Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

A Poke with a Sense of Humor

As I was giving thanks over the weekend with family and friends, I had to give thanks to a perp with a sense of humor and a police department with a soul.

By now, you may have heard of the case of the 20 dozen coconut donuts. A guy, visiting Madison from Los Angeles, was turned away from the UW-Northwestern game because he didn't understand the seating rules at Camp Randall Stadium. The UW Police pretty clearly over-reacted and the guy missed the game (and his friends) that he had flown half a continent to see.

But, it was the responses that made this story share-worthy. Upon his return home, he had 20 dozen coconut donuts delivered to the UW Police Department. The Police tracked him down and asked "why the coconut donuts?"

His rationale was pretty simple. He thinks the job the Police generally do is awesome...but their handling of his situation was not awesome. Donuts are awesome...but coconut donuts are not so awesome.

The rest of the story is better if you click here and read the e-mail exchange between the perp and the Police.

Too funny...and sensationally well played.

Thankful for Lowell

How to get a Music Friday that connects Thanksgiving, eating and music?

Lowell George and his only solo album, "Thanks, I'll Eat it Here," that's how. For the uninitiated, Lowell was a mainstay in Little Feat before his untimely death on the 4th of July, 1979 (memorialized by Jackson Browne). But, as the Feat sound began to drift into a jazz-rock direction, Lowell wanted to do his own album.

But, he certainly didn't do it alone. Bonnie Raitt, Nicky Hopkins, David Foster, Jeff Porcaro, Floyd Sneed and J.D. Souther were among the over 40 friends that ended their talents to a sadly overlooked album.

Here's my favorite track: Twenty Million Things to Do.

And, thanks for the music and the memories, Lowell. You are missed.

Practice vs. Preference, Part Deux

While almost half of Millennials have overnighted in a sharing economy room (such as Airbnb), only 11% say it is their preferred option.

So why do people use a sharing economy option? In a recently released study from the Bank of America, 55% say that the chance to score a cheaper room is the primary reason.

Except, that's not reality...as the average Airbnb room is 60% more expensive than a traditional hotel.

Airbnb (and similar plays) offer an alternative experience to conventional hotels...but we can cut the crap that it's all about price?

Practice vs. Preference

The success of disruptive platforms such as Airbnb are often attributed to Millennial preference. And, as that generation is set to become the largest cohort of consumers on the planet, providers of travel experience would be wise to take note.

However, a fascinating study on Millennial Travel by Resonance shows a dual face when it comes to overnight accommodations. While almost 50% of Millennials have used a "sharing economy" play like Airbnb, only 11% list it as their preferred solution. Their overwhelming preference (58%) is to stay in a "real" hotel. In fact, Millennials say they'd rather stay with friends and relatives (37%) than a home sharing service.

Airbnb may offer more total rooms...but Millennials would rather stay at a Hilton.

A "Dumb" Policy

When someone takes advantage of a situation, it's just easier for the people in charge of that situation to simply say "nyet" to any other possible interpretation for future opportunities. While it's pretty stereotypical of government, the private sector isn't always immune to this kind of backwards thinking.

Today's example comes from Rapid City, where statues of all 42 past U.S. Presidents can be found throughout the Downtown. As noted in today's story on the front page of the Wall Street Journal, dressing statues is nothing new. But, according to DMO pro Julie Jensen, some of the decorations in her town had turned political and/or religious a few years ago, so the City slammed the door shut on any statue adornment by anybody.

Recently, however, the Calvary Lutheran Church began dressing the past Presidents in knitted hats, scarves and mittens with tags encouraging those who were cold to take them. Predictably, within 24-hours, the City ordered the church to remove the knitted gifts that were intended for the less fortunate.

There is a happy ending to the story, however, as Mayor Steve Allender recently issued a proclamation that exempted groups from the ordinance during the winter months if the clothing was intended for the needy.

"It was a dumb policy," said the Mayor, as he tweeted "Even Presidents wear hats and scarves."

I so want to shake his hand.

 

Photo Credit: Calvary Lutheran Church

The First...and the Hit

In a lot of cases, the first version of a song isn't the one that charts highest. Jackson Browne (who tore it down last weekend at Rockford's amazing Coronado Theatre) wrote and recorded "These Days," but a lot of people know it as a Gregg Allman song. The Isley Brothers wrote "Shout," but many believe it's Otis Day & the Knights' song because of "Animal House." Chas Sandborn is an amazing songwriter whose composition "Missing You" is often credited to John Waite.

"Ain't no Love in the Heart of the City" was made famous by David Coverdale and Whitesnake...but it was Bobby "Blue" Bland that had a Top Ten R&B hit with it four years earlier. And, it's been covered by a ton of artists from Paul Carrack to Joey Tempest.

On this Music Friday, we offer up the original. Sadly, we can't find video record of the man himself...but the images we did find are interesting, to say the least.

Enjoy.

The Hubris of Big

While I am not a demographic target of the magazine, I've always liked Details. And, honestly, if asked to pick between GQ and Details, I'd go with the latter. I love its honesty, its irreverence and its underdog attitude.

Sadly, Details is closing up shop at the end of the year after a sensational 15 year run. Parent company Conde Nast has decided to pull the plug because of dwindling print ad sales, rather than continue the publication as a digital play. And, I get that. Legacy companies just can't figure out how to monetize digital content.

But, I can't help thinking that part of this is Conde Nast's own hubris. Subscription renewal mailings for Details (and, I suspect, all their titles) come in envelopes that say "Conde Nast" in the "from" corner.

For me, those mailings go right into the recycle bin without being opened. I have no more interest in Conde Nast (the magazine) than a koala bear has an interest in Fantasy Football. Hell, I'm in the travel and tourism industry and I have zero interest in Conde Nast. And, because I apparently am closer to the Details demo than my chronological age would suggest, I'd be willing to bet that the target market for Details does the same thing with those renewal mailings as I do.

How many subscribers failed to renew because Conde Nast is too clueless (or too arrogant) to admit that the Conde Nast name means nothing to Details subscribers?  Shouldn't a renewal letter be emblazoned with the name of a magazine we love...rather than a name of a magazine in which we have no interest?

RIP Details. We'll miss you.

A Shift in Terror Tactics?

Over the past three decades, the targets of terrorist attacks have often been tourism. Jetliners, resorts, sacred and historic sites...cutting down innocents on holiday has been a popular modus operandi. 

I guess I didn't realize how clear this was to those outside the tourism industry until I read two op-ed pieces in Monday's USA Today. The first was almost offensive, as a young reporter bemoaned the fact that the Paris attacks did not target tourists, but residents. As if, tourists were anticipated targets but residents should not be?

Another view in that edition aligned with the correspondent that this was (shockingly) not an attack on tourists (again, as if that was OK).

I'm predisposed to give both writers a little slack. In times of such bloody disruption, people say things they haven't thought through and people hear things through biased filters.

But, here's my takeaway: There was a time where tourists were a delectable target for terror for the media value of the act. Has the game plan now changed to target the very residents that elect a country's leaders, hoping to scare the populace into voting for those who believe in negotiation (and capitulation) over retaliation?

 

 

The Fine Print

A bagel shop that used to intrigue me sends me e-mails now and again, hoping to encourage me to return. Their latest, however, only made me chuckle.

Today is $6 Monday...when I can score 13 bagels.

With the following restrictions:

• Only at participating locations (and...just how would I know?).

• Not valid at hospitals, military, university, hotel or airport locations.

• Schmer sold separately.

• Not valid on catering orders.

• Only on Monday.

With so many rules...what's the point of even getting excited about such an offer?

 

Madman Across the Water

Over his career, Elton John has gone from cutting edge to scoring Disney productions. For most, his legacy will be the pop hits. For me, it will always be his early work with a cadre of some of the most accomplished musicians of the era.

Elton's third album was a departure from the piano-centric album that gave the world "Your Song." Tumbleweed Connection was (almost) a concept album based on the post-Civil War American West. Thus, the guitar figured much more prominently.

During those sessions, Elton recorded (but ultimately shelved) a song called "Madman Across the Water" with guitarist Mick Ronson (probably best known for his work with David Bowie as part of the Spiders from Mars).

The song ultimately became the title track of Elton's fourth album (without Ronson's biting guitar)...and his return to a more polished, less guitar driven sound (a shift that would continue to successively round off the edges through the years until he was no longer a rock star but a pop star).

On this Music Friday, we offer up the original recording of "Madman Across the Water" with the amazing Mick Ronson. For those that are unfamiliar with the ultimate version, it's here. And, for a live rendition, here.

Take my word. I'm a Madman, don't you know.