The Future Keyboard 

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I heard about a keyboard that will allow you to type and swipe. It would be totally awesome to do both on the same surface. 

It’s not totally developed yet, but a group of tech guys are trying to raise money on Indiegogo to get this product to market. They already raised their target money of $30,000. They are now up to $55,000 and still have more than a month to go.

Their product is Moky, a rechargeable Bluetooth keyboard with a built in gesture- touchpad that’s located right on top of the keys. The developing team says, “The design enables scrolling and pinch to zoom in the same place where you type. The keyboard has embedded Infrared laser sensors at the corners to create a virtual touchpad field which, once triggered, can tell where your fingers are moving, and translate those touchless swipes into navigation.”

I don’t think a retail price has been established yet, even though they plan to have the product ready by October. It’s going to be very interesting to see how many Americans make this a must-have product.

No Electronics Required 

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Not every invention has to have a wire attached to it. A good idea, is a good idea. I wonder about the licensing possibilities,   

       

  

The Death of Voice Mail

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   J.P. Morgan, Coca-Cola, and Bloomberg are just three of the growing number of big name companies that are cutting out voice mails for their employees. I couldn’t believe my ears when I first heard about this. It seems that the younger workforce has no use for voice mail and companies can save an average of $10 a month, per person, if it is cut.

I can remember when getting a bunch of voice mails at the office was a sign of being important. Today, the majority of people under 50 do not check their voice mail in the office, or on their cells. It’s just passé.
I tested the use of voice mail on several clients recently. No one listened to my message. Younger folks see your phone number on their incoming directories and either call back, or ignore altogether. It depends what mood they are in. 
The simple truth is that texting has replaced voice mail. Most people don’t want to waste time listening to long-winded voice mails. Text messages are to the point and are more focused on what needs to be discussed.
Read more about this topic in Forbes and the Wall Street Journal. 

  

Total Heartbreak

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I am fully aware that Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, is not the only one who lost a spouse at a relatively young age. However, watching a major personality deal with a dramatic change in life is a big lesson for many of us. We look to people like Sheryl for guidance. This is what she posted on Facebook yesterday.
                  

Google’s Calorie Counter 

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Image: Dreamatico.com

Now I’m in trouble. I just found out that Google is working on an app that counts the calories in your Instagram photos. Every time I take a photo of myself, I’m usually sitting with a plate of food in front of me.

Instead of people admiring that I’m out for the night with friends, they will be staring at my meal that could have a flashing light on it that says, “this piggy had 2,000 calories in just one dish.”

Google’s artificial intelligence researchers are diligently working on the kind of algorithms that can detect your meal’s calorie information by analyzing a photo of the food. 

Called Im2Calories, the app determines the depth of each pixel. It’s still has to be perfected, but the technology is almost ready for prime time.

I’m not sure why Google is going in this direction, but this could help portion control.

Read more about Im2Calories on Mashable.

The Uber of Alterations  

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George Zimmer has a new gig. It will keep you in stitches.  Image: Fortune.com.

I just spent the last few days throwing out thousands of dollars of clothes. Everything went to a staff member at our NY co-op. This isn’t the first time that I have done that. Every time I lose weight, I get rid of the fat clothes and everytime I gain weight, bye bye smaller sizes.  I’m not telling you which stage I am at now, but let me just say those late night ice cream sodas have been very enjoyable. After one or two wears, I really start to dislike a lot of the clothes I impulsively buy. If I could get the money back for all those wasted clothes, I would be able to send a few kids to college.

I have tried the alteration route as well. Taking clothes in or letting them out can be a tricky business. Most of the time, the altered garments never look quite as good as its original shape. I’m lucky that I have a fabulous seamstress directly across the street from me in NY. I can drop the clothes off in the morning and have the alterations done by the afternoon. 

For those of you who are not as lucky, George Zimmer, the founder of Men’s Wearhouse, has created an app that will be the Uber of alterations. Zimmer’s new company, zTailors, is a website and app, that provides on-demand tailors who are ready to make house calls.

Zimmer, 66, said he believes that zTailors (the “z” is for Zimmer) — “has the potential to transform millions of ill-fitting garments into like-new items.” Americans everywhere will now be able to schedule a tailor to make a house call. zTailors has already been operating in several major cities around the country. Almost 600 tailors are on board. Zimmer plans to be in all 50 states later this year with more than 1,000 tailors in the system.

You have to read more about it in The New York Times. I think this business idea is a natural and before too long, Zimmer will once again be bellowing,  “You’re going to like the way you look. I guarantee it.”

My first Zentangle. Thank you Whitney. 

 

Condolences to Joe Biden

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Marco Rubio, Carly Fiorina, Chris Christie, and Donald Trump are the top notables that did not extend condolences to Vice President Joe Biden on Twitter. Beau Biden, the VP’s oldest son, died over the weekend, from cancer. I researched all of their tweets, and found no mention of Biden.  You may not know this, but Twitter is the platform where all major announcements are made. Everyone mentioned on this post has an active Twitter account. 

1-Brit Hume (@brithume)

5/30/15, 9:58 PM

Regardless of politics, we should all be Joe Biden supporters tonight. We are not meant to bury our children. Beau Biden, dead at 46. Cancer

2-Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton)

5/30/15, 11:03 PM

My heart is broken for the family of Beau Biden—a wonderful man who served his country with devotion and lived his life with courage. -H

3-Bill Clinton (@billclinton)

5/31/15, 12:36 AM

Hillary & I mourn the loss of Beau Biden – so full of life, love, honor, and service – and we pray for the strength of his wonderful family.

4-Barack Obama (@BarackObama)

5/31/15, 1:01 PM

“For all that Beau Biden achieved in his life … nothing claimed a fuller focus of his love and devotion than his family.” —President Obama

5- Jeb Bush (@JebBush)
5/30/15, 9:57 PM

Saddened by the news of Beau Biden’s passing. My prayers are with The Vice President, Dr. Biden and the whole family

6- George E. Pataki (@GovernorPataki)
5/31/15, 10:00 AM

Libby and I extend our thoughts and prayers to the @VP Biden family on the loss of Beau. No parent should have to bury their

7-Ted Cruz (@tedcruz)
5/31/15, 10:27 AM

Heidi and I extend our deepest sympathies and prayers to all those who knew and loved Beau tedcruz.org/news/cruz-heid…

8-Rick Perry (@GovernorPerry)

5/31/15, 10:37 AM

.@AnitaPerryTX joins me in praying for the Biden family after the loss of Beau

9-Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee)

5/31/15, 7:50 AM

Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Biden family. May God comfort them in this moment of tremendous  

10-Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders)

5/31/15, 11:13 AM

Jane and I send our condolences to the Bidens during this difficult time. -B pic.twitter.com/JfIzhZSM8G

Interesting Posts On Facebook

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Looks like Jack Nicholson to me? 

  1.   I remember when a slice of pizza was 15 cents.  These ladies know how to lunch.   
  3.  Jonathan worked at HWH PR for several years. Now he’s a big star. 
  4. I hate bullies.      
  5. We are going to miss Jon Stewart     

The Final Hazel Workshop 

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It’s been a long time since I was personally involved in a theatrical production. I forgot what an emotional experience it can be. When I saw the camaraderie amongst the cast of Hazel, I knew these actors desperately wanted to work together for the Broadway production. It’s going to happen. 


 
Klea Blackhurst center, her sister and Peter Key, son of the creator of Hazel, Ted Key.

  
The Hazel workshop was directed by Lucie Arnaz and her husband, Larry Luckinbill. He had the role of Sgt. Kreppel.

 Lots of hugs and kisses at the end. 
   
      

 

Actress Michele Lee, showed up because she worked with so many in the cast.   

 
  Book writer Lissa Levin, her husband Dan Guntzelman and Eliot 

The Making Of A Broadway Show 

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Eliot and I have been behind closed doors for the last two days with all of the folks involved in bringing Hazel to Broadway. Hazel is a musical about a fictional live-in maid named Hazel Burke and her employers, the Baxters. The TV series, of the same name, aired from September 28, 1961, to April 11, 1966. The TV show itself was based on the popular single-panel comic strip by cartoonist Ted Key, which appeared in the Saturday Evening Post.

   

Klea Blackhurst portrays Hazel. Klea is a Broadway actress and singer. 

 Shirley Booth was Hazel on TV.

Our friends, Ron Abel and Chuck Steffan, licensed the rights to Hazel from the Key family. Ron is the musical composer and arranger and Chuck is the lyricist.  Eliot with Ron and Chuck.

The book was written by Lissa Levin and the show was directed by Lucie Arnaz. Chet Walker was the choreographer.

We were told that we absolutely couldn’t take pictures during the workshop, so this is what I could sneak in.    

   Lucie Arnaz announcing the workshop       Adrienne Arsht sat right in front of me. She is an American philanthropist and business leader. She is widely recognized for her $30 million contribution to the City of Miami’s Performing Arts Center, now known as the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts.   One of four audiences.    

       

The insiders debriefed after two workshops. Hazel received standing ovations. Everyone was very encouraged. Fundraising starts and the marketing begins.