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The China Study Quick and Easy Cookbook released

Posted by Elena del Valle on May 1, 2015

The China Study Quick & Easy Cookbook

Photo: BenBella Books, Inc.

Do you prefer to eat vegetarian foods? Did you read The China Study (see Health, nutrition experts examine comprehensive China nutrition study) and Whole (Nutrition expert, educator discuss whole food plant based diet advantages) which outline the healthful advantages of plant based and whole diets? Do you have limited time to cook? If so, The China Study Quick & Easy Cookbook: Cook Once, Eat All Week with Whole Food, Plant-Based Recipes (BenBella Books, $19.95) by Del Sroufe may appeal to you.

The 253-page trade paperback book, edited by Leanne Campbell, PhD and published this year, is chock full of color photos by Robert Metzger in varied sizes. It is divided into sections by type of dish: Breakfast Dishes; Sauces, Salad Dressings & Seasonings; Snacks & Spreads; Salads; Sandwiches; Pasta & Baked Dishes; Soups; Entrees; and Desserts.

A short Appendix has Measurement Guide, Dietary Symbols and Nutritional Value information. At the end of the book there is an offer to sign up for a free digital copy (in Kindle, PDF or ePub) of BenBella’s Best of Plant Based Eating. All that was necessary to receive a copy was to provide a name and email address and verify the email address after receiving a confirmation email from the publisher.

Sroufe is also author of New York Times bestselling Forks Over Knives: The Cookbook, and Better Than Vegan. Campbell is author of The China Study Cookbook.


The China Study Quick & Easy Cookbook

Click to buy The China Study Quick & Easy Cookbook


Organizations disclose results of survey on domestic violence and sexual assault among Latinos

Posted by Elena del Valle on April 22, 2015

hmpr_nomasdvsa

Click to enlarge

Image: No More

According to No More 12.7 million people are physically abused, raped or stalked in one year. Believing there is a strong and compelling need to better understand how these issues impact Latinos, and that Casa de Esperanza is the leading Latino organization in the country dealing with the issues of domestic violence and sexual assault, No More and Casa de Esperanza National Latino Network approached the Avon Foundation for Women to fund a survey on the subject.

Although they declined to disclose the cost, they believe it is the largest and most comprehensive study of domestic violence and sexual assault in the United States Latino community. The results were released this week in the No Mas Study: Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault in the U.S. Latino Community.

More than half of the Latino respondents, (56 percent) said they know a victim of domestic violence and 28 percent said they know a victim of sexual assault. Among survey takers, 41 percent said they believe that fear of deportation is the main barrier preventing Latino victims from seeking help; 39 percent said they thought the fear of more violence and 39 percent said they thought the fear of children being taken away were the top barriers for victims.

According to the survey, parents who responded are much more likely than parents in the United States population at large to talk to their children about domestic violence and sexual assault. More than half (54 percent) of respondents said they have talked to their children, while only 29 percent of parents in the population at large responding to a 2013 No More study said they had talked to their children about those issues.

The survey results have led the organizations to conclude Latino respondents were addressing domestic violence and sexual assault issues since 61 percent of them who said they knew a victim of either also said they intervened and did something for the victim. Lake Research Partners designed and administered a telephone survey of 800 adult Latinos nationwide conducted between January 27 and February 10, 2015. Among those surveyed 30 percent were interviewed in Spanish. The margin of error for the total sample is +/- 3.5 percent.

National Latino Network for Healthy Families and Communities is a project of Casa de Esperanza, a national institute on domestic violence in Latino communities. Casa de Esperanza has worked for 30 years to mobilize Latino communy to end domestic violence. According to the No More website, No More it is a collaboration of many groups working through a fiscal sponsor, the Joyful Heart Foundation, a registered 501c3. The organization’s goald is to raise awareness nationally and bring people, organizations and advocates together “to help gradually shift perceptions, normalize conversations and engage bystanders to take action to prevent and ultimately end domestic violence and sexual assault.”

The Avon Foundation for Women is one of the world’s largest corporate-affiliated philanthropy organizations “focused on issues that matter most to women.”  Through 2014, Avon global philanthropy, led by the Avon Foundation, has contributed nearly $1 billion in over 50 countries. Today, Avon philanthropy focuses on funding breast cancer research and advancing access to quality care through the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, and efforts to reduce domestic and gender violence through its Speak Out Against Domestic Violence program.

Chicago sales executive draws on TV characters for leadership insights

Posted by Elena del Valle on April 17, 2015

Tune in to Wow Leadership

Tune in to Wow Leadership

Photos: Smith Publicity

Depending on their program preferences would be leaders and existing leaders who watch certain entertaining programs on television can accomplish two tasks at once, according to Sheri Staak. The sales executive, teacher and author of Tune In to Wow Leadership: 10 Lessons Learned From America’s Favorite Shows (Greenleaf Book Group Press, $24.95) believes larger than life fictional TV characters from well known programs such as House, The Office, The Simpsons and Dallas offer leadership lessons.

In her 225-page softcover book published January 2015 she highlights examples of fictional leaders from current and past shows to illustrate leadership concepts. She believes some “…TV characters can serve as role models…” She strives to help readers define their own leadership experiences through real world insights and fictional TV show character examples and comparisons.

Staak defines Wow leaders (in contrast to Dud leaders) as those who are confident, fearlessness, have positive energy, are bold decision makers and motivate others. She also says they are honest, trustworthy, humble, respectful, authentic, visionaries, goal oriented, seeking self improvement, good communicators, care about others, and are agents of change.

Sheri Staak, author, Tune in to Wow Leadership

Sheri Staak, author, Tune in to Wow Leadership

“If you’re trying to instill motivation, deliver a call to action, or drive home a point, you must keep your platform skills sharp by preparing in advance–it can make or break your message,” said Staak in promotional materials for her book. “To be a Wow leader, you must have an acceptable level of platform skills. Your job is to inspire, motivate, and communicate effectively in order to lead effectively. Those to whom you present your ideas, directives, and visions are the same people you depend on to step up and push through barriers and challenges.”

Staak, a Chicago resident, has worked with and managed 1,000 sales executives while in working in leadership positions at large privately held and publicly traded global companies. According to her biography she has led businesses with more than $1 billion in revenue, worked with successful start ups and managed business turnarounds.


Tune in to Wow Leadership

Click to buy Tune In to Wow Leadership


Social media fans share their techniques in book

Posted by Elena del Valle on April 10, 2015

hmpr_artsocialmediaebook
The Art of Social Media digital book first page

Photo: HispanicMPR

Using four or five words that explain what you are about and posting a simple photo that can blow up to a large size is best; as is picking a name that makes it obvious who you are. Try to create a profile that makes you seem competent, likable and trustworthy, says Guy Kawasaki, a believer in the business value of social media, about how business people should build their social media bio and avatar.

In his latest book The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users (Penguin, $12.99), written with Peg Fitzpatrick, he also says that everyone has a Facebook account, and that people have no choice when it comes to their business but to have a Google+ and a Facebook page. While he discourages paying for followers or likes and asking for shares he says it is fine to pay for Facebook promotions of posts and pages.

In particular, he and his coauthor discuss the ideas and methods they have tried. He recommends a vanity URL, implying that not having one “impugns your intellectual prowess.” Planning in social media is about finding a way to make money, success is measured by reshares of a post, and everyone wants more followers whether they admit it or not, he says in the book. To illustrate tips and suggestions he uses examples from his own businesses like Alltop and Holy Kaw as well as client projects for Motorola, Canva, and Audi he and Fitzpatrick worked on. An example of a project they both were hired for was a Motorola product launch in Latin America. A disclosure accompanies the tips in those cases.

The book is peppered with hyperlinks. The final chapter was dedicated to List of Apps and Service. The book describes social media channels as follows: Twitter for perception, LinkedIn for self promotion, Google+ for passion, Facebook to connect with others, and Pineterest for photos. Kawasaki had 6.4 million followers on Google+ in the summer of 2014, he says in the book. As of this writing he has 1.45 million followers on Twitter and followed 105,000 thousand. Fitzpatrick had 40,300 followers and followed 24,200 people on the same platform.

Kawasaki does work for Canva, an online, graphics design service. He is trustee of the Wikimedia Foundation, and executive fellow at the Haas School of Business at U.C. Berkeley. According to Fitzpatrick’s website she is an author, speaker and social media marketing pro.


 

The Art of Social Media

Click to buy The Art of Social Media


With video – Discovery Familia airs bakery entrepreneur series

Posted by Elena del Valle on March 26, 2015

Bakery Boss

Buddy Valastro, host of Bakery Boss – click to enlarge

Video, photo: Discovery Familia

Interested in capturing the attention of women between 18 and 49 years of age Discovery Familia will air 13 one hour episodes, dubbed into Spanish, of Bakery Boss Mondays at 10 p.m. E/P starting March 30, 2015. The series, new to Discovery Familia, stars Buddy Valastro (Cake Boss) as he visits bakeries on the verge of bankruptcy around the country. Scroll down to watch a short video promotional clip in Spanish.

The show, produced by High Noon Entertainment, first aired in English on TLC in the United States in December 2013. It was filmed mostly in New York. Some filming also took place in Miami, Philadelphia, and Houston.

The show features the story of Pastry Is Art, a Miami bakery owned by Jenny, a Peruvian immigrant. She opened the businesses with her sister to discover work and family are not always a good match. In another episode, the host visits with Kristi, owner of Kristi G’s Cupcakes & More in Dallas. A former business executive, Kristi quit her job to open her own bakery, but business hasn’t been going so well, and she has serious problems with her employees, all relatives. According to promotional materials, in the stories showcased, Valastro listens to the owner’s problems, observes their operations, and advises the families on the best way toward financial success.

Valastro, a fourth generation baker born into the business owned and operated by his parents, grew up in New Jersey in an old fashioned Italian family. With the help of his family, Buddy grew Carlo’s Bakery, expanding outside of Hoboken for the first time. In 2013, Buddy and his family opened three new bakeries in New Jersey. He also opened his first restaurant, Buddy V’s, in the Venetian Las Vegas.

Part of Discovery Communications, Discovery Familia is a Spanish language network dedicated to “Hispanic women and the things they that matter in their lives.” Daytime programming is dedicated to children aged two to six. In the evening, the channel offers programming for women, focusing on home décor, food, health, beauty and parenting.

Podcast with Lara Pizzorno, MDiv, lead author, Your Bones, about how too many phosphates are killing us

Posted by Elena del Valle on March 16, 2015

LLara Pizzorno, author, Your Bones

Lara Pizzorno, MDiv, lead author, Your Bones

Photo: Lara Pizzorno, MDiv

A podcast interview with Lara Pizzorno, MDiv, lead author, Your Bones, is available in the Podcast Section of Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, HispanicMPR.com. During the podcast, she discusses how too many phosphates are killing us with Elena del Valle, host of the HispanicMPR.com podcast.

A member of the American Medical Writers Association for more than 25 years, Lara is the editor of Longevity Medicine Review, and senior medical editor for Salugenecists, Inc., and Integrative Medicine Advisors, LLC. She regularly writes review articles for physicians on issues related to healthy aging for Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal, covers the breaking research on bone health via video clips available on YouTube, and edits The World’s Healthiest Foods weekly newsletter.

A member of the American College of Nutrition, she is a contributing author to the Textbook of Functional Medicine and the Textbook of Natural Medicine; co-author of The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods, and lead author of Natural Medicine Instructions for Patients. Her book Your Bones: How You Can Prevent Osteoporosis & Have Strong Bones for Life, Naturally, was translated into German and Polish.

Phosphates table courtesy of Lara Pizzorno

Phosphates Table courtesy of Lara Pizzorno – click to enlarge

To listen to the interview, scroll down until you see “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “HMPR Lara Pizzorno, MDiv” and click on the play button below or download the MP3 file to your iPod or MP3 player to listen on the go, in your car or at home. To download it, click on the arrow of the recording you wish to copy and save it to disk. The podcast will remain listed in the March 2015 section of the podcast archive.

Car sales specialist discusses his search engine ideas

Posted by Elena del Valle on March 13, 2015

 Win the Game of Googleopoly

Win the Game of Googleopoly


Photos: Wiley, Bryan Taylor Johnson

Sean V. Bradley, CSP has made a career in automotive sales. When it comes to online sales he believes Google is king, dominating 67.5 percent of the market. He also believes it is essential to appear among the top ten results or the first page of results on Google. Because, he says, only five percent of people look at results beyond the first page, not being on that page is like not appearing at all.

He is convinced he has discovered search engine optimization techniques that will lead readers of his book Win the Game of Googleopoly: Unlocking the Secret Strategy of Search Engines (Wiley, $25) to Google success. The 249-page hardcover book published this year has 11 chapters where he outlines his SEO theories. The book directs readers to a book related website (it was down at the time this writing).

Sean Bradley, author, Win the Game of Googleopoly

Sean Bradley, author, Win the Game of Googleopoly

Bradley is founder and chief executive officer of Dealer Synergy Inc. According to his bio, he has personally trained 10,000 automotive sales professionals, and has been hired by 1,000 multi-million dollar automotive dealerships.


Win the Game of Googleopoly

Click to buy Win the Game of Googleopoly


B2B executives discuss big data marketing issues

Posted by Elena del Valle on March 6, 2015

The Big Data Driven Business

The Big Data-Driven Busines

Photos: Wiley

Marketers Russell Glass and Sean Callahan are big data fans. They believe big data “is changing and should change the way business functions.” They are convinced the benefits of data gathering and analysis are available to companies of all sizes and that every company is relying on them.

Sean Callahan, coauthor, The Big Data Driven Business

Sean Callahan, co-author, The Big Data Driven Business

In The Big Data-Driven Business: How to Use Big Data to Win Customers, Beat Competitors, and Boost Profits (Wiley, $30), a 214-page hardcover book published this year, they discuss the marketing advantages they believe it offers.
The book is divided into thirteen chapters in which the authors share the examples of Nate Silver, Copernicus, Apple and Blackberry to illustrate their point.

Russell Glass, coauthor, The Big Data Driven Business

Russell Glass, co-author, The Big Data Driven Business

For the future they consider the following issues important: personalization, marketing measurement, mobile, Internet, privacy and security, product development, social media, content marketing and human intervention.

Callahan is a marketing journalist, and senior manager content marketing at LinkedIn. Glass is head of B2B Marketing Products at the same company.


The Big Data Driven Business

Click to buy The Big Data-Driven Business


Executive discusses new ways to connect with customers

Posted by Elena del Valle on February 27, 2015

Igniting Customer Connections

Igniting Customer Connections

Photos: Wiley

Andrew Frawley, president, Epsilon, has 30 years of marketing experience. He is convinced the old methods of marketing are behind us. He seeks to establish an emotional connection with customers and engage with them in “effective ways that achieve impressive repeatable results.”

Toward that goal he commissioned proprietary research.

The findings lead to what he calls Return on Experience x Engagement or ROE 2, an approach to produce profitable customer connections and measure marketing results. In Igniting Customer Connections: Fire Up Your Company’s Growth By Multiplying Customer Experience & Engagement by Frawley (Wiley, $28), published October 2014, he describes his ideas about marketing to build connections to match today’s technology and consumers.

Andy Frawley, author, Igniting Customer Connections

Andy Frawley, author, Igniting Customer Connections

The 240-page hardcover book is divided into 21 chapters and three main sections. Part one, Connect with Your Customers Now, explains the approach and how it differs from the traditional return on investment concept. In ROE 2 Research and Insights he explains how it works, illustrating the research and interviews with executives. In An ROE 2 Primer, the third section, he discusses content, channels, measurement and segmentation, and technology as well as consumer privacy issues.

He believes marketers will require new analytical skills to take advantage of Big Data as the depth and breath of information expands. When it comes to consumer privacy, he suggests intelligent anonymity where a marketer has extensive information about a consumer without knowing who he or she is. He indicates in the book that best in class marketers don’t associate consumers’ individual information with cookies, and ensure consumer data remains only within the client’s possession. He proposes in Chapter 20 that marketers address consumer privacy with “transparency, knowledge, respect and responsibility.”


Igniting Customer Connections

Click to buy Igniting Customer Connections


Maryland law professor discusses big data contrast to data gatherers secret behaviors

Posted by Elena del Valle on February 20, 2015

The Black Box Society

The Black Box Society

Photos: Harvard University Press

Every day, a corporate or government system gathers data, openly and in secret, about people across America. From purchasing habits to driving our lives and movements physical and virtual are increasingly subject to voyeurism, storage, sharing and analysis without our consent or knowledge. In The Black Box The Secret Algorithms That Control Money and Information (Harvard University Press, $31.50) Frank Pasquale, professor of law, University of Maryland, explores issues related to corporate data gathering, and asks who tracks the activities of the data gatherers, their own data; and what happens to the data they gather about us.

He points to the proprietary methods, gag rules and nondisclosure agreements government agents and corporations hide with, leaving everyone else exposed. Using anonymizing software, he says, may draw unwanted attention from authorities. The same laws that aggressively protect the data gatherers’ secrecy is “increasingly silent when it comes to the privacy of persons,” he says in the book.

“Many of the firms I write about in the book try very hard to keep their practices secret. I had to comb many reports in order to find another leaks, litigation documents, and other ‘peeks’ inside their black boxes,” said Pasquale when asked by email about the biggest challenge the book presented for him.

Frank Pasquale, author, The Black Box Society

Frank Pasquale, author, The Black Box Society

“I have heard from so many people who’ve been victimized by black box processes,” he said, when asked what was the most unexpected result of writing and publishing the book. “There was a man who found his credit damaged for years, because he lost one small stage of a lawsuit against an obviously fraudulent actor. There are people who can’t find jobs because some mysterious algorithm or reporting system keeps blackballing them. But there are also many who fight back, and I really find inspiration from their stories.”

In the book, he asks: Should our own citizens be on secret watchlists without their knowledge or any opportunity to defend themselves? Should a credit card company be entitled to raise the interest rate of a couple seeking marriage counseling? Should they be told? Should powerful search engines and social media sites be entitled to take down legal websites and books without informing the public? Should the Federal Reserve print money to save banks after their executives behave irresponsibly, and hide the printing from the public?

The 304-page hardcover book, published this year, is divided into six chapters: Introduction—The Need to Know, Digital Reputation in an Era of Runaway Data, The Hidden Logics of Search, Finance’s Algorithms: The Emperor’s New Codes, Watching (and Improving) the Watcher, and Toward an Intelligible Society. It features 83 pages of end notes.

To the question of what the average person can do to protect her or himself until, and if, the situation is remedied, and the transparency you call for becomes a reality? he replied, “I’d say: support smaller, more local economic actors. At least there are people at them who can respond to complaints and try to fix things. I’ve found that, at many large firms, algorithmic processes truly become faceless…there’s no one to appeal to.”

In closing he says, the data gathering situation and society with a black box approach “has become dangerously unstable, unfair and unproductive;” and that it is up to society to establish the rules that lead us to a safe environment and a stable economy.  Pasquale is an affiliate fellow at Yale Law School’s Information Society Project, and a member of the Council for Big Data, Ethics, and Society.


The Black Box Society

Click to buy The Black Box Society