Turn That Phone Off

Posted on by
1

I don’t want to insult anyone over 50, but I can always find the senior most person in a theater, a wedding, a lecture, and even a funeral. Their phone rings at the most inopportune time. We are all warned to turn off our cells before the official program starts. Somehow, the older person doesn’t feel this request applies to him or her.

What’s worse, when their cell rings, that person doesn’t know how to turn that phone off fast. So we are all forced to listen to the disturbing ring several times. Here is a tip from “Pogue’s Basic’s” to immediately shut that phone.

“Just press any physical button on the side or top of the cell. Press the power button, for example, or one of the volume keys. Often, just wrapping your fingers around the phone and squeezing hard does the trick; you’ll hit one of the buttons in the process. And the phone will stop ringing. Your caller will still hear the phone-ringing sound, but the call will go to voice mail.”

I hope that finally cures embarrassing senior moments.

On a lighter note, here are some photos that will take you down memory lane. Thank you, Sheri Lesser, my LA friend, for sharing.

2015/01/img_4073.jpg

2015/01/img_4072.jpg

2015/01/img_4071.jpg

2015/01/img_4074.jpg

2015/01/img_4067.png

2015/01/img_4075.jpg

2015/01/img_4079.jpg

2015/01/img_4078.jpg

2015/01/img_4077.jpg

2015/01/img_4076.jpg

2015/01/img_4100.jpg

2015/01/img_4099.jpg

2015/01/img_4096.jpg

2015/01/img_4091.jpg

2015/01/img_4098.jpg

2015/01/img_4086.jpg

<a href="https://

Potpourri

Posted on by
1

CAN YOU IDENTIFY THIS WOMAN?
2015/01/img_4105-0.jpg
Photo from the New York Post

WORD FOR WORD FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES

Sorry, baby boomers, but this is the year the millennial generation (ages 18 to 34) is projected to overtake your cohorts, ages 51 to 69. The Pew Research Center says there are 75.3 million of them and only 74.9 million of you left. Its easy-to-read chart shows the Gen Xers (ages 35 to 50) won’t outnumber boomers until 2028.
This information was buried in a New York Times article.

WE NEEDED THIS INSERT TO PLAY THE MUSIC WE LOVE. NAME IT!

2015/01/img_4093.jpg
Thank you Sheri Lesser for sharing.

Fake Tattoos From Instagrams

Posted on by
Reply

2015/01/img_4052.jpg

2015/01/img_4053.jpg

2015/01/img_4051.jpg

I’m always on the search for creative gifts, especially digital ones. I like giving out things no one ever saw before. It’s fun to explore new concepts.

Here is one that is totally inexpensive yet perfect for children two to 20. I can even see some older folks using the Picattoo as a funky thing to do as well.

Picattoo is an app that converts Instagram pictures into fake tattoos. Instagram is an online photo-sharing service. Priced at $14.99, you can get a pack of 12 fake tattoos called “Insta-tats.” All you have to do is access your Instagram photos through the Picattoo app and choose the 12 ones you want converted. It’s that easy.

This new concept was developed by Ink361, a company from the Netherlands. They actually use a laser printer to make the temporary tattoos. The tattoos usually last a week. The app offers an FAQ, (frequently asked questions) section for further questions.

Have fun!

YouTube Debuts “The Creator Show”

Posted on by
Reply


The genius of YouTube is so overwhelming. There are endless opportunities for all of us who want to be educated or entertained. I don’t think enough senior folks understand its true value.

There is a YouTube video for almost any topic you could ever want to know about. Just try typing in an esoteric topic in the YouTube search box and I guarantee there are several videos that will explain the subject or exact information to you in great detail.

Now YouTube is producing a show called, “The Creator Show” that will give new features and tips for anyone who wants to create a video. YouTube producer Rob Polonsky came up with the concept because he feels the video community is always interested in more creative ideas. He has cast prominent YouTubers who serve as educators. The twice-monthly series will feature such YouTube stars as Grace Helbig and PrankvsPrank who talk about their projects, creative process and experiences on (and off) the video platform

Digiday, a marketing newsletter, reported that “The YouTube Creators channel has around 97,000 subscribers. The first “Creator Show” episode, released last month, has roughly 13,000 views so far, while the second episode, released last week, has already racked up 18,000. Both were shot at the New York YouTube Space, but future episodes will venture to other YouTube Spaces and events around the world.”

Microsoft Jumps Into Interactive Board Biz

Posted on by
1

I wanted to show you what the modern day conference room looks like. All kinds of space age stuff is going on. Back in the day, we used to have a chalk board that was used to demonstrate a product, service, or theory.

Today there are huge tablets that are called interactive whiteboards. To really see these boards in action, watch the video. The latest interactive board comes from Microsoft, aptly named the Surface Hub. It’s a 84″ 4k whiteboard which is fully loaded with sensors, speakers, WiFi, microphones, cameras and more. It also allows you to mark up presentations with a pen.

I have seen whiteboards in action and they just amaze me. I wish they had them when I was heavily involved in the corporate world. I may have paid more attention.

James Patterson’s Vanishing Book

Posted on by
1

Leave it to James Patterson to figure out a whole new way to market books. The author. who has sold over 300 million copies of his books, is the leader in issuing the world’s first self-destructing book.

In the age of digital technology, Patterson is offering the first 1000 of his fans, the chance to get a free digital copy of his new book. Private Vegas. The big surprise is that the copy of the book will only be available for 24 hours. Then it gets electronically erased.

Readers will literally see a countdown clock on the top of their screen. It reminds me of the TV show, “Beat The Clock.” It’s going to be very interesting to see how the public reacts to this marketing ploy. I’m sure there are plenty of good readers who will love getting Private Vegas as a gift and then challenge themselves to read faster then the ticking clock.

It becomes a whole new game for book readers. In fact, I think Patterson may even gain some new fans just because they want to take on the challenge of racing against time.

The hard cover version of the book will be available to the general public on January 26th. Fans who want more information on the digital copies, can reference Mashable’s article on the subject.

3D Breast Exams

Posted on by
Reply

2015/01/img_4024.gifImage: Methodisthealth.org

2015/01/img_4023.jpg
Dr. Miriam Levy

For over 30 years, I have going to the Medical Imaging of Manhattan for a mammography and a sonogram. Every six months I get a sonogram, and once a year, I get a mammography. I take these precautionary measures because my mother had breast cancer.

Today, the founding doctor, Dr. Miriam Levy, told me that by my next visit, I will be examined by the new, three-dimensional mammograms that are “better at picking up invasive tumors.” Instead of looking at the several sides of the breast, the 3D technology, will allow inside views by slicing the picture.

Another explanation is that it takes multiple images of the breast from different angles. These images can be viewed separately or put together as a 3D reconstruction of the breast tissue. Sources say the 3D machines have a 40 per cent improvement rate in breast cancer detection.

As most women will attest, getting a breast exam is totally unnerving. The examination room is filled with nervous nellies. We are all sitting in our little gowns waiting for the results. It will be so nice to know that we have a better machine to keep us safe.

Lumpp It, Or Leave It

Posted on by
5

2015/01/img_4005.jpg
Ray Lumpp in the 1940s.

2015/01/img_4004.jpg
Ray Lumpp last year

I just read this morning in the New York Times that Ray Lumpp died last Friday at 91 in Mineola, NY. He was a basketball star at New York University in the late 1940s, played for the Knicks in the early 1950s and was the much loved athletic director of the New York Athletic Club for nearly half a century.

He was also the guy who fired me for doing too good of a PR job for the NYAC. This is one of those times that I would love to turn back the clock and have a new shot at speaking my mind to Lumpp and the rest of his NYAC cronies who wanted to witness the firing of the gal they didn’t want to hire in the place. It was only Lumpp and one or two other NYAC executives who decided to hire HWH PR a few months earlier because they wanted to attract potential members in the 20s and 30s.

2015/01/img_4010.jpg
John McEnroe walked out

It all started when the New York Athletic Club (NYAC) honored John McEnroe as its 2005 Man of the Year. The McEnroe dinner was going to be my chance to show them just how well I can attract the press to one of their functions. HWH PR was the first outside PR agency they had ever used.

Hundreds of NYAC members attended the dinner held in the Raymond G. Lumpp Gymnasium. I actually filled two tables with sports and entertainment press. One of those who showed up was Lloyd Grove, the NY Daily News gossip writer.

2015/01/img_4009.jpg
Lloyd Grove called in his story to the city desk immediately.

All was going well until the friends of the honoree, who attended the dinner to pay tribute, gave long drawn out speeches that seem to never end. The audience had been pretty patient until someone yelled out “Is John here?” during Patrick McEnroe’s turn. He retorted, “Don’t you people have any manners?”

Things only got worse from there. The audience gave up and started talking amongst themselves. The exhausting speeches toward the end of the 90-minute presentation from McEnroe’s longtime broadcast partner Ted Robinson, and WFAN radio personality Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, couldn’t be heard.

When John McEnroe was finally called to the mic, he said, “I feel a bit off center about the reaction my brother and friends got up here on the dais. I had a speech. I’m not sure I’m even going to read it at this point.” With that, he motioned to the members of the dias and to the table of his family right below him. They all stood up and followed him out the door.

Lloyd Grove ran to their nearest phone booth (remember those)? The next morning, the NY Daily News ran the entire fiasco in detail. The board of directors were fuming. I was called in to a special emergency meeting and fired on the spot. I had been pretty friendly with Lumpp but that didn’t stop him from saying, “Girlie, you’re done.”

To this day I am sorry that I didn’t speak up. I should have told that executive team that they knew nothing about running an event and the tributes were a big bore.

They were the ones who should have been fired. RIP Ray. Sorry we didn’t work together longer.

.

Introducing The Smart Bike

Posted on by
4



Another company that garnered a lot of interest at CES was FlyKly, manufacturers of the FlyKly Smart Wheel. The FlyKly smart wheel turns ordinary bikes into pedal-assisted electric bikes.

The company raised its initial money on Kickstarter in December, 2014, and is now ready to ship. The FlyKly smart wheel comes in 20″, 26″, or 28″ sizes at 1,099. You can buy the wheel on the company’s website, http://www.flykly.com.

A companion app is free. The app monitors speed, distance traveled, motion, torque, and heat. It can also share information with other cyclists.

Niko Klansek, CEO of FlyKly, is very excited about transforming urban transportation. He believes he has made a very attractive alternative to using a car. It’s going to be very interesting to see how many units he sells per month and where those sales are generated.

The videos are fun to view. Don’t miss this innovation.

Nicole Kidman, David Pogue, Disgraced

Posted on by
2


The banter between Nicole Kidman and Jimmy Fallon on the Tonight Show last week received over 22 million views on YouTube. I didn’t want you to miss out, so I posted it here. Kidman admitted that she was set up with Fallon many years ago, but he didn’t seem interested. We all experienced something like this, so enjoy.

Pogue’s Basics

Tech guru David Pogue reminds us in his book “Pogue Basics,” that we can complete each sentence on any smartphone by tapping the space key twice.

“This shortcut accomplishes three things: It creates a period, adds a space, and automatically capitalizes the next word you type. It saves you the trouble of finding the period.” The works on the iPhone, Android, and Windows Phone and on every BlackBerry ever made.

Disgraced

2015/01/img_3981.jpg

2015/01/img_3980.jpg
A bunch of us went to see the Broadway Show Disgraced tonight. It was profound. Go see it. After the play, we went for dessert directly across the street from the theater at Bond 45. When we exited the restaurant, the two leads of the play were standing outside. Here we are with Hari Dhillon and Gretchen Mol.