The Trickle Down Effect

In our last class we discussed what would happen if GM were to end. We all wrote about the trickle down effect, but the proof of what could happen is happening here. I remember what it was like to not have insurance. Those were some of the most difficult times. I was stuck in the middle because I had a job that did not provide health insurance, so I could not get assistance for it. That is not an option that is available for these people. This only gets further depressing

What are the others doing?

The failed economy not only affects us in the United States, but the entire world. The world doesn't seem to be waiting for the United States to take the lead. At least, France isn't. They've decided the "plan includes aid to the country’s ailing auto industry, which employs 10 percent of the French work force, and sets aside money for the construction industry." The construction industry is one I haven't heard in all of this. It should be really interesting to see what the US decides. It just can't be an option not to support the auto industry.

Twitter Turns Down Facebook

I heard of Twitter during the election, many articles mentioned that Barack Obama checked his Twitter all the time. Twitter is a way to communicate with people in less than 140 characters answering the question: What are you doing? or "microblogging" (hint hint Professor :-)). Facebook and Myspace have included this format within their pages with "Username is..." Twitter does this without all the extra bells and whistles that Facebook and Myspace have. It has a cool "follow me" feature that allows you to be updated on what your friends, family, or coworkers are doing.

Twitter has chosen not to venture with Facebook. Their main reason is they want to figure out a way to make a profit. Unlike Myspace and Facebook, they don't want to sell ads on their pages. They want to sell direct communication between a business and the Twitter community.

An interesting note, "Twitter was being used in newsgathering, as it was during the terror attacks in India last week."

Gerald Schoenfeld Dies

I wanted to write about this on Thanksgiving Day, but was too busy creating a feast.

Gerald Schoenfeld died on November 25, 2008. He was one of the best examples of power and "was one of the most influential figures in American theater," says Jim Joseph of Jazz at Lincoln Center (and personal friend). Mr. Schoenfeld was the chairman of the Shubert Organization, "the largest and most important theater owner on Broadway and in the United States." Check out the videos below. One shows his swagger in the business world of Broadway and both show his passion. The first video from Theater Talk aired on CUNY TV this weekend where I got to catch the entire interview from 2001.




It moves me to know that some how and some way some of the choices he made created a path for my part in the theater world.

The Plunge is Official Today.

So it has been officially declared today that we are in a recession. Even after reading this article, I still don't get what took them so long to determine it. The proof is in the Dow.

Black Friday was "Whack Friday."

That shopping buzz of my past Black Friday experiences was not in the air at the Palisades mall. We tried to catch the full complement by going to the place that has most of the stores we want to go to. Plus it has a Circuit City that is going out of business. The stores were not having any really unbelievable deals like I have experienced in the past and Circuit City, in particular, was a bust. Best Buy, who is not going out of business actually did have some cool sales. Not enough to make me buy a flat screen tv or the surround sound set I was hoping to find. Even Macy's was a disappoinment, at least in the plus size section. Lord & Taylor did work out well with the 70% off steal deals I was looking for and I was feeling the shoppers high there. Then we checked out "Twilight" and did a little Cheesecake Factory.

After a long day at the mall, I learned that Jdimytai Damour, a Walmart employee, was trampled and killed by shoppers for $798 flat screen televisions and more. I was stunned when my friend texted me. I was looking for a flat screen television, but perhaps the people were seduced by their own hype while waiting for the store to open? I just cannot believe that something so senseless could happen. They actually broke down the doors at 5am. WTF? The same television was available on the Walmart website and was not sold out when I checked that night and its still not (as of this posting).

I wonder how do those people feel now. Was it really worth killing someone? Can Walmart put a positive spin on this? I know I went to thier site to find out what kind of sale did Jdimytai Damour die for, but I certainly did not buy the television. Just seriously turned off by it all.

Shopping For the Holidays?

The NY Times has an article on about Mothers Doing Without so their children can have during the holidays. This isn't something new to those who don't have it like they do, but I am curious to see what their Christmas will look like. What will they be doing without to sacrifice for their children. Christmas has become so commercial, it will be a beautiful thing to see people really rejoice in the spirit of hope and love. Christ being born is suppose to be a celebration of hope because the savior is born. There is a celebration of hope in the spirit of change.