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.

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

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!

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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!

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

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.

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

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.

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

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