“A fool with a plan can outsmart a genius with no plan”
The subject line of this post is actually a quote from T. Boone Pickens, Texas oil man gone activist who started PickensPlan during the 2008 Presidential campaign.
PickensPlan, which we have written about on this blog multiple times, is the real deal. It’s an actual plan, devised by and funded by T. Boone himself, to get the U.S.A. off of foreign oil.
Initially this plan targeted wind power as a means for subsidizing our natural gas resources used primarily for non-transportation needs so that that natural gas could be freed up for use in transportation, reducing our dependence on foreign oil by about 30% over the next 10 years. Today the plan is concentrating almost entirely on natural gas.
Every President since Richard Nixon has promised to reduce our imports of foreign oil—none have accomplished it because they didn’t have a plan. We haven’t made any progress—our reliance on imported oil just keeps growing.
But now we have a plan. The bipartisan NAT GAS Act which is designed to create jobs, clean up the environment and improve our national security by incentivizing organizations that operate fleets of vehicles, including heavy duty trucks, that are fueled with imported oil to be replaced with vehicles that run on American natural gas. Check out Boone’s plan in this video where he spells it out on a whiteboard for you.
The PickensPlan website now has a petition form available online that people can fill out to call on all candidates for the U.S. House and Senate to make replacing OPEC oil with domestic fuels a central part of their campaigns. By signing this petition, you can help bring the U.S. a step closer to gaining independence with oil from foreign nations and our enemies.
While there, take a moment to register with the PickensPlan website so you too can join the Army and take a stand for America. We do publish occasional updates like this to our blog and also on our Facebook page so if you prefer to keep us as your filter for the top-level opportunities and calls to action then subscribe to this blog and start following us on Facebook too.
Comcast-NBCU deal breaks new ground for Internet TV
In December 2009 Comcast purchased 51% controlling interest in NBC Universal, which raised eyebrows in the cable subscription business and in the emerging Internet TV business. Specifically, the concern was based on NBCU’s 30% interest in Hulu, the leading Internet TV site. In late August, the story has re-appeared as reports surfaced that the Justice Department is “seriously investigating” a debate raging throughout the media business.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the Justice Department is focusing on how Comcast Corp.’s bid to purchase control of General Electric Co.’s NBC Universal television and movie unit as competitors have complained that the combined powerhouse could stunt the Internet industry’s quote.
Here is what some of Comcast’s competitors are reported to have stated to the FCC on August 19…
“[T]his transaction would give Comcast the tools to exploit an ‘online loophole’ under which Comcast could migrate NBCU programming to the Internet or to mobile or on-demand platforms, where Comcast could then deny it to competitors or restrict access for consumers.” – Direct TV
“[O]nline video, an innovative, disruptive new distribution platform – which includes NBCU and its online properties, including its ownership interest in online video service Hulu – is being neutralized and rendered les of a threat to its incumbent acquirer, Comcast.” – DISH
Industry experts predicted the controversy to thicken back in December when the deal went in to effect. In fact, Bloomberg reported at that time that the planned takeover would draw scrutiny from Obama administration regulators who said consolidation of media companies may thwart competition.
Comcast’s response to the FCC regarding the matter is that “the combined entity will lack the market power required to pursue a foreclosure strategy by withholding online content from other distributors.”
Clearly Comcast is downplaying the matter while its competitors are feeling a bit vulnerable with their backs against the wall. Regardless, the story pushes the envelop to points in the media business that have not been breached yet but that were inevitably bound to occur. With the FCC now getting involved, new regulation is expected.
Ford Uses Explorer As Guinea Pig For Facebook Marketing Success
Ford made history on July 26, 2010 when it revealed the 2011 Ford Explorer exclusively on Facebook. The move scored big with online car shoppers in some astounding ways:
- There was a 104% increase in traffic to Ford Explorer pages in Jumpstart Automotive Group’s websites on that day.
- Daily users for Ford Explorer pages on Jumpstart’s websites more than doubled compared to the July average.
- Daily page usage for days immediately following the reveal date also improved by 66%, 25%, 13% and 8%, showing that Facebook marketing can pay off big if done well.
- Ford’s share of of SUV shoppers on Jumpstart’s websites grew by 52% on the reveal date.
- The Ford Explorer was the most researched SUV on Jumpstart sites that day.
- Dollar for dollar, Ford’s return on investment for the Facebook reveal outperformed the company’s return on Super Bowl ads in 2010, which resulted in only a 14% increase in shopping growth.
Source: Press Release
Jumpstart and Ford proved that Facebook marketing can work for the automotive industry. The Facebook-only reveal of the 2011 Ford Explorer is the first such Facebook marketing success for new auto roll outs in automotive industry history.
Reader Caution
There are some fan-run pages out there so when you check this out take note of that. Fan-run pages are ok, but it would be a shame to think you found the official Ford Fan page when in truth you haven’t. The image to your right is from one of the stronger Fan-run pages. Below are links to other Ford and advertising activities and information.
Things to do…
> Visit Ford Explore Facebook Fan Page
> Read Ford reviews at AutoConverse.com
> Follow AutoConversion on Facebook
More About Jumpstart Automotive
Jumpstart Automotive Group is a leading representative of in-market automotive publishers with the most highly engaged audience of online car shoppers. Founded in 2001, Jumpstart Automotive Group capitalized on the massive shift taking place in advertising — the move of ad spending from traditional to interactive advertising. With online advertising expected to be a $42 billion industry by 2013, Jumpstart is leading the way, growing exponentially each year to a nearly 1000% increase in revenue since our founding.
Bill Gates behind funding for eco-friendly engines
EcoMotors recently received $23.5M in venture capital from software mogul Bill Gates and Khosla Ventures for a new kind of engine, one that is environmentally friendly.
The engine is called Opposed Piston Opposed Cylinder (OPOC). That’s a fancy way of saying 2-cycle engine. The idea is to place a crankshaft betwixt two cylinders, each with two pistons that move in opposite directions. The new design eliminates the valve train and cylinder head for a lighter, more compact engine that is also more efficient and produces lower emissions. It still runs on gasoline.
While this does not put the internal combustion engine behind us, it is a step in the right direction for generating equivalent power with less dust. The engines are designed to work with existing infrastructures to easily replace engines like the four-stroke combustible engines used in many passenger cars. They will also be less expensive than these engines.
EcoMotors makes engines that run on diesel or gasoline but have greater power density, weigh less and produce lower carbon emissions than conventional engines. OPOC engines are being developed for passenger vehicles, as well as for commercial vehicles, aerospace and power generators.
Look for more information from us about how similar technology trends by signing up to receive an email alert each time we update our blog. Our goal is to bring timely topics and events into perspective to help you make informed decisions about today and tomorrow.
Zuckerburg genuinely humble about the “big space” of local advertising
A lot of buzz is taking place between industry giants Faceboook and Google. You have the release of Facebook Places, and then you have the general effect Facebook has on brand sites such as Starbucks and Coca-Cola. With so much on which to chew, you must give heed to the fact that Foursquare and Booyah have been mentioned in this mix too.
Local advertising is nothing new, but giving people and businesses the ability to do this using mobile phones and devices opens up new space in the technology marketing front that shows promise for future generations.
Location-based and relationship marketing on the Internet are becoming more digital and mobile now too. This presents new technology avenues for people and and challenges for businesses to tackle age-old marketing objectives.
Foursqaure is one of numerous new applications available today for location-based customer experiences to occur. With the recent roll out of Facebook Places, some people have expressed concern for how this might affect Foursquare, but I would think this is good for Foursquare because they are in position to provide business solutions that few will achieve anytime soon.
Much more will come out of this arrangement of players in the years to come, with new ones likely too. The need for mobile apps will increase, the ability for businesses to adapt to new technologies will improve, and service providers will be able to flourish in the new capabilities that are created. It’s a beautiful thing, but not without it’s own worries and challenges.
Look for more information from us about how your privacy and security are affected by these growing technology trends by signing up to receive an email alert each time we update our blog. My goal is to bring timely topics and events into perspective to help you make informed decisions about today and tomorrow.
China’s Novel Approach To Trans Management
China is the world’s most populous country. It’s also the world’s second biggest economic superpower having just recently surpassed Japan. When you put the two together it’s not hard to see that China is growing by leaps and bounds, in a number of ways. Including technologically.
You’ll have to watch this video demo of a proposed solution to China’s ever-growing transportation issues which shows a bus-like vehicle designed for vehicles to pass under it. Bus passengers are escorted in an elevated area above a moving underpass that allows vehicles (up to a certain width and height of course) to continue driving through regardless of whether the bus is moving, slowing down, or stopped.
Kind of brings new meaning to the phrase, “Thrown under the bus”. Doesn’t it?
All jokes aside, this actually looks feasible. Rather than build a massive subway system, large urban centers can have electronic buses that move through the streets in traffic lanes. Passenger cars can drive through them as if they were bridges. It almost makes perfect sense, but then, so do most good ideas.
Car Town Provides Virtual Advertising For Real World Auto Makers
Honda’s jumped onto the social gaming bandwagon. Car Town is a Facebook game that allows players to drive around in their favorite rides and soup them up any way they please.
(Source) “Car Town is the first major Facebook casual game to significantly integrate real world automotive brands into social gaming play,” shared Justin Choi, president and chief executive officer of Cie Games. “We are a company of car enthusiasts and so it was important for us to create a high-quality game that did justice to the brands we are working with. We know the car manufacturers have entrusted us with their brands and we take this very seriously.”
But Honda isn’t the only car maker getting in on this action. Other Car Town partners include DeLorean, Dodge, Ford, General Motors, Lamborghini, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Ram Truck, and Toyota. And that’s just a few.
Honda has purchased virtual billboard space in the game, which illustrates the opportunity auto makers have with social gaming. By spending real dollars on virtual advertising space, auto manufacturers can reach new audiences in places they might not otherwise have a chance to reach.
Car Town is made by Cie Games. If you like driving then try virtual driving through Car Town. If you like dreaming about all the cool things you can do with a car but don’t have the money to do it, Car Town could be your ticket to car driving heaven. If you’re a car maker and you’re looking for potential new customers then social gaming could be your way into their real parking garages by sponsoring their virtual parking spaces.
Will you be on domestic energy within 8 years?
The PickensPlan, which is a true plan for energy independence in the USA, started in July 2008 during the Presidential race between Obama, McCain, and HRC. At the time, it was about using renewable wind energy as the bridge for making the US less dependent on foreign oil. About a year into this, the Plan shifted from using wind energy as the bridge and now natural gas is that stepping stone.
To give you an idea of how things were at the time, the US was consuming 21 million barrels per day (BPD), most of which is for transportation purposes. That is 25% of total global production of oil by only 4% of the world’s population. Of those 21M barrels, 13M are imported, 5M of which come from OPEC, which Pickens and many others have dutifully classified as OUR ENEMEY.
This month Pickens explains his plan to eliminate the 5M BPD from OPEC, first by targeting the 8 million 18-wheelers in the US to convert to natural gas (CNG) which would amount to 2.5M BPD. According to Pickens, this conversion could be accomplished in 7 years. Doing this would put Obama on schedule to “cut all imports of oil from the Mideast in 10 years”, a claim Obama made during his run for presidency.
All this is outlined on the 10:48 video below of T. Boone Pickens on his whiteboard, a follow-up to the day he got started in July 2008.
If you are reading this, take a moment to consider what’s in front of you. Here is a man, an oil man at that, who has essentially dedicated the rest of time here on earth to ensure America’s energy independence, something that US presidents dating back to the 70′s have promised and done nothing to achieve. Here is a man with a plan, something few politicians have and something oil companies are not going to do because the economics are not in it for them.
Case in point…1 mcf of natural gas costs $5 and provides the equivalent of 7 gallons of diesel which at $3 per galling is $21. That is FOUR TIMES the cost. Why would an oil company want that?
America’s energy independence is about social change. It’s about each of us as individuals taking the necessary steps towards our independence, much like what was done in the 1770′s for this great nation to get out from under British rule.
You can start today by signing up at PickensPlan.com and when you do, drop me a note on the site to let me know you did.
Hydros Bottle holds more than just water.
In April when we hit the 2010 Go Green Expo of Greater Philadelphia we took our video camera along in hopes to capture some cool happenings. We met a lot of great people doing great things, and one of those great things that captured my interest the most was Hydros Bottle.
Founded by two U-Penn engineering grads Jay Parekh and Aakash Mathur who have set out to change the world, literally, Hydros Bottle is a reusable filtered water bottle designed with a filter that enables you to run tap water through with no lag so that you always have filtered drinking water on hand with you where you bring the Hydros Bottle.
So simple, yet so ingenious.
Now, a good invention is often an obvious idea once you see it. But the invention is not even the half of it. What impressed me the most was Parekh’s and Mathur’s social mission to improve the quality of drinking water worldwide with Operation Hydros.
With Operation Hydros, $1 from each Hydros Bottle sold will go towards a water infrastructure project designed to be socially, economically, and environmentally viable. Such sustainable development projects meet the needs of people today without compromising those of tomorrow.
For their first project, Hydros Bottle has partnered with the Engineers Without Borders USA to deliver fresh water to the village of Gundom. Once they have set aside enough funds to meet the current and expected future financial needs of the Gundom project, Hydros Bottle intends to do a second project to support.
Below is a 1-minute video we agreed to do for Hydros Bottle because we were so taken by their cause and wanted to go a little farther to help support their cause. You can visit the Hydros Bottle Facebook Fan page to keep up with everything they have going on. We too hope to keep up with them and help make their endeavor a success which I have no doubt will be.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtiSEsBw3mw[/youtube]
Shouts out to Jay & Aakash for the great demo and a sample bottle. I have been using it every day and plan to buy some as Christmas presents later this year.
Hydros Bottle™ holds more than water. It is a chance to help the 1.1 billion people who do not have access to clean drinking water.
Featured products from 2010 Go Green Expo Philadelphia
Last month we were invited to attend the Go Green Expo of Greater Philadelphia in Oaks PA. One of our affiliates was providing the mobile opt-in service for the expo and so we had a chance to partner up with some good folks doing extraordinary things in the world.
Prior to the show we made an effort to connect with some of the vendors on Twitter. We then went on-site with our camera to meet with these folks and others there that caught our interest. While there we caught a demo of their product on tape and added those booths to Foursquare.com, which is a game of sorts you can play with friends and businesses on your mobile phone.
Below is our video from the expo. It’s about 8 minutes in length but it should keep you entertained. In it you get to meet each of the people with whom we connected and did a demo, including:
- Leilani Munter – Environmental Activist and ARCA race car drive
- Theo Chocolate
- Shear Miracles
- One Bag One Earth
- Hydros Bottle
- Ms. Angie’s LemonCu
- Clear Communications
- The Green Banana Skateboard Company
- PrintResponsibility.com
- Soda Stream
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL-NGg7t9Xc[/youtube]
Shouts out to everyone involved that helped with the production of the video and making this possible: CMP Mobile, Catalyst Marketers, The Indie Show, Go Green Expo.
We are highly particular about the information we share and make a point to keep it original and entertaining. To be notified when we participate in events such as this and to be notified when we publish similar information, you can subscribe to this blog, become a fan on our Facebook page, and also follow us on Twitter. We hope to see you there.
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