Showing posts with label Life-Lessons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Life-Lessons. Show all posts
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One thing I find really annoying in my line of work:

Like it or not, most people now have home computers, smartphones, and access to the internet pretty much everywhere they go. (And if you're going to Outer Mongolia or some other place where you don't have it, leave an out of office message that says so.)

There is absolutely NO reason why a member of the press should not be able to contact someone immediately in response to a press release! NONE! Don't be a stooge! Read on:::

One time I received a press release with FIVE different phone numbers on them and NOT ONE SINGLE answer! Either ring-ring-ring-ring or a non-dated voicemail. (I can't tell you how many times people will call me back DAYS LATER after I have left a message!)

If you can't be right at the phone or have someone who will be, and you expect a successful press event to happen, for goddsakes PLEASE record a special message, something like: "Hi it's Phil on Tuesday, November 10, if you're calling about the press release leave your contact info and I will call you right back." THAT lets the person calling know that they have a better than 50% chance of speaking with a live person before DEADLINE... or leave an alternate, a cell number, an email address... if you want coverage!

I took a chance one time and went to a news conference without being able to verify the information that was presented in the press release. Guess who was the ONLY reporter at the event? ME! The other radio and TV stations passed because there were other events (maybe not as important) happening where they WERE able to make contact with a living soul!

In this modern "I want it NOW" world, reporter's deadlines have shrunk like crazy! If you email me your press release tonight, and I read it at 0800 tomorrow, you better have SOMEBODY manning the phones 0900 or before and you better be able to produce people I can interview by 1000! I'm sorry, but that's the way it is today!

Now, if you have a place where you can upload AUDIO and/or VIDEO tracks, you are way ahead of the game and making it eaasier for the press to cover your event! "Oh, you couldn't make it out to hear so-and-so speak about the issue? We have a soundbite on our website and a video of the presser on YouTube." You will be surprised how well that scenario plays out!

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Star Press
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Another batch of "followers" who un-followed me when they realized my twitter account is not set up to auto-follow them in return...
(Actually, even if it was, they would have left anyway - that's what these folks do- they're usually fake twitter accounts set up by money-schemers trying to make extra bucks online by tweeting junk)
And, on the outside chance that I am following any of these peeps, I will soon be UNfollowing them in return!

Goodbye, LOSERS!
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Ever see those heart-wrenching TV spots for abused animals? If you haven't yet been moved enough to give something, take a look at each of the links below.

Nice Kitty, Dead Kitty

Sexy Asian Babes Stomp Kittens

Kittens abused and killed, then left dead in front of their mother.

Adults drown kittens for fun



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#FF #FluffyFriday Cruel Cat Tales
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Will future generations be tethered to their digital devices? How many?

How secure and how private will human life be?

Students already face withdrawl and distress when deprived of internet connectivity. One person surveyed said that being deprived of the internet was “like having my hand chopped off.” Others said it was akin to giving up drinking and smoking. Many of them experienced feelings of sadness or loneliness even if denied online access for a short time.

I've often remarked that "if the internet crashed civilization would come to a halt" - we have become far too dependent on the net for everything! FROM EDUCATION TO ENTERTAINMENT TO GAMES AND PASTTIMES!

Smartphone sales Will reach 420 Million by the end of 2011. At what point will we receive chip-like implants to directly connect our brains to the internet? Will that become the Biblical "mark of the beast"?


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Face 2 Face with the Future
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I was on hand for the festivities at Albany City Hall Saturday night into Sunday morning: New York is the sixth, and largest, state to legalize same-sex unions. Several other states are considering following suit.
Congrats to all of you couples! Scroll down to the bottom for my musical gift to you!
Six gay and lesbian couples from around the Capital Region were among the first in the state to legally wed under New York’s same-sex marriage law. Mayor Jerry Jennings and Judge Joseph Teresi officiated in Albany. This is what it looked outside City Hall around 11pm, an hour before things got underway...



Lights, cameras... ACTION!

When I first arrived at City Hall, I jokingly mentioned to Dori Marlin that it's been about three years since I last saw her out covering a story. "You're the third person who's told me that tonight," said she... No, she and Dan Levy weren't tying the knot... they were witnessing


Judge Teresi officiating the wedding of an African-American couple who had children with them. I wasn't able to find out who the kids were. Everyone was smiling most of the time, except during those "serious, solemn" moments! Here's the Times Union account of the evening... I mentioned in my radio report that gay rights and human rights activists hope the Empire State's same-sex marriage law will have nationwide impact - that it will impress lawmakers throughout the land, all the way to President Barack Obama. Gay marriage advocates now say they will push for Federal legislation that would require ALL states to recognize same-sex unions.

Mayor Jenning's longtime friends ("Super Secret Couple") Dale Getto and Barbara Laven were married by hizzoner. After the City Hall proceedings, they jumped in a stretch limo and headed up to Saratoga for celebration at Vapor! Congratulations, ladies!


Old chum Dan Levy from NewsChannel 13 takes a seat to jot down a few notes...

Albany City Councilman Anton Konev was on the scene to "witness history." This fellow attends more local events than Brian Scavo!


I love people! Comrades-in-arms Fox23 reporter and cameraman mugged for my smartphone as the crowd began leaving City Hall. Good job, guys!

And here's a musical gift for you Gay Couples! Ronnette's Ronnie Spector with substitute 'nettes Belinda Carlisle (Go-Gos) and Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane) with the late great Clarence Clemmons on sax!



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#ssm Gay Marriage Albany Wedding Album
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via Michelle Malkin's blog • July 23, 2011 12:13 AM


Wu-hoo! Hey, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and Nancy Pelosi,

I’m over here!!!!!!!!

This Dude Makes Anthony Weiner Look Like A Saint!
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I touched you for the very last time today,
gave you a gentle pat on the side
after packing up all the leftover things.

I won't forget the times we spent together,
the places we've seen...
the songs and voices we listened to on your radio.

As we took care of you, you took care of us in return,
keeping us safe over thousands upon thousands of miles.
And in the end, you gave up your "life" for us.
Kept us from harm one final time.

I took one last look as I left the field.
I didn't want to take a picture.
I'll just remember you as you were.

A great car.
Goodbye, Old Friend
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Islamic banking necessitated by effect of global meltdown – ADO-EKITI— THE Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has said the introduction of Islamic banking into our financial system was “necessitated by the effect of global meltdown that castrated the Nigerian financial system and slowed down the growth of the economy.”

He, however, assured that Nigeria’s subscription to Islamic banking would revive the current downturn of the country’s economy.

Sanusi pledged to dialogue with the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, this week on the issue. [Gbenga Ariyibi has more...]

...this I find very interesting, because as society is growing and changing and you could almost compare recent developments on the world scene to the volcanoes and earthquakes that have been re-shaping the planet...


...we need a new system to match up with some of the financial things happening, like the use of mobile phones for banking across Africa and Asia ... the 'micro-loan' concept ... online banking ...

Michelle Malkin
‘Lights Out’: Harry Reid Takes the Debt Ceiling Fear Up a Notch -

So, look at all of the news hitting the "financial fan" - try to make sense of it - and let's keep an eye on this development in Nigeria.

Islamic banking has the same purpose as conventional banking: to make money for the banking institute by lending out capital. Because Islam forbids simply lending out money at interest (see riba), Islamic rules on transactions (known as Fiqh al-Muamalat) have been created to avoid this problem. The basic technique to avoid the prohibiton is the sharing of profit and loss, via terms such as profit sharing (Mudharabah), safekeeping (Wadiah), joint venture (Musharakah), cost plus (Murabahah), and leasing (Ijar).

In an Islamic mortgage transaction, instead of loaning the buyer money to purchase the item, a bank might buy the item itself from the seller, and re-sell it to the buyer at a profit, while allowing the buyer to pay the bank in installments. However, the bank's profit cannot be made explicit and therefore there are no additional penalties for late payment. In order to protect itself against default, the bank asks for strict collateral. The goods or land is registered to the name of the buyer from the start of the transaction. This arrangement is called Murabahah. Another approach is EIjara wa EIqtina, which is similar to real estate leasing. Islamic banks handle loans for vehicles in a similar way (selling the vehicle at a higher-than-market price to the debtor and then retaining ownership of the vehicle until the loan is paid). [source: wikipedia]

Gas prices on the rise; top $4 in eight states...


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Financial Experiment in Africa... World Impact To Follow?
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This flier came in Monday's mail. People always say "you should buy gold as a hedge against inflation" and "if something ever happened to our government and/or the monetary system, gold is the currency to hold and behold." NOT SO FAST!

If you look carefully at U.S. Gold Pieces, they have dollar amount face values written on them. If there was a crisis of some sort, they are only worth whatever particular dollar amount has been attributed to them!

I had been under the impression that in a financial collapse, bullion coins could buy more than regular green money. This is obviously a fable. Although perhaps it could be used, in my opinion, as an object of barter, knowing that the coin would always be worth more than its face value. However, it is indeed disappointing that you wouldn't be able to purchase goods at least in the ballpark of what the coin is worth, noting that the true value of the coin is always going to be at a premium to its face value. Interesting.

US Bullion coins can only be used in stores at their stated value. A silver eagle is worth one Dollar, a modern one ounce proof coin is worth fifty dollars, a double eagle is worth twenty bucks... you get the picture!

To get more than this you have to find a person who would be willing to take the coin of your hands.

That person could be a coin dealer or collector, jewelry shop attendant or a bank that trades in bullion. Another way of accessing a higher value for the item is to place it in an auction.

Your coin would generally trade at a discount to 'spot' metal price unless it has some numismatic value.

Of course if there was law and disorder and financial collapse, good luck at finding a shop or a bank open, let alone an auction!

Just musing...
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