NBER declares recession ended in June 2009 - Sep. 20, 2010

NBER declares recession ended in June 2009 - Sep. 20, 2010


The National Bureau of Economic Research gets Ditched for not using a more relevant definition for economic downturn that incorporates a stronger use of unemployment and poverty levels. Additionally, the NBER gets Ditched for their role in setting up useless "checkpoints" for our economy that instill a false sense of accomplishment and simply take away from the urgency of the matter at hand. This is a financial "Mission Accomplished" sign being touted right before November elections meant to prevent voters from remembering that unemployment is at 9.6% and almost 44 million people in the US are living in poverty. No matter what side of the aisle you fall on or what fiscal policies you adhere to, it is imperative to remember that much work still needs to be done before the country realizes a meaningful recovery.


Unemployemt Reference: http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet?data_tool=latest_numbers&series_id=LNS14000000
Poverty Reference: http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/data/incpovhlth/2009/pov09fig04.pdf

BP Marketing Falls Short at the Pump

BP gets Ditched for this failed effort to mollify the public backlash over the oil spill. Many potential customers are choosing to take their business elsewhere, thinking that their refusal to fill up at a BP station will directly detriment the pockets of BP executives. Unfortunately, it is only the local owners  and operators that are significantly effected by this decision, not BP corporate. Rightfully so, BP has made an effort to correct this misunderstanding. Though the message is accurate, it is not targeted at the right audience. The pictured advertisement is located on the pump lines at local BP stations. If BP wanted to truly assist local stations in distancing themselves from the follies of the oil spill, they would direct a message, such as that pictured, at a nationwide audience that had not yet made their decision on where to fill up. Placing this ad at the pump is bound to only solidify the decisions of those that would have chosen BP anyway, NOT sway the decisions of those confidently driving by.  

Heart of Iowa as Fault Line of Egg Recall

Heart of Iowa as Fault Line of Egg Recall - NYTimes.com

Monica Davey gets a Ditch because of the lack of sources in this article. This is a he said/she said article. None of what’s printed can be verified, the only local named sources gives no real information, only that he has been blacklisted for not supporting the operation. What that lack of support is, aside from complaining about the egg figurine on his banker’s desk, is unclear.

I expect more from the NY Times. This is more Reader’s Digest.

Flight attendants vent about passengers - CNN.com

Flight attendants vent about passengers - CNN.com

Mr. Pawlowski gets Ditched in this article for 2 reasons. First, the general public is connecting with this story not because they have somehow come to the entertaining realization that we are all rude on planes. Rather, it is because Mr. Slater was so brazenly able to do what most everyone wishes they could do on their bad days at work. Take this job and shove it! Second, the airlines are given a "Get Out of Jail Free" card in this article. Are people truly growing more rude OR is the airline industry growing more intolerable? Many people are on edge while flying, chiefly because it is still a high-anxiety routine. Many are on business and inevitably have a tough time leaving work frustrations at check in. That is never going to change. Airlines and attendants should realize that and adapt. They are in a customer service position and customers are not always happy. However, many people are on edge while flying because airfares are increasing, baggage fees are increasing, delays are increasing, and the one thing you wish you had, the ability of someone in a customer service position to empathize with you and help assist, is decreasing. You are charged a fee to check a bag. This causes more people to try and carry on. This delays boarding and deplaning. This causes a highly frustrating experience. Airlines are worsening the experience they offer their customers AND magically hoping that the customer is able to give themselves a boost in patience. That is not the way any successful business handles their customer service. If airline attendants are unhappy with the way they are being treated by disgruntled passengers, perhaps they should look to their management to make changes that give the customers a fighting chance at being satisfied with the service.

The Buzz: Jobs must lead, not lag, the recovery - Aug. 6, 2010

The Buzz: Jobs must lead, not lag, the recovery - Aug. 6, 2010

Mr. Lamonica gets Ditched for his unrealistic assessment on how to jump start the economy. He mentions that businesses should be the first to take a leap of faith and start hiring. However, he fails to explain what those new employees would actually be doing. There needs to be a demand for some good/service before any production and hiring can be justified. Why should a company be forced to increase their inventories (goods or talent) in hopes that someone will magically surface to purchase it? True, in order for demand to increase, the typical American consumer must find themselves in possession of a new found disposable income. However, does that mean that companies should hire new employees with the hope that collective new hires throughout the economy will increase demand for their goods/services and these new employees will still have justifiable jobs in a few months? Or, would the more logical approach to increasing disposable income and, ultimately, demand for goods/services be to increase the wages of current employees? This would allow businesses to truly build the demand before hiring staff to fulfill it. Mr. Lamonica's approach could ultimately mean the hiring and firing of the same individual's when the demand that would necessitate those individual's never came to fruition. True, businesses should be looked to in making the first step, but let's not put the cart before the horse.

BP gas may be cheaper - Aug. 4, 2010

BP gas may be cheaper - Aug. 4, 2010

BP gets Ditched for a very weak attempt at assisting the stations selling their product. Even if the station owners pass the complete 2 cent savings to their customers, it is highly doubtful that such a meager cost reduction will be enough to drive customers back in to the stations and overcome such a detrimental public relations hurdle. It would be much more effective for BP to sponsor a nationwide marketing campaign that would help distinguish the business owners of local stations from BP and the Gulf incident.

BBC News - US defense chief Gates tightens military's media rules

BBC News - US defense chief Gates tightens military's media rules

Mr. Gates gets Ditched for appearing to only address half of the communication issues with the McChrystal gaffe. Certainly, the guidelines for public statements and interviews with the military (or any business for that matter) should be clear for all members of the organization. Additionally, if one is willing to decry their superiors in such a way as McChrystal did, I would hope they were prepared to be removed from their post. However, should Mr. Gates not also be investigating why a publication such as Rolling Stone appeared to McChrystal as a valid outlet through which to vent his frustrations? Someone as high-ranking and senior as McChrystal would not have been unfamiliar with communication policy. It would appear to be more of an act of desperation. Were his frustrations falling on deaf or disinterested ears in the military's standard chain of communication? If I were Mr. Gates, I would not only be questioning the understanding of the communication policy, but its effectiveness as well.