Category Archives: digital

Meditation On-The-Go

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If it wasn’t for Headspace, I don’t think I would have made it through the elections. It’s as simple as that. I needed something extra to get me away from all the noise. 

Through Google, I found the Headspace app. I later found out Headspace is now one of the most buzzed-about meditation apps. It was developed by a Buddhist from Venice, CA. 

Other well known meditation apps are: Buddhify, Omvana, Smiling Mind and Dharma Seed.

Headspace uses animations and videos to help you relax and get into a peaceful state. I would love you to try it and give me your feedback. 

This one is perfect for me because I can start and stop easily. I tend to fall asleep and often need to go back and experience the session again. Don’t tell anyone. Thanks.

I’m Dressed For Skype 

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There are days that I have Skype calls in the wee hours of the morning. I had one today. It was a new business call with a start-up in Estonia, called Soma Smart Home. They make a gadget that allows you to open and close your shades with a push of a button. No need to spend a lot of money for a major installation. Soma allows you to do it with an app.

Most of my Skype calls require looking at others face-to-face. That means I have to shower, get dressed, and apply make up, many hours before I am ready to start the day.

I certainly don’t want to do that. I decided that I needed to create an outfit much like TV personalities do when they sit behind a desk. I now dress from the waist up. Actually, I dress from the chest up. I keep on my night  clothes, throw a scarf around my neck, put on lipstick and my shaded glasses. 

It works. I find this all so amazing.  I’m conducting business in my PJ’s. If the two guys I spoke to noticed, they certainly didn’t indicate it. They gave me a tour of their offices and showed me new products from their computer screen. We had a great hour-long meeting where we discussed challenges and solutions. Both sides have their marching orders. 

It all worked out great. After the call, I hopped back into bed for a few extra zzzzz. 

We live in amazing times, especially for those of us who want to work on our own terms.

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My Emails, Etc., Now Talk To Me

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Presentation Magazine



I am probably on my iPhone, or iPad, more than anyone in the world. I can’t imagine anyone who uses these devices more than me. 

I use it for everything: telephone calls,  address book, camera, emails, texts, social media, news alerts, charity work, fund raising, apps, games, newspapers, books, research, shopping, photo storage, coloring, blogs, videos, music, movies, tv shows, and about 20 other things. 

You can’t imagine my excitement when I learned tonight, from a WordPress buddy,  that I can now have everything read to me on my iPhone.  That means by enabling the “accessibility setting,” I can make my iPhone read the text of whatever I happen to be looking at. Yes, texts, emails, magazines, Google, Wikipedia, on and on.

This feature is so important to seniors. I find that unless I really wash my face thoroughly when I wake up in the morning, or take a shower immediately thereafter, the type on my iPhone becomes blurry and faded. 

If I have an urgent work deadline early in the day, this has been a problem. Not anymore. I will just have the words read to me. We all get the choice of the type of voice and language we want to hear. 

I wanted to get you the best explanation on how to make this all work. I found that CNET had the best details. Thank you Matt Elliott of CNET for a really cool story. Click here for the post.

Here is a quick look at what Matt says. 

“To enable the setting, head to Settings > General > Accessibility > Speech and toggle the switch on for Speak Screen.

“With this setting enabled, you can swipe down with two fingers from the top edge of your screen and a voice will begin reading whatever text is on the screen. A small control panel appears that lets you pause the speaking voice, skip slightly forward and back, and speed up or slow down the speaking rate.”

I’m now celebrating my new iPhone feature, the Cubs historical win, and the first woman President of the United States. 

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Someone Else Is In The Bedroom With Eliot And Me  

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I almost jumped out of my skin the first time Alexa started talking to us late one night when Eliot and I were watching TV. We were both in bed, just about to doze off, when a rather loud female voice asks us, “How can I help you?”

I thought it was a home invasion. I got so scared. I screamed. Then I realized the little  robot across the room must have heard her name from the TV and woke up. Eliot and I had a good laugh after our hearts stopped racing. 

Eliot received Alexa from the Greenberg clan for his 70th birthday. I was initially more exited than Eliot, but now he is finding new applications for the unit all the time. She plays our music, spells words, gives us the weather, provides news, reads books out-loud, and now does some of our shopping. Yes, there are specials sales that she announces everyday. 

The unit is the Amazon Echo, but the brains are Alexa. Eliot uses a lot of technology but he is pretty amazed by all of Alexa’s capabilities. In fact, it’s a little overwhelming to have a robot that knows more than you. All you have to do is ask a question.

The Echo has seven microphones and a beam forming technology so it can hear us from across the room. Alexa is getting her smarts from the cloud so new information is being added all the time. Echo stays connected and updates itself automatically. 

The Echo is going to find its way to everyone’s home. It’s perfect for seniors who need help  turning  lights, switches, and thermostats on and off. 

Another bonus is that you can use a companion app to help manage all of the third-party skills.

All this for around $175. There are different models so you can pick a less expensive unit.

I think it’s worth going for the whole enchilada.

Thank you Greenberg’s.💋💋💋💋

Reebok Changes Footwear Forever  

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Reebok is about to change the entire footwear industry in both design and manufacturing. This is major news since there hasn’t been much innovation in the last 30 years.

After reading what I post here, and watching the above video, you will understand why this is going to impact all kinds of footwear.

Reebok is creating a new Liquid Factory, tentatively scheduled for Rhode Island, that uses both robot technology and 3-D drawing to manufacture shoe components without using traditional shoe molds. This means that the cost to manufacture shoes in the United States will be reduced dramatically and the speed of production will go faster than ever.

It’s so exciting that Maria Bartiromo, of Fox News, rushed to be among the first to report the news. She interviewed Bill McInnis, the Reebok executive, who is the head of the Reebok Future Team.  He told Maria that this new innovation will open up new opportunities for what can be created.

If you watch the video you will understand how the process takes place. It shows how robots use high-energy liquid to draw in layers in order to create the first ever energy-return outsole which supposedly is dramatically better than a typical rubber outsole. It also stretches and molds around the foot, providing a three dimensional fit.

Reebok collaborated with BASF and the Rampf Group to make this all happen.        

Reebok issued their own video to explain the process. It’s pretty amazing. This is the future.

See The Future In Solar Panels

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If I was ever to own a private home again, I would definitely want solar panels. I just can’t stand the way they look.

 
Then I got an email from my friend Carlos, who showed me a YouTube video of tech celeb Elon Musk, yes the same one who is CEO of Tesla,  introducing better looking, and better performing, solar panels. 

I have included a 15-minute video where you get to see the panels and watch Tesla speak. You should watch his performance. He sounds like an ordinary guy, rather than a snooty technical genius. 

Testa reminds everyone that the purpose of his company is always to introduce products that are first with sustainable energy. 

Tesla introduced solar roofing that comes in four styles that are very different from what you have ever seen. The variety includes: Textured Glass Tile, Slate Glass Tile, Tuscan Glass Tile, and Smooth Glass Tile. None of them look they are solar panels. They are extremely fashionable.  Each style is transparent to solar, yet appears opaque from an angle.

 
The solar panels boast new Powerwall 2.0 battery units that keep reserves if needed. 

For more details, read the Tech Crunch story that covers the Tesla introduction as well. 

You Have To Hear This Interview 

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Debbie Nigro, of the Debbie Nigro Radio Show, asked author Kent Karosen, how much longer it will be before researchers find a cure for Alzheimer’s. He answered it. Kent knows a lot about the subject because he is President and CEO of the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation.

Click here to hear the interview. His explanation is very promising.

Kent is also Senior Managing Director and Partner at Cantor Fitzgerald. He escaped being killed on 9/11 by just minutes. He was walking into the towers just as they were coming down. For the last 15 years he has totally devoted himself to helping others. Kent never fully recovered from this horrifying experience. His charitable work is what he lives for.

Year after year, Kent is in charge of the annual Cantor Fitzgerald 9/11 Memorial Service for the families of his 658 coworkers, a Member of Intrepid Museum’s Board of Directors, Chairman of the Star Leadership Awards and Dinner, Temple Emanu-El Miami Beach, as well as President and CEO of the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation.

Kent just wrote a book for children which explains Alzheimer’s disease using artwork created by children juxtaposed with art created by Alzheimer’s patients. Called “Why Can’t Grandma Remember My Name?,” the book demonstrates the power of art therapy for all ages and a way for parents and family to share with a younger audience what is happening to Grandma or other loved ones.

Bloomingdale’s is devoting three windows to the book starting November 1 in New York City and then again in their Aventura, Miami, FL store the week after. The book will have an official debut at the Williams McCall Gallery in South Beach on Nov 3rd. Kent has a full schedule of activities around the country after that.

Below is the press release announcing his new book.  

Fisher Center Publishes First Educational Book About Life’s Journey With Alzheimer’s Disease to Kick off Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

 Why Can’t Grandma Remember My Name? Now Available for Purchase

 New York, New York, November 1 – Today, the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation is proud to announce the launch of a book written by the Foundation’s President, Kent L. Karosen, and co-author Chana Stiefel. 

The book explains Alzheimer’s disease using artwork created by children juxtaposed with art created by Alzheimer’s patients, demonstrating the power of art therapy for all ages and a way for parents and family to share with a younger audience what is happening to Grandma or other loved ones.

 “With the Alzheimer’s epidemic at an all-time high, it’s never been as important to increase the amount of research being conducted in an effort to find a cure,” said Kent L. Karosen, President/CEO Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation. “In the meantime, we must make it a priority to educate those around us about the disease, and through Why Can’t Grandma Remember My Name?, my hope is that a younger audience will have a better understanding of the disease that affects their loved ones.”

 The book is now available for purchase at the start of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, to address Alzheimer’s which directly affects 5.3 million Americans and an expected 16 million people by 2050. The disease costs our country over $200 Billion annually and is estimated to cost over $1.1 Trillion unless there is a cure.

 “As the first female artist to have a permanent sculpture at The Museum of Modern Art in New York City, I can attest to the power of art therapy and the exquisite artwork featured in Why Can’t Grandma Remember My Name?, said acclaimed artist and sculptor, Ursula von Rydingsvard. “Creating art gives Alzheimer’s patients autonomy and a sense of dignity in the midst of a disease that often leave them feeling powerless.”

To get a copy of Why Can’t Grandma Remember My Name? visit http://www.alzinfo.org/book.

 About the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation

Led by President and CEO, Kent L. Karosen, the Foundation was established in 1995 by Zachary Fisher. The Foundation has received the exceptional 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator for the fifth consecutive year.

 The Fisher Center is one of the largest and most modern facilities in the world dedicated to solving the puzzle of Alzheimer’s, and considered by many to be a prototype for Alzheimer’s research. The Center is led by Nobel Laureate Dr. Paul Greengard, recipient of multiple awards and honors throughout his career, and includes a research team of over 50 world-renowned scientists. To learn more about the Fisher Center’s innovative research, go to http://www.ALZinfo.org.

 

 
 

Jonathan Poretz: Chapter Two

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I don’t want to write too much here. I want you to watch the emotional video that will tell you why Jonathan went from being a PR executive to becoming Frank Sinatra. 

Jonathan worked at HWH PR for a few years. He did some amazing work at our agency but nothing prepared me for this transformation. He tells his story beautifully. I hope this inspires others to reinvent themselves, no matter how old they are.

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The New Normal 

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My Broadway producer friend, Ted Seifman, visited us this past Saturday from New York. When he was on his way home on Sunday evening, he had a Kodak moment at the Ft Lauderdale airport. I had to share it with you..

From Ted, 

“Here is another one of my inflight mass emails. 

I’m currently on a flight from Ft Lauderdale to NY. Before we boarded, there was a two year old, not only looking at an iPhone, but scrolling and choosing what videos she wanted (photo 1). 

But wait, it gets better! I take my seat, and next to me, is 20 month old who’s doing the same thing after putting her earplugs in (photo 2). 

In addition, what these two “infants” had in common, was that they also knew how to find their favorites on YouTube!  There really isn’t much more to say. Hope y’all are swell and not feeling as old as I do right now. 

Much love, Ted 


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Ted is standing next to Eliot in the photo below. He brought his friend Tom Miller, who lives in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, along for dinner. We all thought it was funny to stand in front of the “elderly”sign. 

Tom told us he had amazing art work on his body, but didn’t talk about it a lot. Tom is an executive at a major company, a devoted son, a serious art collector, and a volunteer for the needy. 


Tom is far right.

Tom is on the right. I guess he is serious about tattoos. I found his photos on his Facebook page

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The Best Halloween Decoration I Have Seen So Far. Go ahead, click. It is so much fun to watch.