Thoughts & Images

How to promote your business

2011-01-28T22:27:00.000-05:00

NIKE COMMERCIAL - LEBRON RISE

2010-10-27T09:08:00.000-04:00

Kanye West - Runaway (Full-length Clean)

2010-10-25T14:54:00.000-04:00

Are they as green as they can be??

2008-11-23T18:58:00.019-05:00

In 1879 Thomas Edison came up with a marvelous invented, the light bulb. Somewhere along the journey of this revolutionary invention someone figured out that if the world is going to benefit from this marvelous product, the basic way it functioned would have to be universal. It's design would have to work world over. It would have to fit all household the same simple way. So the world made way for one simple household socket, still in use today.

The camera required the same simple solution in the tripod and that too came to past. The plug in our houses, appliances and other electrical gadgets we share our lives with follows the same principle, it fits world over. Batteries come in a few basic sizes that's available wherever life takes us around the world, they too were designed with the same idea in mind.

Not so long ago, before we were bombarded with endless amount of digital cameras in the marketplace, the same could be said for the few choices we had whenever a decision was made to create memories by using a roll of film.

I don't know if these products were self regulated or if government and or some other body had their hands in that decision, but regardless of how it came about, it made good sense and everyone was on board.

Here we are in 2008, so many years after the invention of the light bulb, encouraging everyone to go green, to cut back on our dependence on plastic bags and whatever creates green house gases.
Encouraging the auto industry to build greener cars. That's all good, we should all do what's best for the environment, I'm all for that and I do try my hardest to be green.

But what about the companies that design and sell millions of cell phones, digital cameras and other gadgets that needs upgrading every six months. Do they have any responsibilities for the way they choose to design their products?

1. Why can't they use the same size chip in these digital cameras?

2. Why can't they use the same size batteries?

3. Why shouldn't I be able to use my perfectly good old charger in my new phone?

Why can't they make the cell phones with a universal plug-in slot. You know, like the sockets in our houses that fits all household light bulbs, the plugs in our house that fits all appliances and gadgets, the tripod that fits all cameras.

This would keep millions of these chargers, head pieces, batteries, chips and other selfishly designed products out of land fills, and I can't see how this action would have any impact on the design or function of these products.

4. Why can't they be responsible and think about the negative impact their actions are having on the environment?

Someone should step up to the plate and regulate the way these products are designed. It is crazy to allow these companies to continue operating as they presently do. A simple change of these product would mean a bit less profit, but it would just be a very green thing to do.

They did it with the light bulb then, we can do it with these gadgets today.

We just need to care enough

Anthony

The pages of my life (my latest poem)

2008-08-25T08:16:00.002-04:00

As I strolled through the hallway of my memory
I glanced at the faded images on the wall

Unframed, unnumbered and unorganized
They had my name and droplet of my tears

Some were worn
Some were torn
Some were crushed
Some were erased

Some were written in a haze
No two pages were the same

Pages were stolen and rebound
Rewritten and distorted

The sadness and the tone
Told a story of it’s own

And the anguish and the plight
Tells a story of my life

These pages weren’t written yesterday
Neither will they be corrected tomorrow

Pages of my life I’ll never recover
Redeem
Reclaim

Stolen pages of my life are gone forever

What Color is Your Business?

2008-01-10T12:12:00.000-05:00

As a small business owner, you have a meaningful understanding of the color of money but how about the color of your business? Learn whether the colors of your business puts your customers in a buying mood or creates the wrong perception of your company.

The Science of Colors

It seems hard to believe that colors can have an impact on our body and mind. However, scientists know colors can influence our body's physiology and mental states. In a study by Wohlfarth and Sam, the color environment of 14 handicapped children was altered resulting in a measurable change in blood pressure and a decrease in aggressive behavior. The science of colors has been used by market researchers to determine how best to apply this knowledge to influence customer's perceptions of businesses.

The power of colors stimulates our nervous system and evokes emotional states. The colors of our environment travells through our eyes to our brain causing various hormonal releases. But forget the science, what does the meaning of colors do for your business?

The Meaning of Colors and Your Business

The meaning of colors varies depending on one's culture, race, gender, and even age. So, it isn't just the selection of colors in general but also which colors to use with your target customers. For instance, white is often associated with weddings in North America and evokes the feeling of innocence. In Eastern cultures, white signifies death. An exporter of white wedding gowns to China would go broke in no time.

Colors can be combined to signify meaning to a culture. In the western world, green and red are associated with Christmas, while black and orange represent Halloween.

Several large brand name companies are associated with their corporate colors. IBM- Big Blue signifies stability and conservatism. UPS- Brown symbolizes longevity and reliability. A color can be connected to a product like Tide; in the bold orange box, evoking the feeling of vibrance.

Consider the meaning of the following colors on your business marketing (in North American culture):

# White: Pure. Clean. Youthful. It's a neutral color that can imply purity in fashion and sterilization in the medical profession.

# Black: Power. Elegant. Secretive. The color black can target your high-end market or be used in youth marketing to add mystery to your image.

# Red: Passion. Excitement. Danger. Red is the color of attention, causing the blood pressure and heart rate to rise. Use red to inject excitement into your brand.

# Orange: Vibrant. Energy. Play. Add some fun to your company if you want to create a playful environment for your customers.

# Yellow: Happy. Warm. Alert. Yellow can be an attractor for your business with a relaxed feeling.

# Green: Natural. Healthy. Plentiful. To create a calming effect or growth image choose green. Go green go.

# Purple: Royalty. Wise. Celebration. Maybe add some purple tones to your look for your premium service business.

# Blue: Loyal. Peaceful. Trustworthy. Blue is the most popular and neutral color on a global scale. A safe choice for a business building customer loyalty.

Consider how these colors are used in your company marketing materials from logos and brochures to business cards and uniforms. Are your colors projecting the personality and image you want? If not, it could be time for a color makeover.

In the end, remember colors have meaning. A white flag means surrender, however, if you have never seen a war the color is insignificant. It all depends on the experiences of the observer. Consider your colors and customers to best choose your winning color for your small business.

From Darrell Zahorsky / about.com

Guidelines for selecting a logo design

2007-12-01T12:30:00.000-05:00

What is a logo?

A logo is a name, symbol, or trademark of a company or organization. Logos can be made up of text that is configured in a unique way. Your logo can be an illustration with your company's name on or around the illustration. Or your logo can be a symbol. A logo may also be a combination of these, but its goal is always to project the company's intended image.

Why should you use a logo?

One reason is that people process an image in their mind more readily than words alone.
A logo serves as the visual stimulation to kick start your audience's memory, leaving a greater and lengthier impact than words alone can do. It is the simplest and most direct way in promoting a business presence; it's a "what we're about" statement without the long-winded speech.

Logos give brand name recognition and add visual appeal to any document or web page. Because your logo is a unique graphic image, your visitors' eyes will naturally be drawn to it both on the web and on your printed materials.

Types of Logos

Type fonts come in all shapes and sizes, which convey different impressions on the audience. A thick font conveys strength and power. A script font conveys elegance and austerity, and a slanted typeface conveys movement. Your company name thus can be your own logo, provided your type font displays the intended qualities of the organization.

For free design ideas:

e-mail us for free design ideas or any design related questions: tabonnick@gmail.com

Ponderings

2007-08-17T13:18:00.000-04:00

Why is it when two planes almost hit each other it is called a "near miss"? Shouldn't it be called a "near hit"?

What does Geronimo say when he jumps out of a plane?

Why do they sterilize the needles for lethal injections?

How do you KNOW it's new and improved dog food?

Why do they put locks on the doors of 24-hour stores?

What do they use to ship styrofoam?

Why is it called rush hour when everything moves so slow?

Why do they call then express lanes when during rush hour everything is stopped?

Why is abreviation such a long word?

If sour milk is used to make yogurt, how do you know when yogurt has gone bad?

The law is the law (an extract)

2007-07-30T14:21:00.000-04:00

So if the government determines that it is against the law for the words "under God" to be on our money, then, so be it.

And if that same government decides that the "Ten Commandments" are not to be used in or on a government installation, then, so be it.

I say, "so be it," because I would like to be a law abiding citizen.

I say, "so be it," because I would like to think that smarter people than I are in positions to make good decisions. I would like to think that those people have the American publics best interests at heart.

BUT, YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE I'D LIKE?

Since we can't pray to God, can't Trust in God and cannot post His Commandments in Government buildings, I don't believe the Government and its employees should participate in the Easter and Christmas celebrations which honor the God that our government is eliminating from many facets of American life.

I'd like my mail delivered on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving & Easter. After all, it's just another day.

I'd like the "Supreme Court to be in session on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving & Easter as well as Sundays." After all, it's just another day.

I'd like the Senate and the House of Representatives to not have to worry about getting home for the "Christmas Break." After all it's just another day.

I'm thinking that a lot of my taxpayer dollars could be saved, if all government offices & services would work on Christmas, Good Friday & Easter. It shouldn't cost any overtime since those would be just like any other day of the week to a government that is trying to be "politically correct."

Smoking Kills

2007-07-18T14:14:00.000-04:00

It is estimated that 55% of young men and 51% of young women who started
smoking by age 15 will die before age 70 if they continue to smoke.

Tobacco kills more than 40,000 Canadians per year. That's more than the total
number of deaths from AIDS, traffic accidents, suicide, murder, fires and
accidental poisoning.

Smoking is addictive!

A. 8 out of 10 teens who try smoking get hooked.

B. Over half of Grade 12 students are unable to quit.

C. Only 5% of student smokers think that they will be smoking in 5 years.
But 5 years later, 80% of them are heavy smokers.

D. 60% of smokers try to quit. Most smokers quit several times before
stopping for good.

E. 80% of smokers would like to quit.

F. Cigarette smoking is more addictive and harder to quit than heroin or cocaine.

Children of parents who smoke:

1. cough and wheeze more than other children

2. have more ear infections

3. have reduced lung capacity

4. have bronchitis and pneumonia more often
make more trips to hospital

5. are more likely to develop asthma

6. suffer more from asthma than non-smokers children who have asthma

Things we need to know

2007-07-17T13:53:00.000-04:00

A President of a democracy is a man who is always ready,
willing, and able to lay down your life for his country.

A bad day fishing is better than a good day at work. see pic.

A bird in the bush usually has a friend in there with him.

A bird in the hand is dead.

A day without sunshine is like night.

A donkey is a horse designed by a study team.

A free agent is anything but.

A flying particle will seek the nearest eye.

A fool and his money are soon elected,
so the war will go on.

Fish, festival, crab legs and bammy

2007-07-15T08:39:00.000-04:00

A few months ago we went to Jamaica for a wedding and decided to make a vacation out of this trip as we had no idea when our next visit would be. We hooked up with some of our friends that came down from Canada and visited this little place in St. Elezibeth they always talked about called "Little Oche". One of the best places for steamed and fried fish, crab legs, festival and bammy.

It's located on the edge of the beach with background music, view of fishermen hauling in their catch, superb service and you do get to pick your own fish.

If you ever pass through this island it's a place to check out.

As the locals will tell you: "it's just around the corner"

Did you know?

2007-07-13T07:23:00.000-04:00

Fresh egg sinks in water, stale one won't

Can't remember if an egg is fresh or hard boiled? Just spin the egg. If it wobbles, it's raw. If it spins easily, it's hard boiled. A fresh egg will sink in water, a stale one will float.

Eggs contain all the essential protein, minerals and vitamins, except Vitamin C. But egg yolks are one of few foods that naturally contain Vitamin D.

The colour of the egg shell is not related to quality, nutrients, flavour, or cooking characteristics. White shelled eggs are produced by hens with white feathers and white ear lobes. Brown shelled eggs are produced by hens with red feathers and red ear lobes. Bown egg layers usually are slightly larger and require more food, thus brown eggs usually cost more than white eggs.

China produces most eggs, at about 160 billion per year. In the US, about 260 million hens produce more than 65 billion eggs per year. A hen can lay about 250 eggs per year.

An egg shell has as many as 17,000 pores over its surface.

There are 150 species of chicken.

Chicken are descendants of the red jungle fowl (gallus gallus spadiceus) that lives in Asia.

The chicken is one of the first domestic animals, appearing in China around 1400 BC.

Egg recipes

My blurry motor bike stunt shot

2007-07-09T19:48:00.000-04:00

This weekend I figured I would stay home and catch up on some carried over home work, some painting, picture hanging, unpacking some boxes, you know, new home sort of stuff. Watching a few overdue movies that I must return to my friend down the street, it was the perfect plan.

As I started sorting through my tools to knock off my final task about 8:30 on Sunday morning. I was reminded of the circus we promised to take our daughter to watch, this started at 12:00 noon.

When this was first mentioned I agreed to go without paying much attention to date, time or act so now I must live up to my promise regardless of how painful this experience will be for me, you know, a bunch of clowns messing up my perfect plan, oh well I thought, she's four and it's all about her so what the heck. We all got dressed, well not me, I got ready. On my way to this "circus" I asked to see the ticket as direction was not well planned and I figured checking the back may solve this problem. No, no luck so we took a chance and drove to the likely destination, and with my luck we were bang on.

Did I mention this was Gordon Brothers? no! well when I checked the ticket and said wow! it's Gardon Brothers! my wife said "so!" I said "sooo!" girl this is big and i'm so glad I came up with this idea, you need to give me more credit around here.

It was my first time to a circus likewise our daughter and we all had a wonderful time. All the acts were flawless and entertaining. My wife wanted to take the video camera but as you all know, this is not allowed, so my still camera stepped up for some action, now i'll get some crazy shots for my blog I thought, but not so fast, it was not going to be my day, instead it was a disaster, my camera would not work, just would not focus, all my shots including the motor bike stunt came out blurry. The motor bike stunt for me was going to save the day, it was going be a great replacement for "my perfect weekend plan". It was going to be the perfect shot for my blog, instead I got a blurry motor bike stunt shot.

Oh, and the clown did his funny thing.

Ten mins. old Bison

2007-07-07T08:02:00.000-04:00

For years I resisted the idea of going to The African Lion Safari as it was my understanding that driving to check out these animals may be a high price to pay at the paint and or body shop later. Two weeks ago it became clear to me that this is not the only way to experience this beautiful journey. So we went along with our four year old, well the trip really was about her.

The day was cool so all the animals were out to play, even the lazy ones our tour bus operator pridicted to be no shows. It was a very slow stop and go ride around this man made habitat, but a very fun one. They had the elephant and bird show which was great. The best parts of the whole experience for me was seeing the amazement on my daughter's face throughout but especially when the monkeys were jumping all over the cars below, yes they do jump all over your car.

The other was seeing the live birth of a Bison. (see pic.)

World's oldest car for sale

2007-07-01T06:36:00.000-04:00

<>Steam-powered 1884 car will be auctioned at Pebble Beach in August.

By Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNNMoney.com staff writer

POSTED: 2020 GMT (0420 HKT), June 28, 2007

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- A steam-powered car, billed as the oldest car in the world that still runs, will be sold in a Pebble Beach, Calif., auction in August.

The car was built in France in 1884, about a year before Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz of Germany built their first experimental gasoline-powered cars. (The two were working independently of one another.) Henry Ford, the man many Americans mistakenly believe invented the automobile, built his first car 12 years after this one.

Joke of the day

2007-06-29T14:11:00.001-04:00

A photographer for a national magazine was assigned to get photos of a great forest fire. Smoke at the scene was too thick to get any good shots, so he frantically called his home office to hire a plane.

"It will be waiting for you at the airport!" he was assured by his editor. As soon as he got to the small, rural airport, sure enough, a plane was warming up near the runway. He jumped in with his equipment and yelled, "Let's go! Let's go!" The pilot swung the plane into the wind and soon they were in the air.

"Fly over the north side of the fire," said the photographer, "and make three or four low level passes."
"Why?" asked the pilot.
"Because I'm going to take pictures! I'm a photographer, and photographers take pictures!" said the photographer with great exasperation.
After a long pause the pilot said, "You mean you're not the instructor?"

Fathers love their children too

2007-06-28T09:23:00.000-04:00

I am a father of two beautiful girls, one soon to be 4 and my older soon to be 14. I couldn't be more proud of my daughters and would give my life for them both. Thing is, I don't get to see my older daughter anymore. For five years her mom dragged me through the court system in an effort to prevent me from seeing her.

Our marriage broke down about a year before this all started and for this I would have to pay, I would pay a lot. Financial support was never an issue as I supported her in every possible way. Still supports her, but because I don’t get to see her, only financially.

At the end of the five years in court, fighting to be a father to my child, the court was on my side. I was suppose to be seeing her every other weekend and half of all holidays. It's now over two years since I have seen or even hear from her. We’re fast approaching a long weekend, the first of the summer and I should now be making plans for her, for her and her little sister, for us as a family, but this won't be so because the calls are not coming in, I have no contact but I make sure not to change any of my numbers, so I wait.

My dad died when I was about four and I didn't want the same for any of my children. Growing up without their Father. I see her in my mind's eye everyday and try to imagine how much she must have grown, how different she looks two years later. I sometimes tried to weight the pain and cost of going back to court with this issue against my own well-being, and came to the same conclusion like everyone told me, “she will come around” I wish for her to come-around sooner than later. Her little sister roll-plays and talks about her everyday and I know it’s a great lost for me, herself and her sister.

I would love for her to know that I love her very much, no matter what, and whatever the/her reason is, the relationship between herself and her sister should not suffer.

Anthony.

A few green ideas

2007-06-27T12:18:00.000-04:00

1. Turn off non-essential lights and appliances. The electricity generated by fossil fuels for a single home puts more carbon dioxide into the air than two average cars!

2. Avoid running large appliances such as washers, dryers, and electric ovens during peak energy demand hours from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

3. Close shades and blinds at night to reduce the amount of heat lost through windows. This also applies during the day for warm climates.

4. Buy Energy Star appliances, products and lights. See more green ideas.

See my PICTURE IN REVIEW at top right of page

2007-06-26T19:39:00.000-04:00

Thanks Mark for getting me started.

First post

2007-06-26T14:50:00.000-04:00

Today I finally decided to start this blog after playing with this idea for almost a year. I'm now trying to work my way around this new software while thinking about the first thing a should post. Hi, I'm Anthony and I'll have more to say.