Tom Anthony Personal Blog

I know Scott Rigell professionally from doing business with him well before he entered politics – and my girlfriend worked for Scott for years and knows him quite well. I can tell you in business and in his public life he is a “genuine” person – and by “genuine” I mean he is not pathologically full of crap. I live in Chesapeake, Virginia which is the neighboring district so I could not vote for him but I was actually glad when Scott won the election to the House of Representatives. This video makes me proud to know him… and Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, and a better New Year from my family and me…

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‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and some kids need your help. . .

My friend and client Joe Cipriano did a noble thing this Christmas Season… he and 30 other of the nation’s top voice over artists got together to create a unique reading of the traditional Christmas Poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Calling the project Prime Time Voices for Children, 100% of the proceeds benefit Chase Child Life Program at Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA. Joe also got help from Canadian Producer John Masecar, Killer Tracks – the L.A. based Production Music house, and yours truly.

I created en email marketing campaign to reach the US broadcast industry with the aim of offering the cut for airplay and call attention to the availability of the track to the public. Anyone who plunks down the 99 cents on iTunes (or outlets including CDBaby.com and Amazon.com) helps very sick children in need.

Starting with my partners at Constant Contact we sent out around four thousand emails to various broadcasters already in our database from previous campaigns for Joe Cipriano. But even at that number we were only reaching a small number of the nations Radio Programmers and Music Directors.

My challenge was to contact the largest number of broadcasters, and not send a bunch of duplicate emails to the same people we already reached through the previous campaign. I have a master list of opted in broadcasters from a company that specializes in just that market and went to work on cleaning the database.

I whittled down the master from around 100,000 to 17,000 – ran a program to eliminate the existing list and anyone who had opted out along the way. I came out with a final of 11,000 contacts. Next I needed to send the emails out quickly and although the list was legit we could not wait for Contact Contact’s vetting process. So I found software to do this all manually. Even at premium cable speed the email broadcast was scheduled over a three hour period.

It felt good personally to be able to help Prime Time Voices for Children, and it was gratifying professionally to be able to design, launch, and manage a national marketing campaign in just 48 hours. Whew! Happy Holidays! To see a copy of that email click here.

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Meet Evelyn Flengas, founder of Evelyn’s Wildlife Refuge in Virginia Beach, Virginia. One of my clients is also an animal lover and after hearing about the great work Evelyn and Jim Flengas do at the refuge I went out to meet them both. It was a moving experience based on the pure conviction Evelyn and Jim have for their work. I hope you enjoy this interview with Evelyn. I asked three questions, she did the rest.

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The TV show Brad Meltzer’s Decoded on the History Channel featured a bizarre granite monument called the Georgia Guidestones. On a recent trip to Atlanta I decided to see it for myself.

Also called America’s Stonehenge, the monument is located on a remote hilltop near  the tiny hamlet of Dewy Rose, Georgia – about two hours north of Atlanta.

Since I was going to be near Atlanta visiting my brother Steve – and would be driving back – I decided to do my own field trip to the Georgia Guidestones.

Here is a video of that journey.

here’s what we know about it:

In June 1979, an unknown person or persons under the pseudonym R.C. Christian hired Elberton Granite Finishing Company to build the structure.

A message comprising ten guides is inscribed on the structure in eight modern languages, and a shorter message is inscribed at the top of the structure in four ancient languages’ scripts: Babylonian, Classical Greek, Sanskrit, and Egyptian hieroglyphs.

The monument is almost 20 feet tall if the buried support stones are included, and made from six granite slabs weighing more than 240,000 pounds in all.

One slab stands in the center, with four arranged around it.  A capstone lies on top of the five slabs, which are astronomically aligned. An additional stone tablet, which is set in the ground a short distance to the west of the structure, provides some notes on the history and purpose of the Guidestones.

One popular hypothesis is that the patron’s pseudonym may be a tribute to the legendary 17th-century founder of Rosicrucianism, Christian Rosenkreuz.

The main message consists of a set of ten guidelines or principles engraved in eight different languages, one language on each face of the four large upright stones.

Moving clockwise around the structure from due north, these languages are: English, Spanish, Swahili, Hindi, Hebrew, Arabic, Chinese, and Russian.

The message reads:

1. Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.
2. Guide reproduction wisely – improving fitness and diversity.
3. Unite humanity with a living new language.
4. Rule passion – faith – tradition – and all things with tempered reason.
5. Protect people and nations with fair laws and just courts.
6. Let all nations rule internally resolving external disputes in a world court.
7. Avoid petty laws and useless officials.
8. Balance personal rights with social duties.
9. Prize truth – beauty – love – seeking harmony with the infinite.
10. Be not a cancer on the earth – Leave room for nature – Leave room for nature.

What does it all mean? I think it’s safe to say no one really knows.

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I had the chance to talk to 3.75 million people last night. Really. My long time client and friend Joe Cipriano is the announcer on Wheel of Fortune this week as part of a working audition to get the permanent position. He was a guest on the Jim Bohannon Show on the Westwood One Radio Network, and that show has an estimated audience of 3.75 million. I assure you that’s not what I was thinking when I called in and was put on the air.

Jim Bohannon and Joe Cipriano

I was nervous. The funny thing is that my background is broadcasting – I have been an announcer, newscaster, talk show host and producer among other jobs – and spent most of my youth on the air. I have talked many, many times to Joe over the years, so it was not a case of being star struck. Back in the late 80’s when I was doing radio production in Central Florida (WQPD – WLKF, Lakeland, FL) I had the occasion to talk to Jim Bohannon while he was doing some custom promos for the station. And even though Jim has been a radio talk icon for over 30 years (he replaced Larry King on the radio) I felt comfortable speaking with him. So it was a little odd that I was nervous – I guess I did not want to sound like that caller from Alabama last night. (Nothing against Alabama – he just asked a silly question)

I had listened to the first several callers focus on themselves instead of Joe and I wanted to bring the attention back on him so I told a true story about how Joe goes out of his way to mentor aspiring voice over artists. Hopefully it went all right. Here is the clip.

Tom Anthony with Joe Cipriano on Jim Bohannon Show [ 2:45 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The interview was scheduled to last an hour but Bohannon held him over for a full second hour! In between hours Jim interviewed Joe for a segment of his other show – America in the morning.
You can get there from here: click to go to America in the Morning website

or I downloaded the clip – without permission, sorry Westwood One – and re-posted here: Click to listen

Please watch Wheel of Fortune this week and let them know if you like Joe here: http://www.wheeloffortune.com/feedback/

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The last total lunar eclipse coinciding with the winter solstice was in 1638. Won’t happen again until 2094. Yes I did get up at 3:00 am on December 21st 2010 and snap pictures. Didn’t you?

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The BBB checks up on companies but who checks up on the Better Business Bureau? The ABC News program 20/20 revealed what I have long known – The BBB is a shakedown and a scam.  Reporter Brian Ross did a GREAT JOB investigating on a segment of “20/20,” which aired Friday, Nov. 12, 2010 on ABC.

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OOOOO K sir I’ll let Senator Jim Webb know…

I was hoping for a town hall meeting but what I got was… “Well the Senator is going to Asia for a two week tour starting Sunday, and even the people who work here have not been told of a certain date for any Town Hall events”.  I asked the young man to pass on my “strongly opposed” sentiment to the Health Care bill and the Cap and Trade legislation – and the answer I got was “OOOOO K sir I’ll let Senator Jim Webb know…”  It truly sounded like the Senator’s aid through I was some kind of a nut.

I did fill out the message form on Senator Webb’s website.

“Senator I am really disappointed you have not scheduled any meetings with your constituents to discuss the health care issue.   Are you avoiding a public debate, or perhaps do you feel it is not important? I am not thrilled as a taxpayer to finance your two-week, five-nation tour of Asia “to explore opportunities to advance U.S. interests in Burma and the region”.   If anything sir I would have hoped you could seek out ways to advance U.S. interests here at home where there are grave concerns about our ability to maintain even this weak economy.  What could be more important than listening to the people who elected you?”

http://webb.senate.gov/contact/

And here is an interesting account of someone else who tried to get the same information:

http://swacgirl.blogspot.com/2009/08/jim-webb-has-no-townhalls-scheduled.html

The best example of a cowardly politician is Senator Mark Warner who is only taking moderated questions on Google – no meetings – no live response – in fact, so far no response…

Here is a typical question posed by someone in Richmond… “Sen Warner, you said during July you would answer our questions. It is now August, but I don’t see any responses. Also, you have no public meetings scheduled to discuss healthcare during the Aug. break. Are you afraid to face your constituents?”

After figuring out which button to push I submitted this question: “Senator, why are you so afraid to answer our questions about healthcare?”

BTW You have to log in with a (free) Google Account to participate http://moderator.appspot.com/?embed=#0

There does not appear to be a place on Senator Warner’s website to contact him by email – but if you want to call or write to the Honorable Senator Mark R. Warner;

101 W. Main Street
Suite 4900
Norfolk, VA 23510
Phone Number: 757-441-3079
Fax Number: 757-441-6250

-or-

459A Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-2023
Fax: 202-224-6295

http://warner.senate.gov./public/

here is another interesting blog entry about Senator Warner:

http://swacgirl.blogspot.com/2009/08/will-mark-warner-face-virginia-citizens.html

And next I went to Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04) site… apparently Congressman Forbes has scheduled a meeting… sort of. It’s a free “Seniors Protection Workshop” to be held at the Chesapeake City Council Chambers on Wednesday, August 26th at 10:00 a.m.  It is sort of about health care, but not covering the current health care legislation. In fact is it intended mostly for senior citizens according to his web site.

(https://forbes.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=140880)

Here is the question I posed to Congressman Forbes:

“Are you scheduling any public town hall type hearings dealing with health care? Our two senators are apparently under their desk on this issue – one is fleeing on a two week Asia junket with no town hall meetings scheduled, while the other one is only taking questions through Google Moderator and since July has answered exactly none.”

I would like to make my voice heard – but so far I can’t find anyone to listen.  I mean literally – can not find anyone to listen… I am not just a frustrated citizen – there really does appear to be no one in Washington listening – here is a post revealing that with the notable exception of Democrat Tom Perriello,  pretty much no Virginia Politician has any plans whatsoever to face the citizens this summer: (it is a PDF file)

http://www.richmondteaparty.com/TownHallMeetingsAug2009-1.pdf

You people in Washington should be absolutely ashamed of yourself.

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In October 1994, the Star Trek Association of Towson, a fan club in Towson, Maryland, sponsored “The Big E Con,” a convention held aboard the carrier Enterprise while the ship was at its home port of Norfolk, Virginia. The events featured tours of the ship and appearances by Star Trek notables including James Doohan, or “Scotty” on the original series.

At the time I was the production Director for WFOG radio. The week preceding the convention as part of the pre-promotion I had the opportunity to interview Mr. Doohan by phone at his home in Redmond Washington. I tried to keep the interview interesting by focusing on Jimmy Doohan, and not just the Character he played on Star Trek – but you be the judge. Here it is, almost 18:00 unedited and real life. There is a point where he corrects my pronunciation of his last name – his son called to ask for money during the interview, this was the real deal.

Tom Anthony Interviews Jimmy Doohan [ 17:52 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The following week I toured the real USS Enterprise with some of the convention celebs. By some weird stroke of luck I remembered where I stashed some pictures I took during that tour. In this picture I am standing with Actress Terry Farrell from Deep Space Nine, Michael O’Hare the original Commander of Babylon 5, Herman F. Zimmerman the Chief Production Designer for Star Trek Next Generation and DS9, and another actress who’s name totally escapes me. But I think I did pretty good remembering Farrell, O’Hare, and Zimmerman after 15 years!

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My daughter is home schooled, so from year to year I buy various text books and computer programs as part of her curriculum.  Sonlight Curriculum Ltd. out of Littleton , CO has always been a dependable source. They specialize in courses with a Christian focus… and I have to believe the following is 100% true. But true or with a slight marketing spin, the following is one of the best email marketing letters I have received recently.

Subject: Explanation of how to get $25 off your Sonlight order (for a very limited time)

Dear Tom,

I am deeply embarrassed. Yesterday afternoon, in preparing my letter about five reasons to order sooner rather than later, we accidentally attached the wrong subject line to the email you received. I had prepared that subject line for a different email headed to a group of people who had never purchased from Sonlight before. I wanted to see if a special offer might help these non-customers place their first order.

The subject line for that email offered $25 off the recipient’s Sonlight order. The email these non-customers received specified a time limit on the offer, as well as a minimum order total of $250.

This morning I discovered we sent that subject line to everyone who has bought anything from Sonlight in the last two years!

Yikes … NOT what we had intended! Talk about expensive mistakes.

But I talked with John and Sarita, who said, “You gave your word. You must fulfill your promise … Since you’ve got lemons, do what you can to make some lemonade.”

So we’re going to do something we pray doesn’t completely swamp our computer system and warehouse crew. I can imagine it may slow our ability to process orders for a few days, but…

We have decided to honor the promise of my last email to you in the following manner:

Since you’ve ordered from us before, we’re extending the offer (originally intended for families new to Sonlight) to you for a very limited time. Place your order worth $250 or more (not including shipping) no later than 11:59 p.m. (MDT) tomorrow (7/23) and you will receive $25 off. That’s in addition to any Sonlighter Club discounts you may receive.

Just enter PRXDY in the box marked “Special Offer Code” at Step 2 of check out.

I hope this little bit of “lemonade” is a blessing to you.

Sincerely,

Tim Heil

Customer Relations Manager

Sonlight Curriculum, Ltd.

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