Advertisement- Dogs Make Better Pets

Dogs Make Better Pets

Could you imagine a rhinoceros as a pet? You could attempt to attach a leash to this six-foot, 8000-pound mammal. Even if you manage this fantastic task where do you take it for a walk? Where exactly do you house this enormous animal? How about a bore or an ostrich? I highly doubt that would taking a pet bull to the park to fetch a Frisbee is even legal. That idea is exactly what Pedigree did for their commercial during the 2009 Super Bowl. They brought together images of people and their ridiculous pets. If you assume that most people who have pets like dogs and do these activities then the examples that were given would be very effective. The advertisement was a great example why dogs really do make better pets.

When thinking of the image in the commercial of a rhino running through a living room and wrecking everything in its path it brings home the idea that they would make a bad pet. Rhinos weigh anywhere from 400 to 8000 pounds and are anywhere from 4 ½ feet to six feet tall. Just the enormity of this animal would deter me from wanting one as a pet. I wouldn't need to go into too much thought of feeding it 133 pounds of foliage per day or even where I would put that much food. A dog of average size running to you through the living room wouldn’t knock down two walls and eliminate all the furniture in your house. A rhino would do exactly that. Besides seeing this image and thinking how impractical a pet would make I wondered how exactly the rhino made it through the door in the first place.
I noticed in the advertisement that the house is decorated as if this person really had a rhino. With pictures of herself and her rhino just like a person who owned a dog would do. This was also very effective.

This advertisement is targeting people who like pets. That is the only specific that I can see because there are all different people in the ad. Different race, gender, age to me means that the only type of people that Pedigree is targeting is person that like, have, or want a pet. It is supposed to be common knowledge that “dog is man’s best friend”. The images of the people playing with their pets are images that you see every day. A person walking their dog and playing fetch with a dog is common. I think that by introducing images that are commonplace like a pig instead of a dog riding in a car would make you automatically think of a dog and the idea would be catchy.

Pedigree’s advertisement is trying to get people to adopt dogs. By giving examples of the things that people normally do with dogs but showing different animals in the place of a dog they effectively show how a dog is better. For a person who is in the market for a new pet it would work it would show how universal dogs are. The person watching the ad can replace the images with the image of a dog and it would be very effective.
The ostrich would out run the mailman in no time since ostriches can run up to 46 miles per hour and the average human can not. I do not have the space to house an ostrich. They need a fenced area of 200 square yards of space to run around they can’t be kept in a house. The ostrich could probably be fed easily enough but housing it would be another matter. The can weigh up to 330 pounds and usually require a very large running space with specialty fencing to keep them contained. Also they can live up to 70 years in captivity so if you decide to get an ostrich when you are fifty it could easily out live you.

Some animals should not become domesticated pets like the rhino, ostrich, boar, and bull. The behaviors, size, and even smells are things that you can’t change. I do not believe that anyone has ever been able to successfully teach a bull to fetch. The companionship of dogs has been going on for centuries and will continue on for centuries to come. Pedigree has very effective advertisements and this is another testament to a good choice the company made.

Adina's Cover Letter

Adina Baidoo
XXXXX XX XXX
Warrenton, Oregon 97146

January 27, 2009

Mr. Jim Reger
Milton-Freewater School District
53445 W. Rerndale Rd
Milton-Freewater, OR 97862

Dear Mr. Reger:

I am currently attending Clatsop Community College in Astoria. I am currently holding a 3.72 GPA. I am working on my AAOT Degree so that I can transfer to Oregon State University or Portland University. I am going to continue my education in the field of Education. I am submitting my application in hopes that I will be considered for the OSPA Scholarship. Being selected for this scholarship will help me to achieve my goal in becoming a teacher. I appreciate the opportunity the scholarship will give me.

One of the most important things in a person’s life is their education. Without education we cannot go far in life. As a child I really enjoyed learning and because of this I excelled in anything I applied myself to. However except for my freshman year in high school, I attended Horizon Instructional Systems. This was a state funded Charter school. During my freshman year in high school I did not feel that my needs were being met. I was completely unengaged and felt no challenge whatsoever. My decision to attend a charter school was supported by my parents. I felt that I would be challenged and would feel engaged because I could work at my speed and level. I graduated at the top of my class. The required credits to graduate were 250. I had well over 350, more than 100 than the entire graduating class. Having that opportunity and that visionary education really inspired me to become an educator.

If you wish to change something for the better, then you need to become a part of it. I want nothing more than to support my little girl and to become a proud educator in Oregon. In the area that I live the need for teachers is great. I would like to finish my degree and begin my career in the Clatsop County School District. I believe that I can make a difference and would be grateful for the opportunity.

I welcome any questions that you may have. I can be contacted at XXX-XXX-XXXX, at my email address or at the address listed above.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,


Adina Baidoo

Elisa Lindquist's Cover Letter

Elisa Lindquist
Po Box 1102 Warrenton, OR 97146
503-791-8209
January 25, 2009

Mrs. Lin Storey
Human Resources Department
TLC Federal Credit Union
PO Box 160
Tillamook, OR 97141

Dear Mrs. Lin Storey:
I have been working in the banking industry for almost five years now, and I am looking to further my experience and qualifications in a customer service position. With that in mind, I was very excited to see that your credit union is currently seeking a member service representative and I would love for you to consider me for the position.

I know I would be a great candidate for the position of Member Service Representative as I have vast knowledge of financial products and services. I am very outgoing, professional, and can represent TLC Federal Credit union in a positive and professional way. My previous employment at Bank of Astoria taught me the fundamentals of the financial world and I believe that I have many experiences that I can bring to the table. Duties that I were responsible for previously include balancing the vault daily, counting and preparing cash shipments to and from the Federal Reserve, file maintenance of accounts, and many other customer service related tasks. I have vast experience with multi-line phones and can handle just about any problem I am faced with in a cool and collected manner. I am also very proud to say that I have a perfect balancing record for the years of 2006-2007. I pride myself in being accurate and detailed.

Many skills that I possess are transferable. I am currently bonded and insured as a loan processor. A few of my skills include use of a ten-key calculator, many different computer programs and software, such as Microsoft word and Excel, problem solving and alternate method techniques. Once I get to know all of TLC’s products and services I am positive I will be great at cross-selling the credit union’s products and services. I am positive that my knowledge and experience will be a very valuable asset to TLC Federal Credit Union. I am looking forward to an opportunity to become a team member at TLCFCU!

Attached to this typed letter I have included a copy of my resume. I would welcome the opportunity to get more in depth with exactly what I have to offer your company and to better explain why I am the right person for your Customer Service position. Thank you so much for your time and consideration, and I look forward to meeting with you soon.


Sincerely,


Elisa Lindquist
Personal Banker

Krista's OSU Cover Letter

Krista Varner

Universal Banker

U.S. Bank

987 Duane St.

Astoria, OR 97103

January 26, 2009

Dear Oregon State's academic advisors,

I'm currently maintaining a full-time position of universal banker at U.S. Bank in Astoria.  In addiction to fulfilling all my customers' needs I am a part-time student at Clatsop Community College.  My goal is to obtain a bachelor degree for OSU for elementary school education with a minor in Spanish.

Academically, I possess the qualities of an excellent student.  I graduated third in my high school class with an overall GPA of 3.8.  I earned scholarships to continue my education while staying in the work force.  I have attended Clatsop Community College part-time over the past three years.  I overloaded myself two years ago with excessive work hours, a demanding social life and a full-time class schedule.  I decided to take the time I needed to fully appreciate the beauty of a college education.  I am now eager and prepared to take on my own role as a serious college student.  

About fifteen months ago I began a professional career and have excelled in every aspect of it.  I was the highest referring teller in the district and have the second highest customer loyalty service scores in the entire region.  With raised self-confidence and lots of motivation I want to finish pursuing my dream of becoming an OSU student.  

Finally, I find being active in my community favorable to me as well as those I help.  I've volunteered a the local seafood festival, Relay for Life, and The Great Columbia Crossing.  My jobs are often small and simple but reflect on the overall success of the event.  I've met great people who in addition to being role models are now loyal friends.

I am firmly convinced I will be an excellent student at your college; my time management skills and inspiration are the facts i need to confirm my statement.  I will work my hardest to achieve obtaining a degree while living the life of a motivated college student.  i admire the numerous opportunities and experiences before me at Oregon State University.

Sincerely,

Krista Varner

Katie Allen
Ms. Cook
Writing 122
8 February 2009





Nivea For Men Body Wash: Is it all Grown Up?

David Foster Wallace’s recent essay entitled “E Unibus Pluram” analyzes many aspects of television’s effect on American culture. One critique of an ad for Isuzu, featuring an “Oily, Satanic looking salesman” who told “whoppers about Isuzu’s ability to run on tap water”, states that this ad “invites viewers to congratulate themselves for getting the joke, and to congratulate Isuzu, Inc. for being “fearless” and “irreverent” enough to acknowledge that car ads are ridiculous and that the mass audience is dumb enough to believe them. The ad invites the lone viewer to drive an Isuzu as some sort of anti-advertising statement”(61). Similar tactics are at work in a recent Nivea for Men Body Wash commercial. By mocking the absurd marketing strategies of competitors such as Axe and Tag, Nivea invites viewers to feel "in on a joke" while simultaneously promoting their product.

The newest Nivea television advertisement begins with a close up shot of a bottle of Nivea for Men Bodywash held in a teenage boy’s hand. A school bell is heard in the background as he skeptically assesses the product. “Nivea for Men Body Wash, huh?” The camera angle changes and we see that the teen is in a high school hallway. “Dude,” the scruffy looking white boy says as he looks into the camera in an irritated manner, “Who uses a body wash to get clean?”

The scene changes. Two high school football players are loafing by the track. #23 is a Scottish looking fellow, and #67 is black. Runners are going by behind them, giving this scene the feel of a sports practice. #23 smells the product and says, “If the babes can’t smell it from here, I’m not interested. And the name’s gotta dominate. I dominate!” Then both players make a laughable fist pump gesture. A whistle signals the end of this scene. Cut to a nerdy Asian boy of about 17 also holding the Nivea. Behind him are a bicycle rack and a park. Nerd boy looks from the product to the camera and moans in a dismayed voice, “This won’t increase my ability to mate!”

The voice of the Italian grease monkey in the next scene is heard slightly before he is seen leaning on his suped up red auto. (A make on the car is conspicuously missing.) He is in front of some sort of school building. “They need to feel me, they need to hear me, they need to see me, above all they gotta smell me,” he says in a fast, cocky tone. “They gotta be attracted somehow.” At this point, most viewers will be smirking at the ridiculous statements of each of these boys.

The fifth scene starts with upbeat background music. A reasonably attractive man of about 28 wears a smart suit as he walks casually through the streets of a metropolis. “Doesn’t dry your skin,” he reads as he walks. “Doesn’t reek,” he states concisely as he stops to give it a whiff. “Isn’t that the point?” At this point we get a close up of his face as he gestures coolly with the product. We see that he’s got very nice facial features compared to the boys of the previous scenes. Throughout most of this scene, Nivea’s web address is displayed in an unobtrusive gray in the bottom right hand corner.

After this, the background music kicks into about third gear and viewers see a bottle of the body wash next to the words “The body wash for grownups”. This message is superimposed over a man lathering himself more slowly than I’ve ever seen anyone lather themselves in my life. Somehow, the sexuality of this scene is still subtle. An authoritative male voice-over exclaims, “Finally, a body wash for grownups. Nivea for Men has a fresh, subtle scent, and it’s good for your skin.” The camera cuts back to the good looking man. “Works for me,” he concludes, giving the product a manly pat. The final scene consists of a dark blue background with Nivea’s logo, a bold typeface of the words “Nivea” (in white) and “For Men” (in smaller blue print against a silver background). At the bottom of the screen, still smaller white letters spell out “What Men Want.” The voice-over reads the words.

The demographic this ad targets is clear: young men or boys eager to appear grown up and masculine. While it pokes fun at some of the advertising techniques employed by Axe and Tag body products (both of whom target a similar demographic), it also cleverly tries for the same appeal. Nivea builds off of the assumption by the aforementioned brands that marinating your body in cheap cologne is conducive to sexual attractiveness.

The ways in which the young men at the high school are portrayed are specific to the stereotypical clique that they represent. Differences notwithstanding, each of them is meant to seem young, naïve, and desperate for female attention. We as an audience are expected to mock the implied fact that so many young men have bought into the mentality that a product can define you in terms of sexual attractiveness. They each look at the product, smell the product, and emphatically reject it because 1) It doesn’t smell strongly enough to attract women, 2) The cleansing properties of a product are apparently of no importance to them, 3)The name doesn’t “dominate”. In contrast, the older, successful looking man regards the product in a very aloof manner. His response is positive, but not excited. We get the impression that he is a busy man, a man who has better things to think about than body wash. The product is an afterthought.

Which of these men seems the most attractive to the viewer? Definitely the last one, in the shower, with his Nivea. In this way the implied message is paradoxical. We are lead to believe that it is silly to equate sexiness with one’s brand identity, yet the sexiness inherent in the last man as compared to the earlier boys does in fact equate attractiveness and maturity with the product.

Although, this advertisement largely uses humor and sexuality to attract viewers, Nivea does put in a quick word for the actual advantages of it’s product. In the final scene, the attractive man tells viewers, “doesn’t dry your skin”. In the steamy shower scene we learn that it has a “fresh, subtle scent”. These elements are present, but they are not in the foreground of the commercial. In general, this ad assumes viewers are familiar with the Axe and Tag's approaches and posses preconceived, negative notions about advertising. By making fun of advertising, Nivea implies that the creators of the ad are not trying to pull one over on the viewer. The viewer is smart. The viewer is in on the joke. In this roundabout way Nivea uses pathos to make their appeal. The ad makes the viewer laugh; it points out to the viewer the absurdity of marinating in cheap body wash or cologne; it bolsters the viewer’s ideas about not being owned by a brand, and yet, at the same time, it advertises a new "more mature" brand.

How effective is this strategy for Nivea? According to Corporate Media Relations of Beiersdorf in Hamburg, Germany, Nivea is the largest skin care company in the world (although it’s main following is in European countries),and the Nivea for Men line accounts for 20% of sales. The creators of this ad are trying to boost the sales of Nivea’s men’s products by directly challenging two of it’s main competitors: Axe and Tag. Compared to the Axe and Tag commercials, Nivea’s ad is a breath of fresh air. It appeals to the viewer's intelligence, a highly valued commodity. By using humor, they’ve attract attention and entertain. If Nivea For Men Body Wash is as mild and underhandedly sexy as it’s advertisers claim it to be, I’m sure there are many who would choose this new product over marinating in Axe any day. Kudos to Nivea for using a sophisticated approach to appeal to a more sophisticated audience of men who want to smell good to attract women.

Shade: Advertising Analysis

Army Strong: Patriotic or Individualistic?

“Believing in yourself is strong. Achieving what you never believed possible is Army strong” (qtd. in Sports Illustrated 31). These words, in white, half-inch capital letters, fill the lower one-third of the 8.5x11 color-print ad in Sports Illustrated. The Army logo is small but prominent in the lower right corner. The other two-thirds of the page shows us a strong, young soldier in the front seat of a military vehicle surrounded by electronic equipment. It is difficult to tell where this vehicle is because you cannot see any specific terrain through the window. The location does not appear to be the desert terrain of the countries where our soldiers are currently deployed. The soldier in the ad is wearing fatigues and a helmet that project a sense of purpose. His presence occupies nearly half of the upper two-thirds of the page, and the equipment fills the remaining upper two-thirds. He is concentrating seriously on an electronic map on the computer next to him. The uniform, the enormous display of technology and the serious expression on the soldier’s face are meant to imply that this is important and serious work. We are a country at war yet the ad explains that there are over “150 career opportunities available” in the Army. This ad is appealing to the individual’s desires for a better future although we are at war and should appeal to patriotism.

The word “strong” appears in this print ad five times. This is an effective appeal to young men to join the army. The soldier pictured is young, attractive, and healthy looking. This is an image that most young men find pleasing. This advertisement is appealing solely to the individual and their desires for a better future and self-improvement. What is absent from this ad is that we currently have over 200,000 troops deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan (Dept. of
Defense “Active Duty Military Personnel Strengths by Regional Area and by Country” 4). The Army’s attempt to appeal to the individual’s ego instead of liberty, freedom or patriotism shows sensitivity to how unpopular these conflicts are. If there were more support from the American people the ad may have made an appealed based on freedom and democracy instead of fascinating career opportunities.

In comparison to the patriotism-inspiring recruitment posters of World War II (WWII), this advertisement does not intend to inspire a collectivist view of patriotism. The absence of any reference to the war in Iraq or our troops in Afghanistan is a clear statement of our country’s dissatisfaction with our involvement in these places. After the attack on Pearl Harbor that brought about America’s involvement in WWII, the recruitment posters were full of images of brave young men and women in uniform serving their country and fighting for our freedom from tyranny. These images of patriotic soldiers, whether in the trenches or at home, inspired young people to enlist and Americans to unite in support of the war.

So many more were lost during WWII yet this did not minimize the belief that it was the right thing do. The United States lost over 400,000 soldiers in World War II, according to J. Lee Ready in World War Two Nation by Nation.” The soldiers in WWII were hailed has heroes and their deaths were seen as necessary to protect freedom. To date, the United States has lost less than 5,000 soldiers (Dept. of Defense “Operations Enduring Freedom & Iraqi Freedom Casualty Summary by State” 1). This cost is considered too high and Americans have chosen not support the current conflicts; however, we do support our soldiers by displaying ribbons and banners on our homes and businesses and magnetic signs on our cars. We raise money and send care packages to let them know we appreciate what they are doing. We give them a heroes welcome when they come home safely and we honor their memories when they do not.

The single advertisement seen in the Sports Illustrated, December 2008, issue is not representative of the Army’s entire recruiting campaign. Other print ads and television commercials appeal to parental concerns of their child enlisting. This focus can be viewed as an attempt to recognize that we are at war without coming right out and saying it directly. Deployment to unsafe areas is a major concern for parents who have children considering joining the army. If this was not a reason for concern then the Army would continue to promote college and career opportunities.

Patriotism, freedom and democracy are the foundation of our country. We have fought many wars since the Revolution in order to protect that foundation. We need soldiers and we will always need soldiers to ward off anyone who tries to undermine our foundation. Whether the Army, or any other branch of armed service, attempts to recruit soldiers by means of personal benefits or protection of our rights, there will always be men and women willing to join to be part of something important.

Works Cited

Ready, J. Lee. “World War Two Nation by Nation.” < http://www.worldwar->

United States Army. Advertisement. Sports Illustrated. 29 Dec. 2008: 31

United States. Department of Defense. Active Duty Military Personnel Strengths by Regional Area and by Country. 30 June 2008 <>

United States. Department of Defense. Operations Enduring Freedom & Iraqi Freedom Casualty Summary by State. 7 Feb. 2009 <http://siadapp.dmdc.olsd.mil/personnel/%20CASUALTY/State_OEF_OIF.pdf>

Random House Internship

January 20, 2009

Random House, Inc.
On-line resume submission

RE: Intern – Books on Tape Division

To Whom It May Concern:

I am applying for the position of Publishing Intern in your Books on Tape division in Costa Mesa, California. Attached is my online resume. I am confident that you will find my combination of skills and experience, in addition to my love of all types of literature, a perfect addition to the Random House family.

I offer Random House my twenty-five years of extensive experience in a variety of public and private-sector office environments. This experience has given me a wealth of knowledge and skills in addition to a strong work ethic and desire to learn. After several years of successfully attending night classes while working full-time for Clatsop County, I am currently enrolled as a full-time student. I am pursuing my passion for writing and publishing while earning the degree that can advance my career from the administrative level to the professional. An internship at Random House would be an ideal foundation to this new career path in publishing.

As a student I have worked on The Bandit, the college newspaper, conducting interviews and writing articles. I have also performed various functions in connection to the content selection, editing and publication of the college’s annual literary journal, RAIN Magazine. I became familiar with Adobe InDesign software while working on both of these publications.

I have provided the highest quality administrative support to offices ranging is size from 4 to 20 professionals, including communicating with clients and staff verbally as wells as in written correspondence. In my job at Clatsop County I have been responsible for accurate payroll data input for 300 individuals for the past six years. I have been an avid reader all of my life and have been listening to books on tape for many years. In addition to my skills, I will also bring a number of other key qualities to Random House. I am adept at adapting to a variety of situations and personalities effectively in order to provide quality services and products. My computer experience has taught me the art of troubleshooting, which can be applied to all manner of business and personal situations. My supervisory experience has taught me that being part of a team, no matter what your position, is essential to create a successful end product. My payroll experience has taught me the value of customer service and that the tiniest detail matters to someone. My overall experience has cultivated the ability to manage projects of varying size, deadline and difficulty.

While I may appear to be overqualified for this position, I assure you that it is something I want so that I may learn the publishing business in a hands-on environment from the world’s largest English-language general trade book publisher. I look forward to meeting with you in person to further discuss this opportunity.

Sincerely,
A. Cristine Shade

cover letter

Katie Allen
2125 S. Downing St.
Seaside, Or. 97138
(503) 440-4340
E-mail: Supamcawesomestuff@q.com
January 26, 2009
1928 Jewelry Company
Attn: Hiring Representative
Dear 1928 Jewelry,
Perusing the internet recently, I came across the 1928 Online Marketing Intern position and was very excited! I am a college freshman with a high interest in fashion, especially the area of vintage jewelry and accessories. I notice fashion wherever I go, and I must say, 1928’s beautiful, intricate jewelry, especially the Blue Bridal collection, has caught my eye in many high end retail shops, and I own three pairs of your chandelier drop earrings!
I have extensive experience navigating the Internet, especially on networking sites such as Myspace and Facebook, and I know I would make an excellent promoter in these venues. I am extremely punctual in all aspects of my life, particularly in regards to my school and work responsibilities. I have a great eye, not just for jewelry and clothing but for typos and spelling errors as well. I type upwards of 60 wpm, and am a highly confident quick thinker.
I have worked in customer service for seven years, including two retail operations: OshKosh B’Gosh, where I was a sales associate for two years, and a Claire’s accessory shop, which I was instrumental in opening. I was a supervisor at Claire’s for a year, and I recall merchandising many of your products. My experience working in restaurant settings has bestowed upon me the ability to establish a favorable rapport with many diverse groups of people, often in a short amount of time. As you will see in my attached resume, I’ve been with my current employer for over three years, and am a valued member of our staff.
I am currently enrolled at Clatsop Community College in Astoria, Oregon. I definitely have a propensity for the arts and literature versus math and science, and am looking forward to taking classes in design. The position of Online Marketing Intern for a company as well established as 1928 jewelry would certainly open up doors for me in the arena of fashion and promotion.
I sincerely hope to hear from you soon. The opportunity to prove myself to be a good fit for your esteemed operation would be greatly appreciated. I really think I’d learn a lot interning for you, and I’m eager to bring a fresh new perspective to the table. If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to give me a call or e-mail me!
Thank you for your consideration,
Katie Allen

-Let me just say that it took me a considerable amount of effort just getting this to post, so please excuse the flawed format.

Jason

Hey there everybody! As some of you know, I died last week! I do however have good news; I've been resurrected.
I’ll Also add a few things about me: I am a native Astoria who moved away for a few years and came back (just couldn’t stay away.) I’m in the Navy and will be shipping off in June!
On a random note, I have 7 sisters which more than likely explains why I am so strange…
- Jason (the gun control guy)