Welcome to the latest edition of the Stuph File Program.
For a program list of the items included and all their accompanying links in this one hour show, you can find the information on my website in the Stuph File Program section, or just follow this link to #0071.
Welcome to the latest edition of the Stuph File Program. A very special Christmas event. A Christmas show unlike any you've heard before!
For a program list of the songs included in this one hour show, you can find the information on my website in the Stuph File Program section, or just follow this link to #0070.
The Meschach & Malik Christmas Special. Probably the most irreverent children's show you've ever heard! It features the kind of holiday tunes that make kids laugh, and probably some adults cringe, and it's hosted by a nine year old and a five year old! Destined to become a holiday perennial. Feel free to download it and play it over and over for years to come!
Welcome to the latest edition of the Stuph File Program.
For a program list of the items included and all their accompanying links in this one hour show, you can find the information on my website in the Stuph File Program section, or just follow this link to #0069.
Welcome to the latest edition of the Stuph File Program.
For a program list of the items included and all their accompanying links in this one hour show, you can find the information on my website in the Stuph File Program section, or just follow this link to #0068.
Welcome to the latest edition of the Stuph File Program.
For a program list of the items included and all their accompanying links in this one hour show, you can find the information on my website in the Stuph File Program section, or just follow this link to #0067.
Welcome to the latest edition of the Stuph File Program.
For a program list of the items included and all their accompanying links in this one hour show, you can find the information on my website in the Stuph File Program section, or just follow this link to #0066.
Welcome to the latest edition of the Stuph File Program.
For a program list of the items included and all their accompanying links in this one hour show, you can find the information on my website in the Stuph File Program section, or just follow this link to #0065.
Welcome to the latest edition of the Stuph File Program.
For a program list of the items included and all their accompanying links in this one hour show, you can find the information on my website in the Stuph File Program section, or just follow this link to #0064.
Welcome to the latest edition of the Stuph File Program.
For a program list of the items included and all their accompanying links in this one hour show, you can find the information on my website in the Stuph File Program section, or just follow this link to #0063.
Welcome to the latest edition of the Stuph File Program.
For a program list of the items included and all their accompanying links in this one hour show, you can find the information on my website in the Stuph File Program section, or just follow this link to #0062.
Welcome to the latest edition of the Stuph File Program.
For a program list of the items included and all their accompanying links in this one hour show, you can find the information on my website in the Stuph File Program section, or just follow this link to #0061.
There was a time when it seemed just about everybody had what was called “common sense.” An idea of what should be done in certain situations in life. One can debate whether common sense is something that we are born with, or that is instilled in us by our parents. Either way, it tends to be something that all of us possess (thus the word “common”).
But lately I have been seeing situations that lead me to believe that this “something,” has gone the way of black and white television and buggy whips.
Case in point is the picture of a sign that accompanies this essay. I see this sign almost every day. It is a sign that is in the men’s room on the floor of the office tower that I work in. This is an extremely detailed sign explaining to adults the proper way one should wash their hands.
Now, I’ve managed to survive my childhood, getting through the educational process. In my grade school, at the tender age of six, when I was just learning to grasp the intricacies of the written word in the English language, I didn’t have a detailed sign like this one explaining the proper procedure in hand washing.
I suspect that one of the reasons is because at six, I had already had it drilled into my head, both by my parents and also by my kindergarten teacher the year before, as to what to do when my hands come in contact with water, soap and a sink. Yet, here I am, almost a half century later, being told how to wash my hands.
At least the sign suggests that perhaps we are adult enough to make our own choice of washing our hands with, or without water. Still, with the no-water option, I do find it somewhat vague. It mentions “rub hands together in a circular motion.” It does not, however, instruct us as to whether that circular motion is clockwise or counter-clockwise. Then again, with our complete loss of common sense, and the fact that the whole world has gone digital, perhaps they assumed we wouldn’t know what clockwise was.
I also find it interesting that in the washing-with-water option, you are to “scrub for 10-15 seconds . . . your wrists, forearms, between your fingers, and under your nails.” This method reminds me of every medical show I’ve every seen where a doctor is scrubbing in for surgery. But do I really need to clean all the way up to my elbow after using the washroom? Just how sloppy are some people in there? Have they been helping to birth a calf? If I’m in need of doing something in a public washroom that requires washing my elbows, I either need serious medical attention, a complete change of diet or an exorcist.
But, I guess under the banner of better safe than sorry, the powers that be feel it is important to give the information because, as some recent statistics show, while 85% of public restroom users wash their hands . . . up from 77% in 2007 . . . men are still dirtier. About 23% of men failed to wash versus 7% of women; this according to some restroom spies.
So even though I’m thorough, and therefore feel insulted by the signage, I’m still faced with a major dilemma. If 23% of guys are not washing their hands at all, then after I meticulously finish up, just how do I get out of the washroom? The only thing between me and freedom is that door knob that a quarter of my gender has touched . . . uncleansed!
Welcome to the latest edition of the Stuph File Program.
For a program list of the items included and all their accompanying links in this one hour show, you can find the information on my website in the Stuph File Program section, or just follow this link to #0060.
Welcome to the latest edition of the Stuph File Program.
For a program list of the items included and all their accompanying links in this one hour show, you can find the information on my website in the Stuph File Program section, or just follow this link to #0059.
Fans of "The Stuph File Program" and also of my old radio gig, know Ben Patrick Johnson as "the voice" of the show. He is an amazing L.A. based voice talent, plus he is an author, activist and over the years he's also become a good friend.
Ben put together a touching video that speaks from his heart about taunting and discrimination. I urge you to see it and pass it along, because if there's anything I've learned, it's that you don't have to be a member of a particular group in order to feel it's pain. History has shown that if it can happen to any group, it can happen to you too. This in the wake a recent suicide of a young man. Before you check out the encoded video, here is Ben's preamble, in his own words:
"There has been much reporting recently about gay teen suicides following taunting or abuse. Whether there's a sudden uptick in incidents or whether a heightened sensitivity to the subject matter has caused news outlets to run more stories is a matter for discussion. But many of us in America, and perhaps most surprisingly in the gay community, are seeing the magnitude of this problem for the first time. Some of us have been struggling with how to respond. Journalist Dan Savage came up with an idea. It's fantastic, even if it's just a jumping-off point. He calls it the IT GETS BETTER Campaign.
He's encouraged adult lesbians, gay, bisexuals and transgenders to post videos on YouTube talking directly to LGBT teens, especially those who feel trapped in bad situations. Dan asked us to talk to the teens about the various traumas around being gay we faced growing up, and how we now have rich adult lives."
So now that you've seen his words, hear his voice:
Welcome to the latest edition of the Stuph File Program.
For a program list of the items included and all their accompanying links in this one hour show, you can find the information on my website in the Stuph File Program section, or just follow this link to #0058.
It was just last week that the world has stopped turning. Oh, don’t panic. I’m not talking about some apocalyptic catastrophe on this third rock from the sun, nor have I flashed forward on the Mayan calendar. I’m talking about the cancellation of a venerable daytime television drama.
After 54 years on the air, CBS and Proctor & Gamble have turned out the lights on As The World Turns. For the last 48 years, I have been a faithful viewer (and if you read my last blog piece about customer service, then you know that the beginning and end of my love affair with the show that fans in the know simply call ATWT, coincides with the beginning and end of my love affair with Timex).
I remember following the trials and tribulations of the Hughes and Stewart families while at the feet of my mother who watched the show from before my birth. It was a comfort to me to grow up with so many of the characters.
In the final years it was easier to keep track of the show. VCRs and PVRs made it possible to never miss an episode. Back in the day it was a race to get home from school to literally catch it live, as what the actors did in their New York studio was instantly beamed out to the living rooms of North America.
I was what some would consider a rare breed. The heterosexual male viewer, who was not afraid to share his passion for daytime drama with any and all who wished to listen. Oh, I’ve known my share of closeted male fans. The guys, who claimed to have never watched an episode, yet would occasionally drop the name of a character in a knowing way.
And, as with the drama, a lot has happened in life over that span of time. Man has landed on the moon, a losing war was waged in Vietnam, the fight for civil rights was won, and, most chillingly, a live broadcast of ATWT was interrupted to alert viewers to the fact that “three shots were fired at President Kennedy’s motorcade in downtown Dallas” (and yes, I was watching it that day too, at the tender age of five).
Years later, as I progressed in my broadcasting career, I had the opportunity to interview many of the long standing cast members of the show. It was Don Hastings, the portrayer of Dr. Bob Hughes for 50 years, who recounted the story of being in the studio on November 22, 1963. The actors were not informed of what had taken place in the Lone Star State. Producers and the director wanted to keep the cast focused. It was only because a security guard was listening to a transistor radio that the actors were finally clued in to the harrowing details of that day.
In 1996 I was fortunate enough to travel to New York to spend three days on the set of the show. To millions this is no big deal. To me, it was like travelling to Mecca. I set foot on the studio floor and watched as actors I literally grew up admiring, rehearse their lines and then tape the show. It was marvellous to be so close, just outside of camera range, seeing this talent unfold.
Many people have derided the work on daytime drama or soaps, even other actors. But you’re not going to find harder working actors, directors and writers. Nowhere else is an actor expected to memorize and perform so much dialogue in a single day, shoot it and then repeat the process the next day. There are no repeats in daytime drama. It’s shot, it’s aired, it’s gone.
I’m going to break ranks with other soap fans now and show my personal bias to a deeper problem than just the loss of ATWT from the airwaves. It’s the plight of the New York actor. I happen to believe (and you’re free to debate this) that the quality of acting that comes out of New York is superior to that of the other coast. I’ve always thought that New York based daytime drama had actors and Los Angeles based daytime drama had television stars.
The New York actor would do the heavy lifting of a daytime soap and would somehow still find the time to do an off-Broadway play, a night time drama and maybe a commercial or two. Take a look at shows like Law & Order. The guy, who played a cabbie or doorman on that show, usually had more acting experience then the second lead of an L.A. based night time drama.
Well, with ATWT recently cancelled, Guiding Light cancelled last year, All My Children moved to L.A., and yes even Law & Order gone, there is now a dearth of choice acting opportunities for some of the best journeyman actors on the planet (One Life To Live is the only remaining soap based in New York).
So while I lament on having to go cold turkey from my daily fix, I can only hope that the cast and crew of ATWT are aware of the joy they brought to millions of views and that their hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed. That this talented bunch finds the gainful employment they so richly deserve. But most importantly, I pray that opportunity will somehow find a way to knock on the door of the myriad of New York actors who are currently in a drought of epic proportions. Let’s hope that their acting world will continue to turn.
What ever happened to good old fashioned customer service? To a time when companies seemed to value their clientele? It seems to be that the pendulum has swung completely from “the customer is always right” to “if you don’t like it, buzz off!” While I don’t necessarily agree that the pendulum has to swing all the way back, somewhere in the middle would be nice.
I’ve used “time” in the title and “pendulum” in the first paragraph, because right now I have a beef with a very famous watch maker. It seems to be that the company known for their products that “take a licking and keeps on ticking” still make wonderful quality time pieces. Their straps, however, are something to be desired and their telephone bedside manner is rather lacking.
I have been a loyal Timex watch wearer since I got my first time piece. I was four. I’m now 52 and all of my watches have been Timex. Besides Coca-Cola there isn’t a company I’ve been more loyal to for almost half century. But all it took to change that was a bad strap and even worse customer service.
It was less than two years ago that I purchased my latest Timex. It was the Timex Ironman, pictured above. I didn’t really need a new watch, but I had been a good boy and I decided to be nice to me by treating myself to a new trinket.
While I loved the watch, I didn’t care much for the strap. It was one of those rubbery type ones that come with various models of watches. I had had them before, they rarely last, but up until now they were easy to replace.
In the past, when they would eventually snap, I would simply go to either the original place of purchase or a neighbourhood jeweller to change the strap for a similar one, leather one, metal one or any other strap of my choosing. But that’s not an option with this latest watch.
I was informed, first by a jeweller, that they couldn’t do anything. I was then told by Sears, the place of purchase, that I had to deal directly with the company (by the way, kudos to the folks at Sears for being thoroughly helpful in giving me all the information I needed in a friendly manner. Now, that’s customer service). Apparently the intricate design and fused melding of the watch and strap can only be circumvented by ambidextrous gnomes locked away somewhere in the Timex basement.
So I called the number I was given (allegedly it was in Toronto, but for all I know it could have been Bangalore). When I informed the person of my plight, she told me where to send the watch. When I asked if I could get a leather strap, I was informed that it was not possible, but a replacement similar to the one I had could be obtained for a price, plus shipping and handling and of course I would be without the use of my watch for the time it took to repair and return.
When I mentioned that putting on the same strap would mean that probably the same thing would happen to it in less than two years, precipitating yet another round of mailing and waiting, the rather cold response was “well what do you expect, sir, that’s normal wear and tear.”
Now call me madcap, but I find it hard to believe that for however long I have this watch, I will be forced every two years to mail it away to replace a watch strap, waiting at the door for its return like a forlorn prom date. Not only does this not make economic sense, but it’s extremely inconvenient. However, it was the terse response in the phone conversation that put me over the top.
I’m a person with a very long fuse. Not much ticks me off. But this woman somehow managed to do it with one snarky sentence. So here’s what’s happening now. Rather than mail the watch out to replace the strap and wait during that time without a watch, I am going to go out and simply replace the watch. In the meantime, I have written to Timex to let them know how I feel (so far, I’ve yet to hear a response. If I do, I’ll share).
I’ve let them know that for the first time in 48 years, I will not be wearing a Timex. I explained in my letter that they can thank the person who answered the phone at customer service for that.
Have you ever had a customer service situation that just put you over the edge? I would really like to hear your story. And just to make sure that this doesn’t turn into a complete “bitching-fest” I would also love to hear from people who have had wonderful dealings with customer service.
I’m hoping that my faith in humanity, consumer confidence and yes, even customer service can be restored (I am, after all, an eternal optimist). Apparently loyalty isn’t worth as much as it used to be. That’s why I’m taking my watch business elsewhere. I’ll also stay away from rubbery straps. At least I still have Coca-Cola.
Welcome to the latest edition of the Stuph File Program.
For a program list of the items included and all their accompanying links in this one hour show, you can find the information on my website in the Stuph File Program section, or just follow this link to #0057.
Welcome to the latest edition of the Stuph File Program.
For a program list of the items included and all their accompanying links in this one hour show, you can find the information on my website in the Stuph File Program section, or just follow this link to #0056.
Welcome to the latest edition of the Stuph File Program.
For a program list of the items included and all their accompanying links in this one hour show, you can find the information on my website in the Stuph File Program section, or just follow this link to #0055.
Welcome to the latest edition of the Stuph File Program.
For a program list of the items included and all their accompanying links in this one hour show, you can find the information on my website in the Stuph File Program section, or just follow this link to #0054.
Welcome to the latest edition of the Stuph File Program.
For a program list of the items included and all their accompanying links in this one hour show, you can find the information on my website in the Stuph File Program section, or just follow this link to #0053.
Welcome to the latest edition of the Stuph File Program.
For a program list of the items included and all their accompanying links in this one hour show, you can find the information on my website in the Stuph File Program section, or just follow this link to #0052.
Welcome to the latest edition of the Stuph File Program.
For a program list of the items included and all their accompanying links in this one hour show, you can find the information on my website in the Stuph File Program section, or just follow this link to #0051.
Welcome to the latest edition of the Stuph File Program.
For a program list of the items included and all their accompanying links in this one hour show, you can find the information on my website in the Stuph File Program section, or just follow this link to #0050.
Welcome to the latest edition of the Stuph File Program.
For a program list of the items included and all their accompanying links in this one hour show, you can find the information on my website in the Stuph File Program section, or just follow this link to #0049.
Welcome to the latest edition of the Stuph File Program.
