I really enjoy the press preview for this event. For one, I get to see product that most won't see unless they travel to Las Vegas or until it gets to the market.
The press conference included some good questions for CEA CEO Gary Shapiro. One was about the closing of Circuit City. Yes, this economy have boards cutting people off at the knees to maintain their salaries. Shapiro looked at from the point of people losing jobs and reduction in competition. Overall, consumer electronics will weather this crisis because it is the cheaper alternative to travel, amusement parks, going to the theater or cinema. Ultimately, as more product gets the Green seal, energy consumption is reduced. In fact, more makers are returning to biodegradable packaging.
Diana Ross is the 2009 act for the Las Vegas show. After Mary J. Blige, CEA scratched it head to come up with another solid crowd pleasure. Shapiro said why not a stellar act with staying power like Diana Ross to mark three decades of existence.
The exihibit hall was the usual wonderfully party atmosphere. Great hors d'oeuvres and desserts. This year they included rice noodles which is great substitute for wheat-intolerant diners. Great bartenders and media schmoozing with industry people to handle gadgets and make deals.
I took a break in the Inada Sogno Massage Chair. It really is a cut above other massage chairs because it not only rolls up and down one's back and vibrates, it stretches your back and squeezes your toes and hands.
The first thing that caught my eye was JAWBONE earbuds. They're these sleekly darling bluetooth earclips, rectangular and textured leather. The company uses a long-necked black model to show it off. Could it be that research reveals the people hot on bluetooth are black women or did this model win "best silhouette?" While I don't know the answer, the product and model look hot.
Venture capitalists talked about smart money moves during this financial restructuring period at CresaPartners, October 29, 2008. Around the table were Joseph Killackey of NewSpring Capital and Lindzen Capital Partners’ Kristian Hansen, both invest in digital media and technology companies. Why listen to technology VCs, given they were involved in the dot-com bust of the 90’s? Listen because they are wiser from the incident.
Kristian Hansen believes digital media is one area that will fair well. “The economy is getting worse but this is the cheapest period to buy business equipment, says Hansen. “PCs are cheap; essential online backend services are free. Much product development and business strategy can be derived from crowd sourcing. An entrepreneur can start a company with $100,000—maybe $40,000.” Technology VCs will study the business plan to determine whether it’s a good investment.
It’s important to view the economy in terms of creative destruction. iBreakfast founder and event sponsor Alan Brody sees this as a time of great opportunity. Creative destruction is taking advantage of property loss to use it for a more innovative use. For example Ryan Air, a European concern, is buying airplane fleets and specializing in flights to countries known for quality yet, inexpensive medical or therapeutic treatment.”
All around the table agreed “bailing out people who’ve been making mistakes for forty years had to stop.” Joseph Killackey desired more thoughtful investing. “Entrepreneurs and VCs need to stop chasing ‘stupid deals’—enterprises satisfying passing wants—and identify business that meets people’s real needs. What people currently purchase ‘on the margin’ or on credit cards are good indicators.” Killackey believes capitalists and consumers need strong leadership at this time.” Alan Brody gave a thumb up to Barack Obama’s choice of Warren Buffet and Robin Ruben as his chief financial advisors.
Translating this talk for application by average working people includes reducing frivolous spending. Work together and pool funds the way venture capitalist do. More foreclosures and property seizures will result in auctions and odd-lot sales to recirculate the items back into the economy; i.e., $700,000-homes are available at a fraction of original sale price. Though credit will be tight through March 2009, hand-held device and laptop prices will fall.
Pity the public relations professional because he's on call all the time. It's harder than being a flight attendant. Flight attendants smile and serve before the flight, during the flight and after the flight. Once everyone's off the plane, they can let down those smiles and cheery dispositions for a few hours.
Not so for PR folks. We're about crisis management, investor relations, community relations and corporate social responsibility. Ignoring people or being in a bad mood is not an excuse. The best thing is to stay in doors. This way you won't risk ruffling anyone's feathers and, then have to perform crisis management for Y-O-U, Inc.
The other day a rep had to hear another describe his inattentiveness which could be interpreted in so many negative ways. At first, the rep wasn't open to hearing the description but then realized if one person could view the situation that way who else may see it that way too.
Being communications strategists, we have to be strategic in our talk. We have to explain what we want and why. For example, if a colleague asks to visit you at your office, a response such as, "I don't you want to come to the office," is bound to cause controversy. The better phrasing is "Hey, it's very busy in here now and I want our conversation confidential. Is it convenient for you now to take notes over the phone?" You appear to reveal something about yourself and you consider the other person. Can you believe this is an actual clip of a conversation? When asked, "Why didn't you tell me the office was busy?'' the response was, "I don't have to tell you that." This could make a minor faux pas a major rub the wrong way.
Rubbing someone the wrong way is not the public relations game. PR brings the oil, the mat and ambient music to every scene. Can you PR talk all the time?
Always one to learn about the latest communication craze, I finally tried Twitter when someone informed me that it wasn't the side screens filled with text messages for panelists at tech conferences that were the buzz. It was all the Twittering that went unnoticed. Always on the watch for a hook-up or meet-up, the C-level audience is busy telling "the crew" in and outside of the convention center what they are doing now within 140 characters. Yes, Twitter says keep it short but interesting.
A social entrepreneur who launched Choose To Evolve dotcom came to my mind as just the right person to run with Twitter. After all she could show by example what it means to choose to evolve. Everyone that's on her weekly teleconferences could now get clued into her life through their mobile device, laptop or PC. I invited her to join Twitter so we could twitter together. Don't you know she was Twitter shy?
Rather than click on the URL sandwiched in her invitation e-message, she emails me to find out what this is. I explain the same thing the invitation said in my own words. Her response to my email was to keep her posted. I told her I could do that only when she starts to twitter.
Hey, does Twitter make you think twice about evolving?
Does cable, DirecTV and regular TV leave you feeling as if you’re missing something?Could “what’s missing” be programming that relates to the core values and interests of the black community?If so, visit TotalBlackTV.com.Total Black TV is the cyber spot to view, download and upload black video content.Knowing the diversity of interests, the videos are organized into 27 categories that include action, sitcom, drama, animation, science fiction, shorts and religion.
The site serves the seasoned and emerging content producer by offering the choice of mailing DVDs AVIs or film cassettes to a post office box or uploading to the site.Video viewing is limited to a particular PC during free streaming or purchased downloads secured from file sharing, using Microsoft DRM technology.Thus, producers have another avenue to get their story to the public.
Total Black TV is also a social networking site where members can share photos, videos and messages among themselves or a select group.This part of the site is called totalblacktv.com/myview and requires a separate account registration from the main site.Registration has a page where members may invite eight family members and eight friends/coworkers.
New York attorney Kevin Golding owns Total Black TV and initially launched it in 2005 to serve Ausar Auset Society, an international cultural organization.The site went from distributing Ra Un Nefer Amen’s Kamitic lifestyle videos to branching out to other content producers.Golding says, “The idea of people watching such historians and health practioners as Dr. Sebi, Dr. John H. Clarke, and Dr. ben-Jochannan on an iPod was an exciting proposition.”
Rather than seek angel investors or venture capitalists, Golding and Promotions and Marketing Coordinator Amar Divine opted to make alliances with colleges, film festivals and individual video producers.The corporation co-sponsored the 2007 African Film Festival in Edinborough, Scotland.Angie LeMar, a popular radio host on England’s Choice FM interviewed Golding on location.These international links result in site visitors from Kenya, Belgium, Hawaii, Japan, India, the Netherlands, Canada and South Africa.The latest promotion is the TBTV Dance Competition where dancers submit videos of their dance routines to totalblacktv.com/myview rather than travel to a geographic location.The submission deadline is Saturday, June 7, 2008.
Amar Divine is driven to present positive images and ideas produced by people of color.Divine compares TotalBlackTV.com to a cable station that promotes black media but “isn’t representative of positive black culture [nor] produced by black people.”Rather, Divine aspires to experience similar success to that of cinemanow.com.
The corporate team is planning a launch party slated for September 2008.Academicians, performers and emerging producers have been extended invitations.While the team is keeping the details of the event under wraps, it is sure to be extraordinary to introduce such a well-conceived Web site.
Families, nonprofits, unions, and NY City Council members converged on City Hall’s steps, on May 28, 2008, in a show of solidarity for quality and adequately funded programs for New York’s kids—from crib to the high school prom.In the face of a “4.2 billion city budget surplus,” these advocates are amazed that Mayor Bloomberg intends to drastically cut money for child care centers, public schools, Beacons, afterschool programs, the Summer Youth Employment Program and Runaway and Homeless Youth Shelters.Cries of “Keep the Promises,” “Joe Klein Must Go,” and “No Cuts, No Cuts” rang in the air.Being more than a ‘photo opp’, leaders asserted the balance of power between the people, the City Council and the Mayor.Councilmember Lew Fidler, Youth Services Committee Chair, said, “The City Council will be dragging Mayor Bloomberg, kicking and screaming, to pass a budget that covers our young people.”Councilmembers Charles Barron, John Liu and Finance Committee Chair David Weprin declared, at different points, “The Mayor must be reminded that the Council passes the budget.”
The show of unity consisted of three press conferences. District Council 1707, AFSCME co-sponsored with Councilmembers Bill deBlasio, Diana Reyna and Letitia James the first one, at 11 AM, to stop child care defunding and further center closings by the Administration for Children’s Services.DC 1707 Executive Director Raglan George, Jr. presented highlights of the draft “The Better Way Alternative to ACS Child Care Funding Formula.”The “Better Way” includes continued full coverage of centers’ fixed costs, restoring the number of eligibility workers in ACS resource areas, reinstatement of “BIG MAC,” a citywide enrollment campaign, and keeping children in centers for the full year when parents’ pay raises bring household incomes over the income ceiling.General Welfare Committee Chair Bill deBlasio promoted Resolution No. 1415, a resolution that requires ACS to set tangible goals for the Full Enrollment Initiative.Councilmembers Reyna and James went a step further by introducing Resolution No. 1420, which calls upon the Bloomberg Administration to place a moratorium on the implementation of ACS’s “unproven” Project Full Enrollment Initiative.Educational Director for Stagg Street DCC and head of the Professional Association of Day Care Providers Larry Provete was one of many workers and families representing the interests of working families.
The New York City Youth Alliance, an umbrella organization for such groups as The After School Corporation, The New York Immigration Coalition, YMCA of Greater New York and Human Services Council of New York City, took over the steps, by noon, to decry the lack of support for older children.NYC Coalition for Educational Justice’s Ernesto Maldonado echoed the frequent observation of the Bloomberg Administration’s $1 billion funding of Yankee Stadium’s renovation yet, cutting $38.15 million in such youth and family programs as SYEP, Adult Literacy and Beacons.Directions for Our Youth’s Cary Goodman explained that “An average of 22,000 pupils drop out of public schools yearly yet, the money for drop out intervention is cut.”The Youth Alliance continues its daily vigil at City Hall during budget negotiations for fiscal year 2009.The United Federation of Teachers and Keep the Promise Coalition held the third press conference.UFT President Randi Weingarten stamped her feet as she derided Chancellor Joel Klein’s “ Robin Hood divide and conquer mentality.”She, along with Councilmember John Liu, urged advocates not to give into distinctions between high performing and challenged schools, low- to moderate-income neighborhoods and affluent ones or division by color.Rather, the City Council must vow to vote no for city cuts to public education and restore $428 million to the Department of Education’s budget.Each councilmember, then, came to the podium to make the vow.
A friend is caring for her terminally ill father. He wasn't around much when she was growing up. Now, she finds herself and siblings giving him round-the-clock care. That's the irony of life and compassion that some people have. I mentioned to her that at a certain age there's always something that you have to be concerned about. If it's not an insecure mate, it's adult children who still need guidance or it's elder parents. Don't you know that after I said it, I find myself tending to my father?
He's diagnosed with dementia. He's staying at good place but, dementia is troubling because so many elder Americans have it. It seems that we quietly accept that old people must lose cognitive abilities. Is it really so? Why is it that other countries have lower rates?
I did an "Ask" search to find that there's evidence that metal toxicity, zinc or folic acid deficiency, niacin, thiamine and/ or B-12 deficiency directly contribute to the condition. Further, lack of sunlight and exercise affect mood and cognition. While medication has its place, raw fruits and vegetables and nutritional supplementation can help anyone. Exposure to the sun lowers 'bad cholesterol', helps the body produce vitamin E and K, regulates the kidneys and liver, cures lingering ailments and helps maintain a positive mood. It's wonderful how nature help humans. maybe we should be more kinder to it.
Facilitating my eldercare task is technology. Mapquest provided the directions to my destination. During my travel to where my father lives, I put in a hands-free call to a health center so that they were informed that an adult child was on the way. My cell phone kept me in touch with other family members. Contrastingly, my brother is without a cell phone nor has a PC in his home. Some people can be stubborn about advancing with technological advances.
It was good for Continental Airlines at the West Palm Beach, FL hub that folks on flight 1940 weren't digitally astute. This flight was due to leave for Newark, NJ, Sunday, April 6, 2008, 8:00 PM. Due to mechanical problems, the plane wasn't approved for flying until Monday, April 7 at 2:00 PM. A tech adept would've fired up the laptop or handheld and blogged about it, moment by moment.
It took the airline hours to explain that a part needed to be replaced. This part had to be flown in from Newark. However, the part flown in was the wrong one, so they had to fly back to Newark to get the right part.
These customers were just a bit miffed about waiting, about not knowing and about not getting to Newark on Sunday. They were lodged at a nearby hotel sometime after 12 midnight and came back around eight in the morning expecting to leave at 9:15 AM but the part and the wrong part and the exchange got in the way.
These customers wanted breakfast and clear information about when they'd get back to Newark Liberty International Airport. They got soda, water and very patient customer service. When a customer got too testy, a security agent with a large German Shepherd and a pistol would come out to see the person off Gate B2.
As the morning expired, Continental offered to refund credit card purchases, switch to JetBlue and seating on Continental flights to Houston to connect to Newark-bound planes. Continental also offered $8 food vouchers, good at any eatery in the gate but, most people balked at "Just $8!" With $8 dollars, a burger, pizza, fries, drink, newspaper or pastry could have been had. One woman, once aware of the voucher, said she could get a cocktail.
One Spanish-speaking couple remained cool throughout. If they weren't reading magazines, they stared intently into a laptop. Maybe they knew to fire off messages to Continental and the media. When a group of exasperated flyers got tipped about blogging about it, no one seemed to take the bait. The suggestion was carefully explained: get access to the Internet, find Continental Airline's Web site, go to the blog or find another blog that deals with airline mayhem. There were no takers in this small crowd.
Well that was one citizen journalism opportunity that may have gotten away. That Spanish-speaking couple wasn't queried.
Brooklyn is the home to the nation's first public high school for advertising. If there's another one preceeding it, please tell me. It's name is High School for Innovation in Advertising and Media and it will open September 2008 within Canarsie High School. I'm pleased to be third to break the story in NYC. The first publisher of the story is the NY Daily News. I had a writing embargo until after Feb. 8 when Advertising Age would publish it. This news is fantastic. The people with whom I connected are equally fantastic.
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz is on a drive to have Brooklyn realize being "the 4th largest city in the US," although it is a borough of NYC. Markowitz knows a school like this will do so much for Brooklyn's reputation and real power. Imagine, your borough grooms the next advertising executives and managing staff. It's quite possible that in the future Brooklyn and Manhattan will be America's centers of advertising and media genius. College students may run to Brooklyn for that "great copy or art job."
Advertising Week, Inc executive director Matt Scheckner tried to pass himself off as an average Joe dropping some lines to me but, humility to the side, top ad people like Ron Berger, Michael Roth, Byron Lewis and Rosemarie Ryan wouldn't have just any Joe working their show. Rather, someone who serves as Yahoo's marketing director and previously headed American Association of Advertising Agencies and ADWEEK magazine would admirably run Advertising Week.
As a reporter getting quotes, one should remain objective but, after the second quote, "The kids will get dipped into the advertising and media sauce via a combination of..." I commended him on his great sound bites. Don't get me wrong; it was tough going getting a telephone interview with him. Possibly the embargo was being extended--it's all in the game of news reporting.
This high school is shot in the arm for Brooklyn. It's a feather in Markowitz's cap.
Brooklyn 2.0 is a MeetUp group I recently joined. We gathered at Mooney's Pub on Flatbush Avenue, Weds., Feb 13. Nice crowd. The organizer Eric Rochow is an amiable sort. Then, of course the draft beer had everyone mellow and sociable. Rochow does podcasting about easy green practices for people. Check out Real World Green.
My personal agenda was hunting for tech stories and learning to blog more effectively. I was ecstatic with my finds. There are many developers living in Brooklyn. Of the plus 10 who showed that night, I was the only nondeveloper. Yuri Niyazov described an app to rival Google Reader. Another man tipped me Bar Camp, a developers conference held at Polytechnical U. This conference is free and requires that all attendees present an application or assist in a presentation of a new app.
People encouraged me to use other 'Net browsers like Firefox and Safari because of the great add-ons. Then, what I couldn't get from Deli.cio.us FAQ: how to get authority. You've got to submit your blog entry's URL with tags so that it can be read by others.
Meeting Up is great because life is all about experiences. What's better than a face-to-face experience?
Experts say this generation of African Americans has the most educated, affluent and influential in society compared to previous ones. An unobtrusive scan into some homes reveal the luxury vehicles, outdoor grills, wine collections, oriental rugs, original artwork and home entertainment systems. In fact, many unmarried women own homes, whether they are condos or detached, single-family corner houses.
Any investment requires securing it. Consumers seek security measures that are not as costly as the items that they want guarded. People have options in home security systems. The state-of-the-art security systems use the home’s electrical system to transport electric signals from a control module to another module attached to a lamp or other electrical appliance in another part of the home. Others feature “redundant”, wireless and web-enabled components. Redundant means each component can detect breaks and transmit a notice to the online or remote center. These are significant innovations since the introduction of safes, deadbolt locks, alarms, motion sensors and closed circuit TV monitoring. State-of-the-art doesn’t trump time-tested security measures, however. So if the LCD intercom system permits sight and communication with people at your doors, keep it.
This product review foregoes describing market giants ADT, Brinks, Slomin and GE to highlight other effective market leaders.
InGrid Digital Home Protection The complete system consists of My InGrid software, two-piece sensors, a tabletop console, a wireless handset with base, a keychain remote control, and a grid extender. All pieces are decorative yet discretely fit into any décor. The Basic kit secures homes that are no more than 1,500 s.f. It comes with three sensors, My InGrid software, the tabletop console and wireless handset with the base. Its retail price is $199 with a one-year surveillance contract, billing rate at $29.99 / month. The Homes kit is for homes and businesses under 2,500 s.f. It contains eight sensors, My InGrid software, the console, handset, grid extender and keychain remote control. It retails for $299 with a one-year surveillance contract. Visit http://www.ingridhome.com/ to buy direct.
Visonic PowerMax Smart Home Security and Control System, retails for $209.00. The package consists of a keychain, Door/Window Wireless Contact, Table Console Dialer System and Transmitter. One lithium battery is provided. This package not only serves as intrusion detection but also notifies of gas, flooding, and smoke. The heart of the system is the PowerMax Table Console Dialer System and Transmitter. Similar to the InGrid Digital Home Security, it offers remote, mobile and in-house control.
Skylink Complete Deluxe Wireless Security Kit (model SC1000) retails for $232.95. Emergency Dialer Unit, Control Panel, Motion Sensor, 2 Door/Window Sensors, Keychain Transmitter, Emergency Dialer, 2 adaptors, three 9V alkaline batteries and three 12V alkaline batteries (no monthly service fee) The Emergency Dialer Unit holds up to 9 telephone or pager numbers in memory as well as a emergency voice message. The numbers in memory will be rung up to 9 times.
CCTV Star 4 CH Complete DVR Security System for Office / Home, retails for $995.00. Digital Video Recorders (DVR) are replacing VCRs and multiplexers in the closed circuit TV monitoring world. CCTV Star’s security systems comes a DVR, four IR color cameras, four 75-foot cables, wireless remote control and power supply. This monitoring system is designed for live play over the Internet. The DVR has 250 Gb disk drive storage capacity.
X10 Home Security System, How to set up a low-cost home security system using X10 by Michael Maikowski, Jefferson Technology Press, 2006. ISBN 0-9678917-1-X. $24.95 This book describes the detection system that uses a residence’s electrical system that’s called X10. Subjects covered are steps to construct a progressively more complex system which at its core includes modules, a controller box, video camera, motion sensing and remote monitoring.
Home Security, 2nd edition, by Vivian Capel, Newnes, 1997. ISBN 0750635460, $48.95. This book describes the common ways burglars break in and measures to thwart them. Topics covered include space protectors, alarms and sensors
Wired is one of my favorite magazines. My peculiar way of reading is to scan through it as I tear out the pages of advertising. Don't get me wrong; we need advertising but sometimes it gets in the way of the great stories and shorts in Wired. The magazine goes down smooth and some of that advertising is smooth, too. Some of the ads are quite informational.
The February 2008 issue with Sarah Silverman on the front has this pictorial essay about blog posts--The Secret Life Of A Blog Post. I usually pass on intricate flowcharts but I followed the colored dotted lines to see what made up the world between blogger and reader.
There are splogs or spam blogs that have "no one at home"; They're diversions that make money. Search engines, data miners, text scrapers and aggregators traverse your blog, looking for words and phrases that will be indexed and turned into key words. This makes it easy for other bloggers, readers, advertisers and corporations like Essence Communications to find out who is writing about them besides their staff and freelance writers.
After reading and studying The Secret Life Of A Blog Post, I wondered whether my efforts to hypertext were necessary. It appears the bots, spiders, AIs and feed readers are doing this with or without me.
I love Wired magazine, it makes technology so excitingly commonplace.
Inside the Circle is a kinetically inspiring documentary about the world of b-boys and “breaking” as lived through three young Texans, Josh, Omar and Romeo. This film is a testament to the cultural staying power of break dancing, which originated in 1970’s The Bronx, New York. It screened during the 2008 Dance on Camera film festival at Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theater, January 6 and 11.
Fast forward to present day Austin, Texas to find the dance form in the loving hands of Latinos, Euro-Americans and the world-at-large. Romeo Navaroo, past b-boy-turned-event promoter, says, “B-boying is an explosion of who you are.” Romeo plans and promotes semiannual dance competitions called B-Boy City in Austin. Underfunded, Romeo consistently draws crowds of b-boys and b-girls, DJs spinning the latest sounds, graffiti artists, and rappers. The camera stays focused on the circle to document the physical and artistic prowess of young men. B-boying is quite strenuous where people spin on the their hands, knees, heads and elbows. Josh is a rare white American youth who’s been taken in by the Masterz of Mayhem crew. Josh remembers when people wouldn’t take him seriously because he was white. B-boys discounted his power and rhythm. When he proved he had both, he received and kept his props.
Josh’s best friend is Omar. The film shows the friendship in its bloom to high emotional competition to a level of reconciliation. While Omar experiences international fame, flying frequently to places like Singapore, Russia, Mexico and Europe, Josh deals with family tensions and the criminal justice system. It appears that Josh will be lost in the system until he connects with a counselor at Youth Advocates. Romeo contends with such production issues as flyer distribution, t-shirts and quality flooring. Romeo considers ending the B-Boy City competition due to strong audience outrage at one event. He hangs in there, though.
The life of breaking is all consuming. Most don’t work because “the job will take up time.” Many hours are spent practicing. Many b-boys drop out of school. With low funds and shared love of dance, the crews are more so families. The crews put money together to eat, get dressed—maybe pay cell phone bills. Omar, respected internationally, deals with the angst of his father’s concern for him to “get a real job.”
Marcy Garriott produced and directed Inside the Circle. The filming was done over four years. Time lapse was depicted through the latest B Boy City sign. The last B Boy City this writer noticed was B Boy City 11. Garriott said, “Filming the intense break competitions were exhausting. How the people actually doing the dancing could withstand it is amazing.”
‘Ever said to yourself, “If I could get a hold of $10 million, I’d solve world hunger, the energy crisis, or a disease?” What about $15 million dollars to provide safe and affordable outer space travel? The X Prize Foundation is doing just that. Teaming with Google Corp, the X Prize Foundation offers a $30 million cash award to the first two privately funded teams to land and rove a robotic craft on the moon’s surface. This competition is the Google Lunar X Prize. Private firms, nonprofits, and schools around the globe are encouraged to apply through the Google Lunar X Prize Web site. The prize was announced September 13, 2007. On December 7, 2007, Odyssey Moon became the first team to register for the competition.
Santa Monica-based X Prize Foundation was formed in 1995 with the belief that individuals and private entities can solve major issues affecting humankind without government involvement. Though necessary, bureaucracy tends to slow progress. Rather, the foundation advances “revolution through competition’ to find solutions to accessing space, solving health compromises, transportation, education and energy sources and generation. The foundation is a kind of think tank with bank. Its board of trustees, major donors and management team analyze major global quality-of-life issues that are caught up in bureaucratic quagmires, misperception or lack of attention. People like MIT’s Jeffrey Shames, Google’s Larry Page and movie producer Robert Weiss populate the board.
Google Lunar X Prize follows a 2004 space travel competition called Ansari X Prize. The Ansari competition resulted in advancement in personal space flight where price and risk are lowered but speed improved. Google Lunar X promises travel to and industrial development of the moon. By industrial development it’s meant getting the moon’s natural resources and using them to generate energy—solar power collectors made from lunar material—or drive space missions throughout our solar system and beyond. The Google Lunar X competition runs through December 31, 2014.
The world will watch the launch, landing and roving of the future competition winners through the Web site www.googlelunarxprize.org. The Web site is fascinating. Go online to watch the Moon 2.0 video; register a team; get competition guidelines; and join online forums. Teams may connect with preferred partners like Universal Space Network, Seti Institute and SpaceX who offer significant discounts on communication and vehicles.
Did you know there’s Lunar Legacy promotion attached to this X Prize? People upload their digital photos and messages to a gallery. Much later, these items will be on the rover that travels on the moon to be left on the moon. Is this legacy or waste? What do you think of space travel or excavating the moon for its natural resources?
A friend and I saw I Am Legend recently. We were blown away by the film. We both were clutching our hearts and talking our way through the movie. "Talking our way through the movie" means in order to regain composure, we had to talk. In truth, I gave up watching horror films 15 years ago because I think it's crazy to build up tension in my body and digest all those images into my psyche. Seeing this film was pure whimsy.
The scenes were great. The one where people were being checked for contamination in order to fly off Manhattan Island was very telling. One, instead of planes, the government used helicopters to transport people. That greatly slows the evacuation process down. Then the device to detect contamination may be subject to error. So, there could have been many people left to face these mutant killing machines.
Other scenes I enjoyed were the bombed bridges, the boulevards clogged with abandoned cars and any scene with beautiful Sam--Samantha the dog. The mutants were spectacles that deserved to be night stalkers.
Towards the end, the character played by Alice Braga says something that resonates with me. She says that "It's easier to hear God now that there are fewer people." I've told my students that the ancient Egyptians believed the air was The Almighty's breath and meditation was the way to discern the messages in the air.
Looking back on I Am Legend, I see that so many elements of past films were used. Night of the Living Dead, The Last Man on Earth, Castaway and Omega Man are a few that come to mind. The scenes in the video store where the lonely doctor talks to the dummies reminded me of Harry Bellafonte's conversations with Mr. Snodgress in "The World, The Flesh and The Devil." While Vincent Price's character in The Last Man on Earth spends his days hunting and killing the supposed infected during the day; Smith's Dr. Neville sporadically traps the mutants to test the latest version of his cure. Ben in Night of the Living Dead and I Am Legend's Dr. Neville face a similar end; however, a legend is developed around Dr. Neville's successful development of a cure for the disease. Poor Ben is shot as he sticks his head out to face the bright day.
For some horror lovers, there are wagging heads and thumbs down for I Am Legend. The fainted hearted, blown away by sweeping scenes, a loyal dog and the relentless search for a cure [and secure sleeping place] will enjoy I Am Legend.
Just as multilevel schemes, once called pyramids, come and go, there's an ebb and flow for the search for grants by small businesses. Over the holiday, I heard two people talking about needing a hedge for retirement. One person was retired from the federal government--USPS--and saw her funds shrinking monthly. She was in her 70's. If she continued to live, her pension would not be her sustenance. She spoke about a business seminar she attended where it was explained how to make money on the Internet. I entered their conversation to ask whether the presenters talked about search engine optimization or search engine marketing. If you're doing e-commerce you needed the methods for driving traffic to your site. The elder said that they weren't discussed.
They resumed their conversation. The retiree was alerted to government grants for businesses. There are no grants for businesses. There are loans, lines of credit, investment pools, business plan competitions and investors but there aren't federal grants. I entered the conversation again to explain grants are possibilities for incorporated nonprofits with IRS recognition. The elder did have a connection with an existing nonprofit. Would they solve her shrinking nest egg?It is in her best interest to secure alternate streams of income. A part time job or a business with which she has familiarity are feasible. Vending merchandise might be the answer. If she has any excess funds, she ought to consider emerging portfolio management firms. These are the smaller investment houses and brokerages that have fire in the belly. There was a breakfast meeting called "Access Capital" Monday, January 7, 2008 at Rainbow Push Coalition's Annual Wall Street Project Economic Summit. The name is long but the heart of it is these smaller firms--many minority-owned--have the talent and knowledge to grow your money. Stacked up against S & P, according to Larry Jones, executive vice president for Northern Trust, the smallest firms' returns were 1.46 to 1.33 times higher. Joseph Haslip, assistant NYC comptroller for pensions, stated his office allocates millions of dollars into these emerging managing programs because of good returns.
Rather than search for business grants, search for a job, a business, or a fund manager. To learn what the feds offer to small businesses visit http://www.sba.gov/. If you reside in New York State, visit http://www.nylovessmallbiz.com/
Lonny Love is an airbrush artist who started out spraying graffiti on walls. After many run-ins with property owners and police, he realized that he could make money from his art. He's been a professional airbrush artist for 18 years.
His canvases are t-shirts, sneakers, jeans, hoodies, "Tims", fitted caps and trucker caps. He quite talented and much sought after. Lonny's significant customer base are jewish people. He airbrushes at bar mitzvas and does vending at JCC events.
I watched him work his craft in a mall in New Jersey. He was always busy doing his art. Alongside him was Hope, his mate. She made and sold bars of soap and pie- and cocktail-shaped candles. She also put glittery messages on Santa caps. They had a good business, although they say business has been much, much better. Hope lovingly packaged her soaps and candles and restocked her display shelves. She kept her head to the grindstone to prepare those glittery Santa caps. When she's not doing caps, soaps and candles, Hope is braiding hair or doing manicures some place else.
Seeing the industry, cash and public apreciation, had me think about the youth and their career options. Lonny and I chatted about it. There are options; no one needs to starve. People can consider airbrush artistry, candlemaking, soapmaking and eBay. Yes, eBay. Young people could walk through more affluent neighborhoods and pick up cast aways. After setting up an account. After setting up an ebay account, sell what's collected on through their store or an auction. The candles and soaps could be sold through vending or merchandising to smaller retailers. I mentioned that selling drugs and prostitution were unnecessary. Lonny said, "People do that because they're not thinking."
Lonny Love, commissioned artist and vendor, has been at this for 18 years. He says he's been all over. In fact, from December 24 through early January, he's in St. Croix working a festival.
A family friend visited him at the mall. They spoke about the economy. The quagmire of credit card debt and mortgage foreclosures across the nation. The friend described a dinner party wherein most of the couples in attendance were grossing six figures. The friend said three men disclosed that they recently lost their jobs. The friend encouraged Lonny to maintain his entrepreneurial endeavors. So the next time you see a vendor ask for some business advice.
About the Santa caps: they bought them at a discount store for 99 cents each. After glittering, they sold for $12.
Some die-hard vendors invited me to work with them to learn the trade. I found that it is lucrative and a means to grow an empire. The empire is there only if you have a plan. Many vendors deal with the enterprise on its elemental level, though. It's a pity.
My days of traveling to suburban schools, churches and malls were eye-opening. I saw, on-the-ground, the state of the US' economy. Visitors to the shows deliberated over spending $10, $15 and $20 on items. Though the merchnadise was pricetagged, people hoped for a bargain. Even $5 and $3 rings were studied. The veteran vendors repeatedly stated, "Last time this year we made 2 to 3 times more." I noticed too much bashing of customer behavior--right within people's earshot. Forgive me, I learned to sell at a top radio station in D.C.--WHUR-FM. I stuffed media kits, updated rate cards, studied Arbitron ratings and went out with the AEs. There wasn't time for bashing clients; we were thinking of the presents to give them and ensuring spots aired when promised. Did these vendors know they were watering their crop with vinegar?
The beauty of vending is that it's unadulterated retail. You set up your temporary shop, turn on the credit card processing machine, consider your prices and do a lot of smiling at strangers. I was a very active vendor, helping people try on merchandise, holding the mirror and answering questions. The woman I vended for doesn't believe in mark up and mark down. I spoke to her about inventory but she doesn't mind that she holds stuff for years. Many vendors read books, talk on their cell phones or fix broken merchandise. One venue was a killer: 8 am to 11 pm. I didn't know I had the stamina. One night at 11 o'clock, a woman came over to me as I was about to cover the display. She had a blouse in her hand and searching for the right ear rings and necklace. Was she for real? Yes, after twenty minutes of laying different ear rings and necklaces on the blouse, she made her purchase with me. It turns out she was the mall manager.
Mike Moran , in his book Do It Wrong Quickly, explains that branding and brand recognition originated from the introduction of broadcast media. Before radio and TV, people would travel to Main Street and shop at the local stores. You purchased food, clothes and other staples without thought to who the manufacturers were. You wanted candy? You stuck your hand in a big glass jar and dug for your favorite.
For those who mail ordered because they lived in rural areas or wanted something from Europe, they got acquainted with Sears or another publisher of consumer catalogues. The brand still wasn't in the conscious of the average American. Radio and then, TV made people notice brands because manufacturers paid for advertising time that paid for broadcasting companies' salaries. Those advertisers now had to compete for your attention to buy their kind of soap or cigar.
In 2007, people are too brand conscious. Besides the shoplifting and fighting people do over name brands, folks are travels across oceans to be the first to own a pair of sneakers by Hubda Hubda, Inc. Maybe we need to go back to blind selection of quality merchandise. It's possible with Internet access and language translation tools. It's reality to purchase coffee and seasonings straight from a bazaar vendor in Turkey, Jordan or Ethiopia--if you know her email or Web address. There's no language barriers. You can't read the Web site because it's in Mandarin, French, Yoruba? No problem: get the online language translation tool to switch everything in English.
There so many search engines to make it happen--vertical and horizontal. So, is it really iPod you want or digital music and video coming from a light weight device. YouTube? MySpace? YourWorld!
Recent NYC news broadcasts indicate that retailers know Friday after Thanksgiving is the tipping point to the US economy. No one uses the words recession or depression but this downturn is a real drag.
Retailers want to know are US shoppers willing to buy the great products on the shelves. Are US shoppers able to pay the prices for the great prducts on the shelves?
One TV reporter, two days before Thanksgiving, back-handedly suggested to viewers to use their consumer power. She said that retailers and manufacturers may have to reduce prices and "people may forego a $4.00 Starbucks coffee for something cheaper." Imagine that. The product prices at market entry will be lower? That's basic economic theory: lower prices result in higher sales.
Has it really come to the "Consumer is King Era?" Has that day really come when the working stiffs--including stiffs who earn six digits--don't feel stiffed but sought after? Wow! This is a momentous occasion. The dollar is weaker than the Euro and other foreign currencies such that our European "cousins" are haveing great shopping sprees while on holiday here.
Manufacturers have to do something. They've tapped the global consumer market. They've tapped the global labor market. They've tapped the global financial market. Prices have to go down so more people can afford these truly great products.
Developing Ideas; Growing Success
The place to discuss information; communication technology, the media, culture, and American society. I write so we can talk.
Fast forward to present day Austin, Texas to find the dance form in the loving hands of Latinos, Euro-Americans and the world-at-large. Romeo Navaroo, past b-boy-turned-event promoter, says, “B-boying is an explosion of who you are.” Romeo plans and promotes semiannual dance competitions called 
The life of breaking is all consuming. Most don’t work because “the job will take up time.” Many hours are spent practicing. Many b-boys drop out of school. With low funds and shared love of dance, the crews are more so families. The crews put money together to eat, get dressed—maybe pay cell phone bills. Omar, respected internationally, deals with the angst of his father’s concern for him to “get a real job.”
