DITCH

Tea Party must get real to have lasting power - CNN

2010-11-02T16:35:00.000-07:00

Tea Party must get real to have lasting power - CNN

Mr. Martin gets Ditched for compromising on the spirit of the democratic process for the sake of political probability. His message in this article is that the Tea Party should adjust some of their stances in order to produce more mainstream candidates with a better chance of being elected. That, he believes, is the only real way in which they can be taken seriously and affect legislation.

In arguing this position, though, Mr. Martin reveals his very twisted take on politics and parties in general. First, Mr. Martin seems to believe that a party has rendered itself and it's message impotent if it does not win an election. Second, he seems to believe that the only messages worthy of attention must be coming from either of the parties in power. Finally, his message carries an overwhelming sense of "settling". Parties and interest groups that are in their nascent stages should adjust their message and "settle" on a mainstream candidate. In turn, voters should have to "settle" on candidates from either of the main parties in power who carry the highest probability of winning.

In response to the first point: Mr. Martin completely overlooks the power of smaller parties to still have a very big effect on elections and raise the public's awareness of different political stances. Parties can wield a very real power with their ability to steal votes away from other candidates. Additionally, even though a party may lose an election, the public has still been exposed to their platform through their participation in the political process. They may not be in office directly applying their interests, but the public still knows that they exist and that those interests are still important to some voters. Could that not weigh upon the decisions of those candidates that were actually elected and are forming legislation?

Most importantly, Mr. Martin needs to understand that the freedoms we have in this country provide for a very diverse collection of beliefs. The election process should always be a reflection of that diversity, not a stifling force. No group, whether Mr. Martin happens to agree or disagree with them, should be forced to dilute their message for the sole sake of winning an election. To do so is to "settle" for nothing more than the status quo and a system incapable of evolving.

Transsexual athletes treated unfairly - CNN.com

2010-10-21T08:30:00.000-07:00

Transsexual athletes treated unfairly - CNN.com

Ms. Rose does NOT get Ditched for her acknowledgement of the inequality in athletics that some individuals face. That is a serious issue that continues to need attention from ruling bodies. Rather, Ms. Rose gets Ditched for her failure to understand what her particular line of reasoning will ultimately mean for athletics in general, not just for transsexuals. Ms. Rose states that the policy for the IOC was changed based on the "recognition that a person's gender is more complicated than any single factor, combined with the inability to identify medically sound testing criteria". This reasoning allows for the inclusion of transsexual athletes in Olympic competition, which is neither being promoted or argued against in this post. What is being pointed out, though, is the fact that this reasoning also eradicates the ability to have ANY male/female separations in athletics at all. Using this logic, could an individual not argue that they are mentally and physically two different genders? Which gender determines their athletic eligibility? If gender is to be deemed something too complicated to be defined by any medical metric, there is no authority to establish restrictions or groupings based on gender. Ms. Rose needs to take enough time to think through the implication of this reasoning, not only to her particular interest group, but also to the broader collection of athletes. Once she does this, she needs to either continue to support that reasoning or go back and revise it for the benefit of creating a more sound logic, free from any "irrational, emotional argument"

Beyond Foursquare: The Next Generation of Customer Loyalty - Michael Schneider and Anne Mai Bertelsen - The Conversation - Harvard Business Review

2010-10-12T13:21:00.000-07:00

Beyond Foursquare: The Next Generation of Customer Loyalty - Michael Schneider and Anne Mai Bertelsen - The Conversation - Harvard Business Review

Mr. Schneider and Ms. Bertelsen get Ditched for overlooking a very important facet of location-based apps in the retail arena: the role it plays as a free form of advertising and generator of "buzz" for those viewing, NOT producing, the information. While this article focuses on the purchases made (or not being made) by those using the apps, it comes to a hasty conclusion without acknowledging the positive effect of that same user's activity on others' decisions. Creating a metric to measure the effectiveness of an app is key, but it should measure more than the behavior of those posting their locations. The metric would need to show the effect of that post on the viewer's behavior. Did a location tag from a friend influence another's decision on where to eat, drink, or shop? Did multiple posts from multiple users about a certain brand or location effect the perception of that brand and company? Though these apps may have limitations or pitfalls to how they influence those posting, they are a free form of advertising for these businesses that are influencing the behavior of those viewing the posts. Before Mr. Schneider and Ms. Bertelsen can begin to weigh the effectiveness of these apps, they need to acknowledge this "viewing" audience and be sure to incorporate their behavior in to their summations.

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

2010-09-20T12:43:00.000-07:00

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

FT.com / Columnists / Tyler Brûlé - Here today, gone tomorrow

2010-09-14T14:36:00.000-07:00

FT.com / Columnists / Tyler Brûlé - Here today, gone tomorrow

Mr. Brule gets Ditched for assuming that all hotel patrons fit his profile of road warrior. What of those patrons on vacation and looking for an escape from their ordinary surroundings? Is that sense of escape not aided by all of the trendy furnishings and finishes that can be seen in their hotel setting? Finally, is our society's sense of trend not time-dependent and constantly evolving based on a host of industries and factors? Why should hotels even think about ignoring that sense of trend for the sake of giving themselves a green check mark? It defines their existence for a significant segment of their market.

One travelling strictly for business can very easily overlook the satisfaction derived from trendy offerings because their main goal for the stay is comfort and utility. They need a clean and quiet place to sleep with a helpful staff (only when beckoned). There is rarely an appreciation for the

hotel's ability to represent the latest in trend and design. However, just because Mr. Brule could look past the eyesore of scuffs and scrapes on bulky, outdated furniture, does not mean that it wouldn't significantly change the hotel experience for most others. His suggestion to hotels is like asking clothing stores to stock durable/expensive clothing and update their look every 10 years for the sake of saying they are "green". Its bound to create a lovely "green" talking point in a case study for a failed business. This points to a faulty understanding of the consumer's thought process when making decisions about products and experiences. Mr. Brule would have been more on target if he focused his recommendations on how hotels could recycle the wave of design features they purchase on a regular basis. Perhaps they could be donated or sold instead of discarded. Or, in the case of multi-brand companies, the high-end features could be re-used in the "value" brand locations. It would be much more realistic to make these types of suggestions instead of spending time on those that would so drastically alter experiences and isolate markets.

BP Marketing Falls Short at the Pump

2010-09-13T18:05:00.000-07:00

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.

The Dirty Truth About Digital Fasts - Alexandra Samuel - Harvard Business Review

2010-09-02T10:05:00.000-07:00

The Dirty Truth About Digital Fasts - Alexandra Samuel - Harvard Business Review

Ms. Samuel gets Ditched for her narrow view behind why people choose to unplug. She appears to believe that those who ween themselves from the grid do so because they feel their interactions with people on the web are not necessarily genuine or meaningful. I'm sure that may be a reason for a very small percentage. However, the biggest reason that people want to or should take a step back from their online addictions is because they are not engaging in any human interaction at all, either physical or on the internet. Perhaps Ms. Samuel's argument would be better suited for those choosing to cancel their Facebook or MySpace accounts, not those just looking to take a step back from the internet in general.

Heart of Iowa as Fault Line of Egg Recall

2010-08-27T15:12:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-11T14:50:00.000-07:00

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.

I’m American. And You?

2010-08-09T16:44:00.000-07:00

I'm American. And You? - NYTimes.com

Matt Bai gets a semi-ditch in this article about immigration. He starts with George W. Bush - who was a moderate on immigration - and how the republican party has changed their stance. The problem I have is with his treatment of the idea of repealing the 14th amendment. Bai, and many other writers on this topic, sell the 14th amendment short. He describes the 14th amendments as: "that’s the one that affords children born on American soil automatic citizenship."

Well, yes, but it also guarantees equal protection under the law. Georgia cannot make a law infringing on the civil rights of visitors from another state (unless it involves gay marriage, but that's another topic). I think readers deserve at least some expanded background on the 14th amendment. People are likely to read the limited description, and not anything else. Soon you have people voting on something they don't understand.

I take a very narrow view of travel agencies that book trips to the US in order for a child to be born here, then return home as a US citizen. Repealing the amendment is not the way to fix the problem.

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

2010-08-06T12:16:00.000-07:00

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.

Could pollution-eating concrete clean up our urban jungles? - CNN.com

2010-08-06T07:47:00.000-07:00

Could pollution-eating concrete clean up our urban jungles? - CNN.com

Matt Ford gets Ditched for addressing only half of this story. True, this is a very intriguing innovation that could help reduce airborne toxins in the areas that implement it. However, is there not any worry about the glut of nitrates that would be washed in to the water supply if this material were used in mass? Are we perhaps trading one negative for another? I am envisioning a time 25 years down the road when it is discovered that the overwhelming presence of nitrates in our urban environments is contributing to a supply of detrimental health effects that have been increasing in frequency over the years. Perhaps the true, long term solution to the toxin issue is to reduce the toxin output in the first place. Obviously, this is much easier said than done and a bit idealistic, but we need to start understanding the adverse effects and trade-offs of "quick" solutions.

BP gas may be cheaper - Aug. 4, 2010

2010-08-04T14:05:00.000-07:00

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.

Arizona immigration law sections struck down by federal judge - CSMonitor.com

2010-07-28T13:20:00.000-07:00

Arizona immigration law sections struck down by federal judge - CSMonitor.com

Ms. Bolton is Ditched for part of her legal reasoning quoted in this article. She mentions that there is a likelihood that legal immigrants could be arrested under this new law. It does not seem wise precedent to strike down a law because of the chance that some enforcement officials could make mistakes or abuse it. Mistakes and abuses could occur with any law. There does not appear to be justification for having any rule of law using Ms. Bolton's reasoning on this case thus far.

Why BP Is Not Toyota - TheStreet

2010-07-28T05:09:00.000-07:00

Why BP Is Not Toyota - TheStreet

Mr. Dicker gets Ditched for failing to note the chief difference between Toyota and BP: the publics ABILITY and FREEDOM to be selective with the respective brands. A consumer makes a much more thoughtful and time-consuming decision on whether to purchase a Toyota. Are consumers given the same time and freedoms when refilling their tanks? Furthermore, those consumers who did actually want to refrain from going to a BP station were reluctant to find out that the stations were not even owned by BP and that their selective behavior would only be hurting local/regional business owners. Currently, BP's oil is needed regardless of what environmental atrocities they take part in. They will always be shielded from the power of the consumer until a marketable oil alternative is made readily available.

U.S. economy seeing gradual recovery: Geithner - MarketWatch

2010-07-24T11:38:00.000-07:00

U.S. economy seeing gradual recovery: Geithner - MarketWatch

Mr. Geithner gets Ditched for making a defenseless argument about the health of the economy. He speaks nothing of the demand for US goods or wage increases. He simply bases his rosey outlook on heresay from the select businesses he has spoken with. This is ultimately a vapid statement by Mr Geithner that is most likely politically driven during this sensitive time before the November elections.

Is 3D Already Dying?

2010-07-23T10:47:00.000-07:00

Is 3D Already Dying?

Mr. Frucci gets Ditched for coming to a hasty conclusion over his chart showing a decline in 3D's share of total cinema revenue over the past several months. He assumes that viewers are slowly rejecting the 3D option for their movie experiences. Perhaps viewers are choosing to purchase 2D options for their outings not because they have rejected or gotten over the 3D experience, but because they feel that it's elevated price point only pays off for truly epic movies. How to Train Your Dragon is not on the same level of "epic" as Avatar. Our 3D experiences from childhood (i.e. Muppet's in 3D) were very much more interactive and gimmicky than the 3D experience being peddled now. One could argue that the current 3D option simply adds another layer of reality to the movies we watch, it does not make the experience any more interactive or ground breaking. After the initial marketing push of 3D being the next step for movie viewing, people are slowly coming off of their 3D high and realizing that they do not need to experience every outing in 3D. Just as IMAX has become an interesting feature that can add to the experience of certain (not all) movies, so will 3D technology.

4 Reasons Tighter Credit Is Good for Small Business | Business Pundit

2010-07-15T11:36:00.000-07:00

4 Reasons Tighter Credit Is Good for Small Business | Business Pundit

Mr. Sildon gets Ditched for several reasons. First, he infers that small businesses needed to be taught a lesson about the importance of working in cash. Was it the small businesses that created the credit crunch through reckless spending? Second, he very idealistically mentions how learning to work "lean and mean" is a residual benefit of the crunch. What about the small businesses who are trying to serve other small businesses? These vendor small businesses who were able to grow and develop new products and services under a previous margin are now going to be stifled by their "lean and mean" clients. Lower margins means less money to be invested in creative projects and R&D. Perhaps Mr. Sildon's time would be better spent discussing the lessons learned by lending institutions and government instead of desperately grasping for ways in which the small business victims should be thanking their aggressors.

Why governing Americans is so hard - CSMonitor.com

2010-07-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Why governing Americans is so hard - CSMonitor.com

Mr. Gleckman gets Ditched because he seems to sympathize with politicians because of their demanding and, sometimes, contradictory audience. Who amongst us lowly constituents does not deal with the same contradiction with our occupations on a daily basis?! Shame on any politician that is not prepared to deal with this paradox!

NASA join critics of Jabulani World Cup ball - News - MirrorFootball.co.uk

2010-07-07T06:54:00.000-07:00

NASA join critics of Jabulani World Cup ball - News - MirrorFootball.co.uk

NASA gets Ditched for wasting time and money on this. Even though the shuttle program is getting scrapped, they still have very high priorities. A great example is this catastrophic find:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/7819201/Nasa-warns-solar-flares-from-huge-space-storm-will-cause-devastation.html

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

2010-07-03T14:30:00.000-07:00

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.

2010 World Cup: Maradona considers quitting after Germany rout - ESPN Soccernet

2010-07-03T13:44:00.000-07:00

2010 World Cup: Maradona considers quitting after Germany rout - ESPN Soccernet

Maradona gets Ditched. He would not allow himself to humbly ride into the sunset. This is his attempt at fishing for complements and eventually maintaining his post.