That's interesting about the the vicious business cycle. It's kind of like you're saying it's all about perspective. I was just talking to someone about how the main things I complain about these days are schoolwork and missing my boyfriend who lives 2 1/2 hours away. So really, I only complain about struggles that result from being privileged. A statistic I've heard is that if you attain a university degree you are part of the "top 1%" of the world. On top of that, we go to the best university in Canada according to Maclean's. Having a boyfriend isn't that bad either - I would rather have him in my life than not. So really, who am I to complain, that the things that make my life better don't make my life perfect? I am not in the sex trade or starving, etc.

I think the vicious cycle actually has a lot to do with humans believing they are entitled to the things they want! If we don't get what we want we complain and work to get that, and when what we wanted isn't perfect we complain even more. Humans need to find satisfaction in things other than wants, and think less of their desires for more.

Also, in regards to your blurb about exploitation, I just wanted to make a comment about slaves and masters. I agree that the slave trade (the British or American one) was awful. Clear examples of disregarding the value of a human. But even within slave-master relationships there this does not have to be the case. Although understanding the value of a human will probably lead people to release slaves. When a slave is bound to a master, perhaps because the slave owes a debt he/she cannot pay, a master can treat a slave respectfully while he/she fulfills the duties of a slave. And a slave can respect a master as a caring employer. This is actually discussed in the Bible (Ephesians 5). My point in saying this is that it is not the nature of a relationship that dictates how we treat people. Individuals decide whether they want to take advantage of other people. In my opinion, the only way to correct individuals is to correct their individual attitudes, not change societal structure. I think one problem that people run into when they try to change the world is they underestimate how much change needs to start internally.

figure this

I've got this stuff down
(Randy Harris tried to kill me with it last term, unsuccessfully)
Maybe I will get better than a 1 on the quiz this week? ha.

Chalking in Toronto

Cossette chalks one up for Santa Claus

November 14, 2008 | Marketing Magazine

Torontonians have reserved seating along the city’s sidewalks when Santa Claus comes to town this Sunday, thanks to a chalk art campaign from Cossette Communication-Marketing.

The agency took to the sidewalks in anticipation of the city’s annual Santa Claus Parade, placing chalk outlines of lawnchairs and the message, “Lawnchair Parking Only,” at key points along the parade route.

The agency wanted to do something that was more intrusive than traditional media, said Dave Douglass, creative director at Cossette.

“There are a lot of people in the neighbourhood that walk that way [the parade route] every day...so we were trying to get people where they live,” he said.

The campaign is supported by wild postings in high-traffic areas along the parade route. The Santa Claus Parade ads show a glass of milk and cookies on a city sidewalk, a stocking draped over a bicycle parking space and a poster with the headline: “He sees you when you’re cheering.”

“The Santa Claus Parade is a great Toronto tradition that comes alive on the city’s downtown streets, so it seemed appropriate to use those same streets as a medium to promote the event,” added the campaign’s art director, Josh Day, in a release.

A viscious business cycle

by Kelly McGregor

The dispersion of wealth around the world has, obviously, created a great segregation of the social classes. The beginnings of a revolution are underway in the U.S., but this won't have the global impact needed to reform Chinese labor practices.

However, it's important to ask - is having a job, even if it is a grossly underpaid job in poor working conditions, better than having no job at all? Is having a leaky roof overhead better than having no roof at all? Perhaps the working conditions are horrendous compared to the state-of-the-art computing technology I am using as I gaze out my office window over a little man-made lake, but perhaps their job conditions are better than the alternatives available to them?

Every nation started somewhere. Naomi Klein can criticize all she wants, but there was once underpaid, slave labor going on in the neighborhood where she lives (or at least says she lives at the time No Logo was published). People recognized they deserved to be treated better, rose up and fought for better and better working conditions, and eventually became so greedy that they are currently putting Detroit's Big 3 out of business.

If China (or any underdeveloped nation) can develop a compromise, building an environment that allows it's people live comfortably and happily without leading to a culture that continuously wants more, they may be able to avoid this viscous business cycle.

Unfortunately, it appears to be too late for China, as cities like Hong Kong and Shanghai move more towards a North American mentality every day. Once Chinese workers experience this inevitable movement, perhaps Nikes will next be manufactured in the deserts of Africa.

OPI Remix

After doing a bit of research, I discovered that there aren't any real dangers or negative health side effects when using nail polish so I decided to go with the approach to encourage the audience that they don't really need to use nail polish and I am trying to promote natural beauty...Let me know what you think.

PeTA/PeMA

The next is mocking PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) promotions - particularly the commercial that says "Animals are People too".

Sorry to all vegetarians in the class. I want to make fun of you guys. It was just the easiest social statement to make.

NIKE/Sweatshop

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