Author Archives: loiswhitmanhess

Two Hours With ABBA And Suddenly “I’m The Dancing Queen”

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I must be living under a rock. I don’t remember anyone ever telling me how fabulous Stockholm is. Yes, a few people mentioned they had a good time cruising through the Scandinavian countries, but no one ever emphasized that this is a “must see” and “must experience” place on earth. 

I received several emails from friends saying this city is one of their favorite places once they saw my Stockholm photos on Facebook. I wish they would have told me about it before. They are so well traveled, they probably assumed I knew.  

Stockholm is a combination of Paris and Venice. It’s situated on 14 islands. Eliot and I spent the day on the Hop/On Hop/Off Water Taxis visiting various places. It was so convenient when we went to the Vasa Museum, the ABBA Museum, the Nobel Museum, Gamla Stan (the old town), the Royal Palace, and several waterfront restaurants. 

The Vasa Museum (Swedish: Vasamuseet) houses  a war ship that was miraculously salvaged 333 years after it sank on its maiden voyage in 1628. The Vasa story is known worldwide because of its tragic 20 minute fiasco.

The Nobel Museum (Swedish: Nobelmuseet) is dedicated to the Nobel Prize, Nobel laureates from 1901 to present, and the life of the founder of the prize, Alfred Nobel (1833-1896). The inside architecture is exquisite. 

The ABBA museum made me feel like I was a teenager again. The establishment houses the Swedish rock group’s costumes, gold records, original musical equipment, memorabilia, rehearsal studios, and cars. An audio companion gadget, from display to display, gave us their entire story.

The big bonus was that we were able to sing karaoke with ABBA tunes and insert ourselves dancing with ABBA in pre-recorded videos. Eliot and I were so bad he wouldn’t let me buy the recordings. I was laughing so hard, I almost had an accident. 

Hope everyone at home and those vacationing are doing well.

This should only be true.

Two hours of laughs and great memories.

Beautiful architecture.

Stunning buildings.

Ferry rides were so refreshing.

Thrilled to have witnessed where it all happens.

We can’t believe we learned this part of history.

What a tragedy.

Eliot had to get every angle.

The materials used to preserve won’t last forever.

The details are amazing.

You don’t see frills like this anymore.

To TV Or Not TV, That Is The Question 

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Seth Godin

Seth Godin is an American author, entrepreneur, marketer, and public speaker.

He is quite popular on the Internet. Many people who are involved in the digital world follow him on social media and read his blog. 

I thought you would be interested in what he has to say about people who watch a lot of television.

You can click on his blog here or read his words below. I cut and pasted it for you. 

“It turns out that the more you watch TV, the more you believe that the world is dangerous. It turns out TV watchers believe that an astonishing 5% of the population works in law enforcement. And it turns out that the more you watch TV the less optimistic you become. Cultivation theory helps us understand the enormous power that TV immersion has.

“Given the overwhelming power of interaction, I’m confident that we’ll discover that internet exposure, particularly to linkbait headlines, comments and invective, will also change what people believe about the world around them.
It’s hopeful to imagine that we can change these outcomes by changing the inputs. Of course, the hard part is choosing to do so.

“Every time I see a toddler in a stroller with an internet device in hand, I shudder. If we want a better future, it helps to be able to see the world as it is.”


Posted by Seth Godin on August 10, 2017

My retort. 

“I have a much different opinion. I am grateful to be living in a world where we have so much access to information. I want to hear and read as much as I can about what’s going on today,  even if that means that I’m glued to my TV set and Internet devices. 

“While a lot of what I learn though electronic communications may be depressing, it also makes me stronger to succeed in a personal and business level. I do spend a great deal of time interacting with electronic communications because it has educated me beyond any expectation I ever could have had for myself. If it wasn’t for the Internet, I wouldn’t know who Seth Grodin is. Don’t fear electronic communications. Embrace it. You will always have time for live events.”

Instant Home Photo Studio

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Memo to Marilyn Scher —this is perfect for your eBay business. 

Truthfully, the Instant Home Photo Studio is fabulous for anyone who needs or wants to take photos of products, or any kind of object.

For approximately $6.00, it’s better than your kitchen table.  This creative little stage will make your photos look totally professional. 

The manufacturer said, “This lightbox is like a miniature pro photographer’s studio. It eliminates distractions and pulls in the focus factor to deliver truly professional looking photos. Extra bright light beams in from an LED strip concealed up top, lending clarity and quality to every image. 

White or black background? You choose! Your lightbox is perfect for social media, ideal for  retail, and great for taking selfies of your favorite valuables. Whatever your needs, whatever your focus, your Instant Home Photo Studio will boost your possibilities, transform your creative output, and make all your photos stylish, captivating — and pro.”

I think it’s adorable and a problem solver. No more shadows, no more glares, and no more blurs.

Watch the video.  It’s a competitive product but similar installation.

Medium ( 23 x 23 x 24cm / 9″ x 9″ x 9.4″)
Large ( 30 x 30 x 30cm / 11″ x 11″ x 11″ )

Extra Large ( 40 x 40 x 40cm / 15.7″ x 15.7″ x 15.7 ” )

The List 

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Apollo Research, a tech research company, has just issued a list of the most powerful and respected tech writers. I am providing this list to you because it’s fun to follow these writers on social media. 

Amazon Has Secret Brands  

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It took me a long time to like private labels. Once I understood, that in most cases, major companies were the manufacturers behind the house brands, I never snubbed my nose at them again. In fact, I now prefer them.

They’re good and they are less expensive.

That is definitely the case at Publix, our local supermarket on Miami Beach.  Publix’s private label, called Publix, is the brand of choice. When you open the pantry at many of my friend’s homes in Miami, all you will see are Publix products. The quality is the best.

Now Amazon is trying to do the same thing. They have started to sell self-produced products, but the public is not really aware they are buying an Amazon brand. The retailer has a host of brands that do not exist outside the confines of amazon.com 

Here are just a few:

Arabella Lingerie

Beauty Bar Cosmetics

Denali Tools

Franklin & Freeman Men’s shoes

Happy Belly Fresh food

James & Erin Women’s clothing

Lark & Ro Women’s clothing

Mae Underwear

Mama Bear Baby products

Myhabit Consumer goods

North Eleven Women’s clothing

NuPro Tech accessories

Pike Street Linen

Pinzon (by Amazon) Linen

Scout + Ro Kid’s clothing

Single Cow Burger Frozen food

Small Parts Spare parts

Smart is Beautiful. Clothing

Strathwood Furniture

Many manufacturers are beginning to feel the squeeze. Amazon seems more interested in copying them than buying their goods. 

To read about their new crop of brands, click here
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20 Things You Should Never, Ever Google

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I recently read a scary story about searching for certain topics on Google.  It frightened me a little because it reminded me that anyone in authority can trace every word I ever searched. 

The same thing holds true for YouTube. My searches are all over the map, depending on who I am working for, and the topics I hear, or read about. If I was traced, someone could get the wrong impression.

I’m sure you are in the same situation. CNET did a story about 20 things you should never Google because they are either scary, or are marked as “trouble spots.” If you land on the wrong website, the police could storm your home.

Click for the CNET story here.

Below are photos I took of two examples that I didn’t want you to miss. Be sure to read the entire story. 

Tech Tidbits 

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YSL Is Selling Stiletto Roller Skates
I wonder if YSL provides injury insurance with its latest fashion entry. I love innovation, but this is just crazy. The price is even more crazy. The new Anya 100 Patch Pump Roller from Saint Laurent retail for $2,600. There are two designs: — a Roy Lichtenstein face or a cool snakeskin print. Mashable Click here.

Remember the Victrola? You can find it in Port Washington, Long Island.  Newsday  Click here. 

There are new career opportunities for people without college degrees. Tech jobs focus on skills. New York Times. Click here.
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This is good news for all of you who are worried about your children, and grandchildren, spending too much time on their smartphones. Watch the video for more details. 

Al Gore Live 

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Ed, Eliot, Meredith, Lois and Paul.

Al Gore being interviewed by a Miami Herald reporter.

Al Gore has no plans to re-enter politics. He calls himself a recovering politician.

I never thought I would be sitting in my local movie theater on Miami Beach listening to Al Gore speak. A group of us went together to see Gore’s new documentary on global warming, “An Inconvenient Sequel.” This film is a follow-up to the 2006 documentary Gore made called “An Inconvenient Truth.”

At first we thought Gore would appear via Skype. After all, the film was debuting in theaters across the country. Why would Gore appear live here? Maybe it’s because Miami Beach is more vulnerable to the impact of global warming than any other city in the United States.

We witnessed that earlier this week when we got hit with seven inches of rain in one afternoon. Our streets immediately got flooded because underground drains couldn’t handle the amount of water being accumulated. Water was pouring out of manholes. 

Gore knows we are in trouble here with the rise of sea levels all around us. Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine is working closely with Gore to help resolve the situation. Some of the streets are being built-up and new water pumps are being installed everyday.

Everyone must see “An Inconvenient Sequel.” It’s an solid reality check for what’s going on in the world. We know a lot of the information already, but that doesn’t mean we don’t need a refresher course.