
 |
|
May 24, 2012
Jeff Jacoby: The peace process battered Israel's reputation
Michael Muskal: 'Pro-choice' position hits record low, according to poll
Chris Farrell: Are We in a Tech Bubble?
The Kosher Gourmet by Penelope Wall: PHILLY CHEESE STEAKS --- hold the steak!
May 23, 2012
Tony Pugh: More private colleges offering tuition discounts
Mary Beth Franklin: How to Choose the Right Annuity for You
Tina Susman: The wig wasn't enough: Man gets 13 years for posing as his dead mom
The Kosher Gourmet by Emma Christensen:A simple way to do fish right
May 22, 2012
Warren Richey: Can US group challenge overseas surveillance act? Supreme Court to decide
Thomas M. Anderson: Walking Away From a Mortgage
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: Enjoy a celebration of the most rich and layered flavors: Black bean, sweet potato and quinoa chili
May 21, 2012
Mark Clayton: Cybersecurity: How US utilities passed up chance to protect their networks
Howard LaFranchi: NATO summit: Who will foot the bill for long-term Afghanistan security?
Chris Farrell : Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
Stephen Whiteside, Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Social anxiety disorder --- or just shy?
Guy Jackson : Victim's father regrets death of Lockerbie bomber
The Kosher Gourmet by Mario Batali: Famed chef's veal shoulder farsumagru: A festive meat course for late spring
May 18, 2012
Rabbi Berel Wein: Striving: The People of the Book's Book for (All of) the People
Steven Goldberg: 5 Great Stock Picks and the Exchange-Traded Fund that Owns Them
Mary Pickett, M.D.: Ask the Harvard Experts: Don't be forced into gluten-free lifestyle based merely on a doctor's false-positive test
The Kosher Gourmet by Carolyn Malcoun: DIY healthy lunchbox treats: HOMEMADE FRUIT BARS for kids and brown-bagging adults alike
May 17, 2012
Warren Richey: Teacher fired for being unwed and pregnant can sue religious school, court rules
Josh Mitnick: Netanyahu's 'centrist' coalition is already proving it's anything but
Steven Goldberg: Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
Amina Khan: Research links coffee to lower death rates
The Kosher Gourmet by Faith Duran : Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole with Cheddar and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
May 16, 2012
Carmen Terzic, M.D., Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: A variety of exercises can help improve balance
Melissa Healy: National strategy on Alzheimer's disease aims to halt it by 2025
The Kosher Gourmet by Joyce White : GOODNESS GRACIOUS: GREENS! 4 winning recipes that are no longer just for down-home folks (Includes expert tips & techniques)
May 15, 2012
Kristen Chick: Obama administration resumes arms sales to Bahrain despite serious unresolved human rights issues. Activists feel abandoned
Pat Mertz Esswein: Homes are now affordable again and mortgage rates are low. What you need to know before you buy
Kathy Kristof: Our Practical Investor Fights Inflation with These 6 Investments
Sue Hubbard, M.D.: The Kid's Doctor: Lactose intolerant young child? Check again
The Kosher Gourmet by Kathy Hunt: Spread a Little Excitement with EXOTIC CONDIMENTS (4 RECIPES)
May 14, 2012
Lisa Gerstner: How to Protect Your Identity, Finances If You Lose Your Phone
Harvard Health Letters: Heart disease and dementia
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: MANGO COCONUT OAT MORNING MUFFINS are a bright but hearty delight
May 11, 2012
Jessica L. Anderson: Get the Best Deal on a Used Car
Jett Stone: Forget face-lifts and fake knees. Scientists have seen the fountain of youth --- and it's broccoli
The Kosher Gourmet by Chef Mario Batali: The famed chef's vegetable dish that tastes true to the season: FAVAS AND SUGAR SNAP PEAS WITH POTATOES AND TARRAGON
May 10, 2012
Sergei L. Loiko: Putin sends warning to U.S., NATO in Victory Day speech at Red Square
Mary Rourke: How being a 'mentch' got Vidal Sasoon his start and fighting in Israel's War of Independence provided him with confidence and a strong sense of his own identity
Jeff Bertolucci: Get Home Phone Service for Less Than $10 a Month
The Kosher Gourmet by Betty Rosbottom: Gleaming with its golden, crimson, and snowy white hues, this silken smooth and creamy STRAWBERRY ORANGE TRIFLE looks impressive, but is easy to prepare
May 9, 2012
Sharon Palmer, R.D. How you can reduce your risk -- or delay -- chronic diseases associated with aging
|
| |
Jewish World Review
August 24, 2006
/ 30 Menachem-Av, 5766
Phrased and Confused
By
Malcolm Fleschner
| 
|
|
|
|
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
The newspaper industry comes in for a lot of criticism, but no one can question our
commitment to recycling. For one thing, we publish on paper that is easily
repurposed, whether into other paper products, bird cage lining or a rolled up tool
to discourage the dog from soiling the hall carpet. Why, we even recycle the
material inside the paper by reprinting many of the same stories year after year,
merely changing the names and dates where appropriate. It's a real time-saver when
we can simply cut and paste our most frequently used headlines like "Mideast Peace
Talks Break Down," "Congressman Denies Corruption Charge" and "Former Child Star
Arrested."
My favorite such "déjà vu story" would have to be the controversy that inevitably
erupts every time a state tourism bureau asks residents for help coming up with a
new state slogan. Just this past year we've seen lengthy campaigns that resulted in
new slogans like Indiana's racing-themed "Restart Your Engines," Utah's lofty "Life
Elevated," Pennsylvania's deliciously irrelevant "I Brake for Shoo-fly Pie" and
Washington's inexplicable "Say WA!" So why do states make such a fuss over their
slogans? I think it's simple because state tourism bureau employees clearly
understand that state residents who are concerning themselves with a new slogan are
state residents who are not concerning themselves with all the tax dollars being
wasted by the state tourism bureau.
New Jersey's recent effort was typical. After receiving thousands of entries,
officials narrowed the options to five, and then put it out to a statewide vote. The
eventual winner was "New Jersey: Come See For Yourself," which barely beat out
challengers like "New Jersey: The Best Kept Secret," "New Jersey: Expect The
Unexpected" and "New Jersey: What The %#$& Are You Lookin' At?"
Whatever choice they make, states regularly come in for criticism from residents who
feel that a new slogan won't actually do anything to encourage tourism. Truthfully,
has anyone ever made vacation travel plans based on a state slogan ("Honey, I know
you wanted to go to Tahiti this year, but at least according to this brochure, North
Carolina is "A better place to be")?
That doesn't mean slogans are meaningless, however. Why, just imagine what our
nation's cultural identity would be without the historically significant phrases we
all remember like "Give me liberty or give me death," "Remember the Alamo," and
"You're not fully clean until you're Zest-fully clean."
I'm also sympathetic to prospective sloganeers because I understand the challenge
involved in trying to get a new slogan to catch on with the public. A few years ago
I tried to persuade everyone I knew to employ my clever signature phrase, "That
really burns my bagel," as a means of expressing frustration. Sadly, my efforts at
coining a new catch phrase failed. In retrospect, I could point to any number of
reasons for my failure (lack of properly targeted marketing, shortage of funds, a
stupid idea to begin with, etc.) but the biggest is that I rarely even used the
phrase myself. In fact, the only time I ever remembered was on mornings when I
happened to you guessed it - burn my bagel. If only I'd thought to install a
webcam over my toaster, I might well have inspired the next "Wazzzzup!"
But getting back to New Jersey, the state's slogan woes only worsened when someone
discovered that "Come See For Yourself" had already been used by other states,
including West Virginia. Having abandoned the phrase to avoid potential legal
issues, New Jersey finds itself slogan-less. Experts estimate that this deficiency
may be costing the state dozens of tourist dollars every day. But not to worry, New
Jersey residents, because I have a simple solution. And no, it's not "New Jersey:
That really burns my bagel." Although at least they'd know that one hadn't been used
before.
Instead, my suggestion is to take a cue from the newspaper industry and recycle.
Find an old slogan that no one's using anymore, preferably one that's already
associated with a celebrity, and redeploy it in service of your state. I guarantee
that for a fraction of what was spent on the old slogan, the Garden State could hire
Jimmy "J.J." Walker for a huge multimedia campaign of "New Jersey: It's Dy-No-Mite!"
Or how about Blossom's Joey Lawrence's face on billboards across the country
exclaiming "New Jersey: Whoa!" And what prospective tourist could resist the
temptation to find out in person the answer to Gary Coleman's rhetorical question,
"What'choo talkin' 'bout, Jersey?"
Ideally, New Jersey would use all of these campaigns. Not only would the state save
precious tax dollars, but they'd also perform a valuable service by keeping many of
the nation's former child stars out of the criminal justice system. At least until
the next round of Mideast peace talks, anyway.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
JWR contributor Malcolm Fleschner is a humor columnist for The DC Examiner. Let him know what you think by clicking here.
Previously:
08/09/06: We're Gonna Party Like it's $19.99
07/19/06: Just Singing in the Brain
05/24/06: Who says you can't go home again?
05/11/06: When nightly news stories go off script
04/26/06: Cents and sensibility: A thought for your pennies
03/16/06: The day the Muzak died
02/23/06: Checkbook diplomacy begins at home
02/15/06: Today's toys: Where learning means earning
© 2006, Malcolm Fleschner
|
|

Arnold Ahlert
Mitch Albom
Jay Ambrose
Michael Barone
Barrywood
Lori Borgman
Stratfor Briefing
Mona Charen
Linda Chavez
Richard Z. Chesnoff
Ann Coulter
Greg Crosby
Alan Douglas
Larry Elder
Suzanne Fields
Frank J. Gaffney
Bernie Goldberg
Jonah Goldberg
Julia Gorin
Jonathan Gurwitz
Paul Greenberg
Argus Hamilton
Victor Davis Hanson
Betsy Hart
Ron Hart
Nat Hentoff
Marybeth Hicks
A. Barton Hinkle
David Horowitz
Jeff Jacoby
Renee James
Paul Johnson
Jack Kelly
Ed Koch
Ch. Krauthammer
Michael Ledeen
John Leo
David Limbaugh
Kathryn Lopez
Rich Lowry
Michelle Malkin
Jackie Mason
Ann McFeatters
Dale McFeatters
Dana Milbank
Jeanne Moos
Dick Morris
Jim Mullen
Deroy Murdock
Judge A. Napolitano
Bill O'Reilly
Kathleen Parker
Star Parker
Dennis Prager
Wesley Pruden
Tom Purcell
Sharon Randall
Robert Robb
Cokie & Steve Roberts
Heather Robinson
Pat Sajak
Debra J. Saunders
Martin Schram
Culture Shlock
David Shribman
Roger Simon
Michael Smerconish
Thomas Sowell
Ben Stein
Mark Steyn
John Stossel
Cal Thomas
Dan Thomasson
Bob Tyrrell
Ben Wattenberg
Diana West
Dave Weinbaum
George Will
Walter Williams
Byron York
ZeitGeist
Mort Zuckerman

Robert Arial
Chuck Asay
Baloo
Chip Bok
Dry Bones
Lisa Benson
John Branch
John Cole
J. D. Crowe
John Deering
Brian Duffy
Everything's Relative
Mallard Fillmore
Glenn Foden
Jake Fuller
Bob Gorrel
Walt Handelsman
Joe Heller
David Hitch
Jerry Holbert
David Horsey
Lee Judge
Steve Kelley
Jeff Koterba
Dick Locher
Chan Lowe
Jimmy Margulies
Jack Ohman
Michael Ramirez
Drew Sheneman
Kevin Siers
Jeff Stahler
Scott Stantis
Ed Stein
Danna Summers
John Trever
Gary Varvel
Kirk Walters
Dan Wasserman

Mr. Know-It-All
Ask Doctor K
Richard Lederer
Frugal Living
Tech Maven
On Nutrition
Bookmark These
Bruce Williams
|