Inspirational Pantene commercial from the Phillipines

My friend Kalyn sent me the link to this Pantene commercial the other day. Running in the Phillipines, the spot is executed very well and portrays a male "boss" and a female as "bossy." 

Not only is the insight behind the commercial brilliant, but it's a great stand on a company exemplifying corporate social responsibility. 'Mad World,' a key song in the movie Donnie Darko, is a fabulous song choice too - even re-sang by a woman and not the Tears for Fears original. Take a look! 

Facebook advertising knows best

Facebook and keyword ad targeting are on top of it this week! They know I was at the SEC Championship game and have been researching bowl games, so even though Mizzou unfortunately did not win, I'm receiving ads for hotels in Pasadena.

After the outcome of this weekend's college football games, Mizzou fans WISH we could go to the BCS Championship - but looks like Auburn got it this time. Sorry, Westin and Starwood - go target someone else! 

Rant: Free WiFi in public places

Chicago O’Hare is set up for wireless Internet, but still charges you to use it. Hotels I stay at at have free WiFi….only for Honors members of gold status or higher (for which I don’t qualify). The Merchandise Mart in Chicago has free WiFi as a "Boingo Hotspot," but you have to pay. 

I know everyone likes monetization, but can someone please tell me what the business strategy is behind charging for this service? Why are we paying for a service that is already set up to be free, and will eventually be free in many public locations? 

I really try to think from a business standpoint about the advantages and disadvantages of charging patrons to use WiFi access, and tried comparing it to paying for news content online, things you think about especially after going to Journalism School).

It only becomes ineffective because when wireless isn't free, people turn to alternate options (just using 3G data, using wireless in the lobby) and other effects result. At a hotel I stayed at in San Francisco, tons of people sat in the lobby to use wireless, so you can’t even find a seat because everyone is using the internet. Guess what, Boingo? I can walk to Starbucks next door to get wireless.

If it’s going to be simple efforts to beat around the bush, businesses should it easy themselves, stop being stuck up and get people to stay in their location by offering free wireless. 

Great coding, Klout

E-mail coding mistakes while attempting personalization, #firstworldproblems. What's my first name, Klout? 

Internet security: overload?

We memorize and keep lists on lists of passwords to all of our online accounts so we can login to our numerous accounts.

But has online security gotten ridiculous, or what?

I know robots have gotten good, but this blurry image came up as I reset the password to an account I had already made: 

Then, pre-written security questions when you don't have the choice are becoming crazier and crazier…my LEAST favorite subject in school:

Facebook makes you go through a ten-photo test for tagging too many people in photos, where you spend a few minutes identifying your own friends to prove your identity. 

Security is one thing, but all of these extra activities are a waste of time.

November quote list

Continuing the tradition, here are some highlights from November's quote list! To see September or October, click there or check out the quotes tag.  

On adulthood:

"Except you can golf for free the day of the wedding at this location." -Steve, on comparing wedding venues
"Why will you need to golf the day of our wedding?" -Helen

"My 14 year-old sister just told us to stay safe." -Susan, on her 25th birthday

"I don't think we're old until we're 30." -Hannah, on adulthood

"They just took fireball shots on their date- #worstdateever" -Hannah

"The first time I heard of a man playing flag football he was 7 and a boy." -Susan

"We're stealing cable - it involves a paper clip somehow." -Kara, on her apartment in Brooklyn

"I'm just really worried about his credit score because it'll be hard for us to buy a house." -a friend's cousin, who is only 21 years old and shouldn't be worrying about this

"And the Trader Joe's line is one in one out." -Alyssa, on living in New York City

"I’m really happy I ended up going because my mom’s cousin was there- she’s pregnant and I really want to be the Nouna." -Penelope, on the unwritten who will be the godmother contest

“I wanted to get you some ouzo but I didn’t have any left.” -a parishioner to Dad, typical Greeks regifting

A waiter talking about the crumber tool that scrapes crumbs at restaurants:
“It’s a weird thing that I never have the opportunity to use.” -the waiter at Ketel One Club in United Center

“He's like everyone's so nice here and I'm like who?” -Dean, about a classmate in the Loyola MBA program complimenting other students

“She's going to take you into the movie after a half hour Powerpoint presentation. …Just kidding.” -Screenvision guy at The Hunger Games: Catching Fire 

Next time we move, if it's us and were not engaged, I'm prioritizing in house laundry. -Hannah, on our apartment hunt

“And then after court I went and spent $600 at Old Orchard.” -Becca, on post-grad life

“I don’t have any hobbies. I just graduated college, I’m working, that’s enough.” -Becca, to the person screening her at jury duty asking about hobbies

“My likes are worth a million dollars. I’m just a passive observer on Facebook.” -Becca, on being a Facebook stalker but only rarely interacting 

"Dude, you're so maternal." -Max, to a guy friend- compliment or not? 

“We have a baby, do we still need to wait in the line?” -Man at Kohl’s on Black Friday

“Absolutely!” -Employee at Kohl’s

“My dog is at home and I have to feed it, can I not wait in line? Who do people think they are?” -Employee

“She was getting rid of me to go socialize with Erma!” -Meredith, on her grandmother at the nursing home

“We have an under 5, under 30 and old people table.” -George S., on his family Thanksgiving 

“I took a day off of work to take Yiayia to the DMV.” -George S., on life in a Greek family

“I think that I don’t have money for food next week. Like I have two dates so I cover enough meals. No I’m not joking. Tickets are 200+.” -a friend, on post-graduate life as a broke grad paying off loans

Airport experiences: 

"If you have items in your pocket, you'll receive a free massage compliments of our friends at TSA." -TSA woman

"Daddy what does delayed mean?" -A 6-year-old girl
[The whole gate for the ORD to LGA turns around in shock and mouths drop]

"That's a bad word at the airport honey." -6-year-old's father

"Your luggage is too fat m'aam." -American Airlines guy

"No it isn't, it fits!" -Woman stuffs it into the test bag rack

"But can you get it out?" -Airport attendant

“I feel so bad when all the flights get cancelled because all the passengers are pissed and I’m like YES!” -Hannah's friend who is a flight attendant

And to end with some amusing family quotes: 

"A lady stopped by to bring some bread from the monastery. I wish you were here, since I’m not supposed to eat bread." -Yiayia Nikie, on getting rid of food

“And we have evidence that someone is staring through that window. A raccoon.” -Dad

“When my kid has flat Stanley, I’m going to tear it up and say you’re not doing this.” -Eleni

  

“Once I crash a car, you can yell at me for my driving.” -Eleni

If I go through your Facebook pictures I can see the guys hugging you extra tight and see who’s going out with you. -Dad

“My boyfriend, Alex, and I decided that if we ever have a kid we’re going to name him or her Alex so we can say hi, we’re Alex. All 3 of us.” -our cousin Alex

“Junior year my bio teacher had acetone, which is the stuff that makes the nail polish smell good.” -Eleni, on enjoying the smell of nail polish

“That’s not FOMO, that’s MO.” -Dad, on not being tagged in a Facebook album

“And Scott taught me how to do checkins so even though we flew into Midway, I don’t want my friends to think I’m cheap so I checked into O’Hare when we drove by.” -Thea Lucy, on checking into Four Square from the airport

Me: Papou, did you bring the cranberry sauce?

Papou: No, but this parishioner made us this jello.

(Greeks mooching)

Papou: Have you decided on a major yet, Eleni?

Eleni: Yes, I’m going to study English and secondary education. I’m going to be a hot high school teacher. 

“Describe the cranberry vodka for me. What does it taste like?” -Papou, at Thanksgiving dinner

“It doesn’t matter what was in our house, it could all be considered a projectile weapon.” -Dad, on growing up in the Artemas home

"I’m going to post a picture of pumpkin pie online and everyone’s going to comment JEALOUS. I don’t agree with posting pictures of food on the Internet." -Dad, on Thanksgiving 

“Sometimes if you want things done well, you have to do them yourself.” -Papou, and we wonder where we get our stubbornness from 

A brilliant tagline

I recently saw a tagline for the popular app Snapchat - that said:
Snapchat is the fastest way to share a moment.

In a file on Snapchat's website geared toward parents, the website elaborates on this, and writes: 

"Snapchat creates a place to be funny, honest or however else you might feel when you take and share a snap with family and friends. It’s sharing that lives in the moment, and stays in the moment."

For having a 23-year-old CEO that rejected a $3 billion buyout from Facebook, I think they're doing things pretty smart. Positioning themselves as 'momentary' is a unique selling point against sending a photo from any time via a text message, and the tagline is memorable. As one of the app's users, and a photo-texter as well, I find myself sharing comical tidbits or quick moments out with others with the rest of my friends and family members on the app. 

Way to go on doing your research, Snapchat!