Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

Honestly?

Is this what it has come to?

Win a date with the President?

Of the United Stares?

Sigh....

Dick Clark

Yeah...I saw him naked.

But, it's not what you think.

I had the unbelievable opportunity to interview one of the most influential men in the history of American pop culture. I was a junior in college (1975)...and Dick Clark was an alumni of my national fraternity. Through a freak conversation with a National Rep at one of our infamous lounge parties, I found myself jetting to NYC to interview one of my idols.

I was a DJ at the campus radio station and I dreamed of a career in radio. The Rep thought it was a perfect match for the national fraternity magazine. And, I found myself at the ABC Building watching Dick host "$10,000 Pyramid."

They did all 5 shows for each week in one day to maximize the guest stars that appeared each week (I coudn't tell you the male, but Adrienne Barbeau was the female guest that day...and the crew kept fighting with her over how much cleavage she was showing).

Between taping the Tuesday and Wednesday shows, the cast and crew broke for lunch. Dick motioned to me to follow him and we we whisked up to his penthouse apartment where the interview would take place.

He smiled and said, "we don't have much time and I'm going to take a shower and change clothes for the last three shows...do you mind if we start the interview while I clean up?"

And, what was I to say? Of course...it was a much more innocent time. I never gave it another thought. And the interview began as he stripped down and jumped in the shower.

He was the most genuine individual I ever interviewed in my 15 years in the media. And, I interviewed a lot of famous people. Dick was warm, caring, helpful, insightful, compassionate...he was exactly the man that my generation invited into their homes every afternoon...then every morning...and then, every New Year's Eve.

RIP, Dick Clark. While boomers mourn your passing, we so celebrate your life. And, to our Xer and Millennial comrades...the media you enjoy today is thanks to Dick. For, without him, none of this would have happened. At least not how it did.

Hell yeah.

The No Mow Zone

OMG...Look! It's the American Dandelion...and, err, grass.

Working Toward a Common Goal

OK...I know nothing 'bout horticulture ('cept what a landscaping boss once told me..."green side up").

But, I've been fascinated as of late by an evergreen in my dining room. It's grown like a weed (in a good way) over the past few years. And each spring, each of the three major shoots pops a new growth on the plant's goal to reach the ceiling.

Usually, they all grow pretty much the same. This year, however, the smallest shoot is kickin' ass while the others have barely stirred.

Like I said, I know nothing about horticulture...but I'd like to think that the other shoots are hanging back to let the little guy catch up.

It's called "working together for a common goal."

My evergreen gets it...why don't politicians?

Because, ummm...it's what we EXPECT them to do.

Just a thought.

The CD Still Lives (at least for me)

It's so over. As much as I loved Steve Jobs, Apple killed the CD. And that is so sad.

I know we live in a society that is all about picking winners and ignoring the rest...but there is something just so perfect about spending more than 4 minutes with an artist.

Yes, there are a lot of albums with one or two tracks...and eight fillers. And that opened the door for Sir Steve.

But, there are those CDs that are magic from start to finish.

Madison has some amazing talent. And, in an era when I'm often listening to internet radio from some other country, there are those times when I load a CD into the stereo on the porch and just luxuriate in the magic.

My porch collection includes Madison's Emmettville, the Moon Gypsies, Mike Massey...and now Kyle Henderson.

"Life Goes On" is one of those albums that grabs you at hello...and doesn't let go.

It makes me remember my youth, when I'd listen to every new album from start to finish.

Kyle's new album makes me miss those times.

If you're a "singles" kind of person...it's "Aeroplane." But, download the whole album...it's perfect porch music for this upcoming summer of kick ass good times.

And, perfect for this Music Friday.

Another Reason Why I Love Wisconsin

At the risk of being branded low-brow by my well-educated (and even more well-read) friends...I have never understood the fascination with The New York Times. Oh, I've tried. I've brought that brick home on several Sunday mornings and tried to consume it...but, it just bores the hell out of me.

I've felt like the guy that didn't get the joke for a long time...but, now I don't feel so bad after seeing an infographic that my friend and fellow blogger Reyn Bowman shared last week.

It shows how each State in the Union gets its news...and The New York Times is totally a regional play. Illinois and Indiana are all about The Chicago Tribune. Washington is, naturally, about The Seattle Times. Oregon is NPR...no surprise there. And California is all about The Los Angeles Times.

And Wisconsin? The Onion, of course.

Which is just another reason that I love this State.

Lego My Logo

I know that Logos are real important to a lot of people...especially in the Destination Marketing industry. We spend thousands on logos that are not nearly as important as we attempt to convince ourselves they are.

Don't get me wrong...every corporate entity needs a logo for its website, communications, etc. It's just not generally going to the reason that a consumer buys your product.

Especially when it needs to be interpreted for said consumer. Like the "new" Kraft logo.

Well, it's new to me. Unveiled in 2009, I just saw the new logo this week on a box of Ritz Crackers. When it was unveiled, Kraft said the logo "signals to employees, consumers and investors what the new Kraft Foods is all about."

OK...I'll admit, I struggled with the allegorical "Lord of the Flies," but, I haven't a clue what the "new" logo symbolizes. So, I dug deeper. Besides looking suspiciously like the Yoplait logo, there are all kinds of hidden clues in the logo...kind of like "Revolution 9."

The swoosh is really a smile. The seven bursts represent the seven divisions of Kraft Foods. The triangular one stands for DiGiorno Pizza.

And, if you look at it backwards during a full moon, it will cause you to drop ten pounds and regrow hair.

Of course, I made that last one up...but really? I'm supposed to see pizza in that logo?

I know I'm so late to the party on this (though they did claim in 2009 that the new logo wouldn't be appearing on product...so maybe they just recently changed their mind). But it calls into question two things (beyond that I must not buy a lot of Kraft products).

Logos that require a consumer to read up on what they mean to understand them fail at the gate. And unless the consumer is looking for a logo to define a product quickly, most logos are meaningless.

Which means that we marketers can get on to more important stuff. And, we should.

There's Always One

Spring has arrived six weeks early in the Midwest, where trees that normally don't bud untii May are already creating a canopy over the Zeitgeist Compound.

And, just like there's always that person that arrives early while you're still prepping for your party, this guy popped his head up four days before his mates.

Welcome, Spring. Good to have you back.

Why I Love Wisconsin

There are so many reasons. The summers spent here with my family during my youth. The sensational beauty between Memorial Day and Halloween. Touring the twisty turny roads through the countryside with the top down. The way this state parties like no other.

And bars that serve drinks in canning jars.

Hell, yeah.

I'm Confused

OK...but where am I supposed to, err, you know?