John Himpe's Blog
A new online ad for Motrin has those in the babywearing community up in arms.
First off... the ad:
Now, the hellstorm.
According to a story on the Canwest News Service, folks on the blogosphere and in Twitterspace were up in arms over the ad.
In her blog, one of countless ones to comment on the controversy, she wrote:
"Within hours, the patronizing tone of this ad became the downfall of a household name. If Advil or Tylenol know ANYTHING about marketing, they will be all over this debacle. Remember this incident. It will be taught to your kids in business and marketing classes for generations to come under the chapter of what NOT to do."
I gotta admit... the babywearing community seems a little quick to pull the trigger on this one.
First -- I don't think the ad has a 'patronizing' tone. I think the inspiration for the voice actress was to sound like a new mom who is played out and frazzled.
Second -- the message of the ad isn't that babywearing is bad. Yes, the ad does make the insinuation "wearing your baby seems to be in fashion." While the majority of babywearers likely do it for the health benefits mentioned, you can't dispute that to some people, a baby is nothing more than a fashion accessory at times. The mom in the ad goes on to say that while carrying her baby around can be painful because of the weight, it's "a good kind of pain - it's for (her) kid."
Third -- the closest thing to 'patronizing' I sensed in the ad is the line that follows. "It totally makes me look like an official mom." And even that is a stretch -- to me, it's a bit of tongue in cheek humour not poking fun at babywearing advocates, but rather the character's own perception of what a mom should be.
What do you think? Does the ad cross a line -- or is the babywearing community crying foul for no reason?
John Himpe is the Program Director of News Talk Radio
If you're like me, this weekend marks the beginning of Christmas entering your consciousness. (Complete with snow on the ground in many parts of the province, chilly weather, and festivus poles... er... Christmas trees all over everyone's favourite big box stores.)
If you're not in the spirit of the season yet... some suggestions on music to get you there...
Straight No Chaser : Holiday Spirits
You remember these guys from last Christmas, right?
Funny story... the video -- is nearly ten years old. And after millions upon millions of people watched the above video on Youtube last Christmas, Atlantic Records reunited all the original members of the Indiana University a cappella group Straight No Chaser back together to record an album for this holiday season. It sounds great... and should be part of your collection!
Buy it on iTunes | Buy it on Amazon.ca
A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector
Yeah, Phil Spector may be on trial for second degree murder... but I can't deny the fact that A Christmas Gift For You is possibly one of the most potent Christmas albums I own. The wall of sound production technique, and the piercing vocals of Darlene Love make this a must-own for anyone's collection. This one can even turn the Grinchiest Grinch in to a Christmas whack-job.
Love Actually
Of all the modern Christmas movies, this is my fave. Highly recommend the soundtrack too for containing a few choice Christmas tunes.
Rent from Zip.ca | Buy on iTunes
Hopefully between all these pieces you can get yourself in to the spirit of the season... because mother nature has made it clear -- it's here!
John Himpe is the Program Director of News Talk 980 CJME and News Talk 650 CKOM. He can be reached at jhimpe@rawlco.com.
As part of our continuing coverage of Riders Post-Season 2008 - "Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda" (sponsored in part by Band-Aids and everyone's favourite physician Dr. Nick Riviera), I present now a transcript of a piece of tape we've just recieved in the 24 Hour Newscentre...
Thud thud-thud.
Did you hear that?
Let me rewind the audio tape for you one more time.
Thud thud-thud.
That would be the sound of Eric Tillman and Ken Miller throwing Michael Bishop under the wheels of the bus (otherwise known as the "Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda" season).
I'm not saying that Bishop was great... or that he should have been here next year. But with the ink barely dry on the score sheet, ET and 'Kenny' give Bishop the heave-ho, and in the process know that for now the flavour-of-the-month fanatical faithful will be distracted by a heaping helping of freshly served sacrificial lamb.
Good diversion tactic, guys. I mean, the coaching and management of this team has NOTHING to do with the fact that they didn't make it to the Western Final. Not at all... it's all Mr. Bishop's fault. Right?
It'll take the die-hards at least a couple of months of reviewing PVR'd games from this season to realize something I said long ago -- you can't settle when your guys play just one quarter of football (excuses... oops, I mean injuries or not.)
But what do I know. I've never played the game a day in my life (just like at least 30-40% of the other armchair quarterbacks in the Rider nation.)
Anywho.....
John Himpe is the Program Director of News Talk Radio.
I could say lots here... but the video speaks for itself.
Some people will politicize anything.
John Himpe is the Program Director of News Talk Radio.
Are you the kind of person who unwittingly says insensitive things?
Do you often find yourself saying the wrong thing at the wrong time?
Do you enjoy the taste of your own Hush Puppies?
If so, then have I got a guy for you. His name... Stephen Harper.
Yep... Canada's Prime Minister seems to have a soft spot for those who have an issue with verbal diarrhea.
The Prime Minister continues to show he'd rather play to his small-town audience in places like North Battleford rather than be a man of integrity and boot Gerry Ritz's ass out of cabinet.
Ritz - as you'll remember (and I'll make sure you don't forget) - made light of the Maple Leaf listeria situation a couple months back while on a conference call with scientists, bureaucrats and polticial staff by saying, "this is like a death by a thousand cuts. Or should I say cold cuts." (Cue the rimshot.) Then, when told of a death linked to the listeria outbreak on Prince Edward Island, Ritz commented, "please tell me it's (Liberal MP) Wayne Easter." (Annnd... the audience has groaned.)
A spokesperson for the PMO said Ritz expressed regret over his remarks. No resignation was offered, no resignation was requested. One can conclude that the PM simply wagged his finger at the MP for the Battlefords, called him a very bad boy, and sent him on his way. He was also likely denied dessert in the Commons cafeteria for a couple of days, and had his Playstation taken away.
If I was the PM (inheriting Harper's "don't say anything to embarrass me" paranoia), I would have been questioning whether or not I'd want Ritz in a prominent position after the fall election. Would I want a guy on my team who thinks a national crisis where people are dying because they've eaten a sandwich is a good time to crack a couple of tasteless jokes? Can I do better?
Clearly, Mr. Harper can't do better than Mr. Ritz. Why? Because he called him to the Governor General's residence today to be sworn in once again as the minister responsible for the agriculture portfolio.
Conservatives - it seems - want accountability when people screw up... just not from their own.
Mr. Harper - you owe us better than this. Sir, you now have two strikes against you. Not only did you do little to distance yourself from Tom Lukiwski after his disparaging - while nearly two decade old - remarks about homosexuals came to light, but you have now pulled a guy who represents our part of the country -- and who is clearly a loose cannon -- even closer in to your trust.
Mr. Harper, you went to the polls trading on the brand of leadership. Making a media-phobic, run-at-the-mouth, loose cannon like Mr. Ritz a member of your cabinet is not leadership, Sir. It is not responsible. It is not right.
Mr. Harper, you are the company you keep. Why would you even provoke the slightest hint of controversy on a day like today where you would have received a pass from all those concerned had you not put Mr. Ritz in your cabinet? You could have chosen any of your other as-qualified-if-not-moreso MPs from Saskatchewan to hold down the fort representing the needs and concerns of those in the agriculture community. But you didn't. Your choice, Sir, simply does not make sense.
One could only hope this was an eVite gone wrong, a mix-up by the PMO's party planning committee, someone mistakenly using an old version of an Excel spreadsheet listing MPs and their responsibilities. But sadly, it's not.
Consider yourself lucky, Mr. Ritz, that the real Stephen Harper is in charge and not I, for you would be languishing in the backbenches for the next 4 years (or however long this minority lasts.) For the sake of those you represent, leave comedy to the professionals and just do your job this time. Thanks.
John Himpe is the Program Director of News Talk Radio.
I guess you could say I have a bit of a learned position on bullies. I know what one looks like quite well considering I encountered many of them during my youth. So that's where my intolerance stems from.
Bullies -- whether they hurl insults, sling beer cans, or sing propaganda - are people who are so insecure of their very existence that they need to belittle the actions, activities, and viewpoints of others.
One of the most disgusting displays of bullying I've seen tolerated (and encouraged) in public was some eight years ago. Joe Garcea -- who is a regular contributor to our election night broadcasts -- was tasked by the Roy Romanow government to simply see if there was a better way to organize and run our rural municipalities. The answer was (obviously) yes -- there was a better way for things to be done. But the childish, churlish, petulant bullies who comprised the unruly mob at the 2000 SARM Convention in Regina felt otherwise. The room full of bullies proceeded to unleash what can only be described as one of the most juvenile of tantrums -- they were merciless in their taunting as Mr. Garcea made the presentation he was invited to deliver.
How can grown people act so childish so as to try and intimidate someone who they disagree with? How can grown people be such lemming-like, ideological bullies?
Fast forward eight years to the same city but a different convention (the annual meeting of the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour), a different speaker (provincial Labour Minister Rob Norris), and a new group of lemming-like, ideological... well... you get the picture. The result was no different than at SARM eight years ago -- one big tantrum while the invited guest did what he was invited to do.
To the oh-so-unclassy members of the SFL and its annual convention:
You can disagree with someone's views. You can disagree with someone's politics. You can even shake your head and mutter "shame" under your breath as they speak.
But you don't invite someone in to your house and then proceed to make a spectacle while they do what you've asked them to come and do.
You don't throw a tantrum. You don't look for a fight. You act like adults. You act like grown ups. You act like big kids. Can you do that?
Like elementary school bullies on their bicycles at the corner store celebrating a new record in wedgie-pulling, the attendees of the SFL Convention are probably gathering tonight to celebrate their childish display making the evening news. For people who wrap themselves in the term 'progressives', it's sad there can't be a mature exchange of ideas and discussion on the issues...
To the representatives of the unions -- the people who pay their dues expect better of you. You had an opportunity for dialogue -- you wasted it.
To Mr. Hubich and the members of the SFL -- remember, nobody likes a bully.
John Himpe is the Program Director of News Talk Radio.
No, someone didn't hijack my blog.
No, Tammy and Gormley haven't figured out how to cloak their postings as mine.
Yes, I'm actually being serious.
Sarah Palin was very, very good on Saturday Night Live.
The Republican VP nominee took to the screen not once but twice during last night's broadcast (along with the other "Not Ready for Prime Time Players".) Palin seemed to revel in the masochistic act of poking fun at herself. The fact that the Alaskan Governor can take a joke and play with the "liberal mainstream media" is refreshing and encouraging. I think she genuinely enjoyed herself. And it showed.
While Palin didn't say much during her screen time, her presence allowed the SNL jesters to push the audience to the point of being aghast -- the "did they actually say that while she was standing right there" effect. Palin's restraint not to dropkick Alec Baldwin or blush during a very tongue-in-cheek Weekend Update rap song shows that Palin -- like the rest of us -- can take a good ribbing every once in a while. The appearance has humanized her for those of us who've long believed she's been set up to be nothing more than a prop designed to appeal to undecided "hockey moms" and "mavericks" across the USA.
Here are two video clips to entertain yourself with... the first, the show's opening were Palin meets Fey/Palin... the second the aforementioned Weekend Update scene.
Palin's SNL appearance is a rare victory for the Republicans this election season. And while I still don't think she should be the Veep... I think it has changed my mind to not be as dismissive of the Alaskan Governor when it comes to her savvy. Hopefully it has changed hers when it comes to demonizing the "liberal mainstream media."
John Himpe is the Program Director of News Talk Radio
Roy Romanow always smelled like vanilla.
I know it's a weird way to start off a blog post about Lorne Calvert... but it's true. Every time I had an interaction with Romanow as a cub reporter, I found not only was he on message but he just plain smelled good. It was like he was strategic about what scent he wore when he knew he was going to be in the presence of reporters, supporters, or anyone while in "politician mode."
Don't get me wrong -- Lorne Calvert didn't smell bad. He just didn't have a memorable smell. It was clear the scent he left behind in a room wasn't the thing at the top of his mind -- it was the message he delivered that he wanted to leave lingering.
A great speaker, Calvert has always had the power to command a room whether he was talking to his base or to those who he knew damn well had no intention of ever voting for his party. He has a folksy charm that I don't believe is contrived. You can't fake that kind of thing. (Well, actually, you can. See Bush 43 or Gosh-Gee-Golly Sarah Palin. But Calvert is the real deal.)
My favourite interaction with Lorne Calvert was about three or four years ago on Budget Day. I was walking to my car after we wrapped up our special live broadcast. Parking at the Legislature on Budget Day means planning for a good six or seven block walk to get to where you've parked. As I rounded the corner from the Legislature, who should pop out the side door but Mr. Calvert. He needed some air -- I needed to get to my car. Until I arrived, he walked with me and we chatted about nothing in particular. Just two guys shooting the breeze. It was funny... on a day when he was in high demand by reporters, supporters and hangers-on, he took the time for himself to break free from the kissing-of-babies and shaking-of-hands to go for a walk like any ordinary Joe. No security guards... no handlers... no pretense... just him, and a walking path to clear his mind. And he didn't mind chatting with whoever he bumped in to -- and in this case, it was me.
Regardless of what you think of his politics, his party, his policies, or his political legacy, the "real" person that is Lorne Calvert is a good, wholesome, everyday guy. I know this not only from my experience, but from the hallway conversations I've had with others today who all have had interactions with him similar to mine.
Best of luck to Mr. Calvert in whatever he chooses to do in his new life after politics.
John Himpe is the Program Director of News Talk Radio.