New Apple ads...

For all you Mac fans out there, Apple has just launched four new TVCs...check them out - here, here, here and here!

Go for Gold

Been thinking a lot about defining words lately - and if I had one word that was my mantra it would be "believe".

As synchronisity would have it, I came across this piece on Kevin Roberts' (Worldwide CEO of Saatchis) blog today about an interview done with Michael Phelps post Olympics - by none other than a New Zealand reporter. It's what we all need to believe...

GO FOR GOLD

It can’t have been easy for a New Zealand television reporter to get a word with Michael Phelps, the Olympic superstar, but through good luck, good management or sheer grit, she did it. Maybe it was because Phelps had a connection with New Zealand; a place in which he trained some years ago while developing his style. Her question was a good one for local audiences but Phelps’s answer gave it global resonance. “What advice would you give young people at home in New Zealand who are just starting out in the pool?” Now I watched a lot of sport on television and most athletes talk about the hard work involved and the commitment needed. All very true. However, Michael Phelps didn’t reach for train harder, faster, longer or any of the other 'er' words. He didn’t even hesitate. He simply looked her in the eye and said, “Dreaming”. That’s right, dreaming. He went on to say, “When I first got into the pool…I dreamt I would be at the Olympics…anything is possible”. As the world saw on television, or if you were really lucky, at poolside, the dream came true. To believe that 'Nothing is Impossible' and that dreams come true is one of the most valuable tools to have in both life and in business. Sure your dream has to be backed up by skill and hard work, but without that dream there is nothing to get you through tough times. And believe me, there will be tough times. Michael Phelps is an inspiration to everyone who wants to succeed at anything. Now, follow your dream and go for gold.

Great JFK quote about the sea

I first heard this quote a few years ago during one of Bruno Trouble's speeches at the America's Cup and read about it today referenced in an article that talked about Teddy Kennedy's video tribute shown at the Democratic Convention, which leaned heavily on images of him sailing. Wanted to save it here and share it with you all:

This from a speech JFK gave at the America's Cup in September 1962:

I really don't know why it is that all of us are so committed to the sea, except I think it is because in addition to the fact that the sea changes and the light changes, and ships change, it is because we all came from the sea. And it is an interesting biological fact that all of us have, in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch it we are going back from whence we came.

Photo:President and Mrs. Kennedy view America's Cup race, 15 September 1962Off Newport, Rhode Island, aboard the USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (DD 850)

Date: September 15, 1962

Copyright: Public Domain

Credit: Photograph by Robert Knudsen, White House, in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston. 

It Had To Happen - no.3

So the Democratic Convention started yesterday and I received my first political email of the campaign....from a Republican friend. 

I love it - Day 1 and the lackies in both offices are obviously furiously garnering their troops to "tell the word" - whatever their word is...

Here's the email train:

From: Best,John

Sent: Monday, August 25, 2008 9:30 AM
To: Ryan Young, Maria

Subject: Re: INTERESTING DATA JUST RECEIVED ON TAXES

 

 

A few points to remember and consider:  You can verify the tax information at  http://money.cnn.com/news/specials/election/2008/index.html, if you'd  like.  You may need to cut and paste the above website.
>> >
>> >
>> >  (INTERESTING DATA JUST RECEIVED ON TAXES & PROPOSED CHANGES IN TAXES AFTER 2008 GENERAL ELECTION.)
>> >
>> >  Time to consider your pocketbook:
>> >
>> >  CAPITAL GAINS TAX
>> >
>> >  MCCAIN:
>> >  0% on home sales up to $500,000 per home (couples). McCain does not propose any change in existing home sales income tax.
>> >
>> >  OBAMA :
>> >  28% on profit from ALL home sales
>> >
>> >  How does this affect you?
>> >
>> >  If you sell your home and make a profit, you will pay 28% of your gain on taxes. If you are heading toward retirement and would like
>> to down-size your home or move into a retirement community, 28% of the money you make from your home will go to taxes. This proposal will
>> adversely affect the elderly who are counting on the income from their  homes as part of their retirement income.
>> >
>> >
>> >  DIVIDEND TAX
>> >  MCCAIN :      15% (no change)
>> >
>> >  OBAMA  :      39.6%
>> >
>> >  How will this affect you?
>> >
>> >  If you have any money invested in stock market, IRA, mutual  funds, college funds, life insurance,  retirement accounts, or anything
>> that pays or reinvests dividends, you will now be  paying nearly 40% of  the money earned on taxes if Obama becomes president. The experts predict
>> that 'Higher tax rates  on dividends and capital gains would crash the stock market, yet do  absolutely nothing to cut the deficit.'
>> >
>> >  INCOME TAX  (find your bracket)
>>>
>> >  MCCAIN        (no changes)
>> >
>> >  Single making 30K - tax $4,500
>> >  Single making 50K - tax $12,500
>> >  Single making 75K - tax $18,750
>> >  Married making 60K- tax $9,000
>> >  Married making 75K - tax $18,750
>> >  Married making 125K - tax $31,250
>> >
>> >  OBAMA  (revers e all tax cuts)
>> >
>> >  Single making 30K - tax $8,400
>> >  Single making 50K - tax $14,000
>> >  Single making 75K - tax $23,250
>> >  Married making 60K - tax $16,800
>> >  Married making 75K - tax $21,000
>> >  Married making 125K - tax $38,750
>> >
>> >& nbsp; Under Obama, your taxes will more than double!
>> >
>> >  How does this affect you? No explanation needed. This is pretty straight  forward.
>> >
>> >
>> >  INHERITANCE TAX
>> >  MCCAIN  0%    (No change, Bush repealed this tax)
>> >  OBAMA        ;      Restore the inheritance tax
>> >  How does this affect you?
>> >
>> >  Many families have lost businesses, farms, ranches, and homes  that have been in their families for generations because they could not
>> afford the inheritance tax. Those willing their assets to loved ones will  only lose them to these taxes.
>> >
>> >
>> >  NEW TAXES BEING PROPOSED BY OBAMA
>> >  Ne w government taxes proposed on homes that are more than 2400  square feet.
>> >  New gasoline taxes (as if gas weren't high enough already)
>> >  New taxes on natural resources consumption (heating gas, water, electricity)
>> >  New taxes on retirement accounts, and last but not least....
>> >  New taxes to pay for socialized medicine so we can receive the same level of medical care as other third-world countries!
>> >

>> >  THE FOREGOING IS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF. . . IT SHOULD
>> MAKE YOU THINK BEFORE YOU CAST YOUR VOTE IN NOVEMBER.  IF YOU DON'T OWN
>> ANYTHING NOW, CHANCES ARE YOU NEVER WILL BECAUSE TAXES ARE GOING TO GET
>> IT ALL.
>> >
>> >  Please spread the word.      This will catch a lot of families off guard.
 

 

From: M Ryan-Young
Sent: Monday, August 25, 2008 10:19 AM
To: Best, John
Subject: Re: INTERESTING DATA JUST RECEIVED ON TAXES

JB - So now you’re turning into a McCain pawn...??!
Love the slightly veiled attempt to make it seem like some new news – more like a press release from the McCain camp

I love American politics – it’s great watching. And beautifully timed email on the opening day of the Democratic Convention....John – you’re being used!
    
:)


On 8/25/08 10:37 AM, "Best, John"  wrote:

Huh, your kidding right- Make sure hubby does the right thing Nov. 3.  I am ok with being used btw, much better then being fooled.  The new messiah speaks
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThEAO0lt4Dw
 
His own VP has something to say about Obama
 
http://www.johnmccain.com/videolanding/biden1.htm?sid=google&t=obama-biden
  

---

From: M Ryan-Young
Sent: Monday, August 25, 2008 10:46 AM
To: Best, John
Subject: Re: INTERESTING DATA JUST RECEIVED ON TAXES

Deleted!

---

On 8/25/08 11:03 AM, "Best, John"  wrote:
Typical- Put the blinders on.  I still love ya.  
 

---

From: M Ryan-Young
Sent: Monday, August 25, 2008 11:19 AM
To: Best, John
Subject: Re: INTERESTING DATA JUST RECEIVED ON TAXES

My Republican husband’s voting Obama!

---

On 8/25/08 11:03 AM, "Best, John"  wrote:

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
 

 

It Had to Happen no 2

If anyone else, like me, has read The Omnivore's Dilemma (about the plight of American food and just what's in it - i.e corn!) this is a truly scary thought....From today's WSJ:

Food Makers Scrimp on IngredientsIn an Effort to Fatten Their Profits

By JULIE JARGON
August 23, 2008; Page A1

Major food makers are quietly altering their recipes on candy, dairy products and other top-selling lines, adding fillers and substituting cheaper ingredients to cut costs amid the commodities boom.

Hershey Co. is substituting vegetable oil for a portion of the cocoa butter traditionally used in some of its chocolates. Spice maker McCormick & Co. is now supplying food companies with cheaper spices and new flavor blends, such as Mexican oregano instead of pricier Mediterranean oregano, and garlic concentrate instead of heavier (and costlier to ship) garlic cloves.

General Mills Inc. says that by reducing the number of spice and ingredient pouches in boxes of Hamburger Helper -- and by halving the number of pasta shapes used in the product line -- the company has trimmed manufacturing costs 10%. The company is also replacing pecans with less expensive walnuts in its Pillsbury Turtle cookies.

Soy protein, a low-cost meat filler long used in school-cafeteria hamburgers, is making its way into more packaged foods, says Michael Considine, an executive at Minnesota grain company CHS Inc. In the past two years, he has seen a 10% increase in the volume of soy protein the group sells to major food companies, he says.

Most of the tweaked products still cost the same for consumers, if not more. Recently, Hershey announced a price increase across most of its lines.

It's happening as food companies face pressure to raise prices to cover their own fast-rising costs. On Friday, new data showed that food companies raised prices across 35 key product categories by 7.3% over the 12-week period ending Aug. 9, according AC Nielsen. The increases are "unprecedented," Sanford Bernstein analyst Alexia Howard wrote in a note to investors.

Also on Friday, Mars Inc., maker of M&Ms candies and Snickers bars, said it's raising some prices and cutting the size of its Funsize candy packs.

Food makers face not only rising shipping costs due to costlier fuel, but also sizeable jumps in the price of wheat, sugar and other basic ingredients. The pricing pressure isn't likely to dissipate soon: It is driven at least in part by growing demand for meat and milk in developing countries as living standards rise. In addition, government incentives are resulting in more corn being made into ethanol, cutting into the corn available for cooking or livestock feed.

Food-commodity prices had retreated somewhat in July, but on Friday, the Dow Jones AIG Agricultural Sub-Index, which charts futures prices of crops ranging from corn to coffee, closed 7.7% higher for the week. That was its largest weekly change since the early months of the two-year-old rally in farm-commodity prices.

THE FOOD CRISIS

 

• See more coverage of sharp rise in food prices worldwide.

Food companies and their suppliers say the changes they are making don't sacrifice quality, flavor or nutrition. General Mills of Minneapolis says consumers liked walnuts just as much as the pricier pecans it removed from its Turtle cookies. That change, as well as a decision to mix chocolate chips into some Pillsbury cookie dough rather than sprinkle them on top has saved more than $5 million in annual costs, says spokeswoman Heidi Geller.

The chief executive of spice maker McCormick, Alan Wilson, says that "through alternate ingredients and flavor technologies, we're helping food companies replace high-cost ingredients with low-cost ones while maintaining the same quality."

Still, swapping out ingredients for cheaper ones has the potential to alienate consumers already stretched by high gasoline prices and a weak economy. In a cost-cutting effort in the 1990s, Campbell Soup Co. reduced the amount of meat in its chicken noodle soup. Consumers noticed and sales suffered, says Ms. Howard of Sanford Bernstein. After the episode, a new chief executive at Campbell vowed not to cut corners like that again.

Taste can be a concern, too. While food makers say the changes don't alter the flavor of their products, "the risk of tweaking formulas too much is that slowly and almost imperceptibly, you gradually alter the taste ... so that after five alterations, you have something that tastes different than it did five years ago," says Robert Moskow, a food-industry analyst with Credit Suisse.

Other companies are gussying up lower-end products to make them more appealing. Cargill Inc., of Minneapolis, in July introduced to supermarkets cheaper cuts of meat with fancy-sounding names like Maranada steak (flank steak), Marbello steak (skirt steak) and Cordelico sirloin (flap meat). These cuts come from less tender regions of the cow, unlike pricier cuts such as filet mignon, which comes from the tenderloin muscle.

In a press release announcing the new cuts, Elizabeth Desbien of Cargill said that the "newly positioned, mid-priced products allow retailers to provide another option to their customers who love beef, but who may be more price-sensitive."

Restaurants, too, are fiddling with their dishes. Sysco Corp., the nation's largest food-service company by sales, has been working with restaurants to make cost-saving changes such as replacing butter with oils that are blended with butter.

This month, McDonald's Corp. said it's testing less expensive ways to make its $1 double cheeseburger; already, some restaurants are selling the burger with one slice of cheese instead of two. And in a Thursday interview, Burger King Holdings Inc. CEO John Chidsey said the chain is testing a smaller Whopper Jr. hamburger as it tries to overcome high ingredient costs.

Food companies frequently change their recipes in response to health trends and changing consumer tastes. Most of the recent alterations generally can be spotted only in the fine print of the package's ingredient list. That stands in contrast with manufacturers' practice of occasionally touting changes that, say, add fiber or whole grains with prominent "heart healthy" promotional language on the packaging.

While some of the recent changes do appear to result in healthier products, others don't necessarily. Walnuts, for instance, contain more protein and less fat and calories than pecans, says Russ Barker, president of the Peanut & Tree Nut Processors Association, citing U.S. Department of Agriculture data.

But studies have shown that cocoa butter can reduce inflammation and lower blood pressure, so while substituting vegetable oil may not be harmful, it lowers the overall health benefit, says Bonnie Taub-Dix, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association and a nutrition consultant in New York.

Hershey spokesman Kirk Saville declined to comment on Ms. Taub-Dix's assessment. He pointed out that the majority of Hershey products are made with pure milk chocolate, of which cocoa butter is a primary ingredient.

Packaged-food companies that started trimming costs before the grain-price rally began two years ago tend to be faring better than rivals today. Pittsburgh ketchup giant H.J. Heinz Co. has been breeding sweeter tomatoes in an effort to reduce the amount of high-cost corn syrup in its ketchup. The sweeter tomatoes aren't yet being used in its product lines.

Heinz is also cutting back on packaging and using more rail delivery to cut transportation costs. On Thursday, Heinz said earnings in its fiscal 2009 first quarter rose 11% to $229 million. General Mills and Kellogg Co. also have benefited from aggressive cost-cutting: Their stocks have risen 27% and 9.3%, respectively, in the past two years.

Some companies are altering ingredients on such a small level that most consumers would never notice. Spokeswoman Nicole Reichert says Cargill has seen increased demand from food makers for dairy substitutes such as enzyme-modified dairy ingredients and starches and hydrocolloids. Starches and hydrocolloids are thickening and stabilizing agents that can replace costlier ingredients like nonfat milk solids in ice cream, processed cheese, yogurt, sour cream and dairy drinks. Adding enzymes to dairy ingredients can substitute milk or cream in some products.

From a nutrition perspective, "That's not a comparable replacement at all," says Ms. Taub-Dix of the American Dietetic Association. "What makes dairy so wonderful is its calcium content and other nutrients. Once you start substituting that, you're changing the nature and benefit of the product."

Cargill's Ms. Reichert agrees that such changes can lead to a reduction in a product's vitamin and mineral content, but says they also reduce the fat and calorie content. "Because applications such as cookies and cream sauces are typically not major sources of vitamins and minerals to begin with, one has to weigh the benefits of reducing calories against the impact of a slight reduction of vitamins and minerals," Ms. Reichert says.

It Had to Happen....

McCain Foods Hits the Campaign Trail

Spud Peddler Cashes In on Namesake Politician's Run for Prez

Published: August 25, 2008

CHICAGO (AdAge.com) -- Some tie-ins just write themselves. McCain Foods, a Canadian package-food company that has languished in American freezer aisles for years, has decided it's time for a change -- at least in frozen potatoes.

In the running: Marketer takes advantage of presidential campaign.

McCain is spending the equivalent of its annual online budget between now and early November. The swell is fortuitously in sync with the ascendance of the presidential candidate of the same name. Just like a politician, the company is capitalizing on name recognition with an election-themed campaign, breaking this week in USA Today. 

"We were looking at how to make our ad dollars work harder for us with breakthrough advertising in an Olympic and [election] year," Frank Finn, senior VP-commercial operations for McCain Foods USA, said of his company's search for "disruptive" advertising. 

McCain and Chicago-based agency Schafer Condon Carter decided on "Why McCain should be in the White House." The campaign is for the company's namesake frozen french fries, sweet-potato fries and kid-friendly "smiles." Since McCain doesn't use trans-fatty oils, a sample slogan is "McCain goes to war over oil." Another one: "McCain brings 'smiles' to millions," referencing the company's disc-shaped potato product with smiley faces cut out. 

The campaign will start in print and then go online with a politically themed website, complete with a gruff, mumbling "spokespotato" in a suit and horn-rimmed glasses. There is a variety of sections, including "Ask the Candidate," "Recipes for Change" and the ever-important polls (baked or fried?). Web banners on other sites are expected to draw consumers to the company's website, mccainusa.com. 

On-screen talent
Schafer Condon managing partner Tim Condon said the agency will alert John McCain's people before the full-page USA Today ad drops Aug. 29. 

Not a good sign....

The colors of the leaves on this tree in our neighborhood....scary!

"No Miles, you can't have my icecream sundae..."

Nellie's got a new friend...or maybe Miles has a new friend...actually they've both got a new friend...

Miles has been hanging out at home all week during the day keeping Nellie company...or maybe that's, Nellie's been keeping Miles company...He's a great companion, although she told me tonight when I came home that she didn't wake up until 10.30 (!) so maybe he's not making that good of an alarm clock.

Gotta love a State Fair!....

Just realized I never posted pics from the Wisconsin State Fair - I'm a couple of weeks behind in my blogging...not helped by the fact we spent all last week painting the downstairs bathroom...pics of that to come!

So we took a break from painting two weekends ago and escaped into town on Sunday to go visit the fair - held for two weeks every August.

We had our first taste of the event last year (see here and here). This year we didn't get to see the sheep as they'd left the show, but there were plenty of goats, pigs and cows!

The grooming pen

The animal owners all camp out (overnight!) in the pens beside the animals to be close to themIt was hot and humid...a lot of the animals are shown by teenagers from farms who show the animals and then try to sell off the champions at the end of the show. The funds usually go towards college tuition.Here's a champion pig - asking price $11,000!And a couple of goats - asking $5000 and $8500! It's very important that your uniform matches your animalLook familiar....?

There are all sorts of weird and wonderful sights...At this taxidermy stand you could buy just about anything that once belonged on an animal

...and some things that didn't belong on an animal...well, not THAT animal!...or on that tree branch!
One of the most iconic features of the Wisconsin State Fair is the cream puff hall where you can buy Wiscosin cream-filled puffs - about 10 times larger than you've ever seen anywhere else And of course, continuing the dairy tradition...where else would you have an icecream licking competition!

And doesn't Dimitra look delightful...

And the piece de resistence...the Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Sandwich stall...

That's it for another year...!

Nellie in America

Mum Nellie, and sister Sheila, arrived last Thursday night to take in some of the Wisconsin sunshine and local hospitality.
Nellie's escaping the cold and snow of Christchurch's mid winter month with a few weeks in sunny California, and restful Lake Okauchee, and Sheila was just here for the weekend - and we had a great time.

I bunked school on Friday to spend the day with Mum and She, having lunch on the river, a drive by Miller Valley and showing them around some of downtown Milwaukee and our old neighborhood.

Here we are on Marquette University campus Downtown, outside the Joan of Arc Chapel.

We stopped off on the way home to grab Nellie a frozen custard - the best local icecream and something of an institution....much like the place we got it from, our local drive-in diner - the "Kiltie".
Like a scene straight out of the '60s, the Kiltie sells burgers, shakes, malts, sundaes and custard, served straight to your car by a bunch of young waitresses in sneakers and short, short skorts. And they have the BEST pineapple shakes - crushed real pineapple blended with milk and vanilla frozen custard - you need a spoon to scoop out the pineapple, or you spend hours trying to suck it up the straw!

It's as though nothing's changed in 40 years. It's only open in the summer - our local winters being a bit harsh for drive ins, mind you on a hot summer night you spend the evening eating your fries, and swatting mosquitos in the car.

Dinner was a bbq'd butterflied leg of New Zealand lamb...and red wine!Nellie has a new friend....

"You're so beautiful - I could take you home...."Saturday we took a drive 45 minutes west to Madison, the State capital and home of the Dane County Farmer's Market - the best in the area, and one of the best in the US.

The market surrounds the capital building - right in the center of town, spreading around each of the streets that surround the building.
We bought blood red sweet tomatoes, 12 year old cheddar, fresh spanish garlic, frozen venison loins, fresh homemade raspberry jam, baby fingerling potatoes, dried bouquets of flowers (thanks She!), fresh sourdough, and kettle corn (popcorn cooked in a giant copper kettle with butter and sugar).Miles was a huge sensation. Technically he wasn't allowed in the market, so Robbie strolled around the lawn beside the capitol building under the trees. We joked that Robbie should have been charging .25c for every person that asked if they could pat him...

The ultimate chick magnet (and it probably helped that he'd been to the groomer the day before!)

Dinner Saturday night was at a local steak restaurant - Joe Armeli's Meat N Place in Nashotah...the next village around the lake. Fine dining by local standards, and one of the oldest restaurants in the neighborhood. Nellie had salmon (!).

Sunday we visited an art festival at a local park, and spent the afternoon eating market food. Late in the afternoon we went over to Robbie's boss' house where we took dinner and the boys got to play in Peter's new powerboat toy...

The noise...!