by Lira Luis (originally published in Medium.com)

Book Stacks Image by Lira Luis, inspired by Antonio Olivera’s photo

The current pandemic led to the grounding of all my business flights for the rest of the year. The good news is, while bleisure travel took me to faraway places pre-pandemic, so can a book, or two. The shorter commute between my balcony and living room during WFH (working from home) means more time to catch up on my summer reading. These are on my list:

Close-Up View of Froebel’s Kindergarten with Frank Lloyd Wright at the Drawing Table by Wally Rogers. This book is a deep dive into the method of learning in Friedrich Froebel’s Kindergarten and how it became the foundational influence on Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture.

Members Only by Sameer Pandya. It’s a novel that follows the experiences of Raj Bhatt, a brown man in America who is part of an elite membership club where the white members accused him of being a reverse racist, forcing him to navigate the complex space between black and white, while looking for meaning in membership and belonging.

Is Everyone Really Equal? by Robin DiAngelo. This is a professional education on understanding social justice that would allow deep reflection and ethical action.

Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong. Part of allyship is walking in someone else’s shoes and this is a personal narrative that recounts navigating the English language, feelings, poetry, artmaking, and family including female friendships through the lens of an Asian American.

Nikola Tesla and the Electrical Future by Iwan Rhys Morus. A timely book that examines the inventor-as-maverick-outsider persona of Nikola Tesla, against the backdrop of the age of innovation of his time with a strong clear vision of the future.

The Sympathizer: A Novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen. This is an espionage novel that won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and centers on the theme of Vietnam War, told through the story of an army captain, his love and life between America and Vietnam, including the communist cause.

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi. This is probably the book of our time and demonstrates why it is not enough to not be racist. In an authentic equitable society most people would be antiracist and this book explains exactly how to be one.

Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do by Jennifer L. Eberhardt. The most important and timely message of this book is that we do not have to be racist to be biased, and this can be manifested in micro-actions and macro-actions that have lasting effects.

Architecture for Rapid Change and Scarce Resources by Sumita Singha. It’s a blueprint for professional practice on a local and global scale, in developed and developing countries, that addresses sustainability and social equity.

Blockchain: The Insights You Need from Harvard Business Review by Harvard Business Review. In order to fully grasp how to gain competitive advantage in our changing landscape of business and society, this book gives a foundational understanding of blockchain technology and what you need to be doing with it now, to come out ahead.

If you happen to read some of them, let me know what you think.

One of the most common calls we get is when a hearing aid stops working. For many of our patients, a dead hearing aid is much more than an inconvenience. Thankfully most of the time, a non functioning hearing aid can be revived.

Here are some of the most common problems we encounter and some solutions you can try:

If you have a traditional earmold with a tube, it’s quite possible that the tubing is blocked with moisture, wax or oil. Separate the mold from the hearing aid. If the hearing aid starts whistling, the earmold was clogged. Soak the mold in in warm soapy water. Blow out the excess water into a tissue just in case a bit of wax comes out too. You’ll probably need a new tube.

When you have a thin tube attached to the hearing aid, remove it by unscrewing or unsnapping as the Audiologist advises. If the hearing aid starts making noise, you’ve found the problem; it’s the tube and you’ll need a new one. Most of the time the tubing is crimped.

If you have a receiver in the ear style hearing aid with a custom earmold, make sure that the wax filter isn’t clogged. If you can’t get the wax filter out, remove it with straight pin. If your hearing aid comes with disposable domes, remove the dome and then take out the filter.

With a custom molded hearing aid, remove the filter. Some devices have microphone covers that are also removable. Use a soft toothbrush to clean the microphones. Sometimes the microphone is inside the case and won’t be easy to find.

Most behind the ear hearing aids have microphone openings that are visible. Brushing with a soft toothbrush to clear debris will help.

This may seem too simple, but always check the battery. Try a battery from another package. Many times failure comes from a dead or out of date battery.

If the hearing aid is still not functioning, there’s a chance that your Audiologist can perform CPR or replace parts. If nothing works, the hearing aid manufacturer will need to repair your device. If troubleshooting is too complicated, pick up the phone and call us. We’re always happy to help.

Leads are the lifeblood of a business, especially with one that’s still trying to gain footing. When you don’t have the size or brand recognition for creating a consistent customer base, you need to take lead generation seriously. In the highly-competitive world of modern business, though, that can be challenging.

Generating leads today requires a little nuance and a lot of variation. To help you get started, here are eight ways you can create new leads.

1. Create Engaging Social Media Pages

There are roughly 3.5 billion users on social media today, making up almost half of the global population. That’s a demographic that you can’t afford to miss out on, no matter how big or small your business. Revisit your social platforms and make sure they’re engaging, enticing and represent your company well.

2. Content Marketing

Consumers may react better to advertising that doesn’t come across as an ad. By creating content that answers questions consumers already have, you communicate your reliability and value without explicit advertising. After publishing this content, you can browse through comments and interactions to find new leads.

3. Personalize Your Efforts

People will respond better to your marketing efforts if they feel like you value them as a person. It takes more work, but reaching out to consumers on an individual level can be an excellent way to generate leads. If you take the time to address customers individually instead of using cookie-cutter responses, you’ll see much better results.

4. Encourage Customer Referrals

Word-of-mouth shouldn’t be your only marketing approach, but it can be an effective one. Consider that 74% of consumers say that word-of-mouth is a critical influencer in their decisions about purchases. You can help your customers generate leads for you by establishing a referral program.

5. Turn to a Lead Generation Company

If you have the budget and haven’t had much success with your efforts, you can hire a lead generation company. These businesses typically specialize in a specific field or type of service, helping you achieve your unique goals. With their help, you can generate and nurture new, quality leads in no time.

7. Offer Live Chat

If a potential customer ends up on your website, they’ll want quick, helpful answers to their questions. Live chat features, either through employees or chatbots, can help you reach out to these users quickly and personally. Live chat gives users the attention and assistance that they like to see from a business.

8. Reach Out to Social Media Influencers

It’s challenging to overstate the importance of social media, and influencers can help you take full advantage of these platforms. Roughly 40% of Twitter users say they’ve purchased a product because of an influencer’s tweet. By finding someone with a dedicated social media following to partner with you, you can substantially expand your reach.

You Can Find New Leads Everywhere

Generating new leads can seem like a daunting task, but you have near-countless options when it comes to lead generation. If you follow these eight steps, you can give your brand a much-needed push in popularity and trust. Lead generation is rarely simple, but it’s not impossible, either.

Crowds cool off along the lakefront near Diversey Parkway on July 14, 2020. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)

This column appeared today in the Chicago Tribune

By Dennis Byrne

During the pandemic, many of us have been forced to stay inside.

Well, for many, like me, that also means “going inside” more, meaning spending more time with my thoughts and feelings, and my past — and, of course, the oh-so-uncertain future.

In doing so, I realized that, while the world was going through changes, I was too. And that, in looking back, in revisiting some of the things I went through as a child, I was remembering the sound of my own voice, which I haven’t really heard for a long, long time. Then, as a musician and writer, I wanted to share what I was seeing and learning.

So, I wrote a song called “Do you remember?”

I originally thought it was for me.

Then I realized others might be going through the same thing, too, which is why I’m sharing it here.

Here are the lyrics. May it be of benefit.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Do you remember?

Do you remember when you were young?

The world was new and so were you, gonna be someone

Gonna be someone

Then, as you grew, the world grew, too

The sidewalks walked their crazy walk out in front of you

And when you ran, you flew

Then came the day when you came undone

Stood like stone, a child all alone, beneath the sun

And just like that, it was done

*Do you remember?

Do you recall?

The sound of your own voice inside of you?

In the night, can you hear it call?

Do you remember that winter night?

When his raging eyes they came alive surrounded by unholy light

Marked you deep inside

As children do, you made it true

Though it was his, you took it on, and made it you

And just like that, it was through

*Do you remember?

Do you recall?

The sound of your own voice inside of you?

In the night, can you hear it call?

**Somehow you still find a way to go back in time

To catch that child’s eyes and hold him close so he can finally cry

Then softly smile and let him know that he’s not alone

And that, in your arms, beneath the sun, he is finally home

Do you remember how we cried?

When suddenly we were free once again to go outside

And when we ran, we’d fly

And now you stand strong and brave

The price you paid to come awake outweighed by all the hearts you’ll save

Starting with your own

*Do you remember?

Do you recall?

The sound of your own voice inside of you?

In the night, you still hear it call

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Contact me at [email protected]. Learn more about my writing, speaking and music at www.jameswarda.com.

Comments Note: All comments are reviewed. Any that are considered to be a personal attack or hate speech will be removed. In my blog, I always try to be respectful. I expect the same from my readers, both in responses to me, and about or to each other. And, again, thank you for reading.

@2001-2020, James R. Warda. All rights reserved.

PALM SPRINGS

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Rating: R

Running Time: 89 mins.

Where Can You See It?: Hulu

Premise: Nyles (Andy Samberg) and Sarah (Cristin Milloti) meet at a Palm Springs wedding, and find themselves unable to escape the venue, themselves, or each other. Things get progressively complicated from there.

Behind-the-Scenes: Made a splash at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, where it sold for 17,500,000.69, making it a Sundance sales record and beating the previous record holder (Birth of a Nation) by .69 cents.Ha, nice. The Lonely Island (Jorma Taccone, Akiva Shaffer, and Samberg) are producers and include a truly funny “Lonely Island Classics” logo before the film. This is director Max Barbakow and writer Andy Siara’s first feature.

The Good: This may just be the movie of 2020. It so perfectly captures the essence of the quarantine experience and what it’s like to keep living the same day over and over. Samberg is always funny, but displays some impressive dramatic chops here as well, building nicely on some of the range he showed in Celeste and Jesse Forever (which is definitely worth a watch if you haven’t seen it yet). He has a ton of chemistry with Milloti, who is equally fun, in a more acerbic way. The script is smart and playful, and mines a ton of fresh insight on relationships and commitment from its Groundhog Day-inspired premise. J.K. Simmons adds some additional thematic heft in a small supporting role. The film is deeply rewatchable (I’ve seen it twice now) and rewards those repeat viewings – hidden meanings and subtle jokes become clearer. The 90-minute runtime flies by, and despite the time loop conceit, the movie never repeats itself. The location, costumes and production design all work hand-in-hand to create a richly textured world on screen.

The Bad: For true Lonely Island fans, it’s not as funny as you might expect given their involvement. The sci-fi elements are thrown in without much thought and are barely fleshed out. Either go full sci-fi with the premise or don’t explain it at all.

Should You See It?: Yes! Palm Springs is a bubbly tonic of a film that both elevates the romcom genre and honors it. Worth a subscription to Hulu for this alone. 

Star Rating: **** out of 5 stars

Better Than: Happy Death Day, Source Code

Worse Than: Groundhog Day, Edge of Tomorrow

* * *

For more movie/TV commentary and other mischief, follow me on Twitter: @Hammervision and on Letterboxd: @Hammervision

Dear people that feel it’s their constitutional right to not wear a mask:

I AM OVER YOU. I AM OVER YOU AND YOUR ABSOLUTE LACK OF ANY LOGIC OR REASON FOR NOT WEARING A MASK.

As the United (are we?) States continues to set daily records of new coronavirus cases and the death toll rises, those of you that refuse to wear a mask continue to perpetuate this nightmare we have all been subject to living in. I’m sick of it. My business has floundered, dear friends have died, thousands are unemployed and yet you only think of yourselves.

Nevermind what experts in science have to say. Nevermind that it’s been said that if EVERYONE wore a mask in public we could eradicate this thing in 4-8 weeks. Nevermind that we have no clue what the actual long term effects of this virus are on people once they “recover”. Nevermind that by you possibly transmitting the virus to someone and that someone dies you are committing a type of murder. Let’s not think about that!

Actually I think we SHOULD think about that. It’s been clearly proven that by wearing a face covering the transmission of this virus is greatly reduced. We’ve even recently read and seen the obituaries of the idiots that denounced wearing masks. They basically committed suicide. Let’s go to a Covid party and see who can catch it first! Let’s ignore the whole thing and call it a hoax – then end up in the ICU where people who actually WORE a mask are being taken care of and you shouldn’t be.

I’ve always tried through this blog to stay out of politics. To stay away from stating opinions too strongly. But the name if this blog is “When You Put it That Way” and I’m putting it this way:

Wear a f*&ing mask. Stop being selfish and carrying on about your constitutional rights. Those of us that are doing all we can to stop this insanity want our freedom as much as you do. But we want it without the expense of others lives. I’ve had cancer twice. I’ve been through countless rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. I’ve been so sick that on your worst day I’d have taken it over that. So, do you think that I want one of you possibly spreading it to me? Why should I be locked up in my house for months on end because of your selfishness?

And now there are all of you younger people carrying on in bars and behaving as though there is no virus. You’re young, you think you’re invincible. So did the 3o year old kid that went to the party to see who would get it first. Well, he won the prize. He’s dead.

I used to be so proud to be an American; to live in The United States. Now I feel embarrassed. I feel that we are a nation divided by such a simple act of kindness and thoughtfulness towards your fellow man. We are a laughing stock – as countries around the world are emerging from this crisis we sink deeper and deeper into it. We aren’t allowed to even travel to other countries, my how the tables have turned.

I, as well as my friends and family that follow the rules cannot for the life of us determine what it is about wearing a mask that is such a violation of rights. You are violating our right to live and be healthy. You are nothing short of criminals as your possible transmission causing death should be considered a crime. A punishable crime.

Who knows where we will be in a year. I can only hope that somehow, some way you all start to wake up and see the damage you are doing. That you’ll realize how badly we all want it to end and the only way to do it is to BE IN THIS TOGETHER. It’s been said since day one that we are – I think not. So if we are all in this nightmare next year, perhaps you will wake up and see who was to blame.

And I bet it won’t be those of us who are masked and followed the rules.

So, suck it up. Join the fight. And one other favor, please do not comment on this blog if you give me reasons to not wear one. There are none.