You are totally correct on that Michael. As part of my US military service I lived in Germany for 3 years in my younger days, and after that time when I returned to the US it was a full year before I could even stomach drinking any of the mass produced American beers, and to this day I still cannot bring myself to drink beer out of a can. There are many good microbrews now being produced across the US, but the mass produced beers remains a very putrid highly carbonated concoction that has to be served very chilled to protect the drinkers from actually tasting it. Real beer is not served icy cold so that you may enjoy the flavor.
" . . . businesses that knuckle under to anti-LGBTQ protests don’t deserve your patronage."
I couldn't agree more. BUT, the law of unintended consequences never sleeps. Target should be commended for its LGBTQ+ display. But a boycott of Target because it moved the display from the entrance of its stores to a more discreet location also serves as an example, to not only Target but also other establishments that choose to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, that next June it might be better to just do nothing rather than to incur the wrath of not only the haters but the LGBTQ+ community itself. Same applies to Anheuser-Busch. I have no answer to this "no good deed goes unpunished" scenario. But it should at least be part of the discussion when contemplating an appropriate response to an unfortunate situation.
Brand managers are trying to appeal to the broadest possible base of customers while avoiding any possible negative response to positioning. Seasonal buyers are trying to serve the needs of seasonal consumers as well as maximize traffic and sales of non-seasonal items. When either group trips over political or social issues that might hurt sales volume or margins, they shift their approach. Regardless of corporate pretensions, their primary obligation is to the shareholders. Rather than a boycott, the best way to ensure the availability of any product is to buy it from the retailer where you would like to shop. Soft sales of an item or dragging down total sales is the best way to get an item dropped.
I agree that the goal of marketing is to boost sales for whoever sponsors the marketing. But, in many cases, and certainly with mass-market pilsners, marketing meets a need for consumers to attach meaning to a product so that they can identify with it. Choosing which beer to drink is low stakes, but choosing to identify with inclusion of people who have been marginalized by mainstream culture is important.
I agree, but the corporate decision process is the same. Since the 50's marketers have extended the product features and functions communication with messages aimed at the emotional needs, wants, and behaviors of consumers. The entirely manipulative BS of ascribing emotions, beliefs and intent to inanimate objects and production processes has been very successful. Marketers have also been successful at tying brands to 'lifestyle' and membership in a group to which one relates or aspires. Niche marketers aim to appeal to smaller consumer groups and mass marketers try to target the largest possible groups. Neither can afford to alienate their core audience. The extension of this marketing paradigm to overtly include social, cultural, and political issues is the risky territory that some corporations are trying to navigate.
I am surprised at the high level of support for restricting public street parking for the benefit of school staff. It raises the question for which other employee groups should the public set aside street parking? Should staff at private schools get it? They are doing the same job as public school employees? What about colleges and universities? Fire department? I like coffee and I value the work done by the baristas at my local coffee shop. Should they get special parking permits because they are valued?
For those who voted for it, what makes public school teachers different from anyone else? I am clearly missing the logic on this one.
There was a point made that it was so kids could have recess on the blacktop without cars parked there, but that begs the question of why not have a dedicated place for recess?
I noticed that point as well and thought it was odd. Any operation needs space for what it does. Elementary schools need recreation space for kids (well not an absolute need, but a very important thing to have). Citing that seems to play on emotions -- insinuating that we do not agree with zoned parking for employees then we don't care about giving kids a place to play at recess. The same is true for the comment that it is justified because we value teachers. The American National Can manufacturing plant needs space to make its cans. No one would argue that implies that the city should set up permit parking near their plant for their employees to allow for more space to make cans. School districts can buy land and/or build parking garages just like everyone else who needs a place for their employees to park.
Chicago is about to transition to have CPS governed by an elected board rather than a board appointed by the mayor. Although its employees will technically be employed by the City of Chicago, they are not governed by the city government. Correct me if I am wrong, but I assume they will have a budget which is separate from that of the City. That makes allocating city assets (street parking) to CPS even more dubious than it already is, IMO.
I replied positively because I believed it has a trivial impact on others seeking parking in the neighborhood. I also assumed that it was only a couple of spots for travelers, not all-day parking for staff. But I agree with all of your points.
The University of Chicago went through a period where they tried to get us all to refer to the university with one word so they could be cool, like the Ivies or Duke. However, Chicago had already been taken by a major metropolis so they settled on UChicago. As an alum, they can bite me; I still say U of C.
But there are other universities that are "U of C." - University of Cincinnati, University of California (which refers to system-wide), and University of Colorado. As an outsider, I prefer UChicago. It is unambiguous.
I expect that the first music genre AI will excel at is old-time folk music. Most songs sound like you've already heard them. The chord progressions are almost uniform. And at each point in the melody, there are usually only one or two next notes that could be used. It will be easy for AI to pass the Turing test in this domain: can anyone reliably tell if a song is AI or not?
"Boycotts are seldom effective, but businesses that knuckle under to anti-LGBTQ protests don’t deserve your patronage."
In other words, boycott and counter-boycott all the way. An alternative is to accept that most people don't agree with my opinions but they are worthwhile for other reasons. Then, refusing to interact with them, or their services, or their art, because they aren't worthy, loses its self-satisfaction. As a long-time Oak Parker, this is how I've decided to love where I live.
I agree that AI presents a problem on many fronts. But I did enjoy an article about Trump coins, Trump checks and other Trump money being sold to Trumpers. The idea is you buy these Trump bucks for say five hundred dollars and then later with Trump’s magical powers they become legal tender worth five maybe ten thousand dollars.
The article went on to say some Trumpers had already bought some and had gone to legit banks only to be turned away. At least one Trumper realized they had been scammed!
The article said the scammers used AI as part of its scam including using a donald trump to promise that riches would be theirs if they bought Trump money.
Obviously a defect in my character, but if AI is going to fool us - it may as well be large groups of Trump supporters losing large amounts of money!
Women’s pants aren’t sized by inches of waist/inseam. They are sold in sizes (like dress sizes, numbers unrelated to inches) and the pant length is designated as long, medium, or petite.
And major manufacturers and retailers don't agree on what a given number represents. It's a total crapshoot. I get the environmental reasons for no free returns, but the first purchase of women's clothing of a specific type from a specific source ought to be exempt, because there is no way of getting any closer than the general neighborhood of your size the first time you order from someplace new.
And the sizes change between manufacturers and stores and brands and time. Compare a Size 12 from 1990 to a Size 12 in 2023 and you would assume that they were intended for different species. It truly hinders the possibility of buying clothes online unless one is willing to spend LOTS of time and energy returning item after item.
On the other hand, shoe sizes are fairly consistent. If one is a Size 7 B in one store, it is likely that you are a Size 7B in another. Not guaranteed but a whole lot closer to actual standard sizing.
Ties…that is right they are going away. Donald Trump can convince his folks to wear MAGA hats like he does. Yet it seems he cannot convince his folks to also wear long red MAGA ties.
I think it would be fun - Trumper in his hat and sweatshirt with a long red tie - maybe backward.
Probably would need to have clip ons for a lot of these folks.
Yes even the magic of Trump cannot bring back ties,,,the tie is dead, long live the tie!
Camouflaged insults: my brother (also a subscriber), when asked his reaction to the implementation of a particularly brain-desd office space reorganization, said “It met my expectations. “
I worked for a partner in a consulting firm that said 'nice guy, the sort of person you would like for a neighbor' when he considered the person useless at work.
As a communications practitioner, I'd like to see an occasional story report "Joe Btfsplk was not immediately available for comment, which is understandable because I wrote the story and posted it while calling his cell."
Holy moly is Kass ever a douche canoe
😂
What a self-own . . . .
One can be very much against the boycotts and also believe that "Bud Light" is a very poor substitute for actual beer.
It's also possible to like one or more of the other 500 beers produced by InBev across its 400 brands.
You are totally correct on that Michael. As part of my US military service I lived in Germany for 3 years in my younger days, and after that time when I returned to the US it was a full year before I could even stomach drinking any of the mass produced American beers, and to this day I still cannot bring myself to drink beer out of a can. There are many good microbrews now being produced across the US, but the mass produced beers remains a very putrid highly carbonated concoction that has to be served very chilled to protect the drinkers from actually tasting it. Real beer is not served icy cold so that you may enjoy the flavor.
" . . . businesses that knuckle under to anti-LGBTQ protests don’t deserve your patronage."
I couldn't agree more. BUT, the law of unintended consequences never sleeps. Target should be commended for its LGBTQ+ display. But a boycott of Target because it moved the display from the entrance of its stores to a more discreet location also serves as an example, to not only Target but also other establishments that choose to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, that next June it might be better to just do nothing rather than to incur the wrath of not only the haters but the LGBTQ+ community itself. Same applies to Anheuser-Busch. I have no answer to this "no good deed goes unpunished" scenario. But it should at least be part of the discussion when contemplating an appropriate response to an unfortunate situation.
Brand managers are trying to appeal to the broadest possible base of customers while avoiding any possible negative response to positioning. Seasonal buyers are trying to serve the needs of seasonal consumers as well as maximize traffic and sales of non-seasonal items. When either group trips over political or social issues that might hurt sales volume or margins, they shift their approach. Regardless of corporate pretensions, their primary obligation is to the shareholders. Rather than a boycott, the best way to ensure the availability of any product is to buy it from the retailer where you would like to shop. Soft sales of an item or dragging down total sales is the best way to get an item dropped.
I agree that the goal of marketing is to boost sales for whoever sponsors the marketing. But, in many cases, and certainly with mass-market pilsners, marketing meets a need for consumers to attach meaning to a product so that they can identify with it. Choosing which beer to drink is low stakes, but choosing to identify with inclusion of people who have been marginalized by mainstream culture is important.
Related to this there is an interesting story about how sneakily marketing to lesbians saved Subaru. https://www.npr.org/2022/06/29/1108739853/when-subaru-came-out-classic
I agree, but the corporate decision process is the same. Since the 50's marketers have extended the product features and functions communication with messages aimed at the emotional needs, wants, and behaviors of consumers. The entirely manipulative BS of ascribing emotions, beliefs and intent to inanimate objects and production processes has been very successful. Marketers have also been successful at tying brands to 'lifestyle' and membership in a group to which one relates or aspires. Niche marketers aim to appeal to smaller consumer groups and mass marketers try to target the largest possible groups. Neither can afford to alienate their core audience. The extension of this marketing paradigm to overtly include social, cultural, and political issues is the risky territory that some corporations are trying to navigate.
Good song this week, and the video accompanying fit it perfectly. Thanks!
It’s really well done, I agree.
I am surprised at the high level of support for restricting public street parking for the benefit of school staff. It raises the question for which other employee groups should the public set aside street parking? Should staff at private schools get it? They are doing the same job as public school employees? What about colleges and universities? Fire department? I like coffee and I value the work done by the baristas at my local coffee shop. Should they get special parking permits because they are valued?
For those who voted for it, what makes public school teachers different from anyone else? I am clearly missing the logic on this one.
There was a point made that it was so kids could have recess on the blacktop without cars parked there, but that begs the question of why not have a dedicated place for recess?
I noticed that point as well and thought it was odd. Any operation needs space for what it does. Elementary schools need recreation space for kids (well not an absolute need, but a very important thing to have). Citing that seems to play on emotions -- insinuating that we do not agree with zoned parking for employees then we don't care about giving kids a place to play at recess. The same is true for the comment that it is justified because we value teachers. The American National Can manufacturing plant needs space to make its cans. No one would argue that implies that the city should set up permit parking near their plant for their employees to allow for more space to make cans. School districts can buy land and/or build parking garages just like everyone else who needs a place for their employees to park.
Chicago is about to transition to have CPS governed by an elected board rather than a board appointed by the mayor. Although its employees will technically be employed by the City of Chicago, they are not governed by the city government. Correct me if I am wrong, but I assume they will have a budget which is separate from that of the City. That makes allocating city assets (street parking) to CPS even more dubious than it already is, IMO.
I replied positively because I believed it has a trivial impact on others seeking parking in the neighborhood. I also assumed that it was only a couple of spots for travelers, not all-day parking for staff. But I agree with all of your points.
The University of Chicago went through a period where they tried to get us all to refer to the university with one word so they could be cool, like the Ivies or Duke. However, Chicago had already been taken by a major metropolis so they settled on UChicago. As an alum, they can bite me; I still say U of C.
But there are other universities that are "U of C." - University of Cincinnati, University of California (which refers to system-wide), and University of Colorado. As an outsider, I prefer UChicago. It is unambiguous.
I expect that the first music genre AI will excel at is old-time folk music. Most songs sound like you've already heard them. The chord progressions are almost uniform. And at each point in the melody, there are usually only one or two next notes that could be used. It will be easy for AI to pass the Turing test in this domain: can anyone reliably tell if a song is AI or not?
"Boycotts are seldom effective, but businesses that knuckle under to anti-LGBTQ protests don’t deserve your patronage."
In other words, boycott and counter-boycott all the way. An alternative is to accept that most people don't agree with my opinions but they are worthwhile for other reasons. Then, refusing to interact with them, or their services, or their art, because they aren't worthy, loses its self-satisfaction. As a long-time Oak Parker, this is how I've decided to love where I live.
I agree that AI presents a problem on many fronts. But I did enjoy an article about Trump coins, Trump checks and other Trump money being sold to Trumpers. The idea is you buy these Trump bucks for say five hundred dollars and then later with Trump’s magical powers they become legal tender worth five maybe ten thousand dollars.
The article went on to say some Trumpers had already bought some and had gone to legit banks only to be turned away. At least one Trumper realized they had been scammed!
The article said the scammers used AI as part of its scam including using a donald trump to promise that riches would be theirs if they bought Trump money.
Obviously a defect in my character, but if AI is going to fool us - it may as well be large groups of Trump supporters losing large amounts of money!
Just curious: what percentage of PT readers are men? Judging by the responses to the tweet about sizes of slacks (11% just now). I'm guessing 89%.
I didn’t even get that one. Something to do with how society forces women to feel uncomfortable in their own bodies, I presume.
Women’s pants aren’t sized by inches of waist/inseam. They are sold in sizes (like dress sizes, numbers unrelated to inches) and the pant length is designated as long, medium, or petite.
I didn’t know that, but I still don’t get why the women’s size system amounts to “…you are a size whatever the fuck we want…”.
And major manufacturers and retailers don't agree on what a given number represents. It's a total crapshoot. I get the environmental reasons for no free returns, but the first purchase of women's clothing of a specific type from a specific source ought to be exempt, because there is no way of getting any closer than the general neighborhood of your size the first time you order from someplace new.
And the sizes change between manufacturers and stores and brands and time. Compare a Size 12 from 1990 to a Size 12 in 2023 and you would assume that they were intended for different species. It truly hinders the possibility of buying clothes online unless one is willing to spend LOTS of time and energy returning item after item.
On the other hand, shoe sizes are fairly consistent. If one is a Size 7 B in one store, it is likely that you are a Size 7B in another. Not guaranteed but a whole lot closer to actual standard sizing.
Thanks for sharing the family history anecdotes. Really great stuff.
Ties…that is right they are going away. Donald Trump can convince his folks to wear MAGA hats like he does. Yet it seems he cannot convince his folks to also wear long red MAGA ties.
I think it would be fun - Trumper in his hat and sweatshirt with a long red tie - maybe backward.
Probably would need to have clip ons for a lot of these folks.
Yes even the magic of Trump cannot bring back ties,,,the tie is dead, long live the tie!
I live on the NW side and I'm very appreciative that Nadig News still covers the area.
The only definition Merriam-Webster gives for “Alder” is a kind of shrub. Call them Councillors, fer cripes sake! Gender non-specific, actual word.
Camouflaged insults: my brother (also a subscriber), when asked his reaction to the implementation of a particularly brain-desd office space reorganization, said “It met my expectations. “
...brain-dead...
I worked for a partner in a consulting firm that said 'nice guy, the sort of person you would like for a neighbor' when he considered the person useless at work.
As a communications practitioner, I'd like to see an occasional story report "Joe Btfsplk was not immediately available for comment, which is understandable because I wrote the story and posted it while calling his cell."
It was Joe's bad luck that he was not available.
Or, even more accurately, I waited to try to reach out until such time as he didn’t have a good chance to respond in a way that might ruin my story.