Living It Green

2012 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL GRAND JURY PRIZE AWARD WINNER ANNOUNCED

2012-01-29T06:48:00.001-08:00

THE GRAND JURY PRIZE WENT TO A DOCUMENTARY CALLED “THE HOUSE I LIVE IN” ( U.S.A., DIRECTOR: EUGENE JARECKI) — FOR OVER 40 YEARS, THE WAR ON DRUGS HAS ACCOUNTED FOR 45 MILLION ARRESTS, MADE AMERICA THE WORLD'S LARGEST JAILER AND DAMAGED POOR COMMUNITIES AT HOME AND ABROAD. YET, DRUGS ARE CHEAPER, PURER AND MORE AVAILABLE TODAY THAN EVER. WHERE DID WE GO WRONG AND WHAT IS THE PATH TOWARD HEALING?

Quote of the Day: "In the past, economic growth came first, then you got education, health and two-child families. Now it is the reverse. If you have education, health and two-child families, then you get economic growth."

2012-01-24T15:18:00.000-08:00

“In the past, economic growth came first, then you got education, health and two-child families. Now it is the reverse. If you have education, health and two-child families, then you get economic growth,” said Hans Rosling, a Swedish doctor who co-founded the Gapminder Foundation, which analyzes public health statistics.

Taco Bell begins rolling out its breakfast platform

2012-01-20T09:55:00.001-08:00

Taco Bell is rolling out its long-awaited breakfast menu next week in about 750 locations in 10 states, the first wave of what the chain promises will be a year of change and innovation.

The Irvine, Calif.-based chain is also testing a new Cantina menu in about 150 stores. The menu includes higher quality options developed with celebrity chef Lorena Garcia, all in an attempt to position Taco Bell against fast-casual Mexican brands.

Coming soon: supersonic data transfers 500 times faster than 3G phones

2012-01-20T08:10:00.001-08:00

USA Today reports data downloads on wireless devices will become 500 times faster than on 3G phones -- and devices will be much more responsive -- under technology that has passed muster with the International Telecommunication Union, the U.N. telecom agency. The technology, which could begin showing up in smartphones and tablets by 2015, will allow users to load Web pages at a tap of a finger. Known as IMT-Advanced, the system is designed to deliver ultra-high-speed service through more efficient use of radio frequencies, meaning that wireless hardware will require less bandwidth to access the Web. <<...>>

Quote of the Day: "People over 50 account for 67% of America's consumption."

2012-01-19T13:20:00.001-08:00

“People over 50 account for 67% of America’s consumption. So they should be the most highly sought after demographic, right? Wrong: Only 5% of marketing spending is geared toward them. And if you look within that 5%, 92% of it is pharmaceuticals and financial products,” says Asaaf Wand, the founder of Sabi, a line of branded, ergonomic wares for the aging which launches today.

Customers Love Kindle Owners' Lending Library, including Puvungna

2012-01-12T14:32:00.001-08:00

The Kindle Owners’ Lending Library is off to a strong start: customers borrowed 295,000 KDP Select titles in December alone, and KDP Select has helped grow total library selection to over 75,000 books.

Paid KDP sales grew rapidly in December — and results show that paid sales of titles participating in KDP Select are growing even faster than other KDP titles. On top of this growth in paid sales, KDP Select authors and publishers on average are receiving an incremental 26% in December as a result of their participation in the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library.

“KDP Select appears to be earning authors more money in two ways. We knew customers would love having KDP Select titles in the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library. But we’ve been surprised by how much paid sales of those same titles increased, even relative to the rest of KDP,” said Russ Grandinetti, Vice President of Kindle Content. “Due to this early success and a seasonally strong January, we’re adding a $200,000 bonus to January’s KDP Select fund, growing this month’s total pool to $700,000.”

The top ten KDP Select authors earned over $70,000 in the month of December from their participation in the Kindle Owners' Lending Library, a 30% increase on top of the royalties they earned from their paid sales on the same titles in the same period. In total (paid sales plus their share of the loan fund), these authors saw their royalties grow an astonishing 449% month-over-month from November to December. The list of KDP Select authors includes Daniel Stiel, Rachel Yu, the Grabarchuk family and Amber Scott.

Daniel Stiel is the author of Puvungna, a story about two young brothers who travel back in time and discover an ancient Indian village along the shores of a Southern California beach and the secret behind its disappearance over five hundred years ago. Borrow the book free at http://www.amazon.com/Puvungna-ebook/dp/B00307S9XK

Rachel Yu is a 16-year-old author of children's books, and she earned $6,200 from the KDP Select fund in the month of December. “It’s so cool to be part of the success of KDP Select,” said Yu. “It's just like a library but with easier access. There's truly no other opportunity like Amazon for self-publishing.”

The Grabarchuk family earned $6,300 from the KDP Select fund in December from their puzzle books. “After only a month KDP Select has dramatically changed things — finally indie publishers are playing as equals with the big publishing houses in the world's biggest eBook marketplace,” said Serhiy Grabarchuk, Co-Founder of the Grabarchuk Puzzles company.

Amber Scott is a romance writer and earned $7,650 from the KDP Select fund in December. “Enrolling in KDP Select utterly transformed my career,” said Scott. “I've experienced not only a surge in royalties but a surge in readership thanks to the increased exposure. I love the chance to earn new readers through the innovation of the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library. What an exciting time to be an author!”

Since launching Kindle Owners’ Lending Library on November 2, Prime members with Kindles can now choose from over 75,000 books to borrow for free—including over 100 current and former New York Times Bestsellers—as frequently as a book a month, with no due dates.

2012 International CES Exhibit Hours

2012-01-10T17:28:00.001-08:00

2012 International CES Exhibit Hours:

Tuesday, January 10: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Wednesday, January 11: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Thursday, January 12: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Friday, January 13: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Location

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

· Las Vegas Convention Center and World Trade Center (LVCC)

· Las Vegas Hilton

· The Venetian

Las Vegas Hilton is changing its name to LVH (Las Vegas Hotel & Casino) on January 3, 2012. The 2012 International CES will refer to it as the Las Vegas Hilton.

Quote of the Day: "To avoid criticism do nothing, say nothing, be nothing."

2012-01-08T15:02:00.001-08:00

To avoid criticism do nothing, say nothing, be nothing. - Elbert Hubbard

Orange County Restaurant ranks #2 in Yelp's "Top Ten" list

2012-01-08T09:28:00.001-08:00

Bruxie, which has earned rave reviews since opening its first location in Old Towne Orange in 2010, ranked as Yelp’s No. 2 most popular restaurant in the country in 2011. Bruxie is located at 292 North Glassell Street, Orange, and another location at 215 W. Birch Street, Brea.

The US Top 10 for 2011 list from Yelp includes:

1. Bottega Louie, Los Angeles

2. Bruxie, Orange County

3. Ippudo NY, New York

4. Wurstküche, Los Angeles

5. Bi-Rite Creamery, San Francisco

6. Daikokuya, Los Angeles

7. Phil's BBQ, San Diego

8. Ike's Place, San Francisco

9. Griddle Cafe, Los Angeles

10. Animal, Los Angeles

Samuel J. Palmisano on IBM

2012-01-02T03:24:00.001-08:00

Samuel J. Palmisano, who steps down on this week after nearly a decade as chief executive of I.B.M., knows how to drive change in a big company.

When so much of the study of business innovation focuses on start-ups and entrepreneurs, he says in an interview with the NYT that his guiding framework boils down to four questions:

1. “Why would someone spend their money with you — so what is unique about you?”

2. “Why would somebody work for you?”

3. “Why would society allow you to operate in their defined geography — their country?”

4. “And why would somebody invest their money with you?”

Qoute of the Day: "All I Want for Christmas is A Good Education for My Kids"

2011-12-31T09:10:00.001-08:00

“All I Want for Christmas is A Good Education for My Kids,” Youth Voices Education Director Rubi Fregoso

Facebook: to friend or not to friend... That is the question!

2011-12-22T14:09:00.000-08:00

We shared some reasons why people friend – or de-friend someone on Facebook. By popular demand, here's the infographic that tells more of the story.

Friends & Frenemies: Why We Add and Remove Facebook Friends

2011-12-22T13:59:00.000-08:00

To friend or to de-friend, that is the question. New research from NM Incite, a Nielsen McKinsey company, reveals that there are innumerable factors that help Facebook users decide to add a friend or cull someone from the fold, though knowing someone in real life is the top reason cited for friend-ing someone (82%) and offensive comments are the main reason someone gets the boot (55%).

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Why companies love "hip" office spaces

2011-12-22T13:17:00.000-08:00

Businessweek writes companies such as Facebook are leading a new wave of office design, with open areas and shared spaces replacing cubicles and meeting rooms. The aim is to help workers bump into each other and share ideas, says analyst Dan Fasulo. "A new generation of corporate leaders is looking at space-planning as a core part of business to increase productivity and keep people in the office."

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U.S. announces strict limit on emissions of mercury and other toxic substances

2011-12-22T11:57:00.001-08:00

The Obama administration announced today a tough new rule to limit emissions of mercury, arsenic and other toxic substances from sources such as power plants, a landmark measure that could prevent up to 11,000 premature deaths annually, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Interview with President Clinton

2011-12-22T08:56:00.001-08:00

This weekend, CNN will broadcast an interview with President Clinton about the remarkable work of the Clinton Foundation. I hope you'll tune in this Saturday, December 24, at 2pm ET or Sunday, December 25, at 4pm ET to learn more about the life-changing work that you've helped make possible.

HBO has canceled "Hung," "How to Make It In America," "Bored to Death" and renewed "Enlightened."

2011-12-20T15:05:00.001-08:00

"Hung" and "Bored" will end after three seasons and "America" after two, the network said. The shows failed to capture the audience and buzz of acclaimed HBO shows including "Game of Thrones," "Boardwalk Empire," and "Curb Your Enthusiasm."

"Thrones" and "Boardwalk" will return, along with "True Blood" and "Treme." There is no announcement yet on the future of Larry David’s "Curb Your Enthusiasm."

The cancellations change the lineup of the HBO network, which debuts six new shows next year including Dustin Hoffman’s horseracing drama "Luck," an untitled Aaron Sorkin series, Ricky Gervais' "Life's Too Short," plus "Veep," "Girls," and "Angry Boys."

Happy Holidays from All of Us!

2011-12-20T11:45:00.001-08:00

Happy Holidays from everyone!

May every day of the season be a cause for celebration.

Thank you for all your support in 2011. We look forward to an even more prosperous New Year!

Sincerely,

The Editorial Team

"At Last" singer Etta James is terminally ill

2011-12-18T01:03:00.001-08:00

We watched Etta James perform at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on April 26, 2009, in New Orleans. CBS/AP reports Singer Etta James, whose health has been fading in recent years, is now terminally ill, and her live-in doctor is asking for prayers.

9 tech toys made obsolete by smartphones in 2011

2011-12-18T00:54:00.001-08:00

1. GPS devices are being replaced by apps delivered via iPhones.

2. Digital cameras that work for 80% of most photographers and videographers are now found on smartphones.

3. The Flip cam was so cool… then the Smartphones with video capabilities made the Flip cam so obsolete that poor Cisco announced it would stop making it last April.

4. The portable DVD player gets trumped by a dozen tablets that let you watch downloaded movies.

5. Voice recorders, from micro-cassette recorders to digital voice recorders have been outsmarted by the smartphone with built-in recording technology.

6. Flash drives are so yesterday, thanks to the rise of cloud computing and the ease of sending giant files, the 2-inch flash drive has come to seem almost clunky.

7. PDA, especially the Palm Pilot, are useless to smartphone users.

8. Netbooks are toast, thanks to tablets and portable keyboards.

9. CD players and stacks of CDS are as obsolete as your uncle Bob’s 8-track collection thanks to MP3 and cloud storage streamed to your phone.

America's Best Automotive Museums to Visit in 2012

2011-12-15T04:39:00.001-08:00

Here is our list of “Must See” Automotive Museums we want to visit in 2012:

1. Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles

2. National Automobile Museum (Harrah's), Reno, Nev.

3. The Nethercutt Collection, Sylmar, CA

4. Bonneville Speedway Museum, Wendover, Utah

5. Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum, Philadelphia

6. The Gilmore Car Museum, Hickory Corners, Mich.

7. The Mullin Automotive Museum, Los Angeles

8. Lane Motor Museum, Nashville, Tenn.

9. Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Birmingham, Ala.

10. The Henry Ford, Detroit

11. Pierce Arrow Museum, Buffalo, NY

12. Auburn, Cord, Deuce Museum, Auburn, IN

13. Corvette Museum, Bowling Green, KY.

14. Forney Museum, Denver, CO

15. NHRA Museum, Pomona, CA

16. Walter P. Chrysler Museum, Auburn Hills, MI

Which will you visit in 2012?

Quote of the Day: "More than 3,000 people lost their lives last year in distraction-related accidents."

2011-12-14T03:58:00.001-08:00

"More than 3,000 people lost their lives last year in distraction-related accidents," NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman said in an announcement of the board's recommendation, quoting federal statistics. "It is time for all of us to stand up for safety by turning off electronic devices when driving. No call, no text, no update is worth a human life."

U.S. Safety Board Urges Cellphone Ban for Drivers

2011-12-14T02:34:00.001-08:00

The National Transportation Safety Board said that states should ban all driver use of cellphones and other portable electronic devices, except in emergencies. <<...>>

Our 2012 Top 10 Favorite BBQ Joint All-Stars

2011-12-12T18:59:00.001-08:00

Our Aficionados of American barbecue have selected our “2012 Top Ten BBQ Joints You Must Visit”, based on their collective actual personal experience. How many have you been to:

1. Interstate Bar-B-Que - Jim Neely’s World Famous Barbecue, Memphis, Tennessee http://www.interstatebarbecue.com/

2. Daisy May’s BBQ, New York City, NY http://www.daisymaysbbq.com/

3. Arthur Bryant’s BBQ, Kansas City, Missouri http://www.arthurbryantsbbq.com/

4. Louie Mueller Barbecue, Taylor, Texas http://www.louiemuellerbarbecue.com/

5. Smoque BBQ Restaurant, Chicago, Illinois http://www.smoquebbq.com/

6. Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue, Kansas City, Missouri http://www.jackstackbbq.com/

7. Charles Vergo’s Rendezvous, Memphis, Tennessee http://www.hogsfly.com/

8. Kreuz Market, Texas http://www.kreuzmarket.com/

9. Smileys, Lexington, North Carolina http://www.smileyslexingtonbbq.com/

10. Oklahoma Joe’s BBQ, Kansas City http://www.oklahomajoesbbq.com/

Somehow the west coast is not represented, suggesting to some our list is biased.

Social media by the numbers

2011-12-12T10:19:00.001-08:00

Facebook reported it has over 800 million active users:

· 25 percent are U.S. residents.

· 65 percent make over $50,000 a year.

· 60 percent are female; 40 percent are male.

· 26 percent are college graduates.

· 25 percent are between the ages of 25 and 34.

According to the Pew Research Center, 13 percent of American adults active online have Twitter accounts:

· 19 percent of 25- to 34-year olds have Twitter accounts.

· 4 percent of online Americans between the ages of 35 and 44 have Twitter accounts.

· 95 percent of Twitter users own mobile phones; half of those use handheld mobile devices to access Twitter.

· 25 percent of African Americans have Twitter accounts.

YouTube reported that two days’ worth of video is uploaded every minute and that it is charting 3 billion video views per day.

More than 75 million professionals reportedly keep in touch via LinkedIn.