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@rexblog.com | 6 years ago

Marcus Mariota to Marcus Mariota

Dear future Rex, remember that Titans game?Related posts: Odd thing for a fan to cheer One happy guy | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 6 years ago

I didn’t watch the Golden Globe Awards last night. Come to think of it, I’ve never watched the Golden Globe Awards. However, I was glad to learn that my favorite TV comedy or musical of the year, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, won the Golden Globe for best TV comedy or musical. Even … | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 6 years ago

A Statue of Robert E. Lee is NOT a Part of Who I Am | 2017

Two years ago, I wrote a blog post titled, “The Confederate Flag is NOT a Part of who I Am,” right after the horrific Charleston church murders. The title was from the response Lindsey Graham (at the time a candidate in the GOP presidential primary) gave when a reporter asked him … | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 7 years ago

The Doodle is the Message

A Google Doodle today commemorates the 106th anniversary of the birth of Marshall McLuhan. A few years ago, I submitted an article to an editor describing Osmo Wiio as the Marshall McLuhan of Finland. “Our readers will have to google Marshall McLuhan and Osmo Wiio to figure out w … | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 7 years ago

Non-Spoiler @R eview | The Circle (film)

When it was first published, I weighed in on Dave Eggers’ book, The Circle, as I found a lot of the reaction to the book seemed defensive by those who mainline social media Kool-Aid. (You can read the review of the book for the TL;DR version of what I’m about to say about the fil … | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 7 years ago

In-House Content vs. Out-House Content

Whenever you start reading analysis by an expert consultant who thinks a company like Pepsi is smart to create an in-house content (or other creative execution) agency for whatever reason, get ready for a trainwreck. Pepsi’s in-house content people blew it. However, an agency cou … | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 7 years ago

How to Know its Time to Update Your Slide Deck

You can take out some slides in 30 seconds if you need to.Related posts:Advice for presenters – Along with the bullet points, lose the apologies UK “customer” publishing update Don’t do this: Hand out your PowerPoint sales presentation deck | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 7 years ago

No Famous Person Ever Said What You Quoted Them Saying

It's like Einstein said, "Check your sources."Related posts:Does anyone know this person? Person of the year betting odds Dear magazine person | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 7 years ago

Folio: Followup

I’ve now done something I never thought I’d have the chance to do: Follow up on a 20-year-old magazine cover story. And since I’ve only been on one magazine cover, this was my only shot. A shout-out thanks to Tony Silber who conceived the original story “way back when” (about cus … | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 7 years ago

@R eview | STown

More masterful work from the folks at This American Life.Related posts:Review: The Podcast “Serial” Decade-old Nashville murder case solved Where are they now? Phillip Moffitt | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 7 years ago

Twitter Swaps the Default Avatar Egg for a Gumdrop

How writing differs from content creating.Related posts:7 reasons to use Twitter (that I wrote before there was such a thing as Twitter) Thoughts on Twitter #12: Twitter vs. the Crazy Uncles Dave Winer on the future of Twitter | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 7 years ago

A New Yorker Cover That Magazine Wonks Will Love

Magazine lovers can look at this cover and understand why print will stick around for a few more decades, at least.Related posts:Time Magazine names the New Yorker’s Obama election cover the best cover of the year, but you knew that… Print is alive: The New Yorker magazine cover … | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 7 years ago

To Infinity and Beyond

This is one of those events that seem historic in a galactic sort-of-wayRelated posts:The only thing we have to fear Blog-free zone NYC pride | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 7 years ago

People Love Selfies, Unless They Are of Someone Else

Is this surprising? This is why they are called selfies.Related posts:Why do I blog? So people will meet in the comments, fall in love and get married Pacman needs some love, people Why I love Tim Tebow | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 7 years ago

A Few of the Thousand New Words That Made it Into the Dictionary

Words like photo bomb have made it into the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.Related posts:OneLook Reverse Dictionary Loren Ipsum: My Review of the First Presidential Debate Lookin good | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 7 years ago

The Optimization of ‘Huh?’

A national organization comprised of marketing executives just sent me and thousands more (I guess) an email inviting me to watch an online presentation they are hosting. The title of the presentation starts: “Orchestrating Optimal Interactions…” There were lots more words in the … | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 7 years ago

The Best Thing About Blogging

There are many great things about having a personal blog and consistently posting to it. And none of the great things are about trying to be a “thought leader” or personal brand. After blogging (more-or-less consistently) for 17 years, I’ve discovered that much of what I write is … | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 7 years ago

‘I Want to Know’ Moments & ‘I Want to Buy’ Moments

On Hammock’s Idea Blog, we’re discussing the two types of customer moments that marketers should prepare for by developing “content assets.” It’s similar to a concept in Hammock’s eBook Content Along the Customer Journey. Rather than thinking that marketing with content is a seri … | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 7 years ago

It’s not about the salt

Marketing gurus are calling this an advertising and content campaign. Huh? They’re calling it “branded music” too. Huh? Calling this content marketing because there’s a Morton’s salt ad at the end and it’s being released on YouTube is about as innovative as every video ever produ … | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago

Why Clinton Lost | Firewalls Don’t Work

Firewalls don't work.Related posts:Owning a Tablesaw Doesn’t Make You a Carpenter The Story-telling Power of Maps Great Idea: Don’t just sell cookware when customers want you to help them become a better cook | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago

Prediction | Ten Ways Trump Will Explain Why He Didn’t Lose After He Loses

I didn't lose, Trump will say in as many ways as possible.Related posts:Prediction tweak Election prediction Scott Adams’ Trump Prediction Update | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago

Maybe, Sorta, Kinda

At some point, a predictor must predict.Related posts:I lost my WSJ.com “free” bet, sorta How to sell a bailout, final thoughts Not So Smart | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago

Uncle Walter

I miss Walter Cronkite. But there's a part of me that's glad he's not having to witness the presidential election of 2016. Related posts:Remembering Uncle Walter Independence Day Eve Blog connection | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago

Review | Nosedive (Black Mirror, Season 3, Episode 1)

An uncomfortable watch.Related posts:Review – The Circle by Dave Eggers Inst@Review: The Hunger Games A no-spoiler review of Black Hawk Down | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago

Bizarro World Election

This election has nothing to do with political science. It's now pure science fiction. Related posts:Election coverage (condensed) Not So Smart Election prediction | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago

For my Nashville Walking and Biking Friends

Bookmark this on your iPhone so you'll be a tap away from complaining at all times.No related posts. | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago

Being Presidential

The way a leader talks.Related posts:Presidential debate resources Loren Ipsum: My Review of the First Presidential Debate The NYTimes.com’s “website of record” features | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago

Photo: The National Museum of African American History and Culture

The sun constantly paints new stories on the exterior of the new Museum of African American History and Culture on the Capital Mall. Related posts:Chris Wage explains how he shot that photo and created the animated .gif Express yourself: Post a photo a day in 2007 The secret to g … | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago

Nashville, an Observation

(Updated: See at bottom) I am merely an observer of these things, okay, but…. Tonight, the Nashville/Davidson County Commission has the chance to both de-criminalize the possession of a small amount of marijuana and reject an ATT/Comcast anti-Google Fiber effort. (Note: For those … | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago

Happy 100th Birthday National Parks

National Parks have made me happy, so it's only appropriate for me to wish them a happy 100th birthday today. Related posts:Happy birthday, Doc Happy birthday, Doc Happy Birthday, Doc | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago

Why Trump Doesn’t Tweet About the Olympics or Polls

Just because.Related posts:Hey, What About All Those Trump Magazines That Failed? Olympics observations Dave Barry on how to watch the winter Olympics | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago

When disaster strikes “someplace else,” first send money | 2016 | Floods

When natural disasters occur, our first reaction may be to send things. First, send money.Related posts:When disaster strikes “someplace else,” first send money (continued) When disaster strikes “someplace else,” first send money (continued) When disaster strikes “someplace else, … | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago

Scott Adams’ Trump Prediction Update

Scott Adams, the Dilbert cartoonist, is the only person I’m aware of who, at the beginning of GOP primary season, said that Trump would win in a landslide. If I had not observed Adam’s insight into the economy previously on his blog, I would have dismissed his prediction. While h … | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago

Who is Winning Between Upshot and FiveThirtyEight (Answer: We Are)

In the battle between FiveThirtyEight.com and NYT's Upshot, we are the winners.Related posts:A Winning Football Interactive Map This Interactive Chart is Great, Except for How it’s Not Fun with infographics | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago

Jason Bourne Spoiler Alert

Saw the new Jason Bourne movie. I can’t recall the name, but I think it’s “Now Playing.” Can’t really explain what happens except people look at computer screens while eerie music plays. I get stressed out looking at computer screens every day, so I know how that feels. In the mo … | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago

God Bless Ameri Khans

What are the odds of there being two men named Khan who, in the same week, did amazing things to teach millions of people lessons about American history and government. And I’m not talking metaphorically. I’m talking actual history like the kind that is taught in lessons and book … | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago

What Pokemon Go Means for Assignment Editors

(NOTE: See also: What Brexit means for assignment editors.)  There is a term among those who study journalism called Afghanistanism that means, roughly, the practice of concentrating on problems in distant parts of the world while ignoring controversial local issues. There also i … | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago

Presumptive

In years’ past, I’ve heard the word presumptive used to describe a political party’s nominee during that period after the primaries have determined a winner, but before the convention delegates make it official. But this year, it has seemed to be used so much during the past coup … | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago

Tony Schwartz Could Have Saved Civilization

Jane Mayer’s New Yorker magazine piece about Tony Schwartz, ghost-writer of Trump’s book, Art of the Deal, is depressing. While yes, it’s depressing to learn what Schwartz is revealing–that his 18 months of being embedded with Trump convinced him that Trump is a “sociopath”–that’ … | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago

Actual Good Deals on Amazon Prime Day

Some people celebrate Amazon’s Prime Day by trying to be funny in tweets with the hashtag #PrimeDay or #PrimeDayFail. Once in a while they are funny. But mostly, they are ham-fisted, profane and goofy. Once in awhile, the Amazon deal is actually a good deal. Here are the best pla … | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago

U.S. Copyright Office Fair Use Index

A database and search tool that provides the most recent cases and decisions related to different facets of fair use.Related posts:The New Yorker’s copyright hack White House photos and copyright – a brief lesson Judges gone wild | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago

Radio Lab’s Seven-Episode Podcast Series About the Supreme Court is Beyond Perfect

More Perfect bypasses the wonkiness and tells stories behind some of the court’s biggest rulingsRelated posts:Cass Gilbert, architect of the Woolworth Building & the Supreme Court A new Nashville Nobody Knows podcast, and a podcast program suggestion Microsoft has podcast plans, … | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago

Employment Trends in Newspaper Publishing and Other Media, 1990–2016

From the U.S. Labor Department, Bureau of Labor Statistics 458,000 | 1990 | People employed in newspaper publishing industry 183,000 | 2016 | People employed in newspaper publishing industry 30,000 | 1990 | People employed in internet publishing and broadcasting 198,000 | 2016 | … | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago

“No country can possibly move ahead…”

“No country can possibly move ahead, no free society can possibly be sustained, unless it has an educated citizenry whose qualities of mind and heart permit it to take part in the complicated and increasingly sophisticated decisions that pour not only upon the President and upon … | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago

What Brexit Means for Assignment Editors

There is a term among those who study journalism called Afghanistanism that means, roughly, the practice of concentrating on problems in distant parts of the world while ignoring controversial local issues. There also is a term among those who study news websites that focus on wr … | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago

Ralph Stanley, RIP

Ralph Stanley, RIPRelated posts:Forgive me again, Dr. Stanley Stanley upper-cupping Forgive me, Dr. Stanley | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago

Voting Night Coverage Streaming Via the Beeb

Last night, I watched the BBC’s streaming coverage of the UK “leave/remain” referendum. Some observations: The vote is similar to what is happening in the U.S. Presidential election: a vote less about party or even traditional viewpoints of conservative vs. liberal. It’s all abou … | Continue reading


@rexblog.com | 8 years ago