We all know and appreciate how horrid it can feel to be blackmailed. In this episode, Jerry is blackmailed by a man working at a small corner shop in New York. Jerry wrote a check that did not clear and therefore, the man placed the check in the window for everyone to see. Jerry obviously became frusterated because not only did he try to give him the money after, but it was a clown check and caused him much embarrasement.
The episode opens with Jerry walking by the shop and noticing that he bounced the check in the window. After paying the man, he believes that he will take it down and all will be forgotten. However, the man knows his position in this deal and refuses to take the check down. Jerry says he will do anything and explains how embarrasing it is for people to see this clown check in the window. A few days later, Jerry and Kramer are walking down the street. They notice the check again and approach the man about it. Well, the odd thing about this situation is that Kramer has recently adopted a rooster and the man notices. The man says if the rooster, named Little Jerry Seinfeld, competes in a cockfight tonight at his store, he will take the check down. Kramer allows this to go on and Little Jerry wins the cockfight.
The man does not uphold his end of the bargain and leaves the check in the window. Jerry is furious and threatens to take it down himself. The man says he has a new deal. If Little Jerry can beat the champion cockfighting rooster, he will take the check down. So Kramer and Jerry train Little Jerry just like a boxer. Kramer is not the sharpest tool in the shed though and decides to give Little Jerry a hot tube experience. The next day Little Jerry is extremely tired and fatigued. When the time comes for him to fight, Kramer sees how big the other bird is and leaps into the cockfight ring. The other bird pecks away at Kramer's face and Jerry can only sit and watch while Kramer saves Little Jerry but gets pumpled by this massive rooster. He realizes how wrong he was for using someone else's pet for his benefit. It's funny what blackmail can make some people do.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Interpreting Calvin Klein Advertisements
Why is it today that people have to be so strongly opinionated and seek a course of action anytime a company expands their boundaries? Calvin Klein recently published images of adult models and children wearing their brand of underwear. Now Calvin Klein is being accused of contributing to child pornography and using homosexual images to draw more youth into their market. The major problem here is that adults, parents mostly, believe Calvin Klein used images hinting at teenage sexuality to sell to the youth market. There thesis could not be more ridiculous.
It is obvious over the last couple years, advertisements and the media has taken enormous steps to producing more graphic images. If I were working for Calvin Klein and parents approached me about the issue, I would ask them how I am supposed to see a product if people can only see it through the plastic wrap. Parents do not complain about seeing adolescents in half nude images, but the thought of a child appalls them. Children seem to care more about what they look like or what brand they are wearing than adults do. Calvin Klein was only trying to show how cool or comfortable kids can feel when wearing their underwear. It is a little extreme to say they are contributing to child pornography. People realize now how easy it is so sue a company and read into any messages they can to try to shape the world as they see it in their mind. Seeing a few young boys wearing Calvin Klein underwear laughing does not make them appeal to homosexual men.
The point of this article is trying to attack the company for publishing images that may or may not push the envelope. I still do not see any other way for children to see the underwear. It really is a shame that it's come to this, but once in a while it would be nice to not see people complain over such small issues. It is true that their are sick people in the world with fetishes of this nature, but no one is harmed in the posting of these images.
It is obvious over the last couple years, advertisements and the media has taken enormous steps to producing more graphic images. If I were working for Calvin Klein and parents approached me about the issue, I would ask them how I am supposed to see a product if people can only see it through the plastic wrap. Parents do not complain about seeing adolescents in half nude images, but the thought of a child appalls them. Children seem to care more about what they look like or what brand they are wearing than adults do. Calvin Klein was only trying to show how cool or comfortable kids can feel when wearing their underwear. It is a little extreme to say they are contributing to child pornography. People realize now how easy it is so sue a company and read into any messages they can to try to shape the world as they see it in their mind. Seeing a few young boys wearing Calvin Klein underwear laughing does not make them appeal to homosexual men.
The point of this article is trying to attack the company for publishing images that may or may not push the envelope. I still do not see any other way for children to see the underwear. It really is a shame that it's come to this, but once in a while it would be nice to not see people complain over such small issues. It is true that their are sick people in the world with fetishes of this nature, but no one is harmed in the posting of these images.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
"Give Me the Bread You Old Bag!"
The evening time is a boring time, unless you are able to catch three episodes of Seinfeld on two different television networks. The episode today consisted of George's family meeting Susan's family for the first time. The recently engaged, George and Susan, knew the families would clash and embarrasement for the two was sure to follow.
In the beginning, George's family arrives at Susan's house where they first encounter her family. Things seem to be going well as the night progresses. After a delicious meal, the Castanzas, George's parents, realize the bread they brought was never placed out on the table for everyone to enjoy. So, they take the bread back which we all know follows no etiquette at all. On their way home, George realizes they took the bread and becomes furious. He realizes how bad this makes his family look, so he decides that he will place another bread in their kitchen when they arrive tomorrow.
The next day George realizes how hard it will be to smuggle a bread in the house without them seeing. So he arranges that Jerry, his friend, bring him the bread and give it to him through the window of their house. Jerry goes to pick up the bread and an old lady gets the last one right in front of him. He offers her a rediculous amount of money and explains his horrible situation for his friend. After the lady refuses, Jerry takes matters into his own hands and takes the marble rye bread from the old lady. He yells, "Give me the bread you old bag." Then he runs to their house and gives the bread to George. George feels home free, except when he turns around, Susan's parents are standing there watching him. He ended up looking much worse than he intended and embarrased to say the least.
We all know how hard it is to impress parents, and George did everything he could to not make his family look bad. In the end, he caused an old woman much grief and embarrased himself and his family more than he could have ever thought possible. Perhaps next time, George won't let his parents be so cheap.
In the beginning, George's family arrives at Susan's house where they first encounter her family. Things seem to be going well as the night progresses. After a delicious meal, the Castanzas, George's parents, realize the bread they brought was never placed out on the table for everyone to enjoy. So, they take the bread back which we all know follows no etiquette at all. On their way home, George realizes they took the bread and becomes furious. He realizes how bad this makes his family look, so he decides that he will place another bread in their kitchen when they arrive tomorrow.
The next day George realizes how hard it will be to smuggle a bread in the house without them seeing. So he arranges that Jerry, his friend, bring him the bread and give it to him through the window of their house. Jerry goes to pick up the bread and an old lady gets the last one right in front of him. He offers her a rediculous amount of money and explains his horrible situation for his friend. After the lady refuses, Jerry takes matters into his own hands and takes the marble rye bread from the old lady. He yells, "Give me the bread you old bag." Then he runs to their house and gives the bread to George. George feels home free, except when he turns around, Susan's parents are standing there watching him. He ended up looking much worse than he intended and embarrased to say the least.
We all know how hard it is to impress parents, and George did everything he could to not make his family look bad. In the end, he caused an old woman much grief and embarrased himself and his family more than he could have ever thought possible. Perhaps next time, George won't let his parents be so cheap.
Advertisement or Manipulation?
Is it possible that advertisements are able to manipulate our thoughts and convince us to falsely believe? Well, as I began to read the assigned pages, I realized the key words that are often overlooked when glancing at advertisements. If you take a minute to sit back and read an advertisement for what it is, and not what it is trying to make you assume, you will be amazed.
Advertisements have been able to use weasel words to take the focus off of their product. A person may wonder why they would want to do that. Although, they may express confidence in their product, advertisers have much more confidence in the better situations that they link to their product. For example, a dishwasher detergent says to "leave dishes virtually spotless." Are you able to spot the weasel word? A reader would begin to think of using the detergent and finding a spotless, shiny plate. However, the advertisement does not promise that the dishes will be clean. The problem here is the definition of virtually. If it is not clean by my standards, will the company reimburse my purchase?
There are many other weasel words that advertisers use to get you to stop thinking about their product and start thinking about something bigger and better. Words such as acts, works, like and even in combination such as works like. As a member of the premium target market today, it is somewhat offensive that advertisers think they can persuade me by these words. In contrast, they are able to conduct studies and find the most effective means of selling their product. So, if this is what they choose to do, and it is not infringing on my rights, then I can only adapt to their style. Next time you get a chance, read an advertisement for what it is on paper. Interpret the words in literal meaning and see what the manufacturer is promising. You will be amazed.
Advertisements have been able to use weasel words to take the focus off of their product. A person may wonder why they would want to do that. Although, they may express confidence in their product, advertisers have much more confidence in the better situations that they link to their product. For example, a dishwasher detergent says to "leave dishes virtually spotless." Are you able to spot the weasel word? A reader would begin to think of using the detergent and finding a spotless, shiny plate. However, the advertisement does not promise that the dishes will be clean. The problem here is the definition of virtually. If it is not clean by my standards, will the company reimburse my purchase?
There are many other weasel words that advertisers use to get you to stop thinking about their product and start thinking about something bigger and better. Words such as acts, works, like and even in combination such as works like. As a member of the premium target market today, it is somewhat offensive that advertisers think they can persuade me by these words. In contrast, they are able to conduct studies and find the most effective means of selling their product. So, if this is what they choose to do, and it is not infringing on my rights, then I can only adapt to their style. Next time you get a chance, read an advertisement for what it is on paper. Interpret the words in literal meaning and see what the manufacturer is promising. You will be amazed.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
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