Lessons from Culver Blvd.

Assuming there's no wind, you could, with a strong 4 iron, hit a golf ball from the Culver Motel and land it in the #6 lane of the 405, the most hated freeway on the planet.

I picture the guests at this fine establishment leaving their windows open at night to let the white noise of the passing traffic, which almost sounds like the ocean, lull them into a deep slumber. That, and the rotgut whiskey and stolen bennies.

I've driven past the Culver Motel for more than 20 years and never took the time to notice its Kerouacian charm.

You can, for instance, secure a modest room at the Culver for less than fifty dollars. That same fifty bucks will not even cover the cost a of room service breakfast at the SoHo Grand. I know, because I had to go a few rounds with the finance people to get reimbursed.

Of course the big draw at the Culver Motel is the C O L O R TV.

And not just any color tv. RCA, my friends. Because when you situate a hotel in Culver City -- The Heart of Screenland, guests expect the finest reproduction of motion pictures, talkies and non-talkies.

It's hard to believe but at one time the RCA name had a certain cache. Those times are long gone.

Though I was surprised to see that the company is still in business. In fact, RCA still makes televisions that are sold at the big box stores. For a good giggle, walk into your local best buy and ask the woman in the blue polo shirt to show you the state of the art RCA's, like the 42 inch LCD with "mega dynamic contrast."

RCA is even on the interwebs.

I'm not sure what the pensive, strong-jawed man about to get jizzed with some mystery green fluid has to do with TV's, or technology, or anything. But the folks in the RCA marketing department could use a few pointers about clarity and no nonsense communication.

Maybe they should speak to the owners of the Culver Motel?