Archive for August 31st, 2011

For the record: Ken’s AGT picks

August 31, 2011

To my family’s dismay, I’ve become an America’s Got Talent junkie.

Last nite was the second of 2 semi-final shows.  Five of the 12 acts move on to the finals.

Here’s my call:

  • Anna Graceman …. an 11 year old Alaskan singer who knocked a Motley Crue song out of the park … disclaimer: students know that I’m biased towards girls named Anna View video of Anna performing
  • Landon Swank … best illusionist since David Copperfield … I thought he was going to blow himself up tonite … ok, he fooled me and survived … hmmm  View Landon’s bang-bang
  • Smage Bros. … two brothers who do amazing (and dangerous) stuff on motor bikes … finale was a jump over their grandmother – really ! —  followed by a high aerial 360 … wow !  Watch ’em jump over Grandma
  • Eugene Landau Murphy … a guy from West Virginia who sings Frank Sinatra … not one of my favorites but audience and judges seemed to like him … note: yes: the “E” in KEH is for Eugene
  • Professor Splash … again, I plead guilty to collegial bias … this overweight dude jumped off a 70 foot platform, through fire, to land in a shallow swimming pool … insane  View Prof Splash’s splash

Biggest disappointments:

  • Gymkana … a gymnastics troop from Univ. of Maryland … great act … they took some risk, jumping through fire … one dude crashed the fire ring  and almost literally burned … that wasn’t part of the act, so they won’t be back
  • Silhouettes … a unique dance troop that forms shapes to tell a story behind a screen … very artsy … likable kids – youngest is only 4 years old … lacked wow tonite … too bad

Possible upset:

  • Kinetic King … a goofy guy who sets up elaborate Rube Goldberg falling dominoes sets … admire the design of the skits and the judges love him … but, I wouldn’t pay to see him … he’ll get the geek vote

Results show is tonite …

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Posted in Entertainment | 2 Comments »

While gov’t coddles Warren, Berkshire Hathaway stiff arms gov’t … shame, shame, Mr. Buffett

August 31, 2011

Punch line: Warren “Please Make Me Pay More Taxes” Buffett has been outted by his company’s proxy statement.

Apparently, Berkshire Hathaway owes back taxes … and is fighting the Federal gov’t tooth & nail to grab some disputable deductions and favorable tax treatments.

Excerpted from NY Post: “Warren Buffett, hypocrite”

This one’s truly, uh … rich: Billionaire Warren Buffett says folks like him should have to pay more taxes — but it turns out his firm, Berkshire Hathaway, hasn’t paid what it’s already owed for years.

That’s right:  The company openly admits that it owes back taxes since as long ago as 2002.

“We anticipate that we will resolve all adjustments proposed by the US Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) for the 2002 through 2004 tax years … within the next 12 months,” the firm’s annual report says.

The company also has outstanding tax issues for 2005 through 2009.

Obvious question: If Buffett really thinks he and his “mega-rich friends” should pay higher taxes, why doesn’t his firm fork over what the IRS says it already owes under current rates?

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

Pay up, Mr. Buffett … no more coddling, right?

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Posted in Buffett, Warren, Taxes | Leave a Comment »

Somebody tell GM: ”Marketing is more than advertising!”

August 31, 2011

Punch line: What are GM’s adverting tag lines for Caddies & Chevies?

If you don’t know, you’re not alone.

So, GM is hassling its ad agencies.

Excerpted from BrandChannel: “GM Calling Agencies To Task”

Joel Ewanick was recruited as General Motors from Hyundai with expectations he would become a game-changer last year, positioning his new employer for long-term global success for its remaining brands.

But the GM CMO doesn’t think some of the advertising agencies that are supposed to help him are up to game speed yet. And he’s getting impatient.

No wonder Ewanick is a little edgy these days about the two brands.

Chevrolet has gotten stronger since his arrival, but a huge reason for that is one single new product: the Chevrolet Cruze small car, whose appeal seems based on fuel efficiency and strong vehicle features rather than buzz-worthy advertising.

Outsiders expressed concern last year with the brand’s new “Chevy Runs Deep” positioning. It wasn’t clear exactly what that message would do for the brand.

Meanwhile, Cadillac has been losing shine in the luxury-car war … and Caddy’s current “Red Blooded Luxury” campaign has been questioned.

Ken’s Take: My constant refrain to students is that marketing is more than advertising and promotion.

So, I cringed when I read the line “but … success is due to fuel efficiency and strong product features rather than buzz-worthy advertising”.  Emphasis on the “but”.

Horrors.

Success from delivering a good product rather than smoke & mirrowing a bad one.

Somebody, please tell GM that marketing is more than advertising & promotion,

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Posted in Mktg - 6 Ps, Mktg - Advertising, Mktg - Product & Innovation | Leave a Comment »

WH: The process is not yet complete … huh?

August 31, 2011

When Press Secretary Carney was asked for specifics re: Obama’s job plan, he brushed of the question by saying that Obama hasn’t finished conjuring his new jobs plan.

Carney said. “He is still having conversations and meetings and looks to finalize his plan next week, so the answer is no, he’s not complete with that process. The process is continuing, aspects of it still need to be decided.”

When asked if Obama’s speech will be scored by the CBO, he answered: “Don’t expect specifics from the White House on the jobs plan, like how much it will cost.”

Full text

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Obama’s mystery jobs plan is certainly a gift that keeps on giving.

Didn’t he ”pivot to jobs” a couple of years ago … and aren’t jobs the first thing he thinks about in the morning and the last thing he thinks about at night?

Geez.

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Posted in Employment - Jobs, Obama | Leave a Comment »