Mark A Cella What is Consumerism? What is Consumerism…Taking a Look at How Americans Are Overspent, in Debt and Broke Because They’re Manipulated Through Advertising.

The issue of American consumerism is being brought up more and more these days in light of the current financial crisis that the US is having.

But what is consumerism? Many people aren’t even really sure what consumerism really is. Consumerism can be defined in two ways. In economic terms, consumerism is the practice of people buying goods beyond the things that they need to survive.

For example, someone that buys wine to drink but has water or milk at home is engaging in consumerism because he or she doesn’t need the wine to drink but is buying just because he or she wants it and has the disposable income to purchase it.

Consumerism can also be defined as the practice of equating self worth and societal status with the purchase of goods and services.

What is consumerism in one country might not be the same as what is considered consumerism in another country based on the scarcity or abundance of resources in that particular country.

Consumerism and Capitalism

US culture is almost 100% consumerist because many Americans engage in consumerism either by purchasing things that they don’t need to survive or by finding their own self worth or judging others by what they purchase and how much they consume.

Consumerism is a by product of unchecked capitalism and the current US economic crisis is a good example of what happens when unrestricted capitalism and unchecked consumerism are allowed to flourish in a society.

It’s the job of corporations and businesses to sell their products to consumers by any means necessary, which usually means advertising. Advertising creates the idea that a person’s worth or happiness is determined by what they own and how much they own.

The best example to illustrate this mode of thinking is the sale of lipsticks. Studies have shown that the worse off people are financially the higher the sales of lipsticks are.

Why? Because women who are feeling bad about their economic situations and feeling their self worth take a dive when they lack the purchasing power to purchase bigger items will spend anywhere from $10 to $30 on a lipstick as a way to cheer themselves up.

Shopping has been promoted as a cure for women’s depression for years because in US culture an individual’s self worth, male or female, is tied to the possessions that they own.

Consumerism Destined to Fail

When that advertising created myth becomes the reality of a culture, the way it has in the US, economic disaster is sure to follow.

No economic system can survive when people purchase items that they can’t afford using credit and not worrying about they are going to pay for those purchases.

In the US consumers aren’t taught to spend their money responsibly, they are actually encouraged to live way beyond their means.

Unfortunately, many people do just that because they don’t know how to handle their money.

Predatory businesses that prey on unwary customers who are desperate to buy a little self-esteem or a little more social status are partly to blame for the economic downfall of the US but the consumers bears some of the responsibility, too.

It’s a consumer’s duty to be aware of his or her own financial situation and to not give in to the persuasive attempts of businesses to convince them to buy more stuff.

It can be tough to resist slick ads created by ad companies that are trained in the art of manipulation and psychological warfare but people need to realize that they are more than just consumers if they are going to find a way to survive the current economic crisis without falling into complete financial disaster as a result.

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There are many ways in which a company entertains their administrative staff, their investors, and their clients. Corporate entertainment has become an industry in itself, providing the needed shows and activities that reflect the message the company wants to put before the attendees.

There’s a whole host of variety to choose from. Many show companies will provide your organization with quality entertainers that can really hold the attention of the audience. The quality of the shows that you provide to your guests will show them what they mean to you.

Your attendees may be valued employees that have earned a nice perk. They may be on a training seminar and you want to encourage them to come again with the use of great entertainment to top off their evenings.

If your clients are the focus of your attention at a company sponsored event, you’ll want a no holds barred show to impress them. They will see that you are willing to go to great lengths to win their business if you put on a fabulous show for their benefit. The return on your investment could be very significant. All people, no matter how serious or businesslike they may seem, will enjoy a show filled with laughter and excitement.

Special effects can be the lifeblood of a performance and the specific timing is essential to the success. Only the best can do this right, so choose a company that will assure you that their performers and backstage personnel are tops in the business. The show’s quality depends on it.

Different types of shows may appeal to different types of audience. If you hold an event in which the children will be present, there should be a show geared just for them. Variety and musical stage shows are always popular with just about any audience. Seasonal shows can highlight your celebration of those special times of year. Perhaps a Christmas variety show is something you’d like to give your employees as part of their bonus.

Choose a seasonal show for your employee Christmas party, a wild west stunt show complete with popping guns and snapping whips, or a musical. Today’s musicals are part nostalgia, which appeals to mature audiences, and part modern with updated costumes and special effects. There are variety shows that resemble a mini-circus or talent showcase including death defying acrobats and fire walkers. You can see that there truly is a show for everybody and anybody.

If you are holding an event that is outdoors you can choose an interactive show with audience participation that elicits bonding among attendees. An outdoor children’s show will keep the kids occupied and they will have memories to take home with them. Family entertainment may be just what you are looking for if your guests include the spouses and children.

Only the best corporate entertainment companies can provide such a wide range of fun activities that span the scope of age and background so that everyone present goes home with a good impression of the company throwing the party. When you want to provide top quality entertainment for your guests and employees, look for the best that your money can buy.

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We all want the best for our family. We may love them and we may express the kind of love we have for them in so many ways. One way is to make it a point to have quality times with them. As parents you have to take time with your children so that they could also feel that you are not only good in supporting their physical needs but also they have to give the best they could in emotional aspect. Normally, families with kids would really spend time outside of their house. They prefer to have an outdoor activity, by then, the kids are able to have their physical activities rather than just staying inside the house. One important factor parents must take into consideration is the place where the kids are going to sleep. Specifically for the girls, they need more comfort in sleeping. The perfect thing you could use for your girls is to have girls sleeping bags.

More often when we talk about camping out we are only after to what we think are necessary priorities such as tents, water jugs, coolers, pillows, lunch boxes and others, not considering that sleeping bags should be included on the list. Sleeping bags are really fundamental equipment in camping out particularly those families who have kids with them. Parents must not forget that though they are going out with their kids for a break, still kids need the time to rest and get good sleep, thus realizing that sleeping bags are really important.

You can just say that basically, blankets and sleeping bags are just similar. Both of them have the same size and could be use to cover your whole body. However, sleeping bags have zippers on both sides but basically, their purpose is just similar. In using sleeping bags, it would be hassle free and comfortable since you only have to roll it when not in use and unroll it when you use it. It could also be easily folded and just put inside the car. If you try to see the difference in using tents, you could say that sleeping bags can be use in no time. Tents need time to be set up before you could take a rest, but sleeping bags are just easy to spread on the place where you want to relax and stay.

To help your girls still feel at home especially when they are sleeping outdoor, let them use girls sleeping bags. Definitely, girls would always have the feeling of being at home when they get to use these since they will be assured of comfort and sound when they sleep. Aside from that, when the temperatures lowers down since it’s an outdoor activity, then sleeping bags could also be use in warming the kids. These sleeping bags are in various styles and designs so this would surely perfect their fashion statement.

It will not just give your girls comfort but it also comes with unique and colorful designs. We all know that girls want to have some girl bonding sessions and they do this through sleepovers. Sleeping bags are great equipment when girls want to have some sleep over with their friends.

Sleeping bags are not just good to use outdoors but you can also use them inside your house that your kids would really like especially the girls.

To become a responsible parent we must make sure that we spend time with our family. Having family activities would surely help in making our family be strong as we want them to be. Life must not be boring when we are with our family. We must make sure that we go outdoors every once in a while, go on camping to a very beautiful place. And bringing along girls sleeping bags with us would make our outdoor experience to be as fun and adventurous.

Getting a very comfortable room is beyond price. Let your children enjoy nice atmosphere with girls sleeping bags and kids furniture. You may also opt for kids furniture that can be great addition to your child’s place.

Is the Peanuts cartoon strip one of the first things that you turn to in the Sunday paper? As a child, did you love hearing about the frolics of Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and Patty? Are you searching for a way to make your personal checks more attractive? If so, then you should consider buying Peanuts themed checks. You can choose from a couple of different designs and they’re not as pricey as you might think they are.

A syndicated comic strip, Peanuts was written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz. The comic strip ran from 1950 until the day after Schulz’s death in 2000. With almost 18,000 published strips, it is arguably one of the most popular comic strips in the history of the medium, in addition to being one of the most significant. At the height of its popularity, it was published in over 2,500 newspapers in 75 different countries. The comic strip has also been converted to than 20 different languages.

Peanuts has also had a couple of popular cartoons in addition to the comic strip. A few of them were even nominated for, and won, Emmy Awards. “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” have become traditions for many households during the holiday season. There is even a fairly popular stage production entitled “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” that is still performed today.

An interesting thing about the comic strip is the fact that the main character, Charlie Brown, is frequently shown as being self-conscious, humble, and disastrous at a lot of things that he attempts to do. However, he has a lot of perseverance and keeps trying to achieve his goals, even when he is confronted with misfortune. Apparently, Charlie’s personality is based on that of creator Charles Schulz, who also felt awkward as a child.

If you would like to carry Peanuts checks, then every time you write a check you can watch as Charlie Brown, Lucy, Snoopy, and Woodstock boogie across your finances. You can either purchase checks that include images of the gang, or that just contain images of Snoopy, the world’s most popular Beagle.

You can also find coordinating accessories to go with your Peanuts checks, too. A matching checkbook cover and coordinating address labels can help complete your check theme and tie the characters together.

If the high cost or the time consuming nature of visiting your local bank stopped you from buying personal checks in the past, then you might want to think about purchasing your checks online. If you purchase them from a reputable site up to 50% off the cost of the checks can be saved.

When ordering your checks online, just ensure that you have your routing number and your checking account number handy. These will be printed right onto the checks. You can count on getting your checks in roughly 3-5 days, which could even be quicker than your bank got them to you in the past.

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The San Diego Chargers bounced back nicely from their Monday Night Football loss to Denver last week, opening a 20-0 halftime lead before coasting to a 37-7 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Chargers’ quarterback Phillip Rivers passed for 268 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. Running back Ladanian Tomlinson ran for a season high 71 yards.

The Chargers easily covered the NFL pointspread as -6 road favorites. It was only the second pointspread cover of the year for San Diego, who moved their ATS record to 2-4. Kansas City dropped to 2-5 against the spread. The 44 points pushed against the posted total. Kansas City now has a NFL totals record of 3-2-2 to the OVER, while the Chargers have gone OVER in four of their six games.

After the game, QB Rivers suggested that the loss to Denver was a turning point for his team:

“Last week, we felt like we made progress. We had the attitude we were looking for, focus, but we didn’t win. But we knew we got better.”

Tomlinson broke off one of his most impressive runs of the year on the Chargers first touchdown drive, a 31 yard pickup that he said lifted the team’s spirits and led to the easy victory:

“It kind of got us going. It was something we needed and it was a big play for us. It was a staple of our offense. It’s been around for years, old power. It was perfectly blocked and was just a great job of execution.”

The Chiefs continued to struggle on their home field, which at one point was considered one of the toughest venues in the league for visiting teams. Chiefs’ nose tackle Ron Edwards lamented this home field struggle:

“We want to win for the home fans, for us, for everyone out there watching,” nose tackle Ron Edwards said. “It’s real painful.”

Rivers pointed to the Chiefs’ legacy of home field dominance in celebrating the win:

“Any time you come to Kansas City and win, it’s good. We talked about getting on a roll and you’ve got to win one first before you can. Hopefully, this is something we can build on.”

The Chargers return home to take on their hated rivals, the Oakland Raiders. Next Sunday’s game has San Diego listed as a -16′ home favorite with the total set at 42′. They’ll travel to play the New York Giants the following week before returning home to face the Philadelphia Eagles on November 15. Kansas City will enjoy a bye week before returning to action on November 8 on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Their next opportunity for a home victory will come on November 15 against the Oakland Raiders.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

The Clemson Tigers used a touchdown pass on their first possession of overtime to upset the Miami Hurricanes 40-37 on Saturday night to cap a back and forth game. Miami kicked a field goal on their first possession of overtime to take the lead, but Clemson responded with a seldom used play on third and 11 to get the victory as quarterback Kyle Parker completed a 27 yard touchdown pass to Jacoby Ford.

College football betting devotees who backed Clemson as +4 road underdogs eventually cashed their tickets, but they definitely earned their money in a game that saw twelve lead changes and two ties. Clemson improved to 5-2 against the spread with the cover, while Miami dropped to 4-3 against the money. The 77 combined points sailed OVER the posted total of 43.

After the game, Jacoby Ford explained his logic for suggesting the surprise play in the huddle:

“We knew this game was going to come down to who made more plays. And we did.”

Miami has a history of winning when their offense is clicking-this loss was only the second in 115 games when the Hurricanes score 37 or more points dating back to’85.

For his part, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is glad this one is over:

“I have a birthday next month and I think I’m going to turn 50 instead of 40. We had to put on Superman capes. We made plenty of mistakes that could have lost us the game, but they played with poise and confidence. We just kept battling.”

CJ Spiller was also a big factor for the Tigers as he set a school record with 310 all purpose yards including a 90 yard kickoff return for a touchdown. He also added 81 yards rushing and 104 yards receiving with a 56 yard touchdown catch.

Clemson QB Parker suggested that last week’s win over Wake Forrest was a turning point for his team:

“I think last week we realized that we could be really good and this week we acted on it. I thought we really got some explosive plays and we played well.”

Miami’s quarterback Jason Harris sounded a markedly different tone in his postgame comments:

“This has to be my toughest loss here. We fought so hard throughout the game as a team and didn’t come out with the victory. We let Clemson outwork us, we turned the ball over too much — little things that made us get to this point.”

Clemson will host FCS foe Coastal Carolina next Saturday before resuming ACC play the following week at home against Florida State. Miami plays two of their next three on the road, starting next weekend at Wake Forest. They’ll face the University of Virginia at home the next week before traveling to Chapel Hill for a game against North Carolina on November–.

Ross Everett is a freelance writer specializing in mixed martial arts, NHL hockey and NHL hockey and NBA basketball betting. He serves as a consulting handicapper for Sports-1 Sportsbook and is a noted authority on Internet sportsbook betting of all forms. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and several pet nurse snakes.

Are you a new fan or a nostalgic fan of the old Pink Panther cartoons? Are you bored of your unimaginative, simple, personal bank checks? Did you know that by purchasing your Pink Panther checks on the Internet you can save as much as 50% off of your bank’s prices? The Pink Panther is an unforgettable icon that is immediately identifiable to everyone and can undeniably give your otherwise average bank checks a improvement.

Although the Pink Panther is known on his own, he was initially a character shown during the opening and closing credits of the 1963 live-action film. Once his popularity grew, he received his own shows. He has been featured in 124 shorts, 10 television shows, and 3 television specials. You can still catch his cartoons today, both on television and on his DVDs. Those viewers that weren’t even around in the 1960s know the Pink Panther and the jazzy music that goes along with his frolics.

At first, the Pink Panther was a quiet character that didn’t often speak. He did eventually get a voice, though, and it was styled after actor David Niven who played the jewel thief in the original live-action movie.

By the 1960’s, there wasn’t a lot going on in the way of animation. This actually helped the Pink Panther gain popularity because the creators of the cartoon developed their own technique and look and didn’t rely on the Warner Brothers’ cartoons or Disney for their motivation. Bizarre themes and imagery were used and the style itself took a cue from the silent Charlie Chaplin movies of the past. Due to this, the Pink Panther was one of 1960’s most important cartoons.

The stories themselves are enduring and still relevant today since the Pink Panther cartoon didn’t rely as greatly on pop culture references as other cartoons like The Flintstones. If you are a fan of the Pink Panther and are considering purchasing new bank checks that are retro and ageless, then it’s a great way to show a part of your personality.

There are four rotating images in the Pink Panther check series. Each image depicts the Pink Panther in a characteristic reclining, slinking around, and off to find new adventures. If you really want to coordinate your checks, you can also buy matching contact cards, address labels, and even a pink leather checkbook cover that shows a full facial shot of the Pink Panther himself.

By getting your checks from a protected website, you can save as much as 50% off of the price that your bank might have charged you. Don’t forget to keep your routing number and checking account number on hand when purchasing. Aside from saving money, you will have a bigger selection of checks to pick from. It usually takes between 3-5 days for the checks to arrive.

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So, you’ve decided on a casino theme for your party. This article describes how to choose a vendor, and the different options for your event.

The casino rental company you hire should have plenty of experience. Most companies are fairly priced, so you’ll want to have someone run your event that has done it for at least five or ten years.

Book directly with the casino rental company, not an agent 500 miles away. You’ll save up to 50% on middle-man costs. A toll-free 800 number is usually a sign that the vendor is not local, just an agent.

Ask to see pictures of the equipment and if you may attend one of their casino parties. The best casino rental companies are happy to oblige. Some agents play the bait-and-switch game, and post generic casino table pictures on their website, so make sure you’re getting actual casino tables, not just table-toppers. I’ve seen this many times.

Now, let’s talk about the casino party itself. When everybody show up, their handed an envelope with fun money inside. They take this fun money to any table and get casino chips. They’ll gamble for up to three hours and then trade in their chips and/or fun money for raffle tickets. The tickets are chosen and the lucky winners get a prize. Some groups may instead hold an auction for the prizes. Everybody goes home happy!

Most casino table providers offer three options. A full service casino party, where the casino rental company does all the work and you enjoy the benefits of a successful event.

The second option is usually a fund raising option where the casino rental company provides a Pit Boss and limited personnel, and you supply all the dealers. You’ll save the cost of labor on this option. Very popular with charity events.

The last alternative is just renting the casino game tables. Delivery is usually an additional charge. This is the cheapest option and many times best if you only need a couple of tables.

Have fun at your casino party!

Planning a casino party in Atlanta? Funtastic Events Inc has been the premier Casino Party Atlanta rental company in metro Atlanta and most of the Southeast since’85.

While mixed martial arts fighting has only recently become popular in the United States, contests between fighters of different martial arts disciplines have taken place in Japan for many years. They weren’t called “mixed martial arts” until recently, but they were definitely an embryonic form of the now booming sport. Many of the most famous events of this type took place in Japan during the’70’s involving pro wrestling legend Antonio Inoki.

Inoki would often face other martial artists in fights that are widely accepted to have been “worked” (having a predetermined outcome) in the same manner as professional wrestling matches. While Inoki faced a number of karate, judo and boxing champions his most famous match was certainly his fight against world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali.

There’s still much speculation about how Muhammad Ali came to fight Japanese wrestling legend Antonio Inoki, and even more uncertainty about what happened immediately before and during the fight. Ali took the booking because he thought it was to be a big paycheck for little work. Most accounts suggest that his handlers agreed to the ‘worked’ finish without his knowledge, and once he found out that he was to ‘take a dive’ he refused.

Many conspiracy theorists have noted that these rules were never announced to the crowd on fight night, leaving many with the impression that they were being made up as they went along. Action in the fight would further validate this view, but there actually were rules that both camps agreed to heading into the fight. Not surprisingly, most of these were designed to protect Ali. In fact, they were so one-sided that if Inoki hadn’t been so concerned about preserving his big payday he would have been justified in not fighting. Inoki was prohibited from punching with a closed fist or striking Ali in the head (ostensibly since he wasn’t wearing gloves). Inoki was prohibited from using any sort of submission maneuver. The most absurd limitation was that Inoki was prohibited from “grappling or trying to take Ali to the ground”. A few observers noted that this was like not letting Ali throw a jab.

Despite the repeated howls from the media that the fight was ‘fixed’, it was anything but–it was a real fight and painfully boring. Ali did next to nothing, Inoki did whatever he could within the one sided rules. Eventually, Inoki spent most of the fight on the ground trying to throw kicks at Ali’s legs. The event ended up as a 74-74 draw. Both fighters got paid, and the fans got to watch a fight albeit a really, really bad one.

An interesting postscript to the fight is that the referee was former pro wrestler “Judo” Gene Labell, a legit tough guy whom some have suggested could have beaten up both Ali and Inoki at the same time despite his advanced age. Had he chosen to do so, it would certainly have been welcomed by those watching the fight live and on closed circuit.

The fiasco didn’t hurt Inoki’s popularity in Japan whatsoever. Oddly, he became something of a hero for trying to take the fight to Ali despite the one sided rules. He would remain one of Japan’s most popular pro wrestlers and later serve in the country’s parliament. Inoki’s fights against other martial artists remained wildly popular, and are often credited as being the forerunner of PRIDE, RINGS and the major MMA organizations in Japan today.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer specializing in casino gambling, entertainment and sports betting. He has appeared on a number of TV and radio programs offering strategies for successful NFL football betting. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a pet llama. He is currently writing a biography of former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf.

Alexis Arguello, one of the greatest boxers to ever compete at 130 pounds, was found dead in his Managua, Nicaragua home in early July of an apparent suicide. He was 57 years old. Arguello was the mayor of Nicaraguas capital city at the time of his death.

Arguello is best known to fight fans for his epic battle in 1982 with Aaron The Hawk Pryor when he moved up in weight after dominating at lighter weight classes. Though Arguello would lose via 14th round knockout (amid some controversy due to an apparent mystery drink offered to Pryor by his trainer Panama Lewis) it was a thrilling toe to toe battle that even the most knowledgeable boxing experts remember fondly to this day. Promoter Bob Arum offered these thoughts on Pryor/Arguello:

“It was a brutal, brutal fight. That was something I will never, ever forget as long as I live. That was one of the most memorable fights I ever did.”

While the first Pryor fight may have brought him the most mainstream notoriety, boxing cognoscenti are aware that Arguello is arguably the best lightweight and junior lightweight in the history of the sport. Arguello never lost a fight at 130 pounds and would end his career with an astounding 82-8 record with 65 knockouts and championships in three different weight classes.

Ironically, Arguellos career didnt get off to a good start and he lost his debut in 1968 via first round TKO. After that, he seldom lost again. He was at his best against his toughest adversaries including Ray Mancini, Bobby Chacon and Ruben Olivares. Bob Arum remembered him not only as a great fighter, but as a great man:

“Not only was he one of the greatest fighters I’ve ever seen, he was the most intelligent fighter. He was a ring tactician. Every move was thought out. And he was a wonderful, wonderful person.”

The articulate, intelligent Arguello was also a quote machine on the fight game and how champions should conduct themselves. Here, he speaks of his attitude toward his opponents:

Of course after the fight you want to make sure that youre okay and so is the other guy, its a brotherhood in there, so you want to make sure everyone is okay after the war is over.

Arguello would frequently admonish boxers who didnt show the same respect for the sport or their status as champion:

When you won that title you should know now that you are representing a whole country or nation with your actions and you are now in a glass house or under a microscope and you better be ready to make your people proud.

Most importantly, Arguello loved boxing and sought to protect it from those who would undermine its greatness:

I respect boxing because it has given me so much and thats why I will never allow anyone to mistreat the sport of boxing if I can help it.

While the modest Arguello would never say it himself, that was for from a one sided debt and he contributed more than his fair share to the sport of boxing with his grace, intelligence, talent and toughness.

Ross Everett is a freelance writer and respected sports betting expert. He is also a consulting handicapper for Sports-1 Sportsbook and is in charge of setting NFL lines. He has written extensively on sports handicapping theory along with a wide range of other topics including fencing, boxing and falconry.