Star Trek gifts any fan would appreciate.

Men can be so hard to buy for, but if they’re a Star Trek fan, any of these items will be sure to please. As an Amazon affiliate, I make a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you follow the links. Thank you, kindly.

Let’s begin with items for the nightstand pictured above!

Light up his Universe! Let him know you’re ready for some lovin’ with the Horga’hn Mood Lamp. Caution: Powerful Risian fertility symbol known for initiating Jamaharon! Official Star Trek replica, 14” tall, corded electric. Also makes a good desk lamp. 😉 😉 Under $100.

The NCC-1701-D Whiskey Decanter set is the perfect complement to the Horga’hn Mood Lamp when it’s just you two. It’s also the perfect centerpiece when serving the Crew! Romulan Ale looks particularly lovely. The Decanter set includes a 26-oz eloquently etched glass liquor decanter, stopper, and 4 10-oz tumblers! Just a bit over $100.

Vulcan on the streets; Klingon in the sheets! This KlingonTiki Mug is the perfect water glass reminder for the nightstand. Makes a great beer mug as well. One in a series of six Star Trek tiki mugs including a Gorn Tiki Mug! 16 oz, ceramic. @$30

For @$50, you can help him stay organized and geeked out with wallet or watch! The faux leather Star Trek Men’s Wallet has 7 card slots, 2 small pockets and one cash pocket. It is screen printed with a Class One Sensor panel from the Next Generation. And what geek wouldn’t want this Star Trek Watch with the Starship Enterprise cruising around the dial?! 33mm face, battery operated, leather band. Tells Earth time. 😉

Continuing our efforts to help keep our men organized and going boldly, I give to you two messenger bag options! On the left we have The Original Series Messenger Bag. The dimensions are 18″ x 12″ x 5.5″. It features a fold-over flap, zipper storage and inside padded 15″ computer pocket. Officially licensed and made in the USA. @$100. 

On the right is the Star Trek Klingon Messenger Bag. It is 11″ x 13″ x 3″ and made of faux suede and nylon. Features custom metal Bat’leth trim on front flap, Klingon icon stamp, and a custom-printed Klingon nylon lining. Officially licensed and also @$100. 

Dochvetlh vlneH! That’s Klingon for “I want that thing!” 

And speaking of wanting that thing! Where would your man be without his tool box?! Scottie, O’Brien, LaForge, TRIP!, Seven of Nine, B’Elanna Torres, Stamets, Jet Reno! Without the Engineers of Star Trek–there’d be no mission, there’d be no ship! Men–especially DADS–NEED this Star Trek 100-Piece Engineering Field Kit Tool Set.  A tool for every occasion: wire cutter, pry knife, bit holder, prolong bar, utility knife, ruler, prybars, electrostatic ring, SIM card tools, anti-static cloth, tweezers, spudgers, cable ties, screwdriver bits and more! 12″ x 9″ x 15″. Under 3 lbs, @$90.

Keep your man hydrated with this soft-sided, collapsible Star Trek Water Bottle! Features the original Starship Enterprise on a bold blue background! Plastic material, holds 24 oz, with an extra wide opening for easy filling. Foldable, freezable and stands when filled. Don’t just get one. Get one for each of your crew! Under $15.

All Star Trek fans have their favorite series, and if YOUR  man is a Deep Space 9 fan, he’ll love this set of glasses from Quark’s Bar. The Quark’s Bar Pint Glass set includes four, 16 ounce pint glasses digitally printed in the USA with epoxy ink which means they’re safe for the dishwasher. Licensed with certificate of authenticity. Under $100. 

Pictured above is one of the coolest and weirdest Star Trek journals I’ve discovered: the Star Trek School Notebook Folder. It features characters Kirk, Spock, and Sulu from The Original Series in a variety of combat poses. It also shows a Gorn!!! The back features Picard, Riker, and Worf also in combat poses. Sturdy multi-colored cover, spiral bound, paper inside is ruled, and the Star Trek delta is in the upper right and left corners. Truly one of a kind. @$20.

Here’s the gift that’ll keep the hubs and kids busy for hours. The Star Trek Next Gen 3000 Piece Puzzle! This is the ultimate Trekkie gift. When finished, it’s 45″ x 32″!  Thick quality paper with vibrant colors. Perfect for framing once complete. 

Prefer The Original Series? Here is the link to the Star Trek TOS 3000 Piece Puzzle. 

Get ’em both! They’ll look great framed and hanging side by side in the game room. 

Can you really call your man a Star Trek fan unless his closet is full of Star Trek t-shirts?! Here are two of my favorites: Dad You Are Bold and Galaxy’s Greatest Dad. If your man isn’t a Dad yet, there are plenty of Star Trek Ts to choose from. Both shirts pictured are 100% cotton, machine washable (but be careful–they’re cotton!), and available in a variety of colors. Officially licensed Star Trek apparel. @$20.

There you have it: 13 + 1 Star Trek gifts for your man with links to make shopping easier. If you’d like suggestions for the LADY Trekkies in your life, read Star Trek Your Mom! Or if you’re a pet parent, read Star Trek Your Pet. 

And may you continue to go boldly where no man has gone before. 

Loquaciously,

Captain Brauer, Starship Providence

 

Captain Mom will LOVE this Star Trek swag.

If Mom is a Trekkie, she’ll love any of these practical Star Trek Mother’s Day gifts. As a Trekkie Mom myself, I have many of the items suggested here and as an Amazon affiliate, I receive a small commission should you kindly use the links.

Pictured: Galaxy’s Greatest Mom t-shirt. Any Mom would be proud to wear this practical, versatile, comfortable shirt. Comes in 10 colors (black pictured above). Solid colors are 100% cotton; others are cotton/poly blends. A variety of sizes, naturally. All are washable. Officially licensed. Under $20.

The What I Learned from Star Trek mug is one of my favorites! It combines all the sayings a Star Trek-savvy Mom would say: Go Boldly, Be Logical, Give ‘er All She’s Got…you get the idea! Teaching kids the principles of Starfleet just got easier over Mom’s morning cup of raktajino. @$20.

Tote and go! Mom can throw the day’s essentials into this fun and functional, sturdy Star Trek Canvas Tote (pictured above) and boldly go about her day. Duo black and white canvas with gold command insignia. It’s multipurpose, reusable and foldable. 19″x 14″x5″. @$30.

 

 

Or maybe this stylized, Star Trek Retro Tech Tote Bag is more your Mom’s flavor. Durable nylon in The Original Series colors. Zippered compartments outside and inside of bag for storage and organization. Great as a work-day tote, gym or diaper bag.  Measures 18.5″x12″x5″. @$70.

This soft-sided, collapsible Star Trek Water Bottle is a MUST for ALL Moms! Staying hydrated has never been as important while going warp 10 with crew aboard and sometimes in tow. Plastic material. Features the original Starship Enterprise on a bold blue background! Holds 24 oz, extra wide opening. Foldable, freezable and stands when filled. Don’t just get one. Get one for each of your crew! Under $15. 

ST water bottle

Pictured here and above, another must have! This Star Trek Insignia Scarf is for all seasons, all adventures, and all worlds! Fashionable and functional: a scarf can save the day and the Universe. Premium acrylic, 30 x 190 cms. It’s plenty long: I recently wore mine to the hot springs and wrapped it as a turban. Practical and pretty with the insignia colors of gold, blue, and red. And best of all?! It comes with a matching beanie with a ball on top!! Bad news. It’s not currently available, but keep checking this link for availability. It’ll be worth the wait. Mine is always in my starship.

ST insignia scarf
ST captain's log

Help Mom organize her thoughts and her day with this Unemployed Philosophers Guild Star Trek Captain’s Log Notebook. Perfect size for tote bags: 4.75″x 7″, 48 pages. Small and flat, easy to carry. Sturdy cardboard cover with gold foil stamp. I use mine to record favorite Star Trek quotes. I wish these came in packs of ten. Under $10.

ST sticky notes sigle

If your Mom still relies on sticky notes, she’ll love Star Trek Sticky Notes (and so will you when she leaves one for you). 😉 “While You Were Beaming Down” pink pad features Lt. Uhura and plenty of space to leave a note. Pad is full of hundreds of colorful self sticking sheets of Kirk, McCoy, Spock and Scottie. Particularly useful for bookmarking pages. Measures 3 1/4″ x 4 1/4″ and fits easily into a bag. Under $10. 

Help Mom keep track of time in this Universe! From the same people who brought us the Unemployed Philosophers Guide Star Trek Captain’s Log, I present to you the Unemployed Philosophers Guide Star Trek Unisex Watch. It tells Earth time as the Starship Enterprise cruises around the dial. Comes with battery and tin case. This is on my Mother’s Day wish list. @$45

And if Mom finds herself with extra time, the Star Trek Cookbook is a great way to please the crew. It’s full of recipes you can use–with a few Earthly substitutions for intergalactic ingredients when required. (But I’m not eating Tribble!! Yes, my sweetheart got me this book for Valentine’s Day and there is a recipe.) The coolest thing, this “cookbook embraces the best of Star Trek and its core message of hope, acceptance, and exploration in the spirit of gastrodiplomacy.” Or so says the description and it’s true. If Mom doesn’t have time to cook, it’s a great coffee-table look book as well. @$25.

Without Scottie, O’Brien, LaForge, TRIP!, Seven of Nine, B’Elanna Torres, Stamets, Jet Reno!–the Engineers of Star Trek–there’d be no mission, there’d be no ship! Moms NEED this Star Trek 100-Piece Engineering Field Kit Tool Set. That’s a mouthful but it hit all the right keywords. A tool for every occasion: wire cutter, pry knife, bit holder, prolong bar, utility knife, ruler, prybars, electrostatic ring, SIM card tools, anti-static cloth, tweezers, spudgers, cable ties, screwdriver bits and more! 12″ x 9″ x 15″. Under 3 lbs, @$90.

At the end of the day, most Captains just want comfy jammies and a warm bed. This Star Trek Next Gen Picard Nightgown Sleep Shirt Pajama Top is just what Mom wants. 100% polyester, all-season style. I love these jammies. Mom will explore strange new worlds in her sleep. @$35.

And remember the socks! Captains and Moms need to take care of their feet. The Star Trek Uniform Emblem Crew Socks are great for all away missions and cold winter nights! Set of 3: Command gold, Science blue, Engineering red. These are men’s sizes so run big. There are plenty other Star Trek socks to discover. @$20.

I hope you’ve discovered an item or two for your Star Trek Mom! Happy Mother’s Day. Live Long and Prosper! 

If you’d like suggestions on how to Star Trek Your Pet, check out these 9 ideas. 

Trek on!

Captain Brauer, Starship Providence 

 

Star Trek Your Pet with Kirk and Spock Costumes!

Is your pet part of the crew? Of course they are–and they deserve the uniform to prove it! If not for daily wear, great on a chilly day or for Halloween dress-up. Officially licensed by Star Trek. Available in all sizes, Beagles to Bernese. Get the Captain Kirk Costume. Get the Spock Costume. @$30

Whether you lean Kirk or Spock, cat or dog (no preference implied), there are many Star Trek pet products for you and your pet to enjoy. Here is a list of my favorites. Yes, they are affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases (at no additional cost to you). I’ve spent some time compiling it and I hope you find just the perfect item for your pet!

Safety first! This gold and black Star Trek Dog Collar assures your pet can boldly go exploring without the fear of being lost. Nylon, plastic, and rubber with buckle closure. Adjustable for all size dog.  @$20 Matching Star Trek Leashes available. 

Your pet needs a bandana–and NOT just to make them look chic. The Star Trek Bandanas are practical for pets and parents alike. Use for wet clean-ups or in case of an emergency. These cotton-poly blends are customized: choose from 13 different insignias in nine colors. And personalized up to 8 characters. Get a matching set for dog, cat and yourself! @$10

Check out this adorable Starship Warp Drive Chew Toy! What pup wouldn’t want to play with this? About 12″ with durable braided nylon rope–and squeakers! Collars, leashes, bowls and beds also available. @$30

Maybe this Star Trek Planetary Disaster Rope Toy is better suited to your pet. I’m not too excited about the name–no need for a planetary disaster to enjoy this toy! Includes interlocking ropes and squeaker, approximately 7″ in diameter. @$15

 

And now for some CAT LOVE!

Give your feline friend a little nippy with these Star Trek Organic Catnip Cat Toys. Wool-felt pouches are stuffed with catnip and buckwheat hulls and handsewn in Oregon. Choose command gold, science blue, or engineering red delta. @$5 

Imagine how styling your cat will be with their own Star Trek Kirk and Spock Cat Enamel Pins. They can wear them on their bandanas! Or you could wear the set on your collar. A cute, unusual way for you to share your love of cats and Star Trek! @$15

Your cat probably doesn’t need a calendar but you certainly do. Here are our favorite cats of Star Trek in calendar form. Choose from Star Trek Cats 2023 or Star Trek Cats 2024. Every day you’ll be reminded to “feed them and tell them they are good and are pretty.” (Paraphrased from Data, the Next Gen series.) @$20

Last but not least: a tribute to our newest feline friend, Grudge, from Star Trek Discovery.

“Sharper than a claw and more stunning than a phaser blast, The Book of Grudge’s Prime Directive features her take on everything from space travel to the proper care and training of an array of alien species.” Your cat just might enjoy the stories–if they are a reader. 😉  @$15

Live long and prosper, Queen Grudge!

There you have it; a few cute ideas on how to Star Trek your pet. Stay safe, have fun and continue to boldly go with a furry companion or two by your side. 

Courageously,

Captain Brauer, Starship Providence

The Moon, Ace of Starships, King of Starships

In anticipation of Picard Season 3 Episode 9, I share with you my Trek/tarot reading from this morning.

The Moon: intuition and illusion

Ro Laren

I know!! (Spoiler alert! If you’re not current with the final season of Picard, stop reading and watch!) Ro Laren’ s past perfectly represents the Moon. Her story arc on Picard continues that energy. From the Star Trek the Next Generation Tarot Deck*:

“The Moon offers both intuition and illusion as it hangs brightly in the night sky. Some are freed by its light, while others are trapped in its mystery. When Ensign Ro arrives on the Enterprise, she is also caught between two worlds. Powerless to protect her home world Bajor from the occupying Cardassians, she blames the Federation for not doing more to help. The resulting frustration has left her both directionless and resentful. Skeptical of authority, Ro is torn between her love for her people and her oath to Starfleet.”

Is it cosmic coincidence Ro Laren showed up today? One day before the next episode of Picard? The intelligence she shared with Picard in a previous episode has cast just enough light to see beyond the illusion. (Seriously, watch it now.) Frontier Day is going to be lit!

The Next Gen deck goes on to say:

“You also feel lost and anxious, as your intuition has led you down a path filled with hidden perils and unknown foes. Open your eyes to those who may be deceiving you and realize that sometimes we deceive ourselves.”

My reading is not just about the storyline in Picard, it’s also representative of the world today. Democracy is under assault; women are under assault; the LGBTQ community is under assault; immigrants are under assault. The Moon reveals what’s hidden. And it’s time to expose the hidden agendas by the people who are here to hurt us.

Ace of Starships

From the Next Gen deck:

“Your starship has left space dock and is ready to embark! Look forward to new relationships or creative endeavors. This beginning will grant you fulfillment, spiritual enlightenment, and the ability to better balance your emotions.”

What that means to me? It’s confirmation that I’m Captain Brauer of the Starship Providence and my destiny is wherever I plot a course. I’m comforted and confident that I have a crew of people who think like me, are on board, and are ready to boldly defend people and the planet!

King of Starships

Sarek

From the Next Gen deck:

“The King of Starships has mastered his emotions and is never dominated by despair, passion, or outrage. He is dependable and mature, though he may seek to hide his pain from others. Always good in a crisis, his steady nature can overcome any instability.”

What a great card to draw. Again, not just because we need every former crew member of the Enterprise to master their emotions and save Earth from the Changelings in Season 3 Episode 9/10, we need that now—across the nation!

I need that now! I admit, I’ve fallen into despair watching Trump and the Republicans dismantle decades of civil rights/human rights, been enraged watching the policies they’ve passed that harm people and the planet, and my passion has run so high and deep, I’ve not been able to channel that energy into positive action.

But Sarek, a Vulan and King of Starships, is a great reminder. I am strong, wise and confident. I know kindness, goodness, acceptance and appreciation ARE the prevailing mindsets for the majority of Americans. I know it to be true. I follow these people and talk with these people on the social platforms (mostly Twitter**). They are my mates and my motivators.

Time to assemble all ships and all personnel and get to Frontier Day. That’d be November 5, 2024!

What a great reading. I’m spired. Thank you Star Trek; thank you tarot.

Lindee

* This is the BEST tarot deck I’ve used. Shout out to the author Tori Schafer. Her bio in the back of the Star Trek Next Gen guidebook says she’s been practicing tarot since she was young, but it doesn’t say she is a Trekkie and no way she’s not! The characters and descriptions are so true to the Star Trek universe—and so accurate! I’ve been a lover and practitioner of tarot for the past twenty years. I’ve been a Trekkie since I was five; I grew up on The Original Series, but the Next Gen series is where I truly embraced and embodied the principles of Star Trek. This deck galvanizes those two worlds, tarot and Star Trek, and I am energized. Thank you, Tori Schafer. Girl, you are brilliant!

And not to be overlooked! Nicky Barkla, the deck’s illustrator, brought these cards to life! The art is vibrant and stunning and true to the original ambiance of the Series. The illustrations are beautiful and nostalgic. The entire deck feels good in my hands.   

I’m grateful to these ladies. I carry this deck with me always! (Along with my Angel Cards by Doreen Virtue–who’s since lost her friggin’ mind– and Rider Waite decks that I’ve used for twenty years.)

**Musk is an ignorant, entitled twot.

Blend meld mold shift transform move lift create build write sing dance speak work give share help meet appreciate join celebrate be do thrive harmonize transcend…add your own verbs here—as long as they are positive!

This is what we must do now, as a nation: move toward the positive. But how? The “how” is always part of the solution. To say “solution” implies we have a problem, and Houston, we do. (Yes, I’m looking at you, Texas. And many of the Republican-governed states who are influencing ALL the states.)

But I skipped right over the “why.” We’ve got two competing belief systems we as citizens are attempting to sort out–and the nation is divided! Contentions are high: Violence is spiking and many people feel threatened. There are so many issues within those belief systems that divide us–issues that effect our everyday lives.

But when it comes to sorting these issues, can we all agree: we’re in it together?

Can we start there?

We’re all on planet Earth together.

Do we all agree on that one point?

If so, let’s move forward. Together. Citizens in Red states. Citizens in Blue states.

If not, let’s back off and look broader: we’re all on planet Earth. “Together” is up for debate with some. But if we can agree on that one point, we’re all on planet Earth, we can agree on others.

Yes, we have many disagreements, but we do have common areas of concern and that’s where we start.

Can we all agree we are human beings? Sacks of skin and bags of bones made alive by the miracle of breath, water and spirit? If so, we can move forward. If not, let’s back up. Can we all agree humans require oxygen and water?

Yes, there is a divide in this nation. Like each other or not, we’re on the planet, the team, and the company roster. We’re part of humanity, in the choir, the club, the band. We’re all at the G– D— party! Can we all agree to that: we’re in this together whether we like it or not? We have more things in common than not and that’s where we must focus our attention.

I need Steven King to write us a better ending! I need Survivor to turn into Thriver and build a fucking village and create a community!

What if the world focused on what unites us versus what divides us?

Imagine the positive outcomes. Visual a better future. We can do it; we can move forward, together.

Lindee

Possible headline: Woman w/out Healthcare Dies of Sepsis *

The real headline should be: Republican Mom Kills Own Daughter

“I didn’t think MY daughter would die,” cries Karen, a good God-fearing Christian who voted for Republicans because they and she passed judgment on anyone who had an abortion. “Only bad girls, promiscuous girls need abortions. That’s not my daughter.”

And then—gasp!—her daughter turns up preggers. It doesn’t matter HOW it happened: a consensual first-time lover, a consensual romance, a non-consensual perverted step-father/brother/uncle, a pastor who indulged his sexual nature.**

IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW IT HAPPENED. If a woman is pregnant and does not want to have a child, abortion is the solution. If a woman desperately wants to be a mother but finds she’s lost her baby in the womb, abortion is the solution.

Mother Karens who think “my daughter had a miscarriage so she’ll get the care she needs” will be crying when they learn that, too, is an abortion–and it’s being outlawed!

Abortion is often necessary when a fetus dies within the uterus, with an ectopic pregnancy, incomplete miscarriage, or potentially fatal bleeding due to a placental abruption, and when birth control fails.

Abortion is healthcare–and a fundamental right. The government does NOT have the right to tell women they can’t have this procedure—under any circumstance, wanted pregnancy or unwanted pregnancy. The ramifications are extreme when the mother is not yet ready to give birth.

As long as men have penises, women are going to get pregnant. Many are wanted; many are unwanted. A woman should have the option to choose if the pregnancy continues or not.

Of course termination should be as early as possible; termination after 20 weeks only if the life of the mother is at risk. When healthcare is available (education, contraception, immediate access to abortion medication and procedures), women live.

According to The Conversation, a non-profit, independent news organization, the number of pregnancy-related deaths will increase by 21% the first year alone with our Hispanic and African-American sisters paying the biggest price.

This is unacceptable. This is avoidable—by reinstating a woman’s right to control her own body.

Medical doctors are not making these decisions. Politicians are. Specifically, white, Christian men and women, based on their own religious beliefs, are driving this assault on women. The Supreme Court of the United States of America made this decision.

This ultra-conservative, right-wing group of Justices will continue their assault on our individual freedoms. The right to PRIVACY is of utmost importance. And the separation of Church and State must be maintained.

The First Amendment to the US Constitution says:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Republicans calling for abortion bans based on their own beliefs are betraying their oaths to the Constitution. And more importantly—they are killing their own daughters! Our daughters.

If you don’t believe in abortion then don’t have one! But you not believing in abortion doesn’t deny the fact that thousands of women will need that procedure just to stay alive.

We must vote Republicans out of office. Other issues matter not once you’ve lost control of your own body. I will fight daily for my daughter, her daughter, your daughter, all daughters. I will support and vote for every Democrat on every ballot knowing Democrats protect this right.

Will you vote for Democrats in 2024? Or will you let Republicans kill our daughters?

Lindee

* I jest. So many women die of sepsis yearly that it isn’t even news. Just like the multitude of gun deaths. It’s tragic and sad.

** Based on my personal experience of being kissed by a Catholic priest when I was 16, so fuck-off with any righteous indignation of my disparaging remarks against clergy.

Is it audacity? Is it perversion? Is it boredom with their own lives? What is it exactly that makes Republicans—and specifically Christian Republicans—think they can legislate what happens in our uteri? Or in our bedrooms?

It’s NUNYA: none of your friggin’ business.

Would any of our rights be threatened IF it weren’t for people sticking their noses where they don’t belong?

“There’s your business, my business, and God’s business,” writes Byron Katie in her book Loving What Is. Ironically, the book is about accepting what can’t be changed, and instead, changing your perspective to be okay with what is. Katie uses a method she calls “the work” to help people understand why they are emotionally triggered, and she talks them through the mental barriers to help them learn and grow.

Right now, the whole damned Republican party needs to do a Byron Katie workshop. I want to know WHY Republicans think what happens with my body is any of their business. It’s not!

There’s your business, my business, and God’s business.

Your rights end where my body begins. And, you do NOT know God’s business. (I don’t care how often you reference the Bible or go to church, you’re not God and you do not know.)

Of course, these people understand the concept. They are the same people who cried MY BODY MY CHOICE when it came to wearing a mask. “Freedom,” they say. “Keep the government out of it,” they whine.

Where is the logic?! Where is the reason?! How can they not equate one with the other?

Because it’s not about freedom; it’s about power and control over women’s bodies.

Roe v Wade has been settled precedent for 50 years. I’m not willing to concede its overturning by a partisan Supreme Court established by a corrupt president.

I do not accept “what is” in this situation. Instead of changing my perspective, I’m working to change the Court.

First—it’s not done yet! It’s time to don the pussy hat and take to the street. It’s time to write and call the Senators. If SCOTUS does overturn Roe v Wade, it’s time to put money and time behind pro-choice candidates, knock on doors, and help turn out voters in November.  

Republicans will not stop with regulating our uteruses. The right to use contraception and to love and marry who we want are the next on their hit list.

Why? Because they have their friggin’ noses where they don’t belong.

Republicans, focus on your own damned body—and leave mine alone!

#LoquaciousLindee

Silumtaneous Usage TV and Digital and TV and Audio

How often do you watch tv and work on your computer at the same time? I’m doing it right now. According to Nielsen’s 1918 Q2 Total Audience Report, 45% of viewers are always or very often using another digital device while watching tv. Only 6% of tv watchers are using an audio device while watching tv.

Why? Because we LISTEN to our tvs as well as WATCH them!

TV commercials NEED SOUND! We consumers don’t just watch tv, we listen to tv; we HEAR a message. As the old adage goes:

YOU CAN’T SHUT YOUR EARS!

Seldom does the TV screen have our 100% attention visually. In addition to the 45% that is not 100% engaged, another 28% are also looking at a second screen. And, many of us are also on our cell phones! Are you getting the stats?!

We are not WATCHING TV, so every time a commercial comes on and THERE IS NO SOUND, WE DO NOT GET THE MESSAGE. TV ads that flash words on the screen without a narrator reading them OUT LOUD are wasting money and an opportunity! Politicians—can you hear me?!

Almost ALL of the political ads right now have video clips of Donald Trump telling lies. They play his words over and over again and on the screen image they flash the world “lies.” BUT NO ONE IS PAYING ATTENTION TO THE WORDS ON THE SCREEN. If you are listening but not watching, the ad reinforces Trump’s message. There should be a narrator saying the words OUT LOUD!

Narrator: DONALD TRUMP IS LYING.

Then the narrator gives the CORRECT INFORMATION OUT LOUD! So people can hear it if they happen NOT to be watching. Which is the majority of us.   

Conduct your own experiment. You watch tv, right? Contrast these two videos:

Eleven Films does it right. Although they don’t use a narrator, each clip includes AUDIO that tells the story. This 2:00 video calling Trump out for his Coronavirus incompetence is easy to understand even if you aren’t watching but only listening.

“You can’t trust this President to do the right thing,” says a person in a voice-over of a picture of EMTs rolling away a body. Then next clip shows Trump calling Coronavirus “the new Democratic hoax.” On comes another visual of people being screened by emergency personnel with the voice-over, “not for the sake of our country.” EVERY important point is emphasized with visuals AND AUDIO.  

WATCH AND LISTEN to this video from Eleven Films. They are on a mission to save Democracy. Subscribe to their Youtube channel and #Resist! And Democratic candidates—please hire Eleven Films to get your message out!!

BREAKING: the American Virus: We Will Prevail

Contrast that with this commercial from The New York Times: The Truth Can Change How We See the World

New York Times: The Truth Can Change How We See the World

The commercial begins with ocean scenery and Janelle Moonaea, a beautiful African-American woman, telling the story of 20 enslaved Africans being delivered to the shores of Virginia and sold to the Colonists. “America was not yet America,” she says, “but this is the moment it began.”

THEN, NO MORE SOUND BUT THESE WORDS COME ON THE SCREEN

“Words from

The 1619 Project: How Slavery Shaped America

The truth can change how we see the world.

Truth is worth it.”

Then the New York Times’ logo appears.

LIKE WE SAW OR HEARD THAT!! A beautiful ad by the New York Times, apparently one in their “Truth can change how we see the world” campaign. Great campaign, but here’s the BAD NEWS.

NO ONE IS GETTING YOUR MESSAGE. YOU GOTTA SAY THE WORDS OUT LOUD!

According to a random ppt presentation I found on LinkedIn, people remember:

10% of what they read

20% of what they hear

30% of what they see

50% of what they see and hear

80% of what they say

90% of what they say and do

So, if you want people to remember what your tv commercial “says,” you’ve got to help your audience SEE and HEAR your message. If you can get them up doing the hokey-pokey and singing along, even better.

#LoquaciousLindee

Company Brain: Company Voice

How are you?

This is where the discussion starts. A question. A seemingly simple question, relatively benign. I might have gone with something a little less nebulous trying to avoid the customary “fine” response; perhaps something weather-related: hot enough/cold enough for you? A safe topic. Who doesn’t have opinions about the weather?

What I’m looking for is a spark. A commonality, a thread. Do we think alike? Am I threatened if we don’t?  

I understand not being free to speak your mind in all situations, or it’s not prudent to say what your brain is thinking. Especially if you’re the one starting the conversation, you have to be discerning; you have to use your “company brain.” The layer of your brain that serves pleasantries and kind thoughts, puts a positive spin on traditional ways, gives the benefit-of-the-doubt and agrees to be a team player. The part of the brain that uses the “company voice,” a respectful, polite tone-of-voice—delivered with a smile–as it compels the person to continue to work on behalf of and for the good of “the company.”

Another explanation: my friend refers to it as her Mom’s “company voice.” Her Mom used a pleasant tone-of-voice with company: the neighbors, the neighbors’ kids, door-to-door salesmen, and the church choir. People she didn’t know well, “company,” she met with mutual respect as the kind human-being she was: she smiled, listened, offered well-wishes, pleasant thoughts, and helped when she could. She showed that person respect in stature and tone.

Both definitions of “company,” at the office or at home, imply you temper your speaking when the situation calls for it. That includes what you say and how you say it. (There’s another blog here about appropriateness and circumstance which I’ll save for another post.) Today’s question: Can you temper your language and tone-of-voice? Can that be done? And if so…

Can we temper our thinking as well? There’s an element of chicken and egg thinking here. Which comes first? Tempered, controlled brain or steady, controlled voice? Hmmmm.

What if we could? Temper them both: thinking and speaking. Could we create kinder, more respectful discourse if we went back to the pleasantries? The “company” voice, however you define it.

What pleasantries would you add?

(Let me just add PLEASE and THANK YOU to the top of the list.)

And, I’d want to be respectful, but that word is subjective. Each of us has something to say about the subject—especially when it comes to politics and Donald Trump, (aside) know what I mean? And here’s the switch.

What if. What if it was a gift when someone shared with you what they think?

Isn’t it a gift when someone shares their thinking with you? (eye roll, obviously there are extremes) But not everyone feels free to talk about what lies OUTSIDE the “company” voice and brain. For many, it’s not pleasant at all. I’m reminded of the movie “What Dreams May Come” with Robin Williams where he and his wife’s thinking created both heaven and hell. #RIPRobinWilliams #loveyoumissyou

When someone shares with you what they think of Donald Trump, it goes one of two ways: you either unite in your immediate disgust and disdain for the harm this man is causing and you’re in hell, or you find yourself looking squarely into the eyes of someone who thinks nothing like you but believes they and Donald Trump are heaven-bound. (Lord! Have mercy!) It’s time to use your company brain and voice!

We can barely put ourselves in someone else’s shoes. How can we possibly put ourselves inside their brain, let alone their dreams or their reasons for supporting Trump? We can’t. But with polite, respectful conversations, we just might find out why. We’re going to need to know and understand if we expect to heal from this divide. We’ve got to seek to understand what each person believes. And that takes conversation. With enough of it, we might realize we are more alike than different, that we want many of the same things, and we all share the bond of being human beings on this planet.

Sometimes all it takes to start the conversation is a question.

“How you doin’?” Joey Triviani.

A spark. A willingness to treat someone you just met or barely know as “company,” as part of “the company”: to think and speak kindly to them, about them, and for them. To work with them for the good of the company, the planet, and ALL of our people.

Loquaciously, 

Lindee Brauer 

#LoquaciousLindee

Need a Christmas or holiday gift? Buy and give Penzeys Spices and help save Democracy! I kid you not.

Penzeys Spices is doing more than manufacturing and providing tasty, quality seasonings, they are sharing their positive, inclusive, hopeful message on social media. In addition, they are actively buying Facebook ads to help combat the onslaught of Trump’s lies. So far, Penzeys has invested around $100,000 on Facebook ads. That may seem like a lot, but compared to the $1 MILLION/week Trump is spending to poison our minds, it’s barely a pinch.

All of my family and friends are getting mini box sets because a large portion of the proceeds are going to fight Trump. My favorites are the Soul, Kind, and Vote gift boxes. Just read the description for the Soul Box and I’m sure you’ll agree, Penzeys spices are good for heart, mind, body, and spirit.

Buy Penzeys Spices!

Once you do your holiday shopping at penzeys.com, go follow Penzeys on Facebook and the other social platforms. They often write about the damage Donald Trump is doing to the planet and its people. They often call out the injustices of the Trump Administration and they’re asking us to get involved.

If all companies were as conscientious as Penzeys, the world would be a much better place. Unfortunately, the all mighty dollar is what drives most companies. Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook I’m talking about you! Therefore, we MUST support the companies that call out the cruelty and criminality of Donald Trump, and Penzeys does that. 

And, in the meantime, while they fight against social injustices, Penzeys encourages each of us to do what we can to fix our own small worlds. For many of us, that starts at home, over dinner. Show your family how much you care. Spice up their lives with Penzeys Spices.

#LoquaciousLindee