We land in Vegas and Lee tells me we have a limo waiting on us, which is awesome, because I hate taxis. I imagined that our driver would be a sharp-dressed African-American man who would tell of wild adventures of his times as a driver, and sure enough enter Sir (yes, his name was Sir) and he was everything I hoped for and so much more.

So Sunday passes, and Monday arrives with the exhibit floor open to all. When I entered the first room, I was not as impressed as I thought I would be. Then, I entered the main concourse and saw the entrance to the center exhibit hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. I entered the center hall and my heart stopped for at least four seconds. There it was, the glory of what I consider to be the Holy Grail for all nerds. Picture a giant hall that contained all the major brands for broadcast, camera and tech stuff that you could imagine. Then add more and you would have the concept.

Canon, Nikon, Sony, Panasonic, JVC, GoPro, and GlideCam were all right there at my finger tips and all of them with the latest toys for me to actually play with. I have to admit, I giggled like a little girl (which I’m not). Of course every booth with a camera had some demo to watch or camera to play with and generally a model or two – or six – to look at. Probably one of the coolest demos was the For-A camera systems who had a flare bartender during the demos of the 4k FT-One 4k zoom features. Basically the the bartender threw drinks around and did tricks the director grabbed a recorded scene then zoomed in and played it back in perfect quality

I entered the hall at 9 and before I knew it, it was 3 and I had to go work my event for the evening.

Tuesday came around and I had made my way to the south hall for even more geekdom. Adobe, Maxon, Autodesk, Nuke, Black Magic Design, Grass Valley, Red, Sapphire 7; the creative in me screamed like a 14 year old at a Justin Beiber concert. I got to see the man who taught me all my after-effect skills, Andrew Kramer from Video Copilot, who is such a legend! Also, somehow, one of my favorite bands (Rev Theory by name) was playing an acoustic set at the Killer Tracks booth, so I got to meet them, too. Score 1 for Chuck. Oh, did I mention I got to eat lunch with a cute girl from Israel?

There was so much there it would be hard to explain everything that I saw. So I’ll give you my top 5, in no particular order.

1. Black Magic Design. Not only was it a great booth layout, but there were so many toys to play with. Needless to say, I want it all, please. The cameras are simply simple yet amazing in quality, not to mention the other gadgets that can come with them.

2. DJI-Innovations. Just one thing to say: “Flying go-pro camera rigs.” And, can I have one please?

3. Autodesk Smoke. The latest product from Autodesk, the makers of AutoCad and 3DSMax. Smoke connects editing and effects like never before. Smoke video-editing software for Mac has finishing tools for 3D compositing, color correction, and motion graphics. Nerd Overload.

4. Canon. What an amazing “booth!” I put booth in quotations because it was huge; the amount of product, demos, 4k production rigs and TVs really blew me away. There was even a movie experience in the booth. CRAZY! I felt like I was in the booth every time I turned around but I got to play with a lot of cameras.

5. Nikon. Alright, I’m a Nikon lover so I had to put them on my list. They really didn’t have a lot to show, but the new D800 is so sweet it didn’t matter. I did like their demo area the best because of the mad scientist actor that performed while you tested the video capabilities of the Nikon products. Oh, and the mountain of lenses they displayed was a beautiful sight.

There was a time in theUnited Stateswhen every household dealt with one utility company. That company delivered electricity and natural gas energy to your home and set the energy price for those energy supplies, usually with the state government’s regulatory approval.

Back then, it was a monopoly born out of necessity since it allowed for the building of the massive infrastructure needed to deliver energy to hundreds of millions of homes. But as an energy consumer, you had no choice but to buy your natural gas and electricity from your utility. They set the energy prices, and you had to pay their energy rates. Period.

Starting back in 1977, lawmakers in 17 states began to change their regulations in order to allow energy suppliers to offer natural gas and electricity to its citizens, usually at lower rates than the local utility company could offer. That, in essence, is what energy deregulation, is all about: giving consumers the freedom to choose their own energy supply.

The utility company still plays an important role in the process. They still ensure your energy supply is safely delivered to your home or business, track your energy usage, maintain the infrastructure (pipes and wires) and, in most cases, send you your bill (only now, there’s a line item for either your electricity or natural gas supplier). The utility companies in deregulated states are ok with this arrangement since they make their profit more on the maintenance and service of your home. *

With deregulation, electric companies now have to compete for your business, just like loan officers at banks.  Unless consumers are a part of an electric cooperative, when their current electricity contract ends, they can exercise their right to choose.  Ambit Energy would like to throw their hat in the ring. In 2010 and 2011, Ambit was named the No.1 Fastest-Growing Private Company inAmericaby Inc. Magazine, and they continue to pick up steam as the fastest-growing company in the retail energy sector today.

“With Ambit, there are no hidden fees.  The kWh (kilowatt hour) rate you are quoted is inclusive of everything, while other companies foil you by hiding stuff in the fine print,” says consultant Amy Ballard. “There is no service charge. Commercial businesses as well as most residential customers do not have to pay a deposit to get started. If a deposit is required, it is usually very lenient.” Six, 12, and 24 month contracts are available, as well as variable rate contract and green alternatives.

Ambit is not only a U.S. based company, but also a Texas born company. Co-founders Jere Thompson, Jr. and Chris Chambless first set up shop in a large, renovated warehouse in the historic West End district of downtown Dallas back in 2006. “Our goal has always been to be the finest and most-respected retail energy company in America,” says Thompson, Ambit Energy CEO. “To achieve that goal, we do three things: maintain a persistent focus on providing exceptional service to our customers; leverage our advanced, proprietary technology; and reward and retain an exceptional team of employees and Independent Consultants.”

There are a multitude of perks to being an Ambit customer and consultant as well. When you become an Ambit customer, you’ll receive a welcome gift just for enrolling. Right now, that gift is a travel voucher good for a 3-Day/2-Night stay for two at your choice of more than 30 exciting destinations nationwide. When you refer a minimum of 15 paying Customers, you’ll receive a credit on your Ambit Energy bill equal to the average amount of their payments. That credit applies every month as long as you maintain a minimum of 15 referred customers who pay their bills. If the average of your referred customers’ monthly payments is equal to, or more than, your energy usage for the month, you pay nothing for your energy! As an Ambit customer, you earn one travel point for every kilowatt used, or 10 points for every therm/ccf used. Points can be redeemed for the travel packages listed on their website.

Take a look at their website, www.ambitenergy.com, for more information about making the switch today.

By: Kristine Mize

* (http://www.saveonenergy.com/section-277-deregulation/?gclid=CKDqnPaR8LQCFXCmPAodogYAUw)

With two websites, an extremely active Facebook page and televised broadcasting of the games, Lufkin Panther Sports offers advertising opportunities in a variety of forms. Lufkin Panther Sports’ journalists and videographers are committed to bringing the Lufkin community the latest sports news, scores, highlights and entire games, filmed and commentated. Sponsorships are what make this possible.

With 240,000 unique views to our website, over 1000 likes on Facebook and hundreds of followers on Twitter, Lufkin Panther Sports is reaching a large, local target audience for local businesses.

Check out our website at www.lufkinpanthersports.com and watch this season’s games at www.lufkinpanthertv.com. Find us on Facebook too, and be part of the community of fans who support the students participating in the variety of sports Lufkin High School offers.

Custom Sponsorships and commercial production are available. For more information, call MSGPR at (936) 637-7593 ext 11.

• Diapers (all sizes, including training pants)
• Wipes
• Lotion
• Rash Cream
• Baby Wash
• Shampoo
• Bottles
• Pacifiers
• New socks
• Nail clippers
• Grooming kits
• Thermometers
• Teething gel
• Boys clothing up to 2T (winter)
• Baby toys (rattles, keys, etc.)
• Blankets

PHC also accepts new and gently used toys, furniture and clothing.

These items are used in a unique program provided by the Pregnancy Help Center. The center’s Learn to Earn Parenting Education Program offers classes and activities for future or existing parents developed to provide parenting skills and knowledge as well as build confidence and self-esteem. By participating in a variety of activities these “students” can earn vouchers to spend in the resource room on the much-needed items the community has donated. The more they LEARN, the more they EARN! Types of activities encouraged include but are not limited to:

• Attending a PHC sponsored event or group class.
• Attending a church to get sermon notes signed by a pastor and meet with a Spiritual Mentor.
• Completing their M.A.P. (Monthly Action Plan) each month.
• Attending a one-on-one mentoring appointment with designated mentor.
• Maintaining a healthy family with proof of child immunizations, doctor visits and dental visits.
• Watching a video, then discussing the video with a mentor while receiving mentoring.

For over 27 years, The Pregnancy Help Center of Lufkin has offered needed information, resources, and loving support to sexually active, pregnant and mothering women of all ages and has encouraged positive responses to some of life’s difficult choices.

The PHC’s primary focus is to provide positive alternatives to abortion for those facing an unexpected pregnancy.  Their services are FREE OF CHARGE and available regardless of race, religion, age, marital status, education level, financial status or any other factor. Their goal is to provide information, parenting-skills, support through mentorship and spiritual healing for post-abortive mothers.

Celebrate LIFE and LOVE by helping struggling mothers and fathers provide for their babies in practical ways. Bring your donated items to MSGPR’s Lufkin office at 1511 S. Chestnut Dr. and be part of this amazing opportunity to support one of our non-profit clients and a pillar in the community.

For more information on any of the services offered by the Pregnancy Help Center of Lufkin call (936) 632-9292 or visit their website at http://www.choice4me.com/.

By: Kristine Mize

The New Year inspires us all to make a change, lose some weight, spend more time with the kids, finish that project we started last New Year’s Day.  Professionally, however, big change has to be carefully considered, the cost should not outweigh the benefit not only to the company but to the client as well.  Sometimes rebranding is necessary, to keep up with the times, client demands, new technology, and just trying to stay hip. 

Business Insider says, “A successful rebranding involves overhauling a company’s goals, message, and culture – not just changing a name or a logo.”* They offer some great examples of 9 companies who took a major chance on change and failed miserably. Here is the take-away:

1. Make sure your new name isn’t slang for something else that detracts from the intended meaning.
2. Be aware of your customer’s attachment to the old design.
3. Don’t mess with a classic.
4. Sad attempts to be hip can misfire.
5. Don’t be the last one to the party by using something dated.
6. A corporate sounding name may leave consumers confused.
7. Don’t use a meaningless name or a name people can’t pronounce.
8. Changing too often is costly and may indicate an identity crisis.
9. A name change won’t help your customers forget high prices and poor service.

“The real reason to rebrand is to alter the expectations you’re setting for the public,” Frankel explains.  “Changing your brand strategy means becoming a different company…it’s not just changing your name or your logo.”  Rebranding may be necessary and could catapult your company to the next level. At MSGPR, our public relations staff can help you make wise decisions and execute a plan to help your company succeed.  Give us a call today!

*Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/rebranding-failures-2010-3?op=1#ixzz2ErkB38q6

What a difference twenty years makes!  When I was in high school and wrote a book report or a history paper, I was required to report every source and every quote in a good old fashioned footnote.  Now, with the internet, nearly everything seems like public domain and information can be tracked down in a split second without the use of a card catalog.  Plagiarism, that big ugly word our English teachers used to scare us, is much easier to track and can be punishable by law.  With the internet’s various search engines, we can type in a phrase and quickly track it to its original source with the flick of the wrist.

So how do you convey someone else’s idea, intellectual property, or creative genius properly?  *The United States Copyright Office, in relation to copyright infringement, has stated, “As a general matter, copyright infringement occurs when a copyrighted work is reproduced, distributed, performed, publicly displayed, or made into a derivative work without the permission of the copyright owner.” Fair use is a term often thrown around but is not clearly defined.  There is no set number of words or lines that can be used without permission, but certain permissions are given to educators and the media as long as credit is specified.  But full or large bodies of work should never be reproduced or distributed without express permission, even if a copyright is not prominently displayed.  If items are considered public domain, those works can be shared without penalty but most of these works were created before copyright laws were put into place. **Copyrights can expire after a long time, putting something into the public domain, and there are some fine points on this issue regarding older copyright law versions. However, none of this applies to material from the modern era, such as net postings.

Better to be safe than sorry.  If you found something fabulous on the internet to share on your favorite forum, in your blog, or to all your clients on Facebook, make reference to it, use a quote to grab the reader’s attention (but give credit to the source), and then copy the URL.  If your readers are interested, they can click on the URL themselves and go straight to the source.  In some cases, you may find something interesting on a site or forum that is private or subscription based.  This is a great indicator that you should receive permission in writing before sharing.  Most of the time, your readers will be more interested in your opinion on the matter rather than you regurgitating someone else’s original work.

Read More:

*http://www.disabled-world.com/definitions/online-copywrite-materials.php#ixzz2EI13UYEv

**http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html

When MSGPR took over the management of www.LufkinPantherSports.com, as well as the fan forum, and created a rabid following of the Panther faithful on Facebook and Twitter, we quickly realized the insatiable need for an on-the-scene reporter.  As Lufkin Panther TV, we have been devoted for several years to offering the fans of this community full-length recordings and airings of each and every LP football game, including play-offs.  But for our staff, it isn’t enough to just show up on Friday nights anymore.  So Misty, our lead reporter is present at as many of the Panther games and events as she can squeeze into her busy schedule. So far, she has reported on football, boy’s and girl’s basketball, cross-country, swimming, and volleyball and is looking forward to the upcoming baseball, soccer, tennis, golf, track, and power lifting seasons.

Misty grew up in Diboll, but was homeschooled so her allegiances are neutral, which makes for great reporting.  She graduated fromAngelinaCollegein May 2012 with an Associates of Arts in Journalism.  When I asked her what her career aspirations are she said, “Oh, geez!  Bottom line?  To provide quality writing for my community, build from where I am at and one day, tell the story that motivates this generation into thoughtful change.”  Now that is inspiring!

In her free time she likes to watch football (my kinda girl), read classic literature (intellectual), and her hobby is photography.  Her favorite sports are football and basketball (no wonder she doesn’t mind working here).  She also enjoys watching BBC shows on Netflix, like Dr. Who.  Her favorite social media source is Pinterest, which is helpful to me because I feel socially inadequate on that one.

When I asked if there was anything else she would like to share she said, “Thanks for the opportunity!!”  Misty is being gracious but we are the ones that should be thanking her.  She is a wonderful addition to our team and is willing to put in hours on the sidelines to get the story and get it right.  If you see her at the next game, give her a big “Thank you” back from Panther nation!

Please check out Misty’s latest stories on www.LufkinPantherSports.com and join the Panther following on Facebook, Twitter, and our fan forum.  GO PACK!!!

By:  Kristine Mize

When my daughter was born, I decided that, while I love my families’ traditions, I wanted to make one of my own.  I really gave it some thought.  It has always been important to me as a Christian, to find ways to focus on the holiday for what it means to us Biblically, not just as the commercial holiday it has become over the centuries.  I decided that even as a baby, my daughter would understand the excitement that comes from celebrating a birthday, specifically Jesus Christ’s birthday, if we treated it like other birthdays.  We will make a cake!  We will light a few candles, sing “Happy Birthday”, and have cake on Christmas day to remind us of the true significance of the day.  Now, anyone that knows me can tell you that I am an amateur in the kitchen, especially where the oven is involved, so I am not above asking for help with the cake-baking process when my mom is around.  My daughter thoroughly enjoys picking out the cake mix and icing we will use, being part of the baking and frosting process, singing “Happy Birthday”, and especially the honor of blowing out the candles. This Christmas will be our sixth year to enjoy this tradition.

Last night, I was reading my daughter a new Christmas storybook her Grammy just purchased for her.  It was about the legend behind the candy cane:  a shepherd’s staff, the letter “J”, the red strips for blood, the white for redemption of sin all point back to the point of this beloved holiday. In the back of the fictional book was a short history on how the candy cane came to be part of the Christmas tradition.  I thought it was a great reminder of how simple it can be to take the modern ways that we celebrate Christmas now, and try to find some meaning behind them, pointing our children or even ourselves back to the true meaning of Christmas.  The gift of a Savior, the promises of the prophets fulfilled, the faith of a virgin, and the hope of nations delivered in the form of a baby boy-this is what we celebrate.

I challenge you to find a way this Christmas to create a new tradition with your family.  Or, take something as simple as a candy cane and use it to point your child to Jesus, by turning it upside down.  It’s all about perspective and families going through change can use a new one from time to time.

“Look!  The virgin will conceive a child!  She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).” Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 2:23

By:  Kristine Mize

While logo design refers to the activity of creating a logo, and the term logo is used to refer to any symbol created for the purpose of identification, the psychology of logo design is the study of any meaning that can be found in a logo outside the simple means of identification. In this article, I’ll cover the essence of the topic, bring my own personal perspective to the discussion, and hopefully help create a captivating debate around the subject.

People will understand and interact with your logo the same way they do with words: from their own personal perspective, which is ultimately led by their own cultural views and personal experiences. If people with distinct levels of education see different meanings for the same word, the chances are they will do the same with your logo.

You should think of each part of your logo as an attribute, reflecting on how each attribute will be interpreted by the viewer. The more time you spend working on the meaning of these attributes, the more control you will have on what people comprehend when reading your logo.

Since every potential attribute of a logo is virtually infinite and renders the writing of this article a nearly impossible task, I’m going to focus on the two most common attributes people use to create added meaning: color and shape.

Color

The role of color in the psychology of logo design is often misunderstood, usually by the clients themselves, but not without reason. Considering the sheer amount of articles on the web stating that red is this and yellow is that, it becomes evident that the result may be catastrophic. The oversimplification of the meaning of color is the main generator of this typical briefing: “I want my logo red, yellow, green, purple and brown because…”

Somewhere, in a mystical place, a fairy dies every time I hear this sort of request. My main advice when picking a color for your logo is to pick just one. That’s it, just one color. Choosing a single color gives you more control of what people will see in your logo, and on top of that, you can also use it as your branding strategy. With time people will start to associate the color with your brand.

Shape

From a psychological perspective, there’s nothing more relevant than shape. The human brain is hardwired to understand and memorize shapes. It’s the way we learn things. A distinctive shape is remembered long after we have seen it. Do you remember the shape of Nike’s logo? The McDonalds sign? Or perhaps the Olympic Games’ symbol?

Lindon Leader knew exactly what he was doing by adding a hidden arrow in the Fedex logo. This is one of the best examples of the use of psychology in the design of a logo. The arrow shape created by the negative space formed by the letter “E” and “X” is, in my opinion, the work of a genius. I wish I had designed that logo myself. In an interview Leader said: “I thought that if I could develop this concept of an arrow it could be promoted as a symbol for speed and precision, both FedEx communicative attributes.”

There are very few things that are more relevant to my design process than what feelings and emotions my work will evoke in viewers, more specifically the primary target audience of my clients. Choosing the right combination of color, type, and mark can easily become a purely aesthetic exercise, but it is when you take the time to think about the psychology behind the design that the best work is produced.

By: Charles “Chuck” Roberds

]]> http://msgpr.com/?feed=rss2&p=309 0 http://msgpr.com/?p=305 http://msgpr.com/?p=305#comments Wed, 31 Oct 2012 19:58:19 +0000 admin-msgpr http://msgpr.com/?p=305 For naysayers of this festive holiday, calling it the “devil’s holiday,” here is a quick reminder of where it came from and why it’s ok to let lose & have a little fun on this less-than-sacred day.

November 1^st used to represent the beginning of the year on the Celtic calendar before Christ.  The festival celebrated on this day was called Samhaim, believed to be a time of year when the ghosts of the dead were most able to mingle with the living because they were moving on to the otherworld.  In 610 A.D. Christians celebrated All Saints Day on May 13^th but in 741 A.D. moved the festival to November 1^st, concerned that so many Christians were becoming overly engaged in this pagan holiday.  (Sound familiar?  Christmas wasn’t always celebrated on December 25^th either.)  All Saints Day or All Hallows was a day dedicated to remembering the saints that were martyred in the earliest days of the Christian church.  So Halloween, “the eve of the holy ones,” was meant to be a night of remembering those who died for the faith, just as Christians still celebrate Good Friday, remembering Christ’s sacrifice.  This sounds much more similar to The Day of the Dead, El Día de los Muertos, also celebrated on October 31^st in Mexico.  This Catholic holiday also began before Christ with the Aztec culture but is now celebrated internationally, intertwined with current Halloween customs.

Halloween is the evening prior to the holy day, the most likely day you could expect to see fairies, ghosts, demons, and other unearthly creatures roaming about. People try to deter these spirits’ (and their masked impersonators’) trickery by offering treats.  Jack-o-lanterns and bonfires are meant to scare them away, to keep them from the living.  So if you are the superstitious type, it may be best to keep the light on, hand out candy, and burn a wick in your pumpkin till all the goblins have headed home for the night.

So while we head into the season of Thanksgiving, when the harvest is plentiful, metaphorically speaking, remember the saints that came before us this November 1^st.  Halloween will always have its pagan rituals (look how we’ve modernized St. Patrick’s Day, Fat Tuesday, and Easter, not to mention Christmas again…).  But I will always remember the blood of Christ’s martyrs on this hallowed day.

By: Kristine Mize