February 2012
3 posts
Holidays a gift for tablet, e-book reader market
The share of adults in the United States who own tablet computers nearly doubled over the holiday selling season, according to a new survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project. Ownership of tablet computers increased from 10% to 19% between mid-December and early January. The same surge in growth applied to e-book readers, […] http://dlvr.it/1CL18Q
Six degrees of reading
Want to see books similar to the ones you’re reading? Head over to Yasiv, a site that uses Amazon data to create a flowchart of recommendations. Created by Andrei Kashcha, the site serves up a web of book covers that, when clicked, lead to information about those titles. There’s also a box on the left […] http://dlvr.it/18mv3G
What’s my line, 2012 style
Some people know how to coin a memorable phrase. Tom Brokaw referred to the men and women who fought for the United States in World War II as the greatest generation. In 1943 a Nazi propaganda periodical used the term Iron Curtain. Tea Party members often refer to journalists the media elite, a term coined […] http://dlvr.it/18X7WQ
January 2012
6 posts
Continental divide
What a difference an ocean makes. Reaction to the release Friday of U.S. GDP numbers varied depending on which side of the pond you’re from. The headline on the Financial Times website read “US Growth Accelerates to 2.8%.” German’s Der Spiegel wrote “U.S. economy is growing strongly again.” It’s another story in the United States. […] http://dlvr.it/17dtDv
The way we were, in ads
As a kid Jay Paull loved advertising so much he tore ads from publications. Over the years he’s collected quite a few. To share that vast treasure trove of nostalgia he has created Vintage Print Advertisements, a website for a collection that dates to a time before his time—the mid-1800s through the early 1900s. The […] http://dlvr.it/17PDtW
PR firms see growth in 2012
More than half of America’s biggest PR firms say revenue and headcounts rose last year over 2010. According to the Council of Public Relations Firms, which represents more than 100 of America’s leading public relations agencies, 70 percent of firms report that final 2011 revenues will be higher than in 2010. Only 13 percent anticipate […] http://dlvr.it/16G34v
Piquing your interest with Pinterest
What do you get when you cross Facebook with Flickr? Pinterest, the hot new social networking site that lets users collect and share photos across the Internet. Mashable, the source of all things digital, describes Pinterest as a “digital pinboard,” a place where users can connect to others through shared tastes and the images that […] http://dlvr.it/15hC8Z
Social fever: tracking your health
As part of its 12 trends for 2012 Trendwatching.com has published a list of tech products that enable the monitoring, tracking and sharing of an individual’s health information. It’s called DIY health and it’s going to be big this year. With the aid of a smartphone users can monitor and potentially diagnose issues with complete […] http://dlvr.it/13Wz43
Social fever: tracking your health
As part of its 12 trends for 2012 Trendwatching.com has published a list of tech products that enable the monitoring, tracking and sharing of an individual’s health information. It’s called DIY health and it’s going to be big this year. With the aid of a smartphone users can monitor and potentially diagnose issues with complete […] http://dlvr.it/13Wz43
December 2011
3 posts
Taking stock of year-end advice
In the past week I’ve read half a dozen articles on major financial websites urging yield-starved investors to switch from bonds to dividend payers. The pitch? That you can get a higher yield with less risk with dividend-paying stocks than you can with bonds, whose yields are depressed as flight-to-safety investors bid up their prices. […] http://dlvr.it/11YJT9
BtoB firms spend on social marketing
BtoB firms plan to follow their BtoC cousins and spend more on social marketing over the next three years, according to a white paper by the American Association of Advertising Agencies. The study quotes Forrester in predicting that by 2014, BtoB spending in social media will reach $54 million, up from the $11 million spent […] http://dlvr.it/11NSDj
Writing with style
The Associated Press has released software that uses the AP Stylebook to proofread content in Microsoft Word. AP StyleGuard provides automatic checking of documents for AP style. The software uses defined structure and rules similar to Word’s spelling and grammar checking. AP says the plugin ensures consistency and saves writers the time spent manually referring […] http://dlvr.it/10qTST
November 2011
5 posts
Investing in storytelling
You think writers are the only ones concerned with telling a story? Listen to this. Earlier this month three of six agency owners and recruiters interviewed by blogger Arik C. Hanson said the ability to tell a story was the leading trait they want to see in PR professionals. They believe storytelling reflects the facility […] http://dlvr.it/yC5V6
More than skin deep
Beauty pays. That’s the conclusion of Daniel Hamermesh, economics professor at the University of Texas in Austin, who measured the economic benefits of looking good. His conclusions: Attractive people are likely to earn about 3% to 4% more than a person with below-average appearance. Better-looking people tend to sell more products or attract more new […] http://dlvr.it/xBTnD
For polio the end is near
Rotary is this close to helping world health organizations eradicate polio. In 1985 there were 350,000 cases of the crippling disease in 125 countries. Today, thanks to the efforts of Rotarians, the World Health Organization, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and others, the number of endemic countries has been reduced to four: Afghanistan, India, […] http://dlvr.it/wKPLr
Is your marketing on auto-pilot?
Today’s guest post is from Amanda Kaiser, one of the fresh young minds on the marketing scene. Amanda has worked with some of the heavyweights in the consumer sector and brings a lot of practical knowledge to the trade. Here’s a sample. This summer I vacationed with my family in Cape May, N.J. If you’ve […] http://dlvr.it/w1J5f
Impulse writing
Writing that flows is often based on a solid structure. Take the piece “Why impulse spending can be a good thing” by Katherine Rosman, who writes the Checks & Balances column about finance and marriage for the Wall Street Journal. The article is designed to read like a short story with comments, unfolding through scenes […] http://dlvr.it/v2W3R
October 2011
5 posts
Work of the week
How do you market a traditional brand to an emerging audience? By hiring the people who can build relationships with many cultures. That’s what one of my clients has done with some success. For a look behind the scenes at dealerships that know how to reach new audiences, tag along with one sales rep near […] http://dlvr.it/t3Q2v
The changing face of America
Plastic surgery is no longer for the middle aged. In the last five years elective cosmetic procedures among patients age 65 and older have rise by 29% while procedures among the overall population fell 17%, according to the Wall Street Journal. Nonsurgical techniques, like Botox injections, accounted for most of that work–88% of cosmetic procedures […] http://dlvr.it/t2pNz
IRS raises pension plan limits for 2012
As the economy stumbles through recovery and more people worry about meeting basic expenses, here’s something you may not hear much about: The IRS says you can contribute an extra $500 to your 401(k). Contributions to the tax-deferred retirement plans will rise from $16,500 to $17,000 next year as the IRS adjusts those amounts to […] http://dlvr.it/rg2F5
A tale of two writers
Two contemporary American authors recommend themselves for their use of the English language, mystery writer Will Thomas and poet Barbara Hamby. They have little in common. Their subject matter and style don’t match. Yet each handles the language with vigor and grace without sacrificing the forward motion often missing in literary works. In the five […] http://dlvr.it/qG2dp
We may never pass this way again
The shovel blade bites into the earth, black with rain and rot. It tangles with roots and rocks. The sun slants across the rising mound of dirt. Mosquitoes hover like angels of death. We wrap Jenna in her favorite towels that feature a smiling sun, a baseball team’s logo, a lobster at the beach. Lifting […] http://dlvr.it/pRRYv
September 2011
2 posts
The Fog
Slowly the fog, Hunch-shouldered with a grey face, Arms wide, advances, Finger-tips touching the way Past the dark houses And dark gardens of roses. Up the short street from the harbour, Slowly the fog, Seeking, seeking; Arms wide, shoulders hunched, Searching, searching, Out through the streets to the fields, Slowly the fog – A blind […] http://dlvr.it/nJsfW
Browsing the big picture
Laura Larsell has posted a thoughtful article on Mashable called “Why Browsing Is So Important to Content Discovery.” In it the librarian and information organizer at Trapit argues that the practice is a crucial component of information discovery. Today we find information directly through search engines or indirectly through social media contacts, but those processes […]...
August 2011
3 posts
Is privacy dead?
You remember that scene in “Minority Report” when the character played by Tom Cruise is on the lam in a shopping center. The video display read his retinas and called him by name as it served individualized ads. Marketers knew who and where he was. So did the police. Last year the Japanese rolled out […] http://dlvr.it/hdgJN
Digital graffiti
We try to ignore spam, the unsolicited email and comments on our blogs designed to sell everything from male enhancement to website development. Judging from the text, much of it comes from people who grapple with English as well as ethics. Their pitches would be funny if we didn’t have to waste so much time […] http://dlvr.it/fqPjB
The art of making mistakes
“I could be wrong now … but I don’t think so.” – Randy Newman, singing the theme song from the TV show “Monk” Writing in the August 2011 issue of The Retail Observer, Moe Lastfogel says that too many people in business fear being wrong. They confuse making mistakes with defects of character. […] http://dlvr.it/ds8l1
July 2011
17 posts
RT @mldrabenstott: Interactive graphic offers crowdsourced view of what we ought to do about the debt. http://nyti.ms/nq3qJe
Once upon a lake: The kayak glides across the lake like an images in a dream, and only when I think about it, when… http://dlvr.it/cW7tc
Once upon a lake →
Once upon a lake
The kayak glides across the lake like an images in a dream, and only when I think about it, when the spinning paddles slow does the wind nudge small blue caps against the hull and the bow slaps the water like a fist. http://dlvr.it/cW7vV
The bear went over the mountain: A bear crosses the ridge this morning 50 feet from the house, a black hole of… http://dlvr.it/c3PV5
The bear went over the mountain →
The bear went over the mountain
A bear crosses the ridge this morning 50 feet from the house, a black hole of primal energy surfing the woods for the huckleberries that are beginning to ripen. We watch from the safety of glass as it passes and keep a weather eye on the dog, who sniffs the grass at the end of […] http://dlvr.it/c3PWC
Monroe libraries to present local book expo
The Associated Libraries of Monroe County will present the second annual Monroe County Book Expo on Saturday, July 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Eastern Monroe Public Library in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. The event is free and open to the public. The expo will highlight books written and/or published by residents of Monroe […] http://dlvr.it/bgBXL
Roll over Moses, e-readers outpace tablets
More Americans own e-book readers than tablet computers, according to a new report from the Pew Internet and American Life Project. Last year tablets like the iPad had a slight lead over e-readers such as Kindle and Nook. But by May of this year, 12% of U.S. adults said they own an e-reader while 8% […] http://dlvr.it/bgBX0
Retro TV takes wing with ‘Pan Am’
Hot on the heels of the critically acclaimed drama “Mad Men” comes the high-flying “Pan Am,” ABC-TV’s retro look at the swinging sixties. Debuting this fall the show stars Christina Ricci, Karine Vanasse, Kelli Garner and Margot Robbie. New York magazine is reporting that Jonah Lotan, who plays an ambitious new pilot, is being replaced. […] http://dlvr.it/bgBX8
For print titles, the ‘e’ in e-books stands for...
The move to e-books is looking like a stampede. Online retailer Amazon.com said today that it’s selling more electronic books than printed versions. The company says it sells 105 e-books for every 100 physical copies it sells. Next Tuesday rival Barnes & Noble will ratchet up the competition when it introduces a new generation Nook […] http://dlvr.it/bgBWL
The Innkeeper’s Daughter, or Love Among the Cows
Richard Slee founded the precursor to biologics giant Sanofi Pasteur because he wanted to eradicate smallpox. And because he fell in love with the innkeeper’s daughter. The first wouldn’t have happened without the second. Dr. Slee decided to launch his business in the Pocono Mountains after he visited the Swiftwater Inn, where he met the […] http://dlvr.it/bgBWh
Twilight time
We’ve taken to walking in the evening after dinner. The road rises steeply to meet us, you can feel it in your calves, as if gravity increases with altitude. Trees reach across to shake hands, congratulating each other on another fine day. Lilies start to spiral inward, their yellow throats glowing in faces of orange. […] http://dlvr.it/bgBWp
And the award for best product performance goes to...
Marketers are boldly going where no advertisers have gone before — subtly into the minds of viewers. With an explosion of media and devices designed to bypass commercials, marketers are integrating their products into the fabric of movies, TV shows and social media sites. That’s not news. It’s the escalation and arrogance that’s taken this […] http://dlvr.it/bgBVZ
Everything I know about design I learned in...
Tom Wujec stands before the crowd at this year’s TED conference and talks about a tool that restores balance to the team-building process. As he says on his website, the Marshmallow Challenge is a “fun and instructive design exercise that encourages teams to experience simple but profound lessons in collaboration, innovation and creativity.” But it’s […] http://dlvr.it/bgBVm
All that glitters
Ah Vegas… . The glitz, the glamor, the road construction, the Elvis impersonators. The place that defines the term over the top. It’s unlike any other place, although the irony is that it tries to look like a lot of other places, from Paris to New York. Western gold gleaming in the desert. […] http://dlvr.it/bgBVJ
Culture as an engine of commerce
U.S. politicians who want to cut federal funding for NPR might read a study by the Ifo Institute for Economic Research in Munich. Researchers there found a direct link between spending on culture and regional economic health. The authors studied the economic growth of regions with and without opera houses. Their conclusion: regions with these […] http://dlvr.it/bgBSz
April 2011
4 posts
Putting up the screens we listen to the soft sound of rain.
“One Life to Live” loses its life. http://on.wsj.com/hHq5MP
Scientists Unveil Digital Atlas of the Human Brain (WSJ video). http://on.wsj.com/eLyFgD
Steaming to Armageddon: Sally Lockhart and the...
Victorian England is all the rage in fiction. What might have started with Sherlock Holmes in 1887 has morphed into young adult books, mysteries and a branch of science fiction called steampunk that deliver an apocalyptic message finely tuned for our times. Philip Pullman’s Sally Lockhart quartet heads the list of YA books that bring London […] http://dlvr.it/MfLxp
March 2011
14 posts
The politics of culture
U.S. politicians who want to cut federal funding for NPR might read a study by the Ifo Institute for Economic Research in Munich. Researchers there found a direct link between spending on culture and regional economic health. The authors studied the economic growth of regions with and without opera houses. Their conclusion: regions with these cultural […] http://dlvr.it/L0YVZ
Advertising? It’s all in your mind
Marketers are boldly going where no advertisers have gone before — subtly into the minds of viewers. With an explosion of media and devices designed to bypass commercials, marketers are integrating their products into the fabric of movies, TV shows and social media sites. That’s not news. It’s the escalation and arrogance that’s taken this contemporary […] http://dlvr.it/KbJjp