by = from

Sat Nov 3 15:38:51 UTC 2012

Another ad:

"Say hello to Bluebird by American Express and Walmart. It feels good to
Bluebird!"

JL

On Thu, Nov 1, 2012 at 1:47 PM, Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com>wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject:      Re: by = from
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I think it's attempting to burnish the reputation of BlackRock by
> associating it with Mozart and Michelangelo.
>
> JL
>
> On Thu, Nov 1, 2012 at 1:42 PM, Baker, John <JBAKER at stradley.com> wrote:
>
> > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> > -----------------------
> > Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > Poster:       "Baker, John" <JBAKER at STRADLEY.COM>
> > Subject:      Re: by = from
> >
> >
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >         Well, in fairness to BlackRock, it would also be accurate to say
> > that iShares are "sponsored by BlackRock."  "Sponsored" is a bit vague in
> > its precise meaning, but it generally is understood to mean that the
> > sponsor designed and created the fund, which in this case would be an
> > accurate statement.  I tend to think that it's more important who
> manages a
> > fund than who sponsors it, but I can see the contrary argument,
> especially
> > in the case of index funds such as iShares.
> >
> >         I think it's fair to ask, in a case like this, what the tag line
> > is trying to tell us.  Three possibilities come to mind:
> >
> >         1.      It's purely informational, letting potential investors
> > know of the connection between iShares and BlackRock.  While this
> actually
> > is useful and neutral information, a purely informational statement
> > probably would have used more precise language.
> >
> >         2.      It's attempting to burnish the image of iShares by
> > associating it with BlackRock.  This seems the obvious interpretation.
> >  Still, why should the average investor care?  Since the iShares funds
> are
> > index funds, they follow a mechanical and fully disclosed investment
> > strategy that has already been locked in place.  An investor probably
> > should just figure which index funds best match his or her investment
> > goals, then choose whichever one of those has the lowest expenses.
> >
> >         3.      It's attempting to burnish the image of BlackRock by
> > associating it with iShares.  I wouldn't rule this one out.  BlackRock is
> > the largest money manager in the world, with $3,512,681,000,000 under
> > management as of December 31 (I just happen to have the latest issue of
> > Pensions & Investments handy), but it's a relatively young firm and its
> > public image is not commensurate with its size.
> >
> >         Incidentally, that number looks unreasonably large to me.  What
> > was the price of the Louisiana Purchase?  I feel like adding "and 16
> > cents," which was always part of the number whenever the value of Scrooge
> > McDuck's fortune was stated.
> >
> >
> > John Baker
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf
> > Of Jonathan Lighter
> > Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2012 12:53 PM
> > To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> > Subject: Re: by = from
> >
> > So the situation is even dumber or more evil than I thought.
> >
> > To say "by BlackRock" (it's so clever when they run words together)
> implies
> > (to me) that iShares is like a poem or a drama or a musical composition.
> A
> > veritable work of art.
> >
> > For which BlackRock is solely responsible as designer and creator.  John
> > shows otherwise.
> >
> > At least "*from* BlackRock" would suggest no more to the cynical
> ad-watcher
> > than that BR is somewhere in the mix when the iShares appear. Others
> would
> > simply assume that BR is entirely responsible. "Managed by BlackRock"
> just
> > sounds boring, no matter how great BR might be.
> >
> > But that's show biz.
> >
> > JL
> >
> > On Thu, Nov 1, 2012 at 12:32 PM, Baker, John <JBAKER at stradley.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> > > -----------------------
> > > Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > > Poster:       "Baker, John" <JBAKER at STRADLEY.COM>
> > > Subject:      Re: by = from
> > >
> > >
> >
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > > Actually, BlackRock (specifically, BlackRock Fund Advisors, a
> subsidiary
> > > of BlackRock, Inc.) is the investment adviser to the iShares family of
> > > exchange-traded funds, so when the ad says "By BlackRock" it really
> means
> > > "Managed by BlackRock," not "From BlackRock."
> > >
> > > It's true that another BlackRock entity (BlackRock Investments, LLC)
> > > serves as the distributor to iShares, but this is irrelevant for two
> > > reasons.  First, investors that are not large broker-dealers buy their
> > > iShares shares on the open market, not through the distributor, so they
> > > aren't really acquired "from BlackRock."  Second, nobody gives a damn
> who
> > > the distributor of an exchange-traded fund is.
> > >
> > >
> > > John Baker
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On
> Behalf
> > > Of Jonathan Lighter
> > > Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2012 8:57 AM
> > > To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> > > Subject: by = from
> > >
> > > So far restricted to ads. I hope:
> > >
> > > "iShares. By Black Rock."
> > >
> > > JL
> > >
> > > --
> > > "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the
> > truth."
> > >
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> >
> >
> > --
> > "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the
> truth."
> >
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> > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
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>
>
>
> --
> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."
>
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> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>

--
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