An HD RadioTM company called radi.osophy ran an ad in the coupon section of one of our tabloids yesterday. Pictured was a teenage girl on her cell phone with a graphic reading "Girl, are you listening to me?..this is important!" The rest of her one-way conversation went like this: "Don't you have HD RadioTM ? My dad is the coolest -- brought it home for me last week. HD Radio (no trademark this time) gives more local stations for everyone to choose from, in digital quality, it's totally cool and with NO monthly fees." Who the devil wrote this copy? Like Maynard G. Krebs? Zelda???
The HD100 has the following selling points (according to the ad):
- AM/FM HD Radio Technology...
- Superior sound with rich deep bass (surrounded by fine corinthian leather?)...
- Clock with Alarm (radio or beeper)...
- 5 AM and FM Presets for favorite stations (I like that)...
- Aux input jack for other sources like MP3 players (also good)...
- Stereo headphone output jack (ditto)...There's a picture of the HD100 but now, the price: Pay only $99.95, *Free S&H (a $15 savings), Offer Expires Nov. 11, 2007, followed by a phone number and website where you can order and instructions to mention promo code: FSC...
Do you know what was missing? A coupon. All they had to do was put a '$15 savings for S&H' coupon on the bottom of the page and I'm cutting that out. And I might even use it. You know why? Because I'm saving money without having to call anyone or go on line...
Radi.osophy is located in North Sioux City, South Dakota and was founded by several Gateway people. They just started rolling out HD Radios this past March. I found this demonstration of a Sangean HD Radio on YouTube that scans the Chicago HD stations: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEAoWRcNEXY . I was leery but after listening, was impressed with the quality of the sound. See what you think...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1871] We didn't start the fire: The Great Fire of Chicago kills 250 and leaves 90,000 homeless. Four square miles of the Windy City (named for loud-mouthed politicians not the gusty winds) is destroyed...
- 1918] This is a hero: Sgt. Alvin C. York almost single-handedly kills 25 German soldiers and captures 132 more in the Argonne Forest in France. York is awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor...
- 1938] Turning the tables: The cover of "The Saturday Evening Post" has a portrait of Norman Rockwell...
- 1944] Premiered on this date: The radio show, "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" debuts...
- 1956] Perfecto: Yankees pitcher Don Larsen becomes the 1st and only pitcher to throw not only a no-hitter but a perfect game, over Brooklyn 2-0 at Yankee Stadium. It was never done before or since...
- 1967] Gotcha: Guerrilla leader Che Guevara of Cuba, and his men are captured in Bolivia...
- 1973] Basebrawl: A brawl erupts in Game 3 of the National League playoffs between the Mets and Reds as Pete Rose and Bud Harrelson duke it out at second base. The Mets win the game 9-2 to take a 3-2 edge in games. They will win the series and move on to the World Series against Oakland. This they lose...
- 1991] Hallowed ground: A slave burial site is found by construction workers in lower Manhattan. The 'Negro Burial Ground' had been closed in 1790. Over a dozen skeletons were found...
- 2003] Wedding Bells: Vivendi Universal and General Electric announce an agreement to merge into NBC Universal...
- 2004] Not a good thing: Martha Stewart begins her 5-month jail sentence for lying about a stock sale...
Music Memories:
- 1957] Recorded on this date: "Great Balls of Fire" - Jerry Lee Lewis. 'The Killer' in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAZzQ759P7Y ...
- 1971] Released on this date: "Imagine" - John Lennon...1977] "The Stranger" LP - Billy Joel...
Commentary...
Congratulations to the Red Sox for sweeping the Angels. Next up at Fenway, Friday night: the winner of the Yankees-Indians playoff series. The National League playoffs (Rockies-Diamondbacks) start Thursday night...Harvey Mednick comments on the weekend MPR feature about Web ads: "Having spent all those agonizing years at OnRadio trying to convince operators that our medium's future was on the Web, I couldn't agree with you more. Only thing I would add is that radio, because of its portability and ubiquity, has morphed into a "transporter" medium (respects to Capt. Kirk) that carries users from the air to the web where they can enjoy the advantages of seeing the product, couponing, and archiving, the major anti-radio selling tools of print. It's the future and there are still a host of managers and group folks who don't get it...sad!" Well stated, Harv...Happy Thanksgiving Canada...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Matt Damon (37), Emily ("CSI Miami") Procter (39), Darrell Hammond (52). Here's Darrell playing Sean Connery, or is it the other way around?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiqLSVDzIME , Robert "Kool" Bell (57) seen here celebrating: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwEMxYggoKQ , Sigourney Weaver (58), Chevy Chase (64), Jesse Jackson (66), Paul Hogan (68) and Rona Barrett (71)...
Timeline Countdown: 3 days until the second round of the MLB playoffs, 16 days until the World Series opener, 23 days until Halloween, 27 days until Standard Time and 38 days until our Thanksgiving...
