Business | Pomelo girl thoughts

Update on JumpStart laying off TNT

Posted on March 9, 2015 by elemonated

On Reddit this morning, I saw this:

So I went on the Facebook page and confirmed this:

Sierra Hunt, I think, is just an avid Neopets user, but apparently she contacted them through the JumpStart page, and this was the response she got. I can’t find the post on the JumpStart page, so I’m assuming it was deleted or she sent a direct message. Fingers crossed for a speedy statement.

The good news: Neopets is not gone forever.
The bad news: Neopets is probably gone forever anyway.

JumpStart lays off most of the old Neopets staff

Posted on March 8, 2015 by elemonated

Unfortunately, I’m pretty sure I’m the only person in my peer group who cares about this, but I’m going to write out a little timeline anyway because it cuts to what’s left of my childhood nostalgia.

Back in 1999, Adam Powell, a programmer and game designer, and Donna Williams, a web designer and graphic artist, started Neopets as a way to “keep university students entertained, and possibly make some cash from banner advertising.” (Source) It soon garnered more than 600,000 views per day, and those working on the site reached out to investors to help cover costs. I probably joined in 2001 when I was about 9 when they had become a serious gaming site, and had taken off a lot of the non-Neopets jokes and branding. It was, at that point, almost totally converted to a children-oriented site where swearwords were monitored and personal information couldn’t be shared, but there were still themes of dark humor (murder mystery complete with decapitation!) in some of the content put up, and some of the female characters of the site were perhaps more scantily-clad than on a regular kids’ site.

In 2004, the team developed a premium membership in place of banner ads and some virtual perks. I never personally took advantage of these because I was still school aged, but I did take advantage of the free trial once!

In 2005, Adam and Donna sold the site to Viacom for $160 million (Source), and by 2007, a lot of the site was completely redesigned. The site itself, the pets, the shops, the worlds, etc, and some of the changes were made to make customization of pets (namely clothing and backgrounds) feasible, which opened up the possibility of pay-to-play features that they launched later in the year. Neopets was promoted through Nickelodeon at that time with lots of different types of merch and gift cards and a minishow. Some people were disgusted that TNT (The Neopets Team, as they are collectively referred to as) had sold out, and along with their demographic aging on them, the site became less and less popular. Users who were still on it however were more or less accepting of the changes as the function and core of it was still the same. Myself included, though I started to use the site less frequently.

In 2014, Neopets was acquired by JumpStart (Source), and basically everyone hated that shift. Server lags, glitches, didn’t add anything new– and on March 6th, nearly all of the Neopets staff were laid-off for unknown reasons. (Source)

It doesn’t look good. I think I may have to say good bye to a huge chunk of my childhood, and it is not a nice feeling.

I Will What I Want – Under Armor

Posted on February 16, 2015 by elemonated

I’m loving those new Under Armour ads. They’re a perfect follow up in the theme set by the Always #LikeaGirl Superbowl ads; crazy excellent women doing crazy excellent at the things they do. Misty Copeland, especially struck me as a a great model for this particular set of ads because I have experience with the dance and performance industry, and the voice-over used in her video really struck a chord. Under Armour especially does a great job expressing an emboldening message, while making their products look fantastic.

Any profession where the body is used as an outward vessel for expression incites criticism of the vessel. Calls for an idealization of the vessel that makes it so that expression through it is exclusive. Modeling is the same way, though Giselle Bundchen’s ad focuses on a slightly different issue. There’s this odd tendency in all visual arts, from videography to photography to writing to watercolor to etching to dance, that dehumanizes the subject, and concentrates them down to that moment. At best, art gives a summary. We can’t forget that there’re always more to the story.

Breyers Announces Switch to Hormone-Free Milk and Cream

Posted on February 9, 2015 by elemonated

http://www.thedailymeal.com/news/eat/breyers-announces-switch-hormone-free-milk-and-cream-other-unilever-ice-cream-brands-follow/20415

I’m feeling pretty good about this change. Breyers was my number one back when I was younger, and I was so disappointed when a lot of their ice cream became “frozen dairy dessert” after Unilever changed the recipes in 2006. The news doesn’t say anything about changing some of the frozen dairy dessert back to ice cream, but it’s good that the company is paying attention to consumers and aiding them on the quest to a less problematic diet, I guess. And who knows? Maybe one day Breyers will change everything back and my inner fat kid will rejoice in the nostalgia of it all. I still eat that natural vanilla when my throat is sore though (before you think this is odd, I know it’s counter-intuitive and likely completely counterproductive, but the main character in The Dark Side of Nowhere by Neal Shusterman does it and I’ve always been heavily affected by books.)

Until then though, I think I’ll stick with some local product, like ice cream from the Denville Dairy and Milk Sugar Love. And if I need a quick pint, there’s always the ever faithful Haagen Dazs, which has a more complicated ownership: while the brand is owned by General Mills, they acquired it when they acquired Pillsbury who bought Haagen Dazs in 1983, and it’s licensed to Dreyer’s/Nestle, so technically they make the product. Crazy corporate stuff!

Bee and Puppycat Sweater from WeLoveFine

Posted on February 5, 2015 by elemonated

I guess we’re going to call this a review because I’m going to be talking about one product that I purchased that I have opinions on.

So I bought this sweater:

a few months ago as a sort of final exam treat/Christmas present to myself. It’s adorable. The design is from the web cartoon Bee and Puppycat which I supported in a Kickstarter and wrote about back in September. It fits decently, a little baggy, but that’s what happens when your shoulders are randomly thick for your body. I paid like, $52.50 for that purchase, which I guess is within my willingness to pay, but I kind of wish I didn’t now. The sweater itself is pretty crap quality. It stretches with wear, and I’m sure if I snagged it on something, it would tear immediately. It’s not very warm either. I’ll still wear it, because the design is still adorable, but I’m feeling a little price gouged. I’ve only worn it three to four times since I’ve gotten it, and I’m always wary of sharp corners. I’ve purchased other thing from nerd-gear suppliers and I’ve always found that the stuff is always so hit-or-miss, and the quality inconsistent.

I’m still relatively happy with my purchase, but now that I’m about to graduate, I’m feeling a little more serious about my personal finance. I can’t partake in the support of some of my favorite nerd things if this continues to be an issue.

I’m having a pretty good day

Posted on February 4, 2015 by elemonated

I started my new job today. And the hectic craziness that is going to be my life until at least May. And if I have it my way, the rest of my non-retired life will be fairly similar.

IMG_20150204_084226

Sleepy train station picture! One transfer, about an hour (more like 40 minutes), all-in-all a decent commute. I don’t start too early, so there isn’t that much of a fight for sitting room which is nice.

P.F. Chang’s is being sued over its gluten-free menu

Posted on February 3, 2015 by elemonated

https://www.yahoo.com/health/why-p-f-changs-is-being-sued-over-its-109996603802.html

This is a departure from what I normally write about, but I just wanted to write that this is a stupid issue. Having an allergy is not a disability. No one’s holding a gun to your head when you choose to visit an establishment. If you’re struggling to save money because of your out-of-house food choices, you should probably reassess the value of those choices. If you can’t afford the restaurant’s having to buy and house completely separate (and more expensive! I’ve cooked gluten-free before, it seems like a really expensive allergy to have just in general) ingredients and equipment to prepare food you can eat, then you should probably stay home.

Cooking’s fun, and cooking teachers are ubiquitous. Maybe Ms. Phillips should watch some more Youtube videos.

Anne can help!

Malin + Goetz

Posted on January 28, 2015 by elemonated

Incorporating the sales of a skincare/fragrance line is something I didn’t really expect out of a restaurant, and I certainly don’t go and eat out for the perfumery discoveries I might find in the bathroom. It is, however, always nice to stumble upon some stuff you’ve never tried before, and to find out they’re not only e-commerce, they’re also rather close by.

I visited Osteria/Talde with my boyfriend riding on the buzz of the foodie crowd that extended from conversations in the depths of Isakaya MEW in Midtown, to the patrons around Dale Talde’s original restaurant in Park Slope to, of course, the artists of the Jersey City neighborhood it’s in the process of opening up in as I write this. I’ll write more about the food when the other half opens up, and I decide to write that big post about Jersey City hipsterification (said with love. They serve a freaking kale salad and their other salads have grains in them. Not hating, it was delicious.)

This was our table. And then they moved us because it was too small for the food we picked out. And then I stopped taking pictures because I was hungry.

The place is also proceeded by Carrino Provisions which is a little gourmet market that sells meat, cheese, and…bath products. It’s rather interestingly placed in the store; it’s in a bad place if you’re coming in, since it’s on a shelf facing inward against a wall next to the entrance, but it’s in a great place if you’re leaving. The soap in the bathroom is also their rum hand + body wash, which is interesting and lovely smelling, with the main draw being the rum, and when a patron leaves, they face the shelf with Malin + Goetz on it on the way out. They also sell their lime body lotion, alongside the rum soap and body lotion. I tried. I liked. I’m penciling in Malin + Goetz for a visit.

Puig buys Pengalion’s and L’Artisan

Posted on January 27, 2015 by elemonated

http://www.basenotes.net/perfumenews/3014-puig-buy-penhaligons-and-lartisan

I wonder what this will do to the brands’ quality. I know on the consumer side that there have been complaints about the delayed shipping of L’Artisan’s Tea for Two recently, likely due to the shifting organizational and department changes actions like this cause. On the other hand, Paco Rabanne and the Gaultier fragrances have been rather popular, and I don’t think Prada, Valentino, or Comme des Garçons have suffered.

From the Puig website (that keeps thinking I’m on a tablet when I’m not):

“Puig is committed to continue expanding its presence in the prestige perfumery category. This acquisition firmly positions Puig in the growing exclusive, high-end fragrance category.”

This explains the strategic moves behind the acquisition, but it doesn’t say what Puig is planning on doing with the two brands. I haven’t gotten to try Penhaligon’s yet, but I love L’Artisan and I hope the quality will stay consistent throughout this whole process.

Hershey vs. the UK

Posted on January 24, 2015 by elemonated

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/24/nyregion/after-a-deal-british-chocolates-wont-cross-the-pond.html?_r=0

That’s insane. I understand Hershey has a trademark to protect, but overseas Cadbury has this lovely distinct taste to it that the ones created here simply don’t have. I can’t believe Hershey was able to block the importing of decent eating chocolate. LBB Imports, the name of the company Hershey sued, cannot sell imported candies such as Toffee Crisps, Yorkies, and Maltesers, as well as candy with American equivalents like Cadbury, Kit-Kats, and Rolos anymore, and the lawsuit was dropped. It’s like an affront against globalization though.

We’re already facing a chocolate shortage. I am now even less likely to buy Hershey products, and I originally had only really liked Kit-Kats, Reese’s Pieces, and York Peppermint Patties, none of which I purchased on anything resembling a regular basis. They may have a right to protect their trademark, but this leaves a bad taste in my mouth.