By now, you've probably seen that Sham Wow ad starring Vince Offer- a slick-talking spike-haired wiseguy in his 20's who raves about an overpriced rag.
I was joking around with my friends about Vince's condescending tone, New York accent. His pompous demeanor ,headset and rushed delivery imply that he has better things to do than waste his time talking to you- the ignorant consumer.
My favorite Shamwow quotes from Vince:
'Are you following me camera guy?'
'You know the Germans are always going to make good stuff.'
'You're going to spend $20 a month on paper towels so you already throwing your money away.'
I think one reason the infomercial became memorable from the clutter of late-night ads is because of his tacky headset. It's totally irrelevant to the ad, but it's also one of the main items you remember. For some reason, those seemingly trivial visual touches can make a lasting impression.
Don't believe me? Ask anyone from the Orlando area about Appliance Direct. For years,a lady in plaid dress and a knee brace has yelled "If you didn't buy direct, you paid too much!" at the end of every ad. The funny thing is- her knee brace has alternated between each leg. Obviously, she recovered from her initial injury years ago, but for some odd reason, the brace remained. "Lee the appliance lady" told tackyfabulousorlando blog, that the knee brace remains because it evoked a positive reaction from focus groups.
So what's my point? Whether its a knee brace or a headset, those simple visual tricks can distinguish a brand from the rest of the pack.
One of government's harshest critics might be latest contestant in the Bailout Sweepstakes - Newspapers.
I was catching up with one of my old friends from journalism school and he predicted newspapers would be the next in line for government help, if the auto bailout is granted. We chuckled, but today, his prediction is close to becoming a reality. State representative Frank Nicastro is begging the state of Connecticut to save the Bristol Press and New Britain's paper, The Herald.
Nicastro claims print media, particularly local papers, are still a vital component of American media, because it provides news that's "ignored by big papers,television and radio stations."
I worked at a local paper, and I'll be the first to tell you that a government-funded bailout, at the state or federal level, is NOT the solution. A government-funded press isn't a free press, and it won't fulfill its duty to cover the government without any influence. Once D.C. or your state starts throwing cash at your newspaper, they'll be obligated to return the favor.
Paul Janensch, a journalism professor at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, and a former reporter, agrees with my stance. He told Reuters,
"You can't expect a watchdog to bite the hand that feeds it,"
If Nicastro is succesful in his attempt to take taxpayer money, it's only a matter of time before the major publishers head to capital hill for a slice of the federal pie.
Author Hugo Black said that criticism of government finds sanctuary in several portions of the 1st Amendment. It is part of the right of free speech. It embraces freedom of the press.
In Rueter's same article, Marc Levy, executive editor of the Herald and the Press, claimed that objectivity won't be sacrificed, and it will be business as usual.
It's the brutal reality. You'd say, 'thank you very much for helping me with that, but now we have to ask you about this thing.'
Another key fact to consider is that mulitiple surveys revealed the vast majority of print journalists who donate to politicians favor the Democratic Party. (Including a survey by NBC) Remember that the Democrat party that will have executive power and an expanded presence in congress this year.
Do you honestly think that major publishers, such as Gannett, will use an objective approach toward a government that's putting food on their table?
Print publishers and editors can claim they're victims of circumstance,but so can everyone else in this economy.
Maybe if those newsroom executives had prioritized online publishing before the major shift occurred, they wouldn't be in the dire situation they now face.
I hate to see ANY newspapers close their doors, but I also don't want to the government play favorites with handouts, and if I wanted state-run media, I would move to Cuba or North Korea. Newspapers need to search for creative solutions,such as the Baltimore Sun and Washington Post's shared content agreement,which is one step in the right direction.
If you're not a morning person, the prospect of setting your alarm for an earlier time than routine is dreadful, because your body is accustomed to its routine.
I don't know how your memory works in the wee hours of the morning, but I'm certainly not on my A game, or even my B game, and the thought of getting out of bed is daunting enough. That's why my memory is TERRIBLE in the early morning, and if I'm waking early for a reason, it would be nice to have a customized voice alarm as an instant reminder.
For example, instead of hearing chimebells, I could wake up to the sound of
Don't forget!!!! You need to post an early blog today!!!
Such a reminder would ensure that I didn't hit the snooze button and prompt me to action. It's more powerful than a written note or text reminder, because it's the first impression on my mind and there's no avoiding it.
If you know of such an App, feel free to let me know, and I'll write a review about it.
