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| | 03/15/2008
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| | [Actually 03/04/2008]: The May Report: 03/04/2008: Rumors that Lucent is a near ghost town: Fried, Rexilius and Swiderski respond to May's ramblings; Matt Carr's EDC talk on Industrial & environmental applications
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| | March 4, 2008
The May Report: 03/04/2008: Rumors that Lucent is a near ghost town: Fried, Rexilius and Swiderski respond to May's ramblings; Matt Carr's EDC talk on Industrial & environmental applications
Editor and publisher: ron@themayreport.com, ronaldmay@aol.com, www.themayreport.com 773-525-3944.
If you missed an article, go here: http://www.tmronline.com/A55951/tmrarticles.nsf/vwFullNewsletter
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PITCHING YOUR PLAN: HOW TO DELIVER THE PERFECT PRESENTATION TO INVESTORS
Presented by the Coleman Entrepreneurship Center at DePaul University
Thursday, March 13, 2008
6:00 - 8:30 pm
University Center, 525 S. State St., The Lake Room
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Scoop section:
-- From the rumor mill: Lucent becomes a near ghost town
-- Responses to May's relatively uninformed diatribe about 37Signals and Ruby on Rails from Jason Rexilius, Ed Swiderski and Jason Fried (in the order received)
[Editor's note: May here. As Alexander Pope wrote in his Essay on Man, "a little learning is a dangerous thing."]
-- The Slides from Matt Carr's talk to the EDC on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008 on Industrial & environmental applications
-- NYT, March 3, 2008: After Suicide, Blog Insults Are Debated
-- Tarkus Murphy: Trash the Dress Session?
-- Friday, March 7: The Thapelo Institute, Inc. and many of Chicago's top African-American doctors will announce and unveil plans for the Free Health & Fitness Experience for Africans and African-American Men
-- comScore: Number of U.S. Computers Accessing the Internet Via Mobile Broadband Soars 154 Percent in 2007
-- Monday, March 10: MEF downtown: Becoming Your Own Banker: The Infinite Banking Concept, Julie Ann Hepburn
[Editor's note: May here. No time to write a Briefly noted section right now. I wanted to get this out fast because I don't think it is fair to Jason Fried to leave people with an incomplete and somewhat wrong picture. A big report is coming. NAVTEQ and The Today Show did a test today on Magellin (sp?) and TomTom and one other GPS system.
On the hit parade for the rest of this week:
Motorola's ESA and Ventures group
NAVTEQ, from the viewpoint of the CEO and the CTO
The TechVision2008 conference including wind and solar and Argonne and VC issues
What is going on with broadband and Olympics in the state
And more....
Which is better for business: Facebook or LinkedIn?
http://cwflyris.computerworld.com/t/2867769/424663/101276/2/
Where is Chris Rollyson here? Melissa, I thought you were raising $5MM, not putting on LinkedIn presentations.]
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The Scoop section:
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From the rumor mill: Lucent becomes a near ghost town
From: dsbreese@comcast.net
To: may; Kevin Dombkowski
Subject: lucent rumors
Sent: Tue 3/4/2008 9:14 AM
From the Lucent grapevine -- I got the e-mail forwarded to me on this
yesterday, so I assume it is recent. I don't know from whom it
originated.
=====
The # 4 Lobby Has closed, building 4 has approx. 14 people left on
the third floor plus five people from real-estate which will be moved
@ the middle of next week.
Building 5 2nd floor is now empty, building # 2 almost empty,
building 3 still pretty full until the next FMP which will be @
middle of March. building 1 is slowly being emptied. John Varga has
Approx 18 months to get the labs out of NWN and Old NSC. They are
about to close the entire Lisle Complex. I'm now at the N/E Lobby in
Building 6 at I H Main. The pioneers are slowly being edged out
totally, sad! I'm thinking that wireless is going to be hit badly
soon. and possibly Live net will go to New Jersey as the VIP center
closed last year.
=====
--
John L. Broughton
wb9vgj@...
http://www.commspeed.net/wb9vgj
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Responses to May's relatively uninformed diatribe about 37Signals and Ruby on Rails from Jason Rexilius, Ed Swiderski and Jason Fried (in the order received)
[Editor's note: May here. As Alexander Pope wrote in his Essay on Man, "a little learning is a dangerous thing."]
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From: Jason Rexilius [jason@hostedlabs.com]
To: ron@themayreport.com
Subject: Ruby on Rails, Personality and Business
Sent: Mon 3/3/2008 8:06 PM
Hey Ron,
I just wanted to drop you a note on the thread you are pursuing about
Rails and the various Chicago personalities and businesses involved.
One thing to keep in mind is that a debate about technology will
almost always be a useless effort. Technology is kind of like a tool as
Jason had alluded to, however, it is nowhere near as simple. With a
hammer you can describe the context in which you could evaluate its
merits in relation to a screwdriver, for example. With technology there
often is a right answer for a given problem but the context is very
specific to that circumstance. There are generalities that hold true
and there are often answers that aren't just "religious" but it would be
nearly impossible for a general debate to provide any meaningful context
with which to find answers.
Forgive the long winded explanation but I don't like dismissing the
fact that there is a valid answer for "which technology is right for a
job" with the general label of "religious wars". But you wont be able
to derive those answers from a debate.
Another thing to keep clear is the distinction between a technology
and the personalities involved. We are all human and obviously effected
by the people around something, but code lives on after your personality
has gone (at least it better ;-) ). Ruby on Rails (which is not the
same as the programming language Ruby) has its pro's and con's, and it
does have some serious con's for many jobs, but Davids personality
shouldn't be one of either.
To be honest, good marketing, even in open source software, can make
a huge difference in popularity, but popularity should be only one small
part of the selection criteria when shopping for tools. Not that it
always is..
Sorry again for being long winded, but this is a very complex set of
topics that you are munging together. You looked in over your head ;-)
-jason
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From: Edward R. Swiderski III [eswiderski@greencanyon.net]
To: ron@themayreport.com
Subject: RE: The May Report: 03/03/2008: Avery Cohen on Motorola's Conrado at the BMA; the darker side of 37Signals comes out; Pulver's breakfast, TechVision2008 and Eric Olson to join DFJ Portage
Sent: Tue 3/4/2008 7:32 AM
HI Ron:
Thanks for passing the Joomla info on!...
Now on to DHH/Fried:
First of all, there is no new controversy here. This has been an ongoing debate since day 1 of RoR.
I am not a 37S cult/fan boy by any means, but I am in fact a big fan of Rails. I have many years of experience with dev frameworks and RoR helps build better software, faster. I'm not an MS-hater (or any other platform for that matter), but RoR is arguably the most significant web 2.0 catalysts ever.
Simplicity is key to successful software. Microsoft has proven this by actually adopting some best practices from RoR.
From TMR, 03/03/08:
"Jason flat out said at the TechVision2008 conference that you are going to lose customers and you can't avoid that."
I've attended many events with these guys, including the recent SEED conference at UIC, which Jason described what he means by this concept. I agree with them here, if you try to please all of your customers, you will ultimately lose. You CAN'T please everyone, but try to please as many as it makes sense. (similar approach and reason Napoleon was as successful as he was). This happens to be why other frameworks have become a bloatware mess (.Net, Java), because they are trying include so much functionality in the core. A perfect example is Vista; too many years of junk from previous versions must be included into the core, making it an enormous install/driver disaster.
I love the simplicity aspect of what Jason espouses, and I am not at all sure about the "f*** you" attitude toward customers. They clearly are indicating that this is directed to RoR naysayers, not customers. If they don't like it, they don't have to use it. Simple as that.
At the end of the day, the software we build is better and faster, and my customers are happier. This is a game-changer in the world of software development, and the big boys can learn a lot from them.
Thanks Ron,
Ed
Edward R. Swiderski III
Principal | GreenCanyon
office: 312.929.4532 | mobile: 630.229.2696
200 S. Wacker Drive | 15th Floor | Chicago IL | 60606
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Subject: FYI
Date: 3/4/2008 9:47:48 A.M. Central Standard Time
From: jason@37signals.com
To: RONALDMAY@aol.com
Hey Ron-
For the full story, you may want to read and link to our response to
the Wired piece:
http://www.37signals.com/svn/posts/881-37signals-featured-in-wired-march-2008-issue
You said: "I love the simplicity aspect of what Jason espouses, and I
am not at all sure about the "f*** you" attitude toward customers."
I'm not sure about it either because we don't have a "f*** you"
attitude towards our customers. That's an outrageous suggestion.
Understand that people who use Rails are not our customers -- they are
people who use the free open-source Rails framework. Our customers are
people who use and pay for our commercial products. There is no
connection between developers who use Rails to build their own
products and the small business owners who sign up to use our
commercial products to run their businesses.
We're dedicated to keeping our customers happy. That's why we've been
in business for 9 years in such a highly competitive industry. In any
business you'll find some disgruntled customers in the corner, but the
rest of our room is filled with very happy customers.
Our latest customer satisfaction survey showed 94% of our Basecamp
customers would recommend Basecamp to a friend or colleague and 96% of
Backpack customers would recommend Backpack to a friend or colleague.
http://www.basecamphq.com/survey
http://www.basecamphq.com/buzz
http://www.backpackit.com/buzz
http://www.highrisehq.com/buzz
-Jason
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The Slides from Matt Carr's talk to the EDC on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008 on Industrial & environmental applications
[Editor's note: May here. Thank goodness for Kashmir Polaski who has given the CPS a holiday (Monday) and Anna time off from school so that she could type cards and handouts.]
Biotechnology Industry Organization
The Biotech Century
-Biotech is expanding beyond medical appliations
-Food and agricultural applications
-Industrial & environmental applications
What is BIO?
-Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
-Biotechnology trade association based in Washington, D.C.
-Over 1,100 member companies in all aspects of biotechnology
-Members in U.S. and 31 other countries
Industrial Biotechnology
What is Industrial Biotechnology?
Applying genomic, proteomic and bioinformatic tools developed for medical biotechnology to discover new ways to make fuels, industrial raw materials, intermediates and consumer goods
Some Industrial and Environmental Section Members
-BP
-Synthetic Genomics
-Ceres
-NatureWorks
-Amyris
-Iogen
-Shell
-Chevron
-Dow
-BASF
-Bunge
-Novozymes
-Mascoma
-Cargill
-Bayer
-Abengoa Bioenergy
-Metabolix
-Dyadic
-Poet
-Codexis
-LS9, Inc.
-Genencor International
Industrial & Environmental Section Member Companies
Technology Providers
-Diversa, Dyadic, Novozymes, Genecor, Codexis
Agriculture/Food Industry
-Cargill, Tate & Lyle, Bunge, Ceres, Mendel
Chemicals Industry
-DuPont, Dow, DSM, Rohm & Haas, BASF
Biomaterials/Bioplastics Industry
-NatureWorks, Metabolix
Biofuels Industry
-Abengoa Bioenergy, Blue Sun Biodiesel, Poet, Vernium, Sun Opta, Iogen, BP, Chevron
International Trade Commission
-Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance with jurisdiction over international trade, has asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to conduct an analysis of the competitive conditions in the industrial biotechnology industry
-"Industrial biotechnology is emerging as a major industry, but it's so new that there are gaps in our knowledge of its economic impact"
-Sen. Grassley requested that the Commission institute a fact-finding investigation of the competitive conditions affecting certain industries that are developing and adopting new biotechnology processes and products
-BIO has been encouraging such a study
Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing
April 27-30, 2008
Chicago, IL!
http://www.bio.org/worldcongress2008
History
-World Congress started in 2004 with just over 350 attendees
-3 years in Orlando, one Congress in Toronto, now in Chicago!
-Over 800 attendees in 2007
-Large international presence with representatives from US, Canada, Europe, China, Japan, India, Korea, Taiwan, among others
-Over 100 individual business partnering meetings facilitated at 2007 WC
-Over 50 scientific and academic posters presented in 2007
2008 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing
-Fifth Annual World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology & Bioprocessing to be held April 27-30, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois
-Hilton Chicago Hotel
-1200+ attendees expected
-6 plenary sessions, 50 breakout panels, 5900 sq foot exhibit hall, 3 receptions, business partnering, poster session
Conference Goals
-World Congress was created to fill void of industrial biotech space
-Blend of technical expertise and business partnering opportunities
-Marriage of agriculture, chemistry and biotech communities
-Increasing local economic development
-Bring together ag, biotech, science, industry, gov't etc. through business partnering
2008 Breakout Tracks
-Track 1: Biofuels and Bioenergy
-Track 2: Renewable Feedstocks
-Track 3: Renewable Chemicals and Biomaterials
-Track 4: Fine Chemicals, Food Ingredients and Pharmaceuticals
-Track 5: Business Development, Infrastructure and Public Policy
2008 Plenary Speakers Highlights
-Jeff Broin, CEO, POET
-Mauro Gregorio, Director New Business and Hydrocarbons Alternative Sources, Dow Chemical Company
-Richard Hamilton, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ceres, Inc.
-Weiming Jiang, President, DSM China
-Steven Koonin, Chief Scientist, BP
-Steen Riisgaard, President and CEO, Novozymes
-Michael J. Walsh, Executive Vice President of Chicago Climate Exchange
Agriculture
-Entire track on renewable feedstocks
-Feedstock: From the Farm to the Biorefinery Gate
-New Fuel Corp Alternatives
-Harvest, Storage, & Transportation of Biomass
-Capitalizing on Biomass: A Comparison of Energy Crop Economics for the Bio-Revolution
Business Partnering
-Private meeting areas will be available for the sole purpose of business partnering sessions
-Attendees wishing to meet with other attendees to discuss potential partnerting, collaboration activities, or joint ventures may request a face to face meetings at the business partnering desk
-These meetings are completely voluntary and more formal method for initiating communication with other companies or scientists
Official Side Events
-First George Washington Carver Award for Innovation in Industrial Biotech to be awarded
-USDA- Bio-indicators workshop at 2008 WC
-Governors Ethanol Coalition meeting with a briefing by BIO members on biofuels and biobased products, including rural development implications
-The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)- Industrial Biotech Tast Force
The Biorefinery Revolution
Local benefits of the new bioeconomy
DOE Integrated Biorefinery Demonstration Projects
Company: Abengoa Bioenergy
Plant Location: Kansas
Feedstocks: Corn stover, wheat straw, milo stubble, switchgrass
Technology: Enzymatic Hydrolysis
Capacity: 40 ML + power
Company: ALICO
Plant Location: Florida
Feedstocks: Yard, wood, vegetative wastes
Technology: Gasification- Fermentation
Capacity: 50 ML + power, H2, ammonia
Company: BlueFire Ethanol
Plant Location: California
Feedstocks: Sorted green waste and wood waste from landfills
Technology: Acid Hydrolysis
Capacity: 75 ML
Company: Poet
Plant Location: Iowa
Feedstocks: Corn fiber, cobs, and stalks
Technology: Enzymatic Hydrolysis
Capacity: 110 ML
Company: Iogen
Plant Location: Idaho
Feedstocks: Wheat straw, corn stover, switchgrass, and rice straw
Technology: Enzymatic Hydrolysis
Capacity: 70 ML
Company: Range Fuels
Plant Location: Georgia
Feedstocks: Wood residues and woodbased energy crops
Technology: Gasification
Capacity: 150 ML ethanol + methanol
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ETHANOL!
Bio-Based Economy
-Eventually the industry will grow to provide multiple products from cellulosic feedstocks and from one production site, building a biobased economy, instead of a petroleum-based economy
-Economical
-Rural Growth
-Minimize infrastructure
-Lower environmental
NatureWorks- PLA
-When extruded into a high-performance synthetic fiber, the resin is branded as Ingeo fiber
-Plant in Blair, NE
DuPont-Tate & Lyle Bio-PDO
Sorona
-Replaces petroleum feedstock with sugars from corn starch
-Requires 40% less energy to produce than petroleum equivalent
-New production facility in Tennessee will save energy equivalent of 22,000 cars
Metabolix-ADM PHAs
Mirel
-Range of PHA plastics produced naturally by bacteria
-50,000 ton facility under construction at corn wet mill in Clinton, Iowa
-Lower GHG emissions compared to conventional plastics
-Working with BP to produce PHAs in switchgrass- greater than GHG benefit
Socio-Economic Benefits
-Illinois as a major producer of feedstocks (corn) can experience greater economic growth by providing incentives for advanced biorefinery construction in the state
-Other economic benefits can be derived from integrating industrial biotechnology into the manufacturing sector
-A biobased economy creates and keeps jobs on farms and in rural communities
-Infrastructure- Construction, skilled labor, technicians, scientists, engineers, storage, transportation
-Boosting local economy, creating new market for ag products, environmental benefits- sustainable development
Benefits Cont.
-The Institute for Decision Making at the University of Northern Iowa found that constructing 10 biorefineries by the year 2020 and establishing five new bio-businesses each year in Iowa will create:
-22,000 new high quality jobs
-$11.6B of economic impact per year
-$367M of new taxes in Iowa per year*
*As derived from a study done by the Institute for Decision Making at the University of Northern Iowa
Local Opportunities to Encourage the Bioeconomy
-Help fund cellulosic biorefineries
-Fund E-85 infrastructure (gas pumps)
-Tax incentives for flex fuel vehicles
-Workforce training for biorefineries
-Funding for targeted biomass/biorefinery R&D at state universities and institutions
-State agency procurement requirements for biofuels and biobased products
-Require a minimum volume or percentage of total fuel sales be cellulosic biomass ethanol
Illinois
-Iowa produces the most ethanol in America at 29% (1,243,000 gallons) followed by Illinois 17% (724,000 gallons) Nebraska 13% (549,000 gallons)
-Illinois will join the University of California at Berkeley and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in forming the new Energy Biosciences Institute announced by BP
-340 acres of farmland at the University of IL at Urbana-Champaign campus will be devoted to the study and production of feedstock for biofuel production
-According to the IL Corn Growers Investment by the ethanol industry in Illinois exceeds $1 billion, generating 800 jobs in plant operations and 4,000 jobs in the industry-related service sector
-This could be increased significantly by adding cellulosic biofuels infrastructure
_____________________________________________
NYT, March 3, 2008: After Suicide, Blog Insults Are Debated
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/03/business/media/03blog.html?ex=1205298000&en=48b1d9ff70d2d06c&ei=5070&emc=eta1
After Suicide, Blog Insults Are Debated
By BOB TEDESCHI
Published: March 3, 2008
Advertising blogs churn out some of the Web's more scathing, and personal, vitriol. Last week, the bloggers absorbed some body blows of their own.
Paul Tilley led major advertising campaigns at DDB Chicago.
"Asking Web site operators to be censors destroys the essential value of the Web as an open forum for the expression of ideas."
Liberty Lover, NYC
Visitors to AgencySpy and AdScam, two sharp-tongued blogs written by advertising industry insiders, posted comments blaming the sites for contributing to the suicide late last month of Paul Tilley, 40, the creative director of DDB Chicago.
In so doing, bloggers and their readers added another chapter in a long debate about how, or whether, to manage anonymous posts that seem aimed at shredding a person's reputation.
"We're certainly used to criticism in the agency business," said Nina DiSesa, chairwoman of McCann Erickson Worldwide's New York division, who posted comments on AgencySpy.com in defense of Mr. Tilley, whom she called a friend. "But when blogs attack someone personally, without justification, and they do it anonymously, it's just wrong."
Mr. Tilley, who oversaw teams that created the "I'm Lovin' It" campaign for McDonald's and the "Dell Dude," among other prominent ads, apparently jumped from an upper floor of the Fairmont Chicago hotel on Feb. 22. The Cook County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. A DDB spokeswoman would not comment on the matter, and Mr. Tilley's wife, Cristina, also declined to comment.
Mr. Tilley's death occurred several months after news of the suicide in 2006 of Megan Meier, a 13-year-old Missouri girl who took her life after being the target of insults on MySpace.
Gregory K. Brown, a specialist on suicide at the University of Pennsylvania, said that public humiliation could play a role in suicide because "hopelessness is often a major risk factor, and if you've been publicly humiliated and your reputation has been tarnished forever, you could see how someone could become hopeless." Such situations, he added, could contribute to feeling that life is unbearable.
And unlike some other forms of public humiliation, online insults can live in perpetuity. Whether that increases suicide risk, Mr. Brown said, is an open question, adding, "Although it's plausible that's the case, we know very little about the role of the Internet."
Before his death, Mr. Tilley had come under particularly harsh criticism on the advertising blogs. AgencySpy, which is written by an anonymous advertising industry employee, was perhaps the most biting.
In a Feb. 19 posting, the site quoted excerpts from an internal e-mail message Mr. Tilley had sent to subordinates, in which he wrote: "Too many of you are only doing good work. And some of you are doing work that simply isn't good enough."
AgencySpy wrote that Mr. Tilley "needs to go back to management 101," adding: "At one point, Paul thought he could make it as a game show host. Doesn't one need to be charming for that?"
The site then published 12 comments peppered with personal insults aimed at Mr. Tilley - among them an insult signed by George Parker, the author of the AdScam blog.
But a colleague and friend of Mr. Tilley's, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, "There's no way you or I will know why he did this, but it's certainly not because of blogs."
"I know it bothered him," the colleague said, referring to the public criticism. "However, he was very intelligent, with lots of talents and skills, and this was not his whole life. Pointing to blogging and the media just trivializes a man whose life was not trivial."
After Mr. Tilley's death was reported, the comments beneath the AgencySpy blog posting turned sharply to recriminations from people identifying themselves as friends, colleagues or relatives of the DDB executive. "You should all be ashamed. Because you contributed to this," a message from someone who signed as LSA said.
A similar post on AdScam said: "I knew him. And I know that the vile attacks inflicted on him by you and others tortured his soul. He told me so."
Advertising blogs have a reputation, even among bloggers, of being particularly wounding - in part, Mr. Parker said, because of conditions in the business.
"They do tend to be a little more acidic than general informational blogs," Mr. Parker, a former ad executive who now works as a consultant, said. Since many agencies are now part of publicly held companies, he continued, employees are under increasing pressure to show short-term results, where in the past they might sometimes have had more than a year or two to build a successful campaign.
Asked if posters on ad blogs sought to gain competitive advantage by disparaging rivals, he replied: "It's more than possible. It wouldn't surprise me at all."
AgencySpy's writer, who identified herself as a 29-year-old woman, agreed to answer e-mail questions but otherwise guarded her anonymity. She said Mr. Tilley, because of his industry leadership post, was a public figure.
Skip to next paragraph Readers' Comments
"Asking Web site operators to be censors destroys the essential value of the Web as an open forum for the expression of ideas."
Perhaps the definition has changed as information has become more easily accessible," she said. "This new medium has different rules and that may include the scope of who and who isn't in the public eye. Some people subscribe to these new notions and some don't.
"I'm saddened by Paul Tilley's death, but I do not feel that my blog postings contributed to the events that occurred."
AgencySpy is owned by Mediabistro.com, which was bought last year by Jupitermedia, an Internet research company.
After the death, several posters objected generally to the insults on AdScam and AgencySpy. An AgencySpy commentator who identified himself as Brian Stallings and said he was Mr. Tilley's uncle wrote: "This is a sad world we live in where a person can express his/her opinion in a faceless blog (in my day a cowardly act) without any thought for their fellow human being. Please think of the hurt your words cause next time you have time to waste on a blog such as this."
Another commentator, who identified himself as Mr. Michael, wrote: "Are there ethics in blogs? Should people have the right to publicly and anonymously criticize and attack the private lives of private people simply for entertainment? This guy wasn't a politician or a movie star - he didn't opportunistically cast himself into the public domain. He just made commercials."
AgencySpy's writer said the strong reactions had not changed her view on anonymity in posts, which she said "allows for more compelling, insider content" because the writers need not fear retribution. She said she removes "threatening or highly explosive, such as racist, remarks."
Mr. Parker said it was "worth considering" a policy that would require those who leave scathing, personal comments on his site to identify themselves.
Mediabistro's senior vice president and founder, Laurel Touby, said she did not think that the remarks by the AgencySpy writer "were that bad."
She said, though, that the anonymous comments from others had given her reason to reconsider the company's posting policies, and perhaps require those who "say something nasty" to include their names. But she added that screening for inappropriate content and verifying identities would be too much work for a small company. "We don't have copy editors," she said.
In the meantime, the incident has helped the sites in some ways. Mr. Parker said his site ordinarily received 4,000 to 5,000 hits a day, but last week, more than 12,000 a day. AgencySpy's writer said that traffic had "obviously grown" and that advertisers on the site - which last week included IAC/InterActiveCorp and The Wall Street Journal - had not complained.
__________________________________________
Tarkus Murphy: Trash the Dress Session?
Subject: Trash the Dress Session?
Date: 3/4/2008 9:12:24 A.M. Central Standard Time
From: tarkus@ripco.com
To: ron@themayreport.com, ronaldmay@aol.com
CC: tarkus@ripco.com
Ron,
I passed a photography studio in Canandaigua, NY. In the window, there was a large picture of a bride who had stuck her hands into a fountain and was throwing the water over her head. It struck me as odd to think that a normal bridal shoot would involve putting water on a silk dress. I have seen trashed bridesmaid's dresses, but this was a new subject (for me).
After some digging around, I discovered that the pictures in the window (Chesler Photography) were part of a larger theme called "Trash the Dress." I believe that Chesler Studios is where the new tradition had begun, but it has been getting a lot of media attention. (I guess I don't pay a lot of attention to bridal photography.) I expect other studios may start to copy the idea.
The bride in the one particular photo was a model, but the service is offered as a follow on for wedding pictures. Just because you trash the dress does not mean that you have to destroy it. On the web site, the bride is also in the fountain. Others are on horseback, chasing a bus, etc.
I doubt this will cause a lot of people to flock to Canandaigua or the Finger Lakes for a lakeside wedding and photoshoot, but I thought the "Trash the Dress" gallery might entertain your readers. The shoots are usually only within an hour's travel of Canandaigua. However, another part of the web site says "Be sure to view our blog as well at http://cheslerphotography.blogspot.com to view our Trash the Dress Sessions from Boca Raton and the desert outside of Las Vegas, as well as photo sessions in and around Mexico City. So whether your destination wedding brings you to Nantucket Island, Manhattan Island or Sanibel Island, . . . ."
Tarkus
See http://www.cheslerphoto.com/wedtrash.htm
Here's the text from the site:
"What is a Trash the Dress Session?
"Now that the wedding is over, you have two choices of what to do with the dress. You can suffocate it in a plastic bag and hope that your daughter will want to wear it in 20 years, or you can put it back on and have some fun.
"Do I have to really trash it?
"Of course not! It's just a fun session to do when you have more time than the day of the wedding or a situation you wouldn't dare do the day of the wedding. Sure you can get a little risky with it, like splashing in water or riding horseback in the snow since the fear of getting it dirty is over, but you don't have to.
"Can I still do a session if you didn't shoot my wedding?
"Absolutely! We can certainly add a little spice to your wedding collection even if we didn't cover the actual event. This is the perfect opportunity to add a different style to your wedding photos and some out of the ordinary locations.
"How much does it cost?
"You can view our prices online at http://www.cheslerphoto.com/senprice.htm. A typical session would require a Location Session which is anywhere within an hour of Canandaigua, NY. Outside of this area special arrangements would be necessary.
"So what are you waiting for?
"Contact us today to schedule your Trash the Dress session and give the dress one more run for the money. "
__________________________________________
Friday, March 7: The Thapelo Institute, Inc. and many of Chicago's top African-American doctors will announce and unveil plans for the Free Health & Fitness Experience for Africans and African-American Men
From: Deloris MeBain [dmebain@aol.com]
To: ron@themayreport.com
Subject: Re: The May Report: 02/28/2008: Layton Olson throws down the gauntlet to the powers-that-be: Olympics require a virtual behavioral model for data exchange, infrastructure, comm. dev. all working in unison
Sent: Mon 3/3/2008 5:33 PM
For Immediate Release
February 20, 2008
Contact: MeBain Media Group - 708 533-6558
"BLACK MEN HAVE THE LOWEST LIFE EXPECTANCY OF ANY RACIAL GROUP IN THIS COUNTRY. THAPELO INSTITUTE, INC. WANTS TO CHANGE THOSE STATISTICS!"
HOSTS KICK-OFF BREAKFAST WITH TOP PHYSICIANS IN CHICAGO
Chicago, Il. - On Friday, March 7, 2008, the Thapelo Institute, Inc. and many of Chicago's top African-American doctors will announce and unveil plans for the Free Health & Fitness Experience for Africans and African-American Men as part of its ongoing effort to inform, educate and empower the community to adapt healthier lifestyle behaviors by promoting health, fitness and wellness.
Key stakeholders will be in attendance on Friday, March 7th, for Thapelo Institute's kick off breakfast starting at 8:30am and being held at "A Miracle on 38th Street"-Pioneer Gardens located at 3800 South King Drive, Chicago. At the breakfast, Thapelo Institute, Inc.'s June 14th plans will be discussed.
There is an ongoing, increasing and predominantly silent crisis in the health and well-being of African American men. Due to a lack of awareness, unavailability or limited access to culturally appropriate health care, and few, if any, male-specific health programs, Black men's health and well-being are deteriorating steadily. The deterioration of men's health is best illustrated by the life-expectancy gap.
Because of this need, The Thapelo Institute has sponsored this free annual event, now in its 6th year, to encourage men to engage in healthy lifestyles and promote early detection of diseases that affect Black men.
Chicago Commissioner of the Department of Public Health Dr. Terry Mason along with Joe Harrington, Assistant Commissioner, are founding members of Thapelo Institute, Inc.
Other Thapelo's founders and Board Members are African-American doctors and health care professionals. "Free testing for prostate cancer, HIV/AIDS, cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease are just a few of the health screenings that will be available to those who attend" says Rupert Evans, Executive Director of Thapelo.
At the kick-off breakfast, Thapelo executives will give information about the upcoming Free Health & Fitness Experience which is schedule to take place on Saturday, June 14, 2008 and is the largest health-related assembly of African and African-American men in the City of Chicago.
Positioned in the great halls of Malcolm X College at 1900 W. Van Buren, Chicago, will be more than 1,000 men who will take advantage of health screenings, seminars, fitness exercises and demonstrations, healthy food samplings, workshops and health and fitness information from Chicago-area exhibitors. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. and screenings begin at 9:00 a.m. The event will run for 5 hours or until 2:00 p.m.
Media sponsors include NBC 5 and WVON Talk Radio.
For more information, please contact Deloris MeBain of MeBain Media Group & Consulting at 708-533-6558 or visit www.thapelo.org.
Deloris MeBain, Executive Director
A Miracle on 38th Street/Pioneer Gardens
3800 South King Drive
Chicago, IL 60653
773 420-4101
708 533-6558/cell
773 536-0720/fax
_____________________________________________
comScore: Number of U.S. Computers Accessing the Internet Via Mobile Broadband Soars 154 Percent in 2007
From: comScore Press [news@comscore.com]
To: ron@themayreport.com
Subject: comScore: Number of U.S. Computers Accessing the Internet Via Mobile Broadband Soars 154 Percent in 2007
Sent: Tue 3/4/2008 11:25 AM
PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL
PLEASE RESPOND TO PRESS@COMSCORE.COM
Greetings:
comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today released the results of a study of U.S. Internet usage via mobile broadband. The study examined the usage and characteristics of mobile broadband users through data collected from computers where Internet access via mobile broadband Internet service providers (ISPs) occurred. Mobile broadband employs cellular networks, where users pay subscriptions for access and the connection is made with a PC card, built-in adapter, or connections can be tethered via a cell-phone or PDA, and is different than Wi-Fi access, which is predicated on the availability of short range "hot spots" where access fees often apply incrementally for each connection. In 2007, Verizon and Sprint accounted for the majority of the mobile broadband market. AT&T has announced it will increase its coverage in 2008.
The press release below is also available at: http://www.comscore.com/press/release.asp?press=2099
Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to speak with an analyst.
Thank you,
Andrew Lipsman
Senior Analyst
comScore, Inc.
312-775-6510
press@comscore.com
*********** comScore, Inc. News Release*******************
Number of U.S. Computers Accessing the Internet
Via Mobile Broadband Soars 154 Percent in 2007
Mobile Broadband Usage Still Driven by Work Computers,
but Poised for Expansion Among Broader Consumer Base
RESTON, VA, March 4, 2008 - comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today released the results of a study of U.S. Internet usage via mobile broadband. The study examined the usage and characteristics of mobile broadband users through data collected from computers where Internet access via mobile broadband Internet service providers (ISPs) occurred. Mobile broadband employs cellular networks, where users pay subscriptions for access and the connection is made with a PC card, built-in adapter, or connections can be tethered via a cell-phone or PDA, and is different than Wi-Fi access, which is predicated on the availability of short range "hot spots" where access fees often apply incrementally for each connection. In 2007, Verizon and Sprint accounted for the majority of the mobile broadband market. AT&T has announced it will increase its coverage in 2008.
The number of computers using mobile broadband technology to access the Internet grew by 154 percent in Q4 2007 versus the same period in 2006.
__________________________________
Number of Computers Using Mobile Broadband
Q4 2007 vs. Q4 2006
Total U.S. - Home/Work/University Locations
Source: comScore, Inc.
Unique Computers (000)
Q4 2006 Q4 2007 Percent Change
Mobile Broadband 854 2,168 154%
______________________
"Though mobile broadband access is currently used by about 1 percent of the total U.S. Internet population it is poised for significant growth over the next few years," said Serge Matta, senior vice president of comScore. "As consumers increasingly demand and depend on portable Internet access, the demand for mobile broadband should continue to increase."
Work Computers Account for Most Mobile Broadband Access
At this early stage of mobile broadband, usage appears to be more a function of "need" than "want." In particular, mobile broadband shows a significantly higher presence on work computers (59 percent) than home / personal computers (41 percent).
_________________________
Mobile Broadband Usage by Location
Q4 2007 vs. Q4 2006
Total U.S. - Home/Work/University Locations
Source: comScore, Inc.
Location Percent of Computers
Total 100%
Home / Personal 41%
Work 59%
_____________________
Mobile broadband is also somewhat of a luxury, skewing strongly towards the highest income households. Those making at least $100,000 were 37 percent more likely than average to use mobile broadband and those with incomes below $25,000 were 41 percent less likely to do so.
______________________
Mobile Broadband Usage by Income Segment
Q4 2007 vs. Q4 2006
Total U.S. - Home/Work/University Locations
Source: comScore, Inc.
Household Income Percent of Mobile Index
Broadband Computers Mobile Broadband vs.
Total Internet*
Total Households 100.0% 100
$0 - $24,999 5.5% 59
$25,000 - $49,999 15.3% 80
$50,000 - $74,999 27.9% 97
$75,000 - $99,999 15.2% 93
More than $100,000 36.1% 137
_________________________
*Index = Percent of Mobile Broadband/Percent of Total Internet x 100; Index of 100 represents parity
"The mobile broadband market is ripening as we speak, and ISPs can benefit by increasing awareness that they have the services to meet their consumers' demands," added Matta. "Those ISPs that get ahead of the curve in understanding this emerging market will be best positioned to reap its rewards."
To request more information on comScore Mobile Broadband Solutions please visit http://www.comscore.com/contact
About comScore
comScore, Inc. is a global leader in measuring the digital world. For more information, please visit www.comscore.com/boilerplate.
***********************************************
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Do you have any comments or concerns that you would like to share with us? You can contact us by e-mail at press@comscore.com or by sending a letter to:
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__________________________________________
Monday, March 10: MEF downtown: Becoming Your Own Banker: The Infinite Banking Concept, Julie Ann Hepburn
Subject: The Midwest Entrepreneurs Forum
Date: 3/3/2008 5:10:06 P.M. Central Standard Time
From: MEF@mail-list.com
To: ronaldmay@aol.com
MEF REPORTER
MIDWEST ENTREPRENEURS' FORUM, INC., Volume 13, Issue 3A ,
Monday March 10,2008 MIDWEST ENTREPRENEURS' FORUM, INC.
Come join us on Monday, March 10,2008 for our Chicago Chapter
Meeting: Becoming Your Own Banker The Infinite Banking
Concept.By: Julie Ann Hepburn
Our meeting will be held at:
Chicago-Kent College of Law (IIT)
565 W. Adams, Chicago
Time: 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Cost: Free to members, $20.00 for non-members (reservations are
not required) IIT Students with valid student ID Free. Students from
other Universities with a valid student ID $5.00 Register on line
www.MidwestEntrepreneursForum.Org/CalendarEvents.aspx you will need
to select either Chicago or Wheaton
You can pay by credit card on line or you can pay at the door with
cash, check, or credit card.
In an ongoing effort to provide our members with the tools they need to
successfully develop their businesses, we are presenting another educational
presentation, entitled: Becoming Your Own Banker The Infinite Banking
Concept. By: Julie Ann Hepburn
The Infinite Banking Concept is not about investing, it is about financing,
and financing is a process not a product. Financing involves both the
creation of and maintenance of a pool of money and its use. However, when a
financing system is combined with an investment system the combination of
the two will always out perform an investment system. When the system
combines reduced tax liability with a financing engine and allows complete
control over your investments there appears to be no system capable of
generating wealth with as much consistency or speed.
The initial stages of individualized banking are analogous to starting a
small business; there are a few years where money is spent before any money
comes in.
A primary concept or principal is that you finance everything. You either
finance by: Paying interest to someone else - a bank, lender, etc. Or giving
up interest you could have earned otherwise. (When you pay cash the interest
the money could have earned is forfeited).
For these reasons when we are discussing investment alternatives we must not
only weigh the return we will receive but we must also evaluate what we are
forfeiting or giving up. This mind set will become more important as we
explain the "Infinite Banking Concept."
For all of the reasons mentioned above every person should be fully engaged
in two businesses - Your occupation and Banking.
There is only one source of money in our banking system. It circulates from
banks to lenders to borrowers to banks and so on.
We finance everything we buy. You either pay interest to someone else or you
give up interest you could have earned.
Imagine, if instead of borrowing money from a bank, you have your own
private bank (of your money) that you could get a loan from, for whatever
you need. Then whenever you take a loan, you pay yourself the principal and
interest the bank would have received. Instead of the bank making money on
your money and the interest you're paying... you're making all the money.
How much better off would you be?
Please join us in learning about and creating an economic community that is
not afraid of the tough questions.
What if you could recover the interest expenses you pay to finance major
purchases?
What if you could recover the "lost fortune" on the money you needlessly
give to financial institutions?
What if you could do this on a tax-free basis?
Are you an entrepreneur or self employed? If so, this is a must
attend event!
Come join us and learn from our speaker Julie Ann Hepburn
Julie Ann Hepburn spent the first 8 years of her practice as a traditional
financial planner. She became aware that today's financial markets are much
more complex than the markets of our parents, the standard way of saving for
the future has given away to spending now. She has dedicated the last 6
years helping clients come to realize there is a better way to insure their
futures by incorporating a macroeconomic financial model by using
proprietary and non-proprietary tools based on pure economic principals.
Julie Ann is committed to the idea that every client should have their
personal board of directors; stock broker, accountant, attorney, business
manager and insurance agent, speak to each other in order to maximize the
wealth and savings for the good of the client as well as health of their
assets. These advisors work mainly to see you succeed in their area of their
expertise, not taking into account the overall financial picture of the
client. Julie Ann sees herself as a strategic financial coach in this
situation by getting all these individual players on the same field of play,
guiding her clients through confusing and at times, treacherous money
investments and helping make a stronger future whether you are small
business owner or large entrepreneur.
Julie Ann only succeeds by helping her clients succeed and letting them have
the peace of mind knowing that they can achieve maximum control and
flexibility of their wealth. With 14+ years as a financial professional,
Julie Ann is dedicated to providing her clients with the professional and
individual attention necessary to help them recognize and achieve their
financial and estate planning goals, offering continued service as their
world changes. She helps her clients visualize what is possible and often
counter intuitive for investing in their retirements, children's education,
real estate ventures, business acquisitions or just make sure the taxman
doesn't get everything! Her mantra is, "it isn't what you make but what you
keep".
The Midwest Entrepreneurs' Forum (MEF) promotes and strengthens the
process of starting and growing companies by providing services,
which educate and inform entrepreneurs. MEF meets the second Monday
of each month (except July, and August ) at the Downtown Campus of
the Illinois Institute of Technology, 565 W. Adams Street, Chicago,
from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. A suburban meeting is held the last Tuesday
of each month (except July and August) from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the
Daniel L. and Ada F. Rice Campus of the Illinois Institute of
Technology, 201 East Loop Road, Wheaton, IL (directions listed). Each
MEF meeting normally features a case presentation/panel discussion
that spotlights a single company in a critical stage of development.
MEF membership is $60 per year or $20.00 to attend a single meeting
to see if membership is something you think would benefit you.
If you decide you want to become a member bring your receipt for
$20.00 within 30 days to the next meeting and you will only be
required to pay an additional $40.00 to become a member for the
year.Year is from your payment to the next year. Students with a
valid ID pay $5.00. IIT students with a valid id get in free.
_________________________________________
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