Sunday, November 30, 2014

Mark Strand (April 11, 1934 – November 29, 2014) - re-blog from Poetry Reading with Nobel Pulitzer Prize winner Mark Strand sheds pure delight: You should have been there 10/10/2012

Mark Strand, amazing poet...saw him just a few years ago at a reading, one of the most eloquent for sure may he RIP (b April 11, 1934 d November 29, 2014). Poet, essayist, translator, and Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress in 1990; That night I was so was fortunate to purchase his book "Almost Invisible" and have him autograph it ... a delightful, insightful, treasure :)


“There’s no confessions in my writing. I’m sure you know that already.”
~~ Mark Strand, October 10, 2012

Pulitzer Prize winner, Poet Laureate to the Library of Congress, American poet, essayist, and translator

On Wednesday, October 10th, a near full-house audience came to the Poetry Reading with Mark Strand event held at the Heimbold Visual Arts Center Donnelley Film Theatre of Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, NY. Strand read selections from his latest work, his second Pulitzer Prize winning book, Almost Invisible (2012).

As Strand read his works, there was an awe of silence around the theatre and there is something very special about Strand’s amazing presence and natural eloquence -- from tilting his head to his hands grasping the podium and even the way he moved his feet -- he is so genuine, kind and gorgeous.

The session was followed by an informative and inspirational Q&A where Strand answered about 2 dozen audience questions.

A wide range of questions were asked which lead to intriguing digressions ranging from the impact of the Surrealist movement and Fantastic art genre, and metaphoric and metonymic writing styles to sharing the one color he doesn't include on his palette and reading a quote from one of his favorite novels.

Below are worthy take-aways.

Q. How did you become a writer? What were the contributing factors?
A. I was never a reader. My parents were readers. One day we moved to South America and I was bored. My mother said “why don’t you write letters to your friends so they can write back to you.” I started doing that but I wanted it to be more than a letter.

Q. What attributes make you feel your poem is finished?
A. A poem that finally moves and I find it exhaustible. When you put it back on the psychic shelf and never go back to it.

Q. What’s your opinion of your individual art and how its worked into your other art?
A. My visual art cleanses my mind of verbal debris that seems to paralyze me at the end of the day. I could have claimed to be a visual artist or painter or collager. My friends who are do it all day long. My collages look like miniature abstract paints but I love doing it and it makes me happy and gives me a reason to wake up and get out of bed. One of my favorite novels is Dicken's David Copperfield. I urge you all to read David Copperfield. Strand then read an excerpt about Micawber, which is also included in the contents of his latest book Almost Invisible.
"Gentlemen," returned Mr. Micawber, "do with me as you will? I am a straw upon the surface of the deep, and am tossed in all directions by the elephants--I beg your pardon; I should have said the elements." --Charles Dickens.
Strand then added "that sort of thing intrigues me."

Q. How wide is your palette?
A. My collages don’t look like collages. I have a pretty wide palette. The only color I don’t use is blue because it’s associated with the sea and sky. What’s more important than the palette is the thickness of paper.

Q. How do you deal with place and the notion that the poet doesn’t know where the poem is going. When you write poetry what is the process?
A. I’m a writer of poetry and never show anyone until the work is done. Problem with workshops is that you have all this input. The words from all the decision making become muddy. You have to go it alone and trust your own idiosyncratic thoughts. Poetry is more important than that. Poetry is more about experiencing. It has to sound like something you are glad with, but be sure it’s not something that was written by someone else.

Q. In the 1998 Wallace Shawn interview ("Mark Strand, The Art of Poetry No. 77". The Paris Review). You mentioned people don’t read poetry on the internet. Even with the internet, why do you still write longhand?
A. With longhand, you’re slowing down the process. The internet is too close to print. People who compose on the screen respond visually and not auditory. Young poets can’t detect ear and natural cadence with visual contact. Writing becomes more physical aggressive and passive when writing longhand.

Q. Why did you give up writing?
A. I gave up writing because I ran out of gas. When I say it and it sounds familiar like I’ve already done that before. When you experience that you decide to do something new. The urge to write is not a conscious decision. There’s something else besides consciousness in mind. Something else is being satisfied – an unconscious motivation.




After the Q&A, Strand was available to autograph his books.
Born on Canada’s Prince Edward Island in 1934 and raised and educated in the United Sates and South America, Strand authored numerous books of poems including Man and Camel (Alfred A. Knopf, 2006), New Selected Poems (2007), Blizzard of One (Alfred A. Knopf, 2000), which also won the Pulitzer Prize; Dark Harbor (1993); The Continuous Life (1990); Selected Poems (1980); The Story of Our Lives (1973); and Reasons for Moving (1968). In addition to his poetry, Strand is also an editor, essayist, author of children’s books and translator. His honors include the Bolligen Prize, three grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Edgar Allen Poe Prize, and a Rockefeller Foundation Award, as well as fellowships from the Academy of American Poets, the MacArthur Foundation and the Ingram Merrill Foundation. He is currently professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University (since 2005).






Strand’s academic career has taken him to numerous colleges and universities. Chronology below:









Teaching positions

► University of Iowa, Iowa City, instructor in English, 1962–1965
► University of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Fulbright lecturer, 1965–1966
► Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, assistant professor, 1967
► Columbia University, New York City, adjunct associate professor, 1969–1972
► Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, New York City, associate professor, 1970–1972
► Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, Bain-Swiggett Lecturer, 1973
► Brandeis University, Hurst professor of poetry, 1974–1975
► University of Utah, Salt Lake City, professor of English, 1981–1993
► Johns Hopkins University, Elliot Coleman Professor of Poetry, 1994–c. 1998
► University of Chicago, Committee on Social Thought, 1998-c. 2005
► Columbia University, New York City, professor of English and Comparative Literature, c. 2005 - present

Visiting professor

► University of Washington, 1968, 1970
► Columbia University, 1980
► Yale University, 1969–1970
► University of Virginia, 1976, 1978
► California State University at Fresno, 1977
► University of California at Irvine, 1979
► Wesleyan University, 1979
► Harvard University, 1980


Poetry
• 1964: Sleeping with One Eye Open, Stone Wall Press • 1968: Reasons for Moving: Poems, Atheneum • 1970: Darker: Poems, including "The New Poetry Handbook", Atheneum • 1973: The Story of Our Lives, Atheneum • 1973: The Sargentville Notebook, Burning Deck • 1978: Elegy for My Father, Windhover • 1978: The Late Hour, Atheneum • 1980: Selected Poems, including "Keeping Things Whole", Atheneum • 1990: The Continuous Life, Knopf • 1990: New Poems • 1991: The Monument, Ecco Press (see also The Monument, 1978, prose) • 1993: Dark Harbor: A Poem, long poem divided into 55 sections, Knopf • 1998: Blizzard of One: Poems, Knopf winner of the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for poetry • 1999: Chicken, Shadow, Moon & More, with illustrations by the author • 1999: "89 Clouds" a single poem, monotypes by Wendy Mark and introduction by Thomas Hoving, ACA Galleries (New York) • 2006: Man and Camel, Knopf • 2007: New Selected Poems • 2012: Almost Invisible Prose • 1978: The Monument, Ecco (see also The Monument, 1991, poetry) • 1982: Contributor: Claims for Poetry, edited by Donald Hall, University of Michigan Press • 1982: The Planet of Lost Things, for children • 1983: The Art of the Real, art criticism, C. N. Potter • 1985: The Night Book, for children • 1985: Mr. and Mrs. Baby and Other Stories, short stories, Knopf • 1986: Rembrandt Takes a Walk, for children • 1987: William Bailey, art criticism, Abrams • 1993: Contributor: Within This Garden: Photographs by Ruth Thorne-Thomsen, Columbia College Chicago/Aperture Foundation • 1994: Hopper, art criticism, Ecco Press • 2000: The Weather of Words: Poetic Invention, Knopf • 2000: With Eavan Boland, The Making of a Poem: A Norton Anthology of Poetic Forms, Norton (New York) Poetry translations • 1971: 18 Poems from the Quechua, Halty Ferguson • 1973: The Owl's Insomnia, poems by Rafael Alberti, Atheneum • 1976: Souvenir of the Ancient World, poems by Carlos Drummond de Andrade, Antaeus Editions • 2002: Looking for Poetry: Poems by Carlos Drummond de Andrade and Rafael Alberti, with Songs from the Quechua • 1993: Contributor: "Canto IV", Dante's Inferno: Translations by Twenty Contemporary Poets edited by Daniel Halpern, Harper Perennial • 1986, according to one source, or 1987, according to another source: Traveling in the Family, poems by Carlos Drummond de Andrade, with Thomas Colchie; translator with Elizabeth Bishop, Colchie, and Gregory Rabassa) Random House Editor • 1968: The Contemporary American Poets, New American Library • 1970: New Poetry of Mexico, Dutton • 1976: Another Republic: Seventeen European and South American Writers, with Charles Simic, Ecco • 1991: The Best American Poetry 1991, Macmillan • 1994: Golden Ecco Anthology, Ecco Press • 1994: The Golden Ecco Anthology • 2005: 100 Great Poems of the Twentieth Century, W. W. Norton
Awards
► 1960–1961: Fulbright Fellowship
Source: wikipedia.org (unless otherwise indicated). .



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Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Happy 393rd Thanksgiving America! November 27, 2014 - Collage of Google Thanksgiving Doodles Over the Years


"My cooking is so bad my kids thought Thanksgiving was to commemorate Pearl Harbor."
~~ Phyllis Diller, American stand-up comedienne, actress, voice artist, and comedienne, best known for her eccentric stage persona and her wild hair and clothes.(b. July 17, 1917 – d. August 20, 2012)


Happy 393rd Thanksgiving Day America! Thanksgiving, referred to by many Americans as "First Thanksgiving" was originally celebrated by the Pilgrims and Colonists after their first harvest in the New World in the year 1621 when they invited the Wamponaog Indians to their autumn harvest feast. Photo above right of a food decoration for Erntedankfest, a Christian Thanksgiving harvest festival celebrated in Germany courtesy of Wikimedia.org.

AllThingsDigitalMarketing blog would not stand to it's allthingsdigitalmarketing motif without a collage of "Thanksgiving Google Doodles" past and analysis of Google's basic design structure over the years. Besides the Google logo differentiating itself from the other search engines (e.g., Yahoo, Lycos, HotBot, etc.) it symbolizes uniqueness and mold-breaking vision. Below are Google's Thanksgiving doodles from the very first doodle in 1998 through present.


The very first Thanksgiving doodle was posted in 1998 (see collage above, lower right). Note how the clean, conservative signature Google logo design breaks all the conventional rules of branding and logo design. Ruth Kedar, graphic designer of Google's doodle, created one of the most recognizable logos (within a few years, Google's logo became as popular as NBC proud peacock and the CBS eye, also known as the "Tiffany Network"). Below are examples of standard branding rules Kedar obviously ignored:
        •   Don't incorporate more than 2 bold colors (Google uses 4 bold colors, playing with colors created a very child-like, playful yet bold design);
        •   Never over-kern letters (Google has excessive, uneven spacing in-between letters. Even though they have made a few changes (the latest in May 2014) the spacing is way off and obvious to the naked eye);
        •   Stay away from simple, elementary fonts (The original choice was the world's most popular typeface -- "Times Roman;" However Google's simple, chisel-style "Catull" typeface was selected for the subtle, sophisticated sans-serif design which incorporated old world writing style (e.g.,chisel and quill) with new age digital.

Google signature brand elements remained unchanged for the first Thanksgiving doodle (1998) with the exception of an exclamation mark and cartoon-like turkey, respectively at the very end of the word Google.

From a market branding perspective, Google doodles illustrate how breaking rules can be very effective -- violating traditional guidelines of logo brand management yet not minimizing Google brand equity. Interestingly, Google's Thanksgiving doodles gradually integrate design motifs within the Google letters (e.g., doodles from 1999 through 2002).

Beginning with 2003 to the present, Google doodle design integration spread to multiple letters with some doodles entirely replacing actual letters -- particularly with the 2008 cornucopia and in 2010 Google doodle's entire letters were replaced with food servings from the design by Food Network's Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten.


Can you think of other brands who have broken the rules with their logos and still maintained their brand?

Do you think breaking the rules for logos would work for other brands.

Here's the 2014 animated Thanksgiving doodle. Isn't is adorable? Enjoy!

To view the 2013 animated Thanksgiving doodle, click here!


Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and on the second Monday of October in Canada. Although Thanksgiving is celebrated by many in religion and cultural traditions, it is also a world-wide (non-religious) celebration.
Photo right miniature pumpkins by Gloria Buono-Daly (taken at Stew Leonards, Yonkers, NY, October 2013).

Our 16th President of the U.S.A., Abraham Lincoln, declared Thanksgiving Day a national holiday to be held annually in November during the Civil War (1863). Although New York became the first of several states to officially adopt an annual Thanksgiving holiday in 1817.

Not surprising, many Native Americans as well as other individuals disagree with the way Thanksgiving is mentioned historically particularly in text books, school classrooms and other periodicals. They believe millions of deaths resulted from the long and bloody war between Native Americans and European settlers and call Thanksgiving a "day of mourning." A History.com posting, reports that since 1970, protesters have gathered on Thanksgiving Day at the top of Cole’s Hill, which overlooks Plymouth Rock, to commemorate a “National Day of Mourning.” Similar events are held in other parts of the country.

Photo below left of Black Friday sale courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.
This Thanksgiving for sure many will eat, drink, and sleep while others will shop till they drop for many things especially electronics, smart phones and iPhones.
Samsung usually advertises their new products and for sure many will consider the latest Samsung Notebook 4 (released in mid October).

So be on the lookout for discounts if you are interested. Not surprising, iPhones will not have discounts.

Phone companies offer no-finance monthly plans with a slight discount if you lock yourself into a 2 year plan. Since many are not opting for cell phone lock-ins, you may find great deals for comparative, non-Apple products.



What will you be doing this Thanksgiving Day?

If you plan on being in New York City, there's always the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, this is the 88th year. But brace up, according to a recent accuweather post, "East Coast Storm to Snarl Thanksgiving Travel," "... an increasing likelihood for a swath of heavy snow stretching from eastern Pennsylvania through New York's Hudson Valley and across much of New England before all is said and done. Some places across the Hudson Valley and New England could even have snow totals exceed a foot." The strength and how quick the storm departs will determine any impacts on the balloons in New York City's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. While winds will be lessening during the day, winds that could prove to be too strong to allow the balloons to fly would howl on Thursday morning if the storm is slower to depart.



This year, the band, American Christian rock band from Seneca, South Carolina, NeedToBreathe, will be performing. The band is composed of Bear Rinehart (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Bo Rinehart (backing vocals, guitar), Seth Bolt (backing vocals, bass). To date, NEEDTOBREATHE has released five studio albums: Daylight (2006), The Heat (2007), The Outsiders (2009), The Reckoning (2011), and Rivers in the Wasteland (2014).
There are plenty of things to do on Thanksgiving -- see links below in the "Resources" section.
Thanksgiving Day (Jour de l'Action de grâce in Canadian French) is a national holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year.

Several other places around the world observe similar celebrations.

Resources:

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2014 R, TimeOut
NEEDTOBREATHE to Play at 88th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade , Urban Christian News
Ruth Kedar On Designing the Google Logo Google BlogoScoped
10 Reasons Not To Spend Thanksgiving with your Family, Babble by Disney
5 Tips for Viewing the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade , LuxeAdventureTraveler
How to do Thanksgiving without Family, Elephant


Please remember to check out the links in the resource section above and share this on your LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media networks you enjoy! Thanks!

Photos courtesy of Wikimedia.org unless otherwise indicated.



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Monday, November 17, 2014

America's most popular cartoon character turns 86 on November 18th, 2014 - Happy Birthday Mickey Mouse


"I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing – that it was all started by a mouse."
~~ Walt Disney

(December 5, 1901 – December 15, 1966) as said at Disneyland, October 27, 1954

The world's most popular cartoon character, and lover who became for the famous "Why because we love you," Mickey Mouse, also Disney’s mascot, turns 86 years old today. Did you know that Mickey Mouse is a native New Yorker? Mickey was born in New York City with the release of “Steamboat Willie,” an animated short film directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks.

Steamboat Willie premiered at Universal's Colony Theater in New York City on November 18, 1928. The original voice of Mickey was done by Walt Disney. The film was distributed by Celebrity Productions and its initial run lasted two weeks. Mickey’s girlfriend, Minnie, also debuted in the film.

Three days after it’s release, Variety magazine raved about the film, the review included “Not the first animated cartoon to be synchronized with sound effects, but the first to attract favorable attention. [Steamboat Willie] represents a high order of cartoon ingenuity, cleverly combined with sound effects. The union brought laughs galore. Giggles came so fast at the Colony [Theater] they were stumbling over each other."

Mickey has met with practically every U.S. President since Harry Truman through George W. Bush and even Barack Obama, with the exception of Lyndon B. Johnson. As the official Walt Disney mascot, Mickey has played a role in the Disney parks since the opening of Disneyland in 1955.





Besides many animated film features, Mickey was most famously featured on wrist watches and alarm clocks.The first Mickey Mouse watches were manufactured in 1933 by the Ingersoll Watch Company. The seconds were indicated by a turning disk below Mickey. The first Mickey watch sold at the Century of Progress in Chicago, 1933 for $3.75.

Mickey Mouse has received nine nominations for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. These are Mickey's Orphans (1931), Building a Building (1933), Brave Little Tailor (1938), The Pointer (1939), Lend a Paw (1941), Squatter's Rights (1946), Mickey and the Seal (1948), Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983), and Runaway Brain (1995).

On November 18, 1978, in honor of Mickey’s 50th anniversary, Mickey became the first cartoon character to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The star is located on 6925 Hollywood Blvd.

Among these, Lend a Paw was the only film to actually win the award. Additionally, in 1932 Walt Disney received an honorary Academy Award in recognition of Mickey's creation and popularity.

In 1994, four of Mickey's cartoons were included in the book The 50 Greatest Cartoons which listed the greatest cartoons of all time as voted by members of the animation field. The films were The Band Concert (#3), Steamboat Willie (#13), Brave Little Tailor (#26), and Clock Cleaners (#27).

All photos courtesy of Wikipedia.org and Wikimedia.org

Filmography SHORT FILMOGRAPHY
►Steamboat Willie (1928)
►Plane Crazy (1929)
►The Karnival Kid (1929)
►Mickey's Orphans (1931)
►Building a Building (1933)
►The Mad Doctor (1933)
►The Band Concert (19350
►Thru the Mirror (1936)
►Clock Cleaners (1937)
►Lonesome Ghosts (1937)
►Brave Little Tailor (1938)
►The Pointer (1939)
►The Nifty Nineties (1941)
►Lend a Paw (1941)
►Symphony Hour (1942)
►Squatter's Rights (1946)
►Mickey and the Seal (1948)
►The Simple Things (1953)
►Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)
►The Prince and the Pauper (1990)
►Runaway Brain (1995)

FULL LENGTH FILMS
►Hollywood Party (cameo, 1934)
►Fantasia (1940)
►Fun and Fancy Free (1947)
►Who Framed Roger Rabbit (cameo, 1988)
►Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (1999)
►Fantasia 2000 (1999)
►Mickey's House of Villains (2002)
►Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers (2004)
►Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas (2004)


Resources

Mickey Mouse on Wikipedia.org
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
Mickey Mouse Discovers the Government Cartoon Conspiracy Against Glenn Beck
MickeyMouse.com Welcome!




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Monday, November 10, 2014

Happy Veterans Day America, November 11, 2014


Happy Veterans Day America!

Veterans Day honors those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and is a federal holiday that is observed on November 11th.

Veterans Day coincides with other holidays such as Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, which are celebrated in other parts of the world and also mark the anniversary of the end of World War I.

The United States originally observed Armistice Day and it was renamed to Veterans Day holiday in 1954.

U.S. President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed Armistice Day as November 11, 1919.

Seven years later, the United States Congress passed a concurrent resolution (June 4, 1926), and requested that President Calvin Coolidge issue another proclamation to observe November 11th.
Photo right of soldier with folded American flag courtesy of wikimedia.



I was fortunate to receive this interesting article from one of my dearest cousins about my late father and his 3 brothers who served during World War II.


Coincidentally, major hostilities of World War I formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when the Armistice with Germany went into effect.


Do you plan on doing anything this Veterans Day?


Many celebrate with family and friends, and there are so many special ways to celebrate.

For example, sharing photos of loved ones who have served in the armed forces (I've just done that via the photo above), posting to your social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, blogs, etc. Also the traditional VD Parades, especially in New York City.
Photo below right of bald eagle courtesy of wikimedia.

Parades are wonderful especially for children. Being creative with children is also an excellent way to help them learn about history and Veterans Day. Have them read various periodicals (e.g., books, newspapers, magazines, internet, photos of soldiers, etc.) and ask them to draw pictures of various images that remind them of Veterans Day such as our American flag, relatives in uniform, Veterans Day Memorials, and our national emblem, the bald eagle.

If you happen to be in New York City, there's always the Veterans Day Parade, this year, the theme is “Land of the Free, Home of the Brave.” Organized in New York since 1929 by the United War Veterans Council (UWVC) this parade is the largest Veterans Day event in the nation with over 25,000 parade participants, and this year marks the 85th year.

The wreath laying ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. at the Eternal Flame in Madison Square Park (located in the Flat Iron district of New York City) and the parade begins at 11:15 a.m.
Photo below left of Aviation High School at Madison Square Park during the NYC Veterans Day Parade courtesy of wikimedia.

The VD Parade begins on Fifth Avenue at 23rd Street, and continues north along Fifth Avenue to 56th Street.

Raymond Kelly,former NYPD commissioner and also a Marine lieutenant during Vietnam War era, will serve as grand marshal. His wife of 50 years, Veronica, will march with him. She is a 10-year veteran of the Coast Guard reserves -- rising to the rank of petty officer first class.

If you can't be there, you can still see the parade live stream at myfoxny.com; More information about Veterans Day parade livestream at idigitaltimes.

Resources:
▼   Veterans Day 2014: Deals on meals for military personnel, New York Daily News,
▼   Veterans Day Parade in New York City,About Travel,
▼   America's Parade in New York City,About Travel
▼   Veterans Day Parade information on Wikipedia

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Saturday, November 8, 2014

Happy 95th B-Day to America's first comic strip superstar, animated cartoon character and most wonderful, wonderful, Felix the Cat

"Cure for a red nose:   Keep on drinking, and it'll turn blue." ~~ Felix the Cat
From 1924 film release, “Felix Dopes It Out.” As Felix tries to help his hobo friend who is plagued with a red nose. By the end of the short, the cat finds the cure for the condition via this clever quote.


Today, Felix, the worlds first comic strip superstar and animated cartoon character to achieve popularity with full-house audiences at silent movie theatres, turns 95 years old. Happy B-Day to you! Only FIVE more years till our famous Felix cartoon character reaches 100.
On November 9, 1919, Master Tom, a prototype of Felix, debuted in a Paramount Pictures short entitled “Feline Follies.”


Felix is also world reknown as the hardest thinking, Chaplinesque-like pacing, and longest lasting cartoon character in history.

Produced by the New York City-based animation studio owned by 32-year-old Australian-born cartoonist, pioneer animator and film producer, Pat Sullivan, the cartoon was directed by cartoonist and animator Otto Messmer. It was a success, and the Sullivan studio quickly set to work on producing another film featuring Master Tom, the Felix the Cat prototype in "The Musical Mews" (released 16 November 1919). It too proved to be successful with audiences and brought Felix greater popularity.



Many Felix silent short referenced alcoholism and Prohibition as commonplace and included dark humor particularly in “Felix Finds Out” (1924), “Whys and Other Whys” (1927), “Felix Woos Whoopee” (1930) to mention a few. Also in “Felix Dopes It Out” (1924), Felix tries to help his hobo friend who is plagued with a red nose.


By the end of the short, the cat finds the cure for the condition with social humor --"Keep drinking, and it'll turn blue."



Interesting Felix the Cat facts:
  • The question of how and who created Felix remains unclear. Sullivan once told The Argus newspaper in 1925 in Australia that "The idea was given to me by the sight of a cat which my wife brought to the studio one day." On other occasions he claimed that Felix had been inspired by Rudyard Kipling's "The Cat that Walked by Himself" or by his wife's love for strays. Sullivan's claim is also supported by the Australian Cartoon Association confirmation that Sullivan's March 18, 1917, release of a cartoon short entitled "The Tail of Thomas Kat", more than two years prior to "Feline Follies" is authentic.
  • Felix is the oldest high school mascot in the state of Indiana, chosen in 1926 after a Logansport High School player brought his plush Felix to a basketball game. When the team came from behind and won that night, Felix became the mascot of all the Logansport High School sports teams.
  • Felix the Cat was the first balloon ever made for Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1927
  • In 1928 Felix was one of the first images ever broadcast by television when RCA chose a papier-mâché Felix doll for an experiment via W2XBS New York in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx
  • Most of the early Felix cartoons mirrored American attitudes of the "Roaring Twenties.”
  • In 2002, Felix was voted in TV Guide's 50 greatest cartoon characters of all time, ranking #28.
  • In 2004, Felix was voted among the 100 Greatest Cartoons in a poll conducted by the British television channel Channel 4, ranking at #89
  • In 2004 Felix was named #36 in Animal Planet's 50 Greatest Movie Animals
  • Felix is also a cat food in Europe


By 1923, the character was at the peak of his film career. Felix in Hollywood, a short released during this year, plays upon Felix's popularity, as he becomes acquainted with such fellow celebrities as Douglas Fairbanks, Cecil B. DeMille, Charlie Chaplin, Ben Turpin, and even censor Will H. Hays.


Felix's image could be seen on clocks, Christmas ornaments, and as the first giant balloon ever made for Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Felix also became the subject of several popular songs of the day, such as "Felix Kept Walking" by Paul Whiteman, the most popular song in London in 1923.


Sullivan made an estimated $100,000 a year from toy licensing alone.

With the character's success also emerged a handful of new costars.
These included Felix's master Willie Jones, a mouse named Skiddoo, Felix's nephews Inky, Dinky, and Winky, and his girlfriend Kitty.

Felix the Cat sheet music, with music by Pete Wendling and Max Kortlander, featuring lyrics by Alfred Bryan, was published in 1928 by Sam Fox Publishing Company. The cover art of Felix playing a banjo was done by Otto and was subtitled "Pat Sullivan's Famous Creation in Song."

Most of the early Felix cartoons mirrored social activism and American attitudes of the "Roaring Twenties". Ethnic stereotypes appeared in such shorts as Felix Goes Hungry (1924). Recent events such as the Russian Civil War were depicted in shorts like Felix All Puzzled (1924). Flappers were caricatured in Felix Strikes It Rich (1923). He also became involved in union organizing with Felix Revolts (also 1923). In some shorts, Felix even performed a rendition of the Charleston.

Felix is also the oldest high school mascot in the state of Indiana, chosen in 1926 after a Logansport High School player brought his plush Felix to a basketball game.

When the team came from behind and won that night, Felix became the mascot of all the Logansport High School sports teams.


Among these, Lend a Paw was the only film to actually win the award. Additionally, in 1932 Walt Disney received an honorary Academy Award in recognition of Mickey's creation and popularity.






Silent Short Filmography
Feline Follies (November 9, 1919)YouTube video
►The Musical Mews (November 16, 1919)
►The Adventures of Felix (December 14, 1919)
►Strikes It Rich (1923)
►Felix Revolts (1923)
►Felix Finds Out (1924)
►Felix Goes Hungry (1924
►Felix All Puzzled (1924)
Felix dopes It Out (1924)YouTube video
►Whys and Other Whys (1927)
Felix Woos Whoopee (1930)
April Maze (1930) YouTube video


Voice Actors for Sound Filmography
Felix was silent until 1936 when the sudden popularity of Mickey Mouse prompted the animators to put Felix cartoons in sound.
►Mae Questel (1936)
►Jack Mercer (1958–1961)
►Chris Phillips (1988)
►Thom Adcox-Hernandez/Charlie Adler (1995–1997)
►Fred Newman (2004)
►Dave Coulier (official)
►Carlos Alazraqui (current voice)


Felix's transition to sound was not smooth sailing. Sullivan was unprepared, and added sound effects into the sound cartoons as a post-animation process with disappointing results. Disney's mouse was drawing audiences away from Felix. Sullivan's plans to start a new studio in California never materialized. During this time, Sullivan's wife, Marjorie, was ill, and would die in March 1932 and Sullivan completely fell apart, slumping into an alcoholic depression, his health rapidly declining, and his memory fading. Sullivan passed away in 1933. Messmer recalled, "He left everything a mess, no books, no nothing. So when he died the place had to close down, at the height of popularity, when everybody, RKO and all of them, for years they tried to get hold of Felix ... I didn't have that permission [to continue the character] 'cause I didn't have legal ownership of it."

According to Don Oriolo's Felix the Cat blog, as of September 2008 there were plans in development for a new television series. Oriolo's biography page also mentions a 52-episode cartoon series then in the works, titled The Felix the Cat Show, which was slated to use CG graphics

Resources

Felix the Cat on Wikipedia.org
Felix the Cat on YouTube The Magic Bag



Other Resources
Don Oriolo's Felix the Cat Blog on WordPress
Offical homepage of Felix the Cat
Feline Follies



Please share this on your LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media networks you enjoy! Thanks!

All photos courtesy of Wikimedia.org unless otherwise specified.

Friday, November 7, 2014

‘Winning Global Markets - How Businesses Invest and Prosper in the World's High-Growth Cities’
book review by Gloria Buono-Daly


“ . . . City markets in developing countries are growing at different rates in population, household number and size, household and per capita income, educational level and talent, age distribution, and the mix of supply resources to meet demand... ~~ Philip and Milton Kotler, authors, "Winning Global Markets" Philip Kotler , marketing author, consultant, and professor; currently the S. C. Johnson Distinguished Professor of International Marketing at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and was the first person to receive the "Leader in Marketing Thought" award voted on by the academic members of the American Marketing Association; and Milton Kotler, Founder and Chairman of Kotler Marketing Group USA   @KotlerOnGrowth Quote above from Chapter 1 (pg 27) of "Winning Global Markets;" (Photo above left, Prof. Kotler Stamp issued by Indonesia, 2003 courtesy of Wikimedia.org.

Photo below left of book cover courtesy Wiley.com and Winning Global Markets authors Philip and Milton Kotler


Just when marketers implement social media, programmatic advertising and mobile programs, etc., to optimize consumer marketing campaigns and assume strategic roles with their global enterprises are enough to capture target audiences, along comes "Winning Global Markets - How Businesses Invest and Prosper in the World's High-Growth Cities," an insightful global marketing resource about the latest demographic shifts and marketing trends for targeting the right consumers.

Geo-targeting alone is no longer enough to reach consumers worldwide, and "Winning Global Markets - How Businesses Invest and Prosper in the World's High-Growth Cities," describes the importance of why multicultural marketing is needed in order to effectively market to consumers in growing developing cities as well as delineates the latest shifts in demographics.

Philip Kotler, one of the world's foremost marketing experts, and his brother Milton, an international marketing strategist, explain why the future of marketing is contingent upon concentrations of top global cities and their respective metro-regions, and no longer on small cities.
(Photo below right of globe of developing countries with buildings courtesy of freedigitalphotos.

THE POOREST CITIES OF THE WORLD ARE THE NEW TARGET MARKETS (GRADUALLY REPLACING THE TRADITIONAL MIDDLE-TO-RICH HOUSEHOLD-INCOME CONSUMER MARKETS)


Gone are the days of major target market cities and here come the days of marketing to "consumers of global developing cities" -- consumers who represent the poorest in the world. This segment represents the largest target population, and opportunities are constantly increasing as the cost of smart phones and mobile devices continue to decline in price and become readily available to consumers in poorer developing cities of the world.

DID YOU KNOW THAT 600 GLOBAL CITIES WILL CONTRIBUTE 65% OF THE GLOBAL GDP OF $67 TRILLION BY THE YEAR 2025 ?

According to Philip and Milton Kotler, the top 100 cities will contribute 25 percent of GDP, and nearly 75% (440) of the top 600 cities will be in the developing world. (Photo left, blue wave, courtesy freedigitalphotos.

Consequently, cities in developing countries will replace traditional target locations. This target market shift will ultimately optimize marketing potential and enable corporations to tap into unsaturated markets and increase their consumer bases more efficiently, particularly in the decade ahead.

"Winning Global Markets - How Businesses Invest and Prosper in the World's High-Growth Cities," is organized into 8 sections:

        1 The Economic Power of Global Cities 1
        2 How City Metropolitan Regions Compete in the Global Economy 33
        3 The Real Generators of Wealth: Global Multinational Company Investment 57
        4 How Multinational Companies Target Global City Markets for Expansion 75
        5 How Cities Compete to Attract Midsize and Large Multinational Companies 109
        6 How a Nation Can Help Its City Economies 155
        7 The Responsibilities of Companies and Cities 179
        8 How Marketers Manage the City-Centered Global Economy 191

WITHIN A DECADE (2025) THE MAJORITY OF CONSUMING & MIDDLE-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS WILL BE IN DEVELOPING REGIONS

The majority of industry leaders throughout the global marketplace have indicated that global developing cities are experiencing increases in migrant workers as the emerging global marketplace transforms sustainable growth and the global marketing.

As a result, key players are gradually switching from “traditional target marketing” scenarios to more sophisticated, multicultural marketing in “global developing cities” -- i.e., China, Brazil, India, Middle East and Latin America. Although little to no significant impact will transpire within the next 5 to 7 years, multicultural marketers must begin planning phases now for the decade that lies ahead.

New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago will still maintain high per-capita GDP status; however major global companies will need to alter strategies and concentrate on growing city regions in the developing world to maintain their existing marketshare or at least stay afloat.

Furthermore, for multinational marketers to keep their position and market share, changes in corporate culture throughout their organizations must be implemented quickly so as to reap benefits from the changes in market conditions by 2025.

Major corporations -- Coca Cola, Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonalds, Nestle, etc., are already targeting consumers in developing cities. Will the marketing of "junk food" to these developing companies bring about healthcare issues, i.e., obesity, diabetes, heart disease, etc.?


“Winning Global Markets – How Businesses Invest and Prosper in the World’s High-Growth Cities” by Philip and Milton Kotler is an excellent resource for multi-cultural marketers. The authors articulately explain why local is the new global, how companies must adapt to the latest city-centered global cities and comes with a GBDaly Smile Rating - 5 of 5 smiles Up ))))). (Photo above left, Rogue Wave, courtesy FreeDigitalPhotos)



RESOURCES:
    ▓ █
    ♦  Wiley Press Release ,Wiley.com
    ▓ █
    ♦  "Winning Global Markets - How Businesses Invest and Prosper in the World's High Growth Cities" , Philip and Milton Kotler
    ▓ █
    ♦  Amazon.com book review of "Winning Global Markets - How Businesses Invest and Prosper in the World's High-Growth Cities" by Philip and Milton Kotler
    ▓ █
    ♦  Multicultural Marketing Resources, Inc.
    ▓ █
    ♦ Kotler Marketing Group web site
    ▓ █
    ♦ Kotler on Growth - Meet the Kotlers
    ▓ █
    ♦  Philip Kotler web site
    ♦  "Winning Global Markets" book review on Examiner.com


“Winning Global Markets – How Businesses Invest and Prosper in the World’s High-Growth Cities” by Philip and Milton Kotler
book review by Gloria Buono-Daly
GBDaly Smile Rating - 5 of 5 smiles Up )))))

Please check out all the links in the resource section above and share this on your LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media networks you enjoy! Thanks!

Photos courtesy of Wiley.com and "How Businesses Invest and Prosper in the World’s High-Growth Cities” authors Philip and Milton Kotler unless otherwise mentioned.


Visiting this blog frequently and sharing this with your social media and professional network is much appreciated. Thanks.

GBDaly exclusive "Smile Rating" (c) 2013 created and conceptualized by Gloria Buono-Daly.
.

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

PHILIP KOTLER is the S.C. Johnson & Son Distinguished Professor of International Marketing at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, and one of the world’s leading authorities on markets and marketing. He is the author or coauthor of Market Your Way to Growth, Good Works!, Marketing 3.0, and other best-selling titles from Wiley.

MILTON KOTLER is Chairman of Kotler Marketing Group (KMG) USA, headquartered in Washington, D.C. and Kotler Marketing Group China, headquartered in Beijing, with offices in Shenzhen, Shanghai and Wuhan. KMG China is recognized as the #1 marketing strategy consultancy in China. He is author of A Clear-Sighted View of Chinese Business Strategy (2004, Remnin University Press) and coauthor with Philip Kotler of Market Your Way to Growth: 8 Ways to Win (2013, Wiley); and a frequent contributor to the China Business Press. He is a leading marketing strategist and urban and community development expert, noted for his classic 1969 book Neighborhood Government (Lexington, 2004).


Saturday, November 1, 2014

See what you missed video of Women’s Media Awards Gala 2014 Women's Media Awards honoring
Amma Asante, Ursula Burns, Katie Couric and Barbara Walters

Yay! The "see what you missed video" is up and running on YouTube. Enjoy! And please share with your social and professional networks. Thank you!


Video thumbnail above of Amma Asante, BAFTA Award-winning writer/director of A Way of Life and director of Belle. Ms. Asante is recepient of the WMC Directorial Excellence Award for “Belle.” Video production and editing by Gloria Buono-Daly (c) 2014. A big thanks to colleague, Andrea Goldstein, for holding the camera.

Below is the article titled "Women’s Media Awards Gala 2014 Honors Amma Asante, Ursula Burns, Katie Couric and Barbara Walters" which posted on the day of the event (Wednesday, October 29, 2014). The below version includes updated photos.

"Barbara is a true glass-ceiling-breaker in the world of media. From a time when a woman would not be taken seriously reporting hard news, her relentlessness, bravery, intelligence and vision has changed the landscape of television journalism. Her skillful, timely and probing interviewing, her ability to ask the questions the public would most like to hear, and her fearlessness in challenging the world's most powerful leaders, has made her one of the most influential journalists in the history of television, and has provided us with a deep chronicle of the people that influenced the latter 20th century and a big chunk of the 21st Century" ~~ Gloria Steinem , Co-Founder of The Women’s Media Center, presented the Trailblazing Media Award to Barbara Walters. Quotes and photos throughout this blog have been updated. Bookmark, share and visit frequently. Photo above left of Amma Asante, Ursula Burns, Katie Couric and Barbara Walters courtesy of James Grant PR and WMC. Photo below right of James Grant, President, James Grant PR and Gloria Buono-Daly, video producer, editor, writer and interviewer, Examiner.com.

Enjoy the "see what you missed" photo album of The Women's Media Awards Gala 2014 on Facebook.


On Wednesday, October 29, 2014, celebrities, personalities, feminists, artists, business and media leaders gathered for The Women’s Media Center 2014 Women’s Media Awards. The event was hosted by Joy Reid – Joy Reid, host of MSNBC’s “The Reid Report.”

Co-founders Gloria Steinem and Robin Morgan were among the presenters.

Honorees:

♦ Katie Couric, global news anchor for Yahoo News - Pat Mitchell Life Time Achievement Award;
♦ Amma Asante, BAFTA Award-winning writer/director of A Way of Life and director ofBelle - WMC Directorial Excellence for “Belle” Award;
♦ Ursula M. Burns, chairman and chief executive officer, Xerox Corporation - WMC Carol Jenkins Visible and Powerful Media Award.
♦ Barbara Walters, creator & executive producer of “The View,” and ABC News special correspondent -WMC Trailblazing Media Award.


The Social Media Award went to Elianne Ramos, Principal and CEO of Speak Hispanic Communications and Founder of the Border Kids Relief Project. Ramos, (@ERGeekGoddess) also a Latino community advocate and is known as one of the most influential Latinas in social media. Ramos has a phenomenal online presence as social entrepreneur and is dedicated to various advocacy programs.

The social media honoree is selected online by twelve distinguished digital journalists, bloggers, and thought leaders.

The full house, sold-out event was held at Capitale, a Beaux Arts architecture building located on the lower east side of New York City.

Known for its opulence décor, Capitale features a 65-foot ceiling with an art glass skylight, spectacular interior Corinthian columns and marble mosaic floors throughout.


Photos of Capitale above right (exterior) and below left (reception hall with scagiola columns and coffered ceilings) by Gloria Buono-Daly. Gloria Buono-Daly .

This event marks the 6th annual awards celebration which recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to advancing women’s and girls’ visibility and power in media.



The WMC 2014 Women's Media Awards event is co-chaired by Jane Fonda, Robin Morgan, Gloria Steinem, Gayle King, Loreen Arbus, Pat Mitchell, Martha Nelson, Carol Jenkins, Jewelle Bickford, Lauren Embrey, Jodie Evans and Gloria Feldt.

Photo below right of Gloria Steinem, co-founder, The Women’s Media Center, feminist, journalist and social/political activist by Gloria Buono-Daly. Steinem presented the WMC Trailblazing Media Award to Barbara Walters, creator & executive producer of “The View,” and ABC News special correspondent.


The Social Media Award will be presented to an honoree to be announced.

The honoree is selected online by twelve distinguished digital journalists, bloggers, and thought leaders.


"Social media has brought news and differing perspectives to the world and changed the conversation...It is where the power to make significant change exists today," ~~ Jane Fonda, two-time Academy® Award-winning actress, humanitarian, activist and Co-Founder of The Women’s Media Center, as quoted during the Women's Media Awards Gala 2013.

Also Attending:

◊   Marlo Thomas, four-time Emmy-winning actress, producer and activist.
◊   Phil Donahue, nine-time Emmy winning Talk Show Host/writer/producer, media personality, creator and host of The Phil Donahue Show.​
◊   Julie Burton, president of the Women’s Media Center.
◊   Pat Mitchell, president & CEO of The Paley Center for Media, Women’s Media Center Board chair emerita, former Women’s Media Award honoree, co-chair of the Women’s Media Awards.
◊   Lauren Embrey, president and CEO of the Embrey Family Foundation and CEO of Embrey Interests, Ltd., board chair of The Women’s Media Center, co-chair of the Women’s Media Awards.
◊   Donna Deitch, award-winning film and television director, co-chair of the Women’s Media Awards.
◊   Sheila C. Johnson, founding partner of Black Entertainment Television, CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts, vice chairman of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, president and Managing Partner of the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, co-chair of the Women’s Media Awards, and past Women’s Media Award honoree.
◊   Bonnie Schaefer, former co-CEO and co-chairman of the board of Claire’s Stores, Inc.,co-chair of the Women’s Media Awards.
◊   Regina K. Scully, Artemis Rising Foundation founder, social documentary filmmaker,founding sponsor of “Women's Media Center Live with Robin Morgan,” founding sponsor of WMC Press, founding sponsor of Athena Film Festival in New York City, co-chair of the Women’s Media Awards.
◊   Mary and Steven Swig. Mary Swig is the founder and CEO of Mary Green Enterprises. Steven Swig is founding co-chair of Presidio Graduate School. Both are co-chairs of the Women’s Media Awards.
◊   Carol Jenkins, author, former WNBC anchor, former and founding president of The Women’s Media Center, contributing writer for The Huffington Post, board member of The Women’s Media Center.
◊   Maggie Wilderotter, chairman & CEO of Frontier Communications, past Women’s Media Award honoree.
◊   Clive Davis, five time Grammy-winning Chief Creative Officer of Sony Music Entertainment, Co-Producer of Diva Classic and founder of Arista Records and J Records.
◊   Carolyn Jane Maloney, U.S. Representative for New York's 12th congressional district.
◊  Melissa Mark-Viverito, Speaker of the New York City Council.
◊  Martha Nelson, past editor-in-chief and editorial director, Time Inc. and former Women’s Media Award honoree.
◊  Ehab Al Shihabi, CEO, Al Jazeera America.
◊  Rachael Kun Morehouse, five-time Emmy-winning producer, “60 Minutes.”
◊  Vanessa De Luca, editor-in-chief, Essence.
◊  Anne Fulenwider, editor-in-chief, Marie Claire.
◊  Richard L. Wolffe, Vice President and Executive Editor of MSNBC.com and MSNBC commentator.
◊  David Corn, Washington Bureau Chief for Mother Jones & Analyst for MSNBC/NBC News.
◊  Blake Morgan, musician, singer-songwriter, music producer and CEO of ECR Music Group.
◊  Roger Hickey, co-director of the Institute for America's Future.
◊  Lois Sasson, Jewelry Designer, Lois Sasson for Sasson Thomas.
◊  Janita, recording artist, singer-songwriter.


The Women’s Media Center 2014 Awards represent a powerful, influential, emerging, and engaging media force.

Facebook album will be available soon. In the meantime, there are many photos posted of the 2013 Gala on Facebook album titled The Women's Media 2013 Women's Media Awards.

Photo, from left to right: Carol Jenkins, Julie Burton, Gloria Steinem, Joy Reid, Katie Couric, Robin Morgan, and Pat Mitchell on the red carpet by Gloria Buono-Daly Women's Media Awards Gala 2014.


Photo left Joy Reid, host of MSNBC’s “The Reid Report” and host for the 2014 Women’s Media Awards by Gloria Buono-Daly.



Photo right of WMC 2014 Pat Mitchell Life Time Achievement Award recipient, Katie Couric on the red carpet by Gloria Buono-Daly.



Photo below left of Robin Morgan on the red carpet by Gloria Buono-Daly.
Photo right of Phil Donahue, nine-time Emmy winning Talk Show Host/writer/producer and Marlo Thomas, four-time Emmy-winning actress, producer and activist on the red carpet by Gloria Buono-Daly


Additional resources:

The Women’s Media Center – founded by Jane Fonda, Robin Morgan and Gloria Steinem – works to make women and girls visible and powerful in the media. The influence of the media is the most powerful economic and cultural force today. By deciding who gets to talk, what shapes the debate, who writes and what is important enough to report, the media shapes our understanding of who we are and what we do.