We're Looking For an AE...Could it Be You?

Response is an award-winning marketing agency based in New Haven, CT. Our work is challenging and equal parts exciting, sexy, and creative. We offer our clients an array of traditional and digital marketing services and solutions that deliver results: Integrated Marketing, Advertising, Promotions, In-store Merchandising, Web Development, Social Media, and more. For your next career move, perhaps you’re thinking about the people, the growth potential, and the culture. One of the great things about working at Response is that we're a fast growing agency and a place where you can make a BIG difference.

Our Account Executives are the link between the agency and our clients. You will work closely with our clients, understanding their strategic business objectives and be their partner in developing and implementing their integrated marketing plans. By utilizing the resources of our talented agency, you'll collaborate to create effective marketing campaigns for our clients.

Job Requirements:

• 2+ years Account Management Experience (Agency experience preferred)
• Highly, highly organized
• Well-versed in the digital marketing landscape, with a passion to keep your finger on the pulse of emerging trends and technology
• Works well under pressure and thrives in a fast-paced environment
• Strong attention-to-detail and time management skills
• Great communication/interpersonal skills for both internal and external communication with clients
• Ability to take direction and also be self-motivated
• Strong copywriting skills
• SEO, SEM, Ad Words experience a plus
• Energetic and positive team-player attitude and a great sense of humor
• Proficient in Microsoft Office programs including: MS Word, MS Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook

Interested candidates should contact Paul Lavoie – plavoie@thepowertoprovoke.com

OCD Style Social Networking

NutshellMail: Simplify Your Online Social Life from David Lyman on Vimeo.


Since when did social networking become such a hassle? With websites such as Facebook and Twitter booming out of control, people are becoming more and more involved in this internet supernova. Belonging to more websites has added more time and effort on the individuals who choose to use them. We all know how Facebook sucks us in, spending way more time checking friends’ profiles and reading live newsfeeds, that a five minute intended check magically becomes an hours amount of browsing. Now multiply that by the amount of websites in which you belong to.

Look at the table below. Jot down on a piece of paper how many minutes you spend on each site and then total it up.

Facebook __ minutes
Twitter __ minutes
MySpace __minutes
LinkedIn __ minutes
TOTAL minutes

If you are anything like me, you spend at least 180 minutes on the computer. That’s 3 hours! You don’t realize how much time you actually spend on these sites until you actually sit down and think about it. So what can we do to fix this?

Solution: Nutshell Mail

What this program does is combine all of the recent updates into one organized piece of mail sent directly to your inbox. So ignore the 50 e-mails from Facebook telling you that you have another friend request and focus solely on this one. It’s an OCD’s dream! And the best part is that you don’t even need to leave the e-mail to respond to wall posts and tweets! Goodbyeeeeeeeeeeeee wasted time.

Anyone else try Nutshell Mail out? Was it your OCD dream?

State of the Union Address Goes Social

President Obama will be addressing the United States Congress with the State of the Union Address at 9 p.m. EST tonight. The president will report on the condition of the nation and outline his legislative agenda and national priorities.

Obama’s State of the Union Address is like no other. It will be the first address that is going social. Fellow Americans will have the chance to be more interactive than ever by utilizing social media.

Pause!! Let’s go back in time to the first State of the Union Address, presented by George Washington on January 8, 1790 in New York City. Back in 1790, NYC was the provisional U.S capitol, not Washington D.C. George Washington had to hand write seven pages of his address to be presented to Congress. The address was then discontinued in 1801 by Thomas Jefferson because he thought it to be too monarchical and was too similar to the Speech from the Throne presented in the United Kingdom. Instead of orally addressing the Congress, the address was written and submitted to Congress. In 1913 however, Woodrow Wilson re-established the oral address, and has been continued annually.

George Washington’s first State of the Union Address

Now lets jump back to 2010. The State of the Union Address is now reported live through a mixed media of outlets. It’s televised, streamed live on the internet, and even streamed on the iPhone!

Socially, Facebook and YouTube are key players in bringing together the interactions between the President and citizens of America. Facebook users can view a live stream of the address at the White House Fan Page, and participate in a live chat.

YouTube is streaming the address live, and also allowing users to post questions to President Obama at youtube.com/CitizenTube. Obama will answer some of these questions next week in his follow-up speech.

Mashable has made an excellent list of “where to watch online” to check out the best places to watch, listen and engage.

I will unfortunately not be near a TV or the internet, so I will be using my iPhone to stay updated with tonight’s address! Which media outlet will you be watching?

Avatar’s Historic Reign in China Cut Short

Avatar is the current leader in entertainment buzz. After spending millions of dollars in marketing and advertising; this movie has topped the charts and has broken film records. James Cameron, director of the massive box-office hit Titanic is the creative force behind this blockbuster, shown below discussing the historic release of Avatar in Beijing, China.




With high-tech and impressive IMAX 3-D visuals, the Asian-tech market was anticipating the release of the blockbuster. However, after ten days of both regular theatre and IMAX 3-D theatre showings, the film was discontinued in the basic, non IMAX 3-D theatres.

According to an article posted by The New York Times-online, China has chosen to move Avatar out of basic theatres for a new domestically produced film-biography of the ancient Chinese philosopher, Confucius. The Chinese government prefers to protect its domestic film industry by only allowing 20 international films to be seen per. year for a limited time each.

Here are some facts about Avatar in China:

- The film has been in 2,500 theatres since January 4th

- Avatar has grossed over $76 Million in ticket sales making it the most successful non-domestic film EVER in China

- There are only 550 IMAX 3-D theatres available to the Chinese public

- Avatar has run in China for over the 10-day limit


Chinese officials have been known to do pull back on non-domestic media and entertainment when media hype gets too big, for its own political reasons. However a similar issue with censorship and Google makes it difficult for the “West” to capitalize on the fastest growing economy of all time.

It will be interesting to see what happens next upon the release of Avatar on DVD and online forms in China. What are your thoughts?

Phones for the Hearing Impaired

Today, it is safe to say that almost everyone has a phone. With our technology we are able to talk to anyone we want, whenever we want with the luxury of cellular phones. But what about the hearing impaired? Shouldn’t they have the same luxury? With a concept design by Suhyun Kim, there is now a chance.
This Pratt University student came up with idea for a visual-sound concept. How this device works is that whatever person A verbally says through the phone will be converted into text for person B (hearing impaired) to read. Person B will respond via a text message which will then be converted into voice.
The visual for the concept is a technology-forward touch screen device. Held like a book, it focuses the conversion text in the center with floating letters and numbers on either side. Although this doesn’t look like the most portable device to carry around, it still would bring great convenience.
This idea is still only a concept at this time, however if put into production, will provide the deaf with the same conveniences and gadgets that we are able use everyday.

Hot Tub Time Machine Paves the Future for Movie Marketing

Imagine chilling in a hot tub with 3 of your best friends, drinking some brews and having a wild time. The next thing you know it’s not 2010 anymore, it’s now 1986! And wait, you realize the hot tub is a time machine?! Expect to find out what happens in March by watching the new movie Hot Tub Time Machine.

So what makes this film so different in the way it’s been marketed so far to the public? Two words: social media. So far MGM has utilized the four big guys: Facebook, Twitter, blogs and YouTube.

MGM’s marketing team created a strategic marketing campaign that utilized social media to help promote not only the movie but the numerous free movie screenings in major cities across the country. Their main goal: create a big buzz. The hit movie The Hangover did such an excellent job creating this for itself that the Hot Tub Time Machine is confident following in it’s footsteps.

Red band trailers, which contain more profanity than “green band” trailers, were released to a number of movie blogs. On Facebook, they’ve made their page very interactive with games and videos that fans can watch. They’ve also created a “Host It” tab to play up the free movie screenings. Twitter was also used to play up the free movie screenings.

One of the biggest successes was the integration of MTV’s hit show “Jersey Shore” in their promo trailer. Demographically, they’ve hit their target market right on by making the hot tub reference to the show. I’d say they’ve created a great “situation”.

Since The Hangover did not disappoint me after hearing all the word-of-mouth hype, I hope that me and my favorite pack of wolves can get together and enjoy the Hot Tub Time Machine coming up in March.

So are you going to "Host It?" We want to hear stories!

The Facebook and Twitter Experiment

What if the only source of information news reporters had, where the constant status updates of Facebook users and the millions of Tweets that are broadcasted daily? What if there were no way to prove which update was valid... do you think you'd be able to tell the difference from scams and truth? Well, we are about to find out!

5 French Journalists have decided to undergo the Facebook/Twitter experiment. They are locking themselves in a farmhouse for 5 whole days and the only type of social contact they will have access to is Facebook and Twitter. They will not be allowed to surf the web, they will not have cell phones with internet access, and they wont be able to follow links on Facebook or Twitter to outside sources. They have to survive 5 whole days with about 50 word status updates and write news articles based on what they see. Talk about a challenge.

This could get pretty tricky, I mean how often do you see misinformed status updates or tweets... I know I see them all the time. Theses journalists will have to come up with a serious plan or method of figuring out what posts are valid. Maybe they will take the majority opinion and write about that? All I know is that I cannot wait to read these articles!

Kraft Expands Its Channels: Buying Out Cadbury

As a major food distributor and manufacturer, Kraft has certainly made a name for itself since they began their wholesale cheese business in 1903 in Chicago, Illinois. Since then, they have acquired numerous brands to expand their business including Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia cream cheese, Maxwell House coffee, Oreo cookies, etc. Those are just a few of the featured brands, but there are many more who have helped make Kraft who they are today.

Recently, Cadbury stated that they plan to accept the $19.5 million offer from Kraft to buy them out, and take them on as one of their brands. This deal has been in the works since early September, but the companies are finally making this come to an end. A rival bid from The Hershey Co. is most likely to be declined by Cadbury, given Kraft’s higher offer. Cadbury has not been the top dog of the chocolate manufacturers industry, but they do have an advantage that Kraft does not have yet. Even though Kraft has various brands from different locations, they have yet to tap into the British market that Cadbury dominates. By taking on Cadbury, Kraft has an entirely new channel in which to market all of their current products. This will give the company extreme increased exposure.

The combination of these two companies is just what Kraft needs to take down current confectionary leader; Mars Inc. Furthermore, Kraft CEO Irene Rosenfeld said the deal provides "both immediate value certainty and upside potential".

On the side of Cadbury, some are worried that the takeover by this large company will ruin some of their long standing status and reputation. However from a financial point of view, Kraft will be able to offer 265 million new shares, currently trading at $28.27 which is expected to increase after acquiring Cadbury. Not to mention, market share is more than likely to increase as well.

What are your thoughts on the expansion?

Advertising Age Pronounces 3 Brands to Watch in 2010

We’ve all seen numerous advertisements in 2009 for millions of companies. However, the ads that stuck in consumers' minds and convinced them to buy some of these products and are developed by people who really know what they are doing.

According to Adage, Apple, Ford, and Subway are three companies that did not exactly make “marketer of the year” for 2009, but there are definitely the front runners for 2010.

Apple has consistently come up with new and innovative products for the everyday consumer like the iPod, various iPod accessories, the iPhone, the Mac, etc. Their campaigns include the “I’m a Mac” ads where they poke fun at the PC. These commercials have been increasingly popular on television as well as the Internet. Apple continues to increase their awareness and loyal following, which are the tools that lead them to the top marketer spot.

As for Ford, they stirred things up when they did not accept the government bailout money when the recession hit. People wondered where Ford would end up; on the streets, or back on top. They used this decline of money as part of their strategy. Ford wants its customers to believe that they can remain independent. They are going back to the basics; the fundamentals. Re-building their core is what will make them stronger. Their marketing strategy will hopefully steal away market share from competitors such as Chrysler and GM.

Lastly, Subway has recently increased their brand awareness and image. The first thing that comes to mind is the $5 footlong, and that catchy jingle they play in the commercials. They have a strong relationship in the sports market, gaining Michael Phelps as a popular celebrity to be shown in the commercials, and count on him for involvement in the 2012 Olympics. Subway has also partnered with the NFL, which of course brings them major awareness and boosts their image. Some say that in the future it could be bigger than the professionals in fast-food themselves, McDonalds. However, it will be hard to take over the famous Golden Arches.

These companies are growing bigger, better, and stronger. Mostly, they are focusing on maintaining what they have achieved in 2008 and 2009, and hope not to lose momentum. Keep an eye out for these brands as they continue to rise to the top.

Do you agree with these top picks?

Roll Poll: Do You Roll Under or Over?

While talking with a friend of mine, we started to have one of the most random conversations of my life revolving around the question: do you roll your toilet paper over or under?

My friend and I were in total agreement that we roll under. I'm a little embarassed to say that we then took the next ten minutes discussing the debate and why rolling under was clearly the best way. We even tried thinking of other products that roll under; window shades, receipt paper, wrapping paper, etc.

Later that day, we were informed of the Cottonelle Roll Poll 2010. I went to the site, and to our surprise at the time, a whopping 83% of respondents to the poll had said they roll over! We were stunnded.

Putting the debate aside, Cottonelle executed great marketing by creating the Roll Poll. Rollers around the country are conversing whether they roll over or under; great viral marketing. The poll's site is really creative and allows lots of interaction with its polling respondents. Immediately entering the site, the great debate presents the overall current roll over and under statistics, along with testimonials for each argument. Looking a little deeper into the site, you can see rolling over or under statistics in each state, along with some rollers video arguments.


So join the debate! Do you roll over or under?

The Kindle, Nook, or Tablet? Which One to Choose?

Are you a Kindle user? How great is it that in today’s world, we can say we can buy books with a click of a button and bring it anywhere you want. Currently, Kindle is the leader in the e-book industry, launching its product on November 19, 2007. They’ve paved the way for competitors to launch their own versions of the Kindle.

Barnes & Noble decided to enter the market on November 30, 2009 with the Nook. So far, both the Nook and the Kindle have had their fair share of reviews debating pros and cons of each of their features. Along with the recent launch of the Nook, Apple has also been buzzing about launching their version, rumored to be called the Tablet. It is speculated that the Apple Tablet will be announced to the public on January 27, 2010. As a recent Apple converter, I am extremely excited to see what Apple comes out with.

Regardless, all offer the technological innovation of downloading books onto one product through wi-fi, which to me, will be the future of the book industry. Choosing the right product I feel, will mostly depend on customer preferences, reviews, and price.

As I’m beginning my last semester of college, I now have a great appreciation for this new technology. Imagine never having to wait in line at your campus bookstore, only to have to carry away a 20lb box of text books back to your dorm. And if books are currently being downloaded on e-reading devices for a cheaper price, imagine the money saved on textbooks every semester! I have a feeling that this day could come pretty soon.

The Batttle: Verizon vs. AT&T

It is safe to say that there is a constant marketing battle between the cellular service Verizon and AT&T. The advertisements for each company are constantly changing. Recently, Verizon has been airing commercials promoting their service, and basically saying that they offer more 3G coverage across the nation. The way that they portray this difference is through the “maps”. Below, the Verizon map on the left is a map of the Unites States, and in red are the areas that Verizon’s service covers. The map on the right is the map that Verizon is portraying as AT&T’s 3G coverage. Notice that the blue color does not take up nearly as much space as the red coverage. Earlier this year, AT&T filed a lawsuit over Verizon’s “There’s a Map for That” advertisements, which featured the side by side comparison of the 3G maps.

The main issue that AT&T is claiming that these ads are misleading. AT&T says that these ad’s cause current customers and potential customers to believe that AT&T has no coverage, including cellular reception, where their 3G coverage is absent, whereas the truth is that only the 3G coverage may not be available. Verizon has been taking stabs at AT&T as their means of promoting their own products. Making AT&T look less attractive is their way of showing customers that their products are superior. These kinds of ads can severely affect AT&T’s market share. Verizon may become the dominant cellular service, and AT&T could be left in the dust…if this continues. The lawsuit over the “map” ads was dropped by AT&T because the ads were showing true facts. Verizon does have more 3G coverage, but the cellular service which AT&T is arguing is being “attacked” is not portrayed in these ads.




Other than the ads for the “maps”, Verizon also recently came out with a new phone, the Motorola Droid. The first ad they ran for the Droid was an “anti-iPhone” ad with the tag line “Droid Does”, meaning the new Droid has more applications and features than the competing phones. However, now that iPhone will be releasing software that will allow Verizon to be compatible with the iPhone, their ads took a turn. They suddenly were no longer attacking the iPhone, but now only the AT&T service.

Some say that AT&T is “making a scene” about these Verizon ads is only hurting them even further. Regardless, the battle between the competitive cellular services, Verizon and AT&T, will be ever-growing.

Domino’s Make-Over, After 50 Years

Domino’s pizza has been the go-to late night snack for college students, grub for football fans, and a fast inexpensive meal option. Most pizza connoisseurs hardly recognize Domino’s as a quality pizza, but it is still liked by many Americans… or is it?

On December 16th, 2009 Domino’s released a press statement about their new changes. Domino’s Chairman and CEO David A. Brandon explained: “2010 will be our 50th year in the business, and we are kicking it off with the most aggressive promotion in the history of our company. This is the biggest product introduction we’ve done since…well, pizza.”

Domino’s Chief Marketing Officer, Russell Weiner, also explained how this change would be similar to McDonalds changing the “Big Mac” or Burger King altering the “Whopper”.

Reinventing the Domino’s brand was no easy task. The “Oh Yes We Did” campaign was created to show that Domino’s was listening to the complaints and suggestions of their customers. In the television commercial, President of Domino’s J Patrick Doyle explains how they differentiate themselves from other companies, admitting to product flaws and their enthusiasm to make improvements. After 18 months of trial-and-error the new improved pizza was born.

To entice repeat purchase and trial purchases, they created a new deal offering two pizzas for $5.99 each. And if the changes aren’t up to par, they will “make it better” or refund your money.

To further push this campaign Domino’s created a supplement website titled, “Domino’s Pizza – Oh Yes We Did”. This webpage features blog posts, a documentary, and a side-bar Twitter feed where any post related to Dominos (good or bad) is visible. Consumers on Twitter have had mixed reviews according to this particular feed, some were saying they “had to try it” simply based on the commercials.

Domino’s, what a great concept and celebration for your 50th anniversary, you put together a delicious campaign!

Check out the full-length documentary below:



(Source: www.YouTube.com)

Help Haiti

On Tuesday, January 12th Haiti, one of the worlds poorest countries, was struck with a magnitude 7 earthquake which flattened the capitol of almost 2 million people. The earthquake crumbled buildings large and tall, from little huts to President Rene Preval's gorgeous national palace. The damage has been devastating and people all over the world are reaching out to help this poverty stricken country, in one of its darkest hours.

How can you help?... there are plenty of options and any amount of contribution counts. There is even an option for the busy person on the go: by texting HAITI to 90999 on your cell phone you can donate $10 to the Red Cross relief efforts. As of Friday Americans have already texted over $8 million for Haiti. $10 too much, but you still want to help? Text YELE to 501501 on your cell phone and you can donate $5 to the Yele Haiti Grassroots movement that Wyclef Jean has started. Both of these "text to" services have been labeled legitimate by the Internet Storm Center.

Would you like to get a little bit more involved in the Haiti Relief efforts? The following, well established charities are collecting donations and looking for help (Information taken from foxnews.com) :

The American Red Cross- The American Red Cross has pledged an initial $200,000 to assist communities impacted by the earthquake in Haiti, and is prepared to take further action as local responders assess the situation.

Food for the Hungry- FH's operational focus in Haiti is HIV/AIDS and Child/Maternal health, and they will be looking to respond to those areas as well as other areas of need.

Giving Children Hope- Giving Children Hope is talking with partners in Haiti, determining the biggest needs of the earthquake victims.

Habitat for Humanity- Habitat for Humanity International is addressing shelter solutions for low-income families affected by the earthquake. Habitat's ability to respond effectively to this disaster will require support from donors, volunteers, corporate partners and other community organizations.

For a much larger list of charities click here.

McAfee & Facebook Partnership!

Response has helped McAfee design and launch their presence on Facebook which has been all the buzz around the web today! McAfee and Facebook have officially announced their partnership in an effort to make the favorite social networking site more secure.

McAfee and Facebook recently stated that they "jointly created security solutions that include McAfee security software, a custom scanning and repair tool, and consumer friendly education materials" all of which are going to be made available to Facebooks millions of users. "In total, this is a first-of-its-kind security offering that represents a major milestone in the fight to secure the internet and reduce global cybercrime" the companies said. I dont think Symnatec will be to happy to see this updated relationship status!

As part of this, McAfee will be offering a 6-month complimentary subscription to McAfee Internet Security Software to Facebook users. All you have to do, is become a fan of the McAfee Facebook page and click on the Protect Your PC tab. After the 6 months, subscribers will enjoy a discount to McAfee software.



Want to read more on the topic? Check out these articles and blogs below that cant stop talking about this new Partnership!

Mashable: Facebook and McAfee want to Protect you from Malware

Business Journal: Facebook, McAfee in Security Collaboration

PC World: Facebook, McAfee Team on Facebook Security Effort

Youtube: Wii adds Netflix Streaming; Facebook McAfee Partners: Video

Yahoo! News: Facebook taps McAfee to Sheild Users from Attacks

A New Face in Advertising Hits Times Square: Is this going too far?

♠

Times Square sees about 500,000 people a DAY, making it the prime real-estate for any brand looking to get noticed. But can it go too far? Over the years, racy Calvin Klein ads brought up issues such as “how much is too much” similar to another recent ad for the upper-east-sider drama Gossip Girl.

The most recent Times Square advertising beef is in this Weatherproof advertisement over the Red Lobster in Times Square.

(AP photo / Weatherproof Garment Co. / AP Images)

Recognize anything? The Great Wall of China… okay… wait… is that President Obama? My first thought was, “that has GOT to be Photoshopped”. Tourists and New Yorkers alike were stunned and took pictures, Republicans were furious about an ad-campaign featuring the President, and Red Lobster got the free advertising award of the new decade… in my book at least.

The 4-1-1 on the image: it’s from a trip President Obama took in the last few months to China that Weatherproof Apparel purchased for the ad-campaign. Unlike the exposure designers get from First Lady Michelle Obama when she wears stunning gowns through the pages of Vogue, this feels a little too… forced.

The White House has tried to curb the use of the First Family as advertising tools since his announcement in the race for the White House. Which makes perfect sense with young daughters, Malia and Natasha, 10 and 7.

Weatherproof President, Freddie Stollmack, purchased the image and had the advertisement developed without the President’s consent. He has been quoted saying this campaign was in “good-faith” and completely legal because the President is not personally cheering the company or saying any specific comments outside of wearing the jacket on an overcast day. Weatherproof has even thought it appropriate that President Obama thank them for making him look so good.

As of yesterday, Weatherproof agreed to take the billboard down. The date is TBA and this advertisement will be replaced with another Weatherproof ad, I wonder what they have up their “sleeves” this time…

The-Hate-to-Love-Him Simon Cowell Leaving American Idol!?!

The loved, hated and feared English judge of American Idol, Simon Cowell, has announced that this will be his last season of American Idol! It is one thing that Paula Abdul will not be returning this season, but Simon now too! American Idol just wont be the same and it looks like fans of the show are feeling the same way.

Here are some statistics about the mixed emotions of this breaking news:
-36% of the twitter reactions were sad
-23% of tweets were lashing out at CNN for labeling the story breaking news
-17% of tweets think that Simon's departure signifies the end of the American Idol Dynasty
-12% told their twitter followers that they didn't like or watch the show to begin with
-11% are talking about Cowell's show The X Factor and are excited about the possibilities.

What is the X Factor you ask? X Factor is a Simon Cowell created talent-search program that has already proven popular over seas. It is planned to air on Fox in 2011. So for Cowell fans, you have not seen the end of his harsh criticisms, he will soon be back, and i am sure he will bring his A game!

Cellphones Permitted During Class!

While technology has greatly assisted in the educational systems of modern America, some social media services are a huge distraction to students trying to learn and teachers trying to educate. Or are they?

Some Tech-Savvy schools across the country are utilizing social media tools that often distract students during class time and giving these millennial's their digital fix. Marquette University is embracing the new tool to stay connected worldwide: video chat. Instead of making students tediously study language books, they are skyping with real live students in South America, who in exchange are learning to speak English. Not only does this connection allow students to have access to a free personal tutor, but they build life-long friends that they stay in touch with outside of the classroom, a great networking tool.

Colleges and Universities arent the only part of our educational system that are embracing the digital world. Winegrass High School is stepping up their game and integrating cell phones into the lesson plans. Most teachers and schools ban all usage of cell phones during school time all together, but Winegrass takes a different approach. Students are allowed to use their cellphones during class time to ask the teacher questions, view informational blogs, and exchange notes. They are also able to take a snap shot of the blackboard on their mobile cameras for studying. Allowing students to utilize the technology they grew up on has actually proven to increase productivity.

Allowing students to become familiar with the technology of the day, will give them a competitive edge on competition in their future. Its a digital world and its time for schools to stop fighting that!

Inflation Issues

YouTube is one of the world's largest video sharing websites where you are able to upload videos, tag them and share them with people all over the globe. It ranks among the top 5 most visited websites in the world; along with other social media sites like Facebook and Google. YouTube takes an ordinary home video and creates local and worldwide celebrities. It is home to famous videos like "Charlie Bit My Finger" and "Evolution of Dance" that both have over 100 million views.

Both of those videos were top 2 in the category "Most Viewed" until recently when a 4 minute music video "Twista ft. Do or Die- do you" took the lead with over 79 billion views! Clearly, this has to be some kind of scam or publicit stunt. There is no way a music video will have over 79 billion views! The video was posted by LadyMC311 whose other videos only have a couple hundred views.This view inflation could pose a real issue for YouTube in the future. If the information on how to pull a hack like this gets out, tons of people could be creating instant stardom for themselves and ending up on the top of the most viewed list! I wonder how long it will take YouTube to fix this glitch?

Tweeting Troubles for Athletes

Twitter, a free social networking site that allows its users to send and read "status updates" or tweets, is the new social media hype. Everyone who is anyone is on Twitter. Actors, Models, Singers, Athletes and even us normal folk tweet on a regular basis. Even Politicians dabble in Twitter! Just the other day, Mayor Cory Booker of Newark, New Jersey responded to a tweet from one of the citizens of Newark asking him to send over some people to shovel their 65 year old father's driveway. Booker tweeted back that he would be there himself to do it and he was! Talk about getting the message out!

Unfortunately, Twitter isn't just a story of good Samaritans. Actors, Models, Singers and Athletes are all on Twitter to help connect with their friends and share their personal lives in ways they never could before. Sometimes that comes with a BIG price to pay.

Athletes are starting to get fined for some of their status updates, and even the time of day they tweet. On December 12th, Brandon Jennings of the Milwaukee Bucks posted an upbeat and positive tweet about his team and was fine $7,500!Apparently a few months ago the NBA came up with tweet rules and a player is not allowed to tweet 45 minutes before and after each game. Poor Jennings was a little too excited about his win and violated that time period. $7,500 later, he tweets "I understand I got fined, but 7500? For being happy over a win, you would of thought I said something bad. I mean it was a big win for us."

Jennings isn't the only NBA player getting fined, rumor has it that a bunch of players are accidentally violating the time period and coughing up big money including The Phoenix Suns' Amare Stoudemire and Charlotte Bobcats' forward Tyson Chandler. I wonder if someone gets paid to monitor the Twitter pages of these athletes? So much for team spirit!

Information from Mashable

Google Goes Animated!

Google has been making a lot of new additions and upgrades to their search engine. One in particular that really catches the eye, is the lively use of their logo. For devoted Google users, I am sure you know what I mean. The logo constantly celebrates holidays, historic events and even birthdays on specific days. Google has even specialized the logo for certain countries, to reflect an event or celebration more geared toward that individual culture.

Just in the past 3 months (October-December) there have been 70 different logos world wide. Here are a few:

October 3^rd: The Korean Thanksgiving. This Google logo appeared in Korea only.

October 10^th: Giuseppe Verdi’s (an Italian romantic composer- mainly opera) Birthday. This Google logo appeared in Italy only.

October 14^th: Polish Teachers Day. This Google logo appeared in Poland only.

October 31^st: Halloween. This Google logo appeared in selected countries that celebrated Halloween.

November 10^th: Sesame Street Ensemble. This Google logo appeared in selected countries around the world.

November 11^th: Veterans Day. This Google logo appeared in the United States.

November 14^th: Anniversary of the day that NASA found water on the moon. This Google logo appeared in selected countries around the world.

November 26^th: Thanksgiving Day. This Google logo appeared in the United States.

December 21^st: Happy Holidays from Google. This Google logo appeared globally.

January 1^st: Happy New Year. This Google logo appeared globally.

Today, January 4, 2010, Google has launched an animated logo. The logo (featured below) is in celebration of Sir Isaac Newton’s birthday. Newton was an English Scientist who is credited with discovering the theory of gravitation. The story goes that Newton was sitting under an apple tree, when an apple fell on his head, thus inspiring the idea of gravity. Today, when opening up the Google search engine site, an apple falls from the logo to the bottom of the screen. Could this be the start of a new trend for the normally simplistic Google?