Dec
8
I can’t tell you how worried I was when I heard all the rumors of AI possibly retiring from the NBA after leaving the Grizzlies this year. I was glad to learn that Philadelphia picked up his contract and he is happily playing basketball.
In an interview after the game last night, Iverson said, “Myself, from the circumstances of not having been out there on the basketball court for a month, just having one day of practice and trying to learn everything on the fly, and playing that many minutes [38] after not playing at all, I’m proud of myself. I did the best I could. My heart said yeah, but my body said no. My legs were weak, my arms were weak, I was telling my teammates on one play I wanted to go baseline, I seen the opening, and my heart said yeah and my legs said no, and I just couldn’t do it. So it’s going to take some time.” Obviously, Iverson is not in prime physical shape but he is undoubtedly ready to take on the challenge.
Amongst all the anarchy that has been going on in the NBA concerning referees in gambling rings, I think it’s great that there is a little familiarity coming back to the game. The NBA has made so much progress since the days of loose rules and declining interest in the early 2000s (a time I like to call the post-Jordan era).
Last night’s performance did not exactly match up with how Iverson typically plays. Throughout his career, AI typically drives to the basket to draw some fouls. On Monday night, Iverson only went to the free throw stripe twice. In comparison to his 1996 rookie debut, AI put up 19 fewer points (1996: 30 pts. 2009: 11 pts.). It is clear that Iverson has a long way to go until we see him playing like his old self. However, AI’s return is giving hope to a Philadelphia team that is struggling. In my opinion, signing Iverson is a PR move that speaks for itself.
Nov
12
iPhone or Droid? Is it a matter of image?
November 12, 2009 | Tagged Apple, Droid, iPhone, Motorola, smartphones | Leave a Comment
Smartphones are all the craze now in American culture. We love our smartphones because they allow us to be constantly connected to the world. Look in the mindset of any average young person today and you will find this internal conversation:
Problem: I just thought of something and I want to tell Jim (or Sarah, Mom, my Co-Worker, etc.).
Solution: I can text, call, e-mail, Facebook, or tweet them with my smart phone.
In my opinion, one smartphone receives the most recognition and that is Apple’s iPhone. In society, iPhone users are often tied with a certain demographic: upper middleclass caucasian young adults. Obviously, these people are not the only ones to own an iPhone but this demographic tends to come in mind when we think “iPhone user.”
Seeing as it is now November, the Motorola Droid is officially on the market to provide some competition for the iPhone. The combination of my experience talking to people over the past few weeks and reading different articles, I have come to the conclusion that (for most people) the ultimate decision between Droid & iPhone will be a realization of self-image.
The iPhone already has its loyal following and as more users become MAC friendly they will be choosing the iPhone. The Droid, however, is on the Verizon network, the nation’s largest mobile phone provider and will generate a significant number of sales this way. This is the way the big picture seems to be shaping out, but I am more interested in taking an individualistic angle. If a person was to buy a new phone today and he/she narrowed his/her choice down to the iPhone and the Droid, what would they pick and why?
Apple caters to that demographic I mentioned earlier and those same consumers are very loyal to the Apple brand name. Therefore, these people will more than likely buy an iPhone. They like the fact that they can hook up their phone to their iTunes and maintain their phone via computer. Accessing apps on the iTunes Store is always fun & interesting and it provides them with the ability to be part of something that gets a positive reaction in society. They find it comforting to go in to the Apple store at their local mall and feel like they are up to date with technology. To put it simply, they love the image that Apple provides and they are extremely happy as an iPhone user.
Motorola makes the Droid and this is a company that more people will recognize. I believe most people will see this as an opportunity to get a smartphone because it is simply not Apple. While Apple has a loyal following, they also deter a lot of people away from shopping at their store. In my experience I have come across many people who 1) LOVE shopping at the Apple store at the mall or 2) never have any intention of stepping foot in the store because they want products that are simple, average, and used by the majority of other people. In my opinion, the Droid is the smartphone that will provide those people with that comfort.
Personally, I enjoy shopping at the Apple store and I use my iPod every day. However, my mobile provider is Verizon and I do not own a smartphone. When it comes down to it, I think about the image aspect of marketing. If I were to choose between the iPhone or the Droid, my personal choice would be the iPhone.
Droid vs iPhone: Which Revolution Should You Join?
Oct
28
Get Mommed, not sick
October 28, 2009 | Tagged H1N1, Kleenex, parental care, sickness | 1 Comment
I never seem to bypass some sort of sickness in the fall. The past three years I’ve come down with a pretty significant illness around Halloween or just before. I’m happy to say that right now I am currently overcoming a scary threat of H1N1.
Just last week (on Thursday, 10/22) I was minding my own business at my place. Prior to this day, I was feeling right as rain with the exception of a minor cough. Gradually, a headache accompanied my cough and I decided to take a nap to sleep it off. Roughly 3 hours later, I woke up in a feverish state. Everything ached and I felt terribly cold and exhausted. I decided to spend the next few days in bed and take some medication.
I am just fine now but this scary incident made me think first hand about what could happen if I got H1N1. In times like these I like to rely on my sense of humor and look on the bright side of things, such as Kleenex’s new “Pick Your Mom” campaign.
The Pick Your Mom campaign allows you to choose from 8 different motherly figures (such as the best friend mom or the tough love mom) or you can take an online quiz that will pair you with one of the moms. The campaign is Kleenex’s primary marketing strategy for the current cold and flu season.
Kleenex currently has online ads, television commercials and their very own website, GetMommed.com. I think it is a clever idea and anyone against the idea of the campaign should not take it so seriously. There is nothing wrong with old-fashioned warmth and care for someone who is feeling under the weather. For people like college students and graduates that have just moved out of the house, “getting mommed” is just what we need when the real thing is out of reach.
Sometimes you simply miss the comfort of home and this is usually the case when you are feeling ill. My Dad called me this weekend and when I told him my condition, he immediately put my Mom on the phone. Instead of warm soup, scary movies and the constant checking up, I only got instructions via telephone from my Mom on how to take care of myself. In order to find a more personal touch, I found that my best option was visiting GetMommed.com.
Aug
26
Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Pat and I am a just starting my third year of college. With that being said, I’m sure there are many people out there who can safely assume that texting is a medium I frequently use to stay in touch with the world…
These people could not have made a better guess. In fact, I just bought a new messaging phone from Verizon Wireless, more specifically, the Envy 2. With so many people (younger as well as older) using text messaging, the dangers of using a mobile phone in your car have increased tremendously. Talking on the phone while driving had been illegal in most states this decade, and most people did not even consider the issue of texting and driving. I believe that texting behind the wheel is considerably more dangerous, and I’ve spoken with many others who share the same belief. This is especially true when some phones, like the Envy 2, features a full keypad where both hands are needed to text constructively.
As I preach about the dangers of texting and driving, I must also add that I was incredibly guilty of doing this over the past summer. When I am driving from point A to point B, I may receive several text messages from co-workers, family, and friends, and I want to respond to those messages as soon as I can. Therefore, the problem lies in that we are faced with a dilemma, and we have one major tool, the media, to persuade us to “do the right thing.”