John T Stone News

I am familiar with sending press releases, but do some news sources feed off others?

For example, if I submit a press release to one news source (a small local paper), is it possible another local paper would feed off the press release and publish?

I think it depends a lot on the topic, and how the media outlet you submitted the release to handles it. If they use the release verbatim, or a rewrite, it's not likely that other outlets will pick it up. BUT if the media outlet takes the story beyond the release… it's very possible that it will be picked up by others. Best bet, though, send the release to all the media outlets in the market… follow up with a phone call, which may encourage the reporters to work up a story. And speaking from 20 years in a radio newsroom… if you send a release to the local paper, but not the broadcast outlets, there's a tendancy to IGNORE the story entirely. Sad, but true.

I am planning out my class schedule for next semester, and I could take two of my 5 classes via the internet. So, I'd only have to go to campus for tests. This would be very convenient, as parking is a hassle, and I work full-time so going down for anything is annoying.

The classes are also offered in a traditional lecture format, with night classes that would work with my schedule, but I would have to take the extra time to go, park, etc which would certainly be tempting to skip, whereas the internet I could do whenever.

What are your experiences/thoughts with internet based or otherwise remote classes? It seems like it would be a lot more work, cause you'd have to read everything instead of just absorbing lecture material.

P.S. I am a fairly good student, I got a 3.8 last semester and stand to do about a 3.5x this semester. So I wouldn't just blow off the classes, internet or otherwise.

Thanks for your thoughts

It really depends on how important the lecture material is to you. For example, when I was in college I went to almost every class so I wouldn't have to read too much from the book. Also, the Prof. would give hints as to what would be on the test or what was really important on projects. However, if you are a person that can learn easily from reading the book all on your own, then by all means make your life easy and take the class over the Internet.

I also think taking classes over the Internet is easier. My sister teaches all her college classes that way and doesn't give much homework, mainly a few projects and one exam.

Its such a nuisance to have loose wires everywhere when it would be so much tidier having retractable wires in gadgets like toasters, blenders, mixers etc.
Sorry I should have made it clear….I meant for storage.

it is actually bad to wind up electrical leads while they are running, because it causes what is called induction and can make them heat up (only really happens on things that draw alot of current like heaters, toasters, and kettles. The tighter the coil the worse it is. also every time it is wrapped so tightley with spring loaded stuff, it puts stress on the cable and the connection, eventually (hardley ever happens) it will wear out. Usually only power tools and stuff get broken connections or leads, from getting handled roughly.

What are the steps in, and the components of, developing a product information kit for a new technology. This information kit will be distributed to a narrow number of potential customers. Moreover, because the technology can be leveraged in other applications, is it best to develop one package that focuses on the main applications, with some focus on the other applications? or to develop several information packages, each focused on a specific application? This material is expected to be distributed through a website, at expo and conferences, and possibly, as part of a news release. Anticipated audience: Automotive HVAC, Residential/Commercial HVAC, Industrial Gases, and several others. Primary focus, Auto & Res/Comm HVAC industry.

I don't necessarily agree that it's better to make one presentation. Consider multiple stories especially if you're going to use the web where "real estate" is cheap. However before you do anything, I recommend the following:

1. Clearly identify your multiple channels or audiences (there will be several in a category. HVAC isn't enough. Is the the owners of HVAC firms? Building Maintenence folks in large office buildings etc?
2. Know what you are selling. You my provide TECHNOLOGY but you are SELLING the benefits of that technology. What does it do for the end user? Save money? Enable greater up time? WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS…. Think hard on this one.
3. Consider teaming up with or researching trade associations that would want to know about this new technology. The ACCA in Washington DC is a very powerful trade association. (Air Conditioning Contractors of America).
4. If you have an install base already, consider writing case studies.

These are just a few ideas. You have lots of work to do with this. You may have the greatest technology in the world, but if your message doesn't get to the right people, it will not prevail. Good Luck.

Or do you pay attention to politics each and every day, from the local govt, all the way to the White House?

Do you pay attention to worldwide politics as well?

Day to day. And especially every pay check when I wonder what the hell I’m paying 40% of my salary for.

You see your local news and local sports news and local business news etc in a local paper. WHO finds out about them if the paper doesn't get a news tip?

10 points to the most knowledgeable!

They are contacted by the newsmakers, typically. They have well developed contacts w/ police, so they get reports from them on daily crime, they get in free to events and are actually envited to them by promoters who also advertise in the event …
Of course they have people listening to scanners and such for instant crime reporting, they go to city council meetings, grand openings …
long story short, they are established within the community they serve and the community makes sure they know when things are going on so it can be covered in the news and they combine these daily occurances w/ reporters timely coverage of crime or reporting indepth on what has tipped them off.

I recently bought a nokia 770 internet tablet, it says that I access the internet through wifi or cellphone. Can someone give me the information on wifi? What is it? How do you use/activate it and are there any fees? Do I need services like an internet provider with monthly fees? Are there any other things that I may need to purchase?

You can go online 3 different ways with your new tablet. You can go online the same way you would with a laptop. You can use Bluetooth or you can pair it with a phone. The first link I put is a pdf file. If you go to page 20 it will show you the 3 different ways to go online.

The second link is a interactive demonstrations which can help you go online also. Go to "Managing Connections" under "Feature Demos".

I have an ipod, a laptop, a high-end cell phone…what are the latest gadgets on the market?

the iphone

Picture this scenario: As a future stategy for an airline company, they decide to invest in technology, say the installation of Tv units (or anything thing u can think about) in the back of every seats, or a joint venture with a more famous airline say Singapore airlines, where bothairlines could work with each other and develop new technologies, new machinery, better service? Would those new strategy make sense in the external competitive environment? (i.e. what customers require, what competitors are doing, trends in the business environment)

I think so because I have spoken with many people who only fly on JetBlue airplanes for the exact reasons that you speak of; multimedia systems that keep them entertained over the course of long, boring flights. Sure, it costs an airline money to do this but when you consider the fact that some passengers will fly with your airline exclusively for the reason that you offer such systems, then it becomes a good investment. You really wouldn't be developing this technology with an airline, such as Singapore, because there are many different components manufacturers and suppliers that can already provide your airline with such technology. In other words, there are other companies that you can buy this stuff from, off the shelf, for each of your passenger seats. None of that is new technology, and these are standard options from both Boeing, Airbus, various aircraft interior refurbishers, corporate aircraft manufacturers, etc.

I go to school at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and I'd imagine that political discussions at my university are much different than those in the deep south? Do you know anything about politics classes/ university political discussions in the deep south?

I'm from Texas and I can tell you UT Austin is one plenty liberal university. It seems to me universities and college towns everywhere, even in the deep South, are bastions of liberalism.

That being said, I majored in engineering and we didn't discuss politics. For the one government class I had, the professor was pretty easy going and open minded. I'm guessing he was liberal. For my Texas government class, I had this mean old professor always blaming Clinton for something. I'm seriously not kidding.