Releases : Business

DENTON (UNT), Texas -- Spring is severe weather season in Texas, and the tornadoes and hail that peppered the North Texas area on April 13 (Friday) are typical of the destruction left by these severe storms. Brenda Wells, associate professor of risk management and insurance at the University of North Texas, has some tips for Texas homeowners as they cope with severe weather season:

1. Have your roof inspected yearly for loose shingles and leaks. Texas heat in the summer can compromise the integrity of shingles, especially if they are stapled to the roof. Modern building codes usually prohibit the use of staples, but older homes may still have them. A better alternative is to have the shingles nailed to the roof.
2. Any damage claims should be filed immediately.  Trust your insurance agent--have one who is responsive to your needs, and document all damages as soon as possible with digital photos.
3. The best protection is solid, wind-resistant construction. When making repairs or replacing a roof, consult an expert to get the most durable roof you can afford.
4. Periodically update your insurance policy limits to ensure that you have an adequate amount of replacement cost coverage for your dwelling.
5. In your disaster emergency kit, be sure to include moving blankets, duct tape, and heavy gauge plastic. Blankets are useful for covering cars that cannot be stored in a garage. They are also useful for shielding valuable furniture and household contents from flying glass or debris. Duct tape and plastic can seal compromised windows and doors and minimize further damage. 

Wells can be reached at 940-565-4285, or at BrendaWells@unt.edu.

DENTON (UNT), Texas -- A drop in overseas markets pushed the Dow Jones industrial averages down more than 400 points--the largest one day drop since 2001. Earlier in the day, the market was down more than 500 points. The director of the Center for Economic Development and Research at the University of North Texas says this may have been simply a market correction, and is not a reason to panic.

Dr. Bernard Weinstein says while the roughly 416 point drop was big for one day, on a percentage wise basis it was nothing like the stock market drop of October, 1987. He adds the sell off was in part precipitated by a drop in overseas markets, which spilled over to Wall Street since the markets are all interrelated. A drop in durable goods orders further soured the mood of traders.

Weinstein says, "Many market observers have been predicting a correction for some time. The stock market has had a great run up over the past few years. In the past, corrections have taken days or weeks, but now they can be instantaneous."

Weinstein says the market drop came in spite of better than forecast home sales and solid consumer confidence numbers. He adds what happens in next few days will be important in determining the breadth and depth of a potential market correction. 

"The market is more volatile than it used to be," Weinstein says. "If you look at the fundamentals, the economy is in good shape, there is job growth, and housing sales remain strong."

Weinstein has authored or co-authored numerous books, monographs, and articles on the subjects of economic development, public policy, and taxation. He has been a consultant to many companies, non-profit organizations, and government agencies, and he testifies frequently before legislative, regulatory, and judicial bodies.

Weinstein can be reached at his office, (940) 565-4049 or via cell phone, 214-707-1834.

DENTON (UNT), Texas -- In what may be one of the more unusual "guerilla marketing" stunts, an advertising campaign for Cartoon Network's Adult Swim show, "Aqua Teen Hunger Force," led to a terror scare Wednesday in Boston and water cooler talk nationwide. The chair of the marketing department at the University of North Texas says it's hard to believe such a marketing campaign would even be approved in a post 9/11 world.

Dr. David Strutton says, "Creative and different are both good marketing strategies, but those strategies can't violate reason and logic, particularly in a world where terrorism is a concern. Clearly, the grownups weren't in the room when this decision was made. It's hard to imagine anybody thinking this was a really good idea."

"Guerilla marketing" is defined as an unconventional way of performing promotional activities on a limited budget. Strutton says Cartoon Network and its immediate parent, Turner Broadcasting, have done a good job of owning up to what happened.

"This is a classic PR situation. (Cartoon Network and Turner Broadcasting) needed to do what it has done, own up to what happen and apologize for it. They should also consider doing something positive such as offering to pay for the law enforcement costs stemming from the scare. Plus, somebody is going to need to ‘fall on their sword' or be thrown on one as an act of atonement," Strutton says.

Cartoon Network and Turner Broadcasting are part of media giant Time Warner. Strutton does not think the "guerilla marketing" gone badly will hurt the conglomerate's other brands. In fact, he thinks it may help to raise the profile of both "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" and Cartoon Network.

"The target audience of the cartoon likely wasn't traumatized by this incident, and literally tens of millions of people have been exposed to both the cartoon and the Cartoon Network," Strutton says. "So, I don't think there will be any long-lasting damage to the brand."

Strutton can be reached at his office, (940) 565-3123.