‘Going Green’ Corporations: “The Right Thing to Do”…Not

First of all, let me state the position that we should all be good stewards of our environment. For what little time we have on this earth, there is a God-given and innate responsibility to maintain our dominion. The world we leave behind is precious to those we hold most precious, our future generations and legacies.

So catch me recycling and disposing waste most appropriately. When I see someone throwing litter out the car window the first utterance from my lips is, “pig!”

So now that that’s established, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of an issue that’s trite, ridiculous, condecending, hypocritical and border-line blasphemous by CEO’s and corporations in all out media blitzes, praising themselves of the efforts and operational restructuring all in the name of “going green”, and “doing our part to stem global warming”. (Which for the most part, realistically, isn’t man-made.) Outrageous as these self-serving claims are, it’s amazing how far it has gotten out of hand.

Give us a break. ‘Going green’ is not the motivating factor in a board room or with stockholders. Any, and I mean any business is only in and should be for the major reasons of supplying what the market demands and turning profit for investors that expect a lean bottom line in doing so.

Case in point is the unbelievable claim by SC Johnson that converting their Kentucky factory to run on methane is for the good of the environment. You do know what methane is derived from, right? It’s from the claim that SCJ converted over only for the environment. Lookit, you have astromically rising fuel prices and then a chance to run your factory on cow manure when there is a bountiful supply. Look at this from the perspective of your own home or vehicle. $4.00-$5.00 per gallon foreign oil that sucks up 50% of your take home, versus homegrown poop from your own backyard at next to nothing. Put away the scales because logic has already enlightened most of us at this moment.

Not to pick on just one corporation, there’s plenty of PR smoke and mirrors to go around here. I just saw a report this week of the local Coca-Cola distributor in Dallas putting the outrageous claim in a balloon and streamer news conference that the “reason” for converting delivery trucks to hybrid was for the environment, and “the right thing to do”. Again, let’s look at the major function of the product in the market. Is this about ‘going green’ or, Mr. CEO, is about ’saving, or, heaven forbid, ‘making green’.

And the media at-large isn’t a help either. NBC/Universal, FOX, ABC, etc., with their little ‘greened’ logos in the lower right hand corner of our TV screens make awareness to the environment, but dig deeper and certain there’s a little marketing advantage built into it. If was just the opposite, they wouldn’t be there.

Right now, I’m looking at an AT&T banner ad asking all of us to ‘green’ and refurb for free. Again, is this the purpose of climate change or ridding an overstock of outdated inventory?

In a free market society, corporations can do anything legally that they want to do, if that’s what gives a warm fuzzy to their mission statements. Say anything, do anything to move volume. But when in it comes to the environment, don’t insult our intellegence. Do what you must do, quietly…then shut up about it.

We're Not Like Anything You've Ever Heard Before...Maybe?

A friend commented the other day that the 'Classic Hit Combo' on GUS.FM, was a "great potpourri of music styles." Love ya'..but, yick! Potpourri is what you use when you want to mask the smell of something. And nothing smells here! Well, quite honestly, a few stinkers get past us every now and then. But thanks to our great search and destroy system, we'll rightly rid them!

Been to a home improvement store lately? Seems as though the 'Classic Hit Combo' is catching on with the programmer of the music system. That seems to be the magic with the flow of our music format. It's tremendous during moments of deep decision. So at this moment you're either tapping your foot, or being nudged to buy a riding lawn mower.

We are most definitely 'America's favorite @work station'. Especially with government employees and certainly with those in the military. What could be the reason for this honor? Couldn't put our finger on it until it dawned on us recently that it must be the attraction of the chevron in our trademark logo. If that's the case, we should have used the picture of a saber going through the head of Osama Bin-Laden!

Listen!

Make Internet History: Webcast for Free on GUS.FM

Since it's debut, the online audience for GUS.FM continues to stream to an increasing worldwide audience. And that's due in no small part to the viral networking connections and suggestions by visitors that promote the site. One of the main goals of the station is to keep the 'radio' in webradio. The success is based on music that covers a variety of genres that cover a broad demographic appeal, packaged as 'The Classic Hit Combo'.

In the next phase, the folks at the site have devised a little 'audience participation' scheme, that is poised to create internet history.

In a statement released June 11,2006, Echo Hill Media CEO Bryan Thompson said, "In appreciation, the floor is open for our audience every weekend to webcast and promote special, charitable events to the world.The benefit of this availability is not just reserved for the 'on-air' portion of our service, but as the event unfolds the participants can also send real-time photos and/or videos to be posted and archived on the website.

Best of all, it's free. The only thing we ask in return is that those involved ramp up their campaigns and promote, email, blog and back link the heck out of the event in association with GUS.FM leading up to the date. And prominently display our logo link on site and on the internet."

To qualify the event must follow these guidelines:

* Representation to benefit a registered non-profit organization.

* Have universal appeal and be open for accepting and processing donations from other parts of the US and Canada ie; The American Cancer Society, Toys for Tots etc.

* An event that would be expected to draw on site, more than 100 people at a time. (Sorry, a small bake sale doesn't qualify.)

* Event coordinator or chairperson must sign an advanced waiver that holds GUS.FM harmless of any legal dispute.

* Follow program format guidelines and request availability at least 10 days prior to the event. Time slots are open on a first come, first serve basis.

* Have a designated contact person responsible for making on location call-ins and picture uploads.

Plus a few other minor details that should help create a top-notch webcast.

If you are interested, call 1-800-898-0854, or email contact@gus.fm. to qualify and for details on how you can set up.

Who knows, this could unleash the inner-broadcaster in you.

Bo Diddley, Pioneer and Legend 1928-2008

Rock n' Roll pioneer Bo Diddley died today at 79 from heart failure at his home in Archer FL.

Born Ellas Bates in McComb, MS on December 28, 1928, he moved to Chicago with his family at the age of seven. It was there that he aspired to be a musician by first trying the violin, but converted to guitar after seeing a performance by John Lee Hooker.

Diddley had said that he had been given the nickname Bo Diddley by transposing the word diddly bo, a single stringed instrument brought over to America by African slaves.

The 'Bo Diddley Beat' (syphoned from the timing of "shave and a haircut, two-bits) became the trade mark and the influencial foundation for the next 50 years by many of rock's famous stars and music.

The beat was very distinctive in Buddy Holly's 'Not Fade Away', later by The Rolling Stones, and was a heavy influence to notables George Thorogood, and Bruce Springsteen.

Along with 1950's contemporaries, Chuck Berry and Little Richard, Diddley, with his induction in the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, was highly honored as a founding father of that genre, as well as an instrumental bridge in forging Anglo and African-American music with the blend of blues and rock.

Bryan Thompson
GUS.FM
http://www.gus.fm