If you seek better speaking and writing, the answer is found with Painting My Room In A Colorful Way

Thanks for stopping by the Consumer Friend side of the street.  Please do visit again.

5 Stars for Craig Fenton’s speaking and writing course:

http://www.learnpublicspeakingskills.com

One of the ways reviews often lose credibility is if the writer does it with a selfish purpose (promoting something they receive commission on) and not with the consumer’s benefit as the primary goal.

That is why I choose to educate without compensation. Craig Fenton the rock and roll author of books on the Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship as well as a lecturer with a one time member of the Grateful Dead and a famous rock photographer has recently released a guide to better speaking, writing, and self-confidence called Painting My Room In A Colorful Way.

I have often been perplexed if speaking is a verbal word why so many products are only using the written. Painting My Room In A Colorful Way contains a book, audio files, email, and actual phone coaching. The contents clearly show Mr. Fenton’s desire to give the customer the optimum results. The majority of the population would find Mr. Fenton’s product advantageous for work, school, interviewing, or building personal self-confidence.

I often find those that sell books or audio products are talking down and not to the customer. It is obvious from the way Mr. Fenton supports the product after the sale that he is rooting for each individual to succeed. There are many exercises that think outside the box and that was a refreshing change. How many times do you purchase something and the contents only differ by the author’s name.

The idea behind the program is to take the customer through various steps of the speaking and writing path and tear down the walls of inhibition and improper habits. He includes over 650 words that are commonly mispronounced, tricks on improvisation, preparation, relaxation, slang terms that can severely limit your message, memory building, and what has to be the largest assemblage in one place a reverse dictionary. Almost 3500 words that can be looked up by the improper and correct spellings. You don’t get the meanings but it is a priceless tool.

Too many people feel when the sale is made their job is finished. Mr. Fenton coaches you all the way through with email and phone instruction. Part of the contents of Painting My Room In A Colorful Way is Mr. Fenton coaching you on the telephone (at his expense) so you are able to get the proper guidance both via the written and oral word.

The entire course was never work. It actually made me eager to see what was coming next and practice what he already afforded me. If you are or want to be a speaker or get involved in communications, a student, a manager, salesperson, a parent, or a writer, the contents will give you the road to the finish line. You only have to bring a pen, your voice, and the desire to achieve.

**********

From the Consumer Friend side of the fence thanks for being here.  Come back soon.

Water on the knee is not water under the bridge

http://odurl.com/ns

Welcome to the Consumer Friend part of the neighborhood.  Thanks for visiting and please stop by often.

There is a lot of talk in sports about a player that has water on the knee.  It isn’t only athletes that suffer.  Millions of people throughout the world have or had the condition.

If you want some great information about the topic please visit the link I have included above.  There are no sign-up forms or offers for you to buy.  As you are aware the goal of this blog is to provide information.

Feel good and if you are having discomfort please don’t let it go.  You should never have to be in pain.

From the Consumer side of the road I wish you a great Wednesday to come.

Would an 1800.00 dollar a year raise sound good without working more hours?

Welcome to the Consumer Friend side of the street.  Thanks for visiting.

The average pack of cigarettes is currently 5.01 nationwide.  Let’s make it an even 5.00.  If you smoke 1 pack per day you are spending 150.00 a month or 1800.00 a year without any benefit to the body.

How about making this the best time to quit.  Since a tough economy means cutting back why eat out less or deprive yourself of a few great classic rock CD’s?

http://www.quitnet.com/qnhomepage.aspx

http://www.smokefree.gov/

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3048036

Check out the above resources and make today the day you do the right thing.  Feeling better and saving money are a great team.

You can do it!

The Consumer Friend wants you healthy in 2009.  Thanks for visiting and please come back soon.

Did you read the article about General Motors and felt it may as well have been a blank page?

Welcome to the Consumer Friend part of town.  Thanks for visiting today.

With all that is going on with General Motors and Chrysler and how it impacts so many lives I thought there may have been an interesting article today on Yahoo.

It talked about 1700 General Motors dealerships may have to close as part of the restructuring plan.

Where was the beef to the article or even the tires?  Nothing was pointed out what the compensation would be to the owners of the dealerships or if there isn’t compensation could that trigger a set of lawsuits?  There was brief mention that there are competitors that would consider a purchase of the Hummer and Saturn divisions of General Motors.  How about names or even a rumor?  Not one mention.

The article contained as many good words as a mime.

Thanks for stopping by the Consumer Friend place and do visit again.

If You Twitter please read, may save some headache later

Welcome to the slice of consumer life.  How are you and thanks for visiting:

For the weekend the Twitter universe was rocked with 2 worm attacks.  Doesn’t say much for the security patches but that is another story.  This is simply to pass on the site to trust if something needs to be known about a current technical situation with Twitter.

http://status.twitter.com/

One of the ways the creator of the worm (will not mention name or anything that feeds his ego) gets it to spread is buy sending messages that tell somebody click here if you have the worm.  It then infects more and the domino effect comes tumbling down.

Next time there is a Twitter situation please be careful clicking and posting until it is resolved.

It never hurts to change passwords every so often.

Good news I was able to say all that in more than 140 characters.

Thanks for visiting and please stop by often.

A sports hero that isn’t playing in the game

Hi from Consumer Friend’s side of the street, thanks for stopping by.

Early Saturday morning a little after 1AM to be almost precise the talk show host Tony Page at all sports WFAN 660 AM Radio, New York City could have opened with the Yankee victory of Kans City, the tough Mets lose to Florida, the upcoming hockey playoffs, or the poor performance this year of both local pro basketball teams.

Tony would take the opportunity to put the sports on hold for a few minutes so he could tell the listeners what he has for about 15 years.  As long as he has been on the radio he always says “No drinking and driving.”

In case you were not aware major league baseball pitcher Nick Adenhart in his early 20′s had his life ended the other day (I believe a couple of other innocent people as well) when an alleged  drunk driver hit Nick and the other passengers.

Once again lives are torn apart, families in tears forever, and the problem continues. Our sympathy to those that lost somebody special.

http://www.wfan.com

See if you could leave a message for Tony and tell him how it takes a great man to always look out for others.

From the Consumer Friend World Headquarters thanks for stopping by and please visit again.

878 Channels but is anything on?

Welcome to the consumer side of the street.  Thanks for visiting.

Us old-timers can recall the days of under 15 channels between UHF and VHF even in the largest metros.  I can’t recall anyone ever thinking out loud how they wanted or needed more.

Enter the Cable/ Satellite World.  Today I was on the phone with the provider of the television service and they told me that for no extra charge because of a bunch of bundled services I can now have 878 channels to watch.  My reaction was this sounds great.  Maybe I should have said this looks great.  Especially knowing the price is right!

Then I reflected on the conversation.  In my youth I would watch a lot of television.  Today with more choices I hardly turn it on (excluding sports).

It still seemed to be a thrill in some regard to know that at the click of the remote I could watch over 800 channels or non at all.

Choice is grand, even if an old consumer doesn’t use it.

Glad you were part of the visit to the Consumer Friend side of the street.  Please return soon.

My own Stimulus Package 2 computers per household

Welcome to the Consumer Friend side of the street.  Thanks for visiting.

The political parties all have their thoughts on stimulus packages.  How about the government takes some of the zillions that went into the pockets of the greedy of the greedy and makes sure every home has 2 computers.

Why two?  Have you ever had one break down?  The frustration of getting tech support on the phone (especially if it is free) could be the first reason.  After talking with the customer service for 3 hours 7 minutes and 48 seconds today to attempt to get a friend’s computer working again it was determined it needed a new part.

Enter scene 2.  The new part has to be shipped 2 day air.  The friend has no computer and can only hope when the part arrives they made the proper determination.  However with the Consumer Friend Plan there would be a back-up machine all smiles and ready to boot up.

Think of how this would stimulate the economy.  Millions of computers would have to be built and sold (creating jobs), more software would be sold, more tech support needed and so on.  Before you know it there would be a growth in the job market.

Even if the computer stimulus would only cover the first 1000 dollar, you could still get something decent, or add on to it.

From the consumer side of the road thanks for visiting and please stop by again.

Post Office Blues Coming To A City Near You?

Welcome to Monday in the Consumer Friend section of town.  Thanks for visiting.

On the east coast and very possibly throughout out great nation the Post Office will have a change of hours coming.  Awhile back the majority of Post Offices extended the hours of operation Monday-Saturday.  It was a pleasant event and something any consumer could applaud.

Many of the branches that once opened at 8AM and closed at 4 or were 9-5, extended their weekday hours until 7PM and Saturday instead of shutting the doors at 12 or 1 they conducted full business until 4.

On a warm and day great for early April I walked into the Post Office this past Saturday and was greeting with the news.  We all know the financial trouble that the Post Office appears to be in, so it was not a move that is shocking.

There were three choices the Postal Service had with the budget crisis.  They could have kept the extended hours, reverted to the former, or if a town or city has enough postal activity let 1 branch per x number of square miles keep the additional hours.

The answer is?  It looks like the last option will be in place.  Some of the branches in your community will keep the extended hours.

It was a great convenience while it lasted.  The more hours the less the lines and the happier the consumer.   Maybe down the road there will be a way to keep the post office and the consumer from having any blues.

From the Consumer side of the street thanks for visiting and please drop by again.

Talk Is Cheap, But It Was Worth A Lot More In The Early Days Of The Radio Format

Welcome to Consumer Friend’s world headquarters.  Thanks for visiting.

There was a time in a universe way back when talk radio was light years above the sub-standard output we hear today.

You would think that the modern conveniences would have enhanced the product but it isn’t about the gadgets of this millennium but what the powers at play let happen.

Rewind to the early 1970’s when one of the first talk radio stations in the country WMCA 570 AM, New York City dared to be different.  At a time when AM radio was dominated by music they went another route.  Excluding afternoon personality Bob Grant (yes the voice known to millions) on the right and overnight host Leon Lewis who represented the left, the rest of the staff came from the middle.  That was brilliant!  Why?  Good question.  If you only get information from the left it is obviously tilted in their favor.  If you receive words from the right they obviously have their own slant.

Since the bulk of the programming came from the middle of the road the listener could get both sides of the coin to make their own determination on the issue.  What made WMCA a great listen was also the voice that mattered were that of the callers.  Today the bulk of the hosts even if they are in their first month of broadcasting feel the need to be condescending and care more about the sound of their own voice than the listeners who pay their salary.

WMCA is long gone.  In fact the call letters have been changed and obviously the format.  It should be preserved in the time capsule for those that had the pleasure of listening and learning from the middle.  It’s a shame that their tapes aren’t available for listen around the globe.  Those in the older demographic would smile and those on the younger section of the map would understand all that glitters isn’t gold.

If the left heard more right and the right more left maybe the nation would better work together to achieve what is right for the citizens and not their own political agenda.

In a free society the individual has the ability to make a choice.  If Jane wants to go left and John right, and their kids somewhere in the middle that is the beauty of the system.  If the information being ascertained isn’t from a level playing field the status-quo remains in full force.

WMCA this Coca-Cola’s for you.

Thanks for spending some of Sunday on the Consumer side of the street (located in the middle of the block).

Want To Rock Around the Clock or maybe hear the Blues

From the Consumer Friend Weekend Getaway it is Sunday. Thanks for visiting.

Do you like music? A basic question that probably made your head turn around several times from surprise. Almost all can find at least one segment of sound that helps us through the good and bad times.

As we get older doesn’t it seem that the records we grew up with become more entrenched in our minds and hearts? What does this have to do with the Consumer Friend? Besides enjoying my share of the sound spectrum I wanted you to be able to examine a sight that often will let you hear samples of albums, give a synopsis on thousands of bands and solo artists, showcase a discography, and what records the musician appeared on by other performers.

The site All Music has something for the rock, jazz, rhythm and blues, blues, alternative rock, progressive, and country fan. All in between!

When you get to the URL that I have included in the post type in the name of a group or band in the box and select “Artist” Click the word “Go” and you are ready to rock.

http://www.allmusic.com/

One advanced word there are times the site has heavy traffic and may be slow. If you don’t mind the wait sit and relax. If you do the URL is open 24/7 for your visit.

What’s your style and era of sound?

Thanks for spending time with the Consumer Friend.

http://www.allmusic.com/

Warriors Wanted For Words Not War

Thanks for visiting the Consumer Friend on the 77th floor of a 2 story home.

Warriors Wanted For Words Not War:

When an internet site can offer you free information the size of War & Peace it is best to take advantage of the circumstances.

The Warrior Forum covers a wide range of topics from Affiliate Marketing to Blogging and from E-Books, to membership sites. There are reviews on different products being sold and plenty of posts that deliver the goods on Search Engine Optimization or the latest social site craze Twitter.

Since anyone from the first timer to seasoned professional can enjoy hours on the forum and never get to all the contents the few sticking points can be more easily digested. Some of the members have to find negativity with anyone or any thing. The majority will root for all to achieve their specific goals.

If you are interested in learning or expanding your knowledge on internet marketing, article writing, blogging, or how to have an E-Book cover designed head to the Warrior Forum. You won’t need a shield or weapon, only a pen and paper.

http://www.warriorforum.com/

Thanks for stopping by the Consumer Friends’ slice of life.  Please visit again.

Asperger may not be a known word but it should for better health of all

Welcome to the Consumer Friend Saturday Health Update.  Thanks for visiting.

Dealing with Asperger Syndrome

Asperger Syndrome is a relatively mild form of autism that effects people in different ways than regular autism. Since it usually does not affect language, many people with Asperger Syndrome go undiagnosed.

This is the one form of autism that is usually not caught at an early age and is instead a disorder that develops later in life. Asperger Syndrome, however, can be a very difficult condition to have, so as soon as you suspect yourself or your child of having communication and social behavior problems, see your family doctor.

Many famous and successful people were diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. Historians even suggest that Einstein and Mozart each suffered from this disorder. It is important to note that no form of autism is a form of mental retardation. In fact, most people with Asperger Syndrome are very intelligent. Asperger Syndrome does not dictate mental ability, but rather makes it difficult for people to communicate in social settings, much in the same way a typical autistic child has trouble with behavior in groups.

When this disorder goes undiagnosed, children do not get the help they need, leading to problems in school such as bullying. Most children are relieved to find out they have Asperger Syndrome instead of just thinking they are less of a person. By getting diagnosed, not only can you or your child put a name to the problems, but it is then also possible to get treated to improve your overall situation.

Some symptoms to watch out for if you suspect Asperger Syndrome are some of the same symptoms that people with full-blown autism experience. This includes social confusion, first and foremost. Many people with Asperger Syndrome find it very difficult to deal with transition or change, wanting everything to stay the same. A quickly changing environment is especially confusing. People with Asperger Syndrome also may say rude or inappropriate things when they don’t mean to do so, and may not be able to understand others’ thought processes. Another common trait they share with autistic individuals is fixation, although people with Asperger Syndrome usually have more control over their fixations, which take the form of highly focused interests.

If you suspect yourself or a loved one of this disorder, these are just a few of the signs for which you should be watching. You doctor should be able to answer further questions and provide both reading material and treatment for this disorder.

Please check out this link for better understanding:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger_syndrome

Thanks for stopping by and please visit again and check out the other blog posts!

What if you wanted to watch the new Jay Leno show and couldn’t?

Welcome to the Consumer Friend slice of the neighborhood.  Thanks for visiting.

What if they had a new Jay Leno show this fall on the NBC Network and you couldn’t watch?  WHDH Boston as of April 3, 2009 is thinking about running a newscast in the 10PM hour and not Mr. Leno.

Enter oversight.  Obviously the suits at NBC are displeased and are putting pressure on WHDH for a change of heart.  How much?  You can  be sure they are looking at the contract with their affiliates to see if they can be forced to carry a non-controversial program.

Options would be to have WHDH lose their affiliation and NBC could look to start their own station or have an independent come aboard.

I don’t watch Leno or Letterman and have no stake in this.  I am for freedom of choice.  If Boston wants to go for the news as long as 50.1 percent or more of their viewers agree, they should.  If the majority want Leno that should be delivered.

NBC has got to be displeased with a market the size of Boston even considering not to air the program.

Stay tuned for details same bat time same bat channel, blog I mean.

From the Consumer side of the fence have a great Saturday.

A great lady and her words from 2008

Welcome to the Consumer Friend side of the fence.  Thanks for visiting.

A women with great talents and a large smile that I’m proud to call a  friend sent me this recently.  Words from the heart and words from the soul that combine to show a time and place you may know.

Losing all hope felling nothing but pain,

Confused with no change hurt from betray.

Holding on tight losing grip of sight. What was?

Once love is nothing but pain. Hurting inside lost

And confused trying to figure out what to do? How

Can you go on when there’s nothing left to lose. Sad

And sorry for what you did but you know now there’s

Nothing instead.  The heart is broken tears have fallen

Nothings left except a gap that cannot be forgotten. A

Peace of me is missing because of you the happiness

The Sadness I have no idea what to do? Where should I walk?

Where should I go? Should I start over can I start over?

Or what will it do will it lead me back to you? I’m lost I’m

Confused all I can picture is you, your smile your laugh

And even when you’re mad I miss you so bad I love you so

Much what happened with us?  Someday I hope you

Realize how much I cared and think of all the things we

Shared. I love you so much I don’t want to let you go

But sometime soon it will be time to let go.

From Mandy P

***

Thanks Mandy and to all of you from the Consumer Friend hang-out on Weekend Road at Smile Brightly Blvd.

Will this make it more of Google Tube Than You Tube?

Welcome to the Consumer friend World Center at Almost the Weekend Road.  Thanks for visiting.

You may use You Tube for marketing, research, to laugh, to rock, or to question why so much content has been deleted the past year but did you know that on or about April 16th, 2009 the site will get a face lift?  Changes are coming and that is always open to interpretation (good or bad).

Check out the link and see what you think!

http://ow.ly/1VOP

Almost the weekend at Consumer Friend Center, thanks for visiting and remember think for yourself.

A large handy guide to 2009 Cars so you make the smart Consumer choice

Hello Consumer Friends from ther 77th floor of the 2 story Consumer Friend World Headquarters.  Thanks for stopping by on a busy Thursday.

If you are looking to buy or lease a vehicle 2009 for example there is a site with an abundance of information:

The Auto Channel

http://db.theautochannel.com/db/newcarbuyersguide/

Once you arrive and get a parking spot you can navigate around the site by checking out SUV’s, Hybrid’s or everything in between.

The opportunity presents itself to see the cost of the vehicle and how it stacks up against others.

They aren’t pushing you in any direction.  That is why the Consumer Friend feels comfortable sending you there for a look.  The information is written and you make the decision if anything seems perfect for the budget and the heart.

I’ll go now and sign off from the Consumer Friend local at Consumer Friend Road and Be well Avenue.  Thanks for visiting and always stop by!

Stadium Yes, House That Ruth Built There Could Only Be One

Welcome to the Consumer Friend section of the block.  Thanks for visiting.

Tomorrow evening the New Yankee Stadium with all the amenities a fan could want will be open for the first time.   The first of two exhibition games with the Chicago Cubs kicks off the new home for the Bronx Bombers.

The new home is not a House.  There are certain things that don’t get replaced, the Beatles, Coca-Cola, the Montreal Forum, and the original Yankee Stadium.

For any that walked through the doors suddenly time stopped.  The three hours or so were uplifting and if you spent it with your mom and or dad it was that much more meaningful.

The word progress is thrown around frequently but newer isn’t always better.  In fact I would have been content if the original configuration of the old stadium didn’t change when it was renovated in the 1970′s.  Right field 296 feet away (not 300) and the monuments located not behind center field but on it!

If all goes well the Yankees will put over 4 million people in the park and as a fan spelled f a n a t a c, I hope there is plenty of post season baseball.  It was sorely missed in 2008.

Anything but a World Series victory in Yankee land is a failure and when the glitz is gone the championships shine on forever.

Good luck to the 2009 New York Yankees.  Bring the title back to New York City.

From the Consumer Friend Headquarters time to get some food for tomorrows game.  Thanks for stopping by.