Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

Who is Sponsoring Who?

I can't decide whether this is clever or obvious. But, as Pat Tobin tweeted: "Everything that has happened since the dawn of mankind has been leading to this."

In the ramp up to this weekend's launch of "Solo: A Star Wars Story," promotion for the movie has been popping up in stores on the wrap that holds Solo Cups.

My only question...who paid who?

June Casagrande had the best tweet of all: "But, we will not have fulfilled our destiny as a species until we develop the technology to make the cups chewy."

Gyro Meat?

Arby's (the roast beast sandwich chain with a logo that looks like a fish) is adding lamb-filled gyros to its menu...but, that's not what they are calling the main ingredient.

They're calling it "Gyro Meat."

Apparently, a lot of people don't like lamb and 50% say they've never tried lamb. And then, as noted in the Bloomberg article, there's "the sad child factor: Lamb is a sheep, under 14 months old."

I love marketing...

Hyphens, people. Hyphens

From the "who's gonna get fired for this" file (click image to enlarge).

From my friend Tim Morrissey.

From the Pratt KS Tribune.

Remember, hyphens are your friend.

The Non-Sequitur Opening Act

There have been some odd opening acts for concert headliners over the years. Jimi Hendrix opening for the Monkees. The Doors opening for Simon & Garfunkel. And, Bruce Springsteen opening for Anne Murray.

I recently stumbled upon a poster for a 1977 concert by Foreigner ($5.50 tickets in advance)...with the opening act of AC/DC.

So, on this Music Friday, we offer a three-fer. Foreigner. AC/DC. And, Jim Bruer doing Brian Johnson.

Put your left foot in...

The Yin and Yang of Live Radio

To have a locally loved icon voice a spot promoting your DMO's website sounds like a dream come true. And, depending how much of a sense of humor you have when it comes to double-entendres, maybe not so much.

Former St. Louis Baseball standout Mike Shannon now occupies the broadcast booth for Cardinals games. Described as "goofy" by the New York Post, the 79-year old sportscaster suggested that one could learn about "blow jobs" at explorestlouis.com. That is, if you took the comment out of context. The real quote:

“Yes sir, you go to explorestlouis.com, they’re going to tell you about a blow job. That’s right. Artisans will appreciate the local handmade works of art at the Third Degree Glass Factory. Glass-blowing demonstrated..."

If nothing else, the media attention to the "toss-off" quote was worth every penny.

Double Duty

You gotta love the innovation that Brandon Rounds brings to his job at Madison's HotelRED. 

By day, he is the hotel sales and events manager. On select nights, he becomes Bianca Lynn Breeze and presides over the hotel's Drag Queen Bingo, drawing over 100 each night.

It's the perfect combination of visitor and local activation of a hotel...and a blast, to boot.

Very cool.

Image Credit: Jenny Peek / Isthmus

One Star and Proud

In this consumer review-fueled world in which we live, anything under 4 stars is a concern for most.

Except for Flagler County FL Sheriff Rick Staly, whose "Green Roof Inn" (the jail) is proudly one star.

He's taking some lumps from locals in the comments section...but, among all the anti-crime videos out there, at least this one brings a smile to most non-criminals out there. 

More Sunlight

This should be interesting. Of all the batshit crazy ideas coming out of the Florida Legislature this year, one bears some further examination: Making Daylight Savings Time permanent year 'round.

Before "Standard Time" there was "Solar Time" (the time based on the position of the sun) to maximize America's agrarian society's output (and compensate for the lack of electricity and lighting). "Standard Time" was created to regulate railroad schedules (at one time, the railroads juggled 300 local time zones). And, then, "Daylight Savings Time" was created to give Americans more daylight for after-work pursuits in the summer.

There are studies that the economy improves and utility costs decrease during Daylight Savings Time, even when considering extraneous factors. Tourism interests say that winter business wouldn't drop as precipitously if the sun didn't set so early. The only rational objection I've heard is from parents not wanting to send their kids to school in the pitch dark. But, of course, we know today that we shouldn't be forcing them awake that early anyway.

Like I said...this should get interesting.

 

When you Get Raspberries, Make a Memorable Cocktail

The Zambian Government can say that they have nothing to do with the DMO behind ZambiaTourism.com all they want...but the "About " page states that the Zambia Tourism Agency was established through an act of Parliment a decade ago.

Regardless...whoever is behind the agency's Facebook page posted a perfect retort to the President's recent alleged slur against third world countries.

The post (click the image to enlarge) reads "Visit ****hole Zambia...where the only stars and stripes you'll have to see are in the sky and on a zebra!"

Brilliant.

Fly, Don't Drive

As Terri and I drove back from another out-of-town New Year's Eve excursion (have I mentioned that Madison doesn't do NYE very well?), we clicked through all the "fails" from the night before (I guess, like being President, this NYE stuff is hard).

Then, we agreed to focus on all the cool stuff we had seen in 2017. And, while the past 365 was a terrible, horrible, no good bad year on virtually every front, we couldn't help reminding each other of the really cool people we met and worked with and the fun little touches that make a pedestrian destination experience one to remember.

One that I shared during the ride back was our recent passages through the Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City MI. There is so much to love about this small town airport (besides that fact that they maintain what is believed to be the only Wildlife Control K-9 in the country). There's also the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired design, sensationally comfortable chairs...and an address that cracks me up every time I drive in or out of the Airport:

727 Fly Don't Drive.

Priceless.