Eric M. Strauss

SuperHuman: Stephen Wiltshire - An extrodinary artist

2011-07-22T21:00:00.014-04:00

I produced a segment about the extraordinary artist Stephen Wiltshire for ABC News 20/20. Stephen is able to view a city once and then draw it in great detail from memory. You won't believe your eyes:

Jaycee Dugard: Her first Interview

2011-07-08T21:00:00.007-04:00

It was an honor to work with Diane Sawyer to bring 15 million viewers the first interview with Jaycee Dugard.

Watch as she talks about her horrible kidnapping that lasted 18-years and where she finds the strength to go on living today. You will be fascinated.

Watch here: http://abcnews.go.com/US/jaycee_dugard/

20/20: Reality Show Casting

2011-06-09T12:13:00.000-04:00

Check out this fun segment I produced about casting for reality shows

Read 20/20's 20 tips on how to get on a reality show:
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/reality-tv-star-20-tips-2020/story?id=13702053

20/20: Royal Real Estate

2011-04-28T20:00:00.000-04:00

A segment I produced in advance of the Royal wedding about where William and Kate may end up living some day

Video Projector Rental

2011-03-07T12:50:00.001-05:00

This weekend we had a 90th birthday party for my Grandpa. I made a slide show with music using iMovie. I shopped around for a projector and found the best service and price was online at ATS Rentals. It was a successful experience and the audience enjoyed the walk down memory lane.

I rented a Dell 4210X XGA Projector for $99 (Output was bright and clear with wide screen aspect ratio and many input options including HDMI, Composite and VGA)

I added a Mackie SRM150 Compact Speaker for $28 (Allowed everyone to hear the music. RCA inputs and included a microphone)

Pros:

- Availability of great equipment in good condition.

- Easy online ordering.

- Quick email response time with Kim before the order and good confirmation of order and tracking.

- Equipment arrives packed well with lots of accessories and manuals.

- Snappy delivery via UPS and easy return shipping (They include tape and return labels)

Cons:

- I didn't like having to fill out paper work and faxing it back with a copy of my credit card and driver's license. Seemed like extra work and not super safe for privacy reasons.

- I'm an advanced user, but I think an offer to pre-configure the equipment might help others (Based on what input they will use) The manuals are thorough though.

I have a $20 off coupon for a first time rental to the first person to contact me via twitter: www.twitter.com/ericmstrauss

Astronaut Love Triangle

2011-02-28T13:00:00.000-05:00

I produced a story on the Astronaut Love Triangle for ABC News 20/20. In case you missed it please check it out and let me know what you think. It's the story you think you know, but behind Lisa Nowak's diaper grabbing headlines is a very emotional and compelling tale. Hear from the victim Colleen Shipman for the first time

Watch the full episode online for free:
ABC HD Player

or on Hulu below

FULL SHOW: Melissa Moore - daughter of a serial killer

2010-08-24T12:50:00.002-04:00

5 Million people tuned in to watch the story I produced with Juju Chang about Melissa Moore the daughter of the "Happy Face" serial killer Keith Jesperson. You can watch the full episode for free.

http://abc.go.com/watch/2020/SH559026/VD5581507/happy-face-killer-speaks-from-prison

Watch ABC News 20/20 Tonight: Friday, August 20th

2010-08-20T10:49:00.009-04:00

Please tune in tonight to ABC News 20/20 at 10PM for a program I produced, wrote and shot a lot of the video for:

Blood Lines: The Story of Melissa Moore, the daughter of The "Happy Face" serial killer.

Melissa tells about growing up with a loving Dad who at the same time is on a five-year five-state killing spree. You'll hear about how she deals with life once he is captured, the fears she has for her own children, and how she learns to rise above the sins of her father.

Watch a preview here:

Read:

Melissa Moore Recalls Her Father Saying "I Know How To Kill Someone and Get Away With It"

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/daughter-serial-killer-tells-happy-face-killer/story?id=11413812

Slide show:

Daughter of "Happy Face Killer" says childhood was sunny despite dad's dark side

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/slideshow/keith-jesperson-serial-killer-kids-home-11431231

Video: 'Happy Face Killer' Speaks From Prison

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/happy-face-killer-speaks-prison-talks-interview-murder-murderer-killings-take-lives-Jesperson-11441251

Video: ‘My Dad Is a Serial Killer’

Shalise Cox remembers when friend Melissa Moore told her dark secret.

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/friend-recalls-learning-dark-secret-11438129

Book Excerpt:

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Books/read-excerpt-shattered-silence-melissa-moore/story?id=8791871

ABC News 20/20 Brainman

2010-06-03T14:10:00.001-04:00

I produced a fascinating piece about Autistic Savant Daniel Tammet. Watch how his incredible brain memorizes long strings of numbers and learns a new language in a week.

Our Dog Grace Jumps The Fence

2010-06-01T10:37:00.000-04:00

WWYD: Breastfeeding

2010-05-19T17:02:00.000-04:00

Check out my latest from our ABC series "What Would You Do?": Our manager berates a mother and her breastfeeding "child". What would you do?

Bridget and Grace in the Snow

2010-02-11T11:01:00.001-05:00

ABC News 20/20: The Candidate's Secret

2010-02-02T15:14:00.003-05:00

8 Million people watched, but in case you missed our exclusive Andrew Young interview on 20/20 about the secrets behind John Edward's affair with Rielle Hunter watch it here:

Howie Mandel's Struggle with OCD

2009-12-08T16:19:00.007-05:00

Watch an inspiring story as Howie Mandel discusses his lifelong battle with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
CLICK TO WATCH PART 1

CLICK TO WATCH PART 2

OTHER LINKS
Slideshow
Excerpt: "Here's the Deal: Don't Touch Me"
Our ABC News Article

20/20: Friday 10pm - Howie Mandel

2009-11-24T14:56:00.001-05:00

This Friday on 20/20: A fascinating look at funny man Howie Mandel's real life struggle with mental health. You will be surprised by what you see. Set the DVR and make sure to watch live with the whole family Friday at 10pm on ABC

My Folks are TV Stars

2009-11-01T19:25:00.001-05:00

My parents on Long Island TV:

Full OCD Program Online

2009-08-12T17:57:00.007-04:00

You can now watch our full OCD Kids program online with limited advertisement interruption BY CLICKING HERE

Here is a list of some other online components from the show:
Overall Article: (With resources)

Living with OCD: Michelle’s Diary

Dr. Weg’s Guest Column

Hair Puller Article

SLIDE SHOW:
http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/MindMoodNews/popup?id=8221920

VIDEO: Ian and Emily (Cut for the web)

VIDEO: Meet Bridget:
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=8221508

VIDEO: Meet Rocco:
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=8214435

VIDEO: Meet Michelle:
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=8253918

Press Release of Show:
http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=8214328&page=1

OCD Kids: Tonight - ABC - 10PM

2009-08-04T13:31:00.006-04:00

INSIDE THE THERAPY ROOM: CHILDREN FIGHTING OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER ON “PRIMETIME: FAMILY SECRETS,” AIRING TUESDAY, AUGUST 4 on ABC 10pm

http://abcnews.go.com/primetime

I hope you will watch an hour program I have been working on for about a year. Children struggling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I shot a lot of it myself. The families that gave us access were amazing.

Before Arranging Playdates, Ask About Guns

2009-04-10T19:26:00.003-04:00

Read my article HERE about keeping your child safe before they visit a neighbor's house and watch 20/20 tonight (4/10/09) about gun safety.

"But after months of visits, it did come as a surprise to Stephen's mom, Carol, that Robbie's dad, Jan, kept handguns in his home for protection.

"Stephen's been going to Jan's house to play with Robbie, and I had no idea Jan even had guns," Carol admitted. "It just never came up as a conversation."(More...)

Watch ABC News Tuesday Night 10pm - Bounty Hunter - What Would You Do!

2009-03-24T18:00:00.001-04:00

You’re at a fruit stand. A Bounty Hunter asks you to help him capture a fugitive… What Would You Do? Watch a story I helped produce tonight on ABC - 10pm.

Go here: http://alturl.com/uxk and make sure to comment. Watch a clip.

Twitter my reporter and tell him what a great job I did:
http://twitter.com/johnquinonesABC

Watch Tonight: What Would You Do? ABC TV @ 10PM

2009-03-17T10:27:00.004-04:00

Tune in Tuesday night – 10pm – ABC News: What Would You Do?
I co-produced the final segment in the hour about going to the beach.

You’re at the Beach… A woman gets up leaving her iPod behind… It gets stolen… What Would You Do? What if she was annoying to you? What if she was flirting with your wife?

That's the scenario we put to the test and the results are part of tonight's show.

(I am the thief for the first part of the show and it’s my iPod that gets stolen :-)

Spread the word. Make a comment. Take a look at a promo here: http://tinyurl.com/cqre5m

Twitter my Correspondent John Quinones and let him know how well I did: JohnQuinonesABC

2009-02-12T20:22:00.002-05:00

I'm sad to learn that a very nice woman I did a story on was in a car accident this week. My thoughts are with Lee Redmond in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Woman's record-length fingernails broken in crash
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Salt Lake City woman who was in the Guinness Book of World Records for her long fingernails has had them broken off in a car accident. Lee Redmond sustained serious but non-life threatening injuries in the Tuesday accident. Redmond was the current Guinness record holder, with nails that hadn't been cut since 1979. Her nails measured a total of more than 28 feet long in 2008, with the longest nail on her right thumb at 2 feet, 11 inches, according to the Guinness Web site. Salt Lake County Sheriff's Lt. Don Hutson said she was ejected from an SUV in the crash and taken to the hospital in serious condition.

ABC News 20/20: Guinness Record Holders: Smallest Waist and Longest Nails

SLIDE SHOW: 'How Do You Sleep?' and World's Smallest Waist and Nailing a World Record

Extreme Measures: The Smallest Waist and the Longest Fingernails

My dad is going to the Inauguration in case of emergency

2009-01-15T19:46:00.002-05:00

ELTON STRAUSS, MD, has been selected by the Department of State as a member of an elite team of trauma specialists to care for any orthopaedic surgical emergencies during the inauguration of president-elect Obama, in Washington, DC, January 18 through 20

Dr. Strauss is Chief of Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and has been a member of the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) since it's inception six years ago. He looks forward to bringing his abilities to the nation’s Capitol.

“Because of the expected record-setting crowds, our team is being deployed from throughout the Northeast so we will be in position in case there is a need for emergency medical care,” explained Strauss.

“It will be exciting to witness this historic inauguration in person. We’ll be out there with the masses, in our government issued uniforms, in the cold, eating our MRE’s (Meals Ready to Eat), and ready to help if called on.”

The population of Washington, DC is expected to swell by the addition of over 2 million visitors for the inauguration festivities; Dr. Strauss and the rest of a 40 member International Medical Surgical Response Team (IMSuRT) will be mobilized to provide a 60 bed field hospital in the event of a mass casualty event. The temporary hospital will be located on The National Mall.

The complexity of today’s mass casualty incidents has increased the need for specialists in disaster care. The NDMS responded to this need by creating rapidly deployable world-class medical/surgical teams for the treatment of disaster victims under the sponsorship of the US Government (Department of Health and Human Services).

Contact Information
Mount Sinai Newsroom
Telephone 212-241-9200
Email NewsMedia@mssm.edu

War on "Honica"

2009-01-12T17:46:00.005-05:00

Occasionally as a Producer at ABC News Magazines I write to people in jail. I inquire about hearing their side of the story and sometimes request a meeting. Few prisons allow on camera interviews and many inmates see little benefit of speaking to the media. Most of my letters sent on ABC letterhead go unanswered.

So, I was initially surprised to learn that my requests live on well past our interest in the story. My attempts at printed persuasion are passed from inmate to inmate as reading material - year after year - along with my salutation and return address that was meant for another.

The newly inspired inmates send me respectfully worded ramblings. Some notes arrive hand-written and some typed, but they often follow the same rhyme and flow; declaring their innocence, inviting me to follow up with someone on the outside and often sending me blessings.

Today I received a note from such a stranger and at the end of the note - after the part about being innocent - I was wished "Merry Christmas or happy Honica. (SIC)"

I have some advice for future inmates writing to journalists. Because Hanuka /Hanukkah / Chanukah can be spelled multiple ways correctly (and incorrectly) and because sometimes the choice between Christmas or Chanukah can be answered many ways (ONE/NEITHER/BOTH) I suggest we all wish each other Happy Holidays and call it a day.

Parallels Tech Support Works

2009-01-12T16:37:00.003-05:00

Computer tech support departments historically blame problems on the user, deny the problem is their fault (contact your computer maker) or re-direct the user to unhelpful online literature. That is why I would like to give a gold star to the team at Parallels for admitting to me my problem was real and having their developers fix it!

Parallels ($49.99 at Amazon) makes software that allows you to run Windows on your Mac. I had a friend who set up webcams at his house and the software that came with it (Nubix Eclipse Security) required an Active X component. Active X only runs in Internet Explorer and only on a PC. We set up Parallels in a flash, installed Windows XP, downloaded the Active X component, connected to the webcams three states away and .... Black screen. Parallels could not render the images even though they could be seen on a physical PC. (For the record VM Ware's Fusion could not render the images either.)

I wrote to technical support and expected to be dismissed. There were some standard suggestions about checking security settings and some other back and forth that might have been helpful to non-advanced computer users, but I knew this was a limitation of the software.

Imagine my surprise when I was told the issue was confirmed by the technicians and that the developers would work on the problem and repair it in the next free update. I waited a few weeks, and when I was notified I downloaded the free update and my problem was fixed. Operational Active X Nubix webcam software on an iMac running Windows XP with the help of Parallels 4. Thank you.