Hit the Trail-a skiers guide to the mountains of NC

While grad school is mainly about studying and working hard, there are times a well-needed break is necessary. Rather than staying inside, locked in an edit room, stressing over your project, why not take a mental break and shred up the mountains of NC. Just because you are in the south doesn’t mean that there isn’t any snow.  

Grab you gear and hit the slopes for a few hours, a day or even stay for a weekend getaway.   And don’t worry if you don’t have your own gear, each place offers rental options all at reasonable prices.

Of the six ski resorts in North Carolina, the top three are Appalachian Ski Mountain, Cataloochee Ski Mountain and Beech Mountain.

Appalachian Ski Mountain

Located in Blowing Rock, NC, only 2½ hours drive down 1-40/421 Appalachian Ski has much to offer.  Though it may seem pricey (and perhaps the priciest of three) there are many offers and special deals to take advantage of—like Snow Day discounts and Student Discounts on Lift Tickets .

The Mountain (view map)

9 slopes

            3 beginner trails

            3 intermediate trails

            3 expert trails

            3 terrain park areas

6 lifts

            2 conveyor belts

            2 quad lifts

            1 double lift

            1 handle pull

Hours

*rental info

Cataloochee Ski Mountain

Located near Maggie Valley, North Carolina it is the farthest drive of 4 hours down I-40.  While the Lift Ticket prices are a reasonable amount, I saw no special offers or discounts given—other than to children, seniors and military.  Cataloochee is the best for intermediate skiers and boarders with its 16 slopes divided mainly between beginner and intermediate.

The Mountain (view map)

16 slopes

            fairly well balanced between 13 beginner-intermediate trails

            2 expert trails

            1 terrain park area

5 lifts

            1 quad

            1 triple

            1 double (with unload/load ½ way up the mountain)

            2 magic carpets

Hours

*rental info

Beech Mountain

Located 3 hours down I-40 from Elon University, past Sugar Mountain, Beech Mountain offers an array of slopes for more intermediate –advanced skiers and boarders. It too offers reasonably priced Lift Tickets and a great special for the month of March.

The Mountain (view map)

15 slopes

            3 beginner trails

            6 intermediate trails

            4 expert trails

            2 terrain park areas

7 lifts

            4 double

            1 J-bar

            1 quad

            1 high-speed quad

Hours

*rental info

Each trail offers its unique variety of slopes and sill levels so there is sure to be a slope that fits you!

A Picture is Worth 1000 Words...

There are many things that we can define as art just like there are many things we can define as iconic.  So what makes an image iconic? Well the answer is I don’t know.

There is no explicit definition.  Google-ing the answer will give you many good answers but no definitive one.  I think that an image is iconic if it is

• ·      a well known piece, referenced by others
• ·      has an impact on public opinion
• ·      sets a standard in history

Many photos can be “iconic” to different people for different reasons but I think that these are the three main factors that make an image iconic for all.

Another factor that could come into consideration could be time.  A photo that is iconic to my parents or grandparents could be just as iconic to me or I could have no connection to it at all. 

An icon is defined as

• ·      a pictoral representation
• ·      a sign whose form suggests meaning

Iconic is defined as

• ·      relating or resembling
• ·      famous or well known
• ·      believed to represent a particular idea

So it is fair to argue that there are similarities between the two words—they both represent other things, however they are still not quite the same.

To help demonstrate my point I am going to show some iconic photos.

This photo would be iconic because it was right after President Kennedy was assinated.  Jackie was still in her pink outfit and was very composed as LBJ was sworn in as president.

This photo was very iconic of the Great Depression (though there was some speculation about whether it was posed based on the photographers other photos from the same time).

I was not around for either of these historical moments but they are representative of American history.






This is iconic for clear reasons. 9/11 was a tragic event for New Yorkers and Americans as a whole.

These two images, though from different times, have been compared to each other with the second being a reference to the first photo.  Both photos seem to evoke the same American Spirit and hope in rough times.

These images to the right demonstrate the same idea.  Each photo is paying tribute to the original idea in someway.






















People like Marilyn Monroe and Twiggy were Iconic in their way too because they set standards in their industry.

Things like these are called icons because they represent something however I would not qualify them as iconic.  I suppose that you could argue that they represent something iconic like Facebook or Social/Corporate America. However, I think that for something to be iconic to me it has to have historic or some kind value to it. 

Did you hear that?

A commercial must also create a need or a drive for something and in doing so, be compelling.  Whether it is through humor, annoying/catchy jingles, empathy, etc, it must capture attention.

Personally, I would say that a good commercial is half visual and half audio.  I am no expert in commercial making, but I would argue that a good commercial should work both where it is seen and alone on audio.  A person should be able to pick up on the message whether they are watching it or whether they are off in another room.

Commercials back in the 90s were awesome, but then again so were most things back then.  I remember ads for Coca-Cola vs Pepsi, Pringles and Folders coffee.  They all had catchy jingles like "The best part of waking up..." and "Once you pop the fun don't stop"

Kit-Kat was another catchy jingle.  I like how the commercial for it today has taken a new spin on the original jingle.  This commercial works very well as an audio ad.
Why?

1. We all recognize and know the tune
2. We can hear the breaking of the candy and the crinkle of the wrapper
3. We can hear the crunch of the candy being eaten
4. We hear the satisfaction in the persons voice as they enjoy a Kit-Kat

One of my favorite ads is the Darth Vader VW car commercial.  This ad works better visually, but I still think there are some points to note--like the use of pop culture.  We all know the few notes that make up the epic Darth Vader march so we are immediately drawn in.  However, based solely on audio this ad could be about the films, that is until we hear the roar of the car motor and the announcer.

Another favorite ad of mine is for Pur Water filters.  Magic Bananas! This commercial always makes me laugh.  The visual element is clean and simple and so is the dialogue.  Also it is nice to see the visuals of clicking the Pur filter to your faucet but this element is also achieved thought the natural clicking sounds we hear underneath the audio.  Even with all of that said I still think it is a strong audio commercial.

This particular Orbit gum commercial I felt worked well as and audio ad.  on first hearing a visual would be nice because it is a little confusing until you hear the Orbit gum lady say her "Dirty Mouth? Clean it Up!" line.  But the commercial is about cleaning up dirty mouths and I think that this commercial emphasizes cleaning up your mouth through the use of the "bad words." This commercial is also very funny and people will remember the catch phrase and next time they are in the check out aisle at the supermarket they might be inclined to buy some gum. 

Finally, Coca-Cola's "Put the Lime in the Coke, You Nut" ad works well as stand alone audio because of the annoyingly catchy song.  The commercial succeeds in getting you to buy a Coke with lime because you start to sing it then your friends sing it then other people start and soon everyone is singing the song and the want spreads and then everyone is drinking a Coke.  

Writing for the Web

We are in an information age. People want information and they want it fast and now. 

When we look for content on the web we want information that is easy to digest and easy to locate.

Web writing breaks traditional conventions of writing.

1.     Paragraphs should be no longer than three sentences

2.     Use bullet points and lists to make information easier to scan

3.     Language on the web is much more conversational and informal than print writing

4.     Citing sources has become as simple as linking to the source page

In my own experiences, I have found that print reading is easier to read in longer paragraphs because we can take our time, read, analyze and reflect.

Reading on the web tends to slow reading down so only highlight the important parts of your writings and don’t include unnecessary fluff.

Also, I think that print reading is easier because there are less distractions on the page; it is just words.  On the web, there are links to other stories, flashing ads and shiny buttons and so many other distractions.

Most readers tend to scan pages instead of reading word-for-word

Odds are you are probably scanning this page right now.

Just remember

-Keep writing simple

-Make the writing fun and engaging

-Chunk the text with headings, subheadings and lists so that it is easy to read and navigate.

However, some web writing is longer and is still engaging.  For example, news stories and even blogs can be longer than expected.

So why do people read these longer articles?

1.            It is a compelling story
2.            It is a follow up story to a news report that they may have seen on TV
3.      It is relatable to their own life

Here are some examples of web writing to look at! 

Good writing : this is an example of good web writing because it breaks information down by headings; writing for the readers who scan.  You can get the basic info just from the headings but if one is particularly interesting to you, there is more info for you to read more.

Using interactivity to create emotion

A good call to action campaign for a cause is one that evokes emotion and has a lasting impression on someone.  This is particularly important when it comes to creating empathy in others.  Right now we see ads for helpless neglected animals set to Sarah McLachlan's sad "In The Arms of The Angel" song asking for donations and support.  This technique of showing a montage of disturbing and sad photos works pretty well.  [This technique is also successful for any of the "Sponsor a Child" Ads]

Similarly, websites for anti-bullying against LGBT, like the It Gets Better Project, offer a host of YouTube videos from celebrities, victims, and those in support of the campaign.  The videos share stories, offer inspiration and evoke interest and support from those watching.

However not all support a cause campaigns have to bring about a sad emotion.  For example, Toms Shoes. True there is still a sad element to the campaign but the One-for-One idea has a more hopeful outtake.  The mission of Toms is for every pair of shoes bought one pair will be given to a person in need.

For me, being able to visualize is key in gaining empathy from others. Along with having an interactive campaign allows for viewers to place themselves in unfortunate scenarios.  Durham, NC has a poverty game website where you have a limited amount of money to survive for the month.  Along the journey you must make choices and deal with the following consequences.

When we are able to put ourselves in others position we can feel their struggles and we are driven to help.

What makes a video on the Internet go viral?

Well how does anything spread around in our social circles really? Simple—through word-of-mouth.  Friends pass on information to their friends and those friends to their friends and so on and it keeps going. 

A viral video is usually viewed as being funny.  We have all seen “David After Dentist” or “Charlie Bit Me.”

Other viral videos can be of cute animals or of epic fails.  And some can be plain annoying, however catchy like the musical styling of Rebecca Black “Friday”. 

However, viral videos could also have more of a reason behind them.  For instance, a medical center in Portland, Oregon made a video with the staff for breast cancer awareness month. Employees put on pink latex gloves and made a music video. 

Even with all of this said, a viral video is not only about the content.  A viral video is considered viral for the amount of views it receives in a short/certain amount of time.

Buzz is another element in having a video be viral.  For example, on the Today show they talked to a couple that walked down the aisle in a very unique way. Sure, they weren’t the first couple to do this but they were certainly the first to be noticed.  Soon after many videos like this were making its way on YouTube. 

Comedic TV hosts like Daniel Tosh, Jon Stewart, and Joel McHale also talk about some of these videos and give their comedic commentary on the video at hand.

Making videos parodied, remixed or auto-tuned also seems to be a way to know you have hit viral status.  (Charlie-Remixed and David-Remixed) Though often times the parodied videos are not as funny as the original.

Longevity is perhaps another great sign of a viral video.  People still talk about Charlie Sheen Winning and The Bed Intruder and how you have to “Hide yo wife, Hide yo kids” (remixed video)

Now you know what elements make a video viral! So to conclude I will leave you with this cute, annoying, funny video that has gone viral, been remixed and still seems to have audiences watching.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH2-TGUlwu4

source:

http://socialtimes.com/what-makes-a-video-viral_b61409

Social Media-how not to sell something to me

How Not to Sell Cartoon

When I go to a store, like Target or Old Navy or pretty much anywhere, I like to move around at my own pace.  I don’t like when people come up to me the minute I walk in the door and ask if I need help.  I just smile and say, “no thanks I’m just looking” and move on.  I do try to be nice and listen to them because having worked in retail, there are things you offer to the customers as last minute deals trying to boost store sales, and sometimes they do have good sale coupons to offer but generally I will come find someone on my own if I need some assistance.

The cartoon on The Oatmeal depicts just that.  People respond positively to genuine help and do not like to have things forced upon them.  I had to laugh at the last guy because he reminded me of a used car salesmen, like the dad from Matilda.  The cartoon also kind of spoke to the point of why do the salesmen, like the mustached man, want to sell that product so bad? Is it solely about commission? Or is there something fishy about the product?

The second guy in the cartoon reminded me of an infomercial salesman; buy now and we’ll double the offer but you have to call with in the next five minutes.   Both of the last two men in the cartoon had an element of sleaze to them and there always seems to be a catch with places/people like that.

It all comes down to time and money.  Are you getting a good value and is it worth your time?  People do not like to have their time and money wasted.  By salesmen being upfront about a product, people are more likely to listen and buy because they feel that they have had an exchange of value—this is also true with customer reviews.

Role Change

Having just recently become a fan of MadMen, it is interesting to see how the Ad world was then and how it is today.  Though some may have considered advertising then selling a lie, and creating a want I considered it to be selling an idea (which I suppose could be a false idea so yeah, lie).  They were selling the American Dream.  

In the first season of MadMen one episode was about marketing this one particular steel company, Bethlehem Steel.   The strategy was to sell the idea that the Steel Company was the backbone of America; America was built on Bethlehem Steel. 

Now it appears there has been a shift in advertising.  It is almost the same kind of shift seen with Journalists and citizen journalists. Firms still create a want for a product but because of the advent of social media, people have in a sense exposed the products.  Rather than being fed products or told what to do, consumers now can think for themselves.  Customer reviews provide potentially honest opinions of a product so that others can make decisions based on the review given.

Though it is useful for helping potential customers to hear what others say, it is also an excellent market research tool for companies.  It is an easy way for customer feedback and they can also see what customers want through means of popular purchases and then make similar suggestions for what a customer may want to buy; this also helps bring customers back to the site so that they want more which in turn creates more revenue for a company.

The Rise of Testimonials

More and more we now see real people instead of paid actors in ads.  Dove has the real women campaign, fast food places like Wendy’s are using real people to sell their hamburgers etc.  Places like Weight Watchers and Subway, though they have celebrity spokespeople, they also use real success stories in there ads.   When people can relate to something they feel some kind of call to action.  However, testimonials can be misleading.  For example some “diet pills” like Xenedrine Ultra or NV have fit people endorsing their products.  Like Ronnie from the Jersey Shore; we all know his GTL routine and that some pill does not make him look the way he does.  Proper diet and exercise delivers results where these so called quick solutions can have serious health implications.

Good Social Media Practices

Email used to be a very popular way to continue reach to potential consumers besides post mail.  Now Facebook, Twitter and other social sites have overtaken email. 

Social media is a smart and strategic move for companies to have a social media campaign incorporated to their website for a few reasons.

1.                     Facebook is a good way to reach a mass audience because pretty much everyone has a Facebook.  And most recently the older generation has seen an increase of new members. 

2.                     Personal connection enables peer-to-peer contact which creates interaction and motivation for return to the site

3.                     It is a good chance that you will like things that your friends like so word of mouth and relevant content are connections through personal connections.

Websites to look at:

http://www.iab.net/media/file/Social-Advertising-Best-Practices-0509.pdf

http://www.readwriteweb.com/biz/2011/05/guide-to-facebook-marketing-best-practices.php

http://mashable.com/2011/10/10/universities-social-media/

http://www.iab.net/media/file/Social-Advertising-Best-Practices-0509.pdf

http://engagingsocialmedia.com/