Is it the weekend already? This week has gone by so fast!

For most of it I have been working on my finals for school. Mostly the one about the media for my ProSeminar class. I started the week ready to begin writing it but instead I started doing some more research, found some very interesting articles and have now taken the entire paper in a new direction. (I don't recommend doing this just weeks before a project is due!)

Because of school I haven't done a lot of outside reading this week but I did get a few stories of interest that filled my thoughts this week.

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This first one isn't a story but a video.

New Urbanism Agenda is ruining Scottsdale

OMG I never knew people were this against New Urbanism. I personally think that sometimes it doesn't go far enough (Sorry Celebration looks a lot like sprawl these days) but this is insane. Albeit most of the points he makes are completely illogical fear tactics but who is this guy (my guess is a angry real estate investor who just lost a lot of money on a tract of land outside of Scottsdale, jk jk) Once again a lack of education on the facts has caused a person to jump on a bandwagon.

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On a happier note I learned that since I like Bud Light I "frat boy-like personalities, particularly when it comes to personal risk-taking. In regard to others, these good-time guys and gals are accepting of most everyone and generally easy to get along with. " Sadly this is pretty true I think.

I do like the occasional Blue Moon which means I "can also be sarcastic and snide in order to get a point across."

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With all the talk about the Berlin Wall recently this article showed how far we have come and yet how far we have to go. I was especially sadden to see the US-Mexico fence, I think this fence is by far one of the worst images America could ever portray. A nation founded by immigrants literally building a wall to block them is beyond my comprehension. And from what I have heard it doesn't help the local wildlife at all either.

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This blog entry on strange brand extensions wasn't that interesting. But the quote towards the end of it made me literally laugh out loud (or is it still lol if it happened literally?). When referring to Singles the poorly named canned adult food by Gerber "As Business 2.0’s Susan Casey said, “they might as well have called it ‘I Live Alone and Eat My Meals From a Jar.’” I love that! I did get a little enjoyment out of the article. Colgate microwave meals, ewww! My favorite flopped brand extension is Hooters Air, come on I don't want most of hooter's waitresses I've had in charge of a jumbo jet!

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Some interesting insights of how a small northern California town is being affected by the recent pot laws in that state. I see this as not a comment of how bad pot is but a comment of how many people use the drug. I think that as more states legalize pot we will see fewer of these bad examples. If its legal everywhere people won't flock to one area to get it.

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Here is good visual breakdown (though how accurate I don't know) of how profitable legalizing pot could be. I don't know of about you but I think that Florida could use an extra $48million in tax revenue! Of course I doubt these tax ideas. Taxing something that people can easily grow on their own doesn't seem like it would work to me. Taxing pot is like taxing tomatoes, who is going to pay the taxes when they can just grow it at home?

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One last article on pot. I found this one shocking. The American Medical Association is urging a review of pots drug status. I think this is more publicity than actual movement for the ASA. I view this as a way for the conservative ASA to gain acceptance with the more liberal leaning current Washington administration in preparation of the health care act. But that's just me and my conspiracy theories. Either way its a huge step forward for the ASA and for the Marijuana legalization debate.

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On the topic of mother nature still I found a great article that discusses global warming with a sceptic who has a similar argument (well actually the exact same argument) as I do. Of course I still support most environmental policies, not out of a fear we're all going to die but because we need to become more connected to the natural world around us. We do need to build and live more sustainably. It might not be the end of the world but its just the smart thing to do.

To say that Co2 is going to cause the end of the world seems far fetched to me. We have had meteors hit this planet, dinosaurs roam it, and ancient civilizations who were known for their fires and buildings conquer it. We know have the ability to go back to the ancients knew, that living with the land is far more important than just living on it. That is why I support environmental movements.

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One way to live in a better harmony with nature is by peeing outside! I just found this article today but I sure was thinking about it a lot and telling others about it. The National Trust is the UK is encouraging people to pee on their compost heaps to help it decompose, no joke!

I think this is great not only as a way to save resources like water but it helps jumpstart the discussion on acceptable public acts. I see no reason why urinals are hidden away out of sight in America. In Europe I saw this on the street corners, it only makes sense.

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Also out of today's readings I found an interesting article that states investing in nature is more valuable than investing in gold. The facts they use seem weak but still an interesting thought. I would like to invest in both though, how about investing in acreage that has gold on it. That way no matter which becomes more valuable I can be ok. lol

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And one last article. This one is on what makes a logo work. It all seems common sense to me. I have only done a little business consulting but the number one thing I always say (even to those who didn't ask!) is just keep it simple. Be original, don't use the symbol people expect you to use.

A good rule I always try to use is if a normal person can't draw it quickly then it MIGHT be too complicated. The other rule I like to use is how does it look on a letter heading and how does it look on a t-shirt? If in both cases it looks ok then it might work. I don't know how true in the industry these rules are but its just what I have tending to notice myself and it seems to work most of the time.

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Well sadly thats about all I joy-read this week. I could have filled about three of these entries with other articles I've read but I'm pretty sure you don't want to read academic articles about the new creative types and how they're changing media. I found it interesting but after about the 1oth article even I am getting tired of it.

Well much love and see you soon!
Thanks for reading