This past Saturday, I hosted a surprise birthday party for my wife Peggy.
Since you’re never supposed to reveal a woman’s age, I will only say the milestone she reached begins with the number 5.
So there.
Thanks to my partners-in-crime (mostly her family), we were able to pull it off without letting the proverbial cat out of the bag—a major concern. Without the element of surprise, much of the fun also goes away. Like a tiger hiding in the bushes, waiting to pounce on his prey, I’ve been in the tall grass for some months now, planning the event, hoping all along that I wouldn’t give away my position.
The invitation list was comprised largely of Peggy’s family and friends, our neighbors and some acquaintances from work who have known Peggy for much of the 20 years or so that we’ve lived in Portland. Peggy’s actual birthday is this Thursday the 3rd of February, but attempting to bring in our college student children from New York and Nebraska, respectively—meant doing it on a weekend.
Aside from the challenge of drawing people to Maine in January (without skis), there was the issue of where to have the party and where to house everyone. The Portland Embassy Suites turned out to be ideal. Aside from a terrific staff and well-known great food, its proximity to the airport meant that folks from, say, FLORIDA (her Mom and husband Dick) would not have to brave the sub-freezing temperatures much longer than the twenty or so feet from the terminal to the hotel shuttle.
It’s a testament to my wife that over 80 people showed up----from all over the place. You know who you are—and both of us are so touched that you made the trip up to celebrate!
The room, menu, music and decorations were secondary to the ruse, the totally fabricated reason to be there. I decide to create a station event for 94.9 WHOM and our sister stations, a client reception and sales seminar that was mandatory—with spouses. It provided the ideal cover to getting her in the building. We already have a business relationship with the Embassy Suites---and even though our event was completely private and separate, she would fall for it.
Or, at least I thought she would.
I carefully constructed a bogus e-mail and enlisted my boss, our Northeast President and all of our department heads to be complicit by having it actually sent out. When I simply forwarded to Peggy this e-mail from my supervisor, the bait was set.
Of course, that night she said—“That’s a little unusual---you’ve never had an event like THAT before!”
That simple statement sent me careening into a series of fibs, half-truths and bold-faced lies about the event, my need to give a speech and our requirement to be there. She needed to choose either chicken or fish for dinner. Citadel employees would each get two drink tickets, but advertisers could enjoy open bar. I instructed the hotel staff to place a sign in the lobby directing us to the “Citadel Broadcasting Client Reception”
Hell, I even wrote a speech ---and had Peggy critique it that afternoon.
Devious? Yes.
Underhanded? Yes.
Deceitful? Why, yes.
Beautiful? You bet.
Our daughter Christina especially laid it on thick by calling Peggy (either from in-town or Boston, where she landed-I’m not sure) to tell her all about her busy weekend at school, with sorority activities and such, complaining about the weather and giving updates on the Creighton Women’s Rowing team.
As Peggy relayed this conversation, I tried hard not to laugh out loud.
In this shroud of secrecy, I even kept our youngest, Kevin, from the truth until the very day of the party. It’s not that I didn’t trust him to keep a secret. Rather, I couldn’t trust MYSELF from making some comment to him (with his mother within earshot) that would blow the whole deal.
It wasn’t until we were actually driving to the party that I became absolutely convinced that she knew NOTHING about this bash in her honor. She didn’t even notice the snickers of the desk clerk and another employee upon our arrival, as it seems the entire staff was awaiting our descent upon the ballroom.
Since Peggy believed it to be MY event, she directed me to walk in first.
“SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
The streamers were dangling, the balloons were flying, the camera flashes blinded us—and in an instant, Peggy knew that she’d been had.
It was terrific.
Later, she’d recall that she saw the faces of our oldest kids, John and Christina—and that of her mother—and everything else was a blur. As the realization sank in, the additional faces of siblings, aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, in-laws, friends and neighbors all bombarded her—one after another!
Since I knew SHE knew that I wouldn’t do NOTHING for her birthday, I told her to keep the following Saturday open. “Don’t make plans for the 5th”, I’d say. This, perhaps more than anything else—kept her off balance and unsuspecting. She firmly stated that she didn’t want a party, so I lied again and assured her there wouldn’t be one—on the 5th!
As I remarked in my little toast to her before cutting the cake, there was no better gift than to present her with a roomful of people whom she loved---and who loved her right back. That, and the following very truthful statement that everyone nodded in agreement to, namely:
That Peggy, who is accustomed and predisposed to putting everyone ELSE in the spotlight and subordinating herself—was, on this night, the person who deserved the attention and honor and focus--all on the occasion of a milestone birthday (which of course I still cannot mention specifically)
It was an event completely built on lies, but ones that were told by myself and others so that on the special evening when we all gathered in that room, we could tell one simple truth:
Peggy, we love you.
Peggy, I love you.
If you’d like my blog in your box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Challenger Disaster: A Quarter Century Later
It’s hard to believe that 25 years have passed since that horrible moment in 1986 when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded less than two minutes after liftoff.
Like the Kennedy assassination or, more recently, the 9/11 Terrorist attacks, everyone alive remembers exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news.
Unlike those fateful days in Dallas or New York, millions of people were purposely watching TV to see the launch—waiting to celebrate the first teacher in space, Christa McAuliffe.
I was working in radio at WKSQ, known as Kiss 94.5 in Ellsworth, Maine—doing the midday show as usual—when I looked across through the studio glass and into the news studio, where a TV was monitoring the liftoff. I remember the feeling like I was literally punched in the stomach---a physical feeling that was almost overwhelming as the reality of what transpired began to become apparent. I remember stopping the music and opening the microphone to make the announcement to my listeners who were as yet unaware that anything had gone wrong.
I’ve embedded the ABC news coverage from that day below—and watching it even almost a quarter century later still brings strong emotions to the surface:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhfmDhXhOXw&feature=related
After the tragedy, President Reagan appointed a special commission to investigate the cause of the explosion, a panel that included former astronaut Neil Armstrong and former test pilot Chuck Yeager. The cause was determined to be the “O-ring” seals in one of the two booster rockets.
It was more than 2 years before another Shuttle launch was attempted. Another disaster occurred in 2003, as the Columbia disintegrated upon Earth re-entry, most likely due to wing damage that occurred from a piece of foam (yes, foam-weighing less than 2 pounds but traveling at over 500 mph) during takeoff days earlier.
Unlike the 1960’s, when each NASA launch captivated the nation if not the world, space travel became so commonplace that it failed to hold our attention. Only when tragedies like Challenger and Columbia occur do we realize just how complex it all is….and how extremely dangerous, too.
As a kid, I wanted to be an astronaut. That feeling extended into my adulthood—until this day 25 years ago—when being a disc jockey suddenly seemed like a better option. I applaud the courage of those who continue to put their lives on the line—especially when they have explicit evidence of what happens when something goes wrong.
If you’d like my blog in your weekday inbox, just drop me a line: tim.moore@citcomm.com
Like the Kennedy assassination or, more recently, the 9/11 Terrorist attacks, everyone alive remembers exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news.
Unlike those fateful days in Dallas or New York, millions of people were purposely watching TV to see the launch—waiting to celebrate the first teacher in space, Christa McAuliffe.
I was working in radio at WKSQ, known as Kiss 94.5 in Ellsworth, Maine—doing the midday show as usual—when I looked across through the studio glass and into the news studio, where a TV was monitoring the liftoff. I remember the feeling like I was literally punched in the stomach---a physical feeling that was almost overwhelming as the reality of what transpired began to become apparent. I remember stopping the music and opening the microphone to make the announcement to my listeners who were as yet unaware that anything had gone wrong.
I’ve embedded the ABC news coverage from that day below—and watching it even almost a quarter century later still brings strong emotions to the surface:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhfmDhXhOXw&feature=related
After the tragedy, President Reagan appointed a special commission to investigate the cause of the explosion, a panel that included former astronaut Neil Armstrong and former test pilot Chuck Yeager. The cause was determined to be the “O-ring” seals in one of the two booster rockets.
It was more than 2 years before another Shuttle launch was attempted. Another disaster occurred in 2003, as the Columbia disintegrated upon Earth re-entry, most likely due to wing damage that occurred from a piece of foam (yes, foam-weighing less than 2 pounds but traveling at over 500 mph) during takeoff days earlier.
Unlike the 1960’s, when each NASA launch captivated the nation if not the world, space travel became so commonplace that it failed to hold our attention. Only when tragedies like Challenger and Columbia occur do we realize just how complex it all is….and how extremely dangerous, too.
As a kid, I wanted to be an astronaut. That feeling extended into my adulthood—until this day 25 years ago—when being a disc jockey suddenly seemed like a better option. I applaud the courage of those who continue to put their lives on the line—especially when they have explicit evidence of what happens when something goes wrong.
If you’d like my blog in your weekday inbox, just drop me a line: tim.moore@citcomm.com
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Shindig!
THE FOLLOWING IS AN UPDATED ENCORE TIM MOORE BLOG—BACK BY REQUEST!!! (I like that.):
With virtually all of our media now “on demand”, it’s sometimes hard to imagine the “event” status of TV shows from days gone by.
I’ve blogged before about the loss of what I call “common media experience”—the days when HUGE segments of the U.S. population would tune into a particular television show. We were all engaged with the same media experience—at the exact same time—and the uniqueness of these time-bound episodes were defining moments for millions.
A bond of shared experience was created—and subsequently related in the coming day(s) between young and old.
The Beatles appearing on “The Ed Sullivan Show” is perhaps one of the most prevalent, but there were many others, including the ABC-TV show “Shindig!” which aired it’s very last episode 45 years ago this month—after 2 years on the air.
Hosted by L.A. Disc Jockey Jimmy O’Neill, those two years were PACKED with a virtual “Who’s Who” of rock’n roll. Everyone who was anyone made getting on “Shindig!” a priority.
Even though I think the name was a little lame, the show itself chronicled the rise of a new generation’s music. With time-shifting, DVR’s, YouTube and such, there is ZERO sense of urgency to “tune in” to any show at the time it is broadcast--with the possible exception of “American Idol” or “Dancing With The Stars” Even these shows will be “available” the very next day—or maybe sooner!
Not so with “Shindig!” If you wanted to catch your musical heroes, you had to block out the time, warm up the TV and set those damn rabbit-ears just right. And, since there was only ONE television in the house, you often had to bargain with other family members who had no interest in watching Sam Cooke, Del Shannon, The Dixie Cups or Chad & Jeremy. If you won the argument, those same family members were still there—in the room, reluctantly viewing YOUR show and no doubt providing a biting commentary to go along with it. Such was the family dynamic in the early days of both rock and TV.
Here are a couple of great videos from Shindig! A couple of young upstart bands who appeared…The Beatles and The Rolling Stones:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u0NP_n9AwU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pP2E31NGrs
In addition to the acts, there were the dancers-called the “Shin-Diggers”, one of whom was Terri Garr, who would later become a famous actress.
The success of “Shindig!” prompted NBC to compete with their own show called “Hullaballoo” (another horrible name). Originally a half hour, then expanded to an hour, then split into two half hour programs on different nights, the ratings began to slip in October of 1965.
The writing was on the wall—and “Shindig!” was replaced in its Thursday time slot by “Batman”. Despite the short run, however, “Shindig!” has cemented its place in both pop culture and rock & roll history.
If you’d like my blog in your weekday box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
With virtually all of our media now “on demand”, it’s sometimes hard to imagine the “event” status of TV shows from days gone by.
I’ve blogged before about the loss of what I call “common media experience”—the days when HUGE segments of the U.S. population would tune into a particular television show. We were all engaged with the same media experience—at the exact same time—and the uniqueness of these time-bound episodes were defining moments for millions.
A bond of shared experience was created—and subsequently related in the coming day(s) between young and old.
The Beatles appearing on “The Ed Sullivan Show” is perhaps one of the most prevalent, but there were many others, including the ABC-TV show “Shindig!” which aired it’s very last episode 45 years ago this month—after 2 years on the air.
Hosted by L.A. Disc Jockey Jimmy O’Neill, those two years were PACKED with a virtual “Who’s Who” of rock’n roll. Everyone who was anyone made getting on “Shindig!” a priority.
Even though I think the name was a little lame, the show itself chronicled the rise of a new generation’s music. With time-shifting, DVR’s, YouTube and such, there is ZERO sense of urgency to “tune in” to any show at the time it is broadcast--with the possible exception of “American Idol” or “Dancing With The Stars” Even these shows will be “available” the very next day—or maybe sooner!
Not so with “Shindig!” If you wanted to catch your musical heroes, you had to block out the time, warm up the TV and set those damn rabbit-ears just right. And, since there was only ONE television in the house, you often had to bargain with other family members who had no interest in watching Sam Cooke, Del Shannon, The Dixie Cups or Chad & Jeremy. If you won the argument, those same family members were still there—in the room, reluctantly viewing YOUR show and no doubt providing a biting commentary to go along with it. Such was the family dynamic in the early days of both rock and TV.
Here are a couple of great videos from Shindig! A couple of young upstart bands who appeared…The Beatles and The Rolling Stones:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u0NP_n9AwU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pP2E31NGrs
In addition to the acts, there were the dancers-called the “Shin-Diggers”, one of whom was Terri Garr, who would later become a famous actress.
The success of “Shindig!” prompted NBC to compete with their own show called “Hullaballoo” (another horrible name). Originally a half hour, then expanded to an hour, then split into two half hour programs on different nights, the ratings began to slip in October of 1965.
The writing was on the wall—and “Shindig!” was replaced in its Thursday time slot by “Batman”. Despite the short run, however, “Shindig!” has cemented its place in both pop culture and rock & roll history.
If you’d like my blog in your weekday box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Skyjack DUI
Short and sweet today---just a funny (and pathetic) video.
As tempting as it was to write a critique of the President’s State of The Union Address last night, how can it beat a drunk guy trying to escape in an unusual vehicle?
Enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30InBgGhiSo
Tell me the best part isn’t him egging the officer on by JACKING UP the unit? Some day, he’ll look back on the whole thing and laugh. The rest of us don’t have to wait a minute.
If you’d like my blog in your box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
As tempting as it was to write a critique of the President’s State of The Union Address last night, how can it beat a drunk guy trying to escape in an unusual vehicle?
Enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30InBgGhiSo
Tell me the best part isn’t him egging the officer on by JACKING UP the unit? Some day, he’ll look back on the whole thing and laugh. The rest of us don’t have to wait a minute.
If you’d like my blog in your box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
Monday, January 24, 2011
Beer In A Can
The discovery of penicillin and the polio vaccine both have to take a backseat to another innovation, one that made its debut on this date in 1935.
Beer in a can.
Canned beer.
What was once in a bottle—now, in a can. And the world has never been the same.
Forget about pop-tops or their primitive predecessor, the ring-top. These advances would happen years later. We’re talking about carrying around a can opener, the proverbial “church key” to get at your beer.
The Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company delivered 2,000 cans of their fine brew to faithful and enthusiastic customers in Richmond, Virginia. Of course, canning wasn’t new, but Prohibition put a bit of a delay into the idea—and then someone had to develop a pressurized can—AND a special coating so that the beer would not chemically react with the tin.
Yes, tin. Aluminum was quite a ways off.
Ninety one percent of those Richmond beer drinkers approved of that first batch---or after consuming enough beer, ninety one percent forget what they were being asked to rate in the first place. Either way, Gottfried had the green light to make more beer—and that’s all that’s important here.
The development of canned beer led to an EXPLOSION in consumption. With that increase in beer drinking, the market grew, the competition and subsequently, the marketing.
The beer commercial deserves its own blog, but they happen to be an advertising genre that has consistently delivered great spots! Humor as the cornerstone of the decision-making process has served most beer producers well, especially Anheuser Busch, the makers of Bud Light. Here’s a threesome of ads from their hilarious “Real Men Of Genius” campaign:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETrWZsYYJOQ
Personally, I prefer my beer in the good old-fashioned bottle. With all the advances, I still think that beer in a can tastes metallic. Shaping the can to look like a bottle does little to dispel that notion. I am, apparently, in the minority, since roughly half of the $20 billion dollar a year beer industry ships their product in cans.
Gotta go. All this blogging is making me thirsty.
If you’d like my blog in your daily e-mail box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
Beer in a can.
Canned beer.
What was once in a bottle—now, in a can. And the world has never been the same.
Forget about pop-tops or their primitive predecessor, the ring-top. These advances would happen years later. We’re talking about carrying around a can opener, the proverbial “church key” to get at your beer.
The Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company delivered 2,000 cans of their fine brew to faithful and enthusiastic customers in Richmond, Virginia. Of course, canning wasn’t new, but Prohibition put a bit of a delay into the idea—and then someone had to develop a pressurized can—AND a special coating so that the beer would not chemically react with the tin.
Yes, tin. Aluminum was quite a ways off.
Ninety one percent of those Richmond beer drinkers approved of that first batch---or after consuming enough beer, ninety one percent forget what they were being asked to rate in the first place. Either way, Gottfried had the green light to make more beer—and that’s all that’s important here.
The development of canned beer led to an EXPLOSION in consumption. With that increase in beer drinking, the market grew, the competition and subsequently, the marketing.
The beer commercial deserves its own blog, but they happen to be an advertising genre that has consistently delivered great spots! Humor as the cornerstone of the decision-making process has served most beer producers well, especially Anheuser Busch, the makers of Bud Light. Here’s a threesome of ads from their hilarious “Real Men Of Genius” campaign:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETrWZsYYJOQ
Personally, I prefer my beer in the good old-fashioned bottle. With all the advances, I still think that beer in a can tastes metallic. Shaping the can to look like a bottle does little to dispel that notion. I am, apparently, in the minority, since roughly half of the $20 billion dollar a year beer industry ships their product in cans.
Gotta go. All this blogging is making me thirsty.
If you’d like my blog in your daily e-mail box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Happy Days!
THIS IS AN UPDATED ENCORE TIM MOORE BLOG.
As a huge fan of the movie “American Graffiti”, I was skeptical about a TV series based on the flick’s premise and main characters.
I was right----and wrong---all at the same time.
“Happy Days” could never approximate the powerful script and acting that was what made “American Graffiti” a classic. A young George Lucas cast then unknown actors like Richard Dreyfus and Harrison Ford into roles alongside Ron Howard, Cindy Williams and Suzanne Somers—to create what to some is a “cult classic”, but a movie that I believe is a mainstream appeal look at the coming of age of several California teenagers at the crossroads of high school and college.
“Happy Days” –once past the comparisons made to the movie—took on a life and identity of its own, becoming a HUGELY popular TV series. The first episode was aired this week in 1974. Those who remember the old TV show “Love American Style” may be surprised to know that the “original” “Happy Days” episode was actually a segment on this show, which weekly created the TV version of several “short stories”. Here is the opening of that episode—with characters who would soon stand on their own in a TV program that was theirs alone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNHuI0Pw0m8
Interestingly, even though the “Happy Days” TV show came AFTER the release of the movie “American Graffiti”, the pilot of the TV show was produced first—and George Lucas used it as the basis of his decision to cast Ron Howard in the lead role of his movie!
“Happy Days” left a bigger footprint on American pop culture, lasting for ten years on television. A minor character, The “Fonz” (played by Henry Winkler) soon became the star of the show. This was, in part, due to the audience reaction that occurred the minute that the show’s producers decided to film the show in front of a studio audience. Here is a clip of the ending of that FIRST show performed in front of a live audience:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYovsz_Y9y4
If spinoffs are an indication of a TV series’ success, then “Happy Days” ranks near the top. “Laverne & Shirley”, “Mork & Mindy” and “Joannie Loves Chachi” were all spawned from “Happy Days”.
We lost the lovable Cunningham Dad-Tom Bosley late last year—and his contributions to the show were significant. He was the perfect Dad—loving of his kids, sometimes gullible, exceedingly patient and understanding one minute and half-crazed the next. Throughout it all, he seemed a bit overwhelmed by it all—and played that role well!
It was pure escapism, pure frivolity—and many laughs. Although no one will mention “Happy Days” in the same breath as other landmark television shows, it deserves a measure of respect for the genre it existed in---and the sheer entertainment it provided millions of Americans for a decade.
The Tim Moore blog is carefully crafted (and sometimes hastily slapped together) every weekday—if you’d like to receive it via e-mail ($0 U.S. Dollars), let me know! Tim.moore@citcomm.com
As a huge fan of the movie “American Graffiti”, I was skeptical about a TV series based on the flick’s premise and main characters.
I was right----and wrong---all at the same time.
“Happy Days” could never approximate the powerful script and acting that was what made “American Graffiti” a classic. A young George Lucas cast then unknown actors like Richard Dreyfus and Harrison Ford into roles alongside Ron Howard, Cindy Williams and Suzanne Somers—to create what to some is a “cult classic”, but a movie that I believe is a mainstream appeal look at the coming of age of several California teenagers at the crossroads of high school and college.
“Happy Days” –once past the comparisons made to the movie—took on a life and identity of its own, becoming a HUGELY popular TV series. The first episode was aired this week in 1974. Those who remember the old TV show “Love American Style” may be surprised to know that the “original” “Happy Days” episode was actually a segment on this show, which weekly created the TV version of several “short stories”. Here is the opening of that episode—with characters who would soon stand on their own in a TV program that was theirs alone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNHuI0Pw0m8
Interestingly, even though the “Happy Days” TV show came AFTER the release of the movie “American Graffiti”, the pilot of the TV show was produced first—and George Lucas used it as the basis of his decision to cast Ron Howard in the lead role of his movie!
“Happy Days” left a bigger footprint on American pop culture, lasting for ten years on television. A minor character, The “Fonz” (played by Henry Winkler) soon became the star of the show. This was, in part, due to the audience reaction that occurred the minute that the show’s producers decided to film the show in front of a studio audience. Here is a clip of the ending of that FIRST show performed in front of a live audience:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYovsz_Y9y4
If spinoffs are an indication of a TV series’ success, then “Happy Days” ranks near the top. “Laverne & Shirley”, “Mork & Mindy” and “Joannie Loves Chachi” were all spawned from “Happy Days”.
We lost the lovable Cunningham Dad-Tom Bosley late last year—and his contributions to the show were significant. He was the perfect Dad—loving of his kids, sometimes gullible, exceedingly patient and understanding one minute and half-crazed the next. Throughout it all, he seemed a bit overwhelmed by it all—and played that role well!
It was pure escapism, pure frivolity—and many laughs. Although no one will mention “Happy Days” in the same breath as other landmark television shows, it deserves a measure of respect for the genre it existed in---and the sheer entertainment it provided millions of Americans for a decade.
The Tim Moore blog is carefully crafted (and sometimes hastily slapped together) every weekday—if you’d like to receive it via e-mail ($0 U.S. Dollars), let me know! Tim.moore@citcomm.com
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Closet Manilows
Millions love him, but only thousands admit it.
Barry Manilow.
Just the mention of his name evokes a wince among many, who consider his music pabulum and his image the definition of UNCOOL.
Somehow, though, he has sold over 75 million records. This means that a lot of us are lying. There is, unfortunately, a direct link between musical artists we like—and way that other people perceive us. It’s “cool” to like the Beatles (although they are arguably the very first “boy band”), but somehow not so cool to profess admiration for, say….New Kids On The Block (who happen to be middle aged men now, I think)
That we let others define us by our taste in music is fodder for an entire blog, but I digress. Can you even tell where I stand on the Manilow-meter?
Well, not a fan, but I do like some of his music. When “The Old Songs” shows up on shuffle on my iPod, I do look around to see if anyone can see the screen. The truth is that songs by Barry Manilow were HUGE radio hits when I was young, played alongside the Doobie Brothers, the Stones and every other “hip” act you can think of.
As such, they are linked to memories—and therein lies their value.
It was on this date in 1975 that Barry Manilow’s “Mandy” hit #1 on the pop charts—the first of many. Originally a hard rock song, Barry slowed it down to a ballad and the rest is history. Working as a commercial jingle writer and trying to pursue a recording career, he met and joined forces with Bette Midler, eventually becoming her musical director.
He never cared about being cool---and it showed----here’s a clip of him in 1975 performing that first #1 song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA3KdznkjpQ
What animal magnetism, no?
He convinced Bette to allow him to perform a short set of songs during her intermission. This led to becoming the opening act on Dionne Warwick’s tour—and it was here that record mogul Clive Davis noticed Barry and took him under his wing at Arista Records.
After “Mandy” came “Looks Like We Made It”, “It’s A Miracle”, “I Write The Songs”, and a total of 21 other Top 40 hits between 1975-1983.
None other than Frank Sinatra said “He's the next big thing”---and Manilow’s stage show was quoted by even non-fans as being spectacular. When I arrived at 94.9 WHOM 20 years ago, Barry Manilow was a core artist. And while his music doesn’t research very well anymore and thus is not played on air, we do occasionally get requests for his tunes.
My personal favorite in “Weekend In New England”.
So, for a guy who never cared about cool—and whose name evokes groans, he is still selling out arenas whenever he performs.
The reason is talent—even if that ability to delight audiences is decidedly un-hip.
If you’d like my blog in your box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
Barry Manilow.
Just the mention of his name evokes a wince among many, who consider his music pabulum and his image the definition of UNCOOL.
Somehow, though, he has sold over 75 million records. This means that a lot of us are lying. There is, unfortunately, a direct link between musical artists we like—and way that other people perceive us. It’s “cool” to like the Beatles (although they are arguably the very first “boy band”), but somehow not so cool to profess admiration for, say….New Kids On The Block (who happen to be middle aged men now, I think)
That we let others define us by our taste in music is fodder for an entire blog, but I digress. Can you even tell where I stand on the Manilow-meter?
Well, not a fan, but I do like some of his music. When “The Old Songs” shows up on shuffle on my iPod, I do look around to see if anyone can see the screen. The truth is that songs by Barry Manilow were HUGE radio hits when I was young, played alongside the Doobie Brothers, the Stones and every other “hip” act you can think of.
As such, they are linked to memories—and therein lies their value.
It was on this date in 1975 that Barry Manilow’s “Mandy” hit #1 on the pop charts—the first of many. Originally a hard rock song, Barry slowed it down to a ballad and the rest is history. Working as a commercial jingle writer and trying to pursue a recording career, he met and joined forces with Bette Midler, eventually becoming her musical director.
He never cared about being cool---and it showed----here’s a clip of him in 1975 performing that first #1 song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA3KdznkjpQ
What animal magnetism, no?
He convinced Bette to allow him to perform a short set of songs during her intermission. This led to becoming the opening act on Dionne Warwick’s tour—and it was here that record mogul Clive Davis noticed Barry and took him under his wing at Arista Records.
After “Mandy” came “Looks Like We Made It”, “It’s A Miracle”, “I Write The Songs”, and a total of 21 other Top 40 hits between 1975-1983.
None other than Frank Sinatra said “He's the next big thing”---and Manilow’s stage show was quoted by even non-fans as being spectacular. When I arrived at 94.9 WHOM 20 years ago, Barry Manilow was a core artist. And while his music doesn’t research very well anymore and thus is not played on air, we do occasionally get requests for his tunes.
My personal favorite in “Weekend In New England”.
So, for a guy who never cared about cool—and whose name evokes groans, he is still selling out arenas whenever he performs.
The reason is talent—even if that ability to delight audiences is decidedly un-hip.
If you’d like my blog in your box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
Friday, January 14, 2011
Marilyn Monroe Legend Lives On
THE FOLLOWING IS AN UPDATED ENCORE TIM MOORE BLOG.
What is it about Marilyn Monroe that still enthralls us? Certainly her beauty was a factor, but there have been many beautiful starlets who haven’t come close to the near idolization that Monroe commanded-and still does.
It was on this date in 1954 that Monroe married Yankees slugging superstar Joe DiMaggio. It was a marriage that would end less than 300 days later. The writing was on the wall as early as the honeymoon itself, when Marilyn agreed to leave her unhappy new husband in Japan to go perform for U.S. servicemen. In fact, DiMaggio was never comfortable with Monroe’s sexy image—and that tension eventually turned the cracks in their relationship into a gaping hole.
A subsequent marriage to playwright Arthur Miller also resulted in divorce—leaving Marilyn an emotional mess.
She was found dead in August of 1962. Nearly fifty years later, her death (and life) is still shrouded in mystery. Although her demise was ruled a “probable suicide”, the fact that she was nude, with a telephone is one hand when found seems to lend more intrigue to the case.
Perhaps the fact that she was a tragic figure made her interesting to America. A decent actress perhaps, but not critically acclaimed, her marriages to Miller and DiMaggio gave her a “bigger than life” persona that never translated to personal happiness.
By 1961, she was under the constant care of a psychiatrist for depression. In recent decades, there have been several conspiracy theories about her death. One contends that she was murdered by John and/or Robert Kennedy, with both of whom she allegedly had love affairs.
Check out this three-part video on the death of Marilyn Monroe from the Leonard Nimoy series “In Search Of…”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayHRGXeSfq0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgDhf4gIGjs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxfQUUCw8p4&feature=related
The bottom line is that we will probably never REALLY know what happened. The tragedy is that a young and beautiful woman who seemingly had everything a person could want: looks, fame, fortune and more—could be so unhappy.
Perhaps there is a lesson for all of us “regular people”-that striving to achieve these empty goals won’t fulfill us-that our sense of self-worth and contribution need to come from within-and not the external symbols that we tend to associate with “success”.
If you’d like my blog in your box, let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
What is it about Marilyn Monroe that still enthralls us? Certainly her beauty was a factor, but there have been many beautiful starlets who haven’t come close to the near idolization that Monroe commanded-and still does.
It was on this date in 1954 that Monroe married Yankees slugging superstar Joe DiMaggio. It was a marriage that would end less than 300 days later. The writing was on the wall as early as the honeymoon itself, when Marilyn agreed to leave her unhappy new husband in Japan to go perform for U.S. servicemen. In fact, DiMaggio was never comfortable with Monroe’s sexy image—and that tension eventually turned the cracks in their relationship into a gaping hole.
A subsequent marriage to playwright Arthur Miller also resulted in divorce—leaving Marilyn an emotional mess.
She was found dead in August of 1962. Nearly fifty years later, her death (and life) is still shrouded in mystery. Although her demise was ruled a “probable suicide”, the fact that she was nude, with a telephone is one hand when found seems to lend more intrigue to the case.
Perhaps the fact that she was a tragic figure made her interesting to America. A decent actress perhaps, but not critically acclaimed, her marriages to Miller and DiMaggio gave her a “bigger than life” persona that never translated to personal happiness.
By 1961, she was under the constant care of a psychiatrist for depression. In recent decades, there have been several conspiracy theories about her death. One contends that she was murdered by John and/or Robert Kennedy, with both of whom she allegedly had love affairs.
Check out this three-part video on the death of Marilyn Monroe from the Leonard Nimoy series “In Search Of…”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayHRGXeSfq0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgDhf4gIGjs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxfQUUCw8p4&feature=related
The bottom line is that we will probably never REALLY know what happened. The tragedy is that a young and beautiful woman who seemingly had everything a person could want: looks, fame, fortune and more—could be so unhappy.
Perhaps there is a lesson for all of us “regular people”-that striving to achieve these empty goals won’t fulfill us-that our sense of self-worth and contribution need to come from within-and not the external symbols that we tend to associate with “success”.
If you’d like my blog in your box, let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
Thursday, January 13, 2011
A Speech To Remember
I missed the President’s speech last night---I was digging out my driveway, as were many of you, no doubt!
I heard, however, that it was powerful and devoid of the venom that has again infiltrated our conversation following the tragedy in Tucson. The notion that this senseless shooting spree was the result of political disharmony serves no purpose, whether true or not.
Both Democrats and Republican representatives have been off base since Saturday by assigning meaning to the actions of a madman. The media has fueled the fire and fanned the flames by allowing unrestricted access for those holding such opinions to spew them to the American public.
Cynics accusing the President of taking advantage of a tragedy for political gain by making the trip out west is just plain cruel. Those pointing to the language of certain Republicans who utilize “gun metaphors” are also wrong, in my view.
The average viewer of Fox News is 65 years of age or older. Ditto for the “ditto-heads” that listen to Rush Limbaugh. That’s not an opinion. These are facts, confirmed by the demographics of the ratings by which these show live by. The audiences are almost exclusively senior citizens who refuse to understand the changing landscape of America (which will continue to evolve whether they like it or not). It is highly unlikely that this 22 year old deranged gunman was influenced by Rush or Glenn Beck or any of the other radio and TV “entertainers”.
And while I think it would have been a good idea for Sarah Palin to simply shut up and stay out of the fray, I don’t believe that her rhetoric was causal either. The video she recorded sounded defensive to me and the timing of its release (on the same day as Obama’s speech) exhibited poor judgment, in my view. Still, this lone gunman cannot be connected to the former Alaska governor in any significant way.
If you too missed the speech in Tucson, here it is in its entirety:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztbJmXQDIGA
I think the President balanced the proper tone and respect for the victims with a vision of hope that their deaths would not cause further division among our populace.
Perhaps we can take the Chief Executive up on that challenge—and make thoughtful and respectful discourse at least one positive outcome in the wake of this horrible tragedy.
If you’d like my blog in your box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
I heard, however, that it was powerful and devoid of the venom that has again infiltrated our conversation following the tragedy in Tucson. The notion that this senseless shooting spree was the result of political disharmony serves no purpose, whether true or not.
Both Democrats and Republican representatives have been off base since Saturday by assigning meaning to the actions of a madman. The media has fueled the fire and fanned the flames by allowing unrestricted access for those holding such opinions to spew them to the American public.
Cynics accusing the President of taking advantage of a tragedy for political gain by making the trip out west is just plain cruel. Those pointing to the language of certain Republicans who utilize “gun metaphors” are also wrong, in my view.
The average viewer of Fox News is 65 years of age or older. Ditto for the “ditto-heads” that listen to Rush Limbaugh. That’s not an opinion. These are facts, confirmed by the demographics of the ratings by which these show live by. The audiences are almost exclusively senior citizens who refuse to understand the changing landscape of America (which will continue to evolve whether they like it or not). It is highly unlikely that this 22 year old deranged gunman was influenced by Rush or Glenn Beck or any of the other radio and TV “entertainers”.
And while I think it would have been a good idea for Sarah Palin to simply shut up and stay out of the fray, I don’t believe that her rhetoric was causal either. The video she recorded sounded defensive to me and the timing of its release (on the same day as Obama’s speech) exhibited poor judgment, in my view. Still, this lone gunman cannot be connected to the former Alaska governor in any significant way.
If you too missed the speech in Tucson, here it is in its entirety:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztbJmXQDIGA
I think the President balanced the proper tone and respect for the victims with a vision of hope that their deaths would not cause further division among our populace.
Perhaps we can take the Chief Executive up on that challenge—and make thoughtful and respectful discourse at least one positive outcome in the wake of this horrible tragedy.
If you’d like my blog in your box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Kid's Got Game
One day, we’ll see Jordan McCabe hoist an NBA championship trophy over his head—and we’ll all say that we saw it coming. It will be awhile, as Jordan is only 12 years old today.
Did some of us project the same way before Tiger Woods first won the Masters? After all, we saw him as a small child on the Mike Douglas Show, displaying his incredible golf prowess.
Jordan McCabe is to basketball what Tiger was to golf—a young phenom.
Check out this video and see for yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ1aEfgrf80
To all of us who are all thumbs, uncoordinated, stumbling oafs, we cannot fathom someone (especially so young) who has such full command of his body—and a basketball.
It will be fun to watch him progress through high school, college and the pros. Right now, he’s probably the best 12 year old hoops player in the country. If he actually keeps improving---well, lookout Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and everyone else. This kid may one day annihilate the records you now hold!
If you’d like my blog in your box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
Did some of us project the same way before Tiger Woods first won the Masters? After all, we saw him as a small child on the Mike Douglas Show, displaying his incredible golf prowess.
Jordan McCabe is to basketball what Tiger was to golf—a young phenom.
Check out this video and see for yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ1aEfgrf80
To all of us who are all thumbs, uncoordinated, stumbling oafs, we cannot fathom someone (especially so young) who has such full command of his body—and a basketball.
It will be fun to watch him progress through high school, college and the pros. Right now, he’s probably the best 12 year old hoops player in the country. If he actually keeps improving---well, lookout Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and everyone else. This kid may one day annihilate the records you now hold!
If you’d like my blog in your box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
We Got Us A Convoy
One of the strangest fads in the 70’s was the explosive growth of CB (Citizens Band) Radios---the mainstay of truckers both then and now, the CB Radio made its way into passenger cars (driven mostly by teenagers and 20-something men).
Long before the cell phone, this was THE way to talk while driving—and it had to be cool, because truckers did it.
So…what started it all?
One of the embers that ignited the craze was a song called “Convoy” by C.W. McCall, which hit #1 on the pop charts this week in 1976.
No trucker, C.W. McCall (you could say that was his “handle”)—was actually Bill Fries, an advertising executive in Omaha, who cashed in on the craze to communicate using wacky lingo and silly ID slogans-“handles”- that would single you out as among the coolest to rule the road.
Yeah, right.
I too, was one of those knuckleheads talking about “bears in the air” (police helicopters) and wrapping my statements with “10-4” and “good buddy”—all from the cockpit of my fearsome Mercury Capri 1600cc 4 cylinder “rig”
Ahem.
Anyway, if you don’t recall the song, here it is—enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWO_AIh8drk
Radio Shack made a killing selling radios and whip antennas to the likes of me—and REAL truckers no doubt winced as their formerly pristine airwaves were clogged with boobs like yours truly, spouting trucker drivel for no good reason.
Well, MOSTLY no good reason other than to know that someone—usually LOTS of someones outside my passenger compartment actually heard my insanely cool banter. It’s a wonder that a convoy of Kenilworths didn’t hunt me down and force me and my Capri into a bridge abutment.
The CB craze lasted for a few years—after which time we collectively realized how silly we sounded and how we had virtually nothing to add to the conversation. I suppose that some of us used the CB for roadside assistance—and perhaps those damn things saved a life or two.
“Convoy” sold over two million copies—and inspired a movie of the same name starring Kris Kristofferson and Ali McGraw.
Landfills across America are now the home to many of these formerly indipensible devices—and thankfully, most of our familiar “handles” are buried as well.
10-4, good buddy, over and out.
If you’d like my blog in your weekday inbox, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
Long before the cell phone, this was THE way to talk while driving—and it had to be cool, because truckers did it.
So…what started it all?
One of the embers that ignited the craze was a song called “Convoy” by C.W. McCall, which hit #1 on the pop charts this week in 1976.
No trucker, C.W. McCall (you could say that was his “handle”)—was actually Bill Fries, an advertising executive in Omaha, who cashed in on the craze to communicate using wacky lingo and silly ID slogans-“handles”- that would single you out as among the coolest to rule the road.
Yeah, right.
I too, was one of those knuckleheads talking about “bears in the air” (police helicopters) and wrapping my statements with “10-4” and “good buddy”—all from the cockpit of my fearsome Mercury Capri 1600cc 4 cylinder “rig”
Ahem.
Anyway, if you don’t recall the song, here it is—enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWO_AIh8drk
Radio Shack made a killing selling radios and whip antennas to the likes of me—and REAL truckers no doubt winced as their formerly pristine airwaves were clogged with boobs like yours truly, spouting trucker drivel for no good reason.
Well, MOSTLY no good reason other than to know that someone—usually LOTS of someones outside my passenger compartment actually heard my insanely cool banter. It’s a wonder that a convoy of Kenilworths didn’t hunt me down and force me and my Capri into a bridge abutment.
The CB craze lasted for a few years—after which time we collectively realized how silly we sounded and how we had virtually nothing to add to the conversation. I suppose that some of us used the CB for roadside assistance—and perhaps those damn things saved a life or two.
“Convoy” sold over two million copies—and inspired a movie of the same name starring Kris Kristofferson and Ali McGraw.
Landfills across America are now the home to many of these formerly indipensible devices—and thankfully, most of our familiar “handles” are buried as well.
10-4, good buddy, over and out.
If you’d like my blog in your weekday inbox, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
Monday, January 10, 2011
What Will It Take?
The Founding Fathers were wrong.
There, I said it.
Rarely are the original framers of the Constitution challenged on tenets that today are trumpeted to keep intact those “rights” that are deemed “inalienable”. Such is the case with gun control and the political knife’s edge that it represents.
This past weekend’s tragic shooting in Arizona has renewed an argument that is all too common—without any tangible advancement in the way we deal with the proliferation of deadly arms in the hands of crazy people.
I get it. The Second Amendment, part of the Bill of Rights, stipulates a right to bear arms. When this was conceived, citizen militias were the first line of defense and the oppression of a colonized nation by the British was a reality seen first hand by the Founding Fathers.
These same men, despite lofty platitudes about rights and equality---apparently had no misgivings about slavery or the denial of a woman’s right to vote. In short, these early leaders were not infallible—as subsequent amendments have sought to correct.
Times have changed—and the evolution of our Constitution to abolish slavery, exterminate discrimination and advance equality---- needs to now be extended to the area of gun control.
I am not against gun ownership, per se. While I don’t understand the attraction that some people have for firearms, be it for target shooting, collecting or hunting, I do respect those endeavors and believe that these—along with self defense—can be accomplished without the need for semi-automatic machine guns and other military grade weapons.
The deranged man whose killing spree was assisted by the rapid-fire capability of his weapon was an individual rejected by the Army. Yet, he was able to purchase a weapon whose use could hardly be defended by even the crafty wordsmith NRA as being for sporting or self defense purposes.
What the hell is happening here?
We’ve all heard the scare tactics of those who refuse to yield an inch. Ban guns and only criminals will have guns. I agree. So, keep the class of firearms limited to handguns and sporting guns.
Well, that won’t do---because gun advocates believe that any restriction on the type of firearm they can possess is the first step towards the government taking away our guns altogether.
That , frankly is paranoid.
How many senseless shootings will it take? How many more people will need to die—or be maimed for life like Reagan’s Press Secretary Jim Brady—before open and unrestricted access to these implements of war is stopped?
And if your argument is that the deranged nutcase who perpetrated Saturday’s shooting would still have committed murder with some other type of gun, you may be right---but the type of rapid-fire capability that created far more carnage makes even more urgent the case for restrictions.
One more life saved? Perhaps the 9 year old girl who was killed? What about HER rights?
Frankly, the NRA could make a huge stride in its our credibility by actually advocating restriction of the most heinous of weapons. They won’t, of course. To do so would take a courage and political savvy about preserving the basic rights of Americans to own firearms without appearing to pander to the fringe.
Unfortunately, the fringe represents too much of their membership. Not the law-abiding gun owner, collector or hunting enthusiast. They belong, but so too do the extreme right wing militia types, the paranoid “government is out to get us” faction, the wacko military rejects who act out their violent fantasies with weapons made for combat. They pay their NRA dues too. And the NRA is not enlightened enough to realize their affiliation with these unbalanced individuals does nothing to enhance their stature as a reasonable organization.
Keep your handguns.
Keep your hunting rifles and shotguns, your antique collectibles.
Try, however, to make a case for semi-automatic machine guns that fire 30 rounds in a few seconds. Try to make a case for why you need armor piercing bullets or hollow points, for combat-grade assault weapons---for either sporting or self defense---and your case instantly has no merit. Do we need tanks, shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles or grenade launchers, too?
In a world where we cannot bring more than 4 oz. of shampoo on an airplane, we can openly purchase weapons of war that were designed and manufactured for the sole purpose of killing people—at as fast a rate as possible.
Being a Second Amendment supporter—and yet a proponent of assault weapon control—is not an inconsistent position.
The bloodshed in the U.S. due to gun violence dwarfs that of every other civilized country. We place our law enforcement personnel in grave danger daily because we have allowed these weapons to proliferate.
Is it too late to do something?
Too late for a 9 year old girl---and others, whose families will bury them this week—all because as a society, we abandoned the greater good in order to preserve the “rights” of the mentally unstable, the only segment of our society that desires to own a class of weapon whose use for sporting purposes or self defense cannot be defended.
I believe that if the Founding Fathers were alive today, they would be astounded and disgusted that their original intent on the right to bear arms would have been so horribly twisted and corrupted to favor the criminal.
Will we ever wake up?
If you’d like my blog in your box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
There, I said it.
Rarely are the original framers of the Constitution challenged on tenets that today are trumpeted to keep intact those “rights” that are deemed “inalienable”. Such is the case with gun control and the political knife’s edge that it represents.
This past weekend’s tragic shooting in Arizona has renewed an argument that is all too common—without any tangible advancement in the way we deal with the proliferation of deadly arms in the hands of crazy people.
I get it. The Second Amendment, part of the Bill of Rights, stipulates a right to bear arms. When this was conceived, citizen militias were the first line of defense and the oppression of a colonized nation by the British was a reality seen first hand by the Founding Fathers.
These same men, despite lofty platitudes about rights and equality---apparently had no misgivings about slavery or the denial of a woman’s right to vote. In short, these early leaders were not infallible—as subsequent amendments have sought to correct.
Times have changed—and the evolution of our Constitution to abolish slavery, exterminate discrimination and advance equality---- needs to now be extended to the area of gun control.
I am not against gun ownership, per se. While I don’t understand the attraction that some people have for firearms, be it for target shooting, collecting or hunting, I do respect those endeavors and believe that these—along with self defense—can be accomplished without the need for semi-automatic machine guns and other military grade weapons.
The deranged man whose killing spree was assisted by the rapid-fire capability of his weapon was an individual rejected by the Army. Yet, he was able to purchase a weapon whose use could hardly be defended by even the crafty wordsmith NRA as being for sporting or self defense purposes.
What the hell is happening here?
We’ve all heard the scare tactics of those who refuse to yield an inch. Ban guns and only criminals will have guns. I agree. So, keep the class of firearms limited to handguns and sporting guns.
Well, that won’t do---because gun advocates believe that any restriction on the type of firearm they can possess is the first step towards the government taking away our guns altogether.
That , frankly is paranoid.
How many senseless shootings will it take? How many more people will need to die—or be maimed for life like Reagan’s Press Secretary Jim Brady—before open and unrestricted access to these implements of war is stopped?
And if your argument is that the deranged nutcase who perpetrated Saturday’s shooting would still have committed murder with some other type of gun, you may be right---but the type of rapid-fire capability that created far more carnage makes even more urgent the case for restrictions.
One more life saved? Perhaps the 9 year old girl who was killed? What about HER rights?
Frankly, the NRA could make a huge stride in its our credibility by actually advocating restriction of the most heinous of weapons. They won’t, of course. To do so would take a courage and political savvy about preserving the basic rights of Americans to own firearms without appearing to pander to the fringe.
Unfortunately, the fringe represents too much of their membership. Not the law-abiding gun owner, collector or hunting enthusiast. They belong, but so too do the extreme right wing militia types, the paranoid “government is out to get us” faction, the wacko military rejects who act out their violent fantasies with weapons made for combat. They pay their NRA dues too. And the NRA is not enlightened enough to realize their affiliation with these unbalanced individuals does nothing to enhance their stature as a reasonable organization.
Keep your handguns.
Keep your hunting rifles and shotguns, your antique collectibles.
Try, however, to make a case for semi-automatic machine guns that fire 30 rounds in a few seconds. Try to make a case for why you need armor piercing bullets or hollow points, for combat-grade assault weapons---for either sporting or self defense---and your case instantly has no merit. Do we need tanks, shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles or grenade launchers, too?
In a world where we cannot bring more than 4 oz. of shampoo on an airplane, we can openly purchase weapons of war that were designed and manufactured for the sole purpose of killing people—at as fast a rate as possible.
Being a Second Amendment supporter—and yet a proponent of assault weapon control—is not an inconsistent position.
The bloodshed in the U.S. due to gun violence dwarfs that of every other civilized country. We place our law enforcement personnel in grave danger daily because we have allowed these weapons to proliferate.
Is it too late to do something?
Too late for a 9 year old girl---and others, whose families will bury them this week—all because as a society, we abandoned the greater good in order to preserve the “rights” of the mentally unstable, the only segment of our society that desires to own a class of weapon whose use for sporting purposes or self defense cannot be defended.
I believe that if the Founding Fathers were alive today, they would be astounded and disgusted that their original intent on the right to bear arms would have been so horribly twisted and corrupted to favor the criminal.
Will we ever wake up?
If you’d like my blog in your box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Fame At Warp Speed
About 48 hours ago, the name Ted Williams conjured up images of #9, the Hall of Fame slugger for the Boston Red Sox, perhaps the greatest pure hitter ever.
Today, however, a Google search will have, as its top item---a 53 year old homeless man who has gone from complete and total obscurity to almost complete national –and international fame and recognition.
48 hours.
In case you have been completely isolated from any type of media over the last two days, the short story is this: A newspaper reporter in Columbus, Ohio came across a homeless man begging for money on a highway median—holding a sign that “God gave him the gift of voice”. Intrigued, the reporter asked for a demonstration. He was astounded by the deep and resonant voice that emanated from this homeless man dressed in shabby clothes with long hair, beard and bad teeth.
Then he videotaped the encounter and uploaded it to YouTube. Once the video went “viral” (as they say), he became literally an overnight sensation.
Here is that video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6kI_u3ho_c
Here is one of his TV interviews this morning:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cyRyYQNkXo&feature=related
The top radio station in Columbus invited him on its morning show—and fortified with TV cameras from both local and national outlets, Ted William’s incredible odyssey got a shot of adrenalin.
Since yesterday’s morning show on WNCI-FM, he has appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America and CBS Early Show, is scheduled on Jimmy Kimmel tonight and Jay Leno soon as well. In addition, he has been flooded with voiceover work—from Kraft Macaroni and Cheese—to a job offer from the Cleveland Cavaliers-complete with a house! He will be doing voice work for Fox TV and dozens of radio stations—and that’s the tip of the iceberg.
Just a few days ago, he was literally on the street-homeless, destitute and without any prospects---this morning, he was sitting next to Anne Curry and Al Roker on NBC’c “Today” Show. His frequent emotional breakdowns speak to the sense of overwhelm that is no doubt dominating his whirlwind tour of fame.
Just as Susan Boyle rocketed from obscurity to stardom in mere days (with mixed results on her emotional stability), here too is Ted Williams---next in line for riches and fame based on his former unfortunate circumstances—and his undeniable talent.
A remarkable story that has touched millions, even more amazing is the SPEED at which it all came about. It is this aspect of the internet—and its integration with more traditional media---that has me blown away.
We better get used to it.
From “Balloon Boy” to those Diet Coke and Mentos guys, it’s a whole new ballgame—and this Ted Williams has hit one out of the park.
If you’d like my blog in your box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
Today, however, a Google search will have, as its top item---a 53 year old homeless man who has gone from complete and total obscurity to almost complete national –and international fame and recognition.
48 hours.
In case you have been completely isolated from any type of media over the last two days, the short story is this: A newspaper reporter in Columbus, Ohio came across a homeless man begging for money on a highway median—holding a sign that “God gave him the gift of voice”. Intrigued, the reporter asked for a demonstration. He was astounded by the deep and resonant voice that emanated from this homeless man dressed in shabby clothes with long hair, beard and bad teeth.
Then he videotaped the encounter and uploaded it to YouTube. Once the video went “viral” (as they say), he became literally an overnight sensation.
Here is that video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6kI_u3ho_c
Here is one of his TV interviews this morning:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cyRyYQNkXo&feature=related
The top radio station in Columbus invited him on its morning show—and fortified with TV cameras from both local and national outlets, Ted William’s incredible odyssey got a shot of adrenalin.
Since yesterday’s morning show on WNCI-FM, he has appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America and CBS Early Show, is scheduled on Jimmy Kimmel tonight and Jay Leno soon as well. In addition, he has been flooded with voiceover work—from Kraft Macaroni and Cheese—to a job offer from the Cleveland Cavaliers-complete with a house! He will be doing voice work for Fox TV and dozens of radio stations—and that’s the tip of the iceberg.
Just a few days ago, he was literally on the street-homeless, destitute and without any prospects---this morning, he was sitting next to Anne Curry and Al Roker on NBC’c “Today” Show. His frequent emotional breakdowns speak to the sense of overwhelm that is no doubt dominating his whirlwind tour of fame.
Just as Susan Boyle rocketed from obscurity to stardom in mere days (with mixed results on her emotional stability), here too is Ted Williams---next in line for riches and fame based on his former unfortunate circumstances—and his undeniable talent.
A remarkable story that has touched millions, even more amazing is the SPEED at which it all came about. It is this aspect of the internet—and its integration with more traditional media---that has me blown away.
We better get used to it.
From “Balloon Boy” to those Diet Coke and Mentos guys, it’s a whole new ballgame—and this Ted Williams has hit one out of the park.
If you’d like my blog in your box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
The Golden Gate Bridge
THE FOLLOWING IS AN ENCORE TIM MOORE BLOG
One of the highlights of our family’s trip to California about a dozen years ago was the thrill of driving over The Golden Gate Bridge! After seeing it in countless movies, TV shows and news programs, to actually EXPERIENCE the sensation of looking out over San Francisco Bay and Alcatraz is something I’ll always cherish.
The bridge began its construction on this date-January 5—in 1933, right at the start of the Great Depression.
How anyone could look at the span to cross, the strong currents, the depth of the water, not to mention the winds and the inclination of the earth to quake in that part of the world and then conclude, “Hey, let’s build a BRIDGE here!”---is beyond my comprehension.
The idea of a bridge at this location dates from 1869—and the aftermath of the California Gold Rush, where land north of San Francisco Bay was expected to increase greatly in value. The hardships of construction and the estimated cost of $100 million dollars kept plans on hold until 1916. City engineer Michael O’Shaughnessy (who is credited with coming up with the name of the bridge) began asking bridge engineers if a structure could be built for less.
Enter Joseph Strauss—a 5 foot tall engineer and poet from Chicago, who said he could build the bridge for $25-30 million—with a main span of 4,000 feet!
Even that reduced cost was an issue during the Depression, but the jobs it would create essentially sealed the deal. A bond issue was floated to pay for construction (A bond that wouldn’t be paid off until 1971)
Here are a couple of videos with rare footage of the construction of what has been called the “World’s Most Beautiful Bridge”—and certainly the most photographed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLRCZAXfEa4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hfFOm2Af1s
At the time of its opening in 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge was the longest span in the world. The official opening was on May 27, 1937 as cars made the crossing. However, over 200,000 people crossed on foot the day before.
A marvel to see—and the symbol of the great city of San Francisco, the distinctive red/orange paint job is constantly being touched up to ward off rust.
If ever you get the chance to make the trip, don’t miss the exhilarating trip across the Golden gate Bridge!
If you’d like my blog in your weekday inbox, just drop me a line: tim.moore@citcomm.com
One of the highlights of our family’s trip to California about a dozen years ago was the thrill of driving over The Golden Gate Bridge! After seeing it in countless movies, TV shows and news programs, to actually EXPERIENCE the sensation of looking out over San Francisco Bay and Alcatraz is something I’ll always cherish.
The bridge began its construction on this date-January 5—in 1933, right at the start of the Great Depression.
How anyone could look at the span to cross, the strong currents, the depth of the water, not to mention the winds and the inclination of the earth to quake in that part of the world and then conclude, “Hey, let’s build a BRIDGE here!”---is beyond my comprehension.
The idea of a bridge at this location dates from 1869—and the aftermath of the California Gold Rush, where land north of San Francisco Bay was expected to increase greatly in value. The hardships of construction and the estimated cost of $100 million dollars kept plans on hold until 1916. City engineer Michael O’Shaughnessy (who is credited with coming up with the name of the bridge) began asking bridge engineers if a structure could be built for less.
Enter Joseph Strauss—a 5 foot tall engineer and poet from Chicago, who said he could build the bridge for $25-30 million—with a main span of 4,000 feet!
Even that reduced cost was an issue during the Depression, but the jobs it would create essentially sealed the deal. A bond issue was floated to pay for construction (A bond that wouldn’t be paid off until 1971)
Here are a couple of videos with rare footage of the construction of what has been called the “World’s Most Beautiful Bridge”—and certainly the most photographed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLRCZAXfEa4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hfFOm2Af1s
At the time of its opening in 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge was the longest span in the world. The official opening was on May 27, 1937 as cars made the crossing. However, over 200,000 people crossed on foot the day before.
A marvel to see—and the symbol of the great city of San Francisco, the distinctive red/orange paint job is constantly being touched up to ward off rust.
If ever you get the chance to make the trip, don’t miss the exhilarating trip across the Golden gate Bridge!
If you’d like my blog in your weekday inbox, just drop me a line: tim.moore@citcomm.com
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Go Bucks!
My apologies to non-sports types for today’s blog –as I will revert to hyper-fan mode a couple of times each year.
I’ll deal with the Patriots’ march to another Super Bowl soon. As a die-hard Redskin fan, you unfortunately won’t see anything about the ‘Skins the rest of this year (sob)
Tonight, it’s the BCS Sugar Bowl, pitting my alma mater Ohio State Buckeyes against the Razorbacks of Arkansas. And while I cannot deny my passion as a proud Buckeye fan, I am somewhat used to disappointment in Bowl games (especially for the national Championship)—and even a partisan like myself is dismayed by what I feel is a tainted game before the ball is even kicked off.
More on that in a bit—right now, a quick highlight reel of Ohio State’s big moments in the last decade or so:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u6nGD1t3lo
As for tonight, I’ll be rooting for OSU, but am not confident that off-field distractions will not affect the Buckeyes performance---to the point that I feel that despite the “favored team” status by Vegas bookmakers (and the pregame “ranking” of the teams), a loss seems to be the most likely outcome.
For those not aware of what has happened in Columbus, here is a rough sequence of misdeeds:
· Six Ohio State players, including star quarterback Terrell Pryor were sanctioned for NCAA violations, specifically for selling personal memorabilia and/or receiving services (tattoos) at a substantial discount because of their celebrity. It was noted that the players made these transactions before being informed of the NCAA parameters, but that they failed to disclose these actions after the fact.
· As punishment, the NCAA suspended 5 of the players (including Pryor) to a 5 game suspension at the start of next season, but ruled that they would be eligible to play in the Sugar Bowl tonight. One player was suspended for one game.
· It was learned later that the President of the Sugar Bowl Paul Hoolihan lobbied the NCAA to keep the affected players on the field for the Bowl game- a successful effort, it would seem. The NCAA justified the harsher than usual penalty (5 games instead of 4) because of the timing of the violations and the fact that the players did not disclose their actions after the fact. As for keeping the players eligible for the Sugar Bowl, the NCAA defended their decision on the fact that the players “may not have been aware” at the time of their actions that they were, indeed, in violation of the rules and regs.
· Coach Jim Tressel of Ohio State, now faced with the moral dilemma of either sitting these players for the Bowl game as the “honorable” thing to do—or allowing them to play, struck a compromise that has, in itself, become a center of controversy. He extracted promises from all the players that they would return to Ohio State for the 2011-12 season in exchange for the right to travel to New Orleans. All the players accepted this deal, thus averting a likely byproduct of the NCAA scandal: namely, that “punishing” the players would likely do nothing of the sort—as most would defect to the NFL and multi-million dollar contracts. It would instead be the Ohio State Football program that would absorb the true punishment, losing several top players.
That’s about it—and there is plenty of blame to go around.
No one knows if the players really were aware of the impropriety of their actions in advance, but it is likely they were. At the same time, should the NCAA have any say over the sale of personal property? I mean, if Terrell Pryor sold, say, a motorcycle (as opposed to a championship ring) to a third party for a price either at or above the market value, would their transgressions be thought as severe? The players sold “gold pants” for winning the Michigan game—and Big Ten Conference championship rings—the sum total for each player just a couple thousand dollars—in some cases sent to the players families to support them.
To me, the NCAA smells the most in this debacle. Colleges routinely sell jerseys with players names and numbers and the athletes see none of this revenue. It’s true that many will go on to lucrative NFL careers---but many will not—and the value of the scholarship is perhaps adequate compensation (given tuition costs!) but we should remember the place where these players are RIGHT NOW.
Forget about the future and the promise of big dollars. For every player that makes it, there must be a dozen or more who do not—either through the relative lack of talent—or perhaps they are just a split second away from a career-ending tackle that will seal their fate. Coming out of high school, many of these kids are from destitute families. Future contracts don’t pay the bills today—and the lure of favors, perks and the like from well-meaning alumni and prospective agents are hard to resist when the player comes from an environment of need.
What would have been a better resolution? Were I in charge of the NCAA Violations Committee, I would advocate for the following:
1) Assuming the “guilty” parties were indeed confirmed as having broken the rules, I would have suspended the players for THREE games: The Sugar Bowl and the first two games of the following season.
2) I would also bar the offending players from entering the draft prior to that season. A five game suspension (nearly half the season) is excessive—the bowl game, with all of its own attractions and perks—and two games in the next season is a punishment that fits the crime—and keeps the integrity of an organization that now seems guilty of bowing to the pressure for ratings and dollars connected to the bowl game. Shame on the NCAA!
A simple and equitable solution that exacts a stinging punishment to the players without being excessive or making the college take the brunt of the pain via the exodus of players to the NFL.
No doubt the scandal will dominate the telecast tonight. Arkansas fans will probably sport some interesting signs in the stands. “Hey, Terrell, sell me your pants!” and “The Razorbacks will REALLY Tattoo you!” come to mind.
I’ll attempt to block it all out as I cheer for my alma mater…..
GO BUCKS!!!
If you’d like my blog in your inbox, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
I’ll deal with the Patriots’ march to another Super Bowl soon. As a die-hard Redskin fan, you unfortunately won’t see anything about the ‘Skins the rest of this year (sob)
Tonight, it’s the BCS Sugar Bowl, pitting my alma mater Ohio State Buckeyes against the Razorbacks of Arkansas. And while I cannot deny my passion as a proud Buckeye fan, I am somewhat used to disappointment in Bowl games (especially for the national Championship)—and even a partisan like myself is dismayed by what I feel is a tainted game before the ball is even kicked off.
More on that in a bit—right now, a quick highlight reel of Ohio State’s big moments in the last decade or so:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u6nGD1t3lo
As for tonight, I’ll be rooting for OSU, but am not confident that off-field distractions will not affect the Buckeyes performance---to the point that I feel that despite the “favored team” status by Vegas bookmakers (and the pregame “ranking” of the teams), a loss seems to be the most likely outcome.
For those not aware of what has happened in Columbus, here is a rough sequence of misdeeds:
· Six Ohio State players, including star quarterback Terrell Pryor were sanctioned for NCAA violations, specifically for selling personal memorabilia and/or receiving services (tattoos) at a substantial discount because of their celebrity. It was noted that the players made these transactions before being informed of the NCAA parameters, but that they failed to disclose these actions after the fact.
· As punishment, the NCAA suspended 5 of the players (including Pryor) to a 5 game suspension at the start of next season, but ruled that they would be eligible to play in the Sugar Bowl tonight. One player was suspended for one game.
· It was learned later that the President of the Sugar Bowl Paul Hoolihan lobbied the NCAA to keep the affected players on the field for the Bowl game- a successful effort, it would seem. The NCAA justified the harsher than usual penalty (5 games instead of 4) because of the timing of the violations and the fact that the players did not disclose their actions after the fact. As for keeping the players eligible for the Sugar Bowl, the NCAA defended their decision on the fact that the players “may not have been aware” at the time of their actions that they were, indeed, in violation of the rules and regs.
· Coach Jim Tressel of Ohio State, now faced with the moral dilemma of either sitting these players for the Bowl game as the “honorable” thing to do—or allowing them to play, struck a compromise that has, in itself, become a center of controversy. He extracted promises from all the players that they would return to Ohio State for the 2011-12 season in exchange for the right to travel to New Orleans. All the players accepted this deal, thus averting a likely byproduct of the NCAA scandal: namely, that “punishing” the players would likely do nothing of the sort—as most would defect to the NFL and multi-million dollar contracts. It would instead be the Ohio State Football program that would absorb the true punishment, losing several top players.
That’s about it—and there is plenty of blame to go around.
No one knows if the players really were aware of the impropriety of their actions in advance, but it is likely they were. At the same time, should the NCAA have any say over the sale of personal property? I mean, if Terrell Pryor sold, say, a motorcycle (as opposed to a championship ring) to a third party for a price either at or above the market value, would their transgressions be thought as severe? The players sold “gold pants” for winning the Michigan game—and Big Ten Conference championship rings—the sum total for each player just a couple thousand dollars—in some cases sent to the players families to support them.
To me, the NCAA smells the most in this debacle. Colleges routinely sell jerseys with players names and numbers and the athletes see none of this revenue. It’s true that many will go on to lucrative NFL careers---but many will not—and the value of the scholarship is perhaps adequate compensation (given tuition costs!) but we should remember the place where these players are RIGHT NOW.
Forget about the future and the promise of big dollars. For every player that makes it, there must be a dozen or more who do not—either through the relative lack of talent—or perhaps they are just a split second away from a career-ending tackle that will seal their fate. Coming out of high school, many of these kids are from destitute families. Future contracts don’t pay the bills today—and the lure of favors, perks and the like from well-meaning alumni and prospective agents are hard to resist when the player comes from an environment of need.
What would have been a better resolution? Were I in charge of the NCAA Violations Committee, I would advocate for the following:
1) Assuming the “guilty” parties were indeed confirmed as having broken the rules, I would have suspended the players for THREE games: The Sugar Bowl and the first two games of the following season.
2) I would also bar the offending players from entering the draft prior to that season. A five game suspension (nearly half the season) is excessive—the bowl game, with all of its own attractions and perks—and two games in the next season is a punishment that fits the crime—and keeps the integrity of an organization that now seems guilty of bowing to the pressure for ratings and dollars connected to the bowl game. Shame on the NCAA!
A simple and equitable solution that exacts a stinging punishment to the players without being excessive or making the college take the brunt of the pain via the exodus of players to the NFL.
No doubt the scandal will dominate the telecast tonight. Arkansas fans will probably sport some interesting signs in the stands. “Hey, Terrell, sell me your pants!” and “The Razorbacks will REALLY Tattoo you!” come to mind.
I’ll attempt to block it all out as I cheer for my alma mater…..
GO BUCKS!!!
If you’d like my blog in your inbox, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
Monday, January 3, 2011
Who Wants To Be The Dummy?
Happy New Year!
I’ll have to share my broken resolutions with you some other day (I’m still busy fracturing them as we speak), but thought that you would enjoy this little clip I received via e-mail today.
I have always been fascinated by ventriloquists, mostly because I find it rather odd that there is an entire class of people who live their lives in a most unusual way. Hours upon hours spent alone with a doll.
In this solitude, they work up routines that allow some alter-ego to emerge—and the targets of the humor often look at—and blame—the dummy rather than the stiff-lipped real person next to him…uh…it.
Of course, I respect the talent, the craft, the performance. Even if it is a little weird.
Check out this clip—a ventriloquist by the name of Paul Zerdin, who uses a REAL PERSON as the dummy. This is funny:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htU6qYsLsEE
Hats off to that poor audience member who arrived at the show expecting to BE entertained—rather than himself BEING the entertainment.
Good sport.
If you have any topics that you’d like covered in the new year—or videos that you’d like me to share, feel free to drop me a line at tim.moore@citcomm.com
You can also sign up to receive this daily blog via e-mail that way, too. It’s free!
I’ll have to share my broken resolutions with you some other day (I’m still busy fracturing them as we speak), but thought that you would enjoy this little clip I received via e-mail today.
I have always been fascinated by ventriloquists, mostly because I find it rather odd that there is an entire class of people who live their lives in a most unusual way. Hours upon hours spent alone with a doll.
In this solitude, they work up routines that allow some alter-ego to emerge—and the targets of the humor often look at—and blame—the dummy rather than the stiff-lipped real person next to him…uh…it.
Of course, I respect the talent, the craft, the performance. Even if it is a little weird.
Check out this clip—a ventriloquist by the name of Paul Zerdin, who uses a REAL PERSON as the dummy. This is funny:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htU6qYsLsEE
Hats off to that poor audience member who arrived at the show expecting to BE entertained—rather than himself BEING the entertainment.
Good sport.
If you have any topics that you’d like covered in the new year—or videos that you’d like me to share, feel free to drop me a line at tim.moore@citcomm.com
You can also sign up to receive this daily blog via e-mail that way, too. It’s free!
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