Saturday, September 11, 2021

Twenty years ago today our country was attacked, crumbling NYC's World Trade Center

This is a re-posting of previous annual 911 blog posts by AllThingsDigitalMarketing. Minor edits have been made (most content reflects earlier years) Please visit this blog frequently and share this with your social media and professional networks. Thanks.

I turned the "Falling Man" controversial photo upside-down in 2011 to celebrate the 10th year and today marks 20 years of sorrow and resilience.

This flipped photo is also symbolic of rising peace and love.  

Flagship 1 WTC stands at the symbolic height of 1776, the year when we Americans declared our independence and "all men created equal," now once again, 1776 beautifying NYC's skyline. This photo is symbolic of our rising towers, faith and independence. I share this post (update it a bit) every anniversary year.
For those born on 9/11 or near that date, please visit birthdaySpirit.org ~~  no matter what your age, visit birthdaySpirit.org and celebrate all goodness born on this tragic day of mourning. You can even register to stay up to date on happenings and things about 9/11 birthday members.

 “The Falling Man,” the 9/11 jumper — perhaps a man named Jonathan Briley — whose photo remains haunting to this day. At 8:46 AM on September 11, 2001, a Boeing 767 aircraft hit the facade of the North Tower of New York’s World Trade Center. Only 16 minutes later, another 767 struck the South Tower.Richard Drew/Associated Press

Photo below, "The Falling Man," by Richard Drew; which I editedcall
"Flipped Falling Man."


t
wo haikus commemorating 10 years after 9/11 (edited for 20 years)

▐║ 911 twenty
▐║ years later falling man is
▐║ still provocative

▓▌▄▒║ ▓║ ║▌

▐║ pin-straight Falling Man

▐║ endless time still shows the world

▐║ our land, brave and free


by
Gloria

Buono-Daly     &nbsp (c) 2011


Emotionally charged, mixed feelings  - From Poet Laureate, Billy Collins' prose commemorating all of the 9/11 victims, "The Names," posted below, to one of the most provocative, unforgettable images by Associated Press photographer Richard Drew, of a man falling from the twin towers, positioned perfectly in the middle. 

The photo was taken at about 9:41 am on 9/11/01 -- 15 minutes before the 1st building, the South tower, collapsed. Videos would show that the falling man was actually a tumbling man in the air and this is one moment in his time that was captured.


Note how perfectly straight, positioned in the middle and parallel to the burning towers the falling man is. The above photo was branded distasteful and voyeuristic -- never to be shown again, yet the incredible "falling man" is still around.

THE WORLD TRADE CENTER TWENTY YEARS LATER




For those of 

you 

wondering 

how our 

WTC 

looked before 

9/11/01, 

here's a 

photo 

by 

photographer 

Joseph Lopes 

taken in 1979.  




New York City's Office of Chief Medical Examiner using new forensic technology and advances in DNA science. have identified 2 more names. Of the 2,753 lives lost,  1,647  victims have been identified (the last 2 just a few days before our 20th 9/11 memorial celebration. 


------------------------------------------
PRIOR YEARS POST CONTENT:
There is much upside today. By the 11th anniversary (2012) the new multi-billion-dollar World Trade Center, was back up in lower Manhattan's skyline.

One World Trade Center (formerly known as the Freedom Tower) which was completed on August 30, 2012 and the final component spire installed on May 10, 2013.

Additional complexes include 7 World Trade Center, three other high-rise office buildings, a museum and memorial, and a transportation hub similar in size to Grand Central Terminal. The Four World Trade Center opened to tenants and public on  November 13, 2013. The 9/11 memorial is complete, and the museum opened May 21, 2014. Three World Trade Center open in 2015 and the $4 billion Transportation Hub, the most expensive ever also called "Oculus" (originally opened back in 1903) reopened  March 4, 2016.  Two World Trade Center's full construction has been placed on hold until tenants can be found; It began construction in June 2008 and is still expected to be completed by 2020. Three World Trade Center, in the very center of  the new WTC began construction in 2010 and is scheduled to open by 2018 (earlier than anticipated). As posted by wtc.com "The defining aspect of 3 WTC is its load-sharing system of diamond-shaped bracing, which helps to articulate the building's east-west configuration. This allows unimpeded 360-degree panoramic views of New York."  WTC overview photo above by Joe Woolhead, Silverstein Properties

Budgeted at 3.9 billion upon completion, flagship, One World Trade Center, formerly known as the Freedom Tower, has been opened since November 3, 2014. At 104 stories (1368 feet high), the decorative architectural spire atop makes the building stand at the symbolic height of 1,776 feet. Observation decks will adorn the 100th, 101st and 102nd floors. Tenants so far include magazine publisher Conde Nast and the federal government's General Services Administration. Visit time lapse of 1 WTC video animation of rebuilding 1 WTC.

Rendering of 1 WTC photo left courtesy of Wikimedia.

At 72 stories (977ft high) Four World Trade Center, was the first office building to open, (October 2013). First tenants were Port Authority, the Bistate agency that owns the trade center site and lost its headquarters when the twin towers were attacked. According to many articles and documentaries, there were about 200 people who jumped to their deaths, some were able to be identified only for the victim’s families and to provide closure for them. But there was no time to recover or identify those who were forced to jump prior to the collapse of the towers. We lost almost 3,000 lives that day.

Where were you on 9/11/2001?
I was working on Wall Street( on the corner of Wall and Water Streets). It was a beautiful, clear skied morning. I arrived early as I usually do and was at my desk on the computer when I heard a loud bang and felt rumbling underneath my desk at 8:46 a.m. I shouted "What was that?" Then 15 minutes later another bang, as some fellow employees arrived - initially we thought it was from a missile. Hard to imagine it would be the biggest single attack on American lives. I still keep asking myself "how could this be?" I was curious and ran outside to see what was happening.

As I was walking on Water St. and reached Liberty St., it was at about 10:00 am, I saw large billows of gray smoke, appearing to turn day to night, enveloping hundreds if not thousands of people running for their lives towards me – apparently heading towards the river. I asked some folks what is happening now and all were in shock. With all the commotion, all they could say while they were running was “it’s down, it’s down.” At that moment, I thought another plane came down. I ran back to the office and learned from colleagues that the South tower collapsed (incidentally, this was the 2nd building hit). The North tower (1st building hit) collapsed at about 30 minutes later. And the world would never be the same.


"The Names" poem by Billy Collins posted below:
Yesterday, I lay awake in the palm of the night.
A soft rain stole in, unhelped by any breeze,
And when I saw the silver glaze on the windows,
I started with A, with Ackerman, as it happened,
Then Baxter and Calabro,
Davis and Eberling, names falling into place
As droplets fell through the dark.
Names printed on the ceiling of the night.
Names slipping around a watery bend.
Twenty-six willows on the banks of a stream.
In the morning, I walked out barefoot
Among thousands of flowers
Heavy with dew like the eyes of tears,
And each had a name --
Fiori inscribed on a yellow petal
Then Gonzalez and Han, Ishikawa and Jenkins.
Names written in the air
And stitched into the cloth of the day.
A name under a photograph taped to a mailbox.
Monogram on a torn shirt,
I see you spelled out on storefront windows
And on the bright unfurled awnings of this city.
I say the syllables as I turn a corner --
Kelly and Lee,
Medina, Nardella, and O'Connor.
When I peer into the woods,
I see a thick tangle where letters are hidden
As in a puzzle concocted for children.
Parker and Quigley in the twigs of an ash,
Rizzo, Schubert, Torres, and Upton,
Secrets in the boughs of an ancient maple.
Names written in the pale sky.
Names rising in the updraft amid buildings.
Names silent in stone
Or cried out behind a door.
Names blown over the earth and out to sea.
In the evening -- weakening light, the last swallows.
A boy on a lake lifts his oars.
A woman by a window puts a match to a candle,
And the names are outlined on the rose clouds --
Vanacore and Wallace,
(let X stand, if it can, for the ones unfound)
Then Young and Ziminsky, the final jolt of Z.
Names etched on the head of a pin.
One name spanning a bridge, another undergoing a tunnel.
A blue name needled into the skin.
Names of citizens, workers, mothers and fathers,
The bright-eyed daughter, the quick son.
Alphabet of names in a green field.
Names in the small tracks of birds.
Names lifted from a hat
Or balanced on the tip of the tongue.
Names wheeled into the dim warehouse of memory.
So many names, there is barely room on the walls of the heart


Additional information at the following links:


║ Chiff.com http://www.chiff.com/home_life/holiday/september-11.htm

New York City's $4 billion World Trade Center Transportation Hub is finally open to the public — take a look inside

║See CBS video, “The Passionate Eye,” http://www.cbc.ca/passionateeyemonday/video_player.html?fallingman&playerType=wmp

║Video “911 The Falling Man”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EFvGuIXIJc&feature=related Images of bodies hanging out of windows, holding on across the steel across windows, leaning out for air.

║Google Blog: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/ten-years-later.html


My two 911 haikus:
║ 911 ten ═ years later falling man is ═ still provocative

║ pin-straight Falling Man ═ endless time still shows the world ═ our land, brave and free

Search engine stats for the term 911 on Sept. 11, 2014
Match type  &nbsp Broad   &nbsp   &nbsp Exact
Google   44,900,000   &nbsp 44,400,000
Yahoo   &nbsp 54,200,000   &nbsp 54,100,000
Bing     &nbsp 54,200,000   &nbsp 54,200,000

Search engine stats for the term 911 on Sept. 11, 2011
Match type  &nbsp Broad   &nbsp   &nbsp Exact
Google   981,000,000   &nbsp 431,000,000
Yahoo   &nbsp 246,000,000   &nbsp 240,000,000
Bing     &nbsp 245,000,000   &nbsp 242,000,000

RESOURCES & THINGS TO DO IN MEMORY OF 911 IN ADDITION TO VISITING THE 911 MEMORIAL
▓▌▄▒║ ▓║ ║▌ Soothe your soul by listening to music in memory of 911 like Unhappy Birthday, by The Bacon Brothers, Originally from the album "White Knuckles" reworked for the 10 year anniversary of 9/11 with updated lyrics, written by Michael and Kevin Bacon, Directed by Bill Keller
▓▌▄▒║ ▓║ ║▌ visit the NYC FireStore on Greenwich Street, NYC
▓▌▄▒║ ▓║ ║▌ World Trade Center Status Detailed By Developers 11 Years After September 11th Attacks , by the Associated Press, September 10, 2012
▓▌▄▒║ ▓║ ║▌ World Trade Center Timeline, by WTC organization

▓▌▄▒║ ▓║ ║▌ Downtown Manhattan Future Skyline animation, by Silverstein Properties


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!

This is a re-posting of previous annual 911 blog posts by AllThingsDigitalMarketing. Please visit this blog frequently and share this with your social media and professional networks. Thanks.

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

Monday, July 26, 2021

Bugs Bunny reaches the big 081: Happy birthday to America's smartest cartoon character born on 7/27/1940

This is a repost from previous Happy b-day Blogger posts

Bugs Bunny reaches the big 081: Happy birthday to America's smartest cartoon character born on 7/27/1940

“Eh...What’s up Doc?” 

Bugs Bunny’s most famous catchphrase introduced at the debut of cartoon short, “A Wild Hare,” on July 27, 1940

Hard to believe, the world's smartest cartoon character, Bugs Bunny, turns 81 years young today (7/27/20). Bugs was born with the release of cartoon short, "A Wild Hare," directed by Tex Avery, on July 27, 1940.

According to the publication "Bugs Bunny: 50 Years and Only One Grey Hare," Bugs was born in Brooklyn, New York, in a warren under Ebbets Field, home of the Brooklyn Dodgers. 

Actually, he was created by many animators and staff, including Tex Avery. According to the late Mel Blanc, the character's original voice actor, Bugs has a Flatbush accent.  He still stands as the funniest and smartest cartoon character ever ~ always the underdog yet outsmarting his tormentors. According to Kwame Opam of The Verge, "...As a character, Bugs Bunny is king, and he's as close to an animated culture hero as we're going to get..." 



A Wild Hare, was the first cartoon where both Elmer Fudd and Bugs are shown in their fully developed forms as hunter and tormentor.

In this cartoon Mel Blanc first uses what would become Bugs' standard voice; this cartoon also marks the first time that Bugs uses his catchphrase, "What's up, Doc?"



Animation historian Joe Adamson deems "A Wild Hare" as the first "official" Bugs Bunny short. The short was a huge success in theaters and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.




Other Resources 
A Brief History of Bugs Bunny, Bathroom Reader, Comics & Cartoons on Nov 8, 2010
 BugsBunnyBurrow.com
 Wikiquote.org; Bugs Bunny Quotes
 Yahoo Voice, The History of Bugs Bunny
► Bugs Bunny at the Symphony (Tour dates - 2012-2013
► Wikipedia.org: Listing of Bugs Bunny cartoons in chronological order 
► YouTube.com - The Wild Hare, starring Elmer Fudd, July 27, 1940



This post is a reprint from earlier posts by allthingsdigitalmarketing blog. Please share this on your LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media networks you enjoy! Thanks!

All photos courtesy of Wikimedia unless otherwise indicated.

Sunday, July 11, 2021

Nine years ago today ~ Marketing and the importance of purpose: First of a series of “evergreen marketing insights” by Gloria Buono-Daly

This is a reposting with a few edits. The first of a series of evergreen marketing insights initially posted on Examiner 9 years ago - July 12, 2012!


Do you have your purpose statement or personal brand statement?  Well, you should! Here's mine:

"I'm just an "unthinkable resilientist" simplifying the complex and obstructing the negative. 

Now it's your turn to tell me yours. You never know, you may end up inventing a new word organically, just like I did.



Purpose, it’s important, we all have it and use it in our everyday lives. Yet whenever one is asked to define his/her purpose, why is it so difficult to answer?  What are your apprehensions? 




The rust on the fence symbolizes aging, no longer resilient yet still cool and beautiful. The fence atop the railroad, a reminder sometimes we need to stop to enjoy the beauty, be cautious and stay on track. 

Photo credit: Gloria Buono-Daly, taken in NYC, Spring 2011

There are so many books/blog posts/articles, etc., both digitally and in print about personal branding and the importance of knowing your purpose. 

Photo credit: Gloria Buono-Daly, taken in NYC March 2012.




 One of the many things we don’t learn in school or on the job is the importance of personal brand.

How else can you create an innovative marketing plan and understand the purpose of your plan without initially understanding the real meaning of why you are here?

Marketing, like purpose, is having a clear perspective, confidence and drive, ultimately bringing substantial contributions and value in everything you do.
Just as no two fingerprints are alike, no two marketers are alike - we all have a special and unique story that is incorporated into our work whether we are aware of it or not. 


 There may be similar skill-sets, education, or a generic marketing plan/guideline, but it is the unique initiative, thinking, and creative execution in our work that motivates us to act and accomplish.

When tackling the question “what is your purpose?” one may perceive it as networking all the time or being on the Internet all day writing, but to say this would be deceiving. Gravitating towards networking in person or on the Internet, illustrates the enjoyment and appreciation of meeting and learning about others, e.g., marketers, writers, etc.

This also illustrates interest and enthusiasm to participate interactively by sharing comments, suggestions, and ideas. This can be mentally stimulating (like reading a good book or tablet). If this action touched one person or encouraged many to think, imagine, and improve, then this has made a difference and helped someone.

There are many reasons why purpose is a major element for marketers and personal brand. Think about it and share your thoughts, which will be incorporated into the next series article titled, "Marketing and the importance of being personal."


One of my favorite inspiring quotes to help you find and define your purpose:  

"Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity."   ~ Albert Einstein, German theoretical physicist, world renown as the father of Physics, (March 14, 1879 – April 18, 1955)



This article was first posted on Examiner.com on July 12, 2012). Marketing and the importance of purpose: First of a series of “evergreen marketing insights”



AllThingsDigitalMarketing Blog introducing article on Examiner at http://myblog.allthingsdigitalmarketing.com/2012/07/my-first-of-series-of-marketing.html

Thursday, July 1, 2021

Happy 245th Independence Day America! Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks, still on but mostly likely fewer in-person crowds than normal. Enjoy it digitally or on TV. How Will You Be Celebrating?

This blog has been updated from previous July 4th articles on AllThingsDigitalMarketing blog. Thank you for visiting, and please share with your social media and professional networks. Thanks.

Happy 245th Independence Day America! Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks, still on but most likely fewer in-person crowds than normal. Progress since last year, when no in-person crowds were allowed due to COVID19.  Enjoy it in NYC in person, digitally or on TV.  

How do you plan on Celebrating? 

Happy 245th Independence Day America! The 81st Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks, the nation’s largest Independence Day display, on the East River still on but no in-person crowds in New York City will begin at 8 p.m. and broadcast on NBC, Sunday, July 4th.  The actual fireworks will begin after 9 p.m. over the East River in Midtown Manhattan.  

How Will You Be Celebrating?  This is the 2nd July 4th during COVID19.

Where to watch this years Macys Fireworks show. Some areas in NYC to watch include East 23rd, East 34th and East 42nd streets. Click here for more locations and answers to frequently asked questions. 

Here's the 202 Google July 4th Doodle - it's an animated Bald Eagle Parade - America's national symbol of freedom and sovereignty. The bald eagle was selected on June 20, 1782 as the emblem of the USA because of its long life, great strength and majestic looks - also at that time, it was thought to be only present in the United States.  More information at baldeagleinfo.com. 


I just love the 2020 Google July 4th Doodle it's an adorable interactive celebration (this link takes you to information and history behind the Google July 4th doodles. For the actual doodle on the google search engine, see below video on YouTube  and enjoy!





Last year, Google's doodle had an interactive July 4th interactive  baseball doodle! 

Here's Google's 2019 Fourth of July doodle - enjoy this interactive doodle which lets you play baseball game.


And here's one of my favorite quotes about America's Happy Independence Day, July 4th!


“You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. 

You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.” Erma Bombeck, American humorist, reknown suburban home life newapaper columnist chronicling ordinary life of a midwestern suburban housewife (mid-1960s - late 1990s); Publisher of 15 books, most bestsellers; On patriotism & Independence Day.

Video from lmy 7/4th 2018 fireworks show at Cross County Shopping Center, Yonkers, NY 




Visit this link for more information about
Macy’s  Fireworks - Macy's lit light up the Brooklyn Bridge with fireworks and will also light Smartphones for 1st time ever (2017)! Will you be syncing your smartphone this July 4th?

Visit this link  Celebrate 4th of July with Macys!  according t0 NYCGO.com 


Visit this link Best Places to Watch Fireworks in NYC 

Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks, the nation’s largest Independence Day display, returned to the East River a few years back and it's still here :)   

How Will You Be Celebrating??
For things to do in NYC on July 4th visit the following posts: 
Δ Where to Watch Macys July Fourth Fireworks as listed on www.macys.com/social/fireworks/

ΔFifth Annual Freedom Fest, July 4, 2019  (here's link from July 4, 2018)
Δ Fourth of July in New York City post by NYC TOURIST.
Δ Fourth of July at SkyRoom, Hells Kitchen, NYC
Δ Where to Eat and Drink on July Fourth in NYC



No plans yet? You can always play baseball with Google's 2019 4th interactive doodle!

Here's Google's 2019 Fourth of July doodle - enjoy this interactive doodle which lets you play baseball game.

Here's Google's wonderful doodle from 2018 Fourth of July! 



Happy Independence Day America! Wishing you and yours a happy, healthy and safe one.

However you spend it and whatever you do, please remember to not text while driving or while playing with fireworks. Hard to believe, I swear you can't make this up: On a July 4, 2015 morning on my way home from the Jersey Shore, a lady driver was in her car plucking hairs from her chin on Hope Road before the right turn onto the Garden State Parkway not only during the red light but continuing tweezing even when the light turned green. She must have a hell of a lot of hair on her chin.


Although President Adams's Independence Day prediction was July 2, the actual date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress, from the getgo, Americans celebrated independence on July 4th, which is the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence. Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. This year marks the 242nd Anniversary!


Remarkable coincidence is that both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the only signers of the Declaration of Independence who later served as Presidents of the United States, died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration.




Although not a signer of the Declaration of Independence, but another Founding Father who became a President, James Monroe, died on July 4, 1831, thus becoming the third president in a row who died on this memorable day. Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President, was born on July 4, 1872, and, so far, is the only President to have been born on Independence Day.
If you happen to be in New York City on July 4th, don't miss Macy's Fourth of July fireworks display on the East River which begins at 9:00pm. This year marks Macy's 41st year celebrating July 4th with fireworks in NYC. More information visit this link at Macy's 4th of July Fireworks!  from FoxNews.  

Photos courtesy of Wikimedia.org unless otherwise indicated.
This blog has been updated from a previous article. Thank you for visiting, and please share with your social media and professional networks. Thanks.

Saturday, June 19, 2021

Happy 112th Father's Day and Fatherhood Day America! Sunday, June 20, 2021

This Father's Day blog post is a repost from previous Father's Day posts from this blog with minor updates.  Enjoy!


Happy 112th Father's Day (and Fatherhood Day) America! Sunday, June 20, 2021

"It is easier for a father to have children than for children to have a real father." 
 ~~ Pope John XXIII 
(Latin: Ioannes XXIII), born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli (Italian pronunciation: [ˈandʒelo dʒuˈzɛppe roŋˈkalli]; 25 November 1881 – 3 June 1963), reigned from 28 October 1958 to his death in 1963. (photo above right, boy with hand-made gift for his dad, courtesy of freedigitalphotos.com)


"My father could have been a great comedian but he didn't believe that was possible for him. So he made a conservative choice. Instead he got a 'safe job' as an accountant, and when I was 12 years old he was let go from that safe job. Our family had to do whatever we could to survive...I learned many great lessons from my father, not the least of which, was that you can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love." 
~~ Jim Carrey, 
Award winning actor, comedian, children's book author, philanthropist, on how his late father inspired him to follow his dreams. Quote taken from his speech at a recent Maharshi University Management Class of 2014 in Fairfield, Iowa, and received an honorary doctorate for his achievements as a comedian, artist, author, and philanthropist. (Photo,You Tube video screen capture; Full speech at http://youtu.be/ajMpfPYlHi4)


I use to update this post every year with Google's doodle for FD - it may or may not be updated this year.  (see below)

Happy 109th  Father's Day America! The first Father's Day celebration was in the Spokane YMCA on June 19, 1910.  Incidentally either plural possessive (i.e., Fathers') or individual possessive (i.e., Father's) can be used; However, the original proclamation law referred to Father's Day.

Many countries celebrate it on the third Sunday of June, but it is also celebrated widely on other days. 


This year, Google's animated Father's Day doodle by doodler, Olivia Huynh, intends to characterize the “universality of familial love.” In 2013, Google celebrated Father's Day with an interactive doodle that shows dads in many different roles with simple clicks. IN 2014, Google's doodle celebrated Father's Day and World Cup with an adorable doodle moustached dad with the letter O (this was one of my faavorites).



While I'm at it, I have to share a photo of my Grandfather (Angelo Buono) circa about 1908 with a similar moustache like Google doodle. Born in Naples, Italy my grandmother would tell me stories of how he became an engineer and seeked a better life by immigrating to the U.S. Around 7 years later, 1915, he moved to New York, NY and opened a fruit and produce business on Arthur Avenue, the Bronx's Little Italy. The business stayed in the family for over 80 years (1915 - late 1990's).

Did you know that "Father's Day" was created to complement Mother's Day, a celebration that honors mothers and motherhood. In addition to Father's Day, International Men's Day is celebrated in many countries on November 19 for men and boys who are not fathers.



Here are more photos of my grandfathers - Imperati and Buono - Hard working ntrepreneurs, they came to the USA for a better life, and to start families - both sides had 8 children;  I would not be here without them. It was never about money but surviving and providing a better life for the family. Love you guys. I pray, and thank my lucky stars every day. 

Photo left, my mom's dad Andrea Imperati, standing in the middle - his mother would live to 103 years old - she would still pick fruit and vegetables from her garden. He and my grandmother, Elvira Travaglina, would have 4 girls, 4 boys (living to see 3 predecease him)









 
Photo right, my father's dad Angelo Buono. He and his wife Carmela Piccolo, would have 7 boys and 1 girl (the eldest).

Photo right, another photo of my dad's dad, Angelo Buono. I'm not sure but this may have been taken in Italy. He is probably with one of his relatives during a Holy Communion or Confirmation many years ago.   Family and religion, always so important to my family. It was their pride, love, and joy.  


How well-dressed they were. As a style fan I really like the cravat (loose bow tie) worn by the child with a double-breasted jacket and the sharp light tailored suit with necktie and button-down vest on my grandfather. 


Below is a photo of my mother's father our Grandfather Andrea Imperati (Imperato). He was already a grandfather, couldn't find earlier photos.





For those of us whose dads are no longer with us, (an estimate of about 100 million folks in the U.S.A.) and for the many more who still have their dad, there are so many things to do to keep his memory in your heart. Do things that your dad loved and things that brought out the best as well as visiting your dad's friends and family.(photo left courtesy of freedigitalphotos.com)

I have so many fond memories as a child with my dad and other family members at the Jersey Shore that I was inspired to write a short story in memory of my dad, “The Painting Ballerina".


The short story (published in 1999) was about a young girl by the sea who with the help of her animal friends, creates a new art form “ paint-dancing.”

TESTAMENT TO ALL FATHERS AND VETERANS OF THE U.S.A. 
 Enjoy this article originally written years ago and updated and reprinted a few times in a local Il Progresso about my late dad and his fellow veteran brothers who served WWII with honors. 

 WANT TO GIVE SOMETHING DIFFERENT THIS FATHER'S DAY?

Besides baseball games, brunch in NYC or a beer cruise in NYC, and DadFests, why not celebrate "Father's Day" by donating to NTEN, a membership organization of nonprofit professionals who put technology to use for their causes. This is great especially for all you digital, tech geeks out there.



What things do (or did) your dad enjoy? Are you planning anything special this Father's Day?

Lovingly and appropriately, I did things that my dad enjoyed this FD weekend -- dining out at fine restaurants with friends and having lots of laughs throughout the event. Here's a few photos posted on Facebook - Ladies Night Out to celebrate birthdays of Helen and Rosann.




Things to do and other resources for Father’s Day: 
http://www.active.com/roosevelt-island-ny/running/distance-running-races/running-of-the-balls-5k-and-10k-2017
•http://www.fatherhood.gov/pledge Take the Fatherhood Pledge
• http://www.innewyork.com/fathers-day-2015
• http://www.albanyevents.org/events/Dad_Fest_4_event_main.htm
• http://www.newyork.com/events/fathers-day/
• http://www.gayot.com/restaurants/best-newyork-ny-top10-fathers-day_1ny.html
• http://www.timeout.com/newyork/fathers-day
• http://parade.condenast.com/303824/leahingram/10-freebies-for-fathers-day-2014/ 10 Freebies for Father's Day
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father's_Day Father's Day on Wikipedia
• http://www.neilchethik.com/writings-fatherloss-fathersday.htm
 • www.momanddadday.com
• http://www.ccrny.com/blog/
• http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Fathers-Day.shtml
• http://fathersday2013.net/
• http://www.uncommongoods.com/occasions/fathers-day-gifts/fathers-day-gifts
 • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/10/bill-clinton-father-of-the-year_n_2447453.html 



This blog posting is a re-post from previous Father's Day blog posts from the AllThingsDigitalMarketing.com blog. 

Friday, May 28, 2021

Happy 154th Memorial Day America, Monday, May 31, 2021

 Happy 154th  Memorial Day America, Monday, May 31, 2021

Wishing everyone a very healthy, happy, safe, and COVID19-free weekend.  More important information from MedicineNet's article Safe Memorial Day Planning during COVID-19 Pandemic - enjoy!  Or you You can copy/paste the following link in your browser: https://www.medicinenet.com/safe_memorial_day_planning_during_covid-19-news.htm



This blog is an update from previous Memorial Day blog postings with minor edits. Enjoy!
I call this photo "BIG RED FLOWER."  I took this photo at the Bronx River, 4/29/2014, originally thought it was a tulip.  But realize it's a beautiful, large POPPY symbolic of so many things, during Memorial Day, symbolizing our fallen heroes. 

Let this BIG RED FLOWER be whatever you want it to be, let it mean whatever you want it to mean. Whatever, I hope looking at it brings you some joy and smiles.


Happy Memorial Day Weekend America! We need to keep on remembering and praying for all of our U.S. veterans who have sacrificed their lives fighting for our great country, the U.S.A.

“We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies." 
 ~~ Moina Michael (aka Poppy Lady)
U.S. professor and humanitarian who vowed to always wear a red poppy as a symbol of remembrance for those who served in the war. In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," Moina Michael replied with her own poem, We Shall Keep the Faith, November 1918


In Flanders Fields by John McCrae 
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow,
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky,
The larks, still bravely singing, fly,
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead.
Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved and now we lie,
In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw,
The torch, be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us, who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow,
In Flanders Fields. 


We all seem to forget that we celebrate Memorial Day for the many service members who have lost their lives serving our country. Memorial Day is one of the special times of the year to honor loved ones who have passed and "In Flanders Fields" reminds us of those who have died protecting our country and freedom.



FASHION TRENDS ON MEMORIAL DAY 
 Memorial Day marks the first day of the year for white-wear. The traditional fashion trend, “no white before Memorial Day or after Labor Day” gained popularity as the wealthy began wearing white in the summer. 


Light clothing was the symbol of leisure and black and navy were always the norms for the working class. This fad continued until years later as many began replacing white pants with the likes of bold solids and floral prints, pastel jungle prints, red jumpsuits, neon pink, and cobalt sundresses. 

I was fortunate to receive this 
article from one of my very 
dearest cousins about our late 
fathers and their 2 brothers 
(total 7 brothers, 1 sister).

All 4 brothers served during WWII. We were blessed as all 4 survived; However, we always remember those soldiers who sacrificed their lives. 


FASHION FOR MEN TOO THIS MEMORIAL DAY 
 For all you men out there, check out GQ for ways to wear white on Memorial Day, Three Ways to Wear White on Memorial Day http://www.gq.com/style/blogs/the-gq-eye/2015/05/memorial-day-three-ways-to-wear-white.html 


What to do in NYC on Memorial Day weekend 

► Memorial Day weekend events in NYC, TimeOut http://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/memorial-day-weekend-events-in-nyc?package_page=36341
Best beaches near NYC http://www.timeout.com/newyork/attractions/best-beaches?package_page=36341
► The best NYC parks, TimeOut http://www.timeout.com/newyork/parks?package_page=36341
► Memorial Day Parade, NYCCO.com
► New York Memorial Day Weekend Events https://www.eventbrite.com/d/ny--new-york/memorial-day-weekend/
► Best Things to do in NYC, NYCtrip.com
► How to Observe Memorial Day , http://www.usmemorialday.org/observe.htm 


HISTORY OF MEMORIAL DAY 
 The first Memorial Day celebration traces back to May 30, 1868. Memorial Day honors men and women who fought for our country so that we can all be free. 

Originally coined "Decoration Day," Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. Memorial Day is less about barbecues and more about celebrating our nation’s veterans. Don't forget -- raise your flag half-staff -- honor more than one million Americans who gave their lives in service of this country for our freedom. 

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states.

The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis' birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee. 

Memorial Day Fashion Trends 

► Enjoy the Long Weekend with Memorial Day Fashion Finds on Glamour.com http://www.glamour.com/fashion/blogs/dressed/2015/05/memorial-day-fashion-sales-2015
► What To Wear For Every Kind Of Memorial Day Weekend http://www.luckyshops.com/article/memorial-day-outfits
► Do You Have to Wait Until After Memorial Day to Wear White? | http://ksoo.com/do-you-have-to-wait-until-after-memorial-day-to-wear-white/?trackback=tsmclip
► Moina Bell Michael: the Idea for the Flanders Fields Memorial Poppy 

Other Resources 

USmemorialday.org
Memorial Day Calendar 
Memorial Day History 
► How to Observe Memorial Day
► Buddy Poppy
► The Story Behind the Poppy
► InflandersFields-YouTube
► InflandersFields-YouTube 


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

Wishing you and yours a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.

All photos courtesy of Wikimedia unless otherwise indicated.

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO - Powderkeg by Aaron Glenn (feat. Chelsea Takami)

Better than Oscars! Great enjoyable entertainment, for everyone from children, educators, to professionals, and all heart-centered leaders, this YouTube original musical animation story is so relevant, and especially during this pandemic - feeling knocked down by challenges, coming back stronger, MannyMan is what I call a "resilientist" who uses talents, personal resources, strengths, and human capital like audacity, hope, optimism, and self-efficacy to bounce right back and share creativity and love! Watch and listen to this amazing Original Music Video, PowderKeg by Aaron Glenn and featuring awesome Chelsea Takami - Watch and find the "resilientist" in you! #Resilientist #video #youtube #OriginalMusicVideo #PowderKegAaronGlenn #AaronGlenn #JohnDRuddy #animation #ChelseaTakami #MannyMan #KevinBregande #DennisDelGaudio #RichieCannata #GeorgePanos #JohnArbuckle