I Thought Mail-Order Catalogs Were Gone Forever 

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Image: Los Angeles Times


Just when I thought that the Internet was wiping out everything that was in print, I find out that hard copy catalogs are in vogue again. I truly never thought we would see those thick picture books again in our mailboxes.  I was wrong. 

I just read in the Los Angeles Times that printed catalogs are re-surfacing again in an effort to combat email fatigue. Many retailers around the country feel there is so much shopping noise online, that they feel they can standout from the crowd if they “choose paper over pixels.”

I find that totally ironic.  I was so happy for retailers that they didn’t have to spend huge sums of money creating and mailing those heavy brochures anymore. Now an increasing number of retailers want to go through the expense once again because they believe it will generate more business. 

Research conducted by the Data & Marketing Assn. and the U.S. Postal Service, revealed that consumers are getting fewer catalogs in the mail, but they are paying more attention to them.

Find out which retailers are resurrecting catalogs by reading the Los Angeles Times story. Click here. 

Rock Band Goes High Tech 

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I never heard of the band “OK Go,” but I learned something very high tech about them today. They are known for their very creative music videos. They use scooters, cars, planes, treadmills to underscore their  unique choreography. 
The new video, called “Obsession, “ has a wall of 557 printers that are used as a backdrop. See the above video.

“This video has a lot of flashing colors. If you’re susceptible to seizures, be careful, 

Educators Claim Laptops In Classrooms Impede Learning  

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Image: New York Times

This is one for the books. College educators are now saying that there is increasing evidence that  students learn less when they are using a laptop or tablet during lectures. 

I was stunned to read this in the New York Times because I have been pretty envious of folks who can take notes on their computers while listening to a discussion, file them in a designated electronics folder, and/or distribute the information to targeted audiences. 

I have always had to do this in several steps, over several hours. Yet, young folks can do all this while the meeting they are listening to is still in progress. Now, educators are claiming that students are not really absorbing the information. I find this very strange considering how many years laptops have been in the classroom environment.

Princeton University and the University of California, Los Angeles, have conducted a number of experiments comparing the scores of students who use laptops versus students who use pen and paper for note-taking.  Both institutions found that the students who used laptops had less understanding of the lectures.

The reasons why are so ridiculous that I urge you to read the New York Times story.

All I know is that I watched a young neighbor takes notes on his iPad during a coop board meeting and before the discussion was over, he accomplished all of the follow-up work. Everything was done on-the-spot. I wish I could do that. 

I would have to go home. look at my notes, and then start attacking the “To Do” list. My young friend was trained very differently. He is far more efficient. It’s difficult to believe that he didn’t hear, absorb, and completely understand all of the facts being discussed. 

You decide after reading the story. 
 

LA40 – “Life After 40” The Power of PR

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Lois Whitman-Hess was featured on LA40, an internet video show hosted by Katerina Cozias. Lois along with her husband Eliot Hess, own HWH PR, a leading public relations agency in the U.S., for over 40 years. Their company has represented more emerging technologies than most other agencies in the world. It’s been an exciting life for them.

The show covers: 

1-What is the PR business like these days?
2-What are the new emerging technologies that everyone should know about?
3-How important is social media?
4-Do you like to represent start ups?
5-Is it true that you have authored a daily personal blog called DigiDame for over 5 years and why ?
6-I understand that you have attended every CES show in Las Vegas and how has that impacted your life?
7-How long do you think you will continue working?
8-What exciting things are you working on and what can you share with us? 

Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary 

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Philosophy……………There is MUCH to learn here!

 ♦ I read that 4,153,237 people got married last year. Not to cause any trouble, but shouldn’t that be an even number? 

This is where we got married 38 years ago, Palm Springs, CA.


* I find it ironic that the colors red, white, and blue stand for freedom until they are flashing behind you.

♦ When wearing a bikini, women reveal 90% of their body. Men are so polite they only look at the covered parts.

♦ Relationships are a lot like algebra. Have you ever looked at your X and wondered Y? 

Whitney joining in on the celebration.

♦ America is a country which produces citizens who will cross the ocean to fight for democracy but won’t cross the street to vote.

♦ You know that tingly little feeling you get when you love someone? That’s your common sense leaving your body.

Our family selfie

♦ Did you know that dolphins are so smart that within a few weeks of captivity, they can train people to stand on the very edge of the pool and throw them fish?

♦ My therapist says I have a preoccupation with vengeance. We’ll see about that.

Celebrating my birthday with Lucie Arnaz and Larry Luckinbill.

♦ I think my neighbor is stalking me as she’s been Googling my name on her computer. I saw it through my telescope last night.
♦ Money talks …. but all mine ever says is good-bye.
♦ You’re not fat, you’re just easier to see.

Birthday dinner with Larry and Darren

♦ If you think nobody cares whether you’re alive, try missing a couple of payments.
♦ I can’t understand why women are OK that JC Penny has an older women’s clothing line named, “Sag Harbor.”
♦ My therapist said that my narcissism causes me to misread social situations. I’m pretty sure she was hitting on me.
♦ My 60 year kindergarten reunion is coming up soon and I’m worried about the 175 pounds I’ve gained since then.
!
♦ The pharmacist asked me my birth date again today. I’m pretty sure she’s going to get me something.
♦ The location of your mailbox shows you how far away from your house you can go in a robe before you start looking like a mental patient.

♦ Money can’t buy happiness, but it keeps the kids in touch!
♦ The reason Mayberry was so peaceful and quiet was because nobody was married. Andy, Aunt Bea, Barney, Floyd, Howard, Goober, Gomer, Sam, Earnest T Bass, Helen, Thelma Lou, Clara and, of course, Opie were all single. The only married person was Otis, and he stayed drunk.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving !   

Popular Science Features 13 Science-backed ways to improve your Thanksgiving

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Image: Popular Science


My friend Steve Greenberg sent me this article in Popular Science the other day. He said he thought DigiDame readers would like the scientific turkey information right before Thanksgiving. It will save you time, keep you safe, and make you happy.  

I outlined the topics below. All you have to do is click here for the entire story.

Toy with the food chemistry 
Deep frying a turkey without killing yourself

Spatchcock the turkey 

Bake stuffing without overcooking the meat 

Don’t forget the sides

Eat as much as humanly possible 

Brew or buy Thanksgiving-themed beers

Whip up perfectly safe egg nog

Distract your guests with tech 

Or with science topics 

Play with the frozen turkey 

Avoid food poisoning 

Prevent other holiday dangers 

Prevent Digital Snooping

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Image: courtesy of CNET


Digital snooping is becoming more prevalent now because more and more people are buying gifts on Amazon. That means that husbands, wives, and even children, are taking a quick peek on family Amazon accounts to see if any gifts were bought for them. 

Amazon just came up with a way to prevent people from snooping. They just announced a special account, called Amazon Household, that acts as a second confidential account page. It’s clever and easy-to-do. 

CNET has a whole explanation on how to set it up for the holidays. They want to keep a surprise, a surprise. Click here to read about it. 

Fiber Art Is Catching On

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A number of years ago, someone made a public statement at a seminar that Miami wasn’t a serious art town. I was really upset when I heard that. I was never more aware of all different types of art until we established a second home in Miami over 20 years ago. 

Yes, we frequented galleries and museums in NYC all of our long lives, but living outside of the Big Apple gave us the opportunity get closer to the artist themselves, the curators for museums and galleries, and big name collectors from Europe and South America.

Yesterday, we experienced a fiber art exhibit at the Miami International Airport. The photos don’t do it justice. It was created by Evelyn Politzer, http://www.evelynpolitzer.com, who was born in Uruguay (where the number of sheep exceeded the number of inhabitants) and attended law school. After becoming a lawyer, she decided to satisfy her creative side and then went on to get a degree from Parsons School Of Design. 

Lucky me. She now lives and works in Miami. I will definitely make it my business to meet her

Williams-Sonoma Jumps Into 3D Imaging Tech Biz 

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The above video is an Recode interview with Williams-Sonoma’s CEO, Laura Alber. 

Online furniture  shopping is going to get a lot more interesting in the near future. Williams -Sonoma and all of its retail brands, including Pottery Barn and West Elm, will be using 3D imaging to help customers make more intelligent selections. With a touch of a button, customers will be able to see what their furniture choices look like in different colors and pattern selections. This is a very nice feature to have before customers have to make final choices. 

In order to accomplish this, WSI, Williams-Sonoma, Inc., acquired an augmented reality startup called Outward for $112 million. Outward, founded in 2012, gives consumers the ability to see furniture pieces in different angles and in different fabrics. Outward will continue to expand its services over time.

The aquistion by WSI underscores what’s going on in the furniture industry. Retailers want to delve further into augmented reality because they want shoppers to have for a better online shopping experience. Retailers like Wayfair, Ikea and Amazon have all introduced AR shopping experiences over the past 18 months. 

Medical Marijuana In Florida 

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In 1966, I was involved in the beginning of the high tech industry. Today, I can say I am at the beginning of a whole new industry in Florida, medical marijuana. Eliot and I attended a medical cannabis seminar today, hosted by the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce. The purpose of the event was to inform members about the status of medical marijuana in Florida


Fact: 

1-This past June, Governor Rick Scott approved a bill that effectively puts into action a state constitutional amendment approving medical marijuana.

2-The amendment increases the number of approved marijuana dispensaries in Florida from seven to 17. Each dispensary can open 25 centers.

3-Florida residents who are eligible to be prescribed marijuana are those with cancer. epilepsy, glaucoma, ALS, Crohns Disease, PSTD, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, HIV/AIDS, and terminally ill patients.

4-The drug, either low-THC (non-euphoric) marijuana or full-strength marijuana,—must be consumed in oil or edible forms.

There were plenty of other facts but these are the ones I am sure of. The reason why I am so interested in this subject is because I am pretty sure that marijuana will relieve some of the pain that so many folks are enduring. 

It’s interesting to note that the majority of the 75 people who attended today’s conference, all had one thing in common: “They all wanted to help those who can’t help themselves.”

More on this subject in a couple of weeks.