The Diamond Jones Dispatch

Recession, What Recession?

Diamond jones — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:18:23 GMT

it is amazing to me how the president and congress can come up with $700 billion to help "fix the economic crisis" and bailout these major banks, but it cannot help the poor, needy, homeless, and hungry.

it is amazing how all of a sudden this "emergency money" appears and how a "bailout plan" is necessary and essential when the woes of wall street and "rich people's money" are ever-so-present....

people running hogwild scared. get a grip.

didnt see people running nowhere near this scared when hurricaine Katrina came down. didnt see no one near as concerned with other global tragedies. think about it. to name few major things that have gone unnoticed: our gulf coast is still not rebuilt (being unprepared for Ike was evidence of that), we have veterans who do not have a place to live or adequate healthcare, and there are millions of people who cannot get an education because they cannot afford it. i didnt see a $700 billion bailout plan for any of these things.

oh and lets not forget, this "bailout" is going to cost each American $2,300!!! (according to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke)

what a hoax, what a joke.

give me a break.

Five tips to make your social networking photo stand out

Diamond jones — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:05:03 GMT

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. But it is up to you to decide what you want that lasting impression to be. So that is where we will begin...

What exactly is it that you are trying to convey? How do you want to be perceived? What does your photo say about you? Who is your audience? What is your ultimate objective? Start here, hone in on that, and tailor your photo based on these answers.

Secondly, once you have established your objective, be creative! Give it some thought... Brainstorm some ideas, and don't be afraid to step out of the norm. That is what will capture your target audience. Use different subjects, or wear funky jewelry. Remember, however you are feeling, you will project that to your audience. Don't be vulgar or offensive. Be mindful of your tone.

Third, make sure the lighting is right. And that you are the distance that you want to be from the camera. Don't be too close, and don't be too far. Use a flash, wear makeup (if appropriate), get a manicure and a haircut. Be well-groomed and polish yourself up. Either way, no matter what image you are trying to project, you have to put forth some effort in projecting it. Eliminate the noise in the photo, and don't have a whole bunch of distractions. You don't want to confuse, and ultimately alienate, your audience. Don't crop half your face off. Put your best face, or toe, or whatever your subject is, forward.

Fourth, add a border or some kind of visual effect, like text or black-and-white (b&w). Experiment with the extras that are found in several photo-editing software packages. Have fun! Be honest, and infuse a bit of your personal self. Let your personality shine through. Give a little, or give a lot, it's your choice. If you are not using professional proofs (like from a photo shoot), consider using a digital camera. Or, if you do not have access to a digital camera, and you have to get the film developed, consider having your prints transferred to a CD, so that they are digitized. You will find that the resolution is so much more crisp, and the photo will be easier to enhance and modify (and much less time-consuming than using a scanner!).

And fifth, use a photo retouching service, even if you don't think you need to. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Sometimes we don't see our flaws, not necessarily because we are vain, but maybe we think it is something "small," or maybe we think "it's no big deal," because we are so used to seeing ourselves everyday. But we do not always know what the competition is, and we do not always know what perspective our audience is coming from. Or, it could be something in the actual picture itself that needs to be removed or beautified, unbeknownst to us. That one minor thing could make or break you. So why not err on the side of flawless? Have your photo enhanced aesthetically by a professional. It pays to get an honest second opinion, and to have another set of eyes looking at your masterpiece objectively and unbiased. Plus, it shows that you took the time to give the best "you" possible.

Bottom line, your presentation speaks volumes. Make it loud and clear.

Diamondism #313

Diamond jones — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 05:46:06 GMT

Beauty tip:

Put your favorite body spray, like the ones from Bath and Body Works, Victoria's Secret, etc., in your iron as linen water, and iron your clothes with it. It will leave your clothes infused with an invigorating scent all day, and people will be wondering "what is that that smells sooo good!" Mmmm, enjoy! I guarantee, if you don't like to iron, this will change your opinion!

Obama finally gets endorsement from Clinton

Diamond jones — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 05:34:02 GMT

Hillary Clinton ended her presidential bid and endorsed Barack Obama on Saturday, urging her supporters to unite behind his candidacy and help recapture the White House for Democrats in November.

In the first step toward healing the wounds of a sometimes bitter five-month Democratic nominating battle, Clinton told a cheering crowd at her final rally that she would work hard to put Obama in the White House.

She urged her supporters to unite behind the Illinois senator in his general election race against Republican John McCain.

"I will work my heart out to make sure that Senator Obama is our next president," Clinton told a crowd of about 2,000 at the National Building Museum in Washington. "I ask all of you to join me in working as hard for Barack Obama as you have for me."

With her husband, former President Bill Clinton, and her daughter, Chelsea, standing to the side of the stage, Clinton said she and Obama shared the same values and goals.

"I endorse him and I throw my full support behind him," she said. "We will make history together."

Clinton, a New York senator and former first lady, was once the heavy favorite to become the first female U.S. president. She had resisted calls to pull out of the race for months as the split between their supporters grew wider.

Her mention of Obama's name drew "boos" from some in the crowd, but she said it was time to put aside their differences and concentrate on winning in November.

"This has been a tough fight, but the Democratic Party is a family, and now it's time to restore the ties that bind us together and to come together," she said.

Obama did not appear at the rally, giving Clinton the spotlight for the day. Clinton won more than 17 million votes during the Democratic nominating battle, and Obama has tried to build bridges to her camp ahead of the November campaign.

He watched the speech on a computer over the Internet and tried to call Clinton afterward, an Obama aide said, but did not reach her because she was "understandably" tied up talking to supporters.

Obama said in a statement he was "thrilled and honored" to have Clinton's support and praised her campaign for shattering barriers for women and inspiring Democratic voters.

'A BETTER CANDIDATE'

"Our party and our country are stronger because of the work she has done throughout her life, and I'm a better candidate for having had the privilege of competing with her," Obama said.

The Obama campaign put a link on the front page of its Web site allowing his supporters to e-mail her and thank her.

Clinton's decision to suspend her campaign rather than formally disband it means she retains some control of her delegates and can still work to repay more than $20 million in campaign debt, including more than $11 million she lent the campaign from her own pocket.

She was generous in her praise for her former rival, who will be the first black presidential nominee of a major U.S. political party.

"I've had a front-row seat to his candidacy and I have seen his strength and determination, his grace and his grit," Clinton said.

"When I started this race, I intended to win back the White House and make sure we have a president who puts our country back on the path to peace, prosperity and progress," she said.

"And that's exactly what we are going to do by ensuring that Barack Obama walks through the doors of the Oval Office on January 20, 2009."

The appearance in Washington came two days after she and Obama met privately, and followed weeks of speculation about the likelihood she will become Obama's running mate.

Clinton made no mention of that possibility during her speech. She has said she is open to the idea, a prospect that excites many supporters, but is viewed with skepticism in Obama's camp.

Some of her supporters have tried to pressure Obama into picking her, but her campaign issued a statement on Thursday saying she was not seeking the vice presidential slot.

Clinton entered the race in January 2007 as the clear front-runner and was viewed as the almost certain winner for most of the year, but stumbled to a third-place finish behind Obama in the first contest in January in Iowa.

She bounced back five days later to win in New Hampshire, but never recovered from Obama's string of 10 consecutive victories in February.

Clinton volunteer Mary Ellen Courtney, 60, of New York City, attended the rally and said she eventually would be able to support Obama.

"Give me two hours," she joked. "It'll take a few days. I've got to decompress."

Written by John Whitesides and Ellen Wulfhorst

(Editing by Patricia Wilson and Peter Cooney)

(To read more about the U.S. political campaign, visit Reuters "Tales from the Trail: 2008" online at blogs.reuters.com/trail08/)