When We Were Kids

My big sister and I.

Many moons ago.

Television with rabbit ears in the background.

That’s when we all we had were 4 stations ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS.

We called it the “Zombie Box” because you could just stay glued to it for hours and tune the world out mesmerized at the moving pictures.

Everyone knew what was on every station, every hour of the day and still there was a TV Guide published weekly to check.

When the TV went fuzzy, you had to give it a clop on the side and magically the picture cleared up for a few minutes if you were lucky.

Those were the days. 😉

(Thank you to my sister, Roz, for refreshing a copy of this to me)

Magic Cream

Wow, this was incredible for my kids to find in the store…

Magic Skin Cream

My dad of blessed memory, when he was alive created a cream called, “Magic Cream.”

And it really was magic–he would put it on regularly to heal virtually any routine skin ailment. 

It used all natural ingredients and he carefully protected the secret formula.

To now see the magic cream in a major retail store left me really surprised. 

I wish that he had been able to bring his magic cream to market and that it would have been a huge success. 

IMHO, my dad deserved this achievement–he was brilliant and hardworking and most importantly, a super good person with tremendous faith in G-d and real integrity.  

I miss him dearly. 😉

(Credit Photo: My daughter Rebecca)

The Goal is Automagically

Wow, I couldn’t believe that this is a real word.

Automagically.

I thought my colleague was using it as a gag. 

But when I asked Dr. Google, there it was. 

Automagically – Automatically + Magical

It refers to the use of computer automation and how when well-implemented it seems almost like the process is magical, ingenious, and oh, so easy. 

So this is the goal for us that all our processes and efforts should be poof–automagically done and  there it is! 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Crazy Sink

This crazy water faucet in Florida has no sink basin. 

Where does the water go?

Product design takes a new turn, but the water just dish-appears!  😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Let The Genie Out

I thought this was a very cool genie lantern on display at the Magen David Sephardic Synagogue last evening for the lecture on Women Poets of Morocco.  

Of course, people gathered around joking about whether, as legend has it, there was a genie inside. 

They asked, what do you have to do to try and get the genie out to make your three wishes. 

Well of course, they say you have to rub the lantern–where the heck did that come from?

Me being the curious jokster that I am just picked the lantern up off the table and flipped the top open!

Low and behold, it was completely empty–no genie to be found. 

Needless-to-say, I was quite disappointed hoping for an I Dream of Genie lady to magically appear or for a flying Persian magic carpet to whisk me away somewhere exciting.

Then I thought, perhaps someone else got to the lantern first?

And darn, they say you can’t put the genie back in the bottle!

A great notion when it comes to transparency, freedom of ideas and expression, no repression…but when you still are waiting for your three earth-shattering wishes then perhaps you still need to find your magic lantern. 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Magic Computer Displays

This is some awesome technology from Tactus Technology.

It is called a dynamic tactile touchscreen.

Here’s how it works:

When you want to type with a tablet or other touchscreen display, not only do you see a QWERTY keyboard, but also the buttons actually rise out of of the flatscreen display–for a tactile typing experience.

Using microfluidics, the fluids in the screen actually change shape–and form buttons.

When your done typing, the keyboard buttons melt away back down into the screen.

It all happens in a split second and has negligible impact on power consumption (i.e. less than 1%).

This type of tactile experience with computer displays can be used for tablets, smartphones, gaming devices, and I would imagine even SCADA devices (e.g. for turning a dial, pulling a level, etc. all virtually on a monitor).

Goodbye physical controls and hello magic touchscreen–presto chango. 😉

Are They Anything Without Him?

Sometimes, one person can be so instrumental to the success of an organization that they really are, for all intensive purposes, irreplaceable.

Leadership classes and anecdotes about great leaders tell us that one of leaders primary duties is a good succession plan.

But what happens, when a visionary place like Apple, loses their very special talent–someone that is truly their “secret sauce”–someone like a Steve Jobs–who you can’t just replicate or replace (easily or maybe at all)?

While Apple still makes great products, the jury is still out on whether they can truly innovate without Job’s vision, exacting attention to detail, and bigger than life persona.

Hence, the question, are they anything without him?

Perhaps, Apple can find the next Steve Jobs–who will bring new energy and talents and keep them a great organization–or perhaps not.

This new movie about Jobs–played by Ashton Kutcher will remind us of the magic that a truly special leader can bring to an organization.

If only there was a pill to swallow to make talented leaders–now that would be a job for Jobs. 😉

An Approach To Teamwork That Isn’t Hot Air

The team took a couple of minutes of downtime to rejuvenate.

Ever creative, they drew a smiley face on some celebratory balloons.

Up over the air conditioner, and the balloons danced literally all day long.

One person is waving their arms to show no strings or anything holding it up.

For a terrific team that works really hard, it was nice to see them laugh it off a little.

Cost what–2 cents? And it made everyone happy!  🙂

The Tiger Woods of Ping Pong

This 9-year old kid–Tom Spicer–from Australia is quite simply amazing.Hard to believe this is real–but I understand that it is!This kid throws a ping ball every which way into a tiny cup.

Straight shot, with a bounce and even 4, off the wall, rolling off a roof, behind his back and around the corner, out of a window, a backflip while laying down, with a flick of a skateboard, with the cup in motion, even while bouncing on a trampoline.

This kid is an inspiration with just a ball and cup, a million and one shots, and a big smile.

Tom has been practicing for 5 1/2 years.

Amazing discipline and creativity–seems right for America’s Got Talent.

Imagine what we can do if we set our mind to accomplishing great things too.

Everyone can score! 😉

This Man’s A Real Magician

One more very impressive act on this Sunday afternoon.

10 illusions in less than 5 minutes.

Hans Klok is amazing–especially impressive to me is how he does the following:

1) Moves so fast–more than 1 illusion every 30 seconds!
2) Actually remembers all 10 illusions–I can’t remember what I ate for breakfast this morning 😉
3) Pulls all the illusions off without a single glitch
4) Changes positions with the roaring lady with his hand sticking out of a locked box at :30.
5) Has the women’s legs (just her legs!) pushing a cart across the stage at 2:40–are those legs robotic?
6) Moves the guys head from his shoulders to his belly and back again at 2:50–the guys head falls almost like from a guillotine!

While I am not usually terribly wowed by magic acts, this one has quite a lot going for it including speed, action, humor, and some pretty good accompanying music.

Thank G-d for the Internet and Youtube, which enables us to share and enjoy all this great stuff–anytime, anywhere.

(Also, thanks Cousin Betty for sharing this.)