Consumer Beware: Walmart!

Consumer beware, those 4" prints I just got back from Walmart are NOT standard 4x6 and therefore do NOT fit nicely into my 4x6 frames! ARG!! (5 3/4")

Quoting Seth Godin's blog

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"All I do is work here"

Over the past few months, I've had quite a few interactions with several people who work at a (previously great) brand.

One person will email to ask me for a favor or a connection, and I'll point out that just yesterday, I got three emails, all spam, from three different people at the organization either selling me something irrelevant or sending me a press release I didn't ask for. And the unsubscribe button doesn't work. And I've unsubscribed ten times before. When I pointed this out, he said, "Oh, that's those guys. I'm not related to them, all I do is work here. If you don't like getting that stuff, you should take it up with them."

Then, a few days ago, I heard from someone in a different group at the same company, asking for help with a project she was working on. I explained that the last time I helped someone in her group with a project, I was misquoted, my time was wasted and they violated whatever trust we had. Susan said, and I'm quoting precisely the same line, "All I do is work here. They pay my salary, but I'm me, not them."

No, Susan, you are them.

The reason your brand is falling apart is because so many of your colleagues are saying the same thing, denying the same responsibility. Consumers don't believe (or care) that there are warrens and fiefdoms and monarchies within your company. All they know is that you leverage that brand name every day, as you have for decades, but now, instead of using that brand to polish your reputation as an individual, you're being forced to accept responsibility for the actions of others.

Do you really think someone who worked for Bernie Madoff will go far with this line? "I'm not Bernie, I just worked with him every day and took a great salary when times were good..." Not sure what the difference is. It's even worse in your case, because you know what's happening. You know, but you don't want to do anything about it.

If you're not proud of where you work, go work somewhere else. You don't get the benefit of the brand when it's hot without accepting the blame of the brand when it's wrong.

Chinese Imports: When will America Learn?

When will America learn that cheaper is not better, more is not better and we must keep our demand for quality?

How many incidents have been reported regarding substandard and even POISONOUS Chinese import products? Most recently; deadly children's toys imported from China, how about the toothpaste and crayons?

Here's another one!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090412/ap_on_re_us/chinese_drywall

Smarten up American consumers! Less is more, buy American.

Creative Contests a Farce?

Yes, I think so. More often than not.
Contests are designed as marketing tools to either sell lots of the product that is supposed to be used in the entries, to "celebrate" a grand opening or other event which will spread the buzz about a new site (providing free advertising and getting their site stats up.), product line or other, or to increase funds via the entry fees required. Maybe they just don't want to pay a designer and they need free booth samples for a convention, online gallery or show.

Some photography and art shows that are juried require enormous entry fees, some because they are non-profit and need to curb the expenses of prize moneys and paying a judge, etc. There may be other objectives, but those come to mind most quickly. DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

A sure sign of a farce is when entrants that didn't follow the rules are not disqualified. Maybe they have a large following either through blogging or celebrity and the site wants the buzzzzz for themselves. They may even win because they have the most friends/contacts to vote for them regardless of the quality of their entry or the creativity of the other entries. Of course, if the most popular person wins, then the site wins too because who isn't happy about winning something and the blogging will go on and on and on causing more hype.

Even those contests that are judged by judges ("blindly" ha ha) and not by public popularity can be a farce. Not all, but most and it seems to be rampant in the paper crafting industry. They might be looking for someone who will work for cheap, or already has a following to add to their company groupies.

Here's a "for instance": Paper crafting product line new release contest, you need to have the kit first and you are supposed to only use those products, yet I see so many entries, especially in the beading section that use actual beads and metal findings that the company does not produce. Yet they are there for you to vote!

http://cobecreative.wordpress.com/category/beading/

Terms of Enslavement: Your Photos Online!

Most internet sites have Terms of Service (TOS) that give them rights to your images and content posted online.

Read More:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,496766,00.html

5 Men Convicted of Conspiracy to KILL Ft. Dix Soldiers

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081222/ap_on_re_us/fort_dix_plot

I am just wondering WHY we still allow Muslims into this country?
Yes, it's a free country but COME ON. We need to make a stand.

It seems to be their life long mission and religion to infiltrate the USA and kill Americans, their only purpose really. It may take a 20 year plan, but their mission remains the same.

If you are a Muslim and this is not your mission, I'd love to hear from you and hear how you feel about WHY they continue to attack us, what is it going to take to get them to stop? Do you love living in the USA? Do you frequently visit your homeland? Why did you leave there and/or come here?

Are you a citizen? I personally feel to live here, you should pledge your allegiance to the USA.

Tired of double standards!

You wouldn't be considered stupid or lacking confidence if you sought self-improvement through higher education.

You don't need to be fat to motivate yourself to a healthier lifestyle; eating right and start going to a gym, it's just another way to better yourself.

I have always been an "A" bra size and although I've reached my ideal weight through diet and exercize for all of my 5'4", at 120 lbs I had 7 inches of icky "belly skin" leftover from carrying my very large and heatlhy children.

Regardless of what others may think, these two issues have always been areas I've tried to improve on. I'm not vain and there's no midlife crisis. These have been constant life issues for me. I'm going through a divorce, 16 years with a man I thought loved me, taking care of him and our home, our children and more, it's time for change. It's my turn to do something good for me.

I recently had cosmetic surgery to correct these two problems. There was no other way for me to do it. The diet and exercise couldn't do it and actually made the "A" cups a smaller issue!

I have been recovering for about 4 weeks and just now starting to get out again. Of course when people ask "where have you been"? I tell them and I am aghast at how many people say "but you're so cute and tiny!" and tell me I have self-esteem issues! The thought of having surgery makes them consider me a "lesser" person! Ridiculous. People seek self-improvement all the time and if you have a problem with cosmetic surgery, well that's you're problem NOT mine.

I'm perfectly content and happy with my decision and the results.

I did this for ME, not to change the way others view me.

If you see me you won't even know anything is different.

I look exactly the same and I'm the same person, which was never lacking in confidence, talent or personality. But now my clothes fit me better, I don't need push up padded bras and support undergarments! Which brings me to another point.......... WHY is it OK to wear support garments to enhance your body, but not seek a more permanent solution? Ridiculous!

Get over it.