I Pity The Fool Who Doesn't Get Their Vitamins!

Being healthy is awesome. I haven't always been healthy; as a matter of fact I was indeed once a smoker; however, that was just a phase. Now I make sure that I get a decent amount of exercise and take my vitamins. This is simply because when you are healthy you feel better, and you can achieve more because of this. Recently I have been sampling a large amount of "healthy" drinks. Personally I enjoy SoBe Naturals, because of their good taste and proposed health benefits. The product isn't very popular and I predict it will be off the market soon. This is because of Vitamin Water and Aquafina Plus Enchanced Water. After looking at the back of my SoBe Natural Pina Colada bottle I realized it was full of sugar. Not that I have anything against sugar, but I feel like I get enough of it anyways. This caused me to switch over to Vitamin Water.

Vitamin Water is very tasty and easy to find. I also enjoy their commercials, as they are often comical and light hearted in nature. When commercials for sports drinks are too serious it makes the product seem very intense. This isn't a bad positioning for drinks like Gatorade and PowerAde; however, if vitamin water wanted this appeal it might propel the wrong image. Vitamin Water enhances your overall well being, but sports drinks re-hydrate you giving you energy. 

15th Blog!

Well, I’ve reached the big one five. I'm glad that I have had the opportunity to improve my writing skills and gain more understanding of media. This has been my first blog and I’m sure I will utilize blogging in the future. I find that blogging is an effective way for everybody to understand the way you think and write. This is because it is such a creative space, and it is an area where you can speak freely about any topic on your mind. Also having a blog up and running shows employers that I'm am active and alive. In today's world blogs are taking a more and more important roll in media. During the Colonel Russell Willaims trail news reporters were blogging from the courtroom. News outlets are now referencing blogs in their articles and stories. Clearly they are have been and are growing to be very popular.

Next semester I hope to continue using online communications as I feel they are the way of the future. Along those lines I also hope that I will learn how to improve and better utilize technology to make me more appealing to employers. I can’t wait for the opportunities that lay in the future.

David Lynch has been a successful and extremely creative director since his film-making debut in 1966. During his career Lynch was asked to create a few short and creative commercials for many different companies. Often times directors are not given full creative freedom to make a commercial, because the company has image it wants to show. Calvin Klein let Lynch have full control of the commercial series for the cologne Obsession. He created a three main spots and a fourth, which was not realized. Exerts from famous authors are read well models and actors play out roles occurring in the clip. They are well produced and show some on Lynch's overall creativity.

More creative commercials created by David Lynch follow the theme of his movies, madness. For example a short movie called "Rabbits" is about a family of humanoid rabbits who find themselves in trouble. The group hear a knock on their door and the rest of the short is them trying to find out who it was; however, it is massively confusing and very little of it makes any sort of sense. Parisienne cigarettes allowed David to be as wild and confusing as possible, which resulted in an interesting advertisement that makes you remember the product and the short. 

Introductionphobia

When people meet you are you shy? Do you wish that you had said something different or more interesting? There are a lot of situations in everyday life where something could have been improved. If you get hung up on it you will view it as a failure. Failure is a part of everyday life and overcoming it only makes you a better person. Seth Godin summed the fear of failure up in his article about the “lizard brain”. I agree with Seth in the aspect that fear of failure is a reality that everyone faces; however, people must come to terms with it.

When it comes to introductions, especially to people who are important, nerves may be racing. It may help to take some deep breaths and talk slowly, but the main need is to block out your fear. In my mind I have no fear of embarrassment so when I introduce myself I’m friendly and funny. This may also be a downside in business situations, so currently I have been thinking on a more serious introduction format. It is helpful that I already have a good balance with my fears, and understand that a failure often means that there is time to improve. 

Winter, deal with it!

I always have enjoyed the snow and the scenery of winter. Everyone I talk to says the same; however, they all hate the cold weather. I on the other hand don't mind it, I don't like it, but I have realized that my complaining won't change anything. If you live in North America you should understand that it is going to be cold during the winter months. It is not going to help if you tell me every five seconds that you hate this weather. I feel that when people say things about the weather they expect that it will change it. Delusions such as these don't occur to me, and I understand the necessity of winter. People just need to understand that when it's cold, you should try harder to keep warm.

A simple way to keep warm when you are outside is to keep moving. When you move your heart pumps slightly faster, which means blood will flow circulate faster. This will warm you up internally. It won’t save you if you’re trapped outside in minus thirty, so don’t try and do anything crazy. In conclusion I would like to say that appropriate clothing helps keep you warm, not t-shirts.

Technology and the Elderly

I work in a retirement home as a Dietary Aide, which just means I’m a glorified server, and I enjoy it. I also have been talking to the marketing manager there, and she feels she could make use of my skills when she begins her marketing. I conduct small conversations with the residents whenever I run into some in the halls of the home. As of late the home as been undertaking changes. The Long Term Care section of the home recently moved to a better area because it was only interim. The activity room was recently ripped apart, even the walls, to make room for new wires and cables which would run through the building. 

Always curious I inquired about the wires. They are being added so that computers can be set up in the activity room. Often times the residents would see me using my BlackBerry, and inquire as to what it was. After I explained all the functions and uses they would tell me how lucky I am to have such a tool. Now that a large computer area will be coming the residents will have the opportunity to use email. This is good as some resident’s families live far away and don't often come to visit. Now they will be able stay in touch with their loved ones without to much hassle.

I'm Back!

So I haven't been blogging for the last two weeks. You may be wondering why, and the reason is simple, to busy. The last two weeks consisted of me creating and perfecting six beautiful projects and four marvelous presentations. Personally I didn't find this week stressful; however, I found myself in the Mac Lab for hours on end working away. One day I was at the school from 8:30am to 6:30pm co-coordinating group work and doing research. Between classes I would spend my time doing work as well. Now I have reached the end of my project line-up. I only have to complete my Blogs here, and finish the iWeb assignment for Robin Pepper.

First off I’d like to say that my teamwork abilities have greatly improved from the events of the last two weeks. Thought I also enjoy my solo work I know have an appreciation for how hard working team members can enhance projects. My favourite project to finish was for Jackie St. Pierre. Jesse Whale and I had spent numerous hours working on a hand in to give to her. While I worked on the text and writing Jesse went over design, placement and proof reading. When the finally product was complete I was very impressed with what we had produced. Jackie responded very well to the handout by dubbing it "professional quality". It is always nice to see hard work pay off. 

Dodson for Halloween

An underground hit this Halloween was dressing up as YouTube sensation Antoine Dodson. On July 28th 2010, in a Lincoln Park housing project, a man entered Antoine's sister’s room from the upstairs window. The man tried to assault Antoine's sister, but was scared off when he came in to intervene. After the events the local news channel did a report on the event. Antoine was very frantic on the camera and said such quotes as "hide your kids, hide your wife, cause they raping everybody out here". The video was then uploaded to YouTube were it went viral. Soon it became so popular that t-shirts and Antoine Dodson items became available, and he became an Internet celebrity. Antoine's interview has also been auto-tuned and made into a very popular song available on iTunes. He also received the opportunity to perform his song, the “bed intruder song”, live at the 2010 BET hip-hop awards.

This Halloween many patrons dawned red bandanas and black muscle shirts to mimic the garb that Antoine wore on that fateful day in July. This just goes to show the influence that YouTube and the Internet community can have on society. Considering that one man was shot up to celebrity status in a matter of months. It seems that Andy Warhol was right when he said that in the future everyone would have his or her 15 minutes of fame.

Social Media and Remembrance day

Social media websites such as Facebook and Youtube are now taking a role in remembrance day. To honour the veterans it is important to have today's youth involved and understand the sacrifices of the veterans. One artistic websites such and Flickr and Youtube videos and pictures are being uploaded showing historic scenes of Canadian service men and women. On social websites such as Facebook and Twitter people have updates their statuses to say things such as "remember". Many of these events are initiatives from users and not administration in order to honour the fallen. A United Kingdom music company released a two minute long Mp3 which is titled "2 minutes of silence", and is exactly that. The proceeds from this will go to veteran foundations in the United Kingdoms.

This is a very new and unique way of honouring the veterans, and it is a sign of the good that social media can do. Since the popularity of social media sites has gained over the last few years; many charity and awareness events has taken place. Some of these include the "bra colour to support breast cancer status" and "where your purse is to support breast cancer status". Now remembrance day has been added to the list of social causes that sites support. This will help raise awareness and honour the veterans.

Kanye West's Runaway

Recently I came across the youtube video for Kanye West's short movie named "Runaway". The video runs for 35 minutes and features some very creative elements and references to today's culture. Kanye West is very unique individual; however, due to his attitude and actions people see him as a villain. As any artist should he creates his own controversy; maybe just because he can. Mr. West's attitude may be seen as terrible by some but the way he doesn't care for anyone's opinion is a good thing. It is important not to take it too far, as Kanye may have, but some people’s opinions will only drag you down if you dwell on them too much.

Kanye West is doing what no other rapper is doing. He has decided to add different art styles to his music, as can be seen in his short movie. Kanye has been known to go out of the regular mindset of rap artists. This is probably because he believes he is above almost all other musicians.

Kanye's hints and references to today's culture in his movie is a good marketing move, as it attracts a different kind of audience. Kanye West's already large fan base is use to his changing style so they would not be repelled by the change. I look forward to seeing how people comment on Kanye West's new movie, and if they enjoy his progressive style or if they judge him by his actions.

Deadmau5 at the K-Rock centre

Deadmau5 is a electronic musical act who has played for audiences around the world.  Joel Thomas Zimmerman, or Deadmau5 as he is better known, often refers to his music as "without a genre". He tends to stay away from mainstream techno music, and likes to create his own style. With this style of music it is important to be original. Beats from different artists tend to sound the same because of the electronic style today's popular music is leading towards. His most popular songs would be "ghost n' stuff" and "the longest road" which got him a grammy nomination in 2009.

Deadmau5 recently decided to play a show at the K-Rock centre. I believe that this is a step forward for the Kingston music scene. Kingston has a good amount of rock acts and other classical styles, but has for a long while lacked any kind of progressive or house acts. To make things even better Deadmau5 was rated #4 Dj on a top 100 Dj poll by Dj magazine. To have such a good electronic act come to Kingston considering Kingston has little background with this style of music is impressive. Hopefully this will be a trend for future acts at the K-Rock centre.

Product Placement in Music Videos

In today's media product placement, the addition of brand name images to media, is taking a larger roll in advertising to youth. It is important to understand that the celebrities using the product play a large part in selling it; however, they may not endorse the product. An endorsement is when a celebrity or person of importance tells the viewer about how they often use the product. In product placement the company who sells the product decides to pay for placing the product at some point in the media. Coincidentally for items like cell phones or music players the item will often be put into the hand of a celebrity; which works well for the company.

In the music video for the song "getting over you" by the artist David Guetta and a group of various artists the viewer is subjected to various product placement. Everest Poker and LG cell phones  are the most obvious of the placements. With only little or no direct celebrity use of the product placement item, the music video does not make any direct endorsements of the the products from celebrities. Which can leave legal loop holes for companies to look over. 

I believe that product placement in music videos and other types of media is an extremely effective form of advertisement. With the young demographic watching these music videos it is a good idea to place trendy items like cell phones and video games in them. The demographic will see that the celebrities in the video are enjoying these items and will reflect their attitudes to match those of the famous people who many youth idolize. 

I always smell nice

This week I did my ad report card assignment on the cologne "One Million" by Paco Rabanne, so I figured I would write my blog about cologne. First off, I don't have a very big collection of fragrances at the moment, but I have had a lot of the last couple of years. My personal favourite at the moment is “Suede” by Guess, a moderately strong almost caramel smell. I looked up a few fragrances reviews on YouTube.com and AskMen.com and the consensus on this “Suede” is that it is not a good scent.

This brings up the fact that cologne smells different on every user, so it creates a unique smell for any individual. This is because chemicals react differently on different skin types, for example if you have very dry skin smells might come off stronger. So apparently “Suede” reacts pretty well with my skin, which is pretty good, the stuffs not cheap. A close runner to “Suede” is “3” by Ralph Lauren, which creates a very citrus like smell when I use it.

Ironically my least favourite cologne is “One Million” by Paco Rabanne, its junk that smells like a glazed donut. I smelt it at The Bay and I really wasn’t too impressed as you can tell by the above statement. I wouldn’t suggest it to anyone at all, and most of the reviews I have read about it have the same feeling towards it as I do. Then again there might be someone who has the right skin for it, in that case I’d say go for it.

Why I can't play pool

Pool, the sport of kings, is something I should not play. My reasoning behind this is that I am clearly not good at it anymore. My cousins own a pool table, and whenever I was over there I would partake in a game. After winning I would be a gracious winner, and not gloat about my victory at all. Truly I was good; and I now realize I may have lost my talent. I played a game in the SA lounge and was easily defeated by my nemesis Nick and his partner Ben. It seems weird to me because I could and still can always see the direction and angles. When I actually get around to hitting the ball it never goes the right way, this is either because i'm not good at pool or because the table is tilted (seems more logical).

I'd rather use my feet. This is why I can't play pool because i'm a soccer player. I played soccer through high school and developed some pretty awesome control and dangling skills. So clearly my talent must have been drained at some point to allow me to be better at soccer then at pool. So i figure, if i want to be better at pool, I must not be good at soccer. Since I haven't played soccer in about a year I should be slowly pooling my talent and soon enough I could potentially focus it into pool (or school work ... never mind).

Here's a video of some trick shoot that I will be able to do sooner or later.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OepbfgWASLE

Cell Phone Applications

The first thing I’ve noticed about my classes is that there is a lot of emphasis about ongoing changes in the media. It’s very obvious that almost everything is going digital, but I didn't realise how much cell phone applications are changes the way we view our media. My current cell phone is an LG neon so I have basically no applications on it, however I have been looking for a new phone. I never really saw the point in applications, since I was used to using a mobile browser to navigate through the internet, but after a brief discussion in class I want to experiment with application use. I looked up a few interesting applications for the apple iPhone 3, they seem to all be very useful as a convenience to avoid surfing the internet for specific sites. Some of the more interesting applications I came across deal with language translation and long distance video communication. Personally I enjoy the interesting little applications; one I found very interesting is a song detector. With this application you can hold your phone close to a speaker playing a song, and the application will tell you the name of the song and the band that plays it, then direct you to download site where you can buy it! After looking over all the interesting applications I’m defiantly going to check out a Smartphone next time I go look for a new phone.

My First Blog Entry!

           This is all very new to me as you could probally tell from this being my  first blog entry, ever. This is my first year at St. Lawerence College, I am taking the Advertising - IMC course which, is the main reason why I am writing this blog. An assingment was given to my Writing for Marketing Comminications class to create a journal entry blog, about what we are learning in our classes and to make some comments on issues related to media and culture. So if the education prossess works properly my blog entries should become more enlightened every week, hopfully.

Being so early in the semester my first impression of this course is that it will be very enjoyable and informative. A lot of the classes for the first year seem to  revolve around developing our public speaking abilities and our social awarness. So far as a class we have learned some basic marketing and social interaction techniques to help us with all the presentations we will be doing in this course, which is a lot.

Just a little about me, I am a very social person and I make new friends effortlessly. I enjoy socializing even if its just small talk, I pretty much just like the sound of my own voice (Which I don’t consider a bad thing since I’m in advertising). Sportswise I am a Toronto Maple Leaf fan, even if they suck. I enjoy playing either tennis or soccer in my spare time.

 Hopfully with my naturally social attiutde once I’m done this course I can land myself a good job. As per the assingment I will be keeping this blog updated every week, with different topics of interest to post!