Glass Water Bottles

http://www.betrulyyou.com/

I think they are very cool, but I would probably break it in some very quiet and inappropriate place.

Groupon

Check out www.groupon.com/dallas

Bit a Bliss is featured tomorrow!

Chasing Cool

"The next time someone says they want to be the "ipod" of their industry, ask them this: before he came up with the ipod, did Steve Jobs walk around telling people he wanted to be the Sony Walkman of his industry?"

www.chasingcoolbook.com

A must read!

I want to live in a Moon Hole

Or even better....a protected lunar lava tube :)


http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/space/01/01/moon.lava.hole/index.html

Guilty Pleasures

Lately, one of my guilty pleasures has been watching Jersey Shore. It's like real world only everyone is striving to be a "guido" or "guidette".

Last week the show became political. A New Jersey lawmaker is asking MTV to stop the show!

http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=448791

The latest criticism comes from the New Jersey Italian American Legislative Caucus, which says the show promotes derogatory ethnic stereotypes and is "wildly offensive."

But when you watch the show, the kids on it seem very proud of these attributes that the legislator is calling derogatory ethnic stereotypes. So are they derogatory stereotypes or is it simply a generational difference? I don't know the answer, I"ve never even been to Jersey.

Here is what wikipedia has to say http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guido_(slang)

An appeal from Wikipedia founder, Jimmy Wales

An appeal from Wikipedia founder, Jimmy Wales

Today, I am asking you to make a donation to support Wikipedia.

I started Wikipedia in 2001, and over the past eight years, I've been amazed and humbled to see hundreds of thousands of volunteers join with me to build the largest encyclopedia in human history.

Wikipedia isn't a commercial website. It's a community creation, entirely written and funded by people like you. More than 340 million people use Wikipedia every month - almost a third of the Internet-connected world. You are part of our community.

I believe in us. I believe that Wikipedia keeps getting better. That's the whole idea. One person writes something, somebody improves it a little, and it keeps getting better, over time. If you find it useful today, imagine how much we can achieve together in 5, 10, 20 years.

Wikipedia is about the power of people like us to do extraordinary things. People like us write Wikipedia, one word at a time. People like us fund it. It's proof of our collective potential to change the world.

We need to protect the space where this important work happens. We need to protect Wikipedia. We want to keep it free of charge and free of advertising. We want to keep it open – you can use the information in Wikipedia any way you want. We want to keep it growing – spreading knowledge everywhere, and inviting participation from everyone.

The Wikimedia Foundation is the non-profit organization I created in 2003 to operate, grow, nurture, and protect Wikipedia. For ten million US dollars a year and with a staff of fewer than 35 people, it runs the fifth most-read website in the entire world. I'm asking for your help so we can continue our work.

Imagine a world in which every single person on the planet has free access to the sum of all human knowledge. That’s where we’re headed. And with your help, we will get there.

Thank you for using Wikipedia. You're part of this story: please make a donation today.

Jimmy Wales

Founder, Wikipedia

Not a Snuggie

Most of these pictures creep me out.....but they are funny :)

http://notasnuggie.com

Toyota-Lexus Recall...Or Not

The controversy over the Toyota and Lexus floor mats continues.

We happen to own one of the models that is under investigation, a 2006 IS-250. Several things about this are bothering me.

The only thing we have received in the mail, is a letter asking us to remove the driver's side floor mat. No offer to replace the floor mat......
Click here for a copy of the notice

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has called their floor mat statement "Inaccurate and Misleading" Why? Because the NHTSA believes that there is a defect in the cars, after an incident that killed a family of four that could not stop an accelerating Lexus.

This past Monday Toyota released a statement denying any finding of fault on Toyota's part or any defect in its cars in relation to the deadly floor mat safety advisory issued in late September. Today, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is saying that Toyota's information is "inaccurate and misleading" and that there is in fact a defect in the 3.8 million cars affected.
Click here for full story

Still nothing from Toyota/Lexus in response to this...... So are we safe or not????

Quilted Northern, Economics, Psychology and Marketing

Any business with a product to market should understand the intertwining of economics, psychology and marketing.

This is where Quilted Northern missed the target. With the case of the smaller toilet paper roll, it's a quite simple example.

If you raise the price of each roll of toilet paper 2 cents, it is unlikely that your consumer will even notice the 10 to 25 cent raise in their toilet paper package, especially if you raise it slowly over time. The consumers that do notice will either stop buying the product or they will decide they don't care and continue to buy. The ones who stop will be a small percentage and may have stopped buying anyway.

On the other hand a consumer that pays the price they have been paying for their toilet paper but opens it and finds a smaller roll feels cheated and ripped off. The actual visual of a smaller product has a major impact on buying decisions, especially when there is a somewhat standard size for toilet paper.

This also effects any loyalty the consumer may have with the brand. They think "this brand cheated me" and will most likely never come back to it.

This intense feeling of being cheated by a company turns viral and you have rip off reports and blogs like mine reporting this feeling.

You never see rip off reports or blogs reporting their toilet paper now costs 15 cents more per package.

The way I see it, Georgia Pacific and Quilted Northern could use a good refresher in the importance of the psychology behind consumer purchases and marketing.

Quilted Northern - the tiny roll

I have long been a buyer of Quilted Northern toilet paper, you know you have your favorites....

Last week I opened a package and did a double take. It looked smaller. Alot smaller. I put it away and didn't think about it for a couple of days. Then when I got it out to put on the holder I could really tell it was smaller. A 1/2 inch shorter and and smaller in girth. But.....the price was the same.....what's happening here??

When I first researched this I found a press release from Georgia Pacific that I can no longer find, however someone posted a "ripoff report" , which made me laugh a little, but the reply from Georgia Pacific was the same as the press release I had found earlier.

We understand you may have some concerns about the roll width and/or sheet count of Quilted Northern Soft & Strong(r). As noted at the bottom of the package, Quilted Northern Soft & Strong(r) is about 1/2 inch narrower than before, and we have slightly reduced the sheetcount.

Because of today's economy, cost is a factor. We made the decision to slightly reduce the roll to bring you the bathroom tissue you trust and not raise our price to retailers. Quilted Northern Soft & Strong continues to provide the cleanliness and comfort you have come to expect, making it a great value in today's economy. As always, Quilted Northern Soft & Strong(r) is thick, absorbent, and gentle on your skin. The bathroom tissue features strength and durability for cleanliness, with softness and thickness for comfort. With Quilted Northern Soft & Strong(r), you do not have to compromise comfort for clean."

http://www.ripoffreport.com/Miscellaneous-Companies/Georgia-Pacific-CRC/georgia-pacific-crc-toilet-pa-e2647.htm

So no more purchasing the Quilted Northern, any suggestions?

RC and Moon Pie Festival

I completely forgot to blog about the RC and Moon Pie Festival in Bell Buckle Tennessee. Somehow, someone from Bell Buckle arrived on my blog.....and it reminded me.

Several months ago I was doing some benchmarking for the Chamber of Commerce. While searching I ran across the RC and Moon Pie Festival in Bell Buckle. See excerpt from press release.

Tucked away among the rolling hills, farmland and Walking Horse country of Tennessee lays the historic town of Bell Buckle where every year on the third Saturday in June, the Souths two most honored traditions are celebrated, RC Colas and Moon Pies.

This years performance will be The Ball is in Your Court, starring who else but the lovely little Moon Pie and the charming RC with guest appearances by GooGoo Cluster, Coke, as well as a host of fairies and soldiers

Click Here for More Information and Pictures

I thought it was adorable! Who wouldn't like a deep fried moon pie while watching the synchronized wading?

Green Cleaning

I'll be updating Bit a Bliss Cleaning soon to reflect, the all non toxic cleaning products we will be using.

Did you know that Tea Tree Oil is a disinfectant? It is!

That was my big concern with trying to do all non-toxic cleaning, you have to disinfect especially during flu season. I am happy to say I have found the solution.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_tree_oil

Bit a Bliss Cleaning Service Dallas, Plano, Frisco and Little Rock, Arkansas

If you live in the Dallas area and need a maid or cleaning service, call Bit a Bliss Cleaning!

And how could I forget LITTLE ROCK. The phone number will be coming soon, in the meantime you can email stephanie@bitabliss.com to set up your service.

http://www.bitabliss.com/

214-390-3907

Starbucks - Pay It Forward

I got a Starbuck's this morning in the drive-thru.

When I got to the window to pay I was told the car in front of me already paid for it and said "Have a good day". Of course my mouth fell open and I was shocked. Evidentally it happens several times a day at my Starbucks drive thru.

I bet they wish I didn't love $4 coffees.....

So now I will make someone else's morning and buy their coffee.

Intuit To Acquire Mint

Intuit will acquire the free online personal finance service Mint, we’ve confirmed from a source close to the deal, for around $170 million. Silicon Alley Insider first reported a rumor on this. The deal should be announced in the next few days.
Update: CEO Aaron Patzer has just confirmed the deal on-stage at TechCrunch50, and written a guest post describing The Value of TechCrunch50 that contains more details.


Go to the following link to see my post on Mint almost a year ago. http://consumptionfunction.blogspot.com/2008/11/mint-manage-your-money.html

The Girl in the Other Red Honda Civic

When I came out of Target yesterday there was a note on my windshield.

I think my

car was happy

to have found its

twin. Of course, I

don't think it

appreciated me

thinking your car

was mine. :)

-the girl in the other red honda civic.

It made me laugh out loud. I had noticed in the parking space across from me was a car identical to mine, which is rare given that it is 9 years old.

Christmas!

I got Christmas cookies as marketing yesterday from the The Adolphus. Brilliant!


Beau Arts Style, 1912. Located at the corner of Commerce and Akard, it was completed at a cost of $1.87 million. It was the tallest building in the state and would con tinue to be so for many years. The city's leaders wanted a grand hotel and approached Adolphus Busch in St. Louis to see if he would build one. He agreed to do so if the city's leaders would join him as investors and if he could have any site he wanted. His wish was granted, and he chose the site of the four-story city hall, built in 1889, which was torn down to make room for the hotel. The Adolphus was designed by Barnett, Hayes and Barnett of St. Louis. The tower on the roof is said to be modeled after a Busch beer stein.

When did we become a Nation that censored our children from the President?

On September 8th President Obama will deliver a national address to school children on the importance of taking responsibility for their success in school. Click here for White House Press Release

In the County I live in and surrounding Counties, some parents have called the schools saying they will not send their children to school if they air it. Some schools here have decided not to air the address.

Seventeen of the nations 50 largest cities had High School graduation rates of lower than 50 percent
Full Story

Vetting the Health Care Rhetoric

CQ is non-partisan. So no one is trying to beat up on one side or the other. If you go to the link below you will see one of the best True/False on the Health care legislation I have seen.

As politicians and interest groups try to shape the outcome of the health care overhaul, they've offered interpretations that are so wildly different that truth sometimes seems to be taking a vacation.

Some — like the contention that a House health care overhaul (HR 3200) would create "death panels" that decide end-of-life care — are false. Some are misleading, and others are true.

Full Story Here.

Wally Lamb: The Hour I First Believed

I wonder where Wally Lamb got the idea for his book cover?

Wally Lamb Book Cover-
http://www.amazon.com/Hour-First-Believed-Novel-P-S/dp/0060988436/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250877801&sr=8-1

The Middle Place-
http://www.amazon.com/Middle-Place-Kelly-Corrigan/dp/B002DYJKFM/ref=amb_link_663292_1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=10DJJMZCCZ0F17Y8FQ9S&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=486663191&pf_rd_i=45

I accidentally came upon The Middle Place while searching for a new book to read, and thought I feel like I just saw this......