TGIF - Big Apple Treat for Women - Power & Politics Event

Last October, I put up this post with some thoughts on how far Women have come since gaining the right to vote some ninety years ago.

The power of women, although a long time coming, has never been stronger. And armed with an increasing share of the world's wealth, these women are making significant strides toward solving some very difficult problems. The increasing poverty among women and children around the globe is but one example. A lack of access to proper education for the world's children, especially girls, is another.

But for many of these issues to be given attention and focus, we must see the balance of power in the global political dynasties shift more toward women. When I attended Harvard Business School a few years back, I used the opportunity to study the Corporate and Geo-Political Governance systems that predominate most nation states. It turns out that most systems of government are based on Family Oligarchies. The U.S. is one of the few economic systems that allows "fractional ownership" by many shareholders. In Europe, for example, a few families have control or a controlling interest in most of the industries within a country or region.

Almost all of these interests are under Male control, although this is changing with the die-off of Patriarchs and a lack of male heirs.

Not surprisingly, these same families hold key positions in the Political Structures of these countries, and again, most of them are held by men.

For those of you fortunate enough to be in NYC this weekend, I highly recommend attending a program being held at the 92st Y entitled "Women, Power, and Politics". Author Gloria Feldt (her latest book featured in graphic above) will be part of the distinguished panel along with Congresswoman Nita Lowey. Learn how the woman's progressive agenda is going.

TGIF - Pre- Holiday Dining at The Rock Center Cafe

As many of you know, I am a ferocious Foodie. I am fortunate to have access to a number of fine restaurants around the globe, thanks to some connections that my network has brought to me, and by recommendations from my faithful readers.

While I am not a Food Critic (I leave this to experts such as Zagat or Michelin Guides), I do appreciate when I receive VIP level service even though the staff may not know who I am.

This was the case yesterday when I had arranged a mid-morning "brunch" meeting with a colleague. When I arrived at the Rock Center Cafe in the Rockefeller Center Building in Midtown Manhattan I was told that Breakfast seating had ended and that Lunch was available beginning 11:30am. The time was now 10:30, my guest was arriving in 15 minutes, and had to leave for another appointment shortly after noon.

Oops!

Fortunately, Ken Gordon, VP of Operations for The Patina Group, the firm that operates the RCC was standing in the reception area. He had overheard my conversation with the Hostess, and immediately offered a solution.

Ken seated me in a quiet area of the restaurant, and had one of his wait staff bring coffee to me. Keep in mind that this was BETWEEN service hours.

When my guest arrived, I told Ken that we had a short window in which to eat once the official lunch service began at 11:30. He not only offered to take our Lunch order in advance of this time, he went beyond the call and asked if we would prefer something more like Breakfast. As my guest and I had both been looking forward to this, we immediately took Ken up on his offer.

I was truly awed when our beautifully presented and extremely tasty dishes were served less that 15 minutes later! The time was now 11:15 well into the hiatus between seatings.

Our waitperson, Mike, never failed to ask if we needed anything. At many restaurants, patrons experience a "black hole of service level" if seated late into a period of transition as they busily change over place settings, etc. This was definitely NOT the case here!

This was as fine a dining experience as I have had in quite a while. As you make plans for the weekend, please add "eat at one of the Patina Group's fine restaurants" to your list. You may find one of their locations by clicking here.

If any of you are planning to be in NYC over the holidays, there is no better view of the festivities in and around Rock Center than a seat in the cafe overlooking the Ice Rink and the famous X-mas Tree.

If you are contemplating a private holiday affair, I'm sure Ken or one of his staff will be more that happy to assist you with your plan.

Based on my experience yesterday, you are in the best of hands!

TGIF - What Ifs? vs. Why Nots?

Today would be a great day to plan your weekend. Yes, I said PLAN! This is different than worrying.

The great statesman, Winston Churchill said “Let our advance worrying become advance thinking and planning”

Many of us think that if we worry about something, it will focus our energy on making sure the event or task goes well.

Wrong.

Here are some typical beliefs and false assumptions about worry (Shearer & Gordon, 2006), and courtesy AnxietyandStress.com:

Intolerance for uncertainty: "If I think about this enough, I should feel a sense of certainty."

Intolerance for discomfort: "If I can just think this through, I won't have to feel this way."

Inflated sense of responsibility and culpability: "If bad things happen, it's my fault."

Distorted risk assessment/emotional reasoning: "If it feels likely, it is likely. If it feels dangerous, it is dangerous."

Perfectionism--mistakes are unacceptable: "Mistakes mean I wasn't in control and screwed up."

Pessimism/presumed incapability: "Bad things will happen to me and I won't be able to deal with it."

Misconstrued virtue: "Worry shows how deeply I care about my children."

Overvaluation of the thought process: "Because I have a thought, it is, therefore, an important thought, and I must give it my full attention and get it settled. I can anticipate and avoid discomfort by worrying."

"Meta-worry" or worry about worrying: "I'm making myself sick. I'm going to bring on an early heart attack. I'm out of control. I'm weak. If my faith was stronger, I wouldn't worry."

Implicit magical beliefs: "Worry prevents bad things from happening. It keeps loved ones safer."

Please use today to ask yourself "why not?", not "what if".

Why not plan that trip to an exotic destination that I have wanted to take, but I am too busy to take?
Why not ask the person next to me struggling with their own issues if I can help?
Why not ask, "what are my dreams?"

For as Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

TGIF - October is NBCAM - Thank Goodness I'm Fine!

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And while this disease predominantly affects women, one percent of the cases diagnosed every year are in Men.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States, aside from skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), an estimated 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed among women in the United States this year.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women (after lung cancer). Although African-American women have a slightly lower incidence of breast cancer after age 40 than Caucasian women, they have a slightly higher incidence rate of breast cancer before age 40.

Breast cancer occurs less often among women in Asian countries (such as China and Korea) than among women in Western countries (such as the United States and Europe). In Hong Kong, where the population stands at nearly 7 million, 2,273 new cases were diagnosed in 2004 and 454 women died from it.

Research has shown, however, that breast cancer now is being diagnosed more frequently among women living in Asian countries, especially among younger women. This is an alarming trend. According to breastcancer.org , the researchers don't explain why this is happening. In the past, the diets and lifestyles of Asian women supported a lower risk of breast cancer compared to Western women. The average woman living in an Asian country:

• eats more fresh vegetables
• is closer to her ideal body weight
• is more physically active
• is less likely to drink significant amounts of alcohol

These are some of the same habits that lead to a longer, healthier life. Click here to go to my recent blog on noted Physician Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara and his tips for anti-aging.

It's possible that some of the increase in breast cancer diagnoses is the result of more younger women in Asian countries adopting a typical Western diet and lifestyle. Research has shown that Asian women who live in the United States and have adopted a typical Western diet and lifestyle have breast cancer rates similar to the general U.S. population.

It's also possible that other environmental factors are contributing to the rising rate of breast cancer among women living in Asia. Much has been written about higher levels of pollution that have been brought about by rapid industrial growth in China. Environmental factors such as air and water pollution have been associated with cancer.

The researchers also point out that a large number of women in Asia (70%) don't get regular mammograms. Because breast cancer rates are increasing, Asian governments and healthcare systems will have to work harder to boost awareness of breast cancer risk and the importance of annual screenings.

Happily, today, there are about 2.5 million breast cancer survivors living in the United States. Since 1990, more and more women have been surviving breast cancer, largely because of early detection through mammography and improvements in treatment.

Take time today to reach out to a Breast Cancer patient. Chances are good you know one personally - in your family, or where you work. Look for one of the many events in your area that are scheduled as part of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and commit part of your Time, Talent, or Treasure to help fight this disease.

But most importantly, click here to familiarize yourself with the benefits of early detection.

The life you save may be your own.

TGIF - Plan a Fall Outing!

Fall officially arrived yesterday, although the temperatures here in the Northeast of the US are still summerlike!

Soon, however, the temps will be dropping (unless you are lucky enough to live in a warm climate), leaves will be turning, and we will be looking for "indoor" activities to keep us in the right frame of mind.

I have invited many of my friends and clients to join me on a private tour of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) collection here in NYC. While this is but one of many great museums located here in Manhattan, it certainly has a unique following. The Modern restaurant is adjacent, and is where we dine after the tour. It is one of NYC's only restaurants to carry the Michelin Guide's One Star rating.

As many of you know, I have a genuine love for Asia and Asian Art, having spent a very impressionable portion of my childhood there.

I was delighted to discover through my contact at Papyrus, a high-end stationery and gift boutique ( Their wrapping paper, cards and gift wrap services are exquisite!) the artwork of Haku Maki (given name Maejima Tadaaki).

Examples of his work are on display at MoMa, Art Institute of Chicago, the British Museum, London, The Museum of Fine Arts, London, and the Aschenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts, San Francisco, among others.

Born in 1924, Maki's art began attracting attention at international print shows and in 1959 his work was selected along with nine other leading print artists to make up James A. Michener's landmark book The Modern Japanese Print. From that time until the present he has ranked among Japan's most respected print artists.

His work (including the limited edition "Rose" pictured above) is also available for viewing and purchase exclusively at the Papyrus boutique in Greenwich CT. If you are interested in stopping by, please send a note in advance to Dani Latorre, Flagship Manager at store02285@srgretail.com, and she will be delighted to give you a personal tour through their gallery.

If you do decide to make Greenwich your destination for a Fall Weekend Away, I recommend you stay at the beautiful Delamar, an exclusive and very private boutique hotel located on the harbor. Their restaurant, L'Escale is one of the finest around.

TGIF - Today is Constitution Day.

According to holidayinsights.com, "The Constitutional Congress held it's final meeting on September 17, 1787. Do you have any idea why? That's right! It was to sign the Constitution of the United States of America, a document for which they so painstakingly labored to create and perfect.

After the meeting there was still much to do. Individual states then had to meet and vote on it. The U.S. Constitution did not go into effect until two years later on March 4, 1789."

At the risk of being obvious, I note that none of the original signers of The Constitution were women. That would certainly NOT be the case if this document were in play today.

Moreover, despite the groundbreaking nature of the Constitution, women's involvement in the national political scene has been slow in coming. Here are a few factoids to consider:

Since 1789, only 2 percent of members of Congress have been women. But not until 1917 was a woman elected to the House of Representatives. In the Senate, from 1922-2006, only 33 women have served in the Senate: 20 Democrats and 13 Republicans.

The global average percentage of women in parliaments is 17 percent; in the 110th Congress, it is 16 percent. (cite)

Delaware, Iowa, Mississippi, New Hampshire & Vermont are the only states never to have a woman represent the state in either House of Congress.

• 1872. Victoria Woodhull ran for president of the United States on the Equal Rights Party ticket. She is most famous for her declaration and campaign to run as the first woman for the United States Presidency in 1872. Many of the reforms and ideals espoused by her for the common working class against the corrupt rich business elite were extremely controversial in her time though generations later many of those implemented are now taken for granted. Other ideas and reforms still remain controversial and debated today.
• 1917. The first woman elected to the U.S. House of representatives was Jeannette Rankin (R-MT). She served from 1917-1919 and from 1941-42. Sometimes called the "Lady of the House", Jeanette Rankin entered the House as the first woman in Congress.
• 1922. The first woman to serve in the U.S. Senate was Rebecca Latimer Felton (D-GA). She served for one day; she was appointed, not elected.
• Hattie Caraway became the first woman to win election to the Senate, in 1932.
• 1933. Frances Perkins was the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet; she was Secretary of Labor under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
• 1964. Margaret Chase Smith (ME) became the first woman to have her name placed in nomination for president at a major party convention; Sen. George Aiken nominated her at the Republican national convention.
• 1968. Shirley Chisholm (NY) became the first black women to be elected to Congress.
• 1976. Barbara Jordan (TX) became the first black women to deliver a keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention.
• 1981. Sandra Day O'Connor became the first woman on the Supreme Court.
• 1984. Rep. Geraldine A. Ferraro (D-NY) is the first woman on a major party's national ticket; she was selected by Walter F. Mondale as his Vice Presidential running mate.
• 2007. The first woman to lead the House of Representatives is Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).

Throughout most of the Senate's history, it has been almost entirely male. Until 1920, few women ran for the Senate. Until the 1990s, very few were elected. This is due to many factors, including the lack of women's suffrage in many states until ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, women's limited access to higher education until the mid-1900s, public perceptions of gender roles, and barriers to women's advancement such as sex discrimination, which still play’s a factor in their limited numbers today.

No women served from 1922 to 1931, 1945 to 1947, and 1973 to 1978. Since 1978, there has always been at least one woman in the Senate.

I believe it is only a matter of time before women become a majority in politics. Maybe by then, some of the problems of our current system will be fixed.

Or as one of the greatest Women in our history stated:

"The day will come when men will recognize woman as his peer, not only at the fireside, but in councils of the nation. Then, and not until then, will there be the perfect comradeship, the ideal union between the sexes that shall result in the highest development of the race. "

Susan B. Anthony

TGIF - Labor Day Weekend Begins!

In last Saturday's Lifestyle Lifter's post, I shared my Dream Holiday in Europe. Maybe you are one of those viewers lucky enough to be at one of my suggested destinations this upcoming Labor Day Weekend [I know at least one, and you know who you are ;)]

FYI, here are the 2010 Top Ten International and US Labor Day Vacation Destinations as provided by Orbitz:

Top 10 International Labor Day Weekend Destinations - 2010
2010 Rank(1)	Destination	Average Daily Hotel Rate(2)
1	Cancun, Mexico	$165
2	London, Great Britain	$148
3	Paris, France	$216
4	San Juan, Puerto Rico	$126
5	Rome, Italy	$153
6	San Jose Cabo, Mexico	$142
7	Barcelona, Spain	$141
8	Toronto, Canada	$107
9	Vancouver, Canada	$134
10	Montego Bay, Jamaica	$160

(1) Based on Air, Hotel and Hotel plus Air package bookings made on Orbitz.com for travel from 9/3/2010 to 9/6/2010. Bookings made as of 8/19/2010.

Regardless of where this weekend finds you, please enjoy your time with friends, family, and others. And have a safe trip back home!

TGIF - Today is Global Forgiveness Day

Global Forgiveness Day began in 1994. It was created and is sponsored by the Christian Embassy of Christ's Ambassadors. This holiday originated in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Forgiveness is not limited to Christian belief.

Mahatma Gandhi, a Hindu, said

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”

Buddha said," The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, nor to anticipate troubles, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly".

People of Muslim faith are familiar with the following saying: "Forgiveness is the crown of great qualities."

Regardless of your race, religion, or creed, please take time today to "forgive and forget", for as Gandhi also said:" Be the change you want to see in the world".

TGIF - Do Unto Others...

As we approach another weekend in what has been a long, hot Summer here on the East Coast, may I suggest a slightly different way to spend your "downtime".

Reach out to someone less fortunate and offer them support- moral, financial, or physical.

On this day in July of 1852, Frances Seward, wife of William Seward, President Lincoln's Secretary of State wrote to him after a visit to the Auburn New York Orphan Asylum, “I was greatly interested in the Orphans. . . . One of them has died & is to be buried this morning. As he was a poor colored child placed there by my advice, I am going round and shall defray the funeral expenses.”

Her compassion and support of African-American Slaves is well documented.

The return on your investment in others will be measured in part, by your willingness to give up a part of you to benefit the whole of humanity. The feeling you get when you have done so will be immeasurable.

Have a delightful, safe, and relaxing weekend!

TGIF - It's International Juggling Day!

I grew up during the infancy of television. At the time, the technology amounted to: a Black & White screen (12 inch), "rabbit ears" for inbound reception, and 4 -5 channels of live, then later, pre-taped programming depending on aforementioned antennae position, weather, and where you lived.

One of the "must see" TV shows was the Ed Sullivan Show. In addition to many celebrities, Ed would have circus acts, animal performers, and magicians as part of the evening.

My favorite were the jugglers. I became fascinated with them. Their ability to keep several things in the air at once - balls, bowling pins, plates - was truly a miracle, I felt. Defying gravity has always been a child's dream ever since the creation of the "Superperson" series - Woman, Girl, Man & Boy.

Women have an innate ability to handle multiple tasks. This has been well documented.

Dr. Christina Williams, the chair of the Psychology Department at Duke University, has done studies with rats, where the male rats have exhibited more “tunnel vision” than female rats (Williams & Meck, 1990). Williams study discovered that female rats use multiple cues, including examining landmarks of the maze and geometry to navigate a maze, while male rats just used geometry. This implies that women use their minds to synthesize multiple cues from the environment, while men would rather use single cues.

Additionally, there is a biological difference. According to MRIs performed, women have a larger corpus callossum (Halpern, 2000). The corpus collossum is the area of the brain that handles communication between the two hemispheres. It is responsible for synthesizing the information from the left and right side of the brain. In women, the corpus callosum is wider than that of men’s brains, which might enable the two sides to communicate better with each other. This is a theory as to why women might multitask more efficiently.

For more on Women and their ability to "juggle" all the things going on in their increasingly complicated lives click here.

Suggested reading: The Nine Rooms of Happiness: Loving yourself, Finding Your Purpose, and Getting Over Life’s Little Imperfections, Lucy S. Danziger, editor-in-chief of SELF magazine, and women’s mental health psychiatrist Catherine Birndorf, MD, founder of Payne Whitney’s Women’s Mental Health Center

Have a delightful, and balanced, weekend!

TGIF - In case you missed it...

..this past Wednesday was Chocolate Day. If you are a chocoholic like me, everyday is chocolate day!

And in keeping with my late mother's wishes, I try to eat at least one serving a day, because yes, according HolidayInsights.com, the cocoa plant is actually a vegetable!

My fav is from Teuscher Chocolates of Switzerland. I am lucky enough to be within a train ride of their store on Fifth Avenue in NYC. Although expensive, their signature line of Champagne Truffles are to die for.

This delectable delight combines two of the most powerful weapons in Cupid's Arsenal -chocolate and "the bubbly".

These are available via online order, so while it may be too late to enjoy them this weekend, there is always a backup plan - click here, make your selection from this list of "Tete de Cuvee" champagnes, then head to your nearest wine emporium. On your way there, pick up some dark chocolate from this list wherever you can find it, and a romantic novel.

Then spend an evening getting re-acquainted with the person you should treat the best - YOU!
Tune in tomorrow for Lifestyle Lifter's featuring Evie and her brand of Passion, Romance, Fashion!

TGIF - Today is "I Forgot Day"!

TGIF - Thank Goodness I Forgot.

And today is the day we celebrate our forgetfulness. According to HolidayInsights.com, Gaye Andersen of DeMotte, IN. created this day.

This is what they have to say about it:

I Forgot Day, by definition, is not a day to remember. So, just what are you forgetting? Can you even remember? Is it important? Hopefully, not.

Some days are days to remember and to cherish all of our lives. Others, like today, are ones to be forgotten. If you are having a bad day, it's just as well that today is I Forgot Day. We do hope that you are not getting married or having a baby today.

Some people view today as an opportunity to express their regrets for forgetting something, and to make amends. They do so by sending cards and flowers, apologizing for their memory lapse. The trouble is, if you forget something important tomorrow, you have to wait a whole year for the next I Forgot Day to arrive.

I Forgot Day is closely related to I'm Sorry Day.

FYI - July is also "Unlucky for Weddings Month", so if you so happen to forget to show up for your own wedding today, consider yourself lucky and treat yourself to a Hot Dog and an Ice Cream.

Oh yeah, July is also National Hot Dog and Ice Cream Month!

Have a delightful and safe July 4th weekend. Tune in tomorrow for more Lifestyle Lifter's featuring Evie

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TGIF - Odds and Ends that are in!

I'd like to wrap up the week with a few things that I want to share with you. Nothing heavy, just a couple of ways to solve some of the world's problems, that's all.

It's called The Girl Effect and if you do nothing else today but take 3 minutes to view their video, I think it will be well worth your while.

The other idea whose time has come are the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as set forth by the United Nations. One of their goals is to end world poverty by the year 2015.

I had the honor of being invited to attend a Press Conference and Luncheon recently for the MDG Awards Ceremony to be held later this fall.

The number three goal of the MDG is Gender Equality (why is this not #1?). For a (fairly) recent report on how this effort is shaping up click here. The notion of Gender Equality as supported by the UN has been around quite a while. Here is a link to one of their early proclamations concerning this topic.

Now that you have been exposed to these thought-provoking tid-bits, get out there and be a part of the solution as set forth by both The Girl Effect and the UN.

Then kick-back, relax, and enjoy more Lifestyle Lifters featuring Evie in tomorrow's post.

Have a great weekend! SDG, JBHIV

TGIF - Today is International Picnic Day!

Yes, it is true. There is a holiday for everything! So if where you are today brings weather favorable for a picnic, may I suggest you pack up the Rolls, and head to the nearest exclusive and private venue you can find.

Because now there is a true "Rolls-Royce" of picnic baskets, pictured here.

Called the Picnic Cabinet Set, it's made from wood and leather and is equipped to serve four people. Featuring crockery and eating utensils, it is a beautiful little thing.

Sixty centimetres high, in a clever little move you can also shift the pieces around to release a chopping board.

The front sports the marque's emblem and it's exclusively available through Rolls-Royce private commission.

Too bad that Barney's of New York no longer offers its Ultimate Picnic which included a magnum of Moët & Chandon Rosé Impérial, four tulip flutes, and two lacquered picnic boxes filled with an assortment of savory and sweet treats—from mini lobster wraps and smoke salmon mousse to pink chocolate-dipped strawberries and pink truffles. At $1,500, this was a small price to pay considering the price of a Rolls and it's matching basket.

But for those us who like the finer things in life, a Rolls-Royce Picnic may very well make today the best holiday of the year!

TGIF - Love the Skin You Are In!

It has been said that the eyes are the window to the soul. If true, then your skin is the fabric that holds your soul in place. And radiant, healthy, and smooth skin are more than a sign of beauty - it also reflects how you feel inside.

We all know that with age comes visible signs - a sagging brow, a few more wrinkles on the forehead, etc. Many of you may have already tried Botox or traditional methods of facial rejuvenation.

Sharon Littzi, MD has always been at the cutting edge of cosmetic dermatology. And she is a true testament to how women can succeed with the right attitude and the best training.

She was valedictorian of her high school class. She did residencies at both Yale and Harvard Medical School. She was invited to stay on the Dermatology staff and founded the Women's Dermatology Unit, the first cosmetically-oriented skin care center for women in Boston and at Harvard.

She then founded Aesthetic Dermatology of Fairfield County with offices in Greenwich and New Canaan, CT, and another planned in Manhattan, N.Y. Those of you who are within a car or plane ride of one of these offices would be well served by her practice.

For those of you at a distance, you are in luck - Dr. Littzi has developed her own line of skin care products, created through years of experience with countless other products.

They are available through her website, and come with a recommended usage for different skin types.

More Zinio Happenings!

In last Friday's TGIF post, I mentioned Zinio and the revolution they are bring to bear on the publishing industry. It had been a while since I checked in with them to get the latest news.

As luck would have it, I received this lovely e-mail late Friday from Zinio CEO and President, Rich Maggiotto:

Dear John Over the past decade, Zinio has been a trendsetter in digital media for publishers and consumers alike. With the proliferation of new devices and platforms, the visibility of digital reading is growing daily. As you likely already know, recently Zinio has launched cross-platform services internationally, with applications for online browser-based reading, iPhone, iPad, and applications built on Adobe AIR. We now sell magazines and books on five continents, in 25 languages, and 15 currencies from a global network of online newsstands, partners, resellers, and devices. Here are some things you shouldn't miss... THIS MONTH'S ANNOUNCEMENTS iPad app extensions in nine additional countries: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, UK. Interactive advertising with retailers and catalogers (i.e, Macy's) introducing in-app shopping to magazines. Publisher co-branded applications for iPad and iPhone. Print and digital bundling option for publishers. WHAT'S NEXT? Zinio for Android Smartphone and Android Slate. Extended global reach, new markets in China, India, and Japan. Major feature growth and enhancements to iPad and iPhone applications. New and improved updates to existing AIR reader app and online reader. It is our mission to provide our publisher clients with solutions that enable them to reach a new kind of consumer, within a complex and evolving digital media landscape. In the first half of this year already, over 1,000 major titles have come aboard to Zinio's global platform,including publications like National Geographic, SPIN, Vogue France, Bloomberg, GEO, Sporting News, Wallpaper*, Frommer's, InStyle, to name a few! Take advantage of our creative services, distribution platform, and best-in-class reading applications. Now is the time to take your digital publishing to new heights. Please reach out to the Zinio executive team or your account manager if you would like to discuss our products and services personally. Respectfully, Rich Maggiotto President & CEO, Zinio rmaggiotto@zinio.com

TGIF - National Chocolate Mousse Day!

Those of you who share my passion for chocolate - rejoice and celebrate! Today is OUR day. There is perhaps nothing more comforting than a piece of fine chocolate. Despite many downsides, moderate consumption of chocolate has been shown in recent medical studies to aid digestion, lower blood pressure, and slow down the aging process. Chocolate may not bring order to our current economic condition, or promote world peace, but we should all stop what we are doing today, and pause to reflect on our social biography while enjoying any form of it.

On this day in 1860, the Pony Express was established. Women's role in this historically significant method of communication is largely a mystery. For a glimpse at what is known may be found in a book by Melba Rey-Jeal titled "Women and the Pony Express: A Modern Tale of Changing Tradition". My, what progress we have made in the area of rapid communication, and in women's rights and influence since the introduction of this chain of individuals that took an oath on the Bible of honesty and devotion to duty and went on, despite the daily threat of death, to carry the mail 616,000 miles--equal to 24 times around the earth--during the 18 months the enterprise operated. Sadly, it was the introduction of the telegraph - a precursor to today's Internet that led to it's demise.

And so it is with countless other institutions -including the breaking of "the Glass Ceiling". It is the so called "Innovators Dilemma" at work, which has been studied by HBS Prof. Clayton Christensen and others, seeking to determine how sudden shifts in technology or social conditions can bring about rapid change.

We are clearly in a period of rapid change. Some of it good, some bad. But one thing remains constant -women will continue to play an increasingly significant role. Take time today to reflect on YOUR role. And enjoy that chocolate!

Until next post, continue to believe, achieve, receive. SDG - JBHIV

TGIF 13th - Let's keep it Light and Lucky!

With Tax Season upon us, here is light-hearted look at what our current system will do if we continue to shift the burden onto Women of Wealth:

Girls’ Night Out Economics

Suppose that every Friday night, ten women go out for dinner and the bill for all
ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes,
it would go something like this:

The first four women (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth woman (the wealthiest) would pay $59.

So the ten women met every Friday and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the restaurant owner threw them a curve.

'Since you are all such good customers,' he said,
'I'm going to reduce the cost of your meal by $20.” Dinner for
the ten now cost just $80.

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so
the first four women were unaffected. They would still eat for free.
But what about the other six women - the paying customers? How could they
divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get her 'fair share’?
They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33.
But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth woman
and the sixth woman would each end up being paid to eat her meal. So,
the restaurant owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each woman's bill
by roughly the same amount and he proceeded to work out the amounts
each should pay.

And so:

The fifth woman, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings)..
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four
continued to eat for free. But once outside the restaurant, the women
began to compare their savings.

'I only got a dollar out of the $20,'declared the sixth woman. She
pointed to the tenth woman,' but she got $10!'
'Yes, that's right,' exclaimed the fifth woman. 'I only saved a dollar,
too. It's unfair that she got ten times more than I!' 'That's true!!'
shouted the seventh woman. 'Why should she get $10 back when I got only
two? The wealthy get all the breaks!'

'Wait a minute,' yelled the first four women in unison.
'We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!'

The nine women walked off leaving the tenth behind.
The next Friday night the tenth woman didn't show up at the restaurant, so the nine sat
down and had dinner without her. But when it came time to pay the bill,
they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money
between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, in a very simple way, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore.

In fact, they might start dining overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

Until next post, continue to believe, achieve, receive. SDG - JBHIV