"Throughout the Christian world, biblical scholars and their hair-dressers are reeling in the wake of the recently-discovered Gospel of Judas.
The Gospel of Judas was among the many biblical-era texts not included in the original canon by Constantin and the Counsel of Nicaea in the 4th century. Collectively known as the Gnostic Gospels, these rejected text are considered heretical by Christian leaders and are rarely found at used book sales. The Gnostic Gospels, which also include the books of Thomas, Mary Magdalene, Albert and Mort, portray Jesus in a more human light with many of the same issues facing any middle-aged guy.
Of all the Gnostic texts, the Gospel of Judas has created the greatest stir among Biblical scholars because it paints a dramatically different picture of the Crucifixion story:
Judas Did Not Betray Jesus: The Gospel of Judas sheds new light on the accepted belief that Judas betrayed Jesus to the Sanhedrin. According to Dr. Martin Schoerson, Head of Biblical Studies and Fashion Design at Long Island Community College and Day Spa: 'The Gospel of Judas introduces someone named Kurt into the Crucifixion story. Kurt, the son of Ephram who beget Barry and Todd, apparently had a number of outstanding parking tickets and may have sold his soul to wipe the slate clean with the local Centurions.
The resurrection happened on Tuesday: Judas maintains that it took Jesus five days to rise from the dead; not three, as proclaimed in the official Gospels. "I always thought the three day story was a little too tidy," said Dr. Ronald McClean, head of Biblical merchandise for The National Hockey League." He added: "I believe Emperor Constantin opted for a three-day resurrection story because he felt that no company in the world would buy into a five-day Easter holiday."
Mary Magdalene was not with Jesus at the Last Supper: This long-standing debate, fueled in recent years by Dan Brown's best-selling novel "The DaVinci Code," is challenged by the Gospel of Judas. According to Judas, Mary was not at the Last Supper because she was hosting her book club on that particular Thursday.
The Last Supper was a raucous affair: The official Gospels paint a scene of relative harmony as the disciples congregate to break bread with their Lord for the last time. But according to Judas, the Last Supper was anything but harmonious. Judas claims that there were problems from the start as the restaurant had difficulty seating the party of 13 immediately due to an unexpected rush that night. There were also issues about which of the disciples would sit closest to their Savior. It was finally agreed that everyone would rotate throughout the evening, although there was still much grumbling. Judas also claims that a number of disciples were vegetarians who complained about the serving of the Pascal Lamb. Others disciples were apparently distressed that only red wine was ordered for the tables. The translation states that Peter asks "Why cannot the blood of Christ be a crisp Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay?" Finally, according to Judas, the night ended on a particularly sour note when the check arrived and sat on the table for what "seemed like an eternity.' It is suggested that Jesus picked up the check in exasperation saying "None of you will repay me." The official Gospels claim that Jesus ended the Last Supper by saying: "One of you will betray me."
Despite widespread challenges to the book's authenticity within Christian circles, The Gospel of Judas is being embraced as a significant find by many scholars. "It's the real thing," proclaimed Alan Peterson, Senior Purchasing Manager of Housewares and Antiquities for J.C. Penney. "Through carbon-dating, we determined that the coffee stain on the back cover was made in the Spring of 33AD. We're thrilled about this momentous discovery and, at $39.99, think it will be a big seller for the Easter holiday."
Friday, April 10, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
To Jay on St. Patrick's Day
My son is adopted and 100% Irish. Every St. Patrick's Day, I have a pint of Guinness to celebrate the blessing I was given when he came into my life. He is a truly remarkable young man and I am so proud to be his father.
Someone sent this Irish friendship greeting and, in honor of my son and his birth-parents, I share it with the world:
AN IRISH FRIENDSHIP WISH
May there always be work for your hands to do;
May your purse always hold a coin or two;
May the sun always shine on your windowpane;
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;
May the hand of a friend always be near you;
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Someone sent this Irish friendship greeting and, in honor of my son and his birth-parents, I share it with the world:
AN IRISH FRIENDSHIP WISH
May there always be work for your hands to do;
May your purse always hold a coin or two;
May the sun always shine on your windowpane;
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;
May the hand of a friend always be near you;
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
The Great Netflix Bait & Switch
My 13-year old son and I love to watch movies. He's now getting old enough to be introduced to many of the classics, such as The Godfather, Dr. Strangelove and others.
We recently hooked up XBox Live to our big screen. Knowing that I was a movie lover, a friend suggested that I look into streaming NetFlix films directly our TV through the XBox. How cool was that? I'm thinking that my days of spending $4 a movie at Blockbuster where over. I went on to Netflix and, as it happens, they were having a FREE trial offer. I chose the $8.99 plan which is perfect for the Xbox deal because it gives me unlimited access to as many movies as I can watch each month. AND no worrying about mailing them back in. I had arrived in movie-lover's heaven! Or, so I thought.
After giving up my credit card information I was invited to browse the Netflix library to add movies to my queue. It was only after building my queue with about 40 classics that I realized I had been had. Only a handful of the movies in my queue were available for Instant viewing through the Xbox connection. Upon digging a little deeper I came across the "instant" library which was comprised of the movies that fall under the Xbox deal. It is an absolutely pathetic collection of mostly straight-to-video films with a smattering of "better" movies thrown in. Of the Netflix top 100, only 8 are Xbox eligible. You can imagine how excited I will be to see the laugh-riot "Victor Victoria" one more time.
My son asked me if Netflix "lied." No, they didn't lie. But they painted a very misleading picture of what is included in this offer. What their PR machine was touting as a groundbreaking partnership with Microsoft is, in my opinion, a bait & switch scheme.
I was really excited about what I believed would be a truly great way to introduce my son to some of the greatest movies of all time. As it now stands, it's time to head back to Blockbuster.
Thanks Netflix.
We recently hooked up XBox Live to our big screen. Knowing that I was a movie lover, a friend suggested that I look into streaming NetFlix films directly our TV through the XBox. How cool was that? I'm thinking that my days of spending $4 a movie at Blockbuster where over. I went on to Netflix and, as it happens, they were having a FREE trial offer. I chose the $8.99 plan which is perfect for the Xbox deal because it gives me unlimited access to as many movies as I can watch each month. AND no worrying about mailing them back in. I had arrived in movie-lover's heaven! Or, so I thought.
After giving up my credit card information I was invited to browse the Netflix library to add movies to my queue. It was only after building my queue with about 40 classics that I realized I had been had. Only a handful of the movies in my queue were available for Instant viewing through the Xbox connection. Upon digging a little deeper I came across the "instant" library which was comprised of the movies that fall under the Xbox deal. It is an absolutely pathetic collection of mostly straight-to-video films with a smattering of "better" movies thrown in. Of the Netflix top 100, only 8 are Xbox eligible. You can imagine how excited I will be to see the laugh-riot "Victor Victoria" one more time.
My son asked me if Netflix "lied." No, they didn't lie. But they painted a very misleading picture of what is included in this offer. What their PR machine was touting as a groundbreaking partnership with Microsoft is, in my opinion, a bait & switch scheme.
I was really excited about what I believed would be a truly great way to introduce my son to some of the greatest movies of all time. As it now stands, it's time to head back to Blockbuster.
Thanks Netflix.
Everything Old is New Again
Just read about how the new Late Night with Jimmy Fallon show is going to revolutionize live TV by using the immediacy of technology such as Twitter to maintain an interactive relationship with viewers.
But, for marketers, I think the bigger story is that Fallon is going to incorporate live commercials into the show. This hearkens back to the nascent days of radio and television, when shows were sponsored by national brands and commercials flowed seamlessly into the fabric of the programming. WVXU, a Cincinnati-based public radio station has programming blocks dedicated to re-runs of classic radio shows like Burns & Allen and Fibber McGee and Molly. It's fascinating to hear how commercials blend into the story-lines and would often be extended by the stars through what sounds like impromptu banter. These early radio stars eventually transferred the idea of commercial integration to the new medium of television.
It will be interesting to see if Fallon begins a new trend and one that I've been anticipating for quite some time. We continue to hear that consumers are looking for more authenticity from companies. Perhaps we'll begin to see a "devolution" back to a model of advertising that is more straight-forward and authentic. Perhaps elegantly produced branding messages will begin to give way to simple, direct, factual messaging about a brand's unique qualities.
Beyond greater authenticity, of course, live commercials provide advertisers with a strategy to combat zapping. As DVR penetration approaches critical mass and time-shifting becomes second nature, commercial zapping will be a critical issue for TV advertisers. Commercial integration will be a critical defense mechanism to avoid the zap and live commercials are obviously the easiest way to achieve this integration.
And now a word from our sponsor!
But, for marketers, I think the bigger story is that Fallon is going to incorporate live commercials into the show. This hearkens back to the nascent days of radio and television, when shows were sponsored by national brands and commercials flowed seamlessly into the fabric of the programming. WVXU, a Cincinnati-based public radio station has programming blocks dedicated to re-runs of classic radio shows like Burns & Allen and Fibber McGee and Molly. It's fascinating to hear how commercials blend into the story-lines and would often be extended by the stars through what sounds like impromptu banter. These early radio stars eventually transferred the idea of commercial integration to the new medium of television.
It will be interesting to see if Fallon begins a new trend and one that I've been anticipating for quite some time. We continue to hear that consumers are looking for more authenticity from companies. Perhaps we'll begin to see a "devolution" back to a model of advertising that is more straight-forward and authentic. Perhaps elegantly produced branding messages will begin to give way to simple, direct, factual messaging about a brand's unique qualities.
Beyond greater authenticity, of course, live commercials provide advertisers with a strategy to combat zapping. As DVR penetration approaches critical mass and time-shifting becomes second nature, commercial zapping will be a critical issue for TV advertisers. Commercial integration will be a critical defense mechanism to avoid the zap and live commercials are obviously the easiest way to achieve this integration.
And now a word from our sponsor!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Recalling Lent
I just read a piece in the Wall Street Journal about this year's new spiritual under-taking: adults who are "giving up" Facebook for Lent.
The article took me back to my youth in the steel-mill suburbs of Pittsburgh. I grew up in a Christian Orthodox family, with a Ukranian Orthodox mother and a Russian Orthodox father. Our faith (or, in my case, lack of faith) was built on a foundation of confession, holy communion, incense, a love of the Virgin Mary and deep-seeded guilt. We were, essentially, like Roman Catholics except, as my mother would say, "we don't report to the Pope."
Lent was a very big deal in our family as it was a prelude to the Super Bowl of religious holidays, Easter. There would be no Christianity without the story of those three days when Jesus suffered on the cross, was buried and rose from the dead. My mother focused most of her energy on the suffering part of the story as commemorated through the tradition of Lent. To the unaware, Lent recalls the biblical tale of Jesus going out into the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights (to do what, I am not sure). To pay homage to this story, many Christians sacrifice something of importance during the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter.
In our family, the week leading up to the start of Lent was rife with tension. We had numerous and lengthy, Camp David-like negotiating sessions during which my sister and I would submit our proposed Lenton observations for my mother's approval. Being a savvy negotiator, I'd start the proceedings by putting a long-shot on the table in the hopes that I would catch mom in a weak and/or (rarely) generous moment. "We'll give up liver and onions," I would proudly proclaim. Mom was wise to my liver gambit ever since the day she forced me (I think at gunpoint, but can't be 100% sure) to eat liver and onions for dinner only to have me heave it back up on the dinner table (it was the last time I've ever eaten liver and onions).
With liver off the table (pun intended), we would negotiate into the night, working our way through the major food groups. But mom was simply too good and her resolve, resolute. Without fail, the Lenton negotiations came down to my having to sacrifice the one thing that sustained me during my youth: Charles Potato Chips. Charles Chips came in a large aluminum can and were delivered fresh to our door every Wednesday afternoon. Mom knew that 40 days without Charles Chips represented the ultimate sacrifice and would put me in good stead with God.
As a last gasp maneuver, I would enlist the aid of my father to undermine my mother's position. Unfortunately, in our home, dad was Switzerland. As a neurtral observer, he had little interest in upsetting the delicate socio-political balance of our family unit. In other words, he didn't want to piss off my mother. He responded to my entreaties for intervention with a simple: "Do what your mother says." Dad knew then what I've come to learn through years of personal experience: "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."
This post was prompted both by the WSJ article and my recent decision to observe Lent again, after a 30+ year hiatus. As a child, Lent, and to a larger degree, the Easter holiday, was about suffering. I had no choice but to make a sacrifice, even though its significance was never fully explained to me. As a non-practicing adult, I have come to see Lent from a different perspective: as a period of cleansing, contemplation and meditation. It's about taking a small portion of your life to be mindful, not necessarily sacrificial. It's about looking within, not doing without.
Having moved beyond my Charles Chip addiction, I will refrain from the consumption of caffeine during the Lenton season which begins Wednesday.
Any other observers out there?
The article took me back to my youth in the steel-mill suburbs of Pittsburgh. I grew up in a Christian Orthodox family, with a Ukranian Orthodox mother and a Russian Orthodox father. Our faith (or, in my case, lack of faith) was built on a foundation of confession, holy communion, incense, a love of the Virgin Mary and deep-seeded guilt. We were, essentially, like Roman Catholics except, as my mother would say, "we don't report to the Pope."
Lent was a very big deal in our family as it was a prelude to the Super Bowl of religious holidays, Easter. There would be no Christianity without the story of those three days when Jesus suffered on the cross, was buried and rose from the dead. My mother focused most of her energy on the suffering part of the story as commemorated through the tradition of Lent. To the unaware, Lent recalls the biblical tale of Jesus going out into the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights (to do what, I am not sure). To pay homage to this story, many Christians sacrifice something of importance during the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter.
In our family, the week leading up to the start of Lent was rife with tension. We had numerous and lengthy, Camp David-like negotiating sessions during which my sister and I would submit our proposed Lenton observations for my mother's approval. Being a savvy negotiator, I'd start the proceedings by putting a long-shot on the table in the hopes that I would catch mom in a weak and/or (rarely) generous moment. "We'll give up liver and onions," I would proudly proclaim. Mom was wise to my liver gambit ever since the day she forced me (I think at gunpoint, but can't be 100% sure) to eat liver and onions for dinner only to have me heave it back up on the dinner table (it was the last time I've ever eaten liver and onions).
With liver off the table (pun intended), we would negotiate into the night, working our way through the major food groups. But mom was simply too good and her resolve, resolute. Without fail, the Lenton negotiations came down to my having to sacrifice the one thing that sustained me during my youth: Charles Potato Chips. Charles Chips came in a large aluminum can and were delivered fresh to our door every Wednesday afternoon. Mom knew that 40 days without Charles Chips represented the ultimate sacrifice and would put me in good stead with God.
As a last gasp maneuver, I would enlist the aid of my father to undermine my mother's position. Unfortunately, in our home, dad was Switzerland. As a neurtral observer, he had little interest in upsetting the delicate socio-political balance of our family unit. In other words, he didn't want to piss off my mother. He responded to my entreaties for intervention with a simple: "Do what your mother says." Dad knew then what I've come to learn through years of personal experience: "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."
This post was prompted both by the WSJ article and my recent decision to observe Lent again, after a 30+ year hiatus. As a child, Lent, and to a larger degree, the Easter holiday, was about suffering. I had no choice but to make a sacrifice, even though its significance was never fully explained to me. As a non-practicing adult, I have come to see Lent from a different perspective: as a period of cleansing, contemplation and meditation. It's about taking a small portion of your life to be mindful, not necessarily sacrificial. It's about looking within, not doing without.
Having moved beyond my Charles Chip addiction, I will refrain from the consumption of caffeine during the Lenton season which begins Wednesday.
Any other observers out there?
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Mel Karmizan's Miracle Solution
It was just announced that John Malone's Liberty Media will bail out Mel Karmizan's Sirrius/XM Satellite radio network for a half a billion bucks.
Frankly, I don't get it. What does Malone see in satellite radio? I wrote about Sirrius last week. I continue to sample the satellite dial in search of something interesting enough to make me want to shell out $10 a month. And I still haven't found what I'm looking for.
The thing that really jumps out at me as I listen more closely is the dearth of simply awful commercials. It seems like every break is populated with commercials touting the next miracle solution: debt solutions, male enhancement solutions, dating solutions, weight loss solutions, colon-cleansing solutions, bad-breath solutions. Satellite radio is late night TV "yell & sell" advertising on Alex Rodriquez-endorsed steroids.
What gets me back to the premise of this post: what would prompt Malone to dish out a boat-load of cash to salvage something with little, inherent consumer value?
Unless, of course, the idea of being Mel Karmizan's boss is too irresistible to pass up.
Frankly, I don't get it. What does Malone see in satellite radio? I wrote about Sirrius last week. I continue to sample the satellite dial in search of something interesting enough to make me want to shell out $10 a month. And I still haven't found what I'm looking for.
The thing that really jumps out at me as I listen more closely is the dearth of simply awful commercials. It seems like every break is populated with commercials touting the next miracle solution: debt solutions, male enhancement solutions, dating solutions, weight loss solutions, colon-cleansing solutions, bad-breath solutions. Satellite radio is late night TV "yell & sell" advertising on Alex Rodriquez-endorsed steroids.
What gets me back to the premise of this post: what would prompt Malone to dish out a boat-load of cash to salvage something with little, inherent consumer value?
Unless, of course, the idea of being Mel Karmizan's boss is too irresistible to pass up.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Twitter and Branding
This was an interesting piece related to using Twitter as a Branding tool.
Many Brands are dabbling in Facebook, Twitter, et. al. Unfortunately, this dabbling is often done without a coherent strategy.
The point below make a lot of sense to me.
February 13, 2009
Activating A Brand On Twitter
By Max Kalehoff
Do you like speaking with humans or inanimate objects?
I think most people prefer to speak with humans, and that's especially true when it comes to interacting with companies. In fact, customers get frustrated when companies limit or dehumanize interaction, especially when product or customer service is involved.
That's probably why personal blogs authored by employees often resonate better than official corporate blogs. And why corporate blogs that include more human elements, including strong personal profiles, resonate more than ones with less.
All this makes me wonder about micro-blogging, specifically Twitter. I'm not going to debate whether your brand should be on Twitter. I'll just say that your brand should be where your customers are, and that often is on Twitter.
But what's the right way for a brand to activate itself on Twitter? Specifically, is it better for companies to actively engage on Twitter with a brand profile, or a human profile?
To be sure, some companies use their standalone brands for their Twitter username, the core element of a profile. Consider Southwest Arlines, or @southwestair, widely considered successful and useful to customers.
Other companies use a hybrid of brand and employee names. Consider Zappos, another success. Its main profile username is @zappos, but it clearly indicates in the bio and profile page that the author is Tony Hsieh, the company's CEO. There also are companies that have profiles that use hybrid usernames, incorporating employee names and the brand. Consider Lionel Menchaca at Dell, whose username is @LionelatDell.
There are also companies that activate on Twitter only via employees' personal profiles, either by design or accident. Consider AdWeek with its ubiquitous digital reporter, or http://twitter.com/bmorrissey @bmorrissey.
Which form is best? It depends on your objective and the relationship your customers have with your brand. Ultimately, you should use any social-media platform in whichever way works best for you. But marketers must consider that customers usually prefer interactions that are more human, not less. I found this out through my own experience on Twitter.
Here's my story: I've been on Twitter a few years and have remained an active user with my personal profile, @maxkalehoff . When I joined Clickable, my search-technology startup, I immediately claimed our company's profile and username on Twitter, @clickable. When we launched our product commercially in late 2008, I began using our company profile to alert customers and other stakeholders to company news, including new product features, service updates, and events, among other.
But I also started using our company Twitter profile to conduct customer service and business development interactions. Whenever I identified problems and opportunities through monitoring, or received inbound questions, I'd respond. And that's where I noticed the limit of a brand profile. Compared to my personal profile, interactions simply were not as engaging or rich. When I reverted to my personal profile to conduct Clickable business, I found receptivity to be far higher. This was especially apparent with Twitter members whom I'd never interacted with before.
As a result, I now maintain our company profile on Twitter, and use it primarily as an alert channel. But if I need to interact with customers or other stakeholders, I'll defer to my personal profile, which clearly indicates my company affiliation. At first, I was reluctant to mix my personal profile directly with work. But I eventually realized that maintaining two identities not only is increasingly difficult, but artificial. We are who we are and we have to bank on our own transparency and common sense.
While our strategy works for our startup, I acknowledge we'll need to adapt it as social platforms and our company mature. But however we grow, I'm committed to maintaining as much humanity and personality as possible. People prefer that, and we'd rather connect with our customers in a more meaningful way.
What form of Twitter profile works for you?
Many Brands are dabbling in Facebook, Twitter, et. al. Unfortunately, this dabbling is often done without a coherent strategy.
The point below make a lot of sense to me.
February 13, 2009
Activating A Brand On Twitter
By Max Kalehoff
Do you like speaking with humans or inanimate objects?
I think most people prefer to speak with humans, and that's especially true when it comes to interacting with companies. In fact, customers get frustrated when companies limit or dehumanize interaction, especially when product or customer service is involved.
That's probably why personal blogs authored by employees often resonate better than official corporate blogs. And why corporate blogs that include more human elements, including strong personal profiles, resonate more than ones with less.
All this makes me wonder about micro-blogging, specifically Twitter. I'm not going to debate whether your brand should be on Twitter. I'll just say that your brand should be where your customers are, and that often is on Twitter.
But what's the right way for a brand to activate itself on Twitter? Specifically, is it better for companies to actively engage on Twitter with a brand profile, or a human profile?
To be sure, some companies use their standalone brands for their Twitter username, the core element of a profile. Consider Southwest Arlines, or @southwestair, widely considered successful and useful to customers.
Other companies use a hybrid of brand and employee names. Consider Zappos, another success. Its main profile username is @zappos, but it clearly indicates in the bio and profile page that the author is Tony Hsieh, the company's CEO. There also are companies that have profiles that use hybrid usernames, incorporating employee names and the brand. Consider Lionel Menchaca at Dell, whose username is @LionelatDell.
There are also companies that activate on Twitter only via employees' personal profiles, either by design or accident. Consider AdWeek with its ubiquitous digital reporter, or http://twitter.com/bmorrissey @bmorrissey.
Which form is best? It depends on your objective and the relationship your customers have with your brand. Ultimately, you should use any social-media platform in whichever way works best for you. But marketers must consider that customers usually prefer interactions that are more human, not less. I found this out through my own experience on Twitter.
Here's my story: I've been on Twitter a few years and have remained an active user with my personal profile, @maxkalehoff . When I joined Clickable, my search-technology startup, I immediately claimed our company's profile and username on Twitter, @clickable. When we launched our product commercially in late 2008, I began using our company profile to alert customers and other stakeholders to company news, including new product features, service updates, and events, among other.
But I also started using our company Twitter profile to conduct customer service and business development interactions. Whenever I identified problems and opportunities through monitoring, or received inbound questions, I'd respond. And that's where I noticed the limit of a brand profile. Compared to my personal profile, interactions simply were not as engaging or rich. When I reverted to my personal profile to conduct Clickable business, I found receptivity to be far higher. This was especially apparent with Twitter members whom I'd never interacted with before.
As a result, I now maintain our company profile on Twitter, and use it primarily as an alert channel. But if I need to interact with customers or other stakeholders, I'll defer to my personal profile, which clearly indicates my company affiliation. At first, I was reluctant to mix my personal profile directly with work. But I eventually realized that maintaining two identities not only is increasingly difficult, but artificial. We are who we are and we have to bank on our own transparency and common sense.
While our strategy works for our startup, I acknowledge we'll need to adapt it as social platforms and our company mature. But however we grow, I'm committed to maintaining as much humanity and personality as possible. People prefer that, and we'd rather connect with our customers in a more meaningful way.
What form of Twitter profile works for you?
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Why Satellite Radio is Siriusly F#@&ed!
I bought a new car this week. A 2009 VW Passat. I tried to buy American, but my money was not welcomed by Ford. You can see my post below on this subject.
My new Passat came with 90 days of free satellite radio. This is my first satellite radio experience as I have been a dedicated terrestrial radio fan. Satellite radio is a little overwhelming. There are so many choices and so many niches that it is nearly impossible to figure out where to start.
I continued to scan each band until I came to the comedy/adult talk channels. Sirius 100 is Howard Stern followed by Playboy, Raw (adult comedy) and Laugh USA. I've always been a Howard Stern fan, from his earliest days in New York when his endless prattle about nothing was a refreshing respite from the monotonous morning chatter of Top 40 radio. You had to sift through his ramblings, but could always come across a gem, some little bit that was both unique and very non-commercial. I enjoyed listening to Howard the rebel, pushing the envelope and the FCC's buttons at the same time.
Then Howard decided to thumb his nose at the FCC and take Sirius money as the savior of satellite radio. And with his passing from the terrestrial band to the insignificant world of satellite, Howard become instantly irrelevant. Not that he was highly relevant before, but he did shake up the radio establishment and he served a purpose in pushing the bounds of the First Amendment. But he traded his relevance for the ability to say F#%k. That's it. He left for a half a billion dollars and one word. It's a word that does not make him the least bit funnier. It's a word that, frankly, diminishes the edge from which he used to work his magic.
As I tuned in the various other channels on the "adult" band, it occurred to me that satellite radio's promise was essentially built on a foundation of one, four-letter word. Sure, it's cool to have access to Bob Dylan's program and 24 hour Boss. But the satellite visionaries ultimately believed that the ability to hear one, FCC-banned word would attract enough shallow Americans to make satellite, well, serious. Well, as Sirius/XM scrambles to make a $170 million bank note in the next few weeks, it is painfully obvious that one simple word won't be enough.
It's really a f#%*ing shame!
My new Passat came with 90 days of free satellite radio. This is my first satellite radio experience as I have been a dedicated terrestrial radio fan. Satellite radio is a little overwhelming. There are so many choices and so many niches that it is nearly impossible to figure out where to start.
I continued to scan each band until I came to the comedy/adult talk channels. Sirius 100 is Howard Stern followed by Playboy, Raw (adult comedy) and Laugh USA. I've always been a Howard Stern fan, from his earliest days in New York when his endless prattle about nothing was a refreshing respite from the monotonous morning chatter of Top 40 radio. You had to sift through his ramblings, but could always come across a gem, some little bit that was both unique and very non-commercial. I enjoyed listening to Howard the rebel, pushing the envelope and the FCC's buttons at the same time.
Then Howard decided to thumb his nose at the FCC and take Sirius money as the savior of satellite radio. And with his passing from the terrestrial band to the insignificant world of satellite, Howard become instantly irrelevant. Not that he was highly relevant before, but he did shake up the radio establishment and he served a purpose in pushing the bounds of the First Amendment. But he traded his relevance for the ability to say F#%k. That's it. He left for a half a billion dollars and one word. It's a word that does not make him the least bit funnier. It's a word that, frankly, diminishes the edge from which he used to work his magic.
As I tuned in the various other channels on the "adult" band, it occurred to me that satellite radio's promise was essentially built on a foundation of one, four-letter word. Sure, it's cool to have access to Bob Dylan's program and 24 hour Boss. But the satellite visionaries ultimately believed that the ability to hear one, FCC-banned word would attract enough shallow Americans to make satellite, well, serious. Well, as Sirius/XM scrambles to make a $170 million bank note in the next few weeks, it is painfully obvious that one simple word won't be enough.
It's really a f#%*ing shame!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
In the Stillers of the Night
I don't like schlocky attempts at humorous poetry, especially those forwarded through the Internet.
But, on the eve of my beloved Steelers (or Stillers as they are known in Pittsburgh) attempt to win an unprecedented sixth Super Bowl tomorrow evening, I will share this poem with anyone who is a fan.
If you grew up or lived in Pittsburgh for any amount of time, becoming a Steeler fan was a right of passage. The Steelers epitomize Pittsburgh, at least the Pittsburgh of my youth: hard-edged, genuine, determined. There was never anything flashy about Pittsburgh or the Steelers. And, as a Steeler fan, it was impossible to not be drawn into the magic of Myron Cope's uniquely Pittsburgh commentary as the color man during Steeler's broadcasts. Only a Pittsburgher could love Myron and his almost gross exaggeration of the unique Pittsburgh dialect.
Most people remember Myron for his creation of the now-ubiquitous Terrible Towels that serve as the official flag of The Steeler Nation. But I remember Myron for his passion and boyish enthusiasm that made listening to a Steeler game a weirdly exhilarating experience. You felt his joy during great wins and grieved along with him during the bitter disappointments. I can still hear Myron screaming in the background of the radio broadcast on the winter day in the early 70's when the Steelers beat the Oakland Raiders with what has since become knows as Franco Harris' "Immaculate Reception." Many may argue, but I believe that singular moment changed the fortunes of a city that was in the midst of its own economic collapse. People began to believe in miracles and, within time, Pittsburgh moved beyond its industrial roots to become a center of commerce and education. On some level, Myron was more than a broadcast color man for an NFL team. He was, in many ways, the voice and the spirit of a Renaissance.
I have lived in Cincinnati for more than 20 years. When I tell locals that I grew up in "the Burgh," they are quick to opine that the two cities are very similar and, thus, I must feel "right at home" in the Queen City. Indeed, they are both cities of majestic hills overlooking one of the country's great rivers. Both cities were carved out of the country's expansion as an industrial power. I have come to like Cincinnati, but have never felt "right at home" here, because, at heart, I will always be a Pittsburgher. I will always feel an affinity for its ethnic heritage and neighborhood spirit. I will always have The Steelers. And the memories of Myron taking me down the field on a last minute drive to Steeler glory.
This poem is about Myron and what he means to Pittsburghers.
If you know Myron, I hope it brings a smile to your face.
Go STILLERS!!
‘Twas the Night Before the Super Bowl
‘Twas the night before the Super Bowl, when along the gulf shore,
Steelers fans were praying for “just one more;”
The players were nestled all snug in the sack,
With visions of the first NFL Six-Pack;
Coach Tomlin was young, but wise for his years,
So I drifted off to sleep without any fears;
When at the stadium there arose some strange chatter,
The Cardinals feared, what was the matter;
We heard “Okel Dokel”, we heard “Double Yoi,”
We jumped from our beds, our hearts jumped for joy;
He stood at the fifty with a grin ear to ear,
Steelers fans everywhere started to cheer;
Then in an instant to our surprise,
This little old man had tears in his eyes;
He went to the booth and there took his chair,
While Terrible Towels waved in the air;
Then over the airwaves came his shrill voice,
The Steelers Nation began to rejoice;
He said, “I am back, but you know I can’t stay,
I just had to see my Steelers play;
From my home up above, I have a great view,
But I wanted to celebrate here with you;
So bring on the Birds, we’ll send them a flyin’,
On the way back to Phoenix , they will be cryin’;
Ben, Hines, Troy , Jeff and all of the rest,
No matter the outcome, to me you’re the best;”
The airwaves went silent, the stadium still,
Was this just a dream, it seemed so real;
In our team we have faith, in our team we have hope,
But the game’s not the same without Myron Cope
But, on the eve of my beloved Steelers (or Stillers as they are known in Pittsburgh) attempt to win an unprecedented sixth Super Bowl tomorrow evening, I will share this poem with anyone who is a fan.
If you grew up or lived in Pittsburgh for any amount of time, becoming a Steeler fan was a right of passage. The Steelers epitomize Pittsburgh, at least the Pittsburgh of my youth: hard-edged, genuine, determined. There was never anything flashy about Pittsburgh or the Steelers. And, as a Steeler fan, it was impossible to not be drawn into the magic of Myron Cope's uniquely Pittsburgh commentary as the color man during Steeler's broadcasts. Only a Pittsburgher could love Myron and his almost gross exaggeration of the unique Pittsburgh dialect.
Most people remember Myron for his creation of the now-ubiquitous Terrible Towels that serve as the official flag of The Steeler Nation. But I remember Myron for his passion and boyish enthusiasm that made listening to a Steeler game a weirdly exhilarating experience. You felt his joy during great wins and grieved along with him during the bitter disappointments. I can still hear Myron screaming in the background of the radio broadcast on the winter day in the early 70's when the Steelers beat the Oakland Raiders with what has since become knows as Franco Harris' "Immaculate Reception." Many may argue, but I believe that singular moment changed the fortunes of a city that was in the midst of its own economic collapse. People began to believe in miracles and, within time, Pittsburgh moved beyond its industrial roots to become a center of commerce and education. On some level, Myron was more than a broadcast color man for an NFL team. He was, in many ways, the voice and the spirit of a Renaissance.
I have lived in Cincinnati for more than 20 years. When I tell locals that I grew up in "the Burgh," they are quick to opine that the two cities are very similar and, thus, I must feel "right at home" in the Queen City. Indeed, they are both cities of majestic hills overlooking one of the country's great rivers. Both cities were carved out of the country's expansion as an industrial power. I have come to like Cincinnati, but have never felt "right at home" here, because, at heart, I will always be a Pittsburgher. I will always feel an affinity for its ethnic heritage and neighborhood spirit. I will always have The Steelers. And the memories of Myron taking me down the field on a last minute drive to Steeler glory.
This poem is about Myron and what he means to Pittsburghers.
If you know Myron, I hope it brings a smile to your face.
Go STILLERS!!
‘Twas the Night Before the Super Bowl
‘Twas the night before the Super Bowl, when along the gulf shore,
Steelers fans were praying for “just one more;”
The players were nestled all snug in the sack,
With visions of the first NFL Six-Pack;
Coach Tomlin was young, but wise for his years,
So I drifted off to sleep without any fears;
When at the stadium there arose some strange chatter,
The Cardinals feared, what was the matter;
We heard “Okel Dokel”, we heard “Double Yoi,”
We jumped from our beds, our hearts jumped for joy;
He stood at the fifty with a grin ear to ear,
Steelers fans everywhere started to cheer;
Then in an instant to our surprise,
This little old man had tears in his eyes;
He went to the booth and there took his chair,
While Terrible Towels waved in the air;
Then over the airwaves came his shrill voice,
The Steelers Nation began to rejoice;
He said, “I am back, but you know I can’t stay,
I just had to see my Steelers play;
From my home up above, I have a great view,
But I wanted to celebrate here with you;
So bring on the Birds, we’ll send them a flyin’,
On the way back to Phoenix , they will be cryin’;
Ben, Hines, Troy , Jeff and all of the rest,
No matter the outcome, to me you’re the best;”
The airwaves went silent, the stadium still,
Was this just a dream, it seemed so real;
In our team we have faith, in our team we have hope,
But the game’s not the same without Myron Cope
Monday, January 26, 2009
"Shout" Out to TMobile
If you haven't seen this video from Tmobile ...it's worth a look.
It got me thinking about the economic model for traditional TV advertising. This is essentially a 2 1/2 minute TV commercial. Think about this: production for an average TV spot runs for about $500K per :30, so you can do the math. If this video cost Tmobile more than $100K, I'd be shocked.
They posted it for FREE. Let's say you could buy 2 1/2 minutes of Primetime to run this spot. The cost would be between $500K and...well, who knows.For one airing! And you have no guarantee that it wouldn't be zapped or missed or simply ignored. As of this morning, 1.5 million people have made the decision to watch this video. I suspect this number will continue to grow as this video is good enough to forward to a friend and watch several times yourself.
If advertising is about creating an emotional link between brands and consumers, this video surely does the trick. It simply makes you feel good. And based on the comments, most of the 1.5 million people agree.
Is this the future of TV advertising?
It got me thinking about the economic model for traditional TV advertising. This is essentially a 2 1/2 minute TV commercial. Think about this: production for an average TV spot runs for about $500K per :30, so you can do the math. If this video cost Tmobile more than $100K, I'd be shocked.
They posted it for FREE. Let's say you could buy 2 1/2 minutes of Primetime to run this spot. The cost would be between $500K and...well, who knows.For one airing! And you have no guarantee that it wouldn't be zapped or missed or simply ignored. As of this morning, 1.5 million people have made the decision to watch this video. I suspect this number will continue to grow as this video is good enough to forward to a friend and watch several times yourself.
If advertising is about creating an emotional link between brands and consumers, this video surely does the trick. It simply makes you feel good. And based on the comments, most of the 1.5 million people agree.
Is this the future of TV advertising?
I Tried to Buy American
I'm car shopping. I'm not sure anyone likes to shop for a car, but it's what we do.
I've been leasing cars and am tired of making perpetual car payments, so we've decided to suck it up and buy something so that we can see light at the end of the payment booklet tunnel.
I've been a VW guy for awhile, so I went back to the local VW dealership to check things out. I went because my wife suggested we go. I really intended to buy American; a Ford Focus, perhaps. The guy at the VW dealership could not have been nicer and more helpful. He had a great deal on a Passat. And, he is working out a deal to buy back the final seven months of the lease on our Beetle. We're getting 66 months at zero financing. For a really nice car.
But I was still intent on giving the Americans a shot at my business. I went to the massive Ford dealership near my house. I could not believe how many cars and trucks were sitting in that lot. One would think that the sales people would be instructed by managers to make a deal with anyone for any amount of money just to empty a small portion of the inventory. The guy who trudged out of the showroom to greet us probably didn't get that memo from his manager.
His indifference to our potential business was amazing. Instead of inviting us in to the warm showroom, he buttoned up his parka, flipped his hood up and led us out to the Focus Gulag to examine one uninteresting car after another. "So, these are at zero percent financing," I asked. As it turned out, the zero percent financing was only available if you added $500 to the purchase price. And, it was only available for 36 months.
I actually felt sad as I got into my car to leave. This guy, who I'm sure was nice enough, looked as if he had thrown in the towel. He had (hundreds) of average to below-average vehicles to sell and nothing to offer as a true incentive. I also felt angry that my tax dollars are going to prop up companies that simply cannot compete. I drove away from that Ford dealership realizing that the bailout is only delaying the inevitable.
So, I'm buying a German-made car. It's built better. It has better re-sale value. And the pricing was more attractive. I tried to do the patriotic thing and support our industry. But it's clear that they've given up the good fight. And what the government doesn't see is that propping them up is, in many ways, as unpatriotic as letting them succumb to the realties of the marketplace.
Interesting times.
I've been leasing cars and am tired of making perpetual car payments, so we've decided to suck it up and buy something so that we can see light at the end of the payment booklet tunnel.
I've been a VW guy for awhile, so I went back to the local VW dealership to check things out. I went because my wife suggested we go. I really intended to buy American; a Ford Focus, perhaps. The guy at the VW dealership could not have been nicer and more helpful. He had a great deal on a Passat. And, he is working out a deal to buy back the final seven months of the lease on our Beetle. We're getting 66 months at zero financing. For a really nice car.
But I was still intent on giving the Americans a shot at my business. I went to the massive Ford dealership near my house. I could not believe how many cars and trucks were sitting in that lot. One would think that the sales people would be instructed by managers to make a deal with anyone for any amount of money just to empty a small portion of the inventory. The guy who trudged out of the showroom to greet us probably didn't get that memo from his manager.
His indifference to our potential business was amazing. Instead of inviting us in to the warm showroom, he buttoned up his parka, flipped his hood up and led us out to the Focus Gulag to examine one uninteresting car after another. "So, these are at zero percent financing," I asked. As it turned out, the zero percent financing was only available if you added $500 to the purchase price. And, it was only available for 36 months.
I actually felt sad as I got into my car to leave. This guy, who I'm sure was nice enough, looked as if he had thrown in the towel. He had (hundreds) of average to below-average vehicles to sell and nothing to offer as a true incentive. I also felt angry that my tax dollars are going to prop up companies that simply cannot compete. I drove away from that Ford dealership realizing that the bailout is only delaying the inevitable.
So, I'm buying a German-made car. It's built better. It has better re-sale value. And the pricing was more attractive. I tried to do the patriotic thing and support our industry. But it's clear that they've given up the good fight. And what the government doesn't see is that propping them up is, in many ways, as unpatriotic as letting them succumb to the realties of the marketplace.
Interesting times.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Are You a Twirgin?
I love to listen to people talk about Twitter. There are three camps:
http://tinyurl.com/6c4vcs
1) Twitter has changed my life and is the best thing I've ever experienced.
2) Twitter is stupid, brainless and a complete waste of my valuable time.
3) I'm curious about Twitter, but haven't gotten up the courage to try it.
Relatively speaking, I probably fall into the third camp, the group I call Twirgins.
I have been Twittering for a month or so. I update occasionally. Maybe once a day. I typically update if I find an article that is interesting and I want to share it. This is probably where I find the most value out of Twitter: having people I follow uncover interesting pieces of information that would otherwise sneak by me. I heard someone refer to Twitter as "my personal A.P." I agree with that definition.
The problem with being a Twirgin is that I occasionally slip into the second category above after reading a stream of chatter about what people are doing at that moment. This is the self indulgent aspect of Twitter that I haven't been able to understand. Why should I be interested in what you're having for dinner that night?
I like Twitter and continue to find different ways to use it. I found an interesting video when I Googled "Why I use Twitter."
R.U. a Twirgin??
http://tinyurl.com/6c4vcs
Thursday, January 22, 2009
A Bite Of Inaugural Reality
I was in Columbus Tuesday for a day-long meeting. As I'm sure many Americans did on that day, we stopped what we were doing in time to watch Barrack Obama take the oath of office as the 44th President of the United States. It was a stirring moment and one that I will not forget.
My associates and I then headed to a local brew pub for lunch. Had you walked into the bar without any knowledge of what was happening that day, you would have surely thought that the patrons were watching a major sporting event, the Super Bowl, perhaps. The bar area was packed, every table full. The crowd was mostly African American. There were glasses of wine and a few flutes of champagne on some tables. These people had come to celebrate an event that I am sure many, if not most, believed would never happen in their lifetimes. They cheered each passage of the President's speech as if they were watching their Buckeyes make a last minute drive against Michigan. It was a stirring moment and one that I will not forget.
We finished our lunch and left the restaurant into a bitter cold afternoon for the short walk back to the office. The middle-aged African American woman who was just outside the restaurant door did not notice us. She was busy rummaging through the green trash can for her lunch. Coming up empty, she quietly moved on to the next green trash can; a pattern that most likely continued throughout the afternoon.
I suspect that nobody told her about the inauguration of Barrack Obama; she probably didn't catch CNN that morning. I'm sure that any celebrating she would do on that momentous day would be prompted by the discovery of a half-eaten sandwich or a Starbuck's cup with the last drops of a double-shot, skim Latte. She probably wasn't too concerned about bail-outs or the Dow, the state of her IRA or the latest unemployment estimates. She probably wasn't swelling with pride that an African American was now the leader of the free world. She likely didn't get the memo telling her that "yes we can" change. And I suspect that she doesn't have the "audacity to hope." She was just cold and hungry on that incredibly historic day.
It was a stirring moment and one that I will not forget.
Monday, January 19, 2009
There Is No Honeymoon
OK, I too was awash in emotion on the November evening when the United States chose to have a man of color as the next President. It was a compelling moment. I voted for Mr. Obama on the basis that I believed he could restore dignity to America's tarnished reputation abroad. I made my decision only in the final days of the campaign, primarily because my hope for what Obama could do internationally was offset by my fear of what he might unleash domestically.
Tom Friedman wrote an excellent Op-Ed piece in yesterday's NY Times suggesting that Obama call together the top 300 bank CEOs for an emergency meeting on his first working day in the office. In this meeting, each CEO would be given an ultimatum: come back with a plan to clean up the mess you've made or your bank will be nationalized and folded into another bank. I would be encouraged if Mr. Obama made such a bold gesture right out of the blocks.
I am concerned, however, that instead of such a gesture, the new President is going to begin writing even more blank checks without any accountability measures attached. This would surely be an act of dysfunction that would prove disastrous in the long run.
President-elect Obama: be bold on your first day in office! Be strong and call these bankers on the carpet for their actions. Good luck.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Spam-alot
Some dolt in the marketing department of AT&T came up with a brilliant idea during a recent brainstorming session: "Let's spam-text 70 million of of our most loyal users with an invitation to tune into the season premiere of American Idol."
AT&T is the official cell phone sponsor of Idol and only its users can participate in the voting.
Unfortunately, because of the "no idea is a bad idea" mantra of corporate brainstorming sessions, nobody stopped to consider the implications of spamming current customers.
The Twitter-led uproar over AT&T's incredible indiscretion has been overwhelming. AT&T users are pissed that the company would violate their privacy with a blatant and schlocky marketing come-on. And they are right to feel this way. A spokesperson for AT&T said that they were simply sending a "friendly reminder" to tune into to Idol. Well pal, thanks, but that isn't AT&T's job! Considering that only a fraction of your users participate in the Idol text voting, that means most of your loyal users don't give a crap about the show.
Earlier last year, I submitted a request to Verizon for ring-tone options. Instead of simply sending me the requested information, I have been added to a spam list that results in numerous un-wanted text messages each week. And I can't figure out how to remove my number from the list. You can bet that this endears me to Verizon!
When will companies realize that arrogance is not a great "go to market" strategy in today's instant communication world?
Monday, January 5, 2009
"...got nothin' to lose."
I've always loved Bob Dylan's line: "If you ain't got nothin,' you ain't got nothin' to lose."
As we turned to corner to 2009, there was a collective sigh of relief from those claiming that 2008 was (pick one):
- A meltdown of epic proportions
- A financial disaster
- One of the worst years since the Great Depression
- Financial Armaggedon
With 24-hour news constantly rattling our collective, psychic cages, it is easy to forget that 2008, like every year, had crappy moments. I worked for a company that lost it's largest account and had to let a quarter of the staff go. It was terrible and painful. But the next day, we began the healing process anew and started to re-build. Most, if not all, of our friends who left have since moved on to new opportunities. Those that remained continued to do great work and celebrated their own victories over the course of the year. Crappy moments do not define an entire year.
I have always believed that January 1 does not wash the slate clean. It is just another day, as is January 5th, the day I write this post. Barrack Obama offers hope, but not ultimate solutions. We will experience victories and defeats this year...as we do every year. I am grateful today to be employed and to work beside people for whom I have tremendous respect. I am healthy today as is my family. I live in a country today that, within its borders, continues to enjoy peace and security. It isn't all perfect, but today it is good.
Yes, my portfolio today is thinner. But I am not my portfolio (although I wouldn't mind losing a few extra pounds). I get to wake up every morning and have hope (Obama or no Obama). Americans forget that much of the world is simply trying to meet basic needs while we despair over the relatively small dents put into the excess that we consider our entitlement. Perhaps we should be grateful that we have something to lose?
This morning alone, I have come across the words "dire," "bleak" and "dismal" in articles or blogs heralding the "new year." Here is my prediction: 2009 will be exactly like 2008! It will be comprised of 365 days that are 24 hours long. Each day will bring successes and failures, joys and dissapointments. Jobs will be lost and new journeys begun. Financial portfolios will expand and contract. Companies will die and new enterprises will be born.
Let's not become paralyzed by the headlines. Instead, let's be buoyed by the knowledge that every morning we get to wake up and begin another wild ride that will be crazy, frightful, exhilirating and never predictable.
Here is my wish for a healthy, happy and prosperous... January 5th, 2009!
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