Students Lead the Way

Jim Beam boasts that even though times have changed, their Bourbon Whiskey has remained the same over the past 215 years (www.jimbeam.com). Their Kentucky Straight Whiskey may have stayed the same, but they've recently decided to target a new market: women. This topic affects me indirectly, because I am a woman, but I do not drink expensive bourbon. I don't really care that they bought out Skinny Girl Margaritas and that I don't associate that brand with Jim Beam. Honestly, I think Jim Beam is losing their legacy as a higher-end Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Some brands just have to target only men. I think Jim Beam is bored with their current marketing and products; they feel like they need to step up their game as society advances. I don't think this is a BAD decision, but if they start targeting women, I believe they will change their COMPLETE brand image that they've carried for over 200 years.

After discussing solar panels, I believe they will become more popular as the photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies advance. I actually know some consumers that have thought about making a solar investment in their homes. I think this is a great idea, and I hope to save energy by investing someday myself. But right now, I think people are scared to try it because there hasn't been a breakthrough in solar heating and electricity. It's a great invention, but some company has to provide the resources and investments to step up and provide "the best" so that consumers know they will get their money's worth. For instance, electric wind-mills have definitely advanced and proved their worth; they were strategically engineered to withstand any weather or condition... you don't see them falling down the mountainsides.

After presenting the article about coal-miners needing workers, my points of view changed. At first I was thinking, no way will anyone in this class say "yes, I would be a coal-miner" but some people took me by surprise. So I decided I would do it, too! $70,000 starting salary is a lot and if I can't get a job my first year out of college, I could use that to pay back my loans and start fresh! I know it poses health risks, but I think just one year underground wouldn't affect me too much. I think I'm just money hungry!