The 2016 Oscars ♦ ♦ ♦ Who do you think will be the winners? Here are my picks.

Excerpts fromChris Rock's opening Monologue hosting the 77th (2005) Oscar Academy Awards.

"...So ...Great night tonight. We have 4 black nominees...Kinda like the deaf Oscar jam tonight ... You know why I love the Oscars. Cause the Oscars are the only awards show where the people nominated don't really perform...There's no acting at the Oscars ...The only acting you see at the Oscars are when people act like they're not mad when they lost...Like I remember one year when Halle Berry won the Oscar Nicole Kidman was smiling so wide she shoulda' won an Emmy at the Oscars for her great performance ...See at least they make white movies for people to enjoy ... real movies with plots ...with actors not rappers ... with real names like "Catch Me If You Can," "Saving Private Ryan," ... black people movies don't have real names ... you get names like "Barbershop," that's not a name that's just a location ... "Barbershop," "Cookout," "CarWash," ... they've been making the same movies for 40 years. That's right you know laundromat is coming soon. And after that check-cashing place." ~~ Chris Rock (Christopher Julius "Chris" Rock III) actor, comedian, voice artist, director, writer, and producer, excerpts from him while hosting the 2005 Oscar Awards (77th).

“It will be a night that ends with a lot of drunk, disappointed people.” ~~ Chris Rock, Actor, comedian, on hosting Oscar 2016 (Image left is screen shot of Oscar.com homepage)

The 88th Academy Award (Oscar) nominations were announced live on January 14th by Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs, Guillermo del Toro, John Krasinski and Ang LeeCheryl .

Two films that have the most nominations are “Revenant” (12 nominations) and “Mad Max: Fury Road” (10 nominations). This year, entertainment’s most valued entertainer, Chris Rock, will host again. Rock hosted the 77th Oscar awards eleven years ago (2005). According to a recent CNN post, "Chris Rock is truly the MVP of the entertainment industry," Academy Awards producers David Hill and Reginald Hudlin said in a statement.

WHO DO YOU THINK THE WINNERS WILL BE? CAST YOUR VOTE ON OSCAR CHALLENGE.

All of the movies this year were spectacular and they are all winners. Here's a summary of films with multi-nominations (by movie) and I've also included my guesstimate as to how many Oscars each film will win:
♦ “The Revenant” Arnon Milchan, Steve Golin, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Mary Parent, Keith Redmon, Producers – (12 nominations, should win at least 7 possibly more, I actually have Revenant for winning 8 of 12 Oscar nominations)
♦ “Mad Max: Fury Road” Doug Mitchell and George Miller, Producers – (10 nominations, should win at least 4)
♦ “The Martian” Simon Kinberg, Ridley Scott, Michael Schaefer and Mark Huffam, Producers – (7 nominations, should win at least 2)
♦ “Bridge of Spies” Steven Spielberg, Marc Platt and Kristie Macosko Krieger, Producers – (6 nominations, should win at least 1)
♦ “Carol” Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley, Christine Vachon, Producers – (6 nominations, should win at least 1)
♦ “Spotlight” Michael Sugar, Steve Golin, Nicole Rocklin and Blye Pagon Faust, Producers – (6 nominations, should win at least 2)
♦ “The Big Short” Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, Producers – (5 nominations, should win at least 2)
♦ “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” Kathleen Kennedy, J. J. Abrams, Bryan Burk, Producers – (5 nominations, should win at least 1)
♦ “The Danish Girl” Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Anne Harrison, Tom Hooper, Producers: Liza Chasin, Ulf Israel Executive Producers – ( 4 nominations, should win at least 1)
“Room” Ed Guiney, David Gross, Producers – (4 nominations, should win at least 1)
♦ “Brooklyn” Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey, Producers – (3 nominations, should win at least 1)
♦ “The Hateful Eight” Richard N. Gladstein, Shannon McIntosh, Stacey Sher, Producers – (3 nominations, should win at least 1)
♦ “Sicario” Basil Iwanyk, Thad Luckinbill, Trent Luckinbill, Edward McDonnell, Molly Smith, Producers – (3 nominations, should win at least 1)
♦ “Ex Machina” Andrew Macdonald, Allon Reich Producers – (2 nominations, should win at least 1)
♦ “Inside Out” Jonas Rivera, Producer– (2 nominations, should win at least 1)
♦ “Steve Jobs” Danny Boyle, Guymon Casady, Christian Colson. Mark Gordon, Scott Rudin, Producers – (2 nominations, estimated wins 0)

The 88th Oscars will be broadcast live from Hollywood's Dolby Theatre on Sunday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. EST on ABC, and will be televised in more than 225 countries. Host Chris Rock, joked by referring to this year awards as "white BET Awards."

Like last year, there are 8 nominees for best picture (2015 also had 8, 2014 and 2013 had 9 nominees for best picture). There are quite a few disappointments this year but the most media-worthy is that there are no black anything nominations.

The Oscars are voted on by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. More information on the voting process is available at the Academy's website.

More Oscar nomination coverage is at the Official 88th Annual Academy Awards -- Oscar.com and visit the “Oscar Nominee” section of the Website. My picks are in the category headers below. Oscar.com is also interactive and has a "My Picks" section at http://oscar.go.com/mypicks. I've also included links to more information about the film and noted if any nominees have had previous Oscar nominations/wins in the listings below:

Best Picture: (My pick either "The Revenant" or "Spotlight") I've selected "Spotlight" first as my pick on Oscar.com site however since "The Revenant" won three Golden Globes, including best picture, I'm changing this to "The Revenant" as my pick to win. WINNER:"TBA"
♦ “The Big Short” Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, Producers
♦ "The Revenant" Arnon Milchan, Steve Golin, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Mary Parent and Keith Redmon, Producers
♦ “Bridge of Spies” Steven Spielberg, Marc Platt and Kristie Macosko Krieger, Producers
♦ “Brooklyn” Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey, Producers
♦“Mad Max: Fury Road” Doug Mitchell and George Miller, Simon Kinberg, Producers
♦“The Martian” Ridley Scott, Michael Schaefer, and Mark Huffam, Producers
♦ “Room” Ed Guiney, Producers
♦“Spotlight” Michael Sugar, Steve Golin, Nicole Rocklin and Blye Pagon Faust, Producers

Best Actor in a Leading Role: (My pick: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant) As usual, DiCaprio had the most difficult part of all the nominees and this may be the winning factor this year. WINNER TO BE ANNOUNCED HERE. WINNER:"TBD"
♦ Bryan Cranston, "Trumbo"
♦ Matt Damon, "The Martian" Fourth Academy Award nomination including this one; One win for Best Original Scrreenplay for “Good Will Hunting” shared with Ben Affleck (1997); Best Actor nomination, “Good Will Hunting,” (1997), Best Supporting Actor nomination for “Invictur” (2009)
♦ Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Revenant" Sixth Academy Award nomination including this one; Best Supporting Actor nomination “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” (1993); Best Actor nominations “The Aviator” (2005); “Blood Diamond” (2007), and “The Wolf of Wall Street” (2014); Best Picture as producer nomination “The wolf of Wall Street” (2014)
♦ Michael Fassbender, "Steve Jobs” Two nominations including this one; Best Supporting Actor nomination for “12 Years a Slave ( 2013)
♦ Eddie Redmayne, "The Danish Girl" Two Oscar nominations including this one; Best Actor win “The Theory of Everything” (2014)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: This one was hard ~~ for me it’s a toss up between Mark Ruffalo and Sylvester Stallone.(My Pick: Sylvester Stallone, Creed) WINNER: TBA
♦ Christian Bale "The Big Short" Third Academy Award nomination, with one win for Best Actor “The Fighter,” 2010, Best Actor nomination for “American Hustle,”2013
♦ Tom Hardy, "The Revenant" First Academy Award nomination
♦ Mark Ruffalo, "Spotlight" Third Academy Award nomination; Previously Best Supporting Actor nominations for "Foxcatcher" 2015 and" THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT” 2010
♦ Mark Rylance, "Bridge of Spies"2016 First Academy Award nomination
♦ Sylvester Stallone, "Creed" 2016 Three nominations including this one “Rocky” 1977 for Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay

Best Actress in a Leading Role: They were all awesome. (My pick: Brie Larson, Room) Unless the Oscar voters are hell bent on giving another Oscar to Jennifer Lawrence or Kate Blanchett. WINNER: TBA
♦ Kate Blanchett, "Carol" Seven Academy Award nominations including this one; Winner of two Academy Awards -- Best Actress in a Leading Role “Blue Jasmine” (2013) and Best Supporting Actress “The Aviator” (2004); Best Actress nominations “Elizabeth” (1998), “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” (2007); Best Supporting Actress nominations“Notes on a Scandal (2006), “I’m Not There” 2007)
♦ Brie Larson, "Room" First Academy Award nomination
♦ Jennifer Lawrence, "Joy" Fourth Academy Award nomination including this one; Best Actress winner “Silver Linings Playbook” (2013), Best Actress nominations “American Hustle” (2014) “Winter’s Bone” (2011)
♦ Charlotte Rampling, "45 Years" First Academy Award nomination
♦ Saoirse Ronan, "Brooklyn" First Academy Award nomination

Best Actress in a Supporting Role: I originally thought Rooney Mara or Kate Winslet. However since Vikander won SAG Awards I changed my pick.(My pick: Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl. WINNER: TBA
♦ Jennifer Jason Leigh, "The Hateful Eight" First Academy Award nomination
♦ Rooney Mara, "Carol" Second Academy Award nomination; Previously nominated for Best Actress “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
♦ Rachel McAdams, "Spotlight" First Academy Award nomination
♦ Alicia Vikander, "The Danish Girl” First Academy Award nomination
♦ Kate Winslet, "Steve Jobs" Seven Academy Award nominations including this one; Academy Award winner for Best Actress “The Reader (2009); Best Actress nominations for “Titanic” (1998), “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2005), “Little Children” (2007); Best Supporting Actress nominations “Sense and Sensibility (1996), “Iris” (2002)

Best Animated Feature Film: (My pick : Inside Out – Pete Docter and Jonas Rivera. WINNER:"TBA"
♦ "Anomalisa" – Charlie Kaufman, Duke Johnson and Rosa Tran
♦ "Boy and the World" – Ale Abreu
♦ "Inside Out" – Pete Docter and Jonas Rivera
♦ "Shaun the Sheep Movie" – Mark Burton and Richard Starzak
♦ "When Marnie Was There" – Hiromasa Yonebayashi and Yoshiaki Nishimura

Best Cinematography: (My pick: The Revenant – Emmanuel Lubezki) WINNER:"TBD"
♦ "Carol" – Edward Lachman
♦ "The Hateful Eight" – Robert Richardson
♦ "Mad Max: Fury Road" – John Seale
♦ "The Revenant" – Emmanuel Lubezki
♦ "Sicario" – Roger Deakins

Best Costume Design: (My pick: Cinderella – Sandy Powell) WINNER: "TBA"
♦ "Carol" – Sandy Powell
♦ "Cinderella" – Sandy Powell
♦ "The Danish Girl" – Paco Delgado
♦ "Mad Max: Fury Road" – Jenny Beavan
♦ "The Revenant" – Jacqueline West)

Best Directing: Wow this is tough as they were are all spectacular. Toss up between Alejandro G. Iñárritu "The Revenant" and George Miller "Mad Max: Fury Road" – (My pick: Alejandro G. Iñárritu – The Revenant ) WINNER: "TBA"
♦ Adam McKay – "The Big Short”
♦ George Miller – "Mad Max: Fury Road"
♦ Alejandro G. Iñárritu – "The Revenant"
♦ Lenny Abrahamson – "Room"
♦ Tom McCarthy – "Spotlight" –

Best Documentary Feature: (My pick: "Amy" – Asif Kapadia and James Gay-Rees) WINNER:"TBA"
♦ "Amy" – Asif Kapadia and James Gay-Rees
♦ "Cartel Land" – Matthew Heineman and Tom Yellin
♦ "The Look of Silence" – Joshua Oppenheimer and Signe Byrge Sørensen
♦ "What Happened, Miss Simone?" –
♦ "Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom" –

Best Documentary Short Subject: (My pick: "Body Team 12" – David Darg and Bryn Mooser) WINNER:"TBA"
♦ "Body Team 12" – David Darg and Bryn Mooser
♦ "Chau, beyond the Lines" – Courtney Marsh and Jerry Franck
♦ "Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah" – Adam Benzine
♦ "A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness – Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
♦ "Last Day of Freedom" – Dee Hibbert-Jones and Nomi Talisman

Best Film Editing: (My pick: “The Revenant” (Stephen Mirrione) WINNER:"TBA"
♦ "The Big Short" – Hank Corwin
♦ "Mad Max: Fury Road" – Margaret Sixel
♦ "The Revenant" – Stephen Mirrione
♦ "Spotlight" – Tom McArdle
♦ "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" – Maryann Brandon, Mary Jo Markey

Best Foreign Language Film: (My pick: "Son of Saul" – Hungary; László Nemes) WINNER:"TBA"
♦ "Embrace of the Serpent" – Colombia; Ciro Guerra
♦ "Mustang" – France; Deniz Gamze Ergüven
♦ "Son of Saul" – Hungary; László Nemes
♦ "Theeh" – Jordan; Naji Abu Nowar
♦ "A War" – Denmark; Tobias Lindholm

Best Makeup and Hairstyling: (My Pick: "Mad Max: Fury Road" – Lesley Vanderwalt, Damian Martin, Elka Wardega) WINNER:"TBA"
♦ "Mad Max: Fury Road" – Lesley Vanderwalt, Damian Martin, Elka Wardega
♦ "The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared" – Love Larson and Eva von Bahr
♦ "The Revenant" – Siân Grigg, Duncan Jarman and Robert Pandini

Best Music (Original Score) (My pick: "The Hateful Eight” – Ennio Morricone) WINNER:"TBA"
♦ “Bridge of Spies” – Thomas Newman
♦ "Carol” – Carter Burwell
♦ "The Hateful Eight” – Ennio Morricone
♦ "Sicario” – Jóhann Jóhannsson
♦ "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" – John Williams

Best Music (Original Song): (My pick: "Til It Happens To You," - The Hunting Ground) WINNER:"TBD"
♦ “Earned It,” Fifty Shades of Grey
♦ "Manta Ray," Racing Extinction
♦ "Simple Song #3," - Youth
♦ "Til It Happens To You," - The Hunting Ground
♦ "Writing’s On The Wall" - Spectre

Best Production Design: (My pick: "The Revenant” – Jack Fisk; Hamish Purdy) WINNER:"TBA"
♦ "Bridge of Spies” – Adam Stockhausen; Rena DeAngelo, Bernhard Henrich
♦ "The Danish Girl" – Eve Stewart; Michael Standish
♦ "Mad Max: Fury Road" – Colin Gibson; Katie Sharrock, Lisa Thompson
♦ "The Martian” – Arthur Max; Celia Bobak, Zoltan Horvath
♦ "The Revenant” – Jack Fisk; Hamish Purdy

Best Short Film (Animated): (My pick : "Sanjay’s Super Team” – Sanjay Patel and Nicole Drindle) WINNER:"TBA"
♦ "Bear Story” – (Historia de un Oso)” Gabriel Osorio and Pato Escala
♦ "Prologue” – Richard Williams and Imogen Sutton
♦ "Sanjay’s Super Team” – Sanjay Patel and Nicole Drindle
♦ "We Can’t Live without Cosmos” – Konstantin Bronzit
♦ "World of Tomorrow” – Don Hertzfeldt

Best Short Film (Live Action): Difficult pick between Shok and Ave Maria. (My pick: “Ave Maria” – Basil Khalil and Eric Dupont) WINNER:"TBA"
♦ “Ave Maria” – Basil Khalil and Eric Dupont
♦ “Day One” – Henry Hughes
♦ “Everything Will Be Okay (Alles Wird Gut”) – Patrick Vollrath
♦ “Shok” – Jamie Donoughue
♦ “Stutterer” – Benjamin Cleary and Serena Armitage

Best Sound Editing: (My pick: “The Revenant” – Martin Hernandez and Lon Bender) WINNER:"TBA"
♦ “Mad Max: Fury Road” – Mark Mangini and David White
♦ “The Martian” – Oliver Tarney
♦ “The Revenant” – Martin Hernandez and Lon Bender
♦ “Sicario” – Alan Robert Murray
♦ “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” – Matthew Wood and David Accord

Best Sound Mixing: Toss up between Revenant and Mad Max. (My pick: “Mad Max: Fury Road” – Chris Jenkins, Gregg Rudloff and Ben Osmo) WINNER:"TBA"
♦ “Bridge of Spies” – Andy Nelson, Gary Rydstrom and Drew Kunin
♦ “Mad Max: Fury Road” – Chris Jenkins, Gregg Rudloff and Ben Osmo
♦ “The Martian” – Paul Massey, Mark Taylor and Mac Ruth
♦ “The Revenant” – Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montaño, Randy Thom and Chris Duesterdiek
♦ “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” – Andy Nelson, Christopher Scarabosio and Stuart Wilson

Best Visual Effects: First picked Mad Max but changed to Revenant. (My pick: “The Revenant” – Rich McBride, Matthew Shumway, Jason Smith and Cameron Waldbauer) WINNER:"TBA"
♦ “Ex Machine” – Andrew Whitehurst, Paul Norris, Mark Ardington and Sara Bennett
♦ “Mad Max: Fury Road” – Andrew Jackson, Tom Wood, Dan Oliver and Andy Williams
♦ “The Martian” – Richard Stammers, Anders Langlands, Chris Lawrence and Steven Warner
♦ “The Revenant” – Rich McBride, Matthew Shumway, Jason Smith and Cameron Waldbauer
♦ “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” – Roger Guyett, Patrick Tubach, Neal Scanlan and Chris Corbould

Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay): (My pick: “The Big Short” – Adam McKay, Charles Randolph) WINNER:"TBA"
♦ “The Big Short” – Adam McKay, Charles Randolph
♦ “Brooklyn” – Nick Hornby
♦ “Carol” – Phyllis Nagy
♦ “The Martian” – Drew Goddard
♦ “Room” – Emma Donoghue

Best Writing (Original Screenplay): (My pick: “Spotlight” – Tom McCarthy, Josh Singer) WINNER:"TBA"
♦ “Bridge of Spies” – Matthew Charman, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
♦ “Ex Machina” – Alex Garland
♦ “Inside Out” – Josh Cooley, Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve
♦ “Spotlight” – Tom McCarthy, Josh Singer
♦ “Straight Outta Compton” – Andrea Berloff, Jonathan Herman, S. Leigh Savidge, Alan Wenkus

My previous scores have been 85% right on Oscar.com. Wonder what my score will be this time. Whatever my score this year, I'll share it on Facebook and this blog.

Any photos are courtesy of Wikimedia unless otherwise noted. All other photos will be credited as required.


Additional Oscar resources:
♦2016 Oscar predictions: Variety
♦ 2016 Oscar nominations, Oscar.com
♦ 88th Academy Awards - We all dream in gold, Wikipedia.org
♦ Oscar Nominations: 'The Revenant' & 'Mad Max' Lead Way; Leo Is In, Ridley Scott Is Not, Deadline AwardsLine
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Oscar 2015 resources:
♦ 2015 Oscar nominations: Complete list; ‘Selma’ snubbed; ‘Birdman’ and ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ lead with nine http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2015/01/15/2015-oscar-nominations-complete-coverage/
♦ Oscars 2015: 'Boyhood,' 'Birdman' Score Big Nominations http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/oscars-2015-boyhood-birdman-score-big-nominations-20150115
♦ Oscars 2015: Nominations preview and predictions http://www.cbsnews.com/news/oscar-2015-nomination-predictions-who-will-be-in-the-running/
♦ Oscars 2015: 'Birdman,' 'Budapest' top nominations http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/chi-oscars-nominations-20150115-story.html
♦ Academy Awards nominations 2015: our predictions http://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2015/jan/15/oscar-nominations-2015-our-predictions
Oscar 2014 resources:
♦ 2014 Oscar nominations: ‘Gravity,’ and ‘Hustle’ lead with 10 nominations including best picture, Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/moviesnow/la-et-mn-oscar-nominations-2014-main,0,500124.story#axzz2qZqycltO
♦ Oscar.com 2014 nominations, http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/86/nomineesByPicture.html
♦ Who’s gonna get picked ? Predicting the 2014 Oscar nominations http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/15/showbiz/movies/2014-oscar-predictions-nominations/
♦ Meet the 2014 Oscar Nominees, RottenTomatoes http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/15/showbiz/movies/2014-oscar-predictions-nominations/

Please visit this blog frequently and share this with your social media. Thanks. Nominations are at Oscar.com page at http://oscar.go.com/news/nominations/oscar-nominations-2016-the-complete-list-of-nominees

Blizzard - from A to Izzard - written 10 years ago

Just had to share this poem "Blizzard - from A to Izzard" - written 10 years ago. Enjoy!

#blizzard #blizzard2016 #snow #storm #snowStorm #poetry #poem #write #words #photo

Holy schmoley ... check out this longer video of our first blizzard 2016 January 23 at 3:00 pm

Amazing to see the wind blowing in multi directions during our first blizzard ( #blizzard2016 ) of the season on Saturday, January 23rd at about 3:00 pm. Check out this video. Wind pinwheel shifts pointing east and then back pointing west again. Spectacular. All weathermen must be kids at heart. I certainly feel like a kid again after being outside today and catching the winds of the eye of the storm here up in Yonkers, New York. The weather has that effect on me. Amazing I missed the directional shift rotation with my eyes but the video still captured it see video point beginning at 4:56 minutes to 5:00 minutes the pinwheel rotates another 180 degrees back to poining westward ‪#‎blizzard2016‬ ‪#‎weather‬ ‪#‎meteorologist‬ ‪#‎YonkersNewYork‬ hope the weather makes you feel like a kid too smile emoticon enjoy !

Happy 30th Martin Luther King Jr. Day America! ♦ ♦ ♦ Google celebrates with lovely doodle

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
~~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
American clergyman, activist, and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement
Image below, screen capture of Google doodle to celebrate MLK Jr. Day's 30th. Happy MLK Jr. Day America! There are so many activities and volunteers throughout the U.S.A. are embracing the spirit by giving their time to all sorts of activities. Google is also celebrating Martin Luther King Day with an artistic Google Doodle. Also, happy belated birthday to First Lady, Michelle Obama who turned 52 Saturday, January 17th.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American clergyman, activist, and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience. King has become a national icon in the history of American progressivism.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is observed on the third Monday of January each year, around the time of Dr. King's birthday on January 15th. It is a federal holiday and all public schools, post offices, and government buildings will be closed. MLK Jr. Day was first officially observed nationwide in 1986.

There are many things to do to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. day. Below are some interesting things to read and also helpful resources to celebrate MLK day in NYC and the Tristate area:

♦ How to celebrate MLK , Family Education
♦ The Dos and Donts of Celebrating MLK Day, tolerance.org
♦ Martin Luther King Jr. "I have a dream" speech http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm
♦ Martin Luther King Day with NYC Kids: Celebrations & Volunteer Opportunities for Families http://mommypoppins.com/newyorkcitykids/things-to-do-on-martin-luther-king-jr-day-with-kids-in-new-york-city
♦ Martin Luther King Day events: How to mark MLK’s legacy - Make the most of your time off. Mark the civil-rights leader's achievements at performances, programming and Martin Luther King Day celebrations in New York. http://www.timeout.com/newyork/martin-luther-king-day
♦ Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service - A Day On, Not a Day Off, NationalService.gov http://www.nationalservice.gov/special-initiatives/days-service/martin-luther-king-jr-day-service
♦ 19 Kid-Friendly Martin Luther King Day Celebrations http://www.newyorkfamily.com/nyc-mlk-day-things-to-do-kids-children-family-celebrations-activities/
♦ Martin Luther King Jr. Day Events - Here are nine ways to honor Dr. King's legacy this holiday weekend. http://nymag.com/nightlife/barbuzz/78862/
♦ Martin Luther King Day of Service, http://www.volunteer-center.org/mlk
♦ Martin Luther King, Jr. in New York , About.com http://manhattan.about.com/od/famousnewyorkers/a/mlknewyork.htm
♦ Martin Luther King Day events: How to mark MLK’s legacy Time Out New York http://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/martin-luther-king-day-events-how-to-mark-mlks-legacy


Please visit this blog frequently and share this with your social media. Thanks.

All photos courtesy of Wikimedia and screen shots taken from video and websites. All other photos will be credited as required.

What's your New Year reSEOlution? Top pick reSEOlutions tips for 2016; 'Evergreen marketing insighter' ▲▲▲by Gloria Buono-Daly

“The success of a page should be measured by one criteria: Does the visitor do what you want them to do?”
~~Aaron Wall – SEObook.com

You’ve tried several years before but this time, come January 1, your New Year reSEOlution © is to be more SEOrganized © , pay more attention to the detail, save on SEM spending and track those milestones once and for all. According to a recent report by WebStrategies, in 2016, the average firm will allocate 30% of their marketing budget to online, this rate is expected to grow to 35% by 2019 and search engine marketing (SEO & SEM) will capture the largest share of online spend with online display (banner ads, online video, etc.) taking the second largest share. Additionally, social media investments will continue to grow as an overall share of online spend, but will only represent about 15% of the total online spend while mobile marketing has grown to a point that it’s no longer tracked in the forecast and it’s presumed to be considered across all channels.

You’ve been ready since it became popular in 2007 but are so busy that you get off track and end up putting it back in the proverbial rainy-day pile for next quarter. Hundreds of rainy days later and you have no idea what your SEO program is let alone the basic concept of relevant keywording, linkbuilding and the latest, MOBILE tail end phrases.

There are probably hundreds to thousands of FREE SEO tips you can incorporate into your internet marketing program. Although previous years listed the top social as Facebook, LinkedIn, Google and Instagram a recent report by Inc.com indicates the top four as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. Yet, according to another reliable source eBiz MBA Guide | December 2014, the top 5 of their top 15 most popular social are Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Google -- which happen to be the 5 most popular social I use most ( Google it's mostly a combination of blogger, Youtube and Google+). Surprisingly Instagram came in at #7 behind Tumbler their 6th. More is at the eBiz MBA Guide site (see link below in the resources section.

A 2015 report by StronView titled "2015 Marketing Trends Survey" still holds true and reveals that of the total 377 business leaders who participated in the survey 54% (204 out of 377) indicated that their digital marketing budgets particularly email and social media marketing will increase and their traditional marketing budgets will continue to decrease; While 40% indicated their budgets will remain the same. A wealth of information including detail is included on StronView's recent Press Release regarding findings from their Annual Market Trends Survey 2015.

I’ve listed below key tips to help jump-start your 2016 New Year reSEOlution. Along the way, I’ve included a few helpful URLs that will provide you with many more SEO tips to choose from.

1. As always (since my first reSEOlution blog December 31, 2009), review your SEO stats for the past 3 years; This is crucial in order to effectively analyze and incorporate SEO strategies and plans. Make sure your existing marketing program is enhanced with MOBILE and REAL-TIME campaigns and consider the mindset logic that mobile is much different than laptop/desktop, phablet, etc. Create a spreadsheet of your SEO program and include timelines, milestones, language, personas, and other relevant items unique to your product/brand. Make sure you update and review this spreadsheet on a daily to weekly basis and adjust your SEO strategy accordingly; Don’t forget to include ALL CAMPAIGNS and leave plenty of space to add on to as you move down this list

2. Real-time networking will also remain a key element for brands to grow, and Twitter will continue to be critical to the success of a marketing plan. According to a recent Forbes post, Real-Time Marketing Analytics will converge Online and Offline Behavior for Richer Lead Scoring and Nurturing in 2016. Twitter is a key mix in helping marketers track their brand particularly in regards to product awareness, competitors and word of mouth. Also, according to Social Technology Review, since 2011, Twitter users are well educated ... "16%+ of their users hold advanced degrees and 30%+ hold 4-year degrees..." This means Twitterers live in higher income areas and have much higher purchasing power than the other social media.

In regards to branding stratgies, Social Technology Review also reported that Twitter users are +68% more likely to follow brands than the social media platform average (e.g.,Social Technology Review reported that 51% of Twitter users follow brands versus the 16% average from the social media spectrum). Also worth noting, Twitter users are more global than the other social networks, which optimizes international consumer potential at the lowest cost.

3. Mobile HAS WON and Worldwide Digital Marketing has replaced the traditional Digital Marketing arena. According to a recent eMarketer post, Mobile Ad Spend will Top $100 Billion Worldwide in 2016, and will reach a milestone of having more than half (at least 51%) being spent on all digital ad expenditures for the first time. eMarketer also predicts that between 2016 and 2019, the last year mobile ad spending will nearly double, hitting $195.55 billion to account for 70.1% of digital ad spend as well as over one-quarter of total media ad spending globally. Besides optimizing web sites for MOBILE webpages and rankings in SERP – user agents for search and bots should go to the same webpage version. Traffic is important but not if drops in conversion rates continue. Relevant messaging and mobile layouts need to be tailored to customers to create engagement and minimize the risk of higher bounce rates. It is also still important to create a map. Make sure web and mobile have consistent (vertically oriented) navigation especially since MOBILE devices have touchscreens. I’m amazed at how many web sites are not optimizing their site maps; Yes you’ve had a site map since the web site was first created but is it optimized to include relevant keyword descriptions, etc?

4. Incorporate keywords in your anchor text; this can take a very long time to determine and complete depending on how many links are on your web site. You may want to segment and delegate this to several on your team and schedule updates on a regular basis. Depending on your product or service, keywords may need to be revised regularly.

5. Create a schedule for frequency in updating meta tag descriptions regularly; Meta tag description is the snippet that is included with your organic search listing. The more creative and appealing your copy with relevant keywords that match your web site the better chances you have of being indexed more prominently. Review meta tag keywords and make sure a comma is after each keyword and that the max is no more than 250 characters (including spaces); This is a common error that is overlooked, however, this can make or break you organic positioning. Also, don't forget other platforms particular MOBILE. Make sure to incorporate end phrases in mobile campaigns.

6. MARKETING MEMES are integral to spreading word of mouth and increasing brand awareness. Make sure to incorporate hastags, at signs, etc. in every digital marketing platform particularly for Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, etc. Also for websites, review title tags and use 3 to 4 relevant keywords -- repeating them each at least 2X but no more than 3X; Characters should not exceed 150 (including spaces). For example, a jewelry site might have the following title: "AnnHarringtonJewelry.com, discount diamond rings, diamond jewelry, diamond engagement rings, antique jewelry, modern jewelry" – note the web site URL address is 1st, then followed by the use of keywords "diamond" used 3X, "rings" used 2X, and "jewelry" used 3X, all relevant to this web site; All following the SEO industry standard as mentioned in this section (see 1st sentence).

7. Maximize the social networks, e.g., Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. Equally important is to repeat your posts (e.g., Hoot Suite for repeating Tweets). For more ideas visit these resourceful sites that have plenty of suggestions - seobook.com, searchengineland.com and moz.org (formerly seomoz.org)

8. There is no room for "writer's block" when it comes to blogging. Good web content is more important now than ever before. Make sure to blog regularly and here is a great resource for helping new and experienced bloggers written by David Moth of econsultancy.com titled 14 places to look for blogging inspiration when writer's block strikes.

9. THE AGE OF COGNITIVE COMMERCE IS KEY FOR 2016: An article in Forbes reports that 2016 will be the "age of cognitive commerce" vs. "visual influence" from 2015. A much more deeper level of customer relevancy is required so as to enable marketers to identify patterns to engage consumers. According to many social media periodicals and leading marketers in New York City, Pinterest and Instatram still remain top platforms for lead generation and visual integration. No surprise here that YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and Vine will play more prominent roles in digital marketing strategies for brands and products especially as video production and posting videos become more mainstream. However, one of Forbes 2016 predictions is that wearable technology and the Internet of Things (IoT) will pave new ground. This is leading way for virtual and augmented reality including self-driving cars, Facebook's acquisition of Oculus, the Oculus Rift augmented-reality product soon to be launched along with Microsoft's HoloLens and next-generation Google Glass.

10. VIDEO CLOUD and THE AGE OF SOCIAL VIDEO AFICI0NADOS ARE HERE TO STAY: Are you a "social video aficionado?" If you're on FB you definitely are more "videofied" than previous years. Facebook's already doing it for you and the rest of the world for free, with "LookBack" and the latest out just in time for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and the New Year with "Your Year." A recent Forbes report titled The Top 7 Online Marketing Trends That Will Dominate 2016 indicates that videos will continue to dominate and apps will gradually replace optimized mobile sites. Although Facebook is winning with Social Videos -- "80 percent said they create videos to keep in touch with friends and family, 72 percent said they use videos as keepsakes ... " according to the Animoto research survey there is an even spread as to where video creators store their videos (who will the new dominant force be for personal video stoage?) -- i.e., 28% of consumers store their photos and videos on their PCs, 21% of consumers store their photos and videos on a USB or external hard drive, and 21% of consumers citing a cloud storage service as the primary place they store their photos and videos.

Brightcove continues to lead the way for powering the Next Generation of Online Video by incorporating HTML5 user interface. Platforms like Video Cloud are key and will enable marketers to expand audience reach, propagate their brand, and engage audiences across devices and platforms.

11. Submit your site to reputable search engines such as Google, Yahoo, DMOZ, Aviva, Business.com, etc.

Remember your "New Year reSEOlution program" is a WIP (work in progress) and the more regularly you review, update and add to your existing SEO program, the more impact your SEO will have to your bottom line.

Wishing you and yours a healthy and prosperous New Year!


Resources (latest trends listed on top)
Mark Zuckerberg Confirms Facebook Has Plans For Augmented Reality, UberGizmo
♦ The Top 7 Online Marketing Trends That Will Dominate 2016, Forbes
♦ MarketWatch 2016 predictions: The six tech trends that will rule, MarketWatch
♦ 15 Digital Marketing Trends for 2016 That Could Destroy Your Business, Jeff Bullas,
♦ My Best Posts of 2015|Scott Berkun, ScottBerkun.com
♦Digital Marketing Trends for 2015
♦ The Importance of Twitter to your Social Media Marketing Strategy
♦ Survey Says Facebook Is Winning Social Video, But A Bigger Trend Looms
♦ eBiz|MBA Guide Top 15 Most Popular Social Networking Sites | December 2014
♦ What Comes Next? 5 Social Media Trends for 2015
♦ Inc. How to Master the 4 Big Social-Media Platforms
♦ 10 Digital Marketing Trends for 2015
♦10 interesting digital marketing statistics we've seen this week http://econsultancy.com/blog/64047-10-interesting-digital-marketing-statistics-we-ve-seen-this-week-16
♦10 Simple tips for Effective Mobile SEO, Search Engine Land http://searchengineland.com/10-simple-tips-for-effective-mobile-seo-129100
♦The 3 Worst Ways to use Social Media, Social Media Today http://socialmediatoday.com/fixcourse/793301/3-worst-ways-use-social-media-grow-your-business-and-what-you-should-do-instead#comment-68121
♦5 SEO Tips To Get Mobile Apps Ranked In SERPs, Search Engine Land http://searchengineland.com/5-seo-tips-to-get-mobile-apps-ranked-in-serps-104595



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The terms reSEOlution © and SEOrganized © were coined by Gloria Buono-Daly in 2005.

What's your New Year reSEOlution? Top ten reSEOlutions for 2015 is part of the evergreen marketing insighter ▲▲▲ series by Gloria Buono-Daly

Photo above is snapshot of New Year 2015 decorations in New York City with "reSEOlutions" layered over. All photos courtesy of Wikimedia unless otherwise indicated.

This blog has been updated annually to include the latest trends and findings since the original publication on December 31, 2009 on the AllThingsDigitalMarketing "Evergreen Marketing Insighter" blog post.

Please visit this blog frequently and share this with your social media. Thanks.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Happy New Year America!

Click here to enjoy my Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year eCard and "Have a Merry Christmas, Hanukkah and Happy New Year America!"
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Twelve more days until Christmas: Merry Christmas America! Happy New Year too!

Wishing you a very "Charlie Brown Christmas," and The Gift of Silver Bells and Chocolate!

"...When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things -- not the great occasions -- give off the greatest glow of happiness..."
~~ Bob Hope
(May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003)English-born American comedian and actor on Broadway, in vaudeville, movies, television, and radio.

This year, Hanukkah began the evening of Sunday, December 6 and ends the evening of Monday, December 14.

Kwanzaa 2015 begins on Saturday, December 26 and ends on New Year's Day, Friday, January 1.

Like many households during Christmas season, in the center of our table you will find all sorts of desserts --cookies, cakes, Italian pastries, etc.

During the 12 days before Christmas and the 8 lights days of Hanukkah have fun decorating, baking and partying with family and friends.

During the 12 days before Christmas and the 8 lights days of Hanukkah have fun decorating, baking and partying with family and friends.

There are so many other traditions and cultural customs during this festive season. Week-long holiday, Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26th through January 1st and symbolizes "fruits of the harvest." Held in the United States since 1966, Kwanzaa honors African heritage in African American culture. Kwanza was created by Maulana Karenga in 1965 and has seven core principles (Nguzo Saba). Traditions include baskets full of fruit and gift-giving.

Every once in a while during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I would bring that favorite, rich treat to my family table -- dark, decadent chocolate mousse.

Every once in a while, I would bring that favorite, rich treat -- dark, decadent chocolate mousse.

What makes mousse so unique is the light and airy texture from air bubbles.

Depending on preparation and mix intensity mousse variations range from light and fluffy to creamy and thick and can be sweet, bitter or savory. The great thing about this dessert is the prep time is only six minutes and then all you need do is refrigerate it for an hour.

INGREDIENTS:
[Use numbers in parentheses for larger quantity servings
► 1 (4) teaspoon unflavored gelatin
► 1 (4) tablespoon cold water
► 2 (8) tablespoons boiling water
► 1/2 (4) cup sugar (can substitute with splenda, equal, etc.)
► 1/4 (1) cup cocoa (AT LEAST 60% cocoa concentration for best flavor)
► 1 (4) cup whipping cream (can substitute w yogurt but texture will change
► 1 (4) teaspoon vanilla extract
► chocolate curls

OPTIONAL:
► 2 tablespoons of instant espresso
► Be imaginative. Try something different and share it by commenting on this blog
► I've tried with the usual raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, but also tried cinnamon sticks, walnuts, cranberries, etc.
Step 1 : Gelatin mixture (3 min)
► In a small bowl sprinkle unflavored gelatin over the cold water; let stand 1 minute
►Add the boiling water, stirring, until gelatin is dissolved.


Step 2 : Mousse (3 min)
► In a separate bowl combine the sugar, cocoa, whipping cream, and vanilla; stir to blend
► Beat on medium speed of electric mixer, scraping the bottom of the bowl a few times, until the mixture is stiff
► Add the gelatin mixture and beat until well blended.

Step 3 : Spoon in dish and chill (60 min)
► Spoon the chocolate mousse into dessert dishes or glasses
► Sprinkle mousse with chocolate curls, if desired
►Chill for at least 1 hour before serving makes eight 6oz servings (parenthesis numbers make up to 32 6oz servings


Total time - 1 Hour and 6 Minutes


Click this link to view my eCard and "Have a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!"

Happy 200th B-Day to world’s first known computer programmer, Ada Lovelace (b. December 10, 1815) ▲ ▲ ▲ 'evergreen marketing insighter' by Gloria Buono-Daly

The analytical engine weaves algebraic equations just as the Jacquard loom weaves flowers and leaves.”
~~ Ada Lovelace
from notes on Menabrae’s Memoir on the Analytic Engine, 1843

Did you know that the world's first known computer programmer and the founder of computer science was a woman?

IT LEADERSHIP GAP IN POSITIONS FOR WOMEN

In memory of Ada Lovelace, let's celebrate women in math and science. To think even with all the progress women have made and in our world of digital, it's so hard to imagine the first geek was a female, way back in the mid 1800s yet men represent 91% of senior IT management positions.

According to Judith Warner, Senior Fellow at Center for American Progress women hold only 9 percent of IT management positions and account for only 14 percent of senior management positions at Silicon Valley startups (as of March 2014).

According to a CNN analysis, "Still Missing: Female Business Leaders," (3/2015) "Only 14.2% of the top five leadership positions at the companies in the S&P 500 are held by women..."

MORE ABOUT ADA LOVELACE
A Big Happy 200th B-Day to Ada Lovelace (10 December 1815 – 27 November 1852). Ada was an English mathematician and writer chiefly known for her work on Charles Babbage's early mechanical general-purpose computer, the analytical engine. Her notes on the engine include what is recognized as the first algorithm intended to be processed by a machine; thanks to this, she is sometimes considered the world's first computer programmer, founder and prophet of scientific computing and enchantress of numbers.

ADA LOVELACE EXCERPTS FROM WIKIPEDIA
As a young adult, she took an interest in mathematics, and in particular Babbage's work on the analytical engine. Between 1842 and 1843, she translated an article by Italian mathematician Luigi Menabrea on the engine, which she supplemented with a set of notes of her own. These notes contain what is considered the first computer program — that is, an algorithm encoded for processing by a machine.

Born Augusta “Ada” Byron on December 10, 1815 to poet George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron, and his wife, Anne Isabella "Annabella" Milbanke, Baroness Byron. Byron, and many of those who knew Byron, expected that the baby would be "the glorious boy", and there was some disappointment at the contrary news. As a child, Ada was often ill and when she was eight, she experienced headaches that obscured her vision. She became paralysed in June 1829, from the measles. She was subjected to continuous bed rest and by 1831 she was able to walk with crutches.

At the age of 17 her remarkable mathematical abilities began to emerge, and her interest in mathematics dominated the majority of her adult life.


In a letter to Lady Byron, De Morgan suggested that her daughter's skill in mathematics could lead her to become "an original mathematical investigator, perhaps of first-rate eminence.

On 8 July 1835 she married William King, 8th Baron King, becoming Baroness King. They had three children; Byron born 12 May 1836, Anne Isabella (called Annabella, later Lady Anne Blunt) born 22 September 1837 and Ralph Gordon born 2 July 1839. Immediately after the birth of Annabella, Lady King experienced "a tedious and suffering illness, which took months to cure". In 1838, her husband was created Earl of Lovelace. Thus, she was styled "The Right Honorable the Countess of Lovelace" for most of her married life.

The computer language Ada, created on behalf of the United States Department of Defense, was named after Ada Lovelace. The reference manual for the language was approved on 10 December 1980, and the Department of Defense Military Standard for the language, "MIL-STD-1815", was given the number of the year of her birth. Since 1998, the British Computer Society has awarded a medal in her name and in 2008 initiated an annual competition for women students of computer science.


All photos courtesy of Wikimedia unless otherwise indicated.

Additional resources:
► Women's Leadership Gap (PDF Report as of March 7, 2014), Center for American Progress
► Google Doodle celebrates Ada Lovelace Washington Post
► The Babbage Engine, Computer History
► Ada Lovelace, World's First Computer Programmer, Celebrated With Google Doodle, Huffington Post
► Ada Byron, Countess of Lovelace, SDSC

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