http://blog.zunch.com/ 2008-09-19T13:16:27-06:00 Sympozeum_blog.zunch.com The blog of a Zuncher. The thrills, trials and tribulations of working for one of the top ranking search marketing firms in the world. Though not an official site of Zunch Communications, Inc., this blog is unofficially sanctioned by the company. http://blog.zunch.com/post/I_Calls_Them_as_I_Sees_Them.html 2007-09-20T10:42:00-06:00 I am a college football fan. I'd much rather watch college ball than the NFL. And I think I'm a pretty good prognosticator (at least heads up; i'm not much of a gambler so I never mess with the point spread). So today, I'm introducing my college picks of the week. Although this is going to be an early edition with only one game discussed, simply because a game of interest to me is being played tonight-- Texas A&M at Miami. Now before you assume i'm an unbiased observer and decide to trust my picks, you need to understand that I do have my biases. For starters, I wish failure on the Aggies every week. As a Texas Tech alumn, I just can't bring myself to root for the Ags. Sorry, it just goes back to the days of the old Southwest Conference and when one Jackie Sherrill elevated the buying of players to an art form, while also starting the near ridiculous escalation of coaches' salaries. Not that I don't want coaches to be well paid. But there's just something wrong with a coach, take Nick Saban for example, pulling down $4 million a year while he's got players who can't buy a meal if the cafeteria happens to be closed. But I digress.. Coach Fran at A&M has been awful cocky lately, and I'm not really sure why. It's not like he's won any conferences title or anything like that. Heck, he hasn't even managed to beat Tech yet. In fact, A&M seems to have a hard time with Tech. In the 2006-2007 college season, Tech beat A&M both on the gridiron and on the basketball court. In fact, I think Tech has won 9 of the last 12 meetings between the football teams. A&M doesn't consider Tech a rival, and with a record like that, they're right. That's not a rivalry, that's outright dominance by Tech. But I digress again... A&M barely escaped against Fresno State, and it has dominated its other two opponents, Montana State and Louisiana Monroe, but that's nothing to brag about. Sorry, Ags, but while you think you're a top ten program, the reality is, you'll be lucky to finish in the top 25 this year. Miami is in similar straits, although they have played at least one quality opponent. Unfortunately, for them, their one game was at OU, resulting in a severe spanking being administered to them by Oklahoma.  Tonight, Fran will be exposed, and the Aggies downward spiral will begin. No kidding, I peg the Aggies finishing out the year at 7 and 5, and that's figuring they'll be in better shape than UT come Thanksgiving weekend. Miami is out to prove that they are making their way back among the elite, although I think they know they've got a ways to go. Still, I have a feeling that the Canes won't fall to two Big 12 programs in one season, so watch for the Canes to not just win, but whip up on the Aggies. We'll also learn that the Ags need to go shopping for some receivers. The score? I hate predicting scores, it's such a fruitless endeavor, but what the heck, try 27-14, with the Canes on top. Tomorrow: My picks for the remainder of the weekend.   James Sadler http://blog.zunch.com/post/A_Zuncher_Visits_Sin_City.html 2007-09-10T16:25:00-06:00 Just got back from a copywriter's seminar in Sin City itself-- Las Vegas. The seminar was on the subject of nuero-linguistic programming  (NLP) and its use in copywriting. Really interesting stuff that I'll be trying to incorporate into content that I create for Zunch clients in the future. Anyway, this was my third trip to Vegas in three years. Each time I've been there has been for a copywriting seminar or conference. And even though the casinos are tempting, in three visits I have yet to drop so much as a quarter into a slot machine or engage in any other form of gambling. Why? I mean I know people who dream about going to Vegas and think I'm nuts for not gambling. Basically, I hate to lose money. And when the best odds are 50/50 (playing Blackjack), I don't feel secure enough in those odds to toss any money on the table. Incidentally, the worst odds in a casino are on the slot machines, only something like a 27% chance of winning on each spin. I'm not real sure why the leading copywriters insist on holding these seminars in Vegas. Although I do know that the guy who organzied this one took in Celine Dion on the first night there. Did I mention I also think most of the shows in Vegas are pretty lame?   James Sadler http://blog.zunch.com/post/And_Now_for_Something_Completely_Different.html 2007-08-28T06:00:00-06:00 I'll spare you the details, since there really aren't that many. But last week my wife, the kids and I headed to Gulf Shores, Alabama for a few days at the beach. The trip there and the time spent there was pretty uneventful, other than the fact that it seemed like everyone in Alabam looks a lot like Larry the Cable Guy. But the journey back? Let's just say we are now of the opinion that Louisiana must be pretty desperate for cash and has turned its highways into the country's single largest speed trap. My wife got nailed, not once, but twice with speeding tickets. Now, admittedly, we know we aren't supposed to speed, but man, that stretch between Lafayette and Shreveport is one of the most mind-numbingly boring stretches of road I've ever seen. It practically begs you to speed just to get to some changed scenery. Hate to tell you this Louisiana, but any plans we had for visting your State again anytime soon are now offically squelched, unless of course Governor Kathleen Blanco  wants to intervene and grant us clemency on our tickets. James Sadler http://blog.zunch.com/post/And_Now_for_Something_Completely_Different_.html 2007-07-26T12:52:00-06:00 My dream job would probably be to be employed as a combination movie critic/book critic. And I do write reviews on Amazon.com, although not nearly as many as I once did. Moreover, ever since an incident I had in thrid grade, I've been fascinated by ghosts, off-and-on. With the above in mind, I recently watched the movie "An American Haunting." My wife thought it was good, not great. I couldn't bring myself to fully enjoy it because...well...it is based on historical events related to "The Bell Witch" and a lot of it was inaccurate (including their reason for the incidents which led to the haunting that was the subject of the film). So who's the Bell Witch? Actually, there's not a witch named Bell. Bell was the name of the family that was reputed to have been cursed by a witch. According to accounts of what occurred, an invisible entity, which came to be known as the "Bell Witch" by many, literally tortured the Bell family between 1817 and 1821. What makes this story so famous is that the events were witnessed by numerous people, including Andrew Jackson, who would one day become the seventh president of the United States. Making the incident all the more interesting is the fact that when John Bell, Sr. died, the entity claimed credit for poisoning him (yes, this ghost would actually talk to people). It's the only recorded incident of an alleged ghost actually killing someone. I can't go into the details of all that happened to the Bells, there's no where near enough space here. But you can learn more about the Bell Witch at the Bell Witch Website and the Bell Witch Fan Site. Do a search for "the Bell Witch" and you'll find plenty of other sites with info on it. If you do get interested, I suggest you watch the movie before reading about the Bell Witch. Standing alone, the movie is actually rather good. It's just when you've read soemmof the historical accounts of what happened, you really have to question a lot of things in the film, including its resolution as to what the basis of the haunting was. Let's just say, whether you believe in ghosts or not, the Bell Witch is a fascinating subject. James Sadler http://blog.zunch.com/post/A_New_Zuncher_on_the_Scene.html 2007-04-13T13:24:00-06:00 Hey, I forgot to mention the latest addition to our sales department-- Daniel Zavala. Welcome to the Zunch Bunch, Daniel. Just remember to tell those prospects that hiring Zunch Worldwide means hiring the world's greatest Web copywriter-- me. Okay, there is this guy up in Canada that's probably a little better than me. But only because he's been doing it longer. James Sadler http://blog.zunch.com/post/Laid_Low_By_a_Virus_The_Human_Variety.html 2007-04-05T09:44:00-06:00 A virus has hit Zunch. No, not the kind that destroys databases and forces you to spend hours trying to recover data and reboot the system. This is the human variety. Unfortunately, I may be the source of this virus. Saturday I attended a carnival at my daughter's school. In hindsight, I recall seeing a lot of sniffling going on among the kids, as well as a few kids who looked sick. But, kids being kids, they were not about to miss a chance to jump around in a bounce house. By Sunday evening, I was feeling it. Wednesday it got bad enough I missed work and went to the doctor, where I was told I had a serious sinus infection and had  caught a virus making the rounds in Dallas. In fact, Star (yes,that's her real name), my doctor's nurse, told me all that they had been seeing for several days was people with my symptoms. Well, today I still feel rotten, but there were a few meetings that I absolutely had to attend, so I came in anyway. Only to learn that two fellow Zunchers were now out with the same thing. So if you happen to be looking for Zunchers Dan and Alberto today, be aware, the virus has put them out of commission for a day or two. And if you're looking for me, I'm trying to stick it out, but I might not last much longer. I guess misery does love company.     James Sadler http://blog.zunch.com/post/The_Secret_Life_of_Zunchers_In_the_Forbidden_Zone.html 2007-02-08T15:50:00-06:00 My friends, both of them, will tell you that I have somewhat odd tastes in books and films. My wife will tell you it's beyond "odd." On the book side, I'm the only person most people know who collects rare books on copywriting and marketing. I went nuts last year when noted advertising copywriter Bruce Bendinger sent me a copy of the late John Matthews' book, The Copywriter. Is that a yawn I hear in response to that anecdote? I can travel down some equally bizarre paths in films. For instance, a few years ago I heard about a film Richard and Danny Elfman (yes, the same Danny Elfman who now writes movie scores, most notably for Tim Burton) made back in their "Mystic Knights of the Oinga Boinga" days. The Knights, as you should know, were the predessors to the less phonetically challenged "Oinga Boinga." The film was made in 1980 in black and white, directed by Richard, and featured cardboard cutout backgrounds for sets and Herve Villechaize, of Fantasy Island fame, as the king of a world hidden in another dimension.. What's the title of this momentous film (that you've probably never heard)? Forbidden Zone. Not The Forbidden Zone, as it is sometimes incorrectly referred to, just Forbidden Zone. This is one of those "must be seen to be believed" type films, and not because it features state-of-the-art special effects. Believe me, it doesn't. Back when we were kids, my brothers and I made better sets on our carport when we'd try to build a rocketship to fly to Mars in. But let me tell you, after you see it, whenever you hear the term "cult film," Forbidden Zone will always come to mind. Now, for years I waited and watched to see if this film might turn up at a midnight film festival. It didn't. I searched discount bins in second hand stores for a dvd of it. Couldn't find it. Yeah, I could've ordered it online or from some store, but where's the fun in that? Finally, it turned up on Showtime. Now I'm not a regular Showtime subscriber, but we moved recently and got one month free with our new cable service. So last month, I was treated to Forbidden Zone, not once, not twice, but five times! and at no cost. I won't ruin it for you by telling you too much, just let me say-- Where else can you watch Danny Elfman, dressed as the devil, singing a demented version of Minnie the Moocher? 'Nuff said. Anyway, the guys in the white suits are arrving. My next blog may be coming to you from a padded room. By the way, I wouldn't watch this with the kiddies. It seems that, among other things, the princess of Forbidden Zone forgot to fully clothe herself prior to filming.   James Sadler http://blog.zunch.com/post/Top_10_Lists.html 2007-01-16T14:27:00-06:00 Top 10 Fun Grammar Rules:   1.       Do not use commas, which are not necessary. 2.       Do not abbrev. 3.       In letters essays and reports use commas to separate items in a series. 4.       Use parallel construction not only to be concise but also clarify. 5.       Its important to use apostrophes right in everybodys writing. 6.       A writer must be not shift your point of view. 7.       Make sure each pronoun agrees with their antecedent. 8.       Verbs has to agree in number with their subjects. 9.       Mixed metaphors are a pain in the neck and ought to be weeded out. 10.    To ignorantly split an infinitive is a practice to religiously avoid.     Top 10 Commonly Misused Words:   1.  in regard to…not in regards to : "As regards" or "regarding" may also be used. 2.  presently/currently: Many writers use these terms as if they were synonymous. But "presently" means       in a little while, soon. "Currently" means now. In most cases you can do just fine without using       "currently."  3. regardless - "Regardless" is a word. "Irregardless" is not a word. 4. Hopefully:  Unless you're describing the way someone spoke, appeared or acted, do not use this one. Too many people use "hopefully," an adverb that must modify a verb only, as if it were a conditional phrase.  Right: I hope we can go.  Wrong: Hopefully, we can go.  Wrong: Hopefully, the report will address the issue.  Right: She eyed the interview list hopefully. 5.   affect  (verb) influence a change in             effect  (noun)  result   6.       A Lot and Alot: The words "a lot" are correct. "Alot" is incorrect and there is never an occasion in which it should be used.   7.       Good and Well:         Good is an adjective. Adjectives are used to describe nouns.                 Correct: You are a good dog. Well is an adverb. An adverb is used to describe a verb.                 Correct: You are behaving well.    8.  all together and altogether   all together - everyone or everything      altogether - completely; entirely  9.       complement and compliment complement – something that improves or completes compliment – praise or flattery 10 . That vs. which. Which often follows a comma and introduces a phrase that provides additional information not essential to the meaning of the sentence. That introduces a phrase that is essential to the meaning of the sentence. Top 10 Words or Comments Overheard at Zunch 10. Whose turn is it this week to do kitchen duty? 9.   Brownies in the kitchen! 8.   Oh, I would say it's about 11 degrees! 7.   zwebtulz 6.   GOOOOOAAAALLLLLL! 5.   Austin, you got lucky! 4.   Ready for a rematch? 3.   Judge a man by the questions he asks not by his answers. 2.   What does that mean? 1.   I like birds. Alberto Trevino http://blog.zunch.com/post/Mr_Blog.html 2006-12-29T14:15:00-06:00 Where am I going? I was just born several years ago in early 2000 and it seems that I may have hit the height of my life already.   This isn’t fair.   At least I’m doing better than my mom, “Chat Room.” She’s hanging around and looks as if she will be okay, but she has taken on more than her fair share of controversy here recently.   My cousin, “MySpace,” is doing great now, but his life expectancy may not be too long. The next new, new thing might overtake him and leave him in the dust.   Lucky for me, I am accepted in both the business world and the social world. And while my death may actually come from the next latest and greatest (probably spawned from me by the way), I’m not yet irrelevant.   I look back into history, and it seems that as little as 200 years ago, technology outlived the average human. These days, humans are seeing more technology and changes within that technology than three or four generations before them could have ever imagined. But there’s a reason that I may never completely die, because I, Mr. Blog, can blog about nothing and everything at the same time and someone, somewhere, will stop and read. Austin Montgomery http://blog.zunch.com/post/The_Event_of_the_Year_The_Return_of_Terrence.html 2006-12-18T18:21:00-06:00 Yes, believe it or not, Terrence Ou, our man wandering about China, is finally returning to the good ol' US of A. Sometime, tomorrow (December 19), he'll be landing at DFW. Terrence returns after a lengthy excursion in China, where he finalized some contracts and made some new contacts. It was a quite a trip and we'll have Terrence share some details soon. James Sadler