smelly advertising

So who heard about the new Got Milk? campaign, initiated in San Francisco earlier this week? The idea was to have the smell of chocolate chip cookies drift through the public bus stops, with Got Milk? plastered all across the sides.
When I first heard about this, my first thought was: "wow that's pretty cool!" but then after I thought some more, I considered some of the critic's arguments on how cruel the concept is... Think about what city this is being piloted in, and who is most likely to frequent bus stops...homeless people. To think that a homeless person is sitting, waiting for a bus, and being subjected to the constant smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies is disturbing and sad. Many of these people can not even afford to purchase such luxuries, let alone enjoy them with a tall, cold glass of milk.
As innovative and progressive as it may seem, I think the ad is a bit too invasive to gain any following.

cutting hours..

I do not understand why my job is cutting hours!! It is rather infuriating, if I may say so... I just moved out of my dad's house 3 weeks ago, into my first apartment with a coworker. Now, I am being told that my job is cutting back hours- 40 hrs to perhaps 32 or so....its ridiculous! I am not the only one upset, obviously...I do not understand how they can do this- people make plans to adjust their lifestyles, based on job stablility...ergh..
I made sure to ask if they were going to have any lay-offs, and they assured that there were not going to be..however I can guarantee that most will be looking for new jobs .. I feel like I have no choice but to do the same.. sadness

My feelings for Myspace.com

So we are in the midst of an epidemic...of Myspacers. Everyday, I hear something about Myspace, whether it be about another employer firing an employee for something they found on the website or one of my co-workers ranting about who took them off a "top 8" list.... I will admit..I am a veteran Myspacer, in that I opened my account before the total craze hit, but that's about it..I have not changed my picture since the day I put it up (in the first week of having the account) and I have not done anything to my background or added any colors or music to Mypage. I hear from friends, coworkers, family and even strangers- "why don't you update it? You should at least add some color or something...your page sucks...its boring"
and my response is - since when did we all get so personally attached to such a superficial message board/blog/popularity wesbsite, such as Myspace?
It's as though because my page is "boring" or "sucks" then I must too...I did not know that my Myspace page would mirror who I am...I must have been silly to not realize this...
Initially, I think Myspace had a great purpose, which has been now changed to a popluarity contest...yes, it may express creativity and yes it may be a great way to keep in touch with friends but cmon, since when does everyone need to see your sexiest poses and tally up how many "friends" you have... i find it ridiculous really...maybe I am just old-fashioned and out of style

Homicidal cities

I was just browsing through SFgate.com the other day and came across an article about a mortician in Oakland. I knew from various news reports, that Oakland's homicide rate was rising with each week that passed. However, I was surprised to find out that as of now, there have been 140 homicides, this year. That is up from last year's total of 94. As I read on, the article explained how Anthony London, the mortician the article was focused around, has begun a "Scared Straight" type of program for troubled youths. He gives them tours of the mortuary, in the midst of preparing gunshot victims for funerals and burials.
I think a lot of people know of the dangers in cities, like Oakland, and steer clear of them, altogether. However, instead of accepting the problem, we need to come together as a whole community- a Bay Area community- to combat the problem. We can sit back and watch our tv's and say "oh my god, that is so horrible. It's just a shame...a real shame to see such young people die for no reason..." or we can stand up and ask WHY...why are 140 people being KILLED in ONE year in ONE city, where half of the vicitims are under the age of 25?!
It is an absolute outrage. Citizens of cities such as Oakland and Richmond are worn thin..they are desperate and fed up and running out of options. Frustrated citizens of Richmond took it upon themselves to literally camp out in tents, in the most notoriously dangerous part of the city, to prevent any further violence and let killers know that they won't stand silent anymore.
I encourage ALL concerned citizens of the incredible San Francisco Bay Area to stand up and join together to show that we won't tolerate this. Stop avoiding what is reality. Stop the senseless murders of our youth. Take action - I know I will!

las vegas...

For once, I have plans for New Years! This year I will BE somewhere! I am finally at the age where I can actually GET IN anywhere...ooh, if you could not already tell, I am SO happy! My friends, boyfriend and I have planned a trip to .......VEGAS! oh yes, I am most anxious for the end of the year. I never would have characterized myself as a girl who got all jittery over the glitz and glam of Las Vegas...until I went in Aug and fell in love..the crowds, the brrring brrring of the slot machines, the endless free drinks, the endless variety of food EVERYWHERE and how everyone seems to be dressed up in their very best duds....its very exciting and superficial all at the same time...and I love IT!

Fatties at work

Not only are people watching what they eat and how they exercise after work but they are also doing it while they work too. Some companies have taken the inititive and actually made 5 min. breaks 3 times a day manadatory for their workers. They stop the lines at L.L. Bean and for 5 mins workers do stretches. Now if I was waiting in line, and all of a sudden no lines were moving b/c these people were stretching, you best believe that I would not be quiet about waiting in line to purchase my clothing. I am all about people being healthy, but that is what 10 or 15 min breaks are for. Companies are also raising prices on fatty foods like hamburgers and fries and lowering prices on healthy foods like salads and fruits. This I think is an excellent idea. If I were to choose between a salad and a med. fry and they were the same price, it would be hard to choose the salad. But if the prices were lowered I would for sure pick the salad. Now some people may say this is a horrible idea, and should keep all foods the same prices and you should be able to eat what you want. But I think America is becoming fat, from little people in schools to people sitting at their desks. All in all I think these companies are doing a good thing, they should move these ideas to all companies, and to all schools too.

bang, bang!!

So I just don't understand why it is that so many people now a days believe that violence is the answer to all of our problems. I got word from one of my friends midafternoon last saturday that there had been a shooting on the freeway in Hayward just moments before. Apparently what had happened was; a young man had gotten pulled over by a Hayward police officer and had tried to get away. They had ended up on the freeway and there was a bit of a chase. Eventually the young man stopped the car, got out and shot an officer in the stomache, shooting and killing two innocent passerbys. The young man ended up getting shot and killed himself. If you think about it, what good came of this except for a horrible tragedy? Three people lost their lives, there was an injured cop, and families that will be devastated for a very long time to come. If only he had just pulled over and taken the ticket like the rest of us manage to do everyday! In this generation, kids rarely tend to think about what they do before they do it, and it ruins many lives.

cats cats cats

Where would the world be without these furry little munchkins? They are quite the companion..arguably better than dogs! ..i know, I am walking on shaky ground with some of you..think about it though- how inquisitve is your cat? A lot of people do not like cats because they say that they are scary? frightening? creepy?...is this because cats seem to let about knowing more than you'd expect? cats are perhaps the most inquisitive animals. Think about it, dogs are great. don't get me wrong... I love em, but dont they seem a little bit...too dependent? happy? loyal? It is not a bad thing, at all....I think the connection i am making is that cats seem more ...respectible. perhaps this is because they are more independent, bitchy and opinionated...they are more like little humans!

gun control

Upon researching the gun control laws in California, I found some disturbing facts...first (mind you, assume these apply to licensing gun owners), there are no restrictions on transporting handguns around, except that they must be unloaded and in a locked compartment. Second, arms, such as rifles and shotguns do not fall under a certain category, so they apparently do not need to be locked up. They do, however, need to be unloaded. In regards to buying ammunition, a new revision to the law states that a clerk must check appropriate id, or can be held criminally liable. The law states, "The law for the sale of ammunition is thus similar to the law for the sale of alcohol (PC 12316). " (http://www.ag.ca.gov/firearms/) .. what i don't understand is why someone buying ammunition, does not need to have a firearm license..it would make sense, to have eligibility fall on who or who isn't licensed, and not on whether or not the buyer is a minor or not.
...we must ask, why would someone need to buy ammunition, if they did not have a gun?

trafficking

I have been spending a lot of time looking into global human trafficking...why would anyone want to participate in this practice? THere are many aspects of trafficking, most often, being sexual in nature. Women and chlildren are constatnyl being exploited, by millions across the world. Men from wealthy nations are literally buying naive, innocent people and children from foriegn countires, to be sex slaves. This is our most modern form of slavery, that is sadly becoming more and more prominent. With the increase of globalization and the decrease of the nation state,the more and more society is increasing in speed. As society speeds up, people are looking for ways to just keep their heads above water. In saying this, the more they are looking to make a quick buck, regardless of who or what they need to step on, to get there.

this is our sad realty...only to continue if we stay on the same path..

why oh why

Why do people feel the need to take what is no theirs? My car was broken into, early Sat morningin San Fransisco. Yes, I had parked on the street, along with hundreds of other cars. Yes, I was going to a club down the block, like hundreds of other people. Yes, I had not placed my valuables in the trunk, like I should have. However! This does not consitute someone to go ahead, break a window, and go rummaging around for whatever catches their eye. What went missing? Before I say, let me give some rationale for the situation. I practically live out of my car- I drive to school, only to drive to work 45 minutes away, where I work until 11pm (usual situation). Then I return home to either go to work the next morning or go to starbucks, to work for a couple of hours on my computer. Now..back to what was stolen: my Jansport backpack with a textbook, library book and my beloved laptop and Ipod. The thieves, thankfully, left my friends purse untouched (it was tucked under random crap, like my backpack). My makeup bag with my beloved makeup also went missing...this seems to erk me more than my laptop, because of the time I spent collecting makeup over the past few years. I already paid to have my window fixed, and have replaced some choice makeup pieces, however I still feel upset a bit. It was an unnessary invasion of my privacy and "personal bubble". Even if they were in need of the money, or just for kicks, it is hard for me to understand why someone would do that to another person. I work extremely hard for my money and am proud of what I have accomplished. I am the type of person who would take my jacket off my back, to give it to anyone in need- I just do not understand......

blogging...

Well, I have NOT been very good at weekly blogging....it's pretty evident. My reason: ....whenever I think of blogging, I seem to be somewhere where there is no computer available, and when I am near a comp, blogging is the LAST thing on my mind!! It's so frustrating for me.. I really have the INTENTION to write things (because I have A LOT going in this crazy mind of mine...). I am going to make this up: I am going to write a blog everyday this next week, to catch up! ... I hope that does it : /

Tune in for tomorrow's posting!!!!

Look for "Brad Pitt" on the ballots!

Ok I was not sure what to write about till I saw this article. It was too funny to pass up... I think it is great that Brad Pitt supports gay rights, but c'mon...how long does he actually plan to stay unmarried to Angelina Jolie?!- a long time, it seems. Apparently, it isn't enough for civil rights organizations to perform mass protests across the nation, to fight and lobby for equal marriage rights...no, that would not do it!..hmm how else to push the initiative? Well, Brad seems to have a new idea! He is vowing NOT to marry the mother of his child, Angelina Jolie, until there is equal marriage rights for ALL, in the nation. Well if that isn't stickin' it to good 'ol Christian America, then I don't know what is. All I can say is, if this initiative SOMEHOW gets passed, in the coming months (now that he has made his declaration), it will just show what a wh***e the government really can be....'Nuff said!

P-town....why oh why

What is the fascination with the youth ghetto-ising their communities, these days? Is it a generational trend...I do not remember my mother talking about growing up reppin' Hay-STACK (also refered to as Hayward, CA), as her hometown. I think it must have stemmed from the rebirth of hip-hop culture, during the early-mid 90's. This culture wave shot directly into the heart of the suburbs (the cities have always been more happenin and 'on it'). More and more, I hear people claiming to be from Oakland, only to find out that they were born in an Oakland hospital, but lived somewhere else during their entire life. How sad... Anyone living in a REAL ghetto, only want a way to get out. Even youth residing in the most elite communities around the Bay Area, try to "ghetto-ize" their image, by riding around in 'scrapers on dubs (left the s500 in the garage-prob on dubs too), blastin Yukmouth from their speakers, talkin bout ghost-ridin and what not....half the time, these kids don't even know what they are talking about and almost all the time, if given the opportunity, they will NOT go into Oakland for dinner or nightlife- why? ...because it's too ghetto. go figure.