Mobile Communication Offers Additional Student Support

In November of 2009, Pottsgrove High School located in Pottstown, PA, experienced the tragic deaths of two students in an automobile accident. The social and emotional impact of these sudden deaths, and the subsequent conversations with students, led the administration to seek novel ways to offer support to students and their friends who are experiencing barriers to learning, such as drug, alcohol or mental health issues.

The High School principal had seen a video showcasing a preventative tool employed by stadiums, which encouraged fans to text in to a central command for assistance with crowd control or unruly behavior. In light of recent events, he began to think of its application in education and in specifically addressing the needs of our school. The company (http://www.guestassist.net/) delivers mobile phone-based communications that allow an enterprise, such as a school, to interact with their students.

While cell phones use in class is against their school policy, a “technology zone” was established in the cafeteria where students are permitted to use their phones during lunch. With the implementation of this system, a cutting-edge technology commonly utilized on college campuses, students have communicated via text to the operators (school administration and a few select teachers) about bullying, various concerns about their friends, and knowledge of drug use. Signs and video news bulletins have been circulating through this particular high school with the following message:

CONCERNED? Text “Falcons” and your concern to 78247

Students are encouraged to text message concerns relating to bullying, possible drug and alcohol abuse, self-injury, and other topics that may hinder student learning. All text messages are filtered into a website that is consistently monitored by trained teachers and administrators. Students receive a message in return thanking them for their concern, asking for more specific details, or in cases deemed urgent, asked to report to an administrator or counselor for support. Incoming information is then passed on to school personnel who can best provide assistance to the student.

In the first month of operation, the Falcon Assist has provided supports to at least a dozen students. It’s great to see that students care and have concern for their peers!

The school is now asking for our parents to help provide support to their students by utilizing the text messaging service. “If you feel your son/daughter or their friends are in need of assistance, then please text “Falcons” and your concern to 78247.”

The system is simple yet powerful, as it allows for anonymous communication, has a web-based control system for easy access and the ability to tag conversations for future reports based on type of concern or issue.

I'm looking forward to my interview this Thursday with Chris Schaffer, the principal of Pottsgrove High School, who is the genius behind the system's implementation.
 
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Sextortion: An Online Predator's New Favorite Form of Extortion

Sextortion; a new term and a growing concern to watch out for.

Sextortion occurs when a person uses guilt, power, or knowledge of a certain secret, to force another person into providing sexually explicit photos, having sex or performing sexual favors.

Sextortion is one of the “crimes of choice” that Internet predators use to gain access into their targets personal life. Predators generally target teens or young adults on social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace.

Predators who practice sextortion pressure their victims to give them sexually explicit photos and/or favors in exchange for their secrecy of previously obtained private information or for a promise to hold off on future violent acts.

Take the Sextortion case that happened in the Milwaukee area with Anthony Stancl, an 18-year-old former New Berlin high school student who is serving 15 years in prison for sextortion. Anthony, an honor student, got more than 30 boys to send him naked photos of themselves …by posing as a female on Facebook. He then blackmailed several boys into sexual acts by threatening to share those pornographic images if they said “no.”

Throughout 2010, there have been ongoing acts of sextortion occurring at universities across the country. A predator preys on sorority pledges by first studying their Facebook profile and then approaches them using Facebook, pretending to be a sorority sister or an alum from their college. The first communications seem harmless to unsuspecting freshman, yet are obvious attempts to gain trust. Subsequent Facebook chats and e-mails get creepy, with requests for naked pictures, followed by threats to reveal secrets and commit violent acts. The dozen or so victims to date attend southwest schools: University of Florida, Florida State University, Auburn University, University of Alabama and Louisiana State University. So far, several college students have actually provided their assailant with naked photos.

• Out of the people who report sharing nude photos of themselves, almost a third of them have shared the photos with people they only know online ... or with people they've never met face-to-face.

What’s important about sextortion is that parents teach their children not to trust anyone they don’t know online, to keep their profile private, even when after they turn 18-years-old, and to make sure they report any online contact they’ve received from online strangers who are asking for private and/or creepy information.

Teens and young adults need to understand that when they take these types of photographs... or if they turn on their web camera for strangers, the person on the receiving end can easily record, and spread the information anywhere they choose, or else.

For more information about how to parent around today's technology, visit:  http://www.shawnedgington.com/.

911 Text Alerts Kept University of Texas Students Safe

A 19 year old sophomore at the University of Texas opened fire Tuesday while running through the Austin campus using an AK-47, then eventually killed himself.  

No one else was shot, and most of the credit for a low body count is going to the university's crisis-management plan.

As part of this plan, the schools text messaging system reached out to more than 43,000 people, warning students, faculty and staff to stay away from the area the gunman was holed up.  The text also advised students to remain indoors.  

Here's a few important questions to ask:

• Does your child's elementary, middle, high school or university have an emergency text messaging system in place?  Services such as Mobile Campus provides real-time emergency alerts for schools across the country.
• Are you and your family members listed on the text recipient list?
• If your child's school has yet to implement an emergency text messaging system, when is planned to be implemented?

An emergency text messaging system is one instance on how text technology can save lives.  It's also clear that every school should have a system in place exactly like the University of Texas has implemented.

Since almost everyone carries their cell phones, sending emergency messages by text is the perfect solution for emergency and life threatening situations.

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Facebook: What Every Parent Needs to Know

 

Facebook has become the “must-have” social networking account most pre-teens yearn for, teenagers live by, and many adults love.
 
When you hear “Mom, can I have a Facebook account?” you shouldn’t be shocked. Some parents struggle with the answer, especially when it comes to their 13- or 14-year old child who can’t wait to set up their profile, friend their friends, post their favorite pictures, and update their status.

Only a parent knows their child well enough to decide if their teen is ready and mature enough to handle the responsibility that goes along with having a Facebook account. Remember, Facebook is a mode of communication that has the capability to reach the entire world. If you decide to say “yes”, here are eight rules you should consider implementing before granting access:

• No foul language

• No inappropriate photos

• Only accept friend requests from people they know

• Teach your kids how to use the “Block” feature to stop abusive behavior

• Communicate and educate your teens about Internet Safety

• Monitor their pages, and let them know you’re doing so

• Review their privacy settings with them ('Private' is highly recommended)

• Make it clear you’ll need 24/7 access to their account (obtain user/password information)

Keep in mind that only confirmed friends can post to your teen's Wall or contact your teen via Facebook, so if you’re worried that someone will make inappropriate posts or send offensive messages, you only have to worry about those type of messages coming from friends that your child confirmed.

I refer to them as frenemies. 

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Sexting Scandal Hits High School - "Hummer Mom" Caught

I was totally horrified to hear about the Hummer driving, 42-year-old married mom who faces 67 counts of sexual assault for having sex with two 15-year-old boys! 

How could it get any worse than that?  Christine Hubbs' charges include having sex with two different boys; which has been reported that the encounters started when they were only 13 years old.

How did "Hummer mom" get caught?

Hubbs allegedly sent text messages and nude pictures of herself to the boys from her cell phone... also known as "Sexting".  She was arrested after one of the victim's parents found a nude text of Hubbs on his cell phone. 

Thank God this parent was paying attention!

After police seized Hubb's personal computer and phones, they were able to reveal the ongoing relationship with the two teens.

Sexting 101

"Not my child!" is what most parents think when the topic of sexting is brought up in conversation.  According to The National Campaign, 33% of teenagers have admitted to sexting.  The number increases to 36% when it comes to young adult women.  I know what you're thinking... age 42 is not a "young adult woman!"

What can you do to prevent sexting? 

• Eliminate the MMS feature from your teens' cell phone plan.  MMS = pictures/videos that can be sent/received by cell phone.
• Keep the lines of communication open between you and your teen
• Understand there are predators everywhere, and your children need to be protected from them
• Take an occasional look at stored photos on your child's cell phone
• Read Between the Lines, keep your eyes open for any strange behavior surrounding their cell phone usage

Unfortunately, sexting is a reality and it's becoming more common than we'd like to believe. 

To be pro-active around the subject of sexting, it's best to sit down with your kids to set texting boundaries.  Be sure to explain the potentially serious consequence to ANY kind of sex texting, including what to do if and when they ever receive any naked or obscene photo. 

You should also include "what not to do" in your sexting discussion... which is to NEVER forward these types of texts out to their friends. 

 

Men vs. Women in the Workplace

I'm in the process of getting some seriously juicy information from personal interviews and by surveying how women and men work together - and boy am I learning more every day!

You would think by the time we get to our 40's and have been working with boys since the age of 15, we would know all there is to know. 

Guess what?  I was wrong!

If you have a few minutes, I would appreciate getting your feedback about your personal experiences from working with the opposite sex by taking this survey for my upcoming book - "It's NOT Complicated:  What Men Want in the Workplace" and how to use it to get ahead.

Click here:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MSFMWFD

I know, it sounds devious - but we're just trying to help women get a leg up in the workplace.  And you men out there... Don't worry!  You're feedback will help women learn how to improve their performance, which means it's a win/win for everyone.

If your story is extra fabulous - it just might get published!

Thanks for your time, I really appreciate it!


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Mehserle Trial Causes Oakland Riots - Tonight's Event Cancelled

Hi All,


Thanks to Kathy Babcock who works in downtown Oakland and called to provide breaking news and excellent advice; "I HIGHLY recommend you stay out of Oakland due to the Judges recent ruling on the Mehserle trial".  

She also said the streets are dangerous and many of the buildings have closed and sent their staff home for the day.

Due to the location of The Ellington, and that the ongoing riots are only blocks away from the building, we've rescheduled tonight's event - date TBD.

Celebrate Summer At The Ellington!

Take a break from your same old routine, and join me Wednesday night in downtown Jack London Square for a glass of champagne (or two) and some wonderful appetizers!

The gracious owners of The Ellington, (the newest and most prestigious high-end condo project in downtown) are hosting me and my book; "Read Between the Lines" to help get the word out about their beautiful project.  If you get a chance, stop by and come say hi!

Where:  The Ellington - 222 Broadway, Oakland - Free Parking is Available

When:  Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

Time:  5:00 to 7:00 (Stop by for 15 minutes or 2 hours - whatever works for you)

I'm looking forward to checking out the roof-top pool, meeting new friends and seeing my old (but young) friends, while enjoying the beautiful views of San Francisco and Jack London Square.

Hope you can make it!

Attention Californians: Claim Your Lost Cash!

If you live in California (I'm sure it's the same in every other state) you should periodically check out your home state's website to see if you have any long lost cash you need to claim.

I make a point to check annually, and I always find some missing money that I never knew was missing.  It's like Christmas!

Last year I hit pay dirt.  I found $5,200.00 and was ecstatic.  In 2004, I found a check for $9000!  I checked today, and found $937.00, a refund that was apparently sent by Hewlett-Packard, but I never received it. 

I also checked my husbands name (found him a $50 rebate), my moms (found her $354.00) and my kids (they had $0), but my point is, you never know. 

It's simple!  In about two minutes, you could be rich.  Here's what you do:

1. If you live in California, go to http://www.ca.gov/
2. In the search box, put "Unclaimed Property" and hit search
3. Then click on the 3rd bullet down "UCP Inquiry System"
4. Insert first name, last name and last known city the person lived in.
5. Click search

That's all there is to it.  Go ahead, do your search, and be sure to let me know if your wallet is a little heavier.  :)

Happy Treasure Hunting!!!

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Tips and Tricks for Appearing on View From the Bay

Just in case you've been invited to appear on The View From the Bay, I thought I would provide you some "Need to know" tips and tricks on what to do (and what not to do) during your next appearance on View From the Bay.

I'm far from an expert, but I wish someone would have told me what I'm telling you.  All of these tips are either things I screwed up on, was told the day of, or they're things I noticed while I was on the set.

1. VFTB is filmed in High Definition, so be prepared for every single detail from your waist up to show.  UGGGGG, it sucks getting old!!!!!
2. There's a fabulous makeup artist available on most days, so by all means, let her work her magic on you.  She mentioned "they go for the natural and casual look" so leave your false extra long eye-lashes and bright red "Gwen" lipstick at home.
3. Spencer and Janelle are totally and perfectly wonderful, and make it really easy to have a conversation with them.  Wear an extra layer of protection, don't drink too much caffeine, and you'll be good.
4. Don't eat the snacks in the green room.  Why risk all that stuff getting stuck in your teeth under HD scrutiny?
5. If your interview occurs while sitting in the tall red stool, remember this.  It's tall and red, so dress accordingly. 
6. I don't know why I spent so much time worrying about the shoes I was going to wear.  I'm pretty sure if I had my Asics on, you wouldn't have noticed. (You start your interview seated in the tall red stool, not walking out as if you're on Oprah).
7. You'll be wearing a mic that gets clipped on in the front of your shirt, and you'll have a big box (the wireless device) in your back.  Hence, you'll have to sit up straight in your stool, no matter how much it hurts.  I got a "miss" on this point.  
8. Ditch the too short skirts.
9. Your top should have sleeves.  I missed on this point too.  
10. The hosts are the stars, and Jess the producer of the show is the rock-star.  He's responsible for making sure everything goes smoothly with your segment.  He's involved and responsible for all the fine details, including the questions the hosts plan to ask you.  Take good care of Jess.
11. When you're being interviewed, you'll just look at the Spencer and Janelle, not at the camera's.  
12. There's a small studio audience.  I was lucky enough to have 35 first graders as part of my audience.  My topic...Textual Harassment.  YIKES!  I guess it could have been worse - I could have been discussing the sexiest body part to get your tattoo on or where baby's come from!
13. It's best to wear jewel tones or black, but remember not to pick a color that clashes with the tall red stool!
14. Don't wear white... but I don't have to tell you that.
15. Take the time and spend the money to have your hair done by your favorite stylist.  You won't regret it.  I didn't do this, and boy am I sorry!
16. Back to the stool.  (Yes, I had issues with the stool)  I made the mistake of resting my arms on both arm rests.  Just rest on one side, preferably on the side next to your closest host.
17. Did I mention the stool was red?
18. Be prepared and watch several segments just before your segment is scheduled to air.  This way you know what's going on that week.  I record and watch this show regularly, so I felt good about this part.

Let my learning curve be to your benefit.  Good luck, you'll be fabulous!

RBTL Has Exciting News 4 U!

Upcoming News Worth Mentioning:

Shawn's been invited to speak on The View From the Bay next week!  She'll be discussing the dangers of textual harassment, cyber bullying and sexting and most importantly what parents can do to help.  Want to come along?  Just let me know!

Monday, May 17th, ABC 7 from 3:00 to 4:00.


To further shawn's advocacy for Saving Lives, Don't Text and Drive, she'll be signing books and taking signed pledges for RBTL's No Phone Zone. 

Barnes & Noble Dublin– Sunday, May 23rd from 1-3
Hacienda Crossings (Next to Regal Theaters)
4972 Dublin Boulevard
Dublin, CA 94568

We've got a new iPhone App you'll want to check out!  LOL is the name, and abbreviations are it's game.

Available in the App Store on May 14th, 2010
Search:  LOL Text Lingo
This App provides novice texters and confused parents the ability to look
up thousands of abbreviations in the snap of a finger.

Make Your Car A No Phone Zone

Today's the first annual "No Phone Zone", and it's time for you to take the pledge.

If you need a reason why, here's the only one you need:

1. You could kill innocent people

Go to www.oprah.com and take the pledge.

Take a moment, and take the pledge - you won't regret it!

Top 10 Forbidden Text Zones Revealed

We all know how great texting can be most of the time, but what about the times and places texting isn't so great?

Research on this subject was a bit sketchy, but here's the top 10 forbidden text zones I was able to locate:

10.  After you've been pulled over by your neighborhood cop - because you're just going to piss him off
9.    While your pole dancing - because a cell phone just isn't very sexy
8.    During prayer - because your pastor might get jealous (It happened)
7.    At your local "Swingers" get together - well... the "because" is too disgusting to mention so RBTL
6.    While you're catching a wave in San Diego - because water and cell phones don't mix
5.    During your HR meeting while you're getting your ass chewed for cell phone abuse - because you        need the money
4.    When you're visiting the Porcelain God - because it's just too disgusting to do both at the same time
3.    While you're at the batting cages with balls flying at 90 mpg - because you can't afford more plastic surgery! 
2.    When riding a mechanical bull - because cowboys can't multi task, so neither should you
1.    While you're getting busy in the bedroom - you do the math

That's the newest unofficial lineup of forbidden text zones... but I need your input to make it official!  Please, list your personal place or space where you've banned all text messages.

Common, it's your turn to share.

Get Instant Fashion Advice

Have you ever found yourself in a position where you've needed last-minute fashion advice?

I have to say; I was in need of some serious fashion do's (and don'ts) last Saturday when I was being interviewed live on KRON 4 Weekend News by Henry Tenenbaum.

I'm sitting in the hot seat, hoping my jacket is buttoned correctly, that my legs were crossed in the right direction, that my blouse wasn't showing too much cleavage, amongst the 99 other worries running through my head.  It was right then when I was saved by the "ding".

Lucky for me, my BFF Wendy had seen the 15 second promo of Henry and I pretending to text each other two minutes before we were going live with the interview.  This is exactly when she made the mad dash to find her cell phone.  It was a fashion emergency!

Just in the nick of time, she sent me a text that said "Love the jacket - center your necklace and pull up your cammy!" And then I got a "Go get em, you look great".  I responded back with an "OMG" and then a "Thx, YTB". Adding to the benefit of badly needed advice I would have never gotten from the men standing in the room, the entire text exchange made me laugh which really calmed my nerves.

Thanks to the power of a few texts and a great friend that's concerned with the potential of her gal pal looking like a complete idiot, I was able to get some desperately needed fashion advice, and just in time!

My point is that you too can get fashion advice on the DL!  Any time you're thinking you need some true blue honesty, but you don't want everyone to hear about your fashion faux pas... just ask your BFF to send some text advice.  To be honest, one of the most important jobs of being a great friend is to make sure your BFF's don't wear too-short skirts, don't pile on too much makeup, and to strongly suggest they ditch the go-go boots and the floral moo moo's because they've gone out of style.  

I'm definitely going to make fashion advice by text my new SOP, but next time I go on TV, I'm going to need to get me some tips on how NOT to look larger than life!  It's true - the camera adds 10 pounds right to your bottom line, and I have the picture to prove it!  

Reminders By Text Rock

As I was rushing out the door this morning so I could get to my meeting by eight (my teens were still sound asleep), I thought to myself that I should take a moment to write a list of chores that my little sleepy-heads needed to accomplish.

After all, it's Spring Break, and I can't have them doing absolutely NOTHING, can I?

But then I thought to myself "Why don't I just text them their chores"?  I needed to get to work, and didn't have an extra five minutes to write down two lists of "To-Do's".  So, that's what I did.  I sent a group text to both of them with what I wanted them to do.

Nicole, my 17-year old responded back in seconds saying she'll take care of them, and my 15-year old son responded two hours later asking if he could first go to the movies then do his chores right when he got home.  Have I mentioned boys are a little slower at responding to texts than girls?

Once again, sending a text saved me time and I knew my messages would be delivered instantly.  A little bonus was that they each would need to respond to my requests, which is what I love about sending a text vs. just leaving a note that might get conveniently ignored.

Have you ever used texting to send reminders?  If so, what type of reminders have you sent, and did you have positive results?

LMK!

Harassment by Text On the Uprise

One of the newest epidemics in the world of texting is Textual Harassment, a form of harassment delivered by text message.  Textual harassment and techno-stalking are a growing concern, especially because it’s so quick and easy to accomplish, and affects all ages of both women and men.
Textual Harassment is an unfortunate reality that has developed as a result of the growth and popularity of texting, to the degree that special laws have been put in place to protect the innocent.

The laws that define textual harassment vary from state to state, but in California a single unsolicited text message that threatens physical harm or is obscene is enough to meet the definition of textual harassment. If the text doesn't fall into either of these categories, then the text must be sent several times in order to be considered textual harassment. 

What should you do if you get text harassed?


I – Ignore the Text – DON’T RESPOND & make a copy of the message

B – Block – Call your provider and have them block the number

R – Report – Report the harassment to the police


It really comes down to one question when you're trying to decide if a text has crossed the line. Ask yourself “Do you feel threatened or violated in any way?” If your answer is “Yes”, stop responding to the texts, keep copies of the messages in your e-mail, and if needed, block their number. If you feel threatened, strongly consider reporting them to the police, which is why you need to document the messages by making copies.
 
Most importantly, if you get harassed by text, understand that you’re not alone. There is millions of textual harassment cases reported every year in the United States, and it's my strong opinion that most cases go unreported.
 
For more information and reports published by the US Department of Justice, Violence Against Women, go directly to their site at:  http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/ .

Quinton Aaron of "The Blind Side" Take Home Read Between the Lines

After meeting hundreds of celebrities, handing out over 250 special edition copies of Read Between the Lines, and taking more photos than I care to mention, one of my favorite moments was spending time with Quinton Aaron, who plays the part of the Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Michael Oher, in the movie "The Blind Side".  

If you haven't seen the movie yet, you've got to!  Quinton is wonderful, and as I'm sure you've heard by now, Sandra Bulluck was also incredible enough to take home Oscar.

Quinton was down to earth, and at the same time, larger than life!  We spent more than twenty minutes in great conversation, then we took lots of fun pictures, hugged, and even danced (He's hoping for a gig on Dancing With the Stars) and I have the picture of us in motion to prove his worthiness!  :)

At first, my mom didn't recognize him, but when she did - I thought she was going to faint!  And the picture of Quinton giving Nicole a giant bear hug is priceless!

The entire day was such an incredible experience; it literally took me three days to recover.  Thank God for my Mom,  my daughter Nicole, and my girlfriends Jen, Venetia, and Jennifer.  Between the six of us, we were able to talk to everyone who stopped by, take tons of pictures, and offered Michelle's special sugar cookies in the shape of stars.  After that, we asked everyone to autograph the blown-up version of the book cover.  By the end of the night - we had collected over 300 signatures!

I can best explain our day as the ultimate "Coming Out Party" RBTL could have ever hoped for!

More fun SWAG 411 to follow!

Managing the Information Highway

It's the age of technology, and we're all smack dab in the middle of it all.

There's e-mail, news alerts, tweets, texts, Skype, a multitude of in-boxes, social media sites, blogs, YouTube and phones everywhere we turn.  Not only do we need to understand how to use technology, but we also need to master all the 411 without throwing it into reverse.

Technology can benefit you, but it can also suck you in and waste your precious time if you're not careful.  And it's time you'll never get back.

Here's a few tips to help you take charge, prioritize, and thank God for Google.

• Take Charge of your In-Boxes.  Delete what's not important or doesn't apply to you.  Install a reputable spam filter to reduce trash, and prioritize what's essential to your career, family and friends.  Delete the rest.
• Use Google.  Because of Google's algorithm - We benefit from the wisdom of many knowledgeable and diverse individuals in just a few clicks.  Viola!  Just like that, you'll have answers to your burning questions.  
• Text Tactfully.  Text when it makes sense, and don't watch your life fly by, by staring at your phone all day, waiting for that next text to come in.  Do yourself a favor and make the call instead of passing hundreds of texts back and forth.
• Don't be too Social.  Balance is your key to success when it comes to social media.  Spending hours a day on Facebook?  Do you really have that much EXTRA time?
• Pick your Passion.  Use the technology that works for you, and don't be close-minded when it comes to learning new gizmos.  Keep an open mind, and give it an honest shot.
• Get an iPhone.  I know; this is a tuff pill to swallow if you're a BlackBerry user like I was just four weeks ago.  That being said, I've taken control of my in-boxes, text messages, my calendar (It auto syncs with Outlook) and Google works like a dream.  Oh, and did I mention I can take a quality photo and then immediately text or e-mail it in a snap?  And the App Store.... WAD!  (What a Dream)

We're all in charge of our own life and which roads we pick to travel down.  Pick your own direction, ignore the tiny bumps in the road, and use the information highway to help you find your way... With simplicity and style of course!  

It's Oscar Week and RBTL Gets Stoned For SWAG

Thanks to four of my amazing girlfriends, we finished stoning and wrapping Read Between the Lines and it's companion iPhone App "OMG!" in preparation for the Academy Award SWAG event this Saturday.


Nothing helps get my gal-pals more motivated than a couple bottles of wine and some hot steamy pepperoni pizza!  With 150 books to embellish with Swarovski Crystals, we had our work cut out for us.

It was no problem!  Jen, Beverly and Michelle stoned, Vinny worked on "blinging" the giant book cover, and I signed, stuffed and wrapped.  We worked hard for 5 hours, but got it done.

Here's a look at 220 completed books, ready to be given away to celebrities, stylists, and select media who've been invited to the upcoming SWAG event, and we'll be there to witness it first hand.

Next up?  Jen and I finished the backdrop tonight, and next... we need to figure out a way to get all of these books plus the 50 splits of Rose Chandon, 200 star-shaped sugar cookies decorated in the colors of the book, our backdrop, and luggage crammed into my car, for our road-trip to Hollywood!

We plan to get our guests all sugared up from the cookies and tipsy from the champagne so we can get some great photo-op's.  JK - we just plan to have a lot of fun and get RBTL into the hands of the well heeled.

Did you know that SWAG stands for "Stuff We All Get"?  I don't know about you, but I've never been given a big bag full of great free stuff, including things like Alligator handbags, iPhones and Swiss watches.  Hmm, I'm thinking it's more like "Stuff We A'listers Get".

It's quite the adventure, and I'm really looking forward to all of it!

Diary of an iPhone Application - OMG! is Officially Available!

At last, Apple just approved the iPhone Applications I've been working on, which include a text lingo dictionary, much like the glossary in the back of the book, Read Between the lines.  Those original terms from the book, along with 100's of new terms are included in two of my new iPhone Applications.

This process took longer than expected, mostly due to Apple's new "Clean Icon" campaign.   I just heard earlier this week that Apple has deleted over 5000 Applications from the Apple store, because they failed to measure up to their new standards - and there's more  to come.

I guess you could say I was trying to "Get Hip Without Getting Deleted" by Apple.  Our primary delay was that one of my App's (the one with the icon "WTF?") was rejected as a result of this new initiative. 

Lucky for me, I hired the right person and the right company (Jen @ Presskit in Atlanta) who understands the App creation and submission process, and did a great job bringing all of RBTL App's into the Apple store.  She's an engineer with a great personality - which I find unusual.  :)  Jen's smart, honest, knows the App business, and she's found a niche that allowed me to have an App developed for Read Between the Lines.

Officially, we have four Apps in the store:

Free Category - Search "Text Lingo"
OMG! & RBTL - These are both "Lite Versions" that are free, and give you a taste for the full version App, by providing 20 fun text abbreviations, along with an option to preview several chapters of the book, as well as a way to purchase the book right from your iPhone.

We built the "Lite" versions so iPhone users could learn about RBTL, and get a feel for what the full version included.

Paid Category - Search "Text Lingo"
OMG! & RBTL - These are both the complete text lingo dictionaries, and cost .99 each.  They allow you to search through thousands of abbreviations, and share them by e-mail, FaceBook, and Twitter. 

I'm proud to say I've made it through this process - thank you Jen!  These fun filled applications launched 2/23/10, and are the best companion to help you communicate with simplicity and style, right in the palm of your hand. 

Have a great idea for an App?  If this is the case, I have some great recommendations for you.  Just post your question - and I'd be more than happy to share any and all of my resources!

Avoid Deadly Cell Phone Obsessions - Just Say No!

Most of us are so busy, we try to do too many things in too little time. Then, to make matters worse, we try to "Get things done" by doing them on our cell phone, while we're driving.

I know, I can hear you now, because I also hear that little evil voice inside my head telling me "It's OK, you're at a signal or a stop sign, so go ahead and check your e-mail or answer that text".  I admit, I've done it - and I was dead wrong!

Why?  Because it's too often that red light turns green, and there I am in the middle of my answer, and because I like to finish what I start, I'd continue with my message while my car was moving.  I was distracted to a degree that wasn't safe for me or anyone around me.

If you've been watching the news, or maybe even heard about Oprah's "No Phone Zone" campaign where you can sign her pledge to make your car a No Phone Zone.  The Goal?  Awareness is definitely one of them.  More importantly, according to Oprah "Save a life - maybe even yours".   I couldn't agree more!



Nowadays - all you have to do is look around while you're driving, and more times than not, I can tell that the driver is in deed on their cell phone - and now more than ever they seem to be looking down, texting.

Yes, I'm the author of Read Between the Lines:  A Humorous Guide to Texting with Simplicity and Style, which is about the positives (and the negatives) of texting, and I firmly believe that there's NO place for texting while driving, no exceptions, ever!

Since I know Oprah has a proven track record of accomplishing her goals with overwhelming positive results and success, I've taken her pledge to not text while driving, and only use my blue-tooth while on my phone.  I was pledge number 135643.

Interested in taking the pledge? Click here to make a commitment, or if you need more convincing, you can watch videos about victims of distracted videos.

Personally, I didn't need any additional convincing.

Diary of Read Between the Lines iPhone Application

As of last week, Read Between the Lines two iPhone Applications were completed and submitted to Apple for approval.  Unfortunately, the "WTF?" App was denied, due to the WTF? icon that would be visible in the App Store, visible to everyone.

Apparently, Apple is in the process of "Cleaning up the App store", and we submitted at the perfect time to be included in their new project.

I minor let down, but I completely understand.  It was one of the first questions I asked after I came up with the idea.  The answer that I received was an overwhelming "Have you seen the smut in the App store?  I'm sure WTF? won't be a problem"!

It was a problem - so we changed its name to RBTL in order to get approval. The first App - "OMG!" was approved with no problems.

The good news is you'll be able to find all of the apps if you search "Text Lingo Dictionary" on Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010.

While we wait for Apple to work their magic, it was highly recommended that I hire an "App public relations firm" to have the Application reviewed (By Bloggers who review Apps) before it's released, and to send press releases out to the right people... so I did.

I know, I bet you had no idea that there are companies that only do PR for Apps, let alone Bloggers who specialize in reviewing Apps that are in pre-release status, then blog about them.  Don't worry, you're not alone!  I had NO idea such things existed either - which is one of the reasons I'm documenting the journey.

One things for sure... There's not a day that goes by that I don't learn five new things about the business of writing a book.

New Author Claudia Pruett Speaks Out

Ever wanted to write your own book?  If your answer is "Yes", then you're not alone.  In fact, I would say a large percencatage of people I speak to say that it's one of their dreams to write a book.

This is exactly why I like to interview new authors and share their experiences with you, as well as my experiences with Read Between the lines.

Claudia Pruett, co-author of Cooking Dinner: Simple Italian Family Recipes Everyone Can Make, will be speaking about her newly published cookbook (Published 9/2009) at the San Francisco’s Writers Conference I'll be attending this weekend.

A bit about her book: Nothing instills a sense of familial well-being better than a meal prepared and eaten together at home. But today’s busy lifestyles, coupled with more and better options from the take-out department, have made the family dinner nearly a thing of the past. Cooking Dinner is a rescue plan for this endangered tradition. Written by two mothers with a passion for Italian cooking, it features delicious recipes that don’t take all day to prepare.

How did you get your book, Cooking Dinner published?

We self published, then collaborated with Mega Productions in order to get a distributor. Our goal was to be available on Amazon, Barnes Noble and Borders on a national level.

Have you found it difficult to get your book into the major book stores?

Not difficult, but it takes a lot of calling and setting up appointments. Our distributor has a sales team who have helped us with this process but we also had to make sales calls. We've been able to get our book placed in both Barnes and Borders, on a national basis. We've also been successful with independent booksellers across the country.

In your opinion, what’s contributed to your books success?

The recipes in our book work, and they are familiar to people, which really helps. I would say:

• Man Hours - Book Signings Every Weekend

• The Cover - It's Approachable

• Easy to Read, and Easy to Follow

• Word of Mouth

• Timing - Due to the Economy, More People are Cooking

• Everyone Loves Italian!

Cooking Dinner is more than a collection of recipes... It's a method to improve family participation and well being.

What’s the most important thing you’ve done as an author to promote your book?

• Personal Presence and Book Signings (I also feed who attend)

• Contracted with a PR firm to get booked on "View From the Bay" and other miscellaneous press

• Because it's a cookbook, I partner with cooking stores to do demonstrations

• I try to diversify by offering focaccia bread mix packaged as a mix, as well as speaking events

What advice do you have for new authors like me? 

Having a platform or being an expert on something is very important. My co-author and I have a foundation through which we teach underserved kids how to cook. We are also well-known in the community for our cooking expertise and are sought after by local media which helps with publicity and exposure.

It is also important to look for ways to diversify. For instance, I partner with cooking stores to provide cooking demonstrations and they in turn sell my focaccia mix, as well as my book.

If you're interested in writing your own book, The SF Writers Conference is where you want to be.  For details about the conference, go to http://www.sfwriters.org.

Read Between the Lines Goes to Hollywood!

Love the necklace you saw Jennifer Anniston wearing last month?  How about those amazing heels Beyonce had on at the Golden Globes?  They could be wearing SWAG for all we know.

Lots of people want to wear what A-listers wear, travel where A-listers travel, and read what A-listers read.

Just in case you don't know what SWAG is, it's basically a bag of incredible goodies that companies give away to A-listers before big events like the Academy Awards and The Grammy's.  Having a Hollywood A-lister wear or be photographed with your product is something that can boost sales and create buzz.  Before the economy melt down, it wasn't uncommon for the contents of the SWAG bag to be valued over $100,000!

And, the super exciting news about the SWAG for the Academy Awards this year, is that thanks to one of my girlfriends, (THANK YOU EMMA!!) a copy of Read Between the Lines will be one of the items in the SWAG bag!  

What does this mean?  Because RBTL was selected as SWAG for the biggest Hollywood event of the year, I've been given the golden opportunity to showcase my book directly to 200 of the famously well heeled, media, and stars of all kinds who have received the "coveted invite" to load up on these incredible freebies!

Because Read Between the Lines will be "in the bag" with high-end quality products like alligator bags and swiss watches, I've decided to add some "Hollywood Bling" to the cover, and create a “Special Edition Academy Awards 2010 Cover” which will include a special design of Swarovski Crystals on the outside jacket.

WOOO HOOO - Hollywood, here we come!

RBTL Interviews Peggy Kennedy, Author of Approaching Neverland

I’m very excited to hear Peggy Kennedy, the author of Approaching Neverland, speak  about becoming a newly published author at the upcoming San Francisco’s Writers Conference I'll be attending on February 13th.

In fact, I was so excited, I decided to interview her!


A bit about her book: With brutal honesty and surprising humor, Peggy shares the turbulence of growing up under the shadow of Barbara's illness, of being shuffled from one family member to the next, and of visiting her mother in the mental institution. As the years pass, the shadows of Barbara's challenges become a loving legacy in Peggy's quest to achieve happiness and fulfillment in her life.

A vivid, haunting portrayal of one woman's struggle to understand how the past fits in with her future, Approaching Neverland is as inspiring as it is beautifully written, and will stay with you long after the last page is turned.

Here's what Peggy had to say.

How did you get Approaching Neverland published?

Published in March 2009, Approaching Neverland got its start by winning first prize in the non-fiction category at the SF Writers Conference in 2008. From there, I went on to find a publisher, but to my surprise I still had a difficult time finding a “traditional” publisher, so I decided to use her 1st place prize from the conference and use iUniverse as my publisher.

What’s contributed to your books success?

Approaching Neverland has been both critically successful and publicly successful.  My sales are still going strong.  It’s vital to find a publicist that understands your book, your market, and how to get your message out.

What’s the most important thing you’ve done as an author to sell/promote your book?

Really, it’s been a combination of many things. Originally I started with personal contact with everyone I knew, which then went to word-of-mouth. I’ve also found it important to do as many speaking engagements as possible and I'm also sponsoring events that tie-in with the subject of my book, mental illness.

Is there anything you would do differently next time you write a book?

I would be more particular where I spend my money when it comes to Public Relations. It seems there a lot of people in the PR business, that tend to over promise and under deliver. Unfortunately, you usually don’t find out their value (or lack of) until it’s too late, and you’ve spent a lot of money. Some of the things I’ve done that I wouldn’t do next time are:

• Hire Public Relations individuals who don’t get results

• Pay to have my book at Book Fairs

• Putting an ad in RTIR – This is the Radio and Television Intel Report that I got zero results from

What advice do you have for new authors like me?

Stay focused and on track of your book sales. Social networking is a must, and look for natural tie-ins that work well with your product. For example, my books about mental health, so I target speaking opportunities that reveal my expertise, such as mental health conferences.

For more information about Approaching Neverland, please visit: http://www.approachingneverland.com/

Come listen to Peggy speak at the SF Writers Conference on February 13, 2010.
For details about the conference, go to http://www.sfwriters.org/.

Got Your Picture Yet?

Read Between the Lines needs your help!

Join RBTL Across America, and e-mail your picture(s) to campaign@rbtlguide.com.

By doing so, your helping:

• Witness the "Coming Out" of my book - which I can't possibly do without you
• Feel like I'm standing in your local store
• Document RBTL's placement in your favorite Barnes location
• Assure me I'm not dreaming, that RBTL really did make it into all the Barnes  Noble stores across the country

If you're not sure what "RBTL Across America" is, read my post from last week which explains everything you need to know.

Thanks again for all of your support - I really appreciate it!

Text "Haiti" to 90999 to Donate $10.00 Breaks Records

The Red Cross has raised more than $25 million in text message donations, and is still growing by $200,000 a day.  


By texting "Haiti" to 90999, Americans can donate $10.00 to the American Red Cross with ease, which is the main reason why this campaign has been the most successful mobile campaign to date!


According to the ARC, an individual donation of $10 will stock one first aid kit containing bandages,  ointment, and medicine, including antibiotics. 


When it comes to tragedy, the United States is always one of the first to arrive at the scene, ready to contribute everything we have to offer, and more.  I'm constantly reminded how proud I am to be an American.  

RBTL Across America

Please Join the National "RBTL Across America" Campaign!

Get your photo published & win an autographed copy of Read Between the Lines.


Here's How to Join:

• Visit any Barnes and Noble store in the United States between January 26th and February 23rd
• Go to the "New Arrivals Table" and locate the hippest new book called "Read Between the Lines".
• Snap your picture (or someone else) holding up the book.
• E-Mail the picture to campaign@rbtlguide.com along with your name, city and state for the Barnes & Noble store you visited.

If you happen to visit more than one Barnes and Noble - that's great... you could be a winner! Take another picture with the book, and e-mail it in with the above info.

The top 3 people with the most represented B & N stores will be sent a personalized & autographed copy of RBTL!

Along with the national press for "RBTL Across America" campaign, all submitted photo(s) will be published, and your cities and states represented on all of RBTL's links.

Good luck, and thanks for joining!

Diary of RBTL's iPhone Application - How Much?

The votes are in!

It's been decided that the iPhone App (and the Droid App) for Read Between the Lines should cost .99 cents each, and should be "Ad Free".

The overwhelming reason is simply "to attract more downloads".

The Applications continue to be in development, with a projected release date of January 29th.

I'll be posting screen shots soon!

Thanks for everyone's input!

Diary of RBTL's iPhone Application How Much?

I've asked several iPhone users the following question: "How much should the RBTL Text Lingo Dictionary cost?" The answers are split between .99 and 1.99.

Here's what the App will include:

1. Over 1500 Text Lingo Abbreviations and definitions
2. Ability to look-up an abbreviation
3. Ability to search the dictionary
4. Ability to select the term you want to use, which you can then pop it into your text

If my goal is to get as many users as possible to download the application, how much do you think it should cost?

• .99
• 1.99

In case you were wondering, Apple retains 30% of retail.

Thanks for your input - I really need it!!

Diary of RBTL's iPhone Application

Soon iPhone will offer a Read Between The Lines application available in the App Store, planned for release early next month.

We're in the design stages now, but here's the bottom line.

Soon, iPhone, Droid and Google phone users will have the ability to download a free RBTL Application, which will provide the "Top 50 Text Lingo" inside the App. If you like what you see, you'll be able to download the entire RBTL Text Lingo Dictionary for a nominal charge.

Here's some of the Application features we have planned so far:

1. Simple look-up, search and get the definition for text lingo/abbreviations
2. Select the text lingo you want to use and have the ability to "pop" it into your text
3. Over 1500 terms available within the paid version
4. Color scheme will be in the same flavor as the book - bright and fun
5. Ability to easily share your favorite lingo across e-mail and social networking platforms
6. Ability to preview and purchase RBTL right off your phone

My goal is to make the Text Lingo Dictionary readily available to millions of App users, in a fun and easy to use format. After all, don't you think you should have easy access to text lingo abbreviations where you use them most - on your cell phone?

Because this is another new experience for me (and maybe for you too) I've decided to document my iPhone Application journey, in hopes of providing you with some useful information.

Who knows... maybe you'll have your very own iPhone Application in the future?

Thoughts? Suggestions? Send them over!!

MTF! :)

Text "Haiti" to 90999 to Donate $10.00 to the American Red Cross

Here's a perfect example as to why you need to text.

We've all heard about the devastation that Haiti has suffered, and they need our help!

The American Red Cross Haiti outreach is underway, and they've pledged to donate $1,000,000.00. Here's a way to easily send your donation.

Text "Haiti" to 90999 to donate $10.00 to the American Red Cross relief efforts for Haiti. You can text to that number as many times as you choose, depending on the amount you want to donate. Your donation will appear on your next cell phone bill.

100% of your donation is passed straight to the ARC's Haiti relief fund... your wireless provider keeps nothing.

Texting your donation happens quickly and efficiently - which are two of the key reasons texting is a must!

CNN Interview with Ninette Sosa

I had a great time taping an interview with CNN's Ninette Sosa, who was interested in hearing more about Read Between the Lines and how popular texting has become over the last 2 years.




Ninette was full of energy and really easy to talk to, which made answering her questions about texting that much more simple for me.



She asked questions about specific chapters inside of RBTL like "Why do you describe a text as a post-it note on steroids?" and regarding teens and parenting, "What rules need to be laid out as a parent when it comes to teens and their texting habits?".

Of course, it was hard for either of us to ignore the question "What type of messages should you avoid sending by text?", especially with the recent Tiger Woods "text fiasco" that anyone who doesn't live in a cave has heard about.


My recommendation to Ninette was "Don't text anything you wouldn't want your mom to read".






Not only did I enjoy my interview... I was also pretty thrilled to hear that CNN was running it worldwide, and several times a day, where CNN Radio segments air.

Live Strong & Live Long

Did you know that the #1 new years resolution for 2010 is to lose weight? Of course you did!

According to www.nationmaster.com the United States ranks number one in obesity, with 30.6% of Americans carrying around more LB's than we should. Here's how the top 10 most obese (those with a Body Mass Index greater than 30%) countries break down:

Rank	Countries	Amount
# 1	United States:	30.6%
# 2	Mexico:	24.2%
# 3	United Kingdom:	23%
# 4	Slovakia:	22.4%
# 5	Greece:	21.9%
# 6	Australia:	21.7%
# 7	New Zealand:	20.9%
# 8	Hungary:	18.8%
# 9	Luxembourg:	18.4%
# 10	Czech Republic:	14.8%

Take a close look at these numbers and Read Between the Lines. A large percentage of Americans make the wrong choices when it comes to eating and drinking. With healthcare going to a National platform soon, it's time for us to take control and be pro-active when it comes to our own health.

It's not often I promote websites, but this one's well worth it.

If you're looking for a great and super simple website that allows you to set your calorie goals, keep track of your daily calorie intake AND log your exercise all in one place, and at no cost - I've got the perfect solution for you.

Go to www.livestrong.com and on the top of the home page, select "Daily Plate". From there, you'll set up your profile with your target weight goal and your daily calorie goal in just minutes.

Then, every day (I usually log my intake and output once after lunch and once before bed) you'll go in and add ALL of your calories and exercise. The great thing about this website is that I haven't had to add any specific foods myself, because they already exist in their data base.

My Starbucks Skinny Hazelnut Latte was there, and so was the Malto-Meal I had for breakfast. All you do is search for the item you ate or drank, and lots of options will instantly pop up for you to select from.

Here's a look at "My Daily Plate" for my breakfast and my lunch today:

Food Item	Servings	Cals	Fat	Cholest	Sodium	Carbs	Sugars	Fiber	Protein
Malto-meal	1.00	130	1g	0mg	0mg	23g	0g	1g	5g	x
Skinny Latte	1.00	120	0g	5mg	170mg	18g	16g	0g	12g	x
English Muffin - whole Wheat	1.00	130	2g	0mg	0mg	26g	0g	0g	6g	x
Skippy Peanut Butter	0.50	95	8g	0mg	75mg	4g	2g	1g	4g	x

Check it out for yourself, because there's way too many tools for me to mention here.

Take a look at some of the healthiest countries, that us American's need to strive towards:

# 24	Austria:	9.1%
# 25	Italy:	8.5%
# 26	Norway:	8.3%
# 27	Switzerland:	7.7%
= 28	Japan:	3.2%
= 28	Korea, South:	3.2%

Let's all decide to live strong and longer by taking control of what we're putting into our bodies! After all, our bodies are our own personal temples that deserve the utmost respect.

Let me know if you find Livestrong and My Daily Plate helpful.