Author Archives: loiswhitmanhess

MIT’s Folding City Car

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MIT Media Labs is working on a new concept called “Hiriko” which means urban mobility. The new electronic “folding car” has been designed for shared ownership so users can drop it off in different locations. Think of it as one-way driving. MIT claims that most people who live in urban areas only use their cars a small percentage of the day. It makes sense to have smaller, shared cars to help protect the environment and be as economical as possible.

For parking purposes, the bubble-shaped car allows the back section to slide forward, “folding” the cabin up vertically . That means that it will only occupy two thirds of a parking space taken by a Smart Car. Other features include a single front-opening door and joystick controls rather than a steering wheel. Four independent in-wheel motors allow for separate steering. The vehicle will sell for $16,500 each.

You will see these cars on the road sometime next year. Read more about it in Engadget.

Watch the video below.

All Of A Sudden I’m A Maven

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Friends always ask me “Should I buy Facebook, Groupon, or Square?” I tell them to do what they want, but be prepared to lose all of their money. Digital stocks are very fickle. Most of them are very trendy and have no basis for long term growth.

I remember my girl friend Ruth being so aggravated when Groupon didn’t accept Google’s offer in 2010 for $6 billion. She kept saying to me, “How much do they need?” The truth is that most of these start-ups are on a fast track, get rich scheme, because they are not sure if their concept has what it takes on a long term basis.

If you watched Gary Vaynerchuk’s video the other day posted on this blog you would have heard him talk about the appeal of Groupon and Living Social. He said, “Remember, 36 months ago when you couldn’t wait to buy $40 worth of spa treatments for $20? Or $60 worth of Sushi for $30. These ‘deal’ sites pounded the consumer so hard that now if you offered most people a million dollar home for $10, they would still click ‘delete.’ “

Basically what Gary was saying is that there is too much “bullshit” on the consumer’s radar screen. Click thru’s on website banner ads used to be 80 per cent. Now a company is lucky if they get 40 per cent. Something has to give.

Ruth is right. “How much is enough?”

Here is a video from the experts that will explain what is happening to Groupon. Click here.

My Own Personal Bodyguard

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I always wanted a personal bodyguard. I wanted one as long as I can remember. I always thought it would be so cool to have a bodyguard who could protect me from anyone on the street, in the subway, in the hallways, on the road, in my apartment, in the movies, at a concert, at a convention, in the park, and in my office. There is no secret that I have a bad case of “thinking the worse” in every situation. I make Woody Allen look brave!

Nothing terrible ever happened to me, but I worry anyway. My natural default is “panic.” There were two incidents in the last two months that made me very uncomfortable.

1-A guy freaked out in a subway car on the way home from work. He was getting more and more and more agitated as he was talking to himself about a situation where the police accused him of carrying a knife. He was screaming obscenities and starting smacking his fist against the subway car window. He was pacing by the door nearest to me. When we got to the next stop, I was blocked from leaving the subway car while everyone else rushed out. Needless to say, I finally escaped.

2-The second time was the situation I wrote about a few days ago when three so-called charity “volunteers” entered my office and intimidated an intern and myself to give them money.

Some people reading this who know me will say I tend to dramatize situations. Let those people laugh all they want.

I finally can put my mind to rest, somewhat. I signed up for MyForce, an application on my smartphone that alerts a security team that something bad “might” happen. You call 911 to report an emergency. MyForce is used to avoid an emergency. You press “an alert” button on your phone and MyForce is immediately monitoring the situation. The GPS on your phone tells them your exact location. If they don’t hear any sounds, the police or a special security squad is immediately dispersed. If you talk to them, they will ask you for your “safe word” and access the situation. Unless you cancel the alert, help will be on its way.

I signed up for a monthly charge of $11.99 and may possibly switch to $119.99 for the year. This is a wonderful digital service for anyone who is alone or gets the heebie-jeebies like me. Too many of us have horror stories about getting stuck in a bathroom, an elevtor, or even a stairwell. Just make sure you take your smartphone with you everywhere and keep MyForce available for action.

Politics On Social Media

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USA Today ran a story the other day that said if you want to run for the President of the United States you better be on social media. Most politicians are making their important political announcements on Facebook and Twitter before traditional media.

Since many of you are not on Facebook and Twitter, I decided to bring Facebook and Twitter to you.

I did a little research and found a list of politicans who frequently use Facebook and Twitter. Don’t ask me why Paul Ryan is listed twice. I don’t make the lists but let me explain the numbers.

F—Facebook fans
If there is no F, that means the person is not on Facebook
+—the followers on Twitter today
T—the total number of followers on Twitter
Last number is the total reach on Facebook and Twitter

After you view the list of the 20 people I found, be sure to see recent political tweets from Romney and Obama.

#1
Barack Obama
F 27,754,142
+ 24,490 Today
T 18,484,176
46,238,318

#2
Paul Ryan VP
F 369,993
+ 7,980 Today
T 80,432
450,425

#3
Mitt Romney
F 4,052,321
+ 5,757 Today
T 837,031
4,889,352

#4
Paul Ryan
F 189,663
+ 183,640
373,303

#5
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Politician
F 2,104,636
+ 2,516 Today
T 2,552,903
4,657,539

#6
UK Prime Minister
+ 1,981 Today
T 2,061,265
2,061,265

#7
Hugo Chavez
+ 1,916 Today
T 3,305,268
3,305,268

#8
Queen Rania Al Abdullah
F 1,067,437
+ 1,424 Today
T 2,241,002
3,308,439

#9
Shashi Tharoor
+ 1,092 Today
T 1,443,084
1,443,084

#10
Nelson Mandela
+ 885 Today
T 212,435
212,435

#11
The British Monarchy
F 580,233
+ 529 Today
T 375,789
956,022

#12
Sarah Palin
F 3,464,345
+ 513 Today
T 816,346
4,280,691

#13
Al Gore
F 81,158
+ 370 Today
T 2,475,254
2,556,412

#14
Cory Booker
F 97,629
+ 284 Today
T 1,177,710
1,275,339

#15
Nicolas Sarkozy
F 772,171
+ 243 Today
T 285,571
1,057,742

#16
Kevin Rudd
F 70,657
+ 235 Today
T 1,140,498
1,211,155

#17
Newt Gingrich
F 293,848
+ 234 Today
T 1,466,114
1,759,962

#18
Gabrielle Giffords
F 146,714
+ 217 Today
T 93,499
240,213

#19
John McCain
F 882,719
+ 193 Today
T 1,739,489
2,622,208

#20
Sarah Brown
+ 188 Today
T 1,199,265
1,199,265

If there is an ‘h” sign in front of Obama or Romney’s name that means the comment was posted today and how many hours ago.
The date means which day the post was tweeted.

Mitt Romney

1h Mitt Romney‏@MittRomney
If your priority is creating more jobs and putting more people to work, that’s what we know how to do. #RomneyRyan2012

11h Mitt Romney‏@MittRomney
Higher unemployment, declining incomes, and crushing debt is not a new normal. America needs a comeback http://mi.tt/R4leel

11 Aug Mitt Romney‏@MittRomney
RT @PaulRyanVP Join America’s Comeback Team tomorrow in Waukesha, WI. Doors open at 4pm, RSVP and get tickets here http://mi.tt/P1ltEb

11 Aug Mitt Romney‏@MittRomney
On the deck of the USS Wisconsin with @PaulRyanVP. Excited to share our vision of a brighter future http://mi.tt/P8Unsk #RomneyRyan2012

11 Aug Mitt Romney‏@MittRomney
I am proud to announce @PaulRyanVP as my VP. Stand with us today. http://mi.tt/Romney-Ryan #RomneyRyan2012

10 Aug Mitt Romney‏@MittRomney
.@BarackObama can’t run on his record. America deserves better than a president who will do anything to stay in power http://mi.tt/MI1B4q

Barack Obama

2h Barack Obama‏@BarackObama
President Obama’s response to the drought affecting the U.S. is all hands on deck: http://OFA.BO/N2BGGb

3h Barack Obama‏@BarackObama
FACT: Paul Ryan endorsed a bill that would ban several common forms of birth control, including certain birth control pills.

4h Barack Obama‏@BarackObama
Make sure the women in your life know: Paul Ryan supports banning all abortions, even in cases of rape or incest.

4h Barack Obama‏@BarackObama
FACT: Paul Ryan would turn Medicare into a voucher program, forcing seniors to pay up to $6,350 a year more in health care costs.

5h Barack Obama‏@BarackObama
FACT: Paul Ryan supports writing discrimination into the Constitution with an amendment banning gay marriage.

6h Barack Obama‏@BarackObama
FACT: Paul Ryan voted against repealing the discriminatory policy of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

Why Do Young People Have All The Fun?

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If you don’t think the world of technology has made the younger generation free to say exactly what is on their mind, think again. I really never thought the day would come when young women would be so open about their personal pleasures, especially right in front of a TV camera for the world to see.

That is exactly what happened on the streets of New York last week when Trojan, the condom makers, gave out thousands of personal vibrators as part of a major branding promotion. Several locations were shut down because of inadequate permits but that was all restored hours later. The lines of pleasure seekers ran blocks long.

I thought I was an “open book” but even this has me beat. Can you imagine watching your child on TV talking about his or her sex life, or lack of it? I can’t believe I have turned into such a prude.

Not really. I admire anyone and everyone who can speak their minds. I would really like some DigiDame readers to pipe up. Tell us what you think about any part of this.

Here is a news clip of what went on.
Click here.

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Told You So!

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In a few weeks, you will be seeing “Square” credit and debit card transactions in Starbucks everywhere. Just remember where most of you read about the technology first.

Click here to read about the big news.

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If You Can’t Stand To See Your Child Unhappy, You Are In The Wrong Business

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Joanne Wilson


I want to share a post by another blogger who focuses on food, books, and music even though I’ve have seen her lately write about women, travel, and parenting. Her name is Joanne Wilson and she is the Gotham Gal. Joanne is also an angel investor in a number of start-ups and every member of her family is a blogger, her husband Fred and children Jessica, Emily and Josh.

I was amazed by a post she did last week spotlighting a New York Times story about “parenting.” I feel Joanne was able to capture the essence of the article so well that she really made me examine my own skills, not that I needed Joanne to do that for me. I have always asked myself if I spent too much time at work and not enough time fawning over my daughter. I have to admit that I would not have changed a thing but I do get a little self-conscious when I see friends inserting themselves into every inch of their adult children’s lives. I kind of want to do the same thing but I have a very strong force that stops me, my daughter.

I truly recommend that every Digidame reader reads this story and share’s it with friends. You don’t have to have children to appreciate the message of Gotham Gal’s post. You can spot yourself or a friend very quickly. Thank you Joanne. Well said!

Click here to read Joanne’s blog

One Day This Guy Is Going To Buy The Jets

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Some of you know who Gary Vaynerchuk is. If you don’t, let me help your pronounce his last name, Vay*Ner*Chuk. Gary is the ambassador from the digital community who explains to the rest of us how the world is changing because of social media. I urge you all to watch this video so you are prepared for changes that are about to take place. His clients are Oprah, the NFL, and Coca Cola.

Gary starts off by telling his own remarkable story and the choices he made. He then discusses specific cases in social media that should change the way we think and react. Warning: the video is filled with the F word. He usually doesn’t swear so much but maybe he is going through one of these “let me test the waters” stages.

Turn a deaf ear to the curse words and really listen to what he has to say. He will explain why we are living in such a dramatic time yet many people don’t know what to do with it. Don’t be one of those people. Absorb his words. If you fully appreciate what he has to say, you will probably pass this video on to someone else who is in business today or to those who can’t figure out why their kids are not calling them back.

Gary started with nothing not too long ago and his goal is to buy the Jets. There is not a doubt in my mind that he will accomplish his goal. Tell me what you think.

You’ve Heard Of The Electric Car? Now There Is An Electric Boat

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Can you imagine water skiing on a lake where powerboats were previously prohibited?

Coming to you soon.

Kara Swisher, one of the most important tech writers in the business and co-founder of AllThingsDigital at the Wall Street Journal, revealed an electric boat for the mass market earlier this week. Click here to see Kara’s story.

They said it could never be done but long time tech entrepreneur. Andy Rebele, of Pure Watercraft, did it. Click here to see his story.

The boat is so quiet no one will hear a thing, except the birds and the bees.

Rebele’s last start-up was CityAuction, which he sold to IAC/InterActiveCorp for $54 million.

I guess he is ready for his next big wave.

The “Highlight” Of My Day

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I was having dinner the other night at ABC Kitchen in New York City, when all of a sudden I received an alert from an application on my iPhone called “Highlight.” “Highlight” is an app that alerts you when someone you know is nearby. I have been using it for over a year and I get beeped all day long in my office if contacts of mine are somewhere within a few square blocks. Most of the time, I quickly glance at my iPhone screen just to see who is in the vicinity and then go right back to work.

Not this time. I received a notice that a long lost friend was sitting somewhere near me. I haven’t seen this guy since I was 18 (you figure out the math). Two years ago we met up on Facebook. I was looking for him for years because at one time we were very close. There was a group of us that used to go dancing twice a week. He was one of them. He dated a few of my friends but we were the ones who stayed in touch for a few years. There were nights that we would talk on the phone for an hour or two when we supposed to be doing homework. Our lives went in different directions and that was the end of that.

When I found him on Facebook I was so excited. I sent him a message and heard nothing back. I did that a few times and I finally got a message back saying that my name sounded familiar but he couldn’t place me. He asked me to tell him more. The more I told him the fuzzier he became. I was shocked and rather upset that someone I was so curious about didn’t even remember me. I couldn’t believe that someone who came to my “Sweet 16” (the night JFK was killed) and who I saw on a frequent basis for over two years, had no recollection of who I was.

He now lives in Los Angeles. Once or twice a year he sends me a message that he is going to be in New York and we should get together. I ignore his messages because I don’t want to meet a stranger and continue to play 20 questions. I have this character on my email list, Facebook friends, Linkedin contacts and yes, “Highlight” pals. By now you must have guessed that when I received my “Highlight” alert the other night, it was to tell me that that he was just a few feet away.

I didn’t say anything to anyone at my table, but quickly looked around. It took me five seconds to spot him. He was still attractive for a man in his 60s but he did age. I got to stare at him for an hour. I have no idea why he didn’t receive an alert that I was there too, but remember this is a guy who had no clue who I was. Then I did the unthinkable. I don’t know how I had the nerve. I went over to his table to ask him if he had the time. He and his male friend promptly said “10PM.” He asked me if I knew how late the restaurant stayed opened and I said “I didn’t know.”

I don’t want to tell you his name because there is a good chance he reads my blog. If I hear from him I will let you know. For those of you who are interested in expanding your radar screen, download the app called “Highlight.” It is so easy to use. If someone near you also has “Highlight,” his or her profile will show up on your phone. You can see their name, photos of them, mutual friends, and anything else they have chosen to share. When you meet someone, “Highlight” helps you see what you have in common. And when you forget that person’s name at a party a week later, “Highlight” can help you remember it.