Thursday, November 20, 2008
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Today is the Great American Smokeout. The campaign asks that smokers give up cigaretters for just 24 hours.
One out of 3 smokers die from smoking. Think about your friends who smoke, now imagine 1/3 of them dying from their habit.
You can do anything for just one day.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
"It’s hard to tighten your belt when you’ve always had an elastic waistband"
0 comments Posted by Rachel at 2:15 PM
On yesterday's drive into work listening to Matty in the Morning, I was impressed by guest Lauren Beckham Falcone, columnist for the Boston Herald. Lauren was upbeat, intelligent and down to earth-just the company I like for my morning coffee and commute.
Below is Lauren's comical yet interesting take on the shoppers that she's seen lined up at the local malls and why they are still vying for deals. I think she hit it on the nose.
And that’s outside. Inside? Teeming with shoppers throwing elbows for a bargain iPod Nano.
Checkout lines are the new bread lines.
At Banana Republic at the Chestnut Hill mall this past weekend, there was a 15-minute wait just to try stuff on. And Bloomingdale’s was booming, with Big Brown Bags stuffed with boxes and baubles, thanks to a 20 percent discount atop a 40-percent-off sale.
Define “cash-strapped,” please?
The thing is, no matter how scary our bank statements get, we cannot stop shopping. The consumer generation doesn’t know how to do anything else. Meandering around the mall is America’s daily exercise. Yes, the high-end section of the Natick Collection is choking, with its luxury stores and their over-the-top price tags, but if you can’t afford the Prada, there’s a Payless right around the corner.
And as God is our witness, we’ll never go without a food court corn dog again.
Rather than rein it in, we just change where we ring it up. Recessionistas are an actual, sought-after demographic. The reformed label-lusting set haven’t curtailed their devil-may-care spending, they’ve just traded in their Saks card for a Marshall’s Visa. Discount stores are thriving, with Wal-Mart and BJs posting gains when everyone is in the red.
And now we have “returnistas” - those who buy, panic and return. It’s the retail version of “I didn’t inhale.”
Like the lush who kicked the booze for a few weeks, people who avoided the malls in September are rewarding themselves with a buying bender - on bargains, yes, but a good deal is just a gateway drug.
It’s hard to believe - especially when you’re 10 deep in line to buy a kid’s coat at Gymboree and listening to “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree” for the zillionth time - that retail sales plunged by a record amount last month, down 2.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted $363.7 billion, the largest decline since such studies began in 1992, the Commerce Department said.
Yet consumer confidence rose unexpectedly, according to a survey released last Friday. Give credit to tumbling gasoline prices. Or maybe folks were buoyed by the fact that the Coach bag they coveted was sold out.
And heaven forbid you lose steam during a spree. At Simon malls, not only can you catch Santa, shows, movies, sales, free valet and preferred parking for carpoolers, you can chill at the Rejuvenation Stations, complete with soft-seating lounge areas with big-screen TVs, free coffee and beverages and a concierge service.
Sure, spending is great for the economy. I bought a flat screen just so the terrorists wouldn’t win. But even when we should be saving, cutting back and doing without, we’re searching for sales, standing in line and slowly, but surely, racking up our credit cards, even if it’s in smaller increments.
For Americans long used to instant gratification, the bottom line is this: It’s hard to tighten your belt when you’ve always had an elastic waistband.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
[Photo: Boston Winter Night by Philocrites on Flickr used with permission under Creative Commons Copyright.]
Today’s Globe announced the massive plan, which is still a work in progress, to revamp the Common. The proposed main draws will be a dog park and a full-scale commercial restaurant. Other ideas include a grand entrance to the common, perhaps with a redesigned visitor center and a parade of international flags leading to the site.
Officials want the initiative to be primarily supported by private fundraising (Ah hem, Beacon Hill yuppies, cough, cough) so yea! for none of my few tax dollars being contributed either.
"I would like to see some real nice little refreshment carts out there where people could pick up food," Menino said in an interview. "But I don't want to see liquor at the Boston Common at all. You've got kids playing there; it's a family atmosphere, where people can walk through."
I think we all know that there are enough brown bag drinkers in the park as it is, but if Menino is thinking more hot dog and roasted nuts stands I do not consider that an improvement. Take a hint from NYC, Menino, it won't kill you.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
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I hate to follow up yesterday’s post on job losses with another Debbie Downer topic, but last night at my company’s Q4 meeting we got the official news I’ve been dreading. Time to pack away my party dress I bought in August and forget my plans of sipping on company bought champagne: our holiday party has been cancelled.
I suppose I should be focusing on our CEO’s more optimistic announcements that we won't be having any lay-offs or pay cuts, but I’m giving myself one day to pout. I love Christmas and all the cheesy, over commercialized, over the top festivities that go along with it. So what better way to celebrate than to go all out on your office’s dime?
At least the news didn’t come as too much of a surprise, given the trend of a no frills holiday season for most offices and many families. Many NYC bashes have taken big hits, and I’m sure the cancellations in Boston will unfortunately soon follow.
Woman’s Wear Daily reported that Marc Jacob’s cancelled his annual masquerade holiday party, which had been scheduled for December 10th at the famed Rainbow Room in NYC with a "Rock and Roll Circus" theme. Marc Jacob’s holiday soiree is known for being an over the top event, W Magazine described the glamour of last year’s event:
“Masked revelers at Marc Jacob's annual holiday bash at Gotham Hall took the Venice Carnival theme to heart, partying as if the city of canals would be underwater by morning. Gondoliers hit up the champagne fountain, French poodles flirted with one another and women strapped on corsets so tight they could barely speak”.
Bank of America, American Express, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs are all cancelling or cutting down on the festivities too. The Estee Lauder annual Christmas party and the famed Conde Nast (publishers of The New Yorker, Vogue, Glamour and Vanity Fair) lunch at the Four Seasons are also not being scheduled. Viacom, whose parties are normally hosted by divisions such as MTV and Paramount Pictures, is opting for a more than fair trade. They’ll be getting two extra paid days off in lieu of the usual holiday party.
For those of us that have fallen into the hands of Scrooge, we are not alone. Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a global outplacement firm, found that 77 percent of companies are planning holiday office parties this year, down from 90 percent in 2007. The firm also found that one in five companies is scaling down its usual year end party.
In the spirit of the holiday season and giving, I suppose it wouldn’t be appropriate to fulfill my dreams of ice sculptures and gourmet hors d'oeuvres at Top of the Hub. I’ll make due with a more modest celebration and be happy that my office isn’t cutting any of its charitable giving. But I’m not returning my party dress yet, just in case ;)
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
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You can dispute whether or not we are in a true "recession", but it's undeniable that a lot of people are uneasy about the future of their jobs.
Just this morning when I was walking through Harvard Square, I passed by a few construction workers on their coffee break. I overhead one of them say "Yea I'd be better off investing in a Santa suit and walking around going 'ho! ho! ho!". The thought of him resorting to working at a mall and listening to some little kid's Christmas list did make me laugh, but I got to thinking, how many people are going to end up taking unusual jobs veering away from their original plans?
We all had our dream jobs for after college. Mine was to be a high-end public relations specialist, which really isn't that different than writing for a glamour magazine or planning couture fashion events or creating T.V. ads for exciting new products. They are all virtually unattainable in today's economy. A lucky few may end up at Elle, but for most of us we found a happy medium between something we like doing and something that pays the bills.
But don't fret if Nina Garcia isn't knocking on your door. Did you know that the average person changes careers (not jobs) an average of five times in their life? So if the industry you're in is in a slump (or if you just hate your job), there still may be hope for a promising career change in the future.Boston.com featured a story last week entitled "Recession-proof? The economy's effect on hot jobs". They highlighted a number of jobs that The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicted would grow rapidly between 2006 and 2016. Despite recent troubles in the economy, they managed to come up with 15 careers that are "recession proof" (Santa suits aside). A few of note were Clinical, counseling, and school psychologists (your always going to have messed up kids) and clergy (more people praying to God to get them out of debt!).
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
We have all seen the photo, but few know its' history. According to CitizenSugar.com , on August 15th, 1945, the couple joined thousands of people celebrating in Times Square after Japan surrendered. Shain says a sailor suddenly grabbed and kissed her — the precise moment a Life magazine photographer caught it on film. Life never found the couple, but had many claimants. None were confirmed and the pair remained a mystery.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
What a proud day to be a citizen of the United States.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
So I was going to blog today about something voting related (ohh such long lines, what a good American citizen you are, etc.) but then I realized that I should be writing with the assumption that you're better than that. Of course you voted! I'll save the political blogging for when we have a new President chosen tomorrow!
So while everyone is in their "I can change the world" mentality, I have the easiest way ever to support non-profits, and all you have to do is search the internet!
Think of how many times a day you Google something and think of how much money Google already has. Now, think if you could give to charity just by changing the search engine you use.
With each search you launch on GoodSearch.com, about 1 cent goes to the charity or school of your choice. You simply select an organization from a database of thousands or add your own. Set it as your homepage to replace Google and let the do-gooding begin.
GoodSearch also has a spin-off online shopping mall, GoodShop.com that donates a percentage of each sale to the charity of your choice. Participating retailers include Apple & ITunes, Banana Republic, Bloomingdale's, Ebay, Gap, Nordstrom, Old Navy, Sephora and Target (and that's just a few!)
Not sure which charity to choose from the thousands? Here are a few of my favorites:
Crittenton Women's Union (transforms the course of low-income women's lives in the Boston area so that they can attain economic independence and create better futures for themselves and their families)
Operation Prom (helps low-income students attend their proms by providing free prom dresses and tuxedo rentals)
Teddy Bears for Hope (provides new teddy bears to children around the world whose lives have been ravaged by tragedy)
Big Sister Association of Greater Boston (helps girls realize their full potential by providing them with positive mentoring relationships with women)
Everybody Wins - Metro Boston (increases children’s opportunities for success in school and in life through one-to-one reading experiences with caring adults)
So good work for voting but c'mon, everyone voted! Go a little further to do good.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
I don't think Joe Six-Pack would buy a $790 bag for his daughter
0 comments Posted by Rachel at 10:50 AM
7 year old Piper Palin has a Louis Vuitton bag and I don't. And that just makes me want to throw up. I don't like to give a 7 year old a hard time and I don't even like Louis Vuitton bags that much, but where's the intervention here!?
Little Piper was spotted earlier this week carrying a Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Montorgueil PM , which goes for $790. Notice the jumbo McD's. Maybe the Palin family is justifying their apparel purchases by cutting back their food budget.
It's my understanding that the Palin family has been on a few shopping sprees and I'm not going to criticize Sarah Palin's wardrobe (hey, she has to keep up with Cindy McCain right?) But I think a Louis Vuitton for a 7 year old is a little much. I don't think Joe Six-Pack would buy a $790 bag for his daughter, but maybe Palin and I just disagree on our definition of middle class.
(In case you missed earlier headlines this week, according to Politico.com, The Republican National Committee has spent more than $150,000 to clothe and accessorize the Palin family. Since early September, the family has racked up bills from Saks Fifth Avenue in St. Louis and New York for a combined $49,425.74. Records also document a couple of big-time shopping trips to Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis, including one $75,062.63 spree).
Hm. I would like the address and a Google map please of the Goodwill where these clothes will be donated. I'll snab the LV for myself and sell off the rest on Ebay.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
I really hate to Palin bash. It’s just too cliché. But Sarah Palin BINGO was just too tempting, I hit print instantly.
I can’t think of a better way to fully acknowledge the Palin ism’s that I am so highly anticipating hearing tonight.
You can’t beat applying a classic American pastime to a classic American bimbo. The fact that she’s a politician too is just icing on the cake. Enjoy :)
http://www.buzzfeed.com/onlinewoman/just-out-palin-bingo-for-your-debate-party-vi
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
[Photo: Wall Street by deNNis gErbECkx : : on Flickr used with permission under Creative Commons Copyright.]
Well, I've got a good one for the candidates this week:
Who came up with the idea to call this plan a “bailout?”
Honestly, bailout!? You couldn’t pick a more negative word to scare off impressionable voters in an election year. It practically screams “rescue Wall Street with my hard earned tax dollars”.
My immediate, and I admit, incorrect assumption for the blunder was the Bush Administration. But with infamous slogans such as “weapons of mass destruction” and “the war on terror”, surely President Bush knows how to use political spin to his advantage and couldn't have been the culprit in the "bailout" coining.
President Bush has actually avoided using the “b” word. On last Wednesday’s prime-time address, he called on Congress to support his administration’s “rescue effort.” On Saturday, in his weekly radio address, he called it a “bipartisan rescue package”.
Government officials have similarly avoided using the term “bailout”. During the presidential candidates’ debate on Friday, the moderator Jim Lehrer of PBS called the plan both a financial rescue plan and a bailout. Both presidential candidates avoided “bailout” in their answers.
I am usually one to side with the first amendment, but in this case the media is to blame. I am baffled, and convinced, that their word choice has had much to do with the outcome of Congress' decisions over the last few days.
At a time when even Wall Street execs can’t predict the future, it is unfortunately very difficult to find an unbiased opinion. I’ve realized the power of rhetoric as a public relations tactic and have been inspired to read beyond the headlines. I hope you are too.
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