Typo Alert on SolarFocus

Oops, big typo here in really big type. This came from http://www.solarmio.com. "World first" should be "World's first." If you're looking for an online editor, I'm available ...

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

Jobs a Plenty in Alberta, Canada

Recently, I have had the opportunity to (separately) interview two people, an insurance agent and a lawyer, both based in Alberta, Canada, for articles, and both said the same thing. The oil and gas industry in western Canada (around the Calgary area) is booming, and they have more jobs in the area than they have people to fill them. This means that they need everything from engineers to lawyers to restaurant wait staff to fill demand.

Alberta is a province in Canada that Wikipedia says has 3.6 million people. It is on Mountain Time, and sits directly above the left or western side of Montana. The capital city is Edmonton, but the largest city is Calgary.

If you wanted to move there, you would have to have a preference for colder weather. Today, the temperature is 35 degrees. By comparison, it is currently 47 in New York.

One job site I found for the area is Workopolis.com. The Calgary Herald is the local newspaper.

With things still in recessionary mode down here in the U.S., it's nice to know that there is growth somewhere.

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

I Absolutely Love This Idea!

According to an article on earth911.com, John Locke, a New York City architect involved in the “Department of Urban Betterment” project, borrowed this idea from the UK and Los Angeles, where someone got the idea to try to turn obsolete phone booths (does everybody really have a cell?) into something useful -- a library. Some might call this a double entendre, or even a double negative, since books are following cell phones in going digital. However, there are still plenty of people out there who like to hold a book, turn its pages and browse its pictures, and what a great way to share books with other people: putting a mini-library on a street corner! Read this full article at http://bit.ly/GGK92J, then pick up a book and start reading!

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

Check Your Grammar Here

Just found a great resource for having quick grammar questions answered: Grammar Girl. This is a terrific place for a refresher. We all speak -- and now write -- so conversationally that sometimes it's good to go back to the basics for a minute and remember our elementary school lessons.

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

Americans' Work in Haiti Continues

Here is a story of a mission family who is still at work in Haiti. They are called the Taubl family. You might remember them from the second season of America's Got Talent. They made it to the Las Vegas round. The father, John, is a minister, and the family is a singing group, using their money for missionary work. I am on their mailing list and here is a recent email I received from the mother, Carol Taubl:

Sam returned from Haiti this past Wednesday for a three week time of refreshing and rest. His work is going well. He is spending a great deal of his morning time in 'the transition house' at the orphanage where he works (Child Hope International), helping the older children learn a skill so that they can transition into the adult society there in Port au Prince. His afternoons are spent teaching private lessons on cello, violin and guitar. He also helps out in the local feeding programs when needed and is leading worship at the local church. His passion for the people of Haiti is inspiring for us all.

Our family will be returning to Haiti April 15-25, once again to teach and to perform, this time in the Central Plateau region. Our goal is to purchase as many stringed instruments as possible to bring with us and leave with the children there. The instruments that we left in February of last year are being used by many children who share them and practice in shifts so that as many as possible are touched by the music. It is amazing how a small gift can impact so many. Thank you to all who contributed to make that possible. (Video from our first trip...click here)

We will be performing a concert this coming Saturday, March 24, 7pm, at Trinity Church in Woodbridge, CT (33 Center Road). It will be an evening of wonderful music, with a few very special guest artists as well. Please make your plans to attend, and share this info with any that you think might be interested. We would love to see you there. Admission is free - donations for Haiti gratefully accepted.

If you're heart moves you, take a ride to Woodbridge, CT this Saturday. If that is too far for you, you may just want to go to their website and make a donation.

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

March 22nd is World Water Day. Do You Know What Your Water Footprint Is?

March 22nd is World Water Day and Recyclebank -- an organization that gives rewards points for doing environmentally friendly things such as reducing your water usage and buying products that aren't made with harsh chemicals -- has a great video that talks about how we can all reduce our water footprint. Check it out, and while you're there, join Recyclebank and start earning points toward great rewards!

http://www.recyclebank.com/how-to-earn/questions/discover-world-water-day-5550

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

What Books I'm Reading

This is kind of a loaded question because at any given time I have four books going and three lying in wait.

THE BOOK I'M ALMOST DONE WITH: Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral by Kris Radish. This is the story of four women who honor their friend by spreading her ashes all over the country. My mom would have loved this! The women are a little whiny but I'm enjoying living vicariously through them in every place they visit, which so far includes Santa Fe, the Florida Keys and NYC.

THE PLEASANTLY SURPRISING BOOK: Enter The Zone by Barry Sears, Ph.D. He's not only the creator of the Zone Diet. Did you know he also invented the IV drip for cancer drugs and the AIDS drug AZT? Wow, I'm impressed and now clinging to his every word.

THE BOOK THAT GOES ON FOREVER: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. I'm a hundred pages into it and you can't even tell. The book is 1,400 pages long. This is actually quite interesting.

AND FINALLY, THE BOOK I WONDER IF I'LL EVER GET TO: The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. Picked it up off of a doctor's office coffee table thinking I would burn through it really quickly and return it for the next person. It's been six months and I'm on page 66. I put it on the back burner so I could read the other books. I guess I'll finish it some day.

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

Taking Twitter to the 2.0 Level

I just read a great article about how to take Twitter to the next level. I realized after reading the article (which hasn't been published yet so I can't show it to you until it is) that simply following "people" is not enough. If we really want to get the most out of Twitter, we must follow "conversations". I'm excited to start doing this and to report back to you about my learnings. Stay tuned!

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

Delaware Has Most LEED Certifications

The U.S. Green Building Council recently released its list of the top 10 states with the most LEED certifications per capita (i.e., per person living in the state). The one on top? It's not even a state -- it's Washington, DC!

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

Seattle's Seadrunar is Hiring People in Rehab

What a great concept. Seadrunar Recycling, in Seattle, is a recycling center that hires people in rehab, and then donates all its profits to the Seattle Drug & Narcotic Center.

This is a great way to get people who have hit rock bottom back on the straight and narrow and give them their confidence and feeling of self worth back.

We should be doing this in every major city!

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

Great Tutorial for Learning Software

I just discovered a great website for learning software programs -- lynda.com. It has easy-to-watch videos that are about 5 minutes each and the teacher uses very conversational language.

The site is a mix of both free and paid content, with the free content being used to entice people to sign up. Monthly subscriptions are very affordable -- just $25.00 or $250.00 for the year.

You can learn everything from HTML to InDesign to AutoCad and Android. This is a great resource!

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

The Backstory on the Word "Backstory"

When an actor becomes famous, or A list, where they came from and what kind of upbringing they had becomes intriguing and interesting and the audience enjoys knowing this information. The media calls this their "backstory," or the story before the story.

These are becoming extremly popular of late, and the word backstory is being bantied around like a new Baskin Robbins ice cream flavor that everyone just discovered. The word backstory has even spread beyond humans to cover inanimate objects or events, such as "The backstory on Valentine's Day" or "the backstory behind the invention of the cell phone."

Assuming this word only came into being a few short years ago, I looked it up in Merriam-Webster. It turns out, according to MB, that the first known use of the term goes all the way back to 1984. The AP Stylebook, which most writers access today as a guideline for ensuring they are using the correct spelling and grammar, had no record of the word backstory.

Wikipedia, on the other hand, provided a more detailed but similar definition to MB, and while no one seems to be able to say who first said the word, Wikipedia notes that use of a backstory as a storytelling technique goes all the way back to the days of Aristotle.

Well there you have it. The backstory on backstory.

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

Peanut Oil? Really?

Had a great talk with a pharmacist recently who told me that Dunkin Donuts is frying their donuts in peanut oil and not telling anyone. My local storefront does have a sign posted that says "may contain nuts," but that's not the same thing. I sent an email to DD headquarters, but haven't gotten a response. Just checked out their web page and there's no place to write on the wall.

The pharmacist also said that some fast food chains are starting to do the same because it's cheaper and makes the food taste better.

So I guess those of us who are allergic to nuts need to starting asking in the places we normally wouldn't ask.

On a more positive note, Bachman air popped popcorn is made in a "nut free facility".

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

Second-Generation Hispanics Prefer English

Second generation Hispanics, particularly those of the Millennial age, are acclimated into the American culture and prefer English over Spanish. This is the word of several Hispanic marketing experts I've spoken with, but I've also seen it for myself.

We share our church with a Spanish church, and I've seen two families of young children switch from the Spanish service to the English service. The kids are happier because they get to hang out with the American teens and youth, and they can relate better to the message because English is either their first language or their primary language, having learned it very young in life.

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

iPhone or Android? What's Your Preference?

I just had a conversation with an SVP of a major digital agency about one of their clients' mobile campaigns. The campaign was promoting both an iPhone and Android app, and I asked him, could I get the app on my BlackBerry? I wasn't speaking hypothetically. It happened to be an app that I would really like to have.

He said, unfortunately, no, and told me that, for the most part, iPhones and Androids are replacing BlackBerrys, and within the next few years, BlackBerrys will cease to exist. He said that, like myself, most BlackBerry owners have been transitioning, or are planning to transition up to either an iPhone or Android when they're ready for a new phone.

So I asked, off the record, do you have a preference? This is a guy whose company programs campaigns for both models every day, so who knows the challenges and benefits better, right? First, I asked, is the bug/crashing issue the same in Android vs. iPhone as it is in the PC/Mac world? He said yes. If you go with an iPhone, you are going to have a more protected environment because they control everything. But with an Android, you have many more options of what you can do with the phone.

Finally, I asked, is the price differential between the two similar to the price differential between the PC and Mac? And he said, surprisingly, they are priced on parity. That's good to know that price is not a deciding factor.

Do you have an Android or an iPhone? If so, what is your opinion/preference? I would love to hear from you. I won't be changing out my phone for probably another 12 months, and I would appreciate some real world opinions before I make my decision. Thanks to all.

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

Herman Cain Can Have His Book Back

About 10 years ago, I attended the annual Direct Marketing Association conference at which Herman Cain was the featured keynote speaker.

He had just released his book, Leadership is Common Sense, and was signing autographs after his speech, so I bought a copy and stood in line. I never got around to reading the book, but put it on a special shelf I keep of autographed books.

When he ran for the highest government office, I pulled the book out and decided I would read it. I haven't gotten around to it yet, but now, I don't see the point. Not only do I not want to read the book, I don't even want to keep it. I feel it taints the other books on the shelf. Just thinking about touching the book makes me want to wash my hands. With bleach.

I think it's time to give Herman Cain his book back. I no longer need it.

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

Housing Market Not Improving Any Time Soon

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I recently interviewed a real estate expert who told me that there are so many foreclosures on the market today that it would take three years to free up space in inventory for people to sell their homes at a reasonable price.

Also, I did some math on the 1987 stock market crash/recession. Nine years later, housing prices had not yet bounced back. I bought a condo in 1992 in sold it in 1996. At that time (nine years after the crash), it was assessed by the bank for $2,000 less than what we were asking, and what we were asking was $14,000 less than what we paid for it!

Then, in 2002, another six years later, I bought a condo again. At that time, prices were at the top of the range and I was in a bidding war. I actually lost a condo to someone who outbid me by $2,000. So from 1996 to 2002, just six years, prices inflated and went through the roof.

I have been saying all along that this recession is as bad as 1987. So does that mean it will take more than nine years (or even 15 years - the total amount of time it took to go from rock bottom to its peak) for the housing market to recover?  That's my prediction. We are three years into it and this expert told me it would take at least another three years to clear foreclosure inventory. That's six just to level off, then it will take time to get healthy again.

We're all in it for the long haul folks. You might as well paint that room, start that project, or just spend your money on a nice vacation because none of us are going anywhere.

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

Democracy in Action

Following the death of Libya's dictator Mohammar Khadafi, I find myself thinking back to the capture and deaths of Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden. To have experienced the downfall of three of the world's most horrific dicators in my lifetime is a blessing.

While we have had bad times, such as 9/11, I also feel blessed to have lived to see the fall of communism in the U.S.S.R., and the taking down of the Berlin Wall.

As they say, we haven't won the war yet, but today, we won the battle. God Bless America, NATO, and all soldiers who stand on the side of freedom and equality for all.

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

Sparky, the Legend

I want to take a moment to acknowledge a dog. Sparky. Sparky was more than a beloved family pet. She was the star of six children’s books authored by my friend Rick Arruzza. Rick traveled around Fairfield County, the country and even the Bahamas giving book readings at elementary schools and would often bring Sparky with him to meet the students. The children loved her, wrote her letters and interacted with her on her very own website.

In this age of abbreviated words through texting and snippets of short information on the Internet, children don’t often read enough. Rick and Sparky did a lot to get children excited about books and reading. Sadly, Sparky passed away on Friday. She will be greatly missed, not just by her family, but by writers everywhere for her efforts in getting children excited about reading. Good job, girl. Rest in peace, Sparky.

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.

Brides Are Beautiful

I was driving down West Ave. in Norwalk yesterday when I saw a bride, her wedding party and all the invitees on the steps of a church. It was a beautiful summer day. The sun was out. The bridesmaids were in yellow gowns. They looked awesome. And the bride, well, let's just say I didn't have to know her to cry.

We all have our own "7 wonders of the world," the things that amaze us and that we think are beautiful. A young bride in a wedding gown is one of those things for me. I couldn't help but turn my head as I sat at the traffic light. I was disappointed when the light turned green. I wanted to keep watching.

My eyes even welled up with tears because she looked so beautiful. A bride in a wedding gown is just so naturally beautiful, I think. Definitely one of life's most beautiful things to behold.

Please check out my novel, In Fashion's Web on Amazon.