March 14, 2008
FOUR FOR FRIDAY
Q1 - Organic: Recent tests of "natural" and "organic" soaps, shampoos and other consumer products show that nearly half of them contain a cancer-causing chemical that is a byproduct of petrochemicals used in manufacturing. Many items that tested positive for the carcinogen are owned by well-known brands, including Kiss My Face, Alba, Seventh Generation and Nature's Gate products, sold in retail stores across the nation. Generally speaking, before you heard this news, did you trust that "organic" products were safer or better for you than non-organic products?
Q2 - Spokesperson: If you could be the spokesperson for any company or organization for one year, what company or organization would you choose?
Q3 - Barack Obama: Results from a national study among Democrats indicated that more than half (53%), do not agree with former vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro's comment that "Barack Obama would not have made it this far if he was a white man." What do you think... if Barack Obama were Caucasian, do you think he would be one of two candidates remaining in the race for the Democratic nomination for the Presidency?
Q4 - You Choose: A full-time housekeep to do your laundry and keep your house in tip-top shape five days a week, or a professional chef to cook you three squares a day, five days a week?
Posted by Mikal at March 14, 2008 11:26 PM
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Organic-Schmorganic: I think the "organic" movement is one of the biggest marketing gimmicks in the history of consumerism. I avoid anything labeled "organic" the same way I avoid things labeled "lite". The standards are too loose. And the produce rots before I can get it home.
Spokesperson: I believe that would be the Kentucky Distillers Association.
Barack: No.
My choice: I can cook, I love to cook, but I hate to clean up. So I'd choose the housekeeper.
1) I've never been a big fan of the 'organic' movement. Although I am not convinced that 'traditional' products are completely safe for us I'm not a big believer in the power of overpriced, organic products. Besides, is there anything that isn't bad for us?
2) I think my year would be well spent as the spokesperson for the 'Young Starlets of America' organization.
3) I think that some of Barack's appeal is related to his race and his relative youth. I don't think it would be the same if he was Caucasian.
4) Give me the chef. Besides, the messes I leave around are just a demonstration of my 'unique' filing system.
1. First of all, one should always read the label if they are at all concerned about the product they are purchasing, even if it says "organic". A lot of products can claim an organic status as long as they meet a certain percentage requirement of organic ingredients. Also, I have always felt better using organic products, but I still read the label to make sure I know what I'm putting on or in my body. I have educated myself on those chemicals that are not good for human consumption, so even if all the ingredients are "organic" and one is chemical, chances are I won't buy the product. It's wise to educate yourself on the ingredients you consume.
2. This may sound strange, but I'd like to be a spokesperson for a company called "gDiapers". They make very earth friendly diapers that don't need to be tossed into a landfill, but if they do they degrade within weeks. Do you have any idea how many diapers ONE child goes through in a day? Multiply that by millions or billions and that is what's sitting in the landfill and will take 500 years to decompose. Maybe I should just be a spokesperson for an environmental agency.
3. I think he would have made it where he is, black or white. But I do think his charisma, youth and background does lend to some of his success. I think personality has a lot to do with it, AND the fact that the country is looking for someone fresh and new to move into the White House.
4. Definitely a professional chef! I don't mind cleaning, but cooking can be a hassle, I'd rather have someone else do it for me.
Q1: I've never put much stock in organic products. Nature has plenty of "natural" poisons. I also think we'd have a serious food shortage if we were to stop using herbicides, pesticides, and other chemicals in the food industry.
Q2: I'm not the spokesperson type.
Q3: Yes, I think Obama would still be in the race. He comes across to me as being very intelligent and well-spoken, and I think he strikes a chord with voters who are disenchanted with what government has become.
Q4: I prefer cooking over cleaning, so I would take the housekeeper. Once a week or every two weeks would be sufficient.
Q1 - I don't trust any Marketing campaign, anyone working in the Marketing field, or really anyone with a Marketing degree.
Q2 - I wish I could do the 2am real estate infomercials. Those guys are always surrounded by hot girls and fast cars while they are dressed in a $100 suit....classic!
Q3 - Based on his message alone....absolutely. Change is in the air!
A4 - A personal Chef of course. Then I would request hot pockets every day.
Q1 - I don't trust any marketing campaign, anyone who works in the Marketing field, or really anyone who has a Marketing degree.
Q2 - The guy in the 2am real estate infomercials. He is always surrounded by hot girls and fast cars while being dressed in a $100 suit...classic!
Q3 - Based on message alone he would be in the same position. Change is in the air!
Q4 - A personal chef of course. Then I could order Hot Pockets every day (mouth watering).
1- I've never bought in to the organic thing, to me it just seems like another way to jack the price up with branding. "Organic" foods are more interesting, but again, they've got a price I've never been willing to pay. The fact that there's a carcinogen doesn't surprise me at all, in fact, I think if you pump a rat full of three times its body weight of any substance at all, cancer is a likely outcome.
2- I don't think I'd want to do this for any group. The purpose of a spokesperson is to spin information or to promote a product, and neither of those things is something I really want to attach my name to. If I had to pick, though, I think having my picture on the wheaties box would probably be the best choice.
3- Nope. Billary got in office last time, at least in part due to the support of the African American vote, which, if we believe the pollsters, has mostly gone over to Obama. If he's white, then he loses a large support base because he message no longer carries that same meaning in that community.
4- The chef, without doubt. My wife's a good cook, but that only works out to about 5 meals a week.
1. Organic: Dude, I used to think "organic" meant it was safe enough to eat! Then I read an article about how "organic" is a way overused term, so now I'm not so surprised.
2. Spokesperson: Uh... Kiss My Face, Alba, Seventh Generation and Nature's Gate. They are in dire need of my help! Barring that, I'd go for Sprint so I can get my hands on a sweet trench coat.
3. Barack Obama: Well, he'd probably make for a pretty ugly white guy, and we all know only Abe can pull off the ugly white guy thing.
4. You Choose: OH MY GOSH! Could you make it any tougher? *sigh* Well, it's a really tough choice, but I'd probably pick the chef because it would add an extra 10 years to my life by keeping me from eating at Burger King everyday.
Q1 - I assumed that there were no pesticides or unnatural chemicals used with products deemed, "organic" ... that's about it. I never really bought into the organic craze though.
Q2 - Some new Political Party that focused on the "Neutrality Proclamation" and drove to change our tax structure / economy to encourage growth, push for USA built products, and invite foreign companies to headquarter on American soil to further drop unemployment, lift the GNP, and tip the trade deficit to our favor (or at least balance it) ... which is the exact opposite of where our country is today! Check out www.GOOOH.com for some folks trying to get this started.
Q3 - White or Black ... doesn't matter in this case! His message of Change and Hope is what is turning people on to his campaign, and his oratory skills are keeping them locked-in. It's hard not to listen to Sen. Obama when the economy is tanking and the Republican nominee has admitted twice on national TV that he knows nothing about the economy, and he wants to keep pressing forward with the (now $12B per year) war on terror in Iraq.
Q4 - House Keeper to give my wife a break, not to mention my wife is a fabulous cook herself.
Q1 - I guess I've always assumed that "organic" meant "natural" in the sense of "found in nature". And since not everything found in nature is safe for human use, I haven't considered organic products to necessarily be safe or better for you. But I have assumed that they wouldn't give you cancer. Folly.
Q2 - I'm kind of shy when it comes to public attention, so I guess I would pick something like The Purple Turtle, just because there isn't a lot of national interest in them. Although if I could get over that, I would pick Digg.com. I would totally be Kevin Rose.
Q3 - Well, if she's right, this would be the first time that being Black would be a benefit to a presidential candidate.
Q4 - Here was my thought-process on this one: "Ooh! Personal chef! Wait, would I have to buy all the groceries that a personal chef would need for all those gourmet meals? That's expensive. Then I'd probably have to wash the dishes too. If I'm going to have to buy the groceries anyway, I would have more fun cooking myself, and NOT having to wash anything." Decision: full-time housekeeper.
I'd like to see/read that study, Mikal, about organics. Can you provide a reference? My family is getting ready to join a CSA share, so I'm interested. Does the study refer to organic produce or organic boxed products? What are the cancer-causing agents they found? Are they also found in non-organic processed food (so organic might still be healthier than the other option?)
Q2: Hmmm. If it means free product, right now I'd choose The Cheesecake Factory. If you ask me again an hour later, the answer might be different. Hmm. I'll have to keep thinking about this.
Q3: Based on black turnout rates in some of the primary races and how much they've swayed things, it's possible she was right. It's also possible she was wrong...we'll never know. And I don't care really. I just hope he gets the nom and I have the pleasure of voting for him.
Q4: personal housekeeper, hands down didn't have to think for a millisecond.
Ami and anyone else who may be interested:
Details about the study referenced in question number one can be found here:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/DioxaneRelease08.cfm
Mikal
1 - Yep, i'd have to say marketing works on me. I wouldn't have imagined an organic product could have contained a cancer-causing chemical. Then again, i don't know a whole lot about organic products either.
2 - If i had to be a spokesperson, I'd choose a company i perceived to be fun, like Nike. And if tomorrow i felt like running the world, maybe I'd choose Google.
3 - I also disagree.
4 - Personal Chef. I'd choose something that could affect more than just my enjoyment of environment, such as good health! (and i like to clean, what would i do)
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