Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

Truth in Advertising

Well...they are nuts in a sack.

Just sayin...

On Destination Entry Fees

Interesting article from a decidedly European point of view regarding the recent increase in destination entry fees and taxes designed to generate revenues to counter the effects of too many visitors and deter some of the hoards that descend on communities in such numbers as to negatively impact Quality of Life.

The article does provide a counter argument that such taxes, if they do reduce visitation, can have a negative impact on local businesses that are desperately trying to claw back from the effects of the plague. But, the one aspect the article fails to address is whether such taxes will deny the life-enhancing experience of travel for those of modest means; making some tourism destinations only available to the upper class.

There's always the unintended consequence. Here's hoping these destinations can strike a balance.

Image Credit: From our friend Josh Schamberger, CEO of Think Iowa City, on a recent trade mission to Europe.

Small Town Titans

You probably know them (but don't know their name) as the band that uncorked the ultra-sinister version of "You're a Mean One, Mister Grinch" a few years ago.

Terri and I saw Small Town Titans last week in a club in Southern Wisconsin and were simply blown away. We've always loved their videos...but their live show was sensational.

They're in Des Moines tonight and Mishawaka Saturday night...then they head east. Go.

Here's just one reason why on this Music Friday: "Behind the Moon"

And yeah...there's a rabbit hole.

 

Lamont Dozier

I recently finished a fascinating book about "The Wrecking Crew," a group of session musicians that played on virtually every hit song that came out of Los Angeles in the '60s. To be sure, there were other similar outfits in Memphis and Detroit...but this crew was unbelievable.

When it comes to the Motor City, however...it was less about the players than the composers. And, there was no writing team more prolific than Holland-Dozier-Holland. Sadly, we lost Lamont Dozier earlier this week at the age of 81.

Lamont, who started writing songs as a teen, was key to developing the Motown sound, writing 10 Number One hits for The Supremes, The Four Tops, Martha and the Vandellas and Marvin Gaye.

On this Music Friday, we luxuriate in our favorites — songs like "You Can't Hurry Love," "Reach Out I'll Be There," "Can't Help Myself,"  "Baby I Need Your Lovin,'" "How Sweet it is (to be Loved by You)" and the incredible "Stop...in the Name of Love" and "You Keep Me Hanging On."

And, if you want a couple more in the rabbit hole to wreck your Friday...our friend George Tzougros once again comes through.

And, that's just a sample. The group's Wikipedia page is worth a look.

An amazing talent...and thanks for the soundtrack of our lives.

A Wicked Sense of Humor

OK...if you've never watched "Back to the Future," this won't make any sense whatsoever.

But you gotta love the sense of humor of whoever is behind the O'Reilly Auto Parts website...which says it is currently out of stock of the Flux Capacitor.

Olivia Newton-John

As the tributes flowed earlier this week upon the news of the passing of Olivia Newton-John, my friend George Tzougros of the Wisconsin Arts Board shared with me Variety magazine's assessment of the top 25 most essential songs from this incredible talent. Yeah, that link right there is your rabbit hole to destroy your Friday to-do list.

So where do we go on this Music Friday when most know her from her turn in "Grease" and the song "Physical?"

Back to her earliest albums, of course, when she was a Country singer. "Please Mr. Please" is a classic heartbreak song of the highest order. And, I had never seen this sensational remake of "I Honestly Love You" until mining for this post (for purists, this is one of her earliest televised versions of the song). But, I believe this song was the first time I ever was mesmerized by her voice.

Don't get me wrong...I love all of her work (OK, maybe not Xanadu). But her earliest creativity will always be how I remember her.

Godspeed, angel.

The Land of 15,000 Lakes

Had to chuckle last month when CBS Minnesota recycled an old story about whether the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" had more lakes than Wisconsin. And, according to the story, it comes down to the definition of size. Whatever.

But, it reminded me of a billboard the Wisconsin Tourism Office playfully positioned in view of the Minnesota Tourism Office back in the early '90s. I sadly don't have a screen cap...but imagine this: a sensationally gorgeous image of a tree lined lake with the main verbiage across the top proclaiming, "Come to the Land of 15,000 Lakes."

And then, in the lower right corner, the line "And, ours have fish."

Still makes me laugh.

The Border Crossing

I thought our recent border crossing into Canada was just a random "you got in the wrong line" experience...until I heard the same story from several conference attendees...and then an online column by a local business person. 

I've traveled to countries where border guards (with menacing stares) had AK-47s slung over their shoulders...but have never been fucked with as much as when we were crossing into Canada (ummm, aren't we friends?). 

Don't get me wrong...we had an amazingly sensational experience in the communities we visited and the wonderful people we met in the Great White North on this last trip. But our border welcome was far from warm.

Why? I mean...there must be a reason. But, I sure as hell wasn't going to ask the border guard that treated us like criminals.

So...why? Do you not want our money? And, don't even get us started on ArriveCAN.

Or, more importantly, do you not want us to return (and spend more) and say nice things about you to 0ur friends?

Hey Canada? I thought I read somewhere that your tourism economy was hurting.

Just a thought that you might want to have a conversation with your border guards.

I Get It...Kinda

Don't get me wrong. The plight of the homeless in this country and around the world tugs at my heart. But, what Los Angeles is contemplating makes my butt cheeks clench.

On the ballot next year will be a proposed ordinance that would require hotels to provide unoccupied rooms to the homeless. To be sure, these hotel stays would be reimbursed by the City...but for those hotels that have built their business on a luxury or lifestyle vibe, this has to send chills down their spine.

Wouldn't it make more sense to provide an incentive to those hotels that choose to do the right thing, rather than to force all hotels to provide a service that could irreparably harm their ability to succeed?

Just sayin...

It's the Statehouse, Stupid

How has America veered so wrong?

This is a fascinating analysis that avoids blaming the commonly held belief that it is all about the former President.

It's not a short read...but, as we head to the mid-terms, it's revealing as hell.