First off, I would just like to say, I love the show ‘Jon and Kate plus Eight’ on TCL. Monday nights at 9:00, however the season finale was this week, so I am unfortunately going to have to wait a while for new episodes : ( For those of you who aren’t familiar with this fabulous show, Jon and Kate have a set of twins Cara and Madelyn and sextuplets: Hannah, Alexis, Leah, Aaden, Collin and Joel. They currently live in Pennsylvania and have their lives filmed three days a week.
Recently on the show I have noticed a lot of advertising for various products and places. The most recent was when Jon was asked by a cameraman what he was doing on the computer and Jon replied that he was just looking over some new information on AllState’s website for work. Then the cameraman panned into a five second shot of the website on the computer. Hello AllState advertising! The funny part was that during the commercials, there was of course, an AllState commercial.
They have been invited to numerous vacation destinations around the country, including Park City, Utah and Hawaii. They are always put up in the nicest rooms with lovely little extras and Jon and Kate are always sure to give huge thanks to wherever they stayed and always tell viewers how great of a place it was. Perfect advertising shout outs for Utah and Hawaii!
When Jon and Kate moved into their new house, the one that they are currently living in, the got all new appliances. I couldn’t member the exact situation, but I found some else discussing the topic online and this is what I found. That discussion went pretty much like this:
Kate: “I just love our new washer and dryer from Whirlpool! They look so beautiful sitting side by side in the laundry room. We had some in our old house and after that amazing experience, I knew the Whirlpool Duets were the ONLY washer and dryer I’d put in the new house!”
Then the camera zoomed into the Whirlpool Duets logo on the washing machine.
Now Kate is talking again, “My Whirlpool Duets are so small that they fit perfectly in the room and they’re so easy to use, but they still have tons of options! I can even wash ALL of my kids’ jeans in ONE LOAD! What other washing machine can do that? They make laundry a joy! They’re like having little friends in my laundry room!”
Pretty funny if you ask me, but if I had eight kids that I wanted to attended college someday I would be doing every last bit of 5 second advertising as well, who cares!
On a more touching note, there was a very memorable episode that gave great recognition for children living with cancer when the whole fam visited Saints Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Tennessee. Throughout the episode, much of the hospital was shown and Jon and Kate did a great job of bringing awareness to the services it provided. Kate specifically mentioned that she hoped this episode would bring awareness to the hospital several times.
So ya, there is a bunch of advertising on this show, funny yes, but certainly not a bad idea in my book!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
What happened to music...
The music industry used to be run by those who actually LOVED music and record companies that actually cared. Sadly enough, the scene has changed drastically and we live in a world that only cares about images not words. I totally agree, even though it is sad to say. We no longer care what anyone has to say, we just want to see Britney Spears shakin it and listen to music we can dance to.
In the frontline video, ‘The way music died’ past band members discussed how they used to make great music and make millions. Now a days, you only get one shot, and if your single fails, you fail and will be forced to “work at Starbucks.” David Crosby said that he began singing in coffee houses during high school and how it was all about the love of the music. He didn’t care that he wasn’t getting paid; he just wanted to get his message out there. It’s sad that artists no longer feel the passion that these artists once did.
By the late 70’s the baby boomers were getting older and wiser and began buying less. Sales were down and vinyl records were being digitally re-mastered and put on CDs. The industry focused on past works and didn’t sell any new artists.
The whole idea behind producing new records was changed. It began to be all about deadlines and release dates and the inspiration and creative aspects were thrown out the window. The battle of art verse commerce emerged.
In the 80’s hip-hop and rap began a whole new scene that wasn’t yet exposed to radio or TV. It wasn’t mainstream and was still fresh and exciting. The record industry didn’t even understand how it worked and what they needed to do to market this new genre, so they allowed the new artists to spit out creativity and people soon loved it. However, once the industry did get a handle on what they were doing, it was no longer hip-hop, it was just the same old commercialized junk.
It’s funny how Guns and Roses was considered the real deal / biggest band in the world and that they had so much power that their fans would do anything they suggested. They were making so much money that they had their own plane and could drinks and do drugs all they wanted.
The new members of Velvet Revolver discussed how there is so much pressure on them and how difficult it is to come back into a changed economy with smarter people. The music industry is tougher than its ever been now! They not only need to produce great music, but they need to recognize how the markets have changed.
Wal-Mart is a huge distributor of music sales, but they only sells “clean” music. If Velvet Revolver wants to be a part of this big market, they are forced to re-do records without the explicit content.
So what it all comes down to is that things aren’t the way they used to be. It used to be all about the music, creative aspects and enjoyment and now it’s all about what you look like. It’s about the Britney Spears and Jessica Simpsons types who look hot doing it, but whose lyrics say Nada. People simply just don’t care; I mean, a lot of the time I don’t even care. We just want the fun, fluffy singles that get played on the radio. Nobody cares about the rest of the “deep” crappy songs on the rest of the CD. No wonder we just download the songs we want from Limewire.
We don’t care about the Sarah Hudsons who really can sing, have great voices, good messages, and different looks. We want Britney and that’s all.
In the frontline video, ‘The way music died’ past band members discussed how they used to make great music and make millions. Now a days, you only get one shot, and if your single fails, you fail and will be forced to “work at Starbucks.” David Crosby said that he began singing in coffee houses during high school and how it was all about the love of the music. He didn’t care that he wasn’t getting paid; he just wanted to get his message out there. It’s sad that artists no longer feel the passion that these artists once did.
By the late 70’s the baby boomers were getting older and wiser and began buying less. Sales were down and vinyl records were being digitally re-mastered and put on CDs. The industry focused on past works and didn’t sell any new artists.
The whole idea behind producing new records was changed. It began to be all about deadlines and release dates and the inspiration and creative aspects were thrown out the window. The battle of art verse commerce emerged.
In the 80’s hip-hop and rap began a whole new scene that wasn’t yet exposed to radio or TV. It wasn’t mainstream and was still fresh and exciting. The record industry didn’t even understand how it worked and what they needed to do to market this new genre, so they allowed the new artists to spit out creativity and people soon loved it. However, once the industry did get a handle on what they were doing, it was no longer hip-hop, it was just the same old commercialized junk.
It’s funny how Guns and Roses was considered the real deal / biggest band in the world and that they had so much power that their fans would do anything they suggested. They were making so much money that they had their own plane and could drinks and do drugs all they wanted.
The new members of Velvet Revolver discussed how there is so much pressure on them and how difficult it is to come back into a changed economy with smarter people. The music industry is tougher than its ever been now! They not only need to produce great music, but they need to recognize how the markets have changed.
Wal-Mart is a huge distributor of music sales, but they only sells “clean” music. If Velvet Revolver wants to be a part of this big market, they are forced to re-do records without the explicit content.
So what it all comes down to is that things aren’t the way they used to be. It used to be all about the music, creative aspects and enjoyment and now it’s all about what you look like. It’s about the Britney Spears and Jessica Simpsons types who look hot doing it, but whose lyrics say Nada. People simply just don’t care; I mean, a lot of the time I don’t even care. We just want the fun, fluffy singles that get played on the radio. Nobody cares about the rest of the “deep” crappy songs on the rest of the CD. No wonder we just download the songs we want from Limewire.
We don’t care about the Sarah Hudsons who really can sing, have great voices, good messages, and different looks. We want Britney and that’s all.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Facebook: for you, me and your MOM
When I graduated from high school I remember the moment when I received my college email account and was allowed to sign up for Facebook. Facebook was something new and exciting exclusively for the mature college scene. It had a special appeal unlike Myspace. I remember feeling so cool that I was now allowed and old enough to enter a whole new realm of social networking.
I also remember the unfortunate time when Facebook had decided to let high schoolers join in on the fun. I was not accepting of this change and the elite college atmosphere facebook once had, was taken away. Eventually I got used to it and in the end it was nice to be able to communicate with my friends who were still in high school.
Through out the years Facebook has had many changes; I would say some good and some bad. When the applications started coming, I thought to myself, Myspace here we come once again. The silly drinks and games were unnecessary and lame in my opinion; however, I am a fan of the bumper stickers. They are pretty funny at times.
Although my least favorite change to the Facebook network is the not so brilliant idea that Facebook should be open to anyone. When I say anyone, I mean my mom, my uncles, even my grandma if she so chooses to do so. Its ridiculous! If I wanted to talk to any of those people over the internet we could email or even instant message, but not through facebook. I don’t want my mom and dad posting on my wall! Facebook was once special for the college crew, and I but now that appeal is gone. It has turned into a social networking site for every one of all ages. Not only can you Facebook chat with your friends, but your Dad and younger siblings as well.
Apparently Zuckerberg and co-creater Hughes believed this new change would be a positive one, but I strongly disagree. I feel like I once felt safe on Facebook, but now any creepy old person can come and find you and friend request you!
I read a interesting article from 2006 posted on USA TODAY and here are some good excerpts:
When Facebook first launched two years ago, it was only open to people who had valid college e-mail addresses. Last September, the site opened up to high school students. And in May, it opened up to selected work networks. Now it will be open to virtually anyone.
And that could spell trouble for Facebook, says Danah Boyd, a social media researcher for Yahoo.
"Already, the high school students, college students and corporate accounts are having a hard time dealing with each other's presence," Boyd says. "I don't even want to think what will happen when Mom and Dad can join.”
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-09-11-facebook-everyone_x.htm
I also remember the unfortunate time when Facebook had decided to let high schoolers join in on the fun. I was not accepting of this change and the elite college atmosphere facebook once had, was taken away. Eventually I got used to it and in the end it was nice to be able to communicate with my friends who were still in high school.
Through out the years Facebook has had many changes; I would say some good and some bad. When the applications started coming, I thought to myself, Myspace here we come once again. The silly drinks and games were unnecessary and lame in my opinion; however, I am a fan of the bumper stickers. They are pretty funny at times.
Although my least favorite change to the Facebook network is the not so brilliant idea that Facebook should be open to anyone. When I say anyone, I mean my mom, my uncles, even my grandma if she so chooses to do so. Its ridiculous! If I wanted to talk to any of those people over the internet we could email or even instant message, but not through facebook. I don’t want my mom and dad posting on my wall! Facebook was once special for the college crew, and I but now that appeal is gone. It has turned into a social networking site for every one of all ages. Not only can you Facebook chat with your friends, but your Dad and younger siblings as well.
Apparently Zuckerberg and co-creater Hughes believed this new change would be a positive one, but I strongly disagree. I feel like I once felt safe on Facebook, but now any creepy old person can come and find you and friend request you!
I read a interesting article from 2006 posted on USA TODAY and here are some good excerpts:
When Facebook first launched two years ago, it was only open to people who had valid college e-mail addresses. Last September, the site opened up to high school students. And in May, it opened up to selected work networks. Now it will be open to virtually anyone.
And that could spell trouble for Facebook, says Danah Boyd, a social media researcher for Yahoo.
"Already, the high school students, college students and corporate accounts are having a hard time dealing with each other's presence," Boyd says. "I don't even want to think what will happen when Mom and Dad can join.”
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-09-11-facebook-everyone_x.htm
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Go get 'LOST'
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1859671179/bctid1877562253
Many of us enjoy getting ‘LOST’ on Wednesday nights at 9:00 on ABC, but apparently not as much as we did last year. According to the LA Times on January 22, ‘LOST’ had received record-low premiere ratings. It captured 11.4 million viewers for last years season four premiere and it is sadly down 26% this year. I guess it’s hard to battle with Fox’s new drama ‘Lie to Me’ with its ever so popular lead in, American Idol. However, the ratings weren’t too shabby with a 5.2 verses a 5.1 rating for ‘LOST’.
ABC’s Television Group President Anne Sweeney reported plans to develop a “widget powered by Intel for the final season of ‘LOST’ next year to bring the show to additional devices.” Interestingly enough, ABC was the first network to set up a deal with iTunes “to seek out alterative distribution venues for its show…” I personally love that you can watch shows on online form ABC.com. Sometimes, I think its even better than watching it when it originally airs because the commercials are only 30 seconds and I can conveniently watch on Mac while I’m cozy in my bed. iTunes is also great though because when I was studying abroad in South Africa I had no television and ABC.com wouldn’t work outside the country, so I had to resort to buying shows online. I loved the fact that after I bought each show they were saved in my library and I could watch them whenever I liked, without any commercials. The convenience of watching shows online has to have made Americans much happier people. Our 8:00 Monday night shows have now turned into our Tuesday morning subway riding ipod shows or perhaps our Saturday afternoon TIVO or DVR shows.
TV Week even had some exciting news to report that ‘LOST’ was the most popular show watched online ahead of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Saturday Night Live’. Maybe Wednesday night really isn’t a good time for many of the viewers and it is simply more convenient to watch it at a later date on some other electronic device. Perhaps these viewers need more than just that one time viewing and they feel the need to purchases their favorite episodes from iTunes or even wait until the DVD of the season comes out. Whatever way you choose to watch ‘LOST’ is fine with me as long as you watch it some way or another!
Many of us enjoy getting ‘LOST’ on Wednesday nights at 9:00 on ABC, but apparently not as much as we did last year. According to the LA Times on January 22, ‘LOST’ had received record-low premiere ratings. It captured 11.4 million viewers for last years season four premiere and it is sadly down 26% this year. I guess it’s hard to battle with Fox’s new drama ‘Lie to Me’ with its ever so popular lead in, American Idol. However, the ratings weren’t too shabby with a 5.2 verses a 5.1 rating for ‘LOST’.
ABC’s Television Group President Anne Sweeney reported plans to develop a “widget powered by Intel for the final season of ‘LOST’ next year to bring the show to additional devices.” Interestingly enough, ABC was the first network to set up a deal with iTunes “to seek out alterative distribution venues for its show…” I personally love that you can watch shows on online form ABC.com. Sometimes, I think its even better than watching it when it originally airs because the commercials are only 30 seconds and I can conveniently watch on Mac while I’m cozy in my bed. iTunes is also great though because when I was studying abroad in South Africa I had no television and ABC.com wouldn’t work outside the country, so I had to resort to buying shows online. I loved the fact that after I bought each show they were saved in my library and I could watch them whenever I liked, without any commercials. The convenience of watching shows online has to have made Americans much happier people. Our 8:00 Monday night shows have now turned into our Tuesday morning subway riding ipod shows or perhaps our Saturday afternoon TIVO or DVR shows.
TV Week even had some exciting news to report that ‘LOST’ was the most popular show watched online ahead of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Saturday Night Live’. Maybe Wednesday night really isn’t a good time for many of the viewers and it is simply more convenient to watch it at a later date on some other electronic device. Perhaps these viewers need more than just that one time viewing and they feel the need to purchases their favorite episodes from iTunes or even wait until the DVD of the season comes out. Whatever way you choose to watch ‘LOST’ is fine with me as long as you watch it some way or another!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Annoying Expired Car Warranty!
So, I’m sure a handful of us have received those awful annoying calls from mysterious numbers explaining that our car warranties have expired and we are in desperate need of renewing them. Well, I'd just like to share that I HATE them! My initial reaction to my first call lead me to believe there was actually something wrong with my car and I did need to take action. However, I explained the call to a friend and they told me that the phone call was total BS and my car is too old anyways. Of course the warranty is expired, silly me. I later decided to add the number of the mysterious warranty caller into my contacts, so next time I simply just wouldn’t answer, but of course, they called from a different number! This is what really sent me over the edge.
I even did some research on the topic and read an article saying that the numbers that they call from aren’t really even real. Someone tried to trace the number back and it went to a disconnected phone line in Nebraska. Strange, I know! So, this of course, brought up the question of why this expired car warranty message is using fake numbers? They clearly need some help with their marketing skills, if they actually plan on getting anyone to buy into their calls. Secondly, any good marketing campaign knows that if they want results, they must provide at least a call back number, a name, an email, or perhaps a website…but no. Not these guys.
The article I read also talked about how attorneys are even getting involved.
Connecticut AG Richard Blumenthal says his office has received a "huge number" of complaints about the highly annoying and possibly illegal sales calls. Illegal because many of them blatantly violate the Federal Do Not Call Registry. Annoying because not only do they waste people's time, the extended warranties the companies are selling are almost always impossible to use, according to one attorney general. Connecticut, New Jersey and Iowa have teamed up to look into the sales pitches.
However, I would like to share some good news. So my roommate was of course, also getting the stupid calls and she had the bright idea to actually listen to the entire message. I always hung up right as the message began, but that was obviously my mistake. At the very end of the recording it tells you that if you’d like to be removed from this list you simply just need to press 2! That’s it, just press 2! This instantly made my day better and I patiently waited until I received my next stupid; annoying, warranty call and I simply listened to the end, and pressed 2!
Poor expired car warranty people, they just need some new marketing strategies!
I even did some research on the topic and read an article saying that the numbers that they call from aren’t really even real. Someone tried to trace the number back and it went to a disconnected phone line in Nebraska. Strange, I know! So, this of course, brought up the question of why this expired car warranty message is using fake numbers? They clearly need some help with their marketing skills, if they actually plan on getting anyone to buy into their calls. Secondly, any good marketing campaign knows that if they want results, they must provide at least a call back number, a name, an email, or perhaps a website…but no. Not these guys.
The article I read also talked about how attorneys are even getting involved.
Connecticut AG Richard Blumenthal says his office has received a "huge number" of complaints about the highly annoying and possibly illegal sales calls. Illegal because many of them blatantly violate the Federal Do Not Call Registry. Annoying because not only do they waste people's time, the extended warranties the companies are selling are almost always impossible to use, according to one attorney general. Connecticut, New Jersey and Iowa have teamed up to look into the sales pitches.
However, I would like to share some good news. So my roommate was of course, also getting the stupid calls and she had the bright idea to actually listen to the entire message. I always hung up right as the message began, but that was obviously my mistake. At the very end of the recording it tells you that if you’d like to be removed from this list you simply just need to press 2! That’s it, just press 2! This instantly made my day better and I patiently waited until I received my next stupid; annoying, warranty call and I simply listened to the end, and pressed 2!
Poor expired car warranty people, they just need some new marketing strategies!
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