HUMN 341_Hudgins_Mod 3.1

GPS-Mapping out the Holiday's

Every year, around the beginning of the holiday shopping season, all major retailers look to set the standard of what will be the popular items. They take into consideration, what the consumer will spend and most importantly, what the consumer would buy. This year, is the year of electronics and most specifically the GPS navigation systems.
GPS, known as Global Positioning System, is a system of satellites that can locate where you are and have the ability of giving you accurate directions if you need to go somewhere. GPS navigation system does come standard in some makes and models of vehicles, but there are plenty of other vehicles in which it does not. In that case, people have been searching for the best deal for a GPS system.
In the most recent advertisements, most of the large retailers are posting GPS ads on the front cover to highlight the sale price. Most of the prices that I have seen have a deduction in price of $150. Last year, if I can remember correctly, the prices ranged from $250-$450. This year the prices are considerably lower. Here is a listing of some of the sale prices of the GPS systems: hhGregg, $99.97; B&B Appliance, $199.00; Circuit City, $99.99; Linen-n-Things, $99.99; Radio Shack, $129.99; Kmart, $129.99; Walmart, $128.88; Staples, $124.99; Target, $139.00; Best Buy, $119.99; Sears, $139.99; and Sam's Club, $146.78.
Though prices vary on different models, each system basically does the same thing, which lets you know where you are, and tells you where to turn. GPS systems are a very popular item, and the they are slowly taking away the need for maps. The system is, or can be considered easier than a map since it precisely gives you turn by turn instructions. These systems will eventually become more prevalent in every vehicle in America.

References

Black friday sale ads. (2007, November 22). The Cleveland Plain Dealer.

HUMN 341_Hudgins_Mod 2.1

The IPOD Revolution: A Brief History

Do you remember the days when you wanted to listen to music and not bother anyone around you? You would have to put on bulky headphones, and either hold on to or clip on a large Walkman or CD player. Times have changed and so has technology. Thanks to Apple, creators of the IPOD, we now have different ways to listen, store, watch music and videos on a small, "fits in your pocket" music player.

"On October 23, 2001, Apple introduced IPOD, a breakthrough mp3 music player that packs up to 1,000 CD quality songs into an ultra-portable, 6.5 ounce design." Since its release, IPOD has gained tremendous popularity. "On April 9, 2007, Apple announced that the 100 millionth IPOD has been sold, making the IPOD the fastest selling music player in history."

The IPOD has been through a lot of changes over the years. These changes were made to have a better impact for the consumer and to offer additional choices someone might have for their on preferences. "Apple has introduced more than 10 new IPOD models, including five generations of IPOD, two generations of IPOD nano, and two generations of IPOD shuffle."

Apple has made a huge impact on the way we all listen to music. I am a IPOD shuffle owner and my wife is a IPOD nano owner. I am considering purchasing a IPOD touch, which is the latest product that combines mp3, videos, and WIFI capabilities. Apple is continuously enhancing the IPOD line as technology changes. The IPOD has become part of our culture and will be that way for some time to come.

References

IPOD. (2007). Retrieved Friday, November 16, 2007 from http://www.wikipedia.com.

100 Million IPODS Sold. (2007). Retrieved, Friday, November 16, 2007 from http://www.apple.com/pr/library.

HUMN 341_Hudgins_Mod 2.2

The contemporary icons that I have selected are Lebron James, Tom Brady, and Hillary Clinton. Lebron James is a forward for the basketball team Cleveland Cavaliers. He was drafted by the team immediately after high school, and has led the Cavaliers to playoff appearances including the NBA Finals. Tom Brady is a quarterback for the New England Patriots. He has led the Patriots to three Super Bowls, and is currently guiding the team to an undefeated season so for this year. Hillary Clinton is a First Lady, and a potential presidential candidate. She is the wife of President Bill Clinton, and is currently trying to gain momentum to become the first woman president in the United States.
I have chosen those three icons for many factors. First, they all have shown great leadership skills. They have stood out amongst many to show that they have what it takes to be a leader. Second, they all have set an image for others to follow through their work, and what they have done for the country. Lebron James and Tom Brady are people that younger kids are looking up to; many kids would want to be like them. Hillary is proving to the women in this country the strength of a woman, that a woman can do anything.
These icons mean a lot to me. They have shown me and have given me determination. Granted, a lot of people tend to think that to reach stardom like those stated above, it might be quite impossible. However, with hard work and determination anything could be possible. My icons have proven that to me and it is something that I apply every day.

Assignment 1-4 Black Friday

Black Friday

Timothy Hudgins

HUMN 341

H1WW

Dr. Elisabeth Nixon

November 10, 2007









Black Friday
The day after Thanksgiving, which is known as Black Friday, is one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Many retailers advertise extreme low prices on certain items in their stores that attract numerous amounts of people. These people tend to show up at their desired locations before the store opens wanting to be the first one for the best buys. The culture of what people do on Black Friday has been going on for years and has not changed, it is just a way of life.
The sales that many retailers have attract so many people, that some would stand out in the rain or snow for hours before the store opens. This has been happening for many years, and it has become a way of life for many people. A lot of places have great deals on many items such as: electronics at Best Buy, tools at Sears, and clothes at Macy’s that some just cannot avoid. In addition to the fantastic buys someone would get they would have to deal with a lot of traffic, long lines at checkout, and many people in a rush to get to other places. There are some people that do not go out on Black Friday just for the fact of how busy a place would be, and to avoid the headaches associated with it.
The day, Black Friday, is an important day for retailers. They advertise heavily to get the business that they anticipate. They promote items that they feel the shoppers would go for. This particular day, the retailers know what to expect. It is the culture of people to want to save and buy items that are on sale. It is something everyone has become accustomed to.

Pop Culture

Popular culture is what everyone sees, hears, and follows every day. It is the way we all live. We all are influenced by our pop culture icons/artifacts.

An understanding of popular culture is relevant in a business environment, and in a career because things change quite frequently. For example, you need to stay on top of what the current trends are, such as: new movies, music, shows, clothes, etc. Following the every changing trends would be to staying current with the culture. That does play, in my thoughts, a significant role in any type of environment.

I would consider American Idol to be a great example of a pop culture artifact. I chose this mainly because of the popularity of the show. This show has proven to have a strong influence over the younger generation, since a lot of people tend to try out for this show. This show has also a huge influence in the older generation. The media ratings have proven this. This show has been around for a few years now and it looks as if it has no signs of stopping.