Chinese Food on Christmas

With the holidays around the corner, I'm reminded of the first Christmas that I can remember. I must of been four or five and we lived in an apartment in Skokie, Illinois. What I remember most of all was that it was getting late (or at least it was late for me) and we were sitting in living room. My mother had left out milk and a sandwich for Santa Clause and my parents wanted me to go to bed. The next thing I know is that I hear bells jingling outside the window. My folks say you must get to bed so Santa Clause can come. I went to bed and remember waking up early the next morning, half the milk was gone and the sandwich had a bite taken out of it. I remember that Santa Clause brought me a big, red fire truck that year.

It wasn't until years later that I found out that their wasn't a Santa Clause and I discovered that the bells jingling were actually coming from my uncle Jay who was out side the window.

As the years went on and my brother and I got older, we did not celebrate Christmas, we celebrated Hanukkah. On Christmas day we would typically be with friends, go to the movies and either go to, or carry out Chinese food. That tradition has stuck and forty years later Fran and I do the same thing with the girls.

Imagine my delight the other day when Ellen Brown posted this video by Brandon Walker on facebook. Enjoy!




As long as we are in the Holiday spirit, Sydney and I were watching the movie This Christmas with Chris Brown. It was a cute movie. What I enjoyed the most was Chris Brown singing "This Christmas". This is my new favorite Christmas song.

Watch the music video here.




On a much more serious note, it is tough out there right now. Not only in the broadcasting industry but in just about every other industry as well. Radio consultant Jim Taszarek had a heart felt post in his "Daily News and Tips" email on November 25th.

The headline was "Layoffs and Thanksgiving". The message is just as powerful for the holidays as it was for Thanksgiving.

This is what Jim had to say.......

Want to feel good over Thanksgiving weekend? I know two anonymous heroes; a MM and a GM who didn't choose, but were required to lay off some people in the last couple months. One is having a Thanksgiving Dinner for them and their families. Another gave up frequent flyer miles for a former jock to see her mom. That is so cool.

If you're at a station that had recent layoffs, but you still have a gig, let's take a moment to discuss our departed brothers and sisters. Things they might be able to use . . .


A Call

Ideas for where to look for a gig.

Babysitting

Rides for kids

Copying

Borrowing a laptop

Car repair - but mostly . . .

Your Attention

Your Time

Your Concern

Your Friendship

Your Encouragement

This will help both of you to be grateful on Thanksgiving.

Sign up for Taz's news letter here. It is a must read for radio people.

What You Can Learn From Your Kids Part 2

On August 13th I wrote a post about some interesting things I learned about cell phones, texting and social networking from my kids. Read that post here:

Yesterday I had another one of those seminal moments with my oldest daughter who is 14 (going on 22). It was just the two of us and we were running errands and then out to lunch at one of our favorite dives. Over hummus and Gyro sandwiches we started talking about politics, the candidates and current affairs. I was actually having and intelligent adult conversation with her, hearing about her political views and those of her friends. She had some interesting thoughts and ideas and asked some very bright questions. I was very proud of her. I have waited 14 years for this moment!

As a parent first, then a broadcaster and marketer I was very curious to know how and why she formed some of her opinions. To my surprise, she told me that she discusses this with her friends. I was impressed! We might have an activist or a politician in the making.

Then I realized, that with the advancement of digital media it has become increasingly easier for youth to find out what is going on in the world. I'm not suggesting that a 14 year old reads the drudgeReport, CNN.com or Foxnews.com. Although, when they log onto their myspace and FaceBook accounts there are links to RocktheVote.com and ads for all of the candidates both nationally and locally. On the home page of MTV.com there are news stories about the debates, the economy and they are also registering people to vote too. YouTube has section on the race as well called YouChoose where there is a wealth of information on all the candidates and videos of speaches, debates and more.

I can tell you that at 14 I was not as politically aware as kids are today. The information simply was not as easily available or even more importantly, targeted to me, either directly or indirectly as it is today.

Then, there are even more strategic websites like thegreatschlep.com. This is a website developed by the Jewish Council on Education and Research. The Great Schlep features a video by comedian Sarah Silverman that is targeted to Jewish youth and college students who have grandparents that reside in Florida. It encourages these kids to convince their grandparents to vote for Obama.

Watch the video here:



What ever your political leanings are, you have to agree that this is targeted marketing at its best.

Finally, another source of information to youth is television and on-line video clips. Last night, Saturday Night Live did a hysterical parody of the Vice Presidential Debate, featuring Tina Fey and Queen Latifah.

Watch it here:



Talk to your kids. If you don't have kids talk to your friends kids. It's fascinating and you just might learn something. My friend Darice Putterman said it best.

"The world thru eyes of your own child, your teenager, your young adult daughter or son....ALWAYS enlightening to me, refreshingly so..."

Why Radio is a GREAT!

Did you know that every week 93% of all consumers listen to the Radio? That's why radio builds brands and drives sales!

The Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) just released a commanding video highlighting the power of radio. This is a must see for everyone that works in the industry and for every advertiser and potential advertiser.

Watch the video here..



The RAB also does an outstanding job providing radio sellers and advertisers with the latest research on the industry. Click here to view their reports and studies.

Video Profile of MEGA and ENERGY

Jobing.com, the Valley's premier job board has done a nice video profile on the radio stations. It is featured on their website and it gives potential job applicants an insight into what the radio stations are all about.   Thanks Jobing!!! 

Watch it here ===>

Get Lectured

I believe things happen for a reason. Today, in my email I received two videos about life and inspiration. It was a sign that I needed to post them here today.

The first video was sent to me by Fran, my wife. It is about the “Last Lecture” given by Randy Pausch, Professor of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon. It was given on September 18, 2007. The lecture is entitled "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams”. In August of 2007 Pausch was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was told that he had three to six months to live. This lecture highlights what is important to him. The video in the box is from Oprah and is an abridged version of the original lecture. To see the original lecture in it's entirety, click here ==>

Randy Pausch is still alive and fighting pancreatic cancer. Here is a link to his blog. click here ==>

This lecture has gotten rave reviews and world wide attention. In April a book based on the lecture will be released. It is titled "The Last Lecture”.




The second video came from my friend Billy. It is a lecture by Harvard trained, Indiana University School of Medicine, brain researcher Jill Bolte Taylor and how she studied her own stroke as it happened. This is an amazing video and very inspirational as well.

This video and lecture come from ted.com.

"TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from those three worlds. Since then its scope has become ever broader.

The annual conference now brings together the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes).

This site makes the best talks and performances from TED available to the public, for free."

I encourage you to take the time and watch both of these videos. Also, go to ted.com and watch some of their lectures. You won't regret it.

"Client 9" Already on The Charts..... Debuts on Youtube

Here's the newest song to hit the Charts. "Client 9" about New York Governor Eliot Spitzer.

Food Fight

Gruesome images of war tend to make a person lose his appetite. But when hamburgers, sushi and chicken kabobs do battle, the result is delicious.

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