Dove

My cousin, Allison, recently posted one of my favorite video advertisements of all time. You can check it out at her blog here: allisonkimball.typepad.com

The video is part of the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. This campaign is, for me, something that just makes me feel passionate about my field. I had the enormous opportunity to attend a Q&A session at a public relations conference with members of the Dove marketing team and Edelman PR, one of the public relations firms Dove worked with on this campaign.

The idea behind it is absolutely fabulous. Dove conducted a worldwide research project evaluating women's perceptions of beauty. They were shocked to find that worldwide (not just in the United States) only 2% of women thought they were beautiful. In conjunction with internationally renowned public relations firms such as Ogilvy and Mather, Edelman (as mentioned above), and Harbinger Communications, Dove launched the Campaign for Real Beauty.

In defiance of the Super Bowl advertising norm, Dove aired "Daughters" during Super Bowl XL. It certainly wasn't funny, but it got lot attention for two huge reasons. Fifty percent of Super Bowl watchers are female and the other 50% are fathers, brothers and sons. The reception was phenomenal (details above I had to glean from Wiki, the percentages are from my notes).

Also spectacularly done was Dove's billboard advertisements, my favorite of which is posted below.

Another billboard, also a favorite:Dove's concept was to start a discussion. What really is beautiful? These billboards were placed in areas like Times Square. The Wrinkled or Wonderful billboard was seen in London. Passerbys could actually text Dove and "vote" whether they thought the woman was Fat or Fabulous. According to Wikipedia the results were actually posted real-time on the billboard.

Dove took corporate responsibility to a level that, in my opinion, hasn't been seen since the Cyanide/Tylenol scare in 1982. I'm curious to see who else is going to step up to the plate. I'm rearing to be a part of it.

Gasoline vs. the Environment: Gasoline 0, Environment 1

I drive a Camry. It gets pretty good gas mileage and I can fill it up for around $60. Not phenomenal, but not bad. My little gift to the environment. *bows head modestly*

Sunday was, possibly, on of the busiest I've had in a very long time. Sunday morning a fellow YSA and I drove over to Quincy, about 30 minutes from Tallahassee, to give talks at the small ward there (VERY small, around 30 members, still not sure why it's still a ward). The other YSA didn't have a car, so I picked him up and, later, drove him over to the YSA ward in Tallahassee where I had to also give a lesson. I didn't think too much of all the driving, by the end of the day I still had a little of a quarter of a tank.

Monday morning on my way to the grocery store I decided to fill up and pulled slightly absent-mindedly into the gas station only to realize all the nozzles were covered in plastic bags. "Huh," I thought to myself. "That's kind of weird." With a shrug I start to drive across the street to the neighboring gas station only to find that their gas pricing has been taken down. What are the odds! Two gas stations on the same corner out of gas.

Two? Try the 5 or 6 I pass on the way to the grocery store. Or the tens of other gas stations located in Tallahassee. Yep. No bueno for my little tank (or the other couple hundred people that needed gas). Due to Hurricane Ike, a bunch of Tallahasseans panicked and went to the pumps "just in case." Gas stations were out all weekend. School is about a 15 minutes drive from where I live, so I was a little worried but figured my quarter tank could last me at least until Thursday. Tuesday morning on my way to class I noticed gas stations were still out of gas and, of course, glancing down I also realize my gauge has suddenly dipped to about an 1/8 of a tank.

Eep.

I began pondering the ethical technicalities of a siphon and a few large vehicles I'd noticed in the parking lots that, I figured, wouldn't miss a few ounces. All hypothetical, of course. Merely a scholastic inquiry. The serious thought didn't come until after class when I hopped in my car and the gas light came on. Where was that Hummer parked again? I say a few prayers (okay, more than a few, the thought of walking 2 miles to the nearest bus stop to get to class every day was entirely unsavoring). The thought comes to mind to try a different route home. I follow the prompting and, miracle upon miracles, the first gas station I see as I come up over the hill is an Exxon Mobil with a price listing for regular fuel.

Perhaps it was the glare on the windshield and the NPR station my radio was tuned in to, but a little beam of light shone and a small choir of angels began singing. Okay, the last part didn't happen (At least not in reality. My heart did, however, give a rousing rendition of the "Hallelujah Chorus"... really spectacular, the stuff of legends... but I digress).

Thankfully I was able to pull into a section of the gas station/line at the gas station where I could both turn off my car to conserve my remaining fuel and was out of the way of other vehicles. Sadly the station was limiting fill ups to $30 a customer, but that pulled me up to a good half tank so I was considerably grateful. Bless the attractive station attendant who ensured no one cut in front of me in line.

That evening as I got home I figured it would be a good idea to find out when there would be gas in Tallahassee. That's when I discovered that there is no actual gas shortage in Florida, just panicked people. Over the last two days I've been noticing a few more gas stations opened and today, even, I was able to fill up the rest of my tank without too much of a wait. I've never been so grateful for a full tank of gas or a Heavenly Father who is willing to answer the prayers of a silly girl with an 1/8 of a tank.

But with some cars out of commission for running out of gas and others conserving what they have, it looks like the environment got a little extra breathing room this past week. I hope the trees appreciate it. Because once this whole gas "crisis" is over I'm burning my fuel and going to the beach. Hey, at least I don't drive a Hummer, right?

tow, tow, your boat....

So my first day of classes was last Tuesday (a week ago). I was stressing out because I couldn't get into the classes I needed/wanted, it was hot outside, and, well, it wasn't the best day I'd ever had. Classes went fine and while I was walking back to my car my dad called me to let me know my Camry was all ready to pick up at the dealership (it was getting some work done so I was using a rental). That cheered me up and put a little spring into my step as I walked to the institute building parking lot. I'd parked the rental in a really obvious spot (in case I forgot what it looked like). As the parking lot drew closer I had a sinking feeling something was missing... like, say, my car, for instance. I walked up to the empty spot, looked around for a sign indicating who had, apparently, towed my car.

Property Parking Services. Lame.

I called the bishop's wife, Sis. L., to find out what I could do. I'd been told I didn't need a parking permit the first week of classes since they had told the towing company to not tow yet. Sis. L was super nice and directed me to Bro. B, our institute director. Bro. B was amazing and within 20 minutes of realizing my car was gone I was driving it up to the dealership to pick up my Camry. And he got the fee waived. He also got a chocolate sheet cake two days later. The incidents are related.

The next day I was hanging out in the institute building between classes when the kind Bro. B comes up to me and asks if he can chat with me a second. Sure, I say. He explains Pres. W of the Quincy branch is looking for two YSAs to speak in his branch in two weeks, would I mind? The dude got my car out of the tow lot... sneaky. I say sure, I'd speak.

Sunday I meet with the YSA ward for the first time (the previous Sunday was stake conference) and a member of the bishopric pulls me aside. Sunday school teacher for the teacher development class. You'll probably teach your first lesson in two weeks. I do the math. *cough* I have a talk that morning in Quincy. Counselor: don't they meet in the morning?

Sweet. So busy Sunday in two weeks. Also, I recently checked the assignments for my Web usability class. He's assigned seven 4 page papers for 7 weeks in a row. Welcome to grad school! All-in-all, though, it should be a good class. I've loved the reading so far and I'm planning on keeping at least one of the books. And I found Border's Books. Yea!