Microsoft Crashing the Party

Short Stack 2.0
Originally uploaded by *nathan.

When I think of Microsoft, the first thing that comes to mind is how much of a pain in the ass working on a PC is. The minute I switched over to using a Mac, I could not believe that all I needed to do to use any peripherals was just plug it in. With a PC, you need installation cds, run the application, install it...and so on. When Apple launched the iPod, a new generation of Mac users was born - more and more people made the switch over and the House of Jobs became a sacred temple. The iRevolution has changed the face of how we buy and listen to music - and some can say that Apple has saved the music industry.

Now, we all knew that Microsoft wouldn't just be standing in the sidelines and looking like a punching bag. Actually, they've been quietly developing their iPod killer for a while. The difference is that the Microsoft player will have Wifi so users can download audio and video content wirelessly. All in time for the Christmas shopping season. Honestly, I think that Microsoft is crashing the party a bit late, but since Apple does control 80% of the market, competition is a good thing.

Oh, and by the way - don't you think that Steve Jobs already thought of this? I think he has. All we can do is wait and see.

Let Them Have Cake

Office Birthday Party
Originally uploaded by NWC021792.

Imagine if you will a world without office birthday parties that included the all-important cake. People look forward to the cake. In fact, that's usually the only thing cubicle workers look forward to break free from the monotony of the computer screen. Okay, well no one really looks forward to the singing. Now with companies becoming obo-phobic, some places are banning certain foods from the premises - including that 4 o'clock chocolate rush. Making a healthy celebration is sure to drive the party to the local bar afterwards - I mean who blows out a birthday candle on a rice cake?

For the most part, bringing healthier foods to the office is a good thing - BUT employers should not force employees to only eat approved foods on their premises. Some places are really smart about it - revamping vending machines and charging more money in cafeterias for a burger and fries or a bag of peanuts than a grilled salmon entree or a pack of Ring Dings. Prohibiting foods that employees bring into offices is awful - these are adults and they can bring what they want- but changing the face of what's offered in the break room is another story. Maybe instead of individual birthday cakes for each employee, a good compromise would be to just have one cake for the month's b-days. Come on, it's only once a month!

You WILL Conform!

Mac & Cheese
Originally uploaded by Woupidy.

Mac & cheese is one of those dishes that everyone loves. I almost can't believe that I tried this quintessential comfort dish only a year ago.

In the past few years, a bunch of single dish restaurants have been popping up around NYC - you have Pommes Frites, Grilled Cheese NYC (which is now closed), Peanut Butter & Co., Dumpling Man, and now S'Mac - the new mac n' cheese spot in the East Village that has been getting quite a bit of press attention over the past week. The micro menu trend is getting more and more attention because it stands out from the crowd. Most restaurants serve dishes one way and don't build upon it - here, you have one base dish, and so many variations of it. I'm sure too, that owners are banking on the fact that you, the consumer will start to associate your cravings for that dish to their establishment - which can only lead to growth.

For people to wait on half hour lines in 90 degree heat for hearty winter fare must mean that S'Mac must be doing something right. With enough options to keep customers satisfy their cravings, the lines won't get shorter anytime soon.

Crazy Changes!

If anyone reads this blog and is wondering why there's been a lack of posts, just wanted to let you know that no, I am not becoming a part of the abandoned blog graveyard! Actually, a lot has been going on - I just moved from Jackson Heights to Williamsburg and also started a new job within one week of each other, so I've been adjusting to both.

Yeah, so rather than reading up on branding, I've been obsessed with Gothamist, Free Williamsburg, Curbed, Brownstoner, and Chowhound. I've been researching every iota of what's happening on Grand Street which is right around the corner from me here in East Williamsburg which does in fact exist! It's really exciting to be in the part of the general Williamsburg area that is still rough around the edges and the energy is real good here.

Alright, enough of this - let's get back to Culture Junk!

Wrestling as a Lifestyle

Old School
Originally uploaded by tikkirulz.

Ah, the WWE...I remember when I was in junior high and wrestling was the shit. Back then, it was the WWF and WrestleMania was still a new thing. Hulk Hogan and Rowdy Roddy Piper, Macho Man and Elizabeth, George "The Animal" Steele and Sgt. Slaughter - all names I remember. I actually went to a few matches with my Dad at Nassau Colisseum - not the most girly thing to do, but back then wrestling was a total phenomenon. It was so big that Cyndi Lauper got in the ring once with Captain Lou and he was in the infamous "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" video.

There was a WWF Magazine back in the day as well, and I remember reading stories that featured Macho Man and Elizabeth, have interviews with other wrestlers and give a recap of what happened in the ring. It was very guy focused, but I'd read my Dad's copies. It was back in the so-called golden era of wrestling - the mid to late 80s. So, when I read about the so-called launch of a brand-new WWE Magazine to be fashioned after Maxim or FHM, I immediately thought "wait, they've done that before and pulled the plug."

You see, in the late 80s, there weren't any magazines that were anything like the current men's magazines that are out now. You had GQ and Esquire with Details just coming out. Plus, people weren't as interested in wrestling as they used to - the fad faded, therefore they scaled the publication back with Raw and Smackdown which was focused on the ring to sell to the diehards. Will wrestling ever be the truly awesome phenomenon that it was in the 80s? I don't know if that's something that can be recreated at this point.