Dear readers, how could I have ignored you? I looked at my blog recently and realized that it's been a month--a month--since I have posted here. Oh, the horror and embarrassment--please, please give me a mulligan and let me make it up to you!
In an effort to get back into your good graces, I give you today a peek under the advertising tent--a look-see at what advertisers are planning to fork over $3.5M-4.5M for a 30-second ad spot on the February 3 Super Bowl. Let's take a look, shall we?
Audi: The German automaker is back for a sixth straight year with one :30. The account is handled by Venables, Bell and Partners, a San Francisco-based independent shop who has done great work in energizing the Audi brand.
Frito-Lay: Another consistent advertiser is Doritos, who plans a seventh straight "Crash the Super Bowl" contest. Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, San Francisco, is the involved agency.
Taco Bell: The quick-service restaurant chain has a :60 planned for the big game.
Volkswagen: Deutsch, Los Angeles, handles the creative for VW, who plans one :60 during the game. Last year, VW's spot aired in the second quarter of the Super Bowl.
Walt Disney Pictures: Disney will promote Oz, the Great and Powerful, Iron Man 3, or The Lone Ranger with their in-game spot.
Coca-Cola: Coke has purchased three :30's with no word on whether the iconic white bears will be used in the advertising.
Chrysler: The Detroit auto manufacturer is back again after two years of much-hyped and much-discussed spots.
Kia: Last year's spot featured Adriana Lima and Motley Crue--what will Kia do this year to top that effort?
Oreo: Weiden and Kennedy was named to lead the Super Bowl creative efforts for this brand.
Mercedes Benz: The Super Bowl is being played in the Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans. Perhaps naturally we'll then hear the sound of Jon Hamm's voice-over in one Mercedes spot in the game's fourth quarter.
Other involved brands include: Anheuser-Busch, Axe, Best Buy, Cars.com, Century 21, Lincoln, M&M's, Samsung, Skechers, Universal Pictures and Toyota.
(Source: Advertising Age)
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
You can't go home again
Last week, we moved--as in, physical labor move with boxes and movers and the once again realization that there are few things on the planet less fun than taking your belongings out of one home and putting them in another.
This was our eighth move but only our fourth involving moving out of a home we owned. I remember now why moving has not been a frequent occurrence in our family.
If moving is a pain then owning a home is like a constant headache. But, it's also a symbol of one's family dynamic. That's why it stung me last week when I stood in an empty house and looked into the dining room--the scene of so many family meals, holiday gatherings, and get-togethers with friends. I realized that it was this house that I had most identified with; it was this house where so many major family moments had occurred, thus stirring so many special memories.
We're now in a new place--shiny and fixed up, ready for new organization and prepared for new memories. As we drove by the old house on Saturday, though, I saw people moving into "our house"--no, not the new one but the one just vacated. You see, it's still "our house" to me and it was foreign watching new people, with smiling faces, taking their belongings into a house with my memories.
For me, in this case, you can't go home again. Thomas Wolfe had it right.
This was our eighth move but only our fourth involving moving out of a home we owned. I remember now why moving has not been a frequent occurrence in our family.
If moving is a pain then owning a home is like a constant headache. But, it's also a symbol of one's family dynamic. That's why it stung me last week when I stood in an empty house and looked into the dining room--the scene of so many family meals, holiday gatherings, and get-togethers with friends. I realized that it was this house that I had most identified with; it was this house where so many major family moments had occurred, thus stirring so many special memories.
We're now in a new place--shiny and fixed up, ready for new organization and prepared for new memories. As we drove by the old house on Saturday, though, I saw people moving into "our house"--no, not the new one but the one just vacated. You see, it's still "our house" to me and it was foreign watching new people, with smiling faces, taking their belongings into a house with my memories.
For me, in this case, you can't go home again. Thomas Wolfe had it right.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Wrapping up a week in Gotham
Greetings, peeps, from 30K feet utilizing the GoGo WiFi in a Delta flight from LGA to MCI. It's been a productive week in Manhattan so let's kick it around before we close out this work week, shall we?
- New York City, on a good day, requires a certain sense of resolve that one will share space with far too many other individuals. But, during the holiday season, the hip checks and flying elbows are out in force as it's clearly every man/woman for himself/herself on the sidewalks of Manhattan.
- The Rolling Stones are playing the Prudential Center in Newark, a pay-per-view event you can catch for $39.95. The cool new wrinkle, though, is the band's use of mobile technology as the concert will be streamed live, for the same price, on PC's, tablets, and smartphones. The Stones have always been a trend setter in the world of live music, having been the first to sign a tour sponsor, and now are broadcasting a mobile concert experience. It's a far cry from Keith Richards' statement, in 1997, about cell phones being akin to "sticking your head in a microwave."
- There are only two episodes left of this season of Homeland (Showtime.) Crap...
- Speaking of New York, Monday, November 26, was the first time police officials can recall recording no shootings, stabbings or murders over a 24-hour period. Perhaps the holiday cheer has indeed affected Gotham-ites!
- A teacher in Kentucky obviously is still bitter about the election as she recently wrote on her blackboard, in psychology class, that "you can't be a Democrat and go to heaven." School officials have apologized for the incident.
- It's now a fact--this year will go down as the warmest on record for the states of Kansas and Missouri.
- In the "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" category, a woman in Germany tried to suffocate her boyfriend with her 38DD breasts. Franziska Hansen, 33, was supposedly upset that her boyfriend was planning to leave her. The alleged victim, Tim Schmidt, claims that while he slept, Hansen grabbed his head and pushed it between her breasts. "I couldn't breath anymore," Schmidt claimed.
- Back to the Rolling Stones--the rockers now have an average that is older than the members of the U.S. Supreme Court. The Stones average almost 69 while the justices' average nearly 67. I'm not sure if that's a weird commentary on the best rock-and-roll band in history, or the state of the justice system in the U.S.
- American men are tipping the scales at an average weight of 196--16 pounds heavier than 1990. The average weight of women has risen by 14 pounds over the same period. (Source: Gallup)
- Celebration Day, the new Led Zeppelin reunion DVD and CD, is well worth the download. The live recording is from the group's 2007 concert at O2 in London, played as a tribute to record-label founder Ahmet Ertegun. Robert Plant's well-worn voice was in better-than-expected form and Jimmy Page killed it, as usual. Highlights of the set include "Kashmir" and "Black Dog," as well as "Ramble On."
- And, finally, given that I'm sitting on an airplane, major airlines have cut the number of U.S. domestic flights by 14 percent, since 2007, in an attempt to maintain high capacity and thus higher returns on their investments. St. Louis, Cleveland, Memphis, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh have been hardest hit, losing 40 percent of their scheduled flights.
- New York City, on a good day, requires a certain sense of resolve that one will share space with far too many other individuals. But, during the holiday season, the hip checks and flying elbows are out in force as it's clearly every man/woman for himself/herself on the sidewalks of Manhattan.
- The Rolling Stones are playing the Prudential Center in Newark, a pay-per-view event you can catch for $39.95. The cool new wrinkle, though, is the band's use of mobile technology as the concert will be streamed live, for the same price, on PC's, tablets, and smartphones. The Stones have always been a trend setter in the world of live music, having been the first to sign a tour sponsor, and now are broadcasting a mobile concert experience. It's a far cry from Keith Richards' statement, in 1997, about cell phones being akin to "sticking your head in a microwave."
- There are only two episodes left of this season of Homeland (Showtime.) Crap...
- Speaking of New York, Monday, November 26, was the first time police officials can recall recording no shootings, stabbings or murders over a 24-hour period. Perhaps the holiday cheer has indeed affected Gotham-ites!
- A teacher in Kentucky obviously is still bitter about the election as she recently wrote on her blackboard, in psychology class, that "you can't be a Democrat and go to heaven." School officials have apologized for the incident.
- It's now a fact--this year will go down as the warmest on record for the states of Kansas and Missouri.
- In the "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" category, a woman in Germany tried to suffocate her boyfriend with her 38DD breasts. Franziska Hansen, 33, was supposedly upset that her boyfriend was planning to leave her. The alleged victim, Tim Schmidt, claims that while he slept, Hansen grabbed his head and pushed it between her breasts. "I couldn't breath anymore," Schmidt claimed.
- Back to the Rolling Stones--the rockers now have an average that is older than the members of the U.S. Supreme Court. The Stones average almost 69 while the justices' average nearly 67. I'm not sure if that's a weird commentary on the best rock-and-roll band in history, or the state of the justice system in the U.S.
- American men are tipping the scales at an average weight of 196--16 pounds heavier than 1990. The average weight of women has risen by 14 pounds over the same period. (Source: Gallup)
- Celebration Day, the new Led Zeppelin reunion DVD and CD, is well worth the download. The live recording is from the group's 2007 concert at O2 in London, played as a tribute to record-label founder Ahmet Ertegun. Robert Plant's well-worn voice was in better-than-expected form and Jimmy Page killed it, as usual. Highlights of the set include "Kashmir" and "Black Dog," as well as "Ramble On."
- And, finally, given that I'm sitting on an airplane, major airlines have cut the number of U.S. domestic flights by 14 percent, since 2007, in an attempt to maintain high capacity and thus higher returns on their investments. St. Louis, Cleveland, Memphis, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh have been hardest hit, losing 40 percent of their scheduled flights.
Friday, November 23, 2012
"When Black Friday comes..."
"When Black Friday comes
I'll stand down by the door
And catch the grey men when they
Dive from the fourteenth floor"
Amidst the cacophony of news stories and advertisements for Black Friday I couldn't help but think about this song, "Black Friday," which Steely Dan released in 1975. While the song has nothing to do with today's version of Black Friday, I'm sure the group had no idea that those two words would become woven into today's popular culture.
What is wrong with us!? What used to be known as "the day after Thanksgiving" now has a name--and an ominous one at that--and reports of fights and disruptive behavior at retail locations around the country as consumers queued up, in the hours before this "event," hopeful for the best deals offered by all of the big box retailers.
In the hours following a day reserved for the gathering of family and friends comes not the gluttony of turkey and dressing but of consumer behavior gone bad.
Who's at greater fault here--the retailers who inch up their store hours to invade on Thanksgiving fellowship or the consumers who gladly satisfy that decision by lining up in search of the best deal on a 55" television or the season's hot toy? It's sad, sick, and certainly not what Abraham Lincoln had in mind when he signed a proclamation in 1863 making the final Thursday in November a "day of thanksgiving." Somehow I doubt ol' Abe thought that the final Friday of the month would become something special too.
I'll stand down by the door
And catch the grey men when they
Dive from the fourteenth floor"
Amidst the cacophony of news stories and advertisements for Black Friday I couldn't help but think about this song, "Black Friday," which Steely Dan released in 1975. While the song has nothing to do with today's version of Black Friday, I'm sure the group had no idea that those two words would become woven into today's popular culture.
What is wrong with us!? What used to be known as "the day after Thanksgiving" now has a name--and an ominous one at that--and reports of fights and disruptive behavior at retail locations around the country as consumers queued up, in the hours before this "event," hopeful for the best deals offered by all of the big box retailers.
In the hours following a day reserved for the gathering of family and friends comes not the gluttony of turkey and dressing but of consumer behavior gone bad.
Who's at greater fault here--the retailers who inch up their store hours to invade on Thanksgiving fellowship or the consumers who gladly satisfy that decision by lining up in search of the best deal on a 55" television or the season's hot toy? It's sad, sick, and certainly not what Abraham Lincoln had in mind when he signed a proclamation in 1863 making the final Thursday in November a "day of thanksgiving." Somehow I doubt ol' Abe thought that the final Friday of the month would become something special too.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Happy Thanksgiving, Kansas City!
EDITOR'S NOTE: This blog entry was posted last Thanksgiving on Musings, Notes & Quotes. We reprint it here for Thanksgiving 2012. Happy Thanksgiving to family, friends, and loyal followers of this blog.
I started this blog in February 2009 and for my Thanksgiving posts the past two years I’ve written a serious piece about all of the true reasons I have for being thankful on this, my favorite holiday of the year.
As I drove on the streets of my town, Kansas City, yesterday, I realized that I had special reasons to give thanks again this year—very much focused, though, on this amazing city where I and my family reside. So, with no further adieu, here are the reasons I’m thankful for Kansas City:
- I’m thankful for the people of this expansive geographic metropolitan area—from the tony suburbs to the rural communities and in between. I am thankful for the sincerity of feelings, the kindness which represents our community, and the passion for our state—whether Kansas or Missouri.
- I’m thankful for the prettiest shopping district in the country, the Country Club Plaza, and how no other place else feels so special during the holidays.
- I’m thankful for local icons like George Brett, Tom Watson and Len Dawson. I’m thankful for those who represent Kansas City in the entertainment business—Eric Stonestreet, Jason Sudeikis, Paul Rudd and others.
- I’m thankful for Grandstand Burgers, Rudy’s Tacqueria, Grinder’s, Stroud’s, LC’s, the original Peanut on Main, and Jess & Jim’s.
- I’m thankful for barbecue of all types, sauces, and venues—for Oklahoma Joes, Gates, Arthur Bryants, LC’s, Danny Edwards, B.B.'s Lawnside Barbecue, Jack’s Stack and Rosedale.
- I’m thankful for prime cuts of good ol’ red meat—for The Capital Grille, Ruth’s Chris, Plaza III and JJ’s.
- I’m thankful that our multi-purpose sports complex is updated and still a terrific place to watch baseball or football. I’m thankful for the Sprint Center and Kansas Speedway. And, I’m thankful for the vision of the local ownership of Sporting KC and for the best soccer venue in the United States.
- I’m thankful for Ward Parkway, the Paseo and all the other boulevards in our fair city. I’m thankful the J.C. Nichols fountain and all of the various waterways and water features in our cowtown, which boasts “more fountains than Rome” and “more boulevards than Paris.”
- I’m thankful for local leaders who give of their time, money and management skills to make Kansas City a case study in philanthropic leadership.
- I’m thankful for the companies that call K.C. “home.” And, I’m thankful for the local leaders who have recruited those companies here and work to keep them here.
- I’m thankful for this thing called “Kansas City Pride”—for a town, which engenders loyalty and a desire to make our community a great place to live and work.
I started this blog in February 2009 and for my Thanksgiving posts the past two years I’ve written a serious piece about all of the true reasons I have for being thankful on this, my favorite holiday of the year.
As I drove on the streets of my town, Kansas City, yesterday, I realized that I had special reasons to give thanks again this year—very much focused, though, on this amazing city where I and my family reside. So, with no further adieu, here are the reasons I’m thankful for Kansas City:
- I’m thankful for the people of this expansive geographic metropolitan area—from the tony suburbs to the rural communities and in between. I am thankful for the sincerity of feelings, the kindness which represents our community, and the passion for our state—whether Kansas or Missouri.
- I’m thankful for the prettiest shopping district in the country, the Country Club Plaza, and how no other place else feels so special during the holidays.
- I’m thankful for local icons like George Brett, Tom Watson and Len Dawson. I’m thankful for those who represent Kansas City in the entertainment business—Eric Stonestreet, Jason Sudeikis, Paul Rudd and others.
- I’m thankful for Grandstand Burgers, Rudy’s Tacqueria, Grinder’s, Stroud’s, LC’s, the original Peanut on Main, and Jess & Jim’s.
- I’m thankful for barbecue of all types, sauces, and venues—for Oklahoma Joes, Gates, Arthur Bryants, LC’s, Danny Edwards, B.B.'s Lawnside Barbecue, Jack’s Stack and Rosedale.
- I’m thankful for prime cuts of good ol’ red meat—for The Capital Grille, Ruth’s Chris, Plaza III and JJ’s.
- I’m thankful that our multi-purpose sports complex is updated and still a terrific place to watch baseball or football. I’m thankful for the Sprint Center and Kansas Speedway. And, I’m thankful for the vision of the local ownership of Sporting KC and for the best soccer venue in the United States.
- I’m thankful for Ward Parkway, the Paseo and all the other boulevards in our fair city. I’m thankful the J.C. Nichols fountain and all of the various waterways and water features in our cowtown, which boasts “more fountains than Rome” and “more boulevards than Paris.”
- I’m thankful for local leaders who give of their time, money and management skills to make Kansas City a case study in philanthropic leadership.
- I’m thankful for the companies that call K.C. “home.” And, I’m thankful for the local leaders who have recruited those companies here and work to keep them here.
- I’m thankful for this thing called “Kansas City Pride”—for a town, which engenders loyalty and a desire to make our community a great place to live and work.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
The naivete of the ultra-affluent
The ultra-affluent--those defined as the richest folks in America--took a lot of heat over the past several months as President Barack Obama and his challenger, Governor Mitt Romney, battled it out on the election stage and debated tax plans and economic policy. Interestingly, the folks who fall into this "rich" category don't seem to know that they are in the ultra-affluent group, and they were relatively sanguine about the results of the election.
According to Ipsos Mendelsohn Affluent Barometer (August 2012), the ultra-affluent are 1% of the U.S. population and are defined generally as households with income of $250,000-$325,000 plus per year, depending upon who you're consulting. Those with household incomes of $250,000 or more--the line frequently used by President Obama and Democrats to mark where tax increases should hit--is how Mendelsohn identifies the "ultra affluent," which actually is the top 2-3% of Americans. The U.S. government raises the bar to somewhere in the $325,000 neighborhood.
In survey results released in August, 49% of respondents in this "ultra affluent" group said they don't expect their savings or investment plans to change in 2013, regardless of the election winner. A substantial number--55%--do expect to pay higher taxes if Mr. Obama is re-elected while 27% don't expect the election outcome to make a difference.
What's perhaps of keenest interest is how the most affluent think of themselves as less affluent. Households that are in the top 20-25% of earners on average think that they are in the 38th percentile. The ultra-affluent, in the top 2-3%, of earners on average think that they are in the 16th percentile.
The lack of awareness of economic status is a change from 2006-2007 when consumers tended to overestimate their wealth, or felt like they were on the verge of striking it rich. I guess we can hypothesize that the market crash of 2008-09 caused this fairly radical shift in "affluency awareness."
According to Ipsos Mendelsohn Affluent Barometer (August 2012), the ultra-affluent are 1% of the U.S. population and are defined generally as households with income of $250,000-$325,000 plus per year, depending upon who you're consulting. Those with household incomes of $250,000 or more--the line frequently used by President Obama and Democrats to mark where tax increases should hit--is how Mendelsohn identifies the "ultra affluent," which actually is the top 2-3% of Americans. The U.S. government raises the bar to somewhere in the $325,000 neighborhood.
In survey results released in August, 49% of respondents in this "ultra affluent" group said they don't expect their savings or investment plans to change in 2013, regardless of the election winner. A substantial number--55%--do expect to pay higher taxes if Mr. Obama is re-elected while 27% don't expect the election outcome to make a difference.
What's perhaps of keenest interest is how the most affluent think of themselves as less affluent. Households that are in the top 20-25% of earners on average think that they are in the 38th percentile. The ultra-affluent, in the top 2-3%, of earners on average think that they are in the 16th percentile.
The lack of awareness of economic status is a change from 2006-2007 when consumers tended to overestimate their wealth, or felt like they were on the verge of striking it rich. I guess we can hypothesize that the market crash of 2008-09 caused this fairly radical shift in "affluency awareness."
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Rant of the week
Amazingly, the sun came up this morning and the world felt the same even after a monumental evening last night where months and months of rancor, punditry, mistruths, and general discord culminated in the re-election of President Barack Obama in the presidential election.
Yet, we once again were treated to terms like "battleground states," and the suggestion by some that Obama's surge in these key states had somehow indicated a voter mandate for the incumbent.
As of this morning, the total vote, out of approximately 115 million votes cast, was 58,720,700 for President Obama and 56,145,950 for Governor Mitt Romney, the Republican challenger. Now, I'm a Journalism graduate but even I can figure out that's a close race, separated by approximately 2% of the total votes cast nationally.
When can we put aside the antiquated Electoral College and institute a popular vote for our President? Why are states voting one way or the other, when the populace in that state may be just as divided as the popular vote nationally?
It's time to move on and acknowledge that our country's leader should truly be decided by the people--not by some institution called a "college," which isn't even a source of higher education. And, it's time that the national media, and elected officials, acknowledge that our country is divided by a slim margin, meaning that neither side has mandate nor significant majority. It's time, quite simply, for change, compromise and cooperation.
Yet, we once again were treated to terms like "battleground states," and the suggestion by some that Obama's surge in these key states had somehow indicated a voter mandate for the incumbent.
As of this morning, the total vote, out of approximately 115 million votes cast, was 58,720,700 for President Obama and 56,145,950 for Governor Mitt Romney, the Republican challenger. Now, I'm a Journalism graduate but even I can figure out that's a close race, separated by approximately 2% of the total votes cast nationally.
When can we put aside the antiquated Electoral College and institute a popular vote for our President? Why are states voting one way or the other, when the populace in that state may be just as divided as the popular vote nationally?
It's time to move on and acknowledge that our country's leader should truly be decided by the people--not by some institution called a "college," which isn't even a source of higher education. And, it's time that the national media, and elected officials, acknowledge that our country is divided by a slim margin, meaning that neither side has mandate nor significant majority. It's time, quite simply, for change, compromise and cooperation.
Friday, November 2, 2012
T.G.I.F.
- I'm hearing rumors that power may be restored to the island of Manhattan today. Here's hoping that the four million still without power get good news shortly.
- It wasn't exactly an estate sale but thank goodness a home in Mount Washington, CA, was searched before a recent scheduled demolition as the result was the discovery of a treasure trove of maps--tens of thousands which are considered priceless. Real estate agent Matthew Greenberg discovered the maps upon the death of the home's occupant, John Feathers. Neighbors had no clue that Feathers had this collection, which includes a rare "paved road" map of the U.S. from 1918, and a 1592 map of Europe. The maps are being donated to the Los Angeles Central Library and will turn that facility into one of the biggest map archives in the country.
- A study by CareerBuilder indicates that 69% of full-time workers regularly search for new jobs.
- Sign of the apocalypse: Inmates in West Palm Beach, FL are suing for access to dental floss. The prisoners claim "pain and suffering" for have been denied access to the dental hygiene product given concerns about using the floss as a weapon or rope. Sheriff Ric Bradshaw had this to say, "I don't care if they file 400 suits, they're not getting it--this isn't the Ritz Carlton."
- Sarah Palin is trying to remake herself into a fitness guru, and has written a book and plans to issue a DVD. Friends are worried about the former Vice Presidential candidate--she works out so obsessively that she has dropped 93 pounds.
- Who knew? U.S. cities are facing a smartphone crime wave. In San Francisco, authorities claim that half of all crimes are phone-related and in New York, it's 40%.
- And, finally, in the "you can't make this 'stuff' up" category, a thief in Syracuse, NY returned to the bank he had just robbed, complaining that he wasn't given the entire $20,000 he had demanded. The robber was promptly arrested.
- It wasn't exactly an estate sale but thank goodness a home in Mount Washington, CA, was searched before a recent scheduled demolition as the result was the discovery of a treasure trove of maps--tens of thousands which are considered priceless. Real estate agent Matthew Greenberg discovered the maps upon the death of the home's occupant, John Feathers. Neighbors had no clue that Feathers had this collection, which includes a rare "paved road" map of the U.S. from 1918, and a 1592 map of Europe. The maps are being donated to the Los Angeles Central Library and will turn that facility into one of the biggest map archives in the country.
- A study by CareerBuilder indicates that 69% of full-time workers regularly search for new jobs.
- Sign of the apocalypse: Inmates in West Palm Beach, FL are suing for access to dental floss. The prisoners claim "pain and suffering" for have been denied access to the dental hygiene product given concerns about using the floss as a weapon or rope. Sheriff Ric Bradshaw had this to say, "I don't care if they file 400 suits, they're not getting it--this isn't the Ritz Carlton."
- Sarah Palin is trying to remake herself into a fitness guru, and has written a book and plans to issue a DVD. Friends are worried about the former Vice Presidential candidate--she works out so obsessively that she has dropped 93 pounds.
- Who knew? U.S. cities are facing a smartphone crime wave. In San Francisco, authorities claim that half of all crimes are phone-related and in New York, it's 40%.
- And, finally, in the "you can't make this 'stuff' up" category, a thief in Syracuse, NY returned to the bank he had just robbed, complaining that he wasn't given the entire $20,000 he had demanded. The robber was promptly arrested.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Nashville, mobile usage and the Rolling Stones
- During this month of breast cancer awareness, let's give a shout-out to Bud Stringer in Moultrie, GA. Bud shaved his head in support of his wife, Dolly, who was preparing for chemotherapy to treat her breast cancer. It was then that he discovered a black mark on his head, which turned out to be an aggressive form of skin cancer. Both Dolly and Bud have now undergone multiple surgeries, and Bud has one more to go. But, his early detection saved him as doctors informed the Stringers that "he would have been buried by Christmas" if the lesion had not been found. Both now have been given good prognoses.
- Now it's apparent why the Rollings Stones are not touring with multiple shows to support their 50th anniversary. The band has announced plans for concerts in London and New Jersey--at prices of $680 per ticket for the best seats and $170 per ticket for the "cheapest." At those prices, the boys can make big bucks by making one market appearance apiece in the U.S. and U.K.
- A giant eyeball freaked folks out in Pompano Beach, FL, after the softball-sized part washed up on the shore of this town's beach. Marine scientists did testing and believe the eyeball came from a swordfish, and not a whale or sea monster of some sort.
- Hey, all you frequent travelers, the following may be stating the obvious but confirms what we have all experienced--today's flights are averaging about 80% of aircraft capacity. Flights during the 1970's averaged about 60% of capacity. Interestingly, the average cost of a flight in 2011 was about 40% less than the 1980 average. So, while the flying experience has grown more irritating, the cost to fly has declined.
- If you've not tried out ABC's Nashville, you need to do so. Connie Britton, the best television actress no one knows, is outstanding.
- And finally, here's yet another data point confirming the consumer move from websites to mobile apps. BusinessInsider.com reports that web searches on desktop computers declined in September for the first time since tracking began, in 2006. Analysts say such searches will keep declining as people shift to mobile data. (Source: Macquarie Group)
- Now it's apparent why the Rollings Stones are not touring with multiple shows to support their 50th anniversary. The band has announced plans for concerts in London and New Jersey--at prices of $680 per ticket for the best seats and $170 per ticket for the "cheapest." At those prices, the boys can make big bucks by making one market appearance apiece in the U.S. and U.K.
- A giant eyeball freaked folks out in Pompano Beach, FL, after the softball-sized part washed up on the shore of this town's beach. Marine scientists did testing and believe the eyeball came from a swordfish, and not a whale or sea monster of some sort.
- Hey, all you frequent travelers, the following may be stating the obvious but confirms what we have all experienced--today's flights are averaging about 80% of aircraft capacity. Flights during the 1970's averaged about 60% of capacity. Interestingly, the average cost of a flight in 2011 was about 40% less than the 1980 average. So, while the flying experience has grown more irritating, the cost to fly has declined.
- If you've not tried out ABC's Nashville, you need to do so. Connie Britton, the best television actress no one knows, is outstanding.
- And finally, here's yet another data point confirming the consumer move from websites to mobile apps. BusinessInsider.com reports that web searches on desktop computers declined in September for the first time since tracking began, in 2006. Analysts say such searches will keep declining as people shift to mobile data. (Source: Macquarie Group)
Monday, October 15, 2012
Honey Boo Boo and last meals
- If you've not jumped on the Homeland bandwagon, it's not too late. The Showtime series is again knocking it out of the park this season after an Emmy-winning haul last month after Season One.
- Here's a fun fact which may quickly cause color changes in the American boudoir. A British study found that adults in that country had more sex when their bedrooms were painted purple. Those with beige, green or grey bedrooms had less frequent intimate encounters.
- Have you ever played the game "what would your last meal be if you were on death row?" Well, in reality, death row inmates don't ask for vegetables and more often than not choose unhealthy last meals, with some topping 7,200 calories. The most frequently requested items, according to researchers, are lots of meat, fried foods, sugar and ice cream. My question is, why are researchers spending time on this less-than-compelling topic?
- What's the deal with former Master Chef contestant Lorena Garcia now pitching for Taco Bell? It's way off strategy for the fast-food chain. And, what credibility does Garcia have in touting the quality of "the fourth meal" chain's salad bowl?
- In this week's "you can't make this 'stuff' up" category, word out of Hollywood is that Kim Kardashian is "crushed" that she isn't getting a star on Hollywood Boulevard's Walk-of-Fame. According to People.com, KK had hopes of being the first reality TV "star" to be granted this honor. A Walk-of-Fame rep told The Hollywood Reporter, "They have to have a career in the business of acting, for five years or more."
- Speaking of reality TV, can the bar be lowered any further than Here Comes Honey Boo Boo?
- And, finally, here's your data point for the day: 59% of Americans say that if they could do it all over again, they'd choose a different career. And, only 33% expect to retire by age 65. (Source: Parade/Yahoo! Finance)
- Here's a fun fact which may quickly cause color changes in the American boudoir. A British study found that adults in that country had more sex when their bedrooms were painted purple. Those with beige, green or grey bedrooms had less frequent intimate encounters.
- Have you ever played the game "what would your last meal be if you were on death row?" Well, in reality, death row inmates don't ask for vegetables and more often than not choose unhealthy last meals, with some topping 7,200 calories. The most frequently requested items, according to researchers, are lots of meat, fried foods, sugar and ice cream. My question is, why are researchers spending time on this less-than-compelling topic?
- What's the deal with former Master Chef contestant Lorena Garcia now pitching for Taco Bell? It's way off strategy for the fast-food chain. And, what credibility does Garcia have in touting the quality of "the fourth meal" chain's salad bowl?
- In this week's "you can't make this 'stuff' up" category, word out of Hollywood is that Kim Kardashian is "crushed" that she isn't getting a star on Hollywood Boulevard's Walk-of-Fame. According to People.com, KK had hopes of being the first reality TV "star" to be granted this honor. A Walk-of-Fame rep told The Hollywood Reporter, "They have to have a career in the business of acting, for five years or more."
- Speaking of reality TV, can the bar be lowered any further than Here Comes Honey Boo Boo?
- And, finally, here's your data point for the day: 59% of Americans say that if they could do it all over again, they'd choose a different career. And, only 33% expect to retire by age 65. (Source: Parade/Yahoo! Finance)
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