Ad News
Good Time to Find a Job in Advertising -- for Now
Industry Employment up in Best Showing Since 2001
Published: January 14, 2008
CHICAGO (AdAge.com) -- Things are looking up for advertising employment -- at least for the moment.
U.S. ad industry employment in November reached a post-recession high of 1.64 million, the best showing since the economic recovery began in late 2001, according to Ad Age DataCenter's analysis of the latest jobs figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The ad industry saw November job gains vs. year earlier and vs. October in both advertising/marketing services and media, the two groupings that Ad Age uses to define industry employment.
Hottest sector
Advertising/marketing-services employment broke a record in November, surpassing its December 2000 bubble-era peak. Hottest sector? Marketing consulting, where employment has jumped 8.7% over the past year and 66.7% since 2000.
Whether industry job gains continue is a question mark given signs of a weakening economy.
Media employment, weighed down by cuts in newspaper jobs, is still 11.8% below its 2000 peak. The hottest media sector: internet media companies, where employment rocketed 24.2% over the past year. (It's worth noting, though, that employment at internet media companies -- 45,100 in November -- is still 12.1% below its peak in the 2000 bubble, when ill-fated dot-coms staffed up with little regard to revenue or profits.)
Under Ad Age DataCenter definitions, advertising/marketing services consists of ad, media, direct and public-relations agencies; graphic design; marketing consultancies; market research; and other ad/marketing services. Media employment consists of TV, radio, newspaper, magazine and internet media companies.
Google Clouds- Business Week Article
Some quick reading to start your day. Last night I read an article in Business Week about Google Clouds-
"What is Google's cloud? It's a network made of hundreds of thousands, or by some estimates 1 million, cheap servers, each not much more powerful than the PCs we have in our homes. It stores staggering amounts of data, including numerous copies of the World Wide Web. This makes search faster, helping ferret out answers to billions of queries in a fraction of a second. Unlike many traditional supercomputers, Google's system never ages. When its individual pieces die, usually after about three years, engineers pluck them out and replace them with new, faster boxes. This means the cloud regenerates as it grows, almost like a living thing."
A Google employee wanted to teach students at his Alma matar about the mechanics of Google clouds. The article brings up interesting issues. The private sector potentially having access to ridiculous amounts of data. It reminds me of a science fiction movie where we hope the owners of this data are on the "right side." What can one do with this information? On the other hand, it's giving the power of the Google search engine and the force of their engineers to scientists and small groups that need to store and analyze their data.
It reminds me of the TED Conferences, (ted.com), where people from all fields come together to brainstorm about various issues, versus data being harnessed in this way. Heck, the guy probably went to a TED Conference and came up with this idea through it.
Finally, another interesting point is that the author notes there are only 5 super computers in the world- all based in the US. What does that mean for our future power? Google, Yahoo, IBM, Microsoft and Amazon.
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_52/b4064048925836.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_best+of+bw
More About Brooklyn Heights
This article in DealBreaker-referencing Brownstoner, answers my questions about Brooklyn Heights and the types of people that live there.
http://www.dealbreaker.com/2007/12/defend_brooklyn_goldman_sachs.php#more
"Defend Brooklyn: Goldman Sachs Invades Brooklyn Heights
The Brooklyn bloggers are up in arms after news leaked out on The Brownstoner, a popular blog about Brooklyn real estate, that a Goldman Sachs executive had purchased a brownstone on Joralemon Street in Brooklyn Heights. The Brownstoner went on to report that a broker had said that several Goldman Sachs bankers were looking in the neighborhood and that he knew of two other Goldmanite purchases in the area. We noticed the report this morning when it was picked up by Bloomberg.
Brooklyn Heights has long been popular with those who work in lower Manhattan. Access to several subway lines and the proximity to the Brooklyn Bridge make the commute to Manhattan quick and easy. Former Wall Street Journal editorial page editor long kept a house in Brooklyn Heights. Due to the work of preservationist icon and famed litigator Otis Pearsall,* much of the historic character of the neighborhood known as “America’s first suburb” has been retained. And it’s started to undergo something of a foodie renaissance, with restaurants like Noodle Pudding and Jack the Horse Tavern attracting crowds. CNBC’s Erin Burnett has said that her favorite restaurant in New York is Henry’s End, which sits on Henry Street in the Heights.
But a neighborhood revival is one thing. Three Goldman Sachs bankers moving in is another. The commenters on the blog ranged from those who adopted the pose of old money outraged that brash bankers might undo the genteel nature of their neighborhood to Park Slope socialists worried that yet another people’s republic—seriously, have you people ever been to the Food Co-op there?—might fall to the forces of capitalism next. And, of course, there were more than a few hipster types worried that their borough was losing it’s “special” status.
“Gentrified Brooklyn has gone from this alternative, creative-vibed place into a second-rate bourgeois social/money-climbing environment. Kiss Brooklyn's 'specialness' goodbye. It's worse than what it was alternative too,” one wrote.
All we can say is that it’s a good thing these people don’t know that one third of the permanent DealBreaker staff moved to Brooklyn Heights last March. They’d probably be marching in the streets."
Interesting fact about Gold
This is a tip from a friend- "75% of all gold ever produced has been extracted since 1910. It has been estimated that all the gold in the world that has ever been refined would form a single cube 20 m (66 ft) a side."
perhaps my European excursion can be funded by money found in a shoe box..
Brooklyn
I WANDERED around Brooklyn today- Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO. Man... like a whole new world. Just kidding. But I really love those hoods. Both are so different but only a few blocks apart. I guess Brooklyn Heights reminds me of the West Village a little.. beautiful, historic brownstones and a nice shopping area. Obviously a serious waterfront view. We went to Grimaldi's and had amazing pizza-definitely worth the half hour wait in the freezing cold. And to round out our gastronomical delights, hit up Jacque Torres for some seriously chocolately hot chocolate. DUMBO reminds me of the Meatpacking district in its architecture but more artistically inspirational, focusing on interior design and photography versus high end clothing and nightlife. This picture brings things full circle----chocolate covered cheerios...
And I saw these guys on the subway going back. They're awesome. Perfectly referencing Kid 'n Play and hip hop of the early 90's. This pic doesn't capture their high tops.. man, watch out. Looks like the early 90's are coming back. It makes me want to jump, jump!
My favorite home store- West Elm and dream color scheme..
Ponderings
Why do I have the song that goes "Snoop Dogg, doooogggg.." stuck in my head now. And that's about the extent of what I can remember from the song.
Any why is my sister beating me in Scrabulous?
Why do I keep getting all vowels. Vowels replaced with Vowels.
Why do salad places always put too much dressing on, destroying the salad completely.
Why am I so addicted to hot apple cider.
Life is Beautiful
I finally just saw Life Is Beautiful. I don't know why I put off seeing these types of movies. I guess cause whenever I'm in the mood to see a movie, it's usually something light. Anyway, it was obviously very good. Interesting how it was almost like a play. Even though it was shot in Arezzo, it seemed like a sound stage. What struck me was that the whole time he was acting like the concentration camp was a game, and when you think about it, what the Nazis did was so absurd, ridiculous and horrible so it not being reality almost makes sense. Very interesting perspective and contrast between the beautiful Italian language and obviously horrific events that were taking place. Blah, I can't believe humans are responsible for such terrible acts and insane beliefs. But- they say the world is actually becoming a more safe place and less violent. I believe that.
check out this story if you get a chance about a young man in Africa who built a windmill.
A different perspective
I'll end the day with a different perspective. My friend sent me this email the other day. He's working as a production assistant on a horror film in Utah of all places. And you thought the fast pace of the city daily grind was tough.
"I had a decent day. In fact it was pretty funny all around. We were filming in the biggest crap hole I've ever seen. Literally. It was this abandoned mill that homeless and crack dealers would live in. There were literally mounds of shit all of the floor. I found a crack pipe in one corner, a toilet plunger on the front steps, dirty underwear somewhere else, and a used tampon too. We had to wear masks just to go in, and the crew was LIVID that we had to film in this place. It was sick, but after like 14 hours everything was funny to the point I was in tears."
Paris Dreams
My friend said he didn't think my posts were personal enough.. so I thought I'd start the day off sharing my feelings. Duuuude! I dreamed that I was hanging out with Paris Hilton at some weird high school party. And then we joined her family or maybe she joined mine- on a trip to where else.. but Paris. I'm utterly distraught and confused. What does this mean? Do I read too much celebrity gossip. Did my last picture (taken in Paris) effect my dream? She isn't the first celeb that I've hung out with in dreamland.. hmmm.
Harvard and Facebook
Okay, First off, I don't have some vendetta against rich people or ivy league grads. I'm simply digesting the latest headlines. Yesterday's NYT article reveals that Facebook demanded Harvard's magazine, 02138, to take down unflattering documents about Mark Zuckerberg that were posted in reference to a lawsuit that claimed he stole code for Facebook's development. Wow, way to go NYT for leading millions of readers to the documents Zuckerberg wanted removed. I guess we know whose side they are on.
And now I will tie in my previous posts about our supposed meritocracy to the 02138 profile of Mark Zuckerberg so the rest of us don't feel bad that we have not yet developed a multi-billion dollar company. But as to its merits of originality, that's up for debate. So we already know that he was educated in the comfortable dorms of Harvard, at least until he dropped out.
He grew " up in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., an affluent enclave just north of New York City, Zuckerberg, the son of a dentist and a psychiatrist, showed an early interest in computer programming. Just before sixth grade, armed with his first desktop PC and the book C++ for Dummies, he began teaching himself how to code. After his junior year in high school, he attended Harvard Summer School for a three-month intensive course in ancient Greek. On Zuckerberg’s Harvard application, David Petrain, his summer-school instructor, described his pupil as a “rare combination of brilliant student and thoroughly likable human being.”
By that point, Zuckerberg had left Dobbs Ferry for Philips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. Excelling in math and science, he threw himself into his classes. He also joined the fencing team, a sport about which he rhapsodized on his Harvard application: “[Fencing] has always proven to be the perfect medium. … I rarely find myself doing anything more enjoyable than fencing a good bout.”
I don't resent him. I mean he's obviously smart.. I'm just sayin.. Now for the guys accusing him.. um... see for yourself.
"As boys, Zuckerberg and the Winklevosses were practically neighbors. Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, 26, are from Greenwich, Conn., less than 20 miles from Dobbs Ferry. Aside from being smart children from well-to-do families, however, they share few similarities. The twins, Olympic crew hopefuls, are the sons of a former Wharton School professor who now works as an investment consultant. The “craggy, Neanderthal-esque” twosome, as the Crimson described them, studied economics. Where Zuckerberg is pale and thin, the Winklevoss twins are tall and fit. Their style is more prepster than geek: They once rowed a crew race while wearing button-down shirts and ties. Since their graduation in 2004, the twins have raced all over the world, recently winning gold medals at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro. Their father supports their training."
But enough about their personal backgrounds. I highly recommend the article. It sounds likes his classmates are the ones who truly do have class. His behavior is shady at best and the accusation that he stole the idea of Facebook is credible. Non the less, I'm still on Facebook and would be lost without Scrabulous. But wait, are the makers of Scrabble suing the makers of Scrabulous...