Recommended reading for every household !!
|
The Stranger A few years after I was born, my dad met a stranger who was new to our small town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around from then on. As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors: Mum taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey. But the stranger ….. he was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries, and comedies. If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future! He took my family to the football and cricket. He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn’t seem to mind. Sometimes, Mum would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to the kitchen for peace and quiet. (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.) Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home … not from us, our friends or any visitors. Our longtime visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush. My dad didn’t permit the liberal use of alcohol. But the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly, and pipes distinguished. He talked freely (much too freely) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing. I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked … And NEVER asked to leave. More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. If you could walk into my parents’ den today, you would still find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures. His name? We just call him, ‘TV.’ He has a wife now. We call her, ‘Computer’. |
Reply to a concerned Citizen
|
A lady Canadian libertarian wrote a lot of letters to the government, complaining about the treatment of captive insurgents (terrorists) being held in Afghanistan National Correctional System facilities. She received back the following reply: National Defence Headquarters Thank you for your recent letter expressing your profound concern of treatment of the Taliban and Al Qaeda terrorists captured by Canadian Forces who were subsequently transferred to the Afghanistan Government and are currently being held by Afghan officials in Afghanistan National Correctional System facilities. Our administration takes these matters seriously and your opinions were heard loud and clear here in Ottawa . You will be pleased to learn, thanks to the concerns of citizens like yourself; we are creating a new department here at the Department of National Defense, to be called ‘Liberals Accept Responsibility for Killers’ program, or L.A.R.K. for short. Although Ahmed is a sociopath and extremely violent, we hope that your sensitivity to what you described as his ‘attitud inal problem’ will help him overcome these character flaws. Perhaps you are correct in describing these problems as mere cultural differences. We understand that you plan to offer counseling and home schooling. Your adopted terrorist is extremely proficient in hand-to-hand combat and can extinguish human life with such simple items as a pencil or nail clippers. We advise that you do not ask him to demonstrate these skills at your next yoga group. He is also expert at making a wide variety of explosive devices from common household products, so you may wish to keep those items locked up, unless (in your opinion) this might offend him. Ahmed will not wish to interact with you or your daughters (except sexually) since he views females as a subhuman form of property. This is a particularly sensitive subject for him and he has been known to show violent tendencies around women who fail to comply with the new dress code that he will recommend as more appropriate attire. I’m sure you will come to enjoy the anonymity offered by the burka over time. Just remember that it is all part of ‘respecting his culture and religious beliefs’ as described in your letter. Thanks again for your concern. We truly appreciate it when folks like you keep us informed of the proper way to do our job and care for our fellow man. You take good care of Ahmed and remember, we’ll be watching.Good luck and God bless you. Cordially, Footnote:- If you wish to find the perfect antidote then email me at troedel@three.com.au |
The observant couple
A parking inspector was writing out a ticket for the car beside him when a elderly couple approached.
The old man saying “Give us a go we are elderly citizens” the parking attendant did lift his eyes and placed the ticket on the windscreen
and did not answer. The old man then “you are a son of bitch” where upon the ticket writer then started writing a second ticket.
No sooner as he finished writing the second ticket when his wife starting ex pleating words that children should here so the writer then started on his third ticket.
The old man then said to his wife as they continued on their way looking at the man placing the last ticket on the car.
“Darling it is a good thing we caught the train to town”
Make sure you view the videos
Yes make sure you scroll down & view the vod blogs on the side – there are many very funney video clips – These clips do change daily
USA – first day at school
An Indian boy on his first day at school in the USA It was the first day of school and a new student named
Chandrashekhar Subrahmanyam entered the fourth grade. The teacher said, ‘Let’s begin by reviewing some American History.Who said ‘Give me Liberty, or give me Death’?
She saw a sea of blank faces, except for Chandrashekhar, who had his hand up: ‘Patrick Henry, 1775′ he said.
Very good!’ Who said ‘Government of the People, by the People, for the People, shall not perish from the Earth?’
again no response except from Chandrashekhar. ‘Abraham Lincoln, 1863′ said Chandrashekhar.
The teacher snapped at the class, ‘Class, you should be ashamed.
Chandrashekhar, who is new to our country, knows more! About its history than you do.’
She heard a loud whisper: ‘F**k the Indians,’
‘Who said that?’ she demanded.
Chandrashekhar put his hand up. ‘General Custer, 1862.’
At that point, a student in the back said, ‘I’m gonna puke.’
The teacher glares around and asks ‘All right! Now, who said that?’
Again, Chandrashekhar says,’George Bush to the Japanese Prime Minister, 1991.’
Now furious, another student yells, ‘Oh yeah? S*ck this!’
Chandrashekhar jumps out of his chair waving his hand and shouts to the teacher, ‘Bill Clinton, to Monica Lewinsky, 1997!’
Now with almost a mob hysteria someone said ‘You little shit. If you say anything else, I’ll kill you.’
Chandrashekhar frantically yells at the top of his voice, ‘Gary Condit to Chandra Levy, 2001.’
The teacher fainted. And as the class gathered around the teacher on the floor, someone said, ‘Oh shit, we’re f**ked!’
And Chandrashekhar said quietly, ‘George Bush, Iraq, 2005.
Thought for the week – Lawyers
Lawyers
The other day I recited a joke to two Roman Catholic Priests
Two lawyers presented themselves at the pearly white gates of Heaven seeking entry. When confronted they were asked what they had done on earth. They both replied enthusiastically “We were lawyers and very good ones at that for all our working lives” The gatekeeper replied “Sorry we cannot and do not take Lawyers up here” They looked at each other and were horrified as they had never lost in their lives. Then one said to the Gatekeeper “Look at that guy over there” “Who is he?” “He looks very like a lawyer if ever he had seen one” The gatekeeper replied “That is God!” The two priests roared with laughter saying: “In our last life we were both lawyers”.
Collusion The ACCC – Amcor – Visy board game
Collusion The ACCC – Amcor – Visy board game
What is collusion? Surely it is the intention to create a conspiracy against another or third party. It is my belief that this act in any faction or form is illegal.
The recent court case of the ACCC verses Visy Board resulted in Mr Richard Pratt CEO of Visy Board paying a fine of some millions of Dollars. Surely this court case was an illegal case on the grounds that the ACCC asked Amcor to be in collusion with them on the grounds that no writs would be issued against Amcor for past misdemeanours in collective tendering or acts of collusion.
Having been in the printing Industry for all my life and a fourth generation printing family member understand and am aware of a lot gossip and knowledge behind the public arena.
Throughout the nineties and the eighties Visy Board grew substantially and were aggressive in their marketing and supply of Cardboard to the Australian Manufacturers and Primary producers setting up many distribution centres throughout the land. Including I believe also going international. Amcor on the other hand failed to expand or basically introduce new equipment and distribution centers in comparison. In the mid Nineties an American Box maker entered the market and under cut all competitors with cartons of what was considered fourth generation recycled pulp and of poor quality. (One stack of pallets which I personally viewed, with wine bottles in these cartons showed a bow factor of beyond believe) To counter this Visy installed into South Corp’s two main bottling plants, what would be termed as on line box makers supplying corrugated board in the reel to those production lines.
Amcor on the other hand split their share into two groups one Paperlinx the other Amcor it appears that they failed to gain market share or gain ground in the marketing of corrugated board. Amcor appeared to be top heavy from a multiple of takeovers of converters, print business, and other packaging formulas business including venturing into glass making. As in all takeover procedures those who have been in their line of business all their lives were retired and were replaced with head hunted personal of little or no experience of the printing and allied trades fields. It is a proven form of guarantee for failure in such an industry. It is well know that Amcor through their vast diversification are and having struggling for a long period of time in the market place.
My question is why Richard Pratt would, or any of his team of men, would wish to conspire with the opposition, when they are regarded in the business field of supplying material at the most competitive grounds complete with a excellent service record. Personally, over the last forty years, when ever I have been selling other print material and servicing print buyers that I found the team at Visy board beyond reproach. When the buyers have been dealing with either Dick, or his team, have had nothing but praise, I am sorry to say that has not been the case with Amcor, or any other box supplier, and I have also dealt with both parties. For the record I never been employed or worked in the corrugated board sector of the Printing and Allied trades nor to my knowledge am related to any member of any of the above parties. As part of history in the 60’s the printing firm Troedel & Cooper Pty Ltd who were the largest purchasers of coated paper in Australia at the time from the company APPM ( Today part of of Amcor) experrinced a simular act. My Father flew to Japan, and purchased the paper stock, as he would have none of the deal offerred. I guess the Leopard never changes it spots.
A new ways of Marketing Wine
A new Way of Marketing Wine
1. Those who are wishing to market product internationally and locally have to evaluate their habits in marketing procedures and costs. But at the same time look for a better and newer ways to go into the market place.
2. Time spent attending wine trade shows in Asia, China, Korea, Japan, India, Europe, Britain, United States, Canada, as well as local shows around Australia is very time consuming and indeed costly usually in more ways than one.
A story told to the writer was that a leading NSW winery attended a Chinese Trade show in the 1990’s and believed that they had enjoyed a successful trade show, as a result the winery forwarded two containers of wine – in all 25,000 bottles of wine were sent to the eager agents who were supposed to market the wine – They are still waiting to be paid.
This is not an uncommon story but one that seems to be consistent with showing wines at trade shows.
Exhibitors at trade shows must understand the protocol of trading in different countries, an example is that in China most retail points receive a prepayment from the suppliers of products to carry the suppliers stock on an exclusive or semi exclusive scale. The prepayments can amount to millions of dollars.
What is available today? What new products can assist in promoting products?
Since the turn into this century the computers followed by the Internet have become house words, and items, where every business has not only computers but has Internet and usually a web page. Emails have become a daily item. Mobile phones: – ‘Well there are 20 million phones in use today in Australia” (for a population of 21m). Today, I am one example where I have wireless broadband, and a mobile phone, finding that I have no or little need for land line, or a copper, or coaxial cable, not to mention the cost savings. Now today, I have started web blogging.
There are new products available today that are able to make the Internet, and the email a tool for marketing. These paraphernalia of items such as video, video clips, video brochures, are some of the alternatives which can be used and where costs may be saved in marketing of products. But we must not also remember that there are still traditional marketing commodities such as presentation folders, data sheets, water marked letterhead paper, and brochures that are still significant tools in winning a sales presentation.
Disclaimer:-This thesis has been written and prepared by Dennis Troedel of TVM-Troedel Visual Marketing. All care has been taken at the time, in collecting the facts and data, but the writer can take no responsibility what so ever for statements or information written. The writer wishes to thank the Journalists and The Age Melbourne for the articles referred to with in this blog series . Dennis Troedel TVM-Troedel Visual Marketing ABN 54462411917 Ph. 0419330419 Int 61419330419 P.O.Box 133 East Melbourne Victoria Australia 8002 E-mail troedel@three.com.au or troedel@ecomtel.com.au
datetime=”2008-07-06T23:56:44+00:00″>
Video Today
This feature is part of a series of articles on new ways to export
Video Today
The computer and memory chips today have made the filming of video with editing procedures a very cost effective aid when it comes to a marketing form in the presentation and winning a market sale of what ever the product may be. Today, most cinema films are shot in the studio where the actors perform in an empty room and the scenery set is then built around the performing actors.
Only in the past year these new ideas have come forward in the usage of video, and the many new and different ways which video can be utilized.
Some of these new ways have come by the way of the cinema professional films such as ‘King Kong’, ‘Harry Potter’ and many other latest releases where still photography, miniature models, and other editing tricks have come into play. The creators build the scene around the actors. The new digital equipment can take a coloured aerial photograph of New York City taken in 1925 and use that to create a street scene in New York. Today the actor is in a plain bare room, for when they and do perform before the camera. The video editing then has incorporated the rest of the scenery, models, and backdrops built up around their acting. (One demo I noted in a trade demonstration was shown as a boat load of men in a studio; the men were rowing a boat, with a slash machine throwing water over the rowers, as they rowed in the dry studio, with out any other water. The final scene showed the rowers battling treacherous waves). King Kong danced around an empty room, the scene shot showed him on the Empire State building. Yes! Animation has come a long way from Walt Disney as one will find it being used in every cinema production that one happens to see in the cinema today.. Because of these new techniques and the latest digital editing equipment makes it possible today to create ‘Sound Video Brochures’ these ‘Video brochures’ costing around $250 for 15 to 30 second video clips. These sound clips can now be used in everyday email dispatches, linked to a web page, in a new web blog format, or used at the point of sale.
The costs
Depending on who or what used or is engaged the simple video clip, with sound or voice over the costs can start from around $2,500 for a simple sound clip, or $4,000 for a more comprehensive and longer video, from there costs can escalate to a full animated commercial. The costs of a full 3 to 4 minute production really will depend on the client’s needs and requirements. The video brochure, although presenting a moving image uses only still photographs which are used in the creation of the video brochure. This technique is substantially cheaper, than a full action on site video. The video be it a 15 or 30 second clip or longer in length can be designed for many uses. The video in either ‘Digital’, ‘High Digital’, ‘Blu-ray’, or the ‘Red’ formats, can be worked to linking to a web page, a web blog, or a personal email letter.
The production can be made into a DVD, complete with ‘hot buttons,’ as a marketing information tool. The video or the video brochure, once shot can be flexible, and can edit to what ever requirement quickly and cheaply.
The Video, the Internet, the web Page, and the Blog
Over the last ten years the Internet and the web page have become as important as any other tool in the marketing game of selling. Now there is also the Blog.
In the last twelve months Video has also become an important member of the Internet and web page team. Now no longer does the Web page have or need to be a static lifeless image complete with pages of type.
Now Web pages can have Video links or Video Brochures, and blogs.
The uses of where Video is useful
The video format be it a clip, or in brochure form, can now tell the story, the history, the lifestyle, the aura, and what is offered or presented in moving or still format complete with sound in music background and or voice over.
The video can be a whole series of stories, or events, such as in the wine industry, which can depict the ‘Long Lunch,’ the harvest, or any event which has happened or maybe an occasion programmed for the future. The video vision is ideal when used to marry the wine, or cheese, with different food dishes.’ Supportive type wording or matter can also be incorporated into the timeline or clips.
The traditional DVD can be used be for the video to be shown as a display and marketing tool on a plasma or LCD screen, set in the Cellar door, in the restaurant, or at the trade or expo wine shows. The DVD can be used as a personalized promotion tool to be used in a presentation folder for a marketing submission to win the contract. The video unlike the brochure can be changed quickly and cheaply. Video either in a DVD format or streaming to the web, or as an E-Mail, or a blog tool will bring life and style to the marketing story, giving the viewer an introduction and understanding to the whole family of the business, their lifestyle, and the way of life. This perceptive understanding is essential to assist many buyers to understand to help them commit to a purchase.
To a person or business group in a foreign land or language and even in a our own country, who wish to understand the story, or even tell the story on down the line, then there is no better way than a video or a video brochure in a vision statement presentation.
Today, every business what ever the event should make a point of recording the time and holding that video clip for later or historical use. To this end professional personal should be called on and used, be it the story line, shooting, or editing. What you pay for is what you get when it comes to the home or Amateurs video production and is not recommended.
To the future
Disclaimer:-This thesis has been written and prepared by Dennis Troedel of TVM-Troedel Visual Marketing. All care has been taken at the time, in collecting the facts and data, but the writer can take no responsibility what so ever for statements or information written. The writer wishes to thank the Journalists and The Age Melbourne for the articles referred to with in the blog series. Dennis Troedel TVM-Troedel Visual Marketing ABN 544624119177 41P.O.Box 133 East Melbourne Victoria Australia 8002 E-mail troedel@three.com.au or troedel@ecomtel.com.au hone:- 0419 33 0419 Int: 61419 33 0419
Export Traditional old or a new way!
Thursday, 19 June 2008
Blog of a series on Export Marketing
Export the old Traditional way or a new way!
For over 150 years wool growers sold their wool at the property gate. That is, they used an agent who sold the wool at Auction; from there the wool moved through many hands and eventually ended up in the spinning mills of England or Europe. Times have changed, no longer a sailing ship or steamer takes months to travel between Australia and Europe but now a farmer can leave his property fly to Italy, Germany, or England and be back on his farm with in a week with an order in his back pocket, and the important issue is that he is understanding what is required by the mills and who are in need of the material.
Like wise the wine industry has for years been presenting their wares at trade shows and exhibitions the same way as was done in Paris in the great wine shows of the 1880’s. Today, there are new communication mediums and ways to market wine. The French, who are considered the number one exporters of wine to the world, have learnt to be smart in their presentations. The Australians seem to have not understood why the French and the Italians are the top two in the world’s export of wine, and their marketing of wine.
In an article by Andrew Linden (Oct 12 2007) Old World thinking for New World Wines States that Australians are using ‘Old World thinking’ to market their wines in the world’s most sophisticated markets. Ross Brown of Brown Bros. is quoted in the article (in part) that he believes Australian producers will have to in the future compete more on quality than on price. Australian winemakers will have to embrace and market what the French call ‘Terroir’
Yes! Australian wine marketing has to embrace new technology and realign their sales techniques to so to meet International competition in the world market places.
This series is an idea taken from the French, the Italian, and the American system of marketing of wine but adding some new ideas to the formula.
Because of costs, time, and traveling, individual wine producers can no longer afford to compete on the International stage against countries or regions that subsidize marketing presentations or the large companies such as the Constellation Group.
“Wine is identified by country, state, region, and lastly the winemaker”
On the international market at the sales point customers will first ask for ‘French, Italian’ or maybe the ‘Australian selection’ Some will know about the State, and some will know about regions – very few will identify a wine name unless it is a famous brand.
Today, the promotion and regulation of Australian Wine exports of wine from Australia is governed and controlled by the AWBC (Australian Wine & Brandy Corporation) who are responsible to the Federal Minister of Primary Industry.
Unfortunately the next lower level appears to be at the cellar door for the marketing of wine be it local, National or export.
It is the belief of the writer that the Victorian Government must address the wine marketing of Victorian wines.
The short term would be some controls and costs – the long term is the benefit of tourism to the state as well increased sales for wine producers.
The opportunity is available today for promoting not only the Victorian state, as a wine state, but recognizing, endorsing, and encouraging all the different and various wine regions of Victoria to market not only wine, but other primary products into National and International export markets and convey the benefits of tourism.
End: Export of wine Blog Series 1 46241 ABN 54462411917PO 1917PO
Disclaimer:-This thesis has been written and prepared by Dennis Troedel of TVM-Troedel Visual Marketing. All care has been taken at the time, in collecting the facts and data, but the writer can take no responsibility what so ever for statements or information written. The writer wishes to thank the Journalists and The Age Melbourne for the articles referred to with in the thesis.
Dennis Troedel
TVM-Troedel Visual Marketing
ABN 54462411917PO
P.O.Box 133 East Melbourne Victoria Australia 8002
E-mail troedel@three.com.au or troedel@ecomtel.com.au
Phone:- 0419 33 0419
Int: 61419 33 0419
-
Archives
- August 2009 (1)
- June 2009 (1)
- May 2009 (1)
- April 2009 (1)
- February 2009 (1)
- October 2008 (3)
- September 2008 (1)
- August 2008 (4)
- July 2008 (6)
- June 2008 (1)
-
Categories
-
RSS
Entries RSS
Comments RSS
