Food for Thought

Last night, in Marketing class, we were presented with the class activity of marketing a person. Specifically, a politician. Even more specific? The democratic presedential hopefulls. It's hard to try and think up the things you would use to promote your product when the product is a) a person and b) a politician.  We were assigned Hillary Clinton, the opposing team, Obama. It became clear that few of us new anything about either candidate.

Vin & I try to watch and pay attention when a story regarding Clinton or Obama is on, but too soon does it turn into bitch-slapping, mud-slinging trash talking and too little is ever focused on what they've done, what they support and what their initiatives are. Which is probably why I was ill prepared to talk about either of the candidates in a way of promotion. All I could think about was what who had said about who last. Nothing productive.

One of the things that came to mind was Obama's reverend. Rev. Wright is a bit of a sensasionalist and perhaps is seeing his newfound 15 minutes of fame to get his personal opinions and views across to broaden his following.  I do know that Obama has recently distanced himself suddenly and has become outspoken about his former reverend just stopping short of calling Wright "whack".

The other thing that came to mind was - is this a sudden view of Rev. Wright? It can't be. This can't be his sudden bold, off from left field uneven keel spouting what Obama calls "divisive comments" that "give comfort to those who hate". So, the question is just who was Obama aligned with prior to running for candidacy? He's publicly denounce Rev. Wright, but has he addressed where those 'sermons' come from and did he, as a patron of that faith, internally denounce Rev. Wrights thoughts and views, but continued to patron the church? How curious. But, perhaps it is the first time Rev. Wright has ventured out with his thoughts and feelings regarding the government and 9/11, etc. Perhaps.

Writing Poll

Poster Child for Tourette's

Apparantly our site comes up when one searches for "Tourette's" on Google. Actually it was "tuerrets" because I didn't know how to spell it properly.

To Whom It May Concern

To the Finance Instructor: Grow a sense of humor. The typo "monkey market" in lieu of "money market" is FUNNY. Don't get all paranoid about our church giggles.

To the Person Searching for "thirties suck": Hope you found what you're looking for.

To the County of Sacramento Waste Management: You're all idiots.

To the Self-Absorbed: Our opinions are just that. We all have them. You do too. Just because we're okay with ourselves and comfortable with our opinions doesn't mean the world must bend to your will. Try thinking outside of yourself FOR ONE SECOND. There's a whole world out there to be experienced outside your narrow scope.

To the Hoops and Yoyo creators: You are brilliant.

Celebrilife Hurts Us

We're not the only ones noticing...

Anytime someone picks up a magazine, or clicks on a website to see those papparazzi pictures of their favorite celeb to see who they're wearing, what they're doing, or what trendy restaurant they're eating at, they support the cause. Anytime a person ravenously tries to obtain the candid pictures of their latest celebcrush, it lifts these otherwise ordinary folks to a lofty height to where their presence, word or opinion matters more than plain common sense.  How many of us has bought something because Angelina Jolie was wearing it? Or donated money to a charity because Brad Pitt was telling you too? How many of us ran out to experience the next diet craze because it was understood Jennifer Aniston had done it - and man, she looks great!

So, why are they our role-models? Why do we look up to them so much? Why do we wait on every word or thought or newly displayed trend a la Mischa Barton or Lindsey Lohan? They peel their banana just like we do, they put their pants on one leg at time, just you and I do. They get paid gross amounts of money simply to play pretend. Curious how that leads them to believe that can tell us what we should do. 

In a recent study report of the impact celebrities have on charities it was found that, while lending their names and faces to causes (while getting paid) 51% of those celebrities did little to contribute.  And by contribute, I mean rake in the money or donate their own. It was nearly divided in half with the charities that said 45% of contributing celebrities donated their own money for the cause or, because of their involvement raised more money than the charity otherwise would have.

So, at least to me it makes me feel a little sheepish (no pun intended) when Vin & I at first had high thoughts of a person of celebrity status, only to find they didn't put their money where their mouth was.  It's only natural to feel a little jaded that some of our favorite celebrities who were seemingly the speerheads of a cause, only to find out not a penny of their millions went to that charity. How duped would you feel?

This is where common sense comes in. It's one's one common sense to say, "I agree with this cause, I believe in this cause and I will associate with this cause" not because of some famous person saying you should, but because it's worthy. However, the majority of the demographics targeted for the support of the cause are affected by the spokesperson of the cause - enter the celebrity.  They're only paid mouth pieces, so what if they don't participate, right?

What irks us are the celebrities who act as good will ambassadors for deprived, starving orphans in third world countries and they adopt oodles of kids "to give them a better life" only to have them raised by nannies, or buy $700 pants for the kid to outgrow in two months that were most likely MADE by the kid's cousins. Or, they use their celebrity status to "acquire" children from poor countries when ordinary folk like you or I have those gates locked to us due to bureaucratic freezes on adoptions. One thing that is thought when celebrities collect broods like accessories is, are they thinking of their children's well-being? Anyone who has come from a large family knows how easy it is to get lost in the crowd, less individual attention is given and that important self - condfidence can be starved. Or, celebrity families add to a brood for status, only to hand the children off to be raised by nannies and they never really know their parents or are known by their parents.

Ultimately, celebrities are role models to many - and it appears that most are negatively impacting the social culture (sordid laundry out to air, drunken values, a fast life lived in excess) and it is thought by the impressionable generations that this is the lifestyle of reward. So, the next time when you find someone hopelessly crushing/obsessing over a celebrity - ask why? Is shallow good looks the only value to covet? Are people around you doing the things thought would be socially accepted because the newest Ms Thing is doing it? Do you notice someone collecting children faster than chihuahuas because it's the latest trend? And by God, are those LACE biking shorts over a BABYDOLL that Paris Hilton was wearing. WHY? WHY? STOP IT! Live your OWN life. It's a good life.