Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior - Kristina Lindgren

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704111504576059713528698754.html

 

This article “Why Chinese Mothers are Superior” is written by Amy Chua. It discusses the Chinese parenting styles compared to the Western parenting styles.  It talks about how both Chinese and Western parents want what is best for their child but their different approaches they take in parenting to do so.  Chinese believe in being strict and forward with their children while western parents want their children to feel good about themselves and will do what it takes to make them feel that way.  This article is very forward just like Amy Chua’s parenting style.  Some of the things Amy believes in can cause a lot of tension with mothers who do not believe in acting those ways toward your children. 

 

Questions:

1.      Do you think Amy Chua’s parenting style is too strict? Are there some aspects you disagree with?

2.      If you were raised by the typical western parenting style, were you offended when reading this article?

·         For example: western kids have it easy because their parents allow them to give up

 

3.      Amy mentions that people see Asian as scheming, callous, overdriven people indifferent to their kids’ true interests.  Do we tend to see Asian parents as this or do you now after reading this article? Or did you like the Asian parenting style?

International Mother Language Day by Patrick Paul

Would you ever put your life on line for the right to speak English or in your respective native tongue? I consider my life a pretty steep price for this and may not do so. However a group of university students in East Pakistan who spoke Bengali, thought differently in the 1950’s. They protested and four were killed which led to a day called “International Mother Language Day” celebrated every February 21^st.

Am sure that most of us have been in situations where people spoke a different language and could not understand anything. Awkward isn’t it? The thought of why can’t everyone just speak English has crossed many of our minds.

Language is an important aspect of tradition and defines who we are. Knowing your mother tongue gives you a foundation of understanding your identity and with stronger identities and healthy well-beings you are more likely to succeed in whatever you do.

 

Please think and address the following questions:

1. Have you ever been in a situation where you meet someone who spoke a different language? Describe the situation? Were you comfortable? Was it hard to communicate? Do you hesitate to communicate because it is too difficult?
2. The most difficult part of learning any language is understanding the meaning of words, and ultimately the use of slang.  Let's make a list of sayings, expressions, words that would be difficult for a non-english speaking person to decipher.
3. Are you willing to learn another language? Why / why not?  If so, which language would you choose?
4. Should we be an "English-Only" country? Organization?

http://www.earthtimes.org/politics/international-mother-language-day/2281/

Wal-Mart Bribery Scandal - Arsen Gasparyan

Wal-Mart is the world’s 18^th largest corporation and an American multinational that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores.

In September 2005, a senior Wal-Mart lawyer received an alarming e-mail from a former executive at the company’s largest foreign subsidiary, Wal-Mart de Mexico. In the e-mail and follow-up conversations, the former executive described how Wal-Mart de Mexico had orchestrated a campaign of bribery to win market dominance. In its rush to build stores, he said, the company had paid bribes to obtain permits in virtually every corner of the country.

The former executive gave names, dates and bribe amounts. He knew so much, he explained, because for years he had been the lawyer in charge of obtaining construction permits for Wal-Mart de Mexico.

Wal-Mart dispatched investigators to Mexico City, and within days they unearthed evidence of widespread bribery. They found a paper trail of hundreds of suspect payments totaling more than $24 million. They also found documents showing that Wal-Mart de Mexico’s top executives not only knew about the payments, but had taken steps to conceal them from Wal-Mart’s headquarters in Bentonville, Ark. In a confidential report to his superiors, Wal-Mart’s lead investigator, a former F.B.I. special agent, summed up their initial findings this way: “There is reasonable suspicion to believe that Mexican and USA laws have been violated.”

The lead investigator recommended that Wal-Mart expand the investigation.

Instead, an examination by The New York Times found, Wal-Mart’s leaders shut it down.

Neither American nor Mexican law enforcement officials were notified. None of Wal-Mart de Mexico’s leaders were disciplined. Indeed, its chief executive, Eduardo Castro-Wright, identified by the former executive as the driving force behind years of bribery, was promoted to vice chairman of Wal-Mart in 2008. Until this article, the allegations and Wal-Mart’s investigation had never been publicly disclosed.

This is a perfect example on how huge and powerful corporations abuse their power and let greed takes over, resulting in unethical and immoral decisions. While Wal-Mart was able to bribe its way to permits in the matter of days other local companies were waiting for their permits for years, talking about destroying communities with their size and power.

Not taking sides or anything but I personally have never shopped in Wal-Mart and never will.

Please read the article below and reflect on the following questions:

http://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-bribery-scandal-2012-4

Questions:

Do you ever shop at Wal-Mart? Could this get you to boycott Wal-Mart and if so for how long?

Do you think it is ethical what Wal-Mart did and is bribery accepted by society just because it occurred in a corrupt country like Mexico?

Do you believe Wal-Mart has handled the situation well in the past? (In 2005 when it actually occurred)

What would you do now from a PR perspective in order to restore Wal-Mart’s image as well as the reputation of Vice Chairman Eduardo Castro Wright and current CEO Michael Duke?

Do you think they should be fired? Please expand on your answer. 

Attendance a Graduation Requirement - Jon Natale

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/ohio-baseball-player-t-walk-graduation-caring-forcancer-102922017.html

Austin Fisher is a 17 year old senior from a suburb outside Cleveland Ohio. He has been banned from walking at his graduation for having too many unexcused absences. The school district allows 14 unexcused absences to be allowed to walk at graduation and he has 16. His reason for his absences is something that many including myself believe to be heroic. His mother was diagnosed with breast cancer six months ago.

The fisher household is only Austin and his mother and when she became too weak to work Austin picked up a two jobs to help pay the bills. He also brought his mom to her cancer treatments and took care of her when she was bedridden. For some districts this could be used as an internship for home health care. But not in his district, all those days are just more absences.

1.       What is your initial reaction to this story?

2.       Would you sign the petition? If not then why?

3.       Putting yourself in his shoes as a senior, would you be able to juggle school, two jobs, and taking care of your mother?

4.       Do you think the school should make an exception to their rule considering the circumstances behind all of his absences?

Secret Service Scandal - Carolyn Perry

Secret Service Scandal

Articles Used: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/17/11251326-nbc-prostitutes-50-fee-for-two-agents-triggered-secret-service-scandal?lite

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/17/us/secret-service-colombia/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/04/15/congress-to-probe-secret-service-prostitution-scandal/

                A financial dispute between a Columbian prostitute and two United States Secret Service Agents has triggered the beginning of a scandal. The secret service was there in preparation for President Obama’s arrival for a weekend visit to the Summit of the Americas. The two agents who started the controversy and the others involved are said to have gone to the club on April 11^th and brought these women back to the hotel. Since they have to check guests in for a $25 fee, the Embassy noted that there were 11 men who brought 11 women back. While prostitution is legal in certain parts of Columbia, it is a breach in the agency’s conduct code. When the Embassy notified officials, they were immediately flown home and stripped of their security clearances.

                Since the agents knew the President’s minute-to-minute schedule, this is was a huge safety breach. Right now the investigation is going on interviewing the prostitutes to see if they are underage, involved with drug trafficking, or terrorist groups. Also, it is said that ten American servicemen are under investigation for their involvement in this case.

  Some statements President Obama said on Sunday when leaving Columbia: "We're here on behalf of our people and that means that we conduct ourselves with the utmost dignity and probity. And obviously what's been reported doesn't match up with those standards," He expects the investigation to be “thorough and rigorous” and “will be angry” if the allegations turn out to be true.

                In the second article I posted, it seems that the White House is defending the Secret Service with Presidential Spokesman, Jay Carney stating:  "The work the Secret Service does the men and women who protect him and his family and those who work with him, is exemplary as a rule," Carney said. "They put their lives on the line, and it is a very difficult job, and he acknowledges that and he appreciates it."

1. Do you believe this scandal is more than just an embarrassment to the White House and Secret Service? Is it an embarrassment to our nation?

2. Do you find it hard to follow how Obama feels about the situation with one article saying that he will be "angry" and then another saying that his spokesperson is standing up for the Secret Service?

3. Do you feel that this situatin is being handled appropriately from a PR standpoint?

4. How do you feel about the fact that this controversy could just be the beginning of revelations about other problems the Secret Service could be having?

Facebook - Mary Fehr

Facebook Blog Post

http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/04/can_facebook_remain_faceless.html?awid=8770458369404808288-3271

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20202935/ns/business-school_inc_/t/job-candidates-getting-tripped-facebook/#.T4b1W470R_k

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20110755-17/facebook-changes-creeping-out-some-customers/

I saw this first article on twitter and it caught my attention. We have been talking about facebook a lot through our college years. We talk about how the school can see it and we are representing the school, we talk about how employers look at it before hiring an individual and are now even asking people to pull it up in interviews and now were talking about how your profile can get hacked and you can lose total control of your online profile. There certainly are a lot of risks to being online, and yet almost every one of us still decides to go online and document our every move.
I have been thinking a lot about facebook recently, I try to keep mine neat, deleting any picture I should not be in, ensuring that my friends are not cursing or using profanity on my wall, and not putting any status up that could get me in trouble. I try, but it sure is not easy. One thing that keeps me in line is definitely being friends with my mom on facebook. Of Course, I have blocked her from basically anything but my profile picture and my name but it still keeps me thinking. I just do not understand why we put ourselves through all this just to put up a few pictures and write a few posts!
Why do we put ourselves of getting into trouble or not getting a job for facebook? At first I thought, maybe it is so we can “creep” or update ourselves on our friends lives. Maybe we have a desire to know every detail of others lives! What didn’t seem to make sense about this, is that we get annoyed or irritated every time we see pointless statuses up or pictures of one person in their bathroom mirrors. In the last article Mark Zuckerberg explains that the “timeline” was created with the thought of everyone having his or her own personal autobiographies.

Questions to consider:

1) Are you on facebook? And if so or if you were, is it to share your story or to read others?
2) Are you willing to give up a job for facebook?
3) What methods or how do you keep your facebook safe or clean?
4) How often do you spend on facebook a day? Honestly.
5) How would you answer an interviewer if they asked to see your facebook?
6) Could you give it up this very moment?

Augusta Nationals - The Masters - Danny Smith

Mark O'Meara sure Tiger Woods is ready for next major at Masters
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/apr/02/tiger-woods-masters-major

Can Tiger cap comeback with Masters triumph?
http://worldsport.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/26/can-tiger-cap-comeback-with-masters-triumph/

Masters Odds 2012: Tiger Woods and Rory Mcllroy Take on the Rest of the Field
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1129129-masters-odds-2012-tiger-woods-and-rory-mcilroy-take-on-the-rest-of-the-field

Augusta National
The Masters
By Danny Smith

All eyes are on Augusta National, this week, and Tiger Wood’s bid to win a fifth Green Jacket at the Masters Tournament. The stage is set for one of the all-time great Masters, with so many of the world’s elite peaking for the first major of the season.
Golfers worldwide know Augusta, Georgia, for one thing: the Masters, and the Augusta National course on which the renowned tournament is played each April. The course is arguably the most famous in the world and undoubtedly the most exclusive.
Tiger Woods' victory at Bay Hill last week was his 72nd on the PGA Tour. For the 36-year-old, that’s two victories for each year of his life. The Win at Bay Hill has sparked conversation as to weather Tiger is prepared to dominate golf leaderboards moving forward.
Woods has won four Green Jackets, although his last victory came in 2005. He has played here twice since returning from the scandal that knocked his career off the rails, finishing fourth on both occasions. In the circumstances, these stand as remarkable performances, given the state of his game at the time, and the turmoil that surrounded his private life.
Woods caused some controversy recently when he cried off injured during the final round the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral. The former world no. 1 put paid to the predicable speculation about his general health by participating in the Tavistock Cup team event and then showcasing his well-being and excellent form at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill tourney, which he has now a record won seven times!
Tiger is now back up to sixth in the world rankings, his odds to win the Masters have reduced and he is the bookies' favorite. With Nicklaus’ record of 18 major victories seemingly out of reach for the newest golfing resident of Jupiter, Florida, all eyes have become more rigidly focused on those who represent the Tiger generation.
Woods' play at Bay Hill confirmed his status as the man who truly pushes the needle in terms of TV ratings, and his smile as the final putt went down showed to the world that he is where he needs to be: healthy and happy - and in pursuit of his passion of being the world’s number one golfer.

Questions to Consider:

1. Do you believe Tiger Wood’s Performance in recent events can justify how he will play under the microscope of the most prestigious golf tournament of the year? Do you feel Tiger is more prepared for this tournament due to the magnitude of the event?

2. If Tiger successfully dominates the field during the four-day tournament at Augusta and wins the Masters tournament, does this define his career as bouncing back?

3. Will a sixth Master’s win, the first since 2005, improve Tiger’s image? Tiger has been faced with scrutiny because of his personal life fumbles. Can a win at the Master’s begin to re-pave a new path for the previous number one golfer?

4. Do you feel the controversy that has surrounded Tiger Woods has been the cause for his excuses that have pulled him out of events? Tiger, before being faced with the scandal, had pulled out of events only twice due to physical purposes. Since the scandal, Tiger has removed himself from six different events due to injuries or sore muscles.

5. Will Tiger catch Jack Nicklaus’ current record of 18 major championships? Considering this is opinion based with no correct answer, please use examples to support your answer.

Trayvon Martin Case - Christina Graham

Websites used:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/mar/31/trayvon-martin-protest-march-sanford

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/01/10963191-trayvon-martin-case-911-call-screams-not-george-zimmermans-2-experts-say

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jerry-lanson/critique-of-trayvon-martin-coverage_b_1393453.html

Trayvon Martin, shot and killed while walking home. Was this an act of racism or was he up to no good? This is an ongoing question that reporters and investigators are trying to figure out. Trayvon Martin a 17 year old Africa American male was shot and killed walking through a gated community in Sanford Florida, said to be wearing a hoodie, hundreds of protestors claim that this is in fact a hate crime. George Zimmerman was allegedly accused of murdering Trayvon, but was not arrested. This created a sense of rage among the community "We will use our marching feet, civil disobedience and every weapon in our non-violent arsenal until justice is served.” The articles that are provided shed light on many different aspects of this case. The first article is an introduction to the tragedy and the affect of the community. Second, is an article from MSNBC that says forensic scientists do not believe Zimmerman; the man accused of the murder, was the voice heard from the 911 call. Last, the article from the Huffington Post shows how the coverage of this case has led people to notice that Media firms need to examine their roles covering this story.

1) What was your first reaction after learning about this case, were you surprised issues like this continue to appear in the twenty-first century?

2) Do you agree with the Sanford Police Department for not initially arresting George Zimmerman?

3) Do you think racial profiling is an ongoing issue that is often over looked?

4) If this was a Caucasian teenager, do you feel the coverage would have been different? How?

5) If you were the media involved in covering this story, which aspect would you focus most on?

Chris Brown - Jermel Walker

Chris Brown, arguably the hottest R&B was not always on top of the music charts. In 2009 he was faced with a scandal that stemmed from argument with Pop singer Rihanna. The two were said to be leaving a Grammy after party and got into a physical altercation inside of a rented vehicle. This scandal took Chris Brown from the top to the bottom in a matter of days. So many questions have yet to be answered involving what happened on that awful night. Although this incident does have to do domestic violence, I would like for the discussion to be based on the issues and consequences for such actions and the results. In this video it gives the overview of the situation and also provides a graphic picture of the damage caused by Chris Brown.

http://getitfromboy.net/chris-brown-rihanna-abuse-scandal/

It took weeks for Rihanna to come out and be open about the situation regarding her former boyfriend, but in an interview with CNN she broke her silence. As you can tell in this interview she is very hurt by the situation. She still does not describe in detail of what exactly happened, and it was never said exactly what happened in the car on that night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNnVd7yMPvQ

His response and public apology...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAVo8nHNmJs&feature=related&noredirect=1

Now in 2012 Chris Brown and Rihanna have songs together and are rumored to be performing together in upcoming award shows.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/22/arts/music/rihanna-and-chris-brown-appear-on-each-others-songs.html

Please take the time to read the article and watch the video responses. Focus on his and her responses regarding the situation.

1. How was Chris Brown able to bounce back from such a drastic incident?
2. Do you believe his apology had anything to do with his return?
3. What is your take on Rihanna? Do you feel like she did the right thing by allowing Chris Brown on her song after such an incident?
4. What message does this send out to the public?

Yahoo Sues Facebook! - Cam Munger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOoc38Zacashttp://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/12/us-yahoo-facebook-lawsuit-idUSBRE82B18M20120312http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/12/yahoo-sues-facebook-patent_n_1340032.html

Yahoo! is filing suit against Facebook for allegedly stealing ten patents that are owned by Yahoo!. The lawsuit included allegations on Facebook’s advertising model, news feed, and messaging features. The world’s largest social media giant was shocked, especially because of the fact that the two companies are business partners. The news of the lawsuit has experts wondering what Yahoo!’s tactics stem from. Yahoo! already has a history of using these aggressive business tactics. One example; when Yahoo! filed a lawsuit against Google supports this notion. Other experts are also questioning if these aggressive tactics stem from Yahoo!’s new CEO who started earlier this year. Scott Thomson came into Yahoo! with a new company restructure plan. His aggressive tactics started with his restructure plan laying off thousands of Yahoo! employees and outsourcing to Boston Consulting Group. In my opinion, Thomas is being forced to maintain such an aggressive strategy because he is facing a recent failed turnaround from his CEO predecessor. The unfortunate issue within this article remains to be that Yahoo! could be looking at the Facebook lawsuit as being a serious financial funder to Thompson’s new restructuring strategy. Facebook has received countless lawsuits in the past and won. The world’s largest social media network is looking to fight Yahoo!’s lawsuit in full.

Questions:

1. After reading up on the issue at hand do you feel that Yahoo!’s tactics are immoral or overly aggressive? Explain.
2. Do you believe this lawsuit will be reflected on the Yahoo! brand image? How?
3. What do you think the outcome of the lawsuit will be?
4. Do you think Thompson’s aggressive tactics will turn Yahoo! around for the better?

KONY - Allison Souza

One week ago, Facebook and Twitter were buzzing with reappearing posts and shared links regarding KONY 2012. Many people found themselves curious about what this meant and would click to find out more. Others would simply ask those who posted about it and would receive an answer and then gain interest.

In class, we have talked about how useful social media can be, whether you’re starting a business and looking to get your name out there, or on the prowl for a job. Social media has deemed itself to have a very powerful affect on the way we, as humans, operate. The creators of the KONY 2012 video, and the Invisible Children campaign, have realized the power of social media and one week ago, they put the human race combined with social media to the test. In one day alone the KONY 2012 video, which mind you is not short (30 minutes long), had accrued more than one million views. In one week alone, the video now has an astonishing 83,121,241 views.
Since the video has first aired, though, the cofounder of the Invisible Children campaign, the filmmaker of the KONY 2012 video, was detained for being out in public naked with the possibility of public masturbation. Not only are we dealing with viral videos now, but also with the concept of how this campaign will handle the backlash of this incident.

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc
KONY Article: http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/conserving-freedom/2012/mar/7/kony-2012-bringing-joseph-kony-justice/
KONY 2012 Filmmaker is detained: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/jason-russell-san-diego-invisible-children-kony-2012-142970255.html

Things to consider for your responses:

Where did you first learn of the KONY 2012 video and did you watch it?

What about this video gave it the power to go viral?

Do you feel that the backlash of the filmmaker getting detained will affect this campaign? If not, why? If so, how would you try to restore the campaign from a PR stand point?

Do you think that this campaign has the power to stop Joseph Kony based on the publicity and support the campaign has gained in one week alone?

Assisted Suicide by Dr. Death - Katie Bettano

Human suicide is a very controversial topic to say the least. It primarily depends on human sympathy or the impulse toward mercy. It is the desire to ease what seems like pointless pain and suffering. Why shouldn’t the terminally ill meet death on their own terms? Shouldn’t these people who already have the fate of death be able to leave this world with dignity, or should they stay on this world and suffer the pains of death. When people think of assisted death they usually go straight to the infamous Dr. Kevorkian also known as Dr. Death. Dr. Kevorkian is famous for assisting suicide to over 130 people. Some of those people terminally ill but over 60% not, Kevorkian was tried repeatedly and convicted of second degree murder. Some feel that Dr. Kevorkian is humanitarianism rather than a criminal because his clients asked to die, “that may be the free choice that separates assisted suicide form murder” his defenders would insist. This would mean that assisted suicide depends more on our respect for people own will to die rather than the law. This goes back to the main question of do the terminally ill really occupy a completely different moral category from the rest? Is a cancer patients suffering more unbearable then the agony of someone living with multiple sclerosis, quadriplegia or manic depression. Or even the unbearable agony of parent who has lost their only child? Dr. Kevorkian spent his entire career following these practices, that if someone has the choice to die, he would honor their wishes. After his release from jail in 2007 Kevorkian went on to do interviews with 60 minutes, 50,000 speaking arrangements, and a hagiographic HBO biopic starring Al Pacino. Only 3 states currently allow this form of physician assisted suicide, the Supreme Court in a unanimous 1997 decision declined to invent a constitutional right to die. In Switzerland however the case is different Dr. Minelli currently charges 6,000 dollars for his services. Unlike Kervorkian however Minelli is free to kill the suicidal without fear of prosecution. In the last 15 years he has killed more than 1,000 people who have chosen to exit this world under his supervision. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/06/opinion/06douthat.html?ref=assistedsuicide


Questions
1. Where should the line be drawn between murder and physician assisted suicide?
2. Do you think Dr. Kevorkian was a murderer or a doctor that cared for his patients requests?
3. Do you believe there should be a right to assisted suicide? And what should the requirements be for this to happen?
4. Would you support your state in offering physician assisted suicide?

Rush Limbaugh's Latest Gaffe - Devan Maher

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfb9f7yFYgw

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/03/05/rush-limbaugh-sandra-fluke/

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/03/04/7th-advertiser-pulls-out-limbaughs-show/

Rush Limbaugh, a nationally syndicated radio host, recently called a law student, Sandra Fluke a "slut" and a "prostitute". This because of her part in the debate over women's rights to birth control. Many advertisers then left his program almost immediately. He then offered an apology, which you can read about in the two articles that I provided, and decide what you think about it...(don't worry, since this is a "political" argument, I made sure to get a point of view slanted from both directions). And here's where my questions come in...but please try to make sure that we don't debate the issue (women's right to birth control) that he comment surrounds, we can talk about that in class, but I want the discussion here to focus on the reactions of the advertisers and Rush Limbaugh.

1. How do you think the advertisers (including AOL, Tax Resolution Services, and Citrix) handled to the comments? Would you have dropped your ads from his show?

2. What do you think about Limbaugh's apology? Was it sincere?

3. How well did Premiere Radio Networks handle the issue? Would you have handled it differently? The same way?

4. Do you think that Rush Limbaugh's reputation/radio program will suffer because of his comments?

Ben & Jerry's: Taste the Lin-Sanity by Sean Vail

Ben & Jerry’s: Taste the Lin-Sanity
http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/cambridge/2012/02/ben_jerrys_apologizes_for_jere.html
Jeremy Lin has been a topic of many sports channels over the last few weeks. A Harvard grad that came into the NBA unknown is now a household name across not only the United States but also in other countries. Jeremy Lin currently plays for the New York Knicks, and has been the top story of the NBA since the lockout ended. Ben & Jerry’s has been a reputable company for a number of years, and for the most part they have only seen a positive image for themselves. This can be a minor or major error in their part but they were quick to jump on the backlash they received and they decided to take the fortune cookie aspect out of the ice cream. This happens with a lot of companies; you have a great idea and run with it but do not look too far into the reproductions. As a company when it comes down to making a final decision you really have to take a look at all of your target market and who is going to be influenced. In my opinion I think Ben & Jerry’s rushed into the decision but made the right PR moves, what do you think?
Some questions to consider:
-Did Ben & Jerry’s make the right PR moves after the backlash?
-Do you think this has blown out of proportion, or do you feel like this is a big mistake?
-Do you think by adding fortune cookies to the company’s ice cream flavor was an insult to Jeremy Lin or the Asian population in America?
-Is there anything differently you would have done from a PR stand point?
-If you could come up with your own unique Ben & Jerry’s flavor what would it be?

What Makes A Video Go Viral?

Please see the assignment posted on Moodle. Your response to this post should be completed by Monday, February 27th at midnight. This is an assignment and will be graded.

Do some research to determine what makes a video go viral? Post the related link(s). Your opinion is great, but there is research out there, and people are examining this topic. Examination of this topic will assist you in your group project.

Inside Apple's Factory - Dan L. Smith

Inside Apple’s iFactory

Before clicking on the link below, take a moment and ask yourself a few questions. Look around. With certainty, how many of your most cherished possessions can you claim to know their precise origin? More specifically, do you know all the meticulous processes and the vast amount of people involved in the manufacturing of the very wonder you are reading from right now? Are you conscious of this every time your flip open its top? Beyond that, are we able to list any of the even most basic of composite materials that is essential to the creation of our laptops and phones and where they are gathered from around the world?

Having listened to the intellectual debate engaged in between the individuals of this class, I am certain that the above will not be misinterpreted as a form of unwarranted chastisement. The above is simply a demonstration as to how disconnected we, as well as the whole of modern western consumer base, has become to the very goods s/he depends upon in everyday life. That’s not to say we are entirely ignorant, for I would imagine that many of you were well aware that it is often the case that our technology comes at a price, or more explicitly, at the expense of the now hollowed lives of the lower Asiatic working class. Yet we all do a fairly decent job (including myself) of repressing the actualities of human blood and sweat that is lost whenever we click that button that ships to us the latest version of our iPhone 4s...now in black.

Foxconn Photos
http://abcnews.go.com/International/slideshow/inside-apples-factories-china-15750239
ABC Tours Foxconn
http://abcnews.go.com/International/trip-ifactory-nightline-unprecedented-glimpse-inside-apples-chinese/story?id=15748745&page=2#.T0RQoRzxCR1

Having read the article, we are now re-exposed and faced once more with the grim reality of the constant trading of humanity that occurs every day, even right now, in exchange for the perpetuation of the modern technological industrialized state and the materials and goods it produces and provides for us. There’s no need to reiterate what occurs in the article. Between the mechanical men filing logos, the robotically inspired work environment, the borderline confused and ill-informed attitudes of the workers, last-minute audits, countless past “incidents”, and suicide nets, I think it does a fairly good job of portraying what goes on at Foxcomm. With this in mind, consider any of the following questions.

1) Are you in support of Apple and their labor practices, or do you think them obligated to alter them?

2) Do you think Apple, including all businesses working with Foxconn, should reevaluate working with a company that disregards the humanity of their workers in favor of profits?

3) Why do you believe Apple’s CEO declined an interview with ABC after its reporters toured Foxcomm?

4) Do you believe the workers better off with or without their jobs at Foxcomm?

5) What do you think of so many Foxcomm employees committing suicide?

What is the Personality of Nichols College Brand?

The author in our text states that brands have a "personality" and it is up to the PR / Marketing person to use key words that represent our brand. Consider all of our stakeholders / publics, and discuss traits, characteristics and aspects of the Nichols College brand? Review our mission statement for further analysis, and consider if it matches our brand description. Be creative!

JCPenney vs. One Million Moms

Title: jcpenney vs. One Million Moms

Sources of topic:
http://crushable.com/entertainment/video-ellen-turns-her-jcpenney-haters-into-motivators-610/

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57373794/jcpenney-ceo-on-ellen-degeneres-controversy/

http://www.onemillionmoms.com/IssueDetail.asp?id=436


On January 25th, 2012, jcpenney reported in an official press release that they sponsoring Ellen DeGeneres as their spokesperson in representation of their new marketing strategy. The president of J.C. Penney Inc. stated, "Ellen DeGeneres is one of the most fun and vibrant people in entertainment today, with great warmth and a down-to-earth attitude. The millions who watch her on television and follow her through social media relate to her and trust what she has to say. Importantly, we share the same fundamental values as Ellen. At jcpenney, we couldn't think of a better partner to help us put the fun back into the retail experience. Moving forward, we'll be focused on being in sync with the rhythm of our customers' lives and operating in a 'Fair and Square' manner that is rooted in integrity, simplicity and respect. We're thrilled that she's joining our team to help convey the exciting transformation under way." These values include honesty, equality, kindness, compassion, treating people the way you want to be treated, and helping those in need, as Ellen voiced on her show.
Shortly after this press release, the activist group One Million Moms, a project of the American Family Association, posted a press release of their own. In this post OMM says that jcpenney will lose more sales than gain them and even says that their brand transformation will be unsuccessful, due to the fact that conservative families will not want to support the brand with an openly homosexual individual. OMM urges people to contact jcpenney and voice their outrage at the choice for spokesperson, and even lists the contact number for their customer service department and corporate headquarters. They even accuse jcpenney of “jumping on the pro-gay bandwagon.” Ironically, OMM only has 44,128 “likes” on Facebook.
In response to the reaction of One Million Moms, the jcpenney CEO Ron Johnson said that the company is choosing to stand behind their choice of having Ellen as a spokesperson. He even says that the company doesn’t view it as controversy. Johnson states that jcpenney was founded 110 years ago on The Golden Rule, based on treating people fairly, and having Ellen as a spokesperson was a “no-brainer.” After Proposition 8 was ruled unconstitutional, Ellen finally decided to speak out about the situation on her show. As per usual with Ellen, she made the situation lighthearted, and said “my haters are my motivators” and even joked about the discount she would be getting from the company. Although, her statements underline the seriousness of the issue at hand as she read the posts OMM had up on their Facebook page.


Questions to consider:
Will this situation influence your buying habits at JCP?
Do you agree or disagree with how JCP handled the situation? What would you have done?
Thoughts on Ellen’s statements? Does this help or hurt her reputation/brand name?

Deception at Duke University

Deception at Duke UniversityBy: Kelly VaillancourtSource: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7398476n&tag=contentMain;contentAux
*Note: This video is brief (approx. 13:46), and it is important that you watch it in full in order to understand the scope of the issue at hand.Five years ago, Duke University announced that it had found the “holy grail” of cancer research—they’d discovered how to match a patient’s tumor to the best chemotherapy drug. This discovery was a breakthrough because every person’s DNA is unique, therefore every tumor is different. To clarify, and as Scott Pelley noted, “a drug that kills a tumor in one person may not be effective in another”. The scientist behind this discovery was Dr. Anil Potti, who soon became the face of the future of cancer treatment at Duke. In a televised advertisement for Duke’s Cancer Center, Dr. Potti promised the public that his discovery would not only change the face of medicine, but would “revolutionize cancer therapy.”
The breakthrough was made in the lab of Dr. Joseph Nevins, who saw significant potential in Dr. Potti and as a result, became a mentor and supporter of him. Shortly thereafter, research was published under the name of Nevins & Potti, and was featured in prestigious medical journals such as the Journal of Clinical Oncology and the New England Journal of Medicine.
Once Dr. Potti’s breakthrough discovery was published, Kevin Coombes and Keith Baggerly of the MD Anderson Cancer Center began analyzing his results. However, what they found did not support Dr. Potti’s discovery; rather, it was quite the contrary. As Baggerly stated in his interview with Pelley, what they found was “odd, and could not be explained.” As a result, Coombes and Baggerly emailed Duke with their questions regarding Dr. Potti’s discovery. Dr. Potti responded himself, saying that the errors found were merely “clerical,” and that new work confirmed his results.
Nevins and Potti applied for patents on the research, and they (as well as the university) stood to make a fortune. Furthermore, they decided to perform a series of clinical trials on a total of 112 patients who signed up. The tumors of the affected patients “would be surgically biopsied in order to be matched with the best drug.”
During the trials, Coombes and Baggerly continued to analyze Dr. Potti’s research. They were able to conclude that Dr. Potti undoubtedly “reversed” a large portion of the data, which would result in patients getting the worst drug as opposed to the best drug for their tumors. This discovery ultimately led to the suspension of the Duke Cancer Center’s clinical trials, and the call for an outside review committee to further analyze Dr. Potti’s research. As it turns out, the review committee concluded that Dr. Potti was right.
As the clinical trials continued, a man by the name of Walter Jacobs decided he would allow his wife Juliet, who suffered from stage IV lung cancer, to undergo a clinical trial. Walter and Juliet Jacobs were told that the chances of finding the right drug were an astounding 80%. However, what Dr. Potti failed to tell them was that the clinical trials had previously been suspended due to errors in his research.
Nevins himself began to review the data from the clinical trials. He soon came to find that when the underlying data disproved that of Dr. Potti, it was changed—meaning Dr. Potti had actually manipulated the data, and Coombes and Baggerly’s presumptions were right from the get-go.
Juliet Jacobs died merely three months after she entered the clinical trial at Duke University’s Cancer Center, and Dr. Potti resigned shortly thereafter. Walter Jacobs has since filed suit.
Questions to Consider:
1. Should Dr. Joseph Nevins resign from Duke University? Do you believe doing so would “preserve” Duke’s image?
2. Did Duke purposely overlook Dr. Potti’s errors because it was more concerned with the financial gains it would receive from the clinical trials?
3. Now that this story has been aired on national television, how should Duke University respond in regards to PR?

A Higher Power?

Josh Bassett
A higher power?
http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2011/story/_/id/7524999/super-bowl-2012-myra-hiatt-kraft-provides-guiding-light-patriots

Even though the Patriots have had a great season and ending with a winning record its not all smiles. In July a special lady passed away from breast cancer. At the age of 68, Mrya Hiatt Kraft lived life to the fullest. Mrya and Robert Kraft were married for the past 48 years. She meant the world to all people that were on the Patriots team. She didn’t care about the game most players said. She was more worried about true feelings and not the business side of life. She wanted to know how their families were. The team wears a patch on the left side of there jerseys that says “MHK”. In the AFC Championship game Green-Ellis broke the tie with a touch down. “ He dropped the ball in the end zone, touched his MHK patch, then his face mask as if to give the woman the players called "Mama" a kiss, then pointed skyward.” After someone does something good they touch the patch. Some say it’s like Tebowing but its more thanking her for looking down and having that 12 player on the field. As we all know the Patriots ended up winning the game because the Ravens kicker missed the field goal. Everyone felt that there was a larger power in the stadium that night, Mrya. It was a 32-yard kick that should have forced overtime. The ball went wide left, like someone hit the ball in the air away from the goal posts. The team gave the Kraft family a framed picture of her initials with the team under it looking up. It has been hanging in the middle of the team’s locker room for the past games they won. The picture was shipped on the plane with the team and is now hanging in the locker room at the Super bowl. Mr. Kraft’s family estimated worth is around 1.3 billion dollars. He has donated more than 100 million dollars to charity. She was a great women and she will never be forgotten. When you go to Gillette stadium you can feel the peace in the air looking down on you.

1. Do you believe in the higher power?
2. In your eyes even though they didn’t win the super bowl was the message of dedication the season to Myra accomplished?
3. How do you feel about Robert donating 100 million dollars to charity?