By Gery L. Deer

Deer In Headlines

This week Amazon.com announced the release of its new tablet computer, the Kindle Fire. Apple also unveiled the fifth incarnation of its iPhone line. As technology continues to change, most people find they cannot keep up with the dizzying pace.

Realistically, there’s no need to try to stay ahead of it – and it would be impossible without virtually unlimited resources. If you have a device that works for you, continue to use it until it no longer functions or serves its purpose.

The marketing departments of tech companies like Apple and Microsoft have a difficult job. With each new release of a product, they have to make the same gadget you already have seem like the latest and greatest device you simply cannot live without, just by adding a few more bells and whistles. Take cell phones for example.

I recently went to a Verizon store to update my three-year-old cell phone because it’s literally starting to fall apart. I’m not a typical male lemming and lack the gene requiring me to buy the top of the line, biggest, baddest gadget. What I wanted was a phone that had a calendar and alarm clock, could send texts, take photos and occasionally make a call. I don’t care who makes it or what color it is. It just needs to do those specific things.

Of course, the sales people were happy to help me, quite literally pouncing on me as soon as I cleared the door threshold – isn’t commission sales grand? But the only devices available to me that met my criteria, without being made of wood, required an extra fee each month for a “data plan.”

A data plan is a feature added to your cell phone account that allows smart phones and the like to talk to the Internet. Given the number of wireless hot spots available to the general public, these plans are unbelievably underpowered and significantly overpriced. Plus, I don’t need a data plan.

As technologically adept as I may be, I still don’t surf the Internet with my cell phone or try to type out elaborate emails on its tiny keypad. I have a very nice laptop in my office for that purpose. So, unless I wanted a phone that looked and felt quite literally disposable, I was out of luck. And Verizon lost a sale because they are trying to force these extra costs on their customers just so they can sell a fancier phone. No thanks.

Don’t blame Verizon alone, however. Every wireless and Internet provider is doing the same thing and tech hardware manufacturers are almost forcing the practice.

Every change in technology requires an adjustment in how information is delivered to the user. Once upon a time, a cell phone was the size of a small box of breakfast cereal and could barely make a call, much less do anything else. Today you can watch television on your iPhone or draft legal documents on your tablet computer.

Well if you hate all of this, you can blame it on two things – greed and Star Trek. The nerds who dreamed of going where no one had gone before eventually went to MIT and Stanford and discovered that there was money in realizing the technology of science fiction – thus, the greed. After all, they needed eventually to move out of their parents’ basements.

Captain Kirk had the first “cell phone” in his flip-open communicator and did you ever wonder about that black clipboard that Lt. Uhura was always carrying around? It was a type of tablet computer. You could write on it and the data was instantly transferred to digital form. The crew of the later Enterprise under Captain Picard used “pads” that looked a lot like the modern ereader.

How ever these devices came about, industry found a way to capitalize on them and the people responded. What fascinates me is that at a time when unemployment is critically high, jobs are scarce, and our political leaders are chosen by a process of elimination, people are still spending money on these gizmos.

Gery L. Deer is an independent business writer based in Jamestown. Meet him at Books & Co. at The Greene, 7PM, Friday Oct. 7.

Deer breeding season runs from October through January.

Xenia, OH – During the day or at night, encountering a deer while you’re on the road can be dangerous and scary. Deer season is upon us and the Greene County Safe Communities Coalition would like to remind you that your safety on Greene County roadways is a top priority. In 2010, there were 23,201 deer-vehicle crashes statewide with 1,063 people injured and four people killed. November saw the most crashes with 5,012, or 167 per day. Because many deer-vehicle collisions go unreported to police and local authorities, the actual number of crashes throughout Ohio may be as high as 60,000 each year. Last year, the areas with the highest number of deer-vehicle crashes were urban areas.

What can you do to stay safe during deer season?

Knowing what to do when you encounter a large animal on or near the roadway can be a life-saver. Here are some tips:

• Deer are most often along the road side near dawn, around 7 a.m., and again at dusk, approximately 7:30 p.m.
• Deer breeding season runs from October through early January, and during this time they are highly active and on the move.
• Though deer may wander into suburban neighborhoods, they are most frequently found on the outskirts of town and in heavily wooded areas.
• As pack animals, deer almost never travel alone. If you see one deer, you can bet that there are others nearby.

Preventive Techniques

• To avoid a deer-vehicle collision, slow down. If you are driving through an area known for high deer populations, slow down and observe the speed limit. The more conservative you are with your speed, the more time you will have to brake if an animal darts into your path.
• Always wear a seatbelt. The most severe injuries in deer-vehicle collisions usually result from failure to use a seatbelt.
• Watch for the shine of eyes along the roadside and immediately begin to slow.
• Use your high beams whenever the road is free of oncoming traffic. This will increase your visibility and give you more time to react.
• Deer can become mesmerized by steady, bright lights so if you see one frozen on the road, slow down and flash your lights. Some experts recommend one long blast of the horn to scare them out of the road, as well.
• Pay close attention to caution signs indicating deer or other large animals. These signs are specifically placed in high-traffic areas where road crossings are frequent.
• If you’re on a multi-lane road, drive in the center lane to give as much space to grazing deer as possible.

Encountering a Deer

• Never swerve to avoid a deer in the road. Swerving can confuse the deer on where to run. Swerving can also cause a head-on collision with oncoming vehicles, take you off the roadway into a tree or a ditch, and greatly increase the chances of serious injuries.
• Deer are unpredictable creatures, and one that is calmly standing by the side of the road may suddenly leap into the roadway without warning. Slowing down when you spot a deer is the best way to avoid a collision. However, if one does move into your path, maintain control and do your best to brake and give the deer time to get out of your way.
• Don’t rely on hood whistles or other devices designed to scare off deer. These have not been proven to work.
• If you do collide with a deer (or large animal), call emergency services if injuries are involved, or the local police if no one is injured, but damage has been caused to your property or someone else’s. Never touch an animal that is in the roadway. Report the incident to your insurance company as soon as possible.

Keeping calm and driving smart improve your chances of avoiding a collision and staying safe on the road. These tips have been provided by Dawn McCaslin, www.geico.com. For more information on the Greene County Safe Communities Coalition, call Laurie Fox at 937-374-5669 or email her at lfox@gcchd.org.

By Gery L. Deer

Deer In Headlines

Recent changes to the social media website, Facebook, has its 800 million users, shall we say, apprehensive. Constant updates to the software on our personal computers is nothing new, but now that such technology has become a pivotal tool in managing our professional and social networks, people get worried when it changes even slightly.

Social media has become such a perceived necessity, that entire industries are evolving whose sole purpose is getting business professionals connected on Facebook or Twitter. Unfortunately, some important business axioms are being put into question by the very existence of these virtual networks.

When I first went into business, sometime in the early 1990’s, there were two things you had to do to let people know you were out there. First, you ran an ad in the local newspaper. After that, made sure everyone you knew was aware of your new venture and helped to spread the word.

Growing up, my family had our own business – several actually, so I guess I come by my diverse careers honestly. I remember my dad and brother always slowing us down from whatever we were doing because they had to stand and talk to people.

I just wanted to get the job done and get home. What I didn’t know then, but thrive on now is that they were actually developing long-term relationships with customers and vendors, albeit far informally. Actually, they probably didn’t know what was happening either, chalking it up simply as a friendly conversation. But now, we refer to that kind of face-to-face, personal business contact as, “networking.”

Networking occurs when people of mutually beneficial needs and resources interact. It requires a willingness to listen and learn about the other parties to determine how you can be of assistance to them. In return, they will be receptive to your needs and respond in kind.

Building a solid business network takes time and effort on the part of all involved and some are more fruitful than others. Virtual or web-based networks offer only exposure with limited or no credibility. Online testimonials from colleagues and customers can help, but until a potential client gets some face time any relationship you might develop will be short lived.

As businesses continue to struggle in an ever-floundering economic environment, social media could actually be impeding recovery. Facebook and LinkedIn might make it easier for professionals to connect with potential markets, but moving from a visibility stage to something more profitable takes far longer because you can’t develop a level of understanding or trust over email.

In my opinion, it’s just not possible to reach the same level of credibility over a broadband connection that you do sitting across the table from someone over a cup of coffee. It might seem old-fashioned and time consuming, but truly successful business people still venture from behind their computer screens, shake hands and learn about their clients and vendors first hand.

As a freelance business writer and publicist, I get nearly all of my clients by personal referral. I frequently advise clients to build a social media presence, as I have. Although I have made extensive use of the technology, almost none of my work has come as a direct result of using social media.

Running a sustainable business takes the skill of a farmer, not a computer hacker. You have to plant the seeds – lots of them. You need to nurture them and have the patience to cultivate them until they grow into a crop that can be harvested. If you don’t understand the analogy, you could be in trouble already.

While I never expect to get new clients through my social media contacts I do stay in touch with them that way. I also use various social media sites to promote my column, books I’ve authored and client work; more for exposure than anything else. If your own business is struggling, and you’re considering working with a marketing specialist, take a nickel’s worth of free advice.

Anyone insisting that you jump into the social media maelstrom without recommending a healthy dose of in-person networking is not giving you good advice. Social media has its place, but nothing will ever replace a sharp coat and tie or a hand shake to seal the deal.

Gery L. Deer is an independent business writer and marketing specialist based in Jamestown. Learn more at http://www.gerydeer.com.

XENIA – The Greene County Safe Communities Coalition has joined nearly 10,000 other law enforcement agencies nationwide in support of an intensive crackdown on impaired driving August 19–September 5, known as “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”

The problem of impaired driving is a serious one. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows the number of alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities in America fell from 2008 to 2009, but the numbers are still too high.

In 2009 alone, 10,839 people died in crashes in which a driver or motorcycle rider was at or above the legal limit, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The age group with the highest percentage of alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes was the 21-to-24 age group.

“All too often, innocent, law-abiding people suffer tragic consequences and the loss of loved ones due to this careless disregard for human life. Because we’re committed to ending the carnage, we’re in full support of our local law enforcement agencies that are intensifying enforcement during the crackdown. Since twice as many alcohol-impaired accidents occur over the weekend and four times as many occur at night, our local law enforcement agencies will be especially vigilant during these high-risk times when impaired drivers are most likely to be on our roads,” said Laurie Fox, Safe Communities Coordinator.

Across the country, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 grams per deciliter or higher. According to the latest data, nearly a third of fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes involved a driver or motorcycle rider with a BAC above the legal limit – an average of one fatality every 48 minutes.

The crackdown will include law enforcement officers in every state, Washington, D.C., and many U.S. cities and towns.

The Greene County Safe Communities Coalition applauds our local officers, troopers and deputies foraggressively looking for allimpaired drivers during the crackdown and arresting anyone they find driving while impaired — regardless of age, vehicle type or time of day.

“Their message is simple and unwavering: if they find you driving impaired, they will arrest you. No exceptions,” said Fox. “Even if you beat the odds and manage to walk away from an impaired-driving crash alive, the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can still destroy your life.”

According to the Ohio State Patrol,violators often face jail time, loss of their driver licenses, or being sentenced to use ignition interlocks. Their insurance rates go up. Other financial hits include attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work, and the potential loss of job or job prospects. When family, friends and co-workers find out, violators can also face tremendous personal embarrassment and humiliation.

“Driving impaired is simply not worth all the consequences. So don’t take the chance. Remember, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” said Fox.

For more information, visit the High-Visibility Enforcement Campaign Headquarters at http://www.stopimpaireddriving.com/.

By Gery L. Deer

Deer In Headlines

As the weather begins to cool in the Midwest, people will begin to use indoor fireplaces more often. Attractive and warming, a fireplace can provide inexpensive supplemental heat while adding to a home’s value. Unfortunately, it can also cause a potential danger if not properly maintained.

According to the most recent statistics from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 25,000 chimney fires each year are responsible for 30 deaths and an average of $126.1 million in property damage.

During the off season chimneys can become damaged or clogged with any number of contaminants including bird nests and storm debris. In order to guard against potential chimney fires, The National Fire Protection Association (www.nfpa.org ) recommends that fireplaces and chimneys should be inspected annually and cleaned after each cord of wood burned.

Incidentally, a cord of wood is a considerable amount, possibly more than many people realize. It measures 4 feet high by 4 feet wide by 8 feet long with a volume of 128 cubic feet. Since a single family might burn two or three cords over a winter season, fireplace cleaning becomes even more important.

Properly cleaning the fireplace and chimney takes more than just removing the ash from below the fire grate. Regular cleaning helps to prevent the build up of creosote, a highly flammable material that starts out as liquid residue from condensed components in smoke including tar and soot. Because of heat, the liquid dries into a solid, flaky glazed form.

Glazed creosote is recognizable by its shiny, tar-like appearance. It is essentially wood tar that has baked onto the walls of the chimney flue or liner. This is also the most flammable and hardest to extinguish once it gets burning.

A hot fire of around 1000 degrees Fahrenheit can easily ignite the creosote deposits into a roaring chimney fire. In addition, burning embers from the substance can land on rooftops or in dry brush or leaves, endangering surrounding property.

Despite some urban legends to the contrary, there is no such thing as creosote-free burning and the kind of wood makes no difference at all. In fact, the danger lies, not so much in what is burned, but how.

A low burning fire will result in incomplete combustion, which is the number one cause of creosote accumulation. An improperly installed fireplace or insert can cause the smoke to cool too quickly and allow the airborne particles to settle inside the chimney flue.

If contaminants begin to build up inside the chimney, they will produce a smell in the house smell similar to a campfire on a damp, wet day. If that odor is present, it is probably time to have an inspection done by a qualified chimney sweep. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Lighting up the fireplace also triggers some folks to start building outdoor fires. In some areas it is illegal to burn yard waste or other items, but for those people who live where it is permitted, the same attention to safety should be paid to outdoor fires as to using a fireplace.

Burning leaves is almost never a good plan. No matter how dry they might seem, leaves retain some water and rarely burn but instead just smoke. A really hot, blazing bonfire can incinerate leaves and lawn material but also creates a danger to nearby homes because of falling embers or excessive smoke.

In addition, outdoor fireplace units, whether metal or ceramic, were not designed for burning trash or yard waste and are often placed too close to trees or buildings. Above all, be considerate of the neighbors if you live in a densely populated area. Many people suffer from allergies during the fall and smoke from yard fires can create serious health issues. Smoke from burning yard waste can trigger allergy and asthma attacks.

Whether sitting around the fireplace or a back yard pit, safety and common sense should always come first. With yards, brush and fields so dry for lack of rain this season, extra care should be taken whether the s’mores are toasting indoors or out.

Questions or Comments? Email Gery L. Deer at gery@deerinheadlines.com. Read more at http://www.deerinheadlines.com.