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Do YOU Have What it Takes to Work in Advertising?
"Advertising is fundamentally persuasion and persuasion happens to be not a science, but an art."- William Burnbach
During my time here at Spectrum + Mindclay, I have been lucky enough to observe many different aspects of the advertising business. Although my current intern position is in account management, I have also been able to work with people in different departments. Through my interactions and observations, I became curious about the other positions available in advertising and the role they play in the business. In order to learn a little more about each role, I decided to sit down with and interview four fellow staff members here, each representing a different job in the industry.
During my time speaking with them, I learned a lot about each position, including, what the responsibilities are, the qualities needed, and suggested tips. If you've ever asked yourself the question "should I consider a career in advertising?" then this is the right blog for you.
Samantha Morris
Position: Account Manager
What does she do?
Her job can be broken into three main responsibilities: 1) Serving as a liaison between clients and the creative team. At the project start, the Account Manager is the one making the introductions, figuring out what the client challenge is, facilitating that, and then working with the team specifically on strategy and understanding the data, the information, and the challenge at hand. 2) Management of the client through the entirety of the project. This can include checking in on the client after the first round of revisions and making sure the project is on strategy, keeping them updated, and measuring the success of a project once it is completed. 3) New business development. This is done primarily by researching businesses and brands in the market within strategic verticals, and determining opportunities that would align with the agency's capabilities. Once a potential new business partner is found, she will work with the Creative Director in putting together the information, samples, and in essence a "pitch."
What are some qualities needed to work in this profession?
"You have to be calm. It can be a crazy business – it's fast paced and intense so you need to be the person who keeps everyone calm. If a client calls with a problem you need to be able to remain composed and solve it – you're a problem solver at heart. You also need to be strategic; you're the one connecting the client and the creative team, so it's important to keep your eye on the objective to ensure solutions meet the needs of the business. You need to be very detail-oriented; making sure the client is happy and everything is being executed properly. And generally, you just have to be curious and energetic. Because you work with such a variety of clients and business's that are all so different in some cases, it's important that you bring the same level of energy to that business and client no matter who you're talking to!"
Advice you have for young professionals pursuing a career in Account Management?
"Internships are very important. While I majored in marketing, my exposure to advertising was rather limited in the classroom – it was something I really learned on the job. Working at an actual business or agency can be so dynamic and is just something that can't be taught in a book. Another thing that really helped me was getting subscriptions to Adweek, Ad Age, Mashable, StreamDaily, etc., because that's all about what's happening in the industry every single day. It's really important to stay plugged in so that when you do have an opportunity you're already ahead of the game. Lastly, I think finding and working with a mentor is a good idea. It was very helpful for me building a relationship with a seasoned Account Director in my early twenties that I could observe and learn from – the lessons I learned were invaluable."
Matt Beharry
Position: Art Director
What does he do?
As Art Director, he leads the team in the design and aesthetics of projects and of the entire studio. Whatever projects the editors, motion designers, or other members of the team are working on at the time, the vision for the style of art and design are driven by him and through him. He might not be tasked with creating all the content that is executed, but he works with the team to determine the overall style and tone for each project. It is his responsibility to ensure that everything created and sent out is consistent with the client's brand messaging and is on par with what the company is capable of. At the end of the day, he is in charge of getting the best artistic quality out of everybody and out of everything the company does.
What are some qualities that are needed to work as an Art Director?
"Solid design fundamentals are important – layout, typography, Photoshop and Illustrator skills are needed to work as an Art Director. As an Art Director you need to determine how to best represent a concept visually and work with artists/designers to execute the final product. Usually the way it works is you work you way up as a designer. You'll go from Junior Designer to Designer to Senior Designer to Junior Art Director to Art Director. Perseverance is important – with solid fundamentals, strong communication skills (both visual and verbal) and hard work you can transition into leadership roles."
Advice you have for young professionals pursuing a career in Art Direction?
"A former Creative Director of mine use to tell me this: "don't put birds in your portfolio if you don't want to draw birds." Basically, that means to put the work out that you're passionate about and that you to want to do. If you aren't interested in doing 3D animation, than don't put a bunch of 3D animation in your portfolio, because that could lead to you getting a job that you're uninterested in. It's better to focus your portfolio and show off the type of work you're interested in doing. Another thing I would suggest is to try to do as much of your own personal projects as you can. When you're in a design program, students are basically given the same project, and when it comes time for you to look for a job a lot of your work is going to be pretty similar to theirs. By creating your own personal work it gives you an edge over the 5 other people vying for the same position."
Chris Stevens
Position: Editor
What does he do?
In the broadest sense, once a story has been written and filmed, it is Chris's responsibility to craft what was recorded into the true story. Sometimes a story can morph during filming, and although that isn't always the case, if it happens, it is his job to find the story and to make sure that the vision of the writer comes to life in the final result.
What are some qualities needed to work as an Editor?
"Trust your instincts and be decisive. When you're working under a deadline, you can't spend hours on one part of a video, you need to be able to listen to your gut and make decisions quickly and effectively. Don't be afraid to make mistakes either because you're going to make them. Sometimes clients won't like what you've created, especially on the first cut, and in those situations you have to have a thick skin. Be prepared for those negative comments and learn to accept them and move forward with the same positivity and excitement you had in the beginning. Another quality is patience. You will exercise patience to its limits when dealing with computer issues, clients, producers, deadlines, and especially your own expectations. Just remember, if you're not having fun you're doing it all wrong."
Advice you have for young professionals pursuing a career in Editing?
"Go to school. And by school, I mean a school where you will learn how to craft a great story, because bottom-line, as an Editor you are telling a story. Learn the theory behind storytelling; find out what devices are best when telling what story and above all, take the time to challenge yourself to become a better storyteller. DON'T go to school expecting to be taught software programs, teach yourself those on your own time. Being an Editor is not knowing how to use software, being an Editor is knowing how to craft the best story, I just happen to use Premiere to craft mine."
Marc Battaglia
Position: Creative Director
What does he do?
In short, he works and collaborates with editors, writers, producers, designers, or anyone involved in the creative process from ideation all the way to an execution standpoint. He works directly with brands on finding creative solutions, as well as looking to the future and coming up with new content ideas for their businesses. As Creative Director, it is his job to oversee and ensure that the agency is distributing the highest quality and most effective creative content that is on par with the brand and what they're trying to accomplish.
What are some qualities needed to work in the profession?
"You need to be a little bit of a psychologist. Creative folks all think differently – there's no one creative person alike. The absolute worst thing you can do as a Creative Director is to try to get everyone to think the same way. To be successful, you have to be able to understand people, work with every different type of personality and get the most out of each personality as you can. Above everything else, the job of a Creative Director is not to have the best idea in the room; my job is to make sure the best ideas get on the table. In order to make that happen, you need to create and manage an environment of trust, understanding, collaboration and respect. In addition to all of that, you need to be able to present and articulate ideas to partners in a way in which those ideas can be done, because at the end of the day, no matter how great your ideas are, you need to be able to sell them to the partner."
Advice you have for young professionals pursuing a career as a Creative Director?
"Get involved in whatever interests you. Whether its being on the set or motion design, or writing – whatever that spark of creative is, get out into the real world and try to volunteer, intern or work. The best thing I did when I was in school was going out and offering my help to anyone who would let me. I didn't wait for the school to help me with internships, I went and knocked on the doors of companies I respected and asked for the opportunity. I told them 'I'll do anything – I'll get lunches, I'll do coffee runs, I'll take out the trash, I'm gonna show up again tomorrow!' It's amazing how hard it is for people to say no to someone who's willing to do anything. Once you're in, absorb and learn as much as you can and make as many relationships you can."
Marc's last comments:
"At the end of the day to get through this industry, laugh and breathe because no one is dying on the operating table. Creative's tends to take it personally when someone doesn't like our idea. You have to have the ability to believe in yourself and move on. You can't wallow and start to beat yourself up because the next day there will always be another great idea. Advertising should be a fun business so if you're not having fun you're doing it wrong."
Still think advertising is the right business for you? Well, with drive, dedication, internships, on the job experience, and LOTS of hard work you will be well-equipped to take on the business, and maybe you'll be able to make that dream a reality.
Can Consumers See Through Your Cause?
In the past few years, a trend has emerged in the industry known as "cause marketing." For those of you unfamiliar with the term, cause marketing is based on the idea of brands aligning themselves with social, environmental or economical causes that they support. Some relevant examples of this are Dove's female empowerment campaigns, Burger King's gay pride sandwich, or most recently, the Always "Like a Girl" campaign.
Just in the past two weeks, the world renowned marketing and communications agency, Young & Rubicam, placed themselves in the midst of this trend by announcing that they will be opening a new practice called "Young & Rubicam Group Inspire," a practice focusing entirely on advertising with a cause. You can see their Twitter page here.
Although I myself love the idea of brands standing up for what they believe in, there has also been some backlash on the trend. Consumers are naturally skeptical of the idea because it's hard to tell if the support is sincere, or if it's purely for financial gain. And honestly, who can blame them? With the vast amount of profit-driven advertisements that are thrown at an average person in a day, it's a natural reaction to be a little apprehensive. However, when cause marketing is done right, a strong consumer connection will be built where both the causes and consumers are able to reap the benefits.
With that in mind, it is important for companies to remain authentic and genuine when building a cause marketing strategy. While placing a pink breast cancer ribbon or "proceeds go to" sticker on the outside of your product can be useful in purchase decisions, consumers – and especially the Millennial generation, are looking for more. In some cases it is not enough for companies to simply donate money to a cause and say they support it; now more than ever these causes need to be backed up with actions. One way a brand can do this is by creating a campaign or entire brand initiative around a cause, allowing the consumer to understand its relevance and real-life application, engage, and in some cases even interact with the cause itself.
Now, what brands are doing it right you ask? Here are two companies I personally believe are doing a great job with their cause marketing efforts:
Starbucks Coffee
Not only does Starbucks do an amazing job at creating delicious (and I mean delicious!) coffee, they also support some pretty great causes. If you haven't visited the Starbucks website, check it out! They have an entire Responsibility section outlining their multiple advocacy efforts. Just to name one:
Environmental Sustainability Efforts - It's safe to say that Starbucks is one of the leading brands in the industry on the topic on environmental sustainability – but they actually deliver on this promise as well. In more than 18 countries, Starbucks has LEED certified stores that use renewable energy sources. From recycling, to water conservation and climate change, they do an awesome job at integrating the brand with the cause.
Example: #WhiteCupContest
A recent example of a cause marketing campaign by Starbucks is their #whitecupcontest, where they encouraged customers to purchase their reusable plastic cups and draw their own designs on the outside. The best cup design would then be sold as a limited edition item. This campaign was incredibly successful for two reasons: 1) It engaged customers and encouraged them to interact with the brand. 2) It promoted environmental sustainability by having consumers purchase their reusable, eco-friendly cups.
Chipotle is another great example of a company seamlessly merging a brand to a cause:
Sustainable Food Sources - Chipotle is dedicated to serving the very best sustainable food. All meat is naturally raised and hormone free. In addition to purchasing organic, locally grown food, in the past, they have had successful initiatives for healthier eating options in schools.
Example: Wrap What You Love
Chipotle's "Wrap What You Love" campaign encouraged customers to wrap their favorite things in tin foil for a chance to win prizes with online voting triggering $1 donations to FamilyFarmed.org. This campaign was successful because 1) It engaged customers and tied in the brand by comparing peoples favorite things to Chipotle's product (since they're both wrapped in foil). 2) It reinforced their promise of supporting locally grown food by donating money to the cause.
What are these brand doing right? They not only promote their cause; they live it. Their initiatives, policy and activism all support their claims, which results in genuine, and very successful marketing. Other brands should take notes!
The Best of Creative Tech
Here at Spectrum + Mindclay, we have a bi-weekly tradition in the office called our "Creative Tech Meeting." Every other week, the gang gets together in the creative lab and each person shares something that they found inspiration from that week. It could be anything from a funny video to an interesting article, new commercial or even a website made up entirely of cool patterns (yes, there really is such a thing). The purpose of the meeting is to inspire and ignite creative energy. It's also very helpful at bringing different thoughts or ideas to the table that we might be able to put to good use in the future.
This week, I thought it might be fun to share some of the cool things we've discovered over the past few months during our meetings. Hopefully you'll find the work as inspiring as we did – and who knows, maybe our shares will inspire some creations of your own!
I give you the best of creative tech:
1. Creative Fuel "Game Changer"
In this brilliantly done video, we are reminded to never lose sight of what's important. With new technologies coming out every day, it is imperative to not let these devices take over the most critical part of an advertising strategy: the idea.
2. The Kraken "Black Ink"
This piece by Kraken Spiced Rum demonstrates beautiful imagery that practically jumps of the screen. If you aren't already a rum drinker, you'll probably want to become one after watching this breathtaking video.
3 "Creative Inspiration" Tumblr Page
If you ever find yourself in need for some creative inspiration, this Tumblr page is a great resource. You name it. Photos, videos, quotes, thoughts, this website has tons of cool stuff that is sure to get your creative juices flowing.
4. DHL Spot
This piece by DHL mailing is gorilla marketing at its best. It's gutsy, funny and definitely makes a strong statement. This one's worth a view.
5. British Airways "#lookup" Campaign
British Airways brings a little bit of the excitement back the airline industry in their most recent "#lookup" campaign. This awesome use of digital technology beautifully brings their message to life and demonstrates the more romantic side of travel.
Fourth of July Advertising at its Finest
Got your grill fired up, pool cleaned and RSVP's sent out for that annual 4th of July BBQ? Or maybe you're getting ready for a family camping trip in the mountains, or perhaps, a trip downtown to watch your city's annual fireworks display? Whatever your plans may be, I can say with confidence that there is one thing everyone will be sporting this holiday weekend: brands.
When I think about the 4th, there are a few things that pop into my mind: hamburgers and hotdogs, ketchup, fireworks, beer and of course, the good old American flag. In honor of these holiday staples, I would like to present to you with some of my favorite advertisements (and the brands that rule them). Enjoy!
A spot from the hilarious "So American" campaign by Ball Park Franks:
Heinz's most recent "Hum" commercial:
And finally, a new tongue-in-cheek spot by Newcastle Beer:
How to Market to a College Audience: A Student's Perspective
According to research, there are some 18 million young adults that are currently attending college. In fact, it is predicted that Generation Y (those born anywhere from the late 70s to the 90's) will be the largest consumer group in US history. With that in mind, it is important for brands to continue focusing their attention on this market in order to bring in those top dollars.
I know what you're thinking. "How am I supposed to know how to grab the attention of these young, on-the-go students?" Well, lucky for you I am one those students, and I have decided to bestow upon you some of my young wisdom.
Don't get me wrong. I'm no market analyst and I haven't spent years studying marketing trends for people in my age group. However, because I am a college student and spend a majority of my time around other college students I feel like I have a pretty strong foundation of what works when trying to reach what researchers have dubbed the "me" generation.
Here are some of my own personal tips for tapping into that hard-to-reach college market:
1. Money is key
It's no secret that college students are not the most well-off individuals. With student loans, textbook purchases and high gas prices, money is an area we young people tend struggle with. Not to mention all the cash we need for fun stuff like late-night Starbucks runs and nights out.
When attempting to tap into the college scene, brands should highlight their product's low price point. Don't have totally reasonable prices? Try offering a student discount. Even if it isn't that much any little bit helps when your idea of an expensive dinner out is Chili's.
For example, Apple has had a lot of success offering student discounts on laptop purchases. It's still a big spend, but students are more apt buy if they're saving money. If you own a locally owned business or restaurant, you could have college nights or offer a discount when students show their ID.
2. Keep it simple
College students are busy. Between class, homework, student organizations, internships, and part-time jobs we barely have enough time for a social life, let alone time to decipher what you're trying to tell us. Make your marketing messages as simple and easy to understand as possible. We don't want to have to spend extra time thinking, after all, that's what class is for, right?
3. Show off your brands long-term investment value
There comes a point in every college student's life where they have to start seriously thinking about the future. During this time, we think about stuff like where we will be living, what kind of job we'll have and who we'll be with. While students are pondering over these major life decisions, they're also going to start thinking about some of the "big kid" purchases that they're going to have to make after graduation. This is the perfect time to demonstrate your product's "investment value." If you can prove to us that your product is something we will need for the future and is guaranteed to last longer than any of the competition, we'll feel a sense of responsibility that will encourage us to make the purchase.
4. Go digital
It's pretty obvious that my generation loves the internet and are hopelessly addicted to our smartphones. I myself can admit that I have a slight online shopping addiction. In addition, a lot of college students don't have cars or reliable means of transportation. Because of this, it's important for brands to have a website or even an app that we can make online purchases with. It 's one of the best ways to directly target us, and it also gives of the convenience of making purchases without ever even having to leave our dorm room. It wouldn't hurt to throw in some free shipping either ;p
Also, don't forget about your social media presence – if you're not in the "twittersphere" you're not the brand for us. Young adults are constantly on social media – use that as an opportunity to promote your brand and even offer special deals and discounts to followers.
Nothing Can Trump the Power of Storytelling
In the past years, a trend has emerged in the industry in the area of online video advertising. Instead of going with the typical 15-30 sec. commercial, businesses have started pushing out spots that are a little lengthier. Popular brands, such as, Visa, Cartier, and most recently, Cornetto ice cream have found success in using longer, more detailed videos with a short-story feel as a new way to market to their consumers online.
These videos, typically lasting around 10 minutes, focus on an emotional connection with the story and characters being the highlight, while the actual product takes more of a back seat to the commercial.
With the vast amount of money and time that is probably spent producing these videos, one may wonder why brands are choosing this approach. Why are they taking the time to create full-length stories, instead of getting straight to the point with flashy product graphics and persuasive copy that is sure to grab the viewers attention? Well, it's simple – consumers need more.
Nowadays, it isn't enough to just throw a product on the screen with a catchy slogan. Sure, taking that approach may make a company a lot of money for the time being, however, those results will eventually fade away. Consumers will start getting bored, and at some point, will stop listening. If you want to truly build brand connections and loyalty you need more. You need a story.
Since the beginning of modern time, storytelling has been an integral part of our society. Books, theatre and film have all capitalized on the idea of a central plot or concept that keeps an audience entertained. When making a film, it isn't enough to throw a bunch of shots and dialog on a screen and call it a movie. There has to be a main story tying it all together. Why should advertising be any different?
As a consumer, I love it when brands bring more to the table than just a product. One perfect example of this is a short video that Chipotle recently came out with following the life of a scarecrow working for an evil food conglomeration. After finding a chili pepper in his garden one day after work, The Scarecrow decides to open his own food stand where he could sell his garden fresh vegetables. The video successfully draws viewer's in with an engaging and entertaining story, while still reinforcing Chipotle's standard on using fresh, unprocessed foods that are free from GMO's.
Personally, I commend brands that have taken the time to create these mini "movies." Not only do they stand out amongst their competitors by doing something different, they also establish a deeper sense of who they are as a brand and highlight their benefits, which in the long run will attract loyal customers.
Meet Our Summer Interns!
Hello everyone! My name is Delanie, and I'm one of the new interns that will be spending their summer here at Spectrum + Mindclay. As a way to kick-off the start of our summer blog posts, I wanted to do a little introductory blog showcasing the three interns that will be working here this summer. So with no further ado, I give you the interns!
As I said earlier, my name is Delanie, and I am the summer account intern. I'm currently attending Florida Southern College (go Mocs!) in Lakeland, Florida, as an Advertising and Public Relations major. Originally, I'm from Bradenton, Fl, which for those of you who have no idea where that is, it's a town right above Sarasota, aka retirement city USA.
My interest in advertising first began when I learned that there was an actual career where you could get paid to collaborate and produce work that could be seen by thousands of people (maybe even millions if you're lucky). I decided on the account management route because although I greatly appreciate and admire people with mad creative and design skills, my artistic abilities rank somewhere around a first graders stick figure drawing. Luckily, I'm really good at organizing, communicating, and managing, so I fit in well with the account side of the business.
Here are a few more fast facts about me:
- Hobbies/Interests: Musical theatre, going to the beach, shopping and participating in events with my sorority, Alpha Chi Omega
- Things I love: Fashion, theme parks, sushi (or anything Japanese), funny movies, and STARBUCKS
- Favorite social media: It's a tie between Instagram and Pinterest
- Interesting fact: I was home-schooled from Pre K through 12th grade
Meet Fernanda!
Her full name is Fernanda Louise Sanders De Castro (that's right, she's so cool she has TWO middle names). Fernanda is the post-production intern here at Spectrum + Mindclay. She is currently a Junior, communications major at the University of Tampa, in Tampa, FL. Her hometown is Sarasota, FL.
Fernanda first found an interest in production when taking a digital production class at a technical institute during high school. After finding her passion for the art of film, she knew that production was the right path for her. Her favorite part of production is editing. She hopes to one day get into film editing and eventually wants to produce.
Here are some more fast facts on Fernanda:
- Hobbies: Playing soccer and reading books
- Things she loves: Hanging out with friends and going to the beach
- Favorite social media: Instagram and Facebook
- Interesting fact: She was born in Brazil
Last but not least, meet Kristin!
Kristin Anger, is our other post-production summer intern. She is a Senior, Film & Media Arts major at the University of Tampa in Tampa, Fl. Originally, she is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Kristin is no stranger to internships – this will be her 3rd one just since starting college. Her previous internships were at two different production studios in Philadelphia. Although her hometown is Philly, she loves Tampa and would like to stay here after she graduates and find a job in production (preferably, one that involves a lot of editing, because that is her favorite part of production).
Here are some fast facts on Kristin:
- Interests/Hobbies: Painting
- Favorite social media: Facebook
- Thing she can't live without: Her cell phone
- Interesting fact: She opened a chapter of the prestigious film fraternity, Delta Kappa Alpha, at her college
Reinventing a Former Champion
Marissa Mayer, current CEO of Yahoo!, who was featured on the cover of this week's Bloomberg Businessweek; hopes to answer the question "Can Marissa Mayer Save Yahoo?" with a resounding, "Yes."
In 2008 Microsoft made an unsolicited bid to acquire Yahoo! for USD $44.6 billion. Then Yahoo! CEO Jerry Yang was very opposed to the idea, believing the bid "substantially undervalu[ed]" the company and would not be in the interest of the company's shareholders. Three years later Yang would be out as CEO and the company would be valued at only $22.24 billion.
Two CEOs, two interim CEOs and an education scandal later, Marissa Mayer was left with an embattled and fledgling former titan when she signed on as the company's CEO in July of 2012. The move marked a new direction for the company, as Mayer was hired because "she stands for the user" which was in contrast to the company's prior CEOs who had little experience with consumer websites. Mayer was hired away from Google, where she had been an executive in the Location Services department, and she brought with her a number of ideas and practices from the innovative company. Her geeky charisma and credibility made an impact almost immediately, as Yahoo posted positive revenue growth for the first time in four years during her first full quarter with the company. The results, while encouraging, were only the first of many steps that would be needed to bring the company back to prominence.
In her first year as CEO it is clear that the buzz is back, as Mayer has reinvigorated the company. In the past year Yahoo! has acquired 17 new major properties, including this summer's massive $1.1 billion purchase of the Internet blogging service Tumblr, the company's largest acquisition in a decade. All these purchases were made possible by the $7.6 billion windfall that Yahoo! gained by selling roughly half of its stake in Alibaba, a Chinese internet company which as enjoyed a lot of success lately. Additionally, Yahoo! reinvigorated the search and photo site, Flickr, a site which had languished under the inattentive care of Yahoo! since its acquisition in 2005. But Mayer wasn't done there, she has also made sweeping changes to the company's infrastructure including ending telecommuting, and bringing her employees back to the office.
It is clear that Mayer wants to bring a little Google to Yahoo!, choosing to focus on collaboration and innovation in the workplace. This change in company mentality has been broadly deemed as positive, however there are those who still have their doubts. "She's just not focused on revenue," said Colin Gillis, a technology analyst at BGC Financial. "She's focused on people and products – that's a Google mentality. The only difference is that Google has beautiful core products that throw off cash, and Yahoo! does not." Her recent bolstering of the Yahoo Labs, however, shows that Mayer is focused on product research and development. Yahoo Labs, which was created in 2005, suffered a number of major cuts during the brief tenure of former CEO Scott Thompson, something that Mayer is seeking to correct, as she said the company is investing "heavily to build it back up." Her focus on product development beckons well for continued growth for a company that has enjoyed a 75% increase in stock price over the past year. "Marissa has done two things at Yahoo," says Ben Ling, a partner at venture capital firm Khosla Ventures and a former Google colleague. "She has made it an attractive place for top talent to work, and she has begun to release products that engage consumers on a daily basis."
In recognition of the company's "renewed sense of purpose and progress" Yahoo! announced Wednesday that the company would be kicking of a "30 days of change" campaign which coincides with the company's launch of a new logo next month. The new logo promises to "be a modern redesign that's more reflective of [their] reimagined design and new experiences." Leading up to the new logo, the site will release a new variation of its logo each day (a move that is reminiscent of the Google Doodle).
It is clear that Mayer is instituting the type of sweeping changes needed to bring the former search engine champion back to relevance in the modern internet landscape. As rumors of more deals swirl, including a rumored $800 million bid to acquire Hulu (which seems a little low IMHO), its clear that Mayer is not done reinventing the company, and her willingness to shift the company's focus to mobile development shows forward thinking and promise. While Yahoo hasn't yet achieved the relevancy of its former glory days the current progress is very promising. "Name another Internet giant that went through three years of decline and then started to grow again," Mayer says. "It's a very good sign."
This is my final blog for MindoMondo. It has been a fantastic summer and I am glad to have had the opportunity to share my perspective through this medium.
So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish.
Best of Creative Tech
Here at Mindclay we have a lot of fun traditions around the office, one of these is a weekly meeting where everyone is encouraged to bring something they found to be inspiring. These meetings, dubbed the "Friday Creative Tech" meeting, are always open and free flowing with tons of great pieces and thoughts brought to the table each week. With so many great samples its hard to choose just one, so we picked 5 of our favorites from this summer, presented in no particular order:
- Return of the Cicadas
This video, which serves as a reminder that excellent music and filmmaking can make just about any subject emotionally engaging. Just try and not feel for these little bugs as the filmmaker deftly tells their story.
- Embraer Floating Catalog
This low-tech inventive piece of specialty advertising shows that you don't need to have a high tech design to make a high impact impression. This great piece makes use of two sets of magnets, which are used to float the plane catalog about the base. All in all a really awesome effect that I am sure ended up getting some serious CEO desk time.
- Tom Clancy's The Division Launch Trailer
This piece had the whole room sitting on the edge of their seats. Its rare to see a game trailer these days that gives little to no clue as to the game's actual gameplay but The Division's trailer managed to tell an engaging story that left me, and a number of people in the room saying "I am so buying that when it comes out".
- Monkey Light Pro
This one goes in the "shut up and take my money" category. This awesome crowd funded project projects just about anything you can imagine onto your bike's wheels using a set of LED lights. The Kickstarter's video for this project is definitely worth a view.
- Cape Town Facebook Vacation Experience
The assignment on this project was simple, bring more visitors to Cape Town and do it cheaply. That's exactly what Ogilvy and Mather South Africa accomplished with their brilliant 'Send your Facebook Profile to Cape Town' campaign. As the video shows, users could sign up to send their social media profile on a virtual vacation, complete with photos, status updates, and tags. On top of that every participant also entered a raffle to win an actual trip to Cape Town, pretty awesome.
Simply Beautiful
Sometimes we forget about how even the most simple things can be beautiful if you look at them in the right way. That is what Russian graphic designer Ruslan Khasanov has captured in his experimental video entitled "Pacific Lights". In the project Khasanov mixed colored ink droplets with soap and oil and shot them in extreme close up. The effect is nothing short of magical. Watch the video in full screen and HD to get the full effect, as it is nothing short of mesmerizing.
Pacific Light from Ruslan Khasanov on Vimeo.
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subset: commoncrawl


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931 Pheasant Run has a Walk Score of 9 out of 100. This location is a Car-Dependent neighborhood so almost all errands require a car.
Nearby schools include Lafayette High School, Williamsburg Montessori School and King Of Glory Preschool & Kindergarten.
The closest grocery stores are Sunrise Food Mart, Food Lion of Williamsburg and Edwards Ham Shop.
Nearby coffee shops include JJ Jitterzz Koffee Kompany, Dunkin Donuts and Dunkin Donuts. Nearby restaurants include Zero's Subs, Holy Mackerel and Golden China Chinese and Japanese Restaurant.


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Beautiful, but... | 51 comments | Create New Account
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Beautiful, but...
I'm staying about 4 blocks from an Apple Store at the moment, and I need to go in there anyway... I hope they have some models on display, but it will be to play, not to purchase. My MacBook is a much better fit for my needs at the moment.
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Let's Please Stop Crediting Ronald Reagan for the Fall of the Berlin Wall
On Wednesday, Berlin unveiled a plaque in honor of the 25th anniversary of Ronald Reagan's speech demanding that Mikhail Gorbachev "tear down this wall," delivered June 12, 1987. It was an exquisite, powerful, and truly historic moment worthy of commemoration. But Reagan's sometimes-overeager boosters are making some bold claims about the role that both this speech and its deliverer played in the course of world history, another example of the ways that the politics of today are distorting our memory of one of the most complicated conflicts of the 20th century.
It's not surprising that Reagan-boosters are getting a little carried away with his legacy, but the extent of their adoration is getting a little extreme. John Heubusch, Executive Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library, wrote for Fox News that the states of Eastern Europe "fell to freedom like dominoes" after Reagan's words "pushed the first one over. One cannot ignore how his powerful conviction ended the Cold War by firing a verbal salvo, an oratorical demand to let freedom prevail."
It is certainly true that the Reagan presidency helped usher along the opening of the inner German frontier and later the demise of the Soviet Union. After all, his changes to U.S. foreign policy toward Moscow challenged, among other things, the status quo that assumed the Berlin Wall's existence as inevitable. And Reagan reasserted the idea that simple coexistence with the totalitarian regimes in Eastern Europe was neither desirable nor acceptable.
But did Reagan's 1987 address have much bearing on the actual fall of wall? That's a newer idea, one that happens to put Reagan at the center of a wider narrative of communism's descent in Europe. In fact, not only was Reagan out of office by the time the wall collapsed in the summer of 1989, but his speech had received very little coverage in the media, according to Time and to historian Michael Meyer, who wrote in his history of 1989's revolutions, "Major U.S. newspapers with correspondents in Europe, such as the New York Times, carried stories that ran in the back pages." Reagan also delivered the speech to an audience of about 45,000, one tenth the crowd estimated to have attended John F. Kennedy's 1963 speech. When Reagan declared "Tear down this Wall," it's easy for us to forget now, he was the visibly aged leader of a lame duck administration clouded by scandal and corruption, Iran-Contra in particular.
Read more: http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/09/lets-please-stop-crediting-ronald-reagan-for-the-fall-of-the-berlin-wall/262647/
Israel's Soviet Political Party
Read more: http://www.forward.com/articles/139097/
Yisrael Beiteinu is widely understood to be the party of Russian Jewry, that population of nearly one million Jews who arrived in Israel after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Twelve years since its founding, it has become the third largest party in the Knesset, on a radical anti-clerical and staunchly nationalist platform.
Yisrael Beiteinu's leader, Avigdor Lieberman, is the party to a large degree, and became in the wake of the 2009 elections the kingmaker in Israeli politics after Kadima and Likud emerged with pretty much the same number of Knesset seats. Lieberman chose Netanyahu, and in doing so became Foreign Minister, a most influential position when it comes to the future of talks with the Palestinians. It is probably not coincidental that since he took on the portfolio discussions have stalled and slipped into reverse in some key areas, including borders and settlements.
To understand Yisrael Beiteinu, it is necessary to understand the nature of the immigration during the 1990s, the character of the Russian/Soviet immigrants and, more broadly, the Soviet experiment from which they emerged. The philosophy behind Yisrael Beiteinu's platform is very much defined by the character of the people who make up the party's base.
The colossus and the tigers
NIALL Ferguson is a colossus. He bestrides History – like the golden idol of Helios by Rhodes' waters edge – not only physically by virtue of his sizeable frame, but due to the reputation which precedes him. And, like that fabled statue, he acts as a link, a bond between the two flanks of academia: the accessible, public intellectuals; and the savants who swoop about the dark corridors of our great institutions.
Prof. Ferguson has spent most of his recent years working out of the United States, as the Laurence A. Tisch Professor of History at Harvard. Working in a climate of greater academic and personal freedom has enabled him to further develop his ideas on the politics and economics of the Cold War. Now, he has returned to our shores to share with us his findings, as the Philippe Roman Chair in History and International Affairs at the LSE.
His first, extremely well-attended lecture, entitled "The Political Economy of the Cold War", was constructed in two acts. He opened by proposing one of those unanswerable historical questions of inevitability: "was it a foregone conclusion that the Soviet Union would fall behind the United States." Conventional wisdom today argues for this motion, primarily, Ferguson asserts, because of the benefit of hindsight.
Having acknowledged this though, he did not go on to repudiate this orthodoxy. It was apparent from the quality and availability of consumer goods during the postwar period that the Soviet Union's economic superstructure was not built to last. There was a total absence of investment in infrastructure (making a Chernobyl-type disaster inescapable), and as such they could never have kept up with the pace of development in the West.
His statistical evidence appeared to support this claim. The Soviet Union enjoyed robust growth in the 1950s and 60s, but by the 1980s parts of the empire such as the Central Asian republics had fallen into negative growth. Soviet GDP was but 36pc of the levels enjoyed by the United States in 1990, up from only 27pc in 1945. Taking his cue from Stephen Kotkin, Ferguson concluded that only the oil price spike, which occurred in the 1970s, kept the Soviet economy going.
For the sake of argument though, it should be noted that despite this evidence of economic slowdown, the United States believed, almost until the very end, that the Soviet Union was and would remain an economic superpower and threat to the West. Such a belief was not unreasonable at the time: well into the 1980s, the Russians continued to spent vast sums of money on armaments (14pc of GDP in 1990); aid allied regimes fiscally and military; and were reasserting their presence in neighbouring Afghanistan. There were no external signals that – in spite of the grey and miserable lives the people of the East lived during this period – the whole empire would collapse in such swift and undramatic fashion.
Though the central thesis holds, for in a command economic structure such as that the Soviets maintained from the days of Stalin to the dissolution of the empire, there is no room for dynamism and innovation. Therefore it was perhaps inevitable – to use that dreaded word – that the Soviet Union would slip into a position where they would be forced to perpetually play catch-up to the West, in order to meet the true aspirations of the people.
Ferguson's second act though was perhaps more challenging to the Eurocentric historian. He attempted through statistical manipulation to debunk the idea of the postwar economic miracle, and instead highlighted the "failure of the social democratic model" in the 1970s. Inflation hit double digits during this period, as high as 25pc in the United Kingdom. And, in fact, thanks to the oil boom in part, Soviet growth overtook that of the United States in the later part of that decade.
The real miracle in fact came in East Asia, for Western European reindustrialisation was not remarkable, when compared to the manner in which the 'tiger economies' outperformed all other nations during the Cold War. Under the protection of the United States' security umbrella, Asian share of global GDP increased from 14pc to 34pc in the space of forty-five years. Japan was able to become the world's premier export economy, and overcame its previously feudal mode of land ownership.
On the surface this in an intriguing premise, but there are signs that indicate that this was not per se a miracle. For the most part, the types of countries Ferguson noted – Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore – are examples of territorial microstates that were able to conjure explosive growth through specialisation in banking, international finance or otherwise, and attract foreign investment through lenient tax policy. In this respect, their story is no different to that of say Liechtenstein or Monaco. The only remarkable element is the speed with which the growth was achieved.
Furthermore, the stories of postwar Japan and West Germany are in fact quite similar. Both states prior to 1941 had economies geared toward heavy industry with respect to total war. What is more, they were each blitzed in the closing months of combat (for the Japanese of course, there was annihilation by way of Little Boy and Fat Man). Reconstruction in West Germany and Japan was achieved rapidly, under allied occupation, along capitalist lines with an emphasis on exports, and, importantly, with democratic regimes in Bonn and Tokyo. It seems incongruous and therefore ahistorical then, to choose to label Japan a miracle and Germany not, merely because it suits Ferguson to trash the European story as a means to giving gravitas to his new East Asian theory.
Primarily it should be stated though, that whilst Ferguson's new line of inquiry does signal the emergence of an intriguing new approach to Cold War studies, the success stories of Japan, South Korea and others do not in fact add much, if anything, to the war's overall narrative. Ultimately, while being within the United States' sphere of influence, those states were rather peripheral to postwar high history. The centres of power, interest and conflict remain the European front, and the various battlefields on which the United States and Soviet Union staged conflict by proxy. As Ferguson alluded to, the Asian chapter of the Cold War in truth opens with the rise of Red China, and comes to a head with the escalation of the wars in Korea and Indochina.
Thus while Prof. Ferguson's lecture was of tremendous interest – he spoke eloquently and vividly for a good hour or so, holding the audience captive – his new interpretation of the Cold War narrative is one that in truth only adds colour to our pre-existing understanding. It does not and factually can not whitewash over the dominant Eurocentric story.
Through his literature and essays, over the course of the past sixty years Gore Vidal has held up a mirror to American society and demanded that it stare pointedly at the ugly thing it has become. In The City and the Pillar and Myra Breckinridge, Vidal challenged conventional attitudes towards sexuality; the United States he created in Duluth was but a gaudy, poorly-plotted soap opera.
Politically Vidal has always been somewhat of an enigma. Superficially he would appear to be a liberal – in the American sense of the word – to the left of even the most progressive elements of the Democratic Party: "The United States has nothing to teach Cuba", he declared flippantly in 2009. In 1987, Vidal suggested that as a means to combating the rise of China and Japan, the time had come 'for the United States to make cause with the Soviet Union'.
On the other hand, Vidal has a nasty isolationist streak in the tradition of Charles Lindbergh. He has long stated to anyone who would listen that he believes Roosevelt both knew of the attack on Pearl Harbour in advance of the event, and that he incited it through provocative acts toward the Japanese: "They deliberately cut off Japan's oil supplies, then refused to sell them scrap metal, and so on." Moreover, he has openly questioned the necessity of the United States' involvement in the Second World War, particularly on the European front.
The bastardised synergy of these two extreme ideological wants is Vidal's idea of the American Empire. Truth be told, such a concept is not strictly his, however he has proven to be its most vocal proponent since the obliteration of Hiroshima. To summarise, the choice of President Truman to intervene in Korea marked the cementation of the United States' transition from republic to empire. Each conflict since from Vietnam to Kosovo and into Iraq has been an example of imperialist adventure: "the Republic ended in 1950. Since then we have had an imperial system."
That Vidal has developed the concept of America as empire ought not to be a great surprise. It is in the nature of great minds to view their respective nations in a state of constant decline from cradle to grave. Moreover, for Vidal the notion of an era of American imperialism after 1950 is an extension of the tendency of older egos to look back upon their youth as a golden age of civilisation. The needless, pointless glorification of the 1960s by embittered baby boomers exemplifies this point entirely.
Vidal's cantankerousness toward his Motherland has only gotten worse in the past ten years, since the advent of September 11 and the incursions into Afghanistan and Iraq. On the former, he argues that the United States was 'probably' in on it, though he has no evidence whatsoever for this. When it comes to Afghanistan, Vidal asserts that it is all a matter of natural resources: "[The United States] wanted stability in Afghanistan to build the pipeline. The Taliban did not give them stability, so they decided to overthrow them". The ever-more bombastic and incoherent nature of his sentences seems to be coupled with an unavoidable age-induced decline in his mental capacity.
Post-9/11 reverse hysteria aside, the perception of America as empire is not without grounding, particularly with reference to nineteenth century interventions, in the Philippines most famously. Mark Twain declared that 'we have gone there to conquer, not to redeem'; the United States held onto the territory for a sizeable chunk of the twentieth century.
But when it comes to the postwar settlement, the period on which Vidal pontificates and occasionally bloviates, the whole interpretation is far-fetched, verging on ahistorical. It is embarrassing that such a great mind and polymath has the audacity to suggest that the United States forced the Cold War upon the Soviet Union has a means to creating a perpetual war, solidifying the role of the military-industrial complex at the heart of the American economy.
The United States' use of force in the latter half of the torrid twentieth century has been at its best moments liberating. On occasions there has been unnecessary meddling under the guise of containment or the protection of national interests, but certainly since the collapse of the 'evil empire' America has been the protector of democracy and enemy of the dictator and oppressor. See Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq for evidence.
Gore Vidal's constant harping and sniping at the land that gave him everything in the autumn of his years is an unfortunate blight and stain on the record of America's greatest novelist and chronicler. His later years are scarred by the release of tawdry collections of half-baked essays, where the concept of the American Empire is laboured upon and stretched beyond the point of breakage. "I am ashamed to be an American", he told David Frost in 2008.
He has few years, perhaps months, left. When the eulogies are written, may the decline be set aside and the drivel forgotten. Vidal was at his best when clasping that mirror. Let his novels, both historical and fantastical, be his legacy.
Nineteen Eighty-Four
The twentieth century can best be characterised as a one-hundred year-long debate – punctuated frequently by fissures and eruptions of violent conflict – over the relationship between the state, society and the individual. To that extent, George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four must be the core of the anti-totalitarian argument. Christopher Hitchens triumphantly asserts in Why Orwell Matters that on the three great questions of the era – imperialism, fascism, communism – Orwell was right, and certainly his masterful critique of the unchecked power of the state remains unsurpassed.
Evidently, and as Orwell freely admits, Nineteen Eighty-Four draws heavily on previous tomes of the dystopian genre: parallels can be drawn between Orwell's monolithic étate and Huxley's World State of Brave New World and Zamyatin's One State of We. However, for its clarity of thought, elegance of prose, astute analysis and socio-political prescience, Nineteen Eighty-Four remains the superior work. Orwell had never visited the Soviet Union or any other Stalinist state; that he was able to capture the texture of communistic society so deftly is remarkable. He could not have seen first-hand the chronic nature of shortages, or the crummy nature of goods manufactured and distributed by the state: coffee made from chicory and tea derived from blackberry leaves. Nor would he have witnessed the appalling condition of state housing, and yet he is able to conjure up evocative images of corridors rotten with the smell of boiled cabbage, and of decaying buildings rife with burst pipes and flaking plaster.
Nineteen Eighty-Four also displays a remarkable level of historical foresight, though not as some attempt to claim that Orwell predicted the Britain of CCTV cameras and ID cards. Rather, Orwell was able to outline the direction in which the socialist states of Eastern Europe and Asia would eventually tumble. It is impossible to read the scenes in the novel's final act – of imprisonment and interrogation, physical and psychological torture – and not draw comparisons to the Stasi and Hohenschönhausen. Moreover, there is a remarkable similarity between the Two Minute Hate and the Ossie television programme The Black Channel – as detailed by Anna Funder in Stasiland – in that they both display bursts of spewed, directed vitriol toward their enemies. North Korea presently is as near to Orwell's Airstrip One as is visible in contemporary society: the ever-present Dear Leader, who Koreans must praise eternal for the little they have received in their fruitless existences, as they parade about their barren, hopeless land, faces grey, dull and listless.
Orwell's magnum opus, then, is not by any means a relic, an anachronism of a by-gone age when dictators and one-party states perched on the doorstep of democratic Europe. Rather, as the most outstanding literary condemnation of totalitarianism, it is a warning from history from an author who always strove to tell the truth. Striking, dramatic, shocking, significant and awe-inspiring, Nineteen Eighty-Four must be considered the greatest work of the twentieth-century.
As published online by Penguin Classics, July 1 2010, available here.


text: From Alton Brown's website-- ... I can finally go up against the likes of Mario Batali, Cat Cora and Masaharu Morimoto on my Wii console. That's right food fans, Iron Chef is coming to a Wii near you and if your slicin', dicin', stirin', measurin', whiskin', and general cooking skills are up to snuff, you may just walk away a champion. But even if you fail to convince the judges of your brilliance you'll have hours of culinary fun with me and the gang, not to mention a cadre of brand new iron chefs, each with their own specialties. Allez cuisine indeed. Hits stores around November 7 for the DS and December 5 for the Wii version. www.ironchefamericagame.com <http://www.ironchefamericagame.com/> Johnnae


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Combo pack available for $10! 60 professional grade custom brushes that will have you covered, no matter what natural media you prefer: oils, watercolors, gouache, ink, pencil, pastel … it's all here, peeps.
Reblog and share! Brushes for all the world!
Video of The Ultimate Brush Set (2) can be viewed here.


text:
Make a bookcase more interesting by painting it in rich browns with metallic accents.
Amee and Grant's bathroom is an unfortunate shade of brown.
Mike and Susie redo everything in their bathroom except the resident gnome.
The Rev second guesses Justine's brown accent wall in the master bedroom.
Dan and Laurie create the ultimate kids' table for a family gathering.
A reproduction parlor table reflects the spirit of the gutsy Molly Brown.
Nicole stains the duplex's original front door a rich mahogany brown.
With a baby on the way, they want to fix up their eyesore of a bathroom.
With a little teamwork, transform a front lawn from brown to lush green.
Eliminate brown patches on your lawn while keeping it green and healthy.
Jason turns a sea of brown into a colorful garden.
A couple gladly accepts Matt's offer to makeover their very brown bathroom.
Matt takes this bathroom from builder-grade boring to fantastic.
Deep brown tones and a new custom island warm up this family's kitchen.


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Herb-Baked Scallops
- Yield 6 servings
Try serving the scallops over slices of fresh tomatoes with basil. For a special presentation, serve the scallops in their shells.
- 2 pounds bay scallops, rinsed and drained on paper towels
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
- 3 tablespoons minced parsley
- 1 1/2 teaspoons basil, crumbled
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
- Arrange the scallops in a single layer in a shallow 1 1/2-quart baking dish. Dot with butter.
- Sprinkle with the parsley, basil, salt and pepper. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 5 mnutes.
- Add the garlic and stir the scallops to coat with the butter mixture.
- Bake for 20 minutes longer or until tender.
Recipe reprinted with permission from the Junior Leage of Chicago, Peeling the Wild Onion, a Collection of Chicago Culinary Culture (the Junior League of Chicago, 2008)


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Boston Burger Co.
- Boston_Otter Apr 7, 2009 11:21 AM
The new Boston Burger Co. opened yesterday in the former Antonia's space in Davis Square. Their menu -- mostly "Angus Burgers " -- has many standard gourmet-style burger toppings (such as a 'black & blue burger' and a 'buffalo burger') with a few oddball ideas thrown in, like the Artery Clogger (a deep-fried beer-battered burger topped with bacon, cheese, and bbq sauce), the King (topped with bacon, bananas, and peanutbutter), and a conch burger topped with mango salsa and jerk mayo.
Their prices are in the $8-$10 range for a burger, while their fries (plain, flavored, and sweet-potato) are $4-$7 for a side, which seems pricey.
All of their burgers can be substituted with a veggie or turkey burger for an additional $1, which is an unusual surcharge, seems to me.
Anyhow, I'd love to hear anyone's experience with the place.
re: C. Hamster
That's the same thing they are all whining about on the Davis Square Live Journal where I first saw this. Charging *more* for a veggie burger seems out of step with the norm, but charging this much for a burger and fries seems tone deaf right now.
re: C. Hamster
I know it's an old thread, sorry for the bump, but this is a common annoyance that many people have with restaurants who serve veggie items that I'd like to give another perspective on.
At wholesale prices, average quality fresh ground beef is usually about a buck and a half per pound (topping out at just under $3/lb at savenors wholesale prices), which is about $.10/oz and requires almost no labor to assemble. A typical frozen veggie burger from a purveyor is going to be about $.20/oz or more, the old pricing sheet that I just grabbed gives $0.22/oz... they're about $.40/oz in a typical grocery store. These require even less labor than forming ground beef patties but have fairly low quality.Making it yourself (which they absolutely should be doing given how much it sounds like they're charging, though they're obviously not) generally requires fairly expensive ingredients (Tofu, TVP, Nuts, etc), so it would still cost more than ground beef per oz, but probably less than frozen patties. The amount of labor required is significantly greater though.
Although the percieved value is certainly lower for items like this, the cost is often significantly higher (double in this case). It's one of the toughest parts of running a restaurant kitchen, trying to balance spending on different ingredients, paying more for things you can sell for more while cutting costs on things that people don't pay attention to as much.
Another good example is everything that comes with the burger. Decent quality buns, typical condiments, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, etc. could easily make up as much as 1/3 of the cost of the burger, probably over half if you're using a really good quality bun, probably the majority of the cost if you're using something like heirloom tomatoes, but generally these items aren't charged for (extra/sub etc) because there isn't a significant percieved value in the general dining public. A slice of cheddar on the other hand which most likely cost the restaurant a dime can easily fetch another dollar plus.
re: muscles_marinara
Interesting perspective, thanks!
re: bakerboyz
The rent's not cheap in Davis Square, but charging $8 for a burger that doesn't even come with chips -- and then offering 'seasoned fries' for $7 on the side -- is a little ridiculous.
And yeah, I find it hard to believe that a veggie patty costs more than an "Angus burger", so the $1 charge for a veggie burger substitution is also kind of ridiculous.
re: Boston_Otter
The burger does come with chips.
re: bakerboyz
Gargoyle's (also in Davis) charges $10 for good sized burger- the most recent iteration was with cheese, bacon and a pimento aioli I believe, and it comes with a generous portion of waffle fries. I've always said that for that style space and atmosphere, it's a bargain. This helps prove it. Plus you get a basket of foccacia when you sit down, even if you're just ordering off the bar menu.
re: bakerboyz
With those prices, you can start counting down the days till they close.
re: treb
Yep - those prices are soooo 2007!
Did one of the food gods put a curse on that space?
I'll save my $10 for a run to Johnny's Foodmaster for a couple of lbs. of ground beef, some rolls, ketchup, an onion, some Velveeta - make me a whole plate at that price, and the indigestion will be earned honestly.
To follow up: I went to BBC last night with some friends, and we were all impressed.
For apps, we tried the Mac & Cheese bites (with a thick marinara) and the Conch Bites (with a yummy 'bloomin onion' style horseradish dip). Both were tasty little piles-o-grease.
Two of us got the Waikiki (bacon, ham, pineapple, teriyaki), one got the Alpine (mushrooms in garlic parmesan butter with swiss), and I got the Bahama Mama (a conch patty with mango salsa & jerk mayo). The Angus burgers were large, meaty, perfectly cooked, and well-seasoned, with a nice pile of toppings. My conch burger was nice and crispy with a tender conch interior, and the jerk mayo was excellent.
Nicely crisp, warm and tasty handmade potato chips were served on the side along with their own baked beans, which are worth getting a side of all by themselves. Fries are extra, but you get a more-than-ample pile; we split an order of the "BBC sweet potato fries", which are covered in cinnamon and caramel sauce and would make a great desert.
The veggie burger, they confirmed, is just a frozen store-bought patty, and yes, it costs $1 to substitute it, which is a little ridiculous. But besides that quibble, the prices at the place aren't crazy for the portions and quality you get, and the people running the shop obviously really care; they don't cut corners. I'll definitely go back.
Alright, I went there Tuesday Night and have a few things to say in defense of this place:
- The burgers DO come with chips. They also come with your choice of baked beans or coleslaw.
- The fries are HUGE plates and can easily fill two or three.
Overall? It was delicious. I got "The King" -- a burger topped with peanut butter, fried bananas, and bacon. I know it sounds strange (that's why I got it) -- but it was a delicate blend of sweet and salty and deliciousness. The lady got the Turkey burger w/ cranberry sauce and stuffing and all that Thanksgiving jazz. She enjoyed it.
It's surprisingly a sit-down-and-get-served-by-a-waitress kind of place. Not exactly what I was expecting -- I thought it would be more like a Four Burger / b.good / Flat Patties. It's not. It's better.
I do agree though, it is a little ridiculous to charge $1 more for store-bought veggie burger.
Attached is a photo of "The King", with Mac & Cheese bites in the background.
re: gondaba
That does look good. Those chips look like they could be homemade, are they?
re: erwocky
Yes, the chips are homemade and come fresh and warm, lightly salted. They're great.
re: Boston_Otter
Yeah, I have to agree that the price point isn't as bad as people are making it out to be... I had a half-pound Inferno burger (haberno salsa, spicy chili pepper mayo, cheddar) and homemade chips and cole slaw, plus a drink, which was more than enough, and it was $11. The women sitting next to me got chili cheese fries that could've easily fed a small, polite family of four. Plus, it can be table service, and they have those French doors that open onto Davis when it's a nice day... I think it was a very solid addition to the area.
re: Oldscholar
Website: http://bostonburgerco.com/
re: finlero
Awesome. Thanks.
Tried them for lunch today. It was the thought of homemade chips that got me there. My verdict:
I ordered the jalapeno burger. It was a good size patty with sliced jalapenos and cheese enveloping them. The burger was slightly overcooked. But, the biggest strike was that it was dry. Not a hint of juice. I also didn't like the bun - too big and too soft.
The big disappointment were the chips. Well shaped but undersalted and not that different than fancy kettle chips from the store. I was expecting and hoping for really thin and really light chips. Alas.
I'm glad I tried it but have no need or desire to ever return.
re: beetlebug
Totally agree about the burger itself. Dry, even though it appeared to be medium rare as ordered. Also it was underseasoned ... I recall your putting S&P on the meat more than once. My bun was large and not soft at all. It almost seemed stale as it sort of crumbled apart as I ate. Thankfully it wasn't a big gooey brioche, but it wasn't good either.
The beans were good (mmm bacon) but the cole slaw and chips were average. I don't need to go back.
re: beetlebug
That's one thing I like about Four Burgers. Even when they overcook the burgers - I always ask for Med Rare and sometimes get Medium (by old standards, not modern healthy froo froo standards) it always ends up super juicy.
re: yumyum
That's the best part!
I made some burgers the other day by making a compound burger and putting them inside the patty. The stuff exploded in your mouth when you bit into it. For some reason, some of my friends thought that sounded gross :)
But yeah, dry & unseasoned doesn't bode well, that's my issue with O'Sullivans as well.
re: beetlebug
Does an "ennh" rate above or below a "meh"?
re: Parsnipity
ennh and meh are the same to me.
Either way, I won't be returning to the dry burger and disappointing chips.
And this is why I try to avoid places that have Flash navigation and/or PDF menus ...
Randomly ended up here over the weekend and could not have been more underwhelmed. The nacho fries were just some fries with a small amount of cheese, a small amount of lettuce and a few black olives on top. Looking around it appeared that other fries were similar (teensy amount of whatever made them 'special').
Burgers were uniformly well done - might have had to something to do with the obvious fact that they had a gajillion patties on the flat top and were not cooking to order. If you're going to cook everything well done, why bother asking me?
Ignoring that fact, burgers themselves were ok at best.
Chips were kinda crappy.
I'm surprised this thread is as positive as it is.
Stopped here this afternoon thinking it would be a UBurger type of place--you know, just wanting to concentrate on the humble burger and make it delicious. Partner in Crime had a burger, which was reported dry and bland (I had a bite; it was true). Also got some lemon pepper fries. Not sure what I was expecting (and may I say it is bizarre that you can't just get a normal portion of fries as a side with your burger, but must order a gigantic bowlful at $4 to $7 [!!] or so), but they were soaked in some kind of slimy, hugely artificial-tasting dressing, really gross. I got "boneless wings" (oh, whatever) in a flavor called "buttery garlic parmesan." Chicken fingers are sort of a guilty pleasure for me, what can I say. They were totally saturated with the ersatz butter-flavored (but not) substance found on bad movie popcorn. I am pretty easy to please compared to some Chowhounds, but whole thing was really kind of enraging. They seem to create this vibe of CARING, then go way out of their way to drench everything in these insanely, garishly artificial flavors. I just don't get why anyone would do this to food.
I was the first to dismiss it when I saw they opened up in Davis but my friends and I really had a fabulous meal there after all. It IS expensive and not superbly juicy but it is also very tasty with tons of sides and a giant helping all-in-all. I would recommend it: http://blogs.townonline.com/bostonfoo...
re: RoseWethersfield
They didn't have beer when they first opened...but are supposed to be taking care of that.
Whether they have or not yet, I'm not sure.
Went there for lunch today and I have to say I was disappointed. The meat itself was cooked to my liking and juicy. The bun on the other hand had very light grill marks but was stone cold. Obviously the roll was previously grilled well before the burger was ready. Plus, a little butter on the roll would certainly have improved the flavor. I'm a firm believer in a good meat to roll ratio and the roll was too big for the pattie.
For 8+ dollars for an 8 oz. mushroom swiss burger I would expect basic amenities such as tomato, lettuce, pickle, and onions. None were offered or served. I wouldn't mind paying extra for them but they should be offered.
Also, 6 dollars for an order of sweet potato fries and 4 dollars for a fountain drink? The serving of fries was definitely enough for two but still not worth 6 dollars. Especially when most burger joints throw in fries automatically. Instead, I got a handful of handcut cold unsalted chips. If you're going to take the time to make poor chips why not spend just a little extra and throw in some fries instead? I don't think I even need to comment on a 4 dollar fountain drink. It speaks for itself.
A review I read here attempted to defend BBC by saying "Yeah, but you get free baked beans or cole slaw. Well, I had the baked beans. Which were very good. Unfortunately, you get about 2 bites worth so to me it doesn't seem like any sort of defense.
All in all, the place has potential but obviously is NOT run by a true burger aficionado. It seems to me that whomever opened the place said "Burgers are hot right now. Let's do those" without taking the time to go to some of the competition and see how it's done right. There are some really good burger places in the area so why go somewhere that only gets the patty right?
re: str82hel
So I haven't even been to the place but there appear to be a couple of inaccuracies in the above post:
1) The menu (online) clearly states that basics such as tomato, lettuce, pickle, onion (and multiple condiments) come standard with your burger. I also notice that there is no pre-defined "mushroom swiss burger" on the menu - I suspect that the poster may have ordered a burger with mushroom and swiss (which are an additional .50 cents each), and there was a failure of communication on whether the basics were wanted as well. Shame on BBC for not asking - really, who does not want at least some of the basics on their burger?
2) The menu (online) indicates that all fountain drinks are $1.99 with free refills, so not sure how the poster was charged $4 - perhaps an inadvertent overcharge.
3) Most burger joints that I am aware of do not throw in fries automatically, e.g., Wild Willy's, Five Guys, etc. O'Sullivan's does and I wish they didn't.
re: Bob Dobalina
"I also notice that there is no pre-defined "mushroom swiss burger" on the menu"
While I know it's the cool thing around here to try and discredit new commenters that give negative (or overly positive) comments, the online menu clearly shows an "Alpine Burger" - mushrooms sauteed in garlic parmesan butter with swiss cheese.
re: ChocolateMilkshake
Well, I'm friggin' blind - totally correct. There it is at #3.
But otherwise, Chocolate, not trying to discredit the poster - Just the idea that our collective reportage should be accurate. My BS detector went off when the poster wrote about a $4 soda and seemed to suggest that they did not offer basic fixin's as part of their menu.
re: Bob Dobalina
That third point about RFO is hilarious!
Finally made it there last weekend. None of the specialty burgers were quite what I was looking for, so I ordered a build-your-own-burger with ketchup, mayo, mustard, pickles, grilled onions, tomato and American cheese. My girlfriend ordered the black and bleu.
Our order came promptly (it was about 4 p.m., so kind of a lull maybe). Overall impressions:
I ordered my burger medium rare but the result was closer to rare. Next time I'll order medium.
The bun was nothing special - I prefer a thin sesame roll - sort of a biggish potato-type roll and room temperature.
The quality of the ground beef seemed top-notch. Bravo.
With all of the wet toppings I ordered, it was a very sloppy burger, the type where you have a hard time making sure that the burger doesn't slide out between the buns. But tasty.
The cole slaw was a little on the sweet side for me. Needs more vinegar. The homemade chips were salty and good.
My girlfriend said she likes the black and bleu at O'Sullivan's better. Felt shorted on the blue cheese.
Overall: I'm more of a West Coast In-n-Out style burger guy (or Five Guys), but I enjoyed this more than an O'Sullivan's. I'm going to give this place another shot soon, knowing what I do now, and tweak my order accordingly.
And I need to get to Flat Patties one of these days.
Okay, adding my two cents. Had burgers here with some out of town guests 2 weeks ago. I was very underwhelmed and have been putting off commenting because I enjoy writing about good food much more than bad food. But it has to be done.
I ordered a basic cheeseburger to get an idea of how they do the basics. It was correctly cooked medium rare, but underseasoned and bland. Needless to say, watery pale tomato. ("Don't even ask for tomatoes til August"- Tony Maws, loosely quoted) And the fries-- it's all true, people. You have to order a separate side; it's overpriced and THEY DON'T MAKE THEM IN HOUSE!! Yes, the death knell- frozen, bought-in fries. The onion rings they claim to make there, but frankly I don't believe them. The potato crisps that come as a side were cold, floppy and greasy.
There are some pricing oddities on the menu that bugged me. The gist of it is that if you get a cheeseburger it's one price, but if you add cheese to a burger it's a different price. Someone flunked basic arithmetic.
Anyways, perhaps some pressure from the foodie community will be enough to make them realize you can't run a respectable burger place serving frozen fries. But until I see something here about that having been corrected, I won't be going back. Gargoyles with a delicious $11 burger including house made waffle fries is right down the block.
re: Parsnipity
I agree- with Gargoyle's right there, why go anywhere else in Davis for a burger?
re: Bob Dobalina
The burgers are ok at Mike's, but whenever I go there to order food in general, I feel like I should be saying, "Excuse me, but could I place an order to go or should I just go %&$# myself?"
re: hiddenboston
They throw down Durgin Park style?
re: Bob Dobalina
Worse. Think Cheddar's in Fresh Pond, but without the sarcastic humor.
re: hiddenboston
That woman is really unpleasant. I used to always feel like telling her "look, I'm sorry your restaurant serves lousy food too, but don't take it out on me."
re: LeoLioness
I would think that you would probably find yourself lying on the floor somewhere between "lousy" and "food." :-b
re: hiddenboston
Weird, I had really nice service the one time I went to Cheddar's. Maybe I caught them on a very good day?
re: hiddenboston
Hmmm..the food at Mike's nothing to write home about - agreed - but we've never had anything but efficient service (read : gruff in an Ess-a-Bagel-NYC kind of way).
re: bobot
I've had 15-20 burgers over the years at Gargoyles and have always loved them. Until last Friday night (July 24), when our burgers were suddenly nowhere near as good. The bun was a white tasteless doughy thing. Fewer fries than usual. And on top of that, they've downsized the Murphy's stout from a full imperial pint to what looked to me like less than 16oz, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Still $5.25 though. They skimped on the quality of the bread basket too. Was it a bad night or is this what the burger is like at G's now?
re: stefanc
I haven't been in a while but I hope it was just an off night. We'll see next time I go in!
re: Parsnipity
I think they also need to realize that you can't run a respectable burger place serving burgers that bad. I also got a pretty plain burger and it was amazingly tasteless. Like they vacuumed out the beefy flavor. I won't go back except as a spectator to watch friends eat deep-fried burgers and burgers with bacon and peanut butter on them. There are too many places serving delicious burgers to bother with BBC.
re: Snoop37
I saw that too.
We went last night... I don't know if they've cleaned up their act in the last few months, but it was nothing like the negative reviews on this thread. I had the King (peanut butter, bananas, bacon and this cinamon sugar stuff), which was perfectly cooked medium rare. It wasn't the juiciest ever, but there was some drippage. The girlfriend got the Veggie burger which the waitress had admitted was not made in house, but it was really good anyway, not just a garden burger or boca.
Fries are expensive but that's because they aren't portioned as a side dish. We got the nacho fries with cheddar, lettuce, olives, etc and a side of sour cream. It was big enough to be a meal in and of itself, and we couldn't even finish all of them.
There WAS beer being sold. I didn't see a beer list, but I think it was probably verbal. People were definitely drinking beer.
The coleslaw was tangy and delightful. The homemade potato chips were nice but unnecessary since we had fries.
Overall it was a lovely dining experience. The only thing I didn't like was that I had the chips AND the fries. I think they should offer a side-dish portion of fries as a substitution for chips.
Boston Burger Company
37 Davis Square, Somerville, MA
re: sourcandy
Placed right in the middle of Davis Square in Somerville, The Boston Burger Company certainly has a great location going for it, and not much else. We arrive on an absolutely perfect Sunday afternoon, seated right by the open bay window in this small, but inviting twelve table spot. The menu, as expected, is mostly burgers, but in order to please everyone they boast a few chicken sandwiches, veggie burgers, and an assortment of salads that have been done a million times over. (wedge salad with blue cheese anyone?) The menu is written in a faux style chalk board, giving the impression of daily menu changes and a homestyle feel, but anyone can see through that. The smells are nice, you can pick up the griddled aromas blocks away and I am excited to dive in. The burgers (twenty-two in all if you count conch and veggie) all come with homemade potato chips and a choice of baked beans or coleslaw. Fries and onion rings are to be ordered separately, and some toppings (lettuce, tomato, pickles, mayo, etc.) are free, while others are an additional charge, pretty standard fare. I order a cheddar cheese burger and as a group we split the classic fries, garlic parm fries and onion rings. There are eleven different fries options in all, as well as conch bites and the like. Bad sign number one as our rings and fries arrive first, a good five minutes ahead of our burgers. I realize they may seem more like a side dish at this point, but c'mon, serve the fries with the burgers please. One bite into the fries and I'm upset, while crispy on the outside, the fries are barely cooked on the inside, more like potato wedges than anything, and lack any salt whatsoever. The onion rings have a nice batter, text book actually, but have zero onion taste in them, they're all batter. The garlic parm fries are decent, but a poor quality of parm, which is unmelted, is duly noted. The burgers come, mine is of course over-cooked, and there is way too much lettuce, at least 6 thick pieces. The cheese is nicely melted, but almost nonexistent, the saving grace might be the bun, which comes from Piantedosi in Malden, and is delicious, although I wish it had been griddled or toasted. The homemade chips are abysmal, totally over-cooked, and we all agree they are barely edible, a complete afterthought. The coleslaw is nice, well seasoned. The burger overall is pretty good, made from Angus beef, it is, well, beefy, seasoned the best of anything else on the menu, but still not enough for me. It does have good flavor and is relatively juicy, I just wish it was cooked to order. Nick's is cooked perfectly, and I can't understand the inconsistencies, not just here, but almost everywhere in Boston, in cooking a burger to order. All in all, for three of us, we spend $55 including tip, but probably didn't need the onion rings and two different fries, one would have been enough. The surroundings are good here, the service is attentive and it looks the part, but never fully delivers.
Boston Burger Company
37 Davis Square, Somerville, MA
I eat here for lunch about every other week and think the quality has gone up over the past few months. They seem to have a new cook who does a better job with cooking burgers to the correct doneness. That said, even when they do cook it to a medium rare, the patty seems much drier than a med rare at say fuddruckers.(If I could combine the fuddruckers patty with bbc's topping options I think I would be in heaven) They have a special right now that is disgusting and delicious: the hot mess- a burger topped with chopped lettuce, onions, pickles, and bacon all mixed up with thousand island dressing and then plops some sweet potatoe fries on for good measure.
re: joth68
Do you know if they're making their own fries or still buying pre-cut frozen? Until someone can assure me that they've got some actual potatoes in that kitchen, I'm staying away.
re: Parsnipity
Still the frozen kind.


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Activities (2)
Work: pre, during and post class questions part of comPADRE Pedagogic Library:Interactive Lectures:Examples
This series of questions begins with two questions to be done before class, either as JiTT or homework. Students are then prepared to come to class and engage in in-class peer instruction, building an understanding of the concept of work. This is pulled together by an after-class question that can be used as a homework question or a small-group discussion in a smaller class setting, such as a lab/discussion section, or a small lecture section.
Understanding the Work Energy Theorem: In the lab or as lecture demonstration part of comPADRE Pedagogic Library:Teaching with Interactive Demonstrations:Examples
While this laboratory activity is a verification lab until the very last step, it allows students to visualize and understand the relationships between the variables, and deepen their understanding of work, begun with a series of concept questions in the previous lecture meeting. This could also be done as a lecture demonstration if necessary, with the questions framed as in-class discussion questions. The discrepant event and the lab design that appears in the last part add the opportunity for real laboratory exploration.


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Gaining a potential financial windfall from the Affordable Care Act
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There is one aspect of the ACA that hews more closely to what might concern the Securities and Exchange Commission: executive compensation.
How did two Circuits come to differing conclusions on ACA subsidies?
These differing rulings by two appellate courts are among the first in what are likely to be many "bumps in the road" for the ACA.
Opponents of Affordable Care Act subsidies file petition for Supreme Court case
Which appeals court will have their way? If a group of Virginia residents have a say, the answer may come in the form of a Supreme Court ruling.
7 legal stories every inside counsel should know right now
Here are top stories in IP, compliance, litigation and more
The effects of Hobby Lobby on the Affordable Care Act
The parameters of the decision may only be relevant (for now) to those "closely-held," for-profit corporations with religious objections to contraceptive coverage.
Conflicting rulings on Obamacare-related subsidies raise new questions
At issue is some wording in the law related to the marketplaces, or exchanges, which let Americans purchase health insurance.
Appeals courts issue conflicting rulings on Affordable Care Act subsidies
At issue in two different cases was an interpretation of the law allowing subsidies when customers purchase insurance on exchanges "established by the state."
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Book Description:
In this book you'll find eight favourite myths - the stories of Theseus, conqueror of the dreaded Minotaur; the mighty Heracles and his twelve tasks; the tragic lovers, Orpheus and Eurydice; Perseus, the Gorgon-slayer; the musician Arion and his rescue by the dolphins; Pandora and her little box of horrors; the feather-clad fliers, Daedalus and Icarus; and the weaving contest between Ariachne and the goddess Athene. Each of these tales has been retold in lively words and illustrated in dramatic cartoon style to make them accessible to children. Marcia Williams' is the author/illustrator of several picture books, including the retellings "The Amazing Story of Noah's Ark"; "Jonah and the Whale"; "Joseph and His Magnificent Coat of Many Colours"; "Don Quixote" and "Sinbad the Sailor", as well as her own texts "When I Was Little" and "Not a Worry in the World".


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Seven-foot-two centers are supposed to affect the game on the defensive end above all else, and Roy Hibbert is given all the respect in the world in that regard. Opposing coaches take note of how he protects the paint like it's his sacred home, and that's more than nearly all teams can say they have in their big man.
Nevertheless, Hibbert's offense has been down in the dumps since he was drafted in 2008, and the hard work he puts into every offseason has yet to pay off. He shows up in the playoffs against Miami, and maybe that's all fans want and need him to do. But, it's about time the former Hoya asserts himself against the league's better front-court assets.
Hibbert with Big Al's incredible touch near the rim = Unstoppable. Up to him to continue working with Timmy Duncan to incorporate it
— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) March 6, 2014
While nobody expects Hibbet to ever become Hakeem Olajuwon on the block — or even Al Jefferson — he needs to provide something. And for the past two months, he has arguably been doing more damage than good on the offensive end.
Since January 4, Hibbert — a career 47.1% shooter — has made just 42.5% of his field-goal attempts, according to NBA.com. In these 30 games, Roy has scored more than 15 points just four times.
Away from home it's been even worse. In the team's 13 road games since January 4, he has shot 40.0%. The fact that he is shooting just 64.0% from the free-throw line in away games in this period, as well, may be even more troubling. As is this number: Roy is averaging just 7.7 points and 4.8 boards (!!!) per game in Indiana's last 9 losses.
Here is his shot chart for the past 30 games, which highlights Hibbert's disgusting 32.1% shooting (on 81 attempts) from the paint, not including the restricted area.
In addition to the raw numbers, if we look at some of the biggest match ups Hibbert has had against marquee big men this year, we also see that he is struggling to have an impact.
While it would take an hour to dissect all of Hibbert's disappointing performances, look at some of the notable numbers he's placed against the better power forwards/centers this season:
November 11 vs. Memphis – Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph
3 points (1-of-4), 7 rebounds
November 25 vs. Minnesota – Kevin Love, Nikola Pekovic
4 points (2-of-7), 5 rebounds
November 27 at Charlotte – Al Jefferson
14 points (4-of-14), 10 rebounds
December 16 vs. Detroit – Andre Drummond, Greg Monroe
6 points ( 2-of-12), 4 rebounds
December 20 vs. Houston – Dwight Howard
9 points (3-of-8), 6 rebounds
January 4 vs. New Orleans – Anthony Davis, Alexis Ajinca
6 points (2-of-7 ), 8 rebounds
January 8 at Hawks – Paul Millsap, Pero Antic
2 points (1-of-8 ), 4 rebounds
January 18 vs. Clippers – Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan
4 points (2-of-11), 11 rebounds
January 24 at Sacramento – DeMarcus Cousins
10 points (3-of-11), 11 rebounds
February 7 vs. Portland – LaMarcus Aldridge, Robin Lopez
4 points (2-of-8), 6 rebounds
February 22 at Milwaukee – Zaza Pachuila, John Henson
4 points (1-of-9), 6 rebounds
(although he did follow up with a 24-point, 10-of-16 outing vs. MIL five days later)
March 2 vs. Utah – Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter
2 points (1-of-9), 4 rebounds
March 5 at Charlotte – Al Jefferson
4 points (2-of-8), 4 rebounds
(while allowing Jefferson to erupt for 34 points on 16-of-25 attempts)
The crazy part: Eight of those games were in front of the Pacers' home crowd, where Hibbert usually loves to establish his post presence to open a game.
The blasphemous part: Ten of them resulted in wins for Indiana.
Frank Vogel's group has the mentality that they don't necessarily need Hibbert to play a Shaquille O'Neal-type game in order to excel and win games, but the notion has always been that Hibbert's dominance will push them past Miami in May. It is best for the team to center its attention on getting Hibbert ready for the postseason. Because a couple of nightmare showcases could strip any chance they have at matching the intensity the champs are currently feeding off.
Roy, it's time to start asserting yourself as a 7-foot center on the offensive end, consistently.
In fact, it's beyond time.
Tags: Indiana Pacers Roy Hibbert