Let's BarterUp!

Save the Date!

noreply@blogger.com (Ninapilar) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:41:00 +0000

The next Let's Barter Up is tentatively scheduled for April 22 - Earth Day! Stay tuned for details, and the new site! We are planning a number of events, and will be announcing new partnerships soon! Let's Barter Up events are a valuable means of protecting the environment, they affect the bottom line (in a good way!) and they are also incredible networking opportunities!

LBU Holiday Blog Post.

noreply@blogger.com (Ninapilar) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 02:44:00 +0000

It's the day after Thanksgiving, and I probably won't write a "Christmas" blog entry, but since this is the holiday season it seems the right time to bring up a few observations. Apart from the 2.3 million Americans (they're willing to admit to) who are using or are in dire need of the services of food banks. It's almost impossible not to think of those who are in need when you're eating 3 plates of food in one night and you're eating because it tastes good, not because you're actually hungry.

As someone who is pushing for one type of local based economy (out many sustainable options), I know the challenges associated with such a campaign. And so I was disappointed to hear of the roadblock placed in front of another alternate economy called Prosper.com (as of November 24th). Prosper connected everyday people who needed money to start businesses, go to school, and a host of other ventures to other everyday people who have just a little extra money to lend. It was very interesting because someone who needed $5k for example would receive it from a number of people who put in $50, $250, $99, etc. Now, there are many factors involved with the shutdown and I'm not taking sides. However, I hope to see the concept revived in a way that benefits the borrowers and lenders AND keeps the SEC at bay (smile).

Naked Capitalism talked about the creative doging of the dollar exchange - not between individuals - between countries! "Talk about getting creative to avoid use of the dollar (the iranians are particularly keen to avoid use of the dollar in oil trading, it verges on a point of honor with them. They have been selling oil to the Japanese with trades denominated in yen rather than the dollar as the reference currency for some time. But in their case, as the news story below discusses, is also making a virtue of necessity). However, the UN said that they expect agricultural goods barter to become more common."

I'm listing all of this to say that the need to get creative (not exotic, like exotic mortages!) will continue to grow. At the deepest levels like donating to soup kitchens and food banks, to seemingly more lighthearted issues like enjoying some sort of decent lifestyle (your CD collection for mine)...If entire countries can't rely on the traditional money/credit system to get the things they need (The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation said such government-to-government bartering – a system of trade not used for decades – was likely to become more
common as the private sector was finding it hard to access credit for food imports.) what makes us think that a couple of years will make the traditional system "all better?" Not likely.

More Ways to De-Spam.

noreply@blogger.com (Ninapilar) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 02:19:00 +0000

Barter is green and saves money and resources. Stopping your junk mail does the same. But what about online spam? Like snail-mail spam, online spam is taxing on your brainpower, it can be more than annoying! Many companies think that just because you are utilizing their resources (free or paid), you are obliged to view endless ads - they aren't done in a civilized fashion anymore. They follow you all over the screen, or inform you that you will not have access to the site for another 15 seconds in order to view a commercial for something.

One type of site that employs the harras-vertisement tactic are weather reporting sites - local and internationally known. A few Creatives have created applications that are giving these legacy sites a run for their money.

http://umbrellatoday.com/
http://goingtorain.com/
http://www.doineedajacket.com/

One Way to Go Green: Get Rid of Your Junk Mail!

noreply@blogger.com (Ninapilar) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:06:00 +0000

Green Dimes promises to reduce your junk mail by 90 percent in 90 days. "Junk mail — it won't go away on its own. Marketing organizations are experts at finding you and sending you the catalogs, offers, and promotional mailings that clog your mailbox. Odds are good that if you do nothing, your junk mail pile — and recycling bin — will continue to grow.

That's why there is GreenDimes, the leading junk mail reduction service. GreenDimes combines an in-depth knowledge of the direct marketing industry, effective partnerships and proven processes into a comprehensive solution that gets rid of your junk mail, once and for all."

Take a look at GreenDimes.com!

With all of that new found space in the snail-mail box, you might want to subscribe to snail-mail that will make you smile! Take a look at this link. It's called Swap-Bot.com, and one of my favorite swaps is the sock swap (they're new of course!); the details are here.

The Story of Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Ninapilar) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:36:00 +0000

We want to thank the participants who came out for the first LBU event! It was truly an interesting experience! Special thanks to the supporters of the demonstration - we're looking forward to our upcoming events. We're planning for Spring, but don't be too surprised if we squeeze one in before that! I will share some of the experiences over the next few blogs - there were some very interesting outcomes.

Take a look at this video - "The Story of Stuff." Just one of the themes of LBU.

TOMMOROW IS THE DAY!

noreply@blogger.com (Ninapilar) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:34:00 +0000

Bring like new items to trade! You're also encouraged to trade services; forms will be provided to assist. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Questions should be directed to 862.220.2601.

What is Let’s Barter Up?

Let’s Barter Up is the premier barter exchange in the City of Newark. It is a monthly event that gets people together to swap goods or services, without the use of money.All types of things can be exchanged, from clothing in good shape, to books and household items. Services such as tutoring, babysitting, home repairs, and even food preparation are also highly sought after. As a general rule, anything you can do or own can be bartered as long as there is a demand for it. In this economy, Newark’s residents, businesses, and other entities in the fabric of Newark would enjoy a significant benefit from bartering.Let’s Barter Up has been organized as a way to save money, take advantage of goods or services we may not have otherwise, enjoy a day out, and strengthen community bonds. Let’s Barter Up will host themed events at which everyone can exchange items directly!

Link of the Moment: Bartering in Business

noreply@blogger.com (Ninapilar) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:31:00 +0000

Not Your Ancestors' Barter.
Though written in 2001, the article is still quite relevant.

The Days After History Was Made: Getting Started!

noreply@blogger.com (Ninapilar) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 04:28:00 +0000

Video: Newark's Honorable Mayor Cory Booker gives his view on "what's next." He was eloquent as usual.

My November 4th: I decided to attend an election watch party in NYC. (Side note: I'm looking forward to the day when I will have just as many nightlife choices in Newark!) Of course there was the expected uproar when Obama won, however what I didn't expect was the outcry from the streets - completely spontaneous - as we left. We took the Path back to Newark Penn Station, and as we walked from 25th to 33rd, everyone was screaming, crying, chanting, smiling, saying, "Yes We Can" and the like.

This wasn't exclusive to NYC - I know this occured in a number of places in Newark (at the polls and then there was the televised celebration at Rutgers!), and I heard about a spontaneous parade in Seattle!

The mindset in our country is changing - regardless of who voted for which candidate. I think that the idea of changing how we think and live just might stick. The President Elect made it clear in his acceptance speech that changing the USA will be a team effort. He's right about that.

Nothing to Barter? I Think Not.

noreply@blogger.com (Ninapilar) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:41:00 +0000

With all this talk about bringing a shirt for denim, Guitar Hero for God of War, a fishbowl for a birdcage...some have asked,"What if I have nothing to barter?" Since no money is allowed during the event, what else can you bring to the table? Skills!

When you have a marketable skill to leverage, barters are easy to find. For example, if you are an artist or musician, you can barter your talent by offering music or art lessons in return for what you need. Some skills in high demand are writing, graphic design, landscaping/yard cleanup, crafts/gifts and (when the time comes) snow shoveling. Other encouraged services are babysiting, cooking, help with pets, painting and other household services.

Your level of skill and experience will correspond directly with the value of the resources you’re able to swap for. Be creative (Keep it moral and legal.)! There will be a form at the event to facilitate the service swap. So of course you have something to barter.

11 DAYS TO THE EVENT!

noreply@blogger.com (Ninapilar) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:27:00 +0000

We've Got the Space!

noreply@blogger.com (Ninapilar) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 22:43:00 +0000

I am (far beyond!) pleased to announce that we officially have the space for the first Let's Barter Up event! It will take place on November 15, 2008 at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. There are a few (awesome!) people that have to be thanked properly...more details to come!

Setbacks.

noreply@blogger.com (Ninapilar) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 04:41:00 +0000

In an emerging society, there are bound to be setbacks. None more tragic than death. On Friday, some really bad people decided that they wanted to be a setback to Newark's progress. They decided to murder random people in an effort to further their own agendas. It's funny how outsiders can look in on the city and say that it "should be locked down by the national guard", or "those people" (meaning the residents) need to "do something" about it. Just absolutely the most callous reactions possible. The perpetrators are not limited to the city's borders. The problems need to be dealt with holistically. That's all I can say without stirring up further emotion that would be even less eloquent than what I've said thus far. I am praying for the families effected by this tragedy, and I am praying for Newark and her morale. It's more important than ever to work towards building morale.

Oh, the setbacks. There can be so many on the road of progress. However, there are good - great - things that can come out of it. The first Let's Barter Up event is scheduled for November 15th. I was negotiating with 744 Broad Street to hold the event there; it's a beautiful building and would set the tone needed to encourage this alternate economy. However, the deal "fell through" so to speak. I was somewhat bummed by this because other available places didn't set the tone at all. Newark's Symphony Hall was an ideal location to host the event. It's a landmark after all! But when I went for a tour of the facilities I was shocked at how the place has been neglected. I went there for many performances growing up and it always had a retro-fabulous look and feel about it - now threadbare and barely able to convey the glamour that once overflowed. I hope the city does something about it: although I don't intend to wait on that; it's one of my upcoming "projects" :-)

So what's so great about all of these setbacks on the road to the Let's Barter Up event? Well, along the way I've met some very interesting people - other people that like to "do something." Now, I'm in the process of securing an even better location for the first event. I won't name it until it's confirmed; however, besides the fact that it's a beautiful location: the event is about people and this location will be of even greater benefit to all who participate.

2 Things That Aren't Debatable.

noreply@blogger.com (Ninapilar) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 02:01:00 +0000

"McCain is a racist." "Obama is a terrorist" (who apparently started at eight years of age). It's all so ridiculous. "Palin is a dingbat." Well, the one about Palin is absolutely true, but the point is that this has been a very long campaign!

I am looking forward to November 4th mostly because I am tired of negative campaigns, misleading statements, and the like. But mostly because on November 5th, the United States can finally face the fact that there is alot of work to be done! We can't expect the new President to do all of the work or swoop in like Superman and save us all. It simply isn't going to happen. What isn't debatable:

1. The Fact that the Government Cannot "Save America."

Read this article: As Capitalism Crumbles, US taxpayers Pick Up the Pieces

2. Progressive Thinking.

Bureaucracy in the Mind: How to Know When You're Dealing With This & What to do Next.

noreply@blogger.com (Ninapilar) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 03:40:00 +0000

It's like a clogged filter, a clogged fuel filter in a car. I once allowed a number of months to go by without having the fuel filter in my car replaced. Mind you, I was driving many miles per day, and double that for the weekends. The open roads begged for speed. The point is I was putting some miles on that car. Yet there I was faithfully getting oil changes every 3000 miles or so and telling the guys not to worry about the filter. So finally I was feeling generous and decided to splurge on a filter (ok, so maybe I noticed the acceleration in my not-so-old ride was aging prematurely) and when they took it out I had the entire garage in an uproar. It was like someone was chewing tobacco and leaving it in that little metal part; I mean it was a sight to see, the tar-ish substance like dripping midnight.

The tar-like molasses-ey pace of bureaucracy runs rampant in in large organizations and governments, slowing decisions and actions to a laughable crawl. But it also gets in and sets in the mind. It's the reason you can think it's ok and even sane to go 10,000 miles without changing the fuel filter. It's the reason why you can have a great idea, go to someone with a full plan without asking or needing any money for it from them, and still experience the wait for a resolution at the speed of molasses. Going backwards into the jar.

Bureaucracy is in its purest form a structure that allows for the consistent treatment of issues. A standard procedure that is supposed to handle things objectively - the same way every time to be fair to everyone. Okay, really to lower liability. That's bureaucracy in it's purest form. But what in this world is still pure? A few things perhaps, but this concept in real life isn't one of them.

A Bureaucracy:

-Is the regulations in place, it's the structure, the "how it's supposed to go."

-Slows down the estimated time of action (ETA), or can be characterized by the lack of an ETA of the permissions needed to bring a concept or plan to fruition.

-Has people involved that are often covered and saturated in its "molasses" and have no idea hooooowwwwww slooooooooooooowwwwlllyyy they are mo---ooo..oo..ving. I'm being generous again - they really don't care. They often have several coffee breaks, plenty of time to grab a large yet unsatisfying lunch, and are tenured people with mobile phones they love to use at work and bad attitudes they like to display profusely.

-Often has the advantage of time over you (though the evolving economy is slowly changing this): they have time to stay slow and inefficient, they have time to take their time and time it so that nothing gets done in time because they have so many other things to do with their time like take the time to enjoy the advantage of time they have over you and your time. (Are you picking up what I'm putting down here?)

A bureaucratic experience is one of the roadblocks that can send a discouraging message to the startup, a tenacious career seeker, a person with a great idea. The genius with the next big thing, or a highly educated or a street smart person with the answer to "the problem" may wonder if they've been wasting their time.

Not likely.

(Some of the) How to know that you're just dealing with a bureaucracy and not experiencing outright rejection of your proposal:

-you know they're not ignoring you because they send you email updates and text msgs without solicitation to let you know what's going on at the moment....

-you have a solid answer to a specific need...and a plan.

-you notice that you are dealing with two kinds of people: those who work to further the actual goals of the organization, and those who...don't do much work at all, except the maneuvers needed to keep their position. This is the most common indicator.

So what do you do next? It's a cliche but it's true: keep going. Don't allow their mindless procedures that they flaunt to hide their fear of something new, nor the inflexibility they present in the guise of condescending tones or procrastination, to change your mindset and plan of action.

I think that the economy is going to take longer to recover than people are willing to entertain (understandably); however, we can take the lemons and make lemonade (my final cliche, I promise). We should study the unraveling and restructuring of the institutions that run on the bureaucratic model, to see how we can make new opportunities for ourselves and others, and how we can avoid becoming like the old institutions by increasing the standards of efficiency. People who were "getting by" on attaching themselves to tenured-style rights instead of merit are slowly being exposed to the real world and for them it's not pretty.

For those with a new mindset, the opportunities outweigh the pain.

When Looking for a Refuge

noreply@blogger.com (Ninapilar) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:31:00 +0000

Some "professionals" with little to no imagination and absolutely no creativity seem to take refuge in negativity. I was in a meeting where one professional (in a room filled with positive, active professionals) obviously couldn't find a way to accomplish her goals in her Green Initiative - she was having trouble "bridging" in essence what she needs to accomplish to the actual steps needed

So what did she do? She gave the same tirade that the general media gives, that infuriating tirade that is meaningless. "Oh the litter, other cities wouldn't allow this to happen." "Oh the streets." "Oh this and that." No solutions of course - just make degrading comments about Newark (in a pro-progressive Newark atmosphere) in an unsuccessful attempt to hide what you lack - the answers.

And though I know what she needs to do - well at least a few things that would get her started in the right direction, I'm thinking, "Why?" I won't assist her in her negative campaign. Newark is not a punching bag for those with an inferiority complex.

So I let her give her vague (and loud) set of general call outs for help (to the same people she insulted) with no idea what she needs help with: "Absolutely everyone in this room is invited to be on my advisory board!" meaning "Can you all just come and do the work for me?"

The point is to move Newark forward. And to anyone with similar "issues" to the aforementioned "professional": get over yourself. Newark is progressing at an incredible pace. People are working - working together. And there's nothing you or your insipid comments can do about it

So why don't you just consider becoming a part of the solution?

Instead of bashing Newark, let's brainstorm what we can do about the national healthcare crisis. Those people need a refuge in this time of great need. It's not just some singing circle or socialist nonsense: apparently the lost productivity of the uninsured costs the US economy over 130 billion dollars per year - more than it costs to actually insure all affected. If the fact that people are suffering and dying numbers larger than ever before doesn't matter to you, then this raw financial fact should. I was shocked to learn that it costs more to leave people uninsured than it does to insure everyone! Amazing.

So, this statement is a call to action - how do we translate this fact into a framework to get the nation to the status of "fully insured" - with the knowledge that realistically this is not a problem that the government could solve on its own since the hours of lost productivity cover all businesses/places of work across the nation.

An interesting initiative that I came across was "blue wrap" recycling. In essence, a few hospitals are changing how they prep and store surgical tools. This is reducing the amount of non bio-degradable materials in landfills and saving money - one hospital saved over $35,000 in one year and reduced material usage by 70 percent.

So one way towards affordable healthcare is to drastically reduce the cost of doing business in the hospitals. This particular idea is small (right now), but it proves that something can be done. In my opinion the next step is to identify more ways that costs could be reduced (including greed reduction), and then translate this into lower required premiums per person. Then, how do we lay a foundation where businesses and even industries can create systems that allow for the mass provision of healthcare instead of letting the annual $130 billion go down the drain?

That's not socialism, that's just good business. When looking for a refuge, we must provide answers to both those in need and those in business. It's not enough to present charity cases; we should present something realistic: a social-entrepreneurship mindset where everyone can benefit.

Barter Sarcasm.

noreply@blogger.com (Ninapilar) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 02:28:00 +0000

The economic machine is made up of people and groups who produce things that other people want. It's a market. Finance is a means of providing money which is essentially a rule or agreement so that direct barter isn't necessary. Credit is another agreement that is used for the expansion of the economic machine. And now we see our current machine is having a breakdown. Why?

What's happened is that the agreement has intruders - the gamblers - those in the financial industry who don't have to produce anything to get the money. They just have to create complex ways to funnel it to themselves, pack up and leave. Kind of like the occupational welfare-check-collect set except the gamblers have done more damage in a shorter amount of time.

So it's not surprising to see that more people are taking the barter concept just a little more seriously. Not everyone is happy to embrace it - even amongst those who do. They see it as something that the "struggling" do; something that is a last resort. I believe that there needs to be a shift in our perception of bartering.

I've seen many a joke on the barter feeds (see the right sidebar, they're really funny actually) about collecting shiny things, tea leaves, and paper clips to use as currency "when the market crashes." I hear the frustration, but we can easily see this alternative system differently. And, paired with a few other things, we must see it differently. Besides the fact that our government is operating as if it were producing some twisted combination of a suspense and horror flick with the economy, we have the entire world to think about now.

I've seen a number of documentaries on the progress in the major third world nations, and the original question of whether the "poor" countries will eventually catch up with the "rich" countries is turning into more of the question of when . How do large businesses of the world think: Will the return on investment be higher in poor countries or in rich ones? As we are witnessing, there are a few nations that have no problem attracting foreign capital (a good portion of this "foreign capital" is from the USA!), and have clearly caught up, or are in the process of catching up, with the richer countries.

The truth is that though it's unfair, no one said that life would be fair. So why not objectively look at what these countries offer and apply it ourselves: a pro-business environment, security of property, and a supply of healthy, competent entrepreneurs and well-educated labor to run and staff industry. Frankly, there's alot of them, a bigger population is an advantage. At a significantly lower cost. They are also seemingly more tolerant of the inequalities in their various markets and governments. Of course I'm not going to be silly and recommend that you "get used to" all of the bad things governments and Wall Street do. What I am saying is that by using alternate systems in addition to the ones we're currently bound to, we will allow ourselves a little more freedom (or alot more) and the only way that every Newarker (and most people in the USA right now) can achieve a higher quality of life.

So instead of us allowing the junk food culture to continue to be the mainstream culture, we should promote a healthy lifestyle that is realistic for every Newarker. I'm a Newarker who loves Whole Foods and that entire concept but seriously - how many people can afford to see this as a life choice right now? We need to have our own locally grown produce and clean, progressive, pleasant local grocery shops to sell the food instead of waiting for and begging for mainstream shops to come to Newark. By the way we also need to force the upgrade or enforce the shutdown of many corner stores who have made small fortunes selling essentially rotted "food" and highly processed, chemical-based snacks for decades.

Do you think this is idealism? So did I until I found out about the Green Roofs Initiatives (like Brick City Urban Farms) that would not only reduce the heat island effect in Newark (what it means to you: lower heating and cooling costs!), but creating just 1/4 of an acre of these gardens (remember this is spread out over a few or many roofs, meaning there is far more space than 1/4 of an acre!) can produce $25,000 worth of produce. This is actual income - producing food that not only won't kill people, but will allow them to think better, work better, live better. Imagine that in combination with a partnership from a relatively local farm to supply Newark with good meats, etc. Why should the food have to travel thousands of miles in less than ideal conditions? This is not a far-fetched proposition. An end to the reported 70 percent leakage in Newark (70 percent of Newarkers' purchases are made outside of Newark).

Instead of promoting traditional career paths that aren't competitive on a global scale, train people - create the opportunity to get actual skills for immediate use instead of a nonsense degree from a storefront college. Or better yet programs/majors in saturated markets coupled with insane student loans giving our future generations an eqaully low chance of employment after college at a high falluting university.

By the way, I'm not suggesting a new set of handouts. No one has to force or beg people to have a better life; of course there will always be a population that feels a false sense of entitlement (as if the government has a duty to care care of the able-bodied lazy person) but for most sane people: once you introduce them to a new way of thinking that has obvious rewards they will jump at the chance. Just look at the Lincoln Park Initiatives. It speaks to the need for more parental and community involvement (feeding people would help with attention spans and community involvement as well). But if investment in new avenues of education is to be the next big thing, a lot of other things will have to change.

Instead of promoting a Madame Bovary (at least the fictional story showed the darker side of such choices) culture of faux-wealth and hedonism that appears (on television) to have no financial, emotional, or physical consequences, let's promote green spaces. A bit of calm and sustainable luxury for everyone. Let's promote sustainable and guilt-free, consequence free ways to get the things we need and want. Promote the "give and take" instead of "take what you can, give nothing back" (for 48 months for qualified buyers) cancer that has infected all of the USA to the foundations.

And instead of applying for credit to get the perfectly cut black velvet blazer I ~~want~~need for the fall/winter months (which retails for about $2800), I am going to use just one of the alternate systems to get one made - barter of course. There's a seamstress out there who wants to do business. She lives within 15 miles of me. Go local!

Maybe the same approach will keep others from bopping politicians on the head?

Ah, the Paperwork. Legal Stuff...Part One

noreply@blogger.com (Ninapilar) — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 02:29:00 +0000

The issue of legalities was brought up and so I decided to post my understanding of it. Keep in mind that I have scheduled a few consultations with Attorneys to get more information. I've also reviewed the IRS website, and their comments were surprisingly unitimidating but thoroughly confusing. Here's a segment from the IRS site:

"A barter exchange is any person or organization with members or clients that contract with each other (or with the barter exchange) to jointly trade or barter property or services. The term does not include arrangements that provide solely for the informal exchange of similar services on a noncommercial basis." They sort of said that it doesn't matter if the transactions are non-commercial, but they technically suggest that all transactions are supposed to be reported, if they produce income. How they could keep track of this? I don't know. Neither do they. They do generally pay attention to the "yacht for the mansion" type arrangements (smile).

So, the DVD player for the cell phone won't likely be chased down by the IRS as there is no income from this sort of transaction. And businesses that trade services on a commercial basis (the plumbing for bookkeeping or tech services) can declare the items as they (or their accountants) see fit.

More on this as we progress. But as Let's Barter Up is not any sort of legal consultation service, this will be the first of the disclaimers; we are not responsible for providing legal information, etc. But we're not leaving our participants "hanging" - links to online resources for consideration will be provided (on the blog and at the events).

Arts High, Phone Calls, and number Seven Fourty Four.

noreply@blogger.com (Ninapilar) — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:52:00 +0000

So the Mayor has these office hours. Office Hours are blocks of time he sets aside each month for residents of Newark to speak with him directly about...well just about anything. And that's just what people brought - a wide range of issues! The Open Office was held at Arts High, and it wasn't over until everyone got to sit and present their thoughts/complaints/ideas. How progressive is that? Very.

I presented Let's Barter Up, and I think the Mayor was intrigued. Of course he's waiting to see the event develop, and that's no biggie because...I FOUND THE LOCATION!!! A few other goals have fallen into place, and I got the chance to "promote" the concept to one of my toughest audiences - people I know! For some reason it seems easier to present ideas to total strangers than friends; I didn't feel nervous talking to the Mayor but my heart was beating a bit faster when I was on the phone with a few people. Anyway, I recieved really positive feedback from: 1. total strangers, 2. the Mayor and some of his Team, and 3. the first few friends that I spoke to.

So, look out for the campaign which will officially start in another week or so.

I'm looking to host the event at the famous, neo-classical 744 Broad Street. There's a gorgeous mezzanine in there, as well as a few rooms which would be ideal. I'd rather have the mezzanine frankly. I took a few photos which don't do it justice because in addition to my forgetting the flash, the staff at 744 were taking down an event that was just held a few days ago (but you'll get the idea). They're in the "Downtown" sidebar slideshow. It's the right feeling, it's beautiful, and it's roomy! I think it will set the tone, fit lots of people, and help make the event a success!

What the next step? More phone calls of course. A few meetings. Basically making it happen, continuning tommorow...

By the way, just a few (not all!) of the barters currently in transition: photography, a few electronics, spa day certificates.

Hell's Kitchen Means Heavenly Sweets for the First "Let's Barter Up!"

noreply@blogger.com (Ninapilar) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 22:00:00 +0000

I decided not to eat before the 15 mile drive to Hell's Kitchen. Of course we're talking about NYC so it can take awhile to get through the tunnel but today it took just under 45 minutes since traffic was surprisingly light.

This was the moment of truth, one of the days I had been looking forward to for a few weeks: it was time to go to the Tasting Event given by Joey Biscotti!

This was the sweetest barter yet. Trading a logo design, an important piece in building the new startup's Brand, for fabulous confections that are an important piece for Let's Barter Up in terms of setting the tone for these events! I presented the concept design and they loved it so I was all smiles as I sampled a million-billion sweets. Lots of cakes and cupcakes and cheesecakes. And cookies and of course there was biscotti! I counted seven types but I think there were more.

What they made for the Tasting Event was only a small part of their menu which only means that I'll have to try new things on regular basis (smile). Yes, life can be stressful sometimes but this isn't one of those times. There wasn't any sort of generic/out the box stuff here: the combinations were what you'd expect a celebrity baker to create. My all-time favorite was the carrot cake with a white chocolate and cream cheese icing. I loved the spice cake; I think it would be a nice addition to the required sweet potato pie we have at Thanksgiving (because the sweet potato pie isn't going anywhere)! An unexpected delight was this really light lemon cake - I don't usually go for lemon cake, but this one...everything was just awesome.

So now I have to pick which desserts will be served at the first Let's Barter Up event. Cookies? Cakes? Both. Of course it's both. One thing that I'm sure would be a hit:there was this pumpkin pie with...was it a pecan topping? I have to get that verified (smile).

So the bottom line is if you're in the Newark area around the second week in November, you likely won't regret stopping by, bartering, and sampling! Details, location, and my Joey Biscotti dessert picks are upcoming, stay tuned! See some of the photos in the sidebar marked "Around Town." You can see some of their other works of culinary art on Flickr.

Links of the Moment: "Working With What We Have."

noreply@blogger.com (Ninapilar) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 19:30:00 +0000

There is so much going on in Newark - the city is bustling with hope, transformation, and serious financial activity. With all of the "new" coming in, a concern of the residents is how exactly will they be included and allowed to progress simultaneously? I believe the Mayor has this in mind and as a goal, but there are issues that he must face. An eloquent listing was posted today on The Pink Standard.

Another link was brought to my attention when the organization decided to follow me on Twitter. Share Our Strength is a non-profit organization working to end childhood hunger in America.

"Today’s headlines offer sobering news: high unemployment, food riots overseas and record-high prices for fuel and food here at home. Many Americans are struggling to stretch their budgets far enough to cover basic needs. The connection between the culinary community and hunger relief is a natural one...We salute the many Americans who have helped make it the nation’s premier culinary benefit dedicated to ending childhood hunger in America. Taste of the Nation events are taking place across the country this spring and summer. Please participate and help ensure that no kid in America grows up hungry. There is no better time than now."

I especially liked the statement of the "natural connection" between what they do and how they can help. As individuals many are used to working with what they have. In business, however, it can be easy to get off track with trying to come up with the "next big thing" instead of pooling the current resources with a new, more effective plan. Share Our Strength looks like a great example of this approach.

You Can Always Go...Down-town!

noreply@blogger.com (Ninapilar) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 01:30:00 +0000

I've always had an affinity for Downtown Newark. Growing up I would be so happy to be sitting in the back seat of Dad's car just staring at the lights as he drove. It all seemed so glamourous, the tall buildings and all. The architecture of the buildings, the lighting on the buildings at night. It seemed to have the feeling of the old movies, maybe the '20s with the nightclubs where everyone got all dressed up to go hear a little jazz.

It doesn't always have the same effect - during the day I mean in some areas. Quite honestly, I'd love to see many of the stores in the Broad and Market vicinity replaced with shops that are a bit more...progressive. But there are many obvious treasures (and hidden ones as well) that make it clear to me that in a few more years even more people will see it as I do. I wouldn't call it an obsession but I'm making it a point to get images each time I'm there. There are so many beautiful sights and equally important, beautiful moments.

I'm planning the launch for Let's Barter Up. I've come up with a few ideas for the first 3 events, and I've found 2 potential locations. After I view a few more sites, I'll narrow it down and make a decision...very exciting.

Had a serious meeting over a simple but delicious lunch at 27Mix. This is a restaurant that is right on the treasure of a street called Halsey. I'm so glad revitalization is underway.

Before leaving Downtown, I stumbled upon an open-mic night at the Starbucks on Broad Street. It was a bit of urban glamour if I ever saw such a thing. Lots of people in a cozy setting, some (really) great poetry. Very stylish. Newark residents, enjoying audible creativity after work. It was seriously chic - some people literally walked in long enough to share their poems and made a dramatic exit. Some literally rushed in to hear just their friends' piece and left. A quick shot of esspresso, a quick shot of culture. Fabulous.

I took a few photos; they're in the sidebar labeled "Downtown." Maybe you too will see the bits of hidden glamour...

Making the Recession Irrelevant

noreply@blogger.com (Ninapilar) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:46:00 +0000

Oh, there’s so much bad news out there. Lying, cheating, and instability in the economy – are we done for? I don’t think so. The last few events I’ve attended, in addition to ideas I’ve come across on a few professional platforms don’t point to doom. They point to change.

New initiatives, such as the Newark Green Summit’s findings, are calling for another view of business and leisure. The concept of a sustainable economy is a bright economy: green jobs are new, growing, and here to stay.

Another newer idea is that of creating entirely virtual businesses. Yes, these already exist; however, a new platform called Ki Work has developed this concept differently. They facilitate the building and accreditation of new companies that bring the right people together – regardless of geography.

Imagine collaborating to build a reputable company with people you may or may not meet with physically – and work on a global scale. By entering your skill set, you begin an efficient process for these collaborations and direct hiring from larger companies and other Clients. Ki Work’s premise is, “If you have valuable skills, there is no point in waiting to start developing these relationships, getting the accreditation and exploring potential opportunities that this brings.”

The global economy will likely keep us in suspense for a long time. Even if the Ki Work concept is not for you, both collaborating and finding the best combination of online and offline tools and resources remains the most likely way to make the recession irrelevant.

Link of the Moment: Barter for Good Karma.

noreply@blogger.com (Ninapilar) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 05:12:00 +0000

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Changing the Rules: In Lehman's Terms.

noreply@blogger.com (Ninapilar) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 05:18:00 +0000

You may have heard something about the latest bad news in the financial sector: the bankruptcy of the century-old financial giant Lehman Brothers. Quick background (direct from their site): they are 'a global investment bank serving the financial needs of corporations, institutions,governments and high-net-worth investors worldwide.' In other words, they deal with large amounts of money from very few customers compared to your Bank of America types that have lots of people with relatively small amounts of money (in comparison).

Why should we care? After all, it's just the latest entity to tank. Freddie and Fannie went just a little while ago (but were bailed out by the government with our taxes), and Bank of America just bought Merrill Lynch. The Feds bailed out Bear Sterns with $29bn of our taxes. But the government isn't bailing Lehman out. So, what's it to you? Well, it's a sign of more interesting news headed our way.

Now, I'm no financial expert. However, reading a number of articles on the Lehman issue made it very clear that more turbulence is on the way. The government no longer wants the large private companies to think they can be automatically bailed out. Although they are willing to do this as they see fit to keep the entire financial market from crashing, they are going to be alot more picky about who catches a break. Why? It's taxpayers' money after all which certainly doesn't stop them from overspending and misusing it. But this time, there are so many more companies on the brink of collapse that they will have to let some of them fall.

The financial sector in the U.S. will experience plenty more of this. Why? It's the current system of too much risk. Why would someone with a multi-million dollar account want their investment backed by a struggling homeowner's ability to pay a monthly mortgage note that is equal to half of their monthly income? Um, because the returns were supposed to be high. Economic error and excess is the polite way to put it. Greed is the old-fashioned term.

In fact the entire modern financial market is based on this logic. Where older systems rely on businesses and individuals to pay back their debts and become more prosperous, the current system relies on people not to pay their debts and instead stay within the perpetual "your minimum payment due is..." plan. It relies on human sacrifices of underemployment and diminished living standards. It is based on the $200m merit less bonus for the top-level executives and the destruction of employee retirement funds when the first sign of trouble hits (and well before the government bailouts - have you noticed?)

But now, it is obvious that this model cannot work any longer.

Eventually a new economic model will be built. Hopefully along the lines of people becoming relatively successful rather than enslaved for the sake of some CEO's yacht purchase. Why can't this CEO purchase a yacht because a few million people paid off their mortgages? An economy based on the relative success of everyone involved is realistic sustainability in terms that the American people could run with and not equate to some granola-style gibberish about saving polar bears. It's not likely that everyone on the planet will become billionaires in this lifetime, but it simply is not impossible for everyone to enjoy a measurable degree of success - simultaneously!

Changing the Rules: "Don't Buy That Textbook, Download It Free."

noreply@blogger.com (Ninapilar) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:48:00 +0000

In some respects, the barter system can be seen as a rejection of the modern pressures delivered by the retail industry. Another industry that applies pressure to a "captive" audience is the publishing industry - namely many companies in the college education sector. It's no secret that they unashamedly overcharge for their products and underdeliver in the actual content. The visible ties between the companies and professors and the even more transparent kickbacks prompted one Professor McAfee to put his economics textbook online for free.

Read the New York Times article here. Below is my 2 cents.

Not only is his approach a justified rebellion to the behavior of many publishing companies, but it is also a very progressive way to handle the tools needed for education. The book is available as a PDF or Word download. And only the students who wish to have a hardcopy can order it on demand through print on demand services (which by the way run around $60 instead of $150, $200, or more depending on the major!).

"As [the Professor] said on his Web site, he is keeping the multiple options to 'further constrain [publishing companies'] ability to engage in monopoly pricing.' " There are a few other efforts designed towards the same goal, including MIT's Open Courseware and Connexions (which also allows teachers and students to edit info as long as the credits are provided).

Of course, the publishing companies know about these efforts and so they launched a subscription service for students. The cost for online access, roughly 30 percent higher than the print on demand option, likely explains the lack of momentum the service is experiencing. They are working to make the pricey service more attractive to students. The companies interviewed insist that open-source and collaborative style efforts will never become a competitive model and will stick to their authorship model.

While the knowledge of experts will remain a treasure and an absolute necessity, the companies' stubborn opinions of how the information will be distributed in the future highlight the types of feedback that change usually receives.

People like Professor McAfee: Just another group of people who are going green, being progressive, and creating another economy.