Friday, September 05, 2008 Prison Break: tube encourages good behavior! POST A COMMENT 'Don't think prisons when I think about that argument against a digital-divide-inequality in America -- (making sure we have an equal playing field for folks locked-in-poverty, as well as those born with a silver spoon in their mouth)... So, when I read about TVs big switch over to a digital format (dumping analog) locks out prisons: 'the nation's broadcasters make the switch from analog to digital signals next Feb. 17, televisions that aren't hooked up to cable, satellite or a converter box will be reduced to static...' I pull out the worlds smallest violin to I listen to prisoners cry "waaaah, I can't watch America Idol..." 'While TV might seem like an undeserved luxury for inmates, prison officials and inmates say the tube does more than fill year after year of idle hours - it provides a sense of normalcy and is a bargaining chip that encourages good behavior.' I don't know about you, but I don't think missing out on getting HBO qualifies as cruel and unusual punishment. Like this video shows, prisoners have bigger issues -- like not dropping the soap: Source: CBS News Labels: economy, net neutrality, News Trends, rich and poor divide posted by Henry Cruz at 1:16 PM Thursday, September 04, 2008 Oh no, not Peggy Hill... POST A COMMENT Poor poor John McCain...'got us all stuck in a bad rerun of 'King of the Hill --(problem is this isn't a cartoon we could just laugh off)... And In the end I might up choosing the lesser of the evils...'As with any wacky-extremist, the more I read, the more the Palin choice got me pretty scared right about now. I wrote on here that neither presidential candidate rocks my world. In that interest of full disclosure, I'm in that allusive-undecided-club -- (a former Pro-Hillary...'moderate on most issues, conservative on others. But yet socially liberal on important stuff like health care and the growing poverty divide). I'm closest in philosophy to our great New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Photo credit: TMZ.com Labels: News Trends, Politics, Poverty Divide, race relations posted by Henry Cruz at 2:13 AM Wednesday, September 03, 2008 Could Jesus Christ have morning wood? POST A COMMENT What sounds like Much Ado About...'morning wood is having a very real day in court: The case is against an art gallery in the U.K. that dared to exhibit a statue of Jesus Christ with an erection -- (they're being sued by a devout Christian who said she was offended). To me, the least interesting thing about all this is the art, by Terence Koh, which actually isn't very good (my three year niece could do so much better)... 'More interesting was the debate: 'Art is made to move people, to make them question, to expand their perceptions, to have an effect on the way they think,' says a civil minded person. 'Sometimes, some art is going to offend some people. But if we let a vocal minority get away with censoring art, the majority loses.' A spokesman arguing against Koh said they believed in freedom of expression, but "this statue served no other purpose than to offend Christians and to denigrate Christ." I can't disagree more with the "offend" part -- from what I see here, Christ was packing (and, ahem, truly-blessed) -- I gotta agree with this commenter: "Jesus just has a lot of love to give!" Plus, think about it logically, assuming Jesus was indeed a real person, the biology and science would strongly suggest he might also have had morning wood. I would even go so far as to say Jesus also sat on the bowl and moved his bowels...'at least once. Source: Guardian, U.K. Labels: Art versus Commerce, Jesus Christ, News Trends, religion, Terence Koh posted by Henry Cruz at 11:58 AM Wednesday, August 27, 2008 Real Estates' newest pitch: Easy Commute POST A COMMENT With real estate slumping away, the newest buzz word here in N.J. (and nearby cities) is easy commute, with programs offering -- 'people who work in a particular town to also live there. 'Geared mostly towards single people and young families looking to plant roots in a place as workers and residents -- (the city programs offers kick-backs if you work & live in the same city). I'm not big on live, play and work smash ups. I do understand that need to get up in the mornings and "go to work." And some distance plays a role here. I myself, live in N.J. and take the train into New York for work. I think living so near work I'd might feel too available. 'I do love the the idea of creating a sense of community (some place you can call your own); but, I don't want to mix work and play. All for giving back to my community and building it up by supporting local businesses. But, I want a clear seperation from work place and my home. While there's that perk of a smaller carbon footprint of not having to drive a long way back and forth. Isn't that what trains and buses are for? I'm curious to know what ya'll think about that (so, leave me a comment on your own commutes)... Source: NJ.com Labels: environment, fuel economy, green living, New Jersey, News Trends, Oil Prices, Real Estate, Well-Balanced Life posted by Henry Cruz at 9:06 PM Sunday, August 24, 2008 Cut the fat-guessing POST A COMMENT 'Headed back into the gym last week, so I'm also back to sorting threw the latest fitness-trends. Every expert just about agrees that not all of us have the same body type... In terms of diets, I been kinda hugging the border of the Mediterranean Sea, or what's called the Mediterranean Diet -- (those folks near the Mediterranean sea have a low incident of heart disease, chronic diseases, and cancer, and the highest adult life-expectancy rate, which works for me). Here's the basic things about fat, the Mediterranean diet does contains 40% of total daily calories from fat. But, there is such a good thing as 'good fats. Olive oil, a staple of a Mediterranean diet, is a monosaturated fatty acid and counteracts animal fats. This type of fat does not raise blood cholesterol levels and is an excellent source of antioxidants. Monounsaturated fats are, in fact, required for the body in order to function effectively. Another staples in that diet is fish, which is high in omega-3 fatty acids, something that most people do not get enough of. I also eat lean pork and chicken breast, and rarely do I eat red meat... 'Speaking of fat, I read today about potentially -- pill popping your fat-away (for those really lazy people): 'Scientists discovered a protein that can promote the burning of body fat. "Mice injected with a protein called BMP7 increased their production of "good" brown fat cells, while keeping their levels of the normal white fat cells constant. Fat is a crucial part of the body's regulation of metabolism and body temperature. There are two types of fat cell with different functions: the well-known white fat cells, which store energy and contribute to obesity, and lesser-known brown fat cells that burn calories to generate body heat." "As we learn more about the controls of brown fat development, medical interventions to increase energy expenditure by brown fat inducing agents, such as BMP7, may provide hope to these individuals in losing weight and preventing the metabolic disorders associated with obesity," offers the head researcher. I haven't reached that level of lazyness...yet...but... 'Sounds sorta like the perks of the Mediterranean diet; which instead of counting calories, focuses on food selections. In general, Mediterranean style means eating food slowly and savoring the taste of the food. MEDITERRANEAN DIET-101 *High consumption of olive oil. *High consumption of fruit, legumes, and vegetables. *High consumption of grains, pasta, rice, bulgar, couscous, beans, nuts and seeds. *High consumption of garlic. Garlic lowers your cholesterol level and protects you against cancer. *Moderate consumption of grilled and steamed fish. *Low consumption of lean red meat and lean pork. *Low consumption of eggs and dairy products. *Low consumption of red wine. *Regular exercise is an important part of the Mediterranean lifestyle. - GUIDELINES FOR EATING THE MEDITERRANEAN WAY Plan your meals a week ahead. Try to include a wide variety of foods in your menu plan. *Replace butter and other fat with extra virgin olive oil in cooking and baking. Season your olive oil with garlic and/or herbs and spices. *Instead of dessert, eat a plateful of fresh fruit. *Eat lots of whole grains and beans. *Replace white potatoes with sweet potatoes. *Eat meals full of color! Add a variety of vegetables by eating salads and soups. *Limit processed foods. *Add fish to your diet twice a week and cut down on red meat. *Drink lots of water, never sugar-sweetened sodas. Source: Guardian U.K. Labels: drugs, Exercise, Healthy Foods, HungryForChange.com, News Trends, Obesity, Well-Balanced Life, Whole Foods posted by Henry Cruz at 2:48 PM Friday, August 15, 2008 Ads: Going for the online Gold! POST A COMMENT Those airbrushed pics of Eva Mendes doing nude twirls on a bed...might be worth a thousand words... But, that paper-trails drying up faster than expected -- as 2008 marks -- "the first time in U.S. history" television will get more advertising dollars than newspapers... All this comes while Internet Ads are lined up to "take over as the leading generator of advertising revenue..." "Internet advertising will boast an 18.9% compound annual growth rate from 2007-12, compared with 2.6% for broadcast TV and negative 2.8% for newspapers." -- (according to VSS Data) TV's boost from the Olympics and upcoming presidential race has allowed it to -- "spike to $51 billion while newspapers sink to $46.8 billion..." "And once newspapers relinquish their lead, they aren't expected to regain it any time soon." But, NBCOlympics.com live multimedia has inadvertently set up onlines future's Ad model, especially as more and more Television viewers shift online. "Viewers can watch up to 20 feeds simultaneously. This in contrast to the 2004 and 2006 Olympics when NBC had little to offer in the way of online video..." With Television Ad-revenue expected to sink again in 2009, that leaves it wide-open for the Internet to take the gold sooner than expected. I'm the first to say we should all welcome the pending-death of print media; I mean think of all the trees we'll be saving. Speaking of death...'check out these Olypi-AD-misses: Source: Hollywood Reporter Labels: Ads, Beijing, Business-101, China, economy, Media Trends, News Trends, Print publication, TV Shows posted by Henry Cruz at 4:14 AM Wednesday, August 13, 2008 Melting Pot, USA POST A COMMENT Watching the Olympics coverage started a conversation on how diversity benefits the U.S. teams. I grew up in New York City...'so, I might be a bit spoiled by that melting pot theme. But, join me in being the forever-optimist and seeing the good in this New-York-microcosm trickling down-south. And how this will be even better for the Team USA of the future -- 'cause sorta like the six million dollar man, we'll get the best of all worlds in one place...and kick some major butt -- (seems to work just fine here in New York). "The white population, I wouldn't say is fading into the background, but it is becoming the older, less fertile part of the population," offers CBS news. Consider this: 10 percent of Americas population still control 70 percent of our countries wealth...it's pretty clear who really wears the clout in this country -- (the rest of us are just here to clean up the mess...I mean look at who they shipped out to Iraq; 'don't think too many rich folks ever even heard the words "basic training"). "Whites still make up 66 percent of the population. But their numbers have grown only two percent since 2000, compared to eight percent for blacks, 29 percent for Hispanics and 26 percent for Asians." In that same report it was suggested that such change in a community could have a "train wreck" effect -- really, I couldn't disagree more. Worse case scenario: we might all need to learn to sing the star spangled banner in English, Spanish, Chinese, and maybe French -- (Gaaak, well hopefully not french)... 'what's the big-whoop? Source: CBS News Labels: Business-101, latino watch, News Trends, Olympics, Poverty Divide, race relations, rich and poor divide posted by Henry Cruz at 10:09 PM Making sure that job is...Green? POST A COMMENT College students ain't interested in just "Working for the man" -- unless they get a touch of green -- and by green, I don't mean just cash: "Young people are thumbing their noses at companies that don't offer green-collar jobs," This according to a survey by the career network Experience. 'Sorta become the "in" thing for Students -- (and recent grads) -- to make more environmentally-conscious decisions when it comes to their career choices: In that nationwide poll: "Four in five (81%) said it is important to work for a green company and nearly as many (79%) said they would be more likely to accept a job offer at an eco-conscious company over a company that wasn't, when evaluating two similar offers." Since not everybody can wake-up an all-out expert on topics like sustainable technologies... 'Schools are adapting this eco-trend and offering a crop of courses -- "that help you safeguard the planet while boosting your skills." Ultimately, one-hand-washes-the-other fits perfectly for that green economy to stick...'Hitting the workplace from all angles: When a company has to appeal to both consumers and future employees...it then makes fiscal sense. Source: Time Out Labels: An Inconvenient Truth, Business-101, College Students, Energy-101, environment, Go-green, green living, News Trends, recycling, smaller carbon footprint, Waste management posted by Henry Cruz at 12:55 PM Tuesday, August 12, 2008 The iPod of the book world... POST A COMMENT In this rough economy, 'always great to hear about a company -- (that's not in the Oil-Biz) -- with a rock-solid-foundation in place. I got the Kindle -- (Amazon.com) -- as birthday present in June...'and I will admit to being a little put off by yet another-gadget-to-feed...'and another attempt at another e-book reader... 'however, Amazon's figured out how to make a book-reader-done-sorta-right -- (and no, I don't own stock in Amazon) -- 'apparently I'm not alone in this assessment...'as it's projected to be the hot holiday stocking stuffer this year. "Kindle will about sell 380,000 units in 2008, more than double what analyst previously projected..." -- which is good news -- for a selfish reason, because it actually means this gadget might stick around for a while. "In its first year, that's exactly how many iPods were sold," Says the Seattle PI. "Turns out the Kindle is becoming the iPod of the book world." I'm not going to sit here and do a commercial for it -- (and frankly, they don't need one)...but, I've used it since June, and thought I'd offer my three-cents: on a scale of 1-10 it ranks a solid 8 in the world of gadgets...Now, if only we can apply that same Amazon-business-model on tougher things like world peace, or that cure for Cancer... Here's a decent review: Source: Seattle PI Labels: Amazon.com, Books, Business-101, Gadgets, Kindle, News Trends, Tech, web trends posted by Henry Cruz at 4:44 AM Sunday, August 10, 2008 U.S. plan they don't want us to hear about POST A COMMENT It's been called the digital "national embarrassment" -- how other nations' residents have high-speed at home, while the U.S. numbers keep slipping; An FCC proposal, on the table this month, hopes to "boost U.S. competitiveness by giving each household (Free) high-speed Web access..." however, the duopoloy wants to stop it. It sounds like a no-brainer: With more and more businesses shifting towards the web, such a huge-digital-divide can definitely effect how good -- (or how badly) -- the future U.S. economy performs on that bigger global arena... FCC chairman's Kevin J. Martin free-high-speed plug votes this month -- basically says "any household in the country -- (would be able to) -- cruise the Net at broadband speeds, at absolutely no cost." Says Business Week. "But his idea faces heated opposition from companies such as AT&T that worry their profits will be threatened by a free alternative." The facts: "Only 60% of American households have speedy Net access). And that huge gap " puts the country in 15th place among developed nations..." -- a huge drop from 2001 when the U.S. ranked fourth. The plan: "create incentives for private companies to roll out more broadband..." much like basic Television, it could "make money by selling advertising and advanced services." --(with a premium no-ad option for those that can afford to pay more). Just think, a free web model could actually create more competition to get an even faster web out there, and help those helpless resentful-ignorant people -- (who don't get high-speed) -- so, we'd all actually be on the same high-speed-playing field... 'and then we'd all be able to watch Ceasar and Chuy talk about Amy Winehouse --('in the end doesn't it sounds like a win-win-win for all?): Source: Business Week Labels: Business-101, ceasar and chuy, freeconomics, net neutrality, News Trends, Poverty Divide, rich and poor divide, web trends posted by Henry Cruz at 4:01 AM Saturday, August 09, 2008 Not in my backyard... POST A COMMENT I live far away from the wildlife, near the middle of downtown -- but, I like the concept of A Backyard Wildlife Habitat...'it fits right into a community mindset. Giving back to the community, helping it grow, and supporting local businesses nearby, etc. etc. All fits into the right steps towards creating a smaller carbon footprint... I look outside my window, at the tall building, and see everyday how suburban practices has led to the vanishing wildlife population...'but, things can be done...'like helping bees; which play such a vital role in food production -- (transfering pollen to plants). I read today about the National Wildlife Federation (nwf.org/backyard) and their recent efforts; which certifies homeowners who provide friendly environments for small mammal, birds, butterflies and reptiles...'sorta smacks of doing the right the thing. "It costs $40 dollars total: $15 for the membership in NWF and $25 for the sign." Says Mary Ann Newcomer, who stepped up to plate: "I see it as a way to donate to the NWF and to let others know I care about making my garden wildlife friendly." Source: Examiner.com Labels: environment, green living, Healthy Foods, News Trends posted by Henry Cruz at 5:15 PM Tuesday, August 05, 2008 Finally the rich join our nation of whiners POST A COMMENT Sen. Phil Gramms' mental recession can add a bunch of wealthy folks to that "nation of whiners." Yep, even those swimming in cash have been tightening their Gucci-belts. Before you go out and call the tiny violins...'or clap your hands 'bout that rampant consumption in our culture coming to a end... 'let me point out the how the "upper-crust thriftiness could reverberate across the economy..." Because - "The 10 percent of households with the highest incomes account for nearly a quarter of all spending..." We kinda do really need the rich flaunting their cash -- (Like one big tail gate party of rich folks 'out-doing-the-Jones...how 'bout a keep on-honkin' for Prada and Gucci Bags). On most days I'd be first on that line to argue the imbalances -- and why only a small percent of the population can actually afford to spend right now -- the point here is that imbalance "gives the wealthy immense economic clout" -- and not spending in the already slumping economy...well... Let's toss out there another couple of nuggets to chew on: "Consumer spending makes up 70 percent of gross domestic product...and that "economic activity...creates (new) jobs" Soooo, we don't need to hear right now that rich people are -- "seeking the best deals" rather than the "over-the-top extravagances that's expected!" Or we really don't need to hear that "Luxury spending fell 4 percent last year, and this year's decline is expected to be steeper, particularly for luxury handbags and clothing that don't hold value" Don't the rich people know Phil Gramm was talking about poor slobs like us when he was talking about mental problems...don't be insane. If you're one of the 10 percent with all that available cash on hand get over your whining and go out and buy one of them luxury gas-guzzling HUMMER SUVs...and hell, why not go out for a nice loooong drive...'go on and make Phil Gramm proud again. Source: Denver Post Labels: economy, News Trends, Poverty Divide, race relations, rich and poor divide posted by Henry Cruz at 1:41 AM Monday, August 04, 2008 Don't call 'em "Whole-Pay-Check" POST A COMMENT A couple of years back I had a friend over -- complaining as usual about his job -- and then he spotted my Whole Foods shopping bags laying out in the kitchen. "Oh man, you shop at whole-pay-check?" He says with a touch of disdain. "Only 'rich people shop there." -- Whole-Pay-Check, is what people have labeled the upscale market, -- meaning "shop at Whole Foods...'you'd better expect to spend your Whole-weekly-Paycheck there." I remember I got a tinge of being "too uppity," for wanting quality foods...hey, it was really hard at the time to get fresh fruits and veggies....so, I especially understood the recent NY Times article outlining -- in these tough times -- Whole Foods needs to remake itself: "convincing people that Whole Foods Market can be an economical place to shop." -- Um, Yeah, good luck with that one. "The company was once a Wall Street darling, but its sales growth was cooling even before the economy turned. Since peaking at the beginning of 2006, its stock has dropped more than 70 percent." “I came for something else one day and was shocked to find the meat on sale, so I bought it and put it in the freezer,” adds one customer. I'll be checking them out again this week to monitor the price changes, and see if I come home with at least half my paycheck -- (and I'll write a follow up here). A-Real estate side bar -- 'interesting thing about having a Whole Foods Market open up near you -- I learned watching HGTV -- are property values goes up. Mainly because whole foods will smartly only open up in college-friendly and areas where the average income and education level skews higher than the norm... I know when I buy my new place...it's gonna be near a whole foods so, it'll hold that resale value -- (assuming they can keep their asses in business long enough). Check out this Whole Foods video -- "inviting customers to show up for budget-focused store tours..." Source: NY Times Labels: economy, green living, Healthy Foods, News Trends, Obesity, Poverty Divide, rich and poor divide, Well-Balanced Life, Whole Foods posted by Henry Cruz at 1:35 PM Sunday, August 03, 2008 Energy-101: Here Comes the Sun! POST A COMMENT Storing solar-energy inside batteries right now is way too costly to be used in everyday usage. But, a new breakthrough is about to change all that... Basically, scientists have now figured out a Cheaper way of storing electricity from the sun-rays...'and as one expert offered, this means "you've answered everything." "The breakthrough uses a relatively simple way to use electricity to produce oxygen and hydrogen from water...When the two gases later are recombined in a fuel cell they cause a chemical reaction that spins off electrons that are forced through a circuit, reproducing the electricity." "The discovery shatters the biggest barrier to widespread use of solar power, namely that it's unavailable after dark, said Daniel Nocera, an MIT energy professor. Similar to the way plants store energy from the sun -- "The process uses nontoxic natural materials to convert sunlight into gases..." Researchers also say this could make solar power "in homes a mainstream energy option and might even make power companies obsolete, at least for residential needs." "This is the nirvana of what we've been talking about for years," Nocera told the MIT News Service. "Solar power has always been a limited, far-off solution. Now we can seriously think about solar power as unlimited and soon." "This is a major discovery with enormous implications for the future," offered another MIT expert. ''It opens up the door for developing new technologies for energy production." Ultimately, this breakthrough would aid us in getting off of our dependence of Foreign Oil. So...I'm sure we'll all be watching this story carefully. Here's a great primer video --(with MIT's Nocera) -- offering a break down of how this actually works: Source: ABC News Labels: Business-101, economy, Education, emissions, Energy-101, environment, fuel economy, hybrid, ideas, MIT Research, News Trends, Oil Prices, science 101, smaller carbon footprint, Solar Power, Trends posted by Henry Cruz at 4:30 PM Saturday, August 02, 2008 Time to eat the donuts? POST A COMMENT When folks think of health foods Dunkin' Donunts might be the last place that pops into their heads; but, "a new slate of better-for-you" menu options -- (which debuts Aug 6) -- is gonna try and say, "Hey, we have good stuff too." I'm gonna bet however, the typical Donut customer would sooner order shredded-pig-guts in lard sauce than the healthy alternatives. So this is for your tofu-eating-skinny friend -- who wondered into Dunkin' Donuts with you -- by accident. They'll now would be able to choose "flatbread sandwiches made with egg whites," and "turkey sausage egg-white sandwich or a vegetable one." -- (all under 300 calories) -- Like most fast-food-chains... The hope is to ward off the blame-game that Americans are all turning into uncontrolable fat diabetic slobs. "We're staying very true to our brand and very true to our heritage," says the company. "We're just growing and evolving." Speaking of evolving...'before gulping down those sweeties...dieters should realize that Food is energy — it is good for you. So, allow yourself some room for calorie mistakes. While most of us know choosing the right foods will keep us healthy. those same dieters, in a hurry, or looking for a quick bite -- or something just a bit-wicked with a side order of bacon grease -- turn out to be the donut shops best friend - (and I hear egg whites with a whole-lotta-kethup tastes de-li-ish...) Source: The Business Journal Labels: Diet 101, dunkin donuts, Health, Healthy Foods, HungryForChange.com, News Trends, Obesity, Restaurants, Well-Balanced Life posted by Henry Cruz at 3:40 PM Monday, June 09, 2008 Art-house Flicks find a new home? POST A COMMENT 'Was chatting with my partner on that unstoppable drum-beat of the blurring of media online...sounded something like this: Me: "You can watch all your fav TV shows online." Partner: "More and more shows..even cable." Me: "Add to that the equalizing factor of the web, and you'll get your next new shows starting right here..." So, why-not throw the "art-house" into this mix of colliding trends...look-y-here: Announced today: Tribeca Film Institute partnered with Amazon to launch on web: Reframe, a site for INDIE films -- and owners of content that would otherwise be unseen to convert digitally and sell their films. With this service, called Reframe - (reframecollection.org)-- -- "copyright holders will split the profit on digital download rentals and purchases (distributed in Windows Media Player format) evenly. DVD sales will operate under a tiered system, with 40% of $50 and under titles, 85% of $51-$200 titles and 90% of more than $200 titles going to rights holders." I'm one all for the old-school experience of that dark-shared-experience in room with buttery popcorn to watch my movies...but, this at least gives hope to those niche films that might otherwise never see the light of day. Source: NY Times Labels: indie film, movies, News Trends, web trends posted by Henry Cruz at 4:02 AM Thursday, May 29, 2008 Rachaels Wardrobe Malfunction? POST A COMMENT Always smiling -- for no reason -- that alone should have clued us off to the evil behind her secret messages...'no human being is that happy. and then came the scarf..."Absolutely no symbolism was intended," the company said. But, we know better...I'm watching you -- (points fingers to eyes, and back at Rachael Ray). Source: Associated Press Labels: dunkin donuts, News Trends, Rachael Ray posted by Henry Cruz at 2:51 PM Sunday, May 25, 2008 That Library is closing? POST A COMMENT Here's a novel idea: let's open a chain of store's it'll be like a big coffee shop with a lot of reading material... call it "Barnes and Noble" -- yeah, it seems that plan ain't working out so good. I know, I know...it's supposed to create a welcoming environment; but, if folks can sit all day and read, why would they buy that book afterwards? After some serious hurting, B & N now got a management team to study the "feasibility" of a possible Barnes & Noble-Border's combination...so, they can both go out of business together. Fact is less folks are reading books; the price is another thing, what's the incentive to pay $20 for the new paperbacks? Worse, B & N charging $25 "memberships" so we can save 10% on a book...I'd get that management team working on getting the next generation to slow down and read more, and actually enjoy reading more - (to ensure future customers). Main things effecting the book-slump is technology -- aside from gearing us all to move faster and get-it-now... how 'bout the fact that Barnes and Noble can't hold a candle to something like Amazon.com where you can find almost any single book I can think of, and always at prices cheaper than B&N. More so, since they added the ability to buy used books from other dealers through their website. What I'm reading: Mary Monroe's "In Sheep's Clothing" - okay, the book cover art sucks...but, it has a strong opening, with a likable female protagonist. I'll report back when I'm done reading it...'got any good books of note, drop me a line (leave a comment)...always looking for something new. Resource: CNBC News Labels: Books, In Sheeps Clothing, Mary Monroe, News Trends, novels, what I'm reading posted by Henry Cruz at 1:21 PM Growing up pharming... POST A COMMENT Might be time to say no to a world of "pampers," -- and that endless supply of happiness...or as my Dad would say: Man-up to the real world out there. Talking about a new survey that suggests "15 percent of high school seniors" are using prescription drugs (such as amphetamines, tranquilizers, sedatives, and nonheroin opiates like Vicodin and OxyContin) -- "to get high" -- and those numbers are getting larger, and younger...forming "teen pharming parties." -- to share their pills. Know thy child. "Parents are and continue to be the most influential purveyors of information on topics of great importance," says one expert. "Peers are more influential with what kids wear and where they go." Nothing wrong with reiterating "the values of the household." -- but taking it further and "knowing your kids' friends and their parents" -- and their availability to drugs... yeah, you want to give sense of space and individuality...however, "Parental monitoring is important for kids of all ages" One writer suggests teens are way too coddled - (read article) Offering a trend in the way today's kids are becoming more "insensitive" -- because parents are babying teens, and keeping all negative comments to a minimum...showering them in a non-stop "happy hour." No surprise then, those young adults now expect the same treatment from the real world...a world full of happy-hugs...without taking any real-responsibilities for their own actions. Above happiness, should be a solid foundation on "how-to-handle adversity" - (and how their actions effects others around them). Source: U.S. News, Greenwich Time Labels: drugs, News Trends, teens posted by Henry Cruz at 1:00 PM Wednesday, May 21, 2008 Oral Report: playing with numbers!! POST A COMMENT little doubt -- when talking 'bout the teen-evolution -- Our Kids are growing up faster...A combination of Constant Peer pressure -- exposure to the internet, etc. etc...steps up the end game: the race to get that cherry-popped. One US researcher claims - "Our research shows that this supposed substitution of oral sex for vaginal sex is largely a myth," says this study. Guessin' no substitution for the main course...Once those flood gates open, it's on, banging from all ends...at least in theory. The study found 55 percent of 15- to 19-year-olds have engaged in heterosexual oral sex, 50 percent have engaged in vaginal sex and 11 percent have had anal sex. Both oral and anal sex are much more common among teens who have already had vaginal intercourse than among those who haven't, suggesting that teens initiate a range of sexual activities around the same time, rather than substitute one for another, Source: United Press International Labels: Culture, News Trends, oral sex, teen abstinence, teen sex, virgin posted by Henry Cruz at 7:24 PM Monday, May 12, 2008 Saving-what-that-movie-will-do POST A COMMENT As heads-roll, over at the "Speed Racer" camp...The need-to-know-it-all-now-dorks - ('spoiler sites like: aintitcool - that feed off film titles, script-deals, and such...'before one frame is shot, also telling you everything that's in the film) -- saving us all the time of actually ever having to leave the house...gee, thanks. well, those same sites are offering "mixed reviews" to the yet-to-be-released INDY 3 - and Studio Exec's -- have their panties-in-a-bunch; wanting to avoid the "crash and burn" box office of that racer-clunker: "young males who love their action heroes almost as much as their personal computers." I wrote earlier on "How to Direct a blockbuster film" (read it here)...'old-school-ers like Speilberg need-to-remember that old adage: "Keep you enemies close." More than ever before, Consumers (and geeks-alike) now control the Buzz-machines...and in turn have become the gate keepers of the what's the next big thing. Take "Speed Racer," for example...to see where it all went all-wrong; Instead of attracting that R-rated Matrix audience, explains Cinemablend. They should have gone after 12-year-olds boyz. Exec's - "forgot to tell parents that this was a kids’ movie." - Basic marketing-101 in this new era... is to narrow the message to the target viewers...and let them build-up the buzz for you. In this youtube world, viewers not only will make content...they will voice their three cents..the biggest change in the new Hollywood — is the auteur. And mobilizing those people to tell your message to others. In todays world...everyone, and Anyone, can write, direct, produce and market videos without ever having to shake the hand of a Hollywood executive. The next generation of filmmakers, won't need any help from Hollywood. They can, and will, set the tone for what's-next! - and will be the first to tell others what they should do with their time. Check out this cool video primer on Emerging WEB Trends: Labels: Film, News Trends, web trends posted by Henry Cruz at 3:47 AM Thursday, May 08, 2008 Soap Dropping...and chicks! POST A COMMENT Highlighting what really drives innovation on the Net: 'chicks mean clicks,' said the genius myspace TV exec's - (which was bought by ubber-conservative Fox Network). Using the same ain't broke-yet-trashy formula-that worked for the low-brow-Fox-Network...but, downsized for the short-attention-span-friendly web audience (tiny bite sized clips at 2 mins a pop). This newest pitch sounds like a page from the pile of rejected-scripts from ABC's Ugly Betty: Dirty Soap -(which plans to have babes, a murder mystery, racy double entendres) - The direct to web telenovela --(is a reworked '70s sitcom "Soap" about a dysfunctional family) -- with a PG-13 rating, to stay sponsor-friendly. The one Note from the powers that be at Fox: "more women, preferably wearing as little as possible." Of course, the cast are being paid slave wages of $100 a day, the union minimum, and shooting at their mini-studio in Baja, Mexico. Hate to say it, but, they might have something..."I'll be watching!" Source Business Week Labels: myspace.com videos, News Trends, Web TV posted by Henry Cruz at 4:54 AM Tuesday, May 06, 2008 Tracking Every Mistake POST A COMMENT I'm not a big invasion-of-my-privacy dude - So, I get... Tracking software - (allowing Parents to monitor their kids daily performance) - "Did the homework go from backpack to teacher's hand? It's about accountability for me." Said one parent. "Instead of saying, 'How was school?' I can say, 'I know how the test went. Good job.'" The perks of engaging parents - (like an early warning system) - is to catch the patterns of mess-ups, before total failure. The backlash is more psychological: "If you're overly involved and breathing down your kids' neck...they are not going to share with you what's going on in other aspects of their lives...they'll build big thick walls in other areas you want them to communicate with you about" Also, tightening the grip with I-need-to-know-everything adds more pressure to make everything perfect. Which is good if you want to turn your kid into a neurotic mess. A big part of growing into responsible adults is about allowing kids to make their own mistakes...Ultimately, allowing them to learn from their mistakes. It's about finding that balance; let's at least give them an allusion of independence - (I mean, isn't the allusion of freedom the real American way). Source: NY Times, ABC News Labels: News Trends, Tracking Software posted by Henry Cruz at 1:03 PM Tuesday, April 29, 2008 China Athlethes' go for the cash... POST A COMMENT For better-or-worse: We're like the bad-boy's your Mamma warned you about...'speaking of the dramatic shift towards Capitalism in places like China...'greed is good and it's effecting the athletes migrating here and even there: "It's necessary to offer financial prizes to athletes -- otherwise we can't make them keep working for us," said the head of the Sports Administration office in Liaoning province. "Attitudes about sports in China have undergone a dramatic shift from the days when the government focused on collective gain rather than individual accomplishment. Those changes have helped foster the development of a new kind of athlete, one whose sacrifices result in fame and fortune -- and, if the athlete has a distinct personality, national celebrity." Now, it's all 'bout Fame, and they wanna get "paid" too - Whoo, yeah - boi...The revolution will be televised, (and it'll all be sponsored by by McDonald's and Budweiser). Source: Washington Post Labels: capitalism, China, Culture, News Trends, USA posted by Henry Cruz at 12:08 PM Sunday, April 20, 2008 Put down that X-box...? POST A COMMENT That which hurts us, well...um, 'will just make you hungrier. No, really. That X-box -- (or the X-box gen of kids) -- is actually changing the amount of accidents happening in the "outdoors" -- I'm talking about that article that points out: Most "Children are now more likely to be hurt falling out of bed than from a tree." According to the daily mail. Geez, Kinda gives new meaning to that Avril song with the line: "you're so delicious..." So, let's sing it out: Hey, hey...you, you...you know it's not a secret, eating and eating and more eating ...'will give you a fat ass... -- (okay, I'm no Avril) -- but, it got me thinking... the million dollar idea: Since the X-box has already captured the imagination of kids (it's like crack without the crack pipe), how 'bout a hybrid - x box ...the creative folks that can come up with a video game that actually makes it fun to shake your ass (that's a freebee folks)...discuss. Labels: Exercise, News Trends, Obesity, videogame posted by Henry Cruz at 5:06 AM Tuesday, November 20, 2007 The Dyfuse.com Weekly Digest! POST A COMMENT Here we got Briian and Amy -- editors of our sister site -- Dyfuse.com doing their urban weekly wrap up: For more of the best news and gossip be sure to check out Dyfuse.com Labels: Dyfuse wrap up, News Trends posted by Henry Cruz at 12:36 AM Wednesday, November 14, 2007 More than a sting... POST A COMMENT We usually don't realize the value of Mother Nature...or rather...the importance of Fucking around with Nature -- case in point, the missing bee's story -- feature in 60 minutes -- outline how important the cycle of life and the roles each of us play -- is important to putting food on the table. Labels: environment, News Trends posted by Henry Cruz at 12:12 PM Sunday, September 09, 2007 Sick-o-flyin' ?? POST A COMMENT get ready to hold your breath -- 'reading 'bout the combo of flying and oil (that's human oil)...um, oh great I guess packing clearasil seems pointless...well, yea... 'that kinda combo makes you sick-o ...apparently the "Ozone in the cabin (increases) the production of identifiable chemical byproducts...and other symptoms of "sick building" syndrome." -- doesn't it sound like soon 'nuff leaving your house...'just wont fly. Labels: News Trends posted by Henry Cruz at 11:55 PM Bad Apples from that Tree POST A COMMENT I drove across America this past Labor Day (for a mini-vacation)...and had a few personal moments of racial tension that screamed: "ya'll can visit for a few minutes...but, you'd best be on your way, sonny boy." -- 'just agree, race relations in down south are very scary. 'Not going to throw on an Activist coat anytime soon (we have better folk out there for that)...but, I am amazed at the whole media black-out ('mind the pun) on the recent Jena 6 case -- here'a primer: Bravo to NBC 'cause otherwise this story is nowhere to be found! Labels: News Trends posted by Henry Cruz at 1:38 PM Dirty Hand-ed... POST A COMMENT I got a thing about washing my hands -- 'can clock in at least 10 washes a day...maybe it 'cause I worked in the club business for a minute (and shaked many, many hands in my day)...each time wondering about where that hand has been...any-who...back to that article I was reading about the school system dirty report card. I'm guessing since it was a poll...there is a little room for error...'can remember the one time I actually sat through one of this shitty 'focus group' pollster...it was soooooooooo dry...and yes, I admit it. I lied....so, you have to factor that if only 27 percent of teachers admit to washing their hands...I would move that up to 70 percent. Labels: News Trends posted by Henry Cruz at 2:13 AM Saturday, September 08, 2007 Marketing Racism? POST A COMMENT 'Love it when rich folks start fights' with each other: 'Singer Nas fired back at O'Reilly the other day saying (about O'Reilly): "Everybody has a marketing plan; his marketing plan is racism." -- 'don't know if that's something you put on a resume... I have no idea whether O'Reilly is a racist (or he just plays one on TV)...but, I do know he plays his role of the stick-up-your-ass...'prudish Dad very, very well...but, a racist? Well, if we sat down and had honest talk...aren't we all a little racist? The problem is that we each don't have a popular talk show to spout off our evil ways for others to consume. Labels: News Trends posted by Henry Cruz at 7:32 PM Kiddie Fashion POST A COMMENT 'was reading the dailies -- and found this on kiddie fashion -- which suggests: "You do want him to get into Harvard, don’t you? The world of fashion isn’t just for grown-ups..." 'k...I guess I'm on the fence on this one! 'certainly understand the need for kids to blend in...and since by simple human nature we are a tribal society: where looking across the window to "keep up with the Jones" becomes more than just a fixation...(meaning if your next-door neighbor is dealing crack...well, dust off that pipe)...'cause isn't it all about fitting in with the smokers on the block? But, personal style aside...'simple fact is that I remember my own sense of style (or lack of it) -- back when I was in school...it was very much about the what popped into my home during the Saturday morning cartoon block...and also, what the other kids were styling that dictated what I just had to have. At such a young age...we don't really know who we are...we're all just trying desperately not to look stupid... 'says that kiddie high fashion -- is more for our parents than our kids. Labels: News Trends posted by Henry Cruz at 2:49 PM Playin it...Clinton POST A COMMENT Funny that it will take women to actually like Hillary for a women to become president. Politics aside, the "anti-Hillary" movement...is very personal. Can she win? Do other women like her? Can she carry the same Red states that her husband did? Yea, great questions...and all that shit matters...to a point. Actually, the Clinton problem: is that she is trying to be too centric...the person for all american people. Fuck that shit. Historically, both the Clintons have bowed to polls and focus groups as a way of seeming to stay in touch. I say, pick a side. k -- 'don't think you'll get anything very specific at this point...unless 10 polls says it's okay to warrant set opinions...playing it safe is okay for now. But, with the War being such a major fuck up...you have to make it personal...and in this case she needs to grow some balls. Labels: News Trends posted by Henry Cruz at 6:11 AM     ARCHIVES October 2005 . November 2005 . December 2005 . August 2007 . September 2007 . October 2007 . November 2007 . December 2007 . March 2008 . April 2008 . May 2008 . June 2008 . July 2008 . August 2008 . September 2008 .