It Was The Best of Times, It Was The Worst Of Times – 2011


January 3, 2012 By 2 Comments

2011 was the best of times and was the worst of times for the Riley family.

Sharing some of my deepest thoughts, I am letting you know, dear reader, I was so happy to go to bed in 2011 and wake up to a new day and a new year and a new way of thinking! I have seen many posts on facebook and google+ with similar feelings and I am excited to try and get to a higher altitude with you in 2012.

Controlling  thoughts and emotions can be a challenge throughout life and this is the year…. 2012  where things are going to boil (212 degrees). 

Pondering the concept of turning up the heat made me think of separating the silver and gold from the dross.  Things have to get heated up to purify and refine the silver and gold to get to the pure substance. The dross or the imperfect materials have to be purged to get to the gold.  Another thought about heat comes from running a steam engine.  The heat has to be up to the 212 to make it run!  So turning up the heat in 2012 to refine the gold and run the engine is going to be exciting. 

As members of the human race we are all connected in one way or another. It is my humble opinion we are all one, through the creator.   We are in charge of our thoughts and have complete control of where they go.  Life is about demonstrating the skill in exercising what we will and won't think and accept in our thoughts.  We can dwell on the positive or we can submerse ourselves in the negative.  We do manifest what we believe. 

Our cup can be half empty or it can be half full.  When you think about it… whether the cup is half full or half empty with liquid, it is ALWAYS overflowing with air.  You see your cup runs over no matter what, you just have to decide to accept that fact or not.  You are in charge!  Self talk helps us be victorious over those disturbing thoughts that take our peace away.   This year I am going to try each day to only listen to positive messages and know that my cup is running over being grateful for what I have and my ability to read, think and reason through any cow pie out there.  I look forward to sharing with you on our 2012 journey. 

A journey around the world was on our "Goddard List"  (aka bucket list) and we saw the world for the best of times.  We started to think global and act local. 

A near death experience with a young family member made it the worst of times. I won't go into the details at this point  but we all learned from it and continue to appreciate new sides of all situations and gratitude for everything.  

Learning from the past, our family has been through financial difficulties where we even sold our furniture to eat so I know the pain of having no money and not knowing where the next meal was coming from.  We were basically on numb getting through each day one moment at a time.  Getting over the embarrassment and humiliation of this difficult financial life experience in 1992 helped me relate to others in similar situations. I can look anyone in the eye and say "I KNOW how you feel and this is what we did." I am happy to report we worked through the financial meltdown one step at a time never declaring bankruptcy and paying back every dime we owed through Consumer Credit Counseling.  Experiences are trials that help us grow and make us stronger and gives us the ability to help others through similar situations.  

On the voyage around the world I took lessons from the universe and completely listened as we embarked on foreign ground.  A new book from the Cosmic Cow Pie series is emerging with the global lessons which should be launched in 2012 "Connecting The Dots Around The World."  It will inculcate lessons from major land marks we visited.  The book will have pictures from sites like India and Brazil that have been photographed by thousands and I will share a message to help trigger a change of thought when experiencing a stress situation.  The book will take global icons and the message should help the reader think about new "coping skills" to navigate the cow pies of life that continue to be in the way no matter what year it is.  Life really is about how we put our boots on and get through those piles.  SSDD  Same Stuff Different Day applies as nothing is constant but change. 

One of my favorite quotes applies to everything happening today in a most timely manner,  "You can't change the wind you can only adjust your sails."

As the winds of change blow they bring new challenges and new ways of thinking.  When trying to modify thoughts to stay with the positive, build a bridge, walk on over it and never look back. 

Taking control of your thoughts requires forgiveness. If you are trying to think only positive and good thoughts in 2012 so you can get that steam engine running you can't have negative energy coming in taking away from your ability to go forward.  Whatever was in the past needs to be in the past and you need to forget it.  Throw it over that bridge and don't think about it again.  Forgiveness means that you forget it ever happened.  If you keep bringing up the past you can't live in the present. 

The present is here and now and will reflect the way you think. 

Don't be thinking about old issues.  If you can resolve a conflict just DO IT.  If you can't, simply build that bridge and walk on over it. 

Let's make 2012 the best of times together. 

Join us on Google+ or facebook for our 30 days of VALUABLE Cow Tips to reduce stress and create balance.

Filed Under: Carra's Thoughts, How to reduce stress Tagged With: , , , , ,

5 Favorite Take Aways: NAR 2011 Convention


November 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Business is business no matter what service or product one sells. 

Applying practical principles to help reach a goal is applicable to any situation.

I just returned from the National Association of Realtors 2011 Convention in Anaheim California with some great information that could be useful.

2012 is just beyond the horizon. 5 best practice ideas presented here might give a jump start on business or personal plans.

5 Favorite Take Aways from the National Association of Realtors 2011 Convention in Anaheim, California including tips from Michael Eisner and Jack Canfield.

The Anaheim Convention Center is located on the outskirts of Disneyland. Over 20,000 members of the National Association of Realtors and service providers came together to learn and share with one another in this ever changing new world. 

Take Away 1.    Stay in budget! Michael Eisner

One cannot think of Disney and not think of the name Michael Eisner.  His accomplishments speak for themselves and his ability to lead a team to success.

Michael Eisner has been a leader in the American entertainment industry four decades. He began his career at ABC, where he helped take the network from number three to number one in primetime,  In 1976, he became president of Paramount Pictures, turning out hit films such as Raiders of the Lost Ark, Saturday Night Fever, Grease, and Terms of Endearment. This string of critically acclaimed and blockbuster films led the studio to become number one in box office and profitability in both theatrical movies and network television production.

In 1984 Michael assumed the position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company and, in the ensuing 21 years, transformed it from a film and theme park company with $1.8 billion in enterprise value into a global media empire valued at $80 billion.

In 2005, Michael began the “next act” of his career by founding The Tornante Company, a privately held company that invests in, acquires, incubates, and operates media and entertainment companies.

Michael emphasized working within financial boundries.. make things happen within the framework of what you have.  Don't overspend, keep it in the box as far as the cost and out of the box as far as thinking.

Identify a budget for your business and stick to it.  Think of creative ways to achieve the goal within your budget to stay on track and take your business to the top like Michael has done four decades. 

Michael Eisner shares: "Everyone has growing pains it's just part of the process."  Keep seeing the green and going forward. 

 

Take Away 2.   Rule of 5! Jack Canfield

 

 

 

 

 

Jack Canfield and Carra Riley with "Know Your Monkey™" in hand.

Jack shared J. Paul Getty's Success strategies.Rise early

  1. Rise early
  2. Work hard
  3. Strike Oil

Motivate yourself to do something different.  Change your behavior, do something different.

Walk away from negative talk or behavior. 

Change Can't to Won't and see if that word really fits.

Drop the word can't and change it to: I wish I was able to.

Television is an income reduction box.  Watching it reduces your income!

Chicken Soup for the Soul  aka Jack Canfield series….. was rejected by 144 publishers so when you think of quitting think of the dedication it took to present his book to 144 publishers.

Now this is interesting…. who do you hang out with?  "You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with.  Hang out with people making more money than you."

Rule of 5:   Do 5 things a day to help you get to your goal.  Your self talk should be "what 5 things am I going to do to day to achieve my dream?"

 

Take away 3:  Learn about personality types and how different people fit with your traits.

The Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers  CRB sponsored a class on Managing and Leading Teams taught by National Real Estate Educator Brad Hanks.

Every business could be considered a team and a very helpful idea to increase productivity and consumer satisfaction it is to learn about different personalities and how they work together in a DISC assessment test. 

The typical American company bases 80% of their hiring decisions on the "intellectual" aspect of an individual: skills, resume, training and experience.

The National average rate of successful hiring is less than 50% because of Behavior or Style incompatibility.  Here in lies the major disconnect or wrong hiring practice.  The person can do the job but it is not getting done.  By using the DISC assessment method an employer can better understand the thinking process of the potential hiree and see if the person is a good fit with the vision and direction of the company. 

The important take way is to really learn about how different people think and adjust what you do and how you present what you have to share accordingly. The DISC study does require an action item on your business plan to help balance the way the work flows in all environments and they type of communication that will be successful. 

CRB is just completing some major modifications in their courses and have added many new trainers to their instructor cadre.  I am delighted to share the fact I am a new CRB instructor and look forward to talking to you about the classes and the program designation that can be presented in your area.

Find out more about obtaining your CRB designation, many progressive classes and National instructors contact the Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers. 

 

Take Away 4:  Learn the new technology tools.

Technology Super Stars  Bill Lublin, Jay Thompson, Chris Smith, Nobu Hata, Todd Carpenter shared the latest web sites and tools to know about today.  Check out Bill and Chris on their mobile devices during the presentation.  If you are not mobile… you should be!

 Evernote  is a must have app.

"Inducted into the Apple "App Hall of Fame", NY Times "Top 10 Must-Have Apps", Winner of the Best Mobile App Award from TechCrunch, Mashable and the Webbys."

Evernote turns the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad into an extension of your brain, helping you remember anything and everything that happens in your life. From notes to ideas to snapshots to recordings, put it all into Evernote and watch as it instantly synchronizes from your iPhone to your Mac or Windows desktop. See why millions of people worldwide use Evernote:

Drop Box   for sharing in the cloud!

Sugar Sync    for more sharing in the cloud. Personal Cloud! File sync and online backup for all your devices including PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android, BlackBerry, and more!

In a head-to-head review of SugarSync, Dropbox, Apple’s iCloud, Amazon’s Cloud Drive, Google, and many others, SugarSync was named the “Ultimate Victor” as the best online storage solution of 2011.

Track this now to see what people are saying about you, your company and your brand.

Twittrratr How do you rate and is it positive or negative, what are people saying?

Search.twitter.com  search any thing you want.  search: buying a new house in Phoenix Arizona or buyuying ________ (what ever you are selling) and see who is tweeting about what you do. 

Walkscore.com   Type any address to get a walk score and see what is nearby and how far you are from aything.

localmind.com   iphone app to see what is going on around you locally. Now foursquare matters because localmind connects with local check ins to help you find out about where you want to go.. how crowded a place is and what the hours are etc.

Localmind is a new service that allows you to send questions and receive answers about what is going on—right now—at places you care about.

Google Places  

MUST be in Google Places with your business!  Must get past clients to give you reviews.  Participate and share the Google Connection.  40% of mobile searches are local in nature.

Google+ BE there… "get past the Google Creepyness and just say 'What's Next?'"

Scott Carpenter Social Media expert from NAR says the most important aspect of social media is to

"Prove to me that I can trust you."   Create relationships in social networks and do business on your website.  Spend more time on Linkedin.  Get recommendations online for Linkedin.  Make sure your profiles are correct on Zillow, Truilia, and Realtor.com

 

Take Away 5:  Be part of making the world a better place! 

NAR President Ron Phipps led the keynote session with poise and inspiration. He honored our men and women of the armed services and requested us to take action in expressing gratitude.

"If you see someone in uniform, stop and THANK THEM for service to our country."

 Ron also presented the REALTOR Good Neighbor Award Winners and encouraged each and everyone of us to join the Good Neighbor Society.

"Capture the good neighbor heart and put it into action. We have 1,000,000 Realtors… see what 5 did!"

"For the past 12 years the Good Neighbor Awards program has recognized Realtors® who are devoted to strengthening communities through volunteer work and helping those in need. The five individuals named as this year's REALTOR® Magazine Good Neighbor Award winners are leading examples of how Realtors® value service and are committed to improving communities.

The 2011 Good Neighbor Awards winners are:

  1. LeRoy J. Bendickson, Edina Realty, Edina, Minn., for National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Minnesota Chapter
  2. Marta Karpiel, Alain Pinel Realtors®, Carmel, Calif., for Freedom Fields USA
  3. Vito A. Pampalona, Vito Anthony Homes, Rochester, Mich., for the Yellow Ribbon Fund
  4. Judy Pitt, Wright Kingdom Inc., Boulder, Colo., for Kazi Yake (His Works)
  5. Wayne J. Shaffer, Shaffer and Associates, Santa Cruz, Calif., for St. Francis Catholic Kitchen, Siena House Maternity Home, and Jesus Mary Joseph Home

The Good Neighbor Awards have been granted annually since 2000 and are presented by NAR’s REALTOR® Magazine. Winners receive a $10,000 grant for their charity and a $2,000 Lowe’s gift card, and are profiled in the November-December issue of REALTOR® Magazine.

Lowe’s (www.lowes.com) and HouseLogic, www.houselogic.com   are sponsors of the Good Neighbor Program

Ron leaves us with the vision of going out to help our world and make it a better place! 

"We are at the tipping point of changing the future in so many ways… go back to the problem and leave a bright future for our children and grand children. 

We fail if we give up. "

To get our country back on track we have to help one another…. what do you think? 

Ready for 2012? Free 30 minute planning consultation.

Filed Under: Business planning, Business Planning Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Connecting The Mobile Marketing Dots!


October 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

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Mobile Marketing is a place you need to be and something you need to know about! 

If you have not "connected those dots" you need to meet Susan Rice-Lincoln on Thursday,  November 3, 2011 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on the Cosmic Cow Pie Blogtalkradio show.  Call into the show on (347) 994-1903 or join is in the chat room.  The more you learn about mobile marketing and where today's eyeballs are the better off you will be in adjusting as the Cosmic Shift Happens™.

Susan Rice-Lincoln is a Mobile and Social Media Marketing Expert and author of "Mastering Web. 2.0." Currently living in France and connecting all over the world

Individuals, small businesses and non profit organizations will want to listen to this life changing information.  Susan will be sharing secrets to fund raising using mobile donations.  She will go in detail on M-commerce, mobile websites and show how a little work can make a big difference to increase the bottom line.   

Learn about "talking book marks" and how authors can take advantage of QR Codes in getting their message out. 

"Did you know that there are now more citizens in the United States with a smartphone than people with a university degree?  In 2012, there will be more people with a smartphone than any other kind of mobile phone."

Susan says…" well over half of all social media is now happening over the mobile phone and that the power of mobile to touch people is almost limitless."

In a recent tweet Susan posted: More likely than not, the emails you write today will be read on a mobile phone, not on a PC. For more go to this blog post .

6 elements you need to be sure are included in your mobile marketing program if you want success:

  1. 40% of US smartphone owners compare prices on their mobile device when they are shopping inside a store (HubSpot).  So, the moral is, if your site isn’t optimized for mobile use, you could definitely be missing out on sales. On your mobile site, make sure you put in some ‘mobile magic’ (i.e. the information consumers are most interested in) such as your hours, location and directions.
  2. Email.  Long gone is the world when emails were only read on a PC.  Now a big percentage of emails are being read on mobile phones.  This means that you need to keep the subject line short and make sure that you make your message, brand name, offer and call to action as brief and to the point as possible. Equally, the design of your email should be simple and not too dense.  Don’t forget to include a link to your website (preferably mobile!) or Facebook page.
  3. Invite the visitors to your establishment to get on your mobile list so they can get special coupons.  You might even want to put a sign at your cash register inviting them to do so. Give them a little extra incentive with a savings coupon or special offer.
  4.  Social media is a perfect fit with mobile; almost 50% of social media is consumed on mobile.  Encourage your customers to join you on Twitter or Facebook
  5. Location-based services like Foursquare also work really well with mobile.  Encourage your customers to ‘check in’ to your business by offering a special offer.
  6. Customer reviews are a great way to build your reputation on both location-based services and social media.  Invite people to share their experiences with you whenever possible.

Meet Susan Rice-Lincoln, Thursday,  November 3, 2011 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on the Cosmic Cow Pie Blogtalkradio show.  Call into the show on (347) 994-1903 or join is in the chat room.

Connect with Susan Rice-Lincoln around the world! 

website

linkedin

twitter @Masterthenewnet

facebook

Tune in to hear Susan Rice-Lincon discuss going mobile to help attract more clients, money and success.

 
Filed Under: Blogtalkradio, Mobile Marketing, Mobile Marketing, Social Media Tagged With: , , , ,

Need a Battery Charge?


October 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

SVKGZ4WDNETR

2011 is almost over and 2012 brings with it new hope and opportunities!

Amy Stoehr has some ideas to help you "Connect the dots" in real estate sales. 

Please join me on blogtalkradio Thursday October 27, 2011 9:00 a.m. PDT to meet Amy Stoehr CEO of Real Estate Master Guild. Call into (347) 994-1903 or join us in the chat room!

 

Amy Stoehr can get you up running and back on track in no time.  Amy is the founder of REMG  Real Estate Masters Guild, an independent source for real estate education, coaching, networking and support.  REMG is a very special community that is "guru-free" and not devoted to promoting a particular leader. 

"We build deep and lasting relationships with and among our members. The strength of the family we've created and continue to grow, through top-notch solutions and quality interactions, represents a profound advantage for our group.

With all the changes taking place on a DAILY basis we need to have some humor with "crabby people!"  This is what Amy says about crabs…. .

"Do you know why you boil two crabs in a pot, and not one? Because they'll hold each other down and die together."

Join us to talk about getting back on track and sharing ideas on social media, individual mentoring, actionable strategies, powerful networking and ongoing support. 

Remember  blogtalkradio Thursday October 27, 2011 9:00 a.m. PDT to meet Amy Stoehr CEO of Real Estate Master Guild. Call into (347) 994-1903 or join us in the chat room!

Connect with Amy Stoehr

website

facebook

541-743-8530

Filed Under: Blogtalkradio Tagged With: , , ,

Has the Social Media Ship Sailed? Part 1 of 3


October 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Has The Social Media Ship Sailed Part 1 of 3

The Ship Has Not Sailed! Get On Board!

Part 1 of 3 part series.

Social media is here to stay and can help you save money communicating with thousands…… but at what expense?

The answer is: your most limited commodity TIME, so is it worth it to you?

Ask youself several questions before you make a quick decision.

  1. Where are people looking for ANY type of help? Is google their BFF? (Best Friend Forever)
  2. When someone has a question about ANYTHING how do they find the answer?
  3. When YOU have a question about anything where do you go?
  4. If you are driving around and see a sign on a house for sale what do you do to find out the price? What do your customers do?
  5. Do you point your phone at the house and go to the Zillow or Truilia app on your phone or iPad?
  6. Do you read the QR code? Only you have the answer to this question.
  7. When you are watching the news do they tell you to go to their facebook page to talk about a community issue?
  8. Do you see ads where twitter is featured?
  9. Do you have a .mobi site?
  10. Have you seen commercials where they direct you to youtube to see the rest of the story

Watch the youtube video below and think about how it makes you feel? The first commercial actually starts on television with a beautiful Persian cat and a Tiffany heart on the cats collar asking Lisa to marry the Shawn and the cat. The end of the television commercial says "see the rest of the story on youtube at Fancy Feast." Below is part of an on going series of commercials.

Connect to the Fancy Feast youtube channel and watch the "wedding planner to the stars" Colin Cowie describe how they are going to engage viewers with selecting Lisa's dress, jewelry and her bouquet. Colin invites the viewer back to keep the story going. Think about how Purina is engaging cat lovers and helping them become "raving" fans by having them participate in the next commercial and it's outcome.

Check out the screen shot from the youtube Fancy Feast site. In the center you see a box on the right that says…watch with your friends start a Google+ hang out. Part 3 of this series will cover more on Google+. Look at the number of views 3,040,045 and look at 1,203 subscribers to watch Purina Fancy Feast youtube videos. There have been 308 comments that have been positive. What is Purina paying for a youtube channel? The same as you and me -0- right now!

 

How does this apply to marketing any product or service? 

 

Video is where the consumer wants to be. The last few movies I have seen at the theater are giving websites for more information on the ads I now have to watch on the big screen while waiting for the new movie trailers. Just saw a 15 second "Go Daddy" commercial on Monday night football with Danica Patrick and the end line was" see the rest of the story on godaddy.com." Upon navigating to GoDaddy.com I found Danica and a QR code saying "Use a QR reader on your mobile device to reveal your savings." QR codes and their importance will be part 2 of the "Ship Has Not Sailed" series.

Creating a blog with video is a direction you need to be working toward to share your product or service message.

Think about how you could start a story about weekly deals in your community and have your viewers subscribe because they will want to see the deal of the week or your personal featured listing. Mix it up so they want to get your weekly video or blog post with the video. It does not matter if it your listing or not it just has to have value to the consumer: Price, terms, condition or location. Of course you will need to get permission in writing from the listing agent and seller to video the house and post on youtube.

Think about how consumers would enjoy watching your videos and sharing with their friends. Make it fun! The possiblities are endless!

State Farm is reaching the younger Generation with video on their youtube channel too! Start watching commercials instead of fast forwarding. See how others are paving the way for you to be a participant in social media and be where Big Business is driving the consumer.

Big business is educating the consumer to look to social media for more information. You can be there with little cost except your time and content ideas.

If you are not present and accounted for in social media, you might drown…. so get on that ship before it gets out too far!

You do not have to reinvent the wheel. it might seem like you are spinning in the Cosmic Cow Pie right now with all the avenues open for you to get in the game. Take deep breaths and more important, some specific time to connect the dots.

  • Take some time to plan what is most important in your market area.
  • Ask, what does the consumer want then fill that niche.
  • Create a specific strategy that will work for you and your target market.
  • Brainstorm with a mastermind group so you can bo on top of your social media game and incorporate your ideas in a fun way to get the consumer to be sharing your blog posts with their friends.
  • Research the activerain site for all the tools you will need to succeed.
  • Consider some outside help to create your game plan. (I work on an hourly or one time basis to get started or a custom plan)

Success is about taking the time to make your plan and then work it. Many of the tools you need to work your plan are available for FREE on the Internet and right here at activerain. You might need to invest in some software to make your project work but it is nothing like the money you are going to lose in sales by not being part of this Cosmic Shift™ and having your plan in place to meet the people where they are and know what they are experiencing in cyberspace.

Social media is still in it's infancy. Social media is changing the world forever! Its power is not yet fully understood. What is crystal clear is the fact we will not be going back to last century marketing or politics or business as usual. Invest your time to learn the new methods of marketing and meet your customers where they are giving them valuable content that makes sense, entertains them and meets their needs.

It's a new day and the ship has not sailed so pack your old way of thinking and get on board!

Filed Under: Social Media, Youtube evolution Tagged With: , , , ,

“Truth Is A Luxury…..” The Debt


September 2, 2011 By 4 Comments

"The Debt" is a suspense filled thriller with passion, espionage, morality, courage, patriotism and tragedy as part of the film which debuted August 31, 2011.  The film is a remake of the award-winning 2007 movie entitled "Ha-Hov" by Assaf Bernstein & Ido Rosenblum. An Israeli-Mossad team of three in 1967 attempt the capture of former Nazi concentration camp doctor, Dieter Vogel, known as the Surgeon of Birkenau, (modeled after Josef Mengele.) The covert mission takes place in Communist controlled East Germany where the Doctor is working as a gynecologist. The secret operatives need to return him to Israel for trial of his war crimes. 

Director John Madden ("Shakespeare in Love") uses flashback editing and unique cinematography in this 1 hour and 44 minute film. He forces the viewer to think throughout the storyline trying to connect all the dots for 30 years.  From a 1967 secret mission where three Mossad secret service agents in East Germany vow to stay true to one another to a book launch in Tel Aviv, Israel  in 1997 where the daughter of two of the operatives has immortalized them as heroes with her "tell all" book about the mission. 

British screenwriter Matthew Vaughn with Jane Goldman and Peter Straughan, probe the morality of Mossad's pursuit of Nazis war criminals. The film leaves the viewer wondering about the State of Israel and the possible reflection of the events in the past.

Helen Mirren, Academy Award-winner for "The Queen", Tom Wilkinson of "The Full Monty" and Ciraran Hinds of "There Will Be Blood prortray the 3 Mossad Secret agents in 1997.  Jesica Chastain of "The Help", Marton Csokas of "Alice In Wonderland and Sam Worthington of "Avatar" repectively play the younger characters in 1967.

The three "Mossad" protagonists, exemplify loyally to country which was also expressed in the film "Munich" after the 1972 Olympics where 11 Israeli athletes were killed by Palestinian militant group. In that film directed by Steven Spielberg he explored the modus operandi of the Mossad group which is a unique culture with specific behavior traits.  Many television viewers today can relate to the character "Ziva David" in the TV series NCIS who is also a trained Mossad agent and is easy to relate to.

The film depicts some rather intense anti-Semitic mind games, which Nazi war criminal Dieter Vogel (Jesper Christensen) enacts with deep conviction. Dealing with the heinous crimes this man committed the three agents end up perpetrating a deception that lasts for decades.  The suspense toggles between the two different time periods and suddenly they are forced to pay for the secrets they left behind during the covert mission in East Germany. Idealism becomes at risk and there are scenes which exude shivering suspense as well as sexual tension in a love triangle.

My personal experience in Israel the summer of 1972 left me with the awareness that the Israelites live with the threat of suicide boomers and attack in public places on a daily basis.  I felt the fear at the Tel Aviv airport as our group disembarked the plane and the yellow police tape blocked off part of the bombed airport facade as we entered the country.  A friend of mine from New York City had moved to Tel Aviv with her husband who was in the diamond business and explained that everyone in Israel was prepared for attempts to push them into the sea at any time.  Israel has lived with this anxiety for their people since Biblical times. The movie gives a peak into the thinking of the people and the sentiment they live with. 

The film left me asking questions long after leaving the theater.  I pondered the political repercussions that could come about when deciding if "Truth is a luxury…" How do we know if military operations really happen the way they are reported?  How important is the truth? Is truth a luxury?  What happens if a mission is fails?  Could many of the newsworthy reports really be fabricated as exemplified by "Wag The Dog" a Barry Levinson film with Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffman.  In "Wag the Dog," where a spin-doctor and a Hollywood producer before elections, join efforts to "fabricate" a war in order to cover-up a presidential sex scandal. What is Truth and what is fiction. 

The film discusses truth as a luxury and speculation on how things might have been different. The three Mossad covert agents share mysteries, secrets, and lies. The Debt poses a huge ethical question haunting them all by asking…"Is Truth A Luxury?" In a place like Israel is, can misrepresentation ever serve a greater good?  At any time is can truth be a casualty of war? The movie demonstrates, the answer and is one of the reasons you should see the film.

If you like espionage thrillers, tragic love stories, morality themes that make you question reality and heart stopping suspense you will enjoy this film.

Is truth a luxury?  Find out and see "The Debt" this weekend!

 

Filed Under: Carra's Thoughts, Movies, The Debt Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Vigilante Justice —- Fact or Fiction?


August 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Do stories of vigilante justice peak your interest?

Is talking about child abuse, pedophilia and human trafficking out of your comfort zone? 

Frankly, it is WAY out of my comfort zone!  After speaking to Marie Crist, author of the "Citizens Out" book series and listening to her explain what she and her mother, Pamela Wright are working on I felt more at ease about the subject.  They have a message that will help the average citizen be able to spot possible abuse situations which could save a child's life.

My stomach was churning after thinking about our conversation and their book series. I found myself thinking about situations in my own life where maybe I could have made a difference had I known a few signs that could be red flags for children that might need help. Recently I had written a blog post about human slavery on our journey around the world in far away places like Nepali but Marie Crist and Pamela Wright are showing us how this child slavery problem is right here in our own backyard.

The short conversation with Marie Crist again, made me think about a month ago we had a child trafficking ring broken up in Flagstaff, Arizona at a Bridal Boutique that I drive by 2 times a week. I never dreamed that young women from Viet Nam were working as human slaves in fear of their lives inside those walls which are now closed with the US Marshals sign posted.  Marie and Pamela are trying to wake us up to see what is going on right in our own communities.

My thoughts then wandered to real estate and where sex offenders live and how any citizen can find out if there are any listed in their communities.  The 1994 rape and murder of seven year old Megan Kanka prompted public demand for a broad based community notification of registered sex offenders.  On May 17, 1996, President Clinton signed Megan's Law.  Megan's Law requires two components:  Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification.  Each state has individual requirements so further research and education by state is highly suggested as this issue just seems to keep being a problem around the world.  An easy resource to find about about sex offenders in the area is supported by United States Department of Justice National Sex Offender Public Website

Tune into Cosmic Cow Pie blogtalkradio show on Thursday September 8, 2011 9:00 a.m. PDT you will be more alert to the signs that are waddling and quacking right in front of us!  Call in during the show to ask questions at 347-994-1903 or join the chat room and post your concerns.  You can also ask questions on the comments below and we will have Marie and Pamela answer on the show. 

"Actor Corey Feldman Says Pedophilia No. 1 Problem for Child Stars…"

Corey Feldman of "Stand By Me and Goonies" fame talked on ABC Primetime  about the problem of pedophilia in the movie industry with child stars and how his experience still haunts him and in his opinion had a horrible ending  for his friend Corey Haim – Lost Boys co-star  with his recent suicide.

"I can tell you that the No. 1 problem in Hollywood was and is and always will be pedophilia. That's the biggest problem for children in this industry. … It's the big secret," Feldman said.

Marie Crist and her mother Pamela Wright are "actively" fighting child abuse through a series of books with vigilante thrillers and you can call in and talk to them on the blogtalkradio show.

Their books make readers re-evaluate what can be done to save world’s young victim

Both debut authors, Crist and Wright have released separate novels this summer introducing readers to fictional secret groups dedicated to protecting the innocent. Readers find themselves rooting on these passionate citizens who hunt down and kill sick and twisted child molesters before they are able to strike again.

Pamela Wright says: “If there are such groups in real life, I’m not aware of them. But I am very aware of the public sentiment that is growing stronger with every lost loved one,” …. “That sentiment is, the public is sick and tired of a failed system that continually favors the rights of pedophiles over the rights of victims.”

Pamela Wright grew up in Seaside, OR and later studied creative writing and Journalism at the University of Texas.

Writing for local papers under her personal by-line was rewarding and then Ms. Wright began fostering and adopting children through the DCBS of Kentucky.

Ms. Wright studied child psychology through the department for years and is currently involved in the care of medically fragile children requiring trained services around the clock.

Ms. Wright states:

"I’ve personally seen the devastation of children whom have been abused in every conceivable way. My entire family has been committed to these children. We know the psychological damage and the years of rehabilitation it takes to recover their self-esteem."

Pamela Wright brings her work with abused and neglected children to a series of novels collectively known as The Justifiable Series in which she brings together various elite teams intent on finding and freeing sex slaves…and eliminating those responsible.

Having parented numerous children placed in foster care over the years has given Pamela an insight into the psychological devastation sexual abuse brings to the lives of children. Pamela hopes to bring awareness and a sense of commitment to stopping these crimes against all people.

In the first installment of The Justifiable series, Justifiable: Oregon, Pamela Wright introduces her readers to the private lives of Dan Morrison of Morrison Investigations and Sarah Knight, a wealthy widow and photo journalist returning home after a long and mysterious absence. What ensues is a web of intrigue that entangles them in the brutality of a Mexican drug cartel, and those exacting justice.  Pamela's website.

 

Marie Crist was born in Astoria, Oregon and while her family has maintained a home in Kentucky throughout the later part of her

childhood and into the present day, she never developed a sense of standing still. Her parents traveled with their children constantly, with home being a place that was used only for an occasional rest and recharge. With these frequent moves and accompanying need to adapt to new circumstances and people, Marie developed a sense of independence and adventure that has served her well.

Marie has taken an interest in the welfare of children for many years. Her own parents have served as guardians for the foster care system for more than a decade, giving Marie the opportunity to meet many children who have come from troubled backgrounds. All too often, the children Marie encountered were victims of sexual abuse, either at the hands of their biological parents or while living in one of the temporary foster homes in which they had been placed. Marie saw the lasting effects that a child who is the victim of abuse can carry well into adulthood and made the decision to be their advocate through her talents as a writer.

Crist’s new book series Citizen Out captures the emotions of anyone who has felt helpless in the wake of tragic violence or who works in law enforcement and understands the frustrations officers can feel when investigations are hampered by bureaucratic hurdles. Marie and her mother hit the streets this summer and fall for events across the country to raise awareness, educate and inspire citizens to take action against child brutality.

“Every time I turn on the television, I see another child has been taken, molested or murdered. I’m infuriated,” Crist said. “Now, I can’t go around and enact vigilante justice on these people. The only thing that will end it is for the stories to be told, to educate parents on how to protect their children and avoid those that wish them harm.”

"Sometimes a child doesn’t recover from the psychological damage and sometimes they become an abuser, repeating the cycle of damage perpetrated on others.

The safety and protection of children is everyone’s business and everyone’s charge.

Be committed to the preservation of children and the world will change."

Through the pages of The Citizen Chronicles: Citizen Out, Marie Crist is able to use her first-hand knowledge of children who have been abused and the adults in society who feel compelled to protect them to create a powerful statement about justice and the role as individuals in strengthening communities. While citizens are not intended to operate within a secretive and complex organization to eliminate the evildoers in society, Marie challenges the reader to think about improving the lives of those around us. It is through her personal encounters with victims of abuse and her observations in diverse social compositions around our country that Marie is able to provide a strong testament about the role of each citizen.

Check out the book trailer and see what you think.  MarieCrist.com

8 tips from the mother-daughter team on keeping your children safe:

  1.  Know where your child is … always.
  2.  Stay in contact with their friends’ parents, as well as your children’s teachers and coaches.
  3.  Be a parent first, friend second.
  4.  Make time each day to have conversations with your child and listen to what they have to say. Don’t be afraid to check   things out to make sure everyone is on track.
  5.  Know your neighborhood. If you see something or someone unusual, check it out or phone it in to the police.
  6.  Change your routine frequently. Pedophiles will watch and wait for the few minutes your child is usually alone. They know parents are busy and routines are how families keep it all together.
  7.  Subscribe to a website that alerts you when a predator moves into your area.
  8.  Be vigilant in speaking with your children about safety and take them to any workshops put on in your communities.

 

What Would Make You Take the Law into Your Own Hands?

Listen to Cosmic Cow Pie blogtalkradio on Thursday, September 8, 2011 9:00 a.m. PDT as Marie Crist and he mother Pamela Wright explore the idea of a sophisticated and covert organization that seeks justice for the most innocent among us. 

Connect with Marie Crist and Pamela Wright

Twitter

Facebook

Blog

You can determine what is fact or fiction?

Filed Under: Books, Marie Crist, Pamela Wright, Vigilante Justice Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Help: Movie Review


August 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Help: Lessons to learn from.

 "Courage is not just about being brave it is about overcoming fear and daring to do what is right for your fellow man." There were many lines in this film which are going to be quotable but this one stands out as epic to me.

The previews of "The Help" were spot on with delivering a message that is 5 stars and inspires the viewer to stand up for doing the right thing.

Wednesday, August 10th, DreamWorks Studios released the 2hour and 17 minute Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture directed and written by Tate Taylor entitled "The Help."  This is a story based on the #1 New York Times Best Seller by Kathryn Stockett.  The heartwarming message depicts the travesty of social injustice in America during the 1960's in the authors home town of Jacksonville, Mississippi.  The film will touch most viewers in numerous ways with it's poignant characters who represent a cross section of personal situations alive and well in today's world.  The powerful storyline is a portrait of a fragmenting world including romance, parental neglect, society position, unjust beating resulting in death, racial prejudice, ignorance, theft, Alzheimer's, survival, domestic abuse and cancer.   

Humor and honest depiction of human nature are the award winning elements running through this film."Hate and fear are two horns on the same goat."  another memorable quote from the movie which is destined to be an academy award winning work.

The power of Love overcomes fear in many instances throughout the story line.

Everyone can appreciate the tender message Aibileen, the black maid instilled in all the white children she cared for. She knew she could make them feel good about themselves even when their own mothers did not have the time of day for them or their feelings.  She would ask them:

1.  Is you kind

2.  Is you smart

3.  Is you important

Ciccly Tyson plays Skeeter's beloved nanny who she loves lke a mother.  She teaches Skeeter to quit feeling sorry for her self… She says "that is what is ugly." She continues "Everyday when you wake up in the morning ask, Am I going to believe all the bad things fools are going to say about me today?"

Emma Stone (Skeeter), Viola, Davis (Aibileen), and Octavia Spencer (Minny) form an improbable alliance where a relationship evolves which gives them the courage to rise above the lot in life they are living to create change. The help in the 1960's in Jackson, Mississippi did not have many rights, had to eat and drink from separate dinnerware, ride separate buses and eat separately.  The entire audience cringes as segregationist housewife, Bryce Dallas Howard (Hilly) describes the "Home Health Sanitation Initiative" requiring each white home to have a separate bathroom for the help. 

The historic depiction of the shooting of Medgar Evers, the civil rights activist who was gunned down in Jackson, Mississippi on June 12, 1963 in front of his home, the shooting of John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's speech make the viewer feel like they are right in the middle of the conflicts.  The journey from fear of society norms to courage in sharing the  story of "The Help" is a movie for all ages.

Dig deep in your thought after watching this film and think about you and your courage.  Do you have the courage to do what is right for your fellow man? Is part of the message of an epic film to encourage behavior modification? 

"The Help" celebrates with grace and humility the courage it takes to inspire change.
 

Filed Under: Carra's Thoughts, Movies, The Help Tagged With: , , , ,

Cowboys and Aliens vs. Harry Potter


August 6, 2011 By 7 Comments

Blazing space ships, suspense, horses, Indians, love, tight chaps with eye candy rears and piercing blue eyes like Steve McQueen are all part of the "Cowboy and Aliens" adventure film which has several important messages creeping through its science-fiction extraterrestrial elements.  Harry Potter has nothing over this film with the imagination and surprises that make the viewer give the screen writers credit for creative content and almost two hours of excitement and intrigue.

This film reaches back to the love of Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Fist Full of Dollars and John Wayne then brings the cosmic childlike future into the storyline with the twist of old western lessons. 

There was a little hesitation to see this movie based on the trailer but since the choices this summer have not been abundant for good entertainment we decided to go see the film on our Wednesday date day.  Not reading the reviews in the New York or Los Angeles Times prior to seeing a film is a standard I adhere to so I can judge for myself if the content moves me. I paid my money and can take my chances.  I was happy to say that I did not want my money back like I did after seeing Friends with Benefits and Bridesmaids. I even wanted my pop money back after watching those two losers. 

Larry Crowne was a movie I reviewed last month which had a similar outcome with the BIG DEAL reviewers.  The "powers that be"  just didn't "Get It" but the message was there waiting to be found.  Realize that I am that person who takes notes in any movie. I cried in the first five minutes of Land Before Time and to my daughters dismay when she was 7 took copious notes in Lion King so if there is a message to be shared, I am going to find it.  Now the point of dissension for the reader will be if we get the same message.

  • The film Stars:  Daniel Craig (James Bond), Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones), Olivia Wilde (Tron), Sam Rockwell (Iron Man 2), Adam Beach, Paul Dano, Clancy Brown, Keith Carradine and Noah Ringer.
  • Director: Jon Favreau (Iron Man)
  • Power producers: Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Ryan Kavanaugh, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Scott Mitchell Rosenberg (original novel inspired the film)
  • Executive producers: Steven Spielberg and Denis L. Stewart
  • Written by: Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (Star Trek), Damon Lindelof (Lost), Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby, based on a screen story by MarkFergus, Hawk Ostby and Steve Oedekerk and the graphic novel by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg;
  • Released by Universal Pictures/DreamWorks Pictures/Reliance Entertainment. Running time: 1 hour 58 minutes                      

The interviews with Daniel Craig and John Favreau found them sharing the ultimate goal of the film to get the viewer emotionally engaged.  Submersion into the plot was easy as the viewer could feel his pain as Daniel Craig awoke in the desert of New Mexico with a foreign object/bracelet on his wrist, no boots, an open wound and no memory.  The story continues with his journey to find out who he was and why he was there. A question that all "thinking" viewers might even ask themselves on occasion.   Taking that theme deeper the film goes forward showing greed and power as "demons" the cowboys have to deal with.  Several versions of love come through loud and clear with family relationships and communication skills. I only cried once so take that for what it's worth.  

The theme of vampires, aliens and mutants seems to be popular with the young adult group today which is hard for me to get my head around and westerns are really off the radar. A friend of mine shared that the vampire infatuation was really from the dark side and trying to keep people from seeing the light.  That specific train of thought may not be on your radar but I am happy to say that the dark side of Cowboys and Aliens ends with the light coming on.   

Harrison Ford delivers the performance he is known for, a little grouchy but solid.  He makes you believe in the character and empathize with his feelings.  He has a "cowboy hat" and no whip so he is NOT Indiana Jones he is setting a new bar as a vintage actor entertaining the masses and delivers a message about life.

Daniel Craig is a cross between Steve McQueen and Clint Eastwood in this film.  It was hard to think he could be so credible as a cowboy when he is such an incredible James Bond.  Transitioning the cowboy character for me  was like thinking of Lloyd Bridges in a role other than Sea Hunt. Daniel makes the transition and delivers a credible performance.  Now all the readers who don't like the film won't relate to Lloyd Bridges analogy because they were not alive for Sea Hunt, but this is ok.  Vintage participants can keep it to ourselves and silently chuckle or LOL. 

The story has a love theme between a man and a woman interrupted by a value issue and identity crises.  Greed and power is another vein with a father and a son which spills over to extended family members.  A racial conflict and several power struggles with domination which lead to conflict resolution via communication and execution of working a plan through life threatening situations.  There is no time to "zone out" keeping all the storylines working in your mind.  There are messages but it will be up to you and your value system to identify which ones are visible.   

Some of the lines that show the depth of the message. 

"You know who you are, you just have to remember."

"….. made the world a better place."

"….. took your gold….. when you get to hell you can ask for it back."

"Can you swim?"  Picture Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid.

"… studying their weakness…… came to make sure it would not happen again."

"Open your hearts and learn more from others." 

"I always dreamed of riding into battle with you….. I always dreamed of having a son like you."

"Stop thinking and you can be free" 

"If I can get into the core….."

Bottom line… this is entertainment and you will not be disappointed so go see Cowboys and Aliens it has as much intrigue and creativity as Harry Potter. 

Follow Cowboys and Aliens on facebook and twitter.

Filed Under: Carra's Thoughts, Cowboys and Aliens, Movies Tagged With: , , , ,

Google+ A Place To Hangout


July 20, 2011 By 6 Comments

Google+ offers the perfect place to hangout in cyberspace.

Still wondering if google+ is somewhere you want to go? There are so many social media venues it really is difficult to decide where to spend your time. One thing you might want to consider is the fact that google is the 800 pound gorilla in the room so playing in their back yard and posting your links on their sites just could bring some extra juice to the SEO table. Just some organic food/juice for thought!

I spent considerable time on the site this past week and find it very exciting. I am talking to people globally and they are all willing to share and help since it is still in beta testing mode and we are all learning together. As a hybrid between facebook and twitter I think you will find google+ fun and soon to be profitable there is an ease in sharing with people open to learning about what it is you have to offer.

Hangout is the name of the feature where you can video chat with many people at once on google+. The originator of the group invites people by e-mail or opens it to the public and it can be posted on your stream that you are in a hangout. You can discuss specific topics or just roll. As you are reading this think about how you could talk with potential buyers or sellers about real estate in your market. Consider hosting a lender at your computer like a talk show guest to talk about new loan programs or even a HUD representative talking about the programs to save owners from foreclosure. The topic list is endless so just open your mind and think VIRTUAL information where buyers and sellers can meet you in the comfort of their home or office. They can read all about you on your google profile and connect with you all over cyberspace. Your guest speakers can be with you in person or on their own computer in their office.

July 18, 2011 I participated in a "hang out" for writers. We had people from Russia, Ireland, Pakistan, Boston University, Washington State and Germany. We all were writing for about 50 minutes. It was fun to hear the clicking of the keys as everyone was madly writing then after 50 minutes we opened the mic and talked to one another. During the work time the chat room was open so you could chat with anyone who just wanted to instant message. Below is a screen shot of what hangout looks like. The chat room is on the left and the video in the center. At the bottom you can see the people that were in the hangout room. On the right you can see my google+ stream.

To get started in the hangout room you have to install google voice and video chat on your computer and you are all set to go! This video shows how simple it is.

Check out all the hangouts taking place at any given time. Just click on the link and once you have installed your google voice you can jump right in and participate.

As a "vintage player" I was respectful of the conversation and tried not to be disruptive. I turned off my video to see about taking a screen shot on my new imac thinking I had turned off the sound too… lesson #1 mute the mic if you are going to talk outside of the chat room they could not see me but they heard me… yikes learning curve! There is a video mute and a mic mute!

Enjoy some of our fun engagement that took place in the course of about 15 minutes.

Thank you to Rebecca Blain, who is a contract writer and set this up to encourage people to write.

Talking about writers in general and their persona's.

"I don't agree with alcoholism but I love Hemingway."

Cleo Lomax blogger, mother and writer had her baby in a swing sleeping and her son sleeping in her lap as you can see in the first screen shot. She was able to connect with the virtual world while watching her kids and engaging with other writers… WE got to see her in her living room and she really shared some great insight as to other writings being discussed like Twilight and Harry Potter.

"What ever I read influences my writing so I try to keep my reading on the same vein as my writing."

Game of Thornes "Not the best thing to do unless you want to kill all your characters "

Moshin.. writes on political topics… Pakistan.

We all got an invite to the youtube you can all watch the video with Tim getting a masters degree in music education. He was to do an interpretation of this video.

Monica had her light saver from her profile photo and showed it to us as her profile picture is dark.

Felix from Ireland said: "This is like work watching everyone write then discussing things." Felix is customer support for gaming industry at Big Fish Games! He wanted no favors for Big Fish Game requests!

Book character discussion led to: Be tolerant of loss… as soon as you meet a character be prepared to die. Plot development.. this is like a writing class with the people sharing their writing journey.

Monica has a boyfriend who is writing a book on bird sounds…. he has a visual representation of the sound…. he takes the audio and converts it to print. My comments were "why wouldn't he do an e-book with the sounds as an audio link so people "birders" can listen?" The answer was…. the scientific community processes through print and the project is complicated..

An idea arose from the concept of audio waves for Felix from Ireland a science fiction writer… he says: "How cool is that… navigating through space on bird vibes."

You read it hear first.

Do you see how creative you can get with the hangouts. The perfect place to brain storm with people from across the world. We had theme ideas flowing and input on music enlisting the brain power of friends at google+.

What about a press conference on a hang out at google+ share the breaking news and events from your office?

Celebrities are doing it! You should too! Mark Hoppus from Blink 182. Just so you know, is very active and already has hosted a Google Hangout with fans;

Think about using google+ to present your product or service.  You can create a presentationon youtube and share it with everyone in the hangout or present photos from picasa then discuss it. Remember youtube, picasa and google are all connected. If you have been putting it off, go right now to get a youtube account and a picasa account for your photos. Connecting "juice" from the same tree is going to ROCK your SEO!

Why not share google+ with your customers and explain how they might use hangouts in their business? You may not need  "go to webinar" for some topics just have people hangout with you. Maybe google will add screen sharing…. who knows.. but for now and informal presentation to get together no matter what business you have can lead to real time connections.

If you need an invitation to google+ just let me know. I will need your e-mail to send an invitation.

Hangout on google+ for free. Invite your clients to the office and bring in their lap tops to get them set up on google+ so you can all "hangout" with the cool kids!

Filed Under: Carra's Thoughts, Cosmic Shift Happens, google+, google+, Vintage Participants Tagged With: , , , , ,
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