Check this video out. I produced this as part of a mass effort to increase the awareness of Green Jobs Growth in PA, and encourage the passage of State-Level legislation that will promote and cultivate new growth in this sector.
This is part one, so if you dig it, go to www.youtube.com/pennfuture and check out part two.
08 June 2008
Great Green Jobs pt. 1
02 May 2008
24 April 2008
The Rhetoric of Houlihan’s Restaurant ‘Sex in the City’ Advertising
Houlihan’s is a mid-scale restaurant chain that specializes in American style foods and original drink concoctions. In 2003 and 2004 I worked for Houlihan’s as a waiter, and recognize the fact that the promotional branch of this restaurant is very strong and well coordinated. In a recent dining experience at Houlihan’s I was exposed to their latest marketing tactic, which involves a collaboration effort with the upcoming release of the ‘Sex in the City’ movie. From my observations, I find it blatantly obvious that Houlihan’s is currently involved in a marketing tactic that utilizes the ‘Sex in the City’ title, along with several other elements of rhetoric to push the sale of martinis. Additionally, I would like to assume that this marketing tactic is more exclusively appealing to women, however, I recognize the fact that this example may also appeal to certain types of men.
Houlihan’s main marketing material in this effort is a table tent graphic art exhibit that displays a variety of rhetorical devices. Additionally, the organization has incorporated the use of graphic t-shirts in their wait staff uniforms as a reinforcement piece. One rhetorical device used in this piece is the word ‘Diva’. The Oxford American Dictionary defines ‘Diva’ as:
1. A famous female Opera singer
2. An admired, glamorous or distinguished woman
From these definitions, we can assume that there are several different types of people that the word ‘Diva’ will appeal to. These definitions reveal to us that ‘Diva’ denotes a woman, and one who is distinguished and well liked. The main definition, regarding the famous Opera singer, actually has little to do with the marketing in this example, unless you utilize the word ‘famous’ and remove the association with an Opera singer. If the goals of a particular person are to obtain a level or feeling of fame, and this person associates the word ‘Diva’ with fame, then consuming a martini under the title of ‘Diva’ may produce an association with fame. Whereas, if a particular person desires to be distinguished and glamorous, and this person associates the word ‘Diva’ with glamour and credibility, then consuming a martini under the title of ‘Diva’ will produce an association with glamour and credibility.
In this example, the word ‘Diva’ is displayed in Houlihan’s marketing materials on the top of the table tents, and also as the main graphic on the front of the wait staff uniform t-shirts. In the case of the table tents, the word ‘Diva’ is displayed in all capital letters and surrounded by a lime green decorative border. The font size of the word is similar in scale to three other graphics within the advertisement. These graphics are: the Houlihan’s logo, the ‘Sex in the City’ logo, and a graphic of a young, glamorous female who is holding a martini. These four design elements are displayed in the four corners of the advertisement, therefore connecting them to one another, and containing the rest of the information on the table tent within their boundaries.
The table tent display most directly associates the word ‘Diva’ with the young, glamorous, martini-drinking female. The word ‘Diva’ is directly beside her, and with the decorative border pointing towards a martini that is in her hand. This graphic correlation indicates that young women can associate themselves with the word ‘Diva’, and everything that the word implies, by drinking a martini.
Moving down the page, we find a slogan attached to the word ‘Diva’. The slogan reads “The Perfect Accessory: The Martini”. Now we find a strong correlation between the Martini, and the concept of Accessories. An appropriate syllogism that this marketing tactic is attempting to assume looks like this:
Women buy fashion accessories
The martini can be considered a fashion accessory
So, Women will buy martinis
On this premise, Houlihan’s has defined a popular item that exists outside of the restaurant business and has connected it to a consumable product on their menu. If we return to the image of the young, martini-drinking female on Houlihan’s table tent marketing material, we find that the image of the martini within the female’s hand is on the same plane as a large hoop earring in the female’s ear. Therefore, Houlihan’s is connecting the martini with the earring, and attempting to associate the drink with other popular accessories.
What we have defined to this point in the message of Houlihan’s marketing tactic is that Diva’s are young, glamorous, women who accessorize and proclaim their ‘Diva-ness’ by donning martini’s. We can assume that a certain number of clients are going to associate with this descriptor, or want to be associated with this model image. In truth, however, Houlihan’s has not hit the entire audience with just this marketing angle, and they know it. There are two other distinct elements within the design that appeal to broader audiences: The association with ‘Sex in the City’ and a $5 price tag.
The most pertinent of these elements is the association of the advertisement with the TV show, “Sex In the City”. Personally, I have never seen the show, and have little knowledge of how the elements of the show are present in the advertisement. Knowing this, I consulted with a friend who is fanatically obsessed (literally) with the show ‘Sex in the City’. For the sake of this analysis, we’ll call her Kate. Kate explained to me that each of the drink concoctions presented in the advertisement are named after characters within the television show. The drinks, and their association with the characters are as follows:
1. Tutu Mango (the Carrie):
a. Drink description: Fun, fruity and totally original. Helloooo, Lover.
i. SKYY Vodka, Triple Sec & Mango
b. Character description: Carrie is the main character in the show, and writes the column “Sex in the City”. The column is about her friend’s trials and tribulations in the sex world. She is a funky dresser, and is outgoing.
2. X Boyfriend (the Samantha)
a. Drink description: Liberating and OH so satisfying
i. SKYY Vodka, X-Rated Fusion, Grapefruit & Cranberry
b. Character description: Samantha is the promiscuous character. She sleeps around, and gets with a new guy every day. She only dates younger men, because it makes her feel better.
3. Tartlet (the Miranda)
a. Drink description: Tart and sassy. Baby’s breath meets Harvard Law.
i. SKYY Vodka, Campari & Guava
b. Character description: Miranda is a tomboy. She’s tough and doesn’t take flak from anyone. She is a lawyer, has a kid, and is a no-nonsense mom.
4. Peach Yorkie (the Charlotte)
a. Drink description: Accessorize with pearls, twinset, and anything Burberry.
i. SKYY Vodka, Triple Sec, Disaronno & Peach
b. Character description: Charlotte is prim & proper. Just wants to married and have babies. She is also a Museum curator.
5. Mr. Big shot
a. Drink Description: Sweet and sour. On and off. Here’s looking at you, Kid.
i. SKYY Citrus Vodka & Fresh Squeezed Lemonade
b. Character description: Mr. Big Shot is Carrie’s on again off again lover.
With the understanding that each of the drinks associates with a character in the show, we can begin to understand how Houlihan’s is attempting to use the names and descriptors of the characters to create a mental association of the client with the drink. For example, if a client associates at all with one or more of the show’s characters, they may be more inclined to read the description, consider how the drink concoction represents the character, and hopefully purchase a drink, or two. The point here is that a fan of the show will most likely take the time to at least read and think about what the advertisement is presenting. The variety of language that the descriptors utilize then becomes a vector for steering the client’s thoughts towards associating with one or more of the products. Infinite possibilities for association, contemplation, and thought about the products become present in the clients mind, which then enables Houlihan’s to market directly to the fan of the show.
If the attempt to produce an association with ‘Diva’, or an association with the show ‘Sex in the City’ fails, there is a third mechanism present in this advertisement that is above all else: price point. $5 is a nice even number, and it’s cheaper than all of the other martinis on Houlihan’s menu. This is going to get to the bottom of the price conscious individuals gut, consumer instincts. The price point line of the advertisement reads, “Exclusive Sex and the City Martinis $5 on Wednesdays”. This says “We’ve got something special, and we’ll sell it to you for less than our other drinks”. At this point, the customer has had three unique exposures that will cause them to at least consider purchasing one of these drinks.
From my experience in working with Houlihan’s as a waiter, I know that the goal of this company is to sell alcoholic beverages to dining customers. There are multiple efforts made by Houlihan’s that include advertisements, constant creation of new and appealing drink concoctions, and training their wait staff to sell drinks. At this point, the word ‘Diva’ returns to the example, and the wait staff assigned to the customer comes up to the table, sporting their ‘Diva’-clad uniforms, and asking them the signature line, “Can I bring you one of our new martinis”. This is the point in time when all of the elements discussed previously come together. The customer has a split second to decide whether or not they have associated with any of the elements presented on the table tent, consider whether or not they want to break their association with these elements, and say “yes” or “no”. In the case of my wife, the answer was “yes”, even though we unanimously agreed prior to entering the restaurant that we would not be drinking alcohol with this meal. As a side note, this is the reason that I chose the Houlihan’s example as the topic for my paper.
The ‘Diva’, the use of ‘Sex in the City’ as a co-collaborative marketing effort, and the price point of the Houlihan’s drinks are a deadly mix of rhetoric genius. Houlihan’s marketing branch has used words and images to make customers associate with their products in an effort to persuade them to buy drinks. As stated by my wife, “It’s not so much about ‘Sex in the City’ is it”, to which I answered, “No sweety, it’s about getting our money”.
Houlihan’s main marketing material in this effort is a table tent graphic art exhibit that displays a variety of rhetorical devices. Additionally, the organization has incorporated the use of graphic t-shirts in their wait staff uniforms as a reinforcement piece. One rhetorical device used in this piece is the word ‘Diva’. The Oxford American Dictionary defines ‘Diva’ as:
1. A famous female Opera singer
2. An admired, glamorous or distinguished woman
From these definitions, we can assume that there are several different types of people that the word ‘Diva’ will appeal to. These definitions reveal to us that ‘Diva’ denotes a woman, and one who is distinguished and well liked. The main definition, regarding the famous Opera singer, actually has little to do with the marketing in this example, unless you utilize the word ‘famous’ and remove the association with an Opera singer. If the goals of a particular person are to obtain a level or feeling of fame, and this person associates the word ‘Diva’ with fame, then consuming a martini under the title of ‘Diva’ may produce an association with fame. Whereas, if a particular person desires to be distinguished and glamorous, and this person associates the word ‘Diva’ with glamour and credibility, then consuming a martini under the title of ‘Diva’ will produce an association with glamour and credibility.
In this example, the word ‘Diva’ is displayed in Houlihan’s marketing materials on the top of the table tents, and also as the main graphic on the front of the wait staff uniform t-shirts. In the case of the table tents, the word ‘Diva’ is displayed in all capital letters and surrounded by a lime green decorative border. The font size of the word is similar in scale to three other graphics within the advertisement. These graphics are: the Houlihan’s logo, the ‘Sex in the City’ logo, and a graphic of a young, glamorous female who is holding a martini. These four design elements are displayed in the four corners of the advertisement, therefore connecting them to one another, and containing the rest of the information on the table tent within their boundaries.
The table tent display most directly associates the word ‘Diva’ with the young, glamorous, martini-drinking female. The word ‘Diva’ is directly beside her, and with the decorative border pointing towards a martini that is in her hand. This graphic correlation indicates that young women can associate themselves with the word ‘Diva’, and everything that the word implies, by drinking a martini.
Moving down the page, we find a slogan attached to the word ‘Diva’. The slogan reads “The Perfect Accessory: The Martini”. Now we find a strong correlation between the Martini, and the concept of Accessories. An appropriate syllogism that this marketing tactic is attempting to assume looks like this:
Women buy fashion accessories
The martini can be considered a fashion accessory
So, Women will buy martinis
On this premise, Houlihan’s has defined a popular item that exists outside of the restaurant business and has connected it to a consumable product on their menu. If we return to the image of the young, martini-drinking female on Houlihan’s table tent marketing material, we find that the image of the martini within the female’s hand is on the same plane as a large hoop earring in the female’s ear. Therefore, Houlihan’s is connecting the martini with the earring, and attempting to associate the drink with other popular accessories.
What we have defined to this point in the message of Houlihan’s marketing tactic is that Diva’s are young, glamorous, women who accessorize and proclaim their ‘Diva-ness’ by donning martini’s. We can assume that a certain number of clients are going to associate with this descriptor, or want to be associated with this model image. In truth, however, Houlihan’s has not hit the entire audience with just this marketing angle, and they know it. There are two other distinct elements within the design that appeal to broader audiences: The association with ‘Sex in the City’ and a $5 price tag.
The most pertinent of these elements is the association of the advertisement with the TV show, “Sex In the City”. Personally, I have never seen the show, and have little knowledge of how the elements of the show are present in the advertisement. Knowing this, I consulted with a friend who is fanatically obsessed (literally) with the show ‘Sex in the City’. For the sake of this analysis, we’ll call her Kate. Kate explained to me that each of the drink concoctions presented in the advertisement are named after characters within the television show. The drinks, and their association with the characters are as follows:
1. Tutu Mango (the Carrie):
a. Drink description: Fun, fruity and totally original. Helloooo, Lover.
i. SKYY Vodka, Triple Sec & Mango
b. Character description: Carrie is the main character in the show, and writes the column “Sex in the City”. The column is about her friend’s trials and tribulations in the sex world. She is a funky dresser, and is outgoing.
2. X Boyfriend (the Samantha)
a. Drink description: Liberating and OH so satisfying
i. SKYY Vodka, X-Rated Fusion, Grapefruit & Cranberry
b. Character description: Samantha is the promiscuous character. She sleeps around, and gets with a new guy every day. She only dates younger men, because it makes her feel better.
3. Tartlet (the Miranda)
a. Drink description: Tart and sassy. Baby’s breath meets Harvard Law.
i. SKYY Vodka, Campari & Guava
b. Character description: Miranda is a tomboy. She’s tough and doesn’t take flak from anyone. She is a lawyer, has a kid, and is a no-nonsense mom.
4. Peach Yorkie (the Charlotte)
a. Drink description: Accessorize with pearls, twinset, and anything Burberry.
i. SKYY Vodka, Triple Sec, Disaronno & Peach
b. Character description: Charlotte is prim & proper. Just wants to married and have babies. She is also a Museum curator.
5. Mr. Big shot
a. Drink Description: Sweet and sour. On and off. Here’s looking at you, Kid.
i. SKYY Citrus Vodka & Fresh Squeezed Lemonade
b. Character description: Mr. Big Shot is Carrie’s on again off again lover.
With the understanding that each of the drinks associates with a character in the show, we can begin to understand how Houlihan’s is attempting to use the names and descriptors of the characters to create a mental association of the client with the drink. For example, if a client associates at all with one or more of the show’s characters, they may be more inclined to read the description, consider how the drink concoction represents the character, and hopefully purchase a drink, or two. The point here is that a fan of the show will most likely take the time to at least read and think about what the advertisement is presenting. The variety of language that the descriptors utilize then becomes a vector for steering the client’s thoughts towards associating with one or more of the products. Infinite possibilities for association, contemplation, and thought about the products become present in the clients mind, which then enables Houlihan’s to market directly to the fan of the show.
If the attempt to produce an association with ‘Diva’, or an association with the show ‘Sex in the City’ fails, there is a third mechanism present in this advertisement that is above all else: price point. $5 is a nice even number, and it’s cheaper than all of the other martinis on Houlihan’s menu. This is going to get to the bottom of the price conscious individuals gut, consumer instincts. The price point line of the advertisement reads, “Exclusive Sex and the City Martinis $5 on Wednesdays”. This says “We’ve got something special, and we’ll sell it to you for less than our other drinks”. At this point, the customer has had three unique exposures that will cause them to at least consider purchasing one of these drinks.
From my experience in working with Houlihan’s as a waiter, I know that the goal of this company is to sell alcoholic beverages to dining customers. There are multiple efforts made by Houlihan’s that include advertisements, constant creation of new and appealing drink concoctions, and training their wait staff to sell drinks. At this point, the word ‘Diva’ returns to the example, and the wait staff assigned to the customer comes up to the table, sporting their ‘Diva’-clad uniforms, and asking them the signature line, “Can I bring you one of our new martinis”. This is the point in time when all of the elements discussed previously come together. The customer has a split second to decide whether or not they have associated with any of the elements presented on the table tent, consider whether or not they want to break their association with these elements, and say “yes” or “no”. In the case of my wife, the answer was “yes”, even though we unanimously agreed prior to entering the restaurant that we would not be drinking alcohol with this meal. As a side note, this is the reason that I chose the Houlihan’s example as the topic for my paper.
The ‘Diva’, the use of ‘Sex in the City’ as a co-collaborative marketing effort, and the price point of the Houlihan’s drinks are a deadly mix of rhetoric genius. Houlihan’s marketing branch has used words and images to make customers associate with their products in an effort to persuade them to buy drinks. As stated by my wife, “It’s not so much about ‘Sex in the City’ is it”, to which I answered, “No sweety, it’s about getting our money”.
29 March 2008
Again With The Global Warming...
In my opinion, global warming is truly the result of the massive strain that the ever increasing global population is putting on the earth. There is a causative relation between the booming population, the subsequent demand for resources, and the warming of the planet that simply cannot be halted. This is especially true since the topic of population control is such a sensitive issue in various sectors of the societal structure (e.g. Religion, government, medicine, and war).
My perception of irrevocable doom in regards to the warming planet does not make me any less of an advocate for those initiatives directed at addressing the issue. This is because I believe that the ideals behind the work to stop global warming are fundamentally good and necessary for society to pursue as a collective.
We have a true global rallying point in this issue. The topic of Global warming, and the belief that we can save ourselves from it, contains within it an element that society as a whole needs very badly at this time in our history: faith.
My perception of irrevocable doom in regards to the warming planet does not make me any less of an advocate for those initiatives directed at addressing the issue. This is because I believe that the ideals behind the work to stop global warming are fundamentally good and necessary for society to pursue as a collective.
We have a true global rallying point in this issue. The topic of Global warming, and the belief that we can save ourselves from it, contains within it an element that society as a whole needs very badly at this time in our history: faith.
27 March 2008
26 March 2008
Green Jobs and the Future of Pennsylvania
Whether you know or not, I am a media producer for Citizens Pennsylvania's Future, a group that fights for the environment in Pennsylvania through policy maintenance, initiation and transformation, and the informing of the public on issues related to the environment and the future of Pennsylvania. To that end, I would like to share the following podcast with you, which contains commentary from David Foster and several other prominent speakers attending the Good Jobs, Green Jobs Conference in Pittsburgh a week and a half ago.
Click here to listen
I am also happy to see the green job economy getting the attention of major news outlets such as the New York Times. Please read Steven Greenhouses recent piece by clicking here .
In this piece, I tend to agree most directly with Ms. Quam and this quote:
“When I first started looking at this area, many people commented on how this will be as big as the Internet. But this is so much bigger than the Internet. The only comparable example we can find is the Industrial Revolution. It will affect every business and every industry.”
There are enormous opportunities within this field, and it is absolutely necessary to fully embrace this shift in perspective about how we operate as a nation. The benefits extend widely from economic growth, to pathways out of poverty, to environmentally sound practices that will ultimately aid our country in reducing it's carbon footprint. I will also say that it is irrelevant as to whether or not climate change is a real thing, scientific or theoretical. Point being, I like to breath clean air, and you (being all of society) should too. This is undebatable.
Additionally, the importance of embracing the green jobs future is regardless of what oil and gas executives have to say about them and the clean energy future. I think that we need to realize that there are going to be winners and there are going to be losers as we transition to a more environmentally conscious global populous. Think about the transition from horse drawn carriages to automobiles. The horseshoe makers lost that battle, and were eventually put out of business. In the same right, oil and gas companies are going to have to step aside, or jump on board at some point. These industries have had a long tenure, and they will continue to for a long time to come, however, society as a whole must understand that it is merely the rhetoric of an industry who is trying to maintain it's grasp on the business world to say that green jobs have a negative connotation associated with them.
So what is a green job? A green job is any job that helps to aid in the fight against climate change. Therefore, whether it is accounting work in an office of a windmill manufacturing facility, or the physical building of a structure, the job is considered to be "green".
Please take a moment to read this article, and listen to the podcast and educate your self on the importance of building jobs in the clean energy and environmentally sustainable fields. Who knows, you may very well occupy one some day.
Click here to listen
I am also happy to see the green job economy getting the attention of major news outlets such as the New York Times. Please read Steven Greenhouses recent piece by clicking here .
In this piece, I tend to agree most directly with Ms. Quam and this quote:
“When I first started looking at this area, many people commented on how this will be as big as the Internet. But this is so much bigger than the Internet. The only comparable example we can find is the Industrial Revolution. It will affect every business and every industry.”
There are enormous opportunities within this field, and it is absolutely necessary to fully embrace this shift in perspective about how we operate as a nation. The benefits extend widely from economic growth, to pathways out of poverty, to environmentally sound practices that will ultimately aid our country in reducing it's carbon footprint. I will also say that it is irrelevant as to whether or not climate change is a real thing, scientific or theoretical. Point being, I like to breath clean air, and you (being all of society) should too. This is undebatable.
Additionally, the importance of embracing the green jobs future is regardless of what oil and gas executives have to say about them and the clean energy future. I think that we need to realize that there are going to be winners and there are going to be losers as we transition to a more environmentally conscious global populous. Think about the transition from horse drawn carriages to automobiles. The horseshoe makers lost that battle, and were eventually put out of business. In the same right, oil and gas companies are going to have to step aside, or jump on board at some point. These industries have had a long tenure, and they will continue to for a long time to come, however, society as a whole must understand that it is merely the rhetoric of an industry who is trying to maintain it's grasp on the business world to say that green jobs have a negative connotation associated with them.
So what is a green job? A green job is any job that helps to aid in the fight against climate change. Therefore, whether it is accounting work in an office of a windmill manufacturing facility, or the physical building of a structure, the job is considered to be "green".
Please take a moment to read this article, and listen to the podcast and educate your self on the importance of building jobs in the clean energy and environmentally sustainable fields. Who knows, you may very well occupy one some day.
19 March 2008
21 February 2008
"Blue Note: Droppin Science" Album Review
Droppin' Science is defined by the Urban Dictionary as, "laying down something revolutionary, that changes you or messes you up crazy."
I find this amusing, "messes you up crazy". This isn't all that characteristic of the album, but "laying down something revolutionary" is a good definition of the track selection. This most recent Blue Note release doesn't give the listener anything new. In fact, the tracks have been around for awhile, both in their own right and as resurrections in a laundry list of early hip-hop singles.
The playlist for this album was compiled by ?uestlove, drummer for The Roots, and in it he has exposed 13 tracks that make up the foundation of musical inspiration for both himself and for many other hip-hop artists. As a side note, I saw ?uestlove play a DJ gig at Elixer Ultra Lounge in Pittsburgh's SouthSide about a year ago. His whole show was based around playing popular hip-hop tracks and then mixing them together with the original music beds. Exposing secrets. It was pretty interesting.
Due to this subtle nuance, I think that this album was rightly compiled by ?uestlove.
"Droppin' Science" is a great compilation of classic break beat, jazz, funk and soul compilations from the likes of Donald Byrd, Grant Green, Ronnie Foster, Lou Donaldson and a bunch of other names you've probably never heard of.
Check it out. It's a good road map to the hip-hop industry, and a good soundtrack for relaxing on a Sunday afternoon.
Track List:
1. It's Your Thing- Lou Donaldson
2. Mystic Brew- Ronnie Foster
3. Think Twice- Donald Byrd
4. The Edge- David McCullum
5. Oblighetto- Brother Jack McDuff
6. Get Out Of My Life Woman- Joe Williams
7. Down Here On the Ground- Grant Green
8. Spinning Wheel- Lonnie Smith
9. Howling For Judy- Jeremy Steig
10. Who's Making Love- Lou Donaldson
*If you download this on Itunes they'll give you three extra tracks. It's worth it just for the Ronnie Laws track.
11. Tidal Wave- Ronnie Laws
12. Little Green Apples- Monk Higgins
13. Wind Parade- Donald Byrd
17 February 2008
06 February 2008
Two Thousand And Seven
I just need to say this out loud. Listen.
When you are saying a number such as 2007, it is pronounced Two Thousand Seven, not Two Thousand and Seven. By saying the word "and" you are actually denoting that there is a decimal point in the number that you are saying.
That being said, there has apparently been a severe lapse in intelligence amongst news media icons and anchors, as everyone from Katie Couric, to Hilary Clinton, and pretty much the entire Pittsburgh general reporting team have seem to have forgotten this basic and simple principle.
So remember, if you want to sound intelligent, saying the word "and" when pronouncing a number should only be used if you want to indicate that there is a decimal point contained within it.
BooYah!!!!
When you are saying a number such as 2007, it is pronounced Two Thousand Seven, not Two Thousand and Seven. By saying the word "and" you are actually denoting that there is a decimal point in the number that you are saying.
That being said, there has apparently been a severe lapse in intelligence amongst news media icons and anchors, as everyone from Katie Couric, to Hilary Clinton, and pretty much the entire Pittsburgh general reporting team have seem to have forgotten this basic and simple principle.
So remember, if you want to sound intelligent, saying the word "and" when pronouncing a number should only be used if you want to indicate that there is a decimal point contained within it.
BooYah!!!!
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