Establish a set of recommendations for managing the innovative efforts, being pursued both internally and through cooperative alliances, to drive the company's future growth and to ensure that they are aligned with the vision and values of the organization.
I think they are doing a good thing by indulging in their adult market, especially since these adults are making super cool items like giant Homer Simpson statues and mocks of NYC neighborhoods. One of the key reasons to bring in adults is that adults decide what to buy for the kids. While this is often a product of kids nagging the adults, there are parents who are very much against many of the trends that are going on in the toy industry. I see in the case that LEGO tried to run a TV show to sell their product and this flopped (C-137) . However, they have the opportunity to be the premier product for another type of parent.
Susan Linn, who teaches at Harvard and many of her colleauges have formed a coalition to end the rampant commercialization of childhood. They believe, and rightly so, in creative play to stimulate a child's brain development and creativity. A toy that is based on "playing well" is so perfect for parents that care. LEGO has to tap into this market.
I also noticed on their website that they do have LEGOs for girls. I actually think they should do more for that. They don't seem to be selling many options of brick sets. All I saw on their website was the "starter" set. They should also sell an "enhancer" set which wouldn't have the stigma of being a starter set. They should try to sell to educational environments like schools and day cares (Duplo). They should run contests for kids to make things with the blocks and potentially win money that would be held for a their college as a future scholarship or they could win the latest LEGOs. Kids who don't have LEGOs would likely have to buy them to build something to enter. They could also do something like the Campbell's soup points to collect for your school.
They have to keep themselves in kids minds. They had commercials in the 1990s, which one can see if they search YouTube for LEGO commercials. However, they peaked in 2002 (C-131). They need to keep running commercials. To the parents, they should be marketing themselves as a toy both educational and fun. They should make a starter set for girls that would have mostly blue and purple blocks so they can market to tomboys whose mothers don't want them playing with boys toys, but they don't want anything too girly. Believe me, there's a market. That was myself and all my female friends when I was a kid.
REFERENCES
Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood. Media Education Foundation. 2008. 25
Nov. 2010. Online: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=C17EC7C0822AF1E7
The Corporation. Prod. Mark Acbar. Big Picture Media, 2003. 5 Dec. 2010. Online: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi63rXnuWbw.
Hidden Persuaders. Adweek Eastern Edition. 5 Jun. 2000, Vol. 41 Issue 23. 44.
Linn, Susan. Consuming Kids: The Hostile Takeover of Childhood. New York: The New Press. 2004.
Showing posts with label business major. Show all posts
Showing posts with label business major. Show all posts
Monday, May 16, 2011
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
CUNY's Finest... thank you, NYC public schools
I have blogged before about some of the crazy comments on ratemyprofessor that students at my school make about the professors. It's always the same schtick. They pick on the teacher, but they can't spell and their grammar sucks. I had, at one point, looked through professors who are not business professors in an attempt to find more stupid comments. I actually concluded that non-business majors were smarter, as I couldn't find any doozies like those from business professors.
It seems I was wrong. Yeah, I know, happens once in a blue moon. :-)
Here I am taking English 2 that everyone takes. The professor has us read aloud sometimes. Some of these other students can't read anything with more than two syllables. "Perversity"- too hard, "constitute"-too hard, "voyeur"-too hard and the professor actually defined it in class at one point. Oy, veh!
It seems I was wrong. Yeah, I know, happens once in a blue moon. :-)
Here I am taking English 2 that everyone takes. The professor has us read aloud sometimes. Some of these other students can't read anything with more than two syllables. "Perversity"- too hard, "constitute"-too hard, "voyeur"-too hard and the professor actually defined it in class at one point. Oy, veh!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
iWrite an advertising paper
Remember this post where I asked you all to help me pick out a company for my paper? Well, it's been picked out. I'm writing about the Apple Ipod's iconic silhouette ad campaign. I'll take any imput or memories from my readers. I've been hard core hitting the web and I have been finding stuff, I really have.
However what's missing are personal accounts and memories. Also, I found the magazines where they ran this campaign, but, I didn't find the TV stations. Was MTV one of them? I think it was. I found pictures of the ads taking over stations of the BART (subway? commuter train?) in San Francisco. There seems to have been heavy advertising for this campaign in San Francisco.
The rest of us were not left out, though. I remember I would be doing crunchies on the ball in the commercial breaks and this commercial would come on and I would jump up and dance around the room. Sigh.... nowadays I don't do so much dancing around the room. Mostly, I study....
However what's missing are personal accounts and memories. Also, I found the magazines where they ran this campaign, but, I didn't find the TV stations. Was MTV one of them? I think it was. I found pictures of the ads taking over stations of the BART (subway? commuter train?) in San Francisco. There seems to have been heavy advertising for this campaign in San Francisco.
The rest of us were not left out, though. I remember I would be doing crunchies on the ball in the commercial breaks and this commercial would come on and I would jump up and dance around the room. Sigh.... nowadays I don't do so much dancing around the room. Mostly, I study....
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
The rate my prof reviews of a prof I'll be taking later on in the summer....
Now, those of you who read my blog know, I like to have a hay day with the rate my professor comments. I tried looking at comments for not the business major and I didn't find material for the blog. One particular note, is that we have several online classes, which is appealing to me because of my 2 hour commute to college. Next summer session, I'm taking an online class... here are some of the ratemyprofessor.com comments on the professor....
"UNBELIEVABLE IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY! Tests are insanely difficult! How can we do such complicated homework when we arent taught anything? THE MOST HARDEST CLASS WITH THE WORST PROFESSOR EVER! he does not explain anything! Did not respond to any e-mails until everyone began complaining to the head of the dept. one word TERRIBLE!"
Ok, the tests may well be difficult, but, as to the comment, we aren't taught anything... it's an online class. You're supposed to study the material on your own. I swear, they should require a 2.85 minimum GPA for online classes like they do an independant study. It's basically the same thing.
"would not recommend!!..never answered students emails...hard homework, which we were given no help on...waited until week before final to offer to help students...final wasn't that hard, took questions from the quizzes on line..managed to get a B-, but could of got a better grade if professor was more helpful..."
What help is the prof supposed to give? He doesn't teach calculus. It's "could have," maybe even "could've" but definitely not "could of."
In closing, I'll mention, I Emailed my class to see if anyone wanted to form a study group. I got a whole bunch of kickbacks. About four or five of the kickbacks were from the domain of the community college from which many of the students come. Now first off, this is a summer class, so they've been out of there for over a year, they don't think it's time to fix that? Then I'll point out, why are they even using the Email address for a college they aren't going to? Even if they used it when they applied, why would they do that? You know they are going to keep this on file, free Email addresses are in abundance.... I have a hotmail I started just for college-related correspondance. Furthermore, how do they expect to take an online class if they don't even have their account connected to a valid Email address?
"UNBELIEVABLE IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY! Tests are insanely difficult! How can we do such complicated homework when we arent taught anything? THE MOST HARDEST CLASS WITH THE WORST PROFESSOR EVER! he does not explain anything! Did not respond to any e-mails until everyone began complaining to the head of the dept. one word TERRIBLE!"
Ok, the tests may well be difficult, but, as to the comment, we aren't taught anything... it's an online class. You're supposed to study the material on your own. I swear, they should require a 2.85 minimum GPA for online classes like they do an independant study. It's basically the same thing.
"would not recommend!!..never answered students emails...hard homework, which we were given no help on...waited until week before final to offer to help students...final wasn't that hard, took questions from the quizzes on line..managed to get a B-, but could of got a better grade if professor was more helpful..."
What help is the prof supposed to give? He doesn't teach calculus. It's "could have," maybe even "could've" but definitely not "could of."
In closing, I'll mention, I Emailed my class to see if anyone wanted to form a study group. I got a whole bunch of kickbacks. About four or five of the kickbacks were from the domain of the community college from which many of the students come. Now first off, this is a summer class, so they've been out of there for over a year, they don't think it's time to fix that? Then I'll point out, why are they even using the Email address for a college they aren't going to? Even if they used it when they applied, why would they do that? You know they are going to keep this on file, free Email addresses are in abundance.... I have a hotmail I started just for college-related correspondance. Furthermore, how do they expect to take an online class if they don't even have their account connected to a valid Email address?
Monday, May 31, 2010
breaking the mold of boring business majors
Along the lines of a post last semester, there was a nice little friction going on between myself, one of bubbling personality and the rest of the class, those other suckers who are devoid of personality, spark and zest for life. The class where this played out the most, was Corporate Finance.
I'm not your average everyday girl. I would say that either you love me or you hate me. Why? Well, one of the girls in Corporate Finance said to me at the end of the semester, "you have no manners. You're never going to get anywhere in life." I pondered this. Do I have no manners? I looked up manners in the Webster's. Manners, as they define it, has to do with doing things according to the accepted customs in society. Oooops, I guess I don't have any manners.
At one point in the semester, the instructor with his keen insight, said to the class, "she speaks for all of you..." They retorted, "not me." Oh but, this is exactly the truth. See, the way in which I don't have manners is that I say things that others think but, would never dare to say. However, what this girl in class didn't seem to realize, is that I'm fully aware I'm not supposed to say the outrageous things I say.
This is who I am. I'm the class clown and I push the envelope. I'm an artist. They are not artists. I'm proud to be different. The world needs people like me to keep it from being boring. This is something my classmates in Macro understood. In Macro, I kept my classmates laughing, much to the dismay of the professor who, I suspect was a little bothered that I was making funnies as he tried and was not as successful. That, is another reason I think many fall in the "hate me" category, they wish it was their jokes.
I'm not your average everyday girl. I would say that either you love me or you hate me. Why? Well, one of the girls in Corporate Finance said to me at the end of the semester, "you have no manners. You're never going to get anywhere in life." I pondered this. Do I have no manners? I looked up manners in the Webster's. Manners, as they define it, has to do with doing things according to the accepted customs in society. Oooops, I guess I don't have any manners.
At one point in the semester, the instructor with his keen insight, said to the class, "she speaks for all of you..." They retorted, "not me." Oh but, this is exactly the truth. See, the way in which I don't have manners is that I say things that others think but, would never dare to say. However, what this girl in class didn't seem to realize, is that I'm fully aware I'm not supposed to say the outrageous things I say.
This is who I am. I'm the class clown and I push the envelope. I'm an artist. They are not artists. I'm proud to be different. The world needs people like me to keep it from being boring. This is something my classmates in Macro understood. In Macro, I kept my classmates laughing, much to the dismay of the professor who, I suspect was a little bothered that I was making funnies as he tried and was not as successful. That, is another reason I think many fall in the "hate me" category, they wish it was their jokes.
Friday, May 14, 2010
No Child Left Behind Leaves Students Behind
As you all know, I go to Brooklyn College. I’ve posted here some of the arrogant statements from “Rate My Professor dot com” made by various students. There is a prevalent attitude that by students that they want an “A” in every single course and they want it without working very hard. They seem to figure that everyone should pass every class, it’s their right. Furthermore, if you put in effort, you should get an “A” in the class.
Now, my Atheist Nepali from a Buddhist family study partner said to me, “I’m sorry but, Americans are dumb.” I had to explain to him that it was the NYC Public School system. Recently, in my hardest class, the professor mentioned that he has in mind a certain number of A’s and a certain number of B’s that he expects to give out. Well, I agree that it would be odd for a large percentage of the class to deserve good grades. Although, I don’t agree that the professor makes the cutoff between an “A” and “A-“ 95.5%. I think 93% would be more fair of a cutoff. Most professors use 90% (and not give A-s) or they use 92 or 93%. Well, the “A” ship has sailed for me in that class anyway as I got an 88 (B+) on both exams so far. I’m just hoping I do well enough on the final to pull the overall average up to an A- range.
The thing is, is that when I apply to CUNY grad schools, they are going to expect a really high GPA because they will probably know that a really LARGE percentage of Brooklyn College makes the Dean’s list every semester. So, if my GPA is say, only 3.5, they will be thinking I can’t do the work. They won’t be understanding that I got unlucky and I seemed to always get the hardest professors for every class. This Macro professor even admits that he’s the hardest Macro professor. I also got a hard professor for Corporate Finance. Sure, these are hard courses, but, I managed to get the hardest professors for them.
Now, in another class, I have a presentation on Sunday about New Media and Marketing Research. It’s supposed to be ten minutes PER person where we work with a partner. My partner sent me THREE minutes, ok, maybe it would be more with the things she might say that aren’t on the slides. What she sent me contains obvious grammatical errors, is poorly put together and it doesn’t contain congruency with what I’m working on. Incidentally, I was REALLY clear about what I was doing and what she should do. I gave her the easy parts: Intro, the easiest subtopic and conclusion. I told her HOW to write an intro-define Marketing Research and New media in your own words. Then tie them together. At that point, we lead into examples that are the subtopics we’ll be covering. She defined “Marketing Research Surveys.” This is a subtopic of “Marketing Research” itself and my subtopics don’t fall under this. I sent her a text pointing out that this was a third of her grade. She texted me back that she didn’t care. I asked her if she was planning on adding more. I didn’t get a response. She hasn’t met with me once. She agreed to meet with me and then sent me a text that we would coordinate by phone and Email instead. Ok, that iiiiiiiiiiis possible. However she hasn’t really attempted that.
Incidentally, presentations started last Sunday. One whole pair didn’t even show up. Another pair, one half didn’t show. I feel bad for the guy, he begged the professor to do it next week when his partner would be here, but, he had to go anyway. He actually had a decent presentation. I thought his presentation was better than the two girls who went before him. One girl read off the screen for like 2 or 3 minutes. The other played a video of the transition of her company’s logo instead of talking about how new media was really effecting the industry.
Seriously, I hope that the professor gives a 0 for that third of the grade to the ones who didn’t even show up. If you don’t show up to a job, you get fired. Students should know that there are consequences to irresponsibility. This class is actually an easy class. There are no exams, so you don’t have to take notes (though, I have been doing so) just show up to class, write a paper for the midterm and this 10 minute presentation. The nice thing is that you’re given the leeway to really pick what you want to delve into further study of for your presentation.
Now, my Atheist Nepali from a Buddhist family study partner said to me, “I’m sorry but, Americans are dumb.” I had to explain to him that it was the NYC Public School system. Recently, in my hardest class, the professor mentioned that he has in mind a certain number of A’s and a certain number of B’s that he expects to give out. Well, I agree that it would be odd for a large percentage of the class to deserve good grades. Although, I don’t agree that the professor makes the cutoff between an “A” and “A-“ 95.5%. I think 93% would be more fair of a cutoff. Most professors use 90% (and not give A-s) or they use 92 or 93%. Well, the “A” ship has sailed for me in that class anyway as I got an 88 (B+) on both exams so far. I’m just hoping I do well enough on the final to pull the overall average up to an A- range.
The thing is, is that when I apply to CUNY grad schools, they are going to expect a really high GPA because they will probably know that a really LARGE percentage of Brooklyn College makes the Dean’s list every semester. So, if my GPA is say, only 3.5, they will be thinking I can’t do the work. They won’t be understanding that I got unlucky and I seemed to always get the hardest professors for every class. This Macro professor even admits that he’s the hardest Macro professor. I also got a hard professor for Corporate Finance. Sure, these are hard courses, but, I managed to get the hardest professors for them.
Now, in another class, I have a presentation on Sunday about New Media and Marketing Research. It’s supposed to be ten minutes PER person where we work with a partner. My partner sent me THREE minutes, ok, maybe it would be more with the things she might say that aren’t on the slides. What she sent me contains obvious grammatical errors, is poorly put together and it doesn’t contain congruency with what I’m working on. Incidentally, I was REALLY clear about what I was doing and what she should do. I gave her the easy parts: Intro, the easiest subtopic and conclusion. I told her HOW to write an intro-define Marketing Research and New media in your own words. Then tie them together. At that point, we lead into examples that are the subtopics we’ll be covering. She defined “Marketing Research Surveys.” This is a subtopic of “Marketing Research” itself and my subtopics don’t fall under this. I sent her a text pointing out that this was a third of her grade. She texted me back that she didn’t care. I asked her if she was planning on adding more. I didn’t get a response. She hasn’t met with me once. She agreed to meet with me and then sent me a text that we would coordinate by phone and Email instead. Ok, that iiiiiiiiiiis possible. However she hasn’t really attempted that.
Incidentally, presentations started last Sunday. One whole pair didn’t even show up. Another pair, one half didn’t show. I feel bad for the guy, he begged the professor to do it next week when his partner would be here, but, he had to go anyway. He actually had a decent presentation. I thought his presentation was better than the two girls who went before him. One girl read off the screen for like 2 or 3 minutes. The other played a video of the transition of her company’s logo instead of talking about how new media was really effecting the industry.
Seriously, I hope that the professor gives a 0 for that third of the grade to the ones who didn’t even show up. If you don’t show up to a job, you get fired. Students should know that there are consequences to irresponsibility. This class is actually an easy class. There are no exams, so you don’t have to take notes (though, I have been doing so) just show up to class, write a paper for the midterm and this 10 minute presentation. The nice thing is that you’re given the leeway to really pick what you want to delve into further study of for your presentation.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Instructor Prickle…
I have this class… it’s not so easy for me, but to make matters much worse, the instructor is the biggest prickle. He gives no homework on Monday and he gives MOUNDS and MOUNDS and MOUNDS upon MOUNDS of homework on Wednesday. Then the homework is due on Monday. However, most of my spare time is on TUESDAY. I have been asking him every Monday since the semester began, if I could please have the assignments today instead of Wednesday. Last week, he agreed and said I could come get it in his office hours. However, on Wednesday, he changed the homework, despite the fact that I had started on it based on what he gave.
Today, I asked, as usual, if he could please give me the assignments for the week so I could start on them. So, he said he would give them to me if I went to his office. I had a class right after and I had to utilize the latrine. I got to his office and wouldn’t you know it, the JAP who always wears short skirts with no pantyhose was there. He helped her. I said, “I have a class.” She CLAIMED she did, too. This is the girl who talks all class and never brings her book, even though he explicitly told the class to bring our book to every class. He told me to come back at a later time, during which not only do I have a class with his office-mate but, as I’m typing this it dawned on me that he has a class. My project partner for another class is in that class, so I know this. I told him that I had a class, then. He said that was impossible. I said, “the professor is sitting right there.” I ran to the lou. My back pack strap snapped as I was rushing. When I came back, instructor Prickle and little miss short skirt JAP were gone. I was NOT gone that long AT ALL, three minutes?
Finally, another issue that I’ve been having with this instructor prickle is that he insists on touching me, you know like, tapping me on the shoulder.. arm… and such. This is yet another issue which has been supposedly resolved and yet it continues to crop up. Today, I was putting a problem on the board, and he touch my arm. This is getting pretty outrageous.
Finally... (for real this time....) the first day of class, he basically said that he expects us all to have friends who work on Wall street to do our homework and take home tests for us. However, when I try to ask such friends for help, they say they can't keep doing all this homework and stuff for me. Also, people keep asking, "don't you have free tutoring at your college?" or "Doesn't your instructor have 'help you hours?'" These things are limited and during my other classes.
Today, I asked, as usual, if he could please give me the assignments for the week so I could start on them. So, he said he would give them to me if I went to his office. I had a class right after and I had to utilize the latrine. I got to his office and wouldn’t you know it, the JAP who always wears short skirts with no pantyhose was there. He helped her. I said, “I have a class.” She CLAIMED she did, too. This is the girl who talks all class and never brings her book, even though he explicitly told the class to bring our book to every class. He told me to come back at a later time, during which not only do I have a class with his office-mate but, as I’m typing this it dawned on me that he has a class. My project partner for another class is in that class, so I know this. I told him that I had a class, then. He said that was impossible. I said, “the professor is sitting right there.” I ran to the lou. My back pack strap snapped as I was rushing. When I came back, instructor Prickle and little miss short skirt JAP were gone. I was NOT gone that long AT ALL, three minutes?
Finally, another issue that I’ve been having with this instructor prickle is that he insists on touching me, you know like, tapping me on the shoulder.. arm… and such. This is yet another issue which has been supposedly resolved and yet it continues to crop up. Today, I was putting a problem on the board, and he touch my arm. This is getting pretty outrageous.
Finally... (for real this time....) the first day of class, he basically said that he expects us all to have friends who work on Wall street to do our homework and take home tests for us. However, when I try to ask such friends for help, they say they can't keep doing all this homework and stuff for me. Also, people keep asking, "don't you have free tutoring at your college?" or "Doesn't your instructor have 'help you hours?'" These things are limited and during my other classes.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
New Media, old media
One of the classes that I'm taking is called, "New Media & Business." We talk about various forms of new media and one thing that's constantly being brought up is how fast technology changes and how quickly we adapt to the new technology. Well, I originally started college in 1994, so I ocasionally think about how different my college experience is now from when I was in college before.
Well, a perfect example came up yesterday....
As you can see by this photo, one of my classes was cancelled. Furthermore, he has two sections, ours and the one after ours. Well, remember that girl that I originally didn't like but now we study together? If not, just click here. Anyhow, she's in the 3:40 version of this class and I'm in the 2:15. So, I took this picture with my cell and sent her a text message of the picture.
When I was in college before, cell phones did exist but, I didn't know any students who had one. They most certainly didn't have cameras, not to mention, texting was not out yet. Technology is changing so fast. It's also weird to think about that. We've become so used to the commonplace nature of cell phones.We can't imagine the days before texting and cell cameras, even if we were around for those days.
Some other handy facets of technology that I didn't have available to me when I was in college the first time include: Email on the cell and Youtube. When I can't understand my prof, I try to find a Youtube video of a more lucid professor teaching the same subject. It's been quite helpful. I can watch some videos before I read from the book, thereby making the book much less intimidating.
What do you think?
Well, a perfect example came up yesterday....
As you can see by this photo, one of my classes was cancelled. Furthermore, he has two sections, ours and the one after ours. Well, remember that girl that I originally didn't like but now we study together? If not, just click here. Anyhow, she's in the 3:40 version of this class and I'm in the 2:15. So, I took this picture with my cell and sent her a text message of the picture.
When I was in college before, cell phones did exist but, I didn't know any students who had one. They most certainly didn't have cameras, not to mention, texting was not out yet. Technology is changing so fast. It's also weird to think about that. We've become so used to the commonplace nature of cell phones.We can't imagine the days before texting and cell cameras, even if we were around for those days.
Some other handy facets of technology that I didn't have available to me when I was in college the first time include: Email on the cell and Youtube. When I can't understand my prof, I try to find a Youtube video of a more lucid professor teaching the same subject. It's been quite helpful. I can watch some videos before I read from the book, thereby making the book much less intimidating.
What do you think?
Sunday, April 18, 2010
If I make Crack, should I sue Arm & Hammer?
Hahahah, made you open the link, didn't I? Well, can you believe that someone actually had the nerve to do this?
It's in my business law book. I'm reading along... boring... boring... yep, more boring stuff... then I see someone sued Arm & Hammer and I wondered why. WOOOOOOOW! This guy, George Ward got locked up for distributing this combination. So, he decided to sue. Incidentally, he represented himself.. hmmmm.. don't they say that only a fool represents himself?
I never knew crack was BAKING SODA mixed with coke. It's odd that it should smell so bad. Baking soda is supposed to make things smell fresh... thinking back to 5th grade science... not when you burn it but crack is worse than just burning baking soda. For those who haven't been blessed with squalid poverty that lends itself to your relocation to such a place where you learn this. Crack smells like @$$ crack and burning garbage combined. It's quite a rancid smell.
It's in my business law book. I'm reading along... boring... boring... yep, more boring stuff... then I see someone sued Arm & Hammer and I wondered why. WOOOOOOOW! This guy, George Ward got locked up for distributing this combination. So, he decided to sue. Incidentally, he represented himself.. hmmmm.. don't they say that only a fool represents himself?
I never knew crack was BAKING SODA mixed with coke. It's odd that it should smell so bad. Baking soda is supposed to make things smell fresh... thinking back to 5th grade science... not when you burn it but crack is worse than just burning baking soda. For those who haven't been blessed with squalid poverty that lends itself to your relocation to such a place where you learn this. Crack smells like @$$ crack and burning garbage combined. It's quite a rancid smell.
Friday, April 9, 2010
I hate keynesian economics... I really do
I know what you are thinking...... this is another case of a student not liking a class that might be hard... no, it's not that. I assure you. Besides, Corporate Finance is the bane of my existence, not Macro.
Keynsian economics are part of macroeconomics. Based on John Manyard Keynes' theories, this is, put simply, a model of how the government tries to push the masses into to spending themselves into debt so that the United States can boast a higher GDP. Don't worry, the government pitches in themselves and they are the frontrunner in the debt-racking up race.
Personally, I find it to be a childish shirking of responsibilities for some shallow outdoing of one's peers. Is it really going to kill us if we don't have the highest GDP one year? Isn't more important to pay down the debt? In the process, we pay more and more interest in that debt that the government racks up.
In general, I think the goverment dollars are spents on whims of the politicians. They sign off to give government dollars to this and that special interest group, you know, whatever group belongs to the guy with whom, they play golf and frequent the titty bars. Maybe, the lobbyist just adds some dead presidents to their pockets, instead. Either way, it's all about the politicians whims churning their way into the aggregate this and the aggregate that. Everyone's corrupt and being in the land of the free only means we're better off than living elsewhere but, there is no country where one can escape the politics.
Finally, if you don't believe me, listen this guy. He points out that no one follows keynsian economics but the government. Well, the government is the most poorly managed entity out there and everyone knows it.
Keynsian economics are part of macroeconomics. Based on John Manyard Keynes' theories, this is, put simply, a model of how the government tries to push the masses into to spending themselves into debt so that the United States can boast a higher GDP. Don't worry, the government pitches in themselves and they are the frontrunner in the debt-racking up race.
Personally, I find it to be a childish shirking of responsibilities for some shallow outdoing of one's peers. Is it really going to kill us if we don't have the highest GDP one year? Isn't more important to pay down the debt? In the process, we pay more and more interest in that debt that the government racks up.
In general, I think the goverment dollars are spents on whims of the politicians. They sign off to give government dollars to this and that special interest group, you know, whatever group belongs to the guy with whom, they play golf and frequent the titty bars. Maybe, the lobbyist just adds some dead presidents to their pockets, instead. Either way, it's all about the politicians whims churning their way into the aggregate this and the aggregate that. Everyone's corrupt and being in the land of the free only means we're better off than living elsewhere but, there is no country where one can escape the politics.
Finally, if you don't believe me, listen this guy. He points out that no one follows keynsian economics but the government. Well, the government is the most poorly managed entity out there and everyone knows it.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Macroeconomics meets Michaltastik.com
I've been insanely busy this semester and I haven't had a chance to blog about anything I'm learning directly in class or side conversations from class. Now, Passover has passed over (har-har) and I have a minute to breathe (breathe-now back to the grindstone....) Actually, I was commenting on my friend's FB status and I went off on a tangent that crossed over to a side conversation from my Macroeconomics today.
The original status was: Just saw a woman customer use her foodstamp card to purchase an iced coffee at 7/11! That's not ok. 3 hours ago
My response.....
I didn't read all the comments but, how do you know she was paying with FS? You're not allowed to buy prepared foods with it. 7-11 likely has a system that would make that impossible. However, sometimes the clerks work around stuff by punching it up as a grocery item. Usually a guy behind the counter will do stuff like that for a cute girl.
Also, one can use the same card and be spending cash off it. I bet you didnt' know that.
I also want to mention, what if your parents changed the locks on you and you didn't have the Jewish community. What the hell would you do? What if you didn't do anything wrong? Not everyone can live at home after they are 21. The world is a harsh one and the gov't officials each steal more than any one person on benefits gets. They take all kinds of bribes to quietly pass all kinds of legislation that hurt the citizens. Many of these legislations take jobs away from workers with no or little skills. That drives up the competition for the remaining jobs, thereby lowering the wages relatively, as inflation sets in and wages fail to keep up.
The original status was: Just saw a woman customer use her foodstamp card to purchase an iced coffee at 7/11! That's not ok. 3 hours ago
My response.....
I didn't read all the comments but, how do you know she was paying with FS? You're not allowed to buy prepared foods with it. 7-11 likely has a system that would make that impossible. However, sometimes the clerks work around stuff by punching it up as a grocery item. Usually a guy behind the counter will do stuff like that for a cute girl.
Also, one can use the same card and be spending cash off it. I bet you didnt' know that.
I also want to mention, what if your parents changed the locks on you and you didn't have the Jewish community. What the hell would you do? What if you didn't do anything wrong? Not everyone can live at home after they are 21. The world is a harsh one and the gov't officials each steal more than any one person on benefits gets. They take all kinds of bribes to quietly pass all kinds of legislation that hurt the citizens. Many of these legislations take jobs away from workers with no or little skills. That drives up the competition for the remaining jobs, thereby lowering the wages relatively, as inflation sets in and wages fail to keep up.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Is There A Monster Lurking Under My Internet?
We have seen many changes in technology in the last three and a half decades that I’ve been alive. However, the introduction of the internet was a technology that has combined human interactions with technology. This was unlike the other technological changes. There are several venues where people meet. There are social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace. There are also YahooGroups for discussing topics of mutual interest to each other. Also, people meet through online dating sites. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
When I posed the question to my Facebook friends as to what they think of social networking sites, my friend H, replied that since she has not one but two autistic children, she finds it difficult to socialize. However, online socializing affords her the ability to socialize when she has a few minutes off from the kids. She and I actually originally both commented on the status of Frum Satire. She “friended” me. She was one of the first people I became Facebook friends with that I didn’t know yet in person. We went to see Heshy Fried aka Frum Satire together on Sunday August 16th, 2009. At the show, I met another of my Facebook friends, the commenter with the really long Hebrew name. Unfortunately, there was also a guy there (J) that I hadn’t met in person and didn’t want to meet. I had spoken to him on the phone as he claimed to have a resource for anyone interested. However, he immediately tried to meet for coffee. He tried to talk to me after the show. I grabbed H and we left.
While some have benefitted from social networking, like my friend H. Countless stories abound of problems that resulted from meeting someone online. People have met with someone who stole their money. Women have dated men who were already married. I found an article-1 about several teen girls who were lured into meeting older men off of MySpace and then sexually assaulted. Some of the girls in the article were drugged first, too. A really creepy and disgusting article-2 I ran across told of a father propositioning his own 13-year old daughter over Facebook. I even found a recap-3 of news stories from 2005. The stories of sexual predators online are endless.
On a more personal note, I have been able to find or be found by old friends and keep in touch with them. We comment on each other statuses and occasionally chat. My landlord’s daughter (from growing up) actually managed to find me. I found a picture of my mother’s house on her page back when it was red. It was painted blue when we were all young. She also found a picture of me at one of her birthday parties. I managed to find more friends than found me, mostly because my first name-last name combination is quite common. I found many of my friends from college the first time (ten years ago). I found a friend from the Army. I found my French pen pal that I haven’t talked to since high school.
When I wanted to gather friends to go ice skating over winter break from school, I just put up a status on Facebook asking who wanted to go with me. When I wanted advice on what netbook to buy, I just put up a status asking about it. If I had to call everyone to see who was free to go ice skating or who knew about the netbook, it would have been an exhausting effort. In fact, an online friend from the other side of the world, was one to share advice about the netbook. I sure was not going to be making phone calls to the other side of the world for something like that. Actually, I originally spoke to this girl from a Yahoo group to discuss conversion to Judaism, another medium of socializing online.
While I have not had any horrible experiences like the ones described earlier in this discussion, I have experienced some downfalls. Most notably, the sheer volume that you can lose, “farting around online” as I call it, tends to happen through Facebook or even reading and replying to comments from others' blog posts. Generally, the blog posts themselves do not take up so much time. I, now limit my reading of other blogs and the comments to when I’m waiting for the bus and other down times when I have signal on my cell phone. Rarely, now, do I read blogs from my computer when I am home.
Another time-killer is chatting with friends on Facebook. I discovered during final exam season that it’s best to put myself into offline mode if I have my Facebook open. One girl who is not in college but, a vocational program to teach day care, just couldn’t understand that when I put up a status that I was not available to socialize until December 22, she was included. She called me on the phone, “what’s your status about? What? Like you have school?” I had to tell her, “It’s finals season, do you NEED something or are you trying to chit chat?” It’s unfortunate that I have to take myself offline because there’s a woman I work for who will send me instant messages on Facebook. Although, now she sends them on Yahoo.
Many people hear the stories about the predators online like the ones above and become very afraid of the internet. So, now that we have examined both sides of the issue, I leave you with my conclusion about social networking. Children are sometimes scared that there is a monster under their bed. While it may be more realistic that there is a monster under our internet, one should take precautions that will reduce the risks. Generally, one shouldn’t be running out to meet new people in person that they just met over the internet. In fact, Hannah and I were friends online for at least 6 months before we finally met up. Predators usually get impatient. Also, one should not be sharing personal information to strangers or as part of their online profiles. Many articles online list safety precautions-4 of interest to all, but particularly for teenage girls.
REFERENCED LINKS
1) http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=6&art_id=36543&sid=11833176&con_type=1&d_str=20070122&fc=1
2) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/12/john-forehand-man-asked-d_n_317148.html
3) http://www.pcsndreams.com/Pages/Chat05.htm
4) http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/tech/tec14.shtm
When I posed the question to my Facebook friends as to what they think of social networking sites, my friend H, replied that since she has not one but two autistic children, she finds it difficult to socialize. However, online socializing affords her the ability to socialize when she has a few minutes off from the kids. She and I actually originally both commented on the status of Frum Satire. She “friended” me. She was one of the first people I became Facebook friends with that I didn’t know yet in person. We went to see Heshy Fried aka Frum Satire together on Sunday August 16th, 2009. At the show, I met another of my Facebook friends, the commenter with the really long Hebrew name. Unfortunately, there was also a guy there (J) that I hadn’t met in person and didn’t want to meet. I had spoken to him on the phone as he claimed to have a resource for anyone interested. However, he immediately tried to meet for coffee. He tried to talk to me after the show. I grabbed H and we left.
While some have benefitted from social networking, like my friend H. Countless stories abound of problems that resulted from meeting someone online. People have met with someone who stole their money. Women have dated men who were already married. I found an article-1 about several teen girls who were lured into meeting older men off of MySpace and then sexually assaulted. Some of the girls in the article were drugged first, too. A really creepy and disgusting article-2 I ran across told of a father propositioning his own 13-year old daughter over Facebook. I even found a recap-3 of news stories from 2005. The stories of sexual predators online are endless.
On a more personal note, I have been able to find or be found by old friends and keep in touch with them. We comment on each other statuses and occasionally chat. My landlord’s daughter (from growing up) actually managed to find me. I found a picture of my mother’s house on her page back when it was red. It was painted blue when we were all young. She also found a picture of me at one of her birthday parties. I managed to find more friends than found me, mostly because my first name-last name combination is quite common. I found many of my friends from college the first time (ten years ago). I found a friend from the Army. I found my French pen pal that I haven’t talked to since high school.
When I wanted to gather friends to go ice skating over winter break from school, I just put up a status on Facebook asking who wanted to go with me. When I wanted advice on what netbook to buy, I just put up a status asking about it. If I had to call everyone to see who was free to go ice skating or who knew about the netbook, it would have been an exhausting effort. In fact, an online friend from the other side of the world, was one to share advice about the netbook. I sure was not going to be making phone calls to the other side of the world for something like that. Actually, I originally spoke to this girl from a Yahoo group to discuss conversion to Judaism, another medium of socializing online.
While I have not had any horrible experiences like the ones described earlier in this discussion, I have experienced some downfalls. Most notably, the sheer volume that you can lose, “farting around online” as I call it, tends to happen through Facebook or even reading and replying to comments from others' blog posts. Generally, the blog posts themselves do not take up so much time. I, now limit my reading of other blogs and the comments to when I’m waiting for the bus and other down times when I have signal on my cell phone. Rarely, now, do I read blogs from my computer when I am home.
Another time-killer is chatting with friends on Facebook. I discovered during final exam season that it’s best to put myself into offline mode if I have my Facebook open. One girl who is not in college but, a vocational program to teach day care, just couldn’t understand that when I put up a status that I was not available to socialize until December 22, she was included. She called me on the phone, “what’s your status about? What? Like you have school?” I had to tell her, “It’s finals season, do you NEED something or are you trying to chit chat?” It’s unfortunate that I have to take myself offline because there’s a woman I work for who will send me instant messages on Facebook. Although, now she sends them on Yahoo.
Many people hear the stories about the predators online like the ones above and become very afraid of the internet. So, now that we have examined both sides of the issue, I leave you with my conclusion about social networking. Children are sometimes scared that there is a monster under their bed. While it may be more realistic that there is a monster under our internet, one should take precautions that will reduce the risks. Generally, one shouldn’t be running out to meet new people in person that they just met over the internet. In fact, Hannah and I were friends online for at least 6 months before we finally met up. Predators usually get impatient. Also, one should not be sharing personal information to strangers or as part of their online profiles. Many articles online list safety precautions-4 of interest to all, but particularly for teenage girls.
REFERENCED LINKS
1) http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=6&art_id=36543&sid=11833176&con_type=1&d_str=20070122&fc=1
2) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/12/john-forehand-man-asked-d_n_317148.html
3) http://www.pcsndreams.com/Pages/Chat05.htm
4) http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/tech/tec14.shtm
Sunday, March 7, 2010
What did I have to say about 3M last semester?
The key terminal value of 3M’s company culture is innovation. In fact, in the opening of this case, it is referred to as the lifeblood of the organization. Another of the company’s terminal values is to continually produce quality growth.
The company’s instrumental values include being creative and taking risks. They feel they gain a lot, even from a failure. Persistence and diligence are some other instrumental values at the company. This is what insures that the innovative idea makes it to market rather than just being a light bulb over someone’s head.
The company is very customer-oriented, as well. In the 1990’s, they began doing more intricate Market Research. They hope that this will help them better identify customer’s current and future needs. Operating units are intentionally small so that the members will get to know their customers. Staying close to the customer is an integral part of 3M’s innovation. This company has a very open and organic culture.
3M Corp makes sure employees know that innovation is a top priority. They also provide them with freedom and resources to make it happen. There is a company goal that at least twenty-five percent of their growth each year is through new product development. They evaluate each operating unit on their contribution to this goal. The company continually reassesses if barriers to innovation have developed. The company cultivates both improvements in, as well as new products or technologies.
At 3M, innovation is recognized by two different awards, The Golden Step and The Carleton Society. All of their operating units are encouraged to spend time planning and setting priorities for product development.
All of the operating units at 3M are encouraged to spend time planning and setting priorities for product development. The company has increased spending on the Research and Development department in the last decade from 4.6 percent to 6.3 percent of sales. They have divided their research into three divisions, whereas each one works on research at which will be used at different time spans. Anyone in the company who needs it has access to any of the company’s technical research.
This company gives a lot of property rights to their employees. 3M not only allows, but encourages their employees to use fifteen percent of their time on projects of their own choosing. A policy like this goes a long way in making an employee feel they are valued by their employer. As stated in class, when an employee feels valued, they are more productive and company turnover rates tend to be lower.
As for company ethics, 3M was taking the proactive approach in environmental issues over three decades ago, as seen in their benchmark program, Pollution Prevention Pays launched thirty-four years ago.* They have several programs endorsing environmental awareness. As with the rest of the organization’s organic culture, they involve their employees in these programs. This is a company that believes in uncompromising honesty and integrity.
*Source: http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/about3M/information/corporate/responsibility/
The company’s instrumental values include being creative and taking risks. They feel they gain a lot, even from a failure. Persistence and diligence are some other instrumental values at the company. This is what insures that the innovative idea makes it to market rather than just being a light bulb over someone’s head.
The company is very customer-oriented, as well. In the 1990’s, they began doing more intricate Market Research. They hope that this will help them better identify customer’s current and future needs. Operating units are intentionally small so that the members will get to know their customers. Staying close to the customer is an integral part of 3M’s innovation. This company has a very open and organic culture.
3M Corp makes sure employees know that innovation is a top priority. They also provide them with freedom and resources to make it happen. There is a company goal that at least twenty-five percent of their growth each year is through new product development. They evaluate each operating unit on their contribution to this goal. The company continually reassesses if barriers to innovation have developed. The company cultivates both improvements in, as well as new products or technologies.
At 3M, innovation is recognized by two different awards, The Golden Step and The Carleton Society. All of their operating units are encouraged to spend time planning and setting priorities for product development.
All of the operating units at 3M are encouraged to spend time planning and setting priorities for product development. The company has increased spending on the Research and Development department in the last decade from 4.6 percent to 6.3 percent of sales. They have divided their research into three divisions, whereas each one works on research at which will be used at different time spans. Anyone in the company who needs it has access to any of the company’s technical research.
This company gives a lot of property rights to their employees. 3M not only allows, but encourages their employees to use fifteen percent of their time on projects of their own choosing. A policy like this goes a long way in making an employee feel they are valued by their employer. As stated in class, when an employee feels valued, they are more productive and company turnover rates tend to be lower.
As for company ethics, 3M was taking the proactive approach in environmental issues over three decades ago, as seen in their benchmark program, Pollution Prevention Pays launched thirty-four years ago.* They have several programs endorsing environmental awareness. As with the rest of the organization’s organic culture, they involve their employees in these programs. This is a company that believes in uncompromising honesty and integrity.
*Source: http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/about3M/information/corporate/responsibility/
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Updates and question about NYC in 1975...
So, the gabbers behind me have actually gotten quiet, who woulda thunk it? Also, the professor cracked the whip a little better on Monday when students were talking.
Now, I have been given an informal assignment. The professor was telling us about something that happened in 1975 in the NYC economy. He said, "go home and ask your parents." Well, my parents are dead and actually they didn't live in NYC in 1975, either. That's the year I was born. My mother never lived outside of Buffalo but, my father was actually stationed in Bayonne, NJ when he was in the Navy. That would have been in the sixties, though. Also, he's dead, so... So, I turn to you, my readers, many of whom who are in NYC and some might be old enough to remember, to tell me about the financial crisis in NYC in 1975.
Now, I have been given an informal assignment. The professor was telling us about something that happened in 1975 in the NYC economy. He said, "go home and ask your parents." Well, my parents are dead and actually they didn't live in NYC in 1975, either. That's the year I was born. My mother never lived outside of Buffalo but, my father was actually stationed in Bayonne, NJ when he was in the Navy. That would have been in the sixties, though. Also, he's dead, so... So, I turn to you, my readers, many of whom who are in NYC and some might be old enough to remember, to tell me about the financial crisis in NYC in 1975.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Ding Dong the wicked witch is dead!
The wicked witch is my homework. Dead is finished....
Also, a foreshadowing of a post that looming in my mind...
Anyway, HASHEM helped me with my homework!
Also, a foreshadowing of a post that looming in my mind...
Anyway, HASHEM helped me with my homework!
Pulling out my hair over my homework...
Ok, I was an idiot. I took at least two classes that I knew would be hard and I'm also taking sixteen credits total. I'm sitting here trying to do my homework for corporate finance and I can't figure out what formula I'm supposed to use to arrive at the answer. The instructor told us on the first day that since there is a take home test we should have our friends who work on Wall street do the take home portion for us and teach it to us so we know how to do it for the in class exam. So, do I have any readers who are in finance that maybe can help me? I'm pulling out my hair, here.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
WOULD YOU SHUT UP ALREADY????
So, I just have to vent about one of my classes and three other students in the class. They won't shut up. They sit behind where I sit (about three rows back) and they just talk the whole time. There's two guys and a girl. The girl sits in the middle. She's one of those giggly "hair-make up & nails" types. She's talks to one of the guys while the professor is explaining something then when the professor moves on to the next item she'll have the other guy explain it all to her. We're only about 5 classes into the semester. This has already been going on the whole time. Today, the professor actually put her on the spot and asked her questions to show that she wasn't paying attention. She just guessed a couple times and got the right answer. As soon as the professor was attending to a question that came from the other side of the room, she was right back to talking to one of the guys. I turned around and looked and he said, "I'm explaining it to her." I was giving them, "shut up" looks the whole class and with about a minute left of class, she says, "OMG!" and rolls her eyes at me. I said, "that's funny, because that's how I feel." She rolled her eyes at me and I said, "all I hear is you three talking behind me. You want to flirt with them, go in the hall and do it but, I come to class to learn." I wish the professor would do something but, he probably won't. WTF?
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
What about those super bowl ads?
It’s pretty much common knowledge that the super bowl advertisements are in a league of their own. These ads are the most unique, the most expensive and the most talked-about. During the super bowl is when advertisers debut their new commercials, especially the commercials that are supposed to grab a viewer. Super bowl viewers expect that more than half of the commercials will be new. Another notable item is that people will watch the super bowl, only to watch the commercials.
In the past, there have been some famous commercials to make their debut during the super bowl. In 1984, there was a landmark commercial which introduced the Macintosh computer by maker Apple. In 1993, there was an ad where Michael Jordan and Larry Bird competed in a basketball shooting contest but, they had to do things like bounce the ball, “off the highway” and make the basket, “nothin’ but net” in a competition for some McDonald’s food. Finally, in 1995, there was the introduction of the Bud-Weis-Er frogs.
This year, it seemed like there were some recurring themes in the commercials throughout the super bowl. There were a number of commercials where animals were acting human. Denny’s had two commercials featuring chickens that were acting human. They were highlighting the “grand slam” breakfast. The badger playing the violin for Monster.com was incredibly cute. Furthermore, there was even a commercial were humans were acting like dolphins for Emerald’s nuts and Pop-Secret.
There were a number of ads that featured men without pants on. The most notable of these showed men in their underwear and was sponsored by careerbuilder.com. This made me want to NOT go to Careerbuilder.com. I hope I never work in that office, as well. I felt this commercial was in poor taste. Dockers also put out a commercial called, “I Wear No Pants.” This one made a little more sense to me. At least one can see why a pants company might use this theme in an ad of theirs.
My friend’s favorite commercial was, “Playing Nice.” This was a Doritos commercial where a little kid smacks his mother’s date, “Keep your hands off my mama. Keep your hands off my Doritos.” I really liked the commercials for Doritos more than any other sponsor. In “Funeral,” a guy is buried in Doritos while he watches sports. In “Dog Collar”, the dog is wearing a collar which will not allow him to bark so he takes it off and puts in on the man with the Doritos. Then the dog takes the Doritos. Of course the man can’t say anything because he gets shocked if he speaks. In “Tim’s Locker,” Tim goes after someone who stole Doritos out of his locker. He throws a Dorito into the throat of the innocent bystander. The Dorito is depicted as a sort of a weapon. I liked Doritos commercials the best. I felt they were the most interesting and innovative. They grabbed me as a viewer. I would want to buy the product; however, Doritos are not kosher so, I will not be consuming any Doritos as a result of this commercial.
While I liked the Dorito commercials the best, there were other commercials that I noticed because of their marketing angle but, didn’t necessarily like. For example, the commercial, “Comfortable Skin” which I thought was a little too feminine to reach most of the male audience. My friend turned to her husband after the commercial and asked him if he grew a vagina watching it. This is an ongoing joke because he overheard men discussing skin care products in the barber shop, of all places. He said it was so bad he grew a vagina just overhearing it. It doesn’t seem to me that men would be attracted to a product with a commercial like this. The commercial starts with a man at birth. It then shows the man getting married and having three babies followed by his wife sending him out to check on a noise with a flashlight. Women would like this ad. I don’t think men would. Usually putting babies in a commercial is done when women were the target audience, not men. Women would like the idea of sending their man out to check on a noise. All four of us watching the commercial felt this way. I think a better angle and strategy would have been to show a man playing in the mud with his teenage son but, still-looking young. Then he uses their “manly” product to wash of this dirt he acquired in a manly fashion. The fact that he was spending time with his teenage son would draw in the girlfriend or wife who might buy the product for him.
So, this year’s super bowl did not seem to air any landmark commercials, like Macintosh or the Budweiser frogs. However, since super bowl commercials are the most expensive commercials out there, they are surely worth reviewing. While I doubt they will go down as some of the greatest commercials ever, we saw some interesting and innovative commercials from Doritos. Now that we’ve reviewed this year’s ads, the only task remaining is to wait for next year’s super bowl advertisements.
In the past, there have been some famous commercials to make their debut during the super bowl. In 1984, there was a landmark commercial which introduced the Macintosh computer by maker Apple. In 1993, there was an ad where Michael Jordan and Larry Bird competed in a basketball shooting contest but, they had to do things like bounce the ball, “off the highway” and make the basket, “nothin’ but net” in a competition for some McDonald’s food. Finally, in 1995, there was the introduction of the Bud-Weis-Er frogs.
This year, it seemed like there were some recurring themes in the commercials throughout the super bowl. There were a number of commercials where animals were acting human. Denny’s had two commercials featuring chickens that were acting human. They were highlighting the “grand slam” breakfast. The badger playing the violin for Monster.com was incredibly cute. Furthermore, there was even a commercial were humans were acting like dolphins for Emerald’s nuts and Pop-Secret.
There were a number of ads that featured men without pants on. The most notable of these showed men in their underwear and was sponsored by careerbuilder.com. This made me want to NOT go to Careerbuilder.com. I hope I never work in that office, as well. I felt this commercial was in poor taste. Dockers also put out a commercial called, “I Wear No Pants.” This one made a little more sense to me. At least one can see why a pants company might use this theme in an ad of theirs.
My friend’s favorite commercial was, “Playing Nice.” This was a Doritos commercial where a little kid smacks his mother’s date, “Keep your hands off my mama. Keep your hands off my Doritos.” I really liked the commercials for Doritos more than any other sponsor. In “Funeral,” a guy is buried in Doritos while he watches sports. In “Dog Collar”, the dog is wearing a collar which will not allow him to bark so he takes it off and puts in on the man with the Doritos. Then the dog takes the Doritos. Of course the man can’t say anything because he gets shocked if he speaks. In “Tim’s Locker,” Tim goes after someone who stole Doritos out of his locker. He throws a Dorito into the throat of the innocent bystander. The Dorito is depicted as a sort of a weapon. I liked Doritos commercials the best. I felt they were the most interesting and innovative. They grabbed me as a viewer. I would want to buy the product; however, Doritos are not kosher so, I will not be consuming any Doritos as a result of this commercial.
While I liked the Dorito commercials the best, there were other commercials that I noticed because of their marketing angle but, didn’t necessarily like. For example, the commercial, “Comfortable Skin” which I thought was a little too feminine to reach most of the male audience. My friend turned to her husband after the commercial and asked him if he grew a vagina watching it. This is an ongoing joke because he overheard men discussing skin care products in the barber shop, of all places. He said it was so bad he grew a vagina just overhearing it. It doesn’t seem to me that men would be attracted to a product with a commercial like this. The commercial starts with a man at birth. It then shows the man getting married and having three babies followed by his wife sending him out to check on a noise with a flashlight. Women would like this ad. I don’t think men would. Usually putting babies in a commercial is done when women were the target audience, not men. Women would like the idea of sending their man out to check on a noise. All four of us watching the commercial felt this way. I think a better angle and strategy would have been to show a man playing in the mud with his teenage son but, still-looking young. Then he uses their “manly” product to wash of this dirt he acquired in a manly fashion. The fact that he was spending time with his teenage son would draw in the girlfriend or wife who might buy the product for him.
So, this year’s super bowl did not seem to air any landmark commercials, like Macintosh or the Budweiser frogs. However, since super bowl commercials are the most expensive commercials out there, they are surely worth reviewing. While I doubt they will go down as some of the greatest commercials ever, we saw some interesting and innovative commercials from Doritos. Now that we’ve reviewed this year’s ads, the only task remaining is to wait for next year’s super bowl advertisements.
Monday, February 1, 2010
If you would have told me then that in 2010...
I don't celebrate the secular New Year's, as many of my readers also do not, so you will have to excuse the fact that this post is about a month late. Nevertheless, as I look forward to the new semester, I am glancing back, as well.
If you would have told me back in the 1970's where I would be in 2010, I would have been too young and the whole thing would have evaded my mind.
If you would have told me in the early 1980's that there would be available these little clear plastic things I can stick into my eyes to see fine without glasses and that I would wear glasses instead, I would never have believed you. You see, I hated my glasses so much and I used to hide them. One time my mother couldn't find them and she promised a popsicle or something like to any kid who could find them. All the neighborhood kids were looking.
If you would have told me in 1984 that I would someday move to New York City in hopes of becoming a professional actress, I would have believed it. You see, it was around 1984, that I had a solo in "songs from Oliver!" at school. I was the flower girl. If you told me that I would give it up to become a religious Jewish girl, I would have been perplexed. I had never even met a Jew and organized religion was something foreign to me.
If you would have told me in the late 1980's that in 2010, I would be in college studying a math-heavy major, I would have told you there was no way. At one point, Math was my worst subject. I was a year behind in Math and a year ahead in Reading and Spelling. Nevertheless, in 1991, I stunned myself. I went from being a student who could barely pass Math to gettng in the 90's.
If you would have told me in 1990, that in a couple years, my mother would stop speaking to her sister, I would have said, "never!"
If you would have told me in 1991 that my grandmother was going to outlive my mother, you would have been met with a stunned silence, this was just not possible.
If you would have told me 1991 or 1992, that I was going go to college for something Math heavy, I still wouldn't have believed you. You see, I figured this new found Math-ability was a freak accident. Besides, I already had figured out that I was going to go to Houghton College and major in French/Spanish education. Well, I came in one end but, never really came out the other end on that one. Who would have thought? Surely not me!
If you would have told me in 1992, that my mother was going to leave this world in a year, I would have known it was true. You see, I had a dream, no not a Martin Luther King kinda dream, but a creepy glimpse into the future that my mother was going to pass. Of course, I put it out of my mind. Although, I remembered this once again when I heard those fateful words, "they don't think she's going to make it through this surgery."
If you would have told me in 1996, that I would someday convert to Judaism, I would have believed that one. This is when I first started thinking about converting. I left Xtianity and the Xtian college. I didn't pusue conversion, I didn't want to jump from one religion to another and figured if I still wanted to convert later, then perhaps it would be more than a passing fancy.
If you would have told me in 1997 that I would join the Army in two years, I wouldn't have believed that one for sure, even though, I had been in ROTC. I was only in ROTC because a friend convinced me to join.
If you have told me in 1998 that I was going to live in San Antonio, TX from February 2001 to April of 2002, I wouldn't have known what to say to that.
If you would have told me in 2000 that in a year, the World Trade Center was going down, I would have said "impossible," even though I had never been to New York City.
If you told me 2001, that I would go back to college but change my major to Business with a concentration in Marketing, I would have believed you. In the late 1990's, I formed this current new career goal of marketing or marketing research.
If you would have told me in 2002, that after two years of living back in Buffalo, I would move to New York City, perhaps I would have come straight here. I had always been thinking about living here...
If you would have told me in 2004, that I should go back to college, I would have refused. I was burned out from trying to attain that goal and I had given up.
If you would have told me in 2005, that I would drop acting to become a religious Jewish girl, I might have believed you. It was only a year later that I did so, by now I was at an age where time has started to move faster... or seem to, at least. Besides which, I had thought of converting back in 1996, remember?
If you told me on July 16, 2008 that my father was to die of throat cancer in just over a year, there's no way I would have believed that one. I likely would have stammered, "he doesn't-he never smoked." Furthermore, if you would have told me that he was going to marry his girlfriend at the time, I would have raised my eyebrows, "I don't know...."
If you would have told me in 2009 that at two o'clock in the morning on February 2, 2010, I'd be posting on my blog, somehow, I don't doubt that I would have believed that.
I no longer try to plan my life. I plan to keep kosher and Shabbos and the rest... well, I guess the rest I find out as my life unfolds. I mean, I do hope to graduate, soon enough, I hope. Although, I think time might just slow back down for that one... you know how it is... time is funny like that.
If you would have told me back in the 1970's where I would be in 2010, I would have been too young and the whole thing would have evaded my mind.
If you would have told me in the early 1980's that there would be available these little clear plastic things I can stick into my eyes to see fine without glasses and that I would wear glasses instead, I would never have believed you. You see, I hated my glasses so much and I used to hide them. One time my mother couldn't find them and she promised a popsicle or something like to any kid who could find them. All the neighborhood kids were looking.
If you would have told me in 1984 that I would someday move to New York City in hopes of becoming a professional actress, I would have believed it. You see, it was around 1984, that I had a solo in "songs from Oliver!" at school. I was the flower girl. If you told me that I would give it up to become a religious Jewish girl, I would have been perplexed. I had never even met a Jew and organized religion was something foreign to me.
If you would have told me in the late 1980's that in 2010, I would be in college studying a math-heavy major, I would have told you there was no way. At one point, Math was my worst subject. I was a year behind in Math and a year ahead in Reading and Spelling. Nevertheless, in 1991, I stunned myself. I went from being a student who could barely pass Math to gettng in the 90's.
If you would have told me in 1990, that in a couple years, my mother would stop speaking to her sister, I would have said, "never!"
If you would have told me in 1991 that my grandmother was going to outlive my mother, you would have been met with a stunned silence, this was just not possible.
If you would have told me 1991 or 1992, that I was going go to college for something Math heavy, I still wouldn't have believed you. You see, I figured this new found Math-ability was a freak accident. Besides, I already had figured out that I was going to go to Houghton College and major in French/Spanish education. Well, I came in one end but, never really came out the other end on that one. Who would have thought? Surely not me!
If you would have told me in 1992, that my mother was going to leave this world in a year, I would have known it was true. You see, I had a dream, no not a Martin Luther King kinda dream, but a creepy glimpse into the future that my mother was going to pass. Of course, I put it out of my mind. Although, I remembered this once again when I heard those fateful words, "they don't think she's going to make it through this surgery."
If you would have told me in 1996, that I would someday convert to Judaism, I would have believed that one. This is when I first started thinking about converting. I left Xtianity and the Xtian college. I didn't pusue conversion, I didn't want to jump from one religion to another and figured if I still wanted to convert later, then perhaps it would be more than a passing fancy.
If you would have told me in 1997 that I would join the Army in two years, I wouldn't have believed that one for sure, even though, I had been in ROTC. I was only in ROTC because a friend convinced me to join.
If you have told me in 1998 that I was going to live in San Antonio, TX from February 2001 to April of 2002, I wouldn't have known what to say to that.
If you would have told me in 2000 that in a year, the World Trade Center was going down, I would have said "impossible," even though I had never been to New York City.
If you told me 2001, that I would go back to college but change my major to Business with a concentration in Marketing, I would have believed you. In the late 1990's, I formed this current new career goal of marketing or marketing research.
If you would have told me in 2002, that after two years of living back in Buffalo, I would move to New York City, perhaps I would have come straight here. I had always been thinking about living here...
If you would have told me in 2004, that I should go back to college, I would have refused. I was burned out from trying to attain that goal and I had given up.
If you would have told me in 2005, that I would drop acting to become a religious Jewish girl, I might have believed you. It was only a year later that I did so, by now I was at an age where time has started to move faster... or seem to, at least. Besides which, I had thought of converting back in 1996, remember?
If you told me on July 16, 2008 that my father was to die of throat cancer in just over a year, there's no way I would have believed that one. I likely would have stammered, "he doesn't-he never smoked." Furthermore, if you would have told me that he was going to marry his girlfriend at the time, I would have raised my eyebrows, "I don't know...."
If you would have told me in 2009 that at two o'clock in the morning on February 2, 2010, I'd be posting on my blog, somehow, I don't doubt that I would have believed that.
I no longer try to plan my life. I plan to keep kosher and Shabbos and the rest... well, I guess the rest I find out as my life unfolds. I mean, I do hope to graduate, soon enough, I hope. Although, I think time might just slow back down for that one... you know how it is... time is funny like that.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Business majors are dead people...
I find my fellow business majors to be lacking in personality and zest for life. They think I'm a weirdo.
I was sitting in my 11am class but, the professor had not yet arrived to enlighten our minds quite, yet. I was looking through my Facebook notifications because, you know, what else would I do while waiting for the class to start... well, I saw the following comment after me on someone's status:
"If I lived in Boro Park I would have nightmares of those furry hats growing curly legs and chasing me :P"
(If you are regular reader you know that I don't live in Boro Park. The person who had the original status is. The commenter from above is also not.)
Anyhow, I BURST out laughing. I found it funny. Do you know that this guy who is actually in all four of my classes (not that he actually shows up most of the time)
started talking about me to his friend? He was bothered that you know, I can actually find something funny. Well, they may rule me to have to much zest and humor appreciation. I rule that they have the personality of a wet sock. Doh!
I was sitting in my 11am class but, the professor had not yet arrived to enlighten our minds quite, yet. I was looking through my Facebook notifications because, you know, what else would I do while waiting for the class to start... well, I saw the following comment after me on someone's status:
"If I lived in Boro Park I would have nightmares of those furry hats growing curly legs and chasing me :P"
(If you are regular reader you know that I don't live in Boro Park. The person who had the original status is. The commenter from above is also not.)
Anyhow, I BURST out laughing. I found it funny. Do you know that this guy who is actually in all four of my classes (not that he actually shows up most of the time)
started talking about me to his friend? He was bothered that you know, I can actually find something funny. Well, they may rule me to have to much zest and humor appreciation. I rule that they have the personality of a wet sock. Doh!
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