The Focus Group

The Donut Hole in Tulsa was firebombed for hosting a drag queen art show— the second time this month that the shop has been vandalized. Bible verses and hateful rhetoric were left on neighboring businesses. Then, A Kroger store in Arkansas settles with two employees that claimed their religious rights were violated because they had to wear an apron with a “rainbow heart on it.” Finally, McDonald’s...

Shop Talk uncovers a Michael Jackson Suzuki scooter TV ad from the 80’s. Caught My Eye honors the recent death of Jules Bass of Rankin/Bass and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer fame. Also, a keen art historian discovers that a Mondrian art piece has been hanging upside down for decades. Herman Fisher, co-founder of Fisher-Price Toys, is our Business Birthday. We’re all business. Except when we’re no...

Greenpeace has alerted us that less than 5% of global plastics are being recycled and it will only get worse going forward. Then, a recent study shows that US States controlled by liberal legislatures generally have populations with longer lifespans than their Republican controlled counterparts. Finally, Virgin Australia is running a lottery for anyone who books or gets stuck in a middle seat—you...

Shop Talk discusses the one thing that CEO Doug Hirsch of GoodRX does that gives him the best ideas. Caught My Eye exposes a little-known illness related to male orgasms. Also, Dolly Parton has been quietly funding black school bands and other children’s causes for many years and often demands no publicity. Dolly is a national treasure. Joseph Hanson, Inventor of the Hansom Cab, and Founder of the...

Is there a correlation between negative Amazon reviews of Yankee Candles with “no smell” and the rise of Covid infections? Many on social media think so. Then the right wing wants to ban all drag in Idaho from the public square. Yet another anti-LGBTQ legislative action that wants to codify hate and some Americans think it’s OK. Finally, heritage brand, Wonder bread, wants to remind us that it is...

Shop Talk discusses the decline in productivity in America for the first time since such indices have been tracked. Is it real or perceived? Caught My Eye exposes a loophole that same-sex Chinese nationals have found to obtain marriage licenses in Utah. Also, look for the latest Halloween decoration—Empty Soul Girl on a Swing. Ron Joyce, co-founder of Tim Hortons, is our Business Birthday. We’re a...

Russia has put out anti-American propaganda films warning citizens about LGBTQ same-sex marriages, Black American privilege, and Vegans. This is all done in an effort to stop the massive migration of people trying to leave Russia since the invasion of Ukraine. Then, Lindt wins a lawsuit against Lidl for trademark infringement against its chocolate bunny. Finally, check-out the 17-foot Cheeto sculp...

The Focus Group will be back next week with some shiny new content. This week, we take a trip back to the SiriusXM days, with an in-studio visit by Tim Gunn. Wikipedia says, “he is an American author, academic, and television personality.” Tim and John would add, he’s exactly what you've seen on Project Runway—a true gentleman and an amazing mentor. He even got to handle Tim’s List during his visi...

The Focus Group is on hiatus this week, which is the perfect time to visit a favorite past guest interview—the legendary Dick Cavett. Host of “The Dick Cavett Show” on ABC from 1968 to 1975 and on public television from 1977 to 1982, he is also the co-author of four books, has appeared on Broadway, and has made guest appearances in movies and TV shows. His latest book is, Brief Encounters: Convers...

Shop Talk discusses the business acumen of former Apple leader, Steve Jobs. Caught My Eye discovers that a newscaster covering Hurricane Ian used a reservoir tip condom to protect her mic from the elements. Also, as of January 1, 2023, jaywalking will no longer be a crime in California. Famed moonshiner, Popcorn Sutton, is our business birthday. We’re all business. Except when we’re not. Apple Pod...

Candy company, M&M, is introducing a limited-edition purple peanut character. They are denying that it has anything to do with the controversy surrounding the changes they made to the green character. We wonder who is that invested in what the various characters look like and what they are wearing. Then, NFL fans get introduced to Boy Butter, a gay centric lubricant. Finally, a manure statue of cl...

Shop Talk discusses Mark Cuban’s worst career advice. Caught My Eye covers a mistake at Honda where workers in Ohio were overpaid for bonuses and now Honda—worth $42 billion—wants their money back. Also, a woman in Ireland swallows 55 batteries and needs surgery to remove them. Thomas Crapper of plumbing fame is our Business Birthday. We’re all business. Except when we’re not. Apple Podcasts: appl...

Book banning has gone into overdrive as conservative activists continue their assault on all things LGBTQ and race with a record number of books being banned 2022. Franzia Wine has teamed up with BARK to create matching box wine costumes for you and man’s best friend. Finally, vegan purveyor Beyond Meat’s leader, Doug Ramsey bites off man’s nose in the heat of an argument over a Subaru bumping a B...

Shop Talk looks at ways to combat doubt and find your personal and professional attributes that give you strength and confidence. Caught My Eye looks at elective surgery for men who want to be taller. Also Fred Franzia, the guy behind Trader Joe’s Two-Buck Chuck dies. The co-founder of Abercrombie & Fitch, Ezra Fitch, is our Business Birthday. We’re all business. Except when we’re not. Apple Podca...

After Putin and his troops got their butt-kicked last week by the Ukrainians he was not fazed as he opened a new Ferris wheel in Moscow. “The biggest and nothing like it in Europe,” Putin declared as it broke down the next day. Google wrongly deposits 250K into a user’s bank account. How do you let them know? Finally, a veteran’s old age home in Taiwan rethinks and apologizes for hiring an overzea...

Shop Talk looks at luck as being a part of life that we should recognize and accept. Caught My Eye involves a Southwest Airline pilot who did not want to receive NSFW airdropped images and a cruise ship that will be scrapped before its first voyage. The first woman to lead a major airline, Colleen Barrett, is our Business Birthday.  We’re all business. Except when we’re not. Apple Podcasts: apple....

Drag Kids was a costume and lip sync event that was supposed to take place during Boise Pride. Unfortunately, some right-wing extremists felt it was the sexualization of children and companies and organizers had to regroup. Shame on the companies that bowed to the pressure by the Republicans and pulled back their Pride funding. Then, retailers like Gap and Kohl’s are employing a strategy known as...

Shop Talk looks at the “negative lumping effect.” Caught My Eye reveals some of the props that Mark Hamill has collected over the years from the Star Wars movie franchise. Also, a California assisted living facility serves some patients dish soap thinking it was juice. Inventor of the flat-bottom paper bag, Luther Crowell, is our Business Birthday. We’re all business. Except when we’re not.  Apple...

Drag Legend, Varla Jean Merman, slipped on a tic-tac and broke her kneecap while performing last week at P-Town’s Crown and Anchor. Varla took it in stride as she was pumped full of morphine for her ride to a hospital in Hyannis. Fox News was critical of Prince Harry’s large gas-guzzling SUV idling in the parking lot waiting for his arrival—but failed to notice that Harry’s huge SUV was an all-ele...

Shop Talk looks at the advent of Arizona Tea and a supposedly new trend of Quiet Quitting in the workplace. Caught My Eye warns New Yorkers that if they buy whipped cream, they must be at least 21 and may have to show an ID. Also, a recent study believes that dog and cat owners may take on the behaviors of their pets. Cat owners being more cautious and dog owners having more risky behavior. Bill D...

A Grand Island, Nebraska school board has shuttered Saga, the 54-year-old high school newspaper, because it did not like recent content. The staff was reprimanded for using a writer’s preferred pronouns, covering PRIDE, and publishing an editorial against Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law. So much for teaching free speech. Then, California is placing solar panels over canals to save water and energy....

Shop Talk looks at three food related business stories. Caught My Eye looks at a woman who has filed a lawsuit in Federal Court for being denied a FCANCER license plate. Also, a new book was just released about Crazy Eddie, the northeastern electronics giant, who was forever present on TV in the 80’s. James Lick, at one time the “Richest Man in California,” is our Business Birthday. We’re all busi...

Japan wants to increase tax revenue by encouraging the younger generation to drink more. Under a new national campaign, called “Sake Viva!”, the Japanese Government is accepting ideas on how to best launch a marketing campaign to increase alcohol sales and in effect, tax revenue. Cheers! Then, a visitor to Milwaukee gets caught on a draw bridge opening and falls to his death when he could no longe...

Shop Talk covers a prolific vet in Maryland that dispenses pet and home spun quotes and jokes on their sign. Caught My Eye has two stories hotel related. First, Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer converts three rooms at a motel in Traverse City with an 80’s vibe that fits the blue-collar brand. Second, The Liberty Inn is for sale. It is New York City’s last “no-tell-motel.” The “boy-wonder” of drugstores, Jus...

Anti-LGBTQ hate surged online by 406% following the passage of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, that limits classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity, a new report finds. Hetrification is the act of bachelorette parties taking over gay safe spaces and it is not good according to a recent study. Finally, Fancy Feast cat food brand is sponsoring human dinners in NYC so cat owners...