GibbyClan

East Lake Elementary Relay for Life Crop-A-Lot Fundraiser Event

2011-01-31T09:47:00.000-08:00

Who would like to join me for this all day Crop-A-Lot Fundraiser event?

I've got boxes full of pics, some as old as 2008 so this is a much needed day of scrap-booking for me.

The event is from 9am to 9pm on Saturday, March 5, 2011 at Calli's school, East Lake Elementary, 199 East Lake Road, McDonough Ga 30252.

The cost is a $40 per person donation to Relay for Life. Lunch, dinner, snacks and beverages included in that cost.

There will be raffles and a vendor marketplace too. Also, something called, Make & Take (For an extra $5) --- I have no idea what that means.

Calli has really started to enjoy scrap-booking this year so she'll be coming along. It'll be a fun girls day!

Payment deadline is Feb 23, 2011. Contact Carri Halcome at chalcome@henry.k12.ga.us for more info. Call me if your interested too.

Ok. So who's in for 12 hours of creative bliss?

Say Goodbye Cellulite. I Will Lose 20 lbs. Starting Today.

2010-11-09T20:25:00.000-08:00

Here goes...

I want to lose 20lbs.

Ok. It's out there.

I'm not sure exactly when it happened. Sometime between 2004 and 2010 the pounds started to pack on. It was definately gradual. Slow enough that I didn't really see it coming until BAM!

If I don't act now,

<--- that will be me. I'm not the high energy whipper snapper I use to be and so this go round I'm going to need a little extra something to get me started. I'm adding a thermogenic fat burning pill to my eat healthier and move more program. The diet pill that I've chosen is made by a local Atlanta start-up, Ideal Body Now. They've spent a great deal of time perfecting their own blend of appetite suppressors, fat burners, and energy enhancing supplements for a product called TRULENE RX. For more on the company or the product visit www.TruleneRX.com and check out the ingredients tab. Here goes.

Well, it's out there. The universe now knows that I want to lose 20lbs. YOU now know that I want to lose 20lbs. If I don't lose 20lbs I'm gonna look like a real loser. No turning back.

The only questions I haven't answered is what's my reward for losing the 20lbs? (I respond much better to positive reinforcement!) New shoes, new boobs... we'll see.

Check back for updates. My goal is to actually be losing weight over the holidays and to be back to my pre-2004 body by our annual May 2011 Mother's Day/My Birthday weekend in Florida trip.

Anybody want to join me? I prefer having a partner in crime. You can also get 10% off your Trulene if you enter the promo code, SLIMNEWU.

Seriously, who wants to join me?

10 Essential Traits for a Happy Life

2009-05-08T05:40:00.000-07:00

Today's been a reflective day already. There are many new opportunities and some closing doors ahead for myself and my family. Taking some time to sit down and remember what caries a successful (and happy) person through these times has been incredibly helpful. I'll share those traits with you (and remind myself again too)...

1. Love of learning. A fervor for acquiring new skills, satisfying curiosity, and building on knowledge.

2. Creativity. A flair for producing something (anything) new, surprising or unusual.

3. Humility. Recognizing the true measure of your abilities and achievements and appreciating those of others.

4. Humor. The ability to find something to laugh at even in times of trouble and a knack for helping others do the same.

5. Persistence. The strength to work toward a goal in the face of obstacles, difficulties or discouragement.

6. Gratitude. A sense of thankfulness.

7. Forgiveness. The capacity for letting go of hurt and anger... of disappointments.

8. Appreciate beauty. The ability to recognize excellence and take pleasure in the good things in life.

9. Spirituality. The belief in a transcendent dimension of life.

10. Vitality. A feeling of passion, energy and being alive.

“Without a vision the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18. Do you have a clear vision?

Viximo Lands $5 Million in Funding

2009-05-02T07:25:00.000-07:00

Tech Crunch reported last week that, Viximo, which provides a platform for the creation, distribution, and monetization of virtual goods for social networks and mobile devices, has secured $5 million in a round of funding from North Bridge Venture Partners and Sigma Partners.

Viximo, which launched last fall, provides an embeddable gift store and showcase that can be integrated into any site, and also markets its own micro-transaction system. Viximo has formed partnerships with a number of Facebook applications, as well as stand alone websites looking to integrate their own stores. Partners include Always Athletes, which produces a Facebook app called My Sports Career; We're Related; Birthday Calendar (another Facebook app), and World Winner, a standalone site.

Most recently, Viximo released a landmark new development platform called VixML that allows iPhone application designers to create basic applications with a minimal amount of programming knowledge.

Glad to see Viximo is doing well. The platform is solid, I've been sending their Facebook Birthday Calendar gifts since last summer. Heading to the Social Gaming Summit in SF? Check out Viximo.

Calli the artist - Mom & Dad's Wedding

2009-04-23T14:54:00.001-07:00

Calli the artist, originally uploaded by GibbyClan.

When Calli heard that Jay and I opted to elope to the Jonesboro courthouse for our wedding day she was horrified!

"No dress, no cake, no party! This can't be true," she said.

Always the solution finder she quickly set the stage, changed history and created what would have been an amazing wedding day scene complete with a cake, presents, and guests (my mom and dad.)

Happy April Fools Day My Twitter Friends!

2009-04-01T06:28:00.000-07:00

There is some truth to this story:

Mozilla, Google, And Khronos Collaborating On Standard For No-Plugin, 3D On The Web

Yesterday the Khronos Group announced an initiative to create an open, royalty-free standard for accelerated 3D graphics within Web browsers. To kick off the initiative, Khronos has created an "Accelerated 3D on Web" working group chaired by Mozilla. The group will begin work next month and is aiming for its first public release within 12 months. Google is also planning on contributing technology and development expertise to the project.

http://www.virtualworldsnews.com/2009/03/mozilla-google-and-khronos-collaborating-on-standard-for-noplugin-3d-on-the-web.html

Happy April 1, 2009. Trust no one today!

All I Can Say Is, "It's About Damn Time!"

2009-03-31T16:43:00.000-07:00

The world is finally discovering the genius that is Lady GaGa. We've waited too long for a true sticky sweet disco pop queen. I've been smitten since her breakout @ the Winter Music Conference in March 2008. She's da bomb. Making the world a better place one sequin at a time. God bless GaGa.

Google Trends: Kurt Angles trumps U2

2009-03-24T09:46:00.001-07:00

Wow! Kurt Angle beats out U2 as today's hottest search. Hurry while it lasts... his 15 min will be over soon.

You're too Much my Kaneva Friends -- Keep in touch!

2009-03-19T06:52:00.000-07:00

I'm touched by all of the Kaneva member messages I've received over the past couple of days. Please understand it's been hard to personally get back to everyone immediately seeing how I'm trying to stay focused on my job search. ;)

To anyone that I haven't connected with yet -- the links, pics, messages and well wishes are very much appreciated. Please continue to keep in touch! All of you long-time Kaneva members are very near and dear to my heart.

All my best to everyone "impacted" by the K-bomb that dropped Tuesday at noon!

Be well,
Angie Gibson

angiecgibson@gmail.com

www.linkedin.com/in/angiegibson

www.facebook.com :: Angie Catalano Gibson

www.twitter.com/angiecat

http://gibbyclan.blogspot.com

www.dagibbyclan.com

www.kaneva.com/gigi

Blue Poppy Search Marketing, LLC :: Online Advertising :: Social Media :: Creating Customer Evangelists

See also: kanevian.wordpress.com , www.ravedya.com , forums.kaneva.com

Fashonista Alert! Fashionista Alert! Must Have - an Ogie Kanogie!

2009-03-14T06:47:00.000-07:00

Oh you are going to love this one! While shopping for vintage online I stumbled across a pic of Stephanie Pratt (D-list Hills celebrity and Spenser's sis) in an amazing leopard coat. If there is one thing I love more than vintage animal print, it's an animal print Ogie Kanogie!

What is an Ogie Kanogie?

Ogie Kanogie is the creation of two Southern California women, who after experiencing more than a few bone chilling evenings and cool overcast mornings by the shore decided to create the perfect line of coats and jackets for women. They're plan...

1. They had to be soft and exceedingly comfortable.

2. They had to be versatile -- feel and look good sitting in the sand, on college campus bleacher seats, in the countryside or in the greatest cities of the world.

3. They had to be easy to care for -- machine washable, durable, versatile (and still great looking.)

4. And they had to be affordable -- every woman deserves the perfect Ogie.

Why must you have an Ogie Kanogie?

Are you tired of freezing in restaurants, feeling like icebergs in movie theaters and
visiting indoor malls set at subzero temperatures?

And that's during the summer!

During the winter months, we're always seeking FASHIONABLE warmth.

I just ordered my first. No, sad there was no Atlanta so I opted for the Dallas! I'm working on that though... look for an Atlanta soon.

Zero Barrier to Entry - No downloadable client, Easy access

2009-03-14T05:56:00.000-07:00

The Virtual World Platform Wars - Zero Entry Barrier Required?

Current market statistics clearly show that complicated, downloadable 3D virtual worlds (like Second Life) are not attractive to the majority of potential US consumers online. In reality over 90% of virtual world users are in 2D browser-based services like Yoville, Gaia, Habbo and Club Penguin.

Will 3D Virtual Worlds Need to be Browser based to Hit a Tipping Point?

Browser-based platforms built with Flash and Java -- familiar technology to the mass market consumer and that provide easy access will no doubt be the first to succeed.

Browser based with Rich Media Features - Consumers Favorite Online Tools?

Zero Barrier of Entry means no downloadable client, easy registration and access, as well as open architecture to enable easy integration with popular third party services like YouTube, Flickr and Facebook -- and eventually third-party casual games.

Zero Barrier to Entry - no downloadable client, and easy access? Is this the only way 3D virtual worlds will go mainstream consumer?

Great Deal -- Shutterfly PHOTO BOOKS -- Hurry Offer Ends Soon!

2009-03-07T08:13:00.000-08:00

So it's been awhile since I passed along some great consumer deals. This down-economy has had me avoiding the temptation to shop at all costs. But I broke down this week and started hitting the usual online retailers. Everyone is having sales but these two offers went beyond the typical 60% off...

Shutterfly is offering a FREE photo book. I had procrastinated since we returned from Disney World and not ordered any prints for the photo album. Boy was I glad. I took Shutterfly up on their offer and made a Disney Vacation Book. First I upload the best pics from the trip - 48 pics to be exact - then arranged them into an album. Saved the photo book. Viola! At checkout I added the coupon code "PHOTOBOOKS" and my total cost was $7 (shipping). It arrived 3 days later.

So dive into your digital photos file and create an album or surprise someone with precious memories compiled in a photo book created just for them! I'm very pleased with mine!

Here's how: Visit Shutterfly and order a free photo book. Simply choose 20 of your favorite photos to create a 20-page 8x8 photo book (valued at $29.99). All you have to do is apply coupon code PHOTOBOOKS. Shop soon as this offer is valid through 03/10/2009.

Free Photo Book

www.snapfish.com Snapfish Offering A Free Photo Book Offer Good Till Friday 4PM PST.

And the Ultimate Cheese Award Goes to... Microsoft

2009-03-02T19:24:00.000-08:00

Tagline: Our fashion is cooler than our operating system

Are you freakin' kidding me! If you were busy celebrating Hanukkah or Christmas in December you might have missed Microsoft's debut of "Softwear." Yes I meant "SoftwEAR" not "SoftwARE"... Microsoft’s play on the word “softwear” is geared toward youth lifestyle. Way to go Crispin, Porter & Bogusky (MS advertising agency of record). This is the best you've got? Your best attempt at "I'm a PC" and using the streets to increase Microsoft public support? Wow.

Yes, for real, in December 2008 Microsoft quietly launched a t-shirt line called “Softwear by Microsoft” in collaboration with recording artist Common. Common, WTF?!? Some of you may think its unimaginable that the software giant would do such a thing, and maybe have thoughts of ugly t-shirts designed by software engineers or programmers. You'd be right. The t-shirts do suck. Actually the Common for Softwear shirts are a bit more designed and playful but the Softwear by Microsoft designs are an attempt at bad humor and self-promotion.

I sheet you not. This is for real.

AdAge says, with a straight face, that "Microsoft is pushing out a new clothing line as part of its new ad campaign meant to suggest Microsoft's nostalgic 1980s heyday..." It's no surprise that Apple continues to gain market share.

Microsoft just isn’t going to give up trying to compete with Apple and try to capture the “hip” Mac user. What Microsoft doesn't realize is that this demographic can smell a fake a mile away. How about focusing on the PC and coming up with something hip and innovative there. Something designed to enrich the consumer's life. This vain attempt at redefining MS's brand personality just won't work. It’s an unusual strategy, but on second thought -- anything would be better than those Gates and Seinfeld commercials.

For the play by play at the NYC launch event see Freshness Magazine's coverage, http://www.freshnessmag.com

What's HOT this Valentine's Day you ask?

2009-02-12T17:33:00.000-08:00

If you are addicted to your iPhone® it's True Flirt. This is hot! If you download the premium app at the discounted price of $3.99 by Valentine's Day and send one of the ten pre-installed Flirts to 617-460-3269 you'll get a FREE $10 iTunes gift card.

Got your eye on someone? Charm them like never before with True Flirt, the iPhone® app that lets you send fully interactive, virtual 'Flirts' to the object of your affection. Each Flirt takes advantage of what makes the iPhone so innovative—tilting, tapping, shaking, and gorgeous graphics and sound.

Yummy. Sweet. and Salty. Spicey too. I'm smitten.

http://sticky.viximo.com/tfpromo

Flirt with me. I'm waiting.

Is Facebook Fizzling??? Search results this week indicate it's so

2009-02-11T13:59:00.000-08:00

If the top 300 queries from the last 72 hours are any indication it would seem that what you don't see on the graph is the falling dots, that do so as rapidly as they ascended.

Facebook related search terms dropped from the usual #1, #2, #3 spot on the surge report to #190 this week.

The Facebook hype has hit its peak and is beginning a downward decent.

Trends. They fizzle. For shizzle.

In the end it all comes back to your core audience – your niche. If you stay true to them you’ll endure.

The riches will come from serving the niches.

Since Facebook started out as a site for pupils – college and school students – will their niche remain true to them? Where have all of the fickle twenty-somethings gone? Will the high-school alumni exiles from Classmates.com be Facebook's new niche? Is the next fad the 3D Internet?

A social entertainment world like 3D Kaneva?

Oh please oh please oh please oh please. (fingers crossed.) Oh please oh please oh please oh please.

Stay tuned.

Vicki Bites the Dust

2009-01-21T19:39:00.000-08:00

I'm a "Real Housewives" junkie. So, last week we were left with Gretchen almost cheating on her dying sugar daddy with Tamra's son. Nothing happened. Gretchen kicked him out of the bathroom and that was that. It was very anti-climactic. I was pissed, but then Vicki fell... priceless.

Tips for Surviving the Recession -- Lighten up People

2009-01-17T10:52:00.000-08:00

The news is bad. The outlook glum. Is it really? Lately I've found my inner voice saying, "Lighten up" a lot. Every time I hear a stranger or someone in line at the grocery store complaining about the economy (as thy dump a never-ending supply of useless crap onto the check-out counter: Lysol wipes, plug-in air fresheners, 100 calorie snack cracker packs...).

"Lighten up"

So you can't grab a Starbucks everyday. So what. So you can't buy the 4th LCD TV with your HH Greg credit card because they dropped the credit line down to $500 bucks and you're still paying off the Dyson you bought six months ago... So. So what. Ever think maybe you don't need it? It's time we lighten up. Really. Things are fine.

Use that energy to help someone who is hungry and in despair. For the rest of us here's some good advice...

1. Put an egg in your Ramen noodles. It's good. Cheap.

2. F*ck alot. It's free and it feels really good if you do it right. Warms ya up too. You won't need the heat set as high.

3. Don't pout; make survival an adventure. This is your entertainment for the next 12 months.

4. Get rid of cable . It's a rip-off, and there's nothing on it worth a shit anyways. A good antenna will get you 15-20 stations once we go HD in February.

5. Eat oatmeal instead of boxed cereals -- Better for you and one/tenth the price.

6. Get a "Magic Jack" and never pay a phone bill again... I know you have a computer.

7. Barefoot wines $5.47 per bottle at the Food Depot. Good times.

8. Buy regular unleaded. Your car needs to make sacrifices too. I guarantee it will still run fine.

9. Dump the Gym membership -- get off your ass and move.

10. It's a great time to start a diet, and no one will no you're really just plain ol' starving.

11. Invite friends over to play cards. You'll reconnect, realize what's most important, and all have a great evening.

12. Beanie Weenies and mashed potatoes. I'm in the south.

13. Time to bite the bullet and be a 'coupon weirdo' when you shop.

14. Invite friends to your house. You don't have to spend the gas to drive, and you can get as drunk as you want, since you're already home.

15. If you can't pay cash, you can't afford it. Cut up the cards. One more time... cut up the cards!

16. Announce that your "going to let your hair grow out" and save on haircuts for a few months ($40 x 3 months)

17. Check out the dollar menus or kid's menus. Hell, it's more than likely a more proper portion.

18. Read books. It's cheap and you can escape the current realities.

19. Turn up the music and dance like no one is watching. Again FREE.

20. Beans are more than just a "musical fruit" they are great replacement for expensive meats. Beans/rice have been helping poor people survive worldwide for centuries

21. Shower together. Save water. Leads to #2. Rinse and repeat.

22. Volunteer at a shelter, then you'll really know what poor is.

Here's the original list.

Virtual Gifts Sooo much Cooler than e-Cards

2009-01-16T09:47:00.000-08:00

We've all been Facebook gifting for awhile now but my new favorite is the Giftd Gift Box widget. This cool little widget lets you take your gifts anywhere!

Post the Gift Box widget to your MySpace page, blog, or any other social network profile to display all your irresistible interactive digital gifts. You can also:

* Unwrap new gifts you've received
* Check out all the gifts you sent and received
* Send new gifts to friends & family

10 years!!!! We're headed to Vegas Baby

2008-12-04T18:01:00.000-08:00

The planning for our 10-year anniversary extravaganza in Las Vegas is in full swing. We're still working with the wedding coordinators at both The Hilton Las Vegas and the The Flamingo but it looks like it will be at The Flamingo. We love the central location, the amenities and they did a huge renovation of their guest rooms. What does everyone think?? Here's a link to the virtual tour.

Also check out Voga for dinner. Mixed with city chic and Neapolitan style, the décor perfectly suits the eclectic menu. Ranging from the freshest seafood to filet mignon, sample daring small plates like mini lobster tacos and the crab cake caviar or opt for entrées like Osso Bucco, New York Strip with red shallots and pepper sauce or Sea Bass with rock shrimp risotto.

Black Friday and Thanksgiving-weekend 2009 Shopping Round-up

2008-11-29T09:32:00.000-08:00

Last year we had way more all-night shopping options. We chose the Tanger outlets in McDonough, Georgia and found great deals at Ralph Lauren, Nautica, Nike, and Coach.

Not so in 2009... This year we had already decided not to do the Tanger sale and nothing much besides was happening until 5am.

For those of you that don't want or have time to read the full report, here's the synopsis... It sucked! Really. Especially Macy's sale.

We opted for a power nap from midnight to 4am before we hit the streets. We packed into the car at 4:20am and headed to Best Buy, Target, Radio Shack, and Macy's.

I'd consider Target a success. They had great prices on Nintendo DS games and kids toys. Ethan and Calli have a slew of young cousins to buy for and you couldn't beat the prices on DS and board games. Many of the shoppers were there for the Star Wars and Lego Star Wars deals which were all gone within the first hour. Oh, and I can't forget to mention the Phillips LED Christmas tree lights were on sale for $9 each. These are the BEST lights. Highly recommend them - they use less electricity, really do burn cool and are beautiful bright light.

If you don't own a Nintendo DS lite yet, Best Buy had a great deal on the special edition Mario Red which looks similar in color to the Crimson DS but features an iconic 'M' painted onto the front. and comes with a copy of New Super Mario Bros. and my fav the Ice Blue version with a copy of Brain Age and a custom carrying case for $129.99.

Macy's was a huge disappointment!!!!!!

Macy's was offering a $10 off Macy's was offering a $10 off $25 coupon good from 5am - 1pm and a 10% or 15% coupon on regular and clearance priced items, but "some exclusions did apply." SOME! Everything was an exclusion. Macy's 2009 black Friday deals were a HUGE disappointment!

Let me say that again, louder - Macy's 2009 black Friday deals were a HUGE disappointment!

I shopped women's shoes... nothing special. Some minor discounts despite their flyer touting "shoes and boots from $29.99-99.99." Where the hell were those shoes? Most were $65-$130. I did find some beauties for $54, 98, $103, $103, and $130. Ok, not the deal of a lifetime, but some very HOT shoes and considering the 10% of coupon this would be a price I could live with.

Get to the register and find out the coupon does not apply to a single pair of the five pair of shoes I'm buying. Not one. Why? According to the fine print and sales consultant, because they're "designer."

Why the hell do you even shop at Macy's if not to buy designer merchandise? Your kidding me! Big disappointment. My only deal - an overpriced to begin with Hello Kitty shirt for my daughter that was originally $30 for $6. Hardly worth the trip but she'll treasure it.

Preliminary reports from major retailers including Macy’s, KB Toys, Best Buy, and Toys “R” Us, and mall operators across the country said the crowds were at least as large as last year's. That equals ALOT of disappointed shoppers.

Is it just me???? Did anyone out there find the awesome deals? I haven't heard a single tale of sheer shopping ecstasy yet that wasn't an online deal. Next year everyone is bringing their laptop to my house and rather than hitting I-75 we'll be hitting the information highway (i.e. Internet) for all night shopping online. Best part -- we can throw back a few bottles of red wine while we do it. :)

So, how about some great News!?! Amazon.com has announced that they will be extending their Black Friday deals into Saturday! If you ask me the best deals are online.

Amazon will continue offering amazing deals on Saturday to help you get your holiday shopping done for less. Shop for all the top deals of the season, all from the convenience (and comfort) of your keyboard.

Word.

Who's got the best auto insurance?

2008-11-24T16:52:00.001-08:00

Stumbling through the web on a Monday night I found a really cool tool for graphing relational information. For example, I was car shopping with my sister over the weekend. She also wanted to re-evaluate her auto insurance. So I'm searching and I come across the chart above which began a new quest, map every bit of relational data I have!

Touchgraph has a Facebook app that maps your friends and networks. Very cool.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1636330&id=559944851#/profile.php?id=559944851&ref=profile

And a Google search version too.

Real Manners, Virtual Worlds: The Same Rules Apply

2008-11-19T16:15:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I read a post by Rotini on the the happenings inside the 3D virtual World of Kaneva. It reminded me of a social study I heard of about a year ago in SL.

If I remember correctly, a software bot that masqueraded as an ill-mannered avatar / human user within SL was being used to investigate the psychology of virtual world inhabitants. The bot would start a conversation with human users and deliberately invade their personal space to see how they would react.

Ok. So I had to Google it and get the facts straight...

The software, dubbed "SL-bot", was created by Doron Friedman, Anthony Steed and Mel Slater at University College London, UK, to compare the way people act inside a virtual world with real-life human behavior.

It revealed, as in real life, basic etiquette rules the virtual world too. Specifically, female avatars protect their personal space less than male ones, a sex difference that mirrors the real world. Out of 28 avatars approached this way, 12 simply moved away and 20 also responded via text chat. (They were just looking to cuddle.)

In short, be polite to others, people value their virtual personal space, or there will be some informal punishment, like shunning. Avatars are berated, kicked or banned for a variety of offenses, some real... some imagined.

I'll leave the rest to Rotini... Read his original post on real manners in the 3D virtual World of Kaneva.

Enjoy!

Viral marketing is not a marketing strategy

2008-11-12T14:17:00.000-08:00

This is big. Ok, I gave it all away in the headline but it seems like you have to say it a few times before it sinks in. Viral marketing is not a marketing strategy. Often I’ll hear and see, “viral marketing” mentioned as a marketing tactic. Not by me.

For the love of god people... Viral marketing is not a marketing strategy.

I say this and people nod their heads in agreement only to return with a quip about their viral marketing plans.

No single product feature or marketing campaign determines the virality of a product - instead, it’s part of a viral loop that connects a disparate set of functions into a cohesive motivation for the user to tell their friends. If the fundamental product doesn’t drive a viral motivation from its users, then it’s very hard to force it with a marketing campaign.

Here is a great article on the subject, http://andrewchenblog.com/2007/09/01/viral-marketing-is-not-a-marketing-strategy

Another great reason to collaborate and start all of your product development with MRDs that define the user and hence what will motivate that user.

Enjoy!
Angie

(I’m a BIG Andrew Chen fan! and check-out Rotini a newcomer on the gaming scene.)

The Power of the NPS

2008-11-07T10:42:00.000-08:00

Have you been asked the ultimate question yet?

No, not the "big" question. I'm not your mother nagging about your single status. The "ultimate" question.

I've spent a great deal of time lately doing NPS surveys. NP... huh? Net Promoter Score.

Monitoring our Net Promoter Score is Kaneva’s customer satisfaction indicator, a reliable indicator of the company’s ability to grow. We systematically survey and categorize customers into Promoters, Passives and Detractors, based on their answer to a single, “how likely are you to recommend” question and 0-10 point rating scale.

Often referred to as, the ultimate question, NPS is a quick barometer of brand or product perception wrapped up with customer satisfaction into one easily digestible number for CEO consumption.

• Promoters (9 or 10): loyal enthusiasts, urge others and fuel growth
• Passives (7 or 8): satisfied, but don’t help growth
• Detractors (0 through 6): unhappy, can damage the brand and impede growth

To calculate your company's Net Promoter Score (NPS), take the percentage of customers who are promoters (those who are highly likely to recommend your company or products), and subtract the percentage who are detractors (those who are less likely to recommend your company or products).

% of Promoters - % of Detractors = Net Promoter Score (NPS)

The Power of the NPS
The NPS provides the means for gauging performance, establishing accountability, and prioritizing investments because it connects to growth. If a company's "growth engine" were running at perfect efficiency, it would convert 100% of its customers into promoters. The worst possible engine would convert 100% of its customers into detractors.

How Do Companies Stack Up on This Measurement?
Those with the most efficient growth engines - companies such as Amazon.com, eBay, Costco, Vanguard, and Dell - operate at NPS efficiency ratings of 50 to 80%; the average company 5-10%.

NPS All-Stars from the guy who wrote the book - literally

USAA	82%
HomeBanc*	81%
Harley-Davidson	81%
Costco	79%
Amazon	73%
Chick-Fil-A*	72%
Ebay	71%
Vanguard	70%
SAS	66%
Apple	66%
Intuit	58%
Cisco	57%
Federal Express	56%
Southwest Airlines	51%
American Express	50%
Commerce Bank	50%
Dell	50%
Adobe	48%
Electronic Arts	48%

How to Eat for FREE on Election Day

2008-11-03T15:33:00.001-08:00

Breakfast

At participating Krispy Kreme locations, receive a free star-shaped doughnut in celebration of Election Day. Customers must present an "I Voted" sticker to receive their free doughnut.
Need coffee with that doughnut? Head to Starbucks and say "I voted" for a free 12-oz. cup of brewed coffee.
Not a Starbucks fan? BooksAMillion.com is also offering a free cup of coffee to voters.
Eat'n Park restaurants in PA, OH, and WV will also serve a free cup of coffee to voters who present their "I Voted" sticker.

Lunch

At participating Chick-fil-A restaurants, voters with an "I Voted" sticker will get a free Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich.
Taco fans can march over to California Tortilla where they'll get a free taco upon presenting their "I Voted" sticker.

Dinner

Afraid your candidate might lose? Daily Grill is extending their happy hour prices on drinks and food until closing on November 4. Plus, get a free happy hour appetizer after presenting an "I Voted" sticker or ballot stub.

After finishing your appetizer, head to Shane's Rib Shack where your sticker will get you a free Vote America Meal, consisting of hand-breaded chicken tenders, fries, and a 20-ounce drink.
Now that you've had dinner, it's time for dessert. Head to participating Ben & Jerry's from 5pm to 8pm local time for a free scoop of ice cream.

I die. My passion for vintage is running wild.

2008-10-14T12:17:00.000-07:00

So many of you already know that we've been finishing our basement over the past year. Well in the last month we completed my highly anticipated sewing room/walk-in closet. I die! It's so fabulous. I've been unpacking fantastic fabric and cool vintage clothing that I've had stored for what feels like forever. The more I find, the more I excited I get. Vintage clothing is the finest form of art I know.

Check out this must have from BallyHooVintage.

My passion for vintage is running wild now. Only to be fueled by the Rachel Zoe project on Bravo. Please tell me. Where do you buy your vintage?

I also love Hipster's Playground on eBay! Although I can't bear to visit their online store right now, not until they remove this sold item.

I cry every time I see what could have been mine if I had not been working so hard on an NPS survey last week. Damn my full-time job. Here's the top eBay vintage shops. Help me! Where do you find your best vintage?

The virtual goods economy is booming | C-net News

2008-10-11T05:56:00.001-07:00

If someone gave me a virtual cupcake instead of a real one they should expect a real-world smackdown. Read this blog post by Dave Rosenberg on Viximo, virtual gifting and Facebook flare.

read more | digg story

Will video games become better than life?

2008-10-08T11:28:00.000-07:00

Will video games make life better? During these uncertain economic times will video games be what Hollywood movies were during the Great Depression?

The Presidnetial election is 32 days away!

2008-10-03T18:41:00.000-07:00

The election is 32 days away! Some states have voter registration deadlines as soon as THIS WEEKEND! Find your deadline and register to vote!

"Telecommuting" and "Telework" were coined by Jack Nilles in 1973...

2008-10-03T13:09:00.000-07:00

...yeah, before I was even born, yet in 2008 there are still so many organizations with a traditional culture that don't support the tele-workforce. For the past few weeks I’ve been thinking a lot about telecommuting.

For me, work is something I do, not something I travel to.

(me doing an NPS and analyzing respondent data bad hair and all)

Here in Atlanta enabling employees to work remotely will make a big difference to productivity in the coming weeks, as USA Today expects "No quick end to gas shortage in Southeast." And employers sensitive to this everyday Gen Y need (more Gen Y needs), a group happy to be held accountable to results, will have a distinct advantage at retaining young workers and the opportunity to reap the benefits of A-level talent in the future. Word.

Citrix Online has a great tools to enable employees to work from anywhere, and they're offering anyone the opportunity to try GoToMyPC® Corporate and GoToMeeting® Corporate for 30 days risk-free and requires no commitment.

You can use GoToMyPC Corporate to access work email, programs and files, and GoToMeeting Corporate to meet with prospects, customers and co-workers online – just as if they were at the office.

From Wikipedia: Telecommuting, e-commuting, e-work, telework, working at home (WAH), or working from home (WFH) is a work arrangement in which employees enjoy flexibility in working location and hours. A successful telecommuting program requires a management style which is based on results and not on close scrutiny of individual employees. This is referred to as management by objectives as opposed to management by observation.

Max Factor Lipfinity Lipstick & Volume Couture Mascara

2008-09-25T04:32:00.000-07:00

I am part of a program called Bzzz Agent. They send out products for everyday people to try and share with others. It's a great program. I've learned about so many cool products for myself, my family and some that just were not right for me but perfect for a friend or co-worker.

Now that the disclosure is out of the way... my latest Bzzz campaign is for Max Factor make-up. I will be honest and say that in the past I didn’t purchased Max Factor products very often, if at all. I usually went to the department stores. Never again.

The photo above shows what came in my test kit...

1) The Lipfinity Lipstick. I hate the smell and waxy feel of most lipsticks which is why until now I've worn lip gloss only. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this lipstick!! I will not buy another brand of lipstick again. Here's why, it's a two-part application: First: you apply the color and let it set for 60 seconds. Second: you cover with the clear gloss. I've used it for 3-weeks and it has never worn off. May I remind you that I have a 12-hour day! 7:15am Coffee in the morning, lunch at noon, dinner and this lipstick is still on when I wash my face at 9:30pm each night. Throughout the day you just touch up with the moisturinzing gloss to keep the color fresh and shining.

2) Volume Couture Mascara. This is the BEST mascara I've ever used. Partly because of the tiny little brushes and partly due to the light feel - it just doesn’t clump. MY PRO TIP: blink while putting on mascara to get maximum coverage. Then use a hairdryer (cool air) and eyebrow brush to lengthen rather than an old-school eyelash curler.

3) ColorGenius Blush #110 Peaches. This is one where you can blend the colors together and get a lighter or darker look as you need it. The blush itself feels nice on my skin. And I have to admit that I like that you just get a big thing of blush and use your own brush. I honestly hate the little tiny brushes that usually come with blush. They are totally impractical and a waste of space.

Now I ask you to post a comment and let me know "What do you think of Max Factor products?"

We're Growing An Avocado Tree!

2008-09-20T08:36:00.000-07:00

"How do I do it?"

Open the avocado and remove the pit from the center. You can eat the fruit of the avocado, it's yummy and is full of nutrients!*

Wash the avocado pit under cool running water, you don't need soap to clean it. With your fingers gently wipe away and remove any of the green fruit that might be on the pit. Rinse it well and then blot it dry with a paper towel.

Carefully push three toothpicks into the thickest width of avocado, you want to push the toothpicks into the pit about a 1/2" deep. (It's okay if you push them in deeper or even a little less) The toothpicks will help suspend the avocado pit in water and keep the top part of the pit in fresh air and the fat base of the pit under the surface of the water. Be careful pushing in the toothpicks, they have pointy edges and could hurt if they poke your hands, it's all right to ask a grown-up to help with this.

Suspend the pit over a glass filled with water....the toothpicks will rest on the rim of the glass and hold the pit in place so it doesn't sink to the bottom. Always check the water level in the glass and see that the water is covering the fat base of the pit by about an inch depth. If the water is below that level you'll need to add some more. Slowly and carefully pour in more water from a small cup to avoid splashing.

Place the glass in a bright windowsill. In about three to six weeks the top of the avocado pit will begin to split and a stem sprout will emerge from the top and roots will begin to grow at the base.

When the stem grows to about five or six inches pinch out the top set of leaves. In another two or three weeks new leaves will sprout and their will be more roots.

It's now time to plant the young avocado tree. Place enriched potting soil in a large flowerpot (maybe 8" to 10" across). Fill the soil to about an inch from the top of the pot. Make a small depression in the center of the soil and place the pit, root-side down into the depression. Don't put it too deep...you want to have the upper half of the pit above the soil line. Add some more soil around the pit to fill in any air holes by the roots and then firm it into the soil by gently pushing the soil around the base of the pit. The tree's stem and leaves should be straight and pointing up (like a flagpole).

Give the soil a drink to water the pit. Water it generously so that the soil is thoroughly moist. Water the soil slowly and gently so that when it's poured in it doesn't gouge out holes in the soil. Keep your tree watered but don't let the soil be so moist that it ever looks like mud.

"How do I care for my avocado tree?"

Keep your tree in a sunny window, the more sun it gets the bigger it will grow.

Remember to give it frequent light waterings but don't let the soil get muddy. If the leaves turn yellow it means that the plant is getting too much watering, let the tree's soil dry out for a couple of days, then return to light waterings.

When the stem grows six more inches pinch out the top two sets of leaves. This will encourage the plant to grow side shoots and more leaves, making it bushy. Each time the plant grows another six inches pinch out the two newest sets of leaves on top.

"Can my avocado tree ever go outside?"

Yes it can go outside in the summer. If your winters are cold ~ below 45 degrees (F) or 7 degrees (C) ~ you must bring your tree inside for the winter. Otherwise, if your winters are cool and mild, the tree may stay outdoors year round.

"Will my tree ever grow fruit?"

Sometimes they will begin setting fruit after they are three or four years old. It helps to have several avocado trees growing together to aid with pollination.

"How tall will my avocado tree grow?" An avocado tree is a medium to large tall tree. It can grow between 20 and 40 feet tall. With pruning it can be kept at a much shorter height.

Really Great FREE Press Release Distribution

2008-09-16T15:00:00.000-07:00

So, I have a great client. I do. I have wonderful clients. This one is my favorite though. She just requested I design an e-alert news release and send it to their real estate agent interest list. Which got me thinking... hmm... we should get the word out online too.

That's when I remembered Mashable did an awesome roundup on PR sites about a year ago. I searched for it... and viola!

The 20+ best sites for getting your press release out to the world - for FREE - I knew you'd like that part.

Another great tool for your online marketing arsenal. Enjoy.

24-7PressRelease.com - Free release distribution with ad-support

1888PressRelease.com - Free distribution, paid services gives you better placement and permanent archiving.

ClickPress.com - Distributs to sites like Google News and Topix.net, Gold level will also get you to sites like LexisNexis.

EcommWire.com - Focuses on ecommerece and requires you include an image, 3 keywords and links.

Express-Press-Release.com - Free distribution company with offices in 12 states.

Free-Press-Release.com - Easy press release distribution for free, more features for paid accounts.

Free-Press-Release-Center.info - Distributes your release, offers a web page with one keyword link to your site. Pro upgrade will give you three links, permanent archiving and more.

I-Newswire.com - Allows for free distribution to sites and search engines, premium membership differs only slightly in adding in graphics.

NewswireToday.com - All the usual free distribution tools, premium service includes logo, product picture and more.

PR.com - Not only will they distribute your press releases, but you can also set up a full company profile.

PR9.net - Ad supported press distribution site.

PR-Inside.com - European-based free press release distribution site.

PRBuzz.com - Completely free distribution to search engines, news sites, and blogs.

PRCompass.com - Distribute your press release with a free or paid version, others can vote it up ala Digg style.

PRUrgent.com - Not only distributes your release, but attempts to teach you how to write one, and even offers downloadbale samples for you to work with.

Press-Base.com - Submit your release for free and get on their front page and the category of your choice.

PressAbout.com - A free press release service formatted as a blog.

PressMethod.com - Free press release distribution no matter what, but extra services based on the size of your contribution.

PRLeap.com - Free distribution to search engines, newswires, and RSS feeds. Fee based bumps get you better placement.

PRLog.org - Free distribution to Google News and other other search engines.

TheOpenPress.com - Gives free distribution for plain formatted releases, fees for HTML-coded releases.

Penn State Football Schedule

2008-09-15T14:52:00.000-07:00

Any alumni planning to attend any home games?

Myrl Connecting our Virtual Lives?

2008-09-05T06:57:00.001-07:00

"The virtual scene is getting really crowded and users need a tool that helps them reduce and manage this complexity. We are now supporting 19 virtual worlds and we are going to integrate more platforms by the end of the year. The release of the Social Gateway for Virtual Worlds is the first step of a long roadmap. The way we use virtual worlds is changing, and we intend to support and foster this change." -- Francesco D’Orazio founder and CEO of Myrl

The current closed off state of virtual worlds naturally demanded the need for a FriendFeed. This is exactly what Myrl wants to be. Myrl is a web based social gateway that is designed to make the experience of using virtual worlds more interconnected.

Myrl allows people to connect their various virtual lives (i.e. your World of Kaneva account with your friend's vSide account) and interact with people who are not present on their virtual world -- yet. Myrl members could than share their virtual life on the web by creating their avatar profile and post content such as popular places, events, news and images that every user can vote on (or Myrl) to make them more visible for the rest of the community.

Currently Myrl does not support sign up to different virtual worlds right from within Myrl. Myrl is not a virtual world in its own right but rather a glue that connects these different isolated places.

There.com offers OS X version, Facebook Plug-in and IM application

2008-09-03T13:08:00.000-07:00

Big news from the virtual world, There.com, today. It appears ready to reach for some new and broad audiences, announcing Tuesday night that it would finally be offering support for Mac OS X, as well as a new Facebook plug-in and an instant message application that can communicate directly with anyone on the Internet.

The name of the IM application on There is called ThereIM and the Facebook plug-in is called Facing There. Facing There is a way for avatars to showcase their Facebook profile.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-10031096-52.html

There competes with Second Life, Moove, and the World of Kaneva.

P&G Taps Bloggers for Unconventional WOM Product Launch

2008-08-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

This post is a little marketing and a little product promotion...

In September Crest launches the Crest Weekly Clean Intensive Cleaning Paste, the first and only intensive weekly cleaning paste designed to provide a smooth, clean feeling in-between dental visits. The concentrated formula polishes teeth with an ingredient similar to what dentists use and is intended to complement the daily brushing routine.

The product uses silica-based crystals similar to those found in Crest Pro-Health but in higher concentrations, leaving "that incredibly smooth feeling you get when you take your tongue and slide it along the front of your teeth after visiting the dentist," Ms. Yang of P&G said.

P&G began sending the Crest Weekly Clean to bloggers earlier this month, some of whom also have Twittered their interest in Weekly Clean. And Crest is using P&G's Vocalpoint buzz-marketing program for moms to spread the word too. TV advertising will be relatively light, consisting mainly of five-second tags on ads for other Crest products.

"What we've seen with research with consumers is that once they've seen it, they tell everybody," Ms. Yang said, another reason for the emphasis on buzz marketing vs. conventional media. "The feeling you get is so unique, and women especially love it," she said.

Do you love the smooth feeling of polishing exfoliators, rejuvenating creams and deep-conditioning masques?

Then your going to love this smile-specific indulgence that treats teeth to the ultimate “just-from-the-dentist” smooth, deep-clean feeling right from your bathroom.

Crest Weekly Clean is available in Refreshing Mint flavor in a 16-use tube (0.85 oz) in September at drug, grocery and mass stores nationwide for $3.99. Your gonna love it!

What's the Best Virtual Tour Product?

2008-08-21T17:47:00.000-07:00

What is the real estate industry using now that iPix is gone? I'd love to get your feebback on what works and what doesn't. I've looked at Mapwig and Flyinside.

30 things every woman should have and should know by 30

2008-08-18T10:56:00.000-07:00

I was 24 years old sitting at my desk at HFS Marketing Communications in 1997, when I tore out a list from Glamour magazine and pinned it to my cubicle wall... "30 Things Every Woman Should Have or Know Before She is 30" by Pamela Redmond Satran.

A week later I ended my engagement and set off on a journey with my to-do list in hand. That journey led to a year and a half of enlightenment, independence -- fun, and eventually to my husband. I still have that magazine page with check marks and scribbles all over it. Here is a link to the almost original list, the author changed and added a few (I remember something about a ménage à trois in the original.)

Below is the popular web chain letter version, usually titled “Maya Angelou’s Best Poem Ever” but the author is actually Pamela Redmond Satran. Maya Angelou is NOT the author, a note about the poem is posted on her website and on snopes.

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own,
even if she never wants to or needs to...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
something perfect to wear if the employer,
or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..
a youth she's content to leave behind....
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
one friend who always makes her laugh...
and one who lets her cry...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems,
and a recipe for a meal,
that will make her guests feel honored...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a feeling of control over her destiny...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
How to fall in love without losing herself..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
How to quit a job,
break up with a lover,
and confront a friend with out;
ruining the friendship...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
When to try harder...
and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that her childhood may not have been perfect...but its over...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
What she would and wouldn't do for love or more...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
How to live alone...
even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
Whom she can trust,
Whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally ...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
Where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table...
or a charming inn in the woods...
When her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
What she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year...

by Pamela Redmond Satran

McCain & Obama Rick Warren Interview @ Saddleback

2008-08-17T06:19:00.000-07:00

VIDEO: John McCain on "My Greatest Moral Failure"

CNN has posted the entire interview with both of the presidential candidates and has good commentary, here: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/16/warren.forum/index.html

This was clearly a huge night for John McCain.

Georgia Men Find Bigfoot Body!

2008-08-15T11:09:00.001-07:00

Let me say I've believed in the Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot/Sasquatch/Yeti (and Aliens too) since I was able to read. Folklore and mystery are very intriguing to me. However, this particular claims reeks of a hoax. Everything from the initial find, to the way they made the announcement, and finally the men themselves is suspicious.

Here's the scoop in case you haven't heard:

Two Bigfoot hunters, Matthew Whitton and Rick Dyer (of Clayton county, GA) say they have the carcass of a Bigfoot found in a remote part of woods in the northern Georgia mountains. Along with Tom Biscardi, a well known Bigfoot tracker (and hoaxer), they will present the DNA evidence and photographs of the dead specimen to scientists and the media at a press conference later today, 2pm PST, in Palo Alto.

The NYTimes does a nice recap of the story here, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/15/us/15bigfoot.html?em

I'd love to believe. No chance it's for real. This will play out to be a hoax.

National Pay it Forward Friday?

2008-08-14T12:06:00.000-07:00

Remember this? In 2000’s Pay It Forward, with little Haley Joel Osment, individuals performed spontaneous acts of good-will for complete strangers - with no expectation of return or thanks: just the request that they “pay it forward.”

Yesterday I approached the GA-400 tollbooth for the hundredth-millionth time but this particular day was different. As the window went down I was told by the cashier,

"Go ahead. The car ahead of you paid your toll too."

I love the notion of making a difference, affecting people, spreading good will... so the Pay It Forward movement made an impression on me and memories flooded back. Good memories.

Life is short and the days are long so start paying it forward now... I'm declaring tomorrow is Pay if Forward Friday!

(YES... of course! I paid the toll for the car behind me too.)

Send your BFF an iPhone Cupcake for their Birthday?

2008-08-06T11:57:00.000-07:00

http://www.forbes.com/technology/2008/08/05/viximo-virtual-goods-tech-ebiz-cx_ew_0806viximo.html

Viximo (www.viximo.com) is confident that consumers who have iPhones will pay up, citing the multi-million dollar market for ringtones, another kind of digital good.

Viximo’s gifts are interactive. With the iPhone’s touch and motion controls, the virtual goods can be played with or, if they come with movie clips, just watched. Taking that concept further, Viximo is developing virtual pets for the iPhone targeting young teens who, in according to Forbes’ interpretation, “are too old to play with virtual pets Web sites like Neopets and Webkinz.”

That may not be a virtual worlds play for the iPhone, but Viximo is still interested in the virtual worlds industry. The goal is to develop the system elsewhere and then engage with virtual worlds.

"Digital goods allow people to reach out in a new way on their phones," CEO Rob Frasca says. "Right now, they're limited to text messages and e-mail."
Check out MoiPal (www.moipal.com) too. They have been on Nokia and Sony Ericsson phones since last year and have over 200,000 installs.

MoiPal has all the usual aspects of a social gaming application, profiles, personal rooms and characters, a facebook like profile page (to link to), virtual currency and lots more. Really surprise me how smooth the character moved on the mobile. MoiPal could be described as a mixture of Facebook and Tamagotchi (or even I’d add The Sims). The software runs on Java and they have three different versions for different phones.

You take care of your character by feeding her, washing her, exercising, etc to keep all the personal attributes in top notch condition. They’ve also put a lot of effort into making the whole system scalable. For example, you can do lots of things with the character in her own room without being connected online hence not accumulating a lot of data costs. Also, all the characters have different types of clothes available for purchase in the online shop. At the moment they have a deals with Warner music for different band attire.

They see their focus as the Middle East, Russia and Far East Asia, which in my opinion is a very good call. There is a lot more competition in Asia, but their mobile usage is on a totally different level.

Go Bananas Every Day, but...

2008-08-06T09:33:00.000-07:00

...NEVER, put your bananas in the refrigerator!!!
This one is courtesy of my sister Vanessa. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

The expression 'going bananas' is from the effects of bananas on the brain...

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronic ulcer cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nic otine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Overweight and at work? Studies found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. The report concluded that, to avoid panic -induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

Finally… Below 8 degrees Celsius bananas will decay from the inside, they will not ripen but turn black, so…

… never store bananas in the refrigerator!

RESOURCES:

http://www.eatingbritain.com/never-put-your-banana-in-the-refrigerator.html

http://www.chiquita.com/Products/Bananas.aspx

More Casey Anthony Pics @ Fusion and beyond

2008-08-01T12:04:00.000-07:00

Holy cow, we've hit the mother load with this Flickr account...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/equalizeyou

Casey Anthony @ Fusion nightclub

2008-07-29T10:37:00.001-07:00

In the booth, originally uploaded by j.azzilonna.

Taken on
June 21, 2008 at 1:02am EDT

Posted to Flickr
June 21, 2008 at 7:47pm EDT

7/30/08 UPDATE: After all the blogging started about these pics the owner removed them. Usually I download and put them on my own server but not this time. Damn! Here's the one that still remains. FOX news posted the pics.

On June 21st, Casey Anthony was at this club in Orlando called Fusion and mugging for multiple pics. She's the one on the far left, in the bright blue dress looking really unconcerned about the welfare of her "missing" child.

I've been taken with this story. These side bar anecdotes are most telling...

Here's a great blog that is piecing together what the media is reporting, personal MySpace etc. info, and what the Anthony's are saying.

I really hope this is a case of a woefully irresponsible mother and that this little girl can be found. But after two-weeks and all of the media attention it doesn't look good for little Caylee Anthony.

There are more Flickr pics of Casey on 6/21/08 here. Plus the Flickr member just has some great imagery too, http://www.flickr.com/photos/jazzilonna/sets/72157605736646686

"Are you a Tigger or an Eeyore?"

2008-07-25T05:50:00.000-07:00

Rest in peace Randy Pausch. Today we lost one of those amazing people that lights up the world. I'll think about Randy Pausch today, say a prayer for his family and remember to be a blessing to those around me.

Read The Last Lecture, you'll be glad you did.

"Never lose the childlike wonder."

Love,
Angie

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/16986120/detail.html?taf=pit

Summer Vaction 2008

2008-07-24T08:25:00.000-07:00

Hope you are enjoying yours.

Logo design for Web 2.0 brands

2008-07-23T13:04:00.000-07:00

Great collection of recent Web 2.0 logos, collected by flickr member Stabilo Boss a hot-linked version is on that site.
Logo design for Web 2.0 brands are following a traceable aesthetic trend,

1. Bright, bold, happy colors
2. Simple iconography
3. Clean typographical treatment

Overall, the trend is user-friendly, simplicity from company naming through overall look and feel.

"Nonsensical buzz words do nothing to communicate value, benefit, or story..."

2008-07-22T10:07:00.000-07:00

Love this!! In a previous life at a Fortune-500-type-company, colleagues and I would actually play buzzword bingo. Not the most polite thing to do, but the corporate speak was unbearable. We were trying to keep our sanity.

So many press releases I see are filled to the rim meaningless buzz words. There is no need for me to say it all again when Jennifer A. Jones says it so well. Check out her blog. Enjoy.

http://www.speakmediablog.com/2008/07/good-pr-is-buzz-word-free.html

Home Sweet Home

2008-07-15T13:10:00.001-07:00

The kids just returned from summer vacation with their grandparents. This was taken by my aunt at a family friend's home in their back yard. The latest landscaping project. Beautiful! Where were the kids? In other words, where was I born and raised?

A. Alabama
B. Tennessee
C. Pennsylvania
D. West Virginia
E. Georgia

You can find the answer here on my blog profile...

Do you have a Rental Property?

2008-07-12T08:50:00.000-07:00

Do a Criminal Background check EVERY time. As a landlord or property manager, we know that a credit and employment check kept the bad renters and bounced checks away, but we often forgo the criminal background check. Let me tell you that I now know a reliable criminal screening can save you a world of trouble later on.

Luckily no one was injured or killed in this particular situation. And most of the neighbors had no idea an incident even occurred. The tenant moved on and we, with their security deposit in hand, are starting the repairs.

I'm in awe at the damage! Nine bullets left over 20 holes and tears in the windows, walls, doors, trim, curtains, blinds, mirrors, ceiling, light fixtures...

The police investigating the shooting were quick to tell me that this was drug related and that the victim had a criminal drug history. We won't make that mistake again.

Here are a few great online services if you too are a landlord,

1. www.tenantverification.com
2. www.intelius.com
3. www.e-renter.com

I've used Intelius in the past but now that were going to do the criminal check I've switched to E-Renter. Why? They offer a very comprehensive package. I'll let you know how it goes.

Where Have You Been?

2008-06-10T13:35:00.000-07:00

As usual I got lost in a sea of Facebook Apps after lunch. Enjoyed this one enough to share with all of you. So, where have you been lately?

Monte-Carlo, Monaco

New York City, NY, USA

Miami Beach, FL, USA

Create your own travel map or travel blog

Visit TripAdvisor.com

Diaper Cakes are FUN!

2008-06-09T18:32:00.001-07:00

Diaper Cakes by Angie, originally uploaded by GibbyClan.

I'm becoming really good at the baby shower diaper cake. This is the last one I made for my sister. She was invited to a baby shower for a co-worker. They're really easy.

Get a jumbo bag of baby diapers. I've raised two babies, a girl and a boy, and I recommend Huggies for newborns. Huggies just fit those tiny little bottoms better. Later on, I switched to pampers for my daughter. Two rolls of ribbon - pink, blue, yellow - whatever you like. I usually get the most compliments on the cake when I use a pink-and-brown or blue-and-brown combo.

The best part is that you can control how much you want to spend by the extras you add. I've created a small diaper cake (like the one pictured here) for $40 or spent as much as $150 by adding designer booties, rattles, bibs, onesies and a gift card attached to the top.

What My 9-5 Day Consists of Lately

2008-06-06T10:55:00.000-07:00

General Viral Formula
X * Y = virality level / viral coefficient
10 people join your site * 15 invites per person sent * 10% of those people convert to new users =

15 new users to the site
15 new users / 10 original = 1.5 viral coefficient / virality level

Things you can do to improve the viral coefficient
1. improve x: figure out a way to get them to send more invites. Or return more times to be able to invite more often.
2. increase y: work on ways the recipient is more likely to accept an invite.
So, it got me to thinking, what are some ways to improve x and increase y?

Improve X
Why would someone send out invites to their friends? What are the factors?
- Utility, experience, network effect (”I sign up because all my friends are on it”), etc.
What are some mechanisms that a website can place to facilitate this?
- Clear explanation of benefits, simplicity in use, build the product with “viral hooks”

Increase Y
What would make someone accept an invite?
- Trust the person it’s sent from, they understand what the invite is for, etc.
What are some mechanisms to increase invite acceptions?
- Explanation of what they are signing up for in emails, a customizable page explaining benefits when they click on a link in the email,

And, of course, if you’ve got some viral ideas or would like to collaborate on viral apps, drop me a line: angiecgibson at gmail (or connect to me on Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. the links are here ----> look to your right) Have a great weekend.

Vollee beta for SL

2008-06-04T08:59:00.000-07:00

Download Vollee mobile access to World of Second Life

Welcome to the Vollee beta. You can now access Second Life whenever & wherever you want to.

Works on over 40 handsets already (more being added), with a data plan
Works on 3G or WiFi enabled handsets
Fly or Teleport yourself anywhere in the world
See when your friends are online and Chat or IM
Completely free

Unfortunately at this time they do not support MY handset -- the HTC Touch phone. I have faith that it won't be long. PLEEEEZE.

Virtual Worlds Projected to Mushroom to Nearly One Billion Users :: $8 Billion Market Value Projected for User Services

2008-06-04T08:49:00.000-07:00

Boston, MA - 29 May 2008 - Strategy Analytics today released its forecast of virtual world adoption, which shows that over the next ten years some 22 percent of global broadband users will have registered for one or more virtual worlds resulting in a market approaching one billion registrants and an eight billion dollar services opportunity. The study, "Market Forecasts for Virtual World Experiences," projects a diversified global market with services targeted at children, teens and adults across a wide range of applications.

Sex and the City

2008-06-02T12:30:00.000-07:00

The movie was fabulous! I wouldn't change a thing.

More laughs than tears. Trendy, flashy, sugar-coated goodness. Just enough of what we wanted (Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha) and very little of what we could have cared less about (their kids).

The girls were true to form, BIG was awesome... everything was like it always was - except - there were no more of the struggling writer woes for Carrie. She redecorated her apartment, shopped, even hired a personal assistant.

Things change. And I think maybe I've changed too. Whereas Carrie and sometimes Miranda spoke to me earlier in my life, it was now Charlotte. She stole the show.

Am I the only one who fell in love with Charlotte?

Summer Vacation in the Southeast

2008-05-30T08:23:00.000-07:00

It's Friday so let's keep it fun, relaxing and light.

What are you doing this weekend?

Well... Here's a great weekend roadtrip. Jump in the car and head to Logan Martin Lake, Alabama. This is the most beautiful lake! It's about 90 min from Atlanta. It's been a great kept secret until now - the NY Times just recognized it's potential. We love Pell City for boating, fishing and great antiques. If you find this is the place for you there are plenty of great vacation home choices. Here's the best,

View Larger Map

POPULATION The lakeside towns of Pell City, Lincoln and Riverside have a combined population of 18,780.

SIZE The 17,000-acre lake is 48 miles long by a mile at its widest.

WHERE Logan Martin Lake is about 30 miles east of Birmingham, and 90 miles west of Atlanta.

WHO’S BUYING Second-home owners and retirees from Alabama and Georgia and full-time residents moving there for work, some of whom commute to Birmingham or Anniston.

WHILE YOU’RE LOOKING The Hampton Inn (220 Vaughn Lane, Pell City; 205-814-3000; www.hamptoninn.com) has rooms starting at $109 a night.

See you on the lake. :)

The Glade® Wisp® Flameless Candle

2008-05-29T13:04:00.000-07:00

Most of you know that I'm a BzzAgent. It's a great program. For those of you not familiar with the concept, BzzAgent is a word-of-mouth agency where consumers can discover, recommend (or not) and then share new products and services with their family and friends.
I just finished reviewing the The Glade® Wisp® Flameless Candle.

Let me preface this by saying I love candles but have really disliked any of the scented electric-outlet air fresheners, really air fresheners in general. They were always so overpowering and fake smelling. I was skeptical.

When the package arrived I hesitated putting it in the living room because I expected it to stink up the house. I planned to put it in the basement or bathroom, but we had baby kittens and momma cat was litter box training them. Maybe now was a good time to scent up the house.

After reading the package I realized (and love the fact that) you can control the amount of fragrance that comes out. On the bottom of the candle there's a setting where you can adjust it to be a little or a lot of fragrance that 'puffs' out of the candle - no overpowering fake smell.

Another great feature is the automatic shut off. The candle will run for a 3 hour time period and then automatically shut itself off.

The Glade® Wisp® Flameless Candle combines continuous puffs of fragrance with a warm, flickering glow, letting you enhance the mood in any setting. Looks so real, you'd never know it wasn't a real candle. This was a real bonus!

I find this idea to be genius. Especially for those with younger kids. You get the great scent of a candle, the great look of a candle, without the dangerous flame.

I really love this product, and definitely will be purchasing more. If your a mom, this is a great item for you. If you have pets, I recommend it highly.

Enjoy.

3-D the future of the Internet

2008-05-27T14:00:00.000-07:00

This is from Xerox innovation chief Sophie Vandebroek – taken from a recent Q&A interview in Computerworld,

“In my mind, the 3-D virtual world is the future of the Internet. In the future, you don't need to be in the same room to look each other in the eye and understand the issues and collaborate on projects.”

So here are a few of my favorite 3-D virtual places that you should be watching. They will shape the future of the Internet,

SecondLife
Kaneva
There

Kaneva also offers a great description of how the 3-D Internet will come to be on their platform web site.

So how can you capitalize on having seen the future today? I would contend that these are the Top Opportunities in Virtual Worlds,

Access Pass/Cover Charge (aka Subscriptions)
Professional Collaboration
Entertainment & Event Planning
Instruction & Education
Building/Designing
Professional Services
Web & World Integration
Trade/Exchange Rate platforms

They include opportunities for creators, for users, and for new secondary markets. I don't know about you but I plan to be a part of the wave as the next big powerhouse in online marketing.

Access Pass/Cover Charge (aka subscriptions)

At the current time, this is the opportunity that most of the existing players have been mining the most. The basic model is simple: charge a cover for users to access your environment.

Professional Collaboration

Business Week recently reported that Rivers Run Red saved $175,000 last year by holding meetings in SecondLife. This is no small amount of money for a small business and, in this age of increasing security checklines at airports and gas prices over $4 a gallon, virtual worlds may be the best collaboration platform yet.

Entertainment & Event Planning

Increasingly music stars are moving into virtual reality. The BBC, MTV, and Fox have already held events. Organizing events, preparing the space, publicizing, booking and training speakers are all jobs that require some level of expertise and there are dollars associated with providing that expertise.

Instruction & Education

There are opportunities around teaching classes in building virtual assets. In Kaneva, you can find people teaching how to create and program the basics. One can envision people getting paid for this type of work in the not so distant future. Harvard has already created virtual training grounds to explore virtual reality.

Professional Services

Virtual worlds, or the Metaverse as it is also referred to, have created an eco-system where professional journalists, DJs, ad agencies, and other types of services (some of the more risque ones involving the sex trade) are interacting on a daily basis. Economies are being created that mirror traditional world equivalents in the virtual realm.

Building/Designing

Love fashion? Home decor? Creating new digital goods and selling them in the virtual space may be for you. Most goods from the real world can have a digital equivalent and companies like American Apparel have noticed the space, and sub-contracted the development of those goods to a third party. More exciting is the popularity of a new breed of digital fashion designers. Their work realized only in the virtual world as highly sought after pixels.

Web & World Integration

Virtual Worlds are generally closed spaces. Some, like SecondLife, have started opening up to the wider net. For example, users can now visit Amazon.com in SecondLife, thanks to the Amazon API and SecondLife’s ability to call on it from inside its virtual world. Those opportunities represent a new space and integration houses with expertise in both the virtual world and the wider web will be well positioned to take advantage of those opportunities.

Trade/Exchange Rate platforms

Another portion of the secondary market is surrounding the thin link between the trade that happens in those virtual worlds and real dollars. Companies or individuals who manage to create a platform that offers a way to trade from one of the virtual worlds into another might find themselves as the new middle-men in a space that is bound to grow economically and profit from making a small percentage on every inter-virtual world transaction.

I Bought a New Car, Believe it!

2008-05-27T11:00:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know. I've been car shopping for over a year now. What of it? This is a ten year plus commitment.

I fell in love with a 2003 mint-condition Audi A4. Did a little online research. Asked a few friends. Then I ended up back at the same CarMax dealership where I almost bought a Chrysler Pacifica had each of you not ridiculed me about being completely uncool. Once I really considered how often I'd need that third row seating and the gas mileage I knew a small luxury sedan would be best for me. Thank you to everyone that offered such great advice.

Coco and I are getting along great! She drives like a dream. Now, how do I cancel that car finder e-alert?

How Cozy Should Yahoo Get With Google?

2008-05-21T09:44:00.000-07:00

Google and Yahoo are exploring a partnership in which some Yahoo search inventory may be monetized by Google's keyword ad system. Yahoo hopes such a deal would goose its cash flow as Google's system generates more revenue per query.

Is this a good idea?

Money.CNN.com - Yahoo announces Trial with Google

My Favorite Blogs

2008-05-21T06:57:00.000-07:00

GigaOm recently posted, 10 Blogs We Love which inspired me to list some of mine that may or may not be in your reader already...

YPulse: Teen trends, attitudes, products, and companies
Bronte Media: Online advertising, market analysis
Raph Koster: Game design, social gaming
Slideshare Most Favorited: Top presentations from Slideshare. LOVE this one.
Marketingcharts: Recent data, charts, and info from marketing companies
Futuristic Play: Andrew Chen on metrics, viral, user experience, game design
Redeye VC: Josh Kopelman, Philly-based leader in the Internet industry
Agenda: Luxury goods market, global marketing
500 Hats: Dave McClure's blog on Facebook, social platforms, metrics, etc.

A few of the informative and entertaining...

X17 Online: Paparazzi pictures, celebrity candids
Edge.org: Big thinking, scientific discoveries and predictions, philosophy

;-) Enjoy.

Caylee Cecelia Romaniello

2008-05-20T12:57:00.000-07:00

We have a new cousin, Caylee Cecelia Romaniello was born April 25, 2008.

Field Day Follies

2008-05-14T15:03:00.000-07:00

Today was second and third grade Field Day at East Lake Elm.

Went Car Shopping Today

2008-05-13T19:49:00.000-07:00

It wasn't by my doing. Jay decided he'd buy me a Mercedes for my birthday this Thursday. (Yes, there is still time to get me a gift :D ) I caught wind of the plot and high tailed it to the car lot before the deal was sealed.

No, a Mercedes is not exactly the car for me. After I was ridiculed by my friends for foiling the plot, I switched off my phone and started browsing the CarMax lot.

Yes, I know. I've been car shopping for over a year now. What of it? This is a ten year commitment between the car and I.

I purchased the little green VW Jetta I have now for $12k in May of 1999. She was two years old - one owner - with 33,000 miles. What a great car! Almost ten years and 190,000 miles later I reluctantly admit it might be time to add another car to the fleet BUT I will never sell the Jetta.

So today I'm thinking a Chrysler Pacifica is my choice. I set up a CarMax notification to email me if a silver, black or white Pacifica with leather, DVD player, GPS Navigation, video camera, sun roof, third row... pop up on a Car Max lot anywhere in the southeast US.

Fingers are crossed. Wish me luck. It's time to commit. Anyone have any advice?

Google Pops the Cherry

2008-05-12T13:48:00.000-07:00

I started my Monday reading TechCrunch as usual. Google will be launching its own data portability effort called Friend Connect. Is an “open” social network coming? Using Friend Connect, any website owner can, according to the press release,

“add a snippet of code to his or her site and get social features up and running immediately without programming.”

There is nothing really earth shattering here, just that the Friend Connect tools are designed such that there’s no need to do any actual coding, just plug in your site’s info and copy and paste the code into your page.

It would be nice is if eventually Google or somebody makes it possible for websites to combine the Friend Connect data with their own. Oh, and how does this factor into the MyWorld speculation?

So there you have it. Google pops the blog cherry.