What does the label say?

Appreciation

2007-05-03T19:57:00.000-07:00

Thank you to whoever it was (at least, I assume it was one of you) who left the book in my mailbox. I think there are few gifts better than a well-chosen book and this one looks terrific. Thank you!

Nike and Don Imus... say what?

2007-04-27T08:41:00.000-07:00

Nike is an icon in the advertising world, and that swoosh is something we all recognize without batting an eye. So what does it say about the company when they use the recent Don Imus scandal over his comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team? Is it because they want to start a dialogue on race and culture? Do they want to use this for their own gain? What does this label say when it steps outside of the clothing and into a discussion on values? What does that discussion of values look like, and who controls the topics? Lots of questions, and lots of things to discuss. See the ad here.

Consumerism

2007-04-27T08:37:00.000-07:00

When we talk about what the label says, its important to think about why we want the label.

Consumerism is often talked about as a why. Check it out here
and tell me what you think.

Go Green!

2007-04-25T07:04:00.000-07:00

With so much negative talk about Wal-Mart, I knew I had to post this when I saw it. I don't know that I'm sold yet on the megalopolis, but this surely helps.

Another View

2007-04-18T21:31:00.000-07:00

As we're wrapping up the semester, I've realized that I've been remiss in including information contrary to the novels on the website because I've been so wrapped up in trying to support the bulk of the reading. And so, I found this - the first of a few articles that toot a different horn. Read up and tell us what you think. Do you still agree more with Affluenza? Or is this direction more what you have in mind?

Global Corporatization

2007-04-14T11:01:00.000-07:00

At ReclaimDemocracy.org I found some more information on globalization - around the venue of what we've been discussing in class. Take a look at some of the "issues" in the side bar and tell us what you think and what you found.

REMINDER!
A few of you have mentioned to me that you have done more posts on the blog than I have given you credit for. Make sure that you aren't commenting on old posts that I have already closed. The ONLY way to make sure you're not doing that is to read the comments on the post before you write your own comment. If it is closed, there will be a statement on there from me saying "This post is closed for comments." After I leave that comment, I DO NOT check the comments for that particular post any longer. I do this when the posts are two weeks old.

ALSO: If you are behind on blog posts, you still have time to get more of them done. I will check the blog before class on April 28 to see what last minute comments there are. That will be the LAST time I check the blog - but that means you still have two full weeks to comment your little heart out!

What's missing?

2007-04-12T16:50:00.000-07:00

Take a look at the picture below. It is an artist's rendition of a proposed development site. The question I pose to you is: What's missing? For this to look more realistic, what would have to be included in the drawing? Do you suppose these things were left out intentionally? Why or why not?

Cartoons

2007-04-09T16:16:00.000-07:00

I love cartoons because they generally have an interesting way of saying something that needs to be said. Take a look at these couple and let us know what you think of them in relation to the class and the readings.

Fast Food Nation

2007-04-05T19:36:00.000-07:00

Originally, Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation was on the reading list for the class, but I removed it in the final planning stages of the course. In case you purchased it and haven't yet returned it or in case you want another book along the lines of those we've been reading, I encourage you to check it out. To spur that possibility, here's a review from The New York Times Book Review for you to read. Whether you pick up the book or not, this review will give you an idea of what you're missing. For your response to the review, tell us what you think of the book in relation to the other things we've been reading this semester.

Adbusters

2007-03-28T13:56:00.000-07:00

I know this is in the sidebar, but in case you haven't mosied on over to the Adbusters site, here's your chance to tell us what you think about it.

Kalle Lasn

2007-03-27T09:11:00.000-07:00

What are your initial thoughts on Culture Jam? As you're plowing through this book, here's some info on the author:
Time
AlterNet
SustainAbility

Will American Brands Be a Casualty of War?

2007-03-26T10:23:00.000-07:00

Here's an article with exactly that title. For your post, answer the same question using information from the article to either support or deny your claim.

Spring break

2007-03-20T19:17:00.000-07:00

Since the time-honored tradition of spring break is upon us, I thought I would Google "spring break" to see what popped up. To my surprise, up came SPRINGBREAK.COM. This website is a mecca for all spring breakers planning the coolest spring break getaway ever. Anything you could ever want to know about trips is here - including all the parties, cruises and "gear" you could ask for. I didn't realize there was one site that could sell everything possibly related to the spring break experience.

Not Quite Perfect

2007-03-14T21:31:00.000-07:00

Once again, I give you an article from The Onion - the satire newspaper. Before you read this, please go into it knowing that it is NOT SERIOUS. This is meant to be funny. It's like watching Saturday Night Live, only in an on-line, readable format. That said, please don't make comments about whether or not you would take your children to this McDonald's because it doesn't exist. Instead, please focus your response on WHY The Onion would select this as something to poke fun at. Think of this in relation to, perhaps, the Starbucks article left for you earlier on this page. What do the ideas presented in this article suggest about how we as Americans view labels?

Buy American

2007-03-12T18:00:00.000-07:00

This has also come up in class - the labels that actually say "Made in America." The first site I have to offer you is one that advertises Buy American. The second site I offer you is a government site about the standards associated with the "Made in America" label. Interesting...I didn't think something like that would have to be defined so clearly - almost as though there may be fine lines separating something that was actually made in America from something else that was only sort of made in America.

American Apparel

2007-03-10T19:14:00.000-08:00

Believe it or not, there is actually an American company that practices ethical treatment of employees: American Apparel. Read over their mission and get some information on the company. Feel free, too, to browse their online catalogue - but feel no pressure from me, even though I love the clothes American Apparel produces. What do you think about the company and what its able to accomplish? Why don't more companies do this?

Vote with Dollars

2007-03-07T18:14:00.000-08:00

To concentrate more on the question of labels and what they say about us as citizens, here's a quick glance at someone who claims to vote with dollars. Is this possible, do you think? Do you attempt to vote with your dollars? Do you think it's important to pay attention to the people you give your money to? Or do you see no difference between handing cash to the cashier at Wal-mart or to the farmer at the corner market?

Organic

2007-03-05T17:35:00.000-08:00

Since we talked a couple weeks ago about organic foods, I thought it would be a good idea to include a link to an organic food site. Notice how political this is! Does it matter what you purchase? Isn't food just food? Answer these questions with information you learn on the topic from the website.

Jay Leno

2007-03-03T08:31:00.000-08:00

I couldn't find exactly what Nick told me about, but this is close. This is a highlight from an episode of Jay Leno that features brands and their suggested "real" names. Can you think of any more?

Big Ten

2007-03-01T15:11:00.000-08:00

I haven't been able to log on and post anything for a couple days; I think the system must have been down. But, all's well today, finally!

We talked about this concept of the Big Ten I think two class meetings ago and I said I would put it up on here. Poke around some - what you find may surprise you.

Starbucks

2007-02-27T19:41:00.001-08:00

Thanks, Don, for this piece on Starbucks. I think it's a funny article with an element of truth - that which makes most funny things funny. After reading this article, how do you see its topic as relating to our readings and class discussions?

The Swan

2007-02-24T12:32:00.000-08:00

Continuing with the idea of plastic surgery from before...Anthony brought up a good point in his comment about the TV show dedicated to the idea: The Swan. And here are some photos from the show of people undergoing their treatments. I looked for before and after shots, but couldn't seem to find any on line. If you can find some, please leave everyone else the link.

The reason I put this topic up again but in this format is because this isn't just plastic surgery. This is plastic surgery on reality TV - where women try out to have a COMPLETE makeover that they cannot even see. That's right - when you're on The Swan, you don't see your own reflection (let alone your spouse or children or friends or anyone else at all from your past, ugly life) for three whole months. Meanwhile, doctors and other specialists poke and prod you and pull out fat and stuff in saline baggies. AND, you have the added benefit of millions of at-home viewers watching your transformation and talking about you over the water cooler the next day at work. It's not just plastic surgery, it's celebrity-fication: making yourself a star. On the show, women get to live out the dream so many other women have..."If only my nose looked like hers..." "I wish my thighs were smaller..." on a common television station with a big name.

I have no idea what happened.

2007-02-23T20:56:00.000-08:00

Something happened with our old class blog that rendered it...um...deleted. Now, we have this one.

Don't worry, all you folks who posted comments recently. I checked them just last night. So...If you posted something genius today...I am sorry. There was a flash of light, a funny sound and a stuck key on the keyboard. Thankfully, I was not using my personal computer, so I don't have to take my PC to the doctor's office. Unfortunately for my friend, she does need to take in her desktop.

To start the new version, I'm sending you to Google - or whatever search engine you choose to use. In the search bar, type in "toys." The first few that pull up should be Toys R Us, KB Toys, Genius Babies and Fisher-Price. Review these sites (or any others that pop up on your search) and share with us what you think of them...and, more specifically, what you find they have in common.