Internet Starting To Takeover Holiday Season Shopping

In today's world, people use the Internet for practically everything. From shopping to doing business online, people spent 4 to 7 hours a day just browsing through online sites. Now retailers are taking advantage of this trend and offering promotions online, several days before the holidays start. Early online promotions are one way for retailers to better compete with their rivals. Due to economy, stores are unsure of how much people will spend this year, so early promotions are one way of sparking incentive to buy more for less.

My View:
These days, almost everything can be done online. So it's no surprise that people are going to want to use the Internet to buy things. Goods online are easily accessible, in stock, and easy to pay for. Black Friday can have one person waiting in line for hours, when online a shopping spree can take 30 minutes or less. By offering good deals and promotions, retailers are luring in more customers than ever. I think that by adding more promotions to online store websites, companies can make up to twice as much in revenue, especially around the holidays.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/-cyber-monday--gains-rivals.html

Black Friday Starting Early This Year

Right now, people are counting down the hours to when they can get in their cars and begin their shopping adventures. Stores are opening their doors earlier than usual so people can get their hands on the best deals as soon as possible. Stores even decided to open their doors on Thanksgiving Day, claiming that people have responded positively to this move. A site called MainStreet comprised a list of stores, such as Old Navy, Wal-Mart, Toys R'Us, Target, and the hours of when they will be open for Black Friday.

My View:
Stores are making a smart decision by announcing their store hours for Black Friday way before the holidays. This allows people to prepare their list of stores to visit and they can also see which stores are going to offer the best deals. Black Friday is already a hectic day for many American shoppers, so lists like the one made by MainStreet can really help guide people through their holiday shopping.


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-ultimate-guide-to-black-friday-2011.html

Greyhound Bus Driver Abandons Passengers

When a Greyhound bus was set to drive to Missouri, the passengers on board did not know what kind of ride they were getting themselves into. The bus was 100 miles from its destination when the driver decided to suddenly stop and order a passenger off near Sikeston. The driver then pulled over in Cape Girardeau and refused to get on the bus. Passengers frantically called the police, who arrived shortly after and ordered the driver to take the bus to its destination. The bus pulled over again in Charleston and the bus drivers, once again, got up and this time, left for good. Passengers called the Greyhound Bus company and it sent one of its drivers over to the abandoned bus. When the bus finally arrived at its destination, the passenger's trip was 12 hours delayed. The company apologized and promised to refund the people for the inconvenience.

My View:
Even though it is unclear why the bus driver acted the way she did, but this clearly shows that Greyhound Bus does not do a good job in hiring suitable and responsible people for their job positions. This type of situation could tarnish a company's reputation and people might start to turn to other rival companies that they feel they could trust more. It was a smart move to refund the passengers, who had to endure this experience, so I think for now the company is going to be okay. In the near future, I think Greyhound Bus needs to conduct a better evaluation of its employees or carry out harsher consequences in case this type of situation happens again.

http://news.yahoo.com/greyhound-driver-strands-passengers-missouri-043514746.html

Victoria Secret's Slight Mistake With T-Shirt

Victoria Secret is known for its cute and comfortable clothing, along with catchy phrases on T-shirts, hoodies, sweatpants, and everything else they make. They are very popular for making clothing that represents college football teams. Recently they came out with a line representing Michigan State's football team, with the team's name on the front and the logo on the back. Except underneath the team's name is a phrase reading "Hail to the Victors". The only problem with that phrase is it is the motto of Michigan's rival team. Sports business reporter, Darrell Rovell, noticed this and announced it within a couple of hours after the T-shirt was launched on the company's site. The T-shirt was removed immediately after this mistake was revealed.

My View:
Everyone is bound to make mistakes and this is just one little mishap for Victoria Secret. The company is known for making millions off its Pink line and Victoria Secret line so one little mistake won't hurt the company nor its reputation. Everyone loves Victoria Secret's vibrant colors, comfortable attire, and catchy phrases on its products. It was smart of the company to immediately remove the T-shirt in order to salvage its reputation and avoid losing more money than it needs to.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Victoria-Secret-shirt-fails-Michigan-State-8217?urn=ncaaf-wp10226

Ban On Obscene Texts In Pakistan

Pakistan's telecommunications have recently decided to eliminate obscene words from texting messages by ordering phone call companies to block messages that contain inappropriate words. They also made a list stating all the words, mostly sexual or swear words, that ought to be blocked. Words such as Jesus Christ and tampon were banned as well, raising questions as to whether or not this tampers with religious freedom. Apparently, freedom of speech can be restricted "in the interest of the glory of Islam." This could be another act that was under the pressure of Islamists, which insisted the Pakistan block pornographic and Anti-Islamic sites.

My View:
It has always been in my knowledge that people in Pakistan do not have the same rights and freedoms as we do here, in the United States. So it's inevitable that their rules and regulations are going to be very different than those that we follow here. This blocking of obscene words from text messaging could either be accepted or people could resist against it. Texting is the most popular form of communication these days so this could infuriate some people. There's a possibility that people could end their phone contracts and stop using cellphones all together.

http://news.yahoo.com/pakistan-bans-obscene-words-cell-phone-texts-122933488.html

PETA is a well-known organization that fights to protect the rights of animals all over the world. They have been known for aggressively fighting against things they see as being demeaning or cruel to animals. A recent controversy they have entered themselves in deals with the Nintendo game, Mario. PETA says the animal costume that Mario, the main character in the game, wears gives off the message that it is okay to wear fur. The raccoon-like suit is used to help Mario glide across the screen and this move has been incorporated into the game since 1988. Still PETA suggests it promotes animal abuse since the raccoon dogs are animals that are constantly beaten and skinned alive for their fur. So PETA has decided to offer their version of the game, in which players try to take back the suit from Mario.

My View:
Personally, I think PETA is taking the issue of animal abuse to an extreme. Mario has always been known as a fun and completely innocent game that is simply for the enjoyment of Nintendo lovers. No where in the game is direct abuse of animals being displayed. And the fact that the character in the game is wearing an animal-looking suit does not imply that anyone who sees this will immediately consider skinning and wearing animal fur. I think PETA takes certain topics too seriously and so far people have been criticizing the organization for being ridiculous and overly exaggerative.

http://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in/peta-slams-mario-over-fur-suit-211025773.html

Talk Of New Stadium Is Getting People Excited

Architects from Gensler and AEG have just released photos of what the new L.A. stadium will supposedly look like. People have been buzzing about the look the stadium, which has a very bright and "whimsical" feel to it. The stadium will hold 72,000 people and has a built in deployable roof, in case there are any bad weather days. The stadium is set to open itself to NFL games in 2016 and there's talk that the stadium will offer to host the 2017 Super Bowl L. Despite the fact that L.A. doesn't have professional football teams, it still might host games for the San Diego Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders, and Jacksonville Jaguars. The plan hasn't been approved yet but it sure has been getting a lot of positive feedback, mostly because of its unique design.

My View:
Since L.A. is known for not having professional football teams, I don't understand why so much money and effort is going in to build a stadium that might not attract a large audience to begin with. This isn't a smart marketing move considering there aren't many football fans in L.A. Since the economy isn't in the best state right now, people are going to wonder why is so much money being built into a project like this. They might also wonder where is the money for this stadium coming from. One possible answer is from higher taxes. People might not be too pleased with this move and the plan for the stadium could end up as a failure. Also, traffic  LA is terrible so people might not be willing to stand in traffic for games they don't favor as much in the first place. 

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Proposed-new-LA-stadium-is-translucent-and-whims?urn=nfl-wp11926

Predictions Of Low, Black Friday Prices Begin

Every year, people get really excited when Black Friday gets closer because they already anticipate the amount of money they will save. People always put certain estimates on how much something will cost and now people are estimating how much discount will be applied to certain products. Retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart are already advertising their special "weekend" TV deals, where prices of high-end TVs can go from $700 to $300. These retailers are offering free shipping to the nearest store or to your home. If the low prices aren't enough to tempt someone to buy a lot, retailers are opening their stores a day early to get more customers and make as many sales as they can. Now people are foreshadowing how low will TV prices really go?

My View:

Everyone loves a good deal, but what they would love even more is a good deal on a plasma TV. Retailers like Best Buy are offering 32 inch TVs for as low as $200 or 40 inch TVs for $300. This is great news for people who are trying to buy a good quality TV for a low price. Manufacturers are hoping that Black Friday's low prices will spur interest in 3D TVs. People are hesitant to buy 3D TVs because they don't know if they will deliver the quality they promise to deliver. Also the high prices of 3D TVs also keeps people from actually purchasing these TVs so Black Friday is a great time to consider buying these type of products. 

http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/738/black-friday-tv-prices-how-low-will-they-go/

Price Of Thanksgiving Is Starting To Get More And More Expensive

Every year, people spend hundred or even thousands of dollars on Thanksgiving in order to make the most delicious and most memorable dinner. The American Farm Bureau Foundation is predicting that people will spend around $50 on a turkey this year, which is more than any average turkey has cost before. Turkey has become more expensive as well as side dishes. But wholesalers are giving out promotions and coupons in order to make the burden of spending a lot of money on one dinner a little lighter. Instead of going to buy all the ingredients you need for Thanksgiving at once, analysts say that by trying to find the best deals and buying what you need gradually, you will save a lot more money.

My Views:
When the economy is in a rut, everyone and everything is affected by it. Prices rise and everything gets more costly. With Thanksgiving a few days away, people are starting to feel the increase in price of Thanksgiving goodies. A 16lb turkey would normally cost around $20, today a medium size turkey can go for $50. People are definitely not going to spend even more money than they have, being that the holidays are expensive enough. So wholesalers should take the opportunity to come up with money-saving deals that will allow people to buy more for less.

http://shine.yahoo.com/shine-food/most-expensive-thanksgiving-dinner-ever-super-savers-guide-180200325.html

Early Shopping Angers Black Friday Customers

That time of the year is right around the corner, when people rush into stores in the early hours of the day just to get their hands on the best deals. This year, stores like Walmart, are deciding to begin their Black Friday sale at 10 p.m., on the day of Thanksgiving. People are angered by the fact that they'll have to get up in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner in order to get in line for the store opening. Last year, Toys"R"Us did just this and decided to open its store on Thanksgiving night. People are frustrated by this move because they don't think it's fair to require employees to leave their families and come in to work on one of the most important holidays of the year. Some retailers claim that they've received positive response about this move and people have liked this change. Still people think it's unfair to tempt people to turn their backs on the holidays just to get the best of great deals.

My View: 
Everyone knows the holidays are tough to handle, and this news is definitely going to discourage a lot of shoppers. People already get up really early to go to retailers and buy as much as they can for extremely low prices and to make them leave their families behind to start shopping is unfair. It is also unfair to make employees leave their dinner tables to go into work on a holiday. I don't see retailers prospering if they decide to open early Thanksgiving. People look foward to the holidays all year and I really doubt they will leave their families to go shopping. Retailers are better off sticking to the Black Friday tradition.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/thanksgiving-day-shop-meets-rejection-123025036.html

AOL, Microsoft, Yahoo! All Trying To Get A Bit Of Facebook To Increase Sales

AOL, Microsoft, Yahoo! are all one another's competitors and they are constantly trying to out-do each other in areas such as sales or advertising. Recently, all three companies have been seeing a decline in revenue due to poor or lack of advertising. Google's has become even more powerful ever since it bought DoubleClick's ad service. Amongst its competitors, Facebook has been the most successful due to its high level of popularity that has been generated all throughout the world. The reason why Facebook is one of the leading sites in the world, along with 16% share of the online ad market, is because of is display of advertising. Millions of people visit the site daily so advertising here wouldn't be a bad idea and it was definitely spread the word about anything your trying to promote. Microsoft has already bought a share of Facebook, which is worth three times more than when it was bought. To increase profit, AOL, Microsoft, Yahoo! are trying to team up and use each other's technologies in order to increase advertising while saving money. Microsoft, Yahoo and AOL believe that space for advertising will be in higher demand if there's a market that allows advertisers to connect with the Web audiences that are the best match for their marketing campaigns.


My View:
Since Facebook is the world leader in social networking right now, it would also become one of the world's leaders in online advertising. Since so many people visit the site each day, advertisers pay Facebook to display their ads because they know there's a greater chance more people will see their ad here rather than on Yahoo! or AOL. Perhaps Microsoft, Yahoo and AOL should take notes on what Facebook is doing to attract more people and try to incorporate what they've learned into their own websites. They could also pay Facebook to advertise their company on it's website so more people are being directed towards their site as well.


http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2011-11-08/microsoft-yahoo-aol-ad-sales/51126422/1

Brits Say Dakota Fanning Was Too Risque In Marc Jacob Ad

With her angelic features and humble personality, provocative is the last word that comes to mind when describing Dakota Fanning. But apparently citizens of the U.K. think otherwise. The ad, that features Fanning holding the latest Marc Jacobs flower perfume, is being banned from British shores. The U.K.'s Advertising Standards Authority said the photo is provocative and vulnerable to "serious offense" is due to the fact that Dakota Fanning is a minor, and her poses and facial expressions could be deemed inappropriate for a minor.  Even though there are much more provocative ads out there, the ASA still thinks the Marc Jacobs ad should be censored. Since Fanning is made to look a lot younger than she really is, the ad is may be received as presenting children in a sexual way. The title of the perfume is called "Oh Lola!", which resembles the title of the movie, Lolita.

My View:
After taking a good look at the ad, I can see why people could take the ad as sexy and inappropriate. Dakota Fanning is made to look younger than she really is and her pose is a little suggesting, but it doesn't mean that it should be banned. Clearly the perfume takes on after the movie Lolita, which is about a young girl who is seduced by an older man. Marc Jacobs was trying to convey the meaning behind "Oh Lola!" through its ads, otherwise how will it get people's attention? It's inevitable that sex sells because it gets people's attention and sparks interest in people, and Jacobs definitely got people's attention this time. I don't think people should look too much into this ad, but if it is unacceptable by British standards, then I suggest Jacobs remove the ad there in order to avoid any more controversy and incoming problems from overseas. At the end of the day, it is important for a company to do everything to protect its brand's image.

http://omg.yahoo.com/blogs/thefamous/british-censors-ban-dakota-fanning-provocative-ad-194052605.html

Kardashian's Bag Line Copying Designs Of Prominent Designers

The Kardashian sisters have always been known for their erratic family and keen fashion choices, so it's no surprise they would want to share their passion for fashion with their fans by coming out with an affordable, chic line of bags. After examining the bag line, some people have questioned whether or not the designs have been copied off big brand-name designers like Chloe and Balenciaga. There are around eleven bags that closely resemble big brand-name bags. Yet, Khloe and Kim Kardashian have claimed that they were "extensively involved in the whole process" and that they designed everything.

My View:
After examining the Kardashian bag line, it is safe to say that these bags do look a lot like those of Chanel, Balenciaga, and Yves Saint Laurent. This are highly respected designers who put years into coming up with these designs and to have some just copy their work is an infringement of their trademarks and brands. The line could be sued for creating knockoffs off of brands, which could potentially destroy its path to sucess. But the Kardashians may have made a smart business move considering how bad the economy is right now, people can't afford to spend thousands of dollars on a bag so this line can offer people more affordable options.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beauty/latest-kardashian-scandal-kardashian-kollection-bags-look-a-lot-like-knockoffs-2611637/#photoViewer=7

The limited time sandwich, McRib, from McDonalds is surrounded by quite of bit of controversy t
these days. The Humane Society of the United States has filed a complaint against Smithfield Farms, which apparently supplies McDonalds with the pork to make the McRib sandwich. The Humane Society has recently discovered the story behind the mistreatment of the pigs at the Smithfield farms. It was reported that the pigs were kept in unsanitary, inhumane conditions and there were claims that some pigs were walking around covered in blood, leading to speculations of animal abuse. The HSUS even got footage of how the animals were being treated at this farms. Besides the mistreatment of animals, another allegation towards the McRib deals with the ingredients that are put into this sandwich. Studies have shown that it is not quality pork that's being incorporated into the sandwich, but mashed up tripe, heart, and stomach. What makes it the sandwich even worse is the amount of chemical additives that are being added to it.

My View:
When McDonald came out with the McRib sandwich, people went nuts for it because it was only going to be available for a limited time. It hasn't been officially added to the menu so people were excited to take advantage of this offering. With these lawsuits and complaints against the chain, people are definitely going to think twice before buying this sandwich. These days, people are all about getting healthy and choosing the healthiest options when eating out, so I can safely say that after reading these allegations, people are going to go for other options. These allegations is definitely going to take a toll on the McRib's sales and it could foreshadow a potential "dumping" of the product.t

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/04/mcrib-lawsuit-humane-society-smithfield-farms_n_1075992.html?1320416650&icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk1%7C109903

On Friday, October 31, the company that started group discounts, Groupon, went public. The moment the company announced that it was going public, its stock price increased dramatically, showing just how much in demand this company is. According to analysts, this high increase in stock prices is common for companies who have gone public. Just to provide a little background information on the company, Groupon is a company who sends out emails to its subscribers about discounts, anything from spa treatments to vacation getaways. The company makes revenue by taking a portion of what people pay and handing the rest over to the merchant. Even though there have been other companies who have tried to do the same thing Groupon is doing, the company still manages to differentiate itself and outrun its competitors. 


My View:
Groupon has been growing ever since its launch in 2008. The company has been getting more customers and its demand grows significantly ever year. I am not surprised many people have decided to invest in this company because it is a worthwhile company to invest in. If people see that a company has a steady record of continuous success, they are going to take that opportunity and invest their money in it. Groupon offers many good deals and it is fully sustainable. Advesrtising can cost a company thounsands or millions of dollars, but Groupon allows businesses to advertise through it by offering them extreme discounts. People see the benefits of this company and clearly Groupon must be doing something right if people keep flocking to its company and not to its rivals.


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Groupon-shares-soars-in-apf-2236203133.html?x=0

Seaweed To Take Over Store Shelves?

Recently, there's been buzz about the superfood, acai berry, and its health benefits. Companies were coming out with products that contained this health food and people were shelling out money to get their hands on this. But perhaps we have a new competitor in the market. People are been talking about seaweed and all the essential benefits it provides, like weight loss and aiding in cardiovascular health. Since there are been so many controversies about obesity in America, people have been changing their lifestyles and leaving their junk food days behind and turning to heath foods. There are many products that contain seaweed such as seaweed salads or seaweed chips. People are leaving snacks, such as Doritos and M&M, in the dust and taking interest in healthier, more nutritious options.

My View:
Obesity is a disease that affects many people in the U.S. and people are fed up with it taking over their lives. That is why many people are taking interest in health foods that aid in proper cardiovascular and digestive health, all while helping weight loss. When marketing researchers find out that seaweed is the new superfood, they are going to take the opportunity to position themselves in the market. Marketers could try to create products that differentiate themselves from other products, such as snacks or candies that contain seaweed. Since seaweed is so in demand now, people will definitely stock up on these goodies, knowing that they will be receiving many health benefits from their choice.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/is-seaweed-the-next-big-superfood-2598756

Macy's Expansion Of Its Shoe Department

Macy is one of the largest and most popular retailers in the world. Now they have set a new objective for themselves, which is to create the largest shoe department in the world. This plan is set to cost the retailer $400 million, which will cover redesigning the department, updating other departments, and adding new, luxury brands to their collections. Also, Macy will have a coffee, wine, and chocolate bar restaurant on the 6th floor, as well as dining eateries on the lower levels. The store also plans to take advantage of advancing technology by incorporating a shoe locater into their systems so people can find what their looking for quickly and efficiently. Sidewalks near the entrances will also have welcome mats paved into the ground. The plan also includes 300 new fitting rooms and restrooms and expansion of men's merchandise. 


My View:
Macy's motive for creating and carrying out this plan it to attract more customers into its store. Perhaps there is another popular retailers it needs to compete with and by taking advantage of technological advances, Macys can differentiate itself amongst it rivals. Macys is adding new products to an already existing product line in order to create more interest in potential consumers. Also, all these production costs will definitely cause an increase in prices in order to cover costs and make profit. For a while, Macys will probably try to cover its costs and then make revenue but its main concern is spurring more interest in people to shop at its store. 


http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/dnainfo/macy-plans-world-largest-shoe-store-145817438.html?bouchon=501,ny

Decisions Over A One-Child Policy

World's population is growing every second and researchers have said that the number could reach up to 10 billion in the next 10 years. Even though it is in our nature to mate and reproduce, more people means there will be more demand for food, energy, space, and resources. The problem is that there might sufficient amount of these things to provide for everyone. The controversy lies in the question "How can we curb this growth?" One of the few answers to this question is to adopt a one-child per family policy, which has already been implemented in China. Another idea is to get the government to support policies that aim to reduce fertility rate through contraceptives.

My View: 
Like the article stated, it is in our nature to reproduce and mate with  one another, so why should anyone tell us to do otherwise? We have the freedom to decided certain things for ourselves, and whether or not we want to have a child is one of them. Women should have the sole right to decide what they want to do to their bodies and how they want to live their lives. The last thing we need is the government telling us when and if we can bear children.

http://news.yahoo.com/countdown-7-billion-world-adopt-one-child-policy-125405754.html

New Gadgets For The Holiday Season

Holiday season is right around the corner and people are already coming up with their mile-long Christmas lists. New, innovated gadgets are what everyone is after these days, so people are trying to get their hands on the most popular, in demand electronics. Manufacturers know people will be willing to spend a little more money on their purchases due to the holiday season. So coming out with and marketing their newest products before the holiday season is a smart decision because people are going to be waiting in lines in order to get a hold of these gadgets. Retailers also try to make these products fairly affordable in order to make as many sales as possible. Products like the Kodak Playsport, which is a pocket-sized digital mini camcorder that sells for $150, or the Roku 2 XS, a box media center that streams movies from Netflix for $60, are going to be definite hits this holiday season.


My View:
There is no doubt in my mind that people will go crazy for new gadgets this season. From the iPhone 4s to the Kindle Fire, people are going to go the extra mile in order to acquire these products for their loved ones or themselves. Companies that carry and manufacture these items will definitely see an increase in their incoming profits from sales. People are going to be spending money left and right and some people won't look at prices. All they will care about is making sure they will be able to find these products and purchase them as soon as possible. 


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-Most-InDemand-Gadgets-This-minyanville-1049531615.html?x=0&.v=1

Facebook Makes Its Next Moves To The North Pole

Facebook has decided on its next move, and that it taking its company to the North Pole. The social networking site decided to build a server farm 60 miles south of the Arctic Circle in Lulea, Sweden. Despite the cold temperatures, the location holds a population of 45,000 people and it will be the first server farm outside the U.S. The reason for choosing this location is because Facebook's computers that store billions of photos and updates need to be kept cool. The new server site will allow for faster service  to European users.
My View:
I think Facebook's move will attract more users due to faster and better service. People are always complaining on how slow and inefficient some sites' services are. So now Facebook will now be able to provide people with faster access to their accounts, especially people in Europe. Perhaps Facebook is trying to appeal to its European users and gain a good reputation for its site there.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/trending-now/facebook-heads-arctic-heinz-shakes-world-ketchup-155046619.html

PETA Fights Againist Captivity of Orcas

Animal-rights activist, PETA, is suing Sea World for treating and holding several killer whales as "slaves." Jeff Kerr, PETA's general counsel, had stated, "By any definition, these orcas are slaves - kidnapped from their homes, kept confined, denied everything that's natural to them and forced to perform tricks for SeaWorld's profit." PETA feels that being held in large swimming pools is not a suitable and healthy environment for these immense creatures. The group feels that these animals should be set free and be able to thrive and grow in their natural environment. PETA also is fighting against the way these animals reproduce. Apparently the male's sperm is collected in order for the females to be artificially inseminated. Once the offspring is born, they are either kept away from their parents or shipped away immediately. PETA feels these type of actions show no care or concern for the well-being of the orcas and they are simply being treated in an inhumane way.


My View:
With this controversy surrounding SeaWorld, the park could face a significant decrease in revenues. When people start to read more and more articles about what is happening within the walls of SeaWorld, they will eventually stop paying visits to the park. All along, people thought they were seeing happy and fulfilled animals performing live shows for them. Little did they know what these animals were actually going through and how they were being treated like slaves instead of creatures with feelings and needs. SeaWorld could expect to see a decline in the number of audience members watching their shows. Unless SeaWorld reaches out to its customers and explains itself in a way that proves these allegations are false, people may decide to stop coming to SeaWorld all together.


http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/world/seaworld-killer-whales-are-slaves-peta/story-e6frf7lf-1226177640551

Rise In Prices Causes Netflix's Stocks To Plummet

Ever since Netflix thought it'd be a good idea to raise its prices, people have started to turn away from the company because they feel that it's unfair that the company felt it was better to raise prices. This price raise backlashed on the company, causing it to lose many customers. Now Netflix has another problem to face, which is the decrease of its shares that went down 40% on Tuesday. Now the company is rethinking its strategies, especially raising prices and trying to divide its online and DVD services into two different companies. Now Netflix is saying it will lower its DVD subscriptions but people who pay for its online streaming service will be charged slightly more. Although Netflix has enjoyed its success with its online and delivery services, people might start to shift towards its competitors, Amazon and Google's Youtube, which offer similar services.


My View:
It seems that Netflix is in dangerous waters right now and they must be very cautious with their next move, which could potentially cause the company to come crashing down. Many of Netflix's customers have already turned away from the company and are choosing other alternatives over Netflix's services. The company made a bad move by increasing its prices and ever since then, Netflix has had its share of bad luck. Even when the company tried to create two different services, one that's online and one that deals with DVD serivces, it didn't prosper from the move like it hoped it would. Seeing how the chain of events panned out for Netflix, there's no doubt in my mind that the company has to do more research and really dig deep when making its next move.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/25/nflx-netflix-stock-plummets_n_1030335.html

Hunt Begins After Shark Who Killed An American In Australia

An American man was killed while diving off a boat into the Australian waters this past Saturday. This has been the third, fatal human attack in recent weeks. Now shark hunters are gathering together to catch the shark or sharks that have been causing these attacks. Marine experts doubt that a shark caused all three attacks. Amy Wilkes, a marine biologist, has said, "The idea that a shark, once it has tasted human blood, would continue to attack is just completely false. That's not that way it would work." Others say the attacks happened due to people being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Still, people have been refusing to go swimming in those waters since the attacks. Now the Western Australia state government is taking the matter into their own hands and they're using tuna-baited hooks to catch these predators. Others are against this action saying that great whites are already endangered and we should work to preserve their existence, instead of pushing it towards extinction.
My View:
Seeing the chain of actions, I can see why the government is taking such drastic measures. They know that is tourists are scared enough, they won't come to the beaches and thus, the state won't make as much money off of tourism. I still don't agree with them going after these endangered animals because people have been working for many years in order to keep these animals reproducing and safe. Killing sharks who may or may not be the attackers in simply ridiculous. Not only is this depopulating the great white population, it also proves that people are starting to care less and less about the environment and more about keeping revenue up.


http://gma.yahoo.com/texas-man-george-thomas-wainwright-killed-great-white-025609558.html

McRib Comes Back Once Again

McDonalds is coming back with the McRib sandwich which contains boneless barbecue pork. It has not always been available in stores but it will be sold in all McDonalds through November 14. The McRib sandwich  first came out in 1982 and last November, sales showed that this sandwich was in high demand. So  McDonalds made the it available for about three weeks, which led the chain to decide to bring it back this year. Although there are no specific numbers to show how it is doing for McDonald's sales, people have shown high interest and liking for this sandwich. People on social-networking sites like Facebook and Twitter have voiced their demand for the return of this sandwich. So if people like it so much, why not add the McRib to the menu for good?  Marta Fearon, McDonald's U.S. marketing director, has said, "Bringing it back every so often adds to the excitement." The name itself also has some irony to it because the sandwich is called "McRib" even though it doesn't contains any bones. Marta Fearon also commented on that saying, "That gives it this quirky sense of humor."
My View:
The strategy is see is adding a new product to an existing market and it's quite different than any other strategies I have seen. The company claims that people love this sandwich and are eager to buy but they are holding back from adding it to their menu. Perhaps they want to build people's demand for the product so when they do finally decide to put it on their menu, sales will sky rocket because people will be so excited to have this sandwich available whenever they want it. Also, the name of the sandwich is ironic but it does add some humor to it and humor always grabs people's attention. So in a way the name was designed in order to grab people's attention, thus bringing in more consumers.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/The-McRib-makes-a-apf-3131095863.html?x=0&.v=3

Prices Of Whole Foods Goes Up

Although the price increase hasn't affected people yet, consumers of whole foods should expect to pay more for their goods in the near future. Since producer prices have increased significantly, it has caused wholesale prices to increase as well. This has been the biggest rise since June 2009. U.S. wholesale prices increased all over the nation due to the rise in energy costs and in everyday products such as grain and coffee. Prices of vegetable increased by 10% and beef and veal prices rose by 5.4%. Analysts are saying that consumers won't feel the increase right away and that supermarkets will include the increase into their prices slowly. Even though food prices have been growing higher this year, grocery stores have decided to wait on the price increases because "they don't want to scare price-sensitive customers." Michael Keara, an equity analyst for Morningstar, said "...expect to see supermarket prices edging up in six to nine months."

My View: 

With people having so little money to spend these days, rising prices of essential food items might just make matters worse. Unless the price increase doesn't affect people dramatically, consumers might start to abandon their usual supermarkets and look for cheaper deals on the foods they buy most. Everyone knows the economy is in a fragile state right now and increasing prices is the last thing people want to hear about right now. I think when people find out that there are prices increases on certain items, they will refuse to pay that much for something they have been paying for a lot less. Unless the price increases a fair amount, supermarkets can expect to see a decline of shoppers in the near future.

http://financiallyfit.yahoo.com/finance/article-113688-11401-3-supermarkets-may-sneak-in-price-increases?hp=true?ywaad=ad0035&nc

Holidays Are Bringing In Lighter, Cheaper Computer Models

With the holidays coming up, manufacturers know that people are willing to shell out more money than ever. So they are taking this opportunity to create new and improved computers that people will be sure to buy.  Companies are inventing new laptop and desktop models that are containing more innovations, smaller sizes, and more touch screen technologies. Many people are crazy for these newer technologies such as notebooks, which are basically computers that are thin as a notebook. For example, the Gateway NV57H26U is one of the newest computers on the market and they go as low as $500. If you're interested in purchasing a laptop, companies are creating these ultrabooks, which are similar to notebooks except that they are newer laptops that are supposed to be thinner, lighter, and less expensive than most laptops. 
My View:
Companies know that people will spend large sums of money on gifts with the holiday season coming up. That is why they take advantage of this occasion by coming up with newer, more innovative ideas that they know consumers will love. Everyone these days is crazy for new technologies and the newer a technology is, the more demanded it is. When companies launch their new products during the holiday season, they know their sales will shoot through the roof because consumers are going to want to get their hands on the latest, most popular gifts. It is a smart move for companies to start marketing their newer products before the holiday season because by the time holidays roll in, these products will be in high demand.

http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/721/computer-prices-keep-falling/

Obama Take Finally Decides To Remove Troops From

President Barack Obama has made a final decision on taking American troops out of Iraq by then end of the year. President Obama addressed the nation, saying "Today, I can report that as promised, the rest of our troops in Iraq will come home from Iraq at the end of this year. After nine years, America's war in Iraq will be over. Over the next two months our troops in Iraq--tens of thousands of them--will pack up their gear and board convoys for the journey home." The President and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, along with the Iraqi government, agreed that American troops will be withdrawn from Iraq. Ever since we invaded Iraq in 2003, the war has taken the lives of 4,478 American soldiers.
My View:

I am very glad that the U.S. troops are finally being sent home after years of fighting in the Iraqi war. So many lives have been claimed by this war and it is about time that it all ends. The war has not only affected us emotionally, but economically as well. Billions of dollars have been used up on this war and our economy has been bending under the debt we've been put under. Because so many of our dollars go towards this war, the economy has taken a great hit and many people are suffering due to lack of employment and rising inflation. I think that once this war is officially over, we'll start to see some positive changes, not just in our economy but in our nation as a whole.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/obama-announce-full-troop-drawdown-iraq-164843571.html

Ben & Jerry's Bans New Flavor

There is some rising controversy over Ben & Jerry's new flavor, Schweddy Balls. The term was originally created from an SNL skit that starred Alec Baldwin as Pete Schweddy. The ice cream flavor contains fudge-covered rum balls and although it may be good, the One Million Moms group is against the launch of the product. They believe the name of the product is vulgar and inappropriate for children and they refuse to allow their kids to consume this ice cream. They are also encouraging other mothers to see the that the name "is nothing but locker room humor that's not appropriate for young children." Stores already have decided not to carry the flavor while others say that if consumers would demand the product, they would put it on their shelves. Even though some stores ban it, Schweddy Balls has already become the most demanded, limited-edition product that Ben & Jerrys carries. Even though many stores don't want to carry the flavor, Ben & Jerrys still will continue to supply their product to any willing carriers.
My View: 
Even though people were offended by this ice cream's name, Ben & Jerry's couldn't have wished for better exposure for this product. Controversy sells and the million mom's walked right into it. By going against this product, the One Million Moms group actually made this product more well-known and heard-of to people all over the world. Even though it may not be the most appropriate name for a product, there still will be people who enjoy its humor. I think Ben & Jerrys should take on a specific target market, which is teens and men because they are the most likely ones who will enjoy this humor. I suggest they make their next advertising campaign more focused on a specific target market so their product sells more. 


http://news.yahoo.com/stores-freezing-ben-jerrys-flavor-213431173.html

Outrage Over Slaughter Of 49 Animals

Conservationists have expressed their anger over 49 animals being killed by an animal farm owner, Terry Thompson. Thompson was an owner of several animals, including lions, bears, monkeys, and tigers. It was reported that these animals were being mistreated and that they weren't being handled properly. On Tuesday evening, Thompson set fire to over 49 animals, killing all of them instantly. Among these animals were the rare and endangered Bengal tigers. People are becoming fed up with animals being improperly handled. Adam Roberts, executive vice president of Born Free USA, said, "These animals belong in accredited facilities with people who can handle them appropriately." When the animals were released from the animal farm, police had no choice but to put them down. By late Wednesday 49 animals were dead. Conservationists feel that private people are not equipped to handle these type of animals. It is important to keep these animals in conditions that will preserve their existence rather than diminishing it. 
My View:
The killing of these animals is an unfortunate occurrence that could have been avoided. People are taking these animal's existence for granted and soon enough, there won't be any animals to take for granted. The tiger is one of the most endangered species in the world right now and people are killing them as if they existed in massive numbers. The existence of these animals is important but it is more important to keep people safe at the same time.
http://news.yahoo.com/us-police-kill-escaped-lions-tigers-bears-020951746.html

America's Dissappearing Restaurant Chains

America is known for its vast variety of fast food restaurants, but recently many people have noticed that a lot of these places have been closing down, and in significant numbers. Ever since restaurants, like Chipotle, have emerged, people have been shifting towards newer and different tastes of food. Chipotle offers fresh, organic ingredients and allows you to customize your own burritos, unlike McDonalds, whose foods are fatty and variety is smaller. Fast food chains, like Burger King or McDonalds, don't allow you to see how your food is being made, while in places, like Chipotle, your food is made right infront of you. The reason Chipotle has become such a hit is because they differentiate themselves, using fresh and organic ingredients. With today's economy, people cannot afford luxuries such as organic food but chains like Chipotle allow people to enjoy better quality food at a reasonable price.
My View:
Being a huge Chipotle fan myself, I can see why it is one of the most successful chains in the nation. People love that they can see what is being put into their food and how it is being handled. It allows people to customize what they want to eat and how they want to eat it. People are ditching the old fashioned fast food chains and they are turning their attention to the future of fast food. I think Chipotle's strategy is one of the smartest I have seen in my lifetime. Chains like Big Boy's, Bakers Square, and Ground Round Grill all have shut down because people aren't dining in their restaurants as much, thus causing the chains to go bankrupt. If these chains differentiated themselves from the competition, perhaps they would have been able to stand out amongst competition and attract more customers.


http://247wallst.com/2011/10/12/america%E2%80%99s-disappearing-restaurant-chains/

Gap Set To Close Stores In The U.S.

Gap has always been known for being a popular retailer of casual, comfortable clothing in the United States. Recently Gap announced that it is closing down many of its stores, bringing the number of stores in the U.S. to 700. Instead of expanding in the United States, Gap decided to tackle one of the most profitable and fastest emerging countries, China. The company decided to open more stores internationally, seeing that it could make more money in newer, emerging markets. One of Gap's brands, Old Navy, is also opening an outlet in Japan. Since the economy took a downturn, retailers have to find markets that will many their brands profitable and in demand. It also makes the company, as a whole, stronger since it will have international customers who will eventually develop brand loyalty. Besides moving their brands overseas, cotton prices have significantly dropped as well, thus increasing profit for retailers.

My view:
Since people in the U.S. are being laid off and can't afford shopping at places like GAP and Banana Republic, they are just shipping their stores along with their jobs to other countries for a profit. People are saving money instead of spending money and that is why retailers, like Liz Clairborne, are suffering because their products aren't in demand as much. Retailers are left with the decision of closing down their stores completely or taking their stores to other markets.

http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/13/8308229-gap-to-shutter-a-third-of-us-stores-expand-globally?gt1=43001

Liz Clairborne Set To Sell Its Name

Liz Clairborne is very known, high-end fashion brand that appeals to women worldwide. Its also owns brands like Juicy Couture, Lucky Brand, and Kate Spade. Ever since Liz Clairborne hasn't been so profitable, the company feels it is in their best interest to focus on their other brands, which also target upper middle class and upper class citizens. Besides changing its main focus, Liz Clairborne might also have to carry out job cuts in order to prevent any further losses. The company has been in debt for a while due to people decreasing their shopping and spending routines. Since Liz Clairborne consists of several brands (Liz Claiborne, Claiborne, Liz, Liz & Co., Concepts by Claiborne, LC, Elizabeth, LizGolf, LizSport, Liz Claiborne New York (LCNY) and Lizwear brands), they are planning on selling these brands in order to generate money to cover their debt. 
My View:
There's no doubt in my mind that high-end companies, like Liz Clairborne, are really suffering during this recession. People aren't so willing to spend hundreds of dollars on clothes these days and companies, whose clothes go for $200 to $600, aren't making much profit these days. It takes a lot of money and time to uphold a company in general, but it takes even more to uphold a company that's slowly falling apart and not as profitable. Since Liz Clairborne is in such debt, it is a wise move on their part to take some of their lowest-earning brands and sell them in order to cover the debt. This money will help the company get back on its feet and since it has less brands under its name, it will be able to shift most of its attention to the brands they want to work on and make more profitable.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/story/2011-10-12/liz-claiborne-sells-brands/50741798/1

Potential For Increase In Jobs In 2012

These days, everyone knows that it's tough to get a well-paying job due to the downfall of the economy. People are competing harder than ever because they want to make sure that once they get out of college, they will have a greater chance of getting a decent job. Due to the long-term recession, there aren't many jobs available and people are struggling to get what they can. Recently, the National Association of Colleges and Employers has shown that the percentage of jobs available went up 9.5% since 2011. Students graduating in 2012 will also have higher salaries. The NACE has said the paid interns had the most success when it came to getting job offers. Also, companies are looking for more fresh, new faces to replace the older employees who are leaving their positions.
My view:
With the economy at such a weak point right now, it is very encouraging to see companies offering more jobs to graduating college students. Many students are fearful of the fact that they might be unemployed when they graduate, seeing how many graduates have failed to acquire jobs in the past. With companies being more open-minded to the situation the economy is in, it brings a little more hope to the future generation. Companies, like Enterprise, can become popular by hiring younger personnel to their team. These people are more up to date on certain technologies and trends and they could be a useful tool for the company to reach a different, younger type of audience.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Job-Outlook-Improving-for-usnews-1629657662.html?x=0

Men Demand That Certain Drinks Stay Manly

When men think of drinks they enjoy on a daily basis, they think of beer, sodas, and energy drinks. Those are the types of beverages that men want the most because they usually represent strength and masculinity. Diet drinks aren't the most appealing to men because they associate dieting with women and they feel that if they're seen drinking these drinks, then they will "stripped of their manhood". So when Dr. Pepper modified its drink to a diet version, men were were disappointed because they felt that their drink was being feminized.  This outlook could result in a loss of customers for Dr. Pepper since their main target audience was men. Once the male fans of Dr. Pepper see that this drink is being modified against their tastes, this could damage the companies reputation and sales. Bur Dr. Pepper says that it'll still try to relate its new drink to the "macho men" of the world, in hopes that their product will be accepted by both sexes.
My View:
I think that Dr. Pepper made a smart move by trying to advertise their products on ESPN or during football games because men will start to see their new diet product in a new light. Perhaps they won't see it as something that just women could drink and perhaps they will have some faith in the product too. Dr. Pepper has been known for years and many people, especially men, have become very fond of this drink. Now that they see that it's being modified to satisfy women, they are backing down because they don't want to be seen drinking something "womanly". I think Dr. Pepper made a smart move by trying to reach a broader audience, not just the men of the world. This drink could now appeal to people who are on health diets, and that doesn't mean woman only. This move could either lose customers for the company or gain a whole lot more than they had.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Dr-Pepper-Ten-No-women-apf-3465249566.html?x=0

Generating Buzz About Acai Juice

Even since POM Juice, people have been crazy about the super-food, acai. People have realized that this food provides many health benefits, the most popular being a strong anti-oxidant. Health foods have been becoming steadily more popular over the years ever since the issue of obesity in America has been more publicized and people are starting to see how it can be potentially fatal if not taken care of. Health foods allow people to have a variety of delicious, nutritious foods to choose from instead of reaching for the old fashioned junk food. Marketers also wanted to introduce something new and trendy that people will catch on to and ever since POM became a hit, people wanted to know more and get more of this food. There are so many products out there that offer health benefits that promise to help you lose weight, cleanse your system, and revitalize your body. All these things sound tempting and they might actually work but researchers have shown that although these drinks can offer certain benefits, it's not the smartest idea to rely solely on these drinks to lead a healthier lifestyle. The only way to really improve you mental and physical state is to change eating habits and to include a bit of exercise in your daily routine. It won't do you much if you rely on just drinking a health beverage to improve your overall state of health.


My View:
I have to say that I agree with these researchers when it comes to analyzing what certain things can improve overall health. Simply drinking a health drink won't do much for your health. It could give you some energy and flush out toxins but it really isn't doing anything to improve your overall health. Obviously this type of information could potentially harm a health food company's product. When people begin to search online and read articles, word can spread very quickly and people might not have any more incentive to buy these products, thus decreasing the number of potential customers for health food companies. This could be a potentially harmful situation that could occur for a company but the best thing they can do to salvage their reputation is directly talk to people through commercials, websites, blogs, and communities and work to communicate all the superior benefits of their products. Otherwise people might start to believe what researchers are saying and turn away from health food companies if they see no point in buying their products.

http://shine.yahoo.com/event/green/debunking-trendy-health-drink-claims-2574301#photoViewer=1

The World Loses a Great Leader, Innovator, Person.

On September 5, 2011, the world faced a tragedy that hit the hearts of all people around the world. Apple's creator, Steve Jobs, lost the battle to cancer after suffering for many months. Being the not only brilliant but amazing person he is, Steven Jobs made the effort, in his already fragile state, to say his farewells to all the people he felt he needed to say goodbye to. Even in his final weeks when he could hardly walk up the stairs, he still managed to say a few final words to  his friends, mentors, and colleagues. During his last few weeks, Mr. Jobs got off work early in order to have dinner  and some quality time with his family. Now the buzz has shifted to what will happen to the company to what will happen to Steve Job's fortune?  Obviously all of it will go to his wife, Laurene Powell Jobs, but there's speculation that some of it will be donated to education since a couple years ago she started a company that paired disabled students with mentors to help them achieve a college degree.
My view:
A company without it's creator is never the same. Steve Job's had a vision and ideas that not one could ever live up to nor acquire. So it's inevitable that Apple won't be the same without him. Ever since Mr. Jobs fell ill, the company's price per share went down and Apple wasn't functioning as successfully as it was when Steve Jobs was in charge. This could foreshadow trouble for the company's future. The products won't be the same because they won't be made under the genius of Steven Jobs. Perhaps the reason why the iPhone 4s' sales weren't so successful was because the model wasn't made the way Steven Jobs would have made it if he were in a better state of health. He has made the company extremely successful throughout the years and it's a surprise that one of the most sought after products didn't generate high sales.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/With-Time-Running-Short-Jobs-nytimes-175542823.html?x=0