CBS hides ID of Navy SEAL who wrote bin Laden book

NEW YORK (AP) ? CBS News is disguising the identity of a retired Navy SEAL who wrote a book about the raid that killed Osama bin Laden so it can protect "an American hero" ? even though other media outlets have said who he is.

CBS News Chairman Jeff Fager said Thursday he'd make the same decision to withhold the identity even if the network hadn't landed an exclusive interview with the author, who participated in the May 2011 raid in Pakistan. Scott Pelley's interview with the ex-SEAL will be on "60 Minutes" on Sept. 9 and was previewed on the "CBS Evening News" on Wednesday.

The book, titled "No Easy Day" and written by one of the men in the room when the al-Qaida leader was killed, was written under the pseudonym Mark Owen. Last week, Fox News Channel first reported Owens' real identity as Matt Bissonnette, and The Associated Press also identified Bissonnette after getting independent confirmation.

Even after the other organizations revealed Bissonnette's identity, Fager said he made sure that all parts of his news organization did not.

"This is an American hero," Fager said. "He risked his life to do this job. Isn't it our responsibility to protect him? To hear his story is one thing, but to reveal his name so he becomes a target? I'd like to think that news people are Americans first. I feel that way."

For the interview, CBS disguised Bissonnette's voice. A makeup person also concealed the author's looks so effectively before the "60 Minutes" interview that Pelley, who had met him three times before, did not recognize him upon entering the room, said Fager, the executive producer of "60 Minutes."

After identifying Bissonnette, Fox News Executive Vice President and Executive Editor John Moody said that "once you write a book, anonymously or not, you have no reasonable expectation of privacy."

The AP decided to use his name because it was already on the Internet and on the air, so the expectation of keeping his name out of the greater public was very low. The AP informed Special Operations Command that it was going to use the name, and no government agency tried to dissuade it. The AP does withhold a name if someone makes a compelling case that its publication would endanger him or her.

Fager said he's not sure what the value of reporting Owens' real name is for the viewer.

"We're not in the business of chasing down people who work in these agencies, whether it's a Navy SEAL or the CIA, and revealing their names to the public," he said.

The Pentagon's top lawyer has informed the author, addressed in a letter as Mr. "Mark Owen," with quotation marks, that he violated agreements to not divulge military secrets and that as a result the Pentagon is considering taking legal action against him. The author referred requests for comment about the letter to his publisher, who was not immediately available Thursday.

Jose A. Rodriguez Jr., former director of the National Clandestine Service of the CIA, said it shouldn't be a surprise that the ex-SEAL's real name came out.

"It's almost to be expected in today's world when you write a book like he wrote that commands so much interest," said Rodriguez, who was responsible for helping to keep CIA employees' identities safe.

Rodriguez ordered interrogation tapes of suspected al-Qaida members destroyed so the identities of the questioners could not be found out.

Rodriguez, author of "Hard Measures: How Aggressive CIA Actions After 9/11 Saved Lives," said he sympathized with the author's concern about his safety.

"If I were advising some of these media organizations, I would have urged them to be very cautious about leaking the true name of someone who participated in a raid to kill bin Laden," he said.

Bob Steele, a media ethics expert and professor at DePauw University, said the media have to set the bar high before granting anonymity to a book author. In this case, it's even more important for people to know the author, because the book makes an assertion that the raid did not go down quite like the Obama administration had reported.

"If you leave a name out of a story, you diminish its factual accuracy and its authenticity," Steele said. "A major piece of the jigsaw puzzle is missing."

ABC News and NBC News have not used Bissonnette's name in any stories about the case.

CNN had not been using the author's real name because Pentagon officials had asked that it not be revealed, spokeswoman Bridget Leininger said. But on the air Thursday, CNN showed clips from the CBS story and used Bissonnette's name, saying it was being revealed "under the Pentagon's guidance."

"By this week, it was clear his real identity was not going to remain private, and we reported it," Leininger said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/cbs-hides-id-navy-seal-wrote-bin-laden-203928080.html

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Montclair Art Museum to Offer Free Family Day | PRLog

PRLog (Press Release) - Aug 29, 2012 -
The Montclair Art Museum (MAM) will offer a special Family Day: O?Keeffe in the Garden at Van Vleck House and Gardens on Saturday, September 15, 2012, 1?4 p.m. Visitors will create artwork and explore the garden through the eyes of the artist Georgia O'Keeffe. Families will enjoy an exciting outing with scavenger hunts, story time, live music, and an interactive dance performance occurring throughout the gardens. O?Keeffe in the Garden will take place at Van Vleck House and Gardens, 21 Van Vleck Street, Montclair, NJ and is free of charge. Parking will be available on the street.

The event is themed in anticipation of the Museum's fall exhibition Georgia O'Keeffe in New Mexico: Architecture, Katsinam, and the Land. This exhibition, originated by the Georgia O?Keeffe Museum and premiering at the Montclair Art Museum on September 28, 2012, will reveal the little-known breadth of Georgia O?Keeffe?s interest in northern New Mexico and will more particularly illuminate her keen sensitivity and deep respect for the Native American and Hispano cultures of the region.

Sponsorship
Family Day: O'Keeffe in the Garden is made possible by a grant from The Montclair Foundation.

About Van Vleck House and Gardens and the Montclair Foundation
The Van Vleck House & Gardens originated as a 12-acre private estate more than 140 years ago when Joseph Van Vleck Sr. and his family moved to Montclair from Brooklyn in 1868. ?Like many successful businessmen of the era, Joseph Van Vleck Sr came to suburbs seeking a refuge from industrial living and brought to Montclair a grand vision of a country estate surrounded by acres of landscaped grounds. There have been several houses on the grounds over the years; however only the U-shaped Italianate villa, home to Howard Van Vleck and his family, remains.

In 1993 the heirs of Howard Van Vleck gifted the house and grounds at 21 Van Vleck Street to The Montclair Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to support non-profits. ?The Foundation created the Van Vleck Board of Management to oversee the property.

The gardens are public, and open from dawn to dusk, free of charge, 365 days a year. The house is a center for non-profit groups and is available to them for meetings, retreats, and fundraisers. ?Visitors are welcome to enjoy all the garden spaces and encouraged to join us for classes, concerts, and special events.

About the Museum
The Montclair Art Museum, a notable, community-based institution with an international reputation, boasts a renowned collection of American and Native American art that uniquely highlights art making in the United States over the last three hundred years. The collection includes more than 12,000 objects: paintings, prints, original works on paper, photographs, and sculpture by American artists from the 18th century to the present, as well as traditional and contemporary Native American art and artifacts representing the cultural developments of peoples from all of the major American Indian regions. The Museum?s education programs serve a wide public and bring artists, performers, and scholars to the Museum on a regular basis.

MAM?s Yard School of Art is the leading regional art school, offering a multitude of comprehensive courses for children, teens, adults, seniors, and professional artists.

The Montclair Art Museum is located at 3 South Mountain Avenue in Montclair, N.J. Information and directions are available on the Museum website, montclairartmuseum.org, or by calling 973-746-5555. MAM is open Wednesdays through Sundays, Noon ? 5 p.m., and, starting October 4, 2012, on the first Thursday of every month, 5 p.m.?9 p.m. It is closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, and major holidays. Museum admission is $12 for nonmember adults, $10 for senior citizens and students with I.D., and free for members and children under 12. Thursday nights, starting October 4, are free for everyone. First Fridays are also free. The Store at MAM is open Tuesdays through Sundays, 9 a.m.?5 p.m. and has extended hours until 9 p.m. on First Thursdays.

All Museum programs are made possible, in part, by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Vance Wall Foundation, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, and Museum Members.

Source: http://www.prlog.org/11962151-montclair-art-museum-to-offer-free-family-day.html

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Obama courts college students returning to campus

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) ? President Barack Obama, appealing to students who powered his first White House run, swooped onto college campuses Tuesday to remind those returning to class that they hold a unique power to determine the election.

"I just want all of you to understand your power. Don't give it away ? not when you're young," Obama told about 13,000 people gathered on the campus of Colorado State University. "Right now, America is counting on you. And I'm counting on you."

In Colorado and Iowa, Obama told the students that they had much at stake in the Nov. 6 presidential election, panning Republican rival Mitt Romney as a candidate without a plan to move the country forward. "Last week my opponents' campaign went so far as to write you off as a lost generation. That's you according to them," the president said at Iowa State University, referring to a Romney news release last week that referred to college students as the "Obama Economy's Lost Generation."

"What they hope is that by telling you these things, you'll get discouraged and you'll just stay home this time," Obama said in Ames, Iowa. "But you can't believe it. I don't believe it."

Romney's campaign dismissed Obama's remarks, saying he had "brought the same policies to Iowa that have failed to help young Americans across the country" and left many of them "facing higher unemployment, mounting debt, rising costs, and fewer opportunities."

With Republicans gathering in Tampa, Fla., for their party convention, Obama sought to tap the same enthusiasm that propelled millions of young people to campaign and vote for him in 2008. He noted that many of the students on campus were in high school four years ago. "For the first time in many of your lives, you'll get to pick a president," Obama said.

The president, who once led a voter registration drive in Chicago, tried to motivate the young people to register to vote, telling them that "everybody else is waiting for you, if they see you register, they'll register."

Obama aides see college campuses as fertile ground for registering and recruiting some of the more than 15 million young people who have become eligible to vote since the 2008 election. Following stops at Iowa State and Colorado State, he was making a similar appeal on Wednesday in Charlottesville, Va., home to the University of Virginia.

Romney's campaign sees an opportunity to cut into the president's support among young people by pushing a three-pronged economic argument focusing on the nation's high unemployment rate, soaring college costs and the national debt.

The courtship of young voters is an essential part of Obama's campaign plan. Four years ago, Obama won two-thirds of the vote among 18- to 29-year-olds, compared with just 32 percent for his Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain, according to exit polls.

Polls show him leading Romney with college-age voters in this year's race but the president faces an undeniable challenge as he seeks to convince young people that he is the right steward for the economy as they eye a shaky post-graduation job market.

Seeking to overcome that economic uncertainty, Obama's campus volunteers tout the president's positions on social issues, like gay rights, that garner significant support among young people. Obama has stressed his work to freeze interest rates on new federal student loans.

Obama campaign officials say the start of the new school year is a particularly crucial time to ramp up college registration and make sure those new voters get to the polls. In many of the battleground states, about 50 percent of the college students register to vote on campus after Labor Day ? and even those who are already registered may need to change their address after moving to new dorms.

___

Thomas reported from Washington. Associated Press News Survey Specialist Dennis Junius contributed to this report.

___

Follow Julie Pace at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC and Ken Thomas at http://twitter.com/AP_Ken_Thomas

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-courts-college-students-returning-campus-071819268--election.html

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Liverpool misses prime chance

Man of the Match: Perhaps Steven Gerrard is at the point of his career where he can?t be expected to bring his A-game every match, but when he?s on, he can still be a game?s most important player. Today, Gerrard?s passing set the tone for Liverpool, whether it be his direct balls into attack to bridge the gap between midfield and Luis Suarez or his creative switching of play to bring Glen Johnson, Raheem Sterling, and Fabio Borini into play. The prime example: In the 34th minute, his sharp ball into the box forced the corner which, tanks to his bullet for Martin Skrtel, put Liverpool up 1-0.

Packaged for takeaway:

• Manchester City made five changes from the team that beat Southampton, starting in a 5-3-2 formation. Mancini?s preseason toy was being put into play.
• Did it matter? Hard to tell. Liverpool had most of their early success going straight to Luis Suarez, getting the best of the three-on-three midfield battle. If Manchester City used last week?s formation. Liverpool would have had a three-on-two advantage and would have still been able to utilize their wingers behind Samir Nasri and David Silva (who came off the bench today).
• A bigger factor was the play of City?s individual defenders. Vincent Kompany had a rare off day, while Aleksandr Kolarov looked like the man who?s lost his first choice spot to Gael Clichy.
• You?d think City would have still had enough numbers at the back to handle Liverpool, and for the most part, they did. The Reds only had three shots on goal, but thanks to Suarez ? who City never really got a handle on ? Liverpool had no problem transitioning into attack and keeping the ball (City had a 51-49 Opta possession advantage at match?s end).
• But for all his work in open play, Suarez?s place on the scoresheet came from a dead ball, curling a 25-yard free kick inside the right post in the 66th minute, taking advantage of Joe Hart?s ill-placed wall.
• The kick came after a Jack Rodwell hand ball, the new recruit committing the foul as he slid to block a shot. It was the second week in a row a Rodwell mistake led directly to a goal.
• Hart has also had a couple of bad games. At least, they were bad be his standards. After slow reactions on the two goals against Southampton, Hart let Liverpool take a 2-1 lead on a direct kick that should have posed little problem.
• Good news for Hart:?Martin Skrtel saved him with a back pass that led to City?s 80th minute equalizer. Has a defender ever been justified to blindly kick it back to his keeper? Even if the ball gets there, was it really worth the risk? On Sunday, it wasn?t, as Carlos Tevez intercepted the ball, went right around Pepe Reina (who misplayed a cross on the first goal), and made it 2-2.
• It was a tough ending for a Liverpool team that probably should have had three points. The numbers (possession, shots) look similar, but Liverpool was the more dangerous side throughout. To drop two points on a mistake like Skrtel?s overshadows the accomplishment of getting a result from the defending champions.
• But Reds? supporters should take solace in the actual performance. Tottenham?s yet to look that good. Neither have Newcastle or Arsenal (and arguably, Manchester United), other teams with whom Liverpool are expected to compete for European spots. It was a great way to rebound from last week?s disappointment.
• The only bad news for Liverpool: Lucas Leiva left after three minutes with an apparent right thigh problem.
• For City, they?ve needed late goals to get results against two teams there were expected to beat. Four points amid mixed form is a nice problem to have. Still, in the context of a highly competitive Premier League, it?s a problem.

Source: http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2012/08/26/liverpool-2-manchester-city-2/related

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Movie features Franklin County, Va. moonshining | MyFOX8.com ...

Posted on: 6:35 am, August 27, 2012, by Charlie Glancy, updated on: 06:36am, August 27, 2012

ROCKY MOUNT, Va. ? Franklin County?s moonshining past will be on display on movie screens across the country this week.

The feature film ?Lawless,? starring Gary Oldman and Shia LaBeouf, opens in thousands of theaters Wednesday. It?s based on Matt Bondurant?s book ?The Wettest County in the World,? which chronicles the lives of the Bondurant brothers, a prominent moonshining family.

The Roanoke Times reports that while most of the stills are gone, moonshine is still big business locally. It?s evident in the T-shirts and bumper stickers for sale around Rocky Mount, and on Franklin County Historical Society bookshelves that hold numerous volumes about local makers of illegal liquor.

Aimee Brookes, owner of the Eagle Cinema 5 in Rocky Mount, says the entire community is buzzing with excitement about the movie.

___
Information from: The Roanoke Times, http://www.roanoke.com

Source: http://myfox8.com/2012/08/27/movie-features-franklin-county-va-moonshining/

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Brad Pitt and Denzel Washington May Star in Candy Store Thriller

Stan Lee on His Favorite DC Superhero and Least Favorite Marvel Film Aug 25th, 2012 First Look: "The Amazing Spider-Man" Blu-ray Gift Set Aug 25th, 2012 Tony Scott's Suicide Note Doesn't Explain Reason for Death Aug 25th, 2012 Review: The Apparition Aug 25th, 2012 Brad Pitt and Denzel Washington May Star in "Candy Store" Thriller Aug 24th, 2012 "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune" Movie Hires "National Treasure" Writers Aug 24th, 2012 Hugh Laurie is NOT Villain in "RoboCop" Remake, Clive Owen May Be Aug 24th, 2012 Johnny Depp Offered $95 Million for "Pirates of the Caribbean 5"? Aug 24th, 2012 Video: How "The Dark Knight Rises" Should Have Ended Aug 24th, 2012 Review: Premium Rush Aug 24th, 2012 Quentin Tarantino Saved Eli Roth from Being Drugged and Robbed Aug 24th, 2012 Todd Lincoln on Why Fox Rejected His Pitch for "The Fly" Remake Aug 24th, 2012 LL Cool J's Burglar Faces Life in Prison Aug 24th, 2012 Review: Hit and Run Aug 24th, 2012 Ashton Kutcher as Older Steve Jobs in "jOBS" Set Photos Aug 24th, 2012 Ang Lee to Replace David Fincher on "Cleopatra," with Angelina Jolie Aug 24th, 2012 Trailer for "Passion" Erotic Thriller, with Rachel McAdams and Noomi Rapace Aug 24th, 2012 Was Robin Supposed to Get a Suit in "The Dark Knight Rises"? Aug 24th, 2012 New Photos of Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman on "Paranoia" Set Aug 24th, 2012 Trailer for "Butter" Comedy, with Jennifer Garner and Hugh Jackman Aug 23rd, 2012 Eli Roth Says "Thanksgiving" is Moving Forward Aug 23rd, 2012 New 60-Second Trailer for "Dredd" Aug 23rd, 2012 Tim Burton's "Batman" Sold More Tickets Than "The Dark Knight Rises" Aug 23rd, 2012 Actor Arrested in Harvey Weinstein Extortion Plot Aug 23rd, 2012 LL Cool J Stops Burglar by Breaking His Nose and Jaw Aug 23rd, 2012 First Bloody Photo from "Carrie" Remake Aug 23rd, 2012 "The Hobbit" Ticket Prices Won't Go Up for 48 FPS Screenings Aug 23rd, 2012 "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" Sequel is Moving Forward Aug 23rd, 2012 James Franco to Show Real Gay Sex in His "Cruising" Film Aug 23rd, 2012 Ellen DeGeneres to Return as Dory in "Finding Nemo" Sequel Aug 23rd, 2012 Gerard Butler Won't Return for "300" Sequel Aug 23rd, 2012 Angelina Jolie's Daughter to Join Her in "Maleficent" Aug 23rd, 2012 Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje is Villainous Kurse in "Thor" Sequel Aug 22nd, 2012

Posted: August 24th, 2012 by WorstPreviews.com Staff THR has learned that Brad Pitt and Denzel Washington may team for the first time in a crime thriller called "Candy Store," that's written and will be directed by Stephen Gaghan, who directed "Syriana" and won an Oscar for writing "Traffic." The two actors are currently in early talks to star. In "Candy Store," a highly trained deep-cover operative starts his life over in Brooklyn as a beat cop only to discover the global organization he was dedicated to fighting also is operating in his new backyard. The script has equally large roles for the two main characters. Jamie Foxx was said to be interested in one of the roles as well. Source: THR Ranger writes: on August 24th, 2012 at 9:31:18 PM Getting away from crime and going back to the old hood sounds like almost every Seagal film. But with Pitt and Washington... this would be a must-see. jatilq writes: on August 24th, 2012 at 10:05:00 PM This does sound interesting if it has a decent script. I would like to see Liam Neeson an Either one of them. Perfect if this was a Heat type movie. jatilq writes: on August 24th, 2012 at 10:14:19 PM No more the Master teaching the student type movies we have been seeing. A script with two men who are beaten and don't give a f*ck.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/worstpreviews/headlines-30/~3/hR3B7FxD8Pw/headline.php

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New Osteoporosis Treatment Safer, More Effective

New York researchers have discovered a new way to potentially treat or prevent osteoporosis. This news is particularly encouraging to patients such as myself who have osteopenia or osteoporosis and who cannot tolerate standard osteoporosis drugs.

Scientists from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine believe that a polyclonal antipeptide antibody that can block follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) could provide a superior means of arresting or even preventing the bone disease, according to Medical News Today.

Osteoporosis is a medical term for "porous bone." It affects 55 percent of individuals at least 50 years old in the United States, the National Osteoporosis Foundation reports. Around 80 percent of patients are women. The bones of individuals with the disease weaken and sometimes break from even a simple action like sneezing. Patients experience no signs of the disorder in its early stages.

Individuals who have bone mineral density below the normal range but not low enough to be classified as osteoporosis are said to suffer from osteopenia, which usually begins in middle age, according to WebMD. The disorder is sometimes due to metabolic or other medical problems rather than age and is considered a pre-osteoporosis condition.

Risk factors include having a family history of osteoporosis, being thin, having limited physical activity, being Caucasian or Asian, smoking, drinking colas, and consuming an excessive amount of alcohol. The treatment for osteopenia -- calcium, Vitamin D, and exercise -- also prevents osteoporosis, the Mayo Clinic says.

The Mount Sinai researchers used a mouse model in their study. Injecting a polyclonal antipeptide antibody helped bone regenerate by both building it and slowing its destruction. The scientists contend that a monoclonal human antibody would be safer than conventional osteoporosis treatments because it doesn't remain in bone.

The study looked for ways to block FSH, which acts as a catalyst for bone loss and can inhibit bone formation. FSH levels rise early in menopause. While the researchers think their discovery provides a possible treatment for osteoporosis that's better than current medications, their ultimate goal was finding a way to prevent the disease. They believe that a human monoclonal antibody to FSH could accomplish this.

Because of years of taking corticosteroids to control the symptoms of Crohn's disease and poor Vitamin D absorption, I developed osteopenia at an early age. The standard steps of increasing calcium, Vitamin D, and exercise have not stopped its progression, and bone density scans suggest I am close to having osteoporosis.

Like many individuals with digestive disorders, I will not be able to take the standard oral osteoporosis medications: Fosamax, Actonel, Atelvia, Boniva, Reclast, and Zometa. We are waiting for the development of a medication or a protocol that we will be able to tolerate. The Mount Sinai research offers the possibility of a new treatment that would help us and be effective in actually preventing osteoporosis in others.

Vonda J. Sines has published thousands of print and online health and medical articles. She specializes in diseases and other conditions that affect the quality of life.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/osteoporosis-treatment-safer-more-effective-155400676.html

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Other airlines match Southwest's $10 price hike

DALLAS?? Most other airlines have matched a price increase by Southwest Airlines Co., meaning that travelers could pay $10 per round trip more for shorter trips.

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      Julia Child would have turned 100 this month. To commemorate the late cookbook author, restaurants this week are serving French recipes inspired by Child, and her kitchen will be on display in a musuem.

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The fare hike, which started Friday, applied to flights of less than 500 miles each way. It was matched by others including United, Delta and American.

J.P. Morgan analyst Jamie Baker considered the increase a variation of a United-led fare hike in July that was partly rolled back when Southwest refused to raise short-haul flights.

Southwest hikes almost a third of its fares by $5

Baker predicted that airlines will keep trying to raise prices because of high fuel prices and a limited supply of seats.

The Dallas carrier attributed the increase to higher costs. Its second-quarter operating expenses rose 6 percent including increases for fuel, labor and maintenance.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48726344/ns/travel-news/

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The 7-11 Mashed Potato Machine: What Happens When Brands Fall ...

Whenever I go on Twitter, I?m drawn for some unexplainable reason to the Trending Topics. Oftentimes, the trends are something cringe-worthy like or ?Demi Lovato Is My Idol,? but sometimes the topics are actually newsworthy and interesting. While on Twitter a few weeks ago, I noticed an intriguing trending topic.

The one that stood out to me was ?7-11 Now Serves Mashed Potatoes Like a Slurpee.? Many of the trending topics that crop up are jokes and can?t be taken seriously (more than a few celebrities have been victims of Twitter death hoaxes), but it turns out that 7-11 really is serving mashed potatoes like a Slurpee. I wasn?t alone in my initial doubts regarding 7-11?s Slurpee-mashed potato machine; The Huffington Post wrote on Monday that they had to look at the mashed potato vending machine a few times to be sure it was real.

It is. The photographic proof:

Image Courtesy of Gizmodo

Yes, you do have the option of filling a Big Gulp with instant mashed potatoes. I personally don?t think the words ?Gulp? and ?potatoes? belong in the same sentence, but maybe some people do. According to Tecca, these machines are a fixture in Singapore, but 7-11 reps couldn?t give any detailed information as to whether they will push this product in the U.S.

Mashed Potato Marketing

I read through the 60 comments on The Huffington Post article and the three on the Gizmodo post and most comments consisted of people mourning the depths of unhealthiness to which the nation has sunk. (Although there was one person who felt the need to comment six times within seven minutes and praise the machine as ?like, the greatest invention ever.?) I also looked at tweets sent out on the topic of 7-11?s instant-potato machine; choice commentary included ?No, I refuse to accept this? and ?hella gross.?

7-11?s mashed potato dispenser got me thinking about the connection between brands and consumers. Apparently, these machines have taken off in Singapore, but for 7-11 to assume that their target demographic in Singapore is the same as in the U.S. is unwise. Judging from the comments I read, it doesn?t seem that these potatoes are palatable to U.S. consumers (though I?m surprised by the fact that even the people in Singapore find them palatable. Maybe I?m underestimating the power of Slurpee-esque potatoes?) Marketing, advertising, and selling is all about targeting an audience and connecting to consumers. Maybe the 7-11 brand can connect to Singapore consumers via watery, runny instant taters, but can they connect to U.S. consumers through this same, seemingly utterly inedible medium? If commentary online and on Twitter is an accurate representation of consumer opinion, then it looks like selling the mashed-potato machine will be a challenging task for 7-11.

Brand Disconnect, Social Media, and Shiny Object Syndrome

To be fair, if these machines come to the U.S., maybe they will become popular. Maybe some people would love to eat mashed potatoes and gravy from a Big Gulp cup. But at first glance, the thought of installing these in U.S. stores seems like a classic case of brand disconnect.

I think that many product flops can be attributed to brand disconnect. Consider the Volt, an electric car that was deemed one of the worst product flops of 2011 by 24/7 Wall Street. Clearly, GM overestimated consumer?s interest in electric vehicles. Larry Nitz, GM?s Executive Director for Vehicle Electrification told Reuters, ?It?s naive to think that the world is going to switch tomorrow to EVs [electric vehicles].? Consumer interest and need didn?t align with GM?s expectations.

I was curious: is brand disconnect common? If 7-11 really is removed from the opinions and thoughts of everyday consumers, are they an exception to the rule, or are most brands detached from consumers as well? I think this question is especially relevant in our social-media-savvy society. It seems like every business, athlete, actor, and singer has a Facebook page and a Twitter account. I saw this taped up on the mirror in the locker room of my gym a few weeks ago:

It seems like social media would be a panacea for any case of brand disconnect: the sheer number of people who use social networking sites alone gives brands a direct connection to consumers. Plus, brands can monitor conversations and gauge consumer sentiments through channels like Facebook and Twitter (If 7-11 read a few tweets, then they would realize that public sentiment to the mashed potato dispenser is lukewarm at best.) But, sometimes it seems that establishing a Facebook page or Twitter account is merely the latest symptom of shiny object syndrome. Businesses create these accounts because they feel they are the newest, latest thing, but then they move on to the next newest and latest thing rather than really developing their social media sites.

So, do brands take advantage of the benefits of social media? Do they use social media to connect to and engage consumers? Do they use social media to ameliorate brand disconnect?

The Point at Which Brands and Consumers Diverge

Last week, I listened in on a webinar by Dan Zarrella. He talked about a disconnect between brands and consumers when it comes to social media. There?s a difference in the ways brands are claiming social media and the way consumers use it. According to Zarrella, because social media is expanding at an incredible rate and speed, brands are attempting to figure out how to use social media effectively. Consumers, on the other hand, have already built strong social networks. They already have a handle on Facebook and Twitter.

Zarrella also discussed the fact that the way in which brands use social media is different than the way in which consumers use social media. I found other research that affirms this discrepancy between the social media habits of brands and those of consumers. I?ve actually written about why consumers like brands on Facebook before, but in a different context, so it?s worth repeating here.

Why Brands Use Social Media

• To build brand awareness
• To engage existing customers
• To drive traffic
• To increase the size of their community
• To launch/announce products (Research from Dan Zarrella)

Why Consumers Like Brands on Facebook

• 58% of people like a brand because they are a customer.
• 57% of people like because they want to receive discounts and promotions.
• 41% of people like to show others that they like/support said brand.
• 31% like because they want to gain access to exclusive content. (Research from Social Media Quickstarter and Chadwick Martin Bailey)
• People also want to connect to similar people.
• People want customer support. (Research from Dan Zarrella)

It looks like there is a definite gap between brand use of social media and consumer use. Over half of people like a brand because they want deals, yet offering promotions doesn?t even figure into brands? social marketing objectives. Another thing lacking on brands? agendas is customer support; people want this, but companies aren?t offering it.

Where Them Brands At?

Here are some other interesting statistics that reveal that brands are failing when it comes to connecting with consumers via social media.

• 25% of consumers expect to hear back from a company when they tweet about a brand or product, only 9% actually receive a response.
• 35% say that after ?liking? a brand on Facebook, they expect to hear from the company, yet 58% say they have never received a response from a company after liking it.
• 2.8% of companies report that when fans like their brand it results in better quality interactions. (Survey conducted by Lithium Technologies)
• Companies ignore 95% of all wall posts! (Study by Socialbakers)

I think the most surprising statistics are the last two. Brands say that they want to engage customers, and what better opportunity to do that than when people have taken the time and initiative to like a website/business/celebrity on Facebook or follow them on Twitter? Clearly these people have some level of interest in said product or person. Yet, most companies don?t build quality interactions with fans, and they ignore the overwhelming majority of wall posts! Brands are not only disconnected from consumers, their words are disconnected from their actions.

The Silver Lining

These statistics paint a bleak picture of brands? social media strategies. But, there are some brands that have winning strategies. They engage fans, respond to questions, offer customer service, and express gratitude for loyal customers.

Pepsi: A Pop Can with a Positive Attitude

I think the fact that Pepsi responded to this comment is pretty remarkable, not only because most companies don?t respond to wall posts (some companies even close their walls to comments). Pepsi has close to 8.5 million fans, so the fact that they took the time to reply back to and show appreciation for a single fan shows how attentive and dedicated they are. The Pepsi wall is actually filled with replies from Pepsi to fans.

Starbucks: Coffee and Customer Service

This interaction reveals the high-quality customer service Starbucks offers. One of the interesting things about this is the fact that the customer didn?t address her tweet directly to Starbucks; she simply mentioned Starbucks, and yet, they responded, apologized, and offered to help.

Peanut Butter & Co: Peanut Butter and Props

This tweet is just one of many examples of Peanut Butter & Co.?s customer engagement. Retweeting followers lets them know they?re being listened to, gives them props, and shows appreciation.

Silk: More than Milk

Silk shows some fan love with a simple thank you: a gesture that?s small in characters but speaks volume as to the relationship Silk has with their followers.

Neutrogena: Tackling Criticism One Angsty Teen at a Time

Neutrogena could very easily disregard the extremely vague criticism by the above Facebook user and dismiss the comment as trivial and insignificant. However, Neutrogena addressed it the following day by giving the Facebook commenter an outlet through which to voice her frustration.

Seven Eleven and a Summary

Unfortunately, most brands don?t address wall posts and tweets in the way the above companies do. Because research shows that the social media strategy of brands is seriously lacking, sites like Facebook and Twitter won?t help bridge the disconnect between brands and consumers. The potential to remedy any company-customer divide through social media exists, but companies have to take advantage of this potential. Perhaps the problem with 7-11 is the fact that the convenience store lacks a social media presence. Their Twitter and Facebook accounts look like digital wastelands.

Zero tweets, zero following, and no verification don?t exactly spell social media success. And neither does the one post that they have put on what looks to be the 7-11 Facebook wall:

Hopefully customers will gobble up those mashed potatoes as fast as the taters come out of the dispenser! Lolz!

(view original post via Mainstreethost Search Marketing)

Source: http://www.business2community.com/branding/the-7-11-mashed-potato-machine-what-happens-when-brands-fall-out-of-touch-with-consumers-0256389

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Stunt_Girl: Jeez. Is there a way to filter Out certain hash tags on your twitter feed? #couldn'tgivetwohootsaboutthexfactor

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://twitter.com/Stunt_Girl/statuses/236915613728124929

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DeMarco: Why not a 162-game ban for PED users?

Cabrera's testosterone bust proves 50 games aren't strong enough deterrent

OPINION

By Tony DeMarco

NBCSports.com contributor

updated 2:56 p.m. ET Aug. 16, 2012

Tony DeMarco

Melky Cabrera gets caught juicing, then is upstaged a few hours later by Felix Hernandez's perfect game.

But while King Felix has joined the short list of immortals with the season's latest magical moment of pitching dominance (bet you can't list all six no-hitters), the mess Melky has made isn't going away.

Who's mad at Melky? It's a long list:

The Giants: Pablo Sandoval just came off the disabled list, and the Giants finally thought they had their lineup settled. And when you looked at the projected 1-through-5 of Angel Pagan, Cabrera, Buster Posey, Sandoval and Hunter Pence, it did seem formidable enough for another deep playoff run.

But now manager Bruce Bochy is back to writing Gregor Blanco's name on the lineup, and general manager Brian Sabean probably is searching for corner-outfielder alternatives through the waiver-deal process.

But at this point after the July 31 non-waivers trade deadline, there's no replacing Cabrera's top-10 MVP-level production: League-leading hit total (159), second-highest NL batting average (.346), the league's eighth-highest OPS (.906), and second on the Giants behind Posey in home runs (11), RBI (60), on-base percentage (.390) and slugging percentage (.516).

Through a tight-lipped grimace, there was no mistaking Posey's anger in the wake of Cabrera's suspension: "It was a mistake, and that's all I want to say about it," he said to a group of interviewers.

At least this occurred before the Giants had signed Cabrera to a long-term deal. But more on that later.

All American League contending teams: That MVP acceptance speech in Kansas City, where Cabrera credited hard work, thanked God, yadda, yadda, now paints him as a fraud.

So does the fact that when questioned by CSN Bay Area beat writer Andrew Baggarly a couple of weeks ago about rumors of PED use, Cabrera denied it ? apparently while right in the midst of going through the appeal process for the positive test.

But because Cabrera was the biggest part of the NL's 8-0 All-Star Game wipeout, whoever emerges as AL champion will have to deal with home-field disadvantage in the World Series. And there was no bigger example of how important that can be than last October.

Even Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday has admitted that beating the Rangers in Games 6 and 7 would have been unlikely if those games had been played in Rangers Ballpark rather than Busch Stadium.

Most everybody outside of the commissioner's office agrees the idea of pinning something so important as World Series home-field advantage to what is played on the field as an All-Star exhibition game is a totally flawed concept that must be changed. Now, the game's MVP was a cheater, too, and the AL could pay the price again.

We'll say it here once again: World Series home-field advantage should be determined by overall interleague records ? where the AL clearly has dominated in recent years.

MLB: You'll hear that Cabrera's suspension is more evidence that the drug-testing program is working, and that's true. The game is cleaner today than at the height of the Steroids Era.

But it's a fact of human nature that a percentage of players will try to cheat, especially when there are staggering financial fortunes possibly at stake, and especially when a highly sophisticated level of test-beating measures apparently are out there.

So what should now be obvious to both the commissioner's office and the players union is that the threat of a 50-game suspension and whatever public embarrassment occurs isn't enough of a deterrent. How about a 162-game suspension, or a full calendar year, for a first-time offender? That could affect two seasons ? a significant chunk of a player's career.

Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson ? among many others around the game ? agrees. As he told the Arizona Republic: "I think it should be a minimum of a year (for a first offense), and after that (an offender) should just be banned."

And on top of the fact that the All-Star Game MVP was a cheater, we're looking at the distinct possibility of a tainted NL batting title. That's what will happen if Andrew McCutchen, Joey Votto or somebody else doesn't finish with a batting average above .346 ? Cabrera's average with one more plate appearance added on to reach the necessary 502).

And finally, Cabrera himself: Cabrera's transformed 2011-12 seasons had put him in position for a huge payout this offseason in free agency. How much, we'll never know for certain. But something in the area of four or five years and $40 million to $60 million is a reasonable assumption.

That's nowhere near the level Josh Hamilton could reach this offseason as potentially the market's top free agent. But other potential free-agent outfielders in Cabrera's price range ?

Michael Bourn, B.J. Upton, Shane Victorino, Torii Hunter ? suddenly have become a bit more valued, while Cabrera could plummet to half of what he might have received.

Obviously, that was a chance Cabrera felt was worth taking. And it can't help but make you think that in reality ? that is, without PEDs ? maybe he is much closer to the fourth-outfielder type he was with the Yankees and Braves than his last two seasons with the Royals and Giants. And yes, it's right to question those 2011 numbers, too, because that's when his dramatic transformation began.

? 2012 NBC Sports.com? Reprints

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Bombs away in the Bronx

Derek Jeter hit his 250th home run, Nick Swisher connected twice and the New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 6-4 on a lightning-filled Friday night for their eighth win in 10 games.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/48691224/ns/sports-baseball/

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