BBC

It is amazing how much news can change depending on where you read. Growing up on the outskirts of NYC I have learned not to believe 99 percent of the news I hear, and sadly all that news is directed towards negative things, like murders, kidnaps, etc. I feel like the media targets a specific audience depending on where it is located, and it varies from location to location.
However, national news seems to target everyone in the country, and even though it may have a great reputation (NY Times) It still seems to have issues able fabricating stories and lies.
I think that BBC is the only fair news network in the world. We as Americans like to see ourselves on top, and our national news' seem to portray an image of the US being the best. But the truth is we are not, and realisticly BBC is right when they run stories against us. BBC is a reailty check for us Americans.
Don't get me wrong, I love our country, but we were born being told many lies about our country, and that just seems so wrong. BBC needs to bring its real news over to the USA.

Why do some advertisements seem so STRANGE!?

Today as I drove down Lee St, I saw an ad on a billboard for a shoe warehouse with over "50,000 pairs of shoes!" as I went googley eye over the endless possibilty of heels that may lie in that dark warehouse I noticed that there was a picture of a shoe, with a naked baby popping out of it. Now, after being in this class, and contemplting the relatvitiy of nearly every ad I see, I was appauled! I mean what on earth does a baby popping out of the shoe have anything to do with the warehouse? Could they sell baby shoes? Is it supposed to appeal to parents?
All I know is that that billboard made them seem stupid in my mind! I couldn't get over it, and I guess maybe the ad worked because it is still fresh in my mind? But the truth is there is such a thing as negative recall when it comes to an ad, you may remember it, but you remember it for all the wrong reasons.
So is all press good press? In my mind no, because sure I now know about this shoe warehouse, but will I ever go there, NO WAY!

Different Means of Advertising

When I was in Penn Station in NYC last week I couldn't help but notice that there was an ad for a movie on the stairs going up to 34th street. As I walked closer to the stairs I noticed that the ad seemed to fade, as it was only clear from about 50 yards away. This was amazing to me, what a great way to draw attention to your ad, I mean all of the traffic of the train station had to go out to the street, and you couldn't go up the stairs without looking at them! It was almost robotic how everyone seemed to be in awe of this ad, I too was excited, because it was so unusual, yet so simple! (and probably expensive, seeing as it was a movie ad and probably was only out for a few weeks!) But in all, it was a great location, and a great idea!

Runway Race Issues on the Rise

Ignoring Diversity, Runways Fade to White
By: Guy Trebay, October 14th, 2007
The New York Times

An article from The New York Times recently looked at the issue of diversity on fashion runways. This past fall during fashion weeks, it was noticeable that there were less African American models than there have been in the past. Although African American women spend $20 billion dollars a year on high fashion items, there was no representation of black women actually wearing the clothing. During the New York runway season, out of 101 fashions shows, over 1/3 had no black models. When the shows moved overseas to Paris and London, there were signs hung outside of the doors of designers like Chanel and Chloe the read “No Blacks Need Apply”. This was an appalling statistic to find because the racial issues in this country seemed to have improved ten fold. From the acting industry to political positions, it seemed and though African Americans were equal to the white population of our country. It doesn’t seem that way in the fashion industry, though, and I think it’s a bit sad. The idea of a beautiful model has changed in the past 10 years from the “Glamazons” of the early 90’s, to the 100 pound, less than gorgeous women who walk the runways of today. There is room for every race to show beautiful clothing, and I think everyone should be given a chance.

Avataars

So I looed online at the Yahoo Avataars. I have to say they are kind of creepy! You can literally immitate yourself, or pretened to be someone else, with them! You can choose and outfit, hair color, length, even the size of your eyes! There is one thing you can't choose though, that may appeal to college age people- and that is hoodies that have their school logo on them. (not that you'd want to tell people, but just to show you are a fan!) I think the whole idea ia creepy, I wouldn't want people to know what I look like, nor would I want to know what any creepy people over the internet look like, truth is they are probably making it up anyway. I think this appeals to people because it makes them look better then they really do! I mean you can't have an ugly avataar, it just isnt really possible. From Emo to Goth to Preppy. Avataars are just not needed! Show the real you, use a picture instead!

is thinner better?

It seems like everytime I turn on the tv, or flip through the pages of my favorite fashion magazine I seem to compare myself to the sizes of those in the ads! I can't even help it anymore, it seems so subconcious. I understand why models modeling clothes need to be small, sample sizes are little! But what I don't understand is why the girls in the McDonalds commercial need to be petite. Clearly people who eat their food all the time will become anything but, so it makes you wonder if there is a subliminal message in the commercials.
I'm not sure what kind of advertising scheme it is, but for americans today obesity is a real issue and it is amazing that companies can lie to the public in such an obvious way. So, long story short I found myself at McDonalds the other day, craving some fries that defenitely had been fried in oil a good week old. And I knew it was unhealthy, but I just couldn't help it, if the people on tv can do it, why can't i?

Is Macys being unethical?

Being from the north, I have practicly been shopping at Macys since I came out of the womb. I like to think of it as its own amusement park. It took me years to cover the entire NYC Macys, but its been done. But I dont need to travel to NYC to get a thrill. So I was in my local Macys when I was up at the register, and to my shock there was chocolate and waters at the counter- but not just any chocolate, Godiva chocolate, and not just any water, MACYS water. Now this is just mean! What women can refuse chocolate especially after waiting in a line for an hour. We're tired and we need the caffeiene, and were thirsty and we need the water. Now I'm beginning to think they made me wait in line so long just so I'd buy it! That is so wrong, but so right at the time because I really needed it!