Stupid Corporate Tricks

Congress hasn't been alone this past year in drawing unprecedented levels of disgust among ordinary citizens.    Corporate America has committed some incredibly stupid blunders that leave their own customers wondering whether these well paid decision makers even remotely cared about the consequences.   The latest self-induced corporate public relations nightmare comes from my cell phone service carrier Verizon.   They want to attach a so-called "convenience fee" just for paying your Verizon bill through their website.   Yes, you would pay two bucks a month for the priviledge of paying what you owe!   Last time I checked, this company was not on the road to financial ruin and has access to consumer research like focus groups who undoubtedly would have told them this was a slap in the face to many loyal customers at a time when many are struggling to pay for basic needs.   Of course, I could pay my cell bill online through my Bank of America bill payment website, but they haven't been without issues either.   Bank of America had to reverse its decision to put five dollar fees to use their ATM debit cards after a public outcry.  They must have thought we'd forget about the whole mortgage bailout mess that almost threw us into another Depression.   Let's not forget Netflix, a highly successful company that began hemorrhaging subscribers after some genius decided to raise rates by sixty per cent!    And who can forget the CL&P disasters right here in Connecticut that led to the departure of its CEO?   Mitt Romney is right when he says "corporations are people too" to the extent that regular folks like you and I are also capable of shooting ourselves in the foot without assistance from anyone else.   For 2012, I pledge to take a hard look at any self sabotage. Corporate America would be well served in doing the same.   Happy New Year!

The Tebow Phenomenon

Tim Tebow

As I was doing my Patriots-shortened rock show yesterday on 102.3 The Wolf, I mentioned a group of high school boys in Riverhead, Long Island. They got in trouble with school officials for striking the prayerful pose of Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. The school drew criticism from Christians who saw this as an overreaction. The officials contended that the students were blocking the hallways. The notoriety of this relatively minor incident exemplifies how polarizing the issue of religious faith can be. While you may be uncomfortable with someone flaunting their faith, Tim Tebow is clearly a decent, inspired and motivated person who has caught attention for reasons far beyond his short tenure as a Denver quarterback. That was obvious during the Patriots pre-game show Sunday, when Tebow was clearly topic number one. One commentator pointed out that while many roll their eyes over Tebow's trademark pose, the conduct of many other NFL players is much more "in your face" offensive. If some kids are inspired by this faith-based example of a nice guy, then I'm not going to lose sleep over it. I'll also rest easy knowing Tom Brady and the Pats got past the Broncos to clinch the AFC East title. I'm not uncomfortable with the fuss about Tim Tebow; but let's hope the obsession over his faith was just last weekend's thing.

A "Manufactured" People



Watching ABC's World News Tonight, you'd think former House Speaker and latest Republican frontrunner Newt Gingrich had come away with a big win from the latest GOP Presidential debate the night before. Gingrich recently characterized the Palestinians as "a manufactured people" as the GOP contenders jockey for position in who can appear strongest in their support of Israel. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney tried to dial back the harsh tone set by Gingrich's comments, instead criticizing President Obama's public declaration of restarting Israeli-Palestinian territorial negotiations to be based on the 1967 borders. Romney may have a point, since these parameters should be presented in meetings between negotiators. Obama's very public statement only served to anger Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. At the same time, the GOP characterization of President Obama as "un-Presidential" in dealing with Israel has a hollow ring compared to the Gingrich comments at the debate. He not only restated his "manufactured people" comment in stronger terms. This time Gingrich also labeled Palestinians as a group of terrorists. This may serve as "red meat" for hardline conservatives, but any President who spoke like this would be a danger on an already volatile world scene. By his supposedly historical perspective, Israelis, Iraqis, South Africans, Swiss and even Americans could be considered "manufactured people." The premise is as outrageous as his blanket assertions about all Occupy Wall Street protesters. It is sad how this divisive person is gaining traction.       

Radio Flashback: Lite 100.5 WRCH

By April 1988, I had just been through a couple of operations and programming positions at New England radio stations that left me with my fill of middle management in radio.   That was when WRCH/WRCQ program director Warren Schroeger called me about doing some part-time work.   At the same time, I was getting involved in media sales through Shore Line Newspapers, a division of ABC/Cap Cities.   I figured a big signal up the road would be a good place to keep my hand in radio. Like numerous other radio experiences, it grew into much more than originally intended. Radio Park in Farmington was one of Connecticut's nicer radio properties, with the FM in its last days as instrumental-based easy listening WRCH and the AM nearing the end of its road as adult standards WRCQ. I did the first full live airshift on the new "Lite 100.5" and expected a torrent of calls protesting the change, but that was thankfully not the case.   When my future as an ad salesman was in doubt, I accepted a full-time offer to host the afternoon drive slot on WRCH only to get downsized 13 months later.   I spent time during my layoff down the dial filling in at the new Mix 93.7 WZMX.   During that time, a new GM was hired to turn things around at WRCH.   I got rehired in 1992 as the host of the evening show "Pillow Talk".   Talk about some lovelorn callers!   I still remember the night a rat decided to keep me company and when lightning tore through the studio, knocking the AM off the air.   After getting moved back to afternoons and becoming music director, the axe would eventually fall again in September 1993.   I attribute it to the new GM not liking me (hard to imagine!) even though he never knew me well. Maybe I should have "played the game" more, but I'm a crappy suckup.   For WRCH, the new format eventually became a ratings and revenue monster, reaching new heights after a direct format competitor decided to go after someone else.   Under CBS ownership, it remains a major force in Hartford.