Category: News

(Lynn Sweet/Sun-Times)

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

_______________________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 19, 2010

Below is a list of expected attendees at tonight’s State Dinner, followed by the list for the head table:

The President & First Lady Michelle Obama

His Excellency Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, President of Mexico and Mrs. Margarita Zavala

Mr. Michael Adler, Miami Beach, FL

Mrs. Judy Adler

Mr. Javier Alatorre, Mexico

Mr. Will Allen, Growing Power, Oak Creek, WI

Ms. Cynthia Allen

Ms. Adrienne Arsht, Washington, DC

The Honorable David Axelrod, White House Communications

Mrs. Susan Axelrod

The Honorable Xavier Becerra, House of Representatives

Dr. Carolina Reyes

The Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Vice President of the United States

Dr. Jill Biden

Mr. Dennis Blair, Director, Office of the Director of National Intelligence

Mrs. Diane Blair

The Honorable Antony Blinken, Deputy Assistant to the President and National Security Advisor, Office of the Vice President

The Honorable Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, Newark, NJ

Ms. Gayle King, New York, NY

The Honorable John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Deputy National Security Advisor for Counterterrorism, Homeland Security Council

Mrs. Katherine Brennan

Mr. Lindsey Buss, President and CEO, Martha’s Table, Washington, DC

Mrs. Betina Franceschini

Mr. Charles Cawley, Camden, ME

Mrs. Julie Cawley

Mr. Kenneth Chenault, Amex, New York, NY

Mrs. Kathryn Chenault

The Honorable Steven Chu, Secretary of the Department of Energy, Washington, DC

Mrs. Jean Chu

The Honorable Hillary R. Clinton, Secretary of State

Secretary Ernesto Cordero, Secretary of Finance and Public Credit

Mr. Shani Davis, Chicago, IL

Mr. Jae Su Chun

Mr. José Díaz-Balart, Telemundo, Hialeah, FL

Mrs. Brenda Díaz-Balart

The Honorable Chris Dodd, United States Senate

Mrs. Jackie Clegg Dodd

The Honorable Thomas Donilon, Assistant to the President, Deputy National Security Advisor, NSC

Ms. Cathy Russell, Chief of Staff to Dr. Jill Biden

Ms. María Elena Durazo, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, Los Angeles, CA

Mr. Henry Tamarin, Chicago, IL

Mr. Don Edwards, Chicago, IL

Mrs. Anne Edwards

Mr. Carlos Elizondo Mayer-Serra, Mexico

The Honorable Rahm Emanuel, Chief of Staff to the President

Ms. Amy Rule

Mr. John B Emerson, Beverly Hills, CA

Ms. Kimberly K Marteau

Ambassador Patricia Espinosa Cantellano, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Mexico

Ms. Giselle Fernandez, Los Angeles, CA

Ms. Karen Gordon

Mr. Jorge Fernández Menéndez, Mexico

Ms. Patricia Flores, Head of the Office of the President, Mexico

Mr. David Friedman, Longmont, CO

Ms. Shawna Friedman

The Honorable Mike Froman, Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economic Affairs, NSC

Ms. Nancy Goodman

The Honorable Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense, Washington, DC

Mrs. Becky Gates

The Honorable Timothy F. Geithner, Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, DC

Mrs. Carole Geithner

Mr. Leo Gerard, President, United Steel Workers, Washington, DC

Mr. Gerald Fernandez

Ms. Whoopi Goldberg, Whoop Productions, New York, NY

Mr. Thomas Leonardis

Ms. Maria María, Mary’s Center, Washington, DC

Mr. Michael Rexrode

Secretary Fernando Gómez Mont, Mexican Interior Secretary

Mr. James Gorman, Morgan Stanley, New York, NY

Mrs. Penny Gorman

Mr. Joe Hansen, President, United Food and Commercial Workers Int’l, Washington, DC

Ms. Bonnie Lou Ladin

Ms. Jane Hartley, CEO, Observatory Group, New York, NY

Mr. Ralph Schlosstein, New York, NY

The Honorable Eric Holder, United States Attorney General, Department of Justice, Washington, DC

Dr. Sharon Malone, MD

The Honorable Steny Hoyer, United States Representative

Ms. Kathleen May

Ms. Dolores C Huerta, Delores Huerta Foundation, Bakersfield, CA

The Honorable Valerie Jarrett, Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor

Mr. James L Jones

Mrs. Diane Jones, McLean, VA

The Honorable Tim Kaine, Richmond, VA

Ms. Anne Holton

Justice Anthony Kennedy, Washington, DC

Mrs. Mary Kennedy

The Honorable Pat Kennedy, Under Secretary, Management, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC

Ms. Elizabeth Swope

The Honorable R. Gil Kerlikowske, Washington, DC

Ms. Anna Laszlo

The Honorable Ron Kirk, USTR, Washington, DC

Ms. Elizabeth A Kirk

The Honorable Raymond LaHood, Secretary of the Department of Transportation, Washington, DC

Mrs. Kathy LaHood

Mr. David C Lizárraga, Los Angeles, CA

Mrs. Yvonne Lizárraga

Ms. Eva Longoria-Parker, Los Angeles, CA

Mr. David Figueroa, Pasadena, CA

Mr. George Lopez, Los Angeles, CA

Mrs. Ann M Lopez, Toluca Lake, CA

Mr. Joaquín López Dóriga, Mexico

Ms. Monica Lozano, Publisher, La Opinion, Los Angeles, CA

Mr. David Ayon

The Honorable Capricia Marshall, Chief of Protocol, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC

The Honorable Iris Martinez, Hispanic Caucus Chair, Chicago, IL

Mr. Tony Martinez, Brownsville, TX

Mrs. Carla Martinez

Mr. Thomas F. McLarty, President, McLarty Associates, Washington, DC

Mr. Eliseo Medina, Oxnard, CA

Ms. Liza Medina

The Honorable Robert Menendez, United States Senate

Ms. Gwendolyn Beck

The Honorable Jim Messina, Office of Chief of Staff

Ms. Ana Elizabeth Himelic

Dr. Mario Molina, Department of Chemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA

Ms. Guadalupe Limón

Mr. Brian Moynihan, Bank of America, Boston, MA

Ms. Susan Berry

Admiral Michael G Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Arlington, VA

Mrs. Deborah Mullen

The Honorable Cecilia Muñoz, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs

The Honorable Janet Napolitano, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC

Senator Carlos Navarrete, President of the Senate, Mexico

Mr. Kevin O’Reilly, Director for North America, National Security Staff, NSC

The Honorable Peter Orszag, Director, Office of Management & Budget

Ms. Bianna Golodryga

Mrs. Valerie Owens, Kennett Square, PA

Mr. Jack Owens

Congresswoman Beatriz Paredes, President of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), Mexico

The Honorable Carlos Pascual, Ambassador to Mexico

Ms. Gabriela Rojas Jimenez

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, United States Representative and Speaker of the House

Mr. Paul Pelosi

The Honorable Federico Peña, Denver, CO

Ms. Neila J Peña

The Honorable John Pérez, Speaker of the House, State of California, Sacramento, CA

Mr. Jason Seifer

Mr. Victor Pérez, Hoy, Chicago, IL

Miss Agape Pappas

Congressman Francisco Ramírez Acuña, President of the House of Representatives, Mexico

Mr. Jorge Ramos, Univision, Miami, FL

The Honorable Harry Reid, United States Senate

Mrs. Landra Reid

Mr. Dan Restrepo, Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs, NSA, Washington, DC

The Honorable Silvestre Reyes, United States Representative

Mrs. Carolina Reyes

The Honorable Susan Rice, United States Ambassador to the United Nations, New York, NY

Mr. Ian Cameron, New York, NY

The Honorable Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico, Santa Fe, NM

Ms. Vesta Richardson

Mrs. Marian Robinson

Mr. Reynaldo Robledo, CEO Robledo Vineyards Managment, LLC,, Mexico

Mr. Luis Rubio, Mexico

Mr. Jesse Ruiz, Dinker Biddle and Reath LLP, Chicago, IL

Mrs. Michele Ilene Ruiz

Secretary Gerardo Ruiz Mateos, Secretary of Economy

The Honorable Kenneth Salazar, Secretary of the Department of the Interior, Washington, DC

Mrs. María Elena Salinas, Univision, Miami, FL

Mr. Manuel Machado

Mr. Mark Sanchez, New York Jets, Florham Park, NJ

D’Brickashaw Ferguson

Mr. Arturo Sarukahn, Ambassador, Embassy of Mexico, Washington, DC

Mrs. Veronica Valencia-Sarukhan

Mr. Scott Schenkelberg, Executive Director, Miriam’s Kitchen, Washington, DC

Mrs. Susan Gillespie

The Honorable Susan Sher, Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the First Lady

Mr. Carlos Slim, América Móvil, Inbursa, Grupo Carso, Mexico

The Honorable Hilda L. Solis, Secretary of Labor, Department of Labor, Washington, DC

Mr. Sam Sayyad, El Monte, CA

Mr. Andy Spahn, Los Angeles, CA

Jennifer L Perry

The Honorable Jim Steinberg, Deputy Secretary of State, Washington, DC

Ms. Sherburne B. Abbott

Mr. Tom Strickland, Chief of Staff, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC

The Honorable (Dr.) Larry Summers, Director, National Economic Council

Ruth Summers

The Honorable Mona Sutphen, Office of Chief of Staff, West Wing, Washington, DC

Mr. Clyde Williams

Ms. Ana Claudia Talancón, Mexico

Mr. Dennis Toner, Wilmington, DE

Mrs. Ann Toner

Mr. Robert I Unanue, President, Goya Foods, Secaucus, NJ

Ms. Elizabeth Unanue

Mr. Guillermo Valdés, Director General of the Center for Investigation and National Security (CISEN), Mexico

The Honorable Arturo A. Valenzuela, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC

Ms. Kathryne Mudge

Mr. Arturo Vargas, Executive Director, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, Los Angeles, CA

Mrs. María Vargas

The Honorable Nydia Velázquez, United States Representative

Mr. Dennis Rivera

The Honorable Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor, City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

Ms. Prisila Rodriguez

Mrs. Alexa Wesner, Austin, TX

Mr. Blaine Wesner, Reston, VA

Mr. Frank White, Jr., Washington, DC

Ms. Sylvia Denise Davis

Mr. Wellington Wilson, Olympia Fields, IL

Mrs. Kaye Wilson

Mr. Robert Wolf, Purchase, NY

Mrs. Carol Wolf

Mr. Lorenzo Zambrano, CEO CEMEX, Mexico

Mr. John Zidich, Arizona Republic, Phoenix, AZ

Mrs. Pamela Zidich

Seating Chart for Head Table beginning with the President and moving to his right.

v The Honorable Barack Obama

v First Lady Margarita Zavala

v Mr. David Lizárraga

v Mrs. Mary Kennedy

v Ms. Maria Elena Durazo

v Mr. Jason Seifer

v Mrs. Landra Reid

v Mr. Henry Tamarin

v Ms. Maria Elena Salinas

v Mr. Frederico Peña

v First Lady Michelle Obama

v His Excellency Felipe Calderon Hinojosa

v Ms. Dolores Huerta

v Justice Anthony Kennedy

v Mrs. Priscilla Lizarraga

v Senator Iris Martinez

v Senator Harry Reid

v Mrs. Nelia Peña

v The Honorable John Pérez

v Representative Nydia Velázquez

We welcome Suzuki’s latest not-a-motorcycle to our long-term fleet.

Suzuki wants you to know it makes cars in addition to its widely recognized motorcycles, which perhaps explains the massiveness of the “S” on the grille of the Kizashi. While fully enclosed and riding on four wheels, the Kizashi does retain one characteristic from Suzuki’s other business: diminutiveness. Instead of going head to head with big family sedans like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, the Kizashi is smaller by half a size.

Keep Reading: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi GTS – Long-Term Road Test Intro

Related posts:

1. 2010 Suzuki Kizashi – Short Take Road Test
2. 2010 Suzuki Kizashi AWD – Short Take Road Test
3. 2010 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited – Long-Term Road Test Intro

Materials: Expedit 2×4, glass inserts, legs, drill, shelving brackets

Description: Here at Salon Vivid, we are remodeling our salon, and wanted product display shelves to match the contemporary feel we are trying to achieve. Not being able to find exactly what we were looking for, we decided to get creative!

We purchased the 2×4 Edpedit in white from Ikea. To have the products at an eye level for our clients, we supported them with 3 ft. legs we found online. To attach the legs, we screwed them into the bottom of the shelving unit.

We also wanted the merchandise organized for easy recognition. We decided to insert shelves so our travel sized products would be located next to the full sized products. We ordered custom made glass shelves to fit the dimensions of the cubes. To apply the shelves, we drilled holes and inserted shelving brackets to support the glass.

We love the shelves, especially how they fit the needs of our salon. Also, we receive many compliments on them from our clients!

~ Salon Vivid (Phiet), Webster, Texas

My dad moved a brick wall once. Seriously. He used a chisel to break the four sides of the wall, moved it a meter, and then applied cement to fix it to its new position. These, however, are entire buildings. More »

Women need to take the initiative in asking for a raise, Associate Professor Hannah Riley Bowles at the Harvard Kennedy School explains in a New York Times article published May 14.  Her studies show that women need to take the initiative to ask for more pay and need to employ a negotiating approach that helps them get the compensation they deserve while maintaining good relationships at work.

To read the full article, click here.

Hyundai gives tuners more of what they need and less of what they don’t. But is it enough?

Hyundai released its Genesis coupe a little late to capitalize on the pre-recession Fast and Furious era, but the company’s factory-backed pro drift car, myriad SEMA customs, and tire-shredding TV commercials show that the Korean company understands the power of the aftermarket among consumers of affordable, sporty cars. Nowhere is this more evident than with the Genesis coupe 2.0T model, which starts at $22,750 and packs a turbocharged, 210-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder.

Keep Reading: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T R-Spec – Short Take Road Test

Related posts:

1. 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T – Short Take Road Test
2. 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 – Road Test
3. Name That Exhaust Note, Episode 40: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T R-Spec

Ah, Lifelock. The company, which was recently fined $12 million for bogus advertising and absolutely dreadful security practices (the private data that Lifelock claimed it was helping you protect was not encrypted and was available to more than just authorized employees). Of course, the most amusing thing of all was how the CEO of the company, Todd Davis, plastered his Social Security Number everywhere to show how “safe” he felt with the company’s service. In the past, we had noted that this didn’t actually stop him from from being a victim of identity fraud — when someone used his well publicized SSN to get a $500 loan in his name. Oh, and then there was the story about how the CEO then personally went to the home of the guy who did this, and “coerced” a confession out of him. In doing so, it ruined the police investigation and tainted the case.

Thankfully, it now turns out that there were twelve other opportunities to taint evidence. Yes, it’s now come out that the CEO who proudly gave away his SSN because his own company would protect him has been a victim of identity fraud at least 13 times. And they say 13 is an unlucky number…

The stories go on and on, with lots of people using his Social Security Number to open up various accounts — many of which it appears he didn’t find out about until collections agencies came calling. Could there be any worse advertising for Lifelock than this? It’s even pissing off the police

“It’s unfortunate he chose to conduct business in that way,” [Albany police] spokeswoman Phyllis Banks said. “It’s not fair to [AT&T] because they’re losing a pretty substantial amount of money.”

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Used Car Salesmen Tricks

One of the biggest moments in many people’s lives is driving off in their brand-spanking-new automobile. It’s an exhilarating feeling. It’s also a big moment because in that very instant, that brand-spanking-new car loses a big chunk of its value—the difference between the retail price you paid and the car’s wholesale value. That’s typically thousands gone in an instant.

That’s why some car buyers choose to shop around for a used car. You save yourself that steep initial drop-off in value. More importantly, you get a car that runs just as well, is just as dependable, and looks and feels as good as that new car—that is, if you play your cards right.

For if there is one pitfall of buying a used car, it’s the risk of buying a lemon, a junker—call it what you want, you get the point: the wrong car. Used car dealers, after all, have nearly as bad a reputation, if not worse, than lawyers do. This holds true for individual people selling their cars through newspapers, Web auctions and classified sites, or with the old-fashioned signs in their car windows. The saying, “Buyer Beware,” no where has more meaning than with cars.

The opposite to that, of course, is that there are some real steals out there in used cars. We’re talking about quality vehicles that will perform beyond your expectations at a low price. Here’s how to find these perfect used vehicles, and avoid the top 10 scams that used car dealers everywhere try to pull on you.

1. Get a second opinion for the hype. Used car dealers will bombard you with every adjective under the book to sell you on a car—sporty, thrifty, fast, and etc. Don’t take their word for it. Instead, find someone you know, whether a neighbor, a colleague, a family member, or a friend, who owns the same make and model of the vehicle, and ask them for their opinion.

2. Do a background check. One of the most unethical, but legal, things someone can do to you is sell you a used car that’s been in a flood (and sort of repaired), or one that’s had 10 previous owners (none of whom repaired it). To be sure you don’t fall victim to this, track down a history report, including a clearance check on the vehicle title. You can even get some of this information from the seller, simply by asking why they are selling it. You’d be surprised what beans people may spill.

3. Examine for past damage. Used car dealers may also try to peddle a vehicle that was wrecked in a major accident. It’s amazing what autobody experts can do to repair a car’s exterior. So don’t go by the outer appearances of a vehicle. Before you buy it, make sure that it does not have serious damage to its frame, which it would have if it was involved in a crash.

4. Call up your trusted mechanic. Used car dealers, especially the big lots, will say they put their used cars through a “100 point inspection,” or something like that. Once again, a second opinion is in order. Get this one from your own mechanic. He’ll be able to tell how good a shape the car actually is in. Also be sure to ask him or her how often the car had been serviced. A good mechanic can even gauge that.

5. Research for recalls. Needless to say, a used car dealer may sell you a car that’s actually under recall in his mad rush to get the car off his lot. So be sure to call the car manufacturer, or visit their Web site, to see if the vehicle has any active recalls.

6. Avoid the leftover lemon. Along with recalled vehicles, dealers may even perpetrate something much worse on you—sell you a lemon. (By definition, a lemon is a car that’s still under warranty, which has such major problems that, warranty or not, it still cannot be fixed in a reasonable way.) The best way to avoid this is to research in Consumer Reports or the various automobile magazines, which all have yearly reviews of every make and model on the market. They’ll tell you whether a kind of car is known for being a lemon and prone to breakdowns.

7. See through the old paint and bait. Along with performing their “100 point inspection,” car dealers may shine and wax a used car—even repaint it—to hide dents, dings, and rust spots. A keen eye, though, can see right through this.

8. Take the test drive. Once you’ve done all your research, homework, extra credit, and everything else called for in the first seven steps, then comes the fun—the test drive. Drive the car for as long as its owner or dealer will allow you. Then you’ll get a better feel for how the vehicle handles, accelerates, brakes, and otherwise suits your tastes (or doesn’t).

9. Be wary of the pushy seller. At any stage of the game—from the moment you first talk to the seller to the test drive—be careful if the seller gets pushy. Any dealer or seller who is in a rush to move a vehicle should set off bells and whistles. Why the rush? Are they hiding something? In some cases the seller may just be excited to sell you the car—and actually happy for you—but in many other cases, they may be up to something. Better be safe than sorry.

Follow these 9 simple steps to avoid the scams and pitfalls of used car deals, and you could get the car of your dreams—for far less than you’d pay if it was brand-new. Plus, you get that same high when you drive your new used car home, without losing thousands of dollars.

Used Car Buying Tips

Some of these used car buying tips won’t be new to you. Often the trick is just to apply what you already know. On the other hand, when it comes to expensive areas of life like buying a car, one new thing learned can save you hundreds of dollars. Try some of the following.

1. Make a low offer. Okay, you knew this one. A trick you may not have used, though, is to make a low offer, and then leave your phone number with the seller. Time has a way of making sellers desperate, especially after you just helped convince them that they are asking too much.

2. Be careful with car price guides. Use the “blue book” etc, but try not to pay more than wholesale. I can’t think of many times when people I know have paid more than “bluebook,” so these “average” sales prices are doubtful.

3. Talk to people. This is one of the simplest and effective used car buying tips. Just let friends, family and others know you’re looking for a car. Quite often people would be happy to avoid the whole process of advertising and showing their car if they could just get rid of it by giving a good deal to a friend.

4. Check out the engine. Have a mechanic look at the car, and tell you what it’s likely to need in the next year or so. Then make a list, so the seller can see in writing why you are offering less than he wants.

5. Auctions. See if there is a public auction in your area. If not, maybe you can go with a dealer friend and give him a $100 to buy a car for you.

6. www.carfax.com. It’s around $25 to run vehicle background checks for a month – long enough to find your next car. They’ll show the chain of title, accident reports for the car, and even safety and reliability scores for that model.

7. “Ugly” cars. Watch for cars that sit on the lot for months. Dealers will often sell these “ugly ducklings” at a loss just to move them. Again, you may want to leave your phone number with a low offer.

8. Rental company cars. They are sold fairly cheap when they get the new ones in. Buy at bluebook wholesale or less, because they have had many different drivers, so they’ve more wear than normal.

9. Repos. Credit unions and some small banks do their own selling of repossessed cars. You usually bid on paper, maybe with a $50 deposit, and then get your $50 back if you’re not the winning bidder. If they don’t sell their own repossessions, ask where they are sold.

10. Consider gas mileage. High mileage may be better, but maybe a car that costs $500 less will use only $400 more gas in the two years you expect to own it. Do the math.

The Guide To Better Car Buying Deals

Buying a car is like making a journey into the unknown especially if you do not know the meaning of mileage and the only seats you have sat on inside a car are the ones for the passengers. Without a map, one can get lost, confused by several choices and generally duped into accepting a less than great a deal.

Still like any journey, with the right guide to buying a car, one can breeze through the experience with flying colors. Below is a guide to getting better car buying deals not only in terms of getting high quality cars but also in being aware of rebates and discounts. Both online and offline transactions were mentioned and discussed as some people are already doing their shopping online.

Read on and see for yourself which car buying guide you already know and which one you just heard for the very first time.

Car buying guide #1: List your requirements and stick to it.

Knowing what you need and what you want already takes you halfway the decision-making process. List your requirements and search for a perfect match out of the hundreds of car models available. You can do this in the old fashion way by visiting the car dealers near your area or the new age way through the wonders of the World Wide Web. One car buying guide which you should remember is to never go to dealers without having a car in mind. Websites like CarDirect.com has a handy research tool that can help you refine your search

Car buying guide #2: Have a budget and stick to it.

When you have already decided on your car model, you can now look into the prices being offered by various car dealers. One car buying guide that is really important is to do price comparisons, which are available online at InvoiceDealers.com or CarsDirect. You can also ask advice from people who have bought cars in the last five years. Chances are, car dealers still have the same practices.

Car buying guide #3: Be on the look out for special sales and promos

Most car dealers and even websites will always come up with a promo or a special deal guaranteed to outsell the competition. You can also leave your contact details and ask the car dealers that you have visited to inform you of upcoming promos. That way, you will stay up to date and would be able to compare different deals offered by different companies. One can also try looking for great deals over the Internet.

Car buying guide #4: Buy at the right season

One car buying guide that is a sure hit is perfecting the timing of buying a car. Usually, car dealers go on sale by the end of December as there is low demand for expensive gadgets. Because of the Christmas shopping rush, few actually buy a car at this period of time. Another great time is on July to October where new models have to replace the new. Sometimes, car manufacturers even offer big discounts just to be rid of the stock.

Car buying guide #5: Beware of Add-ons

Some dealers would put add-on services that you do not really need until the price skyrockets. Beware of these add-ons and really determine if that is something that you would like for your car.

Source: LiveDrivingTips.com

I’ve been thinking of writing up a post detailing the different viewing methods for 3D TV/gaming/cinema and their various strengths and weaknesses, but it looks like that won’t really be necessary. Cyberlink has put together a really nice and very detailed guide to pretty much everything the end user needs to know about 3D.

If anything, they err on the side of objectivity. Whether one method or another is better isn’t really the point — and as I mentioned in my reply to Roger Ebert’s issues with 3D, these technologies are maturing quickly and to pick a winner (or declare them all losers) would be shortsighted. And as a commenter points out (I noticed this as well), polarized solutions are given a sort of lowballing, though higher resolutions and/or dual projectors in cinemas can easily circumvent the resolution issue Cyberlink cites. Might Cyberlink be in the business of selling active shutter glasses, perhaps?

At any rate, if you’re in the market or just want to be informed, this is a great (though rather long) article. You can download the whole thing as a PDF or read it over at Tom’s Hardware.

We could either give Best Buy the benefit of the doubt and chalk these stickers up to an over-zealous blue shirt or Best Buy really does expect to con some ignorant customers out of some cash. Your call. [via Consumerist]

Reader G sends in a screen shot of a chat he had with a Verizon rep who elegantly expressed her own frustration with Verizon’s website. Hooray for her.

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Performance, Hatchback, Audi, Luxury

The 2011 A8 is the harbinger of things to come from Audi’s award winning interiors, and the release of an additional spy shot of the S7‘s insides proves that the new navigation screen found in the automaker’s flagship is set to proliferate throughout the Audi line-up.

As you can see in the image above, the seven-inch display that rises from the dash is fitted to the recently spied S7, and will also be included on the standard A7 when it goes on sale next year. The MMI Touch Pad, which also debuted on the all-new A8 and allows user to draw letters and numbers to control the navigation, phone and other systems, is likely to be an option on the A7/S7, along with the new A6. And speaking of the A6…

Audi’s mid-sizer has been around since 2004, with an updated model bowing two years later, so it stands to reason that an all-new A6 is coming soon. Judging by the automaker’s product cycles, we’re expecting the 2012 A6 to bow in Detroit or as early as the Paris Motor Show and go on sale sometime towards the middle of 2011.

Audi bringing new nav display, optional Touch Pad to 2012 A6 and A7/S7 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 May 2010 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Technology: Global device
Rumored Carriers: Could be 2 or 4 U.S. carriers
Rumored Release Date: We are hearing possibly August 2010

Noah got to finally get his hands on the Samsung Galazy S at the Google IO event May 19, 2010.  Specs are still not being released and neither is carrier information.  We do know it is a capacitive touchscreen device with Android 2.1 and a 5MP camera with video capture.  Stay tuned as we continue to update our site with information.

Alteril is a premium grade sleep aid that may help you get the sleep you need without the unwanted side effects you may not want. The primary ingredient in Alteril has been used for years to get good, sound, restful sleep. When taken as directed, Alteril has not been demonstrated to show dependency or side-effects of prescription sleep aids. Don’t suffer from sleep problems . . . consider Alteril. Alteril helps you sleep safely and gently without a risk of addiction. Alteril can gently cause you to fall asleep when you want to. Millions of people all over the world have used the primary ingredients of this completely safe, non-habit forming formula for years to get good, sound, restful sleep with no harmful side-effects. Many people have found that they prefer natural sleep aids because they often work better with fewer side effects than prescription sleeping pills.

View Alteril Sleep Aid, 60-Count Box Details

I’ve seen the shuttle crossing the Sun’s path. I’ve seen the International Space Station ‘s solar transit. But I’ve never seen the shuttle docking to the ISS against the Sun’s surface. A unique, awesome view of two beautiful machines. More »

Last week, I explored the birth of the “superfan” in social media, drawing from the superfan concept at sporting events and pointing out some fan qualities that my company has observed on our clients’ Facebook Pages. This week, I’m going to discuss how to harness the passion of the superfan in order to convert them into an ambassador for your brand.

Once we had identified the superfans — the Facebook fans who not only liked a brand’s page but also participated and interacted with others on the page and even came back on a daily or near daily basis — we knew we had to do something more.

Sure, we could give them a special gift or recognize them publicly in a status update saying “Thanks,” but was that it? What’s so “social” about that? Isn’t social media giving us far more capabilities? And if someone is that engaged with a brand, what else do they want? Clearly, having this kind of unprecedented contact and communications with a brand fills some unidentified need in individuals who revel in the opportunities that social media tools provide.

Why Do Fans Become Superfans?

First, let’s explore what motivates people to do more than just click “Like” on a brand’s Facebook Page, what drives some of them to become active members of an organically-forming community on that Page.

I posit that what we are seeing on Facebook Pages is similar to what we’ve seen in online communities going all the way back to Usenet Newsgroups: People want to feel part of something larger than themselves. They want to belong. It’s human nature to be drawn to communities, and if one doesn’t already exist, then some people have it in them to start building one themselves.

When we see a person moving from clicking on a Like button to responding to status updates to then commenting on what others are commenting on to visiting a page daily and announcing their arrival, we’re seeing the natural community builders rising to the top. These are our superfans. Some of them could become even more than that to a brand. Some of them want to be more, but don’t know where to start.

How Do You Convert a Superfan Into a Brand Ambassador?

Once we identified one of our client’s Superfans, we knew we were onto something much more compelling than just people who were active on a Facebook Page. So I came up with a process to strategically and respectfully offer opportunities to superfans to become something bigger: a brand ambassador.

The term “brand ambassador” has been bandied about in marketing for years. Merriam-Webster defines an ambassador as “an authorized representative or messenger or an unofficial representative.” In this context, the concept of a brand ambassador is clear: someone who publicly and positively represents and promotes a brand. Note that I’m not talking about buying someone’s loyalty; this isn’t about paying them to be a brand ambassador. In my mind, once you pay someone a fee for their “ambassadorship,” what you’re really getting is a paid spokesperson. What I’m talking about it is how to create mutually beneficial and transparent relationships with brand superfans, to harness their passions and convert them into social media brand ambassadors. Here’s how we’re doing it.

1. Identify superfans.
2. Recognize superfans publicly.
3. Privately request that superfans respond to a questionnaire to get a better sense of who they are.
4. Evaluate the responses to identify potential brand ambassadors.
5. Approach superfans privately with a proposal to become a brand ambassador.
6. Engage the new brand ambassadors to amplify their passions around the brand.

All of the steps above can be infused with whatever meaning you or your client wants. The choices you make, however, are critical to the success of your brand ambassador program. First and foremost, you have to understand the dynamics of social media, online communities and the meaning of value. You then have to be sensitive and respectful to the individuals with whom you are interacting. Let’s face it: You need them way more than they need you.

The 4 Promises

To strike the right balance of mutual benefits, I put together a list of four things that the brand would do for each ambassador, and four things that our ambassadors would do for the brand. I was careful to balance the perks with “feelgood” things and tangible things. I didn’t offer money, but was not closed to the possibility in the right circumstances. For example, if a brand ambassador had a popular blog reaching the right target market, we’d never ask for ad placement on that blog for free. That would be highly inappropriate, and disrespectful.

Why did I decide on four promises for each side of the relationship? I felt that four was a nice, manageable number of actions to take. Not too overwhelming, not too demanding, but valuable enough for each party to feel they were getting something meaningful out of the relationship.

Not sure what to offer? Ask. Simply ask the people you’ve identified and are interacting with privately: “What would be valuable to you?” You’d be surprised at what basic needs their honest answers will reveal. They usually boil down to being respected, recognized and rewarded in simple ways.

Once we get people to accept the position as a brand ambassador, we invite them to a private Facebook Group to interact with them more directly. We also make it clear that they must always reveal that they are a brand ambassador for the brand when spreading the word publicly about the brand and if asked what they receive as compensation, they are encouraged to be totally forthcoming. There are no secrets here. There is full transparency.

The only thing the public isn’t privy to are the behind-the-scenes communications that inform the brand ambassadors about upcoming promotions and help them understand what we need specifically from them. By having the brand ambassadors learn about these things first, we are providing them with the additional value that they seek: being “in the know” before everyone else.

We’re using a combination of Net Promoter score plus our own proprietary measurement analysis to gauge the value of the  activities of our brand ambassadors. Even at this early stage, we can say that brand ambassadors are driving sales.

How are you leveraging the passions of your best customers to bring in new ones via social media?

Photo by stock.xchng image user cx_ed

Related GigaOM Pro content (sub. req.): Social Media in the Enterprise

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by Chris Borgen

John Robb notes the following on his excellent Global Guerillas blog:

Coast Guard and BP’s private military contractors team up to enforce media and scientific blackout (part of BP’s information operations campaign) on the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster. Here, they are caught on camera turning away a CBS film crew.

Coast Guard officials say they are looking into the incident. I look forward to hearing their explanation.

You know what’s funny?

We all know strong character values in a mate and in ourselves really do matter in life and love. Yet our world mostly offers love tips like:

“Buy these sexy clothes!”

“Be more successful!”

“Tighten your buns!”

Nobody comes out and says:

“Yo! Value good strong character values in yourself and others!”

And nobody says:

“Wow! Look at the integrity on that guy!”

Or:

“Did you check out the honesty on that girl?”

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A worker at a Wendy’s in Daytona Beach, FL, narrowly avoided being zapped with a taser after getting a customer’s order wrong. According to police reports, the alleged assailant, Melane Asia Reid, “brandished a pink stun gun” and chased Jason HIll around the restaurant, until the manager threatened to call the police.

Jason Hill, the drive-thru employee who avoided being tased, told police he was working the window when two women became upset with their order, started an argument laced with profanities, and allegedly took a swing at him, reports CBS affiliate WKMG.

Police say Reid and another woman, 23-year-old Katrina Mari-Alyce Bryant, got out of the car and went inside; Reid allegedly chased Hill around the kitchen while Bryant cheered.

Police tracked the women down after they called Wendy’s — to complain about the restaurant’s service.

Wendy’s Worker Escapes Taser Fired by Dissatisfied Customer, Say Cops [CBS News]

»  Twitter (finally) rolls out an iPhone app for users and even non-users of the microblogging service. [Twitter blog]

»  AT&T (NYSE: T) CEO Ralph de la Vega doesn’t think a Verizon-iPhone deal will result in a rush of defections to the rival carrier. [Electronista]

»  Flash Co-creator Jonathan Gay accuses Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) of destroying the openness of the web. [Cold Hard Flash]

»  China’s Huawei Technologies is open to acquisitions. [Reuters]

»  iPhone OS 4 has a new tethering option but whether AT&T supports it is uncertain. [Geek.com]

»  Music downloads struggle to make headway as only 24 percent of U.S. and western European mobile users listen to music on their phone. [Reuters]