A desire for beauty

This past weekend I went on a romantic roommate date to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Woodburn, Oregon. Although the entrance and parking fee was ten dollars (which, being the parsimonious college students of the 2010 recession, we promptly dodged), the 45 minutes we spent there was that of pure bliss. Something about the bold and vibrant colors of the flowers was of such flawless and natural allure. What is it that makes tulips, that have no purpose other than to be aesthetically pleasing, so desirable?

In congruence with this thought, I came upon an interesting book and documentary called, The Botany of Desire. Michael Pollan explores flowers, trees, and plants- creations of nature we’ve always thought we controlled. Pollan, though, poses a provocative thought on the idea that plants actually have been shaping us. He goes on to explore our known relationship with the plant world, seen from the plants’ point of view. Here’s an excerpt:

“The Botany of Desire examines this unique relationship through the stories of four familiar species, telling how each of them evolved to satisfy one of our most basic yearnings. Linking our fundamental desires for sweetness, beauty, intoxication and control with the plants that gratify them – the apple, the tulip, marijuana, and the potato – The Botany of Desire shows that we humans are intricately woven into the web of nature, not standing outside it.”

To learn more about The Botany of Desire, check out this website: http://www.pbs.org/thebotanyofdesire/

“Her Morning Elegance”

Excluding physique and other superficial qualities, what makes one person different from another?

Talent, personality, religion, nationality, language, name…just to name a few. But there is one innate quality that has the power to set each individual apart, if that individual decides to embrace and develop it.

Creativity.

Instead of settling for one mainstream thought, idea or solution, creativity allows us options to be flexible and different. This skill can be defined as the ability to come up with an idea that was never thought of previously. The incredible thing about creativity is that everyone can be it. That moment that the light bulb flashes- the “aha!” moment- can belong to everyone. I can say that I am creative when I’m either pressed for time or when I am in an environment that constantly demands new solutions to a problem. However, my creativity is not limited to situations when I am short of time. I’m also creative when I am cooking because it requires me to process the different ingredients that I am about to combine to be pleasing to the palate.

It’s important to be in an environment that allows for one to generate ideas and feed off of each other:

Connections between old and new ideas, which lead to

Revelations that streamline those initial light bulbs.

Embrace your ability to

Associate different ideas by various people into

Thinking and developing new directions to

Innovate something of

Value.

Everyone can do it!

Here is a video that I find inspiring and interesting because it is creative. It’s a music video for a song by Oren Lavie, called “Her Morning Elegance” that uses stop-motion filming. They used of ordinary objects to come up with something out of the ordinary. Here it is:

TEDtalks

Last year I learned about Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED), a nonprofit that supports Ideas Worth Spreading. It’s a conference that brings together inspirational people from all three fields with the overarching mission of spreading ideas. The speakers and their talks are then posted onto the website, where it can be accessed by anyone who is interested. They also have the talks available to download on itunes and on your desktop.
Here is the link: TED

Last week, I watched one on advertising and the power of creating perceptions by Rory Sutherland of Ogilvy & Mather’s. According to him, advertising is incredibly powerful because it’s ability to change the perception of a given product, rather than changing the product itself. Sutherland plays with the idea of how much change you can get from altering only the perception of a product than having to go through the tedious process of changing the product itself. This form of advertising and marketing is used all the time on consumers such as ourselves. He then discusses the power of a product so democratic and transparent that even the President and the transient on the corner can get the same thing – Coca Cola. Sutherland explores the idea of “true” value in the material goods that we consume in this video:

It’s important to realize the power of perceptions and values that effect us on a daily basis. This video gave me some food for thought and a chance to reflect on what holds the most value in my life.

The New Direction of Zoos

The last time that I went to the zoo was in Japan on a humid summer afternoon. Sweat was dripping down my back because of the combined intensity of sun beating from above and reflecting from below, and I remember thinking how the polar bears and penguins were probably going to suffer from a case of heat stroke.

Zoos have long been a popular source of entertainment and a great activity for families. The earliest records are from the 12th century BC in China, and animals have been confined in enclosures and displayed to the public ever since. As a young child, zoos were a place of fascination and interest to me, and the idea that the cages and enclosures that the poor animals were forced into was not natural didn’t hit me till I was about 11.

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of going to the Oregon Zoo with my roommate who used to work at the venue over the summer as a camp counselor. And she told me some very interesting facts about zoos and the new direction that they are headed in.

Since the American Zoo Association started to implement heavier regulations and emphasis on ecological preservation, zoos have begun to more toward conservation sites, rather than just confinement for the sake of entertainment. This was visibly true at the Oregon Zoo, because of the new constructions zones that were building better matched habitats for the animals and larger spaces for them to live in. In addition, the zoo is involved in seven Species Recovery programs to help boost populations of endangered or sensitive species. Research programs and summer zoo camps for kids also promote the conservation, and how we as visitors can help preserve NorthWest wildlife.

It would be an interesting path to be on the public relations team of a zoo, with the new direction that they are moving in!

Oregon Zoo Conservation Information

Trend or Fad? Yogurt vs. ice cream?

What exactly is the difference between trends and fads?
I mean, they’re both marketing terms that lure the public to think that some product is desirable, right?
Well, there are some distinctions between the two terms. Let’s just say that for long term benefits, I’d choose trends over fads.
Fads are short-lived and follow a cycle that starts with product discovery, media pick-up and buzz, and mainstream embrace. Fads can cross borders with ease.
Trends, on the other hand, have stronger sticking power because they take longer to build. They signify a new direction that a group, organization or culture may be moving in that will change its current status.
Frozen yogurt, for example, is an excellent example of a product that is a trend.

Shops such as Pinkberry and Yogurtland have overtaken ice cream stores by storm in the last 5 years and their popularity seems to linger, not fade. American society has been making efforts to embrace a relatively health(ier) conscience diet, it makes sense that frozen yogurt would win the hearts and stomach with the health benefits that come with yogurt. Of course, it’s not just that, but the hip and stylish vibe that these new venues market have been highly successful, thus making “froyo” a lasting trend springing from the changing diet of society.

Communication works for those who work at it

This year I am living in a wonderful house of 6 girls. Everyone gets along beautifully and we’re all very lucky to be living with each other. But getting along so well does not come easily. Like any situation with more than one person, communication is a major key to success to smooth sailing. This seems like a very simple concept, but in practice is one of the most difficult aspects in any relationship because of the million different ways that communication is perceived and interpreted.

For example, my household has an ongoing problem of chores not getting done and dished piling up in the sink area. Five years ago, I would have been one to clean up the neglected mess myself for instant cleanly satisfaction, and then hold a silent grudge against the suspect of the clutter, eventually holding so much negativity toward them that it would be hard to interact with them without having reproachful feelings.

But now that I have lived with roommates for four straight years and figured out that all it takes is a little bit of communication, my relationships with my roommates have dramatically improved and rarely do we run into hard feelings for each other. Some tips that I use to maintain this positive relationship with them are:

- Initiate communication: When something is bothering any of us, we try to bring it to each other’s attention in a calm and mature manner. No aggression..
- Think before you speak: use the best word choices possible for certain situations.
- Place and Time: Remember to keep in mind the importance of a proper place and time for conversations to take place.

These are by no means all the steps for successful communication, but they definitely have worked in keeping my household happy and well communicated. Here is a great blog on communication skills that we tend to look over, but are essentials to getting the point across: Communication Skills Blog

photo credit: flickr

re-building loyalty, just in time

While reading the LA Times the other day, I came upon an interesting article on branding and rebuilding brands. Tiger and Toyota were the main brands discussed in this article, which probed how the two brands may be more similar than people may think. Besides the obvious fact that both brands, though one is a celebrity brand and the other a larger corporation, Tiger and Toyota are both at a cusp in terms of their relationship with the mass public.

Tiger Woods, recently exposed as more of a cheetah than any other animal for infidelity reasons, has damaged his personal image as a top athlete as well as the image of his sponsors and beneficiaries. He has removed himself from the golf world and has yet to announce when he will be returning to compete.

Toyota Motor Corp., known for it’s reliable and safe cars, has just tainted their image because of failure to responsibly address acceleration and brake problems. Safety concerns with the brand has festered and has led to a skeptical consumer audience.

What is a brand to do when major consumer audience falters in loyalty? Or better yet, how quickly should they act in order to regain their consumer’s trust before they move on?

The important concept that must be considered is consumer confidence in the brand. A brand is what specifies and differentiates a single product out of the pool of many similar products. The branding of a product is what makes it matter and what speaks to the consumer more than the other products. Seth Godin states in his blog, “If I’ve already purchased and liked your product, the packaging isn’t nearly as important. I’m talking here about packaging as a sales tool for converting browsers into buyers. (If you’re already a buyer, all I need to do is remind you what we look like). If word of mouth or other factors are at work, your package matters a lot less. But for a company this size, in this market, the package matters a lot.” For this discussion’s purpose, the packaging would be the differentiating factor between brands.

There are so many car brands and so many athletes. To stay at the top of the popularity pole, these brands must be able to maintain their specific brand image that differentiates them from all the others that are in the same market.

In both Toyota and Tiger’s case, they must win back their audience’s trust through a slow process of rebuilding their characters. I say slow process because trust is not something that is just regained with the snap of the fingers, but the timeliness of acting upon the crisis and communicating to the consumers that you made a mistake and are working to fix it is a major factor in reclaiming their hearts. Toyota is in a big hole right now because they failed to address their problems when they were first recognized by the consumers. Now Because if what is being marketed isn’t being practiced, all hopes of retaining consumer interest and loyalty will be thrown in the dust.

Check out the actual article here: LA Times “Tiger and Toyota: rebuilding the brands”
Photo credit: Photobucket

Unpackaging Those Groceries

Canvas bags, tupperware, and pasta containers.

These are the staple items that my roommates bring when they go on their weekly grocery trips.
Whenever I walk into Safeway or Trader Joe’s, there is nothing in my hands but a purse and a shopping list. I come out victorious, heavily loaded with plastic bags. It never even crossed my mind until a few years ago how wasteful these seemingly convenient plastic containers can be. Marketing and PR strategies that promote eco-friendly practices that make the decision to recycle an easier option have become part of a society standard.

In London, there is a store called “Unpackaged” , which operates on the concept of lessening wasteful items and creating an increasingly environmental society. A grocery store that aims to help its customers help the environment, they do not sell any of their products in packages and strongly encourage customers to bring their own containers and reusable bags for their purchases.

“Unpackaged” reasons that unnecessary packaging is a waste because, “Unnecessary packaging increases the price of the goods you buy. It means you are charged twice; first when you buy over packaged goods and then through your council tax to dispose of your rubbish.” This unnecessary waste gets dumped into landfills, which are major pollutants for humans and the environment because they release greenhouse gases.

Simple practices like eliminating unnecessary waste help society realize that it’s the small steps that eventually turn into habits and nurture awareness of the growing environmental issues that we are faced with today. So start spreading the word and help keep the planet green.

New Green Cleaning Product

Biopowk Inc. is introducing a new household cleanser that is guaranteed to get dirt and stains out of anything. Flooneed is a green cleaning product whose manufacturing process creates no pollution. It’s environmental and completely safe for all materials. To fit the need of all cleaning situations, Flooneed comes in several forms: powder, paste, liquid, and gel. Cat cough up a hairball on your carpet? Grass stains on your jeans? Hard water and grease stain on your bathtub? No scrub, no rub Flooneed will take care of it!

virtual organization

Ever have trouble keeping track all of your favorite online sites and tags?

In an increasingly cluttered online environment, it is important to establish a management tool for all the different websites, videos, and images that you come across online. Too often have I experienced the discovery of amazing sites, whether it be for research, education, or pure indulgence, on my personal computer only to lose the URL’s when I use the computers at school. Shopping lists and important to-do’s that I plan are as good as forgotten when I stray from my laptop. Consolidating all of your online resources in one spot so that you can access it from any computer (or, for those of you who are apple savvy with your iphones) is the first step to virtual organization.

There are several different sites to help organize all the information we aggregate constantly. From Evernote to DevonThink, to more specialized applications like RememberTheMilk and moreganize, information management systems that streamline your swamped life will guarantee less stress and up your responsibility level.

One unique site, Spaaze, is an information management application that allows user to visually organize data in their own aesthetic way online. It is an infinite cork board that let’s you organize by your own aesthetic taste without any sort of predetermined structure. This site is useful not only for it’s organizational purposes, but for group projects where there is a lot of shared information. For example, one can create a generic group account and post videos, create lists, and group links/websites that everyone in the group can see and contribute to. As a limitless venue with no specific structure, it is ideal for research. Check it out!