LED lighting - business solutions

We could soon see a "revolution" in the way we illuminate our world, according to a paper published recently by professors at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Innovations in technology, including solid state lighting, will lead to trillions of dollars in cost savings, along with a huge reduction in the amount of energy required to light homes and businesses around the globe, the researchers predict.

The study suggests that a new generation of lighting devices based on light-emitting diodes (LEDs) would replace the common light bulb in a few years.

More and more businesses are making changes in the name of "going green". Solar, Winds & Lights, a firm specializing in renewable energy products, recommends installing LED light bulbs to get started. According to the firm, industrial and commercial organizations using LED lighting significantly decrease energy costs by reducing their use of electricity.

Companies that decide to go to LED light bulbs also switch to LED light fixtures. Look for fixtures that are designed well. Effective cooling extends the life of your fixtures, another guaranteed cost-saving measure.

No one knows when the recession will let up, so it's no surprise that municipal governments are also looking for ways to save money. LED street lights offer a viable solution to MH or sodium vapor streetlights.

LED light bulbs and LED fixtures: For businesses looking for ways to reduce their energy bills, these solutions are worthy of serious consideration.

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Supreme Court upholds FCC dirty words ruling

The Supreme Court today upheld a U.S. government crackdown on profanity on television, a policy that subjects broadcasters to fines for airing a single expletive blurted out on a live show.

But the court refused to pass judgment on whether the Federal Communications Commission's "fleeting expletives" policy is in line with First Amendment guarantees of free speech. The justices say a federal appeals court should weigh the constitutionality of the policy.

In its first ruling on broadcast indecency standards in more than 30 years, the high court handed a victory to the FCC. The agency's policy prohibits the one-time use of profanity on live television when children are likely to be watching.

The case stemmed from an FCC ruling in 2006 that found that the Fox television network violated decency rules when singer Cher blurted out an expletive during the 2002 Billboard Music Awards broadcast and actress Nicole Richie used two expletives during the 2003 awards.

No fines were imposed, but Fox challenged the decision and a U.S. appeals court in New York struck down the new policy as as "arbitrary and capricious" and sent the case back to the FCC for a more reasoned explanation of its policy.

The FCC, under the administration of former President George W. Bush, had pursued a crackdown of indecent content on broadcast TV and radio after pop star Janet Jackson's infamous "wardrobe malfunction" during the 2004 broadcast of the Super Bowl halftime show.

Before 2004, the FCC did not ordinarily enforce prohibitions against indecency unless there were repeated occurrences.

By a 5-4 vote and splitting along conservative-liberal lines, the justices overturned the ruling by the appeals court and said the FCC's new policy and its findings in the two cases were neither arbitrary nor capricious.


Tags: Supreme Court, FCC, Television, TV, Media, Dirty Words, Media by Sistrunk

Changes at PRWeek

PRWeek is about to go monthly. The magazine about public relations will keep its name but plans to shrink its format, adding longer feature articles and charging for its website. PRWeek is experiencing the same challenges as many other magazines -- declining ad revenues. The April 27 issue of PRWeek will be its last before shrinking from its tabloid size and turning monthly.


Tags: Public Relations, PR, Media by Sistrunk

Matters of the heart

'Millionaire' (and Regis) back on ABC this summer

"Who Wants to be a Millionaire" -- and original host Regis Philbin -- will return to prime time on ABC in August for a 10th anniversary special. According to the network, Philbin will be back to host the show on Sundays through Thursdays from Aug 9-23.

The show and its popular line "Is that your final answer?" quickly became a smash hit for ABC when it was first shown in the U.S. in 1999, drawing up to 30 million viewers per episode.

But ratings slid when the network programed it four nights a week, and it was canceled. A syndicated daytime version has aired in the U.S. since 2002, with Meredith Vieira as host.

Interest in the program has been revived by the success of the movie "Slumdog Millionaire", which won eight Oscars in February and is based on the Indian version of the TV quiz.

Tags: Who Wants to be a Millionaire, ABC, Media by Sistrunk

Cut IT costs with Phase 2

One of the hot topics in the IT community is software as a service (SaaS). With SaaS, you can manage customers' information and data remotely on a pay-as-you-go basis. SaaS cuts costs. Anything that addresses the bottom line in this economy is going to pique the interest of IT executives.

Phase 2 International has launched its Online Savings Calculator. It's available to any company worldwide. The timing couldn't be better, given the global economy. Phase 2 allows businesses to meet many software needs through a subscription process. By subscribing to software rather than owning it, you save big-time.

One of Phase 2's more popular offerings is Microsoft's Visual Studio Team Foundation Server (TFS). Intended for collaborative software development, TFS is as good as it gets when it comes to project tracking, as well as data collection and reporting. It also allows you to effectively manage your Visual Studio projects.

When it comes to project management, TFS offers templates to make your job easier. Just one of many features attractive to businesses is the ability of TFS to integrate with Microsoft Excel for the creation and tracking of project items. Phase 2 offers some extra perks -- low cost, tech support, and a 30-day risk-free trial. With no contract or user minimum, it's a bargain.

If you manage a small business with five employees or less, consider the Team Foundation Server Workgroup edition. It's user-friendly and affordable. Once your business grows, you can upgrade to the standard edition.

Phase 2 has a whole line of products that designed to meet your IT needs. Project Server Hosting offers an effective way for executives and managers to:

- control activities and finances
- communicate information in various formats
- schedule people and resources

Report alerts keep you apprised of potential problems. Phase 2 programmers can customize a package that enhances your company's efficiency and productivity.

SaaS is here to stay. It allows you to rent software instead of owning it. You save on software, hardware, and personnel. Phase 2 can offer IT solutions that help you stay within budget, get a higher return on investment, and position yourself as an industry leader.

Columbine anniversary, new website call attention to school shootings

Hundreds of people turned out in Colorado to quietly mark Monday's 10th anniversary of the slaying of 12 students and one teacher at Columbine High School. Flags flew at half-staff over the school and dozens of mourners lay roses and carnations at a nearby memorial. About 70 people gathered outside the state Capitol to push for gun control, while lawmakers inside passed a resolution honoring the victims.

To coincide with the anniversary, a Washington state organization dedicated to the reduction of gun violence launched a new online tool to document the growing national epidemic of firearm use in schools and universities. The new site – SchoolShoooting.org - was unveiled today in Seattle by Washington Ceasefire, a group that advocates for safer schools.

The website, which includes reports starting in 1992, features maps and details of more than 500 incidents representing nearly every state in the country. Visitors to the site may access information according to a particular school or geography. Recent shooting incidents are highlighted and many of the incidents include links to external news stories reported at the time. The site includes a comments section and and a place where incidents may be reported.


Tags: Columbine, School Shootings, SchoolShooting.org, Media by Sistrunk

Strange tales of firings during the recession

I guess it was only a matter of time. Bizarre stories of layoffs and firings are beginning to surface.

In Madison, Wis., a nurse received the layoff notice while assisting in surgery. A manager removed the nurse from the procedure to relay the news.

Hospital officials said the surgery was a minor procedure but did not provide additional details. A company spokesman said that the action did not endanger the patient but acknowledged that the manager made a mistake. According to the Wisconsin State Journal, the nurse was laid off as part of the healthcare provider's plan to remove 90 employees from its payroll.

The hospital declined to reveal the identities of the nurse and the manager, but did say that the manager was an experienced nurse who "is very upset and is extremely remorseful over this."

Granted, layoffs and firings are never easy for managers. Even in the best of times, it's not uncommon for businesses to misstep. We can understand that the recession is stressing out businesses all over the country. However, when you read about some incidents, it makes you wonder: "What were they thinking?"

ABC News has compiled a list of strange stories, including the hospital one. Read You're Fired: From the Bizarre to Just Plain Cruel.

Weird tales of firings are not new. Check out a post that appeared here a few years ago: Workers terminated via email and text messages.


Tags: Recession, Termination, Firing, Communication, Internal Communications, Human Resources, Business, Media by Sistrunk

The right web host can give you added impact

Many of my clients are small businesses. I can't stress to them enough the importance of a strong Web presence. For those companies on a tight budget -- and most of us are these days -- it's good to know that reliable resources are online.

Web Hosting Report is a free online guide for any business seeking to get the best web hosting at a reasonable cost. Explore the top ten web hosting sites -- rated highest in the industry -- and read their reviews. The listings are based on affordability, reliability, uptime, and tech support.

Web hosting is an art, and you may be wondering what to look for in a web hosting company. Many factors come into play. As Internet use for business skyrockets, it's important to know how to identify the provider with services and pricing best suited for your company.

One of Web Hosting Report's best features is the beginner's guide to web hosting. For the novice, the guide defines web hosting in lay terms and explains the options available specifically for small businesses. The site includes a glossary and identifies providers for the best cheap web hosting.

A whole range of options are available to you. When it comes to the decision-making process, you'll find that Web Hosting Report can be invaluable.

Video game industry takes a hit

It appears that the video game industry isn't safe from the recession after all. According to the research group NPD, overall U.S. video game sales fell 17 percent in March to $1.43 billion.

Video game software sales dropped 17 percent to $792.8 million in the month, while hardware sales fell 18 percent to $455.6 million.

Nintendo's blockbuster Wii was again the top-selling console in the U.S., selling 601,000 units. Microsoft's Xbox 360 was No. 2 with 330,000 units, while Sony's PlayStation 3 was third, with 218,000 units.

Nintendo's DS was the top-selling handheld console, selling 563,000 units, ahead of Sony's PSP, which sold 168,000.

Capcom's "Resident Evil 5" was the best-selling video game in the month, selling 1.5 million units for the Xbox and PlayStation 3, according to NPD.


Tags: Video Games, Recession, Technology, Media by Sistrunk

Web decisions that give your business the competitive edge

Now more than ever, businesses that want to remain competitive must have a strong online presence. Few successful businesses survive without a quality website. One of the most important decisions you will make is who will host your site. If you do an online search using the phrase "web hosting", you’ll come up with dozens of providers that appear to provide the same services for the same price. Not true.

That’s where the Web Hosting Geeks come in. They’re experts in the field. Web Hosting Geeks can serve as your one-stop-shop for information. Their site features independent reviews of the best web hosting sites. If you’re working on a tight budget – and most of us are – Web Hosting Geeks will identify providers that charge modest fees while giving you first-class service.

Performing a Google search for hosting companies may seem like the right thing to do, but beware. This kind of search often leads to bad results. Companies listed on a search engine aren’t always safe or legitimate. That’s why it’s good to get a second opinion.

The Web Hosting Geeks site arms you with reviews and other pertinent information to help you make informed choices. The site even has a blog. One of the more recent posts gives valuable information on how web hosting aids in SEO (search engine optimization). The site is the place to go for the latest in web hosting news. You’ll also find a list of the best web hosts for 2009, complete with reviews.

If you need guidance on identifying a new web host, check out Web Hosting Geeks. They fit the bill.

Iran sentences U.S. reporter to 8 years

An American-Iranian journalist detained in Iran has been sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of spying for the United States.

A lawyer for journalist Roxana Saberi told news agencies about the court's decision Saturday, and said he will appeal the verdict.

The 31-year-old holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and Iran. She had been working in Iran for several news outlets, including National Public Radio, the BBC, and the Fox News television network. She was arrested in late January for working in the country without valid press credentials.

But earlier this month, Iranian authorities announced espionage charges against her, saying Saberi used journalism as a cover to pass classified information to U.S. intelligence services.

The United States has rejected the espionage charges as "baseless." The BBC has more.

Tags: Roxana Saberi, Iran, Journalism, Media by Sistrunk

Audi, BMW face off in ad war

It's all over Tweeterdom - an ad face-off between Audio and BMW. Audi started it. BMW accepted the challenge. This is clever advertising and tactical marketing! Check out Autoblog.net for the details.

Tags: BMW, Audi, Advertising, Outdoor Advertising, Marketing, Business, Media by Sistrunk

NBC courts Blagojevich for reality show

Rod Blagojevich, recently removed as governor of Illinois, has made a deal to star in NBC's upcoming summer reality show "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here."

According to a statement released by network, "Rod Blagojevich will be a participant on the show pending the court's approval."

In the series, 10 celebrities of various backgrounds compete in challenges to raise money for their favorite charities.

The network has been looking for household names for its version of the U.K. hit, which launches June 1. The program will be shot in Costa Rica. According to the Chicago Tribune, Blagojevich's attorney told a federal judge Tuesday that he will file a request to loosen his client's travel restrictions to participate in the show.

Blagojevich was indicted April 1 on federal corruption charges that included 11 counts of wire fraud, three of extortion, one of racketeering and one of lying to federal investigators. He has pleaded not guilty.


Tags: Blagojevich, NBC, Reality Shows, Media by Sistrunk

Microsoft to preview new email server

Microsoft is set to launch a test version of its Exchange Server on Wednesday, marking the latest development in the technology used by businesses worldwide to run their email systems.

The public beta test version of Exchange Server 2010, as the product is called, is the first of a wave of upgrades to Microsoft programs. The software giant is gearing up for the next release of its successful and profitable Office suite of applications.

Microsoft said the latest Exchange Server can work entirely as an online service. This feature may attract customers looking to save money on hardware and support for their email and messaging systems. The company is gradually moving toward Internet distribution for some of its products to counter threats from Google and other new competitors.

For users, the new Exchange Server offers a few innovations, including the ability to "mute" streams of email, or opt out of conversations of limited interest to the recipient.

The new system also offers a range of tips to avoid embarrassment or wasting time, by warning users before they send mail to large distribution groups, to out-of-office recipients or to people outside the organization. Microsoft hopes the tips will protect clients against information leaks and reduce unnecessary email messages.

It also has a function to transcribe voice messages sent to the computer.

The full public roll-out of Exchange Server 2010 is scheduled for the second half of 2009 while Microsoft's Office 2010 is expected to be available in the first half of 2010.

Tags: Microsoft, Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft Office 2010, Email, Software, Business, Media by Sistrunk

Obama eases Cuba travel restrictions

President Obama is directing his administration to lift some restrictions that will allow Cuban Americans to travel more freely to Cuba. Cuban-Americans will also be allowed to send more money to relatives in Cuba. The decision does not lift the trade embargo on communist Cuba.

The move was officially announced at a news briefing Monday afternoon. Last month, Obama signed a spending bill that eases some economic sanctions on Cuba.

The president has indicated he would be open to dialogue with Cuba's leaders. But he has said that, like previous American presidents, he will only consider a full lifting of the embargo once Cuba's communist government makes significant moves such as the holding of democratic elections.

Cuba's President Raul Castro has said he is prepared to negotiate with the new U.S. administration, providing there are no preconditions.

The announcement comes as the president prepares to leave Thursday for the Summit of the America's in Trinidad and Tobago, and a stop in Mexico.

Meanwhile, the Miami Herald has some advice for anyone thinking of traveling to Cuba: take plenty of cash.

Tags: Obama, Politics, Cuba, Cuba Sanctions, Cuban Americans, Media by Sistrunk

Justice Clarence Thomas opens up in a rare moment

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has served on the bench for some 18 years. The public seldom hears from him, except when he's announcing his majority opinions. Even then, his voice is often monotone.

Thomas is not known for letting down his guard in public. However, a few days ago, a group of high school students got the chance to see a side of the justice that is not so stoic. As the New York Times reports, "his answers and the remarks that preceded them provided a revealing look at Justice Thomas’s worldview these days."

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Fast facts about Clarence Thomas

Born 1948 in Savannah, GA

Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U. S. Court of Appeals for District of Columbia Circuit
Nominated by George H.W. Bush on October 30, 1989, to a seat vacated by Robert H. Bork; Confirmed by the Senate on March 6, 1990, and received commission on March 6, 1990. Service terminated on October 17, 1991, due to appointment to another judicial position.

Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States
Nominated by George H.W. Bush on July 8, 1991, to a seat vacated by Thurgood Marshall; Confirmed by the Senate on October 15, 1991, and received commission on October 18, 1991.

Education:
Holy Cross College, B.A., 1971
Yale Law School, J.D., 1974

Professional Career:
Assistant attorney general, Jefferson City, Missouri, 1974-1977
Attorney, Monsanto Company, St. Louis, Missouri, 1977-1979
Legislative assistant, Senator John C. Danforth, Washington, DC, 1979-1981
Assistant secretary for civil rights, U.S. Department of Education, 1981-1982
Chairman, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 1982-1990

Source: Federal Judicial Center


Tags: Clarence Thomas, Supreme Court, African American, Media by Sistrunk,

Report: Obama to tackle immigration reform this year

President Obama plans to start addressing the sticky issue of immigration reform this year, including the search for a path to legalize the status of millions of illegal immigrants. That's according to a New York Times report. The story quotes a presidential aide.

Administration officials told the Times that Obama will speak publicly about the matter in May and bring together working groups including Democratic and Republican lawmakers over the summer. Discussions on possible legislation could begin as early as the fall.

Obama will present his drive as "policy reform that controls immigration and makes it an orderly system," according to a quote attributed to Cecilia Munoz, deputy assistant to the president and director of intergovernmental affairs in the White House.

While the U.S. continues to deal with economic issues, advocates on different sides of the debate said that immigration could become a polarizing issue for Obama. Americans are sharply divided over how to deal with 12 million illegal immigrants living in the United States. Hardliners say illegal immigrants are a drain on the country's resources and want them deported.

Two years ago, Obama, then a Democratic senator, backed immigration reform proposed by former President George W. Bush that sought tougher border controls and a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants. Bush's fellow Republicans in the U.S. Congress killed the proposal.

During his campaign for the White House, Obama pledged to support immigration reform. He received strong backing from Hispanics in the November election.

Related: White House Agenda - Immigration

Tags: Obama, Politics, Immigration, Immigration Reform, Media by Sistrunk

Blogging mistakes you don' t want to make

Whether you're blogging for fun or business, you want to make a good impression. That means you have to make a strong effort to attract and maintain your readers. After all, your blog is an extension of you. First impressions are important.

Many bloggers ignore the importance of being user-friendly. If your writing style and web design are too complex, you'll make it hard for new readers to understand and trust your site.

For those writers who publish professional blogs, one piece of advice cannot be stressed enough. Make sure your content is Internet-friendly! Traditional print media and marketing techniques often don't work on the Web. Too many sites have interesting content, but you may miss it because the posts are too long and awkwardly written. They read like research papers or investigative reports.

Many business blogs are jargon-heavy, another no-no. You'll never go wrong if you keep it simple.

Engage your audience. It will keep your readers coming back.


Tags: Blogging, Blogs, Media, Marketing, Business,Writing

Hugs to Shi, the birthday guy!

The secret is out!

April 5 is Shi's birthday.

Let's get this party started!

Visit

Light Within

and celebrate with

The King

Just-released photos reveal aftermath of MLK assassination

LIFE.com, the website of the defunct print magazine, has put online a series of previously unseen photographs taken following the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

The series of 13 photographs includes pictures of the cleaning up of the blood outside the Memphis, Tennessee, motel room where King was shot and a photo of his colleagues gathered in his room following his death.

The website accompanied the black-and-white pictures with comments from the LIFE photographer, Henry Groskinsky, who shot the pictures.

On the evening of April 4, 1968, Groskinsky ended up in King’s hotel room, where the civil rights leader’s associates including Andrew Young and the Rev. Ralph David Abernathy Sr. were sadly assembled.

Life.com, a joint venture between Time Inc., which owns the LIFE archives, and the Getty Images photo service, went online on Tuesday.

The website features pictures from LIFE's historic collection and new photos from Getty.

The LIFE collection includes pictures from renowned photojournalists such as Gordon Parks, Alfred Eisenstaedt, Margaret Bourke-White, and W. Eugene Smith.


Tags: Martin Luther King Photos, Martin Luther King, History, Civil Rights, Photography, Life.com, Media by Sistrunk

Quote of the week

The most durable thing in writing is style,
and style is the most valuable investment
a writer can make with his time.
It pays off slowly.
Your agent will sneer at it,
your publisher will misunderstand it,
and it will take people you have never heard of
to convince them by slow degrees
that the writer
who puts his individual mark on the way
he writes will always pay off.
~ Raymond Chandler ~

Offbeat news

Arrests Made After Maine Arson Shows up on YouTube

(Associated Press)

Police in Maine say seven teens and young adults have been arrested after a video was posted on YouTube that showed them setting off Molotov cocktails inside a vacated building and then rolled credits naming those involved.

Check in Mail? Mailman Won't Say. Woman Attacks Him.
(Hudson Valley Journal News)

A 20-year-old woman became enraged because a mailman would not open another person's mailbox to see if a check she was expecting was there.

911! I'm Locked In My Car ... Oh, Pull Lock? Thanks.
(WESH-TV -- Orlando, FL)

A woman locked in her car called 911.

Tags: Strange News, Media by Sistrunk