Today, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson issued the following statement proclaiming July 2025 as “Made in the USA” Month:
“In honor of our nation’s independence, the Federal Trade Commission has designated July as ‘Made in the USA’ month. As Chairman of the FTC, I am responsible for enforcing laws that prohibit companies from making false or unsubstantiated claims that a product is ‘Made in the USA.’ It is important to protect Americans from deceptive advertising, and also important because it provides consumers with confidence that when they buy something that says ‘Made in the USA’ they are actually supporting American workers, American manufacturers, and American communities.”
Uncle Festus and Lurch from the Addams Family TV show
Lurch was a fictional character created by American cartoonist Charles Addams as a butler to the Addams Family. In the original television series, Lurch was played by Ted Cassidy.
He is a 6 ft. 9 in. tall, shambling, gloomy butler. In the original Addams Family television series, Lurch has a deep and resonant voice. Although fully capable of normal speech, Lurch often communicates via simple inarticulate moans, which, much like the dialogue of Cousin Itt, his employers have no trouble understanding.
Like any butler, Lurch tries to help around the house, but occasionally his great size and strength cause trouble. He clearly takes pride in his work and is willing to do even the most arduous task.
His character often demonstrates signs of frustration towards his employers; however, his continued presence also suggests loyalty. As a result, he appears to be one of the family.
The family summons him with an ever-present bell pull (in the form of a hangman’s noose). When pulled, it produces a loud gong noise that shakes the house, to which Lurch instantly appears and responds, “You… rang?”, even if wide-angle shots reveal that he was clearly nowhere in the vicinity before; on a few occasions Lurch arrives even before the bell pull is tugged.
Much of Lurch’s history, including his first name and the nature of his relationship to any other Addamses, was originally unspecified. “Lurch” was revealed during the original TV series to be a surname, as there was a “Mother Lurch” who appeared in one episode (portrayed by Ellen Corby). She addressed Lurch as “Sonny”, which could either be a parental nickname or his actual first name. As for his father, he was mentioned twice, once in the second animated series, and in an apparent reference to his Frankenstein’s monster-like appearance, Lurch said, smiling, “He put me together.” And another time in the original series where Lurch mentions his father wanted him to be a jockey (typically short and light people) instead of a butler.
It was stated in Addams Family Reunion that Lurch is part Addams. This plays into his being a creation similar to Frankenstein’s monster. The only definite body part that is from an Addams is his heart. Lurch’s mother appears to be a physically normal, elderly woman, although she does not see anything unusual about the Addams family or their home, with the exception of Thing.
“Lurch” as a Florida ocean lifeguard in Ormond Beach
A decade before Ted Cassidy played Lurch on The Addams Family (and appeared in Star Trek, The Twilight Zone, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and other films and series) he was an Ormond Beach lifeguard who earned a double major in Speech and Drama at DeLand’s Stetson University. That’s him, second from left. Handsome fella and, by all accounts, a very nice man.
Theodore Crawford Cassidy (July 31, 1932 – January 16, 1979) was an American actor. He tended to play unusual characters in offbeat or science-fiction works, such as Star Trek and I Dream of Jeannie, and he played Lurch on The Addams Family TV series of the mid-1960s.[1][2] He also narrated the intro sequence for the 1977 live-action The Incredible Hulk TV series and provided the growls and roars for the Hulk for the first two seasons before his death. [Wikipedia]
Don’t check your heart at the door. Ever thought about why some messages really GRAB ATTENTION while others seem to disappear?
Persuasion has been around forever and is mandatory for your business, but you need to understand how it works. It impacts our choices, shapes decisions, and prompts action.
If you want your business to thrive, get a grip on this art. There are only two ways to persuade.
1. Significant Emotional Events and 2. Repeated Messages
First, at the core lies psychology, particularly significant emotional events like crises… …or amazing great news… …and second, the repeated message strategy, much like ads and commercials.
These two ways can boost your influence on customers, businesses, and government entities.
You have just 0.05 seconds to grab someone’s attention on social media* before they scroll past, making design your most powerful tool to stand out.
That’s why I created the “Made You Look” banner/cover/masthead, a bold and eye-catching header perfect for all my social media platforms. The design uses primary colors—blue, red, yellow, and a touch of green—alongside a stark black-and-white contrast to ensure it stands out in a crowded digital space.
Why Primary Colors?
Primary colors are the building blocks of the color spectrum, universally recognized and emotionally evocative. Blue conveys trust and reliability, red demands urgency and passion, yellow radiates optimism, and green adds a sense of balance and the urge to GO! Together, they create a visual harmony that’s impossible to ignore.
In the “Made You Look” banner, these colors are arranged in a geometric layout inspired by modernist art**, giving the design a timeless yet contemporary feel. The black outlines and text provide a sharp contrast, ensuring the words pop against the vibrant background, while the gray section adds a subtle balance to avoid overwhelming the viewer.
The Importance of Grabbing Attention First
On social media, users scroll through endless content at lightning speed. If your header doesn’t stop them in their tracks, your message—no matter how insightful—will go unnoticed.
Did you know that a staggering 54% of viewers suspect brands of “pandering” when local ads feel inauthentic?
This surprising revelation from The Local Lift white paper, conducted by Locality and The Harris Poll in November 2024, highlights a critical pitfall most businesses overlook: authenticity is non-negotiable in marketing.
The study shows 71% of Americans expect localized messaging, with 81% of 18-34-year-olds prioritizing it.
Local video ads far outshine national ones in relevance (68% vs. 13%), trust (47% vs. 12%), and purchase intent (63% vs. 13%). Viewers are 6x more likely to see brands in local ads as community members (63% vs. 11%), forging stronger bonds.
The report underscores the power of combining local streaming, broadcast, and social media video with over 70% of viewers agreeing local ads enhance relevance (74%), trust (73%), and curiosity (73%).
Using local news and sports as part of your marketing campaigns – and regular social posts – are an even better way to localize your content. – R. Michael Brown
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