Stealthy Advertising

Did your parents ever disguise spinach, or beets, or some other food you didn't want to eat as something you enjoy?





Mine didn't either. But I've heard about it. Anyway, during our trip to Toronto, I noticed a mural painted on a wall. it was advertising a product while trying to look like graffitti. Ads are being disguised as anti-establishment action, such as grafitti. Once I saw this ad, I began to notice it more and more, such as a tampon commercial (I can't remember the brand so I can't find the video) where a boring tampon ad is covered with graffitti, in which a different, more exciting tampon mural is created to symbolize the individuality and artistry of having a period. This rattled with my head a bit, as I was trying to grasp the concept of turning art into a commercial strategy. They are using illegal acts to advertise, saying, in layman's terms, "Don't buy into big business. Buy from our big business." Anyone else see a problem in logic here? We're hip we're cool, we're in tune to youth needs. Buy our tampons.

MAVS!

The Dallas Mavericks are the 2010-11 Season NBA Champions.

In 6 games, the Mavs decisively won the title with a 4 games to 2 run. Finals MVP honours went to none other than Dirk Nowitzki. But in all seriousness, this feat was a team effort, from the starters to the core bench players, the Mavericks won this championship as a team.

Something that the Miami Heat failed to do.

In game 6, where the Miami heat were facing elimination, they didn't step up as a team. And really, nobody on the whole team did well the entire game. Lebron James had a 4/4 start to the game, and went pretty much cold for the rest. Dwyane Wade did some positives, but he tried to take the team on his back, and failed. He made too many mistakes down the stretch, and the Heat as a whole looked rattled. The title was the Mavericks about halfway through the 4th quarter, and they ended the game winning in double digits. The only person that was contributing positively with his minutes was Chris Bosh, who had been struggling most of the series, but was probably the most efficient player for the Heat.

Too bad he didn't get many touches of the ball.

I would be lying if i said I felt sorry for Bosh after the game, where he actually fell down in emotion, and seemed to be crying. I can understand why he would react that way, being one of the most emotional players in the game today, but I'm not sorry, and I am overjoyed that the Mavericks defeated the Heat in a clear, concise way.

Last years off season, James and Bosh were free agents that decided to take their talents to South Beach, and anybody who watched the NBA was buzzing about how the Heat would win the championship. There were lovers and haters, myself being one of the haters. Anyone for the Heat tried to convince others that the Heat would win the title because they have 3 all-stars on the team. I personally believe in a team dynamic, where everyone is comfortable with each other, knows how others play, and can win games because of their chemistry. There's no doubt that the Heat will win a few championships in their time, just the first season seemed like a bit of a stretch to me, even if the team did acquire possibly the best player in basketball today, Lebron James.

Following the moves, a large variety of people were asked about how they think the Miami Heat will fair this season, including United States President Barrack Obama. He followed the same view that many "haters" have, which is that a team who works well together and has played for a long time will do better than a team that hasn't. It's cool when the President has the same views on basketball as you do.

And it looks like many people are satisfied with the loss to Dallas. People like Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion and Jason Terry have been in the NBA for 10+ years and are veteran players that have never won a championship. The fact that the Mavs only have 1 all-star as opposed to the Heat, who have 3, are the team that overcame the odds and won it all is a great success that really should be admired.

I'm not really a hater anymore, because I know now that the Heat players can't be cocky anymore because they have 3 stars. Humbled is a word I hope players like Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Lebron James can learn about, because a big part to their failure in this playoff run was the lack of maturity that all 3 players have.

Royal Rumours

The royal couple, a dream come true or a tragedy in the making? It depends on whether you have been watching or reading the saga enfold. Not only a difference in media forms, but also in the story line.
Ever since the engagement, the television networks have been following this couple in a positive way. They have been keeping the rest of the world informed about the loving relationship these two people have. While on the other hand, magazine tabloid’s have been busy tearing up their past, present and future lives with unnecessary rumours and gossip.

If you were like me, and only watched the television broadcast of the Royal engagement and wedding ceremony, then you would have only heard the positive side of the festivities.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gxvdRpQrAk&feature=related

They talk about the ring, her gorgeous dress, her hair, how lucky they were to have each other and how much they were in love. They didn’t once say a negative comment about either one of their past lives, or made up rumors about this couple or their families.

http://www.ivillage.com/kate-middleton-pregnant-star-magazine/1-a-340860

In an article written in ‘Star’ magazine, they wrote about Kate possibly being pregnant before the wedding and thus the rushed engagement and hurried wedding date. Rumours, rumours, rumours’, that’s all they want to spread. Are they trying to make the community turn on them, and doubt their relationship? Where do they get this information from? What is their goal when giving this couple such poor publicity?

On the other hand, one tabloid source has her infertile.

http://www.zimbio.com/Kate+Middleton/articles/Snwk-Jbxvi8/Touch+Weekly+Kate+Middleton+Can+t+Get+Pregnant

In this article, the ‘after plastic surgery’ picture of Kate Middleton doesn’t even look like her. If it is true, which I doubt, they should have chosen a picture that doesn’t look like her head has been pasted on to a random body. Nice try!

http://www.nationalenquirer.com/celebrity/kate-middleton-plastic-surgery-shockers

Frankly, I would rather watch the positive aspects of their lives, even if it is exaggerated, rather than hear about her cross-dressing uncle, queer brother or her prostitute cousin. So be careful what you watch and especially what you read. Or as Ben Franklin once said, “ Believe none of what you hear, and half of what you see.”

Storm

Everyone meet Storm,

Storm is an adorable four month old baby being raise without a gender. Why you may ask. The parents of baby Storm are hoping to raise their children without the consequences of gender stereotypes.

66 % of 18 to 34 year olds said they'd like to know the sex of their child before it is born, according to a 2007 Gallup poll. Although, What does knowing the sex actually accomplish?
The colour you paint their nursery, the colour of their baby blankets, whether they get toy cars or a doll.

As many parents do establish the child's gender for them, Kathy Witterwick and David Stocker allow their children to form their own identity. Although, this unique situation could have more than it's share of challenges ahead, it allows for the parents to create a safer environment for their children.

Without advertising the gender of their children, the children are able to explore the stereotypical characteristics of both genders to establish their own preferances. For example, Jazz, Storm's 5 year old brother is able to wear his hair long and styled in braids. As they mature the older boys and Storm will be able to establish their own views of the world.

The media sends out constant messages of gender stereotypes although, now we are seeing more and more advertisment for individuality. Individuality includes your morals, beliefs and identity. Children deserve the opportunity to grow up without judgement and labels and this is the Stocker family's way of doing so.

Although, they will have to pay close attention to the forms of media their children have access to because of the different biases. Television is used the most to represent gender stereotypes however, the radio may also be a huge aid in how people form stereotypes. Listening to the radio, hearing the voices that use detailed descriptions to help the audience form images in their minds can be a large contributor to stereotypes. The Stalker family will have to establish ways to discuss stereotypes with their children and be open to any questions they may have in the future to ensure healthy development.

It's All for Show

Remember the good old days?
I sure don't, Im way to young to remember the days when there was real simple and pure musicians.

Nowadays singers, musicians, bands, all seem to be concerned with their image and it seems there's so much fluff surrounded with mainstream music now.

What ever happened to the day when somebody just sat up on stage with their guitar and sang their heart out?
Let me tell you one thing, Kesha wouldn't be able to capture people's interest just sitting their singing her songs without all her costumes, props, auto-tune, and dancing.

Compare to 2011 to any year during the 60's ot 70's.

Who was popular then? Bob Dylan. The Rolling Stones. Jimi Hendrix. Janice Joplin. The Specials. Just to name a few.

They were popular for a reason, because of a killer voice and musicality.

Who's popular now? Kesha. Justin Bieber. Brittany Spears. Black Eyed Peas.
Who all seem to be more focused on their image and performance with all of these extra unnecessary things about their sets. If people only focused on their voices without seeing what the singers themselves actually looked like, I doubt they would be as sucessful as they are now.

Now don't get me wrong, Im not ragging on all music created recently, but bands/singers who keep true to their love of music and don't throw in all these attention seeking extras to their image and whatnot never seem to get enough of the deserved attention. Because they don't have that 'it' look or flavour of the month sound?

So all I ask is next time you listen to your ipod, or mp3 or music thingamabob, ask youself why your REALLY listening to the songs you are. Is it because their catchy and everyone is listening to them? Or do they actually have substance and infectious passion from the musicians who make it?

The music industry seems to be going to hell in a handbasket, but the good stuff is far and few between but when you find it, it's priceless.

Here's a few songs I feel still have that put your heart into it, attitude I find infectious. Even though they might not get the biggest coverage, that doesn't take away from how good their songs are.

Wagon Wheel - Against Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUtdoyPG0OY

Beauty In The Breakdown - The Scene Aesthetic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoFsshDfE0k

Rabbit Hole - Comanechi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaEBlFwgRVo

If It Means A Lot To You - A Day To Remember
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzq1Kmu7Xmg

It's Only Wednesday - Crash Kings

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huz_n5vFXnQ

Blackberry vs iPhone

Blackberry has been the smart phone of choice in the enterprise for some time. With reasons that attract many people and satisfy people's wants. Such as, mastering most of the business app, bbm (blackberry messenger), e-mail, and controls with all the controls that IT requires. Blackberry is also made from our home country CANADA! Every year, there is new models that comes out for different types of Blackberries. There is seven types of Blackberry out to date.

BUT enter the iPhone.

It has video call, multitasking device, HD video, face time,many free apps, 5 mega pixels, front camera, HDR photography, and built in LED flash. This not only won the heart of new trend ,but won the heart of media related field.

So my question is, what ultimately wins in the enterprise?

About 36 million Blackberry devices is used globally, half of which enterprise is connected, Blackberry has about 17million to 18million device lead on the iPhone in the enterprise. Hundreds of organizations around the world have 5,000 or more Blackberry devices, and a bit over 50,000! So that means that Blackberry has set the basic standard for reliable and secure mobility.

So with that in mind, customers still want choice, and that means the enterprise mobility door is open for other people to choose. IPhone has a faster CPU than Blackberry and more memory capacity. In everyday use, though, iPhone's slightly larger capacity makes no noticeable difference. Both machines instantaneously respond to users' commands. Competitions between batteries also ends up in fist fights! Both machines will run on battery alone for approximately three hours in constant use, and will keep going between ten and twelve hours just idling. When iPhone first hit the marker, Blackberry devotees argued iPhone could not stand-up to the dangers and demands of rigorous everyday use. Blackberries admittedly take a beating, because their developers has corporate road warriors in mind as they designed the machines.

And now I guess it's your turn now, to pick which side you want to take.
Blackberry vs iPhone

Body Image in todays Society

In todays society body image is very different than what is was 100 years ago. back in the 1800s being skinny was seen as being unhealthy. men chased after women with large voluptuous figures, pale skin was seen as a thing of beauty. but in todays society it is the complete opposite. to have a large figure and pale skin is something that will easily draw people away from you. the media teaches us that it is okay to starve yourself as long as you look hot doing it, and that being unhealthy is the price you have to pay to fit in. we are given this image of a perfect body that we are all supposed to uphold. a size zero, tanned as can be, double D boobs and a large butt is something that is supposed to be socially acceptable. but truthfully it is impossible for all girls to uphold this image. with everybody having a different type of body is is actually impossible for some girls to get below a size 4. girls as young as the age of 6 have resulted to starving themselves in order to look more beautiful. the media in todays society is literally taking away the youth of little girls, but who can blame those girls??? they see it everywhere they go. with adds in the malls of women who seem to be perfect covered with men adoring them. more and more shows involving sexual images and stereotypical signs. little girls shouldnt have to be exposed to such thing but that fact is, its almost impossible to avoid these things now a days. i dont understand how we can let all of this continue. people are literally harming themselves just because some magazine says they have to. but the truth is we dont have to listen. everybody should be seen as beautiful in their own way.... and then and only then our world will that much of a happier place.