CoolAdzine for Marketers

God and the Soldier

2012-05-26T13:39:00.000-05:00

Memorial Day 2012

The soldier stood and faced his God Which must always come to pass...
He hoped his shoes were shining Just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, you soldier, How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek? To My Church have you been true?"
The soldier squared his shoulders and Said, "No, Lord, I guess I ain't...
Because those of us who carry guns Can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent, Because the streets are awfully tough.

But, I never took a penny That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime When the bills got just too steep,
And I never passed a cry for help, Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me, I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place Among the people here...
They never wanted me around Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here, Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much, But if you don't, I'll understand."

There was a silence all around the throne Where the saints had often trod...
As the soldier waited quietly, For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now you soldier,
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."

(Author Unknown)

Facebook for Business: 4 Steps to Success

2012-05-23T23:46:00.000-05:00

Facebook for Business webinar

HubSpot Webinar
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
1 pm EST / 10am PST

Facilitators

Chris Luo is the Head of Global SMB Marketing at Facebook. He is responsible for the scalable acquisition, growth, and retention of small and medium business advertisers on Facebook.
Rebecca Corliss is an Inbound Marketing Manager at HubSpot leading the company's content creation teams.

Facebook for Business Webinar

Learn from the experts at Facebook.com.
Only 16% of users see the updates on your Facebook Page.
Facebook is an important marketing channel, but how can you get people's attention?

Free as always, but visit the preregistration page for the Facebook for Business webinar.

Happy Mother's Day

2012-05-13T09:10:00.000-05:00

Secure Computing Enviroment

2012-05-12T21:44:00.001-05:00

This post brought to you by CDW. All opinions are 100% mine.

Security Threats

Security threats do not always come from outside your network. Data leakage is an internal problem, like when an employee leaves their terminal on answer or echo mode so that they may login from home. Employees who lend their login credentials to others are troublesome. The most common security leak is the new employee who cannot remember his password. The password may be easily found by looking at bulletin boards or under the keyboard.

Four Fatal Gaps

Back to security issues, you should download the eBook, Four Fatal Gaps in your Security Identified. The gaps will give you pause because you may not have considered these threats Luckily, CDW ”gets it." Keeping up with the latest security measures is just as important as keeping up with the latest technology.

The 4 Fatal Gaps are:

Threat Management--Security begins when you protect the transmission of data that comes in and out of your network.
Mobile and Always on Security--mobile devices create a huge security risk. The reason: They allow employees to leave the building with sensitive company information...
Data Loss Prevention--(DLP) uses content discovery, file system protection, network protection and graphical user interface.
Securing the Cloud--threat management makes you sweat, The Cloud should have your pulling your hair out. Cloud security could be a problem. If more apps move to the cloud, the requirement to harden every piece of infrastructure is important.

After you download the free eBook, look around the website. I found this website to be extremely well organized and useful. I could easily locate exactly what I wanted with their navigational tools and finely honed search engine.

I earn all my money online, so I rely 100 percent on the Internet. I have been left without a computer three times and each time, I did not see trouble coming. When I land a new project, I would hire CDW to develop and implement the new websites. That is what to do so that no backdoors are left to make it easy to hack your site.4 Fatal Gaps

Free SEO Analysis is the Answer

2012-04-12T16:44:00.000-05:00

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a process by which your website is researched, written and rewritten, organized and optimized so that it is visible to major search engines. The search engines send out automated programs, called bots or web crawlers, to index websites, blogs and social networks. The use of bots and crawlers are how your site is discovered by the major search engines.

If your content is good, navigation is crawlable and your keywords correctly used, your website will be found because of the organic value of your work. I hope that your website will be included on the first search engine results page (SERP). The first page of search results is the most valuable real estate on the Internet.

Now, if you wish to optimize your website by yourself. You should start with a "how-to" book so that you do not skip any important parts, such as alt tags on photographs, correct use of flash and JavaScript and keyword research to find the keywords that describe your goods or services. These keywords should be targeted to specific pages of your website. On that page, the keyword must be used, but you can overdo it, which is called spamming keywords.

There are several sites where you may conduct keyword research free. Google, Wordtracker and SEOmoz are just a few examples. When you have written your content, targeted your key words, there is still one last step. Find a website where you may request a free seo analysis. Many professional SEO firms offer free SEO analysis. This analysis will point out the errors or omissions you have made and include a sales pitch for the SEO firm's services.

If you can afford it, use a professional SEO firm for all your website work. At the beginning, they can help you with keyword selection to keep you from making costly mistakes if you intend to use pay per click (PPC) to assist your search engine marketing (SEM). The SEO firm will optimize your content, add titles and Meta tags and submit your sites to search engines.

SEO is a complicated task and there are no shortcuts.In the past two months, Google has made 4 major algorithm changes and 180 minor updates to their search engine. It takes someone working full-time to keep up with all the modifications and to see the overall picture of SEO.

Easter Sunday

2012-04-07T01:49:00.000-05:00

Webcast: Social Impact on Search

2012-04-04T19:43:00.004-05:00

Google+ and Social's Impact on Search

Free Webcast from SearchMarketingNow
April 24 - 1 PM EST

Social comes in a wide variety of formats, including Google+, Twitter and Facebook. Google is using data from social networks in search results, making it imperative that you know how to leverage social visibility and monitor it, so you can maximize the effects on SEO results.

Learn How

Google's new social network affects search rankings as well as how listings appear;
You cannot ignore Google+ and do well with Google search engine results;
To use social to exploit your brand; and
To use social media messaging to improve your SEO.

Speakers

Monica Wright, Search Engine Land will share the latest knowledge and tips on Google+ and how to get the best results with Google Search.

Mike Dutter, SearchMetrics will explore social media messaging and branding as it relates to SEO.

Free, but Register Now!

The Stone Age : Pre-Video on Demand

2012-02-23T22:50:00.000-06:00

I once worked on a grant program responsible for training teachers of adults to use technology in the classroom. Teacher of adults include teachers of English as a Second Language (ESL) and teachers preparing adults for the General Equivalency Diploma (GED) exam.

There is less money for teaching adults than children, so most programs ran on a shoestring, using local school district facilities. We did what we could by giving a summer institute and various in-services. However, we hit the limits allowed by the technology of the time.

The biggest change in our training methods came when we started using the Teacher Education Agency (TEA) video system. Now, we could reach hundreds of teachers and record the training for future use. It was difficult to schedule time on the busy system, but what a difference it made to our program.

What would have been better is if we had video services set up in our Institute on campus. Instead, my boss and I tried to set up training using video and were not successful. We could have used the help of a video service. When we did capture training, the files were so huge; we had to buy extra storage. I had to learn video editing online so that I could edit them down.

Of course, video has come a long way since then. Now you can video conference on your laptop, talk to service men and women in Afghanistan and see the Earth from a satellite. Police have video cameras on their dashboards and laptops in their service vehicles. Commanders at sea can talk securely with personnel at their bases. People in distant parts of the world can watch television via satellite.

Satellite and cable technology work together to give us an instant replay of a football fumble or a touchdown, provide members of NATO instant access to information on hostiles, bring the horror of the bombing in Baghdad into our living rooms and help scientists in Antarctica to share their research and data with their colleagues.

Whatever your business, I think video on demand (VOD) is an idea whose time has come. You can cut travel costs and time, keep productivity up (without jet lag) and work in real time with other branches of your business or customers--no matter where they are.

I would suggest finding a large video provider and letting their specialists set up and maintain the video conferencing system and mobile satellite setup. That way, you will see faces instead of static and hear compliments instead of complaints.

Good Ideas Take Time to Grow

2012-02-23T21:40:00.002-06:00

This is a wonderful video that graphically shows how good ideas develop. Instead of EUREKA moments, there are hunches and bits of ideas that come together with other tidbits from our minds and the minds of our coworkers and team members.

Have you noticed how programs that pop up and get going like gangbusters usually wind up fizzling out. Usually there is a good idea, but it has not been fully developed. Details are important and those are left behind.

So, next time you have a EUREKA moment, put it out there for comments and suggestions on your blog, social media or forum. You have a better chance of succeeding.

Thanks to Gov Patel for sharing this on Facebook.

What Does Your Website Say?

2012-02-20T00:09:00.000-06:00

Do you know the Mark Twain quote: "Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society?" Mr. Twain was a sarcastic man, but the quote is relevant. Is your website naked? Does it expose your lack of design skills with a mix of advertisements, flash presentations and talking characters? Worse, does it appear as a spam site, with site sponsorship; frames; pop up, pop under, peel and exit ads?

For your business or brand to make the best impression, the website should be pleasant to view, regularly updated and easy to navigate. The longer it takes a potential customer to find information, the less likely s/he is to remain on your website.

Web Site Suggestions

One way to make your website more user friendly is to provide a link to customer service, preferably with live chat hours.
Do not use the animated talking characters (avatars) on your website. If you must use an avatar, make sure the character does not start talking as soon as the site loads.
A site index is a worthy addition and may be generated from the sitemap you submit to the search engines.

Web Design Quote

Probably the best advice I can give you is to let a professional design and implement your website. Just request a Web Design Quote from vendors who have been recommended to you by associates and friends.

Web Tips

Web design is more than just setting up a good-looking website. It is important that your website be optimized for search engines, social media and feed syndication. An SSL security certificate is necessary for e-commerce so the customer knows the transaction is secure. You also should think about website maintenance, shared servers and cloud backup as well.

Internet Marketing is a complex process and you might want a professional on your side when other types of questions arise.

The Social Meda Strategist

2012-02-13T14:40:00.000-06:00

I just finished, The Social Media Strategist : Build a Successful Program from the Inside Out by Christopher Barber. This book is about building a successful social media program inside a large company, like IBM, GM or Ford Motor Company. Mr. Barber should know; he has worked for IBM and General Motors as social media leader.

About the Author

Christopher Barber was working at GM when the car manufacturer went bankrupt and had to be restructured with involvement by the Federal government. In 18 months, he underwent a accelerated course in social media that would have taken years to complete elsewhere. He shares this expertise with the reader.

Social Media in Large Corporations

Social = Communications The company, top-down, must OWN social media. Everyone should realize the social web is vibrant and growing and should be managed to the benefit of the brand. There must be consensus and acceptance of social media by all involved departments, especially the departments that will believe social media should be under their auspices.

Key Members of Social Media Team

lead - actively involved in networks, accountable, "gets" social media, likes people, extroverted.
evangelist - "business savvy, a common touch, marketing sense, common sense, and a little bit of geek . . . [without] an overdeveloped ego."
executive champion promotes "open mindedness to social media . . . establishing where authority rests . . . enforcing that authority when disputes arise . . ."

Other Chapters

ROI and measurement,
legal issues,
social media policy,
training employees to use social media,
working with bloggers
keeping the social media team lean, and
what to do when mistakes are made.

I will not spill the blow-by-blow details on the GM bankruptcy. However, if you want to see how social media can be used as a tool for transparency and communication, read "Chapter 13 THREE MILE ISLAND: THE GM BANKRUPTCY CRISIS."

Penelope Give Cold Shoulder

2012-02-07T04:43:00.000-06:00

Penelope Cruz, the Academy Award–winning actress is taking on a starring role of a different kind in her PETA anti-fur ad. This talented actor is a muse for filmmakers and a perennial favorite on "best dressed" lists on both sides of the Atlantic—but never, of course, in fur. The always stunning Penelope asks fashionistas to join her to "give fur the cold shoulder."

Thanks for caring Ms. Cruz and thanks for sharing with your fans. Now, if we could just do something with the Kardashians!

Will That App Kill Your Phone?

2012-01-23T11:18:00.000-06:00

Apps and widgets for smart phones have proliferated, with over half a million available for the iPhone alone. However, with the apps come danger from criminals determined to ruin your day and kill your phone.

You can protect yourself and your Android™, iPhone® or Windows® Phone. So before you casually download your next app or widget, think about it.

Who Wrote the App or From Where Did it Come?

Apps are built by anyone, including a cyber thief with malicious intent.Stop and think before you hit the DOWNLOAD button. Are you downloading app from an official site of the platform your phone uses? Is the app highly rated and downloaded often?

2) Avoid Peer-to-Peer Networks

File sharing websites are more prone to distributing malware and Trojan horses. You may think downloaded the app from a p2p site is going to save you money But, if you cannot resist saving a buck by grabbing an app or widget from a p2p network, be very careful. You may just kill your phone.

3) Read the fine print.

When you download an app, you may be asked to give the developer permission for such activities as preventing the phone from sleeping, allowing the phone to read data on who called from where or accessing to the phone’s Internet connection.Read the contract. Otherwise, you may find a huge data or text phone bill next month.

4) Protect your devices.

Stay ahead of the bad guys. Research and visit related forums and then download an antivirus program for your smart phone. Make sure you are on the website of the official app shop. Save your apps, your information, your privacy and your phone.

5) Escape the dreaded Blue Screen of Death (pictured above).

I did not know the blue screen of death has still around. Knock on wood, I have not seen one since I quite using Win-98. When you see this screen, there is nothing left to do with the phone except throw it, stomp on it, throw on the concrete, put it in a compacter, drop it in the toilet, or turn the service off and give the high-priced toy to your nephew.

Losing Rights and Freedoms

2012-01-18T00:48:00.000-06:00

Caught Sharing Downloaded Games

Source: The Daily Link

Losing the Freedom of the Internet

The Congress and the House of Representatives have come up two separate bills to further curtail our freedoms. I guess it is just too hard for the poor peeps to tackle something important, like sending jobs overseas, corruption on capitol hill, the environmental dangers posed by fracking and the XL pipeline, climate change, the disappearing middle class, etc.

Oh, but they have time to write the bills that will take away the few pleasures left to the public that is struggling to work, live and pay taxes.

Congress is about to pass Internet censorship, even though the vast majority of Americans are opposed to it. We need to kill the bills - PIPA in the Senate and SOPA in the House - to protect our rights to free speech, privacy, and prosperity.

S.968 - PROTECT IP Act of 2011

PIPA - Establishes process by which a website is taken down because the Justice Department (DoJ) says the site is conducting infringing activities. The DoJ or the copyright owner would begin legal action and the DoJ could demand that search engines, social networking sites and domain name services block access to the targeted site.This could all be done without anyone being heard by a judge.

Stop Protect IP Adresses (PIPA) - Read the bill here.

H.R.3261 - Stop Online Piracy Act

SOPA - Basically the same as PIPA, with some additions: ". . . against any site they deem to have 'only limited purpose or use otherthan infringement,' . . . It would also make unauthorized web streaming ofcopyrighted content a felony with a possible penalty up to five years in prison." This bill combines two separate Senate bills -- S.968 and S.978.

Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) - Read the bill here.

Protests Tomorrow

People are saying these bills will break the Internet. In protest many of the large websites, like Wikipedia are "blacking out" their websites tomorrow 1/18.

Click the infographic below to take action.

Do it today.

Dream on Monday for Those Who Can No Longer Dream

2012-01-15T15:18:00.001-06:00

Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., studied Gandhi's teachings in college and visited India to gain experience with civil disobedience. From Gandhi, he learned that nonviolent resistance was the most potent weapon available to oppressed people in their struggle for freedom.

The principles of passive resistance and civil disobedience is credited with winning civil rights for black Americans. No matter what, no protester ever fought back while the Rev. King was alive. To use violence would have nullified everything in which Martin Luther King, Jr. and Gandhi believed.

There was a horrific scene in Birmingham, Alabama in the spring of 1963, during which black demonstrators were attacked with fire hoses, cattle prods and police dogs.

This protest was televised and shocked many Americans. President John F. Kennedy, Jr. addressed the nation on television about the issue of civil rights. All through 1963, JFK worked to pass a moderate civil rights bill. He died before he could complete the bill.

President Kennedy was assassinated in November of that year. After the assassination, President Lyndon B. Johnson pushed the 1964 Civil Rights Act through Congress. Although codifying civil rights in law was a step in the right direction, Rev. King struggled with related issues for four more years until he was assassinated by a sniper on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, TN.

With Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., gone, the civil rights movement lost ground. A leader failed to emerge and the movement stalled.

Free Mobile Marketing Workshop

2012-01-07T04:31:00.001-06:00

Mobile Marketing Driving You Crazy?

By 2014, mobile devices will overtake computers as most popular way to surf the Internet. We ignore this mobile media explosion at our peril. It is time to develop a mobile marketing strategy for our businesses. Luckily, HubSpot is presenting a free two-hour workshop, Master Mobile Marketing in 2012.

Learn How To

Develop, launch and run mobile marketing campaigns
Create mobile-optimized ads
Leverage social media on mobile devices
Design and use mobile applications

Register

Marketing professionals who want to learn about mobile marketing should attend. No technical experience needed. You will need a computer with speakers or headphones and an Internet connection. The workshop is free, but you must register. Take a moment now and register.

REGISTER BY CLICKING LINK BELOW

Master Mobile Marketing in 2012

Thursday, January 12, 2012

11 am to 1 pm (CST)

See you there!

Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands : Sales and Marketing

2011-12-03T22:20:00.001-06:00

Introduction

Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands : Sales and Marketing, The Essential Cultural Guide--From Presidents and Promotions to Communications and Closing by Terri Morrison and Wayne A. Conway is the latest in the Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands series.

This book is extremely useful if you travel on business to other countries. The book provides social, cultural and demographic information for 20 countries, including the United States.

Each country contains a background page and contains specific cultural, advertising and marketing notes.

General Topics

Icebreakers - questions or topics to get the conversation going and to fill those awkward silences.
Boorish - how to put your foot in your mouth and offend your host.
What Time Should I Arrive? - different time frames for different folks. Learn their time or be ready to spend yours, waiting.
Work Week - holidays, vacation, correct times for appointments.
How Close Should I Stand? - this book will keep you from invading the private space of people you meet.
Do I Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands? - in Saudi Arabia, your left hand is considered "unclean," so you shake hands and eat with your right hand. The Japanese are big on bowing and the depth of the bow is very specific to status. In India, you will perform a Namaste or shake hands, so be ready.
Business Cards - all cards should have your information in English on one side and the same information translated on the other side. The cards should be in a holder that is placed in your inner jacket pocket (not pants pocket). With the Japanese, there is a ritual you must follow or you might as well tear your card up in front of them.
Three Tips for Selling - great insights into how to impress and sell to your potential clients, specific to their country. Some potential clients want to get down to it, while others will spend days developing a relationship.
Language - Americans speak English, so it should be easy to understand and to be understood in Great Britain, right? Wrong. Learn the basic terms that will show you are polite and learning the language.
Wow Factor! - in some countries, email and direct mail are not used; door-to-door sales personnel are used. Most countries export something and you should know what it is and be prepared to try it (wine, delicacies, beef, coffee, etc.).

Is this information really necessary?

Yes. Who can forget George W. Bush massaging the German Chancellor's neck in 2006? Germans like a like large personal space. Just recently, President Obama went to Saudi Arabia. He sat down, crossed his legs and exposed the soles of his shoes to everyone, thus insulting them all. While in Great Britain Mrs. Obama hugged the Queen. This is just not done.

This book is in an easy to use format and is full of useful information. Take the book or copy the relevant pages and keep them in your pocket or purse. You may always duck to the rest room to refresh your memory.

Conclusion

I once worked for the State Tourism Bureau. I used to put together Culture On a Page, using The World Fact Book, a website run by the Central Intelligence Agency, and talking with consulate personnel. I could have used this entire series back then.

You can use this series today, so do it. Any edge you can develop to put you ahead of the competition is worth it.

Happy Galactic Christmas

2011-11-30T09:57:00.032-06:00

I have no idea how these creative people do this. If you are technically inclined, please visit the site. There are many incredible sketches to amaze you. Some are interactive, all require Java and will put a heavy load on your server.

Updated 12/5/2011: I had to lose the Galactic Christmas due to the bandwidth it was using. Below is a screenshot of the image.

The original is in motion, ever changing and much more spectacular. Please visit

Galactic Christmas by dotlassie, licensed under Creative Commons at OpenProcessing.org.

Veteran's Day 2011

2011-11-11T05:52:00.001-06:00

I wanted to thank the young people that stand vigil today so that I might live free to die of old age. God bless you Bravehearts in the Middle East. Thank you for giving your lives and your health to protect usl

I also wanted to pause and think of the men and women all over the free world who have sacrificed their lives so that I might exist today. You are the true heroes of my story, my life, my children.

Veteran's Day - A Reason I Blog for Peace - Dona Nobis Pacem

Dona Nobis Pacem (Grant Us Peace)

2011-11-03T04:21:00.001-05:00

Blog Blast for Peace
November 4, 2011

The world waits for a great nation that has the common sense,
the imagination, and the faith to devote to the science and
practice of nonviolence so much as a tenth of the money,
brains, skill and devotion which it now devotes
to the madness of war preparation.
What is that nation waiting for

before it undertakes its mission?

~ A. J. Muste (1885-1967), American peace activist ~

Blog Blast for Peace 2011

Become a Peace Blogger

One easy way to place PEACE in the minds of others

and to make an impression on our leaders

is to join hundreds of bloggers

from all over the world for one day.

Join us

Click the logo above or thelink below for details.

Mimi Writes:
Announcing BlogBlast For Peace 2011!

Please visit with peacebloggers on FaceBook, Twitter,
Mimi Writes and many of sites around the world.

See all my peace globes:

blog.TexasRVTravel.com

Advertising-for-Success.blogspot.com

EndangeredSpaces.blogspot.com

No Costume? Got Balloons?

2011-10-31T01:04:00.000-05:00

I just had to share these costumes made of balloons. Every year, my sons run around trying to manufacture a costume on Halloween. These balloon costumes take a lot more time, but I think they are great.

This could be a wedding dress if it were toned down a little. Note the hair accessory.

These two dresses are cute and I love the hats. So creative!

Monster and updated Roaring 20s dress. I love it! Note the shoes and headpiece on the monster.

My favorite is the alien on the left.

Have a wonderful Halloween and if someone needs a costume, hand them a bag of balloons and tell them to get busy! LOL

Eyeglasses as a Fashion Accessory?

2011-10-31T00:36:00.000-05:00

My husband and I are really trying to economize. Two adult children have moved back in with us, we are finding it difficult to budget on a monthly basis. I find myself doing without to cover monthly expenditures.

However, I was trying to read the customer service phone number off the back of a credit card and could not do it—with or without my glasses. My eyeglasses are scratched, the finish is tarnished and the prescription does not correct my vision.

It is time to make an appointment to have my eyes examined and send the new prescription in the mail to zennioptical.com. This way, I can receive new glasses and keep within my budget. The glasses, even for my old eyes, are relatively inexpensive. To sweeten the deal, zennioptical offers flat rate shipping and a 50 percent refund/30 day policy if you are unhappy with your new glasses.

While reading their blog, I was amazed that some people purchase eyeglasses to match their clothing or mood. One woman has 20 pairs of eyeglasses and more coming in the mail. Another woman and her daughter each have 10-12 pairs of eyeglasses. I have never thought of eyeglasses as a fashion accessory, but I am going to start. I have been wearing eyeglasses for over 50 years, so I think I should start to enjoy them. What do you think?

Tags: zennioptical, prescription eyeglasses, online optical store

Happy Halloween

2011-10-30T23:39:00.000-05:00

From ghoulies and ghosties
And long-leggedy beasties
And things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord, deliver us!

~Scottish Saying~

Untitled Jersey City Project

2011-10-25T23:40:00.001-05:00

This post brought to you by Untitled Jersey City Project. All opinions are 100% mine.

The Untitled Jersey City Project is an ongoing experiential television drama. You may view eight short episodes on YouTube. I viewed episode one and it was action-packed.

The first scenes of the first episode show New York City and New Jersey waterfronts as you will never see them: quiet, deserted and peaceful. It reminded me of a post-apocolypse city.

Cut to a deserted building site, complete with barbed wire protection, As your perspective changes to a high floor in this building, your attention is riveted by two gunshots.

Moving perspective again, you are standing on the sidewalk with a body falling toward you from the top of the building. You do not see the body hit, thank goodness.

Seque to Frank, a young architect, who does not answer his cell phone because his libido gets in the way. When he finally does answer the phone, he is told by Ray, that his associate is lying in a pool of blood in front of the project.

As if to make up for his dilly-dallying earlier, Frank breaks all records getting to the murder site. In fact, when he pulls up to the building he has a police escort!

I think this Jersey City Project may be a good series if it makes it off YouTube. If you watch one of the videos, stop back by and let me know your thoughts on the video you watched in the comments.

Car Jackings are UP--Pass It On

2011-10-24T03:35:00.000-05:00

Something Evil This Way Comes

Last Friday night we parked in a public parking area in Galveston. As we drove away I noticed something sticking to the rear window of the car. Luckily, my husband told me not to stop. He warned that someone could be waiting for us to get out of the car. When I took the tag off after I got home, I realized it was a cash receipt for gas. Puzzling, but nothing frightening! Then we received this email yesterday:

Warning

WARNING FROM POLICE * APPLIES TO WOMEN AND MEN * BEWARE OF PAPER LEFT ON BACK WINDOW OF YOUR VEHICLE * NEW WAY TO CARJACK

New Form of Car Jacking

Here is what can happen to you. You walk across the parking lot, unlock your car and slide inside and lock your doors. You start the engine and check your mirrors. When you look into the rear view mirror, you notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window. So, you shift into Park, unlock your doors, and jump out of your car to remove that paper.

Stay in Your Car

When you reach the back of your car, that is when the carjackers appear out of nowhere, jump into your car and drive off with your purse, your keys, your driver's license, checkbook, credit cards, insurance documents and any other personal items you may have had in the car. Your home and identity are now compromised! So, if you see a piece of paper stuck to your back window, just leave it.

Other Forms of Carjacking

You do not have to be in a parking lot to be carjacked. Below is a graphic detailing many other ways you may lose your car. Someone can run into your car at a red light or stop sign to get you to exit the vehicle. Do not exit.

Call the police and ask them what you should do. Insist that they come to the scene of the accident or tell them you are driving your car the police station. If something is hinky, get out of there. You can go to the police department within 24 hours to report the accident with penalty.

Stay in Your Car

Men are not immune to carjacking. Women carjackers may appear beside their apparently disabled car dressed in sexy attire or these women can walk up to the car like they need help. Open that door and you will have a gang driving off your car within less than five minutes. Some carjackers have even staged dead or stuffed animals in the roadway, complete with crying children, so that people stop, thinking they ran over the family animal.

Your Belongings or Your Life

Give up your car, your keys, your purse, your jewelry or anything they want. AVOID getting in the car with the carjackers. If you do, there is a good chance you will be killed. Stay aware for opportunities to bail out of the car and run for your life.

Children in the Car

One aspect I did not cover is what to do if you have a child or children with you. It is best to think how you would best handle this type of situation: drive away, call the police or On Star and like services, use teargas, gun, stun gun . . . Think it through BEFORE it happens. Nothing will make a parent crazier than a child in danger, Have your plan mapped out before it happens.

Be Aware of Your Surroundings | Do Not Enter Space that Feels Wrong | Call Security Guard to Escort You | Do Not Shop at Night | Park Close to Building | Shop in Groups | Leave the Kids with Babysitter | Bring the Dog with You