The Only Constant is Change

2013-04-24T00:48:00.000-05:00

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HOMELAND SECURITY TO RAID KFC

2013-04-17T00:47:00.001-05:00

HOMELAND SECURITY TO RAID KFC

DATELINE - Washington, D.C.

In light of the Boston bombings, the Department of Homeland Security will raid KFC locations across the country beginning Wednesday.

Citing the corporation's stockpile of dangerous pressure cookers, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calafornia) stresses the need for the "drastic measure."

"How many pressure cookers does any one person or any one corporation need," said Feinstein.

Director of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano (D), joined Feinstein adding "these devices can be modified to kill hundreds if not thousands of Americans, and their continued presence in our society cannot be tolerated."

Mobilizing nearly 7500 Federal Agents is no small task.

According to sources in the FBI, the nearly 100,000,000 rounds of recently purchased ammunition will "be put to good use" if KFC employees resist in any way.

KFC issued a late response this afternoon, stating "warrantless searches and seizures are un-constitutional and we strongly disagree with this blatant violation of our rights as a corporation in America."

Feinstein and Napolitano plan on beginning the raids in New York and Connecticut.

In a joint statement, the two government officials cite "the lack of proper defensive weapons in possession of law abiding citizens" as the reason to begin in these two states.

Both New York and Connecticut recently passed some of the countries most stringent gun ownership legislation in the nation.

"We are not going to stop..." exclaimed Feinstein, "...once we remove these assault appliances from the largest possessor (KFC), we will move on to other corporations with an eventual mandatory ban on individual ownership."

Pro pressure cooker activists across the nation vow to resist stating "if you make owning a pressure cooker a crime, only criminals will have pressure cookers."

A Terrifyingly Possible AP Style Story
By Bob F. Dowd

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW

FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE WITH OBAMACARE

2012-12-05T02:00:00.000-06:00

By Bob F. Dowd

Today I had my physical. And in preparation for compliance with Obamacare next year, my physician had 1.5 hours

of mandatory federal paperwork for me

to fill out!

Imagine that, a government takeover with massive amounts of paperwork.

Not to mention a long discussion about how bad this plan will be for patients and doctors. "How this country re

- elected this man, I'll never get," she said. And I completely agree. But free stuff is a huge draw, like cheese in a mouse trap.

Included in the bureaucratic paperwork,

a host of intrusive questions I have never been asked before. Some of which have nothing to do with my health! For example: "Do you have any homicidal thoughts?" (Yes, after filling out all this) "Do you own a firearm?" (None of your Goddamn business) "Have you ever smoked marijuana?" (Ditto from above) "Do you plan on traveling outside the country?" (Ditto from above) "What are your children's names and social security numbers?" (Why do you need to know this for my information?) "Do you have any criminal conviction on your record?" "Has anyone in your immediate family been convicted of any criminal misconduct?" "How many cars do you own?" "How far do you drive each day?" "What medicines for anxiety or depression do you currently or previously take?" ... Ok, ok, that's enough. Do you see what is going on here? These are not questions for me and my doctor to discuss privately, or questions for her to treat me with a higher level of care. This is a federal Obamacare form. The government wants to know everything about my personal life, my politics, my family, etc. A level of intrusion into my personal life and medical history that even Winston Smith would be shock to suffer through.

(a FB like to the first person that gets this one and leaves a comment in the blog..NOT in FB).

There is also a new federal form everyone must fill out and sign, you cannot refuse to do so. This form asks questions about my current and past healthcare provider and work history. It allows my records to be shared with the government. Of course its all perfectly reasonable, under the guise of electronic medical records sharing databases. But to have the lab that is doing my blood work be required to report the results directly to the government? Without me or my doctor being able to review it, judge its accuracy or validity? Without our being able to do the lab work again if in error? Why is that? Now I'm no conspiracy nut, and this sounds like monitoring of my life so that later certain "decisions" can be made.

Finally, because my follow up is next year...the doctor is required to use a national company to remind me of my appointment. No longer will you get a call from your doctors office (oh I guess you could get two calls), now the friendly federal proxy will handle this reminder. Reminds me of "hi, I'm from the government and I'm here to help." This company has an exclusive contract with the federal government. Perfectly innocent, right? Well think on this for a minute, now the Feds will know when you see your doctor and what your seeing him/her for. The results of tests, the treatment and the outcome or ongoing issue.

Slippery Slope is no fallacy. In the words of Neal Armstrong, "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Small steps that seem "perfectly reasonable," that seem "perfectly innocent," but small steps none the less. Steeps aimed at slowly shifting public acceptance of a total take over. A key strategy of the megalomaniac, religious zealot, imperialistic leader or just plain brainwasher.

Do I see actuarial tables being created and used to calculate the expense of care for conditions? Conditions being weighed against life expectancy and/or quality of life? Well, if you want Obamacare to pay for it, you will have to live with the decisions that are coming for you from our old friend O’Brien (remember that FB like). If not, then you better have a huge pile of cash (or what ever is worth something when all this is in play), and pay under the table for the care, discretion and longevity you were getting when healthcare was just between you and your physician.

BfD

Manipulating the GRE Exam

2012-07-13T06:10:00.000-05:00

Gang, there is no way to beat ETS.
But you can work the system!

While the GRE Exam is total Bull Shit, and indicates nothing about your ability to survive graduate school. It is yet another hoop you must jump through to be a member of the club. Find here a way to manipulate the ETS system, giving yourself the best possible chance at the highest reportable scores...

First... Do all the studying and preparation that every other blogger, prep guider and hocker of services tells you to do.

ScoreSelect Selection Box

Second... And this is key.

TAKE ONLY ONE SECTION OF THE EXAM AT A TIME!

This is why...

With ScoreSelect you can choose the Latest Exam, Every Exam, or Any Exam to send.

So here is how it works... If your great at Verbal Reasoning take that section only. DO NOT answer any questions on the Quantitative Reasoning section. This will be reported as a NS, or No Score for the Quantitative reasoning section. Not a '0' like everyone else is saying, but a NS. An NS cannot be quantified or averaged. If you score well, your done. (find the ETS policy here)

"Anything in the 50th percentile is considered good, but the 75th percentile is obviously better."

"Check your school's admissions policies to see what you need..."

Then take the test again and do the same thing for the Quantitative Reasoning. DO NOT answer any of the Verbal Reasoning questions. Again, the result for this exam will be NS, or No Score on the Verbal Section. If you do well, your done.

If not...

TAKE THE EXAM AGAIN

DUMB-ASS...

Do the same thing for the Analytical Writing, or combine this section with the Verbal Reasoning if your the next Shakespeare... I suggest if you have come this far you might as well have three separate exam scores, or more if you need to raise one score.

Now, here is the beauty of the manipulation... With ScoreSelect (using the Any Exam option), you can choose to send the highest scores from three different exams and the recipients cannot see any of your low scores. They can't average... They can't discriminate... They can't do anything but take three scores from three different exams, and you get to choose the scores, not ETS and not the recipients.

There is a down side... Let's say you did great on the Verbal Reasoning section and scored a 172 on the first try. But, you needed to take the Quantitative Reasoning section three time to get a score of 163 (dumb-ass). And, you took the Analytical Writing section twice, to get a 4.5.

1 + 3 + 2 = 6

Oh, if the Quant was just this easy!

This means you pay $160.00, six times.

For a total of $960.00, Ouch!
Plus $25.00 for each school to which you send a report.

But hey, if you could buy a Masters or a PhD, you would.

And isn't that what your doing in the end anyway?

Will your Resume "Stink up the Joint"

2011-05-25T05:01:00.001-05:00

Six Easy Tips To Keep Your Resume On Top

Town to town, up and down the dial. It's a fact of life for everyone in the business of Radio and Television. But will your resume get you the better job and fatter check? Or does it just plain stink?

Well it may not stink, but does it stand out? Does it make it from the stack of 100, into the stack of 10 that actually get reviewed in detail? Remember, the HR manager is going through the applicants fast! "No, no, no, no, yes, no, no, no, yes..." and then passing the qualified candidates on to the hiring manager. You need to be the one that gets the "yes" in less than :10 seconds. And trust me, I've faced a stack of resumes 8 inches thick as a hiring manager in TV. The faster I could say no, the better! And we're only talking about the resume, let alone your demo reel.

Here are six Do's and Don'ts for the beginner as well as the seasoned professional. They'll help get you past the initial review and in the short stack for actual consideration:

1) Do write a short cover letter. Highlighting your best points of course, but more importantly give them back their job criteria from the want ad.

2) Don't be creative with your resume. Managers are expecting information in a format easily read.

3) Do provide a career objective. I suggest it should be whatever the job title is they are looking for.

4) Don't forget to give a summary of qualifications. This is that :10 second thing. Here is another opportunity to highlight you, but also give them back their job criteria from the ad. Be sure to use "-ing" words, like Managing, Fostering or Developing.

5) Don't list your education first. This screams no experience, hitting the circular file lickety split!

6) Finally, do seek out the help of a professional, experienced in career coaching and resume development. The money you spend now will come back 100 fold later.

In my next installment, 10 tips for a kick ass demo reel!
___________________________________________________________________________

Bob F. Dowd is a 20 year veteren of television, marketing and advertising.

He offers career advice and career coaching nationwide.

Entry Level Radio DJ Reel

2011-05-23T02:44:00.000-05:00

Makelita was a 21 year old graduate from MTSU. In 2009, after an unsuccessful 8 month search, she realized her work done in class was just not good enough to land her first real job in Radio. She scheduled a 12 hour Sunday session with me and BINGO! Cover Letter, Resume, Demo Reel, YouTube Channel and the confidence to hit the ground running. Two months later she landed a great job in up-state New York with a R&B Station.

This is the kind of success you can achieve with a little direction and advice. The cost for Makeita, just $225.00. Her first pay check, $973.00.

Don't wait 8 months to find out everyone is after the same jobs your are after. Don't wait until after graduation. Do it now. Saturday and Sunday sessions start after Spring Break. 615-294-9870

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Bob F. Dowd is a 20 year veteren of television, marketing and advertising.

He offers career advice and career coaching nationwide.

Bob F. Dowd - Writer, Producer, Editor.

2011-03-14T00:31:00.000-05:00

Documentary Sample Reel

Promotion Sample Reel

Product Marketing & Voice Over Sample

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Bob F. Dowd is a 20 year veteren of television, marketing and advertising.
He offers career advice and career coaching nationwide.

Aaron Solomon Makes the Correct Decision.

2011-02-12T08:12:00.001-06:00

I waited to post anything until I knew something. Not that I know everything, but I know enough.

It's a sad fact that loyalty is non-existent in the TV Biz. And now that the entire industry (local television) is in serious peril of extinction, management and corporate are really looking for a hit of crack to keep the high going. But if the rumors surrounding Aaron Solomon's departure are true, then there may be hope for personal integrity in the newsroom.

The best male/female team in local news since Dan and Demetria are no more. But how did this happen? "We're taking the morning news in a different direction..." I'll bet that's just what the new GM at WSMV told Aaron. But an offer to work a crappy shift at reduced pay is not an offer at all. Plus, back to Sports...no way!

So Aaron took the high road and said no thank you.

_________________________________________________

Now, what I'm hoping is that WSMV broke the contract and now must pay Aaron out. Fight the Power Aaron. Tell those know nothings at Meredith to pull their head out...

_________________________________________________

I'm not the only one pissed off about this. Nashville is buzzing with viewers, now former viewers, jumping ship. The Titanic is going down. Sadly, what was once a destination market and station for broadcast professionals is now just another stop up and down the dial.

A word of warning to all who seek a career in show business. Loyalty is a thing of the past, you work for you and no one else. Keep you GTFO tape ready and your Resume up-to-date.

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Bobby F. Dowd is a 20 year veteran of Television

Marketing & Advertising.

For help with your Broadcast Career

615-294-9870

Media Consultants are like a Flock of Seagulls

2011-01-22T02:01:00.001-06:00

They Swoop In...

Shit On Everything...

And Leave You to Clean Up The Mess!

   Have you ever wondered why there is a "Coverage You Can Count On" or "Dedicated, Determined, Dependable" or "First, Fast Accurate" station in every market? Why, when you're on vacation, does this station looks just like the one back home?

   Blame the Media Consultant Industry and their band of cookie cutter agents. The likes of whom are usually great Marketing & Promotion Producers stolen away from the very same stations they are trying to help. They are then brainwashed into the Media Consultant way of thinking.

Hell, if it works in Peoria it's got to work here!

Who is the prime culprit of homogenized newscasts nationwide?

Frank N. Magid & Associates

   Or "Maggot" as they are affectionatly known in the biz. They are an outfit out of DesMoines, Iowa. Now this is not a RANT focusing on just old Frank. I've got a even beef with all of them. I've seen them talk out of both sides of their mouth, from one book to the next.

   I've seen weak General Managers, Promotion Managers and News Directors cave to the whims of media consultants at every station I've worked at. And heaven forbid if anyone calls them out on their errors. I've tried! They'll go behind your back to the GM and call you a poisonous anti-team player.

   Their main goal is to perpetuate their own existence. This is done by finding fault with something each time they visit or review your product. The graphics need updating. The music needs updating. The anchor's hair is wrong. This reporter is too fat or too skinny (this should be against the law, but it's discussed in secret meetings with management anyway, so who's gonna know). The slogan or logo that has brand equity because you've been using it for 20 years, surprise, it needs to be changed too. And of course changed to one of their Focus Group researched and approved "Coverage You Can Crap On" slogans. But why does this happen? What is the reason behind all the churn?

It's called Market Driven Journalism:

Typical Consultant Driven Reporter Copy for Promotion

"I'm Action 4 News reporter (insert name here), and we're Working 4 You with an investigation that will shock you to your very core. Count on us for Coverage of (insert what ever muckraking event here). Tonight at 10 on Action News 4. Dedicated, Determined, Dependable."

   Phrases like the ones used in the above promo copy find their way into the newscasts as well. "Working 4 you at the local court house." "Coverage you can count on, with this exclusive story." "We're dedicated to bringing you dependable information from inside the local school board meeting." And on, and on...

   Forget what you learned in college about Journalistic Principles or Ethics. But, that's how it goes in local television news today. I should know, I'm guilty myself.

   Money taints the newsroom. So do Meters, Diaries and Q-Ratings. But I'll save those for another day.

BfD

Now This Is A Blog, So Post Your Comments Below

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Bob F. Dowd is a 20 year veteren of television, marketing and advertising.

He offers career advice and career coaching nationwide.