Where the Megachurches Are

This New York Times graphic shows where the US.'s 1300 "megachurches" are concentrated.

As the graphic reveals, the deep South doesn't have a monopoly on big churches, although Dallas, Houston and Atlanta do have a bunch. See the full article here.

(Tip of the hat to Fergus.)

Starbucks to Advertise?

Earlier this week (while visiting our client Contact with Randy Gilbert in Richmond, Virginia), David Holland and I discovered a brand-new, shiny Starbucks adjacent to our hotel.

To quote the scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz, "Rapture!"

Though it wasn't exactly packed, I did comment, "Man, you can just build these anywhere and people show up."

Apparently, I was wrong.

Starbucks is about to launch a national television advertising campaign due to "lack of traffic" in their stores.

Now, that's not because there are usually 4 to 6 Starbucks stores per square mile, right?

Anyway, click here to read all about it.

Open Wide

Word of mouth, the oldest form of advertising and promotion, gets a thumbs-up from a recent Nielsen study.

Hey, maybe you should read all about it here!

Hey Jon, Your Caldera's Awake

Remnant of Yellowstone Volcano Rising, Study Finds

Have a nice day!

Cable Co's vs FCC

There used to be two options. Broadcast television through an antennae on your roof; and cable. That was the status quo when most of the current FCC regs governing cable were written.

But now we have satellite and your phone company vying to be your television content provider.

Here's a good Wall Street Journal article on the latest in the cable industry's regulatory struggles:

FCC, Cable Industry Gear Up for Showdown

Pat Robertson Endorses Guiliani

As this Washington Post story points out, Jon's old boss has come out for Rudy Guiliani.

This move really isn't the big shocker some are positioning it to be.

Robertson is savvy enough about politics to factor electibility heavily into his calculus. That narrowed his choices down to McCain, Romney and Guiliani.

There is a ton of bad history between Robertson and McCain so that was out. I suppose he just couldn't get past the Mormon thing with Romney. That left Rudy who has smartly given pro-lifers who want to support him a fig leaf in the form of a promise to nominate strict constructionist judges.

The Roman Catholics over at National Review online are talking as if Pat's endorsement is meaningless or worse where influencing evangelicals is concerned. I don't think that is the case at all. Just because the Christian Coaliition isn't a credible political machine anymore doesn't mean there aren't a ton of people who watch and respect Pat Robertson and give his opinion on politics great weight.

It's Official!! The Hangar is Re-Opened!!!

The long, national nightmare is over. Certainly you've missed us, but we had to make necessary changes and repairs to the Hangar's superstructure, pull in more power and make a number of cosmetic changes to the facility.

Like we always say, "If you want to fly high... something, something, something."

Okay, so really we've been so busy over the past month that we've neglected to post items of interest, humor and general commentary.

The point is, we went a long time and now we're back. Not that we have anything really critical to say. It's just that we're back.

Oh, there is one thing... the 'bots are back too!

Mystery Science Theatre 3000 returns!

(special thanks to Christopher Selby of Derek Prince Ministries for tipping us off on this big media news!)