Welcome to Facebook City

If there's one thing that defines our current generation, it would have to be Facebook.  All around the world, first-time acquaintances are exchanging "Facebook-me's" and we can probably all remember the tons of friend requests we sent and received at the beginning of each semester.  Facebook statistics show that over 500 million people have an active Facebook account, and the average user spends about 700 million minutes logged on each month (Facebook.com).

Obviously, we probably spend every day on Facebook.  Now with mobile Facebook access, it's easier than ever to check your notifications and post a few comments in even the quickest amount of time.  Using Facebook every day is fun and sparks new friendships every day, but what other impacts does using Facebook so often have on our everyday lives?

It's interesting to observe the relationships we have on Facebook as opposed to the relationships we have in "real life."  There are lots of times that we talk to people online that we never do or would face-to-face.  Whether we mean to or not, we find talking over Facebook much easier and comfortable than actually confronted each other.  I believe this could be a negative thing.  I feel that major social networking sites like Facebook are ruining our social skills.  Sure, we gain new "friends" every day and often communicate with them online, but we aren't learning to really connect with them.  Our social skills are being brought down by trading the amount of time we spend getting to know each other face-to-face for time that we spend typing messages to each other.  First it was the introduction of text messaging that made it harder for the upcoming generation to learn proper telecommunication skills, and now networkings like Facebook are taking over our abilities to be good at really socializing.

I, myself, am always on Facebook and have even encountered those awkward "seeing someone out in public that you only talk to on Facebook" times.  It makes me wonder the future of socializing holds for our generation and the ones to come after.  Oh yeah, and be sure to click like and share with all your friends on Facebook! ;)

Photo from getsatisfaction.com.

A "Fixer Up-er"

Photo by Nesster on flikr.com.

With the rough economy, consumers have learned how to shop smarter.  Shoppers compare prices and deals between stores, and retailers are constantly creating new ways to pull customers in.  Every day, consumers are faced with the decision of what retail location they will make their purchase, usually depending on who will save them the most money.  Retailers have to be creative to come up with promotions to make their business exclusive and attract every customer.

But sometimes in the dark corporate alley, large companies are figuring out how to make the most money with no advantage to shoppers or retailers.  It's called price fixing, and according to the Federal Trade Commission, it is referred to as an agreement between competing companies to raise, lower, or stabilize prices of their products (par. 1).  The article also suggests that companies are required by law to establish the prices of their products based on their own terms, not by agreement (par. 1).  Basically, the companies are trying to reduce competition and mutually decide to equal their businesses by changing the prices of their products.  Price fixing is usually secretive and almost always illegal.

What does this mean for consumers and retailers?  Like earlier mentioned, retailers are always trying to come up with new and creative ways to make their business exclusive.  Usually, they attempt this through attractive promotions and deals.  When companies fix the prices of their products, retailers aren't able to do this because they have to meet those fixed prices of the product.  Retailers are limited on the ways they can convince the consumer that they can save money buy shopping at their location.  For consumers, it just adds to the heavy burden of today's economy.  While retailers struggle to find ways to save shoppers money, the shoppers are faced with buying products they need at a narrow price range.  There is hardly any "shopping around" because all of the products at all of the stores are the same price.

If you do a general search on the web, you can find lots of price fixing cases.  I was so surprised to see how many.  One of the recent cases is that between Procter and Gamble and Unilever.  According to the Yahoo! Finance article by Foo Yun Chee, Procter and Gamble and Unilever were fined 315.2 million euros ($456 million) for fixing prices on washing powder in eight European countries (par. 1).  This is just one example of corporations taking advantage of our needs to make more money.  We need to wash our clothes and both of these companies are responsible for producing a lot of well-known and commonly-used brands.  There's a reason why price fixing is illegal and no one should have that power over us as everyday consumers just trying to fulfill our everyday needs, like washing clothes.

Works Cited

"Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Competition - Resource Guide to Business Competition."    

     Ftc.gov. Federal Trade Commission. Web. 26 Apr. 2011. 

     <http://www.ftc.gov/bc/antitrust/price_fixing.shtm>.

Chee, Foo Yun. "Unilever, P&G Fined 315 Million Euros for Price Fixing - Yahoo! Finance." 

     Finance.yahoo.com. Yahoo! Finance, 13 Apr. 2011. Web. 26 Apr. 2011. 

     <http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Unilever-PG-fined-315-million-rb-2603510995.html?x=0>.

7-year-old Gets Plastic Surgery...Enough Said

Video courtesy abcnews.com.

It's obvious that we are all influenced to dress a certain way and look a certain way.  The more fashion evolves, the more fashion companies advertise their input to the fashion world.  And the more they put up glamorous posters and play eye-catching videos, the more we feel we need their products.  No matter what the company is selling, we usually think we need their product for one thing: to look skinnier, sexier, prettier, and happier.  As shoppers, we don't even realize that this pressure from the fashion industry is effecting us greatly.  They are setting our goals for us, and telling us that the only way to reach them is to buy what they have to offer.

With the media telling us what looks good comes the rest of us, the normal people, who won't live up to their standards.  In this case, a 7-year-old didn't look the way classmates and adults viewed as right or good.  She was bullied by her classmates for the size and build of her ears, shown in the video.  When I saw the picture of the young girl pre-surgery, I thought her ears were normal, and lots of times children have "abnormal" features that they grow into over the years.  Unfortunately, the younger years of our lives can be times of bullying.  Maybe if parents learn themselves how much the media and fashion industry is effecting our lives and views on everyday people, they could pass those morals along to their children and maybe bullying could be reduced.  I think that the fashion industry definitely has a huge part in this unfortunate part of society, but can be resolved if we just understood how unimportant everything the fashion industry tells us really is.

Works Cited

"Bullied Child Gets Plastic Surgery Video - ABC News." ABCNews.com: Breaking News, Politics, World News, Good Morning America, Exclusive Interviews - ABC News. ABC News. Web. 10 Apr. 2011. <http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Parenting/video/bullied-child-gets-plastic-surgery-13373152>.

Say Yes to the Dress

It seems it's always easy to find reasons why corporations are ruining our lives by the hold they have on our everyday lives.  Whether they rob us of our checkbooks or our piece of mind, it's easy to point out the negative aspects of big-time companies.  But like always, there's a bright side.  In a world of need-it-now's and the "easy button," more and more companies are making our everyday lives a little bit easier.

When I found out that Costco, a wholesale corporation similar to clubs like Sam's, were making aisles for wedding dresses, I was in awe.  I couldn't believe it!  Imagine walking into Wal-Mart, throwing the bread and milk in your cart, and then walking to the other side of the store to pick out your dream designer dress. That's what Costco members are doing, thanks to designer Kirstie Kelly.  Samantha Critchell from the Associated Press published in her article "Costco makes a new aisle for wedding gowns" that the dresses run from sizes 2 to 24 and range in price anywhere between $699 up to $1,399 (par. 2).  As a wedding dress guru, I found them to be stunning and I was surprised of the unexpectedly beautiful design.  (By the way, if you see your girl admiring the dresses, you can even pick up Costco's $1,000,000 steal of a diamond ring, too.)

I think this is a wonderful representation of corporations catering to the demanding and hurried needs of our society.  It's a trend you see in more and more places, making one shopping trip more and more effective.  Wedding dress shopping just got that much easier, thanks to Costco.  What's next, Wal-Mart packaging your honeymoon?

Check out the original article here.
Take a look at the dress page on the Costco site here.

Works Cited

Critchell, Samantha. "Costco Makes a New Aisle for Wedding Gowns | Deseret News."Salt Lake City and Utah Breaking News, Sports, Entertainment and News Headlines - Deseret News. Deseret News, 6 Apr. 2011. Web. 09 Apr. 2011. <http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700124877/Costco-makes-a-new-aisle-for-wedding-gowns.html?s_cid=rss-5>.

Not Just Overseas

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons (creativecommons.com).

If you've been around looking for the special gift for your teenager, a sturdy gift for the graduate, your growing family's next addition, or Mom's Saturday soccer asset, you hopefully aren't thinking of a shiny new car.  Not only the the natural disasters in Japan effect their country, but it effects us in America as well.  Since the devastating earthquake followed by a deadly tsunami, car dealers have raised car prices.  Especially Toyota, car company shipments have slowed since the disaster and car dealerships are taking advantage.

Dealer raise some car prices after Japan Crises

In summary, the Yahoo! Finance article states that the crisis in Japan is expected to slow car production and shipment.  Dealers are charging sticker price for their vehicles.  The article states that the price increase "will last weeks if not months" (Associated Press par. 4).  I was surprised to find out that customers hardly ever pay sticker price for cars, especially small and hybrid vehicles.  Now, that won't be possible due to the expected high demand and low supply.  There won't even be room for negotiation.

Not only do companies around the block effect our everyday lives, but so do corporations on the other side of the world.  For current car shoppers, this will be the toughest time to find a deal and there won't be much room for negotiation.  But not only car shoppers will be effected.  For us who already own Japanese-manufactured cars may be effected if anything happens where we need to import parts for repair of our vehicles.  Keep in mind everything that happens around you, even when it's across the ocean.  You never know how much it will effect you, no matter how far away.

Molly McAfee

Works Cited

Associated Press. "Dealers Raise Some Car Prices after Japan Crisis - Yahoo! Finance."Yahoo! Finance       - Business Finance, Stock Market, Quotes, News. 17 Mar. 2011. Web. 17 Mar. 2011.   

     <http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Dealers-raise-some-car-prices-apf-2312869891.html?x=0>.

Crude Awakening

Video courtesy of abcnews.com blog "The Radar."  Click here for the original article and video page.


Hearing the stories of gas prices before my time make me cringe.  I can't imagine only paying about 30 cents for a gallon of gas.  Unfortunately, I grew up during times when people had to compromise their lifestyles just to fill up their tanks.  It still continues today, with the recent inflation of gas prices.  I think gas corporations paying and charging too much for gas is a major example of corporations playing a role in our everyday lives.

There is no doubt that we always have somewhere to go.  Most American's are probably fortunate enough to be able to hop in their cars and get from place to place.  For me, I'm either driving to do community service work, running to the store, or going home for break or the weekend.  But like many other American's, I have to sacrifice those enjoyable things just because gas is way too expensive.  Some people even sacrifice other bills and repairs that need to be done, like fixing their breaks.  Saving enough money to buy gas has almost become unsafe.  

I think that gas corporations should stop buying gas offshore and paying the outrageous price for barrel after barrel.  We American's can't live without it, so we're definitely going to buy it.  But I think that it's totally unfair that there is no drilling in our country that offers it, and plenty of it.  I realize that there are laws protecting wildlife and other environmental factors from being harmed  by drilling, but at this point, a compromise is in order.  We need to lower these gas prices so that our everyday lives aren't effected like they are.

The above video and blog was published in 2008, however, the same problems still exist.  That's really exactly my point, too.  A problem that has been around so long that can be fixed, well, should be fixed.

Works Cited

"McCain: 'We Have to Drill Here and Drill Now' - Political Radar." Political Punch. ABC News, 4 
      Aug. 2008. Web. 3 Mar. 2011. <http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/08/mccain-we- 
      have.html>.

Business for a Better TOMorrow.

Photo taken by bark on flickr.com.  Found by creativecommons.com.

We are used to the typical businesses around us.  Go in, pick what you need, pay them the money they want.  Drive through, order up, give them whatever prices they announce over the intercom.  Get online, add to your cart, and hand over your credit card number.  Pretty much every business is obviously in it for the money, and that's all.  But surprisingly yet increasingly, we are beginning to find businesses that work a little differently.

These business have a goal of making the world a better place and making for a better future.  One of my favorite businesses like this is TOMS Shoes.  If you haven't heard of this sweeping trend already, TOMS is no ordinary shoe source.  For every pair of TOMS sold, TOMS Shoes gives back a pair to a child without any shoes for themselves.  But why shoes?  TOMS gives shoes to children often in third-world countries.  Those children are more prone to diseases that are in the soil.  These diseases can penetrate from the ground into bare feet.  Without shoes, these children are likely to get cuts and injuries on their feet, welcoming any germs or illnesses.  Not only does their health depend on something to cover their feet, but also their education.  Some children without shoes are not allowed to go to school because shoes are a required part of their uniform.  Shoes can make all the difference, and the founder of TOMS understands.  

I proudly own a pair of TOMS, myself, one of many more to come.  The fact that they are extremely comfortable, versatile and of course cute doesn’t even come close to knowing you helped a child in need just by purchasing something you can enjoy, too.  TOMS is a way that I turned a normal purchase into something even greater.  Hopefully, businesses like these will blossom, turning every-day purchases into things that can change the world.

For more on the TOMS movement and the full story, click here.

Works Cited

"Our Movement." Www.toms.com. TOMS Shoes. Web. 24 Feb. 2011.  

      <http://www.toms.com/ourmovement>.

"Greeting Card Holidays"

Valentine's Day Shop Window Photo

T'was the night before Valentine's Day and all through the town

Was the hustle and bustle of running around

The balloons were blown by the flowers with care

In hopes that last-minute romantics soon would be there

Mom with the cards and Dad with the chocolates

Give a good laugh to the big-building conglomerates

On spouses, on girlfriends, on boyfriends, on fiances

Make sure you have the best gift for your sweetheart this day!

Hallmark rejoiced and American Greetings in delight

Happy Valentine's to all, spend all your money tonight!

    I couldn't help but watch all the frantic customers run in and out of Wal-Mart last night as I waited at the crosswalk to leave the parking lot.  Every year I am more amazed at how crazy the last-minute crowds are in every store before the holidays, even Valentine's Day.  I always can't help but wish I was a greeting card company owner, probably rolling in the dough by this time of year.  That makes me wonder, do such companies hype up the holidays, tricking consumers into thinking they have to have their products to really make the holiday?

    I am in no way bashing the gift-giving and card-sending of the holidays.  In fact, I love to get a nice card in the mail, who doesn't?  But I'm afraid that for some of our society, holidays like Valentine's Day and Christmas have become contests of the biggest presents or the most money spent.  While it's always nice to give, and you want to see your loved ones happy (guilty).  I love giving surprises, and last Christmas, I had a Razorback hat signed by Ryan Mallett and the rest of the team to give to my little brother.  Sometimes we just can't help going over the top!  But sometimes, too far is too far. 

    While I'm sure no greeting card or paper company will ever admit it, they seem to really play up the holidays, whether through their advertisements or in their stores.  Looking through Wal-Mart just the other day, I noticed Justin Bieber Valentines, which is clear marketing to children.  It's hard to know you have to impress your children at school amongst all the other parents lavishing them in gifts and deliveries.  It's also hard knowing your child is growing up in a society that constantly wants.  I couldn't do it, that's for sure.  In fact, I'm probably one of them.  I just think that it's important, especially around the holidays, that we remember not to get wrapped up in all the buying and letting greeting card companies own us for a few weeks out of the year.  Let us love others around us with our hearts, not our pocketbooks.  

Molly McAfee

Black, Yellow, and Lots of Green

Super Bowl 2001 ads sneak peek, courtesy of CNN Money

www.money.cnn.com

     It's the long-awaited event every year for every NFL team and their loyal fans: the chance to compete for the title of Super Bowl Champions.  Teams vigorously practice all year round to sharpen their skills so that no other team stands a chance against them.  Millions of sports fans tune in to cheer on their favorite team.  But for the rest of us who aren't in it for the final score, there are the other components to the Super Bowl airing: the infamous Super Bowl commercials.  These advertisements bring not only the select few covered in face-paint and donning their favorite jerseys to the television, but the rest of us who don't care much about the game to the couch as well.  For years, these ads have been some of the hype to the whole event, as they continue to be more and more entertaining, but kind of expensive.

 The following link will take you to Aaron Smith's article for CNN, which will be used as the basis for my factual information:
Super Bowl ad time: Pricey but worth it?
  
     And by kind of, I kind of mean $3 million for every 30 seconds (Smith, CNN Money).  But why should companies go this distance just to be on TV for no less than a minute at a time?  Because, like Smith stated in his article, over 100 million viewers will probably tune in this year.  Paying those big bucks can mean big exposure.  Companies are fighting harder than ever for consumers' attention.  They're willing to pay the price to be fresh on a buyer's mind the next time at the grocery store.  Super Bowl commercials are an excellent example of the way the media effects consumers of this generation.  We see things on T.V. presented so wonderfully that we have to have them.  Not only are there two teams battling it out on the field, but a fight between companies to land a spot on your next grocery list.  They know millions of audiences will be captured this weekend with their humorous, witty, and expensive advertisments.  As Super Bowl XLV draws nearer, I wish the best of luck to both teams...and all the companies battling it out on Sunday.

Molly McAfee

Works Cited

Smith, Aaron. "Super Bowl Ad Time: Pricey but worth It - Feb. 3, 2011." Business, Financial, Personal Finance News - CNNMoney.com. CNN, 03 Feb. 2011. Web. 03 Feb. 2011. <http://money.cnn.com/2011/02/03/news/companies/super_bowl_ads/index.htm?hpt=C2>.

Netflix or Netflunx?

Video from Wall Street Journal Digital Networking - Market Watch.

   We are all used to technology transforming all around us.  Ever since we can remember, ways to watch movies and recently television shows have been constantly changing.  From VHS tapes to DVD's to now online movie rentals, accessing that medium has never been so easy.  And it's about to get easier.  

   Please follow the following link to read the online article published on Market Watch, a branch off the Wall Street Journal Digital Network:

Tough choices for studios as Netflix surges

   My general response to this article was in question.  Is this really a big deal?  Won't this be a benefit to all of us, who are so spoiled in a demanding and instant society?  After considering the article once more, I do see a few problems that could effect us all.

   We live in a society that is run by advertisement.  We see something being hyped up in an ad, and we get excited about it, too.  According to the Market Watch article, Netflix showed that to be true after advertising a $7.99 deal to watch instant streaming of content from the Netflix media base, reaping surprisingly high reward.  The customer who purchase this plan can watch any movie or TV show instantly on their computer, as long as it is found on Netflix, that is (Netflix.com Deal Information).  I have myself checked into subscribing to this monthly package, but ended up not doing so because of the amount of shows and movies available. Netflix is fully aware of this, and the article states that is what they want to improve.  However, to add more shows and movies, they obviously need permission.  Like the article says, companies like Time Warner are skeptical about handing rights over to Netflix.  They are worried such deals would "deflate the value of [their] content. (Wilkerson, Market Watch)"  And they have a point.  Who would want to watch TV episodes when they can watch them instantly over and over on their computers?  Waiting for a new episode or a rerun to come around would be unheard of.  DVD sales would be unnecessary, because people would have either watched the movies until they don't care about them anymore or they would watch them instantly online.

   Bringing the subject back to where we really care, how it will effect our everyday lives, encourages some question.  Will cable companies lower their prices to keep bringing in more and renewing customers?  Would movies be cheaper so that more people would pick up a copy (which I think we already see in the new $5, $9, and $13 shelves in many stores)?  Or will those companies be forced to increase their prices just to stay in business due to customers leaving for trends such as Netflix?  In a world of constantly evolving technology, the pro's versus con's constantly change as well.

Molly McAfee