WEEK 9 EOC

Certain things come and go in life, but there is a thin line between wants and needs. When I was 16 years old, money was irrelevant to me when it came down to sneakers, clothes or jewelry. Living in New York influenced me into becoming the person I once used to be. Just like the fast pace lifestyle, anything can change in a New York minute. Therefore, having money in my pocket made me addicted to the latest and most up to date trends and fashion. Out of all the outrageous shopping sprees and spur of the moment purchases, I can recall one vivid moment of my teenage years. I was out in Northern California for the summer of 2006. The Air Jordan Brand was releasing a limited edition style of the Retro IV basketball sneakers. The reason why they were so exclusive was due to film director Spike Lee. During the late 1980's, Michael Jordan released these sneakers where Spike Lees' alter-ego 'Mars Blackmon' was the spokesman for the infamous Air Jordan commercials. Besides the new color variation, the shoes actually have Spike Lees' face printed in the corner of the heel. My cousin and I waited in line for three hours even though the store didn't open until 7 in the morning. The retail value was priced at $115. However, the sneakers are now worth up to $300 since they were sold out in stores and never issued again. So in my opinion, this purchase was worth well more than I originally imagined.

WEEK 7 EOC

(Success Ultra Vodka)

"- Fulfill Your Every Need."

In a world filled with entrepreneurs, there is not one person who does not dream about becoming successful. As a matter of fact, what usually starts out as a dream, eventually turns into reality. Welcome to the era of hardworking men and women. For many years, people have been struggling from day to day just so they can make it to that next level. Well now is the time to relax because it is your turn to take a shot at Success. Most people look for a drink that matches the kind of lifestyle they lead. However, Success Vodka is the type of liquor that every adult can enjoy. From the Lawyers to the Rock Stars, we got what you need.

Unlike most distilled Vodka, Success actually comes from grapes opposed to what is commonly used. However, we can't give away our secrets just yet. All you need to know is that when it is time to chill, do like they say and put it on the rocks. If you want that perfect blend, then mix it with a splash of cranberry juice. A combination that the ladies will definitely love, but it doesn't stop there. The clock is ticking, when will you try the taste of Success?

WEEK 5 EOC

Nowadays, buying a vehicle is almost as hard as purchasing a house, due to the recession. Luckily, there is no need to fear because the 2010 Honda Civic is here! After all, not everybody can afford the ever so infamous 'Toyota Prius' or the latest hybrid vehicle, for that matter. So without further ado, I would like to introduce to you; the most affordable automobile on the market. For just under $19,000 - the Honda Civic Sedan offers an incredible 36 MPG (Miles Per Gallon). It is quite obvious, that this non hybrid series is still fuel efficient and will give the competitors a run for their money. Not to mention, it comes fully equipped with a 140 HP - 1.8 Liter - iVTEC Engine. This bad boy has the power to take you anywhere in the world, without any hesitation. However, this is only half of the beauty found within the beast. With multiple dual-stage air bags in the front and on the sides, there's no wonder why the Civic has a 5 Star Crash Rating. And if that doesn't eliminate your safety insecurities, then maybe the Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure will. Built to withstand any type of collision, the ACE technology enhances protection and evenly balances even the worst type of accidents. As far as comfort goes, enjoy a cool AC system on leather seats, a 160 watt sound system with MP3 capability, and an added 12 volt power outlet; just in case. What more can I say, that has not already been said about this vehicle. Just like the motto for Playstation 3, "It only does everything." To be honest, coming from a Honda loyal family, it is impossible not to fall in Love with this car.

EOC WEEK 4

What is the difference between Marketing and Advertising? Well in my opinion, the two could go hand in hand depending on the type of business. In the words of Don Draper from the show Mad Men, "Advertising is happiness." With that being said, the purpose of advertising is to attract the consumer. Regardless on how it is done, a good advertiser can make anybody feel like they need the product that is being sold. Even if that product is unsafe or unhealthy, advertising will give you a reason or a way that it could be beneficial to you. On the other hand, the main focus of marketing is to determine the customers actual needs. Think about it, marketing targets an entire group, rather than just one individual. After researching consumer behavior and the type of environment they live in, it costs them millions of dollars each year in order to make that product better. In other words, marketing looks for your best interest, while advertising just makes it look good. Don't get me wrong, advertising is an important piece of the puzzle for marketing. However, marketing is the whole entire pie and advertising is just a big slice.

EOC WEEK 3

Some say money is the root of all evil; others may believe that it leads to the pursuit of happiness. However, the value of the American dollar has gone through its ups and downs quite dramatically over the past couple of years. In my opinion, the society that we live in today is constantly affected by the importance of our currency. For example, a strong dollar can open up more opportunities for businesses and the American citizens. On the other hand, our country primarily imports a large amount of goods and services, opposed to exporting. Just imagine if you were to take a trip out to Europe and your dollar was worth more than their currency due to the exchange rate. According to - http://www.x-rates.com/calculator.html - 1.00 Euro is actually worth $1.31 in US Dollars. To be honest, I believe that a weak dollar would benefit the economy due to the recession that we are currently in. This would give us a better chance of exporting rather than importing. In my eyes, the possibility of trade would improve simply because the exporting countries are in charge of paying for the exports. Over the past couple years; thousands of people across the nation have either faced a period of unemployment or have lost their job positions completely. I suppose that when there is an increase in value, the rate of people getting fired raises as well. We may be living in hard times right now, but as we all know, history does repeat itself. To wrap things up, in order to have an equal balance in our economic system, we have to find a medium or a constant value for the dollar.

EOC WEEK 2

- As a child, I can recall spending my summer vacations in northern California with my older cousin, who had introduced me to DJing. Unlike him, my own personal DJ set up was incomplete due to the missing half of a Limited Edition Gemini Turntable. However, I was browsing through an electronics store on Market Street in San Francisco one day, when I found "The Turntable of My Dreams." When I asked for the price, the man at the counter told me it was on sale for $200 since it was the last one left. I reached into my pocket and noticed that I was $50 dollars short, when it dawned on me, this product was discontinued and I would not find it anywhere else! I explained my situation to the man, but he was hesitant and told me that he could possibly lose his job if his boss found out about the bargain. For a second there, it felt like the most disappointing day of my life. Out of no where, the man took a good look at me, scratched his head and realized that I was from out of town. Suddenly, he told me to take the turntable and leave the money on the counter. I couldn't believe it, I felt so relieved and told the man I appreciated his generosity. Right before I walked out he said to me, "You telling me you gonna take this thing all the way back to New York with you?" I simply replied, "Yeah, that's exactly what I'm gonna do."

EOC WEEK 1

As a Filipino-American Producer/Songwriter, growing up in Syracuse, New York was never an easy task. The road to success is one of the greatest obstacle courses in life where hard work is required in order to find a way through. Although music is a passion for most majoring in Audio Production, this young entrepreneur has an aspiring vision for directing and editing film in the future as well. In the words of Ryan Leslie, "Do what you believe in and believe in what you do." A statement in which some may find inspiring, as well as motivating to those pursuing a career that many may consider as nothing but a dream. Hence the term, anything is possible if you put your mind to it. “The clock is running. Make the most of today. Time waits for no man. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift, that’s why it is called the present.” – Alice Morse Earle, 1902