GBK to Host The 4th Annual “Big Fighters, Big Cause” Charity Fight Night to benefit the Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation

Posted on May 20, 2013 by JW Najarian | Leave a comment

GBK

B. Riley & Co. and The Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation Present “Big Fighters, Big Cause” 4th Annual Charity Fight Night

Los Angeles – B. Riley & Co. and The Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation present The 4th Annual “Big Fighters, Big Cause” Charity Fight Night to benefit The Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation in its support for Juvenile Diabetes Research and The Wounded Warrior Project. This prestigious invitation-only Red Carpet event will take place at The Santa Monica Pier on May 21, 2013.
Tommy Davidson will be the Master of Ceremony for the evening, which will feature a Professional Boxing fight card commissioned by the California State Athletic Commission. Songstress Franchesca Robi (daughter of The Platters’ Paul Robi) will sing the National Anthem to ring in the fights. The fight card will consist of four professional bouts.

****Last Year’s Event Recap Video:

The event anticipates a targeted audience of over 1000 guests, comprised of C-suite executives from nearly 200 public companies across a range of sectors, leading institutional investors, high net worth individuals, financial services professionals, celebrities, sports legends, and other high-profile individuals.

Zota Pop, a Top 40s band comprised of world-class musicians, will provide musical entertainment along with DJ BABY CHINO, the 10-year-old DJ phenomenon who has been seen on Nickelodeon’s hit show “Figure It Out”.

Rusnak, Maserati, BMW and Porsche, part of the Rusnak Auto Group is proud to support the Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation. Sugar Ray Leonard will honor Medtronic, Inc. by presenting an Award in the ring for its work in Juvenile Diabetes with the Insulin Pump. The Hauser Insurance Group is also a proud supporter of the cause. The evening will be set against a rich environment for both charitable and business development opportunities.

The lovely ladies from Crown Diva Boutique & Pageant Academy will sell raffle tickets throughout the evening, benefitting the cause. Guests will have the opportunity to win spectacular prizes. A true highlight of the evening will be the Charitable Live Auction. Item Sparkling Hill Resort, a European-inspired wellness resort known as the first resort in the world to incorporate Swarovski crystal elements into every aspect of its design, stands out. The winner of this Live Auction Item will receive a gift certificate for a 5 night Couples Escape in a stunning penthouse suite, with access to a wide range of wellness treatments featured at the resort’s world-renowned Kurspa – a 40,000 square foot spa providing over 100 treatments and therapies.

Guests will enjoy an abundance of delicious food and beverages. Legends Beer will offer its premium craft beer in the Legends 100% recyclable aluminum bottle. Legends believes that consumers can have both great beer, and interesting content with the same package.

Other fantastic beverages available to guests are Asombroso Tequila, Monster Energy Drink, Hansen, Sneaky Pete’s Beverage, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and Weaver’s Coffee & Tea. More delectable food sponsors include: Beachy Cream, Sheila G’s The Original Brownie Brittle Company, Garden of Eating Catering, Good Greek Grub, Jalisco’s Mobile Taco Grill, Monsoon Café, Rollin’ Rib BBQ, Sabra Dipping Co., SUSHI POPPER, and Sweet Insanity Bake Shop.

The Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation

Was launched by boxing legend and six-time world champion Sugar Ray Leonard to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research. The mission of The Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation (SRLF) is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. After watching his father struggle with Diabetes and its complications for years, Ray is very passionate about finding a cure for Juvenile Diabetes. Ray is also very passionate about empowering wounded warriors dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder and other lasting effects of combat. Part of the proceeds from this event will be going to the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). For more information about the Foundation and their cause, please visit: SugarRayLeonard.com

B. Riley & Co.

A leading full-service investment bank, provides a full array of corporate finance, research, sales, trading and otcqx dad services to corporate, institutional and high net worth clients. Headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in San Francisco, New York, Newport Beach, Boston and Atlanta, the firm is recognized for its distinguished Equity Research. Their investment banking services include merger and acquisitions advisory to public and private companies, initial and secondary public offerings, and institutional private placements. Engaged by both companies and investors, their Corporate Governance Advisory Services Group helps maximize value for shareholders. Founded in 1997, the firm began by successfully targeting small-capitalization California-based companies and has won a reputation for providing proprietary, unbiased and often contrarian equity research coverage of companies that are under-followed or misunderstood by Wall Street. For more information, please visit www.brileyco.com

***Last Year’s Event Recap Video: http://youtu.be/0ibKa82m300

GBK ABOUT GBK:

GBK, formerly GBK Productions, is a luxury lifestyle gifting and special events company, specializing in entertainment marketing integration. Formed in 2000 by Gavin Keilly, the company’s Founder and CEO, GBK consists of five divisions: GBK Celebrity Gifting, GBK Special Events, GBK Weddings, GBK Charitable Consulting and GBK Marketing/Public Relations. Widely known in the entertainment industry for bringing that little extra something into the Gifting Lounge environment, GBK offers its clients a full range of marketing services. For more information on Gavin B. Keilly (CEO), Carla Domen (VP) or GBK,, please go to: gbkproductions.com.

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Posted in Business, Cause, Entertainment, Event, Marketing, Music, Promotional

Tagged 2013, b riley, celebrities, celebrity, GBK, gift bags, gift suites, juvenile diabetes, marketing, mtv movie awards, non-profit, products, red carpet, santa monica pier, sugar rey leonard

ILLINOIS PENSION REFORM: ROAD TO NOWHERE

Posted on May 10, 2013 by jamescarlini | Leave a comment

By James Carlini

The latest attempts at putting Illinois back on the right road to fiscal solvency and promote a more enticing image to attract businesses should be accompanied by the song by the Talking Heads’ “We’re On a Road to Nowhere”

We’re on a road to nowhere….. After a 66% tax increase in state income tax, we are still billions of dollars behind in state budget deficits.

We’re on a road to nowhere….. After tolls on all Illinois Tollways just about doubled, we are still billions of dollars behind in budget deficits.

We’re on a road to nowhere…..We are the one of the worst states for creating a positive business climate and yet we keep raising taxes and fees instead of cutting them.

Taking that ride to nowhere is the Illinois taxpayer. Where is the reform? Reform means you have to really make some reforms and change the way you do business.

In the Talking Heads video, you see a guy running in place. That’s the Illinois economy on the tax treadmill. That is the state going nowhere when it comes to improving its economic viability and reducing its liabilities like large underfunded pensions.

ILLINOIS PENSION REFORM? WE’RE STILL ON THE ROAD

We’re on a road to nowhere…..when it comes to pension reform. The latest plans do not reflect what needs to be done: Cutting the loopholes not only for future pension recipients, but to all those already collecting multiple pensions and pensions over $100,000 a year.

There are two plans being kicked around: the Madigan (Illinois House) Plan and the Cullerton (state Senate) Plan. The Madigan Plan is a better plan with some real reform, but the Cullerton Plan just “takes care of” the unions.

Some seem to forget that these are pensions, not lottery payouts. There are jobs that do not demand a lot of skill, yet you could wind up with $60,000 to $75,000 a year plus healthcare as well as a COLA (Cost Of Living Adjustment) 2-3% raise every year, just for “making change” at a Toll booth.

Making change? Hey, that’s a part-time, minimum-wage, high-school kid’s job at McDonald’s, making change for the customer.

There also should not be the ability to work one job for twenty years and then get another job (while collecting the first pension) and accruing another pension. Pick one or the other.

There are other loopholes that need to be addressed, but they aren’t in the current proposals.

Another wage and pension issue is the “cost-of-living” issue. The “Cost-of-living” can be used as a double-edged sword. The unions are always fighting for more money based on the cost-of-living in Illinois and that’s fine. If the pension is going to be sent to someone who moved out of the state, then there should be a “cost-of-living” tax on that pension for two reasons:

- The money getting paid out is not being re-circulated into the economy that it was earned in. That is a real loss to the state.

- If the person is living in a state with a cheaper cost-of-living, then the argument of “cost-of-living” swings the other way with “you don’t need as much to live there” so the pension is reduced.

Too radical? Some states already tax out-of-state pensioners and they just don’t focus on the former public sector employee. Someone who earned a pension in the private sector, who then moves out-of-state, is also required to pay back some money.

Regional economies are more fragile than what most people think. When you start taking out the money generated by those on pensions, it can really affect two economies: the one that they originally earned it in, and the one they are now spending it in.

There needs to be some re-thinking as to providing a pension or setting up a 401K Plan approach to employees.

ILLINOIS IS NOT THE ONLY STATE

If you are reading this and you are from another state, don’t get too haughty and think your state is that much better off. Some of them aren’t.

California, New York, New Jersey, and a couple of others could also adopt, “We’re On a Road to Nowhere” for their state song as well. Their deficits are huge and the only way they are going to improve is to look at real reform in pensions as well as other budget expenditures.

CARLINI-ISM : Pensions are not lottery payouts and should not pay more to a person than when they actually worked the job.

Follow daily Carlini-isms at www.TWITTER.com/JAMESCARLINI

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Posted in Business, Education, Commercial, Employment, Government

Tagged 401K Plan, abc, AFL-CIO, bonds, California, cbs, Chicago, CNN, COLA, Cook County, CPS, deficit, ERISA, firemen, FOX, government, Illinois, Illinois Senate, infrastructure, James Carlini, lottery, Michael Madigan, money, NBC, NEA, New York, Pat Quinn, pension fund, pensions, policemen, reform, regional economy, regional sustainability, SEC, taxes, teachers, township, unions

Ghostwriting Conference in Long Beach

Posted on May 3, 2013 by JW Najarian | Leave a comment

Ghostwriters and writers interested in making a career in ghostwriting have their first ever conference.

Ghostwriters Unite! is the world’s pioneering conference for ghostwriters. Held May 3-5 at the Hilton in downtown Long Beach, GU! will bring together some of the best people in the book industry including publishers, literary agents, authors, distributors, eBook specialists, and—of course—ghostwriters.

Ghostwriters Unite! is the first conference of its kind: an international gathering to share ghostwriting experiences and expertise and discuss the future of our profession.

How did this pioneering event get its start?

Ghostwriters Unite! is the mental baby of Claudia Suzanne, the first person to ever deconstruct (Secrets of a Ghostwriter) and teach (Ghostwriting Certificate Program) how ghosts do what we do.

Ghostwriters Unite! was originally envisioned as an afternoon event, a chance for Suzanne’s alumni to meet and mingle with each other, their former teacher, and other industry experts.

But so many people got excited about the idea of getting together and talking about “professionalizing” our field that it’s grown into a full-blown conference!

We’ll be talking about setting fee standards and ethical boundaries and bylines and problem clients and working with agencies and publishing options and lots more.

If you’re a ghostwriter or are even thinking of getting started in this lucrative, recession-proof field, this is the one event you won’t want to miss!

The conference takes place May 3, 4, and 5, 2013 at the Hilton Long Beach & Executive Meeting Center, 701 West Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90831.

We’ll start with a Friday night mixer, then a full day of panels on finding clients, setting fees, handling the trust issue, maintaining voice, and other ghostwriter-specific topics. We’ll take a break at lunch with a keynote speaker and enjoy a limited-space banquet dinner with a special-guest author. We’ll finish the conference Sunday morning with an extended-panel discussion about the state of the book industry.

Get more information:

Ghostwriters Unite http://ghostwritersunite.com/

Come join me at this conference. Yes I will be there helping out Claudine and meeting all the wonderful authors and other industry leaders.

I can not stress enough how this conference may be one of the most important in the industry for those that want to make a living writing. – JW

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Posted in Authors

Tagged agent, author, book, conference, ghostwriter, ghostwriters unite, publicist, publish, writing

SYSTEMS DESIGN: STILL TRYING TO GET IT RIGHT

Posted on May 1, 2013 by jamescarlini | Leave a comment

By James Carlini

Systems design has come a long way. Or has it?

Taking various organizational procedures and applications and automating them has been going on for over four decades. Next-generation systems have been selected and implemented more than once or twice in those four decades. Millions, if not billions, have been spent on computers, data centers, developing and training personnel, and software applications.

Initial attempts were focused on getting a software program in place and getting people to adapt to the automated system. A lot has happened since original systems were developed, yet basic design concepts and comprehensive testing to insure quality still seem to be elusive.

Tard Faillard, SYSTEMS DESIGNER EXTRAORDINAIRE

I am sure you know Tard and have worked with him somewhere in your career. He is the systems designer who thinks he knows everything when he goes out to design a system. He doesn’t. His system is usually flawed at best, and totally unworkable, at worst.

THE “TARD” APPROACH TO SYSTEMS DESIGN

PHASE	APPROACH
*PLANNING*	Not everything is covered, analyzed or understood. The main focus is to get the system up-and-running. Tard usually promises fast results and management likes that.
*DESIGN*	Based on an insufficient amount of planning and analysis, the design is flawed to begin with, BUT who cares? The main objective is to “get a system up-and-running”. Tard usually gets upper management “buy-in” with that.
*IMPLEMENTATION*	Tard usually has inadequate time built into his overall planning process. No parallel running of systems while the new system is being proven out. Why have both systems run in parallel? This is a Tard Faillard design – what could go wrong? (Famous last words)
*TESTING*	Testing is usually spotty with Tard, you have to show him all these new phases. COMPONENT/ SUBSYSTEM/ SYSTEMS/INTEGRATION/ STRESS TESTING (with actual traffic and/or load)/ ACCEPTANCE TESTING. They are not new, he just doesn’t know the real systems design & implementation process.
*ACCEPTANCE*	The users weren’t really involved with all the phases, so they are just handed the new system and told, “work with it”. By this time Tard is off on another endeavor or off to another company (or worse yet – promoted).
*POST-IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW*	What is this? You got the system you wanted. Tard is off and running on his next assignment. He can’t be bothered. He lets someone else take care of the “fine-tuning” of the flawed system. Beware if you are that person because all the blame will be put on you when it is found out the system doesn’t work.
*MAINTENANCE*	This somehow is a huge, ongoing expense. Tard never thought that there would be this much maintenance on a new system but, THERE IS. Upper management is saddled with a dog that is lucky if it performs 60% of the time.

And watch out for Tard’s sister, Marge Faillard. She is just as bad at systems design as Tard, but may be in charge of the project.

“Marge in Charge”, is another person to avoid having any final say-so on a system. She usually has less skills than Tard, but makes up for it in her bossy, “I’m in charge” arrogance and condescending attitude to co-workers and subordinates. Her final results are just as bad, if not worse.

It’s worse because she doesn’t leave. She stays on to be in charge of the next systems implementation. Want to lose all your good people? Keep Marge in charge.

When she is finally found out, your company is usually too far gone to salvage. Her answer to that? Well, it was all those “incompetent people who left the company while I worked my rear-end off” being in charge.

WHEN TARD & MARGE WORK FOR A VENDOR OR SUPPLIER

When you have to try and work with a bad system and it is because of a bad vendor or supplier where Tard or Marge work at, it will come down to a lawsuit guaranteed.

I know. I have reviewed both of their work many times, and in many industries, throughout the years. They have kept me working, even though I have never worked with them or for them.

Well, I did work with their father, Tard Sr., but I learned so much on how not to do things, I promised myself I would never work in an environment like that again. I learned a lot from good mentors at Bell Telephone Laboratories and MIT (when AT&T had this technical program there for complex mission critical information systems).

Sometimes you learn more from failure, than from success. Do you work with Tard or Marge? Call me. We can fix it.

CARLINI-ISM: Good, cheap, or fast – pick two.

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Posted in Entertainment, Business, Education, Commercial, Marketing, Law, Management, Social Media, Innovative Products, Technology, Government

Tagged acceptance testing, AITP, applications, AT&T, automation, blogs, computers, data centers, expert witness, IBM, integration testing, IT, IT applications, IT systems, James Carlini, lawsuits, leadership, litigation, mission critical networks, networks, PMP, programming, project management, project review, projects, RFP, six sigma, SLA, software, software analysis, software design, software development, software team, structured analysis, structured design, structured programming, system testing, systems design, team leader, Testing

MEDIA BIAS: CALLING OUT THE “EXPERTS”

Posted on April 26, 2013 by jamescarlini | 4 Comments

By James Carlini

Are you as tired as I am in listening to someone who is supposed to be giving you the news and instead is spinning the story to adhere to some personal political agenda they have? Evidently, the only way to stop this obtuse reporting is to call it out every time it happens and question those who are either totally clueless or have some other agenda they are trying to foist on us.

IS THE FBI ANY GOOD ANYMORE?

Last week there was a huge breaking story across all the networks. The Boston Marathon got interrupted by two bombs exploding at the finish line. Before many facts were in, we had the “experts in the media” coming out and telling us who they thought did it.

Brad Garrett

I was stuck in a waiting room in a hospital and all they had on was ABC. It’s not my first choice as a news source, but I had no choice in the matter. I watched as ABC had Brad Garrett, former FBI Agent, relating to the shocking event and saying pretty much that it was some American white Supremacist group who did the bombing.

Well, Brad was 100% wrong in his “expert assessment”. The two brothers, Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who were the alleged and now “self-confessed” masterminds of the crime are not in any white Supremacist group.

This is not the first time the ABC “experts” have been wrong, but you start to wonder if it is intentional.

What about the Aurora, Colorado theatre shooter, James Holmes? ABC’s Brian Ross rushed to report Holmes was a member of the Tea Party. He wasn’t and ABC had to issue an apology for “jumping the gun” in its coverage.

Then, you wonder what they (the FBI) did not see when Russia told them to watch out for the older Tsarnaev brother, Tamerlan, as a terrorist. Did they drop the ball? Someone did. That is a whole other story to investigate, but it leaves me wondering – is someone not doing a good job in law enforcement as well?

Is there a hidden agenda that they have to follow as to swing the public’s perception? I am concerned about this agency that used to be top notch and apolitical.

WHAT ABOUT OTHER REPORTERS?

When it comes to other news analysts who I have no use for watching, Chris Matthews comes to mind. His latest terrorist assessment, “Normally, domestic terrorists, people, tend to be on the far right” was way off.

Sorry Chris, your assessment doesn’t come close to being factual. How do you stay on TV?

Then there is the NPR reporter/analyst, Dina Temple-Raston. Her big quote, “April is a big month for …right-wing individuals…Columbine…Hitler’s Birthday.”

Sorry Dina, not only do I not want to listen to you, I do not want to keep funding your inaccurate assessments, so how come my tax money is going to fund NPR? I don’t see that as balanced reporting and if it is not balanced, taxpayers should not be supporting it.

Add NPR to the list of “mandatory budget cuts” in Congress. If you personally donate to NPR, you are only condoning a biased news source.

Want to be charitable? Give your money to the Boston victims’ fund (I am sure they will be needing a lot of money), a veterans group, an animal rescue center, or a building preservation group. NPR needs to go by the way of the dinosaur and de-funding it will help accelerate its extinction.

And the Salon.com reporter, David Sirota saying, “Let’s hope the Boston Marathon bomber is a white male” doesn’t impress me as for him having a shred of journalist integrity. Did I somehow take that out of context? If I did, it can only be because it is so out-of-order as a journalistic comment.

Many TV and other media analysts are so far off the mark, why do we keep them in prime time news shows and in charge of aiming the public spotlight?

Where are they today with their apologies for their obtuse and inaccurate comments? They’re too busy working on their next story. Who cares if it’s accurate?

You and I do!

CARLINI-ISM : He who controls the press, controls the rest.

Follow daily Carlini-isms at www.TWITTER.com/JAMESCARLINI

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Posted in Business, Entertainment, Government, Social Media, Technology

Tagged abc, Aurora, bias, blogs, bombing, Boston, Brad Garrett, Brian Ross, cbs, CNN, Columbine, Congress, conservatives, Dzhokhar, FBI, FOX, James Carlini, James Holmes, lamestream news, liberals, media bias, media hype, MSNBC, NBC, network news, newspapers, NPR, NPR News, Press, print media, radio, shrapnel, Tamerlan, Tea Party, Tsarnaev, tv, white supremacist

Main Argument Against Economic Stimulus is Proven Wrong

Posted on April 24, 2013 by JW Najarian | Leave a comment

The Economic Argument Is Over — Paul Krugman Has Won

Reblogged from Business Insider: To Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/paul-krugman-is-right-2013-4#ixzz2RPvVxsHu

For the past five years, a fierce war of words and policies has been fought in America and other economically challenged countries around the world.

On one side were economists and politicians who wanted to increase government spending to offset weakness in the private sector. This “stimulus” spending, economists like Paul Krugman argued, would help reduce unemployment and prop up economic growth until the private sector healed itself and began to spend again.

On the other side were economists and politicians who wanted to cut spending to reduce deficits and “restore confidence.” Government stimulus, these folks argued, would only increase debt loads, which were already alarmingly high. If governments did not cut spending, countries would soon cross a deadly debt-to-GDP threshold, after which economic growth would be permanently impaired. The countries would also be beset by hyper-inflation, as bond investors suddenly freaked out and demanded higher interest rates. Once government spending was cut, this theory went, deficits would shrink and “confidence” would return.

This debate has not just been academic. It has affected the global economy, and, with it, the jobs and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people.

This article in Business Insider Magazine talks about an academic paper that was part of the main issue or argument for those that oppose more government spending in order to grow the economy. The paper found that a ratio of 90%-debt-to-GDP was a threshold above which countries experienced slow or no economic growth. The problem is that recently the paper was found to contain an arithmetic calculation error.

This error wipes out the argument that stimulus money as opposed to debt reduction is a bad thing. It points out that the pumping monies into rebuilding infrastructure is a better plan than government sequester which will just hurt the economy and stagnate our already dismal growth. – JW

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Posted in Journal

Tagged economy, bi, stimulus, paul krugman, sequester, interest rates, debt reduction

Springthyme Strawberry Cocktail

Posted on April 22, 2013 by JW Najarian | Leave a comment

Reblogged from jjbegonia:

Born and raised in Upstate New York, I had what you might call an earthy childhood. In the warmer months especially, I spent more time outdoors than in - traipsing through the 'crick' (Upstate speak for 'stream') behind my house, riding my bike on well-worn wooded trails, swimming in murky lakes, and picking fresh produce. I perpetually looked forward to the annual visit we made to the U-Pick Strawberry Farm, in a neighboring town.

Homemade Potato & Cheese Pierogi

Posted on April 22, 2013 by JW Najarian | Leave a comment

Reblogged from jjbegonia:

I would have posted this recipe earlier were it not for the self-induced food coma I embarked upon during the Easter holiday. Easter is one of the few celebrations in my house rife with ethnic tradition, mainly in the form of Polish and Ukranian cuisine. When I was a kid, my family would go to the Polish Home in Rome, NY, every Friday night to eat fish fry and heaping plates of pierogi (If I was well-behaved, I was allowed to buy my own 75 cent 7-Up from the bar, too!).

The Famous Le Petit Bistro in Los Angeles is Better Than Ever

Posted on April 19, 2013 by JW Najarian | 2 Comments

George Lachkar co-owner of Le Petit Bistro Restaurant in Los Angeles talks to us about all the new changes at this Los Angeles landmark.

North La Cienega Blvd., used to be restaurant row in West Hollywood, but over the years many of the classic restaurants are now gone. Le Petit Bistro has survived the dips in the economy with a Paris bistro charm and great affordable food. Le Petit Bistro allows you to drop the fad food doldrums and enjoy a wonderfully comfortable, yet upscale, meal experience.

Georges Lachkar of Le Petit Bistro Interview

►Right Click and “Save Link As” to Download File◄

Le Petit Bistro is located at 631 N. La Cienega Blvd in West Hollywood. (310) 289-9797

The first thing I noticed when I walked into Le Petit Bistro is the comfortable, intimate and kinda romantic mood of the restaurant.

It was a great evening and the valet parking in front of the restaurant was a nice touch as I really do not like searching for parking in West Hollywood.

I sat next to the bar and faced the door so I could watch for a friend who was arriving slightly behind me.

As I sat waiting, I got a chance to look around and check out the place. It has a very pleasant and inviting atmosphere and the other patrons were all busy drinking, eating and talking. The noise level was not too high so it makes it a great place to meet and talk while enjoying your meal.

The staff was fun, friendly and very accommodating.

The family at Entourage

I did get one of those wobbly tables, but the waitress had one of the waiters put something under one of the legs which fixed the issue entirely.

I had a hard time choosing what to order, but decided on the Braised Veal Short Ribs. The meal was amazing and everything was cooked to perfection.

After dinner I got the chance to sit down with Georges Lachkar one of the co-owners of the restaurant and after listening to his wonderful stories, had to have him come on and talk about the restaurant and the history of his family who have owned several successful and well known restaurants in Los Angeles.

The interview was real fun. Georges has a thick accent and has all kind of wonderful stories to tell. Take a listen and next time you are in Los Angeles, stop in West Hollywood to check out this amazing place. – JW

Le Petit Bistro
631 N La Cienega Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069

Cuisine: French
Dress: Casual
Take-out: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Takes Reservations: Yes
Catering: Yes

“If you ever fantasize about sitting in a lively little bistro on the left bank, you will love Le Petit Bistro. The narrow, crowded little space has dark woods, the old French ad posters, the thightly squeezed tables, and lots of people. We appreciate the authentic French bistro food at reasonable prices.”

Henri Fonda and Georges Lachkar

Georges on The Mike Douglas Show

Georges and Julio Eglesias

Georges with US Senator Joe Leberman

Located in the heart of West Hollywood, Le Petit Bistro restaurant offers traditional French cuisine. Guests can enjoy lunch or dinner in the charming indoor setting or on the outdoor patio-garden; sunny during the day and candlelit at night.

It takes savvy and sophisticated restaurateurs to stay in tune with the pulse of a city such as Los Angeles… and to evolve so that they continue to provide what their customers want.

Witness the establishments that have come and gone through the years.

Yet the Lachkar family, whose Le Petit Bistro on La Cienega is the last of

the European restaurants on “the row,” have successfully served Los Angeleans for 40 years… 20 of them at Le Petit Bistro.

They started with La Potiniere on Beverly Blvd. in 1973, opened the Entourage on Third Street in 1978, Cassis on Third Street and Mon Café in Sherman Oaks in 1985,LePetit Bistro on La Cienega in 1993 and in Sherman Oaks in 1994, La Mer on La Cienega in 1995, and Le Petit Zinc inBrentwood in2005.

By popular demand, beginning on April 7, you can enjoy the fabulous traditional French bistro fare of Le Petit Bistro seven nights a week.

Start with a fabulous appetizer… perhaps Eggplant Tart or French onion soup. Enjoy such typical French entrees as roast chicken or steak

with frites. Savor specials such as black mussels poulette or a baked pork shank. Complete your evening with a delicious tart tatin or pot de chocolat.

Top Rated on Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/le-petit-bistro-west-hollywood

Top Rated on Zagat: www.zagat.com/r/le-petit-bistro-west-hollywood

Check out the following:

Free Corkage on Sunday
Tapas Menu
Half Orders
Full Bar
Take Out
Private Room (Groups)
Open Late
Open on Sundays

Check out the Full Menu: www.lepetitbistro.us/menu.html

Mention this interview and get FREE glass of wine or desert. (restrictions may apply)

Georges Lachkar with one of his sculptors

Georges Lachkar

Born in Casa Blanca in 1945 and at age 12, he moved to and was raised in the south of France. Georges father passed away and so in July of 1967, Georges came to America with his mother and brothers.

George had gained his degree in electronics, but did not speak English when he arrived in the U. S. so he went to city college to learn English and pumped gas at World Gas on La Cienega and he finally got an electronics job at Panavision.

George Takei and Georges Lachkar

Georges father had a restaurant in Casa Blanca and so the family had was familiar with that business early on. Georges worked for Panavision in the daytime and worked as a waiter at night. He worked at many different restaurants including Chasen’s, The Portifino Room and Chianti. Georges decided to quit Panavision and work full time in the restaurant business.

Geoges Lachkar and patrick swayze

Georges brothers also worked at many well known restaurants around town until they all saved enough money to start La Potiniere on Beverly Blvd. in 1973.

They sold that restaurant in 1978 and bought a lot on 3rd street and started the Entourage the famous restaurant next to the Record Plant where you would see Rod Stewart, Rolling Stones, Burt Bacharach, Tom Petty and many many others came for lunch and dinner. In fact it was called studio D by the locals and workers at the Record Plant.

After owning a few restaurants like La Mer, Georges and his brothers started Le Petit Bistro and they have been there for over 27 years.

More Restaurant Pictures: [CLICK HERE]

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The Blaine Group, Inc.

A Total Communications Agency
8665 Wilshire Blvd., Suite #301, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
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Posted in Commercial

Tagged food, french, georges lachkar, le petit bistro, los angeles, restaurant, west hollywood, wine, yelp, zagat

GBK BRINGS CHARITY AND CELEBRITY GIFTING TOGETHER FOR THEIR ANNUAL GIFT LOUNGE DURING THE 2013 MTV MOVIE AWARDS WEEKEND

Posted on April 17, 2013 by JW Najarian | Leave a comment

GBK

GBK BRINGS CHARITY AND CELEBRITY GIFTING TOGETHER FOR THEIR ANNUAL GIFT LOUNGE DURING THE 2013 MTV MOVIE AWARDS WEEKEND

Andy Dick and Sean Love at GBK MTV Movie Award Gift Suite

Some of the Celebrity Attendees Included: MTV Movie Awards Best Musical Moment Winners: “Pitch Perfect” cast members – Ester Dean, Alexis Knapp and Hana Mae Lee, Jared Gilman from “Moonrise Kingdom” (Nominated for Best Kiss), Quvenzhane Wallis from “Beasts of the Southern Wild” (Nominated for Breakthrough Performance), George Lopez, Ray Liotta, Andy Dick (“Dancing with the Stars”), Tamara Barney (“The Real Housewives of OC”), JWOWW, Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, and many more.

Los Angeles - GBK, (gbkproductions.com) – the luxury lifestyle gift lounge and special events company, will honor the 2013 MTV Movie Awards Nominees and Presenters with its Annual Gift Lounge on April 12th and 13th at the W Hollywood Hotel. GBK, the recipient of multiple BizBash’s Award for “Best Gift Bag,” offered its exclusive list of invited celebrities, VIPs, and Media an opportunity to enjoy the traditional gift lounge environment while learning about the event’s great causes.

The esteemed charitable causes at the event included The Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation – The mission is to raise funds for research and awareness towards a cure for Juvenile diabetes.

George Lopez

Lopez Foundation – The charity’s mission is to create positive, permanent change for underprivileged children, adults and military families confronting challenges in education and health, as well as increasing community awareness about kidney disease and organ donation.

My Life My Power – a 501©3 Charity which works with kids, parents and schools around the nation with issues like bullying, drugs and alcohol, and dropouts. Steps4Paws – Steps4Paws is bringing the fashion world forward to support dog rescue organizations, saving lives one dog at a time.

Lambda Legal – For 40 years, Lambda Legal has led the fight for equal and fair treatment of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.

Dorothy Hamill GuardaHeart at GBK Event

GUARDaHEART Foundation, a non-profit foundation dedicated to raising awareness of heart disease prevention by spreading the word to guard your heart and save your life, was on site offering complimentary cardiac risk blood tests and to promote their savethe1.org campaign.

Aviir, Jason Ritter and with Gavin Keilly awards check to Guard a Heart Foundation

In honor of his father John Ritter, celebrity guest Jason Ritter made a special appearance on the 10 year anniversary since his passing due to heart disease to co-present a check with Aviir for $100,000 to the Foundation.

KuKuRuZa Gourmet Popcorn provided a delicious specialty popcorn bar and music from DJ BABYCHINO, the world’s youngest DJ, flowed throughout the rooms of the lounge setting the tone for the event. Guests collected gifts and visited many great sponsors including the event’s Presenting Sponsor Viva Diva Wines, one of the fastest growing Moscato brands in the U.S., who was gifting a bottle of their Pinot Grigio or flavored Moscato; Sky’s Gourmet Tacos; Sabra Dipping Company; Cookie Connection; Jade and Jasper; gifting their Fabulous Phyliss Necklace or their Enchanting Riona Necklace; Infinite Jewelry Designs; The Headware®, gifting The Headware® and LoopScarf TM – multi functional accessories made of stretchable, tubular and breathable material allowing for a myriad of uses; bigtruck brand, INC, gifting incredible custom bigtruck brand hats; Respect Your Universe, gifting the men an organic cotton Warrior Training Hoody and the women with a 100% polyester vented Endurance Jacket; and BlingIsTheNewBlack.com, gifting Crystal Bling Tees, Tanks, Bags and Bling Your Sole.

Beauty sponsors made their mark on the lounge, including luxury brands such as: Designer Skin, gifting high-end UV and sunless tanning lotions; Keratin Complex; BARBAR Hair Tools, and imPRESS Press On Manicure by Broadway Nails who also provided manicure services for the event’s special guests.

Viva Diva

Other fantastic sponsors and gifts included: Caribbean Living, gifting an all inclusive trip for 2 to the newest Hard Rock resorts in the tropics – Puerto Vallarta & Cancun; Empress Essentials, gifting their luxurious, hand-poured, pure soy candles; SOL REPUBLIC, Inc. , the pioneer of customizable headphones; Jada Toys, Inc.; 2K, providing a cross selection of the largest, most critically acclaimed titles in the video game industry; SKLZ, gifting the Gold Flex warm-up and tempo training aid – which is designed to improve your swing while providing a core muscle workout; and YES! Beat Liver Tumors, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing information, resources, support and HOPE to those who are affected by cancer of the liver and other forms of advanced cancer – gifting Amazon Kindles pre-loaded with life-saving information for those who are affected by liver tumors.

A true highlight of the lounge was Sparkling Hill Resort, a European-inspired wellness resort known as the first resort in the world to incorporate Swarovski crystal elements into every aspect of its design. Guests received a gift certificate for a 5 night Couples Escape in a stunning penthouse suite, with access to a wide range of wellness treatments featured at the resort’s world-renowned Kurspa – a 40,000 square foot spa providing over 100 treatments and therapies.

For more information about Guard A Heart, please visit: guardaheart.org
For more information about My Life My Power, please visit: mylifemypower.org
For more information about Steps4Paws, please visit: steps4paws.com
For more information about Lopez Foundation, please visit: thelopezfoundation.org
For more information about The Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation, please visit: SugarRayLeonard.com
For more information about Lambda Legal, please visit: LambdaLegal.org
For more information about YES! Beat Liver Tumors, please visit: BeatLiverTumors.org

For celebrity pictures, click here: (http://www.carellaugustus.com/GBKMovieAwards/)

ABOUT GBK:

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Posted in Business, Cause, Entertainment, Event, Marketing, Music, Promotional

Tagged 2013, andy dick, celebrities, GBK, gift bags, gift suites, marketing, mtv movie awards, products, sean love

COLLEGE DEGREE and COLLEGE DEBT? NO GUARANTEE FOR A GOOD JOB

Posted on April 12, 2013 by jamescarlini | 4 Comments

By James Carlini

Did you know that the amount owed on college student loans is over $1 Trillion and two thirds of the graduating seniors (in 2011) owe a little over $26,000 when they walk out trying to find a job? (Source: http://projectonstudentdebt.org/ )

The amount owed for student loans is more than what is owed on the total amount of credit card debt. The big difference is that you cannot declare bankruptcy in order to avoid paying back the student loans.

Many recent graduates today are serving tables at the local Red Lobster or Capital Grille. Some say, that’s if they are lucky. Unemployment for recent grads is high with some saying it is over 16%. Some articles try to low-ball the number of unemployed by using Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers and when they do, you read the readers’ comments after the article saying they are WAY off. How many are underemployed? 50%?

Young careers are stuck in the mud.

If one year’s tuition at a “good school” is $31K (DePaul University) to $35K (Northwestern U.) and this is WITHOUT room & board (and books & booze), a price-tag of $125K to $140K is hefty for a degree.

If they took out loans, grads could easily be in debt for $60K-$80K, so no one is looking at buying that brand-new BMW 3-series just yet. They probably moved back home with Mom and Dad.

You cannot do much if you are making $9 an hour and have a $1,400 a month student loan payment. Many want their student loans forgiven, but they don’t understand that someone else has to foot that bill of “loan forgiveness”.

COLLEGE ALTERNATIVES?

Maybe a real alternative is to buy an 18-year old a business franchise and tell them to “run it” for four years and get real experience under their belt to understand the elements of business.

For $125K-$140K, you can buy a halfway decent franchise operation. Some say that no bank would ever loan an eighteen year-old that type of money. But, think about it. The Bank of Mom and Dad does. Plus, there ARE banks that will let an eighteen year-old sign for a student loan.

Why? Because once they sign, they are “in debt” to the bank and they cannot weasel out of it by declaring bankruptcy.

Giving someone an opportunity to see all facets of a business from a hands-on basis is valuable experience. Maybe blending that experience with some older workers (mentors) working alongside of them would make it even a richer experience and have more success.

This strategy may not fit everyone, but it IS a viable alternative to what was once thought to be the “universal strategy” for everyone: Go get a college degree.

BE ALL YOU CAN BE – Well, MAYBE

Another route which many might not find appealing would be to go into the military for 2-3 years. That is a place where you can grow up fast and actually be a lot more mature than your equivalent junior in college.

You would be surprised to see some 18-25 year-olds actually opting for that after seeing some of their friends wind up with no progress in college. I know of a girl going into the Navy after getting her AA degree and a son of a friend who was waiting tables (and making about $40 an hour in tips) but felt there was no future in it. He had about 3 years of college, and was 25.

He is now in the Coast Guard making good money and benefits while working in Homeland Security in Washington, DC. He scored really high on their tests and they have given him a great opportunity.

They are sending him to finish his degree (and PAYING for it). In a couple of years, he will be in a much better position to either get a civilian job or stay with the Coast Guard.

I thought he made the right choice in the situation he was in. Serving a couple years in the military is good on the resume.

Another 21 year old is working part-time at a health club and also working with an artist in publishing and promoting a collection of his paintings in a book. This is great practical experience for him and I told him that he should somehow get some type of college credit for it and go back to school. Right now, he is learning the ups and downs of book publishing, marketing, and general business dealing with real world issues. You don’t get that in a classroom.

What worked before in positioning for a good job doesn’t necessarily guarantee success today. You must have skills focused on flexibility, adaptability, creativity, and technology in order to be marketable in today’s economy.

CARLINI-ISM : College degrees are not the universal solution anymore to a good career.

Follow daily Carlini-isms at www.TWITTER.com/JAMESCARLINI

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Posted in Business, Education, Employment, Marketing, Personal Development, Self Development, Social Media, Temporary

Tagged BLS, Capital Grille, Coast Guard, college, degree, economy, employment, franchise, GI Bill, James Carlini, jobs, military, Milllenials, navy, recession, tuition, underemployment, unemployment, unemployment statisitcs, veteran, young workers

GBK WILL HOST THEIR ANNUAL THEMED CELEBRITY GIFT LOUNGE DURING THE 2013 MTV MOVIE AWARDS WEEKEND

Posted on April 9, 2013 by JW Najarian | Leave a comment

GBK

GBK WILL HOST THEIR ANNUAL THEMED CELEBRITY GIFT LOUNGE DURING THE 2013 MTV MOVIE AWARDS WEEKEND

Featuring Gifts, Charity Fundraising and Popcorn!

Los Angeles - GBK, (gbkproductions.com) – the luxury lifestyle gift lounge and special events company, will honor the 2013 MTV Movie Awards Nominees and Presenters with its Annual Gift Lounge on April 12th and 13th from 11:00 am – 6:00pm. GBK, the recipient of multiple BizBash’s Award for “Best Gift Bag,” will offer its exclusive list of invited celebrities, VIPs, and Media an opportunity to enjoy a luxurious environment with gifts, refreshments, and music from DJ BABYCHINO – the world’s youngest DJ.

The 2013 MTV Movie Awards Nominees and Presenters will receive goods and services ranging from fashion and beauty products, to exotic travel destinations and the latest gourmet treats including Presenting Sponsor Viva Diva Wines, one of the fastest growing Moscato brands in the U.S., who will be on site gifting a bottle of their Pinot Grigio or flavored Moscato; Sky’s Gourmet Tacos, sampling their gourmet Mexican cuisine with Louisiana influences, and gifting complimentary VIP cards; Sabra Dipping Company, providing their Sabra Grab N’ Go containers and sampling a variety of flavors of Sabra Hummus, as well as Guacamole, Salsa and Veggie Dips; and KuKuRuZa Gourmet Popcorn, a Seattle-based company, dedicated to providing delectable popcorn flavors from the highest quality ingredients. In honor of the MTV Awards, KuKuRuZa will also provide a specialty popcorn bar where guests can take home a bag filled with their flavor of choice!

This year’s event will feature a variety of youthful, trend-setting products in the fashion and beauty categories. Jewelry and accessories resume their place as a must have at any GBK Celebrity Gift Lounge, and will feature Jade and Jasper, gifting their Fabulous Phyliss Necklace or their Enchanting Riona Necklace; Infinite Jewelry Designs, gifting their beautifully crafted Genuine Louisiana Alligator Cuff Bracelets; The Headware®, gifting The Headware® and LoopScarf TM – multi functional accessories made of stretchable, tubular and breathable material allowing for a myriad of uses; bigtruck brand, INC, gifting incredible custom bigtruck brand hats; and ( BlingIsTheNewBlack.com), gifting Crystal Bling Tees, Tanks, Bags and Bling Your Sole.

Beauty sponsors make their mark on the lounge and GBK will showcase luxury brands such as: Designer Skin, gifting high-end UV and sunless tanning lotions; Keratin Complex, gifting their at-home product line which includes a full-range of Keratin-infused styling products and tools that increase shine, minimize styling time and reduce frizz; BARBAR Hair Tools, gifting their professional 4800 Ionic Dryer; and imPRESS Press On Manicure by Broadway Nails – get a salon perfect manicure in seconds with imPRESS. Simply peel off tab and press on nails!

Other fantastic sponsors and gifts include: Caribbean Living, gifting an all inclusive trip for 2 to the newest Hard Rock resorts in the tropics – Puerto Vallarta & Cancun; Empress Essentials, gifting their luxurious, hand-poured, pure soy candles in the intoxicating fragrance of “Love”; SOL REPUBLIC, Inc. , the pioneer of customizable headphones, offers a myriad of affordable colors, styles and performance levels – allowing anyone to create precisely the headphone they want; Jada Toys, Inc. , gifting their new Cutie Pops Dolls; 2K, providing a cross selection of the largest, most critically acclaimed titles in the video game industry; SKLZ, gifting the Gold Flex warm-up and tempo training aid – which is designed to improve your swing while providing a core muscle workout; and YES! Beat Liver Tumors, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing information, resources, support and HOPE to those who are affected by cancer of the liver and other forms of advanced cancer – gifting Amazon Kindles pre-loaded with life-saving information for those who are affected by liver tumors.

A true highlight of the lounge will be Sparkling Hill Resort, a European-inspired wellness resort known as the first resort in the world to incorporate Swarovski crystal elements into every aspect of its design. Guests will receive a 5 night Couples Escape in a stunning penthouse suite, with access to a wide range of wellness treatments featured at the resort’s world-renowned Kurspa – a 40,000 square foot spa providing over 100 treatments and therapies.

As always, GBK will feature an array of charitable organizations including: GUARDaHEART Foundation- a non-profit foundation dedicated to raising awareness of heart disease prevention by spreading the word to guard your heart and save your life. The Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation – The mission is to raise funds for research and awareness towards a cure for Juvenile diabetes. Lopez Foundation – The charity’s mission is to create positive, permanent change for underprivileged children, adults and military families confronting challenges in education and health, as well as increasing community awareness about kidney disease and organ donation. My Life My Power – a 501©3 Charity which works with kids, parents and schools around the nation with issues like bullying, drugs and alcohol, and dropouts. Steps4Paws – Steps4Paws is bringing the fashion world forward to support dog rescue organizations, saving lives one dog at a time. Lambda Legal – For 40 years, Lambda Legal has led the fight for equal and fair treatment of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.

GBK ABOUT GBK:

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Posted in Business, Cause, Entertainment, Event, Marketing, Music, Promotional

Tagged 2013, celebrities, GBK, gift bags, gift suites, marketing, mtv movie awards, products

Mario’s Soldiers Non-Profit Organization

Posted on April 8, 2013 by JW Najarian | 1 Comment

Marios Soldiers

“Mario’s Soldiers is a non-for profit organization, which focuses on humanitarian efforts spanning from under privileged children to supporting our troops. This is all done in honor of PFC Marius L. Ferrero, his last mission, and the ideals that he gave the ultimate sacrifice for.”

Got a Twitter message from this group and after looking at their website I just had to share these folks with you.

According to their website they are really busy doing the grass roots effort to help under privileged children, soldiers and their families in time of need.

I am a huge advocate for children against abuse, hunger and also care deeply about my fellow soldiers and veterans who have given the ultimate sacrifice so we and the world can free of fear.

By the way… I also attended ITT Technical Institute like Marius did… so to a fellow brother in service and alumni member I thank Marius for his service and sacrifice.

Thank you to this and all the wonderful organizations, families and people that give of themselves whether it be with time, money, support or all three. - JW

About Mario’s Soldiers

We started MARIOSSOLDIERS.org in honor of our beloved hero PFC Marius L. Ferrero.

This brave soldier was killed in action in Baqubah, Iraq on November 18th 2007 during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Though being in the Army Infantry 1st Battalion, 38th IN REGT. 4th SBCT. 2nd ID SBCT, he never fired a single hostile shot in combat.

PFC Marius L. Ferrero was on a mission promoting good will that day, handing out toys to Iraqi children. While on this mission with his gun at his side, an IED detonated and instantly killed Marius along with two other soldiers and seven Iraqi children.

We at MARIOSSOLDIERS.ORG would like to continue PFC Marius L. Ferrero’s last mission, by collecting money and donating toys for children around the world. Please join us in accomplishing “HIS” mission.

PFC Marius L. Ferrero

PFC Marius L. Ferrero was born in Miami, FL. February 9th,1984. He was a very happy child who was known by everyone as “BOLO” or “MARIO”.

He was loved by everyone who knew him. He was a member of Civil Air Patrol as a young boy. Joined JROTC in high school at Coral Park Senior High. After high school, he attend ITT Technical School before joining the Army in July 2007.

He loved movies. He had a DVD Collection over 200 titles. Marius was very intelligent and could master any task with ease. He loved helping his grandmother. He vowed to her that one day he will re-pay her for all that she had done for him.

He was deployed to Iraq in October of 2007. While in Iraq, his grandfather, who was very influential in Marius’ life after his father’s death early in his childhood, passed.

He was given 2 weeks leave to be with his family. He went back to Iraq and was there just one more day before he was killed in a IED attack in Baqubah, Iraq on November 18, 2007.

He was a very brave soldier and loved what he did defending our freedom.

Marius is survived by his paternal grandmother Modesta, Mother Maribel and Brother Manny. We love you, BOLO.

Twitter (www.twitter.com/MariosSoldiers),
Facebook (www.facebook.com/MariosSoldiers)
or website (www.MariosSoldiers.org)

US Veteran on Linkedin

US Veteran is the largest veteran and military group on Linkedin and welcomes the US Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force, National Guard and Coast Guard.

Reservist, Honorable Discharge or Retired or just looking to help the veteran cause. This Group is for you. Come Join us Find Friends, Network with others to share information and resources. Active Duty Also Welcome -Thank you for your service.

Join or Visit the Linkedin Group www.linkedin.com/groups/US-Veteran-87020
or Follow Us at Twitter www.Twitter.com/us_veteran
on Facebook at www.facebook.com/USVeteranPage

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Posted in US Veteran, Veteran

Tagged army, ITT Technical, marine, mario's soldiers, Marius L Ferrero, military, navy, soldier, us veteran

Why wait for Google Glass? Epiphany Eyewear is here now (exclusive)

Posted on April 8, 2013 by JW Najarian | Leave a comment

Reblogged from VentureBeat:

Google Glass may be in the offing, but Vergence Labs is announcing it can do virtually the same thing with its better-looking Epiphany Eyewear. The startup has begun making the glasses and is opening up its site for preorders today.

Vergence has made a set of "smart glasses" that are simply well-designed glasses with a computer inside. That computer powers a high-definition video camera that you can use to take pictures or record videos.

My first thoughts... There is no heads up display here. This is just, essentially, a pair of glasses with a camera installed. Great for spy stuff....

On their site they don't explain how you tell whether your in record mode.... If you have to guess then you may have an issue?!

At a Retail $399.00, I think I will wait....

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Posted in Innovative Products

Tagged business, computer-enabled glasses, Epiphany Eyewear, game news, Google Glass

Wall Street, meet Twitter (now on those fancy Bloomberg terminals)

Posted on April 8, 2013 by JW Najarian | 1 Comment

Reblogged from VentureBeat:

The big Wall Street banks are among the last Twitterless bastions of the American workplace. But even their high walls are crumbling thanks to a new Bloomberg terminal product -- and perhaps a recent U.S. Securities and Exchange decision on Netflix CEO Reed Hastings.

Today, Bloomberg announced that it will be the first financial information platform to integrate real-time Twitter feeds directly into investors' data workflows.

Sandro Monetti Gives Unforgettable Hollywood Tours

Posted on April 5, 2013 by JW Najarian | Leave a comment

Tourific Escapes Awesome Hollywood Tours Now Adds Famous Celebrity Journalist Sandro Monetti To Their Many Cool Tours

Tourific Escapes already has a Hollywood Food Tour and A Hollywood Chocolate Tour, but now they have added a world famous celebrity reporter to their ranks to give you the Hollywood tour of a lifetime. Continue reading →

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Posted in Audio Podcast, Cause, Health and Wellness, Interview, iTunes, Music

Tagged audio, author, bestselling, beverly hills, book, celeb, celebrities, celebrity, chocolate, colin firth, fine food, food, hollywood, interview, jw najarian, micky rourke, movie location, sandro monetti, stars, tour, tourific tours, writer

FLASH MOBS, FLASH ARRESTS: SMARTPHONE JUSTICE

Posted on April 3, 2013 by jamescarlini | 1 Comment

By James Carlini

Last weekend, Chicago’s Magnificent Mile experienced teen-age flash mobs (organized looting) creating disturbances and mayhem among people there who were trying to enjoy the downtown shopping district.

This has been going on for several years, but the Chicago media has filtered it out of their stories until Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Commercial, Education, Government, Law, Social Media, Social Media, Technology

Tagged business, cell tower, cellphone, central office, Chicago, Chicago Police, children, City of Chicago, DAS, data base, DHS, flash mob, FOP, Homeland Security, Huffington Post, James Carlini, John Hancock Center, leadership, LTE, Magnificent Mile, mayhem, mob action, North Michigan Avenue, politically accurate, politically correct, politics, Rahm Emanuel, retail, riots, Smartphones, social media, tourism, twitter, Water Tower Place, WBC, WiFi, wildings, wireless

US Veteran on Twitter is Back!

Posted on April 3, 2013 by JW Najarian | Leave a comment

Thank You Twitter Support

Something I never thought I would say.

@US_Veteran‘s account on Twitter had been suspended for over a week and I am very happy to report that the suspension has been lifted.

This is not the first account I have had shut down in error and I have heard from others about similar plights. Luckily Twitter support has worked at resolving every issue I have heard about including my own so Thanks Twitter Support!

Here is the resolution letter from Twitter:

gobeee, Apr 03 11:35 am (PDT):

Hello,

Twitter has automated systems that find and remove multiple automated spam accounts in bulk. Unfortunately, it looks like your account got caught up in one of these spam groups by mistake.

I’ve restored your account; sorry for the inconvenience.

Please note that it may take an hour or so for your follower and following numbers to return to normal.

Thanks,

gobeee

jwnajarian, Apr 01 11:40 am (PDT):

Hello, I have read the rules and understand them and still am not sure why the @us_veteran account was suspended. I would like the suspension repealed, but would also like to know the reason for the suspension, so I can make sure I avoid making any errors in the future.

Thank you for your time…

Kindest Regards,

JW Najarian
US Veteran – Linkedin (http://www.linkedin.com/groups/US-Veteran-87020)

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Posted in Commercial

Tagged LinkedIn, twitter, us veteran

Why Amazon's Purchase of Goodreads Is A Good Thing

Posted on April 2, 2013 by JW Najarian | Leave a comment

Reblogged from David Gaughran:

The doom-mongers have been running wild on Twitter with the news that Amazon is to acquire Goodreads. Much of that nonsense is typical (hysterical) Amazon bashing, or reflexive defense of the status quo.

I'm not going to deal with the Chicken Little stuff. I have less and less patience with people who claim that Amazon has or is striving for some kind of evil monopoly that will subjugate authors and readers when all the evidence to date is that they will treat authors better than any publisher and provide readers with cheaper books, a bigger selection, and a better customer experience than any other retailer.

REAL ESTATE AGENTS: AS FAST AS GLACIERS

Posted on March 28, 2013 by jamescarlini | 4 Comments

By James Carlini

The housing market has really been slow the last couple of years in the United States, but you wonder if it could have recovered faster if real estate agents would do their jobs.

In Illinois, real estate agents range from very good to very poor. Some have no sense-of-urgency in respect to Continue reading →

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Posted in Commercial, Real Estate, Residential

Tagged Broker, buyers, commissions, contracts, CRE, FHA, for sale, foreclosures, houses, James Carlini, lawyers, listing agent, listings, MLS, mortgages, moving, NRA, professionalism, real estate, sellers, short sales, tours, trulia, Zillow

Music – The Tallest Man on Earth | The Gardener

Posted on March 26, 2013 by JW Najarian | Leave a comment

The Tallest Man On Earth

Kristian Matsson

I saw a Kristian Matsson review or story that named him the new Dylan.

Kristian admits he was definitely influenced by American folk including Dylan, but he also claims he does what he does.

I believe that being compared to a great like Dylan is the most incredible compliment you can get, but to for someone to say that you are the new one, always makes me uncomfortable.

The music has a real and authentic feel. A subtle complexity to his guitar picking, a great melody with a catchy chorus and lyrics that tell a story.

A great combination. I will definitely listen to more from this artist. – JW

The Tallest Man on Earth Website
Twitter
Fan Site

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Posted in Entertainment, Music

Tagged folk, Kristian matsson, music, the tallest man on earth

Tom Bähler Famed Music Composer Turned Author

Posted on March 25, 2013 by JW Najarian | 3 Comments

Famed Composer Tom Bähler on His New Book “Anything is Possible; a Tale of Aesop”

Tom Bahler was a background singer for the Partridge Family, wrote Bobby Sherman‘s hit “Julie Do Ya Love Me”, Cher‘s “Living in a House Divided” and Michael Jackson‘s “She’s Out Of My Life”. He has also appeared in a film or two. He was an associate producer and arranger on “We Are The World”. Music Supervisor on “The Color Purple” and Choir Arranger on “The Wiz”. He has also composed the music to a number of other movies and scored a number of soundtracks.

And now Tom Bahler has written a fascinating fictional account of the life of the famed creator of Aesop’s Fables, a brilliant storyteller and eternal optimist who lived around 600 BCE. Tom joins us while speaking at Author 101 to talk about his new book and his new journey writing.

I love to interview authors because they are often great story tellers and they have rather interesting lives.

Tom Bähler is absolutely no exception. He has one of the most interesting stories you will run across.

Tom is a fun guy, who really likes people and loves to share his story and it was so fun getting to talk with him. Rick Frishman pops in at the end of the interview and we all have a great time.

Thank you Tom for gracefully giving your time, as you were quite popular and busy at the conference and thanks to Rick Frishman for such a great conference that attracts such great people like Tom – JW

Tom Bähler

Thomas Bähler has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in the entertainment industry. He composed music for Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, directors Steven Spielberg and Barry Levinson, magicians Siegfried and Roy, Superbowl Halftime Shows and a number of other high profile stage productions.

As a songwriter he’s written many hits including “She’s Out of My Life” “Living In A House Divided” and “Julie Do You Love Me.” Thomas created vocal arrangements for the landmark charity event “We Are the World,” as well as for Barbara Streisand, Billy Joel, and the motion picture version of “The Wiz.”

He served as Music Director for a number of events sponsored by the White House, including “America’s Millennium”, “Points of Light” and President Clinton’s Inaugural Concert. Mr. Bähler has also served as Music Director and arranger for “The Kennedy Center Honors.”

The Book

Anything Is Possible; A Tale of ÆSOP

Anything Is Possible, Illustrated edition, an original novel by Thomas Bähler is a thought-provoking modern treasure, a fascinating fictional account of the life of the famed creator of Aesop’s Fables, a brilliant storyteller and eternal optimist who lived around 600 BCE.

The life of the great philosopher and teacher Æsop is explored for the first time ever in a brilliantly crafted historical fiction illuminated by fifty full page illustrations .

The novel begins with Aesop’s birth as a slave, covers his long quest for freedom and examines his service to the richest and most powerful man in the world.

Many would be surprised to know that Æsop, an enduring philosopher in the modern world, was born a slave. Yet, later in life, he served as Ambassador to the wealthiest King in ancient history, simply with a fierce belief in his own potential, and the ever-stalwart laws of reality…anything is possible.

Today, Æsop and his fables are quoted an estimated one million times daily, across the globe. Not bad for someone who lived 2600 years ago.

Written with the same simple genius as its central protagonist, in Anything Is Possible, the reader discovers the meaning of Æsop’s profound lessons on his/her own… subsequently, you, the reader, own these lessons, forever.

Change requires your permission.
Are you ready to BE POSSIBLE?

If this man, born a slave in 620 BC, can still inspire the world with his message in the year 2013… what does that mean YOU can do?

POSSIBILITY AWAITS…

We are all here to serve.

We are all here to BE POSSIBLE.

“A thought provoking exploration of freedom. It will inspire anyone who has ever dreamed of a better life.” – Quincy Jones

Thomas Bahler Links

Tom’s Official Website
Tom’s IMDB Page
Tom’s Wikipedia Page
Tom’s Twitter Page

I caught Tom at Rick Frishman‘s Author 101 University Event in Los Angeles. Tom had a small booth where her signed books for people and was available to talk to everyone.

Tom also spoke on stage along with his friend Hollywood Producer of “Pretty Woman”, “Mothman Prophecies” and “Under Siege I & II, Gary W. Goldstein.

This is one you didn’t want to miss.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rick Frishman’s Author 101 University

Are you curious about what publishers like Harper Collins, Morgan James, Adams Media, Wiley, Random House, and Simon & Schuster are looking for?

What is the best way to get your manuscript read when you’re an unpublished author? Want to know the biggest mistakes to avoid when writing book proposals?

You’ll be engaged as these top pros share their expertise, reveal the inner workings of the publishing industry, and discuss various approaches to common marketing and publishing challenges. ENROLL NOW

Author 101 University Event Website: www.author101university.com

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Posted in Authors, Entertainment, Interview, Video Podcast

Tagged aesop, aesop's fable, arranger, author, author 101, bahler brothers, bobby sherman, book, composer, fiction, gary w goldstein, john bahler, jw najarian, movie, music, Novel, rick frishman, score, speaker, story, the color purple, the wiz, tom Bahler, writer

Eyoälha Baker Photo Project on Jumping for Joy!

Posted on March 22, 2013 by JW Najarian | 6 Comments

Eyoälha Baker on Jumping for Joy!

Capturing the beauty of the human spirit in mid air around the world. A co-creative adventure focusing on the positive shift of attention to a perspective to joy.

Photographer, entrepreneur, avid traveler Eyoälha Baker speaks about Continue reading →

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Posted in Art, Health and Wellness, Journal, Leisure, Lifestyle, Personal Development, Spirituality

Tagged eyoalha baker, joy, jump, jump for joy photo project, photo, project

Age Ain't But A Number: Learning From Experiences Not Years

Posted on March 21, 2013 by JW Najarian | Leave a comment

Reblogged from The Insane and The Impossible:

Why do we place so much emphasis on age? Supposedly, with age comes wisdom. Knowledge deepens with every year added and we become a more advanced version of ourselves as time passes. But with a new year already in progress, can you say you have changed or grown wiser based on an additional year? I, myself, can not.

Throughout my life, people have always been taken aback by my voice or opinion on life, seemingly considering me to be "wise beyond my years." I have my childhood to thank.

Self-Publishing for the Right Reasons — FriesenPress

Posted on March 21, 2013 by JW Najarian | Leave a comment

March 20, 2013 By: Rasanga Weerasinghe

Self-Publishing for the Right Reasons

I just recently watched a webinar featuring Mr. Guy Kawasaki that had some fantastic information for self-publishing authors. One of his top ten tips that really stood out for me is about ‘writing for the right reasons’ – so I thought I would share it with you right here on the FriesenPress Blog!

There are many wrong reasons to write a book, including writing for the sake of just making money, or to increase your consulting or speech fees. If you write a great book, you may make a lot of money as a secondary benefit, but it should not be the main reason you are writing in the first place.

Mac365 by Kenneth Cardell

Taming the Hamster by Dakota Jade

Art & Design Memory by Michael Gronnerud

1. To enrich people’s lives

Your book is a work of art, and the world is going to be better off because you have written it. Whether you are a writing a cookbook, an arts and crafts book, a novel or fiction, your goal is to enrich people’s lives, and we thank you for it.

2. To further a cause

You are passionate about a cause or a subject and you want to expand existing information or simply promote it, excellent! Write with [Continue Reading This Story....]

There are Ten Tips…

Self-Publishing for the Right Reasons — FriesenPress.

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Posted in Authors

Tagged author, book, guy kawasaki, self publishing, writing

What Does "Best Seller" or "Best-Selling Author" Really Mean These Days?

Posted on March 21, 2013 by JW Najarian | Leave a comment

Reblogged from NOT SO MAINSTREAM:

By Ryan Potter

Have you noticed all of the best-selling books and authors out there lately? You can't browse three pages of Amazon book listings before coming across a title or author claiming "best seller" status. Although the explosion of eBooks and digital self-publishing has led to the discovery of many wonderful writers, the emergence of so many publishing platforms and eBook stores has made it much easier for writers to brand themselves as best-selling authors, a claim that, unfortunately, can be misleading these days.

AREA CODE 809: JUST ANOTHER PHONE BILL SCAM

Posted on March 20, 2013 by jamescarlini | Leave a comment

By James Carlini

Area Code 809 Phone Scam

There are a lot of Emails going around on the internet warning people to watch out for any calls that say to return the call to a number inside of the 809 area code. Some have said this is an exaggerated threat, but if you look closely, it isn’t. This kind of scam happens.

This is a real threat and will cost you money and more importantly, time, if you get caught up in it.

The Email being circulated warns of calls coming in to be Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Commercial, Education, Law, Management, Real Estate, Residential, Technology

Tagged 800-numbers, 809 area code, AT&T, billing, business, call centers, FCC, internet, James Carlini, marketing, pagers, phone bills, phone company, phones, privacy, scams, Smartphones, snopes, telemarketing, Verizon

NicodermCQ / Nicorette Introduce Pledge to Quit Smoking Program

Posted on March 19, 2013 by JW Najarian | 1 Comment

NicodermCQ / Nicorette Introduce New Pledge To Quit Program at GBK Luxury Gifting Suite to Help Support TabaccoFreeKids.org

NicodermCQs Jason Andre explains their new pledge program and how they are helping GBK Gifting Suites help people and kids, quit smoking.

As someone that has recently stopped smoking, I can attest to how tough it can be.

I quit with every other puff and finally it took. I really should have tried NicodermCQ or Nicorette, but I was too stubborn and it cost me so much quality time with my lungs.

Since quitting I have gotten rid of my smokers cough, I feel better, taste more, am in better shape and have lost over 15 pounds. Yes that is right lost pounds! I quit to save my health so I am eating healthier also.

If you are still smoking, make a pledge to stop. I know it is tough, but it is worth it and I believe that the patch and gum might just be what you need to be successful – JW

NicodermCQ

What is a nicotine patch?

To some people, the toughest part of quitting is dealing with the nicotine cravings that come with it. One way to overcome the need for nicotine is to stop smoking but partially replace

the nicotine that you would have had from smoking. As your body adapts to having less, you will experience the urge to smoke less often. Eventually, you can completely stop supplying your body with nicotine. This is the idea behind Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT).

Patches like NicoDerm CQ are just one form of Nicotine Replacement Therapy. They look like large adhesive bandages and stick onto the skin in the same way. The sticky side of the patch contains a layer of nicotine. While you wear the patch, nicotine passes through the skin into your blood. This delivers nicotine in a steady stream, helps reduce the nicotine cravings that come from quitting and making it easier for you to use your willpower to quit smoking.

Unlike other patches, NicoDerm CQ features Time Release SmartControl Technology so it acts fast and lasts long to help control your cravings and double your chances of quitting*. And since it’s a thin, clear patch, it’s easy to wear discreetly.

Nicorette Gum

How Nicorette^® Gum Works

It is difficult when you’re quitting and all you can think about is your next
cigarette. Nicorette Gum^® helps calm your withdrawal symptoms when you’re
trying to quit. That’s because, when you stop smoking, the sudden removal of
nicotine from your system lowers your dopamine levels, making you feel
moody and irritable.

Nicorette Gum provides a controlled amount of nicotine to your system at a slower, less intense pace than cigarettes and without the toxins in cigarette

smoke. It’s a temporary therapeutic aid that reduces withdrawal symptoms and helps you quit smoking.

Your body gradually adjusts to having less nicotine until you no longer need any. By helping to relieve cravings, Nicorette lets you focus on disrupting the patterns that link cigarettes to so many of your daily activities.

Tobacco Free Kids

Winning the Fight Against the World’s Leading Cause
of Preventable Death

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is a leading force in the fight to reduce tobacco use and its deadly toll in the United States and around the world. Our vision: A future free of the death and disease caused by tobacco.

We work to save lives by advocating for public policies that prevent kids from smoking, help smokers quit and protect everyone from secondhand smoke.

How We Fight Tobacco

To achieve our mission, we:

Promote public policies proven to reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke. These include higher tobacco taxes, comprehensive smoke-free laws, well-funded tobacco prevention and stop-smoking programs, and tough regulation of tobacco products and marketing.
Expose and counter tobacco industry efforts to market to children and mislead the public.
Strengthen tobacco control efforts in the United States and worldwide by providing support and information to our many partners.
Mobilize organizations and individuals to join the fight against tobacco.
Empower a tobacco-free generation by fostering youth leadership and activism.
Inform the public, policy makers and the media about tobacco’s devastating consequences and the effectiveness of the policies we support.

Saving Lives in the U.S. and Around the World

In the United States, we advocate at the national, state and local levels for the proven policies that reduce tobacco use and save lives.

Internationally, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids supports governments and non-governmental organizations in promoting and implementing these policies. We are a partner in the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use, which focuses on low- and middle-income countries where more than 80 percent of tobacco-related deaths will occur in the coming decades.

While we have made enormous progress in the United States, tobacco still kills more than 400,000 Americans every year. The worldwide death toll is at more than five million a year and climbing. With your support, we can win the fight against the world’s leading cause of preventable death.

Created in 1996, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that accepts no government or tobacco industry funding. We rely on contributions from individuals, philanthropic foundations, corporations and other non-profit organizations.

Learn more about our work:

Use these Links To find out more about both products and to get help.

Quit.com
NicodermCQ
Nicorette Gum
Tobacco Free Kids

Thanks to GBK Events – Gavin and his great staff. As always you host the best.

GBK, is a luxury lifestyle gifting and special events company, specializing in entertainment marketing integration. Formed in 2000 by Gavin Keilly, the company’s Founder and CEO, GBK consists of five divisions: GBK Celebrity Gifting, GBK Special Events, GBK Weddings, GBK Charitable Consulting and GBK Marketing/Public Relations. Widely known in the entertainment industry for bringing that little extra something into the Gifting Lounge environment, GBK offers its clients a full range of marketing services. For more information on Gavin B. Keilly (CEO), Carla Domen (VP) or GBK,, please go to: gbkproductions.com.

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Posted in Cancer, Cause, Entertainment, Event, Interview, Video Podcast

Tagged actor, celebrity, children, gavin keilly, gbk productions, gift suite, hollywood, interview, jw najarian, nicoderm, nicorette, oscars, pledge, smoking, tobacco free kids, video

Don Green’s New Book “Everything I Know About Success I Learned from Napoleon Hill”

Posted on March 15, 2013 by JW Najarian | 5 Comments

Executive Director of the Napoleon Hill Foundation, Don M. Green Talks to OPM About His New Book

Everything I Know About Success I Learned from Napoleon Hill: Essential Lessons for Using the Power of Positive Thinking

Author, Speaker, Successful Entrepreneur and CEO of the Napoleon Hill Foundation Don M. Green spends some time with JW Najarian talking about his life, the foundation, Napoleon Hill and his new book which talks about Continue reading →

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Posted in Audio Podcast, Authors, Education, Entertainment, Interview, Personal Development

Tagged audio, author, bestselling, bio, celebrity, don m. green, Everything I Know About Success I Learned from Napoleon Hill, executive director, filmmaker, foundation, greg s reid, interview, jw najarian, napoleon hill, napoleon hill foundation, podcast, Power of Positive Thinking, publisher, think and grow rich, three feet from gold, writer

Marilu Henner Supports the Alzheimers, PCRM and US Vets at Night of 100 Stars

Posted on March 14, 2013 by JW Najarian | Leave a comment

Marilu Henner Supports Alzheimers Association on Celebrity Apprentice

Marilu Henner is best known for her role in Taxi, but she also a producer and author of Total Health Makeover and she supports the Alzheimers Association and PCRM. Continue reading →

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Posted in Cause, Event, Interview, Music, US Veteran, Veteran, Video Podcast

Tagged alzheimer's, alzheimer's Association, author, bestseller, book, health, jw najarian, marilu henner, memory, mission to the moon, NBC, night of 100 stars, oscars, pcrm, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, shout out, the apprentice, us veteran

SMARTPHONE WARS: SAMSUNG Galaxy 4

Posted on March 13, 2013 by jamescarlini | Leave a comment

By James Carlini

It’s been almost a year since I moved up to a Smartphone. I did not jump on the first wave of Apple Smartphones because I wanted to see how the market shook out and what competitors would offer. It is so typical to see technology get refined in a short period of time after the market becomes established.

My final choices at the time were the Apple iPhone i3 and the new-on-the-market “dark horse” at the time, the Samsung Galaxy 3 that I eventually bought.

My advice: Never buy first-generation, always buy the next generation of products where everything becomes more refined.

Within the last year, I have used the Galaxy 3 and have been satisfied with it. The pictures taken from the internal camera have been great and have a crisper resolution than most other digital cameras I have used.

It also had the NFC chip in it that provides the “digital wallet” capability that is becoming an interesting option in the area of retail purchases. An NFC chip lets you check out your purchases with your Smartphone without having to use any credit cards. That capability was not available on the Apple i3 at the time and it did not come out on the Apple i4.

ADDING OPTIONS

When I bought the Galaxy 3 last year, I added another 16GB of memory, so that the total storage was 32 GB of memory. On the new (Galaxy 4) phone, it can expand to 64GB of memory. Overkill? With the apps that are out there today, I would say no. Plus, memory is so cheap, just add it on.

Another “option” that I was talked into by the salesperson was a Motorola “hands free” Roadster 2 Bluetooth Speakerphone which would give you hands-free capabilities in the car. I usually buy something without adding a lot of options, but I decided to take her advice and I am glad I bought the unit.

I am very satisfied with it, but I have heard others have had mixed reviews on its quality. Bottom line, research all the brands and get one for the car. It is a very good investment and portable – you can take it from car-to-car. It makes your Smartphone (no matter what brand) much more versatile.

Overall, I was satisfied with the selections and have followed some of the issues and concerns of people within the Smartphone market. More people are buying them and the whole Smartphone market is changing many other markets like retail industries, entertainment venues, convention centers and sports stadiums.

Smartphones have become the new “edge technology” that interacts with systems in these other areas to provide new capabilities like buying merchandise, watching instant replays, ordering food and teamwear from a stadium seat, and other new capabilities.

I have written a white paper that includes the adoption and usage of the Smartphone in next-generation real estate and IREC (Intelligent Retail/ Entertainment/ Convention Center) complexes: “Intelligent Infrastructure and Its Impact on Regional Sustainability”

(http://iwcs.omnibooksonline.com/ – Look up Carlini in author index)

SO WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE SAMSUNG GALAXY 4?

The Samsung Galaxy 4 is going to come out on March 14, 2013. Early previews and “leaked” announcements of the Galaxy 4 cover new features and functionalities. Rumored capabilities include:

A quad-core processor running at 1.7 GHz, upgraded from a 1.4-GHz chip in the S3 (with a 30% lower power consumption – rumored to be the Samsung Exynos 5 Dual – http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/minisite/Exynos/products5dual.html )

13-mega-pixel camera with a 2.2. mega-pixel front-facing camera

Wireless battery charging (with an optional dock)

Eye-tracking capability where it will be able to detect when you finish reading and automatically move ahead and scroll forward (this is getting a lot of industry attention)

Improved power saving over the Galaxy 3 (which was better than most other Smartphones last year – my wife’s LG Smartphone bought at the same time needs more frequent re-charging)

GALAXY IS HERE TO STAY

Apple tried to litigate Samsung out of the market and lost on that strategy. The real winner from that failed litigation is the consumer. The Smartphone market is moving forward fast and the new capabilities that are coming out so rapidly are changing the way people interact in society. From watching instant replays on a Smartphone at a stadium to buying items without having to pull out a credit card,

With the product launch tomorrow, they are building a lot of excitement through YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/SAMSUNGmobile?v=YzkfC7–jog

Now is the time to upgrade to a Smartphone if you are still walking around with older technology. I am thinking of getting one just to see how the new improvements work within the wireless environment of retail, telemedicine and other industries clearly affected by this technology.

CARLINI-ISM : Smartphones are impacting more than the communications industry. They are impacting retail transactions, customer service interactions, medicine, and everyday life.

Follow daily Carlini-isms at www.TWITTER.com/JAMESCARLINI

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Samsung Hired A Galaxy S4-Themed Flash Mob To Dance In Times Square

Newest Leaked Photo >>

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Posted in Commercial, Education, Innovative Products, Real Estate, Technology

Tagged 1920x1080, 3G, 4G, announcement, APPLE, battery, bluetooth, business, cellphone, commercial real estate, DAS, digital wallet, dual-core, Exynos, flash mob, Galaxy 3, Galaxy 4, HD, IBC, IIP, iphone, IREC, James Carlini, leaked, LG, LTE, mega-pixel, megapixel, mobile, mobile wallet, Motorola, newest leaked photos, next-generation, NFC, Nokia, real estate, retail, SAMSUNG, Smartphone, Smartphones, WiFi, wireless

CURBING DISCOURSE IS NOT AMERICAN

Posted on March 7, 2013 by jamescarlini | 3 Comments

By James Carlini

“I may not agree with what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it.” Patrick Henry said this just before he said his more famous line, “Give me liberty or give me death.”

It is sometimes misattributed to Voltaire, but the reason I bring it up is because we are experiencing too many curbs to discourse in both the new media of blogs as well as our traditional TV and print media.

The average American wants to hear both sides of the issues, not just one.

It is easy to blame politicians for the tearing up of America and its values, but the media – both the traditional and new media, are also to blame.

WHY IS BENGHAZI A STICKING POINT WITH A “MODERATION TEAM”?

I usually read the column Wall Street Breakfast: Must Know News Column at Seeking Alpha (www.seekingalpha.com) because it is a pretty good place to read through financial headlines and make comments on the various trends that are going on in the markets as well as the political trends that shape the markets.

Wednesday, there was a comment about the Press and its bias that seemed to get many people’s attention. There were those saying that FOX Cable News was more objective than others (CBS, NBC, ABC and CNN) and some with differing views saying that FOX was the biased one.

I expected that discourse because the usual readership is stretched across the political spectrum from conservative to liberal as well as one or two Canadians giving their perspective as well. In a way, this group is a microcosm of society and each has their opinions.

At rare times, it gets a little hot so they have an anonymous Moderation Team that is supposed to follow-up on personal attacks or comments that are not germane. Like most blogs they have their terms and rules, but that should not get in the way of healthy discourse of differing opinions.

Having a healthy discourse on financial as well as political issues is critical and the comments on this thread reflect that.

This is what seems to be lacking in Washington DC and the results are clear to see. People need to communicate. People need to hear differing views and they need to respect those who have differing views.

When it came to asking a question of what actually happened at Benghazi because there are still many unanswered questions, there seemed to be a good give-and-take about it until the “Moderation Team” took down about six comments? Why?

By taking them down, they are showing either their immaturity to discern real discourse OR they are letting their own political leanings overtake their sense of objectivity. In either case, I think it was the wrong move. (They cannot say it was irrelevant to the thread because it is not tied to a financial discourse. Unless no one there owns US Treasuries, Bonds or US Savings Bonds, it IS very relevant.)

Benghazi has left a lot of questions on the table and it is unfortunate that the mainstream press has not taken up questioning about this. When a financial blog, all of sudden has an anonymous “moderation team” slice out the whole conversation, you really start to wonder why you cannot talk about it? What is being covered up?

The more that is covered up, the more likely there is something there. If there truly isn’t any cover-ups, the journalist or “moderation team” should not be trying to create an impression that there is.

And it’s sad that they do not have to account for their actions of censorship. If for nothing else, they should be able to say why they feel so strongly to censure that issue and sweep it under the table so that readers coming in to read the thread later, see a disconnect between a comment left dangling when the prior six have been swept away.

Why am I writing about it here? This is not an isolated case. I have seen it in other cases where a “new media” blog or traditional newspaper wants you to add to their “credibility” by writing comments only to be censored later by them if your views do not agree with theirs.

I don’t want my news filtered and I definitely don’t want comments after that news excluded or left out because they don’t agree with the news media’s viewpoint and might even counter the “facts” written in the article. The news media should be there to present the news, but not filter it and sometimes edit it before presenting it to the public.

What do they teach in college journalism today? Maybe they should hand out Patrick Henry’s quotes.

It is not just some of the “new” media at fault, the Chicago Tribune does that a lot with reporting on Chicago crimes and it is always caught by one of its chief competitors on the new media side of blogs. The unofficial blog of the Chicago Police Department (www.secondcitycop.blogspot.com) is constantly focusing on the Tribune’s “lapses” of not providing all the facts in the crime or shutting down the comments section when the comments refute the accuracy of their reporting of the crime.

As for my subscription to the Chicago Tribune? It was cancelled a long time ago. I have no faith in their reporting of the news.

POLITICAL CORRECTNESS HAS TO BE REPLACED WITH POLITICAL ACCURACY

What is wrong with the American Press today? They wonder why they have lost that monopoly on providing the news but maybe they have forgotten how to present the news. If they were doing a good job, we wouldn’t be seeing a deluge of blogs and other on-line media not only exploding on the market, but actually capturing a sizeable audience away from the traditional journalists and news media.

We need to get back to some solid foundations that they have seemed to forgotten or maybe in their journalistic education, they were never exposed to.

As to media strength and putting down those independent blogs because they simply don’t “reach the audience” of a major metropolitan newspaper, I have to laugh.

With my electronic circulation of over 2.5 million readers through several syndicated distribution outlets, my circulation is over three times larger than the Chicago Tribune’s Sunday circulation number of about 734,000 which is declining. (http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20121030/NEWS06/121039958/chicago-sun-times-tribune-gain-in-digital-lose-in-print )

Let’s remember Patrick Henry and his focus on protecting the Freedom of Speech and start asking journalists and their editors to be more politically accurate instead of politically correct in their assessment and presentation of the news.

CARLINI-ISM : Political correctness has to be replaced with political accuracy, especially when it comes to the news media.

Follow daily Carlini-isms at www.TWITTER.com/JAMESCARLINI

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Posted in Business, Commercial, Education, Law, Social Media, US Veteran

Tagged abc, Benghazi, bias, cbs, Chicago, Chicago Tribune, CNN, CPD, FOX, FOX News, government, James Carlini, journalism, journalists, LA Times, leadership, lies, media, media bias, MSNBC, NBC, NY Times, PC, political accuracy, political correctness, politics, Press, slanted news, TMZ, WGN, WSJ

Artist Susan Ashley Wins ArtQuench Gallery’s Whimsical Expression Art Competition

Posted on March 6, 2013 by JW Najarian | Leave a comment

**ArtQuench Gallery Announces Susan Ashley’s “Don’t Splash Me!” the winner of the Jan. 2013 “Whimsical Expression” Art Competition.**

Susan has won one year of representation with AQ Gallery.

The Winning Artwork

Winner of ArtQuench Gallery’s Whimsical Expression Art Competition is “Don’t Splash Me! by Susan Ashley.

The image is 12h X 18w. The framed work is 18h X 24w. with a Continue reading →

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Posted in Commercial

Tagged art, art guench, artist, artquench, competition, gallery, magazine, mixed media, susan Ashley

On Purpose Magazine Stories Trending High on Trendspottr.com

Posted on March 6, 2013 by JW Najarian | Leave a comment

On Purpose Magazine and Authoritative Links

Getting sites with decent link authority is not always easy, but it is important when you are trying to build traffic and credibility so I was checking my out links back to my site and found that Continue reading →

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Posted in Journal

Tagged authoritative links, building traffic, content, jw najarian, mentions, On Purpose Magazine, seo, shares, site links, stories trending, Trendspottr, viral

Where is Our Middle Class and What is the Big Deal About the Top 1%

Posted on March 5, 2013 by JW Najarian | 5 Comments

How is Wealth Distributed in the United States?

It is well known by both the political right and left and all in the middle, that a strong country is based on a strong middle class.

This video shows the ideal and the actual distribution of wealth in the United States.

If this video is true then we have some thinking to do.

The video talks about the ideal distribution of wealth. What we believe as Americans, is the true Continue reading →

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Posted in Journal

Tagged top 1 percent, wealth distribution, wealth in america

Buzz Aldrin Gives a Shout Out to US Veterans at Night of 100 Stars

Posted on March 5, 2013 by JW Najarian | Leave a comment

Buzz Aldrin at the Night of 100 Stars Talks About US Veterans

Gemini 12 and Apollo 11 Astronaut and second man to step on the Moon gives a Shout Out to Continue reading →

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Posted in Cause, Event, Interview, Music, US Veteran, Veteran, Video Podcast

Tagged apollo 11, astronaut, author, bestseller, book, buzz aldrin, gemini 12, jw najarian, mission to mars, mission to the moon, moon landing, night of 100 stars, oscars, sci-fi, shout out, us veteran

CLOUD COMPUTING INFRASTRUCTURE: THE COST OF DISRUPTION

Posted on February 28, 2013 by jamescarlini | Leave a comment

By James Carlini

From an upcoming white paper:

Many organizations that are looking at implementing a new network infrastructure for Cloud Computing, a new building being built, or any other network capability, better look closer at their network designs.

Why? Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Commercial, Real Estate, Technology

Tagged antenna, architecture, BICSI, BOMA, buildings, cabling, CAT 5, CAT 6, Cloud computing, connectivity, copper, DAS, fiber optics, high-tech real estate, IBC, IIP, infrastructure, intelligent buildings, IREC, James Carlini, NEC, NECA, networking, networks, telecom, TIA, WiFi, wiring

Marian Yap’s Shimo Announced The Winner of the Dec.2013 ArtQuench Gallery Art Competition

Posted on February 27, 2013 by JW Najarian | Leave a comment

Art Quench Gallery Announces Marian Yap The Winner of the Dec.2013 “Spirit of Winter” International Art Competition

Marian Yap has won one year of representation with AQ Gallery with her Spirit of Winter inspired mixed media painting SHIMO. Continue reading →

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Posted in Art

Tagged art, artist, artquench, artquench gallery, artquench magazine, competition, gallery, mixed media, painting

ArtQuench Gallery February Juried Art Competition Deadline Feb 28th 2013

Posted on February 27, 2013 by JW Najarian | Leave a comment

AQG Represented Artist; Peter Schachter

ArtQuench Gallery February Juried Art Competition

There is still time to enter this month’s competition for a chance to Win One Year of Representation with one of the best on-line art galleries today.

As an Entrant to one of ArtQuench’s monthly juried art competitions you will receive: Continue reading →

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Posted in Art, Commercial, Promotional

Tagged abstract art, abstract images, abstract painters, abstract photography, architecture, art deadlines, art for sale, art news, Art Quench Gallery International art competitions, Art QuenchGallery.com, art surrealism, artist John L. Perdue, artist Peter Schachter, artist Sabine Blodorn, artist showcase, ArtQuench.com, award winning photography, black and white photography, building an artists reseme by submitting to art competitions, buy art, colorful artwork, consumers, contemporary art, creative art magazines, creative solutions, creative spaces, creative thinking, creative works of art, Depicting contemporary life and the urban experience art competition, desert landscapes, digital photography, emerging artists, expressionism, farm landscapes, featured artist in art quench magazine, fine art, gallery representation, great minds of the world, harmony, human environment, illusion, imagination, important figures in the world, impressive photography, incredible photography, influential artists, influential people of the world, inspiration, international juried art competitions, international photographers, jw najarian, landscape photography, magical atmosphere, mixed media, monthly art competitions, mountains, nature photography, new artist, On Purpose Magazine, online art competitions, online contemporary art, online photographers, painters, photo manipulators, photography, photography competitions, realism, representational art, sculpture, sculpture competitions, seasons, skyscape photography, structure, waterscapes, Worlds next great artist

Greg S. Reid’s New Book “Stickability” The Power of Perseverance

Posted on February 26, 2013 by JW Najarian | 1 Comment

Greg S. Reid Bestselling Author, Speaker, Teacher, Filmmaker, Publisher, Talks About His New Upcoming Book Stickability

Greg Reid, Bestselling Author of Three Feet from Gold and many other books, talks to us about how perseverance and not giving up on your dream is the most important key to your success .

I also get a chance to talk to Greg about publishing a #1 bestseller. As a bestselling author and publisher he has a very keen perspective on the writing, publishing and marketing processes that work. Continue reading →

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Posted in Audio Podcast, Authors, Education, Entertainment, Interview, Personal Development

Tagged audio, author, bestselling, celebrity, filmmaker, foundation, greg reid, greg s reid, interview, jw najarian, napoleon hill, napoleon hill foundation, podcast, publisher, stickability, think and grow rich, three feet from gold, writer

B. Riley & Co. and The Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation Present “Big Fighters, Big Cause” 4th Annual Charity Fight Night

The Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation

B. Riley & Co.

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Ghostwriters and writers interested in making a career in ghostwriting have their first ever conference.

Get more information:

Ghostwriters Unite http://ghostwritersunite.com/

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WHAT ABOUT OTHER REPORTERS?

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The Economic Argument Is Over — Paul Krugman Has Won

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George Lachkar co-owner of Le Petit Bistro Restaurant in Los Angeles talks to us about all the new changes at this Los Angeles landmark.

Mention this interview and get FREE glass of wine or desert. (restrictions may apply)

Georges Lachkar

More Restaurant Pictures: [CLICK HERE]

Thank You to

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GBK BRINGS CHARITY AND CELEBRITY GIFTING TOGETHER FOR THEIR ANNUAL GIFT LOUNGE DURING THE 2013 MTV MOVIE AWARDS WEEKEND

ABOUT GBK:

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Marios Soldiers

“Mario’s Soldiers is a non-for profit organization, which focuses on humanitarian efforts spanning from under privileged children to supporting our troops. This is all done in honor of PFC Marius L. Ferrero, his last mission, and the ideals that he gave the ultimate sacrifice for.”

About Mario’s Soldiers

PFC Marius L. Ferrero

US Veteran on Linkedin

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My first thoughts... There is no heads up display here. This is just, essentially, a pair of glasses with a camera installed. Great for spy stuff....

On their site they don't explain how you tell whether your in record mode.... If you have to guess then you may have an issue?!

At a Retail $399.00, I think I will wait....

Tourific Escapes Awesome Hollywood Tours Now Adds Famous Celebrity Journalist Sandro Monetti To Their Many Cool Tours

Tourific Escapes already has a Hollywood Food Tour and A Hollywood Chocolate Tour, but now they have added a world famous celebrity reporter to their ranks to give you the Hollywood tour of a lifetime. Continue reading →

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Last weekend, Chicago’s Magnificent Mile experienced teen-age flash mobs (organized looting) creating disturbances and mayhem among people there who were trying to enjoy the downtown shopping district.

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Thank You Twitter Support

Something I never thought I would say.

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The housing market has really been slow the last couple of years in the United States, but you wonder if it could have recovered faster if real estate agents would do their jobs.

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The Tallest Man On Earth

Kristian Matsson

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Famed Composer Tom Bähler on His New Book “Anything is Possible; a Tale of Aesop”

Tom Bähler

The Book

Anything Is Possible; A Tale of ÆSOP

Change requires your permission. Are you ready to BE POSSIBLE?

POSSIBILITY AWAITS…

Thomas Bahler Links

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Eyoälha Baker on Jumping for Joy!

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Area Code 809 Phone Scam

Change requires your permission.
Are you ready to BE POSSIBLE?

How Nicorette^® Gum Works

Winning the Fight Against the World’s Leading Cause
of Preventable Death