– you’ve made your product name or message available to everyone with iPhones, Blackberries, laptops, desktops and high-speed Internet. But you’ve also ignored a considerable portion of your potential audience –

–

Here are some guidelines for creating a successful ANR:

The ANR should present actual news. Failing that, it should look and sound as much like “real news” as possible. ANRs work best when they present a clear consumer benefit, or “news you can use.”

The ANR should subtly announce its sponsoring organization without sounding overtly promotional. News stations want the spot to sound like a news story, not an advertisement. Quoting someone from the company is a simple way to gain or use name recognition without sounding too commercial. Attributing tips or information to the sponsoring organization also works well.

–

–

–

–

– with an ANR, you know that your message will come through exactly as you want it heard.

Hey Google, Facebook: I’ve Got Some Resolutions For You

I’ve got a few New Year’s resolutions for 2009, like sticking with more edamame and fewer shrimp tempura rolls topped with spicy tuna (which Ichiro on New York’s Upper East Side mysteriously calls a Manhattan roll). I’ve got even more resolutions for digital media — including those for me, for the industry at large and for certain key players.

For Me:

1. More Twitter listening, especially with frequent usage of tools like Twitturly that aggregate Twitter buzz.
2. Blog more. Twitter hurt some of the blogging for awhile but it’s meant to complement blogging, not replace it (for most).
3. Get my blog off a TypePad template and start diving into the advanced features. Facebook Connect, here we come.
4. Peruse less e-mail and unsubscribe from anything that doesn’t make a difference in my day.
5. Pick up the phone more. It’s still one of the best social-networking tools.

For the Industry:

1. End the term “viral” for once and for all, until after something has really spread through viral growth.
2. On that note, don’t call something a viral or word-of-mouth marketing success when its uptake is directly the result of a multimillion-dollar media blitz.
3. Accept that engagement means something different in every medium and channel. Stop using it as a catch-all term.
4. Plan holistically. Even if you can’t integrate a tactic with everything else, plan it in conjunction with something. That’s often a step up.
5. Figure out how and when the social graph affects advertising. Let’s see if it’s really any better than other forms of demographic, behavioral and psychographic targeting.
6. In the process of understanding that, respect consumer privacy to the fullest. Don’t just dismiss it or say consumers are fine with it because it’s covered by Facebook’s terms of service (something I heard a vendor say recently).

For Google:

1. Add Trends-style charts to Google Blog Search already. Really, you’re on the verge of making other blog search services irrelevant. Just finish the job.
2. Add Google Gears support for Gmail.
3. Don’t be evil. Please. Don’t compromise for short-term gains just because the economy’s hurting.

For Yahoo:

1. Survive. A lot of us are still rooting for you.

For Microsoft:

1. Come up with new products integrating the internet with furniture. The Surface put the internet on a table. Imagine what you could do with a chaise lounge or a credenza.
   

For Amazon:

1. Come up with a really good gift recommendation engine already. You’re so good at recommending things for me, and yet for gifts, year after year I wind up shopping elsewhere.

For Facebook:

1. Give Lexicon a much-needed upgrade. Providing agencies and advertisers with self-service tools to show what people are talking about on your site can encourage them to do more to reach those users. We in the ad world love pretty graphs.
2. Add a real search engine. This is ridiculous already. And that goes to just about all you social networks. Maybe the reason comScore’s saying you and MySpace are such large search engines is that it takes 20 searches to find anything or anyone on your site.

For Barack Obama:

1. Whether or not social media played a material role in your election, you showed that you know how to use the various channels to galvanize your target audience and you effectively adapt your strategy to each channel. Change.gov promises more of the same (in a good way). Now let’s see how you can use social media to unite one of the most diverse real-world social networks there is: the United States of America.

http://adage.com/digitalnext/article?article_id=133546

~ ~ ~
David Berkowitz is director of emerging media for 360i. He has written dozens of articles covering media, marketing and technology for several trade publications over the past decade and has spoken at Digital Hollywood, Ad:Tech, SMX, OMMA and dozens of industry events. He blogs regularly at Inside the Marketer’s Studio.

10 Tasty , Easy and Healthy Breakfast Ideas for a Healthier, Longer Life

Adapted from Zen Habits by Christina Santos

You get up in the morning, you rush to get ready for work, you rush out the door without a breakfast. Perhaps you grab a bagel and cream cheese, perhaps a muffin, perhaps an Egg McMuffin. If you’re lucky, you get a pastry, a hearty breakfast of pancakes and sausage and eggs, or an English fry-up.

Unfortunately, when it comes to being healthy, none of these options is a great way to start your day.

Several readers asked about healthy breakfast ideas, and in truth, it’s a dilemma that many of us face each day. Either we don’t have time for breakfast, or we don’t have many healthy options.

The first problem is a problem, because it means that you start the day with an empty stomach. That means that by the time you are getting into the swing of work, your blood-sugar levels are dangerously low. The result: you need an instant sugar fix, which usually means a donut or pastry or some other unhealthy choice.

The second problem is also a real problem, because traditional breakfasts don’t usually come in healthy flavors. Here are the options that most people think of as breakfast:

• Too sugary or carb-filled. Pancakes, waffles, toast, donuts, pastries, scones, bagels, pies, sugar cereals, breakfast bars, muffins (which, let’s face it, are usually just cake). I’m not anti-carb, but the problem with many breakfasts is that they are low in fat and protein, and nothing but empty carb calories. This starts your day with a high blood-sugar level, which your body will quickly adjust for and drop, and you’ll be on a roller-coaster blood-sugar ride all day.
• Too fatty. Fried eggs, sausages, bacon, cream cheese on your bagels, cheesy omelets, Egg McMuffins, Sausage McMuffins, hash browns, anything English or Scottish.

What does that leave us with? Actually, there are a lot of options. The 10 below are just a few ideas, but I’m sure you can think of many more. Look for protein without too much saturated fat. Look for whole-grain carbs. Look for low-fat dairy or soy options. Look for fiber and nutrients.

But how do you find the time? You make the time. Get up 15 minutes earlier. Pack something to eat on the road or when you first get to work. Prepare it the night before if necessary. I recommend the first option — waking a little earlier — as it’s nice to be able to have a nice cup of tea or coffee with your breakfast, relaxing before the rush of the day starts.

Oatmeal, flaxseed, blueberries & almonds. To me, this is the perfect breakfast. Steel-cut oatmeal is probably the healthier choice, but if you are in a hurry, the instant kind will do fine (it doesn’t have as much fiber, but the other ingredients make up for that). After microwaving the oatmeal, add ground flaxseed, frozen blueberries, sliced almonds. You can add a little cinnamon and honey (not a lot) if you’re using the non-instant oatmeal. That’s four power foods, full of fiber and nutrients and protein and good fats, with only a couple of minutes of prep time. And very tasty!

Kashi Golean Crunch. Actually, any whole-grain, high-fiber cereal is a good choice, but I mention this particular one because it’s a favorite of mine. It has a high amount of protein and fiber, low sugar. Add low-fat milk or soy milk (which has 1/3 the saturated fat of 1% milk), perhaps some berries if you like.

Scrambled tofu. Healthier than scrambled eggs. Add some onions, green peppers or other veggies, some light soy sauce or tamari, maybe some garlic powder, and black pepper, stir-fry with a little olive oil. Eat with whole-grain toast. Fast and delicious.

Fresh berries, yogurt, granola. Get low-fat yogurt (not non-fat, as it often has too much sugar) or soy yogurt, cut up some berries or other fruits, add some healthy cereal. I actually use the Kashi Golean Crunch instead of granola, as many brands of granola have way too much fat and/or sugar.

Grapefruit with whole-wheat toast & almond butter. Add a little sugar on top of the grapefruit, and it’s actually pretty good. The almond butter is healthier than peanut-butter, with lots of good protein to fill you up.

Fresh fruit salad. Cut up some apples, melons, berries, oranges, pears, bananas, grapes … any or all or whatever your favorite fruits are. Add a little bit of lime or lemon juice. Perfect.

Protein shake with extras. I use soy protein powder, but whey works well too. Blend up with low-fat milk or soy milk, some frozen blueberries, and perhaps some almond butter or oatmeal. That may sound weird, but it’s actually pretty good, and pretty filling. A little ground flax seed works well too.

Eggs with peppers. I’m not a fan of eggs, but many people love them. Egg whites are healthier than whole eggs. Scramble with a little olive oil, red and green bell peppers, maybe broccoli, onions, black pepper. Goes well with whole-wheat toast.

Cottage cheese and fruit. Get low-fat cottage cheese. Add any kind of fruit. Apples, citrus, berries.

Gibb’s muffins & jam. While most muffins you buy at a coffee shop or grocery store are just empty carbs with lots of fat (basically, cake), this is a delicious recipe with lots of fiber and nutrition. (Note: the recipe in the link doesn’t mention it, but it’s actually a recipe from Simplify Your Life by Elaine St. James — it’s her husband Gibbs’ recipe). Bake them the night before, and they’re perfect in the morning (and for days to come). A little honey or jam makes them perfect.

Other Sources:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3289/is_7_173/ai_n6127350

http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_eating_diet.htm

By Christina Santos (bloggerpro)

Someone asked me recently– how do you do what you do? Where do you get your energy and your ideas from?

I do not want to sound like a cliche′ (especially after this word has been overused in the past presidential election by the most despised VP candidate ever) but you have to try to be a maverick. 

A maverick is someone who constantly reinvents himself or herself to help set the standards and aim higher than what they were; someone who is not content by just conforming to what others think, say or do, especially if he or she thinks that there is a better way to go about challenges and the everyday mundane.  When I think of “mavericks”  you think of the likes of Madonna, Tom Cruise, Santana who constantly reinvent their music and career (sorry Mr. McCain but you’re not my top of mind inspite of your hype); Apple computers, 3M, Toyota, HBO, and the likes which constantly push the envelope.  So, can you challenge yourself to be “mavericky” at work?  (Note, however, that maverick can also be likened to a “virus” - see Wikipedia entry.  There’s also a book entitled Mavericks at Work.)

Can you start thinking outside the box? Can you unleash your creativity and resourcefulness and start making an impact? Or become the Maverick Virus that seems to stall the morale at work and puts everybody down? It feels good to be making a difference. Set the trend at work and let others follow your lead. You probably don’t need a new job– just reinvent and optimize it today!

PRSA offered some of these basic job tips, which I slightly modified before sharing with you:

Be clear on your value to the organization.  Take a close look at the work you’re doing and identify how it contributes to your company’s objectives, goals, and bottom line. Are your clients happy? Are you billable? If that’s not obvious to you, how will it be clear to the leaders determining who stays and who goes?

Shake off the doldrums. It’s a difficult time, but try to avoid the complainers. Save the venting for home and try to be positive at work. You’ll have more energy, which is bound to translate into greater productivity. Your attitude will make you stand out in the sea of negativity and you will get noticed for your enthusiasm and positive outlook. Have a can-do attitude! Think outside the box!

Network internally with other departments. This is not the time to be late (or leave early for that matter). And I am not just referring to your punctuality. This also involves being on time on your promises, meetings, commitments, and deliverables. If your work is slow, volunteer to assist other areas of the company. Learn a new skill– like use of new media and budding techniques. For example, a corporate communications manager who offered to assist the information technology department with its communications escaped a massive employee reduction when her IT contacts created a special position for her within their department.

Have better tips?

Do you have tips to offer? Please share with me! I am contributing an article for a prestigious magazine and would love to hear your job tips! Thank you very much!

By: Christina Santos (BloggerPro)

Thanksgiving marks the advent of classic traditions– holiday parties, gift giving, charitable contributions, special events, shopping among others.  But how do you stay financially sane in this insane economy?  How do you keep your loved ones happy without sacrificing quality?

The doom and gloom that journalists portray in the news media seem to be effectively casting doubt in consumers minds. It’s been reported that consumers plan to slash their typical budgets by at least 25 percent.  Before writing this blog entry, a lot of my friends and blogroll linkers have already e-mailed me requesting my traditional “holiday” tips and ideas (as if I am the Oracle with all the answers).  Please note that I do not ever want to pretend to be all-knowing, however, one of my unique traits is outsmarting my circumstances and challenges.  If there is a will, there is always a way. Our everyday matters need innovative thinking, too, to remain steadfast as you experience difficulties and challenges.  I promise to update the list below as I identify new opportunities, resources, and ideas! 

Before I get to the juicy tips, let me lay down the foundation for my thinking:

• Get rid of clutter first.   Do you know that clutter is one of the  primary reasons for overspending? If you cannot keep track of what you already have then it will be difficult for you to determine what it is you really need.  My fellow parents, how many times have you experienced buying the same item that’s already in your kid’s closet?  Or buying the same product that’s been sitting in your pantry or toiletries and cleaning supplies under your sink for months ?  How about that pair of shoes that’s never really been worn or the DVD/CD you never really opened?  I recommend de-cluttering your wallet, purse, backpack, desk, closets, pantry, and storage rooms first– and perhaps you might surprise yourself with a few finds. Maybe you’d find an unused gift card in one of your bags.  Or a $100 rebate form waiting for you to turn in (I am guilty of this myself as I forgot to turn in my $100 rebate form for my Nikon SLR camera purchase!)
• Set your realistic objectives and goals.If your significant other is part of the decisionmaking process, talk about it then write it down.  It is very important that you are on the same page together– not only for financial reasons but to encourage working together as team.  If you have kids and they are old enough to understand, engage them. It will teach them valuable lessons, too.  There is a specific difference between an objective and a goal and I’ve seen a lot of people get confused with their meanings.  Objective is your unquantifiable desire; something that is more vision- and emotionally-oriented.  Goal, on the other hand, is something measurable and specifically attainable. 

Here’s an example: Objective vs. Goal

Objective (unquantifiable):  Celebrate the holidays while staying financially stable and sane. 

Specific Goals (quantifiable): Focus on top 5 needs/wants vs. nice-to-haves and/or splurges; Allocate x dollars per family member;   

• Determine your strategies and tactics to maximize results.  A strategy is your key channel for meeting your objective and specific goals. A tactic, however, is your specific action item or mechanism to execute your strategy, which in turn, help you meet your specific goals and objectives. Get resourceful. No matter how busy I am with my family, work, church, events, community, or volunteer work, I always make it a point to “inform” myself of what’s going on using the most efficient tools and ways.  For a busy Alpha Mom like myself, it is quite unusual for the volume of media I consume on a daily basis (well, partly because I am in marketing and advertising– I need to be ”in the know”). But now, I have my Blackberry, my Facebook, my blogs, my RSS feeds, my News Feeds, my alerts, Twitter, etc. I am energized when learning new things but also take pleasure in helping others in similar situations. This is why I have been an avid contributor to various publications and Web sites even before blogging became a Web 2.0 trend to help reach as many fellow Alpha Moms as possible. Be charmingly inquisitive without becoming annoying and too nosy.   Collect and select the strategies that work for you.

(Please note that the above exercise that I just described to you is called O-G-S-T for Objectives-Goals-Strategies-Tactics. Remember to evaluate your results to help you identify what worked and what didn’t.)

Wise buying tips and ideas:

1. Credit Cards:  Spend smart.  Proactively review your credit card terms, interest rate, rewards, and special offers for holiday shopping. You may want to check your online account now to see if you have any cash rewards just sitting in your account. Or try calling your credit card provider and challenge them to lower your interest rate terms– note however that your best interest-free option is paying off your credit card on or before the statement due date.  My favorite strategy is using a credit card that gives back– especially the ones providing no-hassle cashback such as Capital One.  Use the credit card that provides you the highest percentage reward. Discover card offers up to 5 percent returns on qualified grocery store purchases, restaurants, and movies this Q4 2008.  They also have partnerships with various shopping centers and outlet malls across the country– for every $200 total spending/receipts in a participating mall, get a $20 gift card if you use Discover for your purchases.  You can use that $20 to buy more gifts for the people on your list or reward yourself with a pedicure or three White Chocolate Mocha Starbucks Venti!  If you prefer online shopping, you may want to go through the Upromise portal.  Upromise is a great year-round program for parents to help accumulate contributions from participating retailers and companies for your kids’ college education.  Since becoming a member in 2001, I have already accumulated close to $1,000 in college savings!  Upromise members also receive exclusive discounts from popular brands and retailers- from hotels, to car rentals, to vacations, to household items, to grocery coupons.  Don’t forget to apply for an ExxonMobil speedpass and start raking in rebates for your kid’s college education each time you gas up! 
2. Good Deals:  Last year, the most in-demand toy was undoubtedly the Wii gaming system.  Stores reported running out of supply even before Thanksgiving.  Long lines at Toys R’ Us, Target, and Walmart were the usual sight prior to store openings.  Opportunitistic buyers took advantage of the frenzy by making multiple purchases to resell on e-bay or Craigslist for double or triple the cost.  The secret here is to buy when demand is low and supply is high (not the reverse).  Check out your Sunday paper inserts for bargains and special discounts– at the back, you will normally see a discount coupon or gift card rewards for every qualified purchase.  Avoid shopping on the weekends– if you can shop on weeknights or close to the store’s closing.  If the item you want is out of stock, look for a friendly sales associate or manager and ask him/her when the next store shipment will arrive. Most sales staff will be willing to provide you “secrets” if you do not appear antagonistic, angered, or confrontational. The best way to get good deals is to use your charm and your winning smile.  Be kind to others so they will also be kind to you.  Perhaps you’ll find out that the next shipment usually arrives on Tuesdays after 12 noon; or if you go to one of their stores 20 miles away there may be 2-3 more of those items in their stockroom.  Another tactic that a fellow parent shared with me was shopping in the oddest, most unexpected store location. Going back to the Wii craze last year, one of the parents ended up buying her son’s Wii gift at a Blockbuster store instead of a regular electronics store. Who would have thought?  Another good tactic to consider is going to an unpopular retail location– usually in the middle of a “bad neighborhood” where you will unlikely encounter subarbanite shoppers/competitors.  Plan early; avoid shopping last minute at all cost as you will end up spending more money.  Read consumer comments, reviews, and ratings. Use side-by-side comparison shopping  to evaluate options.
3. Negotiating Bargains and Deals: Consider quid pro quo or tit-for-tat strategy. Maybe there is something that another seller may have that you want in exchange for something she wants that you have.  You can start off with your friends, neighbors, or using the Craigslist classifieds or Facebook Marketplace network.  You can also check out your daily newspaper’s Web site classified section. Right now, I am looking for an 88-key digital piano; which I can exchange for a lot of valuable items and electronics for tweens.  Be open when negotiating to widen your terms and possibilities; but also be shrewd in detecting fraud.  There are a lot of sharks out there especially during these tough economic times. Watch out for “phishing” and scammers. Do not place your trust on someone or in something immediately.  If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
4. Communicating with Family:  If you have family and friends scattered across the country and the globe, you may want to consider innovative communication solutions. Recently, I discovered a simple yet effective use of VoIP through Magicjack.   MagicJack easily attaches to your computer’s USB port, which you attach to a regular telephone, automatically downloads to your computer before assigning you a new phone number. Then walah- you are all set.  It costs $39.95 for one unit, plus $6.95 shipping and handling costs (arrives in 2-3 days at your shipping address); then get this, you get FREE 12 months of phone service! After 12 months, you only need to pay $19.95 every year (note: each year, not every month like Vonage)!   You will never ever have to pay for long distance again if your receiving party uses MagicJack (Magicjack to Magicjack international calls are always FREE). Now, you might be saying, that sounds too good to be true– there are pros and cons. So check out the link on the left to make yourself well informed with facts and not sales pitches or overstatements.  If you are not interested in purchasing any new gadgets, you can maximize your communication savings by using Yahoo Messenger or Skype’s real-time multimedia application.  You may also want to start an account on Facebook to take advantage of their rich social networking platform– post photos, record a video greeting, or share applications.
5. Plane and Travel Tickets:  On a recent trip to Albany, NY, a United Airlines seasoned pilot sitting next to me gave me a very useful tip I’ve never heard before. If you are traveling within 30 days from your intended departure, ditch Orbitz, Travelocity, Cheap Tickets, Priceline, or direct purchase through an airline’s Web site.  Google “Airline Ticket Consolidators” to secure the best prices– no need to place any bid or waiting until after midnight to purchase a ticket online. This is a great resource especially if you are traveling overseas.
6. Saving Gas, Time, and Preserving Your Car:  I remember in July 2008, when our family went on our annual summer vacation, gas prices in Florida were averaging $4.15 cents per gallon. Nowadays, I see gas prices fall to a shocking low of as low as $1.34– I am happy about this new development but what just happened?  For drivers, the best way to save money on gas, preserving your car’s mileage, and helping clean the air along the way is by far TRIPCHAINING.  Tripchaining is when you combine 2+ errands into one sensible trip. It saves you time and money.  So if you need to go to the groceries, identify the other errands you can do along the way– perhaps pick up the dry cleaning, stop by the ATM, or drop off your DVD rental. Better yet, share a ride or skip the trip all together if you can!  Where I live, there is this organized “hitchhiking system” called the slug line– you get to the city faster, you skip the hassles of driving, and best of all, it’s free!  You help the driver by becoming an HOV passenger– isn’t that wonderful? When filling up your tank, don’t go crazy about finding the best price per gallon. If the gas station is more than 6 miles away from your house, it’s not worth the drive for the pennies per gallon that you save. Save money but stay smart.  Unit cost is not the only factor you need to consider in determining a good deal vs a not so good deal.

I hope this information helps you a little bit in planning for the holidays.  I have to stop here for a while until I reveal new tips and ideas to help us become Wise Buyers– maximizing savings without giving up quality this 2008! Please note that Wise Buyers are not scrooges or “cheapos.”

Next Article Update: Must-have buys, deals, and tricks very few people know about for Holiday 2008.  Get smart!

Analyzing Obama’s Marketing Strategies and Reasons Why Marketers Should Follow His Lead in Affecting Behavior Change and Perceptions

By: Christina Santos

America has made history. The Obama campaign is not just a political victory; it also exhibits today’s best practices in strategic communications.  The Advertising Age declared Obama (and his chief strategist, David Axelrod) “Marketer of the Year” weeks before winning the most powerful position in the world.

Here’s why Obama and his strategists earned my respect and why I give them credit for running a flawless marketing campaign:

The Obama Brand. 

The core strategy of the Obama brand was strongly informed by their target audiences’ perceptions, current mindsets, needs, wants, communication habits, and opportunities.  “Change we need” became the single-minded proposition throughout the campaign, which resonated well to his target voters, and a promise/benefit they could believe in. The campaign focused on his strengths, and repackaged/downplayed his perceived weaknesses.

Obama’s campaign strategists also carefully analyzed the markets they wanted to reach– segmenting the electoral landscape by states that were already “sold” on his brand versus states that needed more outreach efforts. Why sell when it’s already sold?  The brand did not just focus on “existing” customers (voters) but aimed to expand their marketing base by attracting new voters and transforming these voters into “champions, volunteers, fundraisers AND message advocates.” 

Obama’s messaging strategy was multi-tiered and current–customizing messages and constantly updating them based on what audiences needed to hear at any given time throughout the marketing period. While “change we need” became the common theme, he had customized messages for urban and suburban voters, and key demographic and ethnic profiles (specifically white, college-educated swing voters). This was a testament that Obama had his target audience in mind for every significant marketing engagement. In essence, the Obama brand “fished where the fish were already biting,” but also allocated the right resources (traditional and non-traditional) to win hard-to-reach segments. The Obama brand did not focus on a handful of media strategies; rather, used multimedia techniques collectively to maintain his presence in all types of media. As for the basic elements of a brand, Obama had it all– the right logo, a strong, easy-to-recognize graphic identity, and look and feel– and most importantly, he used them consistently on the right elements throughout the campaign.

The Obama Web Site and Online Marketing Strategy- Direct and Grassroots Marketing at its Best.

The Obama Web site was a key marketing component for the campaign– it became a multimedia hub that was updated frequently, a tool to recruit volunteers, effectively adopting new social media tactics (blogs, RSS, twitters, online videos, etc.). It even  offers an online store. If you visit www.obama.com you will not see a traditional homepage filled with text and graphics.  Instead, you will first see a page trying to collect information from devoted and curious Obama supporters. This is why the Obama brand has been so successful in their direct marketing, online, grassroots, social media, and fundraising initiatives.  The Web site has quick button links, such as the one for die-hard Hillary supporters could go to, from the main page, plus a list of other quicklinks to SNS. This makes Obama almost omnipresent on the Web!
 

The most common mistake that marketers do nowadays is not collecting a customer’s basic e-mail and zip code data. The Obama brand did not fall into that trap and actually used the data for effective follow-up communications and to optimize their ongoing strategy, especially in empowering ordinary supporters and using those supporters’ own e-mail lists and social networks to expand their reach, frequency, and share of voice.  Online supporters were able to create their own fundraising pages and their own online accounts within the Obama Web site.  Imagine all the rich marketing data accessible to Obama’s marketing strategists instead of just relying on focus groups and third party research surveys.

Empowering Individuals and Partners– Street Teams, Bloggers, Social Networks and Transforming Supporters into Champions.

The Obama brand has effectively expanded the voter landscape not only by attracting and empowering young, educated, tech-savvy voters but also reaching frustrated, midstream, disenfranchised voters who were typically skewed to his competition.  Two key tactics attributed to this success- Obama capitalized on his competitor’s weaknesses by deploying the right messages, and grassroots initiatives.  By grassroots, I mean activating Obama’s “champion volunteers” to get the message out on his behalf either as actual street teams with the primary goal of expanding the voter base, or via e-mails, blogposts, video responses, as fans or commenters on popular SNS to create a phenomenal multiplying effect. A recent online study revealed that there’s been a surge of political blogs and other online contents written by ordinary men and women over the past six months. This helped engage more audiences in favor of Obama. Empowering individuals also guaranteed a winning word-of-mouth marketing strategy for the party, which also provided an unprecedented domino effect on social fundraising prompting $5, $10, $20 givers online, resulting in almost $80M  for the Democratic Party (see www.actblue.com).

Traditional and Non-Traditional Advertising, Earned Media, and PR Strategy.

With a record fundraising amount raised during this election (about $150M), spending on political advertising reached an all-time high. The Obama brand, however, did not spend it without an eye on the prize (and literally the price of the ads).  Using their market segmentation data, TV, radio, and online ads were placed strategically in key battleground markets. Timing was also very critical to their success. Not waiting until after Labor day to ramp up advertising activity, the Obama brand phased their placements efficiently as early as the summer to build momentum leading to their victory, while making sure that the ad messages remained current, rotated strategically, and addressed issues at hand.  Broadcast materials pushed mainstream consumers to the Web for more information (with the underlying objective of collecting e-mails for direct communications).  The Obama brand also pioneered what we call time-block national advertising buys on primetime TV to air his pre-produced 30-minute infomercial.   The buy in itself became a news topic with news programs, helping advertise the advertising effort itself.   Additionally, each time a new spot comes out, the news media featured the TV ads in their news segments, which created free exposure for Obama. Earned media was strategically leveraged, focusing on wide-reaching, national shows while proactively managing messaging expectations and image perceptions.  Obama’s overall advertising strategy built on unprecedented early interest and mobilized it into an effective ground game to get out people’s vote.

The Obama brand’s crisis communications and tactics for preserving brand identity (simply known as damage control) are also worthy to note. When his competition started pointing out his weaknesses, he fought back with myth-busting facts and messages. For example, when his competitor was associating his campaign with William Ayers, he immediately deployed TV and radio messages debunking the claim and telling voters that he was only “eight years” old when it happened and the true reason for the perceived association. His messaging and PR strategy also effectively used deflecting tactics by repositioning the negative spotlight on his competition’s weakness for the news media to splurge on.

Media relations was well maintained—taking hits from the media from time to time but also influencing messaging to favor his way with every opportunity and milestone via timely news and press releases,  media statements, progress reports, media advisories and new poll results, which really helped him improve his image. And turning perceptions into voter realities.

The Obama Events- Marketing an Experience.

When the Obama brand stages an event, it creates an impact. The staging is grandiose- going after big venues (like a football field for his nomination acceptance speech and a large park in Chicago for his victory speech) providing an impression of mass support, instead of a town hall-like ambience.  The event goes beyond spectatorship- it is an experience filled with heart-pumping music creating an atmosphere of emotions from wide-eyed supporters. The event elements tie in to one brand and one core message.  The scheduling of the events was also insightful and strategic focusing on problematic areas yet drumming up in swing voters’ locations- a true march of victory.

I am sure there are more success factors to cite as well as mistakes that will be discussed in marketing roundtables long after Election Day.  As a fellow marketer, I intend to refer to the Obama brand’s success story when planning future broad-based communications campaigns.  If you have any comments or questions to this blog entry, please write back to christinafsantos@aol.com.

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If you are a “tween” parent, chances are you have some type of trinket or item with High School Musical on it.  The HSM franchise has infiltrated young minds and the fabric of American culture (and commercialism) over the past three or so years.  Whether you are thrilled or annoyed by it, as a parent, you have to live with it.

The opening date of HSM, October 24, has been noted on our family calendar with a permanent marker. Trying to be true to my promises, I drove my kids immediately after school to an AMC Theater, trying our best to beat the anticipated long lines at the movie theater. And we succeeded! On October 24, we aggressively beat the rush hour traffic, and bested other ticket buyers at the box office. We were just right on time- with enough time to buy a popcorn and pop combo.

With movie snacks in hand, we walked into a crowded theater. As anticipated, it was filled with a bunch of hyper-active munchkins (with their dragged gurdians).  I was worried, we wouldn’t find seats that will allow us to sit together. However, at the very last row, we found our perfect seats!

HSM opened with the face of Troy a.k.a. as Zac Efron– this new generation’s heartthrob. Honestly, Troy was the character I was most interested in and I was also curious to see how Zac performed  it this time (not to mention I loathe Vanessa Hudgens).  The basketball court heart-thumping scene set the mood for the Wildcats– it was a good tie in for the past two HSM for-TV movies on the Disney Channel.  The opening scene was grabbing the audience, until Vanessa Hudgens (a.k.a Gabriela in the movie) emerged from the crowd scene.  Then I begun to wonder, why is Vanessa Hudgens so overacting- with her mesmerized, sparkling eyes look each time she gazes at Troy.  And that voice elicits decibel annoyance.  If she had acted more naturally in the movie, I would have tolerated it more. 

Let’s talk about the other actors.  Sharpay– pretty Ashley Tisdale– is truly perfect for her role.  The self-indulgent, spoiled blonde brat has carried out her character in true Disney fashion.  I must say, the scenes that stood out for me involved Sharpay and her twin brother’s character: over-the-top and in full labeled grandeur.

Another character that stood out is the budding musical composer- her portrayal was believable and admirable (though I cannot remember her name in the movie).

Corbin Bleu’s character was also worthy of note– I could see this boy venturing out into more mature roles successfully after HSM. And speaking of “mature,” who is Disney kidding?  I looked at the extras’ faces and please believe when I say that those actors are not high school material at all because they look older than me. Seriously!  The head cheerleader looks like the high school principal, not a high school student!

And most importantly, the plot– yes, I know HSM production numbers are meant to be a feast for our visual and audal senses and become the main plot themselves, but the made-for-TV movies had better stories than the movie itself.  The songs in past HSM’s are more memorable than HSM3 that I actually had to pay for!  (Though I must say, seeing the production numbers on steroids on the big screen overloaded my senses– it actually made me want to go the bathroom twice throughout the movie– OK that’s TMI).

And there are many unbelievable moments in the movie, not to mention the accompanying cheesiness of Vanessa Hudgens’ acting.  The school rooftop dance scene- seriously? A garden on top of a school? The scene started out sunny, then towards the end rain started pouring in?  Troy driving back to Albuquerque from Stanford University for the second act of the musicale?  I am just glad that that HSM actually made the actors graduate because I don’t think I can stand another HSM venture. 

From the point of view of my tweens, they liked it overall with a few “eeeews” from time to time– especially when Troy offered Gabriela the last chocolate dipped strawberry.  They agreed with me when I said that HSM2 had better songs than the movie.  We had our own silent ratings in the move– forming the letter “C” with our hands for each and every cheesy moment: one “C” (quite cheesy), two “C’s” for (very cheesy), and triple “C’s” for (super cheesy)– all scenes involved Vanessa Hudgens who else.

The movie ended in a high note- no less than an outdoor production number with HSM graduates. There is no doubt in my mind that Disney will once again rake in the dollars, because as soon as we got out of the movie house, wide-eyed nuggets with parents in tow, were anxiously waiting for their turn to get HSM-ized by the lights and sounds of HSM3.  I guess in this gloomy economy, we can all use a bit of cheesy entertainment!

CLICK HERE for Tiara Gold’s Video on YouTube

By Christina Santos

My son is no ordinary child.  Just seeing his super-cute face at the end of an exhausting day brings a pure smile on my face.  He’s got the face of his mommy, and the body of his daddy! He’s so huggable, super talented, and a great cook!  After dinner, he served me his delectable, homemade gourmet truffles. They were so decadent– the flavors melt in your mouth! It was heavenly. 

My daughter is no ordinary child either. Her petite figure is perfect for her nimble ballerina steps.  She is appearing in Nutcracker this holiday season and she couldn’t be more excited (and I couldn’t be more excited as a ’stage mom’)!  Each day, I am constantly amazed by the kind of wisdom and common sense that she possesses.  We call her “Oracle II“– inheriting her unique traits from her Grammy (a.k.a. my mother).  She is able to figure out the root of a problem and provides solutions I would not have ever thought about by myself. She is organized, creative, and mature.  She has a unique way of persuading others to take her side– and this includes me and her daddy!  Her teacher once told me that she wouldn’t be surprised if she ends up becoming a CEO of a company someday.  She is small, yet a powerful and persuasive leader. She is a friend to many people– outgoing and easily likable.

My kids have a natural talent for creativity and writing (I guess they inherited that trait from me being the one from advertising).  Of course, there are days I could only wish to be better, but overall, they make me so proud….and extremely happy!  Without them, my life wouldn’t be complete.  They bring me joy in this life and I will do anything to help make their dreams come true.

According to polls, U.S. citizens are engaged in presidential politics more than ever in history. Who wouldn’t? With a crumbling economy, record-high foreclosures, skyrocketing energy prices, and sticker-shocking grocery costs, average American families are feeling the impact of missteps in U.S. governance and deregulation. Has no one been keeping an eye on this perfect storm?  Was there no mechanism in place to predict this economic phenomenon that is causing devastating ripple effects in all levels of society and the world?

 The issues we are facing right now are real– it impacts the way we live and how our children will live their lives.  Homelessness and poverty are a growing problem; I read in the news that more adults are now living in their cars.   Employees are either down-sized or taking paycuts.  Non-profits and churches are feeling the impact, too. WIth less disposable incomes, fewer people are loyally giving to causes that support the fabric of our everyday lives. Local budgets are affected with more people paying less taxes– this results in budget cuts in local schools, road improvements, and various community programs.

On one hand, the circumstances we are facing are sending a unified message; a rude awakening, a loud wake up call– LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS. Materialism, consumerism, and debt problems are engulping our way of life.  Have you examined your garage or basement and inspected how much “stuff” you have in boxes that aren’t actually being used. Have you looked at your closet to examne how many clothes and shoes you own?  Have you looked around your bedrooms to see how little wiggle room you have because of your knick-knacks and trinkets?  Have you looked at your pantry and refrigerator to see how much junk food you bought from the grocery stores– maybe you’ll find really old canned goods you’d end up tossing anyway?

My point is- we can’t all blame it all on the government.  Everyone has a part in this, too.  But good news is, everyone can also do their part to become part of the solution. You can start with ourselves, yes, you and me.  It starts with a change of mindset and a commitment to a new lifestyle.  LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS.  That should be everyone’s motto.  Try going for a walk, instead of walking in the mall that will cause you to buy more stuff you’ll forget about in a few days.  Try playing with your kids, instead of roaming around in fastfoods that will make you gain more weight and cause you to be unhealthy.  Read your books or your Bible, instead of watching TV or using electronics. You’ll save money on your utility bill, and lessen your impact to the environment.   Pray and cleanse yourself from spiritual impurities– immersing yourself in godly things will change your total outlook in life. And help provide new meaning to your real purpose in this world.

Now, regarding my question– to Blue or not to Blue?  Should I go Obama or McCain?  Not sure yet, though my absentee ballot is waiting for a name.  Moral virtue and spiritual belief is important to me; however, I am also looking for specific action items that can help turn around this mess that the U.S. society is in. As I cast my ballot, I am thinking of my future and the future of my children.  This is an important and historic decision that I need to take seriously– and I urge you to do the same.

LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS.  Contemplate on what’s really important and valuable in this life– and you’ll find yourself a much happier person.

City of Durham promotes water conservation tips

With today’s high prices, every penny saved counts. And saving money is becoming a higher priority in households across the nation. Since July 2008, the City of Durham has been implementing a new tiered water rate system that encourages residents to efficiently use water. With the new rate structure, the less water you use, the lower your rate, the more money you save for everyday needs, and the better we protect Durham.

In 2007, the state of North Carolina experienced severe drought conditions, which affected households and businesses throughout the area. City officials enacted water restrictions to help conserve and preserve Durham’s water supplies. Residents could not fill swimming pools, wash cars, or water their lawns until early spring. Since April, outdoor watering has been allowed two times a week. Recently, customers have been allowed to obtain 30-day licenses for landscaping projects delayed due to the drought.

With the new tiered water rate system, using water wisely is one of the easiest ways to save money. To save thousands of gallons of water, follow these top 10 tips:

1.       Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and save 4 gallons a minute. That’s 200 gallons a week for a family of four.

2.       Time your shower to keep it under 5 minutes and save 1,000 gallons each month. By turning off the water while you shampoo your hair, you can save an additional 50 gallons per week.

3.       Install a water-efficient showerhead. They’re inexpensive, easy to install, and can save your family more than 500 gallons a week. Visit Durham’s City Hall to purchase a 1.5 gallon per minute water efficient showerhead.

4.       Turn off the water while you shave, lather your hands or wash your face and see water savings up to 100 gallons a week.

5.       Check your toilet for leaks by putting food coloring or leftover coffee in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl, you have a leak. Other signs that a toilet is leaking include the sound of running water and the toilet turning on and off without being flushed. You may need to replace the flapper, the handle or adjust the water level in the tank. Fixing your toilet can save more than 600 gallons a month.

6.       Upgrade to a High Efficiency Toilet (HET) and receive up to $100 credit rebate on your water bill. The City of Durham is currently running a rebate promotion for HET purchases/installations made on or after January 1, 2008. Visit DurhamSavesWater.org to learn how you can qualify.

7.       Use your clothes washer or dishwasher only when you have a full load and save up to 600 gallons each month.

8.       Grab a wrench and fix that leaky faucet. It’s simple, inexpensive, and can save 140 gallons a week. Remind your children to turn off faucets tightly to prevent dripping.

9.       If you are planting this season, choose drought-tolerant, low water use plant varieties for year-round landscape color. You can save up to 550 gallons each year. Two-thirds of household water use takes place outdoors, making the yard the best place to impact water consumption.

10.   Use a hose nozzle and turn off the water while washing your car, or use a bucket of soapy water to clean and clear water to rinse. Washing your car only when needed will save you hundreds of gallons each month.

It’s time to get serious about saving water—and we can all do our part. For 111 simple, money-saving tips, including a new online bill calculator, visit DurhamSavesWater.org today!

Courtesy of City of Durham Department of Water Management

By Christina Santos

As a marketing professional, I’ve engaged in many sports marketing promotions over the years– with the National Football League, National Baseball League, National Basketball Association, Minor Leagues, collegiate sporting events, and more. I’ve been invited to prestigious sporting events, including Superbowls, without spending a dime. I’ve sat in VIP boxes and enjoyed Owner’s Suites catering, entertainment, and post-game parties. I’ve been invited to super-exclusive locker room tours and shook hands with high profile athletic players (I was “this close” to meeting M.Jordan in person). But I have never really been “into” any sports.  Oftentimes, I would go to sporting events because they are part of what I do; not something that I would really enjoy in my freetime.  There had been numerous occasions where I’ve been invited to prominent games but never really get into the game. Usually, sporting events were an opportunity to socialize with people I wouldn’t normally socialize with. One time, I was invited to a hockey game at a VIP skybox without ever glancing at the game.  Yes, that’s how disengaged I was.

But not this time.

For some unexplainable reason, I’ve been transformed to this unexpected football fanatic, craving every game event.  The only time I ever felt this way was when I was carrying my first unborn child– I could remember being so obsessed with the Chicago Bulls– Michael Jordan, in particular. My husband and I were residing overseas so I could only watch the game on television. The 12-hour time difference did not go well with my “daily” schedules. Each time I had to leave the house for work, I suffered from “separation anxiety” so I made it a point to listen to the radio so I could continue tracking the developments of the game.  My current feelings about football are reminiscent of my past  years’ obsession with basketball.

In the past, I always found sports fans to be irrational- I did not quite understand why super poised professionals would go down their level to defend their sports turfs, even get into arguments that lead to fights when defending their favorite sports teams.  I thought those fans were “over-acting” and unreasonable. Who would go to that extent? Don’t they have anything better to do in life?

Now, I can totally empathize.  There is a genetic part of each person that gravitates towards something totally unexpected– sports team loyalty is the same way.  Now, I am finding myself buying sports memorabilia stuff that were totally unappealing to me before this wave of fanaticism.  Football? Who would have thought– the only time I ever get intererested in anything football is during Superbowl time– the one day in a year where I see multimillion dollar worth of advertising.  I chatted during the game, and tuned in during commercials.  Now, I find myself impulsively screaming during blitzy moments and crazily rejoicing at the sight of touchdown. I’ve been football-educated as in I can actually understand how players score in a football game. Really, who would have thought?  And to think, tight spandex pants are totally unappealing to me…who would have thought? Me? Falling in love with football? Well, people say that….LOVE IS TRULY BLIND.  Go Washington Redskins!

OBAMA’S NOT EXACTLY
What most people aren’t aware of!

———————————————————-

Obama’s Not Exactlys:

1) “Selma March Got Me Born” - NOT EXACTLY - your parents felt safe enough to have you in 1961. Selma had no effect on your birth, as the Selma march was in 1965. ( Google ‘Obama Selma’ for his full March 4, 2007 speech and articles about its various untruths.)

2) “My Father Was A Goat Herder” - NOT EXACTLY - he was a privileged, well educated youth, who went on to work with the Kenyan Government.

3) “My Father Was A Proud Freedom Fighter” - NOT EXACTLY - he was part of one of the most corrupt and violent governments Kenya has ever had.

4) “My Family Has Strong Ties To African Freedom” - NOT EXACTLY - your cousin Raila Odinga has created mass violence in Kenya, attempting to overturn a legitimate election in 2007. It is the first widespread violence in 2 decades. The current government is pro-American but Odinga wants to overthrow it and establish Muslim Sharia law. Barrack’s half-brother, Abongo Obama, is Odinga’s follower. Barrack interrupted his New Hampshire campaigning to speak to Odinga on the phone. Cousin Odinga ran for president in Kenya. When Odinga lost the elections, his followers burned Christians’ homes and then burned men, women and children alive in a Christian church where they took shelter. Obama SUPPORTED his cousin before the election process here started.

Google Obama and Odinga and see what you get. You need to know the truth.

5) “My Grandmother Has Always Been A Christian” - NOT EXACTLY - she does her daily Salat prayers at 5am according to her own interviews. Not to mention that Christianity wouldn’t allow her to be one of 14 wives of one man.

6) “My Name is African Swahili” - NOT EXACTLY - your name is Arabic, not Swahili. ‘Baraka’, from which Barack comes, means ‘blessed’ in Arabic. The name Hussein is also Arabic, as is Obama.

Barack Hussein Obama is not half-black, so he would not be the first black President but the first Arab-American President. He is 50% Caucasian from his mother’s side and 43.75% Arabic and 6.25% African Negro from his father’s side. While his father was from Kenya, his father’s family were mainly Arabs. Barack Hussein Obama’s father was only 12.5% African Negro and 87.5% Arab (his father’s birth certificate even states he’s Arab, not African Negro). For more on this go to……

http://www.arcadeathome.com/newsboy.phtml?Barack_Hussein_Obama_-_Arab-American,_only_6.25%_African

7) “I Never Practiced Islam” - NOT EXACTLY - you practiced it daily at school, where you were registered as a Muslim. You kept that faith for 31 years, until your wife convinced you to change, so you could run for office.

04-03-08 article: Obama was “quite religious in islam”. Go to http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=60559

“My School In Indonesia Was Christian” - NOT EXACTLY - you were registered as Muslim there and got in trouble in Koran Studies for making faces (check your own book on this one).

February 28, 2008. Bill Kristoff from the New York Times a year ago: “Mr. Obama recalled the opening lines of the Arabic call to prayer, reciting them with a first-rate accent. In a remark that seemed delightfully uncalculated (it’ll give Alabama voters heart attacks), Mr. Obama described the call to prayer as ‘one of the prettiest sounds on Earth at sunset’. This is just one example of what Pamela is talking about when she says ‘Obama’s narrative is being altered, enhanced and manipulated to whitewash troubling facts’.”

9) “I Was Fluent In Indonesian” - NOT EXACTLY - not one teacher says you spoke the language.

10) “Because I Lived In Indonesia, I Have More Foreign Experience” - NOT EXACTLY - you were there from the ages of 6-10, and you couldn’t even speak the language. What did you learn except how to study the Koran and watch cartoons?

11) “I Am Stronger On Foreign Affairs” - NOT EXACTLY - except for Africa (surprise) and the Middle East (bigger surprise), you have never been anywhere else on the planet and thus have NO experience with our closest allies.

12) “I Blame My Early Drug Use On Ethnic Confusion” - NOT EXACTLY - you were quite content in high school to be Barry Obama; no mention of Kenya and no mention of a struggle to identify. Your classmates said you were just fine.

13) “An Ebony Article Moved Me To Run For Office” - NOT EXACTLY - Ebony has yet to find the article you mention in your book. It doesn’t, and never did, exist.

14) “A Life Magazine Article Changed My Outlook On Life” - NOT EXACTLY - Life magazine has yet to find the article you mention in your book. It doesn’t, and never did, exist.

15) “I Won’t Run On A National Ticket In ‘08″ - NOT EXACTLY - here you are, despite saying, on live TV, that you would not have enough experience by then; and you are all about having experience first.

16) “Voting ‘Present’ is Common In Illinois Senate” - NOT EXACTLY - they are common for YOU, but not many others have 130 NO VOTES.

17) “Oops, I Mis-voted” - NOT EXACTLY - only when caught by church groups and Democrats, did you beg to change your mis-vote.

18) “I Was A Professor Of Law” - NOT EXACTLY - you were a senior lecturer ON LEAVE.

19) “I Was A Constitutional Lawyer” - NOT EXACTLY - you were a senior lecturer ON LEAVE.

20) “Without Me, There Would Be No Ethics Bill” - NOT EXACTLY - you didn’t write it, introduce it, or amend it.

21) “The Ethics Bill Was Hard To Pass” - NOT EXACTLY - it took just 14 days from start to finish.

22) “I Wrote A Tough Nuclear Bill” - NOT EXACTLY - your bill was rejected by your own party for its pandering and lack of all regulation, mainly because of your Nuclear donor (Exelon) from where David Axelrod comes.

23) “I Have Released My State Records” - NOT EXACTLY - as of March, 2008, the state bills you sponsored or voted for have yet to be released, exposing all the special interests’ pork hidden within.

24) “I Took On The Asbestos Altgeld Gardens Mess” - NOT EXACTLY - you were part of a large group of people who remedied Altgeld Gardens. In your books, you failed to mention anyone else but yourself.

25) “My Economics Bill Will Help America” - NOT EXACTLY - your 111 economic policies were just combined into a proposal which lost 99-0; even YOU voted against your own bill.

26) “I Have Been A Bold Leader In Illinois” - NOT EXACTLY - even your own supporters have not seen any BOLD action on your part.

27) “I Passed 26 Of My Own Bills In One Year” - NOT EXACTLY- they were not YOUR bills, but were handed to you by a fellow Senator, after their creation, to assist you in a future bid for higher office.

28) “No One On My Campaign Contacted Canada About NAFTA” - NOT EXACTLY - the Canadian Government issued the names and a memo of the conversation your campaign people had with them.

29) “I Am Tough On Terrorism” - NOT EXACTLY - you missed the Iran Resolution vote on terrorism and your good friend Ali Abunimah supports the destruction of Israel.

30) “I Want All Votes To Count” - NOT EXACTLY - you said let the delegates decide.

31) “I Want Americans To Decide” - NOT EXACTLY - you prefer caucuses that limit the vote, confuse the voters, force a public vote, and operate only during small windows of time.

32) “I passed 900 Bills in the State Senate” - NOT EXACTLY - you passed 26; most of which you didn’t write yourself.

34) “I Don’t Take PAC Money” - NOT EXACTLY - you take loads of it

35) ‘I don’t Have Lobbyists” - NOT EXACTLY - you have over 47 lobbyists, and counting.

36) “My Campaign Had Nothing To Do With The 1984 Ad” - NOT EXACTLY - your own campaign worker made the ad on his Apple computer in one afternoon.

37) “I Have Always Been Against The Iraq War” - NOT EXACTLY - you weren’t in office to vote against it AND you have voted to fund it every single time.

38) “I Have Always Supported Universal Health Care” - NOT EXACTLY - your plan leaves us all to pay for the 15,000,000 who don’t have to buy it.

39) “My Uncle Liberated Auschwitz Concentration Camp” - NOT EXACTLY - your mother had no brothers and the Russian Army did the liberating.

So many fabrications and misleading statements by a man who would be President. Without the fawning press and the adoring Hollywood morons, this man would be a relatively unknown. Did I say would be?

To Chairman Dean and my great friend Dick Durbin, and to all my fellow citizens of this great nation, with profound gratitude and great humility, I accept your nomination for presidency of the United States.

Let me — let me express — let me express my thanks to the historic slate of candidates who accompanied me on this journey, and especially the one who traveled the farthest, a champion for working Americans and an inspiration to my daughters and to yours, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

To President Clinton, to President Bill Clinton, who made last night the case for change as only he can make it…

… to Ted Kennedy, who embodies the spirit of service…

… and to the next vice president of the United States, Joe Biden, I thank you.

I am grateful to finish this journey with one of the finest statesmen of our time, a man at ease with everyone from world leaders to the conductors on the Amtrak train he still takes home every night.

To the love of my life, our next first lady, Michelle Obama…

… and to Malia and Sasha, I love you so much, and I am so proud of you.

Four years ago, I stood before you and told you my story, of the brief union between a young man from Kenya and a young woman from Kansas who weren’t well-off or well-known, but shared a belief that in America their son could achieve whatever he put his mind to.

It is that promise that’s always set this country apart, that through hard work and sacrifice each of us can pursue our individual dreams, but still come together as one American family, to ensure that the next generation can pursue their dreams, as well. That’s why I stand here tonight. Because for 232 years, at each moment when that promise was in jeopardy, ordinary men and women — students and soldiers, farmers and teachers, nurses and janitors — found the courage to keep it alive.

We meet at one of those defining moments, a moment when our nation is at war, our economy is in turmoil, and the American promise has been threatened once more.

Tonight, more Americans are out of work and more are working harder for less. More of you have lost your homes and even more are watching your home values plummet. More of you have cars you can’t afford to drive, credit cards, bills you can’t afford to pay, and tuition that’s beyond your reach.

These challenges are not all of government’s making. But the failure to respond is a direct result of a broken politics in Washington and the failed policies of George W. Bush.

America, we are better than these last eight years. We are a better country than this.

This country is more decent than one where a woman in Ohio, on the brink of retirement, finds herself one illness away from disaster after a lifetime of hard work.

We’re a better country than one where a man in Indiana has to pack up the equipment that he’s worked on for 20 years and watch as it’s shipped off to China, and then chokes up as he explains how he felt like a failure when he went home to tell his family the news.

We are more compassionate than a government that lets veterans sleep on our streets and families slide into poverty…

… that sits…

… that sits on its hands while a major American city drowns before our eyes.

Tonight, tonight, I say to the people of America, to Democrats and Republicans and independents across this great land: Enough. This moment…

This moment, this moment, this election is our chance to keep, in the 21st century, the American promise alive.

Because next week, in Minnesota, the same party that brought you two terms of George Bush and Dick Cheney will ask this country for a third.

(AUDIENCE BOOS)

And we are here — we are here because we love this country too much to let the next four years look just like the last eight.

(APPLAUSE)

On November 4th, on November 4th, we must stand up and say: Eight is enough.

(APPLAUSE)

Now, now, let me — let there be no doubt. The Republican nominee, John McCain, has worn the uniform of our country with bravery and distinction, and for that we owe him our gratitude and our respect.

(APPLAUSE)

And next week, we’ll also hear about those occasions when he’s broken with his party as evidence that he can deliver the change that we need.

But the record’s clear: John McCain has voted with George Bush 90 percent of the time.

Senator McCain likes to talk about judgment, but, really, what does it say about your judgment when you think George Bush has been right more than 90 percent of the time?

(APPLAUSE)

I don’t know about you, but I am not ready to take a 10 percent chance on change.

(APPLAUSE)

The truth is, on issue after issue that would make a difference in your lives — on health care, and education, and the economy — Senator McCain has been anything but independent.

He said that our economy has made great progress under this president. He said that the fundamentals of the economy are strong.

And when one of his chief advisers, the man who wrote his economic plan, was talking about the anxieties that Americans are feeling, he said that we were just suffering from a mental recession and that we’ve become, and I quote, "a nation of whiners."

Tell that to the military families who shoulder their burdens silently as they watch their loved ones leave for their third, or fourth, or fifth tour of duty.

These are not whiners. They work hard, and they give back, and they keep going without complaint. These are the Americans I know.

(APPLAUSE)

Now, I don’t believe that Senator McCain doesn’t care what’s going on in the lives of Americans; I just think he doesn’t know.

(LAUGHTER)

Why else would he define middle-class as someone making under $5 million a year? How else could he propose hundreds of billions in tax breaks for big corporations and oil companies, but not one penny of tax relief to more than 100 million Americans?

OBAMA: How else could he offer a health care plan that would actually tax people’s benefits, or an education plan that would do nothing to help families pay for college, or a plan that would privatize Social Security and gamble your retirement?

(AUDIENCE BOOS)

It’s not because John McCain doesn’t care; it’s because John McCain doesn’t get it.

(APPLAUSE)

For over two decades — for over two decades, he’s subscribed to that old, discredited Republican philosophy: Give more and more to those with the most and hope that prosperity trickles down to everyone else.

In Washington, they call this the "Ownership Society," but what it really means is that you’re on your own. Out of work? Tough luck, you’re on your own. No health care? The market will fix it. You’re on your own. Born into poverty? Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps, even if you don’t have boots. You are on your own.

(APPLAUSE)

Well, it’s time for them to own their failure. It’s time for us to change America. And that’s why I’m running for president of the United States.

(APPLAUSE)

You see, you see, we Democrats have a very different measure of what constitutes progress in this country.

We measure progress by how many people can find a job that pays the mortgage, whether you can put a little extra money away at the end of each month so you can someday watch your child receive her college diploma.

We measure progress in the 23 million new jobs that were created when Bill Clinton was president…

(APPLAUSE)

… when the average American family saw its income go up $7,500 instead of go down $2,000, like it has under George Bush. (APPLAUSE)

We measure the strength of our economy not by the number of billionaires we have or the profits of the Fortune 500, but by whether someone with a good idea can take a risk and start a new business, or whether the waitress who lives on tips can take a day off and look after a sick kid without losing her job, an economy that honors the dignity of work.

The fundamentals we use to measure economic strength are whether we are living up to that fundamental promise that has made this country great, a promise that is the only reason I am standing here tonight.

Because, in the faces of those young veterans who come back from Iraq and Afghanistan, I see my grandfather, who signed up after Pearl Harbor, marched in Patton’s army, and was rewarded by a grateful nation with the chance to go to college on the G.I. Bill.

In the face of that young student, who sleeps just three hours before working the night shift, I think about my mom, who raised my sister and me on her own while she worked and earned her degree, who once turned to food stamps, but was still able to send us to the best schools in the country with the help of student loans and scholarships.

(APPLAUSE)

When I — when I listen to another worker tell me that his factory has shut down, I remember all those men and women on the South Side of Chicago who I stood by and fought for two decades ago after the local steel plant closed.

And when I hear a woman talk about the difficulties of starting her own business or making her way in the world, I think about my grandmother, who worked her way up from the secretarial pool to middle management, despite years of being passed over for promotions because she was a woman.

(APPLAUSE)

Now, I don’t know what kind of lives John McCain thinks that celebrities lead, but this has been mine.

(APPLAUSE)

These are my heroes; theirs are the stories that shaped my life. And it is on behalf of them that I intend to win this election and keep our promise alive as president of the United States.

(APPLAUSE)

What — what is that American promise? It’s a promise that says each of us has the freedom to make of our own lives what we will, but that we also have obligations to treat each other with dignity and respect.

It’s a promise that says the market should reward drive and innovation and generate growth, but that businesses should live up to their responsibilities to create American jobs, to look out for American workers, and play by the rules of the road.

Ours — ours is a promise that says government cannot solve all our problems, but what it should do is that which we cannot do for ourselves: protect us from harm and provide every child a decent education; keep our water clean and our toys safe; invest in new schools, and new roads, and science, and technology.

Our government should work for us, not against us. It should help us, not hurt us. It should ensure opportunity not just for those with the most money and influence, but for every American who’s willing to work.

That’s the promise of America, the idea that we are responsible for ourselves, but that we also rise or fall as one nation, the fundamental belief that I am my brother’s keeper, I am my sister’s keeper.

That’s the promise we need to keep. That’s the change we need right now.

(APPLAUSE)

So — so let me — let me spell out exactly what that change would mean if I am president.

(APPLAUSE)

Change means a tax code that doesn’t reward the lobbyists who wrote it, but the American workers and small businesses who deserve it.

(APPLAUSE)

You know, unlike John McCain, I will stop giving tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas, and I will start giving them to companies that create good jobs right here in America.

(APPLAUSE)

I’ll eliminate capital gains taxes for the small businesses and start-ups that will create the high-wage, high-tech jobs of tomorrow.

(APPLAUSE)

I will — listen now — I will cut taxes — cut taxes — for 95 percent of all working families, because, in an economy like this, the last thing we should do is raise taxes on the middle class.

(APPLAUSE)

And for the sake of our economy, our security, and the future of our planet, I will set a clear goal as president: In 10 years, we will finally end our dependence on oil from the Middle East.

(APPLAUSE)

We will do this. Washington — Washington has been talking about our oil addiction for the last 30 years. And, by the way, John McCain has been there for 26 of them.

(LAUGHTER)

And in that time, he has said no to higher fuel-efficiency standards for cars, no to investments in renewable energy, no to renewable fuels. And today, we import triple the amount of oil than we had on the day that Senator McCain took office.

Now is the time to end this addiction and to understand that drilling is a stop-gap measure, not a long-term solution, not even close.

(APPLAUSE)

As president, as president, I will tap our natural gas reserves, invest in clean coal technology, and find ways to safely harness nuclear power. I’ll help our auto companies re-tool, so that the fuel-efficient cars of the future are built right here in America.

(APPLAUSE)

I’ll make it easier for the American people to afford these new cars.

OBAMA: And I’ll invest $150 billion over the next decade in affordable, renewable sources of energy — wind power, and solar power (OTCBB:SOPW) , and the next generation of biofuels — an investment that will lead to new industries and 5 million new jobs that pay well and can’t be outsourced.

America, now is not the time for small plans. Now is the time to finally meet our moral obligation to provide every child a world-class education, because it will take nothing less to compete in the global economy.

You know, Michelle and I are only here tonight because we were given a chance at an education. And I will not settle for an America where some kids don’t have that chance.

(APPLAUSE)

I’ll invest in early childhood education. I’ll recruit an army of new teachers, and pay them higher salaries, and give them more support. And in exchange, I’ll ask for higher standards and more accountability.

And we will keep our promise to every young American: If you commit to serving your community or our country, we will make sure you can afford a college education.

(APPLAUSE)

Now — now is the time to finally keep the promise of affordable, accessible health care for every single American.

(APPLAUSE)

If you have health care — if you have health care, my plan will lower your premiums. If you don’t, you’ll be able to get the same kind of coverage that members of Congress give themselves.

(APPLAUSE)

And — and as someone who watched my mother argue with insurance companies while she lay in bed dying of cancer, I will make certain those companies stop discriminating against those who are sick and need care the most.

(APPLAUSE)

Now is the time to help families with paid sick days and better family leave, because nobody in America should have to choose between keeping their job and caring for a sick child or an ailing parent.

Now is the time to change our bankruptcy laws, so that your pensions are protected ahead of CEO bonuses, and the time to protect Social Security for future generations.

And now is the time to keep the promise of equal pay for an equal day’s work, because I want my daughters to have the exact same opportunities as your sons.

(APPLAUSE)

Now, many of these plans will cost money, which is why I’ve laid out how I’ll pay for every dime: by closing corporate loopholes and tax havens that don’t help America grow.

But I will also go through the federal budget line by line, eliminating programs that no longer work and making the ones we do need work better and cost less, because we cannot meet 21st-century challenges with a 20th-century bureaucracy.

(APPLAUSE)

And, Democrats, Democrats, we must also admit that fulfilling America’s promise will require more than just money. It will require a renewed sense of responsibility from each of us to recover what John F. Kennedy called our intellectual and moral strength.

Yes, government must lead on energy independence, but each of us must do our part to make our homes and businesses more efficient.

(APPLAUSE)

Yes, we must provide more ladders to success for young men who fall into lives of crime and despair. But we must also admit that programs alone can’t replace parents, that government can’t turn off the television and make a child do her homework, that fathers must take more responsibility to provide love and guidance to their children.

Individual responsibility and mutual responsibility, that’s the essence of America’s promise. And just as we keep our promise to the next generation here at home, so must we keep America’s promise abroad.

If John McCain wants to have a debate about who has the temperament and judgment to serve as the next commander-in-chief, that’s a debate I’m ready to have.

(APPLAUSE)

For — for while — while Senator McCain was turning his sights to Iraq just days after 9/11, I stood up and opposed this war, knowing that it would distract us from the real threats that we face.

When John McCain said we could just muddle through in Afghanistan, I argued for more resources and more troops to finish the fight against the terrorists who actually attacked us on 9/11, and made clear that we must take out Osama bin Laden and his lieutenants if we have them in our sights.

You know, John McCain likes to say that he’ll follow bin Laden to the gates of Hell, but he won’t even follow him to the cave where he lives.

(APPLAUSE)

And today, today, as my call for a timeframe to remove our troops from Iraq has been echoed by the Iraqi government and even the Bush administration, even after we learned that Iraq has $79 billion in surplus while we are wallowing in deficit, John McCain stands alone in his stubborn refusal to end a misguided war.

(APPLAUSE)

You don’t defeat — you don’t defeat a terrorist network that operates in 80 countries by occupying Iraq. You don’t protect Israel and deter Iran just by talking tough in Washington. You can’t truly stand up for Georgia when you’ve strained our oldest alliances.

If John McCain wants to follow George Bush with more tough talk and bad strategy, that is his choice, but that is not the change that America needs.

(APPLAUSE)

We are the party of Roosevelt. We are the party of Kennedy. So don’t tell me that Democrats won’t defend this country. Don’t tell me that Democrats won’t keep us safe.

The Bush-McCain foreign policy has squandered the legacy that generations of Americans, Democrats and Republicans, have built, and we are here to restore that legacy.

(APPLAUSE)

As commander-in-chief, I will never hesitate to defend this nation, but I will only send our troops into harm’s way with a clear mission and a sacred commitment to give them the equipment they need in battle and the care and benefits they deserve when they come home.

(APPLAUSE)

I will end this war in Iraq responsibly and finish the fight against Al Qaida and the Taliban in Afghanistan. I will rebuild our military to meet future conflicts, but I will also renew the tough, direct diplomacy that can prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and curb Russian aggression.

I will build new partnerships to defeat the threats of the 21st century: terrorism and nuclear proliferation, poverty and genocide, climate change and disease.

And I will restore our moral standing so that America is once again that last, best hope for all who are called to the cause of freedom, who long for lives of peace, and who yearn for a better future.

(APPLAUSE)

These — these are the policies I will pursue. And in the weeks ahead, I look forward to debating them with John McCain.

But what I will not do is suggest that the senator takes his positions for political purposes, because one of the things that we have to change in our politics is the idea that people cannot disagree without challenging each other’s character and each other’s patriotism.

(APPLAUSE)

The times are too serious, the stakes are too high for this same partisan playbook. So let us agree that patriotism has no party. I love this country, and so do you, and so does John McCain.

The men and women who serve in our battlefields may be Democrats and Republicans and independents, but they have fought together, and bled together, and some died together under the same proud flag. They have not served a red America or a blue America; they have served the United States of America.

(APPLAUSE)

So I’ve got news for you, John McCain: We all put our country first.

(APPLAUSE)

America, our work will not be easy. The challenges we face require tough choices. And Democrats, as well as Republicans, will need to cast off the worn-out ideas and politics of the past, for part of what has been lost these past eight years can’t just be measured by lost wages or bigger trade deficits. What has also been lost is our sense of common purpose, and that’s what we have to restore.

We may not agree on abortion, but surely we can agree on reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies in this country.

(APPLAUSE)

The — the reality of gun ownership may be different for hunters in rural Ohio than they are for those plagued by gang violence in Cleveland, but don’t tell me we can’t uphold the Second Amendment while keeping AK-47s out of the hands of criminals.

(APPLAUSE)

I know there are differences on same-sex marriage, but surely we can agree that our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters deserve to visit the person they love in a hospital and to live lives free of discrimination.

(APPLAUSE)

You know, passions may fly on immigration, but I don’t know anyone who benefits when a mother is separated from her infant child or an employer undercuts American wages by hiring illegal workers.

But this, too, is part of America’s promise, the promise of a democracy where we can find the strength and grace to bridge divides and unite in common effort.

I know there are those who dismiss such beliefs as happy talk. They claim that our insistence on something larger, something firmer, and more honest in our public life is just a Trojan horse for higher taxes and the abandonment of traditional values.

And that’s to be expected, because if you don’t have any fresh ideas, then you use stale tactics to scare voters.

(APPLAUSE)

If you don’t have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone people should run from. You make a big election about small things.

And you know what? It’s worked before, because it feeds into the cynicism we all have about government. When Washington doesn’t work, all its promises seem empty. If your hopes have been dashed again and again, then it’s best to stop hoping and settle for what you already know.

I get it. I realize that I am not the likeliest candidate for this office. I don’t fit the typical pedigree, and I haven’t spent my career in the halls of Washington.

But I stand before you tonight because all across America something is stirring. What the naysayers don’t understand is that this election has never been about me; it’s about you.

(APPLAUSE)

It’s about you.

(APPLAUSE)

For 18 long months, you have stood up, one by one, and said, "Enough," to the politics of the past. You understand that, in this election, the greatest risk we can take is to try the same, old politics with the same, old players and expect a different result.

You have shown what history teaches us, that at defining moments like this one, the change we need doesn’t come from Washington. Change comes to Washington.

(APPLAUSE)

Change happens — change happens because the American people demand it, because they rise up and insist on new ideas and new leadership, a new politics for a new time.

America, this is one of those moments.

I believe that, as hard as it will be, the change we need is coming, because I’ve seen it, because I’ve lived it.

Because I’ve seen it in Illinois, when we provided health care to more children and moved more families from welfare to work.

I’ve seen it in Washington, where we worked across party lines to open up government and hold lobbyists more accountable, to give better care for our veterans, and keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists.

And I’ve seen it in this campaign, in the young people who voted for the first time and the young at heart, those who got involved again after a very long time; in the Republicans who never thought they’d pick up a Democratic ballot, but did.

(APPLAUSE)

I’ve seen it — I’ve seen it in the workers who would rather cut their hours back a day, even though they can’t afford it, than see their friends lose their jobs; in the soldiers who re-enlist after losing a limb; in the good neighbors who take a stranger in when a hurricane strikes and the floodwaters rise.

You know, this country of ours has more wealth than any nation, but that’s not what makes us rich. We have the most powerful military on Earth, but that’s not what makes us strong. Our universities and our culture are the envy of the world, but that’s not what keeps the world coming to our shores.

Instead, it is that American spirit, that American promise, that pushes us forward even when the path is uncertain; that binds us together in spite of our differences; that makes us fix our eye not on what is seen, but what is unseen, that better place around the bend.

That promise is our greatest inheritance. It’s a promise I make to my daughters when I tuck them in at night and a promise that you make to yours, a promise that has led immigrants to cross oceans and pioneers to travel west, a promise that led workers to picket lines and women to reach for the ballot.

(APPLAUSE) And it is that promise that, 45 years ago today, brought Americans from every corner of this land to stand together on a Mall in Washington, before Lincoln’s Memorial, and hear a young preacher from Georgia speak of his dream.

(APPLAUSE)

The men and women who gathered there could’ve heard many things. They could’ve heard words of anger and discord. They could’ve been told to succumb to the fear and frustrations of so many dreams deferred.

But what the people heard instead — people of every creed and color, from every walk of life — is that, in America, our destiny is inextricably linked, that together our dreams can be one.

"We cannot walk alone," the preacher cried. "And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back."

America, we cannot turn back…

(APPLAUSE)

… not with so much work to be done; not with so many children to educate, and so many veterans to care for; not with an economy to fix, and cities to rebuild, and farms to save; not with so many families to protect and so many lives to mend.

America, we cannot turn back. We cannot walk alone.

At this moment, in this election, we must pledge once more to march into the future. Let us keep that promise, that American promise, and in the words of scripture hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess.

Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America.

For those of you who participated in preparing for Mang’s 75th birthday celebration but didn’t make it to her special event, here’s a detailed log of her advanced birthday weekend. Hopefully, this will help make you feel like you were right there with us:

AUGUST 23, SATURDAY

7am: Left Northern Virginia to go to New Jersey/New York for Mang’s birthday weekend.

12 noon: Arrived at Ate Beth’s house; dropped off bags, groceries, and materials for Mang’s party. Quick lunch at Ate Beth where we met up with Ate Beth, Kuya Art, Len-len, Arbee, Junji, Maira, Christine, and Florence and family.

12:30pm: Left Ate Beth’s house to go to the Majestic Theater in Broadway, New York City to see the Phantom of the Opera. The theater was only about 10 miles away from Ate Beth’s house via the Lincoln Tunnel.

2:00pm-4:30 pm: Awesome Phantom of the Opera show with the Mang and the Santos family.

6pm: Back at Ate Beth’s house.

7pm-10pm: Altiveros family, Mel, Marissa, and Jake arrive at Ate Beth’s. Jake-alicious is so cute!

AUGUST 24, SUNDAY

8:30am-1pm: Preparation for Mang’s "Purple" (her favorite color) party– set up tables, chairs, and party decoration.

1pm-2pm: Guests started arriving.

2pm: Opening Prayer by Christina Santos

2pm-3:00pm: Eating Time! Ate Beth, Ate Thelma, and their respective children all pitched in to help cook the food! Menu– pork and chicken barbeque, squid/cuttlefish, shrimp orzo, kare-kare, pancit palabok, fish stew (with pesa sauce), pasta, salad, potato salad, fruit salad, biko, cassava cake, strawberry cake, brownies, and that delicious ube-macapuno cake!

3:30-4:00pm: Reading of Birthday Messages for Mang

4:00pm: 75 Things I Did Not Know About My Mother by Christina Santos with help from Kuya Alan, Kuya Jun, Ate Cyn, Tita Miriam/Lola Mely. Here is the link: http://bloggerpro.blogs.friendster.com/my_blog/2008/08/75_things_i_don.html

4:00pm-5:00pm: Presentation of Mang’s DVD- produced by Ate Cyn, Kylie, and Kuya Roger Welch. The DVD presentation elicited heartfelt and touching memories! Thank you for doing the DVD production– you made Mama Ruth very happy!

5:00pm-5:30pm: Birthday Cake/Advanced Happy Birthday Song

6pm-7pm: Hungry again so…Eating Time again!

Event Attendees: 48

Mama Ruth, Tina, Chris, Ysabella, Ethan

Beth, Art, Arjay, Len-len, Arbee, Audrey, Junji, Meghan, Chaise, Allison, Maira

Mel, Marissa, Jake

Romy, Gelen, Tita and husband

Thelma, Lino, Emilynn, Jennifer, and Greg

Emily, Ronnie, Emilio, Gabe, Isabella, Nate

Reggie, Mary Ann, 3 children

Maritoni, Bella, Maricar and family

Queenie, Chris, Mark

THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING!

Event Contributors from all around the world:

The Ariado’s (Ching, Roy, Sigrid, and Johny), Lola Meleng, Tata Romy Busuego and family

Tita Miriam, Lola Ora, Lola Mely

Kuya Alan and family

Kuya Jun and family

Lilibeth and Cypria

Gary and family

My family

Key event highlights:

Mang started getting teary-eyed after reading Kuya Jun’s email message; and messages from loved ones.

DVD presentation– Mang was very impressed to see all old family photos in one DVD presentation; she felt extremely special and loved for all the hard work and coordination in putting that project together.

Mang’s many ORACLE moments– now our family and friends understand why we call her ORACLE.

Everyone working together to pull off this event– especially Ate Beth, Kuya Art and my wonderful nephews/nieces helping out selflessly.

75 Things You Didn’t Know About Mama Ruth.

JAKEY: Lola Ruth’s look alike!

Double click on the images below to enlarge pictures.

From a Friend

What if this happened to you?

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who won’t survive the week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 20 million people around the world.

If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than almost three billion people in the world.

If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.

If your parents are still married and alive, you are very rare, especially in the United States.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can hold someone’s hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder, you are blessed because you can offer God’s healing touch.

If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read anything at all.

You are so blessed in ways you may never even know.

Grossed out by my blog title?  Did I inappropriately catch your attention?  This week has been all about vomits and stools, with frequent trips to the ER. Needless to say, I am so sleep deprived. My precious child caught this unexplainable virus that caused frequent trips to the bathroom, at one point, up to 25x in a single day, worsened by 102 degree fevers!  I got frazzled, panicky, and totally distressed and not able to control the situation. The virus that afflicted her had its own agenda in her body.  I had to constantly jolt myself back to my faith– that by the stripes of the Lord Jesus my child is healed!  In times of sickness, it brings me great comfort to know that I have family and friends praying for my daughter’s well-being; claiming her healing, binding her illness.

It is during these times that I realize what’s truly important– that health is truly one’s wealth, it is all that really matters. After two visits to the ER in one weekend, my child was admitted to the hospital for care and observation in the pediatrics wing of the hospital.  Throwing up practically everything she takes in her body including all types of fluids– she needed to have an IV to rehydrate her frail body.  She could only have BRAT diet — bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast– until she is able to hold anything in.

This experience brought me so much love and care for my child.  At one point, I wished I was the one experiencing all the pains, not her. Please Lord, spare my child. Keep her well; I claim your healing. I yearn to see the smile on her face and the joyous sound of her giggles…again.

Last night, on my way home from work, I heard on the radio that Mrs. Fields, the maker of those yummy cookies you typically find in malls, has filed for Chapter 11.  With lackluster retail sales, more and more malls around the country are feeling the doom effects of a sluggish economic trend.  There are fewer shoppers compared to a year ago; and those who do some shopping are spending significantly less given all the challenges that an average American experiences these days.  High prices at the pump, at grocery stores, and in monthly utility bills are pushing more and more Americans to their spending limit.  No wonder Mrs. Fields is filing for bankruptcy– most of Mrs. Fields stores are located in malls.  Their sales are affected with fewer shoppers visiting malls across the country.  Americans are skipping family vacations in favor of "stay-cations" and local day trips.  This consumer phenomenon has hurt many business sectors like the hospitality industry, entertainment, retail, etc. that rely on Americans "extra disposable incomes."

While carefully watching my monthly budget, I boldly faced my apprehensions today.  In a few more weeks, my beloved tweens are going back to school.  Around the first weekend in August, my family took advantage of our state’s tax-free weekend, to save a few dollars for basic school supplies.  However, I still needed new clothes, shoes, and backpack for my kids to use for the next schoolyear. I scoured catalogs and stores’ special offers for back-to-school shopping to help me make my to-do shopping list.   I must admit, it was so hard to stick to my shopping list…especially after passing by some enticing home decor and new clothes/shoes for myself. I prayed for self-control so I could stick to my original shopping plan.  Usually, I would get "side-tracked" but today, I remain focused and determined.  Giving myself a time limit helped a lot, I must say.

Tomorrow, I’ll provide tips to stay on your budget when shopping…don’t try to skip shopping all together.  Because a little shopping can help boost this sluggish economy!

By Christina Santos

There is something about athletes (particularly Michael Phelps and swimming races) that got me addicted to watching the Beijing 2008 Olympics– it has become my indulgent luxury at the end of a very busy day. 

Watching Michael Phelps not just win gold medals after gold medals but consistenly breaking world-record speeds with focused determination, passionate drive, undistracted mind, and ridiculously, superhero-like strength is just mind-boggling– I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.  Each time I see his family, especially his mother, at the grandstand, cheering him on and welling up for each and every victorious win touches my heart and makes me feel so proud for what he has become in spite of all his challenges as a growing child. 

If every person in the world possesses at least the inner qualities of a Michael Phelps, imagine what we could all do.  I firmly believe that each person doesn’t only possess the ability to be good, but also the opportunities to be GREAT! And the only barrier between GOOD and GREAT is truly just one’s self.

What’s up with rainy days and Mondays?