In our stressed-out, sometimes troubled lives, it's soothing to chuckle over good humor. When we tire of bad news on the Web or tube, in fact, an uncontrollable belly laugh may even keep us sane. My sister was kind enough to email me a few good humor one-two liners. Here they are (with a few quick quips from me.) "Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience." Love this one. I usually smile at people like this as I slowly walk backward, … [Read more...]
Internet Privacy in a Sea of Web Cookies
Worried about Internet privacy, web monitoring, flash cookies and who's watching your website activity? Need better privacy protection in your life? Read on. Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal published the first article in a series called "The Web's New Gold Mine: Your Secrets," a comprehensive piece describing how ad networks and Internet tracking companies are collecting your personal Web surfing data. In the biz, it's called "behavioral profiling," a euphemism for discovering consumer … [Read more...]
Are Good Ideas that Solve Problems in Short Supply?
When was the last time you came up with a good idea? Not just a "good idea" but a mind-blowing idea that solved business or personal problems? I'm guessing, like the rest of us, you'd say "not recently." It's like remembering the last time you put a fresh box of baking soda in your fridge to remove odors. "Let's see, I think it was...2004." Dictionary.com defines an idea as "...something, such as a thought or conception, that... exists in the mind as a product of mental activity." Leonard … [Read more...]
Health Care Reform Debate and Lack of Trust in Congress
As we approach a vote by Congress this weekend on health care reform, it's becoming clear that health care is not the issue at all. It's lack of trust in Congress. In today's Wall Street Journal, Gerald Seib reports that a new WSJ/NBC News poll reveals voters, if given the chance, would replace 50% of all members of Congress. People want to see consensus and an end to the bickering in Washington. They want action, not rhetoric, not grandstanding. I won't break down the demographics of … [Read more...]
Health Care Benefits for Congress?
To the Congress of the United States regarding your health care benefits: Over the weekend with the Senate's narrow but passing vote to "debate" health care legislation, it's become crystal clear that some members of Congress don't care about the health care crisis. With a few exceptions, the Republican leadership is unwilling to debate the legislation passed by the House. Worse yet, you have no alternative proposals to reduce the high costs of medical care or save the 38 million Americans … [Read more...]
Health Care Reform Stifled by Drug Companies
The Washington Post reported two unrelated stories that, considered together, demonstrate a concerted effort by large drug companies and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to kill health care reform. The reports are disturbing and reveal two major challenges to controlling health care costs in the U.S. First--and most disturbing--the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in concert with other unidentified business groups, are funding an "economic study" showing that health care reform would destroy jobs and … [Read more...]
Improve Your Blog Writing with Aristotle and your Mom
Writing a personal blog and improving your blog writing is more art than science. A couple of past week's experiences convince me that if Aristotle were still alive he'd issue harsh criticism to bloggers. I recorded a podcast with one of the top execs at a mobile marketing company. My guest, during the 30 minute recording, was amazed I'd read one of his articles on the Web. He said he thought only his mother read the piece. After joking that I was his second reader, we finished the podcast … [Read more...]
Letting Go Story of the Monkey and the Coconut
Letting Go Story Most of us have a hard time letting go of our beliefs, our actions and thoughts. I know I do. As we engage in our day-to-day activities at work and home, we tend to cling to the familiar and avoid the unfamiliar. We hold on to thoughts and attitudes that don't challenge us. We vote for candidates who are like us. We stay away from situations and people whose beliefs and lifestyles don't mimic us. We're like the monkey and the coconut. Ever hear the story? Villagers in a … [Read more...]
Talking With the Cloud
Prescription Drug High Costs Helped by GoodRx
Are you struggling, like me, with prescription drug high costs? Do you wonder why generic and name brand drug prices vary considerably at pharmacies? Then you're part of the growing number of folks who ask "what's going on here?" Why do prescription drug prices differ a lot at retail? And what can we do to lower our ever-increasing drug bill? I recently discovered, when changing health plans on the "open exchange"--ObamaCare to some--that prescription drug retail prices vary considerably … [Read more...]
“Learn More” on the Web Causes Brain Damage
Most Web users continuously encounter the phrase “learn more” on Google or other websites. It’s intended to entice readers to click for more information about a topic. For example, “Gmail lets you archive all your conversations so you can search for them at a later date…’learn more.’” A recent Google search for “learn more” reveals the phrase appears 584 MILLION times. (Search = “learn more” + company name). Prominent websites with high use of "learn more" include: USPS = 11 million (USPS … [Read more...]
Attitude of Gratitude Leads to Happiness in Life
Many of use go through life believing that we're "self-made." We don't think enough about the others who have listened to us, given freely of their time, money and help. We don't have an "attitude of gratitude." That point was driven home this morning when I heard a woman (let's call her Jennifer) speak about her life. Her father abused her, her mother and siblings. She went through a life of homelessness, abuse and trauma until in her late teens. She spoke candidly about how she became … [Read more...]
Brian Prows Dot Com Has a New Look
Blogs--especially personal ones--need re-varnishing occasionally. So, this being the day before the Christmas Eve, I'm sprucing Brian Prows Dot Com. "Blog" sounds like "grog," a drink once relished by those with money in the 1800's and those "down under." A short quote from Wikipedia explains it well: "The word grog refers to a variety of alcoholic beverages. The word originally referred to a drink made with water or "small beer" (a weak beer) and rum, which British Vice Admiral Edward … [Read more...]
Monkey Orchids From Ecuador and Peru Ain’t No Chimps
From the wilds of Ecuador and Peru come Monkey Orchids, beautiful flowers with monkey faces (when you squeeze them the right way) If you don't see why this orchid gets its name, move back from your screen a few feet and take another look. Close up, the similarity is good. From a distance it's incredible. Monkey Orchids in Ecuadorian and Peruvian Cloud Forests These wonderful monkey orchids thrive in the south-eastern Ecuadorian and Peruvian cloud forests. Most people have never seen … [Read more...]
Employment Sales Strategy Helps You Get a Job
Finding an Effective Employment Sales Strategy Over ten years ago, when I was managing call centers and sales departments, I developed a solution sales and marketing strategy called PBFA. The strategy was universal in that it could be used to better understand people's needs and help them find solutions. While I implemented the strategy primarily for sales sand marketing campaigns, I believe that it's also an excellent tool as an employment sales strategy. So I launched another blog … [Read more...]