Captivating Connections.

online shoppers take on the holidays.

"Despite recent signs of increased consumer confidence, 55% said the economy was still affecting major holiday purchase decisions, according to a survey conducted by About.com in September. Among the 1,056 participants, discount/coupons, free shipping with online purchases, and free gifts with purchase were ranked as the top three most compelling online holiday ad messages.

Consumers, the study found, are also shopping early for the holidays this year so they can do more comparison and less impulsive shopping. By September, 40% of respondents said they were already shopping for the holidays, while 40% said they planned to start their shopping in October and November.

Because of the economy, consumers are likewise spending more time shopping online and looking for deals this holiday season compared to last year. Nearly half -- 46% -- reported doing more comparison shopping online before purchasing in-store.

Specifically, 37% of respondents are looking for free shipping for online purchases, while 24% are looking for coupons online."

sorry, scientology

"In an unprecedented effort to crack down on self-serving edits, the Wikipedia supreme court has banned contributions from all IP addresses owned or operated by the Church of Scientology and its associates.

Closing out the longest-running court case in Wikiland history, the site’s Arbitration Committee voted 10 to 0 (with one abstention) in favor of the move, which takes effect immediately."

step away from the facebook...

I once participated in Lent, giving up all dairy (sayonara, Ben & Jerry’s) as a sign of solidarity, with my friend Craig. This, though, just struck me as kind of pathetic.

We’ve all read about how sites like Facebook are ‘addicting’, with self-proclaimed Facebook-addicts cropping up across college campuses around the county. Apparently, though, the addiction has gotten so bad, students are trying to give it up for Lent. Not smoking, not drinking, nor any other indulgence or vice…FACEBOOK(dot com).

I don’t know if this makes me feel old (come on, people, an online site??? Get a life!), or I just think this is tragic, especially since I know some people on the borderline of needing an online intervention.

Either way, if it takes religion to break you of your voyeuristic addiction of seeing what your friends (and your friends’ friends) are doing, watching, or thinking, perhaps you need to step away from the laptop, and get some fresh air.

Please.

the chosen drink.

It’s almost time for Passover, that lovely Jewish holiday that not only signifies that it’s Spring (or at least should feel like it), but it’s time to clean my apartment from floor to ceiling and rid myself of anything that has a potential trace of a bread product in it. That also means I get to go shopping for kosher for Passover products (woo hoo), most of which wouldn’t exactly rate on the culinary scales.

Let’s just be honest: I, like many other observant Jews, live on a healthy diet of Matzo pizza and leftover brisket.

The best thing, though, about Passover goodies is the kosher for Passover Coca-Cola. Coke, like many companies, dedicates a division of their company to meeting the Passover cleanliness rules, and sells 2-liter bottles of both Coke and Diet Coke, with yellow caps signifying the limited editions. The drink is made with pure sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup, which, ironically, is making just as big of a splash with non-Jews as us Heebs, since it tastes like how the old Coke formula used to be.

It’s interesting that the formula abandoned in the 80’s still has the beverage fanatics combing the Kosher sections of supermarkets. You’d think they'd try to bring it back for more than 8 days a year, perhaps even creating a legacy line, glass bottles and all. It could be a cool way to tap into the whole nostalgia craze.

I’m not saying we’re the ‘Chosen People’, I’m just saying we’ve got some superior product. ;)