Gen Plus

Hall & Oates…you might be a winna!

Last modified on 2009-12-23 16:51:43 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Apex Exposure just sent me  the Hall and Oates new career-spanning box set Do What You Want, Be What You Are.   It is a 4CD set compiling the hits of the best-selling Philly duo, from their work as teenagers in the late 60s all the way up to their smash hits in the 70s and 80s.  And in the spirit of the holiday season, I feel like having a contest and sending this set to the winner. 

So here are the rules. 

1. You will be judged on your ability to create a haiku poem… (I already know ONE reader who is sure to enter.) 
2. The general form of haiku is a 3 line poem, with 5 syllables on the first line, 7 on the second and 5 on the third.  But if you go over or under a syllable or two, that’s OK, by me. 
3. The theme should be centered on nature.  But, again, I won’t be a stickler if you end up with an incredible haiku on, let’s say, technology…or renewable energy…or health care reform…(I’m just saying….)
4. You must use these three words:  What.  You. Want.

Post your entries in the comments section.  Or email them to me at wspiegel@genplususa.com.  And in the spirit of full disclosure, if the spirit doesn’t move you to submit your finest haiku, I’m going to donate this incredible boxed set to the first person I run into on January 1, 2010, who can come up with a good rhyme for the word “coffee” .

♦♦♦

There’s a new extract in town…meet Pure Inventions

Last modified on 2009-05-24 16:28:36 GMT. 3 comments. Top.

Dianne Watson, COO of Pure Inventions, kindly sent over a few bottles of their anti-oxidant rich extracts so that I could sample and review them.  Not being an “extract” junkie myself, I invited over a few of my health-conscious boomer friends for an impromptu, unscientific, taste test.  Now, with extracts, it really isn’t about the taste — it is about the ingredients, the purity and the benefits of using them…BUT if you can find extracts that taste good to boot, then it is a win-win.

The packaging is appealing and the dropper is easy to use.  I will say, however, that it was hard to get a full dropper in one shot.  We sampled the Cranberry + Elderberry Extract and the peach flavored Green Tea Extract.

The verdict. Pretty darn good.  I found the Green Tea Extract more to my liking, except for a lingering bitter aftertaste, probably due to the Lotus Leaf or Kudzu in the recipe.  But with the equivalent of 16 cups of green tea in a single serving, I’ll ignore the aftertaste. 

I wasn’t a great fan of the Cranberry + Elderberry, which have very strong flavorings and the recommended two dropperfuls were just too much for me.  However, two of my survey panelists gave their thumbs up to the Cranberry extract.  And mixing the two extracts together was a tastier combo. 

What I like is that they are easy to use, easy to add to any glass or bottle of water, can be added to cold or hot drinks and are chock full of immune boosters (particularly appealing to me, today, with the escalation of the swine flu to a “5″ on the WHO chart.) 

If you head to the website, some of the products are on sale right now.   An added bit of info — products can be seasonal, so if raspberry season is over, you might find it hard to come by Green Tea/Raspberry all the time.  I’ll be trying them until my bottles run out and seeing that I’m always in need of a pick-me-up, I’ll let you know how I fare over time.  Lots of strong testimonials and drink recipes on the site.

♦♦♦

Major green announcement from General Motors means green light for Electric Propulsion Volt

Last modified on 2009-01-12 23:13:08 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

If anyone would have told me that a press conference at a car show could be groundbreaking, I’d take a pause.  That’s exactly what happened today.  GM CEO and Chairman Rick Wagoner made two important announcements.  You can get the full conference at this link.  The first was the commitment of GM to the Lithium Ion battery technology it’s electric propulsion program and the car of the next decade, the Chevy Volt.  LI technology is exciting because of the long life and durability of the battery.

The second announcement was that GM was making two additional commitments:

1. GM is going to manufacture the battery pack in the US.  “GM is getting back into the battery business,” commented Wagoner.  The plant will be located in Michigan, which means a huge number of US-based green jobs will be created in the 31,000 sq. ft. plant.
2. LG Chemicals, based in Flint, Michigan, is the company that will be producing the Lithium cells needed for battery production. 

On a huge scale, what does this really mean?  First, we can move to alternative technologies in the US and reduce our reliance on foreign oil.  Additionally, this gives us, the consumer, the choice of which propulsion technologies we want to use?  (I’m guessing green for most of us…for the sake of our childrens’ planet and economic future growth.)

Second, all the supporting business required to support the electric car will spread far out from Michigan.  Yes, 2007 and 2008 were tough years and it’ll be bad for awhile.  But, in my view, this move signals a change in thinking about the North American market.  According to Mary Beth Stanek, GM’s Director of Energy, Environment, Policy and Commercialization, “green tech is finally making sense for investments.”  Stanek is enthusiastic and dynamic.  Her view of the future of alternate technologies got me even MORE enthused than I’d been after the announcement. 

She was quick to point out that with electric car production, in addition for labor needed to manufacture the LI batteries, companies will need to supply materials and packaging, as well as infrastucture needs. 

“The skeletal system of the US, the infrastructure will have to change.” 

Stanek outlined just a few areas that are each significant.  External power outlets in homes and at businesses, charging stations outside of work and home just as a start.  Other alternatives, such as green hydrogen are also being developed, which means that there must be collection mechanisms for hydrogen capture and storage.  This means the creation of whole new supply chains for transportation. 

Additionally Stanek, a 27 year veteran at GM (and a Boomer!),  pointed out the range of development that this type of alternative commitment to fuels — from stationary energy to mobility energy. 

It’s a whole new segment of the market.

Adding to my excitement was enjoying a literal walk-through of the technology on a Volt skeleton model by Tony Posawatz, the Vehicle Line Director, Chevy Volt.  Also a Boomer, he personally believes, as do I that:

…once we get through this economic downturn, the challenge of OUR generation is balancing of the environment and energy equation…”

Scaling up from the smaller lithium battery will take some time as well as getting the battery to “live” in the challenging environment of the car.  Posawatz describes the LI battery as tempermental as a person – needing a certain level of comfort to be happy.  Cars are engineered to withstand humity, snow, rain and the LI battery needs even greater adjustment to that environment.  So the challenge becomes, who will put it together?  Over the years, the market in battery building has been increasingly fragmented… lots of great talent, but too fragmented to handle the scope of this endeavor.  Posawatz, again:

And so, just as GM produces engines, GM will produce batteries.  For our generation [boomers and 50 plus], let’s just say ‘we got the band back together again!’

The one thing that I’ve realized being here at NAIAS (aside from being first in line to try the Volt in 2010) is that GM is staffed with some incredible people.  Loyal, passionate, completely invested in the company and the product.  Completely on board with reinventing GM (I’ll say it here first…will General Motors be changing it’s name to Global Motors?) and moving in the right direction–developing alternative fuel systems and taking responsibility and leadership in creating green jobs right here in the US.

♦♦♦

All about General Motors

Last modified on 2009-01-12 23:09:22 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Wow.  What a day today.  I won’t go into detail in this post about all the information and interviews, but the GM press conference and vehicle lineup was impressive.  There is no question that they are responding quickly.  Remember the GM of the 80’s?  Forget that!  This is the new GM.  And I was literally drooling over a few vehicles and will definitely be taking some of them out for a test drive when they get to market.

Enjoy the GM Press Conference!  It might make you feel like you were here at NAIAS. (Tip for the male readers:  Camaro at 12:00 minutes into the video! And for all of us…the all-electric Cadillac Converj at 21:00 minutes…)

Lots of info, but there were a couple of  highlights in my day.  The first was seeing the Cadillac SRX — redesigned to a 5-passenger vehicle and incorporating all the best of the Cadillac line with a host of relevent technologies.  According to Deb Lund, the Vehicle Line Director, GM considers this a “right-sized vehicle — nimble, smaller and price-aware” loaded with “meaningful technologies”.  What this means is a perfect size for the Boomer, 50 Plusser or anyone looking for a personal reward combined with an astounding array of user-friendly best-of-the-best advanced technologies at a decent price point for a top-of-line vehicle.  Phew.  A mouthful, but wow, oh wow…gorgeous.  My type of car. 

Even with financial uncertainty having many of us putting off purchases of the big ticket items, once you’ve taken stock of your situation, and when you are ready for that car purchase, if you find you are craving a little bit of perfect, then this is my pick!  (Lots of other goodies to come in the next few days!)

The other highlight of my day was the interview our Blogger group had with General Motors Chairman and CEO, Rick Wagoner.  After seeing Mr. Wagoner at the Senate meetings, I wasn’t prepared for the relaxed, open and direct discussion we had with him.  A through-theme from the folks at GM surrounds the global marketplace and how GM is a global company with a need to strengthen the North American market while forging new growth and new ground in emerging markets (China, India, South America, Russia).    Additionally, GM is putting a strong focus on electric technologies (think batteries).  

Mr. Wagoner’s authenticity and candor was refreshing and appreciated.  He could have spent his time with us giving us “corporate speak”, but, instead, he chose transparency and chatted with us as if we were part of his own team, with a realistic assessment of the current instability in the auto industry and the steps GM had to take in order to regain market trust.  He is commited to excellence in the design and production of the  personal vehicle and development of the propulsion systems being used in those vehicles. 

When I mentioned to him that I was seeing many of our demographic putting off major buying decisions, he continued to impress with a real straight-shooter approach and without pulling any punches.  He agreed that everyone was still reeling and slowly taking stock of their financial situations and that it was “not irrational for people to have second thoughts on discretionary purchases.”  But he also noted that eventually a car does need to be replaced and GM is able to cover all brand categories with exceptional vehicles.  The Malibu, which is considered a strong product, is being used to set a bar on other categories. 

As Mr. Wagoner concluded, the only way to regain position and trust and to “move the needle” is to create vehicles that are “cost effective and performance effective….(If we…) create a great car with a middle of the road design, (we have) no purchases.  If we produce a great car with great design, people will buy it.”  He referred to the Chevy Volt as an example of a great car with a great design. 

I think his assessment is quite right.

♦♦♦

Highlights ahead…and snow in Detroit!

Last modified on 2009-01-12 22:57:28 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

This morning I took the Van Nuys Flyaway to LAX. Never did that before, but I couldn’t bear the thought of dealing with driving when I get home on Tuesday. Surprise, surprise. It was fantastic. $6 for the trip, $4 a day to park. OK…I’m in heaven.

Flight to Detroit was packed with press heading to the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) and I had the great privilege of sharing an aisle with one of Honda’s top VP’s. More about that in another post, but I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation.

Once settled at the hotel, the blogger group (I’m the solo female, as another blogger didn’t make it…but such a difference between the female energy I was used to in the beauty industry and the male energy in the auto industry) met with the GM social media group and we headed out for a very informal and fun, get-to-know-you dinner. (No, your tax dollars are not being wasted. The dinner was modest and we took public transit to the restaurant. I’m very impressed, thus far.)

Tomorrow the press schedule starts. I’ve got an extremely full day and I’m expecting to get a lot of solid advance info from our meetings with the CEO, Rick Wagoner and CFO Ray Young, as well as a full slate of one-on-one interviews with designers, brand directors and technology wizards. I’m particularly interested in the unveiling of some of GM’s lineup — including the Chevy Equinox, the Cadillac SRX, and the Buick LaCrosse.

(Side note: I was picked up today at the airport in the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid…and that is one gorgeous vehicle. Yum. Drove beautifully in the huge snowstorm.)

As well as getting the inside scoop on green and alternative technologies, Monday we’ll also be having a tour of the On-Star Command Center. I’m a big fan of On-Star and use it, literally, every day. I’d love to say hello to some of the folks who are always helping me find my way.

In my unscheduled time, I’m hoping to catch the Honda unveiling and be able to give you additional scoop on what is being said and offered for the coming years.