Monthly Archives: July 2015

YouTube Featured On National Geographic Channel 

Posted on by
Reply

The National Geographic Channel did a feature on YouTube tonight. While it was pretty bland, I’m glad I got to see it. I was reminded that YouTube is only 10 Years old  but it has changed world culture.

Co-founders Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim wanted to have a successful video hosting business in San Bruno, CA. At first, they thought it could be an online dating site. 

The first YouTube video, titled “Me at the zoo,” shows Karim at the San Diego Zoo. The video was uploaded on April 23, 2005, and and has been viewed 25 million times over the years. 

The site has 800 million unique users a month and is the third most visited website in the world. It’s available in 76 languages. 

It was bought by Google In 2006 for $1.65 billion. 


“Charlie Bit Me” was one of the first YouTube videos to go viral. It has been viewed a million times.

“Diet Coke + Mentos” is one of the most successful YouTube videos. It has been viewed 18 million times. 

Little White Lie 

Posted on by
1

We just finished watching  a documentary called a “Little White Lie.” It’s about Lacey Schwartz, a white, Jewish girl in Woodstock, N.Y. Her parents are Peggy and Robert Schwartz. It wasn’t until college that she found out that her biological father was black. Could this really happen?  You can get it on Netflix or YouTube.

I still find it amazing that I can watch a film on TV, or in the movies, and then find more material about it on YouTube. All I had to do was type “Lacey” on YouTube, and I found numerous interviews and promotional materials. Today, the movie doesn’t have to end when the film is over. Just search the title on Google. You will be suprised at what you find. 

Underground NYC Park 

Posted on by
2

It’s a done deal, almost. The guys who started a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to build a solar underground park in NYC hit its goal of $200,000 from 2,000 backers. 

Congratulations.

The money will be used to channel solar energy underground.  James Ramsey, a co-founder and creator of the Lowline Lab and former NASA satellite engineer, developed a remote skylight that will be vital in the construction of the underground park. 

If all goes according to plan, an acre of land underneath the Lower East Side will become a green park between 2018-2020.

Fish Finder

Posted on by
1

  

I just love gadgets. I love them whether I can use them personally, or if they are a solution for someone else. It always amazes me to find a gadget that helps enhance an experience. That always makes it thrilling.

That was how I felt when I heard about The Deeper, Fishfinder. a new gizmo that knows where the fish are hiding. A companion app on your smartphone spells everything out for you. It’s designed for both amateur and professional fishermen.

I know so many people who love to fish. I can’t wait to tell them about The Deeper, Fishfinder because they can’t stand coming home empty-handed. I know that’s the whole point of fishing, but it would be nice to give them a little head start. 

Let’s face it, you can give a fisherman all of the tools in the world, but if the conditions are not right, nothing gets caught. “The Deeper Fishfinder” at least reveals most of the fish species so the fishermen can get a decent advantage. The Deeper Fishfinder also measures temperature so it knows the perfect biting time.

At $200, the unit is perfect for land or sea. It works everywhere. The video above explains everything, It’s fascinating to watch. Words can’t describe it.

Pre-Digital Memories 

Posted on by
1

I would have preferred not to have remembered some of these ads. However, I’m grateful once again to my friend Todd Smith for sharing these with me. It made me realize how much things have changed.  I’m so glad I’m a senior now, rather than back when the following ads were printed. We are much younger-minded than people our age decades ago. I’m grateful. 

  
    
    
    
       

    
    
  
   

    
    
    

   
    
    
   
 

Nature And Art

Posted on by
4

A long time business friend of mine, Mark Fleischmann, a trade magazine writer, posted the photo below on Facebook the other day. 
 Image credits: Gabz 

I became mesmerized. I loved the combination of nature and art in an urban environment. I quickly googled the artist, Gabz lpa HD, and found out he came from the Dominican Republic. Then I saw the story about how street artists are  incorporating elements of nature into their graffiti. 

I was so hooked. I couldn’t stop staring.  The artists had to search for the perfect spots. The interactive art is not permanent because of the elements of weather. The artists don’t seem concerned. They are grateful for whatever time they get, as long as they turn heads of people passing by. Image credits: Sandrine Boulet  Image credits: Sandrine Boulet

Image credits: Natalia Rak
  Image credits: Công Thành

  Image credits: unknown

 Image credits: Zoltron

 Image credits: Banksy

Want to view more? Click here  

Magical Moments

Posted on by
Reply

You’ve never seen magic tricks like this before, all on an iPad. Get ready to be quite amazed. 

Whitney’s second shift babysitter (from 9 years old to 14), Mary, with husband Chris, and son Christopher, visiting us this weekend in Miami.   
Christopher and yours truly, posing in front of this tour bus, that turns into a boat. Amphibious!!! I captured it on this video. Eliot, Mary, and Chris were with us too. 

.
   

  

July 4th Party, 2015 

Posted on by
1

   
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
      
    
   

  

  

What Do We Do When Antibiotics Don’t Work Any More??

Posted on by
Reply

My doctor just gave me two antibiotic prescriptions, one for Cipro and the other for Z-Pak. He also gave a set for Eliot. I don’t like to travel without them. Since we are leaving for Barcelona on July 12th, I made sure we were covered for colds and stomach ailments.

I thought I was being so smart until my friend Carlos sent me this Ted Talk by Maryn McKenna, a journalist and author who specializes in public health, global health and food policy. You must watch the video above to learn the facts. We may be killing ourselves.