The Bono Effect: What’s the Reality of Non-Profit Spending in a Consumer World?
If you were paying attention to the news recently, you certainly saw the scandal regarding super star and world activist Bono’s African charity (ONE) and the discrepancy between the money that was spent paying executive salaries and the money that was actually sent to help developing nations in Africa. To many, this news was shocking. However, the reality is that this is common in many non-profits. The bulk of the money from donations [...]
The Groupon Effect
Be honest, do you belong to Groupon? Ideeli? Gilt? The explosion of social shopping programs (websites that offer huge discounts to users on high-end goods because they can negotiate the discount based on their large membership counts) has been rapid. Groupon, which offers one local coupon to users each day for what can only be described as massive savings, has millions of members (you’ve probably seen the advertisements), and sites with the same [...]
Quote of the Week: Michelle Obama’s Philosophy
We’re not going to be shy about the fact that we’re big fans of First Lady Michelle Obama here at Postconsumers. Think what you may about the current presidential administration, one can’t deny that Michelle Obama’s initiatives to improve the country are programs that we can all unite behind and agree are important. And she’s doing a great job of pushing forward programs to help end childhood obesity and make Americans healthier. Michelle [...]
Scorching Spring: Just Don’t Have a Cow (Yet)
By Michael Beck An Echo of Silent Spring? You Bet! 2010 has already chalked up more than the hottest spring ever: it’s given us the hottest January through August of any year since global records began in the late 1800’s. Just the way Rachel Carson’s book alerted us to pesticides, the warning symptoms of soaring CO2 (see photo) are breaking out all over the world: • The ten hottest years on record have [...]
Finding Satisfaction: A Lesson for Lilo, Brittany Murphy and So Many More
The list of Hollywood starlets of the last decade whose lives have tragically ended or been altered (because we certainly hope that Lilo cleans herself up) by personal implosions and the abuse of drugs and alcohol is getting longer and longer. Anna Nicole Smith was, at one time, the poster girl for this sad story. However, a club of girls has joined Anna Nicole, including Casey Johnson, Brittany Murphy, and currently the downward [...]
Ways to Find Satisfaction in September: Organic Eating and Yoga
We’re always on the lookout for ways that you can work on finding satisfaction from month to month. It was actually from our friends at Tiny Green Bubble, a website that we recommend for information about how to go green and sustainable living, that we found out that September is both Organic Harvest Month as well as National Yoga Month. These are two great ways to start finding satisfaction in ways that [...]
Quote of the Week: Oprah Defines Joy
Since, earlier this week, we discussed the possible duality of Oprah Winfrey and whether she represents more of a charitable, postconsumer attitude or more of a consumer, materialistic attitude, we thought that we would give the quote-of-the-week space to the Queen of Daytime (and so many other things) herself: “I define joy as a sustained sense of well-being and internal peace – a connection to what matters.” If it helps you decide [...]
Who Wants to Be a Billionaire?
…Maybe I’d just rather be a Postconsumer By Michael Beck Sure, I’ve fantasized winning the lottery. I’ve rubbed my hands and imagined what I’d do with all that loot. Who hasn’t? What a kick it is to speculate, especially since - given the long odds – the fact that I’ve never actually played the lottery has hardly affected my chances. It’s a glorious experience to envision those megabucks making all my dreams come [...]
Why Oprah’s Wealth Doesn’t Make Her a Hypocrite
Oprah Winfrey. We’re not sure that there’s a more polarizing figure on the planet who isn’t an international political figure, and some would argue that Oprah is an international political figure! Or at least as powerful as an international political figure. We frequently find ourselves engaged in a debate with others. Is Oprah good for the world because of all of the charitable and philanthropic work that she does? Or is Oprah [...]
What are Teenage Shows Teaching Our Children?
The evolution in shows targeted toward teenagers has taken a definable turn! Back in the day (even before us, actually!), there was the “After School Special,” one of the few hours of television that was targeted toward teenagers, and which almost exclusively dealt with social and personal issues that teenagers may struggle with. Then, in the eighties, the most popular shows for teenagers were clearly ones with a family tilt to them. [...]
