I am sure that you, along with many others, have experienced that moment when you have a flash of inspiration but nothing to write it down on. You try as hard as you can to remember, but you just cannot seem to get the thought to stay in your mind long enough to find a pen and a paper. This is especially frustrating when you are working on a creative project and dealing with a problem and the thought that you just had would have solved it completely for your whole group. Well, there is a new version of a PC coming out called the Napkin PC. This is a multi-user computer that is designed especially for creative professionals. The screen itself is designed to look like a napkin. It is thin and small so that you are able to take it with you anywhere. All you have to do is put int back in the “napkin holder” and replace the pen and you are able to share your ideas.

It was only a matter of time until a watch, like the Info-Live Watch, was developed. There is already a wrist watch that connects to your iPod so that you have your music and time in the same place. But there is a device being developed that is connected to WiFi that gives you updates to any network that you are connected to in the internet world. You can email, update to Facebook or Twitter, and check any other kind of network as you run, drive, take the bus, or sit at your desk.

Radios have been going more and more out of style as people turn to compact disks, iPods, and Sirius. Hardly anyone turns on the radio and dials into a favorite station, no one has a favorite station any more. The 08 Radio by Mikael Silvanto is going to change that. This is a device that lets you move a speaker along a calibration slide so that you can pick a station to listen to. It is simple to use, and has a very sleek interface so that you can change stations effortlessly and quickly.

These are just a few examples of some gadgets that you could potentially be seeing in the next few years. No sign was put up to tell you “Welcome to the Future!”, but here we are!

The biggest expense in any IT department is, of course, its human resources. The natural inclination of many corporate managers, then, is to implement strategies to cut costs on staffing—by executing hiring freezes or layoffs, for example. While these measures may be necessary in certain cases, there are other ways to increase IT ROI without making employment changes. Here are a few.

1.       Re-use hardware. Hardware costs for machines and peripherals can add up quickly. In order to get the most out of your investment in hardware, look for ways to re-use the equipment that you already own. An outdated server may be put to use as a desktop rather than buying a new computer, for example. IT managers may also choose to delay the purchase of new infrastructure for as long as possible. These strategies, when properly implemented, can save an organization thousands of dollars over the course of a year.

2.       Virtualize. Virtualizing machines and servers can save costs because fewer physical machines are actually required. This reduction in physical IT components can lead to reduced costs in utilities and space. In addition to these physical benefits of virtualization, software virtualization makes it easier to manage and distribute applications, lowering the overhead expenses for IT management.

3.       Manage assets effectively. Asset management is one of the most complicated and resource-consuming tasks faced by most IT departments. Using tools like the Dell KACE software deployment application to inventory and track IT components can help save costs by ensuring that “lost” resources are being found and put to use. Unused software licenses, for example, cost many organizations thousands of dollars. By using or redeploying these licenses, businesses can stop overpaying for assets they already own.

4.       Enable remote management. Remote management tools allow IT professionals to service and manage computers quickly and easily. Remote management also allows for upgrades and deployments to occur during off-peak hours, meaning that employees downtime is reduced.

5.       Telecommute. Allowing employees to telecommute where possible can save an organization in terms of physical resources like utilities and office space as well as employment costs. Many employees see telecommuting as such an advantage that they would be willing to take a pay cut to have the option. Applications like the Dell KACE disk imaging tool can aid in this process by ensuring that employees have the same resources that they would have in the office.

What strategies do you plan on implementing to reduce IT costs?

Slavery was abolished 150 years ago, right? While it is true that slavery is illegal almost everywhere on earth, the fact is there are more slaves today than there ever were. – Robert Alan Silverstein

At this moment there are over 27 million people in slavery worldwide because of human trafficking, so it is an issue we are all facing. In America there are a couple thousand people who are victims of labor and sex trafficking and at least a third of those victims are under the age of 18. Many people understand that human trafficking is a global issue, but fail to recognize that its influence is fairly close to home with over 20 cases having occurred in Salt Lake City, Utah over the past few years.

It seems that since this is such a large issue it would merit the attention of the major parties and would a part of their platform. The Democratic Party’s platform for 2012 only had one small paragraph on human trafficking that stated that all the Democratic Party would do is address the problem. However, this issue could prove to be a great weakness for the Democratic Party because the Republican Party is much more active in its position against trafficking and state legislatures are also much farther along in creating laws to stop human trafficking.

“Anything you can do, I can do better” is a phrase that comes to mind when thinking about the Democratic and Republican parties. However, in the case of human trafficking there is no debate or fight between the parties because the Republicans are much further ahead on this matter due to the fact that the Democrats have not taken a stance. While the Republican Party may not address the issue of human trafficking as thoroughly as idealists desire, they still presents a better case for abolishing human trafficking in America than the Democrats. The G.O.P. proposes that everyone, across the entire political spectrum, unite to end this new form of slavery and advocate the creation of an “Inter-Agency Task Force on Human Trafficking”. This agency would report to the president and would be designed for the sole purpose of ending human trafficking in America. They also suggest that the identities of known trafficking offenders be known and publicized throughout the world so that travelers and residents of other countries will be on the look out for these criminals. This would potentially and ideally speed up the process through which these offenders are brought to justice since a majority of the trafficking that goes on is outside U.S. borders. Although it is not an extremely strong position, at least the Republicans have one.

The states have a hard time enforcing human trafficking laws because much of it involves interstate travel. However, many states are doing all they can to fight the causes of trafficking and ‘stations’ where traffickers may stop and deliver people so that it happens less and less. They do this by creating laws against prostitution, changing the legal definitions of “abduction” and “sex offenses”, and providing care for victims of trafficking. There is no way that any long-term change can happen unless the federal government steps in and creates laws against human trafficking. The federal government has the ability to create laws that apply to all the states so that interstate travel does not become a problem in states’ efforts to end human trafficking.

Human trafficking is a huge issue that transcends any political borders that society erects and the Democrats need to realize this and help those fighting modern slavery.

Sustainability Trend #1: Sustainable Fish

The world population is growing at a phenomenal rate, and much of the global population relies on fish as a significant portion of their primary diet. But fishing boundaries are often unclear, and some nations tend to over-fish to meet demands of their local population or the global market. Emerging from this dilemma are concerned individuals and organizations that are focused on developing a sustainable method for raising and harvesting fish. Chefs like Jesse Cool and John Ash (both from respected restaurants in California) have pledged to change their menus at their respective restaurants to ensure that the food that they’re producing is sustainable. As part of their pledge they have a good agreed to do such things as 1) not serving any wild caught or farmed seafood that’s on Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch red “avoid” list, 2) agreeing to communicate their pledge with their colleagues and with the public to encourage other people to join them and 3) to use their talents to generate new menu items that demonstrate how sustainable seafood is as tasty as any alternative.

Sustainability trend #2: Sustainable Wood

Similar to the world population of fish, the world population of natural wood is dwindling at an alarming rate. Consumers across the globe enjoy using wood to build and furnish their homes, as well as a myriad of other purposes. Since wood is in such high demand, there have been individuals who stepped up to explore sustainable alternatives to many of the hardwoods that are over forested. One popular solution is bamboo. Bamboo is a very remarkable resource, given it can grow between 3 to 7 times faster than other trees. People like Leo and Lishu Rodriguez have become strong advocates for the use of bamboo for everything from strand woven bamboo flooring, to high end furniture. While reforesting is, and will continue to be a global focus, trendy solutions like bamboo will serve to reverse a damaging trend.

Sustainability trend #3: Sustainable Energy

It is no surprise that fossil fuels are creating massive problem for our Earth’s ecosystem. Fossil fuels burn very dirty and create pollutants that can harm our atmosphere and pollute the entire earth. As such a great deal of research has been sponsored to look into the viability of wind power solar power wave power in a variety of other completely secede sustainable resources. One new sustainable energy source that’s being actively researched is energy that comes from volcanoes. It may sound like science fiction but the technology and resources to make it a reality are right around the corner. Gumundur Omar Friedleifsson is the chief geologist and local coordinator of a project that is trying to produce geothermal energy from the Krafla volcano. If successful, his venture could create enough heat to warm 30,000 homes.

The time in life that comes quickest to mind when we consider a time in life in which we so extremely wished to be some someone or something we are not is high school.  Not very many teenagers are comfortable with themselves and so it is safe to say that most teenagers wish that had the life of someone else.  And it is no wonder that no matter where we are in life when our 10 year high school reunion hits we are suddenly faced with the same emotions and desires that we experienced in high school.  We need to prove who we are to a certain extent.

Way back when people might dress up and act completely different from themselves in order to give off a different impression and to appear better than they are at their high school reunions.  For some people this may still be a possibility, but for many people the implementation of social media networks has really brought this option down and kept it out of the running.

There are still times in life that we can be someone or something that we are not and these are probably more healthy and appropriate times to do so.  Costume parties and Halloween parties are the biggest times.  You can not only take on a whole different persona, but you can also add a mythical or magical aspect to it as well.  Whether you are a dude who loves musicals or a book worm who has always dreamed of sporting school girl costumes for adults, the options are unlimited at these events.

There are also times in life where you can reinvent yourself.  If you’re really looking for a change and not just an evening of fun you can reinvent yourself and be who you want yourself to be with new friends and acquaintances.

Whatever you choose to do in life there are times in which you can indulge in fantasies without changing your life and there are also times in which you can completely change your life and who you are as a person.  You can be whoever you want to be, but most of the time you should be yourself.

When it comes to planning a party or a wedding, there are times when invitations have to be sent out well in advance of the actual event. While this does provide guests with plenty of time to plan ahead for the occasion, it also gives them plenty of time to forget about it as well. Sending out Save the Date cards a couple of weeks before the event is a great way to remind people the event is coming. Fortunately, these cards aren’t expensive and regardless of whether you have an extensive guest list or just need a few, there are cards that are perfect for any occasion.

Share Your Proposal Story

If your Save the Date cards are for a wedding, you can make it more memorable by telling the story of how the proposal took place. Adding a photo of the location where it took place is a great way to make it even more memorable and personal.

Use Photo Postcards

Save The Date postcards with a photo of the happy couple or something representative of the party or event is a great way to remind guests. Since it’s a postcard you also get a special rate from the post office so sending them out is a lot less expensive than regular cards. They also hang well on a bulletin board or on the fridge which means your guest will be constantly reminded the event is close.

Send Personalized Messages

Hand written cards bring a nostalgic feel to any occasion. By making each card personalized to the specific guest with a mention of how you’re looking forward to seeing them but keeping the overall note simple adds a definite personal touch to them.

If you’ve got a lot of cards to send or simply have terrible handwriting, a nice script font looks great and signing the card still adds that personal touch to it. One neat idea for weddings is to have the bride and groom place their thumbs on an inkpad and use their thumbprints in the shape of a heart to “sign” the cards.

Create a Calendar

Calendar pages of the month with the date of the special event circled is a neat way to remind people the event is coming up. You can include a small calendar page in a card or simply send a large calendar page made online with a photo of the happy couple included at the top. Either way, it makes for a fun reminder for your guests.

Ideas for Save the Date cards don’t have to be expensive or hard to do. Any of these ideas are inexpensive and will fit in virtually any budget and making them fit your needs and style is a breeze. Using your mind and coming up with some creative ways to make the cards is a great way to make sure that your guests will appreciate being reminded that your special event is close and a fun card or note ensures they won’t forget.

He and his sister, Daphne, managed to lose a combined total of 50 pounds at home on their own, a feat befitting this season of no excuses. That accomplishment, combined with 14-hour workouts, positioned the two as potential front-runners in the race for the $250,000 grand prize.

But instead of “playing nice” upon their return, the pair immediately ruffled feathers. And Adrian just Would. Not. Shut. Up. Even after his teammates told him to button it. Even after Dolvett told him to shut his pie hole if he wanted to avoid elimination. He even gave Conda a run for her mouth.

So it was no surprise that Adrian was booted this week when he fell below the dreaded yellow line. But you know what is surprising? Adrian says he knew exactly what he was doing at the time, and he’d do it ALL over again.

In a media conference call Wednesday, Adrian said, “I wouldn’t change a thing” about his time on the ranch. He said he felt the vibe in the house and realized that he would probably be eliminated if his teammates had the chance. So he wasn’t going to kowtow to anyone — he was just going to be himself.

“One thing I learned early on in life is be who you are,” the Evanston, Ill., music producer and entrepreneur said. “People are going to like you or not. And the one thing that I stuck to my guns is: Adrian is the same person at home that he was on the show.”

He said he was actually insulted by the idea that he should “know his place.” “When somebody tells me to be quiet or be back … when they say pull back, it’s like you’re telling a child to be seen and not heard. I’m 34 years old,” he said.

Adrian said he went into the elimination room realizing he could be the one to go. Before he did, he wrote a letter to his sister to encourage her to go on strong. It said, in part, “Thank you for being my big sister. Thanks for being there for me. I love you. And when that confetti falls, let it fall on your head.”

The most valuable lesson he learned during his time on the ranch? “Everything that you need to lose weight is already inside of you. You just need to get off your backside and become dedicated and just lose that weight.” To anyone debating whether to take on the weight-loss journey, he says this: “It’s your life … nobody’s going to give you extra years if you don’t give them to yourself, and that’s what this weight loss journey is about, is being here for not only yourself but the people that love you.”

Although his time on the ranch was brief, it made a fashion statement. Those ascots, he said, are part of his own personal line, Ascot by Adrian. Sales are used to support his charity, Entrepreneur Endeavors, which teaches kids how to build small businesses.

Adrian is gunning for the at-home, $100,000 prize, but he said that he already feels like he has won. “I’ve already lost 100 pound. …This show is about getting your life back and adding on years.” Victory, he said, is getting to play “Head, shoulders, knees and toes” with his daughter — and keeping up. “That is the stuff that I went on the show to do. To be able to play with my daughter.”

He has a trick for staying on track. He keeps a wedding picture on his mantle showing the “old,” overweight Adrian. (He joked that it also is proof that his wife must have really loved him to marry a man that large.)

“I look at that picture often on the mantle when I wake up in the morning just to remind myself, ‘Do not go back there. You’re worth it.’ And not only that, your family’s cheering for you and you just want to be here.”

“It’s not a pleasant experience,” Armstrong told The Associated Press by phone on Thursday in his first interview since prosecutors in Los Angeles closed their investigation last Friday. After speaking with the AP, Armstrong participated in a teleconference with media covering this weekend’s triathlon in Panama City, Panama, where he is scheduled to compete this weekend.

“It was difficult at times,” the seven-time Tour de France winner said. “But I was confident that we would always end up in this place.”

And, for him, this is end of the doping questions. The federal government’s decision should put a stop to any allegations or rumors about performance-enhancing drug use during his career, Armstrong said.

“It’s over,” he said. “I’m moving on.”

The World Anti-Doping Agency this week urged U.S.federal authorities to quickly hand over evidence collected in the investigation that was aimed at whether the world’s most famous cyclist and his teammates joining in a doping program during his run of Tour victories from 1999-2005.

“I don’t want to get bogged down with that. I’m not concerned with that. I’m not going to worry about that,” he said.

Armstrong, who has been known to attack his critics in the media and on Twitter, had only issued a muted written statement in response to the end of the investigation when the decision was first announced.

He was reluctant to talk much further about it on Thursday, but said he had a quiet celebration with his family when the investigation was closed.

“I hugged my kids, hugged my girlfriend and went and opened a cold beer,” Armstrong said.

Although Armstrong was convinced that he would not be indicted, the cyclist said he was ready to fight a costly legal battle if he was.

“You had to consider all possibilities,” Armstrong said.

The 40-year-old Armstrong said he’d turn his attention in 2012 to competing in Ironman triathlons and supporting an anti-smoking campaign in California. He is also the founder of the cancer charity Livestrong.

Arguably though, Apple’s greatest achievement came in 2007, when the company flipped the smartphone world upside down and back to front with the launch of the very first iPhone.

It changed everything.

Apple said, ‘Forget everything you know about smartphones’ – and we did. Of course, back then we still used our mobiles to call friends, play games, listen to music and access the internet. But the iPhone did something different. It took the normal functions of a phone and made them fun. It made them stylish and artistic, yet simple and minimalist.

‘No keyboards here!’ Apple boldly proclaimed. No, the screen was the phone. Software took centre stage, and the beautiful interface asked us to use gestures to navigate. We were asked to pinch, zoom and pan, using truly revolutionary controls. And after the excitement of scrolling wore off, there was the App Store to keep us engaged. For the first time ever, we had a simple way to browse, purchase and download apps. Amongst these apps were a few games – games controlled (could it possibly be true?!) by moving the phone itself. We shuffled our songs with a shake, and drove fast cars on the tube.

‘How much is this thing?’ we asked. ‘Affordable’ was the answer. Apple don’t create shoddy products and then ask you to cough up a fortune – they create amazing products, and ask you to pay what they’re worth. Which is quite a lot, admittedly.

Yes, the iPhone became iconic for many reasons.

In fact, it was iconic before it was released. This is yet another trick up Apple’s stylish sleeve and one that works tremendously well. People place bets on what they think the company will do next, and hundreds – if not thousands – of blogs are dedicated to following their every move. In 2007, things weren’t so very different. The company said nothing of the iPhone’s release, but leaks, rumours and red herrings abounded on the internet. Our appetites were whetted, and we were desperate for a slice of the pie.

This is a formula that never seems to fail – the cauldron is stirred, and everything is brought to the boil just in time for the grand unveiling of Apple’s latest device.

We can thank Steve Jobs for that. Even as a young drop-out, Jobs was planning all manner of ‘science-fiction’ products for the masses to embrace and love.

Many have speculated as to whether Apple can continue in the same vein now that Jobs has passed on. He was renowned as an innovator, and loved by many.

Apple declared: ‘Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives … The world is immeasurably better because of [him].’

Bill Gates was also incredibly saddened: ‘The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come. For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it’s been an insanely great honour. I will miss Steve immensely.’

So can Apple continue to innovate and inspire? Of course they can.

Apple were the first to produce beautiful, brightly-coloured computers – Macs to adorn every artist’s studio. They provided us with the iPod, which revolutionised music.  It led to a collapse in CD sales, but this was innovation at its finest. And they’ve since given us the iPad – the first truly portable computer, which literally puts the world at your fingertips.

We haven’t forgotten Android however, Apple’s greatest rival in the smartphone market. Today, they are leaps and bounds ahead of Apple in terms of sales – and Google’s collecting the royalties. Their OS appears on half of all smartphones shifted in the US, rather more than Apple’s 30% cut. Android has licensing agreements with giants like HTC, Samsung and Motorola – familiar brands that make up most of the smartphone industry. The majority of these handsets have big, beautiful displays, touch controls and access to numerous apps. Functions, you’ll recall, that Apple pioneered.

So what is it that Android has that Apple doesn’t? Well, it’s all about control. You can choose from an enormous range of sizes, designs and shapes, all equipped with the Android OS.  You can buy Android smartphones that are tailored to business, social networking or games. You can also download any app you like from the Android market. So where does all this leave Apple?

Apple aren’t inherently about pushing the latest gimmicks, or providing you with technology that’ll be outdated next month. Consumers buy into Apple as a brand – not from, but into – because they appreciate the company’s ethics and innovation. You know an Apple product will last, because you know it’s been carefully designed. It functions reliably, and it looks magnificent. That’s the difference between Apple and its competitors.

‘Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me,’ Jobs said. ‘Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful…that’s what matters’.

Today, Android-equipped smartphones risk inevitable comparisons with the iPhone – but they’re just not in the same league. Every Android has taken its inspiration from the iPhone, a fact there’s no getting away from. During disputes with Google, Jobs even declared he’d ‘go to thermonuclear war on this’.

As for Apple’s future, it looks promising. The iPhone 5 will be thinner and lighter, and it won’t compromise on the size of the screen. Nor will it incorporate gimmicks that have yet to be perfected, though it will probably have something thrown in there to surprise us, just as Siri did when it appeared in the iPhone 4S.

That’s just the way Apple operate.

A generational-divide?

We are still waiting for the official voter statistics from Secretary of State Bill Galvin’s office, but I am sure we will find a large number of younger residents voted for Brown. Not because there is an ideological shift amongst this cohort (all data suggests there is not) but because Brown ran a campaign whose message was delivered in a tone and style that connected with younger voters, and was delivered using mediums they embrace.

Coakley, by contrast, ran an old-school campaign; where the state’s long-powerful party served her up as the right choice because; well, because they told us so. And that’s how things work in the bluest of blue states, right? Wrong. This is not Mike Dukakis’ Massachusetts and the Kennedy’s don’t actually run the state. Turns out things have changed since 1985 and no one told the Boomers on Beacon Hill.

I am not sure how democrats thought a generation that is self-reliant and anti-institutional (Gen X) and a generation that needs to be included in the process (Gen Y) would react positively to Coakley’s approach.

Benjamin Franklin called it…

Customer insights, like fish, begin to smell after three days.

So how did Coakley fall out of alignment with voters? Marketers know very well what happened; she let her customer data get stale.

The Coakley campaign worked off the erroneous assumption that recent elections were an endorsement for democrats in perpetuity. True, voters frustratingly reacted to years of republican rule that delivered poor results, but that was then, and today is different. Turns out voters are disengaged and frustrated with all of Washington. Her opponent paid attention to what the customer was saying and quickly crafted a message around their frustrations (good post on this concept at the Savvy B2B Marketing blog).

The power of the network

Having listened to customer concern and crafting a message around it, the Brown campaign then leveraged the same viral and social media marketing playbook that President Obama used to get elected: he galvanize his customer base to engage them in the process and then gave them the tools to promote his brand. This included leveraging their own online community (Brown Brigade), effectively using existing social media sites (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc), and even launching a widget called the “voter bomb” which allowed voters to blast messages of support to their personal networks.

All of these tools represent how an organization can utilize Web 2.0 technologies to empower their customer base to become brand ambassadors and spread the word to their networks, on their terms. The latter being as important as the former.