Here's a thought..

Today I went to Moody Coliseum to support one of my best friends who is on the SMU Cheerleading squad. Today was their chance to showcase their routine before they head to Nationals. Other schools also showed up to compete too. It was great to watch but I realized how critical I was of their perfomances! I mean, I WAS a cheerleader. Once. In Junior High. Does that even really count? How dare I critique these athletes, (cheerleading is a sport after all), there's no way in hell I could still do what they do. Then I started to think about other things I really have no right to critique. Movies, (I'm no producer) Clothing, (Not a fashion designer either) Choices (God can judge that). I understand that I have an opinion, but should I really exercise it that liberally? Who really wants to hear what I say.. cough, blog, cough. So from now on, I am going to watch my tongue and think before I speak. This should be interesting...

What do YOU think?!

I was reading on the Internet that Jack Kevorkian, aka Dr. Death is thinking of running for a congressional seat in Michigan. "I have never been a political person. I have only voted once in my life," he said. He is 79 and was just released from jail for "helping" a patient with Lou Gerig's disease die. He was convicted of second degree murder. Is it helping or just plain murder? What would you do if you were the patient? More importantly, if you were Kevorkian, would you think you were really helping or would you think something more satanical than that? Pretty messy stuff, but Jack got away with it because he had the patient's "permission." But if you're that ill, do you really know wahat you are signing your name to? I'm sure the jury was presented with plenty of different arguments but it sounds like they made the right decision. Now we watch and see if the people will actually vote him into the House!

What happened to just drinking water?

Very interesting comparative advertising going on recently. The new Propel vitamin water has just put up an amazing new spot comparing it to Vitamin Water. The spot shows body-conscious Vitamin Water consumers at the gym, and all of a sudden they realize that they have to do 492 sit ups to burn the calories of one bottle of Vitamin Water! THAT'S CRAZY! It's supposed to be good for you, I mean, it's water and it has vitamins, it's a win-win right? If you look closely on the back label though, you will say it is 50 calories per serving, and with 2.5 servings that's oh, the same amount as a coca-cola!! I have to admit I'm pretty sad about this finding. Vitamin Water is SO alluring. With it's funny labeling anecdotes and pretty colors, I am very attracted to their bottling, AND it tastes great. I guess this taste comes for a price though--Propel's vitamin water is the same size and is only 25 calories..makes you wonder.. I'm sure Vitamin Water's advertising agency is freaking out right now.. It's a fairly new product so it may not have that strong of a brand loyalty. Especially if people are drinking it to be "healthier" and propel offers the same thing, but better. It'll be interesting to see what Vitamin Water comes back in response to this!

Maybe people should just stick to good ole' plain water?

Sunny Side of Truth

I think these new Truth commercials about tobacco use are great. They are really pointing out how big tobacco companies have been lying to consumers for years! Also, they point out advertising to kids and how damaging it can be. These spots remind me of everything I am learning in my advertising classes, so I feel kinda smart like I know what's going on and how they are really effectively using advertising to communicate to the masses. Hope you like it! You can tell the audience in the spot sure don't know how to take it!


UPDATE: Okay, so today in my Advertising Ethics class we learned about Tobacco Advertising. It really made me think about this blog that I did. My friends who smoke really don't seem to care what smoking can do to themselves or those around them. They get that it's gross but they treat it like a dirty habit that they can't possibly break. Hello?! We are only 20 here!! The point is, I feel like the Truth campaign doesn't do much for people my age who do smoke. I suppose it is important to younger people (not that we aren't young) to see but I never hear my friends comment too much on it. Just a thought...

Do they have no shame?

Last week I spent my long awaited for Spring Break with my best friends in Mexico. It was clear of SMU folk (kind of) and full of relaxation and fruity drinks. HOWEVER, can I just give a little word from the wise : PLEASE, if you are a local, do not yell degrading things in spanish or ask if we are Barbie's sister. It won't get you anywhere nor will you get any gratitude from me. It is just plain rude and degrading. I found myself walking with my head down as I would walk through the market each day. They really have no shame. They would stare, whistle, sometimes even grab. I hope their mamas didn't teach them those manners. If I was a Mexican woman, would I find that attractive in a mate? I would hope not. I would be embarrassed if any guy I knew acted like that to complete strangers. It is very uncomfortable and I would just like to say, (for all of my readers in Mexico ;) ) STOP. Thank you for your time, but ew and NO!

Things you can learn at the library

As I am dutifully studying in the library, enjoying my green tea Enviga (advertisment) I realize that I needed to take a break and use the restroom (no , this isn't going to be one of THOSE stories people). SO anyways, I went into the restroom, in which there is a couch in the girl's restroom! (jealous guys?) Getting to the story, I read that the toilet paper dispenser said "Never-Out." That's the company or name of the paper dispenser? It's like magic! How is it never out? Is this puffery? Or a lie? How can the company substantiate this claim!? (Can you tell I'm studying for my Advertising Ethics class?) But really, someone in the toilet paper industry should counter this claim. However, maybe the company is right? I haven't seen one of those dispensers that IS out. HMM.. Interesting...I'll be on the lookout.. okay, back to the REAL reason for being at the library..

UPDATE: So I'm at Club Fondren again tonight and I went to the restroom and low and behold, there is an abundance of toilet paper! I think there is a black hole behind the dispenser that keeps on refilling it! Kudos to the cleaning staff here. They are keeping the Never-Out brand true to their word!

Definitely, Maybe or No?

The other day I went to go see the movie Definitely, Maybe with come girlfriends. I didn't realize that a major backbone of the movie was based on the Clinton campaign in 1992. With Super Tuesday happening as I speak, I was wondering how the presence of this in the movie would affect voters. Sure, it was pro-Clinton in the movie, but it also brought up the Gennifer Flowers and Monica Lewinsky scandals, and the "did he or didn't he inhale" (Good thing Barack just admitted he did, saved him some trouble.) With Hillary making appearances from Saturday Night Live to Jon Stewart, I get that she's trying to tap into mainstream media in a positive light but I think the movie didn't do her campaign any good. It will be interesting to see how the polls turn out, although some republicans are "strategizing" and voting for Hillary (thanks Rush Limbaugh, idiot) to beat out Obama time will tell my friends...

Did I mention that i LOVE this time of year? It gets my juices flowin'!

THIS is really inappropriate

So I know that no one really wants to hear my two-cents but since I have this blog I'm just gonna let 'er rip. Breast-feeding in public?! AT A RESTAURANT!!! Yes yes yes people this happened to me today at one of my beloved little eateries in Dallas. The family ordered in front of me so I got to see the little culprit with her parents. I thought she was cute, adorable fam..this is why I was so shocked to see this happen! Isn't she on a feeding schedule? Couldn't they have done this before going out in public for a nice sunday afternoon brunch? I get that this bakery is family dining but DAMN GURL some things need to be left at home. That's my two-cents and I'm stickin' to it. I understand, maybe, breastfeeding on like a park bench, central park, on a play-date but NOT a Highland Park Cafe. OR anywhere with food present at that matter. Can't she pump out her own milk? So many things could have been done to prevent this trainwreck that turned out to be my lunch.. Now I'm on the lookout for people who do this at restaurants. Okay, so there it is. Done. I said it and I hope no one thinks I'm a bad person for it.

PS: This photo is from a highly controversial United Colors of Benneton ad. We discussed it in my Advertising Ethics class.

Janet's Makin' a Comeback

Maybe talent isn't the first thing that comes to mind when I speak of Janet Jackson-you probably think about her crazy family but maybe you should reconsider. Janet has been in showbiz since a tot and regardless of her family issues, this girl's got talent. Remember Velvet Rope? Yea, you should. Despite the weight gain, and constant media scrutiny I think that this album has definitely got potential! Although, this song that I have the link to sounds like a cricket is in the background (listen closely)

Will Ferrel Can Sell Anything!

The other day in class we discussed how beer commercials are funny but maybe not so much effective because they are all so similar. Today I was watching TV and a Bud Light commercial comes on and Will Ferrel is dressed in character for his new movie Semi-Pro. I laughed so hard when I saw this! He cracks me up! I think this commercial is effective because it promotes his new movie and he really does talk about the beer and how it's made (kind of) Ch-Ch-Ch-Check it out!


UPDATE: I saw another commercial today with Will Ferrel in the same character selling Old Spice deodarant. Interesting. I wonder who thought of it first?

America's Next Top Model ^1000000 degree

America's Next Top Model is probably on MTV or VH1 as I type this entry right now. Overkill!! How many times do I have to see Tyra get all ghetto on the same girls from like 4 years ago?! I'm over it and I would like to think everyone else is too! This show is always, I mean ALWAYS on TV. It's really just aggravating. It just proves the age old adage that nothing is good on TV, ergo, America's Next Top Model is the solution. At least ANTM is better than Next or Parental Control but still, enough is enough! I can't handle watching the same dramz over and over and over. I wonder how high the ratings actually are for the repeated shows? Hmm..At least it's not Tyra's talk show that's on repeat! That's even worse--and yea, we get it Tyra, your boobs are real girlfriend, thanks for letting us know all the time!