Guardians

Posted on July 26, 2021 by Scott Smith

For over 105 years, the Major League Baseball franchise in Cleveland has been known as the Indians, a name that has repeatedly been subjected to harsh (in my opinion warranted) criticism because of its perpetuation of racial stereotypes.

Last week the team announced that it would be changing its name to The Guardians   following the completion of the 2021 baseball season. As the linked article describes, the new name came from The Guardians of Traffic: giant statues that are sculpted in The Hope Memorial Bridge.

Personally, I’m glad to see the century-old name for the franchise get scrapped. Though, if I lived in the area, I don’t know if I would have wanted a team name to remind me of being stuck in traffic.

I would have preferred that they had reverted to the team’s earlier name the Spiders.

That seems like a good name for a baseball team since spiders are good at catching flies. Though the downside is that spiders are often eaten by bats.

I also  have to admit that  Cleveland Rocks would have been a cool name.

“Cleveland Rocks” From Opening Credits of The Drew Carey Show

 

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Target Does WHAT?

Posted on July 26, 2021 by Scott Smith

(Warning double entendres ahead. If you are easily offended then avert thine eyes).

A week ago, my family  returned to Grand Rapids after a brief  vacation. When my wife said that she was heading out shopping, I immediately thought  of my city’s national  treasure: a sign at the front of a retail plaza showcasing its merchants.

There is nothing unusual about this assembly of stores, but the arrangement of their signs is particularly humorous. At least it is  to 12-year-old me (and current me):

It is  one of the things that makes Grand Rapids grand:

Retail signs arranged so that stores are shown in this order: Target, Staples, Aldi Dicks

Target Staples Aldi Dick’s

Target. Staples. Aldi. Dick’s.

The earliest incarnation of the sign arrangement in this retail plaza was:

  • Target 
  • Staples
  • Dick’s

Later, there was a grocery store chain that made a brief appearance (circa 2009) that couldn’t get a foothold in this market during the global financial crisis and closed.

But for a short time the sign said:

  • Target 
  • Staples
  • Fresh Market
  • Dick’s

After Fresh Market vacated the space, Aldi moved in and took third position on the sign.

The only explanation I can think of for the persistent double-entendres in the sign arrangement is that the property manager is unapologetic smart-ass (and therefore will forever be my hero). 

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“You Can Call Me Ray…”

Posted on July 18, 2021 by Scott Smith

Bill Saluga is not a name you’re likely to recognize. I just learned his name moments ago.

Though many of you might remember ”Raymond J. Johnson, Jr.” a character Saluga portrayed in his standup act, beer commercials, and on variety shows.

His schtick was saying his full name and clarifying how you  could refer to him.

”You can call me Ray. Or you can Jay. Or You can call me…”

He took great offense when people called him Johnson:

(“Raymond J. Johnson, Jr.” in Busch Natural Light ad with Norm Crosby)

Ray ( or Jay, Johnny, etc.) recorded a novelty single called “Dancin’ Johnson.”

I never heard it on radio though saw him perform it, with backing vocalists, on The Tonight Show.

I’m pretty sure that is the precise moment that the Disco Era ended.

We owe him a debt of gratitude.

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Back in the DAM World

Posted on July 13, 2021 by Scott Smith

People that work in the area of digital asset management (DAM), know that being interviewed on “Another DAM Podcast” is much like it was being Johnny Carson’s first guest of the evening on The Tonight Show.

I had been away from the DAM world for a spell; thus it was quite the honor to join Henrik de Gyor to chat about my DAM self.

The interview is about 19 minutes. The origin stories, and explanations, of “preventing digital liability” and “preserving brand security” begin at 3:40 and 6:40, respectively.

It’s good to be back in the DAM world.

Please see my earlier blog posts for more about avoiding the digital liability and preserving brand security.

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