This is from my ATGATT video. I used a different camera angle for the video in which you don’t see the dog. Thought you might like to see this angle. The actual video can be found here: www.livevideo.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e12lEzK2qec&hl=en

I recently picked up Robert F. Hartley’s Management Mistakes and Successes. It’s a collection of case studies about mainly major corporations and their ups and downs as they evolve.

The opening case study is of McDonald’s. It’s interesting to read how the king of fast food franchises repeatedly shot itself in the foot throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, but then managed to right itself to become a firm that continues to do well even during these troubling economic times.

McDonald’s focus on growth bordered on the insane throughout the 1990s. One anecdote about the Kilburns, owners of a franchise in California, illustrates this. They were running a profitable franchise when McD’s new expansion strategy nearly crushed them. During the 1990s, McD’s developed a plan — called Greenberg’s Law, named after U.S. chairman Jack Greenberg — that would dramatically increase the number of restaurants in every market. The idea was that by making it even more convenient and easy for customers to find them, it would drive business. Maybe sales at individual stores would be a little lower, but the combined revenue would more than make up for it. In the Kilburns’ case, McDonald’s opened three more restaurants in about a year in their market. It may have been good for McD’s in that market (the text doesn’t say), but it screwed the Kilburns.

In the long run, it wasn’t much good for McDonald’s, either. Growth became unsustainable, McD’s restaurants began competing with each other, the quality of food and atmosphere (cleanliness, service with a smile, etc.) suffered and more.

Overseas expansion made more sense. McDonald’s began adding more stores in places where they were a known commodity — Europe, Australia and particularly Japan — and entered more emerging markets, like China. However, not so surprisingly, McDonald’s overdid it. Market saturation cost them in Germany and Japan, which had 1,482 McD’s in 1995 and surged to a hard-to-believe 2,852 restaurants at the beginning of 1999.

The strategy that probably made the most sense was expansion through acquisition. McDonald’s bought the Donato’s pizza, Roy Rogers, Chipotle Mexican Grill and Boston Market chains domestically, and acquired the Italian Burghy’s and New Zealand’s Georgia Pie chain in the 1990s through the early 2000s. To me this seems smarter because McDonald’s wasn’t abandoning its core product — restaurants, or specifically fast food — but attempting to diversify. It didn’t end up working out well domestically, since in 2002 those American chains lost $67 million. But at least there was a logic to the strategy that was lacking in the unending expansion of the McDonald’s brand.

McDonald’s isn’t unique to these “growth is automatically good” strategy. That mindset is what caused a lot of our current economic problems. Rather than consistent profits and intelligent, moderate growth, investors kept insisting on unsustainable profit margins and corporations kept attempting to satisfy their demands, leading to a lot of poor short-term decision-making. CEO James Cantalupo helped right McDonald’s ship in 2003 by promising to return the company to its core business while also cutting capital expenditures (largely in the form of building less new restaurants) and shooting for more moderate growth targets, as well as raising the dividend. If Cantalupo hadn’t acted so sensibly, I wonder what drastic financial situation the corporation would have resulted in the current economic climate.

I’m a little surprised by what Hartley ignores in his analysis. He refuses to call the expansion plan what it was: A ridiculous act of hubris. Greenberg was reigned in too late, and his actions ended up costing the corporation piles of cash. Again, when you act as if the good times will never end, you will fall even harder when they do. Short-term thinking becomes long-term strategy, and disaster ensues.

Hartley also ignores a few dings McDonald’s took the in the public relations department. I recall the anger and frustration of vegetarians when they found out that, despite McDonald’s switch to vegetable oil, they were still adding animal byproducts to french fries to improve taste. Although not a vegetarian myself, I have friends and family who quit eating there — at least in the short term — because of that. I even recall stories in the newspaper and a piece on National Public Radio about it. McDonald’s also took a hit on their lack of recyclable containers, which they have since corrected. Seriously, look: Pretty much all the packaging in a McDonald’s meal, even the plastic wrap around the Happy Meal toys, are recyclable. McDonald’s also continues to take hits on the environmental issues it is responsible for, such as the elimination of rain forests in South America to open up land for raising cheap beef. While many potential customers probably ignore these issues, there are pockets who avoid McD’s because of this. And when your corporate name is linked to the destruction of rain forests, that’s a sound bite that never works in your favor.

Ma olvastam a hírt, miszerint a McDonald’s lecseréli a piros hátteret logojában. Első hallásra mindig örülök ezeknek a híreknek, mert gyermeki kíváncsian várom az arculatfrissítés elemeit. Aztán elolvastam a cseréről szóló MFOR cikket. Amelyből megtudtam, hogy mindez a környezet védelmének tiszteletében zajlik. Hajtás után megmutatom az egyik logo tervet is.

“Amint azt a cég németországi részlegének vezetőhelyettese a Financial Times Deutschlandnak elmondta, a váltás a cég külső és belső átalakulását, valamint a környezet védelmének tiszteletben tartását hivatott tükrözni.”

Értem én a környezettudatosságot, de nekem erről a logoról a John Deer jut eszembe. Abba belegondolt valaki, hogy mennyire környezet barát az összes McDonald’s logot lecserélni az éttermekben, újranyomni a kiadványokat.

Nem tudom, hogy ez a hír igaz-e vagy csak egy kacsa, de szerintem még csiszolni kell a megvalósításon…

Köszönet az infóért PR_hubnak!

generally, my weekend went well..

..apart from the row i had with my dad about how closed away i was from my family.. and not counting the constant thoughts about how sick a person could make me.

if you can list 3 reasons for why you shouldn’t like him, don’t like him.

ah.. never mind.

- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

so, the weekend..

saturday was boring, but on sunday, as i said, i went to this attraction park called tivoli world with maria (my best friend ) and both our families to see my sister dance at this one show. after the show, we had some fun on the rides.

after tivoli world, we all went to mcdonalds! for lunch. i had a cheeseburger, a medium french fries thingy, 3 mcnuggets, a large sprite and a kitkat ice-cream cone. mm.. yum yum.

there was a funny text written on the sprite cup :

- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

i’ve nearly finished twilight. and i realized one thing.

the book is great. it’s the 5th time i read it and i’m still enjoying it just as much, especially the edward-bella relationship at the start-ish.

but catherine hardwicke fucked up everything. she cut out half the main characters’ relationship and she chose the wrong actors, or at least she gave them the wrong roles and characters to play. bella was too dull to be bella. edward was too human and girly to be edward. jacob was too grown-up-looking and well-built to be jacob.

hopefully, the new director has done all they could to fix things up a little. because new moon was a very enjoyable book and i’m going to re-read it this week before going to the cinema to finally watch the movie. and it better not be fucked up. because i want to get it on dvd later, just like i have twilight.

- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

i bit off two of my nails on saturday :L

- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

can’t wait for friday.

i’m going to miramar, the shopping centre, with maria and then i’m gonna watch new moon with her and i’m also planning to buy myself an agenda-diary for 2010 and possibly a folder for some personal stuff.

- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

man.. just as i was writing, i got a phone call from my dad who went to drop my sister at flamenco lessons that they had had a car crash, a really bad one. O_O i got shit scared then. he told me they were totally fine, though they really did fuck up the car loads, and they crashed with another car (though i don’t YET know whose fault it was.. though probably my dad’s :S) and the police was there..

hopefully everything turns out fine.. :S

well.. although at least they came out unscathed. thank god for that at least.

- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

do to this week:

• to finish reading twilight
• to read all of new moon
• to go to miramar with maria on friday
• to buy the agenda i really wanted in bookworld españa
• to watch new moon
• to criticise new moon and post my opinion of it on my blog
• to take some cool photos and post them up on photoblog
• to do all of my homework this week

as for now..

byebye

xx

PS.. i’m gonna upload some pics and videos a little later.. have no time atm.

Der oder das PROLLblog(in) begrüßt die Entscheidung(in) von McDonald’s, in der BRD fortan zu dem schwungvollen Symbol(in) der mütterlichen Brüstinnen nicht mehr rote, sondern grüne Farbe und Farbin zu verwend(inn)en. Endlich findet die Farbe und Farbin der nach Genuss der labberigen Stopfmasse hervorgebrachten Galle und Gallin eine Würdigung in der corporate identity des beliebten Volksvergifters und extrem ausraubbeuterischen Drecksladens.

Allerdings geben wir dem/der recht erfolgreichen Unternehmer(in) zu bedenken, dass die Farbe und Farbin braun sowohl das im Unternehmen gegenüber den Ausbeutling(inn)en gepflegte Menschenbild(in) als auch die besondere Qualität(in) der an die Kunden verkauften Nahrung wesentlich besser repräsentieren würde.

ELIZABETH II
Reaction to McDonald’s

(Queen Elizabeth II)

Picture by: dunno source Caption by: Dieguux via Poster Builder

» Recaption This!

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Well it’s been a bit over a week since I last updated this. Sorry! I’m going to try and write at least once a week, but sometimes I’m very very lazy.

So anyway, how you been? Oh really? Nice. Yeah, not bad thanks. Yeah he did. I know, I didn’t think he’d go through with it either! Well the doctor said that one more pint of blood lost and we would have had to carry him around in a milk bottle for the next few weeks, so we were pretty lucky in that respect…

Right! Enough of that. What have I been up to then?

Well not much really. Last week just mostly went to work and went home. I’m still trying to figure this town out. I keep taking small ventures further and further into new areas, but turn back before I get lost. A lot of things look the same round here. There’s a multitude of faceless white high-rise apartment buildings and mountains everywhere so it can be pretty disorienting at times. Especially at night. I could use the big neon cross on the top of the church just over the road from my building as a sort of homing beacon…

…unfortunately there seems to be just as many churches here as apartment buildings (really, there are LOADS!) all outfitted with the ol’ neon.

Over the weekend I did two new things. 1. Drank Makgeolli. 2. Went round to a Korean family’s house.

First number 1. Makgeolli is Korean rice beer/wine. It’s kind of sweet and tastes a bit like cider. And it’s good, so very good. But it can and will sneak up on you and suddenly beat you over the head with the makgeolli stick. We (me and a few other foreigners and natives) went to this makgeolli bar which, despite what Wikipedia claims was populated by ‘older’ men and women. As with all Korean drinking experiences, you don’t just have the booze, you get food too. Tis the rules. So we got some pajeon and mussels. Now I’m not the biggest fan of seafood but I was damn hungry and having been warned of the aforementioned drink’s proficiency when it came to stick wielding I thought it would be best to eat something, anything. Even if it was of the water-dwelling variety. Wasn’t actually that bad really, and the pajeon was good.

Right, onto number 2. NO LAUGHING!

I got invited over to the home of one of the families I went on the trip last weekend with for lunch. The other family who went on the trip (my boss’s family) were also going, so they gave me a lift. On the way there we stopped off at a supermarket/department store type place and in there I found hedgehogs! As pets, not food. In amongst the hamsters and other standard rodent friends were a few tanks of sleeping hedgehogs. I’m assuming it has something to do with the popularity of Sonic.

Onto lunch! It was good. Nothing that would surprise you. The apartment they live in on the 16th floor had a quality view of the city and surrounding mountains, and in general was a really nice place. Made mine look like a bit of a shoebox, which it is really. But oh well. Moving on, after lunch we watched a movie ‘Pandorum’ which reminded me very much of ‘The Descent’ but set in space It was very much average. And I found the fact that the main actor was called ‘Ben Foster’ very distracting. I’m giving it 5 thumbs up. Then, seeing as by the time the movie ended, it was rush-hour time my lift home was delayed, and we had dinner – McDonald’s. A Big Mac still tastes like a Big Mac in Korea.

So that was the weekend, I was going to go hiking on the Saturday, but everyone was a bit incapacitated from the Friday night. Maybe next time.

Today (well yesterday now, as it’s ticked over the 12:00am mark) I went for a Korean lesson. I now have more sympathy for my elementary students. Learning a new language is hard. But when I did get something right the two teachers screamed, clapped their hands and told me I was a genius. Always nice. This wasn’t a ‘official’ lesson, it was just me and another guy going round to a Korean lady’s apartment with another Korean lady and being given tea, cake and oranges in between being taught a few new words and phrases. That’s not to knock them at all. They’re great people and they didn’t even want any money for the lessons. I think I’ll go again next week.

Weather wise it’s a bit warmer than it was last week. In the sun it can be pretty nice providing there’s not much wind about. But in preparation for winter this new contraption appeared in my main school…

If you see reports on the news that the ice caps are suddenly melting at a much greater rate it will be because of this. It’s frightening the amount of heat coming out of this thing. You have to run when you go past it otherwise your clothes catch on fire.

While I’m on machines in the workplace, there’s this…

I’m not sure what it’s official name is, and frankly I don’t care either because I’ve already named it ‘Sneeze-bot’. The way that it works is you put your hands where it suggests and then it sneezes on you. It’s the first time I’ve seen a robot that can get sick, and I still find myself going “erugh!” every time Sneeze-bot coats my hands with his robotic nose-fluid.

Der oder das PROLLblog(in) begrüßt die Entscheidung(in) von McDonald’s, in der BRD fortan zu dem schwungvollen Symbol(in) der mütterlichen Brüstinnen nicht mehr rote, sondern grüne Farbe und Farbin zu verwend(inn)en. Endlich findet die Farbe und Farbin der nach Genuss der labberigen Stopfmasse hervorgebrachten Galle und Gallin eine Würdigung in der corporate identity des beliebten Volksvergifters und extrem ausraubbeuterischen Drecksladens.

Allerdings geben wir dem/der recht erfolgreichen Unternehmer(in) zu bedenken, dass die Farbe und Farbin braun sowohl das im Unternehmen gegenüber den Ausbeutling(inn)en gepflegte Menschenbild(in) als auch die besondere Qualität(in) der an die Kunden verkauften Nahrung wesentlich besser repräsentieren würde.

Der Farbwechsel sei auch als Bekenntnis und Respekt vor der Umwelt zu werten.

Darum wird künftig bei allen neu eröffneten McDonalds das gelbe M auf grünem Hintergrund zu sehen sein. Damit dürften bald die letzten Zweifel an der Umweltfreundlichkeit des Unternehmens weggewischt sein.

Demnächst kommt noch ein rotes Kreuz auf die Pappbecher, als Verbeugung vor der gesunden Ernährung. Und ein DGB-Logo auf’s Tablett, als Referenz an die bekannt guten Arbeitsbedingungen bei McDonalds.

via FTD.de | Neue Logo-Farbe: McDonalds wechselt von Rot auf Grün.

McDonalds er ute med en lang reklamefilm der de viser norske bønder som er fortvilet over et eller annet. Først tror jeg det er fordi de må gi bort de dyrebare kuene sine McDonalds. Men neida etter en lang og forsåvidt vakker film blir vi presentert følgende setning: ” I over 25 år har norske bønder levert de beste råvarene til McDonalds. Så når når folk sier ting om maten som ikke stemmer, er det ikke rart at vi tar det litt personlig”.

Tar hva personlig? At maten serveres av en stor imperalistisk kjede? At alle hamburgerene bortsett fra Big n’Tasty som er en kopi av Whopper smaker papp? At McDonalds Supersizing er farlig for folkehelsa?

Neida, målet med filmen er å fortelle meg at McDonalds kun bruker kjøtt fra norske kuer. I stedet lager man en film som åpner for at jeg skal tenke på alt det negative som har klistret seg til McDonalds de siste årene.

Når man vet at det er mulig i dag å lage engasjerende reklame nesten helt gratis, er det underlig at McDonalds velger å bruke så mye penger på TV, i stedet for å bruke andre mekanikker. Eller har jeg mistet noe her. Et søk på Facebook på McDonalds og norske bønder ga i hvert fall ingen resultater.

Central Florida Future – http://bit.ly/8KleHL

By Cassie Turner

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Published: Friday, November 20, 2009

Updated: Friday, November 20, 2009

Caitlin Bush

"Most Americans do not know slavery not only exists in the world today, it flourishes," said Ron Soodalter, co-author of The Slave Next Door, in his presentation in the Pegasus Ballroom Monday morning.

"Somewhere around 27 million people are in bondage in the world today. Now, that’s over twice the number as were trafficked in chains in the entire 350 years of the African slave trade."

Soodalter, an active abolitionist and historian, kicked off International Education Week at UCF as the keynote speaker for the Second Annual International Breakfast. The Slave Next Door presentation concluded the three-part series on "Slavery’s Resurgence" facilitated by the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Global Perspectives and the International Services Center.

The series began with Somaly Mam, a Cambodian human rights activist, former slave and author of The Road of Lost Innocence: The True Story of a Cambodian Heroine, when she shared her experiences in September.

In October, Micheline Slattery, a human-rights activist and former restavek, or domestic child slave, in both Haiti and the United States, addressed about 300 attendees.

Modern-day slavery includes around 800,000 men, women and children trafficked each year around the world. According to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Web site, about 17,500 of them end up in the United States, with a high percentage received in Florida.

Soodalter suggests a simple Google search on human trafficking for astounding results.

In spite of major federal legislation and anti-trafficking laws passed in 43 states, 103 human-trafficking convictions have resulted, Soodalter said.

Trafficking remains hidden, is largely unreported and difficult to identify. According to the 2009 Trafficking in Persons, or TIP, report, published by the U.S. Department of State, forced labor/involuntary servitude represents the majority of human-trafficking cases in the world. The co-author of Soodalter’s book,  Kevin Bales, wrote the original 156-page TIP report, titled “Trafficking Persons in the United States — A Report to the National Institute of Justice.”

“The whole thing is disserving and extending,” said retired UCF foreign language professor David Gurney. “It contributes to the antagonism from people in underdeveloped countries to Western civilizations or Western countries.”

In the 1850s, purchasing a slave ran roughly $1,200, the equivalent of around $40,000 in today’s money. The reality is purchasing a slave today costs as little as $100, which makes them affordable and disposable, Soodalter said.

A trafficking victim lives in fear of violence or the threat of violence daily, he said.

Shawn Cox, victim witness coordinator and licensed clinical social worker with the United States Attorney’s Office, advocates that trafficking is a crime of absolute power over someone. According to the report Cox co-authored, “Victims of Human Trafficking and Trauma,” the psychological consequences of a victim are similar to the consequences of severe or chronic child abuse or experiencing acts of terrorism.

"In case you thought slavery doesn’t touch you, guess again," Soodalter said. "Chances are, the clothes you wear, the food you eat, has been touched by slavery."

The good news is there have been some inroads made recently in the area of agricultural servitude, Soodalter said. When Taco Bell refused to stop buying produce picked by enslaved workers in an effort known as the "Ban the Bell" campaign, it set a precedent that several other companies, including McDonalds, A&W, Long John Silver’s, Pizza Hut, Whole Foods, Chipotle and Burger King, have followed, Soodalter said.

"The message is clear," Soodalter said. "Slavery and worker abuse will not be tolerated. Not here, not now, not ever."

Mark Freeman, public affairs coordinator for the Global Perspectives Office, said they are hoping to continue the series next spring since response has been incredible. Because of the series last spring, students on campus were so spurred into action they formed the unofficial student group “Students Against Slavery @ UCF,” Freeman said. “Students Against Slavery @ UCF” has a Facebook page, and Harry Coverston serves as the faculty advisor for the group.

"Spreading the word is the most important thing," said Frank Hegedus, a senior political science and international relations major. "There is only right now."

http://www.centralfloridafuture.com/abolitionist-historian-wraps-up-global-perspectives-series-1.2093273

The McRib is back…

Now you’re going to kill me faster than you already are…

• 7240 W. Saginaw Highway
• Lansing, MI 48917
• (517) 323-2228
• Website
• Menu

My quest for cheap meals went on with one of the most obvious choices when it comes to dining on the cheap. 

My first day of work in East Lansing ended around 8:30.  I was exhausted and headed straight for my hotel.  As I was driving across town on I-496, I was trying to picture what I could grab quickly and eat in my  hotel room.  I was drawing blank, but I knew there were a couple options right there near the Red Roof Inn.

Like most cities, Lansing is littered with McDonald’s.  I chose the location on West Saginaw Highway and Vermillion Road in Delta Township for one reason.  It was close to where I was going. 

Being 9:00 at night on a Thursday meant I should be able to get in and get out in a hurry.  I’m not a drive thru fan.  In fact, I despise them.  Unless I absolutely have to, I never use them.  If J forces me to, she leans across the seat and yells into the speaker.  I guess I don’t speak clearly or something because I never have good luck.  I’d rather just take the extra few minutes and walk inside.  No one has ever died from getting out of their car for a hamburger.

I’m really predictable when it comes to McDonald’s.  For, oh 15 years now, I’ve gotten the Double 1/4 pounder with cheese plain.  That’s what I got this time.  I was starving so I actually made it a large.  It didn’t take long for the food to come up and since it cost me just a little over six bucks with a drink, I hit my goal of trying to eat cheap. 

McDonald’s is what it is.  I’m not going to trash the place because it is a go-to if you’re in a hurry.  You always know what you’re going to get and as long as that’s what you’re looking for, that’s not a bad thing.  There are times I just don’t want to think about dinner or I just want to get something and get back on the road.  No matter where you’re at, you can find a McDonald’s to accomplish that. 

• 7240 W. Saginaw Highway
• Lansing, MI 48917
• (517) 323-2228
• Website
• Menu

My quest for cheap meals went on with one of the most obvious choices when it comes to dining on the cheap. 

My first day of work in East Lansing ended around 8:30.  I was exhausted and headed straight for my hotel.  As I was driving across town on I-496, I was trying to picture what I could grab quickly and eat in my  hotel room.  I was drawing blank, but I knew there were a couple options right there near the Red Roof Inn.

Like most cities, Lansing is littered with McDonald’s.  I chose the location on West Saginaw Highway and Vermillion Road in Delta Township for one reason.  It was close to where I was going. 

Being 9:00 at night on a Thursday meant I should be able to get in and get out in a hurry.  I’m not a drive thru fan.  In fact, I despise them.  Unless I absolutely have to, I never use them.  If J forces me to, she leans across the seat and yells into the speaker.  I guess I don’t speak clearly or something because I never have good luck.  I’d rather just take the extra few minutes and walk inside.  No one has ever died from getting out of their car for a hamburger.

I’m really predictable when it comes to McDonald’s.  For, oh 15 years now, I’ve gotten the Double 1/4 pounder with cheese plain.  That’s what I got this time.  I was starving so I actually made it a large.  It didn’t take long for the food to come up and since it cost me just a little over six bucks with a drink, I hit my goal of trying to eat cheap. 

McDonald’s is what it is.  I’m not going to trash the place because it is a go-to if you’re in a hurry.  You always know what you’re going to get and as long as that’s what you’re looking for, that’s not a bad thing.  There are times I just don’t want to think about dinner or I just want to get something and get back on the road.  No matter where you’re at, you can find a McDonald’s to accomplish that. 

Double Quarter Pounder w/Cheese

McDonald's Famous Fries

McDonald's ice cream cone (taken from google images)

The home of Big Macs and Quarter Pounders definitely isn’t the first place you think of going for ice cream, but it’s the cheapest.  I’m not a huge fan of McDonald’s.  I probably have it once or twice a year, and that’s usually when stopping at a rest stop where there aren’t any better options.  One day this summer, though, I was driving by one of the many McDonald’s in my hometown, and I saw a sign advertising 39 cent ice cream cones! I just had to stop.

I love soft serve ice cream, especially on a hot summer day, so I went through the drive thru, and got my vanilla soft serve ice cream cone. Vanilla’s the only flavor they have, and they don’t have sugar cones, but I’m not complaining when I can have my favorite dessert for only 39 cents.

Supposedly, McDonald’s soft serve is “reduced fat” and only has 150 calories per cone.  Not bad at all. So as much as you may hate their greasy burgers and fried food, you can’t beat their deals when it comes “healthy”-ish ice cream cones.

I’m not sure if this was just a limited time offer, or if the cones are always 39 cents.  I’ll have to figure it out.  I know that McDonald’s changes their prices based on location, though.  For example, McDonald’s in a big city (like Boston) or at a rest stop or in an airport is always more expensive than just your average suburban store. So, in Boston, I’m assuming their cones are a little more pricey. Probably around $1.00. Still reasonable.

Where else can I get some really cheap ice cream?

Are you sitting down? Because this news may knock you over. According to a report from the Center for Science in the Public Interest, theater popcorn is very bad for you. Who knew?

Those killjoy scientists equate eating a Regal medium popcorn/soda combo to eating three McDonald’s Quarter Pounders topped with twelve pats of butter. That’s 1,610 calories and 60 grams of saturated fat (three days worth the suggested daily intake of saturated fat).

I’m not sure movie patrons would exactly be clamoring for a healthy popcorn alternative, but if more reports come out like this, theater chains (and especially Regal) may feel bullied pressured into offering a healthier option.

10.08 am: Warm milk with honey.

12.21 – 12.29 pm: Split half an apple with Keith while watching the Battle at the Berrics semifinals.  I spread mine with peanut butter, which I then get all over my fingers.  I’m messy.

1.30 – 3.30 pm: This is technically supposed to be brunch at Craigie on Main with Keith, Kelly, Nancy and Jonah, but since it’s after noon I say it counts as lunch.  I have something like three cups of coffee, all with cream and whatever sugar cubes Jonah doesn’t eat, as well as a yogurt-drenched fruit cup with some amazing figs, grass-fed and house-brined corned beef and tongue hash with a slow-poached egg and crispy onion rings and chocolate-smothered profiteroles with what is supposed to be mint-chocolate ice cream but really is just overwhelmingly minty.

6.35 pm: Coke Zero and half an order of large fries from McDonald’s while  we drive to New York. Keith eats the other half while I lick the salt from my fingers.  I know fries aren’t the healthiest choice in the world, but I love them so.

8.11 pm: A bite of Keith’s banana-walnut bread from Starbucks.  I’m the one driving at this point, so I pretty much cram the bread into my mouth in a very unladylike fashion.  My mother would be so ashamed.

10.06 – 10.46 pm: At my parents’ house, where I drink one of my dad’s Beck’s and share two and a half lamejun with the dog. He doesn’t mind that I’ve sprinkled my food liberally with fresh lemon juice.

11.15 pm: Two glasses Torii Mor Late Harvest Gewurztraminer with Keith and my parents while we discuss dogs, nightmares and Thursday’s Thanksgiving menu.

Binge eating disorder: An eating disorder characterized by periods of extreme over-eating, but not followed by purging behaviors as in most cases of bulimia. Binge eating can occur alone, or in conjunction with a lesion of the hypothalamus gland, Prader-Willi disorder, or other conditions.

FAVORITE RESTAURANT TO THE LEFT.

Laut FTD

http://www.ftd.de/unternehmen/handel-dienstleister/:neues-logo-mc-donald-s-wechselt-von-rot-auf-gruen/50040972.html

wird McDonalds das Firmenlogo von rot auf grün ändern.
Beim neuen “Flagship”-Store der am Flughafen (wo früher Burgerking war) am Freitag eröffnete, soll das Design schon tw umgesetzt sein…

Sowas !?

So evtl:

PS: Angeblich flog Burgerking raus, weil der Vertrag gerade verlängert werden sollte aber das vorhandene Plastik-BK-Design dem Vermieter nicht gefiel. Ein moderner McCafe usw.. mach sich da viiieeel besser, so meinten die Verantwortlichen

I’m sure most of you have heard about the recently renovated McDonald’s in midtown Manhattan. It is said to be designed in a “European-style” and has free wifi access along with seating and outlets for laptop users.They’ve got a number of large flat-screens throughout playing BBC America (trying to be worldly).

It’s a two story, 186-seat McDonald’s that looks what you might expect if Google decided to have one on their campus. It’s actually a pretty impressive space and almost worth a trip to see it for yourself. It is extremely clean and oddly enough I didn’t find it too garish. I’m not sure if I’d find myself doing any work on my netbook there but I could imagine more than a few WOW players plugging in. Here are some pictures I took this weekend of it:

McDonald's Exterior

Ordering Counter

McDonald's Lobby

Staircase

Upstairs Seating

Chairs & Table

Laptop Stations

There are a few McDonald’s in midtown so if you’re looking for it, it’s located on 6th Avenue between 14th & 15th Streets. This particular location is owned by Paul Hendel. I believe he has a few more nearby. Unfortunately for McDonald’s you can renovate your locations all you want but the fact is the menu remains the same…I do however fully endorse and recommend Egg McMuffins and McGriddles!

A few sour notes out of this week’s issue of Business Week (11/23/09 edition) regarding both McDonald’s and Starbucks newest coffee-related ventures.

McDONALD’S- The numbers are sagging for McDonald’s. US same store sales are down slightly, morning commute traffic is weak, and more people are eating at home. Unfortunately, McCafe has not been the savior that the Golden Arches expected it to be. As McD’s said, “They’re not lighting the world on fire.” Some people even argue that ad dollars were wasted on the upscale coffee line that would’ve been better spent fighting rivals.

I’m both saddened and enlightened by the news. On the one hand, I’m happy to see coffee given a higher office at the fast food giant. On the other, it’s not the way I like to see coffee presented. McDonald’s will only ever have generalized coffee, coffee products with no specific roasters, farms, or labels. They’ve attempted to turn upscale coffee into yet another fast food item. With that said, I hate seeing coffee get the blame for anything going wrong over at Ronald’s house o’ burgers.

STARBUCKS- Apparently, I’m not the only person not overjoyed about Via, Starbucks’ new instant coffee. The secondary title to this week’s article stated, “Baristas are angry and customers put out over the aggressive rollout of (heavens!) an instant coffee line.” CEO Howard Schultz said, “We knew it could undermine the company if we didn’t do it right.” Everyone seems upset from seller to buyer because of the hard-sell tactics Starbucks wants their frontline employees to use to force it on customers. Baristas aren’t happy with it and customers are tired of it. But is it worth it? Starbucks thinks so, eyeballing the $21 billion global instant coffee market, they hope to grab a piece of.

What do I think? I think a fallback to instant coffee for Starbucks is a sellout tactic, a bastardization of the principles they claimed to stand for. How much are their principles worth? For now, I would say $2.95 for a three-pack.

"Help me find Obi-Wan; I feel like McDonald's."

The 3-D action movie “Avatar,” due in theaters December 18, is creating a market product for companies like Coca Cola and McDonalds. These companies have managed to recreate 3D experiences in product containers like the Coke can or the McDonald’s Happy Meal “McWorld virtual world.”

Relative: a little side project to make more money, just like Hot Topic did with the Twilight gear.

For the article, visit Marketers Hop on Augmented Reality Bandwagon to Promote \’Avatar\’

Avatar Coke Zero

Programme du jour : Piscine, Mc Do, Uno…

 

Comme je me suis couchée tard hier soir, je ne me réveille qu’à 9h. Comme hier, je vais réveiller Papa dans sa chambre par des bisous et des câlins.

Je vais ensuite réveiller Maman, et nous descendons déjeuner. On se prépare pour la piscine.

Nous récupérons mon copain Siméon (4 ans 1/2) et sa maman sur la route, et nous rendons tous les 4 aux “Thermes de Strassen”.

Nous nous amusons comme des fous, entre le toboggan, la piscine à vagues, la pataugeoire, le jacuzzi, la piscine extérieure (chauffée !).

2h plus tard, nous partons au Mc Do… pour un repas équilibré (oui, oui, je vous promets !). Siméon et moi mangeons comme des grands. Nos parents sont sympas, et nous laissent ensuite nous amusons longuement dans les labyrinthes et sur les écrans tactiles.

Il est 15h30, quand nous déposons Siméon et sa maman chez eux, nous rentrons à la maison, pour une bonne sieste de 2h. Papa en fait de même.

A 18h, j’ai un grand sourire. Je demande à Papa de jouer avec moi au Uno. Je connais bien les règles, et la signification de chaque carte.

C’est l’heure d’un bon bain, coiffage des cheveux, coupage des ongles, et Maman étant de retour, nous dînerons tous ensemble d’une bonne soupe.

Il est presque 21h quand je m’endors. Dehors, les rafales de vents et la pluie sont au rdv. Rédacteur : Patrick-Robin, mon Papa.

Toutes mes dernières photos : Cliquez ici et vidéos : Cliquez ici.