Damn that traffic jam

Posted on April 17, 2015 by bvanrysdam

I had to do a double take when I spotted The Cy-Fair Chamber of Commerce marketing hand-out touting why “Cy-Fair is a Great Place to Live”.

What caught my eye was that piece used a photo that shows rows and rows of cars with brake lights. There is also a nice table showing traffic counts for various intersections.

The back side of the marketing piece says “Life in Cy-Fair” and Live…Work…Play.

While that might be nice for a business considering to locate in Cy-Fair, I really don’t think it would induce someone to move there. Hard to believe that someone thought the image of cars stuck in traffic would shine a favorable light to promote its community.

Heaven just got a little funner

Posted on April 8, 2015 by bvanrysdam

The world is a little less funny today. Stan Freberg passed away yesterday at the age of 88. It is almost impossible to put into the words the profound effect he had on the world of media.

Freberg was known as a recording artist, animation voice actor, comedian, radio personality, puppeteer, author and arguable, one of the greatest advertising minds of all time.

Freberg was hired by Warner Brothers in 1944. In his autobiography, It Only Hurts When I Laugh,” he wrote about getting on a bus and asking the driver to let him off in Hollywood. There he found a sign advertising a talent agency, walked in and promptly started working for Warner Brother cartoons after an audition.

Later, Freberg started to release comedy albums on Capitol records. In one bit, Freberg spoofed Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel”; having the echo effect go wacky leading Elvis to eventually rip his jeans during the performance.

Following the success of his albums, Freberg landed his own radio show. Known for his biting satire and parody, Freberg was also know for standing up for his principles, refusing to accept alcohol and tobacco companies as sponsors, which killed his radio career after taking over for Jack Benny on CBS Radio.

Doing movies, radio and cartoons would be enough for any person, but his role in reshaping advertising revolutionized the industry. Freberg brought satire to advertising agencies, introducing humor to previously dull and unimaginative commercials. Freberg ended up winning 21 Clio awards for his work.

One of his classic moments involved proving radio was a better than television to advertise on by masterfully using sound effects to create the illusion of draining Lake Michigan and refilling it with hot chocolate, a mountain of whipped cream and dropping a giant maraschino cherry like a bomb by the Royal Canadian Air Force to the cheers of 25,000 extras viewing from the shoreline.

Rand Paul gets schooled

Posted on April 8, 2015 by bvanrysdam

There is much talk among educators on the importance of education, but it appears they should stand to do a little homework of their own.

Senator Rand Paul, who yesterday announced his candidacy for president, posted a “Stand with Rand: Kentucky” video on YouTube. The problem is the video violated copyright law.

YouTube’s Content ID system flagged a John Rich song in the video which the Warner Music Group, which owns the copyright yanked the campaign piece.

A big deal? Probably not, but does demonstrate the adage “the devil’s in the details” and how politicians and their campaigns need to pay attention to the little details, so the big messages does not get lost.

All the news that’s fit to opine

Posted on November 3, 2014 by bvanrysdam

So where do you go for news? CNN, Fox, the Houston Chronicle or maybe Facebook and Twitter?

The Pew Research Center recently released a study that showed “Liberals and conservatives turn to and trust strikingly different news sources. And across-the-board liberals and conservatives are more likely than others to interact with like-minded individuals” which is kinda like determining eating too much will make you obese.

What did catch my attention in the study was the different types of news sources cited. You have the obvious main news channels like Fox News and CNN, but people also mentioned they use Glen Beck, The Daily Show, The Rush Limbaugh Program and The Ed Schultz Show as a source for news about government and politics.

While all these shows cover what is in the news, respondents used them as a source for their news even though much, if not almost of the content relies on providing an opinion, and not factual reporting.

Responding via email, Jocelyn Kiley, associate director, research, Pew Research Center said, “to create our list of sources, we took into account audience numbers from past Pew Research Center media consumption surveys and other audience data. Before fielding the survey, we also ran a pilot test to determine if our final list matched where people said they were receiving their news about government and politics.”

While the study listed many different opinion shows, it did not have the O’Reilly Factor or Anderson Cooper 360 listed. Kiley said they were included as part of their overall respective networks and not on their own. That might make sense from a research standpoint, but I think they missed an opportunity to further differentiate between the two types of journalism we see today. Do more people feel they get their news from the O’Reilly Factor, or Anderson Cooper 360 over the regular news programming on Fox and CNN?

Political candidates are starting to catch on to this. Vincent Harris, Dan Patrick’s digital consultant for the Lt. Governor election said by using social media sites such as Facebook, Patrick could communicate with voters more directly and quicker. Harris told the Houston Chronicle “he can do it without needing to go through the media as a filter.”

So again the question is raised, does it matter if people’s primary news source was from a show that’s based more on opinion than the traditional, factual style of reporting? The line between what constitutes so-called traditional journalism versus spin journalism is growing increasingly blurred. Both provide audiences with news and information, but programs such as The Daily Show and Sean Hannity take that news and pass it through a sieve of ideology, humor and beliefs.

I remember once speaking with a crusty, “old-school” news director who told me he never voted because that would require him to make up his mind and have to decide who makes the better candidate. Making that decision could influence the way his news department would cover an election. I wonder if that type of journalist still exists today.

Cutting the cable cord

Posted on October 16, 2014 by bvanrysdam

HBO and CBS-TV took a shot across the bow of the cable TV industry by announcing plans to offer a streaming service separate from cable subscriptions, effectively cutting the cord as a stand-alone product.

Consumers of the boob tube have long complained about being forced to purchase channels they weren’t interested in to get the channels they want. Not interested in sports? Too bad because you are still going to get ESPN, one of the most expensive channels out there.

In a rare display of bipartisanship, Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) attempted to introduce legislation that would have allowed consumers more choices, but that effort stalled out.

Now HBO and CBS-TV have decided to join companies like Netflix and Amazon Fire TV by offering programming directly to viewers. There are 80 million households in the U.S. that currently do not get HBO and the cable channel is counting on many of them wanting their programs without having to get a slew of channels they’re not interested in.

It is estimated that 45 percent of Americans stream television shows at least once a month and that number is certain to grow. Is this start of the demise of cable television? It may be too soon to tell, but when a broadcast outlets like HBO and CBS-TV break away from the pack, you can be sure cable executives will be tuned in.

A Tale of Two Leagues

Posted on September 17, 2014 by bvanrysdam

The NFL has been busy these past few weeks dodging and weaving like Walter Payton, trying to avoid the big hit. By now, everyone has seen and heard about Baltimore Ravens running back, Ray Rice cold-cocking his then girlfriend in an Atlantic City hotel elevator.

We have since learned that Minnesota Viking running back, Adrian Peterson disciplined his son by giving him a “whooping” causing injuries severe enough to lead a doctor to alert authorities.

We could continue this rap sheet with other names such as Hardy, McDonald and let’s not even get into whether the Redskins is an offense name, or a badge of honor. Let’s face it, the NFL is having a rough time, but much of it seems self-inflicted.

It was not that long ago when former NBA owner Donald Sterling was recorded making racist remarks to his female friend. What happened? The NBA immediately suspended him and forced him to sell his team. Granted, he made a boat-load of money, but the NBA demonstrated a zero tolerance towards anything which could tarnish the league.

Since then, the Atlanta Hawks have also been severely punished for “insensitive” comments, which interestingly enough, are not illegal, yet caused great embarrassment to the NBA.

No one can argue the NFL is the most popular sport in the land. TV ratings seem to be broken every season and fans sell out stadiums every Sunday (and Monday, Thursday and the occasional Saturday games). So it is puzzling why the NFL does not institute a zero tolerance policy. Do they think not having a Ray Rice or Adrian Peterson on the field will diminish fan interest, or God forbid, cause the owners to loose revenue? Former players talk about protecting the shield (the NFL logo), but there seems to be an underlying avoidance of standing up for what’s right in the league office.

Now I do believe in due-process (although that didn’t seem to be a problem when it came to Donald Sterling and the NBA), but many, including sponsors like Anheuser Busch are beginning to ask what the NFL stands for and don’t think that hasn’t gotten the owners attention.

Roger Goodall is taking the heat, but it needs to be noted that he works for 32 owners who are ultimately responsible for what takes place when it comes to league operations. Up to this point, owners are supporting Goodall, but could easily throw him to the wolves, or worse, the court of public opinion, which will make everyone feel better, but solve nothing.

Why Didn’t I Think of That???

Posted on August 27, 2014 by bvanrysdam

Do you “Twitch”? For those non-gamers out there, Twitch.tv is a website that provides live streaming of people playing video games.

Sound crazy? Check out these crazy numbers

The site generates 55 million regular visitors from around the world each month.
Those people watch 16 billion minutes of its videos.

More than 1.1 million people broadcast their gaming activity to the service.

Those are the kinds of numbers that attract attention from the big boys and it launched a bidding war with Amazon prevailing, dishing out a cool $970 million in cash for the right to join the game.

Want more numbers?

Twitch had 43 percent of the live video streaming traffic by volume in a given week, more than ESPN’s website, MLB.com, CNN.
Last year during a championship for the game “League of Legends”, 32 million people were reportedly watching live. That’s more than the audience for the finales of Breaking Bad, 24 and The Sopranos combined.

Worst President Ever??

Posted on July 28, 2014 by bvanrysdam

Politics can get pretty rough. Take for example, these comments about a US president:

The administration “has been disgrace from the very beginning to everyone who has anything to do with bringing it to power.”

The nation needs “a president with brains; one who can make a plan and carry it out.”

Are they talking about Obama, Clinton, or Bush? No, the comments were directed towards Abraham Lincoln. What makes it even worst is that the comments were made by people from his own party while he was up for re-election!

It’s a good reminder for us that America always seems to be in turmoil. The Comprise of 1840 almost tore the country apart and the civil war certainly made it difficult to be an American. In today’s 24-7, social media world where controversies and crisis seem to be the norm, it’s helpful to step back and provide perspective.

For the record, it seems that Honest Abe ended up being remembered fondly with a large monument which can be found in our nation’s capital and a large head carved into Mount Rushmore. Now, I’m not sure Bush or Obama will ever reach that kind of status, but it does help one pause and ponder what history will finally say about our current presidents.

FCC Looks To Screw Up Internet

Posted on May 16, 2014 by bvanrysdam

The continuing clash over net-neutrality is picking up speed. The Federal Communications Commission recently voted on a proposal that could allow Internet service providers to charge content companies for faster and more reliable delivery of their traffic to users.

By a 3-2 vote, the commission advanced the proposal and has begun formally collecting public comment, which has already started.

In typical Washington fashion, the proposed rule is intended to prevent Internet providers from knowingly slowing data, but would allow content providers the right to pay for a guaranteed fast lane of service. Many opponents of the plan say allowing some content to be transmitted faster would basically discriminate against other content.

“Candidate Obama promised to defend a free and open Internet, pledging to take a ‘backseat to no one’ on the issue of Net Neutrality,” said David Segal, executive director of Demand Progress in an emailed statement. “The President can’t run away from this. Internet users across the country are demanding answers.”

Consumer advocates want to see the FCC reclassify Internet providers as utilities, similar to telephone companies. That’s because a 2005 US Supreme Court decision ruled that broadband services are not to be classified as telecommunications services and its infrastructure is not considered a public right of way.

“I will not allow the national asset of an open Internet to be compromised. I understand this issue in my bones,” said Tom Wheeler, chairman of the FCC during the meeting.

The public will have until July 15 to submit initial comments on the proposal to the commission, and until Sept. 10 to file comments replying to the initial discussions.

FCC Changes Its Mind

Posted on April 24, 2014 by bvanrysdam

It appears the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has done an about face with its policy towards net neutrality according to reports in the Wall Street Journal.

The new plan would grant Internet service providers the ability to give websites favored treatment meaning they would have priority over other sites and deliver faster service.

The catch is the ISP’s would charge such sites fees for better access. Companies like Netflix could have to pay extra fees which would give their service greater bandwidth and thus a better user experience, but I’m sure you can guess who will pick up those extra costs.

Now the new proposal under consideration would ban the outright blockage of sites that are not willing, or able to pay for the faster access, but to many internet activists, that’s not good enough. There is a fear that ending net neutrality could stifle innovation and Internet startups from competing for page views and revenue.

If a gaming company could not afford to pay for the high speed access, interest may vanish among the gamers and the company might not be able to survive. And there are also concerns that companies like Comcast, the nation’s largest provider of high-speed internet service who also owns NBC-Universal and is trying to purchase Time Warner Cable, would really limit the number of options available to consumers.

None of this has been approved and it is expected that the FCC will vote on the new rules near the end of this year, but after the January ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, you can be sure your surfing experience will have a new feel.