What's That Smell?

Oh, it's Spring in the air! Spring is a time when all things are fresh & exciting! Spring is a time time when flowers & ideas start to bloom. Spring is a time time for new activities & endeavors. Spring is my favorite time of the year.

There is a constant barrage of information, ideas, thoughts and stuff that fills up my personal & professional life. So much stuff that it's sometimes hard to see through it all to what's going on around me...and what the possibilities are. But Spring, with its longer days and more sunshine, seems to allow me to feel more positive...and have a clearer picture. I plan to take advantage of it!

I have the same chaos going on around me I did 2 months ago, and six months ago...and I've been out of the traditional workforce for over a year now, but for some reason things just seem more manageable this time of the year. The to-do list is still as long as my arm, the family challenges are just as many & just as big...but Spring creates a sense that all of it is not only doable, but something to tackle with vigor!

There are opportunities to be explored, activities to do, and time to maximize. More family time, more fun time, and yes...hopefully more work time. And Spring time makes them all even more possible!

When you're in a funk, things smell funky. When things are good, they smell like Spring. Sniff that!

Sheen is the straight one!

OK, it's possible that's not a factual statement, but its starting to seem like the Sheen-hater nation may actually be the ones who are on a bad trip...loaded with disorientation & blurred perceptions.

The Entertainment shows & collective intereweb is in overdrive dragging out every last juicy morsel of salacious crap they can get their small minds around to feed their content masters. You've heard all the stories already. Then Charlie got fed up and decided to go out on his own to tell his story without a net, something unheard of inside the TMZ where its di'rigour to have "teams" that probably even help celebs pee.

Charlie says he's fighting for his co-workers...and probably that 2 million per show. CBS says they've had enough...or maybe they made enough to end 2.5 men & get away from Charlie. The surprise is how Charlie is both able and lucid enough to point out how crazy their decisions seem to be as well as taking ownership of his latest bender(s). Don't get me wrong, he has said some wacky stuff, but suggested it was mostly in jest. Either way, the tour is actually making Charlie more sympathetic! Charlie says hes sober now cause he chooses to be, but that's unacceptable to the wags who are certain you have to follow "the plan" to get back on the straight & narrow path. But I have been around people who needed 28 days (or more) and have also seen friends who "gave it up" in a single day. In the end, only Charlie knows...and everyone else is guessing.

He has undoubtedly led a rock stars life in a network TV fishbowl, but being a successful Personality does not come with a requirement of morality...just personality.  So I could care less about his habits, because they're his. But many others don't share that type of moral moral tolerance. Moral indignation is a heavy stone to throw, one that most folks would have boomerang back through their glass houses. 

But why do we care anyway?  If you read a great book by an anonymous author, does it matter if he's a drunk? If you buy a tasty cake at the store, does it matter if the baker is a jerk? You get the idea. As long as the product is good and they get it done without causing others any grief or pain...John Q should care even less than CBS. But not in our over-informed, gotta have an opinion world. 

He's a sinner not a saint, and he certainly seems to have a surreal perspective on life, along with a trippy vocabulary. He's definitely not Father-of-the-year material, and how it affects his kids is really the only thing that concerns me because they are innocent...but the producers who work 15 hours a day and never see their family may not have it right either. And how about the irony that the family show they think he's too embarrassing to be on, is the raunchiest thing on TV before 9p...and a show about, well Charlie and his real life.

CBS and the producers seem to have just gotten tired of dealing with a difficult personality, so instead of manning up and working through it they took the easy way out...painting themselves as concerned victims. Charlie was an idiot for putting that kind of cash, and the staff he says he's concerned about, at risk in the first place. But he's not a role model, he's not an elected official (although many are at least as "bad" as he is), and he doesn't have a higher purpose...except maybe getting high. So take him as he is, watch the drama unfold, and try to remember...it's only a TV show.

Hello, My Name Is Facebook

Have we gone too far when a parent decides its a positive to name their child after a social network? Does it matter that the parent is Egyptian, and feels it's a tribute to the power of Facebook in the recent political revolution? Or does it just represent a long-term lack of parental judgement?

We all remember seeing the protester holding the sign that said "I Love Facebook". It was a sign of the times, a sign that displayed the grass roots power of the people who used social media in the protest...and a sign made out of cardboard. But, there is no doubt that Facebook was an integral part of the overthrow of the Mubarak regime...along with Twitter, email, and text.

That said, I continue to wonder almost daily what we will do when social media has come...and gone. Yes, it is a power and force in just about every ones life in some way today. Either because a person uses it themselves, has friends that do, consumes news content delivered by it...or in some cases news made by it. But how important is the "whatever happened to Facebook" question in 10 years...when your name is Facebook!

So here's hoping the young Egyptian girl named Facebook gets a good nickname...and that the Father doesn't name his next child "Twitter"!

Social Media Is Like Sex

Everybody wants some! Here's an interesting top-ten written by Jessica Northey for her SocialMediology 101 column on the radio industry site All Access.

10 Ways Social Media Marketing Is Like Making Love

1) Don’t try to sleep with someone on the first date. 
There is nothing worse than when someone sends you a direct message, trying to sell you something; posts “spammy” stuff to your wall; or tags you in a photo that has nothing to do with you ... right after you follow them.

2) Most people like to get to know someone before jumping into bed. 
Try “holding hands and snuggling” before you start selling people stuff. Telling is not selling! Ask questions of others ... find out about them.

3) Don’t expect overnight success.
Keep the long-term goals in mind. It’s a marathon ... not a sprint.

4) Treat others with respect.
You aren’t going to get along with everyone, but that doesn’t mean you need to alienate them. Also, when someone likes you and you don’t feel the same way, there is NO good reason to be mean to them. Some people are more “enthusiastic” online than you are, but here is a perfect chance to gain a super-fan/P1.

5) Not everybody is who they say they are.
Just because I proclaim expert status and post certifications on my website doesn’t mean squat. There are a lot of “experts” out there. Watch, listen and get to know people before doing business with them.

6) Don’t kiss and tell.
You can be personable without being too personal.

7) Just like STDs ... watch out for VTDs (Virtually Transmitted Diseases)
Some people out there don’t get it, so be careful what links you open. Use common sense. If it looks strange and says something like “ha ha, is this you,” it might be a VTD.

8) Some people are addicted to sex, but don’t care about the relationship
You can become obsessed with closing a deal, but don’t forget that service is just as important. Try to remember that in order to have a long-term relationship, there must be a friendship, too.

9) No one likes to be manipulated.
There is nothing worse than bait-and-switch marketing. Be transparent and if  you say you are giving something away for free, don’t ask someone to buy something to get something.

10) Not everybody needs Viagra
I get at least one link to buy Viagra a week ... come on, people! Know your audience and try to target what their needs are! Don’t just spray and pray!

 

Grammy Review - Alternate Version

Screw the Anthem, Christina wins the Aretha salute!

Lady Gaga gives new meaning to shoulder pads, but give her credit for singing live.

OK, Muse freaking rocks!

J-Lo gets a front seat because of Idol, but her backseat is still more important.

Hey Bruno Mars, Frankie Avalon wants his hair back.

The Bieb did not sing live, and got upstaged by mini-Will Smith & Usher.

Jeff Beck is alive! But thank God the Best Rock award was won by someone actually living.

John Mayer wants to be Johnny Depp.

Lady Gaga has a better ass than I thought, at least the plastic one.

Holy crap, the Avett Brothers were on the Grammys!

Bob Dylan sang live, and I understood him! Great version of "Maggie's Pie".

Chick from Glee and Clay Matthews of the Packers presented...both are lame.

Hillary Scott has one kick ass trainer!

"Country Radio" gets a shout out.

Cee Lo is George Clinton's illegitimate son.

Gweneth can sing?

Katy Perry only has two redeeming qualities.

Lady A has come along way from Ziggy's in Winston-Salem.

Seth Rogen and Miley were doin' bong hits backstage.

Eminem is mad, Dre is cool...and they were seen riding off together in a Chrysler in search of a Dr. Pepper slushy.

First time a person named Esperanza has ever won a Grammy.

Props to Mick Jagger and the Grammys for doing a tribute to Solomon Burke. The King of Rock & Soul!

Having Bab's follow Mick was kinda like taking an Ambien after a Viagra.

Eminem is still mad.

Rihanna knows how to work what Momma gave her.

Arcade Fire, meet Barbra Streisand.