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Creativity Emerges in Christchurch

9 Mar

Just days after a devastating earthquake struck New Zealand’s Christchurch and killed over 160 people (with the final toll expected to go higher), the community has come alive with people coming up with creative ways of describing their plight and raising funds for rebuilding the city. Here’s some of the most creative:

1) Show Us Your Long Drop: This site may not have been designed to raise awareness, but its done exactly that. The site’s creator says that it was designed as a way for people in Christchurch to have a laugh during such a difficult time. Actually, it has shown the world about the lack of proper sanitation and bathroom facilities. Users submit outdoor toilets that they designed.

Toilet in Christchurch2) Christchurch Cafe: This is an online coffee shop that doesn’t sell any coffee. Instead, you purchase any number of products that you would ordinarily find at a coffee shop. Click the link and you’ll be taken to a PayPal page, which enables you to make a donation in the amount you would’ve paid for the product. All proceeds go directly to the Christchurch community and help the coffee industry rebound from the quake.

3) This Online Auction: Well, you missed out because the auction has ended, but you could have had the opportunity to win “Rocky.” Now, Rocky is a 25-30 ton boulder that destroyed this man’s building in Christchurch. All proceeds from the sale went to the Christchurch Earthquake Relief Fund. The winning bid? Someone won “Rocky” for $50,000.

Rocky in Christchurch

If you’d like to help the earthquake victims, you can make a donation to the Red Cross.

Advertising News From Asia

8 Mar

If you’re not familiar, it seems like advertising in Asia employs some unusual tricks. Here’s two bits of news that seem to confirm that.

1) Next Media Animation: Whenever a major scandal strikes, these Taiwanese animators are first on the scene. They create animated versions of the scandals, often with exaggerated and hilarious results. They’ve covered a wide variety of scandals, ranging from the Tiger Woods sex debacle to Steven Slater’s much-publicized exit from an airplane. Now, they’re coming to America. Spike TV just announced a five-year deal with the company to create animations for them. First on the docket: Charlie Sheen.

2) Chinese Breast Enhancer: These guys in China went for a guaranteed marketing success— sexy women. As far as I can tell, this product will take fat from your stomach and instead enhance your boobs. Wow, it’s guaranteed to be a huge success. Too bad you can’t understand any of the ad.

The Elderly Should Not Talk About Pop Culture

8 Mar

Alan Simpson

Former Senator Alan Simpson (R-Wyoming) is a co-chair on President Obama’s debt commission. Last fall, that committee issued a series of tough recommendations, some of which involved cutting Social Security and Medicare programs. Well, he’s been defending his recommendations. Today on Fox News he discussed the cuts. While urging the elderly to help make the future for their children and grandchildren, he somehow launched onto this rant…

“If they care at all about their children or grandchildren, and sometimes I doubt that — I think, you know, grandchildren now don’t write a thank-you for the Christmas presents, they’re walking on their pants with the cap on backwards listening to the enema man and Snoopy Snoopy Poop Dogg, and they don’t like them”

In a non-related note, John McCain may not be as tech savvy as you might think. During an appearance on “This Week” the Arizona Senator said that iPads and iPods are “built in the United States of America.” As most people know, they are actually built in China. His office later said that the senator recognized the devices were designed in the USA, but made elsewhere.

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Grandmother at Age 23

7 Mar

Romanian woman Rifca Stanescu has become the world’s youngest grandmother at the age of 23. The mother of two gave birth at the age of 12, and her daughter gave birth at the age of 11.

Rifca eloped with her husband because she hoped to avoid another arranged arrange that her mother was setting up in a nearby town. After she gave birth at such a young age, Rifca hoped her daughter would not follow a similar path. Her daughter, Maria, had other plans and dropped out of school to marry at age 10.

With the birth of her great-granddaughter, Rifca’s 40-year-old mother may have an excellent claim at the world’s youngest great-grandmother. She will likely not pursue it, though.

World's Youngest Grandmother

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College Basketball Player Suspended For Having Sex

6 Mar

If this occurred at any other school, it would not be news. It would not make waves. Nothing would happen. But, Brandon Davies plays played for BYU, where students must abide by the strict Mormon code of conduct.

Though the conduct was consensual and the woman involved was Davies’ girlfriend, the school’s code of conduct prohibits “premarital sex.” Davies acknowledged what happened to school officials during a meeting and was extremely remorseful for what occurred. Nevertheless, he was suspended from the team for the rest of the season and his future at BYU remains in doubt.

Davies apologized to his teammates for the incident. His team may still be shock though. Coming into a March 2 game, BYU was ranked number 3 in the nation. That night they lost to an unranked team by 18 points, and their ranking will likely tumble.

“He told us everything. He told us he was sorry and that he let us down. We just held our heads high and told him it was OK, that it is life, and you make mistakes, and you just got to play through it,” teammate Jimmer Fredette said.

Brandon Davies

 

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