Occupy Wall Street and Postconsumerism
Over the past few weeks the Occupy Wall Street movement has been making waves all over the country as a backlash against financial institutions and corporations. Influenced by the magazine Adbusters, the protests have spread all over the world, involving people from diverse backgrounds, ages, and genders. But does the Occupy Wall Street movement have anything to do with postconsumerism? How Did We Get Here? While there hasn’t been an official list [...]
How Much Money Does a 30-Second TV Commercial Cost?
With slick, big-budget movies being a big part of our culture these days, the style has permeated into every single aspect of the media, on down to the short 30-second commercials on TV and before the movies. We hear about the exorbitant amount of money companies spend on commercials during big-time events like the Oscars and the Super Bowl, but what about primetime, when all those folks are watching too? Advertising Age [...]
The Wisdom of Researching Products Before You Buy Them
One of the ways I’ve learned impulse control over the years is researching what I want to get before I buy it. With the ubiquitous Internet, it’s easy to look up anything at any time. But what we may have forgotten in the growth of the World Wide Web is that not all sources are credible, even if they look that way. It’s easy to disguise a shady website to make it look [...]
Hope Phones: Reduce Cell Phone Use & Donate to Good
Have an old cell phone that is still usable? There’s a place you can donate it! The charity Hope Phones is leading the way to making old cell phones a vital part of the healthcare system in underdeveloped countries. Imagine the miles of road that some people walk just to get basic health care – and that it can be drastically reduced with just one phone call or text to the nearest health [...]
Satisfaction Tip: Try a New Type of Music
I’m one of those people who loves music. I grew up listening to vinyl records (remember those?) in my house when I was a kid, especially on Sundays when it was cleaning day around the house. I also have an older brother (4 years older, in fact) who loved listening to music when we were kids, and he would bring home different cassette tapes that he bought with allowance money. I’ve grown up [...]
Three Reusable Items That Can Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
We all know about items you can upcycle and recycle to help reduce clutter and make your home or apartment a less stressful place and do your part for the environment, but you can go even further by investing in simple reusable items that will help reduce your carbon footprint even more! Check out these reusable gems! Eco-Friendly Kitchen Utensils and Storage Containers We recently told you about reusable eating utensils for [...]
Are Extreme Couponing Shows Sending the Wrong Message?
With the current economy, clipping coupons to save money is a must for some of us. The media has taken couponing and gone wild with it, making reality-based (“reality” is used loosely here) shows that feature people who use coupons to the point where they get hundreds of dollars’ worth of groceries for only a few dollars. While they’re showing a way for folks to save money during these cash-strapped times, what kind [...]
How Much Advertising Are You Exposed to at the Movies?
Going to the movies is sometimes a treat when you want to escape from the real world. But we all know about the downsides – expensive tickets, the lack of healthy food options, dirty theaters, and the crazy advertising, not just before the trailers start, but even inside the movies themselves. Every year, the movies are starting to feel more and more like elaborate advertisements for products. Remember the days when it felt [...]
New Movie “Programming the Nation?” is Phallic Fun
I swear that all the erect penis images in the limited-release documentary "Programming the Nation?" had nothing to do with my interest in posting this brief review. After all, it's my job to keep up with the myriad ways that corporations use embedded phallic symbols and many other subliminal messages to promote addictive consumerism and MINE (More Is Not Enough). The fact that sex sells stuff isn't news, but "Programming the Nation?" [...]
Three Tips for Setting Boundaries for Personal Time
Personal time is vital for everybody, but sometimes we can either overdo it, or feel like we are taking too much time to ourselves. With the right tools and support, you can separate work from personal time while not getting sucked into total procrastination. Here are three tips for setting boundaries for your personal time. Draw Up a Plan Just like any kind of project or event, setting up a personal [...]
