I was asked to write a bi-weekly pet column for our Encino Patch, and have been doing so since the September launch.  Thought I’d share a few of the articles — you’ll see they are punchy, fun, and very specific to my area.  They are also all about dogs because of my other life, that of running a very busy, also hyper-local pet services business!

Hope you enjoy these few short samples, and check out if there is a Patch for your community!

Man’s Best Friend

New Year’s Resolutions

Holiday Hazards

For those of you want to get Gen Plus blog posts via your email (a very easy way to keep up, by the way), just look to the right of this post and you’ll see the name “Feedblitz”.  Enter your email in the box above it, and voila, you will receive a confirmation email.  Verify via the link that gets sent to you and you are officially subscribed. 

And don’t forget, I’m running a Facebook like-a-thon…thank you to those who “Like” me….you really, really like me!   Keep the likes coming.  Head over to my Gen Plus Facebook page (just click the link), sign in or sign up, and click  the “Like” button.  That’s all there is to it.  Sh’mon….we were the rebels…you can do it.  And you know I’ll drag you there…kicking and screaming as you will!  Wuv wou! :*

Why?  Because you, my sweet demographic of readers in the Boomer and 50 Plus age group don’t relish Facebook in the way that us social media lovers do.  I’m a Boomer, a Facebooker, LinkedIn lover, and tweeter.  So I’m doing a social experiment with our age group.  I want to see how many of  my readers (oh…so reluctant to venture into this online world!) will take up the challenge and “Like” me on Facebook.  I have a Gen Plus page.  All you do is click on this my Gen Plus link if you are a subscriber, or click in the right box if you are on my webpage.  Once you click through, if you already have a Facebook account, just click “Like”, and you are a raving Gen Plus fan.  If you don’t have an account, you’ll need to create one…but it’s FUN.  Make sure to keep your account private (go to the privacy features) to only your friends, and you are on your way to connecting and reconnecting with your friends and family without ever having to look up an email address again. 

So what is MY experiment?  I’d like to see how many of you take up the challenge regardless of age group, political viewpoint, or what country you live in.  (I LOVE my readers from down under and those across the pond, so please join in!)

I’m so commited to getting a result that I have some super cool recently released music CDs (as in seriously just hot off the presses) and plan on sending out a few of them plus a few Gen Plus exercise CDs (very fun) to randomly-selected Facebook fans, who I will contact directly for shipping details.  I’ll let you know what CDs were shipped after the “Like-a-Thon” is over and done with.  I’m planning on running this for about a month, so you can get your prize before the holidays (my little gift to you!)

Hopefully you read my review on The Social Network  and actually have experienced the movie by now, so you’ll understand what I love about this network and social media in general.  If not, take a gamble and show me some cool weather love….or like.

For those who haven’t yet seen it,  it is a must — both for the story of the evolution of the phenomena (regardless of whether or not there has been artistic license taken), and because it is a fantastically crafted film.   Viscerally directed by David Fincher and extraordinarily written by Aaron Sorkin (based on the book “The Accidental Billionaires” by Ben Mezrich), the audience follows the creation, implementation and success of the Facebook revolution.  We follow the unmatched genius of Mark Zuckerberg played by uber-talented Jesse Eisenberg and his Harvard undergrad partner, Edourdo Savorin, played by Andrew Garfield, as they spark together and fuel a wild ride to the success of Facebook. Because the storyline follows the multiple lawsuits (over ownership of the original idea) and uses the deposition and discovery process as the template for the plot, every scene, every point of view, pushes the plot forward.  It is fast-paced and furious, as was the creative force behind the programming. 

Heck, even the movie website is exhiliarating.  I dare you to head over there without experiencing heart palpitations.  Even if you know the general story, the competing POVs, the incredible dialogue, soundtrack (Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross), and the surprising performances are worth the film. 

Definitely one that will stay with you for a long time, and that will take you back to your days of the wild energy, creative enthusiasm  and take-no-prisoners ‘tude of your college days.

I haven’t secured a venue or exact date yet, but the workshop will run on a weeknight or a weekend afternoon.  If you would like me to send you a notice when the workshops are set, please send me your preference of location and time of day and let me know via email at wspiegel@genplususa.com.  I’ll be happy to send you an agenda if you’d like more info.  Once dates are set, it will be posted on my Facebook events page, and I’ll get room rates locked in for anyone who plans to come in from out of town.(See the Facebook icon on the right?  Click on it.  Become a fan by clicking the “Like” button and you’ll get an automatic update once the venues are booked!)

There will be very limited spaces to ensure you get a lot of value-added.  The seminar fee will be $100/person, but if you ask me to hold a spot for you via email, rather than through event registration, I’m happy to offer you a discount of $25.

Yes, dear readers,  I plan to drag you, kicking and screaming, into the comments section of my posts.  Thank you!

If you’ve been to the auto show before, there is almost too much to absorb, but I’ve set my sights on a couple of specific areas.  Chevy Volt.  I saw it last year in Detroit, was hoping to test drive in LA, but unfortunately that didn’t happen, so this year, I’m looking foward to get in a turn or two at the “Green Cars/LA Auto Show Ride and Drive”…I’m just beside myself with anticipation.  It is a first-come, first-served chance to test out new vehicles, so hopefully my wiley ways and irrestible charm will get me a spot on the floor.

A cool GM social media component to share: Tomorrow, Monday, Nov. 30 kicks-off a series of live video webcasts, which will be available on www.ChevroletVoltage.com as well as the Chevrolet and Chevrolet Volt Facebook pages.  The first webcast is at  Harvard-Westlake Middle School (I have friends who’s kids went there!) at 9:40 a.m. PST for more than 800 students and staff about the basics of electricity, including why it’s important and how this common energy source can be used to transform the way we drive.  Having just constructed a circuit board using C batteries, a flashlight bulb and aluminum foil with my 4th grader, I’m very interested to see how GM plans to capture the interest of these very bright kids. 

The best (at least I think so) is the last webcast on Tuesday, Dec. 1 at the  J Restaurant & Lounge in downtown L.A. where Chevrolet Vice President Brent Dewar will announce the winner of the contest to name the greenish-silver color of the Volt.  The winner gets a test drive while we get the “Top Gear” version online.  (Side note:  if you haven’t seen Top Gear on BBC America, you are missing out on a fantastically fun car series.) 

You can tell I’m getting in gear.  Stay tuned and I’ll let you in on my own particular, very consumer-framed, very menopausal woman’s views all this week.

For the past few years, I’ve been focusing my consulting practice on where there is greatest social media marketing need – helping individuals and businesses grab their bit of space and reach on the web — so over the next few months, not only will I be giving you links to various webinars, but also to a series of YouTube mini-casts, introducing you to each of the different components of social media (kind of like a Cole’s notes for Web 2.0).   Stay tuned.