, “From Me To You” and “She Loves You”—allowing them to be released on minor labels Vee-Jay and Swan, where they initially languished on the charts without pop promotion.


3) In an effort to crack the American market, John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote and recorded a song specifically to appeal to American teenagers. “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” was completed just two weeks before their chance encounter with Ed Sullivan.

Once back in the States, Sullivan was so bowled over by what he saw that he started the process of getting the Beatles on his program. Brian Epstein flew to New York—and the deal he struck indicates Sullivan’s level of desire. He negotiated not one, but THREE appearances on the show as HEADLINER, even though they were virtually unknown to U.S. audiences. Armed with this deal, he finally convinced Capitol Records to release “I Wanna Hold Your Hand”, backed by a $40,000 promotion budget.

Check out this rare footage of early Beatlemania:




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLvTq6FdOj4&feature=related

Pretty incredible, no?

Epstein’s coup with Capitol Records—using Ed Sullivan as leverage—set the stage for the storied arrival of the Beatles in New York just four months later, on February 7, 1964.

By the time they landed at another airport taken over by teenagers, The Beatles already had the #1 song in the country—and the initial Sullivan show appearance (which broke Nielson ratings records for viewership) was followed by the other two contracted appearances---and an additional 5 more in the next year.

Sullivan’s knack for great timing was confirmed---and his chance encounter with the Fab Four 47 years ago yesterday---- turned out to be hugely beneficial for both of them.


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