JLS Condoms

Just
Love
Safe




Whilst i think this is a good idea, i cant help find it not so good at the same time. It's weird to think people will be more persuaded to use condoms if a boyband are on the packet... Also whilst it has good intentions it may have the reverse effect and encourage sex to those underage. To an outsider you can see it's encouraging safe sex but to a devoted fan it's saying buy these, they're cool and so is sex.

Jeans

Jeans are so common, every clothing shop sells a pair. It's probably one of the hardest things for a woman to shop for, it's frustrating and one of those things you have to try on before buying. I don't know one woman that has the perfect fitting jeans, there's always size issues, muffin tops, gaping holes in the back, saggy bums, ankle biters...

Levi's are taking advantage of this insight:

'Text by Dazed Digital
Facing the age-old trouble of finding a jean that fits, Levi's has taken the wardrobe staple and attempted to work out its problems using the Curve ID theory taking a woman's measurements to ensure a perfect fit. After conducting a study, Levi's had found that a massive 87 per cent of women wanted better fitting jeans than the ones they currently owned, hence the need for a new approach in creating a denim range that fits all women.

Utilising the ratio between the measurements between the narrowest and widest parts of the hips, the jeans are made with a stretchy denim available in light to dark washes. Shot by Peter Lindbergh, the three spokespersons Swedish singer Lykke Li, Miss Nine and Pixie Geldof front the campaign for the new range representing the three fits of 'Slight', 'Demi', and 'Bold'.

Dazed Digital: What was the initial inspired this project?
Consumers. This journey of the Curve ID took a year to do. We decided let's go talk to women and find out their current relationship with jeans and their relationship with Levi's - and we found a lot of frustration and we wondered why there was this frustation, and basically women found a difficulty in finding the right fit. Then came the research ideas, so the first surveys and research speaking to women took three months, then after the initial feedback, another six - nine months to perfect the fit.

DD: Do you think three shapes sufficiently embodies all women?
No. It accounts for 80 per cent of women, globally! We're now working on the fourth fit for next year.

DD: Is there scope for this range to expand or develop in the future?
In terms of body types we will be expanding our shapes and sizes but also within the same system of curves. This will be available in our current and more rises. What we currently have is the most popular rise in the market so this is why we're using this low rise.

DD: With all this emphasis on 'curve', will this alienate 'uncurvy' girls?
You still have curve - but in proportion to your body! Depends on the conversation we have with women, part of the research with Curve ID is the shopping experience with women - why don't they feel good when they say you have a flat butt or thunder hips, but all women are curved, period, point. It just depends on your build. You don't have to change to fit the jeans, but the jeans fit you.'

Soon, we might all live in a world wear jeans can be purchased at ease. All our jean dreams may come true and piles of jeans on changing room floors will be a distant memory.

Angry Animals

This is what blogs are made for.

Domain names

Why hasn't www.dotcom.com been created!?

I just typed it in and ... nothing. If i had the money to spend on buying new domain names i would and that would be the first one i'd buy. It's only a matter of time before it's gone. So much potential and so little time.

Pete versus Life

This is a brand new series on channel 4 that follows the life of struggling sports writer Pete Griffith, your everyday average guy. Whilst that may sound boring this programme is far from, his every move is observed by two commentators and analysed brutally.
It's refreshing to see a unique approach to a comedy series. I'd describe it as the Truman Show meets Friends... Okay, instead i'll just say it is sophisticated entertainment, with a great twist.

If you haven't watched it, give it a go: Friday nights at 10pm or 4od

Leg space on a train

Lately, i've been spending A LOT of time on trains. Like most people i try to get 2 seats to myself, but sometimes you can't keep hold of that extra 'seat for your bag'. Recently i had a reserved seat which was on a table.

I hate table seats when i'm travelling alone because:
It means your less likely to be alone as your sitting with 3 other people
You're facing someone directly, so it's hard to avoid any eye contact
You cant sit with your bag under your chair for easy access
as
their is limited leg room
and so
you have to lay all your travel belongings out on the table - in view of your other table sitters

Let me just highlight the limited leg room issue - Men seem to think women dont have legs. Not only do women have suffer with men sitting open legged constantly 'for comfort', but now we have to keep our legs tucked in awkwardly the whole journey as a man needs way over half of the leg space. If i was to draw the equal leg space allowance on the table, they would be way into my area...

Well, i have drawn it:


Here you can see how much room is theoretically allowed and the intursion into my personal leg allowance. And to top it all off, they kick your feet too!

(This is not aimed at all men - you know who you are!)

Handshakes

When you meet someone new it's always dificult to judge whether its a handshake moment or not. And, when it is a handshake situation, how much pressure do you apply? How many times do you physically shake your hands up and down? Do you even shake, or is it more of a warm grasp?



Handshake become even more difficult when it's mixed gender. If your the woman, you want to seem confident and strong but not to butch. A man wants to be professional, non-sexist but at the same time respect the 'lady'.

Things you should know about Handshakes(thanks to Wikipedia)
The earliest handshake dates back to 5th century BC.
Handshakes should always be made bare handed, in some customs it is considered inappropriate/derogatory behaviour if preformed whilst wearing gloves.
'It is considered to be in poor taste to show dominance with too strong a handshake conversely, too weak a handshake (sometimes referred to as a "limp fish" or "dead fish" handshake) is also considered unseemly due to people perceiving it as a sign of weakness.'
New Jersey Mayor Joseph Lazarow from Atlantic City was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records for shaking more than 11,000 hands in a single day.
And just incase you were thinking of doing the longest ever handshake:
Matthew Rosen and Joe Ackerman hold a world record time of 15 hours, 30 minutes and 45 seconds.

Cats vs Dogs

1)Are you a cat person or dog person?

A cat person - Enjoys the quieter and lower maintanance pet. Seeks prettier, more aesthetically pleasing animals. Forms a bigger emotional bond with their pet, rather than physical.

A dog person - Wants a much more active pet, that will entertain themselves and an audience. Requires unconditional love and a strong physical bond between the person and pet.





2)Would you prefer to be a cat or a dog?

A cat - self sufficient, more ignorant, clean, sleeps at least 18 hours a day.

A dog - reliant, dirty, affectionate, smells, awake 11-14 hours a day.




My answers
Question 1) Cat person
Question 2) Cat

The Stereotype Info

'Cat people (like cats) are a little more mysterious, self-centered and independent, sometimes bordering on aloof; they are capable of entertaining themselves for hours on end, more tricky, more circuitous, more manipulative.' (John Woestendiek)

'Dog people (like dogs) are more prone to dominance and co-dependence, crave constant attention and are more open, outgoing, social and likely to drool.' (John Woestendiek)

"Many people perceive themselves as being either 'cat people' or 'dog people.' These people often think they relate to their pets because they share similar personalities."
This isn't necessarily true. Stereotypes are stereotypes.

Seasons - 'the change'

At certain points during the year we all have to make 'the change'. 'The change' happens when we think there has been a decrease or rise in temperature, meaning it's time to dress appropriately.

I like to refer to it as upgrading or downgrading. For example, if we've just endured the Winter, there comes a point when you must accept it's finished and the new season is approaching. You need to downgrade your coat.
The tricky thing is to pick the correct week. People fall under five categories during this period of time.

There are: The Risk Takers (these are the people that downgrade/upgrade far to early which usually results in them being caught out by the weather and being reffered to as 'a dick')
The Forcers (people that downgrade/upgrade a week or two after 'The Risk Takers', once they have waited for the weather to steady a bit more. They force themselves to make the change and never look back, can be quite intimidating towards 'The Sheep' and try to influence their change)
The Sheep (these people have watched 'The Forcers' make the change and wait just a few more days to be sure, this is the most popular category - i myself, fall into this one)
The Sceptics (very stubborn and pessimistic people, refuse to be one of 'The Sheep' so wait even longer before they make the change, usually resulting in some discomfort as the temperature rises/falls)
The Oblivious (the rarest category, these are the people that never seem to change and are always wearing the same seasons coat/raincoat/jacket/none, they are usually commented on by passers by - 'they must be freezing' or 'i bet they're boiling in that')



The official season has begun when The Sheep have made 'the change' as these are the majority of the population. The Forcers will try enforce the official season by saying things like 'It's Summer!' or 'Looks like Winters here', do no be fooled.

Heineken

2 great insights, 1 brilliant ad.

Scone or Scon?

Scone... How do you pronounce it? Well there is only one way it should be said.

If i say scone or scon? it becomes very clear which way it should be pronounced. If you pronounce it as scone, you are correct. If you say scon im afraid the proof is in the spelling.

Charlotte, if we ever do end up opening our bakery, we will not be serving any scons.

Expiry Dates

Apparently i am too obsessed with expiry dates. My Mum seems to think that an expiry date means nothing, if the food still holds its shape it's okay. I disagree.

I've done a bit of research into this subject a.k.a typing it in to Wikipedia and found out the following:

Expiry dates may also be known use by, display until and sell buy. All meaning the products cannot be sold after this date because they are no longer at best quality and have expired shelf life.

Now then, im not obsessed so much that i wont eat something after the expiration date, if it's a couple days i can cope, but months/years...no. I won't eat expired food for obvious reasons, taste and health. The argument last night however, was over medicinal expiration. I simply informed my mother the anticeptic cream was about 1 year over it's expiry date so probably wouldn't be as effective. I knew this because i'd had previous experience using expired paracetamol and anticeptic cream which hadn't worked. Once i used in date products it worked. This was my defence and proof that expiry dates are there for reason. She responded with 'it'll be fine, your too obsessed with the dates of things. They only put these dates on to make people like you use them faster an go buy more'.

Now even though this is a good business strategy, i think it's far from the truth. Whilst i agree that an expiry date doesn't necessarily mean the product is unusable, i also think expiration dates are legally there for a reason. If they did not exist people would probably get pretty ill. Expiry dates aren't just decorative digits, they save lives... This post is dedicated to my Mum.

McDonald's Collection Point

I went to McDonald's yesterday and encountered a very unusual experience. I ordered my food as normal but at the point of handing over change they said, 'your number is 173, if you'd like to make your way over to the collection point please'. What.....? I thought i was in argos.

It was so surreal to be standing in McDonald's with monitor above me flashing numbers. About 1 minute later 173 flashed on the screen so i walked back up to the counter 'the collection point' and collected my food.

I'm not sure if this is a new thing, or if this store was testing the idea, but watch this space and be prepared.

Dubbing

I keep seeing this annoying TV advert so it's time for a blog post on it. Neutrogena is a well established brand so i dont know why they cant afford to get their adverts dubbed correctly. Watch and you'll see what i mean:



She doesn't even pronounce all of the words... 'Now i can ....(?) goodbye the blackheads'

To me it just feels like it's laziness. There must be an excuse why some adverts do this, but i am yet to find out. For the time being i will remain annoyed and frustrated at these particular adverts. (There's a bit of a toiletry theme) Here's a few more:





My personal favourite Mr Muscle


Mr muscle advert
Uploaded by hamster1992. - Check out other Film & TV videos.

Car Faces

A lot of people describe cars to have faces. This is how i come to an aesthetical decision about the style of a car and whether i like it or not. My Dad however thinks im slightly mad for doing this?? I dont know if it's a male thing, or just people with less imagination that find visualizing more difficult...

Basically this post is to defend myself. I am proving that im not mad, cars can be related to having faces. I have collected some evidence to support this theory:

This is an article explaning that cars are made to represent similar characteristics to human faces, which also leads us to give them personalities, such as friendly, aggressive, sad etc.

'It probably won’t come as a surprise that most people viewed cars as having faces. Nor that there was often agreement on the corresponding “personalities,” as with the “submissive and friendly” Nissan Micra pictured above. What was surprising to me, though, was that most people, including both men and women, seemed to agree on their preference. From the study:

…the better our subjects liked a car, the closer it matched the shape characteristics corresponding to high values of “power.” Thus, people seem to like mature, dominant, masculine, arrogant, angry-looking cars.'

http://artandperception.com/2008/09/car-face.html

Herbie ofcorse... need i say more



And a whole film based on cars with faces and personalities 'Cars' 2006, Disney Pixar Films



This sums it up perfectly i think: