Long Distance Relationships Can Work

Lately, I’ve been the ear for lots of friends who are in long distance relationships. They seem to be more common these days than ever before, probably because of the way technology affords us the luxury of finding jobs in various areas of the country – and in some cases, in other countries. I am currently in a LDR and, admittedly, do not have it as bad as others. I do not have to worry about timezones and he is merely a 4 hour drive away.

But don’t let anyone fool you into thinking that it isn’t hard, despite that. Although we’ve had to deal with timezones before, what with his family living in Seattle, no matter what, long distance is hard. Right now, he’s in Boston and I’m in NYC.

Here are a few things I tell my friends to get through similar distances/struggles. These are, by NO means, answers. Everyone is different. But this is what I’m dealing with:

1. You’re close enough to visit every weekend – but you don’t have to visit every weekend. Keep in mind that you both need have your own lives. You are still two people, bonded by one thing: each other. But the fact remains that you are still two people.
2. That being said, see each other as often as you can. Right now, for me, that means every other weekend, I have to tell my friends and family here that I can’t see them because I’m going to Boston. Am I missing out on things? Yes. But do I regret it? No. Because he’s worth it. Spending time with him is absolutely worth a million weekend activities that I miss out on.
3. I think he’s worth it. Is your significant other worth it to you? That is a question only you can answer.
4. When you are apart, text/call/gchat/video chat often. But don’t forget to have fun. Alex said to me recently that he hopes I’m having the time of my life here in NYC because I’m paying an arm and a leg to live here. And you know what? I am. Having fun, that is. Well. And paying an arm and a leg to live here.
5. Support each other. Enough said.
6. Talk to each other. We tell each other mundane details of our everyday lives. They’re not mundane to us.
7. Dream together. We make lists of things we want to do when we’re together, in both cities. It gives us something to look forward to.
8. Set a realistic timeline. He’s moving down here in April 2013. I know this isn’t always possible and, in our case, we’re lucky that we know when this is happening. But approximate works too. For example: In September 2012, xyz will look for a job in this city so we can be together.
9. That being siad, can you come to a compromise on where that city is? Think about your relationship and your life. This goes back to #3. Is your significant other worth it? For me, the answer is absolutely yes.
10. Be honest – with each other and with yourself. Is this relationship, this person, what you ultimately want? As of this moment in time, that is. I’m not dumb. We’re young. Things could change. But at this moment in time, this is all I want in terms of my love life. He is all I want.

These are just some things I’ve kept in mind, and have shared with Alex. The distance is tough. This won’t make it easy – just easier. Every time I just want to turn to him to tell him something when I’m watching TV, he’s not there. And that sucks. When I’m upset about something that happened at work, I can’t go home and run into his arms and cry about it. That sucks too. When I’m drunk and need someone to help me get home, I have to figure it ou on my own. Not only does that suck, but it’s probably not the best idea I’ve ever had. I can think of a million more scenarios that suck about this situation.

But I choose to think about the good things. On the flip side, we’re much more honest with each other than we were before. We’re learning how to really communicate with each other, which is something I think our generation has lost touch with. And we’re stronger together already – and it’s only been 4 months. We’ve got a long way to go – 10 more months – but we also have a lot to look forward to. Together.

Crazy Cat Lady: Happy Birthday, Parker!

Happy 2nd birthday to my favorite little man! They grow so fast… (Taken with instagram)

I realize that it’s a bit pathetic to fawn over one’s cat the way that I do. Call me a crazy cat lady – it’s the truth. Parker is my first pet, my first living thing to fawn over; sure, I’ve tried plants before. But they have never responded to me the way Parker does. They don’t follow me around the apartment when I come home from work because they’ve missed me and they definitely don’t snuggle up next to me in bed at night, purring like crazy as I drift off to sleep. No, plants can’t do that. But Parker can.

I got Parker about a year and a half ago and it’s been the best year and a half I’ve had in a long time. I received Parker during a time when much was uncertain – I had graduated college and was working a job I wasn’t sure was for me, but I was also too afraid to leave due to the economic downturn. My boyfriend and I had just gotten back together recently after a year of being on the outs and I was contemplating if I was having the Gatsby syndrome or not. I was not in college anymore, but all my friends still had one more year and suddenly, I couldn’t relate to a lot of things they did or wanted in their everyday life. Everything about my life was unsure. But the one thing I knew for certain was that Parker loved me unconditionally. And how can you say no to that cute little face?

He’s the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time and I’m so glad that I got to him before another crazy cat person could. Happy birthday, Parks. Here’s to many more, little guy. Love ya<3

Everything Happens For A Reason

Let’s be honest: 2012 hasn’t really gotten off to a great start for me. If anything, I’ve been told my stories make my friends feel better about how their years have started. There have been times when I’ve really questioned myself and, especially in the last week, times when my faith in myself has seriously wavered. I’m not sure that I’ve ever fully understood what getting to rock bottom was until now.

But this recent turn of events – for the worse – has given me time. Time to reflect on decisions I’ve made in the past and why I made them. Time to do some true inner soul-searching. Time to think about me for once, instead of everyone else around me. I am sure that in the coming weeks, there will be bad days, decent days, and maybe even some good days. I know I’ll be discouraged, disappointed, and angry. But I also know that this is a true test of my own character. And I know that I don’t have to do this alone.

For a long time, I was under the assumption that it was Melody vs. Life. That’s it. But this past week alone has proven to me that my friends and family are here. Just last night, I was sitting in the living room of my boyfriend’s apartment agonizing over the unexpectedly huge hurdle that planted itself in my path this week. Both my boyfriend and his roommate, a longtime friend of mine, put an end to my wallowing. They told me that it might take time, yes, but I was going to be okay. In fact, they insisted, I was going to look back on this and tell people that this was probably one of the best things that ever happened to me. Five minutes later, I received a message from a former co-worker saying the same thing. These are not the only instances where my friends and family have had to pick me back up lately.  I cannot express enough how grateful I am to all of these people who still believe in me for some reason that I still cannot comprehend.

The uneasiness that has settled at the pit of my stomach is still there, without a doubt. But I know that, with time and a little bit of luck, I’ll land on my feet.

Sure, 2012 got off to a pretty rough start. But it’s only January. I’ve got 11 more months to turn this year around. I plan on starting right now.

Group Buying: Next Stop, Travel?

The beginning of the month, Groupon announced that they would be partnering with discount travel giant Expedia to make Groupon Travel. Soon, LivingSocial and other group buying sites rolled out their travel platforms as well. Then, I got an e-mail from SniqueAway inviting me to be a part of their discount luxury travel program. Just like Gilt Groupe brought discount luxury retail to the forefront of the 50% off or more space, SniqueAway is exclusive to luxury travel. With all of the group buying options out there, it’s hard to imagine where they could go next. I’m not sure if the group buying trend will continue on, and there have been many debates on how profitable it really is.

But is that the purpose and function of group buying? I’m not so sure that short-term results is what Groupon, and others like it, are proposing here. Now that many of these sites have started to move on from their first success, the food/restaurant industry, it will be an interesting, to say the least, as retail and travel begin to take over. Do you think this is a trend that has more legs to it? Where do you see group buying going next?

FDA Requires Grotesque Imagery on Cigarette Boxes Next Year

I saw this article on AdAge today. The imagery in the article itself is nothing short of terrifying. I had to close my eyes almost every time I scrolled to the top. Perhaps it’s because I get a little queasy at grotesque things, and I definitely fall under the “weak stomach” category. I know that this would make me reconsider buying cigarettes if I had to stare at an image like that every time I went to get a cigarette. But I’m not exactly the target. I don’t actually smoke. This will probably deter light-to-almost-quitting smokers to a certain extent, but I’m not sure that this tactic of fear is going to work for those in dire need of quitting. This kind of thing has been around on cigarette boxes in the UK for years now and the effect is almost none. People started to tune the images out, and it just became something people were used to seeing. It will be interesting to see the aftermath here in the US once this initiative drops in 2012.

How do you think this will effect the tobacco industry starting in 2012?

The Media Agency of the Future

Before I launch into a small novel of my opinions, I would like to apologize to those few people who do read this blog. I know I took almost a full year off from writing anything substantial, and I know in that year I tried to move to Tumblr (the so-called MySpace of blogging. Don’t worry, I failed at keeping up with that too). However, being a student, club leader, intern, and employee of two different businesses, in addition to craving a social life (my poor friends and boyfriend had to pencil themselves into my schedule), really caved in on my time to write decent posts for awhile. I’m back again, having just started my new adventure with Blitz, as their new Digital Coordinator.

As a digital coordinator, and a former media intern in both the traditional and online realms, I have seen how quickly things in media have changed – even in the three short years since I have started in this industry. It is in this day and age that Darwin’s theory truly comes forth: survival of the fittest. People have said it over and over again. Brands must adapt to the changing environment. Sure, it’s scary. Sure, no one knows what’s going to happen. But staying the same, staying with the status quo never got anyone anywhere. Big brands taking big leaps in the right direction will win.

So what’s the “right” direction?

If only someone had an answer. Last week, Advertising Age came out with its first ever Media Issue. An entire issue dedicated to media. Where is it going? What is happening to it? Will its quick evolution be its own death? Where are media agencies, much like Blitz, going to be in ten years from now?

So really. Where is media going? Where are we going? Many of these articles said that the important thing media agencies will need to realize is that media is no longer media anymore. Media is, in short, everything.

It already can’t really be categorized and shelved away the way library books can. That is, if people still go to the library with the Kindles, the iPads, and the Nooks of the industry coming out stronger than ever. But that’s besides the point.

The point is, the world is changing. Surprise, surprise. In the future, media agencies, and all agencies in general, will be less focused on the clicks and the impressions, the conversion rates, the ROI. This is not to say that these metrics aren’t important- because they are. They will still exist. They have to. But a media campaign will not simply be banner ads here, in-banner videos there, maybe a 00:30 second spot one week and a full page ad another.

I think it will be more about who is talking about what, where, when, and why. Yes, the dreaded word. It will be about “buzz.”  Say what you will about social media (and yes, I hate it too sometimes), but it has only expanded the net of conversations available to people. I hear about things on Twitter from people I have never even heard of, much less met. For example, I decided to try a restaurant last week with my boyfriend, not because we saw advertisements for it, but because one of my follower’s re-tweeted their follower’s re-tweet of something said by someone else that neither me nor my follower followed. Get it? Yeah, kind of confusing. But influential.

It isn’t all about sponsored Tweets or Facebook ads or anything like that. But it’s also not going to be about having a protocol. It’s not going to be about telling the client your process. Absolutely not.

It’s going to be about the consumer. I don’t know if that’s a beat-over-the-head point yet or not. But I really, truly believe that everything needs to move more and more towards the consumer. People are starting to pay attention to the way advertising works. And I’m not just talking about people like me, people who work in the industry. No. Everyone.

I was at trivia night the other day at White Horse Tavern (I’m very bad at trivia, I found out) and there was a picture round. You had to identify the “man.” There was the Blue Man Group, Redman, and other notable men. But the one man there that everyone knew (besides the Blue Man Group because how could you possibly miss that?) was “The Most Interesting Man in the World.” That’s right. The man from the Dos Equis commercial. After we had an embarrassing loss at trivia night, we went to buy some beer to bring home and wallow in how all of our knowledge of useless things…was simply not useless enough. I bought Dos Equis. I didn’t realize the connection until I was home, drinking a bottle of Dos Equis and watching late night Comedy Central.

Obviously, that picture round was not sponsored by Dos Equis. But Dos Equis knew just how to intrigue people in their demographic. I want to be classy. I want to be cool. I want to be interesting. I want to be that guy. Except female.

How do brands utilize media to make people want their brand, want to relate to their brand, the way I want to relate to The Most Interesting Man in the World?

They listen. Not just media agencies, but all agencies of the future are going to have to be better at listening. Not to the client,  because no offense clients, you know we love you, but sometimes you have no idea what you’re saying. To the consumer. To both the users and the non-users of your brand. What are they saying about you, about your competitors, about themselves? Most importantly, what are they saying about themselves? Does that fit with your brand truth? How can you use that compatibility in the world (currently known as media) to make those consumers see that you understand them? We all love to be understood.

So how will this effect media agencies? Well, for one, it will make all agencies more complex. Things will have to be more organized on a team-by-team basis because there will be no protocol. Things will have to be felt out on a brand-by-brand basis. Because, of course, no two brands are the same. And if they are, perhaps it’s time for a change. The media agency will be more about integration into the daily lives of consumers. I know that there’s already a shift towards that, but the truth is, commercials are still the most popular avenue of advertising.

I think in the next decade, there will be a dramatic shift towards immersion not interruption. I’m not saying commercials will be gone forever. I’m just saying things like commercials and banner ads and billboards will simply be reinforcers for the big idea for the rest of the campaign. I’m not sure where the center-piece of these new campaigns will be – perhaps in creative guerrilla marketing techniques or projects like Pepsi Refresh. By the time we get to a decade from now, projects like Pepsi Refresh will be able to be blown up to a much larger magnitude. Brands will regain personalities. Brands will be like people. They are already starting to transform that way.

I suppose this doesn’t really answer the question, “Where will media agencies go in 10 years?” Probably because there is no definitive answer. The future is blurrier than ever before. The only way to find out is to dive head first into it– like a new adventure. I like new adventures.  Bon voyage!

If ‘The Decision’ Was an Advertising Paradigm, the Ad Industry Has Much More to Worry About Than It Thinks

I was going to just let the whole LeBron/ESPN/overblown publicity tirade go under my radar and not contribute to the millions of opinions already circulating the blog-o-sphere. But then I logged onto AdAge.com this morning and read this article, featuring an interview with Ari Emmanuel, co-CEO of the William Morris Endeavor agency. Mr. Emmanuel, as great as he may be at his job, seems to think that he also knows the future of the advertising industry. Apparently, The Decision was supposed to be a “paradigm for advertiser-funded programming.”

I’m not sure if he realizes this, but The Decision was not exactly a subtle PR stunt. I thought we, in the advertising industry, were trying to be as unobtrusive as possible when it came to invading the lives of our consumers. At least, I was under the impression that this was the case. I was also under the impression, as somebody who is both in the industry and a consumer, that this was a good step for advertising; that getting our consumers more engaged with our brand through more natural methods was a much more organic way to connect with said consumers, rather than in-your-face, throwing the brand at the consumer type of advertising. Yet my day, last Thursday, was just full of surprises for me. The one-hour long ESPN special on LeBron James’ decision was, arguably, the exact kind of in-your-face, let’s-name-drop-all-these-brands-constantly advertising I thought we were moving away from.

The brand-name drops were blatant, though Emmanuel seemed to be proud of this during the interview. The “special” was tasteless and disrespectful to the city of Cleveland and the state of Ohio (and no, I am not from Ohio nor am I a Cavs, Heat, Knicks, or Bulls fan). It was exactly the opposite of why I wanted to be a part of the advertising industry. As a basketball fan, it made me feel foolish. As a consumer, it made me feel stupid. Do these people really think that we, as consumers, are truly as gullible as they’d like to believe we are?

But that’s not what this was supposed to be about. According to the interview, this hour-long mockery of the NBA, ESPN, Cleveland, and the advertising industry was supposed to be a great display of charity. That all of these brands, including the LeBron James brand, were actually doing this to support the Boys and Girls Club.

Well. I don’t know about you guys, but for me, this did not reflect well on that corporation either. What kind of charity supports and, dare I say, worships someone as cocky and self-centered as LeBron James? Many people have said to me, “That’s not his fault. His publicist made him do it.”

Are you all telling me that LeBron James is still a 17-year-old kid who can’t seem to stand up for what’s right and wrong? This was a moral outrage. I don’t even care that he went to Miami. That’s nice, have a good time, you’ll probably play great with Wade and Bosh! I understand his drive to win. He’s young, I’m young, we all want recognition at a young age like ours. And to be the best at a sport that Michael Jordan once reigned supreme? That’s a dream come true! I know it, he knows it, we all know it. I don’t blame him for leaving Cleveland. But I do blame him for the lack of taste with which he did it.

His PR entourage seems to be under the impression that this was all a great publicity stunt, that they were just paving the way for promoted advertising content in the future. Well, to that I say, isn’t it more complicated than that? Consumers have gotten smarter over the years. We see through that. Perhaps this so-called paradigm would have worked even five years ago. But now? It’s more than just about advertising and basketball. It’s about being respectful. To the consumer. And The Decision was the least respectful thing of all- to consumers and basketball fans alike.

But I guess we’ll just have to wait until next fall to see the real aftermath of The Decision- both in basketball and advertising.

Agency Hopping – Why Serial Agency Relationships Are No Good

I heard through the grapevine (aka AdAge.com), that Gap is up for review. Again. Oyyy…

I’ve always looked at Agency/Client relationships like…well, boyfriend/girlfriend relationships. They’re delicate. They can be rough, and there are definitely bad, unpleasant, straight-up foul ones. But when a good Agency/Client relationship is formed, it can be wonderful. Filled with new, innovative, and creative experiences that make both the Agency and the Client better for it. There are rough patches, sure. Always will be. But when the Agency and the Client work out a good communication process, things get fixed, productivity is increased, everyone involved is, generally, happy.

In my opinion, for a brand, just like for people, serial relationships are not a great idea. In fact, I really think that agency-hopping will more often than not hurt a brand rather than help it. I do see it from the brand’s perspective, where finding new agencies constantly could mean constantly having the newest and the most innovative ideas that stand out from the rest. But what does that do except allow for one-time buyers or funny campaigns with no concrete outcome?

The beauty of advertising, the reason I was attracted to it in the first place, is its strategically creative nature. The best creatives, and the best creative work I have ever come across has been from people who have taken a strategy and nailed it on the head while straying from traditional “norms” while staying consistent with the brand essence. And I think that’s why, when you find an agency that you love, you should stick with them. As time goes on, the relationship can only grow and strengthen.

That means, the people working on your campaigns only get to know you more. It’s like going on dates. The first date is a unfamiliar, everyone is a little shy, maybe first impressions are made that aren’t the most favorable, but you always hope they are. Then the second date. A little more familiar, a little more relaxed, a little more open. Then the third, and fourth, and so on. The more familiar, the more open you get. The more open, the more effectively you can communicate with each other. The more you understand each other. And thus comes a beautiful relationship.

I’m sure that Gap Inc. has its reasons for agency hopping, as do many other serial agency reviewers. I don’t know what these reasons are, or if the vague reasons they shell out to publications like AdAge or AdWeek are actually true. I’ll never know, unless I work for their ex-agency or for them, probably. All of these people, heading the marketing department for these corporations are in their high-powered positions for a reason. I’m not doubting them. I’m just simply saying that, from what I can see in the advertising world, agency-hopping is a trend that has rarely led to great successes.

But from the client perspective, to the agencies out there, it’s important to note. Don’t slack, keep refreshing your creative insights, and keep a watch on what’s going on out there. There’s a lot of keep up with, but if we can do it, we stand a much better chance against the other agencies out there.

Does This Make My Butt Look Big?

A screenshot of the Bonobos homepage. Chat with a style ninja today. Copyright Bonobos 2009.

Ladies, you know what it’s like to finish a big dinner (Thanksgiving dinner, anyone?) where you had no mercy on your body and inhaled almost everything on the table. Your stomach feels like it’s going to explode, you feel like you ate your weight in food, you don’t regret it…but when you look in the mirror, the first thing you do? Turn around and look at your butt. I do it. You do it. We all do it.

But what about the gents? Guys, you don’t really think about your butt that much, in fact, besides when you’re wiping it, you probably never give it a second thought.

Well. Bonobos is trying to change that.

I was scrolling through NYTimes.com today and I saw a feature on a new men’s clothing store, Bonobos. Founded by Andy Dunn and Brain Spaly, this e-commerce clothing company is not like the Gaps or the Banana Republics out there. In fact, it mocks them. Can you believe it? Those $50 pair of jeans you bought last week with your mom when she forced you to go shopping with her? Dunn and Spaly are trying to tell you they look horrible on you.

Bonobo’s mission is to revolutionize, not only the way men’s clothes fit, but also “the way men buy clothes.”

These pants are different because they are made to fit you. Gone away are the days of baggy, saggy jeans that droop all the way past your butt. Now, “fitted” has a new meaning. To top that off, you’ll never have to leave your home. The store is purely online, like Zappos, and you don’t even have to worry about shipping. It’s free. All the time.

Sounds like a guy’s store. Not only do they get free shipping, there’s a lifetime return policy. Go ahead. Return those pants. Keep trying new pants until you find your perfect fit. And then you’ll be able to customize your Bonobos homepage to your needs. Your favorite pants will be there, only pants in your size will show up. Makes shopping seem ridiculously hassle-free. Cool!

And it is true that guys are self-conscious about the way they look. Contrary to the way movies and TV shows depict men, I do believe that guys care. Probably not half as much as girls do, but the caring is there. They want to look good.

So the business model will work, it’s convenient, it’s helpful, it plays towards anxieties men have about their physical look, it sounds like a wonderful store with a variety of different clothing designed to fit.

Here’s where I see a problem: While guys care about how they look, the quest for a perfect pair of pants, or a perfect shirt doesn’t come cheap. Why pay $88(starting price!) for a pair of pants that will simply fit you better, when you can have a small imperfection and pay $38 less? After all, nobody’s perfect right?

And there’s something about calling your customer service crew “style ninjas” that leads me to believe it will be hard to catch on. Do you really expect a guy—a man, if you will—to refer to customer service as a ninja? A ninja? I guess it’s funny. I guess it’s kind of cute. But I’m not sure cute is what Bonobos should be going for.

And perhaps targeting men may be the wrong way to go. What about their wives? Girlfriends? Girl-that-he-hooks-up-with-but-isn’t-his-girlfirend-but-maybe-one-day-will-be? Unlike girls (who, let’s be honest, try to impress other girls before they try to impress guys), guys want to impress girls. Period. End of sentence. They don’t really care about what other guys think about their shirt (unless, of course, they swing that way). So why not target the females?

I may be totally off here, I’m not an expert in men’s fashion. But from a purely advertising perspective, I think there’s going to have to be some small branding adjustments before this will successfully reach their audience. And it would be a shame if a company that would bring us ladies some better-dressed men to look at went under because of some small branding technicalities.

The Droid Does…Help a Little

I know, I know. With all the talk about the Droid vs. the iPhone, I’m sure you’re all sick of hearing about it. But what kind of advertising columnist would I be if I completely ignored this raging advertising battle between AT&T/Apple and Verizon/Motorola?

Joining Microsoft in its efforts to bring the technology God that is Apple down, Verizon has decided to take a different route this time around. I’m sure we’ve all seen the “There’s a map for that” ads that counter the “There’s an app for that” campaign (and if you haven’t, refer to the YouTube at the bottom of this post). The direct attack is clever, witty, and effective. The Droid, however, has gone about a different approach.

Not only is the approach completely different, the target audience is too—a good way to get around the Apple market. The ads are targeted towards tech-savvy, gadget-buying, sci-fi appreciative males. As opposed to the quirky tone of the Apple ads, the Droid campaign is dark, heavy, and dangerous, touting the tagline, “In a world of doesn’t, Droid does.”

What does the Droid do, exactly? That’s also featured in the commercial, one of the only similarities the Droid commercials have to Apple’s iPhone commercials. Voice activation is one of the most heavily advertised features of the Droid, in addition to features such as taking clear pictures in the dark—something the Droid claims that the iPhone doesn’t do. The Droid is a Google-backed interface, claims to be highly intuitive, and is Verizon’s attempt to bring the iPhone down.

Problem? Their target market. Is it a viable market? Should they have tried to keep closer to the witty, quirky essence of Apple? Or was this deviation the reason they got noticed?

I know when I first saw the Droid commercial on TV, my friends and I was thoroughly confused. So what did we do? We went to the website listed at the end of the 30-second spot. And when we got to the website, all we saw was, “It’s Coming. November 2009.”

Anticipation built? Check.

For weeks after the initial exposure to the commercial, I saw ads everywhere—billboards, online, on TV, in magazines. I couldn’t get away from the brand.

Effective frequent exposure? Check.

But upon the day of release on Friday, Nov. 6? I was not waiting to get a new phone in front of Verizon. I didn’t know the release date, actually. The first I heard about it was on my Twitter-feed when AdAge tweeted about it. In fact, Verizon stores were pretty quiet that day. Except for the Verizon store in SoHo and the Best Buy on Houston Street, and a few other retailers across the nation, where they ran out of Droids by mid-morning, the Verizon home front was fairly…stagnant.

The campaign was effective, it was clever, it was good. But the execution during the most crucial days leading up to the drop date? Unchecked.

The Droid had a good chance at defeating the iPhone for Verizon, but its lack of anticipation in the days leading up to November 6 hurt Droid. This isn’t to say that it won’t take some iPhone users away from AT&T. It will. It has. But it won’t take as many as Verizon had originally hoped.

Still, it’s a valiant effort from a company whose reputation was suffering from the blows AT&T dealt. The Droid has salvaged Verizon, as the “There’s a map for that” campaign has helped to do too.

In times of economic recession like these, when people aren’t thinking about new cell phones as much as they have in the past, I think Verizon will take salvaging if it can’t get complete domination. Baby steps.