Friday 25 January 2008

Nobody will ever win the batthe of the sexes



... There's too much fraternizing with the enemy!

Thursday 24 January 2008

Marketing ideas for beggars

I'm seriously doubting there's any beggar out there who will read this [I'm seriously doubting there are more than 3 people reading this, as a matter of fact (I'd like to heartily thank my colleagues and my boyfriend for this privilege)], but I have just came up with the grooviest idea.
Idea background:
- Andrew, my colleague, was making the remark that people in the subway train are very sad and blank.
- while I was studying for an exam in the subway train today, I'm suddenly awaken from my reverie by a guitar tune and a fiery Bamboleo. The guy sang with such a passion - his voice wasn't bad either - that he made everybody around at least tap on the floor if not sing along with him (I tapped, the guy next to me sang along). And yes, people actually smiled and felt good.
Hence:
Beggars should rebrand themselves. Come up with something new to cover the consumers' needs. Yes, so far they weren't appealing to their needs, but to their pity. Which is less profitable, since there aren't many people who would throw money away just like that compared to those who would pay for a service to answer a need.

So I thought:
I would give money to a beggar who would tell jokes. Wouldn't that be fun? Actually doing something constructive to earn tax free money. And everybody's happy. Beggars earn some more self-esteem and the public is satisfied. And less stressed while going to/coming back from work. The implications could be even deeper than this: more efficient at work, more patient with a lazy husband or a hysterical wife.
And maybe rebrand our country as well, turning the phrase "country of beggars" into a good thing. Just imagine tourists taking the subway as a cultural experience, looking forward to hearing a blackish little man say something like:

The Pope flew into an airport for a meeting within a few minutes. His limo driver takes off and the Pope needs him to go faster in order to get to his meeting. The Pope asks the driver to switch places and the Pope will drive. They take off again and the limo is stopped by a cop. The cop takes one look at the situation and radios to headquarters. He tells the chief he's got a pretty important person on his hands. The chief asks "Is he more important than the mayor?" Cop says yes. Chief asks " Is he more important than the governor?" Cop says yes. Chief asks "Is he more important than the President?" Cop says yes. Chief asks "How important can he be" Cop says "I don't know, but he's got the Pope for a driver.

Wednesday 16 January 2008

In an aleatory order

I hate: my left hand going numb, my doctor not knowing why, Michael saying it's unusual for my age, having to see a specialist who'll probably suggest the creepier solutions, not being able to go mountain climbing this weekend, my boyfriend not being able to go mountain climbing next weekend, his job, him not saying good-bye last night, deadlines, spending most of my time in front of a computer, my aunt bugging me to change the owner name at the light supplier, my cat getting big, exams, not having spare time, waking up in the morning, my trousers getting muddy.
I'm suddenly a very hateful person. Or maybe... I'm just bloody scared!

Friday 11 January 2008

Feelin' morbid anybody?

"These odd dolls are not something you will find in a toy store. [...] Weird, misshapen and tortured, these unusual handmade dolls are...definitely not for children, unless you want them to have nightmares."



I just happened to stumble upon this website. It was such an aggressive, violent image that it was impossible not to pass unnoticed. And I still don't know exactly if that's good or bad.

The strong reaction derives from not answering the horizon of expectation in respect to what a doll represents. Instead of innocent, you've got rotten, instead of cute, you've got horrid, instead of happy, you've got morbid.

Recycling effect

Please help us sort.

Guys, stop staring at the chic behind!

Thursday 10 January 2008

Sex always sells vs. Sex sells everywhere


( We're waxing any kind of pussy)

I'm used to saying "Only in Romania could such a thing happen" (yeah, actually Romania is the country of all possibilities). I was a bit surprised to see such a banner in Bucharest, though, because our nation is still quite conservative when it comes to talking about sex. But apparently, as Viorel declaims, things change: we are catching up with the western, more developed (?) societies. And bring sex out into the open.



Nothing out of the ordinary with the second picture. Just another cool ad.

Wednesday 9 January 2008

My first post is about Viorel's naivety

I called Viorel naive today. I'll explain why, since he hasn't.
He believes in a utopian world where if a person wants to change a system, or THE system, he will find at least a follower, and then another, and another, and the system will eventually be changed. His long speech in the office was a reaction to Mircea Badea's so called negative attitude:
( from Viorel's blog)
- I'm not going to vote because this won't change a thing. Their people will get elected anyway.
- There's no use in trying to change something, because nothing will ever change in Romania (I do notice some changes for the worse, though; I don't remember my parents listening to a certain crappy music genre, for example)
- Don't bother denouncing the illegalities you witness, nobody will do anything to fix the problem anyway.

Viorel's belief sounds very good in theory. But it has no ground. Never in the history of our lovely country did the little people change anything. OK, we had a revolution, but who really started it? I really doubt it was Mr Fane Croitoru, your neighbor who was dissatisfied with eating too much soya salami or who was too tired to wait in line for milk at 5 a.m.

I'm not being negative, I'm just realistic. Of course, my opinion is not that extreme. Things will change, but in slow motion. Studies show that we will reach European level in at least 20 years. But again, not because a local hero will take action and lead us to glory, prosperity and virtue. It's just the wind of change that will implacably affect us all. But their people will still rule the country, and laws will be obeyed because there'll be external pressure, not because there's an inner propensity towards it.

And by the way... the "taking action" theory mentioned at the beginning comes from a guy who doesn't wipe water spilled on the floor, or doesn't take the snow off his car, because the problem will solve by itself anyway (water evaporated, snow melted)!