I walk a lot. I walk around Clearwater, up Cleveland Street, through downtown, and around the suburbs. I like walking. But it gets boring. And I can only listen to music for so long before I tire of my playlist.

So, enter podcasts. The strange resurging radio show style audio creation that in the world of streaming and Netflix and Hulu manages to still be a popular form of media with only sound to support it.

And well I could go into all the various reasons you should listen to podcasts, I’d instead thought I’d go into a strange by-product of the podcast world.

And that is sponsorships. Podcasts by themselves do not seem to make money, but with the new rise of companies that want to use many sorts of avenues for advertising: they have a financial life. In fact, these advertising companies may be the reason that this odd surge manages to hold and spread.

Take, for instance, the case of Audible.com. Perhaps you’ve heard of it? It’s an audiobook provider, and if you like podcasts, well, you’ve probably heard of it many times by now.

Because along with Squarespace, a website hosting and design company—and a few others including, oddly enough, a mattress sales website—the podcast advertising market seems flooded with companies successful off of this model.

And like most new odd ways the world has found to pair art with marketing, I am fascinated by this new development. Sponsorships and patrons are now throwing money at the next new wave, and as long as there is an audience, there appears to be a company willing to lend money to its creation.

Between Patreon and Kickstarter making the fans able to make the things they love exist by their own wallets, and company’s willingness to lend support to popular things regardless of how strange it might be: we could be looking at new additions to the usual way we think about the entertainment industry.

And by God, isn’t that just as exciting as a new episode of Alice Isn’t Dead coming out on ITunes? If not more?

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If you liked this article, you can read more of Brandon Scott’s work over at The Hive, or on his website: www.coolerbs.com

I’m a big Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland fan. I bought the nice, hardcover copy at Barnes and Noble on Sunset Point, and I quote it whenever I can.

So, as you might expect, I saw the 2010 CGI movie by Tim Burton. And... I liked it well enough. It was interesting to see various aspects of Wonderland (oh, I’m sorry: Underland) in Tim Burton’s usual style.

Over time, though, I forgot about the film. It faded from my mind. Like a lot of middle of the road movies do.

But, six years later, it’s back again. With the title of the second book.

I haven’t seen the new movie, by the way. So I don’t know how accurate it all is.

But I do know that despite all the panning from the critics for the last one, Alice has always been a big draw for people. For some proof of that, simply go to the Hot Topic in Countryside Mall.

And it tells you a lot about the marketing power of this property. It really is a classic, legendary book. And people wanting to make spin-offs is understandable.

In fact, no one ever stopped. Before people were bemoaning the avalanche of remakes and reboots and other “re” words, Alice had as many versions as perhaps even A Christmas Carol.  

It’s just that powerful. And in an uncharacteristic act on my part--I am here to tell you that even if the film isn’t all that good: Alice Through the Looking Glass is not a movie to point at and accuse of being part of the problem.

It’s always being remade. And I look forward to seeing what a new person will do with it once Burton’s done.

Who knows? Maybe Disney will do another live action adaptation of it, this time closer to the book?

I won’t hazard a guess, but whatever comes next will be curiouser and curiouser, and completely mad.

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If you liked this article, you can read more of Brandon Scott’s work over at The Hive, or on his website: www.coolerbs.com.

You want to be a superhero. You want to be Iron Man flying through the sky. You want to be Captain America beating up bad guys. You want to manipulate objects with the twist of your hand like Scarlet Witch.

You’ll notice these are not questions. Because it’s true of most people, I think. Those characters are power fantasies. It’s one reason people like superhero movies.

And after watching Captain America: Civil War at Countryside Mall, I thought about something. And that is that some actors really do get to be—in a way--a superhero. Robert Downey Jr. is Iron Man. I can’t even consider someone else in the role anymore.

It’s just him. His image is now tied to the marketing machine of Marvel. He has become Iron Man, in our hearts and minds.

Which is fascinating. Sure, other actors are well-known for being one specific role in film history, but this is different.

Once you sign up as a Marvel person - you’re Marvel. For a long time. Claimed by the canon. And with the constant crossovers of actors and storylines like the one in Civil War, you could show up anywhere. You exist in many movies and are expected to stay your character.

Imagine if anyone else was Black Widow but Scarlett Johansson? You’d reject it!

And I wonder if the actors are okay with that? With being part of the marketing for years to come? To only be able to leave the Marvel world by having their characters killed.

And in the world of comics, even sometimes that isn’t enough to leave your story.

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If you liked this article, you can read more of Brandon Scott’s work over at The Hive, or on his website: www.coolerbs.com.

What if we just eliminate a harmful species on purpose? Is that ethical? Is it right? What a world could we have...or rather: make?

While the technological singularity is a hot button topic right now and something we all need to think about before it happens, the other side of the pond is also getting interesting.

And by that I mean, the biology side. Because mosquitoes are a growing problem to our species with the dangerous diseases they deliver. And for a long time, especially in smaller countries, causing a death toll--children included.

So the question is...what if we didn’t have those kinds of mosquitoes anymore? What if we could remove them, all of them? In short order?

An extinction of a subspecies.

Science is getting faster at solving problems and emerging methods allow altering a species’ DNA. And the capacity to make things stronger, or extinct, becomes a possibility.

Sounds like science fiction, but it won’t be for long. And with the occurrence of mosquito-borne diseases even happening in Florida, all of us need to consider what we are willing to do here.

Because it sets a precedent. If we can alter one species, why not another? Why not humans? The idea of making people stronger, faster, and yes: mutants, is one that marketing for is easy, but we do have to keep in mind if it’s right to do.

Because it’s not going to be a switch easily un-flipped. And the consequences of humans messing in the affairs of the natural world are also something well-explored by science fiction. And it doesn’t usually go well.

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If you liked this article, you can read more of Brandon Scott’s work over at The Hive, or on his website: www.coolerbs.com.

Blizzard Entertainment’s Overwatch fully released yesterday: May 24 (May 23^rd for us living in Clearwater). And though I am writing this article before it went live, I can predict its success. Because when you add up the “numbers” of what they’ve done to ensure popularity—the answer is obvious even in foresight.

Let’s go done the list shall we? Let’s examine the winning strategies employed by this one game company for its newest release.

·         Beta Gameplay

Many ways exist to improve the marketing of a product. But temporarily making it free is an effective one. The Beta released and years’ worth of gameplay time went into it from players already. Not only does this strategy allow for much more in-depth reviews to come out of the critic community before launch, but also for players to form an attachment early and guarantee sales.

·         Promo Videos

On a par with a short film, Blizzard released a slew of shorts with top quality animation. I haven’t watched all of them, but the few I’ve seen have impressive fights and decent stories. These are not merely ads or a marketing creation for the product. They are entertaining pieces of art.

·         Foresight

I covered this in a previous article on the site, but before the game went live, Blizzard announced no cheaters on Overwatch, clearing away a potential problem down the line regarding sales.

·         Good Art Direction

I’m not an animator. But I have listened to enough of them describe the craft to know that when it comes to animated characters one of the most important things is that the characters be visually striking even as a silhouette. It’s one of the reasons the Simpsons family is so recognizable at a glance. And a lot, and I mean a lot of work must have gone into making sure these characters popped to the eye the second you saw them.

And that only covers a fraction of what they did right for the release of this game. I expect it to make money hand over fist. Which, clearly, they earned.

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If you liked this article, you can read more of Brandon Scott’s work over at The Hive, or on his website: www.coolerbs.com.

Here’s the situation: you bought a new computer to game on at Best Buy by Highway 19. You stopped for a burger to-go at Five Guys in Clearwater Mall for a legendary night and dinner.

And after the meal, you fire up the game and prepare to lay waste to the new, inexperienced players around you. A power fantasy for the ages.

Then, five minutes later, someone glitches through a wall and shoots you in the back with computer-assisted aim.

Yeah, Blizzard is not going to let that last part happen anymore. Not on its watch.

In a marketing move to reassure, Blizzard Entertainment proclaimed that the new intellectual property they are releasing called Overwatch will have a zero tolerance policy regarding anyone found cheating.

The penalty is a permanent ban for the account - a total block out of usage for that person.

And though this may sound extreme, cheating of this kind is commonplace in many shooters. Older Call of Duty games definitely have this as a problem. And it can be a deal-breaker for players to know that no matter how good they are, a cheater can ruin their day and game.

So it’s sound marketing. Reassuring the audience that this new product is going to be free of the old problem.

Which is important, because the game market is so saturated, that the smallest annoyance can send a consumer skittering to a new product.

And with the sheer size of promotional ads, beta gameplay, and other marketing going into getting people playing Overwatch when it releases on May 24, Blizzard is not going to let something as basic as a random cheater get in the way of its success.

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If you liked this article, you can read more of Brandon Scott’s work over at The Hive, or on his website: www.coolerbs.com.

Healthy living is an often complex and difficult thing to go for in this country. Everywhere you turn, what was good is deadly, and this new drug will cure everything—except its side effects contain the thing it’s supposed to fix.

And in that landscape, well, I’ve dealt with my own problems. Some I will not go into, but I had room to improve. Especially in the weight category.

I searched. I tried places. Some of them not for me, others too expensive for my income. But eventually, I found a tiny nutritional clinic in the middle of Clearwater. Sitting on N.E. Cleveland Street and called The Natural Health Improvement Center.

That was about five months ago.

I’ve lost over thirty pounds since then.

Now, I see the skeptics online. I know how much people doubt the validity of things like holistic medicine and muscle testing. But, yet again, thirty pounds.

And the process wasn’t nearly as hard as it seemed when I started. It wasn’t a fad diet, or experimental food stuff. It was a simple, slow integration of informed choices regarding diet, along with supplements, and exercise.

And I haven’t felt this good in a long time. Before, I didn’t think it was possible. Now, I don’t worry about my health much at all.

That peace of mind is worth it all by itself.

I’m so glad I found them. This little place. Staffed by individuals that supported me through it all. Never got mad at me. Became cheerleaders for me. Just as happy—possibly more—as I was with the victories I achieved.

So, if you’re tired of whatever health problems bother you, and the drugs of the modern day are getting you down and not helping, go check them out.  

I think you can get the body state you want. And I think they can help you get there.

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If you liked this article, you can read more of Brandon Scott’s work over at The Hive, or on his website: www.coolerbs.com.

Has this ever happened to you: A post says it contains both information that seems interesting and its picture is of an attractive person? But once you click on it, you are inundated by ads, and the article you wanted to read is broken up into several slow loading pages?

Well, I’m sorry to say, you fell prey to the much hated “clickbait.”  

Urban Dictionary defines it as such:

An eye-catching link on a website which encourages people to read on. It is often paid for by the advertiser ("Paid" click bait) or generates income based on the number of clicks.

It exists for a reason, though. And that is because we live in a world where the sheer bulk of available information and entertainment is at such an excess, that one method of marketing is simply to draw the eye.

The “truth may shock you.”

On this list “number four may change the way you live your life.”

It’s desperate marketing, but marketing all the same. Doesn’t matter what it is, doesn’t matter if it’s location specific: “Clearwater citizens are shocked by this new law.” Clickbait fits well, and is interchangeable for anywhere it needs to be.

And I’m not here to bemoan or claim this is some greater sign of something worse. It’s just sensationalism, like what newspapers do.

But I hope this article--at least a little--helps you spot the most egregious examples, because they will only become more commonplace.

If the cover is provocative, or if it promises a revelation from its contents, just know what you’re getting into is possibly pure clickbait.

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If you liked this article, you can read more of Brandon Scott’s work over at The Hive, or on his website: www.coolerbs.com.

Now, I’m all for the consumption of media. It’s the consumption of art. Exploring other’s creative endeavors. This article is a piece of media. But, I am still a tad concerned about the commonplace acceptance of “the binge”.

First made (to my knowledge) into a legitimate thing one plans to do, with significant others even, by Netflix. “The binge” is a socially accepted activity of essentially lounging.

But, yeah, I get it, life can be hard, and it’s understandable that it’s a form of stress release. People all over Clearwater, and Pinellas county—you know who you are—and all over the rest of the world sometimes just like to sink into their couch and let an entire season of Daredevil (for example) wash over them.

But here’s where things get weird, with Amazon’s new advertising hashtag:

#Showhole.

An apparently terrible affliction where one is without an entire television series to view. Comparable to being sucked into a couch, or left in the rain.

And advertising wants to cling onto things like this. Take the commonplace and turn it into a catch phrase or a phenomenon. It’s a good practice, it really is.

But it’s still weird that they are willing to take so much energy to get people to sit and watch a lot of television.

In fact, I feel like there’s more to it than the usual desire for sales.

I feel like the promotion of their binging is almost an attack. A declaration of there’s no need to use other services like Netflix or YouTube.

It’s an advertising rivalry, is what I’m saying. Like Cortana and Siri. And us citizens of Clearwater are some of the prizes being fought for.

And well, that’s not a bad thing. It’s healthy competition. It makes prices lower. Quality higher. But it’s still silly to equate a hole to a lack of shows.

Though, it is a good pun.

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If you liked this article, you can read more of Brandon Scott’s work over at The Hive, or on his website: www.coolerbs.com.

I fought it. I ignored it. The pop-ups were constant, but I always walked away. I always told them to remind me another day. The price of a bad operating system I would not pay!

Windows 8 had already burned me. And I didn’t feel like going through it again. But it seemed to just update regardless of how I felt. Maybe I clicked something. But I don’t think so.

And lo and behold, I had Windows 10.

But you know, now that I have it, I’m seeing how the marketing for it was right. It is cool. Or at least one feature is.

“Hey Cortana, how’s it going?”

“Excellent.”

Oh yes, with the wizardry of a computer in Star Trek, I can just talk to my laptop and she recognizes my voice. I don’t even have to click anything. I know other programs can do the same, but it’s still cool to see it on a laptop.

Now, I grew enamored with Siri when I first met her, as I’m sure a lot of people did. A program that could do things for me with a word was amazing. And over time I’ve grown used to her and send off texts with her all the time. I almost don’t open the phone app anymore.

But is Cortana just Siri? I don’t know. Let me ask her.

“Hey Cortana, are you Siri?”

“Surely you’re not Siri-ous.”

Well, there you have it. The main positive difference I’ve noticed so far is that she has a much more human sounding voice. She can sing songs and tell stories with a proper inflection and tonal shifts.

She really is what they marketed her as: a new A.I. competitor. And well, I guess I’m a fan. Not to a Her level. Not take her on walks at Clearwater Beach levels. But a fan all the same.

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If you liked this article, you can read more of Brandon Scott’s work over at The Hive, or on his website: www.coolerbs.com.

This article is going to come out a few days after the odd phenomenon that is Star Wars Day. A holiday that seems to exist partially because the “May the 4th be with you” pun is funny.

I bet historians never saw that coming. 

And this is an interesting example of how the marketing and advertising landscape affects us as a society, isn’t it?

Because people are observing this holiday.

I saw people I know posting it on social media like they might “Merry Christmas.” There were deals going on in Clearwater. Apparently places like Barnes and Noble on Sunset Point and Target in Clearwater Mall were having Star Wars themed sales. Some may still even be going on as you read this.

And, I am a bit baffled. But I guess the answer why is obvious: people like Star Wars. We don’t need an excuse to celebrate it. But since we do have an excuse, and our social media flares up with it anyway, we will celebrate.

And in a way this is a cool new trend for us as a culture. An internet-obsessed, nerdy, and a tad goofy culture. We have all the old holidays, held in place by tradition. But we can also have our own. Add our own. 

Media is becoming a part of us, in ways that are strange and curious and going to only become more prevalent as the lines blur: so let’s celebrate. 

I’d love to see what new holidays we get to have. What new traditions we get to see grow around us.

And I wish you a belated “May the 4th be with you.”

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If you liked this article, you can read more of Brandon Scott’s work over at The Hive, or on his website: www.coolerbs.com.

So, back when I lived in Chicago, I used to eat at this fast food chain called Culver’s. I often got these spicy, breaded chicken strips. It was normal fast food fare. Should have been barely a blip on my mental landscape.

But, somehow, even years later, I still remember it. Even living in Clearwater, it still took up a piece of my mind.

However, I moved on, and thought now that I lived here I would just have different restaurants available. Places like Five Guys, Chick-fil-A, or Checkers.  

Franchises have a tendency to march on though, always in search of customers. And a larger pool of people to market toward is something a business will always want.

So, on Gulf-to-Bay it appeared: A Culver’s. Ripped straight from my memory and placed, brick and all, inside Clearwater. Ready to serve its touted frozen custard. Ready to market themselves as a new fast food joint on the block, with a parking lot massive enough to hold lunch rushes.

And they work fast there on advertising. I mean, I’m already hearing commercials for it during car rides.

Nostalgia is a strong thing. And it’s sitting there with the promise of a memory, and food I haven’t had in a long time.

I’m a different person now. But Culver’s is the same. And it might sound silly to talk so dramatically about a fast food joint, but, still, it would be nice to go back, at least once more.

For old time’s sake.

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If you liked this article, you can read more of Brandon Scott’s work over at The Hive, or on his website: www.coolerbs.com.

It was odd, two Prince songs in a row on a random radio station. I didn’t know at the time. It didn’t occur to me. I didn’t think of the possibility. But later, well, I heard the news the same as anyone. We lost another. Two thousand sixteen saw the death of another artist.

And well, I wish I could say more about him. Others certainly have their memories, and they honor him. The Sugar Sand Festival at Clearwater Beach did a memorial carving. Saturday Night Live did an entire special.

But, I can’t say much about him. I’m too young. He wasn’t the icon of my childhood. I’m a Millennial, I didn’t know Prince.

But I wish I had. In the same way you don’t know enough about a relative until they’re gone. And then find out you had been around someone greater than you imagined.

Without knowing it, Prince’s songs touched my childhood, my sense of taste. The esthetics of his character, the way he marketed himself made impressions, as all the greats did.

I can remember the first time I was told about him. His high pitched, unique voice. I was so young. I didn’t appreciate it enough. We lost Michael Jackson, we lost Prince. And I guess all I can do to redeem my ignorance of this man is to now remember him. And to write an article like this.

The man helped artists. The man was brave. The man was a legend.

Doves are crying now. And the older individuals around me mourn, and I learn, piece by piece, about this man. Reaching for parts of someone I don’t know.  

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If you liked this article, you can read more of Brandon Scott’s work over at The Hive, or on his website: www.coolerbs.com.  

I cannot believe I need to talk about this. I can’t believe I need to say it. Socialism is a bad thing!

How long have we Americans spent fighting against communism and socialism and all the other economic models? How long?

And now suddenly when someone markets the idea of college being free people just jump into the new boat? Really?

Like, I get it. I do get it. Capitalism is not a great system. It has a lot of flaws. In fact, it’s messed up in twisted, convoluted ways. But it’s also the best option we have.

The best system we have.

Yes: college is too expensive. Wealth inequality has horrible effects. Medical emergencies bankrupt people.

But you can’t just make things free. It doesn’t work that way. And even if we can find some workaround that makes it so socialistic taxes don’t either destroy lives or bring down some of the most successful citizens of America—there are still problems.

“Free” removes incentive. It removes quality. If all colleges have to only go off the money given by the government, then why would they even bother to try to outclass each other? Money breeds competition. And you can talk about honor driving it, but that does not last long when there’s no benefit.

If I may make a comparison: imagine this system anywhere else. Where you walk into a restaurant on Gulf to Bay, like Chipotle or Hungry Greek, and they give you free food. Now, that may sound good at first...but why would they ever serve food that was anything above just edible? They have no reason for doing so.

They have no reason to do a lot of things. No purpose for marketing. No reason for good employees. No reason for any benefits of service that capitalism enforces by its own existence and function.

And sure, you could say the government would regulate quality, and force everyone to not cut corners...but yeah, good luck with that.

Now, this may sound like I’m being dramatic. And to some degree I am. But, I guess I have to be dramatic to show the inherent flaws that come after the word “free” explodes inside the mind. It’s a good buzzword, but the quality of a product is as important as the marketing that pushes it along.

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If you liked this article, you can read more of Brandon Scott’s work over at The Hive, or on his website: www.coolerbs.com.

I’m about to let you in on an issue plaguing parts of the otaku community: the rampant adaptation of light novels and manga without finishing the storyline.

Now, for those of you who are not inside some of the deepest and most convoluted parts of nerd culture, what I just said may appear as absolute gibberish. So let me unpack some terms here in the simplest way I can.

First off, I need to talk about anime, which is Japanese animation. And unlike American animation it is often not just for kids. You’ll find stories of violence, war, romance, religion, or philosophy—everything and possibly more than what you could get from Western television.

And “otaku” basically just means a fan of anime and related media. Though the term has other contexts and sometimes negative connotations.

And some of those other otaku materials are manga and light novels. Which though a shallow comparison, are like comics and novellas—respectively.

Which finally brings me to my point. Because those types of stories are frequently adapted to animation. But, the stories are also often not finished. In a lot of cases, long-running series receive only the first few parts of the story adapted. And will often cut before coming to full plot resolution.

And while this can be quite annoying to Clearwater anime fans because they don’t get to know the end of the story unless they feel like going to Barnes and Noble at Sunset Point and buying the rest…it’s also a good marketing technique. Similar to free samples at a supermarket.

And, since, in America at least, most translated anime is available for free on websites like Crunchyroll.com, the comparison is even more apt.

But, this tactic is certainly not limited to Japan, and even in America we are seeing similar methods of cross-media marketing popping up, especially when it comes to young adult literature, in the last decade.

And American media could do more of this sort of thing. I’m not sure everyone would be happy about it, but it would probably work.

Just saying.
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If you liked this article, you can read more of Brandon Scott’s work over at The Hive, or on his website: www.coolerbs.com.

Every time I think they’ve reached the height of what’s possible for a high school stage show, they prove me wrong. Clearwater Academy International’s newest performance Aida, is perhaps the most ambitious and mature outing from the now venerated cast and crew.

The play itself is about love and war in Ancient Egypt—with music by Elton John and Tim Rice. And because of this, the music is phenomenal and varied in its intensity, length, and genre. Beginning with a slow build to a rock song, and later on containing both a haunting and spectacular group number with “The Gods Love Nubia,” and my favorite slow song in a play since I saw Phantom of the Opera with “Elaborate Lives,” performed by the two leads.

And while I’m on them...just...wow. Those two, are incredible. Awe-inspiring at what they are capable of. The actress playing the titular Aida’s singing alone makes the play worth seeing again, and again, and again. As does the stage presence and acting of the male lead playing Radames.

But they weren’t the only one’s worthy of pages of praise. The actress playing Amneris, in her senior year performance, showed that not only is she capable of playing a crowd-pleasing comedic character, but also a striking and tragic one. Balancing so effortlessly on that knife edge that it was a seamless transition as the play progressed.

It left me with multiple emotions, all bleeding into each other, managing to surprise and delight and even unnerve me with the right moments, and the right techniques.

And I could go on praising, I could commend the tech crew, the ensemble, Clearwater Academy’s director and everything she has done for the performing arts. But in the interest of time, I’ll leave with just one more thing.

The arts are important. They teach lessons studies can’t, and build relationships. They leave lasting bonds and ignite a fervor for creation in the people that touch it.

And I can’t wait to see what Clearwater Academy International has in store for its next production. And what new stars will begin to shine.

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If you liked this article, you can read more of Brandon Scott’s work over at The Hive, or on his website: www.coolerbs.com.

As soon as I saw the trailer in Cobb Theatre at Countryside Mall for Zootopia and learned that the guy’s behind both Frozen and Big Hero 6 worked on it, I knew it would be awesome.

And, I was right. This movie swept the critics in a way unfortunately Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice could not. At time of writing, Zootopia’s Rotten Tomatoes’ score beats out the majority of Pixar’s films.

And if you’ve seen it then you know why it got such glowing reviews. The animation? Gorgeous. The characters? Lovely.

The message?

Oh, yes, that message. Let’s talk about the message of Zootopia. And how it is a bold choice for Disney to use. Because--besides the, um... “problematic” film, Song of the South--this is the first time I know of where they touched such a live wire of an issue.

Now, with that said, it’s not odd for Disney to focus on the “follow your dreams” and “be yourself” messages, and this is really an extension of that...but...it’s also about racism and prejudice. And that’s...a big topic.

But they just went for it.

I am flabbergasted and mega-impressed by the way they found to teach kids about the evils of racism in a relatively child-approachable and informative way.

P.R. wise, that’s incredible for their image. And since, like it or not, Disney is a teacher and a massive part of a lot of American childhoods, they have the ability to make themselves out as a pusher of social reform.

I mean, if they can talk about racism--and to a lesser extent drugs--in a way that doesn’t seem pandering, and exposes a societal issue to kids, then what’s stopping them from doing more of the same for war, famine, terrorism, wealth inequality, or religious intolerance?

What might this start? What might we see in the future from them? What might happen?

How big of a change can come from the story of an animal society?

Well, Clearwater and the rest of Florida spoke with their votes and the answer was unsurprising. Because, of course, Donald Trump won the Republican primary in our fine Sunshine State.

And I’d like to say the other candidates had a chance, but, really, that would just be cruel of me. We all knew how this was going to play out. Love him or hate him (and I know so few who fall anywhere else on that dichotomy), there is just something about Donald, isn’t there?

And I’ve talked about why I think that is in a previous article. But now, after looking at the numbers, and how much Donald — if you’ll excuse the pun — “Trumped” his opponents, I’ve pondered a further aspect/marketing technique to this whole thing.

And that is the old saying: “there’s no such thing as bad publicity.” Which, while untrue in some circumstances, appears to work for Trump.

Because, leading up to his win, there were nigh-unavoidable attack ads on television, and every political comedian under the sun taking swings at him. But it didn’t stop him. And, though I’m certainly not the first to observe this, there’s a fairly good reason for his success in the polls.

And, that, is the simple fact that he is on everyone’s mind. Ask someone, practically anyone, even a random adult on the street who a current Republican candidate is, and I’m almost certain they will either go for Trump, or purposely pick someone else just to mess with the question.

In fact, it’s almost conspiracy worthy. Even the people who report to hate him will spend massive chunks of time on air talking about him, and thus raising his presence and pervasiveness in the public consciousness.

And when you hold an entire population’s headspace like that, then people who are still on the fence about whom to vote for...may just...you know...tick his name — since they at least know who he is.

And Clearwater, and America, if that keeps happening. If he just continues to hold our attention like this: we all know who’s going to end up President.  
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If you liked this article, you can read more of Brandon Scott’s work over at The Hive, or on his website: www.coolerbs.com. 

It’s time to talk about Star Wars again--more specifically, it’s tie-in products. Which swarm over store shelves like a pack of TIE Fighters.     

Now, from the little I know of the economic process of franchise building, merchandise can do a lot for both profits and visibility, at least in regards to a few select companies including Hasbro and Disney.

And Star Wars is perhaps the greatest example of this. Who doesn’t own at least one toy lightsaber or a character in doll form? Not many Star Wars fans I know, that’s for sure. And, in fact, this article was inspired by my current reading of Chuck Wendig’s somewhat controversial novel: Star Wars: Aftermath, which I picked up at the Target in Clearwater Mall.

And the existence and prevalence of this got me thinking about brand loyalty, and how it is perhaps one of the strongest methods of marketing and advertising available. Because it creates a loop.

Allow me to explain. Say that you—as a nerdy, and awesome adult—showed your child Star Wars: The Force Awakens at Countryside Mall (which you totally should have) and afterwards they wanted a toy for it. Which you probably gave them.

And from there the child is more likely to watch the movies as they come out, and then want new products to match up with it.

This phenomenon can even be infectious—as one kid on the playground swings a lightsaber, possibly against the wishes of his teacher, and now all the kids want one. And then want to see the movie.

And on and on and on. I dare say you went through a similar cycle when you were a child and saw Star Wars: A New Hope.

It’s a brilliant tactic, even if a little concerning at times. And fascinating to observe. Especially in this case, when it relates to the revitalization of one of nerd culture’s biggest and most influential intellectual properties.
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If you liked this article, you can read more of Brandon Scott’s work over at The Hive, or on his website: www.coolerbs.com. 

In this world of chemical treatment and genetic modification of the average American’s diet, it’s refreshing to see a group of people who focus on actual food.

At least, that was part of my motivation for visiting one of Clearwater’s newer restaurants on Cleveland Street: Kara Lynn’s Kitchen. A place that seeks to serve just good food that is actually food.

And if you’ll allow me a few paragraphs, I’d like to speak about my experience visiting them.

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Upon entering the busy restaurant, my focus shifted to the waitress at the counter, who was quite chipper. I mean, all servers are, it’s part of their job, but she seemed genuinely happy to see us. And handed me and my dining companion a menu.

And what struck me about this menu was that it had things on it that sounded legitimately appetizing. It wasn’t just soy or various salads. It was things I, as a more meat leaning individual, would want to eat. So I ended up ordering a Korean beef lettuce wrap.

And when it arrived only a few minutes later it looked like something I should be paying around thirty bucks for at some fancy restaurant. But, I’ll admit, at this point I was still skeptical. I’d been burned before on food that looked better than it tasted.

But, and here comes my verdict--in the most food critic way possible--it was exquisite. I bit into it, made a pleased sound, and demolished my food.

And my companion took one bite and commented on the quality of the food as well. And was kind enough to offer a bite of salad to confirm that it was as good as the meat—which it was.  

Kara Lynn’s Kitchen’s food is my kind of food. Wholesome. Flavorful, and leaving you with a good feeling about what you ate.

And if your conversation should turn to “where should we eat?” I encourage your answer be: “Let’s go to Kara Lynn’s Kitchen”.  

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If you liked this article, you can read more of Brandon Scott’s work over at The Hive, or on his website: www.coolerbs.com.