I'm not sure about others, but I get a lot of emails daily telling me to order things like penis enlargements, cures for ED, and other sexual remedies. I can't help wondering why they think I need them? Do they really know me that well? If so, I wonder who told them? Is my wife telling things I don't know anything about? I get faxes from vacation sales companies. I wonder where they got my fax number? I don't even know it myself. Why do they think I can afford a vacation in Burmuda? I very seldom send a fax. When I do it's someone else's number I'm sending it to. Where do all these emails and faxes come from?

I get letters in the mail that state on the envelope, "Information you requested". I never remember requesting anything. But their tactic makes me open it to see what it was I requested. The good thing about it all is I am learning a lot about advertisement. I know how to get people's attention now. I've learned it's also good to make sure either the envelope or typing is in one or more colors of red, white, or blue. Since birth all of us have had these colors drummed into our heads as being patriotic colors. I'm told they teach these things in schools of advertisement. Have you noticed how the best selling products always have one or more of these colors? We are brainwashed, folks. Be honest. Would you buy a product that contained only a dull brown color before you would buy one that's colored with red, white, or blue? Look at Pepsi, Coca Cola, Budweiser, chewing gum, candy bars, and everything else. What colors do you see? Let's face it, we are geared to being patriotic. Look at the logos being used by the presidential candidates. What colors do you see? It's either red, white or blue, or a mixture of all three.

It amazes me how color has so much to do with our buying habits. What colors do you see in Viagra, Extends, Huggies, Pampers, Tampons, Cheerios, and bubble gum? How about toilet tissue? It's all the same. Either red, white, or blue. I love American ingenuity. My son once told me when he was a kid he saw an ad saying "send one dollar and learn how to become a millionaire". He and his buddy put their pennies together and sent the dollar. The reply they got was, "put an ad in the paper with the same words I used. If a million people read it and send a dollar, you will then be a millionaire". He said he has never been so disappointed in his life. He's still trying to come up with a similar scam. He's much smarter now, so he might do it. I'm too dumb to think of such things.

I am a singer and recording artist with my own personal fans. However, none of them buy my music these days. They either know someone who already has it to copy, or they hear it on my website or MySpace. I advertise my songs on the disc jockey playlist boards, but the fans don't even know such boards exist. All you see on the playlist boards are DJs and artists who are keeping up with others to see who made the so-called charts either the labels or promoters have put together. It's a competitive thing. One artist does not buy the cd of another artist. It's the way it is. If you installed home air conditioners would you hire another installer to put one in your own home? It's the same with the music business. Basically, you're on your own.

If you have a band and play engagements across the country you might sell a few cds at your appearances. Forget selling them in music stores unless you're well-known. It won't happen, folks. I have sold many recordings of mine during my years in the music business. Would you like to know how I've done it? No problem. Send me $20 and I'll be more than happy to tell you. Making money is the bottom line, right? If you make someone think they actually need your product, they will buy it. But the ones I'm concerned with are those who keep sending emails wanting me to buy penis enlargements and Viagra. Someone, somewhere, had to tell them I need these things. I've not discussed it with the wife yet, but I plan to do it soon. I need to know if she is involved with all of this. If so, why?

I have known people in the music business who have sent out emails or posted statements on message boards saying they are in bad shape, are in the hospital, and will soon be having surgery. I also know some who have had pity for them, called the hospital and learned there was no record of them even being in the hospital. If you read or hear something enough times you begin to believe it. Do I really need Extends or Viagra? My emails keep saying I do.