Out with the old, in with the new

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

I’ve noticed several brand/logo changes lately. I wanted to share some with you and get some feedback!

The first is from Dairy Queen. I didn’t know about this change until I passed the one back home and noticed a new sign.

Here’s the old:

And the new:

Personally, I like the old better. I think it’s classic and looks great as a bright neon sign. It’s recognizable, but now these swooshes get in the way of that. What do they add to the idea of Diary Queen? Thoughts?

Next up is Pizza Hut, or now is SOMETIMES going to be labeled as The Hut according to their press release.

The old:

The new:

I think “Pizza” in the name really helped the brand recognition, so now I’m not sure about this new one. When people see "The Hut" they may be wondering what in the world they sell and choose not to go there. Compared to before, when the answer was obvious. I also do not like that they are using this logo at some locations and the old in others. I think that could be a confusing disastor for consumers. Like? Dislike?


The last I have for you is Pepsi. It’s not so recent and got a lot of talk in a lot of my classes.

The old:

The new:

The new logo was presented with a lengthy scientific report complete with graphs on the energy fields within the logo showing how it would pull buyers towards it. Well, it may have worked on me. I started buying Pepsi products and found a new love for Diet Pepsi (I blame the energy fields). The logo is American, modern yet still classic, and somehow has a friendly feeling. If you google image search "New Pepsi logo" you'll see all kinds of things: a variety of smiling faces within the logo, an overweight man within the new logo and Obama's campaign logo. Who has fallen for the energy fields??

Building a strong brand is a very lengthy process. So rebranding and changing the face of your brand is a big decision. It could change how consumers feel about the brand at first glance, good and bad, and it may cause a decrease in recognition or recall of the brand. Companies just have to decide if it’s worth it in the long run. So, who thinks these companies made a good decision?

Thrilling Tasteful Tangible Tantalizing Totally Tite Terrific Tune Tuesday

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Go.

So, I think I first heard this song when our amazing FCA praise band led it in worship one Tuesday. David Crowder released this song as a single, BUT I just discovered that someone from Charlotte actually wrote it and happens to be the brother of my photography professor I had last semester. His name is John Mark McMillan and click here to get the background on when and why he wrote the song. (I have the David Crowder version below without any intro).

Well, I think this song is pretty self-explanatory, but the lyrics really capture the beauty of our good and great God. I love having this song that allows me to sing it out to Him. So just press play below and reflect on some of the words I took out:



I listened to the song the other day while I was sitting on the beach back home. It was unusually windy and from the very start of the song, I was aware of God’s presence and the beauty He created around me:

Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.

Love this one!

When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

Oh how He loves us

When I was at the beach, the ocean part overwhelmed me because as far as I could look, all I saw was the big blue sea:

We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.

I want my heart to do this every time I think of His love. I don’t want to be able to sit still:

And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

Done.

South Carolina Makes Headlines

Sunday, July 5, 2009

South Carolina has been the state for news these past few weeks. And not good stuff. Here’s a recap for all you non-palmetto-tree-state-livers:

1. Governor Mark Sanford’s affair with an Argentinean woman. Great. First he was “missing” and then we find out this was happening instead. He’s been sneaking off, lying, using government money and cheating on his wife and family for the past few months. And he didn’t resign although outcries for it are increasing every day. I was quite embarrassed on many levels when he made the announcements: as a South Carolinian, a Christian (which he and his family are), and I thought if he brought up Beaufort Senator Tom Davis’ name one more time as being his buddy…geesh. I think Sanford was a lucky man when he scooted out of national headlines because of Michael Jackson’s death. Click here for the whole story.
2. Gaffney County has a serial killer and he has already taken 5 victims in less than a week. A little scary considering I was there just a few weeks ago for a wedding. The killer’s pictured popped up on CNN and CNN.com while over 100 investigators in the Carolinas are working on the case. Let’s get this guy. Click here for more information. 
   
3. This one didn’t make national news, but a huge fire overtook an old mill in Rock Hill, just blocks away from my apartment. Apparently the fire was so big, that smoke could be seen from as far away as Charlotte. The building used to be a bleachery, but has been abandoned for a while. It took more than a day for 55+ firefighters to get the fire out. Read more here.  

Let’s all hope that sweet southern little South Carolina will only make good news. Please.

Tasteful Tangible Tantalizing Totally Tite Terrific Tune Tuesday

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Everyone’s favorite Tuesday music blogging spot is back! Although I may need some help adding t-words pretty soon. Comment if you’ve got some. To check out some older Tune Tuesday posts, click here.

Go.

Song: Syndicate
Artist: The Fray
Album: The Fray

I’ve put the video down at the bottom, so press play and then read on!

The Fray is one of my top 3 bands. I love the piano infused into the lyrics that somehow can always be interpreted on a spiritual level. And I don’t think this song is any different.

This album was released in February and for now, this is my favorite song on the album. What I did first was look up the word syndicate, it’s only mentioned once in the song. So keep this in mind while listening:

syn⋅di⋅cate : a group of individuals or organizations combined or making a joint effort to undertake some specific duty or carry out specific transactions or negotiations.

I’ll just go ahead and say what I think this song overall is about because then I think the lyrics just fall into place. And this may be a long post, because I think this song is FULL of good stuff.

Much of the new Fray album seems to be about finding the Lord and the struggles of building our faith. Specifically, I think this song is about hardships, battles and doubts Christians face when we have built up that faith.

The thing that we are searching for, Jesus, seems to be so distant and old being over 2000 years old:

Halfway around the world
Lies the one thing that you want
Buried in the ground
Hundred miles down

And that can be frustrating causing doubts or times when we just want to give up even though we are “awakened” to the Truth:

First thing that arises in your mind while you awake
Bending you til you break
Let me hold you now

The chorus is kind of encouraging in that the person speaking seems to have been exactly where the “baby” is at and reassures them that its ok to ask questions and to just hold on to what they believe:

Baby close your eyes
Don't open til the morning light
Baby don't forget
You haven't lost it all yet

We have no idea the love and forgiveness that we are capable of that is shown by Jesus and we may not realize this until we see Him face-to-face:

Don't know what your made of
Til the one thing that you want
To come in with the dawn and suddenly changes

I haven’t quite figured out this line. This is the one mention of syndicate. Any ideas? I’m sure Monday is significant in that it is the day after Sunday. Perhaps the thought that people go to church on Sunday only to return to their same exact lives the next day making no changes after learning on Sunday:

Monday’s syndicate means everyone’s the same
But all we've lost to the flame. Listen to me now

Another line is then added into the chorus. This just reiterates the fact that there is questioning going on, but the one thing we know for sure is our God:

All we know for sure
Is all that we are fighting for

These next few lines are pretty powerful. I think they show that our God is mysterious and that we may never have all the answers (which is a struggle in itself, but also a beautiful thing because it shows how big our God is) even as our relationship with Christ grows and we get closer to Him:

Someday when this is over
We may still have no answer
For now is when I hold her
We are closer
We are closer
We are closer
We are closer

So what do you think? This is of course my interpretation, and I think many of these lines can be interpreted different ways. Some may even think it’s just about a long-distance relationship, but the Fray is always wonderful about putting deep, hard-hitting lyrics embedded into some very pretty music.



End.

Atlantic to the Nolichucky

Sunday, June 21, 2009

In the past week, I took a couple of mini vacations.

From Sunday, June 14 – Tuesday, June 16, I did absolutely nothing (except get a sunburn and play with some cute kids) on Edisto Island. Every summer, my aunt rents a house where the backyard is the beach. It takes about 10 seconds for me to get from the house to the Atlantic Ocean. It is the loveliest.

Edisto Beach, SC

From Friday, June 19 – Sunday, June 21, I explored the mountains, creeks and waterfalls around Erwin, Tennessee where my brother lives. Made a trip to the hippie-filled Boone, NC and dangerously rainy top of Roan Mountain.

Erwin, Tennesse

My question is….which do you prefer: beach or mountains? If you could only chose one, which would it be?

To the DC!

Thursday, June 11, 2009

I spent a couple of days in our nation's capitol with some fantastic people. Here's a fun shot of me at the Capitol Building.

DC is an interesting place. I didn't get the feeling there that I got in NYC or London or Florence (however, I did love the metro, but that may be my general love of public transit), but I still loved seeing all the wonderful sites that call DC their home. Gallery after gallery (most in which I got lost in) provided endless amounts of artwork to gaze at. Memorials provided a few moments to remember our country's past and those who've fought for it.

Overall, DC is a unique place. As it should be. Although it may not be my favorite, I still appreciate everything that it holds. Even that kid protesting, or reading from a sheet of preselected statements, outside the White House.

Although, it was a little bit eerie hearing this happened just a few days after we were in the city.

Next time I'm visiting the Washington Post despite the bored sighs of those who may be traveling with me!

Fake Runner

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

So I've been driving/riding all around Charlotte a good bit these past few weeks and have noticed this strange little thing people do. When crossing the street, sometimes a person notices a car waiting on them when they're just about in the middle. So they then pretend like they speed up by throwing their arms in some circular motion that makes it LOOK like they are running. But in fact, they are still walking, their arms are just swinging faster.

It's so silly. I laugh out loud every time I see it. I crafted together a little video that will demonstrate exactly what I'm talking about:




Anyone else seen this? Or do this?