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Friday, September 30, 2016

AMERICANS DO NOT TRUST THE PRESS

BRYCE ON THE MEDIA

- And their popularity is dropping below that of Congress.

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

Members of the main street media are angered by GOP candidate Donald J. Trump's accusations the press is unfairly attacking him. He accuses them of being untrustworthy and unfairly protecting his political opponent, Hillary Clinton. The press, in turn, deeply resents his bombastic style of addressing them. They prefer candidates cow-towing to them as opposed to confronting them. When it became apparent the press wouldn't give Trump a fair shake, he wasn't afraid to take them head on. At one of Trump's press conferences, where he took the press to task, one affronted journalist asked, "Is this how your press conferences are going to be from now on?"

To which Trump answered back defiantly, "Yes."

This did not sit well with the press. Then again, Mr. Trump is a political outsider and businessman who does not accept the status quo. He would likely pull his punches if the press had any credibility with the public, but Trump knows they do not, and there is clear evidence to this effect.

Last year in a Gallup poll, "Americans' Trust in Media Remains at Historical Low" (Sep 28, 2015), they reported four in ten Americans say they have "a great deal" or "a fair amount" of trust and confidence in the mass media to report the news fully, accurately and fairly, but a whopping 60% said they do not. This ties the historical lows set in 2014 and 2012. Interestingly, prior to 2004, slight majorities of Americans said they trusted the mass media, such as newspapers, TV and radio.

In a more recent report from the Associated Press (Apr 17, 2016), they claimed, "just 6 percent of people say they have a lot of confidence in the media, putting the news industry about equal to Congress and well below the public's view of other institutions."

This research was conducted by the Media Insight Project, an initiative of the American Press Institute and the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

The report also states, "Trust in the news media is being eroded by perceptions of inaccuracy and bias, fueled in part by Americans' skepticism about what they read on social media."

If this is true, it should set off warning alarms in the media that their vocation faces possible extinction. If the public does not trust the press to offer fair and accurate news, they will go elsewhere to find the truth, such as scanning the Internet or turning to social media. People may laugh and say, "How can anyone trust the news as reported on social media?", but if they do not trust the main street media, why not? From this, we can conclude, the more people rely on social media, the less they trust the press.

Members of the media will likely discard such notions out of hand, but they obviously do not want to accept the fact their popularity is in sharp decline, something Donald Trump and his followers are fully cognizant of.

Trump is probably more knowledgeable about the foibles and weaknessses of the press than they are of him. For example, Trump realizes his words are under a microscope with the press. Knowing this, he figures he has nothing to lose and blasts the media every chance he gets.

The press likes to claim Trump is his own worst enemy, but then again, the same can be said about the press as well. As long as the main street media's attacks on politicians remains unfair and visceral, the popularity of the press will continue to drop below that of Congress, making politicians and journalists two of the most despised occupations in this country.

Now, about those pesky lobbyists...

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Also read Tim's columns in the THE HUFFINGTON POST

NEXT UP:  THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: DOWN TO THE WIRE - With only a few weeks left, what can we expect?

LAST TIME:  IN EDUCATION, ARE WE MEASURING THE WRONG THING? - Is there too much emphasis on metrics?

Listen to Tim on News Talk Florida (WWBA 820 AM), WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

IN EDUCATION, ARE WE MEASURING THE WRONG THING?

BRYCE ON EDUCATION

- Is there too much emphasis on metrics?

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

The country's approach to education is once again under scrutiny, thanks in large part to two recent Gallup polls; one aimed at analyzing political perspective, and another analyzing the effect of education on our youth.

In the first poll, "U.S. Education Ratings Show Record Political Polarization" (Aug 17, 2016), Gallup found satisfaction with public education (K-12) was based on political perspective. Whereas Democrats were generally satisfied (53%), Republicans were not, dropping to a low of 32%. The contrast between the two is sharp but hard to explain.

Some believe the reason is the general Republican refutation of Common Core, a national program to establish standards to evaluate student performance. New techniques for teaching math, science, and history are not being warmly received by the GOP who would rather see local School Boards have more control over curriculum and standards.

The other poll, "Bringing Education Back to Its Roots" (Aug 17, 2016) questions how we evaluate student performance, that we are becoming too obsessed with numbers, and not with the student's ability to think and be creative.

The poll claims we know how to stuff facts, figures and content into the student, but not how to pull it back out in order to solve problems. To illustrate, they discuss the use of common quizzes and tests as used in the classroom, the push to satisfy state testing requirements, as well as the other formal tests used for college application, e.g., PSAT, ACT, SAT, etc. Such tests denote the student's ability to memorize, but not how to apply it in real life situations.

In an accompanying video, Brandon Busteed, Executive Director of Education and Workforce Development at Gallup, questioned the excessive use of metrics in his keynote address at the Education Commission of the States' 2016 National Forum on Education Policy, last June. He claimed our obsession on metrics only addresses one part of education, namely input, but we should also be concerned with output, for that is what we are called on to use in business. Frankly, I couldn't agree more.

We should be less consumed with our obsession on testing, and more concerned with its application in life.

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Also read Tim's columns in the THE HUFFINGTON POST

NEXT UP:  AMERICANS DO NOT TRUST THE PRESS - And their popularity is dropping below that of Congress.

LAST TIME:  THE POLITICAL FINANCIERS - Who really funds our electoral process? No, really?

Listen to Tim on News Talk Florida (WWBA 820 AM), WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Monday, September 26, 2016

THE POLITICAL FINANCIERS

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Who really funds our electoral process? No, really?

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

Whenever the subject of political financing comes up, two names inevitably come to mind, the Koch Brothers and George Soros, both of whom are on the opposite ends of the political spectrum. The Koch Brothers support conservative causes thereby earning them the ire of the left. Conversely, Soros supports the liberal agenda and attracts criticism from the right. Both are iconic in terms of their contributions, causing them to be accused of trying to buy the country. True, they both have deep pockets, but let's consider the amount of money each side has truly invested.

The Koch Brothers control Koch Industries, Inc. of Wichita, Kansas, the second largest privately held multinational corporation in the United States, which is involved with manufacturing, trading and investments. Annual revenues are approximately $100 billion. Charles Koch is the Chairman and CEO, and his brother David is the Executive VP. Both are considered libertarians. In fact, David was a Libertarian Vice-Presidential candidate in 1980. Together, the brothers are worth close to $70 billion.

In recent years, the Koch Brothers have funded conservative think-tanks, political campaigns, and lobbied the government. They believe in limited government, free enterprise, and personal freedom. They are also supporters of the Tea Party. They have been accused of donating more than $100 million to their political agenda, but this is unsubstantiated.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research group in Washington, D.C. which tracks money for politics and lobbying, Koch Industries donated approximately $18 million to conservative causes over the last 25 years; that is $720,000 annually. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, between 2006-2011 they also spent $50 million to lobby Washington. In 2016, their company donated $9.1 million to political causes thus far.

It should be noted that Koch Industries has also made generous donations to many non-political programs as well, including education and a variety of charities. Nevertheless, the Koch Brothers' political donations cause liberals to label them as "Evil."

Financier George Soros is originally from Hungary and came to the United States via the United Kingdom. According to Forbes, his estimated net worth is $24.9 billion, and is listed as the #10 The Highest-Earning Hedge Fund Manager in 2016. It has been reported that since 1979 Soros has given away $8 billion to various causes, including politics, human rights, public health, and education.

Over the years, Soros has made generous donations to a variety of liberal causes, e.g., $3 million to the Center for American Progress, $2.5 million to MoveOn.org, and $20 million to America Coming Together, all of which were asked to support Democratic causes. In 2004 he donated $23,581,000 to 527 groups dedicated to defeating President Bush. Recently, he has supported Hillary Clinton's candidacy by donating $7 million to the Priorities USA Action super-PAC, and additional funds for the Ready for Hillary campaign.

If you were to consider the donations of George Soros and the Koch Brothers together, it pales in comparison to the donations given by Labor Unions. Soros Fund Management is listed as #8 and Koch Industries is listed as #19 on the OpenSecrets.org for 2016, representing a total of $22.8 million in donations. However, Labor Unions are way ahead of them, representing an accumulative total of over $74.6 million to Democratic politics in 2016. Such donations make the Koch Brothers contributions seem rather miniscule by comparison. I wonder if the "rank and file" are aware of this.

Between the campaign donations and the lobbying in Washington, as well as the state capitols, the amount of money spent in this endeavor is mind-boggling, yet this is how our system works. Imagine how these billions of dollars could be better spent if we simply revised our electoral process. Some time ago I proposed creating a separate fund whereby for every dollar donated to politics and lobbying, it must be matched and placed into a fund where it would be used to support charitable concerns and improving the nation's infrastructure. Undoubtedly, the media would not support this as it would affect advertising revenues, and their power would diminish. Hmm, sounds like a Win-Win situation to me.

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Also read Tim's columns in the THE HUFFINGTON POST

NEXT UP:  IN EDUCATION, ARE WE MEASURING THE WRONG THING? - Is there too much emphasis on metrics?

LAST TIME:  OUR CHANGING TASTES - Explaining why family restaurants are in decline.

Listen to Tim on News Talk Florida (WWBA 820 AM), WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Friday, September 23, 2016

OUR CHANGING TASTES

BRYCE ON FOOD

- Explaining why family restaurants are in decline.

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

I have a friend who owns a family style restaurant offering basic comfort food. It's not cheap, nor is it expensive either; just a family-run restaurant offering some home cooking. I'm sure you know of such a restaurant in your neighborhood.

Periodically, I help my friend update his menu. In the course of doing this I've asked him why he no longer offers certain items on his menu; things like lamb shanks, beef stroganoff, beef tips on noodles, Chicken a la King, Salisbury Steak, stuffed peppers, Sausage and peppers, pot roast, casseroles and the like. These were items I remember well from my youth but are disappearing from menus across the country. The only rationale my friend could offer was that people's tastes were changing, and such items were more identified with the older generation than the new. The younger people seem to relate more to burgers, chicken tenders and pizza; items normally associated with fast food franchises as opposed to anything else. Consequently, the idea of a home cooked meal is becoming more of a nebulous concept to them.

Bread is another commodity changing as well. Instead of white, rye, and whole wheat, people now want shibata, muffala, and panini. I remember a time when sourdough was considered the epitome of exotic bread, now it is generally regarded as nothing special. The new breads are nice, but somehow the idea of a PB&J on panini doesn't sound right.

Our cuts of beef and chicken haven't really changed, but fish has. At one time, your only choices were cod, haddock, swordfish, flounder, and maybe some tuna (in a can). Now we ask for tilapia, grouper, mahi-mahi, ahi tuna, and orange roughy. As an aside, years ago grouper was considered a "garbage fish" fisherman routinely discarded, but somehow we developed a taste for it.

Soft drinks have also changed as well. Whereas we used to live on colas, lemon/lime drinks, root beer, ginger ale, ice tea, fruit juices, and Kool-Aid, now we have power/sports drinks in a variety of colors and tastes to hydrate us, and others loaded with caffeine and sugar to shock our system. Orange juice was orange juice. Period. Now we have varieties with pulp, without pulp, with added vitamins, lower acid, and of course the blends with other fruit juices. Ice tea is no different; now we have a wide variety of flavors to suit different tastes. Coffee has also changed, instead of a basic black cup of coffee in the morning, we now add all kinds of ingredients to make it look like a hot fudge sundae or some other dessert.

Speaking of desserts, cakes and pies are still around, but are a little harder to find. Then of course there are items like tapioca pudding, rice pudding, and other flavored puddings, most of which the kids turn their noses up when they are served. Ice cream is still a favorite, but we've come a long way since basic vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. The competition in the ice cream world is fierce and consequently many new varieties have been introduced with strange names (and higher prices). I have to admit though, I am a sucker for Graeter's Black Raspberry Chip or their Pumpkin Pie which comes out around October.

For breakfast there was oatmeal, Farina, Maypo, Cream of Weat, Malt-O-Meal, Pancakes, Waffles, and, of course, bacon and eggs. These have all been replaced by such things as Pop Tarts, Granola Bars, breakfast drinks, and other instant snacks. Heck, basic cereals are even struggling as people are rushing out the door in the morning.

I'm not suggesting our tastes are any better or worse today than yesteryear; I'm just noting the change. However, I wonder how much of this push to multiple varieties and instant meals is a result of our changing tastes as opposed to creating a higher profit margin for the vendors; I suspect the latter. More than anything, I believe our tastes change because of vendor competition and the need to make a buck. No matter how you slice it though, there is nothing better than "mom's home cooking." The only problem though is that a lot of people today think baking and cooking are two towns in China.

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Also read Tim's columns in the THE HUFFINGTON POST

NEXT UP:  THE POLITICAL FINANCIERS - Who really funds our electoral process? No, really?

LAST TIME:  THE GOP CULTURAL REVOLUTION - Understanding Republican Deserters.

Listen to Tim on News Talk Florida (WWBA 820 AM), WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

THE GOP CULTURAL REVOLUTION

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Understanding Republican Deserters.

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

If you listen to the Washington Post, they would have you believe there is a mass exodus within the Republican party due to the party's candidate, Donald J. Trump. They announce with glee...




There have also been reports from the Post regarding how Ohio Governor John Kasich deliberately ignored the GOP convention in his home state with the intention of embarrassing Trump.

First, we have to remember this is the Washington Post, the same newspaper who assembled a SWAT team not long ago designed to take Trump down. So, they are leading the main street media, in terms of scraping the bottom of the barrel for any tidbit of information or any hiccup in Trump's speech that can be used against him.

There are many other Republicans who have voiced their displeasure with Mr. Trump, such as Florida Cong. David Jolly who is running for re-election and openly rebuffs Mr. Trump. This will cost him dearly as Pinellas County is a Trump stronghold. Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush is another who steadfastly opposes Trump, primarily due to an acute case of sour grapes. Interestingly, Bush’s son, Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush, is telling Republicans the GOP primaries are over and it is time to support the man who beat his father.

Then there are the "Never Trump" Republicans such as Mitt Romney, the Koch Brothers, and their puppet candidate Evan McMullin who is making an independent bid. There are also the conservative political commentators who intensely dislike Trump, such as the Fox Network's Charles Krauthammer, George Will, and Karl Rove.

What these "turncoats" do not seem to understand is the people have lost faith in the party and desperately want to clean house, preferably an outsider not imbued with Washington politics. No, this is no longer your grandfather's GOP, not even your father's for that matter. Mr. Trump, who is a political outsider, goes against all forms of traditional political etiquette and tactics, and in the process, has won the party's nomination. Think about that for a moment. And it galls Republican insiders greatly who like the way things were. The populace, however, have had enough and want change.

Aside from Trump and his supporters, nobody seems to realize the GOP is undergoing a cultural revolution, something long overdue. The same is needed in the Democratic party, but the Democrats appear to be content for the time being with traditional insider politics. This will inevitably change if Mrs. Clinton loses.

Bottom-line, the resistance to Trump is not so much about the candidate as it is about a change to the party, something insiders simply will not accept. It is natural to resist such change as it represents a fear of the unknown and loss of control. As Machiavelli said in, "The Prince" (1513)...

"It must be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to plan, more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to manage than the creation of a new system. For the initiator has the enmity of all who would profit by the preservation of the old institution and merely lukewarm defenders in those who would gain by the new ones."

This is not about Mr. Trump's gaffs in speaking; it's about cultural change, change initiated by a disgusted populace. The traditionalists need to realize it is simply a new day. They either adapt or face early retirement as the people desperately want something different, particularly after eight years of Obama.

In order for Trump to win in November, and implement the changes needed, the public will have to step up its support for him and gain momentum. Trump's detractors, the Republican deserters and the main street media will fight him every step of the way. More than anything, Trump supporters need to weed out the weaklings, take the press to task, and keep moving forward.

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  OUR CHANGING TASTES - Explaining why family restaurants are in decline.

LAST TIME:  WHAT'S BEHIND POLITICAL BRANDING?  - The legacy of Joseph Goebbels.

Listen to Tim on News Talk Florida (WWBA 820 AM), WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Monday, September 19, 2016

WHAT'S BEHIND POLITICAL BRANDING?

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- The legacy of Joseph Goebbels.

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

The father of American political branding was Joseph Goebbels, Reich Minister of Propaganda for the Nazis during World War II. Perhaps his best known quote regarding propaganda was, "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it."

Goebbels understood the power of communications and went to great lengths to choreograph the speeches of Adolph Hitler, including the venue, music, surrounding visual symbols, and the use of radio. He was a pioneer, and we are still feeling his influence years later in the midst of the 21st century.

As both the Democrats and Republicans know, elections are no longer about positions or policies, it's about branding of the candidates to create indelible impressions in the minds of the people. Like Goebbels, American politicians have learned people can be conditioned to react to words and images much like Pavlov's dog.

The intent of both parties is to assassinate the character of their opponent. For example, in the 2016 presidential election:

The Democrats have branded Mr. Trump a racist, sexist, xenophobic, demagogue who does not possess the temperament to be president. Ask any loyal Democrat to describe Trump and these adjectives will flow from their mouth instantly, even if they do not understand their meaning. Most do not know Trump's policies, positions, or what he accomplished in his lifetime, only what they are told to parrot.

Likewise, the Republicans brand Mrs. Clinton as corrupt, incompetent, unaccomplished, the third term of the Obama administration, and someone who cannot be trusted. I would like to believe Republicans are more knowledgeable about her record than the Democrats are about Mr. Trump's, but many here echo what they are taught as well, whether it is true or not.

Both sides demonize the other and, unfortunately, their tactics work too easily. To begin with, you have to understand the weaknesses of your audience. In the United States, it is threefold.

1. Most Americans lack the fundamental understanding of how our government truly works.

2. Most lack a grasp of American history and suffer from a short attention span. Some cannot remember what happened just last week.

3. Most do not take the time to research the background of the candidates, and rely on the media to give them their talking points.

It is this last item which illustrates the power of the press. You have to remember, the main street media is in business to make money, not necessarily to report accurate and unbiased news. They can be bought and sold, and will spin the news in accordance with the highest bidder. Consider this, the Media Industrial Complex will earn over $200 billion this election year, and such income is not as a result of fair and balanced reporting. This means the main street media has mercenary motives and are immoral in the handling of the news.

As Goebbels correctly observed, "Think of the press as a great keyboard on which the government can play."

This political branding wouldn't be possible if the citizens were more responsible and better informed. The truth is, they are not, and many are simply unqualified to vote. For example, in the early days of this country, only land owners were allowed to vote in elections because they were considered responsible citizens, not shiftless rabble. Obviously, this changed over the years so any Tom, Dick, or Mary can vote regardless how "responsible" they are as citizens. As American history and civics disappear from our classrooms, the media and their masters will tighten their control over the American public.

The next time you are asked about your opinion regarding a candidate, before you answer, try to remember this quote from Joseph Goebbels, "Propaganda works best when those who are being manipulated are confident they are acting on their own free will."

So who is pulling your strings?

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  THE GOP CULTURAL REVOLUTION - Understanding Republican Deserters.

LAST TIME:  DRUG WARNINGS - What in the world do they say?

Listen to Tim on News Talk Florida (WWBA 820 AM), WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Friday, September 16, 2016

DRUG WARNINGS

BRYCE ON CONSUMER WARNINGS

- What in the world do they say?

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

Whenever I want to find out the latest in the world of medicine I just tune into the evening news. I think there is now an FCC ruling whereby only drug ads can be shown by the news media. Everything else has to wait until prime time. I suppose the reason for this is because only people over 40 years of age watch the news anymore, and this is the market the drug manufacturers are after.

The drug ads are aimed at treating everything from heartburn, to cancer, to cholesterol, to erectile disorders, and everything in-between. We probably have a pill for just about everything which we inevitably see during the evening news. Interestingly, all of the drug ads seem to be the same (and I suspect only one ad agency produces them). The first half is spent painting a rosy picture of how their product can solve our problems, but the last half is spent with warnings required by the FDA of the possible side effects. Unlike the first half where the narrator cheerfully articulates the product, the warnings are reviewed at a fast clip, kind of like a car salesman on the radio. The dialog by the announcer goes so fast that we only grasp a couple of words clearly, such as "possible side effects include..." and "consult your doctor before taking..."

It bothers me that I cannot fully grasp all of the warnings, so, as a public service, I've done some research and compiled the warnings into a single statement for your use:

"Do not take while awake or asleep. Should be taken one hour before or after either eating or vomiting. Possible side effects include a six hour erection, dizziness, memory loss, acute depression, shortness of pants, lack of appetite, a compulsion to shop at WalMart, nausea, er, ah...did I mention memory loss? Consult your doctor before taking. He isn't doing anything right now and doesn't mind innocuous telephone calls in the middle of the night. His number is 800-325-3535. Go ahead, call and wake him up right now; it's only 3:00am. If you cannot sleep, why should he?"

Now play that warning back at twice the speed and you get an idea what we, the consumers, comprehend. Here's a better idea; why not just tell the public to read the instructions before using the drug? And write the instructions in terms John Q. Public can understand, and not just the attorneys for the drug companies?

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  WHAT'S BEHIND POLITICAL BRANDING? - The legacy of Joseph Goebbels.

LAST TIME:  WASTING A VOTE - So you're thinking of voting independent are you?

Listen to Tim on News Talk Florida (WWBA 820 AM), WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

WASTING A VOTE

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- So you're thinking of voting independent are you?

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

The Presidential election of 2016 has finally come down to a two horse race: Mrs. Hillary Clinton representing the Democrats and Mr. Donald Trump representing the Republicans. Frankly, there are a lot of people who are not happy with either candidate and are threatening to vote for a third party instead. Although one can understand the people’s dissatisfaction with the two party system, that the Democrats and Republicans possess too much power and no longer produce strong candidates, the reality is we live in a two party system and supporting a third party candidate has never proven effective in the last one hundred years. To illustrate...

In 1992, millionaire Ross Perot from Texas ran as an independent in the presidential election where he helped defeat incumbent George H.W. Bush and hand Bill Clinton the election. More than anyone else, Perot turned the country over to Clinton.

In 1980, Republican Congressman John Anderson from Illinois ran as an independent where he helped defeat incumbent Jimmy Carter and elect Ronald Reagan. Reagan would have narrowly won without Anderson, but the independent sealed Carter’s doom and helped the Republicans retake the Senate for the first time in 25 years.

In the 1912 election, two term President Theodore Roosevelt failed to gain the Republican candidacy (going to incumbent William Howard Taft instead) and, consequently, created a third party known as the Progressive Party (aka the “Bull Moose Party”). As an aside, the Progressive Party back then bears no similarities to the Progressive Party of today. This split in the GOP allowed Democrat Woodrow Wilson to win the election.

There are of course other political parties, such as the Libertarian and Green Parties, as well as other smaller organizations. Cumulatively, they represent a minuscule proportion of the voting population and, as such, do not pose a viable challenge to the two party system.

Then as now, splitting either party in this presidential year will prove disastrous for the Democrats as well as the GOP. The Democrats are concerned with keeping the supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders, and Republican opponents to Donald Trump are threatening to desert the party.

As we all know, this will be a tough campaign which will likely go down to the wire. Every vote will be important. The harsh reality is anyone casting a vote for an independent will be wasting it. Such a vote is not a vote of protest, it is a vote for the party you do not want to see elected. The wrong candidate will inevitably win. So, if you cast your ballot for an independent, you might as well use it as toilet paper as it will have a better effect than placing it in the ballot box.

If you are serious about building an independent party, now is the time to start building it for the 2020 election, not for 2016, and do not be surprised if you are not successful during that election cycle.

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  DRUG WARNINGS - What in the world do they say?

LAST TIME:  WHY THE PRESS NITPICKS TRUMP - Ever watch a good Coon Dog in action? They're unmerciful.

Listen to Tim on News Talk Florida (WWBA 820 AM), WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Monday, September 12, 2016

WHY THE PRESS NITPICKS TRUMP

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Ever watch a good Coon Dog in action? They're unmerciful.

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

It is interesting how Donald Trump seems to be embroiled in the pettiest of subjects. He swats at them like they're gnats. Actually, it is time to get some bug spray and clear the air.

Mrs. Clinton has unleashed her media dogs who are chasing Trump like a Coon Dog tries to tree a racoon. Why are they so aggressively doing so? Simple, to create a diversion from the frailties and indiscretions of Mrs. Clinton. Somehow I am reminded of the scene where the massive head in the "Wizard of Oz" admonishes Dorothy & Company, "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain."

The main street media is the last line of defense between the public and the truth. They want you to believe there is still infighting in the GOP while, in reality, the Democratic Party is melting down as their e-mail scandal is forcing the top officers to resign. The public doesn't realize this though, as the press only reports on alleged rifts between Trump and Sen. McCain and Speaker Paul Ryan. Welcome to Fantasyland.

They also do not want you to dwell on Mrs. Clinton's many indiscretions over the years, her lack of accomplishments, and lack of trustworthiness. It doesn't matter she openly lies to the American people, as she did in her interview with Fox's Chris Wallace last Sunday. Nor are they concerned about the Clinton Foundation, her changing positions, and that she hasn't held a press conference in nearly a year. All of this doesn't matter to the press; taking Trump down is their main objective, and the American people are terrified to challenge them.

The media's intent is to attack Trump's character, not his positions which they know are popular with the American public. If they can depict Trump as unfit to command, they believe Mrs. Clinton can win the White House. They are not so much concerned about his policies, which they seldom report, but with his politically incorrect comments, and by doing so they are trying to box him in and chase him up a tree where he can do less damage to Mrs. Clinton. By isolating Trump from the public, it changes the focus away from Hillary who will be free to say and do anything without fear of being checked by the press.

During the upcoming presidential debates, if the moderators begin by asking Mr. Trump why he said this or that, and if Mrs. Clinton isn't asked about the Clinton Foundation and only given simple questions to answer, you'll know the fix is in.

So, Mr. and Mrs. Voter, be wary of the Clinton News Network (CNN), the Clinton Broadcasting System (CBS), the Nation Beholding to Clinton (NBC), and Always Boost Clinton (ABC), not to mention the New York Crimes, the Worthlessness Post, and the Huffingandpuffing Pest. It is time to take the Main Street Media down.

"Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore." - Dorothy

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  WASTING A VOTE - So you're thinking of voting independent are you?

LAST TIME:  MARKING TIME - A little trick to remember birthdays.

Listen to Tim on News Talk Florida (WWBA 820 AM), WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Friday, September 9, 2016

MARKING TIME

BRYCE ON LIFE

- A little trick to remember birthdays.

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

Years ago, comedian Jay Leno made the observation the main difference between men and women was the 3 Stooges, the legendary comedy team. Leno contended men loved the 3 Stooges, but women hated them. He said even Albert Einstein would crack up when Curley would say, "Oh, a wise guy eh?" or "Nyuck, Nyuck, Nyuck." Women instead would simply dismiss them as jerks.

Although I agree with Leno's assessment, I recently came across another distinguishing characteristic separating men from women, and that is how we mark the passage of time. Whereas women tend to remember the dates when family members were born, men tend to remember the genealogy of the family's automobiles. I recently tested this theory on several friends and found it to be surprisingly true. The women had total recall when it came to the birthdays of family members, but couldn't remember what they were driving just a couple of years ago. They could remember the dates of not only their own offspring, but their nieces and nephews as well. In contrast, men had trouble remembering birthdays but could accurately list the make and model of every car the family ever owned in chronological sequence. I even had a friend who added up a total of 43 cars in the family, but couldn't quite remember his kids' birthdays. Whereas women found this rather disturbing, men thought it was a fascinating account of the automotive history.

Understanding this distinction between men and women, I think I've hit upon a compromise to get both sexes in synch, and that is to simply buy a car when a child is born. It doesn't even have to be a new car, it could be used; regardless, men will forever remember the date thereafter. So that women will remember the automobile, the answer is rather obvious, name the child after the automobile. I can see it now, instead of naming kids after the latest generation of entertainers like Britney, Lindsay, or Ashley, they would bear proud names like Mercedes, Pontiac, Camry, Kia, etc. However, I guess we should be grateful we don't have Edsels, Terraplanes, DeLoreans, DeSotos or Studebakers anymore; it just wouldn't sound right.

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  WHY THE PRESS NITPICKS TRUMP - Ever watch a good Coon Dog in action? They're unmerciful.

LAST TIME:  PERSONAL INTRODUCTIONS - My, how they have changed.

Listen to Tim on News Talk Florida (WWBA 820 AM), WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

PERSONAL INTRODUCTIONS

BRYCE ON LIFE

- My, how they have changed.

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

When you visit companies in Japan you are often struck by the formality of business introductions. First, meetings have to be carefully "arranged" so that the right people meet, at the right time, and in the right setting. Impromptu meetings are typically avoided but when the occasion arises they can also turn rather formal. Normally, a third person is charged with making the introductions and his or her words are chosen carefully to denote superior/subordinate relationships. Business cards are not just carelessly exchanged but rather formally presented in a certain manner. It is also quite common to exchange small gifts to commemorate the event. There is also, of course, a lot of bowing as well as firm handshakes.

The Japanese consider introductions to be a very important part of establishing business relations and takes it all very seriously. In contrast, Americans tend to be much more cavalier in their approach to personal introductions. It wasn't always like this. In fact, at one time it was almost as formal as the Japanese, but this has changed radically over the years.

In terms of handshakes, we still have the "glad hander" which is typically used by politicians as they work the crowd. The idea is to try and shake as many hands as possible, as fast as possible. The "glad hander" approach is not very sincere as the person rarely looks the other in the eye. Instead, he or she is just going through the mechanics of the handshake.

Of course, we still have people who offer a "vice grip" handshake as a form of intimidation, as well as the "milquetoast" shake representing the weakling. Both of these still leave a lot to be desired. Most Americans just want a simple and sincere handshake when meeting a person along with some eye contact to convey sincerity.

Recently, I experienced a new type of handshake which I like to call the "Cool Dude." This was from a young person who I judged to be in his early to mid 20's. The introduction came at an industry association meeting held after work at a hotel. As I was introduced to the young person by my host, the young man swung his right arm way back before extending his hand to offer a rather quick and superficial handshake. I also observed he avoided eye contact as I presumed he considered himself to be "too cool" to do so. Instead of a good "How do you do?" I was treated to a "Wassup?" Frankly, I was taken aback by the "Cool Dude" as it struck me as something I might see on Comedy Central, but not in a business setting.

This all made me wonder what kind of message the young man thought he was conveying. Was he too cool for a proper introduction or was this representative of the way young people introduce themselves these days? Whatever it was, it certainly put me off and the young man immediately lost all credibility with me.

I guess I'm "old school" as I believe in the value of introductions; maybe not to the level of formality as practiced in Japan, but I appreciate the necessity of them. The intent is to set people off on the same level and to develop a rapport. However, if the "Cool Dude" is the shape of things to come, I see some real social problems emerging in the years ahead. I guess the next thing will be no more handshakes whatsoever and we'll just touch mechanical devices together (like smart phones) in order to exchange introductory data. Oy!

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  MARKING TIME - A little trick to remember birthdays.

LAST TIME:  REMEMBERING BRIEFCASES  - Love to own one, but difficult to find anymore.

Listen to Tim on News Talk Florida (WWBA 820 AM), WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Friday, September 2, 2016

REMEMBERING BRIEFCASES

BRYCE ON LIFE

Love to own one, but difficult to find anymore.

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

I recently had to buy a new briefcase. My old one served me well for over twenty years, but the locks finally broke off, and I was forced to replace it. This made me feel truly bad, as it had become an extension of me as I carry all of my business belongings in it, such as my business papers, legal documents, photos of the family, stamps, computer accessories, and other pertinent items. Having to throw the briefcase out was a lot like putting down a horse, and I was reluctant to pull the trigger, but it was time. It was a classic brown Samsonite "box" with twin latches which was basically the style of such bags for many years. It was like the one used by James Bond in "From Russia with Love," except without the hidden dagger, gold sovereigns, and tear gas booby trap. When I went to purchase a replacement though, I was surprised with what I found.

I went to one of the office mega stores to look for a replacement. For years, I used to love visiting small luggage shops to look over briefcases, which I think is a guy thing. Most were covered in leather which offered a pleasant smell. You could have any color you wanted, as long as it was black, brown, or gray. At the time, Samsonite and American Tourister were the big guns in the business. Come to think of it, I think they were the only guns in the business. When I went to the mega store, I was startled by the variety of carrying cases now available. I discovered things had radically changed over the last twenty years.

Thanks to the laptop and the grunge look of the business world these days, I saw nothing that looked like my old "box." First, I discovered they aren't even called "briefcases" anymore, preferring the term "murse" to represent a hip new man's purse. Most, if not all, were soft bags made of either canvas, leather, or some sort of artificial composite material (I really don't know). There were also a couple of hard plastic offerings, but these were on wheels and had a retractable handle so you can drag it behind you in airports. Most had long straps so the bag would hang over your shoulder, but there were also backpacks for those who still see themselves as students or plan on hiking in the great outdoors. I've got to admit, there were many imaginative designs and in a wide variety of colors. They either looked like a PC carrying case, a shopping bag, a tote for wine, or something to carry onboard the S.S. Enterprise, none of which I could visualize myself sporting around town with.

Not seeing what I wanted, I asked the store clerk, "Don't you have a basic briefcase anymore?" He looked at me oddly, I can only suppose he had never met anyone from the 20th century before. After thinking about it for awhile, he rustled through his inventory and lo and behold produced a black leather Samsonite box with twin latches (the last one of its kind in the store). "Aha!" I exclaimed, "There is a God!" and I snatched it away from him. I opened it to find all of the organized compartments I was familiar with. I honestly think my mouth was watering by this time, and I bought it on the spot. Frankly, I think the sales clerk was puzzled why I wanted the fossil, but I didn't care.

When I got it home I cleaned out my old briefcase and transferred the contents to the new one. Finally, I closed the lid on my old briefcase for the last time and bid it adieu. It was all rather sad.

I am very pleased with my new briefcase, but I think this will be my last one as they have become an endangered species. Consequently, I think I'll take better care of this one. To safeguard it, I have added a special security feature to it, a hidden dagger. James Bond would certainly understand.

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  PERSONAL INTRODUCTIONS - My, how they have changed.

LAST TIME:  THE MEDIA INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX (MIC)  - The press is more powerful than you realize.

Listen to Tim on News Talk Florida (WWBA 820 AM), WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.