Well summer is officially here and when the water is warm enough to swim in, then its open season for jelly fish.  Other than avoiding the water, if you do get stung, here are a few tips to help with the discomfort.  After coming out of the water, wash the area with SALT, not fresh water, fresh water just makes it sting more.  Then put on either white vinegar or the old standby, meat tenderizer.  Happy swimming…

The latest recall of 143 million pounds of Beef recalled in California that were providing meat to schools for lunch programs just re-emphasizes the need for stricter regulations and the damaging effects this has on the meat industry in the U.S.  It is time for the USDA to institute firm measures and fines.  I for one, only buy organic meat but not everyone has the luxury of paying higher prices for hopefully what is a safer quality meat.  Let us make our voices be heard in Washington especially in this election season!

Some bottled water flies "under the radar" of regulatory requirements. Water that is labeled "carbonated water," "disinfected water," "filtered water," "seltzer water," "sparkling water," "soda water," or just plain "water" may be exempt from specific water-testing and contamination standards. In addition since there is concern about heating items in plastic just think how hot those plastic bottles of water get in the heat of summer. A report by the NRDC  states “At the national level, the Food and Drug Administration is responsible for bottled water safety, but the FDA’s rules completely exempt waters that are packaged and sold within the same state, which account for between 60 and 70 percent of all bottled water sold in the United States (roughly one out of five states don’t regulate these waters either).”

NRDC continues, “Even when bottled waters are covered by the FDA’s rules, they are subject to less rigorous testing and purity standards than those which apply to city tap water“  Time to rethink the case  for bottled water…

Based on a new ruling by the 9th U.S. Court of appeals…"internet users have no reasonable expectation of privacy in the data while using the internet".   They don’t even need a search warrant to install this spyware on your computer if they feel that your activiity could be a threat to national security.  Unfortunately due to the times we live in we have to forgo many  of the freedoms this country was based on in the name of national security, and although it is understandable in many cases, it is very hard to determine when that goes over the line.  But a word to the wise, there is very little that will remain private these days…

So as of August 4th we can bring lighters on airplanes but not a large bottle of shampoo or large bottles of baby formula, seems to make perfect sense, NOT.   It is truly amazing how much time and money was spent confiscating lighters, unfortunately just the sign of our times.  This one really makes no sense though, you can bring on small tools, small scissors and screwdrivers HOWEVER they give you plastic utensils instead of metal ones. Go figure…

SLG Advertising, a media planning and buying agency in Rye Brook, NY, has formed an alliance with In Touch Technologies to offer clients branded desktop applications that allow for true accountability in advertising and marketing. The power of this technology gives brands the ability to stay in touch with their customers. It gives customers the control to opt-in to this technology and even set preferences for the days of the week and the hours of the day they want to hear from brands they trust and use. This two way communication platform delivers real time data to a brand to analyze what messages and offers the client has responded to.

Read

Wal-Mart, the wold’s largest retailer is allowing customers to rate products sold on their website. Just another indication of how critical web advertising and interaction are becoming to an ever increasing splintered marketplace.  Consumers no longer rely on tradtional media to purchase their products, so marketers have to become very astute at determining which vehicles will get their customer’’s attention.  Clearly the computer and ultimately hand held devices are major categories that need to be top of mind when determining an advertising plan for a product.  Check out www.ittrom.com  for an accountable IT platform that allows a brand to stay in touch with their customers in a fun, entertaining way. Best of all this is an opt-in technology totally controlled by the consumer.   Definitely the way of the future…

In the ever continuing stream of misinformation like the case for butter being bad versus margarine, eggs being unhealthy, and let’s not forget how they frightened us about drinking coffee!  Thank goodness I for one maintained my coffee habits, my family is a lot happier for it especially first thing in the a.m.  It is truly disheartening to think of all the money that has been spent in all these studies that turn out to be incorrect after YEARS of us believing otherwise.  Imagine how much good that money would have done to help folks who can’t afford medical care and preventive measures in the first place. Don’t get me started…

I’m involved with a very exicting event  coming up. The Bruce Museum Sea Fair Event will be held on September 26th from 7-10 pm.  The SeaFair is the world’s first luxury yacht built to hold prestigious art galleries, antique dealers and jewelers from New York, London and Paris.  Built at a cost of $60 million, this yacht is 228 feet and this will be the SeaFair’s maiden appearance.  It will be docked in the harbor in Greenwich, CT, for this event.

The chef for the cocktail party on board will be Chef Walter Scheib, the renowned White House chef for both Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

Good morning, and as I was watching Good Morning America, a Wall St Journal editor talked about the new capabilities on cell phones. One can now monitor what is being texted or called in on your child’s cell phone. In addition cell phones can now monitor your sleep apnea, diabetes, heart rate and be your personal trainer. Yes, it will even choose a song with a beat that is either slower or faster depending upon your target heart rate. Amazing yes, however, it seems that our entire lives are being monitored and sometimes that is not such a good thing. Keep personal freedom alive…