Monthly Archives: October 2016

Samsung Wanted To Fire Me When I Insisted On The Proper QC 

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Let’s get one thing straight. I am not gloating about the trouble Samsung is having with the Galaxy Note 7. I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank John Grundy for coming to our rescue when Samsung wanted to fire us for suggesting that they stop sending their TV sets out for editorial review until they were absolutely sure that their quality was ready for prime time.

It was the early 90s. HWH PR was the PR agency for all consumer electronics and computer products. We remained their agency for 17 years, largely due to the genius work of Russ Rowland. Thank you Harry Fox for introducing us to Samsung, and for helping us securing the account.

I remember being in Samsung’s conference room in Ridgefield Park, NJ, when I had the miserable task of telling the executives (that I reported to) that the TV set they sent out for a review to a major consumer publication was getting a failing grade. I was friendly with the editors at that magazine and they offered to ship the unit back without consequence. The truth was the Samsung TV was in such bad shape, the publication didn’t even want to bother giving it a bench test.

The Samsung team was incensed. They wanted to crucify me for allowing this to happen. I was just the messenger but they didn’t see it that way. The Samsung folks in New Jersey were assigned to secure as many editorial reviews as possible because the brand was barely known then. No one in Korea, or America, ever bothered to concern themselves with what the reviews might say. That was my worry.

It feels like it was yesterday. The daggers were coming at me. The Samsung team told me I was crazy for withdrawing the TV set. “What was I thinking?”  “Was I a friend or foe?” The air was thick and all of the Americans who worked for the company sank into their conference room chairs while this encounter was happening. 

Just when the ax was going to fall on my head, one of the Americans stood up and spoke out. His name was John Grundy. I barely knew him. He was one of the product managers. “Excuse me,” he said. “Are you not hearing what this woman is telling you? She is saving our brand. She is not allowing us to be embarrassed. We should thank her. Not scold her.”

Okay, I may not remember John’s exact words but that was the gist of it. Everyone went silent in the room. There was a long pause, until one of the Korean officials put a big smile on his face, and decided Samsung would actually start a quality control department. That was the good news. The challenging news was that HWH was now in charge of working with the Samsung technicians to make sure we not only secured good reviews, but “the Editor’s Choice” Awards as well.

More about how we managed to get a record -breaking number of product reviews for Samsung in a relatively short period of time, plus our challenging first encounter with Peter Weedfald, Samsung’s new marketing manager.  
Installment 2 , tomorrow.   

A memo to John Grundy. We don’t forget, thank you. 💋💋💋💋💋

Shoe Lights For Running At Night 

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It’s amazing that the Night Runner 270 wasn’t invented years ago. It just seems like some inventor/entrepreneur would have thought about putting lights on shoes for better vision at night long before current times.

I guess that’s why all of the Sharks on a recent episode of Shark Tank wanted to invest in the $59.95 product. It’s a natural. The Night Runner 270 is currently available on Amazon but the company needs more money for expansion. The two athletes, who created the product, selected Shark Tank investor, Robert Herjavec. He is a runner and probably understands their needs better than most investors.

The company’s website describes the “Night Runner” as a hands-free light that illuminates the path directly in front of you. The patent-pending bi-lateral ‘wing’ design guarantees 270-degrees of visibility up to 30 meters.”

It only weighs 1.5 ounces. The lights are in a water-resistant casing to protect them from pouring rain. 

Each Night Runner “fastens securely to shoelaces via a stable, multi-position adjustable bracket.” Other features include:

Two ultra-light LED light units

Back-facing red lights

4-8 hour battery life

Li-ion rechargeable battery

75+ lumens per unit (x2)

30+ meters in beam distance

Bi-lateral ‘wing’ design

Water-resistant unit

Secure, stable, multi-position shoelace clips

The patent pending bi-lateral ‘wing’ design  red shoe lights 

Please watch the video to see a very clever idea. 

My Friend Doug, The Skydiver 

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Doug Garr has seen a slice of life most of us will never know.

Doug Garr is an author, speechwriter (Mario Cuomo), editor, husband, father and skydiver. I know him from the early days of home video where he edited a prominent buff magazine. I have always been fascinated that I knew someone who jumps out of airplanes.

I thought he would make a great subject for DigiDame because he is in his ’60s and has no intention of stopping his dare-devil hobby. Not being the most enthusiastic flyer, I find his skydiving a bit strange. I interviewed Doug for over an hour a few months ago and then read his book, “Between Heaven and Earth, An Adventure in Free Fall” (Greenpoint Press, 2009). It was exhilarating. I was a bit nervous when I read that his parachute didn’t open, or other mishaps that took place, but he is still here.

Here is an excerpt from his book: 

“There is something quasi-religious or spiritual about skydiving. I suppose, perhaps because you practice this sport in that great void where eagles dare. I think only those who’ve jumped can appreciate the tranquility of skydiving, which I admit is an odd word to use to describe some of the feeling you get. (Freefall, when the wind is whizzing by your ears, is pretty noisy). I recall an old greeting card I received one Christmas, though from whom I cannot remember. It featured a photo of seven or eight skydivers in free fall, linked together. It was made late in the day, and the formation was passing alongside a group of cumulus clouds, with the sun blinking though them spraying I-beam-shadows. The picture was so captivating, so magnetic. If you are a skydiver, you’re thinking, that’s a nice place to be. The caption read, “Peace Is Where You Find It.”   

Even though I took a lot of notes during my interview with Doug, I also find his words in the “Afterword” for the new edition  of his book (that he is working on right now) extremely profound.

“I know that I will continue to skydive until I’m either physically incapable, or dead, whichever comes first. Today, it is not uncommon for skydivers to remain active in their seventies and eighties. I received two traditional awards from the United States Parachute Association, the gold wings for a thousand free falls, and another for achieving half a day in free fall (the 12-hour badge). I managed to view the earth under a parachute at drop zones in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, California, Connecticut, Florida, and Texas. 

“What has been more satisfying has been my group jumps with my peer group – the Skydivers Over Sixty (or, “SOSers,” as we call ourselves) – where we get together every so often to share the air as well as jump stories. Each April we assemble in California to try for a world record age group formation. It is currently 60, and I have been in one that was larger (but not a record because it was not completed), and these have been among my most memorable skydives. The 60-way has stood since 2012. On the East Coast, a group of elders are always getting together on weekends when the weather cooperates, and some of us even still air it out during the winter when it is not too chilly. In the warmer months we schedule state record free fall formation jumps – usually in Pennsylvania and New Jersey – where we’ve had as many as 34 linked in a web-like design. These are modest achievements among us gray hairs, and we do it as much for the bonding as for the bragging.

“One of the great mysteries of life is that – for most of us, anyway — we have no real clue how it is going to end. For some it is early and sudden; for others it is after many years and quite peaceful. Skydiving reminds me of this. Each of us in some way must live on the brink, to live life in full. If I’ve done an inadequate job of trying to explain why we do it, then it is because I am still tussling with the language, still batting thoughts around as my time on earth diminishes.

“I know that soon I will have to plan my own ash dive. I want my remains to flutter through the cool skies on a clear day, the sun drifting toward the horizon on perhaps the last lift that we call the sunset load. It would be nice if there were many people on the manifest that I’ve known or jumped with. But everyone will be welcome because those who have had the unique experience of free fall will in some way always be part of my family.

“My life’s philosophy: Live every day like you may die tomorrow. Because one day you’ll be right.”


Doug’s skydiving places: “Free Fall Adventures” — Williamstown, N.J. “Sky’s The Limit” — East Stroudsburg, Pa. and “Skydive The Ranch” — Gardiner, N.Y. These are the three places I normally jump at. There are others, “Connecticut Parachutists, Inc.” — Ellington, CT. and “Jumptown” — Orange, MA.


 

Pressure Cooker

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You must read an important comment from a doctor friend of mine at the end of this post. He is 100 per cent correct. All I meant to say is that many high BP’s are a result of tension and nervousness. I still take my meds every day. 

I have had elevated blood pressure for almost 40 years. I have been on medication for it since it was first discovered. I worried about it non-stop for decades.

Then one day, I forgot to worry. Then the day after that, I forgot again . One thing led to another, and weeks passed by. I finally took my pressure. 107/78. Totally normal. What’s the moral of the story? Relax. What goes up, must come down.

For $99.00 you can own one of the most compact blood pressure machines. I have used a lot of BP machines. This is really small and it works with a companion app so you can transfer your readings to your doctor, or caregivers.  The Qardio is perfect for seniors who like to monitor their BP several times a-day. Easy on, easy off.
Dear Lois 

“I have to tell you that I disagree with your post today. 

“What comes up must come down, may not have anything to do with blood pressure, unless you are talking about the pressure in the blood vessels after death from a heart attack or stroke. Just because your pressure came down when you relaxed does not mean that another persons pressure will respond the same way. I really hope that no one goes off their meds because of your post trying to see if relaxing is all they need to treat their blood pressure. 
I understand that your post is read by many elderly men and woman. You might want to let them know that they should not adjust anything about their blood pressure without speaking to their doctor first.”

 






Smart Nails 

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I know plenty of women, 50-plus, who pay big bucks for nail art. They love the way flowers, hearts, rainbows and abstract art look on their fingernails. Many of them feel it makes their older hands, look younger. 

I’m not in love with nail art. I have been wearing the same color nail polish for over 35 years. I like red and I’m sticking to it.

However, those ladies who like to be trendy, but don’t want to spend a fortune, may want to consider Nailbot. It’s a smartphone nail art printer and app for Android or iPhone. It actually prints custom, instant nail art, directly on your fingernails. 

All you have to do is paint your nails with a light colored Nailbot base coat. Then you use the Nailbot mobile app to help you select your nail art which can consist of emojis, pictures of your friends, or even something you create. 

Here comes the magical part. You tap the screen to select the art, and within five seconds the art goes from the printer to your nail. Please watch the video for a complete explanation.

The Nailbot kit will be available next month for approximately $20. Let me know if you like your new homemade nail art.

 

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Sit With Us 

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I hate bullies. Anything that eliminates a bully makes me very happy. Of course, I’m not talking physical harm. Just a simple nudge to remind them that they will not be tolerated is good enough for me.

Natalie Hampton, an 11th grade student from Sherman Oaks, CA, took it upon herself to come up with a solution to stop bullying in high school cafeterias across America during lunch time. I first heard about this app from NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. I taped it for you. 

Natalie created a new app called “Sit With Us.” In an NPR interview Natalie said, “At my old school, I was completely ostracized by all of my classmates, and so I had to eat lunch alone every day. 

“When you walk into the lunch room and you see all the tables of everyone sitting there and you know that going up to them would only end in rejection, you feel extremely alone and extremely isolated, and your stomach drops. 

“And you are searching for a place to eat, but you know that if you sit by yourself, there’ll be so much embarrassment that comes with it because people will know and they’ll see you as the girl who has nowhere to sit. So there’s so many awful feelings that come along with it.”

“Sit With Us” is a free lunch-planning app where students can easily find friendly classmates who want to dine with them. It’s an open invitation that acts like an Evite. Each school has volunteer ambassadors who make sure everyone is being treated fairly.

Natalie is one special teenager. We need more like her. Tell your kids and grandkids about “Sit With Us.” 
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A Possible Solution For Hot Flashes  

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I found this innovative product on Indiegogo, the crowd-funding site. I made special note of it because I thought this was a great idea. Americans noticed it too because it was fully-funded. The Zero Breeze,  the world’s first personal, portable, smart, multifunctional air conditioner, will be available early next year at approximately $350.00. 

The Zero Breeze is also a bluetooth speaker, a night light, and a smartphone charging station. You have to love this product.

I am constantly with women, ages 50 to 80, who are getting over-heated. They are so uncomfortable, that I start to not  feel well too. If we are at a party, in a meeting, or even at the beach, it would be wonderful to watch those who sweat easily, cool off.

The Zero Breeze is capable of cooling a 50 square feet room down to 44 ℉. Using a rotary compressor, the unit can be plugged-in, or used by the battery pack. If the Zero Breeze does three-quarters of what it claims, bravo! 

Isn’t She Lovely?

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If you have ever visited an art gallery, you know immediately if you like the art. A few of us went to the opening for Mano at the Williams McCall Gallery@Frameworks in Coconut Grove, Fl Saturday night. The minute we walked in, we scattered in all directions checking out the amazing looking women who adorned the walls. 

The postive energy in the room from the colors on the paintings lifted everyone’s spirits. I watched all the guests. Everyone was staring at the paintings. From my experience, that is very unusual. People are usually engrossed in conversation and give the artwork an obligatory look. Not in this case. Bravo to you, Mano!  Bio below.

I really wanted the second painting posted here, but we’re on artwork overload. We have paintings in our condo, hanging in the homes of family and friends, and in storage. We are out of space.  We have rotated our artwork so many times that our walls are screaming “enough.” 

I found out that my favorite lady was sold to a good friend. At least I have a photo. 


Mano’s bio taken from his website

Cuban-born MANO came to the United States as part of Operation Pedro Pan* at the age of twelve, with his older brother. For the next five years he lived in Westfield, New Jersey with family friends until he was reunited with his parents.

Although MANO graduated as an electrical engineer and successfully practiced his profession for more than twenty years, he always felt the need to express himself artistically and beyond the design concepts of engineering. MANO has now traded components and electronics for a new career in art. 

He is a self-taught artist who has developed a unique expressionist-style dominated by faces and the female form. Usually his faces are merely a point of departure for MANO to explore the interplay of contrasting colors on a myriad of surfaces. When asked what inspires him, MANO says “Everything…people, music, nature all lead me on journey’s through the imagination where images converge and forms and color captivate me. Observation of the mind’s creation allows me to assimilate and recreate, in my own style, the shades of color and images of form.”

MANO has been recognized by Miami Mayor Alex Pinellas and Miami Mayor Manny Diaz for his contribution to Miami’s cultural community. MANO has been featured in numerous publications among them; The Miami Herald, Sun Sentinel, South Miami Times, The Sun Post, Miami Art Guide and the Pittsburgh Tribune. MANO has been recognized by the art and cultural community in South Florida with special recognition by the Arts & Cultural Council of Miami, Miami-Dade County ‘s Hispanic Expressions, Naples Art Festival and Sister Cities International Art Exhibition. 

MANO is a true advocate of charitable causes and donates his time and talent regularly to support countless organizations each year through the donation of his art, lectures and workshops. Ultimately, MANO believes that we should help however we can and give back to the community. It gives him great satisfaction to know that his art provides an opportunity for him to support so many worthwhile causes.

Today, MANO’s art hangs in private and corporate collections throughout the world. He exhibits regularly in galleries, universities and juried art shows throughout the United States and welcomes visits to his studio in Miami by appointment.

MANO lives in Coral Gables, Florida with his wife, their dog and his many canvases and paints.

*Operation Pedro Pan was the largest recorded exodus of unaccompanied minors in the Western Hemisphere. From December 1960 to October 1962, more than fourteen thousand Cuban children arrived alone in the United States. Read more about Operation Pedro Pan 

Happy Rosh Hashanah 

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Scroll down to see late breaking news….

92nd Street Y 

Dip Your Apple – Fountainheads Rosh Hashanah—Thank you, Dick Krain, for sharing ..


A Boating Accident In The Marina 
It was 11:45pm Sunday night when Eliot and I heard strange noises outside our windows. An out-of-control yacht was smashing into other boats in the Miami/South Beach Marina,  36 stories below our window. I heard people yelling “Help,” “Help.” I called police and Eliot shot the first photos. Five minutes later police, helicopters, coast guard, fire engines,and ambulances showed up. This happened just down the waterway from where Jose Fernandes died last week. A helicopter has a search light on entire area. Scuba divers are looking for something. Very scary to watch a sizable yacht, out-of-control, and bashing into others at least six times. More when I find out what actually happened. 

When In Doubt, Throw Out 

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When In Doubt, Throw Out

That used to be one of my mother’s favorite expressions. She always made sure our food was fresh. She didn’t want to take any chances . 

She must have had some friends who suffered from spoiled food. The World Health Organization recently reported that there are 76 million cases of foodborne illness (resulting in 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths) in the United States each year.

I always wanted some sort of a food analyzer  that would tell me if the food I was about to eat was fresh. Guess what? I found such a product. It’s called the FOODsniffer, the world’s first portable “electronic nose.”It’s a  device and mobile application which will enable you to determine the quality and freshness of: beef, pork, poultry and fish. 

FOODsniffer has four types of sensors: temperature, humidity, ammonia and volatile organic compounds sensors. All you have to do is direct the device towardq the food product and then click a button. 

The company’s website said, “the device uses Bluetooth technology to transmit data to the user’s smartphone or tablet, which displays a detailed result with recommendations regarding the safety of the product.”

The FOODsniffer retails for $120. You can buy it here. 
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