Category Archives: senior lifestyle

Blurring Out YouTube Videos

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Image: Venturebeat.com

I love YouTube. I love learning new things about this amazing video platform. I was astonished to learn that, as of the other day, I can now blur out moving objects, as well as people, on my videos. 

This is huge news for people like me who are always getting nudged by others to edit out of my shoots some private items, such as notes, signs, and paintings. 

I’m very happy that I can still keep my original videos and now add the edited videos to my channel mix. If I promise someone that I will eliminate the original one, I will do so. YouTube has now given me lots of options.

One catch. Google, the owners of YouTube, are only offering the “blur out” capable feature on desktops. Smartphones will be made capable in a few months.  

If you want a detailed description on how to make the necessary edit, read the CNET story.

Good Neighbors, Great Authors

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We are fortunate to have Trisha and Gerald Posner as our neighbors, South of Fifth, in South Beach. They are NY Times best selling authors with exciting news. Both Gerald and Trisha just received new book deals with fantastic publishing houses. 

I was thrilled to be a part of the announcement process. It used to be the power of the pen. Now it’s the power of emails and texts. I have learned to take the art of the spoken word and turn it into a powerful digital pitch. 

Now I get to watch this happily married couple work together on some days and separately on others. I may even get to help in the research.

   
 
   

 My favorite digital sign for today.

 

Stella Austi Gutenplan 

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Stella Austi Gutenplan

I wrote the following story for a group on Facebook that is dedicated to paying tribute to the pioneers of the consumer electronics industry.

The one woman who is not mentioned often enough is Stella Austi. She was one of the top executives at the famous, but now defunct, Stereo Warehouse of New York City and Rabsons Audio Video. It’s difficult and upsetting to believe that she died 10 years ago. She was a 35-year industry veteran.

While most women were afraid to enter the work force, or felt they couldn’t compete with male counterparts, Stella was building a thriving retail business in the consumer electronics industry. Marty Gutenplan, the owner of the entire company, would often tell me she was the reason he was so successful. 

In fact, when Marty recommended Donna Austi, as a future account executive at my agency, HWH PR, he said , “If Donna contributes 10 per cent of what her mother did for me, your business will forever thrive.” Donna went on to work at HWH PR for 12 years. She now does specialty PR work for the Consumer Technology Association. 

Donna and her daughter Alex

Her brother Paul, owns Audio Video Crafts, the super successful custom installer to the stars.

Paul Austi and Eli Manning

Stella was a single mother raising two children, but no one ever thought of her as anything but a highly-spirited and serious career woman.

She started at a low level administration job at Stereo Warehouse and rose to the top. It wasn’t till late in her career that she ended up marrying Marty. After working side-by-side with him for many years, they found romance. He told me a number of times that they were both as surprised to realize their attraction to each other as the rest of the industry was to learn about it. 

Franklin Karp, Marty’s son-in-law, and now COO at the prestigious and highly-regarded Audio Video Systems, said, “Without peer, Stella was the most astute consumer electronics retail buyers in the United States. She understood the need for the most popular inventory, at the best possible pricing, better than most. She negotiated till she got the best deal. Everyone was in awe of her. The CE manufacturers and reps loved her even though they knew she would get what she wanted.”

Franklin worked at Stereo Warehouse for 19 years before he went on to become President /CEO of Harvey Electronics. 

“There is no question about it. I learned a tremendous amount from working with Stella. Many people did. Those were great years watching Dave Pardo, buyer at Crazy Eddie, compete against Stella, and vice versa. Those were the true days of entrepreneurship.”

I was lucky enough to witness those days. I sure miss them. 

Personal Workouts Without A Gym

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I’m going to take this workout app, called Sworkit, very seriously. I have been looking for something to get me started in the comfort of my home. I heard about it tonight on Shark Tank and immediately downloaded it. Shark Mark Cuban invested $1.5  million in the app that offers five to 60 minutes workouts in strength, cardio, yoga and stretching. Video trainers tell you exactly what to do!  I’m starting in the AM. For the first time, I feel I have a choice of the type of exercise I need and the time I want to devote to it. Good luck to me.

 
    
   

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Lady Gaga Is A High Tech Wonder 

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I watched Lady Gaga perform a six-minute tribute this past Monday to music legend David Bowie at the Grammys. I was mesmerized watching all of the kaleidoscopic visual effects. I read in Engadget that the Gaga team, along with Intel, worked very closely to bring together art, technology, and fashion.

Here is a rare opportunity to learn the complete breakdown of the technology that was  used to power the performance.

Click here.

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Eliot and Lois sing Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen. 

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Thank you Cathy

  
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It’s so embarrassing when you show up at an event and someone else is wearing your dress.  

A Quick Lesson In Virtual Reality 

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I think I mentioned this before, but I want to be sure all DigiDame readers are familiar with Virtual Reality (VR), the most exciting technology that will emerge in the next few years. It’s going to be interesting  to see if it will infiltrate our demographic area and how well we will receive it.

Goldman Sachs just announced that VR will be an $80 billion market by 2025. See the announcement here. I urge you to watch the three minute video below so you clearly understand what the excitement is all about.

According to Wikipedia, virtual reality artificially creates a sensory experience, which can include sight, touch, hearing, and smell. 

Everyone is jumping on the virtual reality bandwagon.

Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue is now offered in VR. Check it out here.

Hotels Tonight May Be Cheaper Than Staying Home

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A few months ago, I noticed that several of my friends were traveling around more than ever. When I asked them why they were all of a sudden spending so much money, they just smiled. 

Then I learned their secret sauce, “Hotels Tonight.” While the concept seemed a little unsettling to me at first, I started to think that getting first class hotel rooms, at discount pricing, was something I should consider too.  Why should I pay premium prices when my friends were paying less than a third for the same four walls?

   
   

I am always dubious about discount deals, thinking there is a catch somewhere. My friends say this really works. I decided to check it out. I was shocked when I searched what was available in New York and Miami.

   

  

  

  

  

  

I was so surprised to see some of the finest hotels in Miami and New York on the list. I guess even the most expensive hotels in the world decided that they no longer want empty rooms any night of the week. 

I haven’t actually booked a room yet, but friends report that the “Hotels Tonight” app, and cooperating hotels all over the world, are totally legit and honor all commitments.

In fact, some of the deals are so good, it’s cheaper to live in a “Hotels Tonight” guest room than your own home.

 

Cell Phone Case Sheds Proper Selfie Lighting 

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Michael Costanza (far right) takes one of his first selfies with wife Joonok Yang and me. Our friend Ron Moorman photo bombed us. Joon just had laser eye surgery. She was such a good sport.

Wherever I go, whatever I do, I see people taking a selfies. This used to be a young thing to do, but now I see grandmas and grandpas staging their own self-portraits. It makes me smile when I see more mature people connected to the digital world. 

It also amazes me that most 50-plus folks are not at all shy while posing. I see them  holding in their stomachs, stretching their necks and checking out their better facial sides. I’m not sure what everyone is doing with their selfies, but many of them are showing up on social media platforms.

I’m here to help. I want to tell you about the selfie gadget the Kardashians use to get the best images possible.  It’s a cell phone case called Lumee and it sells for approximately $55 on Amazon. Made for Apple and Android, the case has a frame of LED panels that properly light your face. The Lumee was engineered to highlight makeup, glam, and all kinds of contrasts. The clever case has different light intensities for different opportunuties.

I was told that the case is very easy to use and it’s doubles as a flashlight. No more flumbling through all of your apps to find a flashlight.  Lumee has a single button to light up your immediate surroundings. Very convenient!

All I have to say now is, “Are you ready for your closeup?” For more information, go to racked.com, a major fashion blog.

   
   

 
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If You Know A Major Personality, I Need Your Help

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HWH PR and Waterpik want to raise money for a cancer care charity called Hope Lives. Hope Lives provides women with free, complimentary care services including: Lymphatic Massage, Naturopathic Medicine, Mastectomy Supplies & Prosthetics, Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Exercise & Yoga, Nutrition Counseling, Therapeutic Massage, Healing Touch, Reiki, Counseling, Housecleaning, Personal Care, Transportation, Meal Preparation, Errands and More. 

Here are two videos that explain it all.

HWH and Waterpik want to conduct an online celebrity silent action so we can raise money for Hope Lives. All we need is a celebrity to decorate a Waterpik Water Flosser with pens, colored pencils, stickers, etc. We will supply all of the materials needed. The more celebs we get, the more money we raise.

This is what comedian/actor Tim Allen did for us.

   
  

If you know of anyone we can approach, we would be forever grateful.

 We hope you are willing to help us.

 Thank you so much. 

 Lois