Google Updated

Here's a follow-up article about the earlier article on NY Times.  The blog is titled "SCAM".

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/02/technology/02ranking.html?src=me
Great job Google with getting on the ball.  They announced an updated algorithm 3 days after an article ran about a man breaking their system.  They had to have started work as soon as that story ran.  Then, they ran a follow-up in the same media showing that they fixed the problem.  How did no one think about the problem of negative publicity making someone's site higher up on their search engine when Google is probably chalk full of brilliant minds?  Or maybe they just thought that no one could break such a dominating system.  People shouldn't abuse a free resource like Google when we are lucky enough to have it at our fingertips.  But I am happy to hear that Google fixed the problem immediately.  If something like the first article would have lasted a while and gained more publicity, Google could have some seriously angry customers.  They nipped it in the bud!  This new,improved Google will be a great benefit to most all users.

SMU Traditions

There are a few things at SMU that a lot of students feel they must accomplish before graduating.  I am among this spirited, peruna-loving crowd.  The "traditions" are normally passed on to the incoming freshman who have to come up with sneaky new ways to deceive the police.  The two main traditions that I have come across are:
1.  You must "fountain-jump" in at least one of the schools 563 colorfully-lighted fountains.
2.  You must have a picture taken of you riding one of the three, bronze horse statues.

Luckily for me, I can check off the first important action.  My friend and I ran to one of the fountains, submerged ourselves in the freezing water, took a few pictures, and ran away totally undetected.  It was a success.
Who came up with these strange rituals?  And how did they become so popular?  It's not like there is anything to gain by performing them.  The only award is the proof of the pictures and the satisfaction that you have in a way been initiated to a higher inner level at your university.  School spirit and pride is important; you gotta love where you go.  These couple traditions influence that spirit.  Only one thing left for me to do now: scale those monstrous mustangs and snap that pic.

The Ugliest Shoe

Running barefoot has never looked uglier or more uncomfortable.  Toe socks are extremely uncomfortable so I can't imagine how irritating these must feel.  This shoe from Vibram is supposed to be the revolutionary - best - running - shoe ever.  And scientific studies are there to back it up.  When we run with regular tennis shoes, we tend to run heel, ball, toe.  The shoes are designed with thick soles on the heel for this very reason.  But when we run barefoot, we run toe, ball, heel.  This style of running gives less of an impact on our legs and knees.  Plus, watch sprinters.  When they run, their heels never once touch the ground.  Maybe this is the new thing that will revolutionize running and shoes.  I just wish that it could be a little more attractive. 

Definition: Hot Mess

Supposedly, this hot mess aka Kesha will be coming to big D this coming April.  Yes, I admit I am quite excited to see someone with such fame make their way to my small campus.  And I'll admit that her songs are very catchy and I may or may not play them all the time.  But Kesha just baffles me.  How can this trashy, nose-ring wearing, glitter-infatuated, drug abusing drunk ass can get so famous while singing about partying?  And she's so famous that her music is played all over the radios, giving young children the chance to hear these terrible messages.  It's hard to keep children's minds clean when these songs become so overplayed that parents don't even think twice before letting their kids listen.  Kids really pic up on lyrics too.  They seem to be able to hear a song once and can sing every word.  That is what worries me the most about songs like this.  I realize that there is and has been some very riskaay artists, but as of now, Kesha fits that definition.

Hand Love

How adorable is this?  Something that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  I really hope this does get to the lucky lady.  No more love letters or home-made tape mixes, the thing to do is make a Youtube video.  I even had a friend proposed to via Youtube.  He made a video and at the very end popped the question.  Does this mean that the world is becoming so entirely consumed by media that we are losing our personal touch?  I don't think so.  It is merely just another way to express ourselves.  And what better way to share a love video to someone far away?  I enjoy all the things that make you say "aww" and this was one of them!

Scenic Interstate Stores...

On my 7 hour drive home this past week I was yet again disgusting by something.  Every time I drive through the darling state of Missouri I am bombarded by these awful, revolting stores.  What am I referring to?  Adult Super Stores.  Why is it that every 10 miles through the state does there need to be another bright, red and yellow sign hanging over some dingy, run-down shed without any windows?  I am truly appalled at the number and hope to God that it isn't like this elsewhere, even though I bet it is.  Can there really be a need that great to keep these businesses running?  I can't imagine that people actually stop while traveling through (because people just go through Missouri, they don't actually want to stop and stay a while - hence the nickname: Misery).  This is a serious problem that needs to be taken care of before it gets even more out of hand.  There is an over-abundance of XXX and Pleasure Zone shops.  Crappy hick towns get enough of a terrible rep without these "stores" darkening their doorway - or entrance to the interstate.  In my opinion, state representatives should want their roadways to be scenic and enticing to travelers, not overrun by shitty garages that look as though a murder took place inside.  I know that I am not the only one bothered by these adult super-disgusting-stores.  Will the day ever come that they are banned?

SCAM!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/28/business/28borker.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=advertising%20google%20fraud&st=cse

Everyone should read this article!

Today, my English professor, a few other students and I had a very interesting discussion about this article.  A quick overview of the article: A man has beat the Google system.  He runs an online company that sells eye wear, but he has no inventory of his own.  (I will refrain from using the site's name just in case it creates more publicity for him.)  Once consumers order from him, he goes to places such as Ebay and buys what his customer requested.  This would work, except for the fact that all of the sunglasses that he sells are cheap knock-offs.  Customers realize the scam so attempt to return their orders.  Unfortunately for them, this man is aggressive.  He threatens them, most of the time causing the angered customers to post reviews of sites.  All of the reviews that mention his company's name, whether positive or negative, get his site boosted a little higher on search engines like Google.  He found that the more people he pissed off, the more they complained, which lead to more service.
How a scam artist as popular as him wasn't caught sooner blows my mind!  The internet is a scary place, especially when someone unknown acquires all of your information.  We all need to be especially careful when using our names, addresses, credit cards, etc online.  Also, I now understand Google a little better - even the "more relevant" searches could only be high up because of negative popularity.  Watch out for the scammers!!

"Like"

http://adage.com/digital/article?article_id=147272

Facebook and Twitter are huge in today's world.  Personally, I check my facebook multiple times a day and have notifications sent directly to my phone.  According to this article, Facebook has over 500 million users and Twitter is growing to close to 200 million.  Companies are taking advantage of all of these free opportunities to connect with people.  They can make a page and have fans "like" them and give them chances to comment on posts.  The user feedback is incredible.  In this article Oreo was used as an example.  They posted questions such as "Ever try dunking an Oreo cookie with a fork or anything else?" which received 8,200 likes and 2,300 comments and "Pick a flavor, any flavor! If you could create a new Oreo cream flavor, what would it be?" which received 7,100 likes, 12,500 comments.  All of these people engaging in your product for free!  The likes aren't too beneficial, but when consumers comment and become involved with the product, that's where the money is.  Facebook is important in many lives and the things/products on pages have an impact on many.

World AIDS Day

I love to see celebrities using their fame for the better.  As soon as Wednesday, a bunch of celebrities will be lost to the social media world.  They will be signing off of their Twitter and Facebook accounts for World AIDS Day and won't return until $1 million has been raised.  This idea was started by Alicia Keys for her charity, Keep A Child Alive.  Included in this project are Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, Ryan Seacrest, Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Usher and a few more.  http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/media/e3i34a063bb249a3cf2bd315f944e8b1283 says that Lady Gaga alone has 7.2 million Twitter followers - there's bound to be a movement!  All the celebrity deprived out there will be bound to help the cause so they can stalk their favorite stars.  The thing that I think is interesting is that technology has come so far that all the donations can be accepted through text messages and bar-code technology.  No need to send in a check.  Save on postage and just shoot out a text.  Can the celebrities make it without any form of social media?  For this good of a cause they should.

Cartoons vs. Jesus

Last year in my psychology class we watched a study about children and their ability to identify pictures of people.  Unfortunately, I couldn't find the video, so I hope that my description will be sufficient.  Basically, a group of elementary age children were shown pictures of famous historical figures and pictures of cartoon characters for restaurants/products.  Almost every single child knew who Ronald McDonald was.  Many knew characters such as Tony the Tiger and the Trix bunny.  Only a handful of the older children could identify famous presidents such as George Washington.  The most surprising (and the part that made my jaw drop) was that when a picture of Jesus was presented to the children, not a single child was able to identify him.

Children are bombarded with advertisements all day every day.  When they watch their favorite TV shows, companies reel them in.  Commercials with silly cartoons dominate children's channels.  Why?  Because kids will remember these characters and base all of their wants on the best advertised product - the one that intrigues them the most.
I find it sad that children almost idolize places such as McDonald's all because they cater to children and are fun.  In the kindergarten class where I tutor, almost all the children have written multiple short stories about McDonald's.  If only we could have the success of Mickey D's and get more important things to stick in our youth's minds.  Maybe then children would be able to identify more presidents than restaurant cartoons.

Holiday Ads

http://adage.com/article?article_id=147348

This article helps to show just how much things are changing.  Print ads used to be huge!  And I remember going through the newspaper on Thanksgiving looking for the best sales.  This year, my mom didn't even touch a newspaper.  She went straight to her computer and looked up all the sales online.  TV and internet are beginning to overcome print ads.  According to the article, "Most CMOs -- 42% -- said they allocate most of their holiday budget to print ads, down from 64% a year ago."  That's a 22% difference in only one year.  If companies keep decreasing their holiday print ad budget at this rate, print will be dead very soon.  The article goes on to say, "And 27% said they'd be investing the bulk of their budget in online ads, including social-networking sites. That's up from just 18% last year."  Online and especially social-networking advertisements are growing at an extremely fast rate compared to all other forms of advertising.  The internet hasn't been around for very long and already over one-fourth of companies are spending the majority of their budget here.  The world is changing - digital is in, print is going out.

Most Talented Gorilla!

Does anyone get it?  What does a drum-playing gorilla have to do with chocolate?
It doesn't matter.  This kind of an ad grabs your attention and most of all makes you laugh.  Who cares that it has nothing to do with the product.  Just like Jelly Helm's saying, "It's not about what it's about."  Gorillas and chocolate have nothing in common, but that's not the point.  The point is that this clip is enjoyable, it made you pay attention.  Some enjoyed it so much they decided to share with others (like me posting on here) and that's what gets the product's name around.  Sometimes edgy and ridiculous really works.  I can't tell if this works, but I can say I truly enjoyed it!

Family Time

Tis the season.  It's that time again for gorging yourself on food, listening to Christmas music, and most of all spending time with family.  I never realized until this year just how much I treasure being able to see my family come together.  Before, I always took for granted the times my little family would gather and talk about old times.  I thought that it was boring and embarrassing.  Now, I wish it was a little longer.  I feel out of touch with them.  I don't know what is going on in their lives anymore.  These people are my family yet I feel as though I hardly know them.  Why people complain about getting together with loved ones is a bit of a mystery to me right now.  I miss those I only see a few times a year.  I guess all that it took was a little time of separation from all that I know to realize just how much I love and miss it all.  My family isn't all that I've missed.  Also included in this is my friends, my dogs, my house, my town, my old job, my neighborhood - the list goes on and on.  I am thankful for this time of year and for the love that brings family and friends together.

The Situation Promoting Safe Sex?

You have got to be kidding me.  Candie's Foundation?  Really?  Honestly, I can hardly think of two worse people to talk about abstinence.  Bristol, YOU HAD A KID! And Mike, now that's just a joke right?  He probably has more STDs than I have hairs on my head!  And this foundation picked these two, I mean these two, to promote safe sex?  Bristol Palin got into "a situation" and now doesn't want to be the hot mess.  Especially since her mom decided to be on some HGTV reality show showing the life of the Palins in there wild Alaskan home.  Talk about terrible acting on her part as well.  She doesn't stand still for a second, swaying back and forth and playing with her hands.  Also, what in the world is she doing in that flapper-rockette outfit?  Enough about that mess.  Now for The Situation.  Ok, I do love me some Jersey Shore, but I watch it because it is ridiculous.  All they do is go to clubs and hook up!  Oh and of course GTL (gym, tan, laundry for those who aren't fans).  There is not one consideration for safe sex in any of those episodes.  He is ALWAYS looking for the next hot thing to get in bed with.
And the worst worst worst part: WABAM! Magnums.
This video just makes me sick.  The message is extremely important to get across, but choose better people to promote it.  The Situation? Really?

Stop Smoking

Click here to view all package designs: http://adweek.blogs.com

Recently the FDA has been given permission to regulate tobacco products under a new law.  The hot debate now: cigarette packaging designs.  The FDA has released 36 warning labels for the cartons and is asking the public for feedback.  By June the top 9 designs will be used for the packages going out in October.  Finally, a gruesome, yet gravely truthful portrayal of the effects of cigarette smoking.  Only three of the 36 labels are positive and suggest that quitting now reduces serious health risk.  Sure this is a scare tactic (that hopefully works!) but a lot is the same old negative phrases that have been used since smoking was found to be harmful.  Although these phrases have been used repeatedly, now they (along with morbid images) will be shoved in front of all smokers who look at their cigarette package.

One thing that boggles my mind every time I think about it is how many people are STILL smoking.  Every time I walk through campus I am surprised at the number of students lighting up.  I don't know one person that hasn't heard of the risks of tobacco products.  The scientific evidence is clear so why risk your life on something so easy to avoid?  And not only your life, but everyone else around you that you breathe that disgusting, smokey breath on.  I realize that some people are addicted.  My question to them: why did you start in the first place?  Smoking is deadly.  If you want the risk of lung, mouth, and throat cancer along with yellow fingernails and teeth, and smelly breath, hair, and clothes, then by all means smoke.  But don't say you haven't been warned.

Sharing is Caring

Tis the season for giving.  But why do we only have one season for it?  Shouldn't it be a year-long concern?  Holidays are the one time a year when people are in the giving spirit.  Sure it's ok to only give presents to your friends and family once every 365 days, but what about the needy?  They need help all year, not just once while they are on many people's minds.

The Salvation Army bell ringers are only out during Christmas ringing their bells and giving warm wishings of well-being.  This is the only time of year that most of us even remember them.
One type of heart-wrenching commercial that does try to reach out and help those in need is one that everyone is familiar with: the cute little old man holding the starved African child.  He walks you through their village showing all the poor children without clothes or food.  Then, he looks directly into the camera, directly into your soul and says something like "10 cents can feed this child for a week."  That's when you start adding up in your head just how many weeks a child could have been fed if you hadn't bought that shirt the other day....  If moments like this can't get us to give then what can?
When I was younger, I participated in a fundraising program for starving children in Africa called 30 Hour Famine.  In return for the money I raised, I went 30 hours straight without food (which included no sleep since I was with my friends).  It made an impact on my life then, but I don't even think about it now.  We need to stop putting ourselves first and help out those who really have no opportunities.  It should be our duty to help, and not just during Christmas.

Weeee!!

I know that this commercial has been a while, but it still gives me the giggles every time I see it.  Geico started an entire campaign with this serious man asking the viewer silly questions such as "Does the little piggy cry wee, wee, wee all the way home?"  It's cute and grabs attention, and all for car insurance.  Geico has been successful in creating their image.  People always know who that adorable, Australian gecko belongs to.  Now they are using more taking animals.  This campaign has created a bit of publicity for Geico.  I don't know if it has helped their sales, but their commercials do stick in your mind.

What would you do?

If you are driving along an empty road at night in the middle of nowhere and came to a stop light, would you stop and wait for the light to change?  When no one is around to catch you, do you follow the rules of the road or any rules for that matter?  Personally, I know that I still do.  I don't know if it is because I have been taught to always follow rules no matter what or because my luck doesn't always back me up if I do something wrong, but I feel that even though no one is watching, it is still breaking an enforced law.  My guilty conscience would nag at me for weeks.  Just because I don't get caught doesn't mean it is ok to do something.  It is the same concept as telling a murderer that it's ok if you kill someone as long as you don't get caught.  Rules are in place for a reason.  So, what would you do?

Vamanos!

Why does learning a new language come so easy for some, yet others may never master it?  I for one have taken Spanish for 6 and a half years and can't speak a lick.  I do improve when I am focused and try to speak it outside of class as well, but as soon as I stop, I tend to forget.  Research has shown that people who are bilingual, trilingual, etc. have a more active portion of their brain.  Are they born with a more advanced part of their brain or have they shaped it?  I'd love to research more on this topic - one day when I have extra time.  Currently though, I firmly believe that the best and fastest way to completely learn a language is to immerse yourself in it.  I would need to live in a Spanish-speaking environment for an extended amount of time.  If a person is forced to communicate with a different language, they are bound to learn and retain it.  Maybe one day this opportunity will present itself to me.  Til then however, I will just keep trying my best in my beginning Espanol courses.

Hardcore Has a New Look

This Honda Odyssey commercial had me laughing so hard I just had to blog about it.  Getting people to buy mini-vans has got to be one of the most challenging jobs.  The only people that end up buying them are big families that just need the space.  With Honda though, they show a middle-aged man attracted to a "hardcore" van.  As funny as it is, is it a plausible commercial?  Is some scruffy, 30-something, single guy really gonna see a flash of a black sex panther when he sees this van?  Probably not.  But Honda is trying something new and entertaining.  They are breaking from the normal car commercials and creating entertainment.  That's what sticks.  Their target market most likely won't change, but maybe it will make those new dads that want to be a sexy bachelor again be a little bit more OK with driving a mini-van.  Good luck Honda!

When I grow up I wanna be...

I work in the enrollment department of my school - basically I just file and put together packets for all my school's potential students.  It always reminds me of the days when I was applying to colleges.  Quite honestly, I wish I would have done a better job on my applications.  I remember how stressed I got at writing the endless entrance essays and how I just wished it was over already!  But when I really think about it, applying for a college is quite possibly the biggest decision of your life.  College is where you get your education which leads to your career.  How awesome a first job you score all depends on how good of a school you attend.  College is also where you meet some of your life-long friends.  It's where you start really growing into who you will be the rest of your life.  Decisions that you make in college affect your entire future.  How's all that laying on an 18 year-old high school senior's mind?

Also, I believe that seniors in high school need to be reminded that they still have a lot of learning and growing to do.  I know when I was told that I hated it.  Graduating high school seems like a big deal...until it's over.  There's so much left to life (and I know that there's a lot left to mine too!).  I feel that, coming from a public school system, schools need to emphasize life after high school a lot more.  They do make you take classes where you have to say what you want to be when you grow up, but how do you really know at 16 what you want to do?  I think that they should focus on growing and finding more out about oneself and one's beliefs.  By the time students graduate, they should have some direction, but what they really need is to understand themselves, their own needs and wants.  I realize that a lot of this may be wrong and maybe college only seems like the hugest thing in my life because I'm living it now (kind of like how high school felt really important).  We'll see!

Texting and Driving

Last week on my way to the library, I was shocked to see police blocking the road with flares.  There was obviously some type of accident, but there were no crashed cars in the area sectioned off.  I asked people about it walking in, yet everyone was just as confused as me.  Of course I was very curious as to what had happened on my campus.  Later, I realized that the accident had been one of the things that I am always worried will happen.  A car hit a pedestrian.  This link to the Daily Campus article explains it all: http://www.smudailycampus.com/news/student-struck-by-car-breaks-pelvis-1.1743035

A girl was hit a) because she didn't walk across the crosswalk and b) because the driver looked down to check her phone.  In all probability, the driver was texting and didn't see the girl walking across the street in the dark.  Now, I'm not saying that I'm innocent and never text while I drive, but I realize the dangers of it.  A girl was almost killed because of the drivers inattention to the road!  The other day one of my professors told the class that he read an article stating that texting is even worse than drunk driving.  What's wrong with us when we can't even take a break from our phones for ten minutes to drive?  We're putting our lives and the people around us at risk when we get behind the wheel.  Shouldn't we be a bit more careful?  Technology is a great thing, but their needs to be a limit.  Another thing: young people aren't the only culprits.  My mother is always texting on her phone, and when she is, you might as well be talking to a wall.  She is completely oblivious to the world around her.  I think that it is good that police are starting to crack down on texting and driving, especially with the "no phone usage around schools."  I can't imagine hitting someone all because I was texting something stupid to a friend.

Dogs Rule

Dogs vs. Cats

The big debate since....forever.  What are you?  A dog person or a cat person?  Obviously, I know what the answer to this question ought to be.  Dogs.  How can anyone choose a mean, scary, hairball coughing cat when they can have a fluffy, lovable, playful puppy?  They didn't come up with "mans best friend" over nothing.  Dogs are always happy to see you when you come home, they love to snuggle right up next to you, they love to play with you, and they are always just so darn adorable.  Cats on the other hand scratch up your skin, they require a litter box, they climb trees and get stuck, and they are just plain mean.  Who's always the bad guy in kid movies?  That's right - a cat.  Ever heard of a black cat?  What about the crazy cat lady?  So listen up cat people: you lose!  Dogs win.

I'm Nicole Hodges and I approve this message

http://adage.com/smallagency/post?article_id=146834

This article plainly says what we all are thinking: political ads are out of control!  Each politician uses ads that bash on their competition, harshly saying what he or she promised yet didn't follow through with or what terrible thing he or she voted for.  It's overwhelming.  Personally, being new to this whole voting thing, I want to hear what each candidate stands for and how they promise to help their community.  I don't care if someone voted 20 years ago for something contradictory to what they say now.  Tell me your beliefs and let me decide for myself who comes out on top.  The overwhelming amount of commercials that badmouth politicians really only turns me away from voting at all.  I agree with this article and think that if in the future we could see some positive ads that described why someone should gain my vote and not why I should vote against them, then people would be a lot more willing to a) watch the ads and b) VOTE!  And it's not just commercials that are taking over.  Billboards, radio spots, those darn little signs on every corner and in every yard, etc. Please politicians: I know you want to get your name out, but let's try a new route.  Maybe then political advertising won't get such a bad rep.

Laugh a Little

Comedians:  they can talk about the most controversial topics and it is still acceptable.  They can go on stage with a mic, curse and bash on people, races, and countries and what do we do?  We laugh.  We think it is hilarious because, honestly, they are saying what we're thinking; they just have the balls to open their mouths to the world.  Most of the things that comedians seem to joke about are extremely inappropriate, but the worse the jokes are, the more we enjoy them.  Dane Cook uses the f-bomb every couple words and he's now rich and famous because of it.  Recently, I've been watching Tosh.O and loving it.  All he does for 30 minutes is make fun of YouTube videos.  He even brings people to Hollywood and includes them in his show if he finds their video especially hilarious.  Below is part of Daniel Tosh's stand-up.  (I would recommend watching his entire show - so funny.)  I am a victim just like the rest of us.  I find his cursing and direct mentioning of controversial topics extremely amusing.  It may be bad to laugh, but we all do it.  Maybe it's just a way to lighten up humanity.  Why be so serious all the time?

FLASH MOB!

One of the coolest things I've seen/participated in: a flash mob.  If you don't know what this is, it's when, in a large crowded place, people randomly start dancing.  As the dance progresses, more and more people gradually join in.  You never know if the person standing next to you is another bystander like you or a part of the madness.
This past weekend, during the Boulevard, Meadows put on one of these flash mobs.  We met one time during the week to learn the dance and prayed it would all work out.  In my opinion it was a success!  People all around were extremely surprised and shocked at how such a large crowd had learned the dance.  It is a fun way to get people involved.  Just being a part of something makes you feel special and needed.  Especially when it's something as cool and secretive as a flash mob.  Smiles and cheers broke out everywhere during this dance.  It was a positive, fun way to be involved.
I admit, sometimes I wish that our lives were like a musical where everyone randomly breaks out in perfect song and dance.  Wouldn't that be something if everyone was so connected that group songs and dances just happened?  We would be so close, we would know exactly what the other is thinking and about to sing (kind of like when you finish your best friend's sentence - you just know).  No wonder people love musicals.  It's a positive connection between others that is indescribably awesome.

Rihanna eats chips?

We always see this: companies using celebrity endorsements to sell their products.  Companies wouldn't be doing it if it didn't work so well.  Of course if Rihanna likes Doritos as shown in this video above, I'm going to like Doritos a little more.  If any celebrity claims to use a product, people are going to be more attracted to that item.  Almost everyone fantasizes about being rich and famous.  And if eating Doritos makes me that much closer, then there's no stopping me!  But if you really think about most of the celebrities in ads, the fact is that they probably don't use the product at all.  There's no way Rihanna has a body like she does and sits around eating tons of Doritos.  And all of the famous women that promote cheap make-up brands obviously aren't using those brands when they get their faces professionally done up before the red carpet.  So why do companies use celebrities?  Because it works.

Pandora Love

http://www.pandora.com/

Pandora is such a wonderful thing.  Basically any artist that is fairly known is included on their site.  Whatever mood you are in, you can always make a new radio mix of the perfect genre.  And best of all: IT'S FREE!  But for how long?  Tons of other sites aren't able to continue because they generate no income.  Pandora, like other sites such as Hulu, use advertisements to keep running.  Advertisers pay them to include their ads and all users have to suffer is to watch/listen to a few 30 second ad.  Not a bad price for hours of free radio - and not just radio, but artists that I choose.  It's a beautiful thing.  I even have the app for my phone because I just can't get enough.  I have exercise stations, study stations, chillin-at-work stations, party stations; there's a station for everything.  The day that Pandora either requires payment or goes out all together (or gets bought out by iTunes), will be a sad, sad day for all.  Life without free internet radio is not much of a life at all.  I can't get the full satisfaction from all that artists have to offer if I am forced to pay $1.29 a song.  So I really hope that day is far in the future.  College would be near impossible to pass without it.  Dear Pandora, if you can hear me, just know that I love you.

There's an app for that

Just the other night, I was laying there thinking how cool it would be if there was an app for the iPhone that gave the gas prices of all the gas stations around.  That way, we wouldn't have to drive around comparing the prices.  So I went to the app store and what do ya know! There's an app for that.  Literally, there is an app for everything! 
Imagine trying to come up with some new little application that could create a little more simplicity in someone's life.  Or thinking up the next new game that will be on millions of phones.  It's a little mindblowing.  Sometimes I just try to think of little things that could possible be an app or I think of random words.  Never has Apple failed to have an app for everything that I think of.  And not just one, but many options to choose from.  I'm sure that there are tons of people out there whose job is to think of new little activities and make applications.  I'm sure that it is a lot harder now though compared to when iPhones first came out.  Attempting to come up with an idea that no one has thought of yet, finding something that is interesting enough for people to download and useful enough for people to use has got to be one of the more straining on your brain.  But it also has to be really cool to see that people are interested in your idea and able to benefit from it.  What isn't there an app for?

Classic

One of my classes this semester is an honors literature course.  It has been the most challenging course this year for me, but I have gained so much in just a few short months.  We have read some of the best classic books including Dracula, Frankenstein, and Wuthering Heights.  In my opinion, everyone should read the classics.  It isn't just a way to better your vocabulary and reading ability, it helps you understand humanity and the history of our civilization.  I've never been a fan of history, but as recent as the past year I have found that it is one of the most important subjects.  Without it, we are at a loss on how to understand the workings of people's minds and governments.  Reading these books gives you a perspective on what life used to be like a couple hundred years ago.  They give you insight on governments, class structures, gender differences, new technology, etc.  Topics such as these should be interesting to us because we are going through the same issues, just at a much advanced level.  History repeats itself and we need to be prepared.

Feelin Country

When someone asks you what kind of music you listen to, what do you say?  Most of the time, it seems that people respond with an "oh I listen to a little bit of everything."  But if you ask a country fan, they declare their love loud and proud, even if they listen to other genres.  I'm one of those country fans.  Love me some guitar-pickin' twang!  I'm from a bit of a smaller town and didn't think it was too hick until I came to Dallas.  I thought that I'd be overwhelmed with accents, cowboy hats, and wranglers.  This is not the case.  My town is so much more "country" than a city in Texas.  I was prepared to find the boy with the biggest belt buckle and most cattle, but I know more FFA kids at home.  But that's Dallas for ya.  I won't be attending too many bonfires out by the creek or ever have a chance to go giggin' (unless it's for some purple horned frogs!).  There are advantages to living in a small town, but now that I've experienced a big city with a skyline and 4 lane highways, I don't think I'll ever leave.  The opportunities are endless here.  If I stayed at home, I'd still be working at a minimum wage job and probably lose all my ambition to be anyone.  I'd never end up leaving!  The only thing I really miss is that good, country, hometown feel (and of course my mom and dad!).  Now Dallas just needs to get a few more country radio stations...

5 Dollar Footlong

Oh, Subway.  They're doing it again: ANY regular sub at 5 dollars.  Those poor, poor Subway employees.  The sales go crazy when all the subs are 5 dollars, not just the regular eight.  I would know because I worked at Subway for about 2 years.  Oh yes, I can make a mean sandwich, loaded up with "the works" and close it without anything falling out in under a minute.  Did you know that there is a Subway sandwich making contest?  It's called Sub Jammer and you have to make a sandwich with the correct amount of ingredients, close it, and wrap it as fast as you can.  It gets pretty intense!  Anyway, Subway was my second home this last summer and I cannot even begin to tell you how many times I heard this jingle.  Customers think it is hilarious to sing that they want a 5 dollar footlong.  Like I haven't heard that before.  It isn't the fact that it's a terrible little jingle, it's just that as soon as you hear it, it will be stuck in your head for hours!  Subway has done a great job of playing this repeatedly so everyone who lives in this country has heard it and can sing it.  Congratulations Subway, you have made one annoying, catchy song.

I'm a mouse, duh!

Halloween: the time for tricks and treats, thrills and chills.  It'll be here before we know it.  As a child, it was one of my favorite holidays.  What can be better than dressing up, staying up late, and eating candy?  Now that I'm older though, Halloween has drastically changed.  No more free candy and no more innocent, nerdy costumes.  I used to love the nerdy costumes too.  I'm such a nerd that one year I was even Princess Leia from Star Wars!  Since I'm in college, it seems like the only thing a girl is allowed to be is something slutty or else she will be thought of as a prude or just a loser.  Just like Mean Girls says: "Halloween is the one night a year when girls can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it."  They can wear lingerie and a headband with ears and BOOM! ya got a costume.  Mean Girls' dumbest plastic, Karen, shows up wearing just that and thinks it's obvious: "I'm a mouse, duh."  Why has it come to this?  It's so very difficult to find a decent costume that doesn't expose your world.  Girl costumes have to either be skin tight or show LOTS of skin.  Plus, by the end of October, it gets to be pretty nippy out.  We used to come up with costumes that a winter sweatsuit could be worn under if needed.  Can't wear one of those in a tini bikini.  I would like to see some changes in society where girls aren't influenced to dress like prostitutes.  It kills me to see elementary girls wearing more revealing clothing than I would ever think to put on.  So thanks Halloween, for promoting sluttiness and sex.

Party Like It's The End Of The World

As I was driving the other day I heard a song on the radio that caught my attention.  The artist was singing about how the world was going to end in 2012 so we should "party like it's the end of the world."  It made me smile and think about how people were convinced that the end of the world would come with the new millennium and we should "party like it's 1999."  Even though there is more of a reason to think that the world will end in 2012 because of the Mayan calendar, there isn't much worry about it given that it is a little over a year away.  I feel like people overreacted with the turning of the millennium, thinking that either the world would end or that all technology would crash.  Now, some people are overreacting and basing the fate of Earth on some indigenous natives hundreds of years ago.  Then, I get to thinking about how partying probably isn't the right reaction to the end of the world.  Shouldn't we instead be spending time with our loved ones and setting things right with God?  If you're busy partying when the world ends, that seems a little selfish.  Just some food for thought.  Anyway, the idea taken from Prince is fun and nicer to sing about then the normal gangstas in the club gettin monay.  Compare the two:

Extreme Baby Carrots

Everyone knows that promoting healthy food is tough.  The commercials for fruits and veggies were always the lamest, barely better than lawyers like the Hammer.  Making a commercial that is entertaining, funny, and even a bit ridiculous always gains attention, no matter the product.  This one just so happens to be veggies.  Now, I don't like carrots, but I do like this commercial.  It's hilarious!  Having a crazed woman with a carrot-shooting machine gun hitting a man riding a turbo-jet charged shopping cart while yelling, "Baby Carrots" is so random and funny.  I think because I am still young, I love the action and extreme sport feel.  Also, the country seems to be trying to go on a big health-kick.  All products are low-this, low-that, no trans-fat, no sodium, etc.  America finally sees that children are so morbidly obese that they might not outlive their parents.  The country is fat...extremely fat.  It's time for some extreme health changes.  Hopefully spots that are entertaining and promoting to a younger generation will encourage kids to eat veggies like they eat junk food.  A change needs to happen now.

I like it on...

http://www.execte.com/

If you're somebody, you've seen it.  About a week ago Facebook started to get bombarded with women changing their statuses to where they like it.  But what is it?  These sexually-hinting updates had many fathers flabbergasted, brothers dropping their mouths, and all men quite excited.  Sorry boys, it's not what you think.  Now get your minds out of the gutter!  In honor of breast cancer awareness month, women have been changing their statuses to where they like to put their purses when they get home.  Mass messages were forwarded among women to encourage participation and get breast cancer (and something else) on everyone's mind.  Even my mother took part in this, which thoroughly shocked some of her not-so-avid Facebook friends.  This complete domination of ta-ta awareness is not new.  Last year, women changed their statuses to the color of their bra.  In my opinion, that was much more successful and relevant, even making headline news.  But getting the word out about breast cancer is important and what better place than Facebook?  This once a year invasion of Facebook is genious and shocking to those out of the loop.  I can't think of a better place to get the word out to thousands in a fun, creative, and personal way.

Wake up with the King

Really, Burger King?  As if the commercial with the creepiest mascot standing outside your window in the morning wasn't enough, now you can literally wake up to a big king face every morning.    Who wouldn't want to sleep with the King?  Personally, seeing him on TV every once in a while is enough for me.  The ultimate creepster.  Last year one of my friends wanted to be him for Halloween and I immediately insisted against it.  I can't take much more of that smiling, plastic, larger-than-life mask.
But if you take a step back and think about what this...eh em...unique mascot has done for BK, it tends to grow on you.  Before the King, BK was just another greasy burger place.  McDonalds ran the fast food world.  Now, McDonalds may still be the dominant factor, but Burger King has lessened that gap.  They updated their face, gave themselves a real mascot, and updated their menu.  It's like a whole new restaurant.  This pillowcase promotion is a little weird and creepy, but just imagaine what a great gag gift it makes.

Study Buddies?

A test is coming up.  Scratch that, three tests are coming up.  All on the same day.  You feel like you have no time to prepare.  Every moment you try to study, you end up passing out no matter where you are - desk, couch, floor, library...  What do you do?
For a lot of college students that answer would be artificial energy.  Whether it be coffee, redbull, 5 hour energy, or drugs, students are leaning on these stimulants more and more.  I'm included in this too!  I can't get through a long night of studying without my starbucks double shot espresso or a redbull...or maybe both.  These energy supplements cannot be good for our bodies no matter what they say.  Commercials for 5 hour energy try to make their product sound healthy.  Taken from 5hourenergy.com, their shot has "zero sugar, zero herbal stimulants, only 4 calories, and B-vitamins and amino acids."  But then, if you read the fine print, and you really have to look for it, they say to "limit caffeine products to avoid nervousness, sleeplessness and occasional rapid heartbeat."  Rapid heartbeat?  That sounds awfully dangerous.  And I don't need to mention the danger of taking drugs.  Although many students use adderall - the "study drug" - there can be many side effects.  Adderall is a powerful stimulant and has a risk of sudden death, stroke, and heart attack.  Is cramming for a test really this important.  Why not just take the good ol' natural way and try to keep a healthy diet, exercise, and (try to) get enough sleep.  Don't ruin your body over studying.

Uncommonly Smooth

Justin Timberlake is now a director?  Our favorite curly haired, boy band singing hottie is going behind the camera to launch his new 901 silver tequila.  Can he do it?  So far his transition from teen heartthrob N*SYNC lead to smooth, sexy singing on his own to acting has worked out quite well.  Why shouldn't this too?  Supposedly, the people helping him to direct his spots about his new drink have praised his skills.  JT isn't just another dumb, rich celebrity player; he's a smart, sophisticated singer, actor, and now director.  I'm not surprised to see that his focus is sex and class.  Even the tagline of the tequila is "uncommonly smooth."  That describes JT perfectly.  Another idol from my generation, making an even bigger name for himself.  One thing people won't be saying about Justin Timberlake: Bye, bye, bye...

This is bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

http://www.eatachiquita.com/sticker-contest/

As said in class: "Number one way to gain customers: have a two way conversation with them."  Two way conversations can be anything including feedback from customers.  I found this fun way for a company to not just get feedback from their customers, but let their customers take a part in their product.  They had a competition where people could design banana stickers.  Those winners will have their stickers displayed all over the place.  That is much more than a two way conversation, that's a company letting their customers make up the company's image.  To be honest, I don't know banana brands - sort of like milk brands.  Companies with those types of products find it tough to break out and make a name for themselves.  Bananas are bananas.  But Chiquita has pushed forward a little bit by letting people custom make their stickers.  They'll need a lot more to really make a difference though.  This is just one cute and smart way to make a name for yourself.

iAd

I saw this article and thought it was the coolest thing ever!  Integrating regular print advertising with new technology like the iPhone is genius!  If I came across this in a magazine, I would definitely try it out.  It strikes up curiosity and makes the user feel included.  Sure, it is only for some insurance company, but this is unique and new.  Other companies will probably jump at the opportunity to get their customers involved in ads like this.

ALIENS!

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2370008,00.asp

What?! Another planet capable of supporting life?  Aliens?
I think this is a very interesting topic - article could have been done a little better - but it is still exciting.  This planet, Gliese 581g, is three to four times the size of Earth and is tidally locked, as in one side of the planet is always facing the sun.  They mentioned that if Gliese 581g was in our solar system, it would be in the "habitable zone" meaning it can support life.  But it's sun is a red dwarf, which means it is less than half the size of our sun, puts out much less heat, and radiates infrared light instead of UV light.  So is it possible that a planet, orbiting a red dwarf star and that has one side fixed facing the sun, could support life?
Supposedly researchers say so.  They think that the areas on the sides of the planet that are not in perpetual sunlight or darkness could.  Will we ever know?  Will it be possible to one day send a satellite to this Gliese 581 solar system and become aliens ourselves?  In another 100 years, who knows what we could have accomplished in technology.  Man didn't walk on the moon until 1969 and we're already finding habitable planets lightyears away.  This is an exciting step towards finding a little more about the incredibly huge universe we live in!

Glee + Britney = Love

Calling all GLEEks! If you didn't watch last weeks episode...well...go watch it now.  Because our now beloved characters performed the ultimate: Britney Spears.  The idol of my generation.  Britney can be a hot mess and the world will still love her.  Even though the show didn't really progress with the storyline, the episode was quite possibly one of their best.  The ditsy cheerleader, Britney, finally got a solo and rocked!  The combination of her voice, her dance moves, her body, and the fact that she could be Britney Spears's twin, made this episode AHHmazing!
But one thing did bother me.  Out of all the wonderful Britney songs out there, they choose "I'm a slave for you" to be cheerleader Britney's solo.  True, she looked hot and most likely skyrocketed the number of male viewers.  But that was one of the dirtiest, most provocative songs! This show has taken on a family feel and I think they should have picked a not-so-scandalous song.
Other than that, I loved it!! I love Glee, I love Britney, and I LOVED that episode! Finally a show that is just genuinely good.  It just makes you smile :) They include everything: classic, pop, rock, rap, you name it!  They have gorgeous girls and cute guys that can all sing incredibly.  But most of all, they have Sue.

Using Buns to Promote Bunless Sandwiches

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/

Yet another fast food chain using young women to sell their products.  But isn't this a very effective way to attract attention of the "big-eaters" out there, aka men?  KFC has taken the family approach by promoting their family buckets of chicken with more than one drumstick.  Everyone knows that children love drumsticks!  I thought it was a great idea!  But as this article mentions, KFC's sales are down 7%.  Time to look for something new.  Now they are trying to bring in young men by paying female college students to wear "sweatpants with 'Double Down' in large letters across their rear ends."  Of course this tactic will get young, college aged men interested.  And who better than them?  These boys never seem to get full!  And besides, what regular woman would want to eat a sandwich that consists of cheese in between two pieces of fried chicken?  This idea of using women to advertise a product is not new.  Hardee's has been doing this forever.  Let's just hope KFC doesn't take it to their level (you know, the commercial with the woman licking the sauce off her thigh while in a dress or the infamous Paris Hilton one...don't get me started!)  As long as KFC keeps things classy - as classy as fast food can be - all the women's rights ladies out there shouldn't get their panties in a wad.  Women flaunt their bodies without the help of companies all the time.  Maybe those women's rights ladies need to visit Victoria's Secret before they go bashing on KFC.

Check Out Your Receipt

One thing that I have learned from my advertising classes is to notice all the unique ways that companies promote their name.  I tend to notice commercials on TV, magazine ads, and all kinds of others.  I admit, sometimes I sit around thinking about what I would include in advertisements to make them more attractive and, in my opinion, better.  Now, I'm no professional so I don't have much of a say, but I like to think that I could better some of those quite atrocious ads out there. 

The other day I noticed another unique way of advertising: printing on the back of receipts.  We've all seen it before, but until now I haven't stopped to think about it.  Grocery stores such as Tom Thumb and Price Cutter put small blocks of ads on the back of their receipts.  Most companies put coupons (such as the discount car wash that I just used) to try and entice customers to come to their store, restaurant, etc.  This is just another unique way of companies getting their name out there!  I know that it worked for me!  Just like this receipt says: "Receipt advertising works!"

A Little Thing That Drives Me Crazy...

Everyone has them.  Those little instances that just get under your skin and make you mad.  Mad for no apparent reason.  Little instances that can ruin your entire day.  Pet peeves as some call them.  Just the other day as I was driving along it hit me.  Or more happened to me.  The darn radio did not have one station that was playing music!  Every single saved station on my radio was on some type of commercial and I went just about mad.  So there I am, furiously changing the stations, looking for something that resembled a song, when I realized: here is my pet peeve.  It may be something minor, but when I am driving to class, I'd like to be jamming out to some good ol tunes.  It's the jump-start to my day.  But unfortunately that day wasn't so lucky.  My head wasn't filled with any guitar-pickin', twangin' country or any bumpin, crazy techno or anything for that matter except the continuous chattering of ads.  As an advertising student, this struck me as a problem.  I am just like any other person out there listening to the radio, and if I can't stand to listen to any commercials, neither can others.  How are companies supposed to get drivers to listen about products and services if commercials make us angry?  As soon as a song ends, we go switching to another station.  Or we get so tired of commercials that we buy XM Radio so our tunes are never interrupted.  What are companies supposed to do?

Something that my Mind Map says about me...

Hmm, interesting topic.  For those of you who don't know, a Mind Map is an ingenious way to track your thoughts as one thought or idea sparks a new one.  Our project in particular consisted of starting off with one word and branching off of that word with various, divergent words.  Basically, it was a paper completely covered with the random thoughts of our brain.  Random in the way that I may have the word "sports" and four branches later have George Michael singing "Gotta have faith, faith, faith."  One thing that I did notice about my map was how I always seemed to keep coming back to sports, no matter where I started.  I understand why since sports have always been a large part of my life, more so earlier than now though.   Another thing I noticed while I was thinking about what words I would use was that many of my thoughts were inside jokes or "had-to-be-there" moments.  I couldn't exactly use many of those because anyone looking at my map might think that I'm just plain mad for coming up with that.  I thought mostly of past experiences or memories, so many that it was almost overwhelming!  It was difficult for me to be so general with my topics - I love specifics.  All in all, my Mind Map showed me that my mind is full of surprises and interesting connections.  And man, am I all over the place!

Retargeting Ads

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/30/technology/30adstalk.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Recently, in one of my advertising classes, we were asked to read the above article regarding retargeting ads.  I found the article to be pretty interesting.  Retargeting or remarketing is when a person visits some type of site and looks at a product (such as searching shoes on Zappos like the lady in the article) and "when that person or someone using the same computer, visits another site, the advertising system creates an ad for that very" item.  When you visit a site, your computer exchanges a small file called a cookie with the web, which is why specific information, which could cause the paranoid behavior, "follows" you around.  As a frequent user of the internet, especially Facebook, I have noticed that the ads on my pages are almost all related to me in some way.  I never really stopped to think why or how; I guess that is just another example of my generation and technology.  To some, this tracking of your previously visited sites can be a bit creepy.  To me though, I just see it as a regular addition to the internet.  Some sites can remember my login information and take me directly to my home page - how is this use of remarketing any different?  I do not think that when I login to my homepage and see ads for my school or about the recent tornado in Dallas that I am necessarily being watched.  But if companies or the government take advantage of this use of tracking where people have surfed, then there will be problems.  As of right now, I don't mind cookies one bit.

Express Yourself!

Express yourself!  Everyone has heard the saying and has most likely tried to fulfill it as some point in their lives.  There are an infinite number of ways that one can be expressive including the typical hair, clothing, and piercings route.  As I was getting my rare exercise in the other day, I thought of yet another way: your house.  I happened to be biking through the renowned, beautiful Highland Park, marveling at the most exquisite homes.  Because of the classiness of HP, all of the homes should be breath-taking, but I found myself scrunching up my nose at a few, not many, but a few.  I realize that a house is supposed to be a representation of the people living inside...and that gave me a desire to avoid some at all costs.  Some people may view a house as a beautiful work of art while I think it is an embarrassment to the neighborhood.  It is all up to personal preference.  Everyone is unique.  For instance, when I look at this house:

I may think that the people living here have gone a little too "artsy," but they may glance up from their artistic Picasso painting of a sphinx and notice me, sweaty from my bike ride in the 100+ degree Dallas heat, and think that I am utterly insane.  Of course, they may be the next most interesting people in the world and win many awards for their creativity.  It truly is astounding just how different people can be!  Personally, my favorite houses were the ones with perfect landscaping and beautiful stone work instead of brick or siding.  Here are a couple:

Just like our fingerprints, everyone is unique in their own special way.

* I apologize if these are your homes and do not want them displayed.  I can remove them immediately.  But you should feel honored they made it to my blog...

Who Cut the Lights?

Today, while I am diligently working on homework, my roommate exclames, "It's raining!"  Sure enough, it is wet outside.  But as we are admiring this change in the weather, we notice that the wire to our decoration light is cut right in two!  The once continuous string of party lights that cheerfully wrapped around our porch is now ruined!  My first reaction was utter bewilderment.  Who would do such a thing?  Then, reason started to set in as I realized that of course no one could have cut the wire because we live on the third floor.  As we pondered who (or what) could have possibly done such a destructive act, our creative minds went wild.  Was it some type of acrobatic ninja who climbed up the tree and used his sharp samuri sword to slice through my delightful lights?  Or could it be a crazed, Christmas-light-hater?  Or was it Spiderman?  I've seen the movies; I know that he can crawl up walls without any effort put forth at all.  Maybe that darling Toby McGuire is in love with me and wants to kiss me upside down while hanging from my party lights... After some intense discussion though, we decided that it most likely was not a person of any form.  But if it wasn't a human then what?!  Was it a group of scissor-mouthed ants?  Or maybe a new form of termites that feeded off of plastic-coated wire?  But then the idea came to me: a squirrel.  That must be it!  They have the sharp teeth, love to gnaw, and can climb nearly anything.  In the end, we decided upon the cute, fuzzy little creature.  Inside, I feel a bit more at ease knowing that the mystery is solved.  Now I just wish my party lights would work.

The Mystery of Individuality

Welp, here goes my first blog post ever!  I don't really know how this works, but here we go:

I guess a good place to start would have to relate to our readings of Danny Gregory's "The Creative License."  He keeps pressing the idea of individuality (of course with a huge emphasis on just being creative and expressing yourself).  Individuality is expressing yourself in a unique and original way.  That's what it takes to be successful, or so I hear.  But truly expressing yourself in a personal way is sometimes challenging.  Where did you get your ideas?  Are they completely original, or are they based off someone or something else?  My point is that being individual is difficult.

For a lot of people, myself included, we have to be comfortable before we can express our "true colors."  Comfortable as in belonging somewhere; feeling as though we are a part of something.  Whether it be a club, team, frat, or just a group of close friends, we all fit into some type of puzzle.  We act, dress, and think just like those around us.  We may claim to have an original idea, but it most likely is due to someone else.

I can relate to this rambling: in high school, I never felt as though I really found myself until I joined the school's cheer squad.  Before, I was one of those "invisible kids" that no one really knew; just another fish in the sea.  But after I joined the squad and became more... known... I seemed to grow out of my shell and was comfortable with just being myself.  Was that really myself though?  Was I being my creative individual by letting my true self finally show?  I lean a little toward the opposite.  I became a part of the group and began to act like them, dress like them, talk like them, only hang out with them, etc.  They helped me to be more expressive, but was I expressing myself, or just a replica of the others?  We may never know.... the mystery of individuality.