Wednesday, July 8, 2009


Oscar G. Mayer, who transformed his family business into one of the the world's largest meat processors, died Monday. He was 95. The fact that most of the public probably did not know that "Oscar Mayer" was a real person -- actually he was the third member of his family to have that name -- was fine with him, according to theWisconsin State Journal. He liked his anonymity, even as his company became one of the largest private employers in Madison, Wisconsin.

Mayer retired as chairman of Oscar Mayer in 1977 at the age of 62, the year that the company first posted $1 billion in revenue, though he continued to consult with management. Four years later, the company was sold to General Foods, a predecessor of Kraft Inc. (KFT). The business was founded by his grandfather, Oscar F. Mayer, a Bavarian immigrant who started his career in 1873 at the age of 14 as a "butcher's boy" in a Detroit meat market. Ten years later Oscar, along with his brothers Gottfried and Max, opened a meat market, according to the Kraft web site. It was one of the first companies to volunteer to join the then-new federal meat inspection program. Oscar F. Mayer died in 1955 and Mayer's father, Oscar G. Mayer Sr., died in 1965. Mayer's death underscores the human element of business that gets lost in today's world of mega-mergers. Consumers forget that there people named McDonald --actually they were brothers -- who operated a burger chain that Roy Kroc acquired and made famous. The Ford family still plays an active role in the Ford Motor Co. (F) and the Sulzbergers control the New York Times Co. (NYT). But these are the exceptions.

Media reports indicate that Mayer was proud of his family business. I also suspect that Mayer could have easily slipped into a deli to watch consumers buying his bologna, then slipped out the door without being recognized.  In these days of imperial CEOs, who are more worried about their pay than about their shareholders, that's kind of nice.

Little People Want 'Midget' Banned on TV (La la lala la la)


Little people are calling on the Federal Communications Commission to ban the use of the word "midget" on broadcast TV.

The group Little People of America said Sunday the word is just as offensive as racial slurs.
The request was prompted by an April episode of NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice" that the group said was demeaning.
In the episode, contestants created a detergent ad called "Jesse James and the Midgets." The contestants, including Joan Rivers, suggested bathing little people in the detergent and hanging them to dry.
Now don't get me wrong but if we start calling them "little people" then what do we call children who we now refer to as "little people"?  And if we call them little people will we then get angry letters from The SMURFS asking for us to not classify them as "little people" but something all together because Smurfs are really the "little people"?   Here's an idea.  How about we stop labeling people and just accept everyone for who they are!

Highlights from the Michael Jackson Memorial Service

Below are just some of the highlights from the memorial service as televised throughout the world.














Strange Jackson Coincidence


Michael Jackson signed his last will on 7-7-02, seven years to the day he will be memorialized and buried. Michael was the 7th in a family of 9 kids.

Michael Jackson's Memorial






Below are just some pictures from MJ's Memorial service

Michael Jackson's Memorial








Michael Jackson's Memorial





Michael Jackson's Memorial








Michael Jackson's Memorial





Michael Jackson's Memorial







'Slumdog' Child Star Moves to Better Digs

"Slumdog Millionaire" child star Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail and his mother moved into their new home Tuesday, leaving behind a corrugated metal slum shanty for four solid walls, doors that lock and an indoor toilet.
"I was shocked when I saw this house," Azhar, 11, said, before turning on one of his favorite Hindi songs and dancing around the living room. "I want to thank Danny Boyle for giving us this flat."

Boyle, the director of the Oscar-winning hit, and producer Christian Colson will transfer the $50,000 one-bedroom apartment to Azhar's name when he turns 18, provided he finishes school.
Officials from the trust — set up by the filmmakers to secure an education, housing and a living allowance for Azhar and his co-star Rubina Ali, 9 — are actively searching for a new home for Rubina as well.
At the moment, Azhar has several new challenges to ponder — chief among them, what to put on the walls, and how not to forget one's house keys.