Friday, February 24, 2006

Forever 917

I've always been a 917. I'm a native New Yorker, and my cell phone number has been with me throughout 3 moves. I love my number - if you have it, you'll know why; it almost sounds like a limerick. I will never let it go.

Area codes are a status symbol. If you're in New York, like me - you are a 917 or perhaps 646. The more unfortunate New Yorkers are stuck with the 347 prefix. According to last Sunday's article in the Times, area codes are much more than the prefix to your phone number - they are a part of your identity and I agree with this. I've been at many networking events where people will trade cards and squeal when they find out that they just met someone with similar digits. It makes the world just a little bit smaller.

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Just Kiss And Make Up

Publicity coup? What publicity coup?
Okay, so this Martha Stewart/Donald Trump showdown has been the mogul deathmatch for the past couple of days. Martha says that she was supposed to fire Donald at the end of her series. The Donald says in his letter to Martha that his show is far more successful ("HUGE" as he often likes to say) than her's would ever be and that her letters to "let-go" participants was just plain stupid. Then she tells him that he's being mean-spirited. So Donald calls her a moron.

Well, isn't it just a strange coincidence that Martha's quarterly results were announced (which posted the first profits in 2 years) and Donald's new season of The Apprentice premiers next week? I think not.

Imagine if you will a conference call from Donald to Martha. He concocts an idea that will be a win-win for them both. As any businessperson knows - any publicity is good publicity. So, they stage a fight and people are talking. Mission: accomplished.

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

McPunkLand

Once the Mecca for punk rockers and skinheads, St. Mark's Place has gone strip mall over the past ten years. Back in the early 90s, the East Village punk scene was filled with runts hanging all over the stoops with their multiple piercings, technicolor hair reflective of their DIY code of honor. Punk wasn't just music, it was a lifestyle, a political platform, a kick in the eye to conformists anywhere. Punk was about being who you are not giving in to the establishment. If you were all about the music, there were shows happening every night - CBs, Coney Island High, and The Continental.

With this being said - as 90s moved on, and the closer we got to the millenium, the East Village - once Ground Zero for counterculture has turned into a sea of luxury condominiums and chain stores. The old record stores are hanging on their very last thread - with dusty cd sleeves, as today's punks are more likely to carry a cell phone and iPod in tow. Materialism and conformity are not as shunned as it was in days past. If you go down St. Mark's now, you'll see a couple of punks hanging out, but nowhere near the packs that would hang on the stoop.

And so, about 15 years after it opened, The Continental will no longer have live music, as the music scene has forged eastward toward the Lower East Side and Brooklyn. Now that St. Marks has become a tourist trap where kids are starting to play "where's the punk?" amid the Starbucks, Chipotle, and Mondo Kim's, The Continental is looking for a more "bridge & tunnel" feel complete with pool tables and a less grimy feel. Maybe NYU owns the building too....food for thought....

Friday, February 17, 2006

Crazy Customer Service

I got a notice in the mail the other day that my cable bill was a little overdue. So, I went online to pay it and just take care of the whole thing. When I got home that night, I received a phone call thanking me for my payment. That struck me as really odd - don't these CSRs usually call when they want your money, strongarming you into making a payment over the phone? The funny thing is, it felt kind of nice and I wasn't speaking to an outsourced worker from India either.

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Le Chateau Blanc

Valentine's At White Castle Is A Steamy Affair

A couple of months ago, I was in Bayside and saw a sign at White Castle - "now taking reservations for Valentine's Day." I was thinking of blogging about this then, but I guess the thought was so ridiculous that I erased it from my mind.

Imagine if you will, your loved one telling you that you are going to have a romantic candlelit dinner for two, the reservations are set, only to arrive at White Castle. I'd laugh and think it's kitschy, but part of me would wonder if my stomach would survive the night. You know, they don't call 'em belly bombers for nothing. Of course, there are some die-hard Cravers out there who make this a tradition and take their White Castle very, very seriously.

When I realized that the Valentine's Day promotion is a 16 year old tradition for participating White Castles across the country, I was intrigued to learn more - and realized this is serious business. One White Castle manager started the promotion because V-Day is one of the slowest days of the years and was a way to poke fun at a holiday dedicated to love.

But the die-hards feel this is the perfect place to share the love. As a matter of fact, many couples tied the knot or proposed at White Castles across the country, arriving by limo (and not for the drive thru). Ahhhh - who knew such love could come out of a little steam, and a whole lot of cholesterol?

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Gobble, Gobble

Getty's on yet another purchasing rampage.

Stock photography is a very strange world. Believe me, I should know - it was 5 years of my life. When I started, it was a very exciting time - I started at Tony Stone Images as a web account executive at a period of time where people were still wary of downloading anything from the internet. Chromes were still the norm, and we still had quite a library of "mainstock" or 35mm of some really bizarre images (lederhosen and flugelhorns, anyone?). Getty was our parent company and the "analog to digital revolution" was something that seemed really exciting, and well, revolutionary at the time. We were a small company, with only one other brand under our name, Photodisc.

Getty has always been about acquiring "best of breed" brands with innovative, fresh perspectives on the world of stock photography. Photonica's acquisition last summer was no surprise. And now, iStockPhoto was just announced as Getty's newest feather in its cap. Am I shocked? No, but I'm really bummed about it. I thought that finally, there was a stock photo model that was punk rock enough to stand up to Getty. Anyone could sign up and be a photographer through them and the photos were sold cheaply to buyers. Wow! At first, I was against the model and felt a twinge - this model could totally screw over the entire stock photo industry - BRILLIANT! I guess, as the old saying goes, "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

The Getty backlash is still in effect, though - Jupiter Images' ad campaign with all their brands which were once sold on Getty as part of a 3rd party agreement states "250,000 images no longer on Getty Images." I crack up everytime I see it. More power to 'em!

Thursday, February 09, 2006

The Doll Wars

Barbie's Tiara Knocked Off By Bratz

It's a fight that's been brewing for a couple of years now. Barbie, the reigning champion is in jeopardy of being dethroned by a group of Bratz. This cat fight between a group of squeaky clean blondes and brunette bratz is almost as big as the Britney vs. Christina debate.

You see, Barbie is going through a midlife crisis and all. She dumped Ken for Aussie hunk Blaine (Blaine...that's an appliance, that's not a name!). Mattel sent Ken off on a global trek to "find" himself. Back as a well-traveled, cultured metrosexual, Barbie took him back. But will that bring back sales to Mattel's flagship product. The squeaky-clean, girl-next-door image that she's embodied is not attracting sales. In fact, girls are bored of the unrealistic portrayal that Barbie has had in our popular culture, despite the fact that she's been an astronaut, teacher, and rock star. It seems as girls are not really as into dolls as they used to be - in an age of interactivity and customization, is there a future for the fashion-conscious doll?

The answer may be in the success of Bratz - they are edgier, curvier, sassier, and it looks like they've dethroned Barbie in doll sales. So much so that Mattel created 2 extensions to the Barbie line - the defunct Flavas and the Bratz wannabees My Scene. Regardless of the outcome in this dueling-diva showdown, Barbie still remains on top in terms of branding. With collector's items galore and a successful straight-to-video biz, it looks like Barbie isn't going anywhere yet. As the old saying goes, the more things change, the more they remain the same.

cinnabon26's Last.fm Weekly Tracks Chart

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Losing It

A few short years ago, cell phones were a luxury. They weren't really necessary - convenient, sure - but necessary, not exactly. When I bought my first cell phone, it was heavy, cumbersome. It was ugly, too, and it was through a now extinct carrier - Omnipoint. It was 1999, and I bought it when I was in between jobs. It made a lot of sense to schedule interviews, give feedback, all that business-like stuff. Then, Omnipoint went under and I did without the phone for a while. Eventually, I got a new phone service complete with a new number and everything. Slowly, my cell phone became a complete necessity. Instead of shutting it off, I left it on 24/7. It was extremely useful when meeting potential suitors - no home phone number for crazies or the guys I had to think twice about (you know, after a night of drinks, your mind gets a little fuzzy). Essentially, it's a legit number that I didn't have to answer.

Now, fast forward a few years and so many people I know have given up their traditional landline. Why pay another bill? Why have a home phone, when in this day and age everyone is out and about and home is a refuge? So, what's to become of the traditional phone? I don't know. I still have my landline & it proved to be useful when reporting my cell phone as lost. I used to keep it for internet access, but once I got my laptop, I discovered that my AirPort is detecting signals from my neighbors which I take complete advantage of. I can barely count on one hand the people who call me on it along with the number of times I've used it to call anyone on a monthly basis. My cell has become my everyday phone and has totally become indispensable.

About a month ago, I needed to replace my last-generation cell phone as the screen was completely shot. Coincidentaly, I got an offer in the mail for a new phone for free when I extended my contract. Yesterday I realized that my coat pocket was a little lighter and I noticed that this essential communication device was missing. I checked the office - no dice. Was a little pissed, but not as much as I thought I'd be. So, instead of saying that I can live without my cell phone, like Marc has been doing for about a month now, I got on the train to Forest Hills, and went to the Cingular store. I replaced it with an identical Samsung phone which cost a whopping $150 - which is exactly $150 more than I spend in the first place. When asked if I wanted insurance, I paused, said no, recalled this event in my head, then quickly changed my mind. Better to be safe than sorry.

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Will iSuccumb?

I am part of the old-school. I prefer cds to mp3s & I guess that's considered old-fashioned by now, but I like having beautiful cover art, something I could put my hands on. A few years ago, before the iPod craze began, I was among the first to purchase an mp3 cd player. I thought I was so high tech.

Apple is trying to woo me. It was just announced that they are adding a new iPod nano at the 1 gb mark, priced at an affordable $149. The 512 mb iPod Shuffle is marked down to an I-don't-know-if-I-can-resist $69. I sure am tempted. Then again, I've been championing the fact that I am one of the last people on the face of the planet without an iPod - an item that has become synonymous with mp3 player (even a competing product uses the ubiquitous "i"). It's become an essential accessory.

Riding the 7 train home this evening, I carefully observed my surroundings. I was carrying my old clunker - as big as a Plymouth Duster. It fell and made this big thud on the ground. My fellow riders ignored me, but I couldn't help but notice everyone wearing those little white earbuds with wires leading neatly to their pockets. I curse at them as I hold my cd player under my arm, just so I could read a magazine freely. I remember when portable cd players first came out, and the main issue critics had was the true lack of portability. The iPod is calling my name and I may finally answer to the House of Jobs - heck I just got my iBook - may as well become a full fledged convert, huh?

Last, At the Very Least

When you join forces with the love of your life, there are a few traditions that normally occur. The woman, of course traditionally takes on the last name of her husband and they live happily ever after. Well, in this post-feminist age and in an era where hipster/yuppie morals merge into one, it just seems perfectly normal to create your own name. One that is a combination of both, that proves your undying love and knowledge that the two of you are two equal partners.

In Sunday's Times, a columnist discusses her reasons for taking this step into marital bliss and justifies her reasons for creating a unique identity for both her and her husband. As one would expect, most find it weird. Me, I'm a traditional girl - when I take my trip down the aisle, I want my husband's name - not hyphenating, not creating something new. Hyphenating seems way too snobby and yuppie for me - I'm a down to earth girl, don't really like the idea of a multi-syllabic name that really doesn't quite roll off the tongue. Creating a new name? How wacky is that? Just seems like another hipster/trendy thing that doesn't make too much sense. Watch, I bet a bunch of Williamsburghers are gonna think this is the best thing ever and will happily shell out $500 for creating a custom name.

Poppin' Pills & Countin' Sheep

In today's non-stop 24/7 world, getting a good night's sleep can be a challenge. So much so, that an onslaught of prescribed sleeping pills like Lunesta have hit the market. The advertising encourages you to "catch" a good night's sleep with minimal side effects. Of course the spots have proven effective - sleeping pill prescriptions have been issued in record numbers. Some of the things not mentioned in the ads are the side effects being short-term amnesia, sleepwalking, and being sleepy throughout the next day. Of course the ads brush off the side effects saying that you will be happy, enjoy an improved sex life, with a good night's sleep as the icing on the cake. All this at a time where more pharmaceuticals are developing and stocking shelves with competing products.

With the heavy DTC push, patients are asking for the prescriptions often before doctors are fully educated on all the effects of the medication. Ad spending on sleep medications was over $275 million last year, more than ever before. More and more people are being told they are insomniacs just like the big push a couple of years back that we all have Adult ADD. Everyone has periods of worry at times, especially in a society that tends to value work more highly than family and where we are one nation under debt. Let the pushers push, but we should push 'em right back.

Monday, February 06, 2006

Little Tokyo in LIC?

When thinking of Long Island City, the only thing Japanese that comes to mind is the Noguchi Museum. If Hiroyuki Takenaga gets his wish, according to a New York Times article published yesterday, LIC (in the central Court Square/Jackson Ave area) will become a massive Japanese business district. The only thing is, this area has been the next big thing since I lived there, and that was 1997.

The LIC of 2006 is a developer's dream - a prime area that has been touted the next Williamsburgh forever. Artists have long had studios in the area - and with PS1 being there, of course it's an artist's haven. Everyone seems to want a piece of the action. My favorite part of living in the area, aside from the $350 I paid monthly in rent (yes, a 2 bedroom was really $700 at one point there), the best part was that view. Walking out of my building offered the most amazing view of the skyline there was. It is priceless. I think our Japanese friend's "golden triangle" may just be a dream at this point, as he's a little late to the developer's party. I mean, last summer LIC was slated to be the Olympic Village for a little thing called the....urrr....Olympics.

Speaking of LIC and the great Queens hype, the area still has a way to go in terms of development. There are no pharmacies, only one supermarket (a shabby C-Town on 21st and 44th Drive), and a couple of laundromats. Sure, they now have some cool bars, and the restaurant scene has really picked up over the years, but basic amenities are still few and far between. I love the area and would love to move back, but I remember living there and getting on a train just to get some Advil. I know LIC has slowly become more of a "neighborhood," but the pace is almost too slow.

No Vacationing on the Subway!

The most recent advertising controversy in NYC are the latest round of train ads for the Bahamas. It shows ways that you have an "instant escape" during your commute. They are quite clever - one depicts turning a seat into an instant hammock, while another cheekily gives instructions on how to fly fish with a cell phone and scarf. Real serious stuff, huh? This is leaving the MTA in an tizzy, because it completely breaks all their rules of conduct - which were just updated about a month ago. Sure, we know better than to hog up seats, and no one in their right mind is really going to fly fish over the platform, but if you're going to advertise on the subway, you've got to set an example. CBS Outdoor, who placed the ads are taking down the 2 instant escapes in question.

The MTA means business, too and are cracking down on dual seat offenders. A Brooklyn woman was slapped with a $50 fine last week for putting her groceries on the seat next to her on an empty F train. I bet the MTA is saying that by keeping these ads up, it is only encouraging such deviant behavior. Whole Foods gave the woman a $100 gift certificate saying that "no one should be punished for taking their groceries home." The woman is still going to fight the ticket, and the Straphangers Campaign supports her.

This isn't the first time a subway ad has been scrutinized. Last summer, the awful "Mitchum Man" campaign which pretty much declared how much of a man you were if you could jump over a turnstile or kick in the emergency window. Those were just plain stupid. But vacation, who doesn't want to go on vacation?

Saturday, February 04, 2006

The Times May Change, But The Title Remains The Same

Jane Magazine, which was founded by Sassy editor Jane Pratt in 1997 is undergoing a facelift. Under new editorialship, the monthly magazine that was known as the anti-Cosmo is blossoming into a softer, sweeter 20-something mag. Back in '97, when Jane launched, I was completely excited, because I was an original Sassy reader and loved the conversational tone the magazine had. You instantly felt a connection to the editors and regular columnists - it wasn't preachy, it was fun and had a slightly sarcastic tone that I identified with. It was the first magazine that I knew of that really spoke to 20-somethings on their level. Sure, that was a time where Generation X - my generation didn't really have something for me - magazines were still more Cosmo and Glamour which to me, was a farce - it seemed like the fashion, beauty, sex thing was just a constantly recycled formula. Jane's formula was that it didn't follow - it led.

Now that the generational tide has shifted, and as the bulk of Gen X is either in, or rapidly approaching their 30s, the voice has changed as well. As one of the magazine's publishers declared, "grunge is dead" - so is the era of quick-witted, sarcastic Generation X. As the generations shift, so do the trends - the publishers really wanted to get "out of the dark" and be more bright and optimistic, which is exactly what their audience wants. Millenials are more in tune to fashion and trends and are used to being marketed to, so they are not as anti-establishment as their X counterparts.

I will miss the old Jane. But I won't hate on version 2.0 - to sell magazines, you need to know your audience and keep evolving with it, which is something I totally commend the new editor and the publishers for doing. The only thing is, what will an X Girl like myself have to to read that isn't Cosmo, Glamour, or (gasp) Redbook?

Friday, February 03, 2006

Smash Hits Going Under

Just read a bit on the YPulse blog about the Britpop magazine, Smash Hits ceasing publication. Goodness, that magazine brings back so many memories. I remember reading this once essential pop music magazine to find out about import releases and all things British (which was a pretty darn cool thing to emulate in the 80s). I used to tear out the pages and plaster them on my wall - Morrissey, New Order, Depeche Mode, Siouxsie. They gave the kind of coverage of new wave pop that US magazines ignored. This was the period before alternative was alternative and only one radio station even dared to be different here in NYC (that was the legendary Long Island station WDRE ). I remember going into the Village, which was a big deal when I was in high school, tracking down imported cds from the UK - because all of the best music came from across the pond. Reading Smash Hits was essential when I started high school - this is circa 1988. When each issue came out, it was devoured rather quickly. I'd read all of the reviews for new singles that weren't available here in the States yet and astonish my friends with my musical knowledge. Smash Hits gave me the irresistable urge to continuously feed my hunger for new music - something that I continue to this day.

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Movie Night - Munich

Munich is a powerful, political film that resonates with the state of the world now. Unfortunately, the state of the Middle East has grown worse and terrorism is not only a worldwide epidemic, but a way of life. It really makes you see that by going "an eye for an eye" only drives one further into madness. You really watch the transition of Avner, from a simple family man into a murderer who is driven into a state of madness and paranoia. There's one scene that takes place in London where Avner completely looks like Alex from A Clockwork Orange - he has that same maniacal look on his face while walking in the rain with one mission in his mind. The similarities from that point on to Kubrick's Clockwork become totally apparent. Sure, the 11 that murdered the Israeli athletes should be condemned, but it seems each time that one of Avner's "droogs" made a hit, the Israelis were hit harder. Each time Avner got information from Louie, he was being betrayed. One by one, his group got smaller and the psychosis that Avner falls into toward the end is completely riveting.

I've always felt that neither side is right in this conflict, and it further shows that a government that is ruled by religion is completely unjust. Religion and politics are never good when thrust together and it drives people toward insanity. This film resonates with what is going on in the world now - the situation keeps escalating and escalating. Two wrongs most certainly do not make a right. If both sides continue their "eye for an eye" ethos, the world will destroy itself.

"Adults Don't Understand Emo!" WTF
Ahhhhh, disaffected youth isn't what it was when I was in high school. Actually, it totally is.

Take a look at this posting on Phatgnat - http://www.phatgnat.com/log/2006/February/01/448/
The "why do they wear black all the time" thing was questioned to me when I was a teen, cherishing my beloved Smiths records, and scribbling on my notebook "I wear black on the outside because black is how I feel on the inside." So, emo is not a new thing at all. It's just the style of music associated with teens clad in black has changed - we were the new wavers who listened to that "strange" music that was beyond our elders' comprehension. I think there's always a clique in high school that is dedicated to those who are artsy and wear black. What's old is new again - everything is recycled. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

My Love Affair With Last.fm

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a total music geek - I am always looking for new music, reading music news, going to the listening stations at Virgin in Union Square, playing with my Amazon recommendations just so I could just find something new. When Marc told me about Last.fm, I took a peek, installed their "audioscrobbler" and waited for recommendations which are based on what you play in your iTunes. For a really long time, I kept getting The Flaming Lips as my number 1 recommendation (Marc did too, so we thought they paid them off). They changed it a while ago and I just started to get hooked again. I will share my Top 10 tracks played here for you as charted on Last.fm - soon I'll link my charts here, too!

cinnabon26's Last.fm Weekly Tracks Chart

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

The Best Fake Meat!

Okay, I'm not declaring myself a vegetarian - at least yet. Once a month, to cease the crazy statements from my parents (ie: "we are made to eat meat!" "you are depriving yourself" etc....) I quietly eat what's in front of me. The only insistence that I make is that it's kosher, and they've been good with that.

At any rate - enough with the labels thing, what I really wanted to talk about is how amazing Red Bamboo on W 4th Street is. Now, some of you meat eaters out there are probably really skeptical about fake meat. In all honesty, sure the "chicken" satay doesn't taste like "real" chicken, but it's better - when I was finished, I wanted more! It was soooooo hard to decide what to eat - so much fake chicken - you could have it jerked, cajun style, even parm! The fake beef dishes also looked amazing - my boyfriend had "voodoo sticks" which was fake steak on skewers, and my friend had a HUGE "steak" salad. I was eyeing the desserts, so me & Marc (that's the boyfriend) decided to share a vegan oreo cheesecake. We were, in fact a little skeptical about this, but were totally in heaven - words cannot describe how much heaven was in every bite. They are opening another restaurant in Fort Greene soon - another reason why I'm anxiously awaiting my move to Brooklyn!