When Grant and I were in New Zealand we heard this great song on the radio. We laughed because the first line talked about how the singer knew this guy was checking out her "bum." We had already picked up some New Zealand/English slang, like "afternoon bonker," which to this day we still use (and try to do occasionally, sorry, mom, my one faithful reader).
So, when I got home I searched high and low for this artist. I couldn't remember her name so I searched for the lyrics I could remember. I finally found out her name was Kate Nash. I found the song Grant and I heard on myspace and added it to my myspace page. At the time only about 1200 other people had added this song to their page. I felt like Columbus, discovering the new world! After a while, I took the song off. Being in marketing, I do like to keep my page relatively fresh! :)
Now, I heard this song on TV! I actually heard it on Grey's Anatomy. I also heard it on an advertisement for some MTV show that I don't watch. And, it's also been used in a television cell phone ad. It's being used everywhere! Plus, her myspace hits are not in the bizzilions (or something like that).
I feel like I made this discovery, personally. What a funny feeling to have! Like, I own the "discovery" of Kate Nash in America since I was one of the few Americans to hear the song abroad and bring it back to share with my friends. Us Americans are so silly.
Anyway, here it is. I still think it's a sweet song and I dedicate it to all my friends who have felt like she does in the song!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Decimal me this
What is so hard about decimals? Beth cannot seem to comprehend them, no matter how they are explained to her. I have tried all different forms of learning... kinesthetic, visual and audio, but none of it works. I am more frustrated than she is. How do teachers put up with this? When students at the college level consistently fail, they have the freedom to explore other options, ie, drop the class. But when a 10 year old can't understand how to round a decimal to the nearest 10th, what is the answer? She is already in tutoring, or now it's called "after school learning." As a college teacher, I find I lack the patience to work with someone who "has to" get it. If anyone has any decimal suggestions, send them my way.
On an unrelated topic, my mom keeps sending me Barack Obama e-mails. She is convinced that he is going to ruin the world if he wins. She keeps sending this photo of him not salluting the flag.
I looked this up on "truth or fiction" and found out that it is not a doctored photo. His campaign says that sometimes he does and other times he doesn't place his hand on his heart. I find this odd. He must be very immune to peer pressure. I have to say the pledge twice a month at board meetings, and I would never think of not putting my hand over my heart. It would be wierd to be the only one in the room that isn't making that patriotic gesture. To add photographers on top of it would make it even more difficult to stand there with my hands at my side. Though, granted, they were singing the national anthem in this photo, so maybe he's safe on a techincality. Or, maybe he's a true "free thinker" and is demonstrating that he is not confined to the traditions of our country.
Well, I just can't believe that he does not salute the flag. I mean, come on, the man is running for president. You have to at least fake patriotism! Though, it obviously doesn't matter much since he is doing well in the primaries. So, I don't think this anti-Barack e-mail spam that I keep getting is making that much of an impact on voters. But, it does have me curious as to why a presidential nominee would admit (through a spokesperson) that he doesn't always salute the flag (nor will he wear a flag lapel pin, but that's for another post). So, I did a google images search to see if I could find some photos of him saluting the flag. I found lots of him standing in front of the flag, but only two others of him actually with his hand over his heart, one of which his head is cut off, so I can't really tell if it's him. Here is the one photo I found:
Now, look, what could be more patriotic then saluting a flag in a nearly empty school cafeteria next to a boot-wearing, balding white dude?
Okay, well, enough of this post. I don't know what I'm really getting at anyways. I guess I'll watch the democratic convention and see if he does it then. In the meantime, I have to research the other e-mails my mom has sent, including that he is a closeted Muslim who, like Pinky and the Brain, wants to take over the world!
On an unrelated topic, my mom keeps sending me Barack Obama e-mails. She is convinced that he is going to ruin the world if he wins. She keeps sending this photo of him not salluting the flag.
I looked this up on "truth or fiction" and found out that it is not a doctored photo. His campaign says that sometimes he does and other times he doesn't place his hand on his heart. I find this odd. He must be very immune to peer pressure. I have to say the pledge twice a month at board meetings, and I would never think of not putting my hand over my heart. It would be wierd to be the only one in the room that isn't making that patriotic gesture. To add photographers on top of it would make it even more difficult to stand there with my hands at my side. Though, granted, they were singing the national anthem in this photo, so maybe he's safe on a techincality. Or, maybe he's a true "free thinker" and is demonstrating that he is not confined to the traditions of our country.
Well, I just can't believe that he does not salute the flag. I mean, come on, the man is running for president. You have to at least fake patriotism! Though, it obviously doesn't matter much since he is doing well in the primaries. So, I don't think this anti-Barack e-mail spam that I keep getting is making that much of an impact on voters. But, it does have me curious as to why a presidential nominee would admit (through a spokesperson) that he doesn't always salute the flag (nor will he wear a flag lapel pin, but that's for another post). So, I did a google images search to see if I could find some photos of him saluting the flag. I found lots of him standing in front of the flag, but only two others of him actually with his hand over his heart, one of which his head is cut off, so I can't really tell if it's him. Here is the one photo I found:
Now, look, what could be more patriotic then saluting a flag in a nearly empty school cafeteria next to a boot-wearing, balding white dude?
Okay, well, enough of this post. I don't know what I'm really getting at anyways. I guess I'll watch the democratic convention and see if he does it then. In the meantime, I have to research the other e-mails my mom has sent, including that he is a closeted Muslim who, like Pinky and the Brain, wants to take over the world!
Friday, February 15, 2008
You are the weakest link!
Today I received a great video clip of an old crusty anchor and an old crusty reporter having it out live on TV. Well, they didn't really "have it out." But, their verbal exchange was shocking and at the same time, funny. You can watch it below.
Part of having a job like being a reporter, or even being in PR/marketing, is that there are so many people who are keeping an eye on you at all times. It's not like being in sales, when you're being watched by the company you work for and the company you are selling to. As a reporter, you are watched by everyone who has that TV on and that means you are subject the criticism of hundreds, even thousands of people. In PR/marketing, I am watched by the entire company (not just my bosses) as well as the community, and the reporters, who then take what I say and disseminate it back to the community. This can be stressful, especially now that I'm at a college where I have to be extra careful about word choice and grammar. (There are English instructors reading what I write!)
This past week has been very stressful because I've written a lot that has been sent out to each and every one of the 800+ people who work on campus plus all our media reporters as well as all the readers of our web site. I've put careful thought and consideration and worked with many many people on these press releases, newsletters and web announcements. But, I'm still a bundle of nerves that there are people out there criticizing the work or thinking they could do it better. I guess it's just part of human nature to be sensitive about your work.
I have to say, though, that after this week I've received a lot of positive feedback from collegues, which has made me feel so lucky to work where I do. At the Sheriff's Office, my first internal newsletter was red inked and hung on the walls of the Sheriff's substation with some not-so-nice comments. My first live shot at KRCR was critized by other reporters, who felt that stripping me of whatever small dignity I had left after going live would make me stronger (and, in the long run, it did, but it also made me like them less). Long story short, even people with the thickest skin need a pat on the back now and then, especially the ones who you don't think need it!
`
Part of having a job like being a reporter, or even being in PR/marketing, is that there are so many people who are keeping an eye on you at all times. It's not like being in sales, when you're being watched by the company you work for and the company you are selling to. As a reporter, you are watched by everyone who has that TV on and that means you are subject the criticism of hundreds, even thousands of people. In PR/marketing, I am watched by the entire company (not just my bosses) as well as the community, and the reporters, who then take what I say and disseminate it back to the community. This can be stressful, especially now that I'm at a college where I have to be extra careful about word choice and grammar. (There are English instructors reading what I write!)
This past week has been very stressful because I've written a lot that has been sent out to each and every one of the 800+ people who work on campus plus all our media reporters as well as all the readers of our web site. I've put careful thought and consideration and worked with many many people on these press releases, newsletters and web announcements. But, I'm still a bundle of nerves that there are people out there criticizing the work or thinking they could do it better. I guess it's just part of human nature to be sensitive about your work.
I have to say, though, that after this week I've received a lot of positive feedback from collegues, which has made me feel so lucky to work where I do. At the Sheriff's Office, my first internal newsletter was red inked and hung on the walls of the Sheriff's substation with some not-so-nice comments. My first live shot at KRCR was critized by other reporters, who felt that stripping me of whatever small dignity I had left after going live would make me stronger (and, in the long run, it did, but it also made me like them less). Long story short, even people with the thickest skin need a pat on the back now and then, especially the ones who you don't think need it!
`
Monday, February 11, 2008
I'm on a Mexican Radio
I want to take a second to write about my frustrations with San Diego radio.
First of all, I understand that radio stations don't make as much money as they once did and have the need to syndicate to make up for lost revenue. After all, it is a business. But, I've been listening to the same radio station since I was a kid and now the DJ that's been there for 11 years has been let go after an "extended vacation" so that they can syndicate Adam Corolla, who in my opinion doesn't have much of anything good to say. Now I know that most of the men out there would disagree, but for us women, why do I want to listen to another talk show that focuses of boobs and beer? I'd much rather have back the Thursday craigslistjunk finding sessions or some good discussions about surfing. Can't San Diego have anything that is just "ours." Why do we have to keep copying LA? IF I wanted to listen to some bigoted LA person, I'd move to LA and be around those people all the time. 91x plays music right now in the morning, which is nice, so at least they haven't totally gone down the drain (yet), but I still miss some intelligent talk.
So, wanting to listen to some intelligent talk in the morning, I switched over from 91x to NPR (I may have lost the music but at least was moving to something that I could learn from). Sometimes I even switch back and forth between the music and the talk (gasp, I do this while driving!). This morning I learned that the 4 day 1 hour membership drive must only be on work days because I swear it started last week and I thought it would be over today. So, I've been avoiding NPR for almost a week now because I can't stand their membership drive. This has made me cranky because now I can't get news in the morning. I get it that you need money but for Christ's sake, do you have to bring it up so often? Plus, they ask for the money in that whiney, soft, "I'm so academic" voice that just drives me up the wall. I WILL NOT GIVE YOU MONEY UNTIL YOU SPEAK LIKE A NORMAL HUMAN BEING. I want to tell the morning DJ that her soft, psuedo-academic voice makes me want to attack her through the radio. If you need money, be persusasive. Give me some good reasons. Appeal to my selfish need to feel that I am part of something bigger than myself. And also, NPR obviousy doesn't make as much as they should be with their membership drives or else they wouldn't have them so often. So, BE CREATIVE. Find a new way to raise money! Here's a good NPR angle: pick up some illegal immigrants on Encinitas Blvd. and have them wash some Minute Men cars (the Minute Men hang out with their homemade signs in front of Home Depot on El Camino Real) and let the general public pay to watch what ensues in the wash. Then, ditch the soft academic voice and voice it over WWF style!
Onto the next radio station. Grant listens to KPRI in the monring. Now, I don't know this DJ personally at all, but I think he must hold a mirror up to himself while talking. He LOVES himself. He thinks he is so funny and witty. But he is annoying. I don't care about what he cares about. Just play some music and SHUT UP. Radio is a changing medium. People don't have time for pointless blubbering. We are on the move. I want to hear traffic and music. Maybe if something unusual is going on with the weather, fill me in. I also don't want to hear news stories from you. I know you read everything straight from the paper or from the AP Wire. I can do that myself. Plus, your commentary on the news stories is worse than the TV anchors and weathermen's commentary. And that's just pathetic.
Speaking of reading straight from the paper, this is a problem I encounter at work. A lot of radio and TV stations take the newspaper story and rewrite it. Now, when I was a reporter I have to admit that I did the same thing. However, I NEVER ran a story without confirmation first. So, if a story was run, say, about a college, I would call the college PIO and confirm the accuracy of the story. Most of the time, surprise, something in the paper is not accurate. Then you book a quick on-camera interview, which takes maybe 30 minutes, write up a VSOT and are good for part of the day. When I did radio news, I did the same thing, but it was even easier because everything is over the phone. No need to go drive somewhere to shoot someone. But, apparently, this rule does not apply to San Diego radio stations, who rewrite the things that the newspaper has gotten wrong and then broadcast it out into the world. Then, all those unsuspecting listeners, who have no idea that their favorite DJ is NOT a reporter, just some lazy dude who doesn't want to pick up the phone, get upset over stories that are factually incorrect.
Well, hopefully tomorrow will be better. The NPR radio membership drive will be over, unless they found a new way to calculate time, and at least I can listen to some news that has not been recycled. I have also decided to spend more time updating my ipod so that I can be one more person that helps to further degrade the quality of radio.
First of all, I understand that radio stations don't make as much money as they once did and have the need to syndicate to make up for lost revenue. After all, it is a business. But, I've been listening to the same radio station since I was a kid and now the DJ that's been there for 11 years has been let go after an "extended vacation" so that they can syndicate Adam Corolla, who in my opinion doesn't have much of anything good to say. Now I know that most of the men out there would disagree, but for us women, why do I want to listen to another talk show that focuses of boobs and beer? I'd much rather have back the Thursday craigslistjunk finding sessions or some good discussions about surfing. Can't San Diego have anything that is just "ours." Why do we have to keep copying LA? IF I wanted to listen to some bigoted LA person, I'd move to LA and be around those people all the time. 91x plays music right now in the morning, which is nice, so at least they haven't totally gone down the drain (yet), but I still miss some intelligent talk.
So, wanting to listen to some intelligent talk in the morning, I switched over from 91x to NPR (I may have lost the music but at least was moving to something that I could learn from). Sometimes I even switch back and forth between the music and the talk (gasp, I do this while driving!). This morning I learned that the 4 day 1 hour membership drive must only be on work days because I swear it started last week and I thought it would be over today. So, I've been avoiding NPR for almost a week now because I can't stand their membership drive. This has made me cranky because now I can't get news in the morning. I get it that you need money but for Christ's sake, do you have to bring it up so often? Plus, they ask for the money in that whiney, soft, "I'm so academic" voice that just drives me up the wall. I WILL NOT GIVE YOU MONEY UNTIL YOU SPEAK LIKE A NORMAL HUMAN BEING. I want to tell the morning DJ that her soft, psuedo-academic voice makes me want to attack her through the radio. If you need money, be persusasive. Give me some good reasons. Appeal to my selfish need to feel that I am part of something bigger than myself. And also, NPR obviousy doesn't make as much as they should be with their membership drives or else they wouldn't have them so often. So, BE CREATIVE. Find a new way to raise money! Here's a good NPR angle: pick up some illegal immigrants on Encinitas Blvd. and have them wash some Minute Men cars (the Minute Men hang out with their homemade signs in front of Home Depot on El Camino Real) and let the general public pay to watch what ensues in the wash. Then, ditch the soft academic voice and voice it over WWF style!
Onto the next radio station. Grant listens to KPRI in the monring. Now, I don't know this DJ personally at all, but I think he must hold a mirror up to himself while talking. He LOVES himself. He thinks he is so funny and witty. But he is annoying. I don't care about what he cares about. Just play some music and SHUT UP. Radio is a changing medium. People don't have time for pointless blubbering. We are on the move. I want to hear traffic and music. Maybe if something unusual is going on with the weather, fill me in. I also don't want to hear news stories from you. I know you read everything straight from the paper or from the AP Wire. I can do that myself. Plus, your commentary on the news stories is worse than the TV anchors and weathermen's commentary. And that's just pathetic.
Speaking of reading straight from the paper, this is a problem I encounter at work. A lot of radio and TV stations take the newspaper story and rewrite it. Now, when I was a reporter I have to admit that I did the same thing. However, I NEVER ran a story without confirmation first. So, if a story was run, say, about a college, I would call the college PIO and confirm the accuracy of the story. Most of the time, surprise, something in the paper is not accurate. Then you book a quick on-camera interview, which takes maybe 30 minutes, write up a VSOT and are good for part of the day. When I did radio news, I did the same thing, but it was even easier because everything is over the phone. No need to go drive somewhere to shoot someone. But, apparently, this rule does not apply to San Diego radio stations, who rewrite the things that the newspaper has gotten wrong and then broadcast it out into the world. Then, all those unsuspecting listeners, who have no idea that their favorite DJ is NOT a reporter, just some lazy dude who doesn't want to pick up the phone, get upset over stories that are factually incorrect.
Well, hopefully tomorrow will be better. The NPR radio membership drive will be over, unless they found a new way to calculate time, and at least I can listen to some news that has not been recycled. I have also decided to spend more time updating my ipod so that I can be one more person that helps to further degrade the quality of radio.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Caught with your pants down
Has anyone else noticed that the media loves to run unflattering photos of Hillary Clinton? I'm fully expecting to see one soon that catches her with her pants down. I wonder if she always makes terrible faces or if the media really just thinks it's funny to make her look like a mouth breather.
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