catbird’s world

Re: Red Card

Dear Target,

If you really want to help schools, just do it. Don’t make it conditional on whether I sign up for your marketing program (so you can track my purchases). Don’t make it conditional on how much I spend in your store. In fact, don’t make it conditional on me shopping at your store at all.

Just help the schools.

Then have your PR team promote the heck out of your good deeds. Good PR can go a long way, much farther than bribery or blackmail.

Sincerely,
catbird*

*Yes, I really sent this letter to Target, but signed with my name.

A NOTE: Target does other things to help schools that aren’t conditional on people buying stuff.

catbird :: Apr.12.2010 :: customer service, mommyhood, socio-pop :: Comments Off

Last weekend we went to the local pet store to buy dog food only to find there had been a price increase, from $46 to $60 for a 40 pound bag. Wow, a $14 increase! We purchased a bag, but, out of curiosity, we checked the big chain store for a price comparison: $46. Plus, while we were there, a salesperson gave us a $2 off coupon, making the price difference $16.

I believe it’s very important to shop local. When you shop local, you’re supporting your neighbors who own the business and you’re developing relationships that make your community a better place to live. More of the money you spend stays in the community through profits, jobs, and taxes. Local businesses are more accountable and are more likely to utilize other local businesses. They also hire local people who provide better service to others in the community, who happen to be their neighbors.

No one can deny that shopping at a local merchant is more satisfying than shopping at a big box store. And who wouldn’t rather live in a town with a Main Street full of local merchants rather than next to a highway littered with strip malls?

As satisfying as it is, however, I do have limits. When a book I wanted to get my husband was $30 more at the local bookstore than at Amazon, I didn’t hesitate to buy it online. So, how much more am I willing to spend to buy local? It seems it depends on a number of intangible elements. But I do know I’ll continue to buy from my local merchants whenever possible. Whatever that means.

catbird :: Jun.30.2009 :: customer service, green, socio-pop :: Comments Off

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak is a sweet and wonderful story — one of my favorites — but does it really need to be made into a movie?

In the book, a boy gets in trouble and thinks his parents don’t love him anymore. After an imaginary trip to live with the other wild things, he gets lonely, and returns home to find his warm supper waiting in his room. His parents do still love him after all.

With Sendak’s charming illustrations, this story is truly a childhood classic. The message resonates with every child: even if you get in trouble, your parents still love you.

Why turn it into a feature-length movie about a boy dealing with “absent father issues“?

Hollywood, are you that hard up for new ideas?

catbird :: Mar.25.2009 :: mommyhood, socio-pop :: Comments Off

It’s true. I’m addicted. I update my status at least once a day. I obsessively read friends’ status updates. In the evening, I often leave my computer tuned to “Live Feed” so I can keep up with people while I watch TV. And, it’s true, I have lost hours of my life looking at photos of people I don’t know at parties I wasn’t invited to.

I’m also out there pushing for the Facebook kingpin. “Just do it. Everyone is on there. You’re not cool unless you’re on Facebook.” Okay, maybe not that last one. Maybe.

Being addicted to Facebook isn’t just about the time you spend online. It’s also about how active you are. Some say that Facebook makes people a little too uninhibited and prone to oversharing. Well, okay, maybe that’s true. But I say if you don’t want to know what I’m doing every moment of the day, select “less about Cat” in your feed settings. If you don’t want to know 25 random things about me, don’t read my notes. If you don’t want me to comment on photos of your family, use friend lists. And if you aren’t truly interested in connecting with me, well, don’t friend me in the first place.

The problem, as I see it, isn’t that people overshare, it’s that people don’t know they are oversharing. I’ve read enough private conversations posted on public walls to know that people don’t know I can read their private conversations posted on their public walls. Just like that sloppy drunk at the office Christmas party who thinks everyone wants to see his Xeroxed butt, people on Facebook often forget that some things are best kept private.

If you do nothing else to manage your FB addiction, do this:
1. Use friend lists. Does your old co-worker care about your photos from high school? Probably not.

2. Set your application settings. Are you sure you really want all your friends to know how often you play Scramble? I didn’t think so.

3. Change your photo tag settings. Because, really, just because someone has an incriminating photo of you shouldn’t mean they can tell all your friends about it.

Most importantly, if it’s not in a private message, it means you don’t mind if anyone else reads it.

There is an upside to my addiction, though. As a stay-at-home-mom (SAHM? Some acronyms just weren’t meant to be), Facebook is like my happy hour hangout where I can commiserate with other moms, chat with friends, and yes, when I log on, everybody knows my name.

It hasn’t decreased my real-life socializing, since I wouldn’t otherwise be out with friends. It has, however, given me a low bandwidth way to keep in touch with old friends, continue conversations with current real-life friends, chat with family members I rarely get to see in person, and reconnect with friends that I truly wish I had never lost touch with in the first place. Rather than make me more isolated, it has actually made me more social.

As anyone who has ever celebrated their 21st birthday with a pitcher of red death knows (I won’t name any names), self-control is very, very important. But anyone who has ever gone to happy hour with friends knows a little socializing is good for the soul. I figure, as long as I remember to log off now and then, this is one addiction I’ll keep.

catbird :: Feb.07.2009 :: socio-pop, technology :: Comments Off

A NY restaurant was keeping “George” the 20 lb, 80-140 year-old lobster as a sort of mascot, but PETA intervened on the lobster’s behalf and convinced the restaurant to release George into protected waters off the coast of Maine.

As George was being taken away in his pimped out ice-lined foam cooler, the other lobsters were pressing their antennae against the glass of the tank, wistfully. One four-year-old lobster was heard calling to PETA representatives, “What about me? I have my whole life ahead of me!”

catbird :: Jan.11.2009 :: food, socio-pop :: Comments Off

1. She doesn’t have any national experience and less than two years experience as governor of Alaska
2. She’s pro-life. Fine in an individual, not in the VP
3. She’s against same-sex marriage
4. She supports natural-gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
5. She said, “[polar bears] are worthy of our utmost efforts to protect them and their Arctic habitat. But adding polar bears to the nation’s list of endangered species … should not be part of those efforts.”

Bonus reason: She named her children Bristol, Willow, Piper, Track, and Trig

BTW, Governor Palin, don’t patronize me by equating yourself to Senator Clinton. You don’t even come close.

catbird :: Aug.29.2008 :: socio-pop :: Comments Off

I just spent an hour in Scrabulous trying to find the perfect place to put the perfect word in a game that I am already losing by over 100 points.

I think I have a problem.

catbird :: May.28.2008 :: socio-pop :: Comments Off

According to Dr. Yaron Brook, the executive director of the Ayn Rand Institute, it is.

I do agree with Dr. Brook’s statement:”What could be more un-American than punishing a successful company for being successful?” But his reasoning is a bit off.

He also states: “Wal-Mart is hated and feared on the perverse grounds that it does its work too well.”

Does Wal-Mart do its work “too well”? I believe that a company doing its work “too well” would include treating employees fairly. With all the evidence to the contrary when it comes to Wal-Mart, I’d like to see some proof that its success is due to efficiency and not cutting corners with regard to employees.

catbird :: Jan.20.2006 :: socio-pop :: Comments Off

Recently my brother-in-law sent me an article that set out to debunk the idea of the “Barbie Ideal.” It says that although “feminists” have long blamed Barbie for the self-image problems of women and girls, there is actually no study that has shown that to be true. On the other hand, states the article, there is one study that shows no link.

The study from University of Bath showed that girls found Barbie to be “childish, an inanimate object instead of a treasured toy.” And a toy that many girls actually maimed or destroyed.

Now, I certainly hope that Barbie isn’t having a negative impact on the millions of children who play with it but this article said some things that were, well, just plain silly.

For example: “Critics cite statistics such as that if Barbie were real, she couldn’t walk upright, or bear children.” It’s true that Barbie doesn’t have realistic proportions, but adults have studied this and analyzed it. Who is letting the little girls in on the secret? And why build a doll for kids that is so grossly — or grotesquely — disporportionate? Toy manufacturers spend a lot of time making baby dolls more and more lifelike, yet Barbie has boobs so big she wouldn’t be able to walk upright if she was real. It’s just bizarre. I mean, really. Would you give your daughter a Pamela Anderson doll to play with. Or an Anna Nicole Smith doll? Then why Barbie?

Another even more ridiculous quote:
“While Barbie has long been badgered about her ‘unhealthy’ shape, no one complains that Mr. Potato Head’s tubby physique is even less healthy.” Um… Mr. Potato Head is a POTATO. That’s what potatoes look like. Barbie is supposed to be a person. And are potatoes really that unhealthy? Check out this nutrition information from the Idaho Potato Growers Commission.

Okay, I don’t really think that Barbie is responsible for all the eating disorders in our society. But on the other hand, I don’t think that one study proves that she doesn’t have an impact.

catbird :: Jan.12.2006 :: socio-pop :: Comments Off

Yesterday I was stuck in construction traffic. At one point, my lane was ending so I needed to merge right. So I’m trying to get over and be polite about it but the other lane is bumper to bumper and practically at a standstill. I got to the end of my lane and had to nose my way in ahead of someone. One guy was really trying hard to keep me from getting ahead of him. He’s edging forward and staying in my blind spot, but I was clearly ahead of him.

Once the lanes opened up, he did go on and pass me. It was then that I noticed his bumper sticker:

There is no way to peace.
Peace is the way.

It’s a beautiful sentiment. But with that on your bumper, aren’t you kinda obligated to be a polite and conscientious driver? Peace begins at home, dude. Let’s all try to keep that in mind.

catbird :: Nov.12.2005 :: socio-pop :: Comments Off

My parents and my in-laws both live in 55+ communities — and very nice ones, too. Both couples also have some wacky neighbors. But I guess that makes sense: in all the places I’ve ever lived, the nosy, crotchety, or just plain odd people were mostly over 55. And if you take all the 55 and over people and put them in gated communities together, I suppose the ratio of normal to wacky would be higher than outside the gates.

catbird :: Aug.09.2005 :: socio-pop :: Comments Off

Driving on the GS Parkway yesterday, I saw a car with the license plate “Rik Jams” being driven by what appeared to be someone’s grandma. It was a teal blue compact car from maybe the mid- or late-90s; the driver was also maybe in her mid- or late-90s. Does she have a funny name, is she a cheesy DJ, or is she a huge fan of Rick James. Your guess is as good as mine.

catbird :: Jun.12.2005 :: socio-pop :: Comments Off

I saw one of theose “baby on board” signs when I was driving yesterday. I don’t really get it. I mean, do you really think that the people you need to watch out for on the road, the crazy drivers, are reading your car? It’s not like some going to be zooming to an intersection trying to beat the yellow light and looking up – “hey, that person has a ‘baby on board’ sign. I better slow down and obey the speed limit.”

People put all kinds of crazy things on their cars. I did. I had a “mean people suck” sticker. I really and truly believe that mean people do indeed suck. But after a while I realized that it’s not something I want to declare on my car as I’m driving to work every day. It was way, way too much pressure, you know, because you can’t be mean if you have that sticker on your car. Then you’d just be saying “I suck.” So you have to be like this ultra-considerate driver and it just wasn’t working out all that well in rush hour traffic.

One of the most bizarre things I’ve seen on cars is that “WOW” sticker. WOW for “Whip’em Out Wednesday.” When women see it on Wednesdays they are supposed to flash the person driving the vehicle. I guess it doesn’t surprise me that guys put those stickers on their cars, but are they really thinking it’s going to work? I guess some guys will do anything for the slightest chance that they might someday see boobs.

These days I don’t put anything on my car — no social comments, no political statements, nothing. That’s what my blog is for.

catbird :: Apr.28.2005 :: socio-pop :: Comments Off

I love Spamusement.
It’s very funny.

catbird :: Feb.11.2005 :: socio-pop, technology :: Comments Off

Why do people steal? I have had possession and money stolen several times. Sure, you could say that it’s my own fault for not protecting my belongings. But is it? Should I have to live in a constant state of defensive living, watching over everything I own obsessively? Or should I expect people to have some sort of respect for each other and the society we live in?

Recently, when I was in bed sick, I was flipping through the channels. I came across one of those oh-so-trendy design shows. I don’t remember the name, and it doesn’t really matter. What pissed me off (so much so that I am actually using that word) was that the “hip” designer made it seem like a cool thing to do to buy things off the back of a truck in NYC. Are you kidding me? Now it’s cool to buy someone’s stolen stuff… and the bonus is that it encourages the theives by giving them a market.

The same situation has completely turned me off of eBay, as well. I can’t help but wonder where all these sellers get their “new in box” merchandise. I’m sure some come upon it legitimately — I’m certainly not saying that all eBay sellers are criminals — but some sellers have way too many brand new pottery barn rugs from the current catalog that they are willing to sell at a fraction of the price.

It all just makes me wonder who bought my stolen stuff off the back of a truck somewhere, thinking “hey what a great deal” instead of thinking that it was stuff that meant something to someone. Hey people who buy stolen crap — next time it could be your crap that’s being stolen and sold. Stop supporting the criminals.

catbird :: Feb.09.2005 :: socio-pop :: Comments Off

According the the ASPCA web site:

[T]he Burns Amendment to the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act opened the door to the slaughter of thousands of our wild horses. The Burns Amendment was inserted in a must-pass appropriations bill last year, and forced the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service to allow individuals and corporations to buy these animals with the clear intention of slaughtering them for profit.

For 33 years they were protected. Now they can be killed and their meat sent to France, Belgium and Japan for human consuption. Do we really need this export?

A new bill, called the Rahall-Whitfield legislation, would restore the bans on commercial sale and slaughter of these beautiful and “historically significant” animals. Find out more and send a letter to your representative by visiting the ASPCA web site.

catbird :: Feb.03.2005 :: socio-pop :: Comments Off

Hmmm…. didn’t the Bush Administration go to kindergarten? In my kindergarten class, one of the key things Mrs. Conover taught us was clean up one mess before making another.

catbird :: Jan.19.2005 :: socio-pop :: Comments Off

I just finished reading Candy Freak by Steve Almond. It was a good read — both account of Almond’s pilgrimage to several independent, regional candy makers, and his personal journey through his own sugar-soaked psyche.

He visited Golderburg, home of the scrumptious peanut chew, my ultimate favorite bar. Yum yum yum. And even though he spends a few paragraphs ranting about how he doesn’t like Twizzlers, I still recommed his book.

The only thing I missed was photos of the various candybars, many of which I had never heard of.

catbird :: Jan.04.2005 :: socio-pop :: Comments Off

I remember in an art class sometime learning about the proportions of the human face (Sculpture with Professor Lehman at TCNJ/TSC, maybe?). How the center of the pupil lines up with the outer edge of the lips; how there’s an eye width between the eyes; how each feature is halfway down the space of the preceding feature and the bottom of the chin – eyes between top of the head and chin, nose between eyes and chin, lips between nose and chin; how the face is about the size of the person’s hand.

Today I was people-watching, noticing how people’s features look so different – size of the head, eye spacing, and so on. I’m sure in reality the measurements are miniscule. For example, someone’s eyes may seem closer together, but there is still an eye width between them.

As humans, we are able to discern such fine details and such tiny measurements of faces, I suppose to tell people apart or something. Whatever the reason, it’s seems amazing to me.

catbird :: Aug.02.2004 :: socio-pop :: Comments Off

Since my husband built our “steve-o” earlier this year, our television watching habits have changed dramatically. We watch much less tv and only what we want (no more watching the crappy show sandwiched between two favorites.) And since Nate arrived, I watch even less – I’m very selective about which one or two shows I watch in the evening before bed.

But the biggest change for me has been how I watch commercials. I’m not one of those people that hates all commercials; I actually like some commercials. Now I can skip through and just watch the ones I want to see and that are relevant to me.

If you don’t have your own PVR, I highly recommend getting one.

catbird :: Jul.06.2004 :: socio-pop :: 1 Comment »