Looking Across the Ponds:
Trends in the Auto Industry
When Henry Ford implemented the production line in his car company the United States became noticed as a power in the culture of automotives. As time has passes the more and more of design trends in automotive industry came from the United States. Decade after decade America was the power house, Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler became know as the big three, a reference to the fact that they were the three largest companies in the industry. While Europe continued to make cars they concentrated on the high and low ends of the market. While companies such as Mercedes Benz and BMW, among others, created cars that were faster and more expensive than the cars coming out of the United States, companies such as Yugo, and VW created cars that were less expensive but not as reliable (VW would evolve into something more later on). The Asian companies were creating cars that were far below the standards of the American Consumer (like VW two of these companies would evolve into powerhouses in the industry).
In the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70 the American automotive companies were creating cars that were stylish and reliable. These cars have become collector’s items in our culture, shows just how important they are to what the culture at large during that time and now. As the consumerism of the ‘80s and ‘90s started to take over the business world American car companies started making cars in a way that was more about getting from point A to point B for a shorter period of time, as apposed to choosing a way to get to where you want to go in a way that makes you distinguished. Prices of cars went down in comparison to the average income, and the longevity and style became the places to recoup those expenses. At this point in time is when the Asian car companies Honda and Toyota became noticed for their ability to make cars that would last longer than their American counterparts at a similar cost, while most of Europe was still creating cars for the wealthy. At this point is also when VW started to become noticed as a car company that created cars that were very reliable, while they didn’t last as long as the Asian companies they spent less time in repair than American cars. At this point the auto industry started looking to these other geographic locations for a new source of design trend setting.
In the current situation the popularity of American cars has diminished to the point of a constant buzz of at least one of the companies known as the big three either getting purchased or completely dropping out of the market. Europe’s VW and Asia’s Honda and Toyota are making waves in the auto industry now, and the United States is finally paying attention to them. In the past two years American car companies have begun to make cars that look more like the above companies, as well as Europe’s Audi, Saab and Volvo, and advertising using the qualities that have come to be associated with these cars. Luxury cars are beginning to have a much blockier and bold styling, for example the Ford/Lincoln Fusion/Zypher body type has stronger side body accents usually associated with companies such as Volvo and Audi. At the same time the models marketed to the younger demographic have started to look more like the cars that have been coming out of companies like Honda and Toyota, for example the Ford Focus offers a sporty two door hatch back with a more sleek and aerodynamic styling that has been a staple in the car lines of those two companies for a while now. These changes are being implemented because of the American automotive industry’s realization that these foreign car companies have been showing higher profits and larger market shares in the past five years. As time passes we will see if their decisions came a little too late.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Monday, December 11, 2006
Student Center
Center for Student Involvement
The EMU Student Center has been in the works for the past 2 years, this project finally came to a conclusion in November. One of the main points of the center is bringing different components of Eastern’s campus closer together. Where this is most obvious is in The Center for Student Involvement (CSI). This area on the third floor brings together a large number of student offices that were before scattered through McKenny union and campus as a whole.
➢ CSI includes Campus Life, the student organization that promotes events on campus most widely known being Thursday Night Tunes, and Friday/Monday movies.
➢ Diversity and Community Involvement (DCI), which brings all of the diversity programs such as the Women’s Center, Multicultural Affairs, and the service programs such as Alternative Breaks, Students Against Hunger and Homelessness (SAHAH), Habitat for Humanity, Jumpstart, Kid Konnection, America Reads, Gathering Resources to be Educated about our Environment and Nature (GREEN).
➢ Student Government, the student run campus governing body.
➢ Greek Life, the office that houses the governing bodies of Greek organizations
➢ Large Numbers of Student run programs.
These offices being so close together gives students working in them the ability to pool resources with one another. An example of this is a benefit concert hosted by the Alternative Breaks program as a fundraiser. The planning stages of this event relied highly on the fact that Campus Life was right next door to their offices. The Two facility advisors for Campus Life Helped out a great deal, not only by giving advise on the event but also by donating the use of a number of machines in their office for advertising. The CSI information desk is open during normal business Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 8 PM but you can usually find students in their offices at any time the building is open diligently working for their respective organizations.
The EMU Student Center has been in the works for the past 2 years, this project finally came to a conclusion in November. One of the main points of the center is bringing different components of Eastern’s campus closer together. Where this is most obvious is in The Center for Student Involvement (CSI). This area on the third floor brings together a large number of student offices that were before scattered through McKenny union and campus as a whole.
➢ CSI includes Campus Life, the student organization that promotes events on campus most widely known being Thursday Night Tunes, and Friday/Monday movies.
➢ Diversity and Community Involvement (DCI), which brings all of the diversity programs such as the Women’s Center, Multicultural Affairs, and the service programs such as Alternative Breaks, Students Against Hunger and Homelessness (SAHAH), Habitat for Humanity, Jumpstart, Kid Konnection, America Reads, Gathering Resources to be Educated about our Environment and Nature (GREEN).
➢ Student Government, the student run campus governing body.
➢ Greek Life, the office that houses the governing bodies of Greek organizations
➢ Large Numbers of Student run programs.
These offices being so close together gives students working in them the ability to pool resources with one another. An example of this is a benefit concert hosted by the Alternative Breaks program as a fundraiser. The planning stages of this event relied highly on the fact that Campus Life was right next door to their offices. The Two facility advisors for Campus Life Helped out a great deal, not only by giving advise on the event but also by donating the use of a number of machines in their office for advertising. The CSI information desk is open during normal business Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 8 PM but you can usually find students in their offices at any time the building is open diligently working for their respective organizations.
revision
National Non-Profit Helps Colleges Across the Country Volunteer.
College students look forward to a ritual three times a year: school breaks. A cultural movement has gained momentum in the last decade, in which students spend these breaks volunteering rather than partying – called alternative breaks. This movement has been spearheaded by a non-profit organization called Break Away.
Break Away is a very small grassroots organization. Officially only Jill Piacitelli, the Director, is on their payroll - but Break Away has a host of volunteers that pour their heart and soul into a cause they believe in. Dan and Molly McCabe spend a large amount of time helping in the office, working on the website, and planning conferences, and updating information packets. This past summer Sam Giacobozzi was an intern for Break Away, spending about three months in their offices (then in Tallahassee, Florida) doing administrative work, and helping to plan for three summer leadership conferences called The Alternative Breaks Citizenship Schools (ABCs). Through EMU, Sam has been on nine alternative breaks, and will be attending her tenth and final break as a student this winter.
The ABCs take a traditional leadership conference and add in alternative break elements. Each one of the conferences tackles a specific social issue. Break Away trainers and interns spend time educating attendees to prepare them for four days of community service they perform about said issue. This year Break Away held two ABCs. The first was located in Chicago focusing on women’s issues, which had forty-two participants. The second was in San Francisco working with HIV/AIDS agencies, which had fifty-two participants. The leadership side of the conference covers marketing, fundraising, and the Eight Quality Components:
➢ Strong Direct Service, giving the volunteers an opportunity to get hands on experience in the specific social issue
➢ Orientation, giving the participants a greater understanding of the organizations involved
➢ Education, making students aware of both the local culture and social issue being dealt with
➢ Training, preparing the breakers with the skills needed for the work to be done
➢ Reflection, a structured session during the trip to help the students mentally and emotionally process their experiences
➢ Reorientation, post break meetings to give participants a chance to continue their work and experience back in their local community
➢ Diversity, a broad range of people should be involved
➢ Alcohol and Drug Free trips, to help keep the minds of volunteers on the task.
Break Away also assists chapter schools by keeping and maintaining a database of possible sites, which informs the program coordinators of the location of the site, the service involved, if housing is provided, and who the contact for the site is. For more information on Break Away, visit alternativebreaks.org.
College students look forward to a ritual three times a year: school breaks. A cultural movement has gained momentum in the last decade, in which students spend these breaks volunteering rather than partying – called alternative breaks. This movement has been spearheaded by a non-profit organization called Break Away.
Break Away is a very small grassroots organization. Officially only Jill Piacitelli, the Director, is on their payroll - but Break Away has a host of volunteers that pour their heart and soul into a cause they believe in. Dan and Molly McCabe spend a large amount of time helping in the office, working on the website, and planning conferences, and updating information packets. This past summer Sam Giacobozzi was an intern for Break Away, spending about three months in their offices (then in Tallahassee, Florida) doing administrative work, and helping to plan for three summer leadership conferences called The Alternative Breaks Citizenship Schools (ABCs). Through EMU, Sam has been on nine alternative breaks, and will be attending her tenth and final break as a student this winter.
The ABCs take a traditional leadership conference and add in alternative break elements. Each one of the conferences tackles a specific social issue. Break Away trainers and interns spend time educating attendees to prepare them for four days of community service they perform about said issue. This year Break Away held two ABCs. The first was located in Chicago focusing on women’s issues, which had forty-two participants. The second was in San Francisco working with HIV/AIDS agencies, which had fifty-two participants. The leadership side of the conference covers marketing, fundraising, and the Eight Quality Components:
➢ Strong Direct Service, giving the volunteers an opportunity to get hands on experience in the specific social issue
➢ Orientation, giving the participants a greater understanding of the organizations involved
➢ Education, making students aware of both the local culture and social issue being dealt with
➢ Training, preparing the breakers with the skills needed for the work to be done
➢ Reflection, a structured session during the trip to help the students mentally and emotionally process their experiences
➢ Reorientation, post break meetings to give participants a chance to continue their work and experience back in their local community
➢ Diversity, a broad range of people should be involved
➢ Alcohol and Drug Free trips, to help keep the minds of volunteers on the task.
Break Away also assists chapter schools by keeping and maintaining a database of possible sites, which informs the program coordinators of the location of the site, the service involved, if housing is provided, and who the contact for the site is. For more information on Break Away, visit alternativebreaks.org.
Dick DeVos and Jennifer Granholm
Campaign finance
Working up to Nov. 7th in the state of Michigan, the polls become more active, and we finally see whose money is starting to pay off.
Due to donation abuse, the government has created rules to follow when raising funds for a campaign. The limit has been set at $3,400 for individual outside contribution, and the rest must come from fundraising, and personal funds. DeVos has spent about $10 million more than Jennifer Granholm as of July of this year, when you include the advertisements that the democratic party has purchased for the incumbent Governor. Granholm's intention from the beginning of the campaign cycle was to be out spent by Mr. DeVos by 4 to 1. With a mere $2.5 million of campaign spending in this election to DeVos' $17.9 the tally is closer to 7 to 1 as of September of this year. As of July of this year Mr. DeVos has contributed $13 million to his campaign from his personal funds, a poll contucted in early October, by Selzer & co., reported 52 percent of the people asked, believed that DeVos was attempting to buy the election.
As the election comes to an end the numbers seem to get even farther apart. According to the Associated Press Dick DeVos personally contributed $35 million to his campaign, and raised an additional $6 million, while Jennifer Grandholm raised $14 million in personal contributions and publicly raised an additional $1.1 million making this election the most costly in state history. With these number the margin is almost three to one in campaign finances. This ratio is close to matching the one for campaign ad spending where DeVos spent $27 million and Granholm spent $7.6 million, which is about three and a half to one. With the results out, it shows that spending dose not guarantee an election.
Working up to Nov. 7th in the state of Michigan, the polls become more active, and we finally see whose money is starting to pay off.
Due to donation abuse, the government has created rules to follow when raising funds for a campaign. The limit has been set at $3,400 for individual outside contribution, and the rest must come from fundraising, and personal funds. DeVos has spent about $10 million more than Jennifer Granholm as of July of this year, when you include the advertisements that the democratic party has purchased for the incumbent Governor. Granholm's intention from the beginning of the campaign cycle was to be out spent by Mr. DeVos by 4 to 1. With a mere $2.5 million of campaign spending in this election to DeVos' $17.9 the tally is closer to 7 to 1 as of September of this year. As of July of this year Mr. DeVos has contributed $13 million to his campaign from his personal funds, a poll contucted in early October, by Selzer & co., reported 52 percent of the people asked, believed that DeVos was attempting to buy the election.
As the election comes to an end the numbers seem to get even farther apart. According to the Associated Press Dick DeVos personally contributed $35 million to his campaign, and raised an additional $6 million, while Jennifer Grandholm raised $14 million in personal contributions and publicly raised an additional $1.1 million making this election the most costly in state history. With these number the margin is almost three to one in campaign finances. This ratio is close to matching the one for campaign ad spending where DeVos spent $27 million and Granholm spent $7.6 million, which is about three and a half to one. With the results out, it shows that spending dose not guarantee an election.
Evergreen Story
National Non-Profit Helps Colleges Across the Country Volunteer.
Each and every year college students have a ritual three times a year, school breaks. A cultural movement has started in the recent past, in which students spend these breaks volunteering rather than partying, this has been figure-headed by a non-profit organization called Break Away.
Break Away is a very small grass roots style organization. Officially only one person is on their payroll; it has a host of volunteers that pour their heart and soul in to a cause they believe in. Dan and Molly McCabe spend a large amount of time helping out around the office, working on the website, and planning conferences, and updating information packets. EMU student Sam Giacobozzi has been on nine alternative Breaks, and will be attending her tenth and final break as a student this winter. This past summer Sam was an Intern for Break Away, spending about three months in their then offices in Tallahassee, Florida doing administrative work, and helping to plan for there summer leadership conferences, The Alternative Breaks Citizenship Schools (ABCs).
The ABCs take the leadership conference and bring in the alternative break elements. Each one of the conferences tackles an issue. Break Away trainers and interns spend time educating attendees to prepare them for three days of community service they perform about said Issue. This year Break Away held two conferences The first was located in Chicago discussing Women’s Issues, which had forty-two participants. The second was in San Francisco dealing with AIDS awareness, which had fifty-two. The Leadership side of the conference covers marketing, fundraising, and the Eight Quality Components:
➢ Strong Direct Service, giving the volunteers an opportunity to get hands on experience in the issue at hand
➢ Orientation, getting the participants a greater understanding of the organizations involved
➢ Education, making students aware of both the local culture and social issue being dealt with
➢ Training, preparing the breakers for the work to be done
➢ Reflection, a structured session during the trip to help the students reflect on the their experiences
➢ Reorientation, a post break meeting to give a chance or everyone to make aware to others on the issue they worked with
➢ Diversity, a broad range of people should be involved
➢ Alcohol and Drug Free trips, to help keep the minds of Volunteers on the task.
Break Away also assists chapter schools by keeping and maintaining a database of possible sites, which informs the program coordinators of the location of the site, the service involved, if housing is provided, and who the contact for the site is. For more information on Break Away, visit alternativebreaks.org.
Each and every year college students have a ritual three times a year, school breaks. A cultural movement has started in the recent past, in which students spend these breaks volunteering rather than partying, this has been figure-headed by a non-profit organization called Break Away.
Break Away is a very small grass roots style organization. Officially only one person is on their payroll; it has a host of volunteers that pour their heart and soul in to a cause they believe in. Dan and Molly McCabe spend a large amount of time helping out around the office, working on the website, and planning conferences, and updating information packets. EMU student Sam Giacobozzi has been on nine alternative Breaks, and will be attending her tenth and final break as a student this winter. This past summer Sam was an Intern for Break Away, spending about three months in their then offices in Tallahassee, Florida doing administrative work, and helping to plan for there summer leadership conferences, The Alternative Breaks Citizenship Schools (ABCs).
The ABCs take the leadership conference and bring in the alternative break elements. Each one of the conferences tackles an issue. Break Away trainers and interns spend time educating attendees to prepare them for three days of community service they perform about said Issue. This year Break Away held two conferences The first was located in Chicago discussing Women’s Issues, which had forty-two participants. The second was in San Francisco dealing with AIDS awareness, which had fifty-two. The Leadership side of the conference covers marketing, fundraising, and the Eight Quality Components:
➢ Strong Direct Service, giving the volunteers an opportunity to get hands on experience in the issue at hand
➢ Orientation, getting the participants a greater understanding of the organizations involved
➢ Education, making students aware of both the local culture and social issue being dealt with
➢ Training, preparing the breakers for the work to be done
➢ Reflection, a structured session during the trip to help the students reflect on the their experiences
➢ Reorientation, a post break meeting to give a chance or everyone to make aware to others on the issue they worked with
➢ Diversity, a broad range of people should be involved
➢ Alcohol and Drug Free trips, to help keep the minds of Volunteers on the task.
Break Away also assists chapter schools by keeping and maintaining a database of possible sites, which informs the program coordinators of the location of the site, the service involved, if housing is provided, and who the contact for the site is. For more information on Break Away, visit alternativebreaks.org.
Thursday, December 7, 2006
event
Alternative Breaks Hold Informational Sessions
As one walks in to McKenny Union's Tower Room, five students are setting up a projector and some sing in tables. As 8pm approaches the projector still seems to be on the fritz, and one of them goes for help. People slowly trickle in and the meeting starts as a technical support staff member is setting up the projector.
Each of the students introduces themselves and talks about the Alternative Break trips they have taken. Some have done Katrina relief work in, some have built houses in , and some have helped the homeless; Each has their own unique story to tell.
Alternative Breaks is a student run organization that exists on most college campuses, that sends students to different places around the country during their winter and spring breaks, to do community service. Last year Eastern Michigan University, sent ninety-nine students to ten different locations, its largest alternative spring break to date. Each location tackled a different issue including; Women's issues, Rural Poverty, Urban Poverty, Aids Awareness, Head Start, and The Deaf and the Blind.
The five coordinators show a slide show of pictures from past trips that have been compiled, and explain the service for each of them. After the slide show they beging to talk about the cost, and benefits, some of the fund raising opportunities available, and the application process. After that has finished they field question, while most are too timid to ask their questions, a few questions are asked about fund raising, and what sites were planed for the year. And with that the meeting concludes, most students stay around and chat with the coordinators for a few minutes before slowly leaving.
For more information the Alternative Breaks group will be having info sessions on Monday, Sept. 25 Thursday, Sept. ?? and Thursday, Sept, ??
As one walks in to McKenny Union's Tower Room, five students are setting up a projector and some sing in tables. As 8pm approaches the projector still seems to be on the fritz, and one of them goes for help. People slowly trickle in and the meeting starts as a technical support staff member is setting up the projector.
Each of the students introduces themselves and talks about the Alternative Break trips they have taken. Some have done Katrina relief work in, some have built houses in , and some have helped the homeless; Each has their own unique story to tell.
Alternative Breaks is a student run organization that exists on most college campuses, that sends students to different places around the country during their winter and spring breaks, to do community service. Last year Eastern Michigan University, sent ninety-nine students to ten different locations, its largest alternative spring break to date. Each location tackled a different issue including; Women's issues, Rural Poverty, Urban Poverty, Aids Awareness, Head Start, and The Deaf and the Blind.
The five coordinators show a slide show of pictures from past trips that have been compiled, and explain the service for each of them. After the slide show they beging to talk about the cost, and benefits, some of the fund raising opportunities available, and the application process. After that has finished they field question, while most are too timid to ask their questions, a few questions are asked about fund raising, and what sites were planed for the year. And with that the meeting concludes, most students stay around and chat with the coordinators for a few minutes before slowly leaving.
For more information the Alternative Breaks group will be having info sessions on Monday, Sept. 25 Thursday, Sept. ?? and Thursday, Sept, ??
Free write
Food and Friends
About two years ago some close friends of mine decided to have a revolving Sunday night dinner. Theses dinners provided us an avenue for us to stay connected when our lives were slowly moving in different directions.
Of all of us Sandra was by far the most apt in culinary skill, when it was her turn everyone looked forward to it. My birthday happened to fall really close to one of Sandra’s dinners, so I asked Sandra if she would make me a birthday desert. She agreed, and I requested a Key Lime cheesecake.
The Sunday came and we all converged on Sandra’s very small apartment. I had purchased a bottle of Argentinean wine to go with dinner; I intended to have a great birthday dinner. As I look back the only thing I really remember about the dinner was the wine and the dessert. The key lime cheesecake was phenomenal. It contained the perfect consistency, not to light but not too heavy and she sliced mangos on top of it, the two flavors merged perfectly.
These dinners consisted of about 17 people in total, not everyone could make it every week but we all did our best to show. It started as a way for us to showcase our favorite childhood dishes to our friends, and enjoy a home cooked meal at least once a week. As time passed it became this arena for us to spend some time together and talk, we didn’t usually get to talk much because most of our social excursions were to loud bars and house parties. These Sundays became something I looked forward to more as a place where stress did not exist, than a place where the food was bountiful; but the food was bountiful. In the past two years people have started graduating and moving away. Since I left, the dinners slow became few and far between, and are now no longer in existence.
Since that birthday there are few deserts that I enjoy as much as key lime cheesecake. It reminds me of the friendship and camaraderie I received on those Sunday evenings.
About two years ago some close friends of mine decided to have a revolving Sunday night dinner. Theses dinners provided us an avenue for us to stay connected when our lives were slowly moving in different directions.
Of all of us Sandra was by far the most apt in culinary skill, when it was her turn everyone looked forward to it. My birthday happened to fall really close to one of Sandra’s dinners, so I asked Sandra if she would make me a birthday desert. She agreed, and I requested a Key Lime cheesecake.
The Sunday came and we all converged on Sandra’s very small apartment. I had purchased a bottle of Argentinean wine to go with dinner; I intended to have a great birthday dinner. As I look back the only thing I really remember about the dinner was the wine and the dessert. The key lime cheesecake was phenomenal. It contained the perfect consistency, not to light but not too heavy and she sliced mangos on top of it, the two flavors merged perfectly.
These dinners consisted of about 17 people in total, not everyone could make it every week but we all did our best to show. It started as a way for us to showcase our favorite childhood dishes to our friends, and enjoy a home cooked meal at least once a week. As time passed it became this arena for us to spend some time together and talk, we didn’t usually get to talk much because most of our social excursions were to loud bars and house parties. These Sundays became something I looked forward to more as a place where stress did not exist, than a place where the food was bountiful; but the food was bountiful. In the past two years people have started graduating and moving away. Since I left, the dinners slow became few and far between, and are now no longer in existence.
Since that birthday there are few deserts that I enjoy as much as key lime cheesecake. It reminds me of the friendship and camaraderie I received on those Sunday evenings.
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