Role Model Fail

Beyonce has been in her second job for a while now. She is helping Michelle Obama on a campaign to reduce childhood obesity in the "Let's Move" program.

Re-making video clips to make it more fun & easier for the kids to follow her dance moves.  Great idea! 

Although, it's a case of do as I say, not as I do.  It's a shame that Beyonce cannot always 'move'.  

Beyonce was one of the hundreds of celebrities at the Met Gala last week.  She looked great but ... at what cost?

    

 

As you can see ... Beyonce wore a dress that was soooo tight, she could not move. She couldn't even climb up the stairs herself!

 

What message does this send to the kids? What message does it send to those who think they are too fat? What message does it send to those who look to her for fashion advice? Or to those who want to be like her? 

It's sending such a clear message that if you want to look beautiful, you loose your independence. 

 

Looking beautiful means you need help climbing up the stairs (even help going to the toilet). 

 

References:

http://www.letsmove.gov/

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/gossip/2011/05/beyonce-dress-met-gala-michelle-obama.html

More popular than Coca-Cola?

As an average Australian, we are exposed to a barrage of logos over our life.  Generally, we know who are the biggest players from their advertising.  They're the Coca Cola's, McDonald's of the world.

I got some new ones. Ones that are EVERYWHERE!


It's not Facebook in the way you post your updates & add new friends.
It's Facebook the brand.

There is a good chance these days, if you see an ad (print, on tv or online), you will see an ad within an ad. That ad within the ad is a plug to log onto Facebook.



If you want more info about the company, these days, they are more likely to point you in the direction of Facebook than to their own website. "Like us on Facebook", "Keep up to date at facebook.com/(insertcompanyname)".

We take EFTPOS for granted. We all think, it's just a method of payment like credit card. Not so. Eftpos turns out is like Pay pal, set up and run by their own business.

Their logo is EVERYWHERE too.
So why am I all of a sudden stating the obvious?


Well, recently, EFTPOS have been releasing their own branded advertising, pointing out the fact that you save more of your own money with them.

They are not a synonymous with cash or card.  They are a business & like all of them, they disseminate their identity where ever they can, mainly at all points of sale.

I've heard statistics saying that the world Coca-Cola is the second or fifth most used word. It's word-of-mouth count is nothing compared to the others.  I don't have empirical evidence but I would like to say, I disagree.

Wanting to pay via EFTPOS or to Facebook stalk someone is now so ingrained in our everyday conversations & actions. People would easily say these multiple times a day. Now compare that to how many times a day do people say I want a Coca Cola?

These advertising behemoths better watch their backs!!



Logo taken from / References:
http://www.facebook.com/brandpermissions/logos.php#!/downloadtracker/download.php?rid=48&hash=6hFX2ZSJI3T_
http://www.043turning.com.au/images/uploads/INDEX/Eftpos.jpg
http://www.sefiani.com.au/news/eftpos-launches-first-advertising-campaign-in-23-year-history/

Policed State or Being Cautious?

I had a friend visit me from Europe last week.  So after a few observations (coming through customs, immigration, catching the train c/o Cityrail, walking around the CBD, seeing people go by, having a beer) he started with the questions.

Why do people riding bikes wear helmets?
Don't even some people drink in the street?
Why does everyone wait for the green man to flash?
Why do some of your police cars have a covered room at the back (paddy wagon)?
Why is Sydney so policed?

It got me thinking ... I agree, (at times) we are overly protected & policed. Is it to prevent lawsuits? Is it imposing rules as normal people don't have the sense to have common sense? Is it revenue raising? Is it to protect children?

Now there is talk that we need to have a licence to use the pokies or gamble.
I know its a problem for some people and their families but really, do we really need to go through more paperwork, more red tape, more government money wasted issuing and monitoring all this? What about those who occasionally go in and use the pokies? Why do we need another card in our wallet?

Why are we not empowered to look after ourselves? To take responsibility for our actions?
We can be advised or recommended to wear helmets but why is it enforced if someone chooses not to? There are millions of people around the world who leisurely cycle everyday ... without a helmet. Not every road has a set of crossing lights or sometimes they are not convenient.


At times I do think there is too much intervention from the government. People need to be informed but to be penalised for exerting their freedom (within reason)?  It's too much. If I liked fishing, I would need a fishing licence. If I want to use a chain saw, I need a chainsaw license. I want to use a boat - I would need a license for that too. 

We're dumbing down everything so people don't have to think about consequences.  We have to follow and do.  We're not shown how to take responsibility. Everyone blames everyone else. People need to be empowered to think for themselves and to think of the consequences.  What happened to survival of the fittest?  I think, I analyse, I take informed risks - shouldn't everyone be taught this?


Picture taken from:
http://www.howtovanish.com/images/surveillance-cameras.jpg
http://www.freefoto.com/images/1450/06/1450_06_23---Cycling--Holland-The-Netherlands_web.jpg?&k=Cycling%2C+Holland+-+The+Netherlands

Borders - How to get people in & buying

The WWF needs to add a new endangered species to its list, the book store.
Borders and Angus & Robertson going into voluntary liquidation, closing so many of their stores & now selling off everything in their physical stores.
It's a shame, we're losing an icon.

I love going into Borders - heading over to Gloria Jeans with a stack of magazines to flip through while I sip my mocha chiller. Good for me however, clearly not helping Borders with their financial troubles.


In my view, this is where Borders has gone wrong & what they could do to improve.

• Cheaper books & they need to be competitive. Dymocks, Co-Op book shops & the Independents are going relatively well and books are now available for much cheaper in Target, Big W & Kmart.
• Engage more with the community. Have more authors dropping in, book signings, children's reading time, establish or facilitate book clubs.
• Send out more tailored email communications. It's currently sent out as one size fits all. Inform us what is going on at our local stores, what are the big sellers of the week, let us tailor our mail to know what new Sci-Fi or Biographies are coming out.
• Attach coupons to our membership/loyalty cards - don't make us waste paper and print out the coupon.
• Don't diversify your range to include home wares & gifts. Stick to Books/Movies/Music/Magazines, cut the stationery lines.

Photo taken from:
http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2011/02/17/1226007/709341-borders-bookstore.jpg

Duty of Care - Female Reporters

Know what's so obvious with all the protests that are happening in Libya, Yemen, Syria, Egypt etc.?  The fact that most* rallys only have men & boys.

We are living in a world where women are not treated the same everywhere. There are differences here in Australia, there are larger differences in the Middle East where all these protests are happening.

Yes, women can do anything and should be given equal opporunities.  However, when it comes to sending female reporters and journalists into areas of political unrest (in countries where women are not shown the same respect), I think that there is a sense of duty of care their employers must take.

Lara Logan is an American reporter. She was in Egypt at the time of their protests, got caught up with all the activites in Tahrir Square and unfotunately was assaulted.  Merit wise, she may have been the best person to send to Egypt, however, with all countries not having the same amount of women's liberation, I feel that more care should have been taken with sending females or that females should not have been in a situation where there are hundreds of males.

There are rallys/protests with women involved, however, it seems that they are at different times/locations and never with the males.

Why aren't the female reporters at least talking to the females at these protests? Or at least having some air time on our tvs?





* I want to preface that I am saying most, as I am sure there are some women protesting with men. I'm not there amongst them all, I am basing my opinion based on what I see.


Pictures take from:
http://msnbcmedia3.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/110217-libya-protest2-hmed-6a.grid-8x2.jpg
http://hereandnow.wbur.org/files/2011/03/0310_libya-protest-500x333.jpg

Source/Info from:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41630159/ns/world_news-mideast/n_africa/

Freedom of Speech or Treason?

What is Freedom of Speech?
I define it as an individuals right to speak that is in line with their set of personal values. An individuals right to speak to defend their liberties and moral ideals.

What is Treason?
I define it as someone going against their country, going against what the country stands for (or at least what the government at the time stands for). Treason in it's most extreme sense, could also be seen as someone plotting the downfall of their country (or what the government at the time stands for).
Treason for me is really going against the sitting government because I don't think anyone would want to relinquish their national identity. E.G. German citizens plotting to assassinate Hitler, they're still Germans and want to be, they just didn't like what their government was doing.

So, what if there is some person who says something that is not in favour of their country? What if they have a view that is different to that of the sitting government? What if the government is trying to conceal something that affects it's citizens or is violating human rights? Is a whistle blower a traitor?

The line between freedom of speech and treason is very fine ... that's if we are talking about democracies (and even then there are exceptions).  What about those protesting for freedom in Libya? Military personnel who told the world about what happened in Abu Ghraib prison? Are they all regarded as expressing their right to speak? Or are they traitors? Hmmm .....

Phone Home!

With the way we use phones now, the home phone is on the endangered list.

I know when people ask for my phone number, I never give out my home phone number, its always the mobile phone.


Our mobile phones are alway with us ... it's effort to get up off the couch and pick up the home phone. Call rates are more competitive ... it's even free to talk to people on the same network.

I'm sure they'll be extinct one day soon.



Photo taken from:
http://www.empireonline.com/images/features/100greatestcharacters/photos/74.jpg