November 2011

Could Branson marketing math of 2 + 1= 2 lead to a Humpty Dumpty marketing fund?

The short and quick of it is, “That’s the indication.” Normally one establishes a precedent that starts them on a gradual slide down the “slippery slope.” A discussion at the November 22 meeting of the Branson Board of Aldermen about that precedent happening using City Tourism Tax marketing funds to pay off airport bond indebtedness under an agreement with the Branson Airport didn’t stop there however. The statements of two aldermen, Mike Booth and Rick Todd, made during the meeting indicate, at least to an Ole …

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Thanksgiving is all about to whom the “Thanks” is “given!”

Common sense tells an Ole Seagull that something celebrated as “Thanksgiving Day” should be a day of “giving thanks.”  Generally speaking, who among us says “thank you” to “no one?” When thanks is given it is for something and is “given” to the person or entity believed to have provided that something.

Yet, even as some would take “CHRIST” out of CHRISTmas they would take the “Giving” out of Thanksgiving. To whom are we giving thanks? From Coronado’s 1541 Thanksgiving in Palo Duro Canyon, in what is now West Texas, through the 1600 Puritan Thanksgivings in New England, history testifies to the fact that our modern day Thanksgiving is rooted on giving thanks to God for blessings bestowed. …

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Is it time for Branson to change the name of “Ozark Mountain Christmas” to “Ozark Mountain Holiday?”

With as little effort as Branson’s leadership, including elected, appointed, businesses and organizations within the community are putting into promoting America’s traditional Christmas is it inappropriate to suggest that it would be more honest and less deceitful to change the name of “Ozark Mountain Christmas” to “Ozark Mountain Holiday?” Were it not for most of Branson’s shows; Silver Dollar City; the Adoration Parade, which was a Branson tradition well before Ozark Mountain Christmas came into being and a few of its other attractions and businesses actual promoting and celebrating “Christmas,” Ozark Mountain Christmas would be nothing, but the same generic politically correct “Holiday” people can get anywhere else. …

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An Apology for Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

Dedication: The republication of this evolving tribute is respectfully dedicated to a “Marines Marine,” the highly decorated Captain Dale Dye, U.S. Marine Corps, Retired, who will be the key note speaker at the U.S. Marine Corps Ball being held in Branson on November 10.

It is a sad fact of life that the politicians, and those in power, start wars and that the people of the nations involved bleed, die, suffer, and otherwise pay the price of war. Even in today’s world of terrorist attacks, as the people of countries or ideologies make war on each other they fall into two general categories, “Military” and “Civilian.” The Military or the fighters, generally kill each other and the civilians they believe are making war on them the old fashioned way, directly, with bullets, bombs, suicide or otherwise, terrorism, planes, etc. History testifies to the fact that they, and the civilians their actions impact on, are generally the first to bleed, suffer, and die. …

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