In a complicated world, simple still works

I just completed a series of interviews with Bob Regular, the editor and publisher of Adotas.com, which is a terrific web publication with a core audience of movers and shakers in the e-commerce industry. These are the folks who have set up shop on Web 2.0

The interview reminded me of how much our society has evolved in the way we communicate because the interviews will be in both text and video format on the Adotas web site. Just a couple of weeks ago I was a guest on “FOX & Friends®” and also on the “FOX Business Channel.” These were both traditional media interviews. However, a few minutes later these same interviews were available on the “FOX News®” web site. This time around was again a video interview with Adotas, but streamed directly to you via the Internet accompanied with a text version.

Bob Regular (left) of Adotas.com interviews John W. Scherer

During the one-hour interview, we focused on just how Video Professor has grown and succeeded for 21 years by keeping our communications processes simple.

Video Professor is a vertically integrated company. Our creative services, web design, SEO, public affairs, legal and marketing are all under one roof. We even have our own television studio and our creative teams, who work in both video and the Internet, have all the bells and whistles to produce spectacular material.

What we’ve learned thus far is that you can’t let these bells, whistles and other toys distract from the message.

Outside vendors, contractors, web design companies etc, come to us every day with all sorts of ideas. They tell us to fancy this up, or add elements to this and that. The few times we actually listened, it didn’t work.

I think this is especially the case with social media. What is often lost in the conversation is the importance of clarity of message. Does it pass the “so what” test?

Our commercials and infomercials focus more on our product than the pizzazz, the value and benefit instead of the gaudy flash. The same goes for our web site. It’s basic, easy-to-navigate and gets you where you want to go with minimum fuss and maximum efficiency.

This makes selling easy and service after the sale even easier. It’s worked for 21 years and we plan on being around for much longer! This isn’t about resisting change, but actually embracing change without losing focus on the simplicity of the message. There are multiple pipelines to consumers these days and we use them all. Customers are busy, they want to find out what we have to offer, and then order what they want. If they need help after the sale, getting service should be just as quick and easy. As I told Regular during our interview, everyone in this building is focused on the customer. It’s simple, but it works.

During my interview, I was asked more than once to give advice to the young entrepreneurs just starting out.

First and foremost you have to get your brand out there. When we were starting out at Video Professor, we quickly found out that television was a good way to do this. However, it was, and still is expensive. But, you have to have your name and product or service available to as many eyeballs as possible. For us, the investment paid off.

The visibility through our commercials and infomercials has made transitioning our brand to the Web much easier than if we were starting from scratch. The Web, web sites and social networks can be much cheaper and just as efficient for new businesses today.

Your web site design must be clean, uncluttered and easy to navigate. Your customer comes to your site to either learn more about your product or to buy it. Make it simple.

You should maintain a relentless focus on customer service throughout the process. You will get complaints. They are part of business. But, how you field these issues could be the difference between success and failure.

Don’t let a very few negatives slow you down, keep your focus on that 99 percent of successful sales.

Looking back at the last 21 years and looking forward to the next 21 years, I remain so very excited about what we’ve accomplished the millions we’ve taught and the terrific new products and services we have planned for the future.

We plan to always keep it simple and direct. You can count on everyone at Video Professor to provide you with the tools that make learning easy and if you ever have a question or concern, we’re just a phone call or e-mail away.

-John

John W. Scherer, CEO & founder, Video Professor, Inc.

You can contact me at ceo@videoprofessor.com

If we all give a little, together we can make a big difference.

All of us here at Video Professor have “adopted” a young soldier from Ft. Hood, Texas who is currently deployed in southern Iraq. He contacted us last fall to help him out getting a laptop computer with a webcam. As a PFC, his salary doesn’t allow for such things. His wife and young daughter will not see him again for about 15 months. With the laptop and webcam he’ll be able to send video messages back home so when he returns safely, his daughter will still know her daddy.

Here’s an excerpt from a recent e-mail he sent us.

“Yeah so I am in-country Im staying at FOP Falcon in southern Baghdad its not a great area at all and the cease fire between sunis and shiites was just thrown out the window and the one who stopped it called on "a million men to rise up and kill americans" so this deployment might be interusting LOL we have been taking mortar and RPG attacks on the FOP just about everyday and when we flew in on the choppers they tried shooting mine down but since they just spray and pray they are not really accurate at all.”

Wow.

Imagine having all this as part of your typical work day. He volunteered for this mission. But this young trooper, along with tens of thousands of others is taking the fight to the enemy so we can work, play and enjoy life safely here at home.

I am so very, very proud of him and all those who service. We have an employee club here at Video Professor called Seasons. We’ll be collecting items he’s requested for him and his unit. It’s simply the stuff we all take for granted. Razors, wet wipes and of course, cookies!

Our team is already at work gathering boxes and boxes of goodies and we’ll be shipping them off to his unit shortly.

I know this war has both its supporters and detractors. But we can all agree that the incredible sacrifices made by these men and women who wear the uniform are again done so voluntarily. Regardless of your support of the war, I encourage you not to forget them one single day.

There are numerous ways to support these troops including the USO, the Fisher House and many others. But be careful when supporting any charity. There are some out there who claim to help out and simply spend the money on salaries and fancy offices. A good way to check is to go to www.charitynavigator.com to find out which are the most efficient in making sure what you donate, goes to where it is supposed to.

Also on the subject of giving, we got a wonderful thank you note from Mag Strittmatter who is the Executive Director of the Jefferson County Action Center. She thanked Video Professor’s employee club, Seasons, for donating Easter Baskets and also personal items for the growing number of people the Center serves.

We also got a kind note from Jean Owens of the Five Acres project in Altadena, CA. They work with abused kids through treatment and education including computer literacy. Five Acres is one of several non-profits that include computer literacy in their programs that we provide lessons to each year.

These thank you notes are always appreciated, but I often feel it’s we who should be saying thanks. Thanks for the opportunity to give and make a difference, but especially thanks for the good feeling one has when doing so.

-John

John W. Scherer

CEO and Founder, Video Professor, Inc.

Contact me at ceo@videoprofessor.com

Is all the talk about green really about the green?

Two stories caught my attention this past week. The first was a cover story by TIME® Magazine about ethanol, which describes this alternative fuel as a scam. A great deal of money is being spent to promote ethanol, which is made from corn and sugarcane. It is supposed to make the U.S. less reliant on foreign oil. At least one domestic automobile company makes a majority of its cars and trucks to run on both conventional and ethanol fuels.

The other story involves former Vice President Al Gore’s $300 million campaign to mobilize the nation for a huge reduction in greenhouse emissions. An article in the Washington Post® newspaper called “Gore Launches Ambitious Advocacy Campaign on Climate” says that Gore’s campaign is, “One of the most ambitious and costly public advocacy campaigns in U.S. history.” I’ve seen the spots; they’re very well done.

I’m all for anything to make our planet cleaner, we waste too much, pollute too much and I know that we can do better. Our own efforts in providing Video Professor® tutorials online, uploaded directly to your computer instead of using CD-ROM’s with all the packaging, could certainly be characterized as a green initiative. Truth be known, it’s simply a quicker and more efficient way for you to learn from our ever-growing list of computer tutorial lessons. Streaming directly to your computer does save a lot of trees. But, we think it’s both fair and honest to simply promote ease of use to you as a customer.

Another point about ethanol; producing it from corn actually takes more energy than it generates. It’s also impacting the price you pay for corn-based products at the grocery store. TIME claims that one person could be fed for 365 days on the amount of corn needed to fill up one SUV with ethanol, check out what passes for corn at some supermarkets. The puny little ears of corn are given to us, while the good stuff goes to ethanol plants.

TIME reports sugarcane-based ethanol does actually deliver as far as energy efficiency, but at the expense of potentially wiping out jungle areas like the Amazon rain forest. There’s a remarkable picture in the article to back it up, showing areas of the Amazon looking more like the plains of Nebraska.

Some supporters of Gore’s campaign are among those who rail against nuclear power and oil. Yet France, for example, produces 80 percent of its power with nuclear plants. Norway allows oil drilling along 80 percent of its coastline, which is as an example of all that is good about government and society.

In contrast, here in the U.S., regulatory rules make it all but impossible to build new refineries, or tap into the proven and immense oil reserves off the coast of California and Alaska. As for nuclear power, forget about it.


It seems, at least to me, that the biggest obstacles towards a genuine and productive debate about keeping this planet pristine are politics and the almighty dollar. You know, the greenback. Pun intended.

However, we cannot forget that not only are China and India emerging industrial powers, they are polluting far more than the U.S. More than one Olympic athlete is concerned about competing this summer in Beijing because of the incredibly polluted air. Bicycles are being replaced by extremely inefficient cars that cause pollution in both nations, as workers can now afford to buy them. These countries have far less stringent emissions policies than we do. One of the reasons gasoline is becoming so expensive is the demand from China and India.

To their credit, American consumers are turning more and more to hybrid cars. Ironically it was General Motors that had the technology decades ago, but they weren’t prepared to take the initial loss of actually producing a hybrid electric car. Gas was cheap and plentiful, and oh how we loved those big Buicks and Caddies. However, the situation has changed and this time it is Toyota who is ready to play the hybrid game. Game, set, match.

If we’re going to talk the talk, we have to walk the walk. An hour on the evening of Saturday, March 29 was reserved for a so-called Earth Hour; a time to turn off the lights and everything electric. “NBC® News” promoted it heavily. “NBC” regularly reports on global warming, unless there’s a snowstorm. “NBC” is owned by GE and guess what? The lights on the GE building were ablaze against the New York City skyline during the whole hour, just like the hour before and the hour after.

I have nothing against people making a profit on green technology. Wind and solar power are two examples that come to mind. Two companies that produce wind-generated power are located here in Colorado. We welcome them. I hope they make a dandy profit for their efforts. My problem is with people who try and make a buck by marketing something as green when really it isn’t. Like ethanol.

So when the next big green thing comes along, read between the lines. I fear that the heavy marketing of going green may actually dilute the importance of the bigger message. Green could end up like the Atkins® diet. Hot for a while, then it simply disappears. Planet Earth and the maintenance thereof shouldn’t be a fad.

In the meantime, recycle. It’s a start and you know for sure you’re making a difference.

-John
John W. Scherer, CEO & founder, Video Professor, Inc.
You can reach me at ceo@videoprofessor.com

My week in the Big Apple and appearing on “FOX News”

Being the Video Professor, I appear on television frequently. When I’m not on the air doing commercials, I’m spending time doing interviews like I just did in New York City on both the “FOX Business Channel” and “FOX & Friends® programs.”

About the only similarity between a commercial and television news is the television part. Otherwise everything is different. Commercials are scripted, taped and if you make a mistake you can do it all over again.

News, on the other hand, is live, which really makes the whole experience exciting. While it was my first appearance on the new “FOX Business Channel,” this was my third time on “FOX & Friends.”

As usual, “FOX News®” takes great care of their guests. Everyone on their staff including producers, the technical crew and of course the various program hosts and anchors are simply the nicest and most professional people you’d ever want to meet. They even sent a car to my hotel to get me to the studio for both appearances.

“FOX Business Channel” is a recent addition to the “FOX News” network. They’ve assembled a terrific team of people and are quickly becoming the television source for business news. I think what makes “FOX Business Channel” stand out is they really understand they are communicating with both Wall Street and Main Street, USA. They make business news easy to understand, whether you own a business or you’re a consumer.

FOX Business News Anchor Peter Barnes with John W. Scherer

Each appearance starts with a trip to makeup. Then you wait for your segment to begin in the green room. It’s a comfortable place to sit and watch the broadcast, catch a snack or a much needed cup of coffee when you’re appearing on an early morning news show, like I did. Usually other guests are there as well, so it’s also a good place to meet people.

Then a staff member takes you up to the studio, they clip a microphone on you and all of a sudden you’re live. It’s amazing how fast it all happens. When I shoot our commercials and infomercials we can spend two full days shooting segments. But when it’s live, you better be ready with your message because you get just one chance to get it right.

Getting miked and ready to go live!

What made the experience both easy and fun were the anchors at “FOX News.” I’ve worked with Peter Barnes on “FOX Business” and my friends Brian Kilmeade and Steve Doocy on “FOX & Friends” before, but I was thrilled to meet Gretchen Carlson for the first time. All of them are exactly like you see them on the air; friendly, energetic and gracious.

L-R Steve Doocy, John W. Scherer, Gretchen Carlson and Brian Kilmeade

“FOX News” really does live up to its reputation of being fair and balanced. What makes them special is that they are a kind, decent and caring group of professionals.

Special thanks go to David Brown, the Executive Producer of “FOX & Friends,” along with “FOX News” producers Laurie Weiner, Elise Sabbath, Michelle Brier and Shayla Bezdrob. They’re talented, professional and quite simply, just some very nice folks.

I can’t wait to go back and see them again.

-John

John W. Scherer, CEO & founder, Video Professor, Inc.

You can reach me by e-mail at ceo@videoprofessor.com

From HAL to Dextre, fiction becomes reality

Robots have always played a key role in science fiction, from R2D2 and C3PO to Robby the Robot. Some are portrayed as friendly while others are represented as evil creatures. Science fiction has often been an accurate predictor of things to come and robots are no exception.

Who can forget the menacing and evil HAL from the classic “2001: A Space Odyssey”? Unlike the scarecrow in “The Wizard of Oz,” HAL did indeed have a brain and an attitude.

I was reminded of all this while watching the just-completed shuttle mission to the International Space Station where astronauts installed a Canadian-built robot named Dextre. The robot will conduct a great deal of work that would have previously been done by astronauts during dangerous spacewalks. Crew members are already referring to him in the first person.

Here on earth, robots and robotic devices are playing an increasingly important role in our lives. Robots have improved how we build things and even how we conduct commerce. You can already buy robotic lawnmowers and vacuum cleaners. The car that you drive was most likely assembled in part by robotic machines. There’s a very good reason for all this. Computer controlled robots never call in sick. They don’t take vacations or coffee breaks and once you buy them, they work for free.

Notice I’m mentioning computers in the same sentence as robots? That’s why all of this is so interesting to me.

If you watch local or national news on television you’re actually seeing robots in action. No, not the anchors, but the cameras pointed at them. They are robotic, and several of them are operated by just one technician. Often the cameras are pre-programmed by computers to move around the studio. Every time I’m interviewed on a news show, I get a kick out of watching the cameras zooming around the studio, automatically setting up for different shots.

Perhaps the most human-looking robot is one designed by Honda. Its name is ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility). It’s about the size of a 10-year-old child. It can walk and run and is designed to be an assistant. This robot is a drone, meaning it doesn’t think for itself. Think of it as C3PO Version 1.0. ASIMO is expensive, about the cost of a car and not nearly as useful. However, it is a good experiment in technology.

Where is all this headed? Perhaps you saw the Steven Spielberg film “A.I.” (Artificial Intelligence) starring Haley Joel Osment and Jude Law. The film presents a rather apocalyptic view of humanoid robots. It doesn’t have a happy ending, like I said in the beginning; science fiction has a way of becoming real.

The difference between science fiction and reality is whether we will choose to program these machines or if we decide to make them so they can think for themselves. Personally, I feel safer with the former.

With that said, the way technology is progressing, especially for various robotic devices in the home, don’t be surprised if you see a Video Professor lesson title like “Learn How to Program Your Robots,” sooner rather than later.

A quick note on another subject, I had the opportunity to appear on both “FOX Business News” and “FOX & Friends” in New York City this week. It’s always a treat to visit the set of “FOX & Friends.” They’re a terrific crew and it is fun to work with them. I’ll tell you all about it in next week’s blog.

-John

(John W. Scherer, CEO & founder of Video Professor, Inc.)

You can reach me at ceo@videoprofessor.com

Titles for tight times

I don’t know about you but I log on to news web sites, or tune into newscasts with more than a little trepidation these days.

The economic news, if one is to believe what’s being reported, isn’t pleasant.

People are concerned about the economy. You don’t have to look further than the rhetoric of the presidential campaign for ‘08.

People are doing a couple of things aside from worrying; like looking for extra cash and thinking about cancelling luxuries, like vacations.

As the Video Professor® library of lessons grows, we continue to add to our popular computer lessons with titles to help you get the best value from your computer. Two lessons that are certainly a good fit for these uncertain times are Learn eBay® and Learn Online Travel.

Let’s talk about eBay®.  First, step away from your computer and take a look in your attic, basement or garage. What do you have lying around in boxes and on shelves? Some classic LP’s, sports cards, mint condition magazines or comic books, sports pins or even a little red wagon?

What’s taking up space in your garage or basement could be someone‘s collector’s item and even more important, a few extra dollars in your wallet.

The eBay web site is a great way to buy and sell things. Buying is really simple you’ve likely done it already, but there are ways to become an even better buyer. What about selling? There are quite a few businesses out there that will sell things on eBay on your behalf, for a hefty commission. Why pay others for what you can do yourself? I’ve even seen ads in the newspaper offering seminars to teach you about eBay. Of course you have to drive to the location and spend several hours trying to learn at the same time as everyone else in the classroom.

Our lesson teaches you everything about buying and selling on eBay, from the basics of creating a sales site to producing the best listings possible to make what you have for sale into a hot item. All it takes is a little know-how. Our eBay lesson will take you step-by-step through the process of becoming a seller or even a savvier buyer on your schedule and at your pace. You might even join the thousands who have businesses on eBay, either part-time or full-time. Most of these folks are just like you.

eBay is a great opportunity. Maybe our lesson can help you become a successful entrepreneur on one of the most popular auction web sites out there today.

As I mentioned earlier in the blog, vacations are pretty high on the expense-cutting list. I understand why: they cost money. But maybe not nearly as much money as you think. More than one study shows Americans simply work too hard and don’t take nearly as many vacations as many other countries.

So check out our Learn Online Travel lesson. There are tremendous travel deals on the Internet, all you have to know is where to look. Our Learn Online Travel tutorial shows you how to book the cheapest or most convenient flights and cruises, how to find great places to stay and to eat and how to plan vacations for families, students or seniors. Plus, you will learn how to stay safe and healthy when traveling.

Planning a vacation online can be the difference between “we can’t afford it” and “when do we leave?” I prefer the latter, don’t you?

I appreciate that you are being cash conscious these days. But maybe, just maybe these two lessons can put a few extra dollars in your wallet or give you a much-needed break from the world, if even for a few days.

-John

John W. Scherer

(John is CEO & founder of Video Professor, Inc.)

You can reach me at ceo@videoprofessor.com.

Beware of rebate scammers and spammers

I’m sure most of you are excited about the planned stimulus check both the president and Congress hope will help spur on the economy. Checks are expected to be in the mail by May.

I won’t presume to tell you whether to spend it or to save it. It’s your money and it’s up to you.

Guess who else is excited about this? Spammers and scammers, they see the rebates as an opportunity to line their pockets with your money and even worse, your identity.

People are already receiving official looking e-mails and even phone calls, claiming to be from the IRS. Here’s the scam: the crooks e-mail or call you saying they can facilitate an early check to you and just need your bank account information for direct deposit. The e-mails have IRS logos on them, which can look very official. These e-mails are designed to fool the smartest and savviest of you all.

The Internal Revenue Service makes two important points:

• Their agents or representatives will never call or e-mail you.


• You won’t even be eligible for stimulus checks until you file your 2007 taxes.

 

These crooks can be convincingly persistent telling you that if you don’t cooperate, you won’t get your check. They will also try and get additional personal information in order to steal your identity. Sadly, it’s the elderly that are getting ripped off the most.

I’ve personally been a victim of identity theft. It’s one of the reasons I partnered with cybercrime expert and author Jayne Hitchcock on our Protect Yourself Online tutorial. It’s based on her terrific book “Net Crimes and Misdemeanors.” Jayne was a victim of cyber stalking, so you can understand our motivation to protect others from these kinds of blatant rip-offs and attacks.

I asked Jayne if she’d share some tips on what to do if you’re contacted by someone pretending to be from the IRS, or worse yet, if you fell for their scams, she was happy to help out.

Jayne said if you took the bait and gave away your financial or credit card information, here’s what to do.

     

• Report it to the card issuer as quickly as possible: Many companies have toll-free numbers and 24-hour service to deal with such emergencies.


• Cancel your account and open a new one.


• Review your billing statements carefully after the loss: If they show any unauthorized charges, send a letter to the card issuer describing each questionable charge.


• Know your rights according to the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) for credit card loss or fraudulent charges: Your maximum liability under federal law for unauthorized use of your credit card is $50. If the loss involves your credit card number, but not the card itself, you have no liability for unauthorized use.


• Also know your rights associated with the Electronic Funds Transfer Association (EFTA) for ATM or debit card loss or fraudulent transfers: Your liability under federal law for unauthorized use of your ATM or debit card depends on how quickly you report the loss. You risk unlimited loss if you fail to report an unauthorized transfer within 60 days after your bank statement containing unauthorized use is mailed to you.
  
  

If you gave out personal information:

• Report the theft to the three major credit reporting agencies: Experian®, Equifax® and TransUnion® and do the following: request that they place a fraud alert and victim’s statement in your file. Request a free copy of your credit report to check whether any accounts were opened without your consent. Request that the agencies remove inquiries and/or fraudulent accounts stemming from the theft.
  
          
  
  Equifax Credit Information Services - Consumer Fraud Div.
  
  P.O. Box 105496
  
  Atlanta, Georgia 30348-5496
  
  Tel: (800) 766-0008
  
  www.equifax.com
  
  
  
  Experian
  
  P.O. Box 2104
  
  Allen, Texas 75013-2104
  
  Tel: (888) EXPERIAN (397-3742)
  
  www.experian.com
  
  
  
  Trans Union Fraud Victim Assistance Dept.
  
  P.O. Box 390
  
  Springfield, PA 19064-0390
  
  Tel: (800) 680-7289
  
  www.transunion.com

 

• Notify your bank(s) and ask them to flag your account and contact you regarding any unusual activity: If bank accounts were set up without your consent, close them. If your ATM card was stolen, get a new card, account number and PIN.


• Contact your local police department to file a criminal report.


• Contact the Social Security Administration’s Fraud Hotline to report the unauthorized use of your personal identification information.


• Notify the Department of Motor Vehicles of your identity theft and check to see whether an unauthorized license number had been issued in your name.


• Notify the passport office to watch out for anyone ordering a passport in your name.


• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/consumer.shtm


• File a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) http://www.ic3.gov/complaint


• Document the names and phone numbers of everyone you speak to or contact regarding the incident. Follow up your phone calls with letters and keep copies of all correspondence.
  
  
  
  The FTC also advises:
  
  


• If you get an e-mail or pop-up message that asks for personal or financial information, do not reply or click on the link in the message. Legitimate companies don’t ask for this information via e-mail. If you are concerned about your account, contact the organization in the e-mail using a telephone number you know to be genuine, or open a new Internet browser session and type in the company’s correct web address. In any case, don’t cut and paste the link in the message.


• Don’t e-mail personal or financial information. E-mail is not a secure method of transmitting personal information. If you initiate a transaction and want to provide your personal or financial information through an organization’s web site, look for indicators that the site is secure, like a lock icon on the browser’s status bar or a URL for a web site that begins with “https:” (the “s” stands for “secure”). Unfortunately, no indicator is foolproof; some phishers have forged these security icons.


• Review credit card and bank account statements as soon as you receive them to determine whether there are any unauthorized charges. If your statement is late by more than a couple of days, call your credit card company or bank to confirm your billing address and account balances.


• Use antivirus software and keep it up-to-date. Some phishing e-mails contain software that can harm your computer or track your activities on the Internet without your knowledge. Antivirus software and a firewall can protect you from inadvertently accepting such unwanted files. Antivirus software scans incoming communications for troublesome files. Look for antivirus software that recognizes current viruses, as well as older ones, can effectively reverse the damage, and updates automatically. A firewall helps make you invisible on the Internet and blocks all communications from unauthorized sources. It’s especially important to run a firewall if you have a broadband connection. Finally, your operating system (like Windows® or Linux) may offer free software patches to close holes in the system that hackers or phishers could exploit.


• Be cautious about opening any attachments or downloading any files from e-mails you receive, regardless of who sent them.


• Report suspicious activity to the FTC. If you get spam that is phishing for information, forward it to spam@uce.gov. If you believe you’ve been scammed, file your complaint at www.ftc.gov and then visit the FTC’s Identity Theft web site at www.consumer.gov/idtheft to learn how to minimize your risk of damage from ID theft. Visit www.ftc.gov/spam to learn other ways to avoid e-mail scams and deal with deceptive spam.

As you can see, Jayne knows her stuff, and this is why we were so happy to work with her on our Protect Yourself Online tutorial.

Let me reiterate, the IRS will never, ever attempt to contact you by e-mail or phone to ask for personal information.

If you get e-mail, delete it immediately. If you get a phone call, hang up right away.

Stay safe and enjoy your check!

-John

John W. Scherer

John is CEO & founder of Video Professor, Inc.

Technology just keeps on charging ahead.

It’s been a while since I’ve talked about all the new technological products and innovations coming down the pipeline. As usual, it’s a busy part of the business world, especially when it comes to innovation.

Big news, Blu-Ray Disc is the new standard for HD-DVD. I know I’m dating myself here, but this was just like the VHS and Betamax wars a generation ago. I believe that when Blu-Ray compatibility was added to the Playstation® 3 (PS3) the war was finally won. That and the fact that Wal-Mart® (the ultimate 800 pound marketing gorilla) decided to stock their shelves with Blu-Ray DVDs as well.

On the music front, the iTunes® music store is now the number two seller of music, following Wal-Mart. As usual, it’s the teen audience leading the way. They would rather download their songs than drive down the road to buy them. What I still can’t figure out is why the music industry continues to fight iTunes so much. iTunes is directly responsible for the success of many musicians, who are playing on stage instead of flipping burgers for a living.

Add Google® (http://sites.google.com/) to your list of places to search the Internet. I loved writer Dan Farber’s thoughts about Google launches in a piece he did for cnet.com called “Google Sites: What’s all the fuss?” In which Farber compares the way people review and react to anything new from Google the same way movie and theater reviewers do. When you’re both a noun and a verb, you’re bound to attract attention whatever you do, or don’t do.

Microsoft Corp. is cutting the price of its Windows Vista® operating system, which retailed last year at $399 and is now available at $319. Microsoft wants more people to try it, and people should. If you do, make sure you try our Video Professor Learn Windows Vista® tutorial. We’ll take you step-by-step and prove to you that while Windows Vista may be new, it’s just as easy to operate if you just know how.

I’ve read numerous articles on how advertising dollars are spent on traditional media versus online advertising. It’s something we study all the time. I posted recently that while huge shares of politicians’ campaign money is being spent on television and radio this year, the best return on their investments remains the Net. E-Commerce is the future. It’s cheaper simply because it’s more efficient for both the consumer and the seller. Dollars spent aren’t the true measure, dollars earned are.

Just for fun fact: Check out this story .The folks at Philips Electronics installed a giant Imagination Light Station canvas for kids to play with at Mercy Medical Center in Rogers, Ark. This looks like great fun for some deserving kids and I do believe a few adults.

Finally, this decidedly non-tech item, Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre announced this week he's retiring from football on the "frozen tundra."  I know sports pundits and fans love to compare this player to that player and who was the best to ever play the game. None of that matters. Brett Favre was simply an exciting player, who played with a level of enthusiasm and professionalism seldom seen in professional sports, anywhere. His place in Canton is secured. He's won the Super Bowl, three consecutive MVP awards and has more wins than any QB in history. My Gosh, he had such fun playing the game and that made it fun for all of us. Heck, forget Canton, let's put him on Mount Rushmore!

Here’s a fun site to check out: www.bizonyms.com

See you next week.

-John

John W. Scherer

ceo@videoprofessor.com

John W. Scherer is CEO & founder of Video Professor, Inc.

E-commerce and infomercials remain a good marketing mix

The past couple of weeks have been a mix of both new and old for us here at Video Professor. The online publication Adotas.com just ran a feature article about me called, From Infomercial To E-Commerce, Video Professor Starts 3rd Decade of Business.  Then a few days later I was back in the studio taping an infomercial.

Both E-commerce and infomercials are very effective ways for companies, like Video Professor, to communicate their message directly to you, the customer. I enjoy the opportunity to look you in the eye, and share with you the enthusiasm I have for my proven teaching method, which shows you how to get the most out of your computer.

E-commerce is one way to tell you about the wide-range of Video Professor products via the Internet. It’s as simple as logging on to www.videoprofessor.com. You can shop for a lesson and have the option of either learning online with the lessons streamed directly to your computer or ordering our traditional CD-ROM lessons. Either way, it takes just minutes.

The infomercial is something we here at Video Professor helped pioneer. It’s a 30-minute television program where we spend quality time with you, showcasing the wide-variety of our available lessons and of course, getting you to “Try my product.®” Video Professor infomercials air on dozens of channels and at various times of the day and night. We’re a 24/7 society.  You’d probably be surprised by the huge audiences watching at 2 p.m. and 2 a.m.!

While the concept of the infomercial hasn’t changed much, in that we simply tell you about the benefits of the many tutorials Video Professor offers. What has changed is the technology and how we produce our lessons.

Sets, for example, are virtual. We have a studio at our corporate office along with post-production facilities. From time to time we rent larger studios off-site. However, the backgrounds you see on TV really don’t exist. They’re added in electronically post-production by our video-production team. What remains real is the quality and affordability of our lessons. That will never change.

                                                  How it looks in the studio

What you see in 30 minutes actually takes several weeks to plan, a couple of days to shoot, then several more to edit. Our marketing, Quality Assurance, legal and of course video-production teams are all involved. They’re all very good at what they do and the results show not only on screen, but in the huge number of calls we get after one of our infomercials airs.

                                     The virtual set after post-production

As with any marketing effort, we want to reach as large an audience as possible. E-commerce is certainly an increasingly powerful tool. Although, the infomercial also remains an excellent way to show you how easy our lessons are, and how they make a difference in the way you learn computer programs, how to sell something on eBay® or even plan a vacation. In the coming months you’re going to have many more tutorial choices. Stay tuned for some wonderful learning opportunities.

Above all, I enjoy being able to talk to you directly about trying my product. All of us at Video Professor appreciate when you do just that.

-John

John W. Scherer

CEO & Founder, Video Professor, Inc.

You can contact me at ceo@videoprofessor.com

© Video Professor, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Wi-Fi: A word to the wise

I saw something at the airport the other day very telling about progress. While waiting to board a flight, I noticed what used to be a kiosk for the long-gone pay phone has been replaced by power outlets for laptops. There was a power cord connected to a laptop in every one of them; one has to be careful walking around departure lounges these days for fear of tripping over them.

Laptops are a pretty common sight from airports to coffee shops. I’ll be the first to admit I’m on my laptop a lot when I travel. Most of the time there is more work than hours available and I can’t afford to simply sit and relax. Besides, taking care of e-mails while I’m away avoids having a big pile of them in my inbox when I return to the office.

Plus, it looks good to be working on a computer when you’re the Video Professor!

Fellow road warriors use wireless cards from providers like Verizon Wireless and many other companies. It’s a good way to go; however, many of you take advantage of the free Wi-Fi available at various locations. Many businesses, like coffee shops advertise free Wi-Fi to attract customers who like to sip and surf at the same time.

I just read a very interesting story called “Hidden dangers of free public WiFi” by Corey O’Donnell in ZDNet News. He writes, “Research shows that free wireless public networks located in airports and other public places are ripe for exploitation by hackers.”

Many folks naturally choose a free service simply because it’s free. When you log on in public places like airports or coffee shops you assume that everything is safe. However, by doing so, you may unwittingly end up sending everything from your computer to a hacker’s computer. It’s quite amazing how easily they can steal your identity.

O’Donnell says it’s all very simple. “Users who connect to these ‘free’ networks are at great risk of experiencing a ‘channeling’ attack. ‘Channeling’ is a common practice used by hackers and identity thieves to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks, with the objective of stealing user names, passwords and other sensitive data transmitted by the user. The practice is disturbingly simple to carry out: by setting up an unauthorized access point in an airport lounge, hackers can easily trap passwords and other information without the user's knowledge.”

So if you’re using free Wi-Fi in public locations, know that what you communicate, from passwords, to credit card data and other personal information can be hijacked. While, the person sitting nearby looks like they are simply enjoying their cup of coffee they may indeed be trying to pick the electronic equivalent of your wallet!

One final thought about protecting yourself online. The Video Professor team got to work closely with author and cyber-crime expert Jayne Hitchcock on our new Protect Yourself Online tutorial. Much of the material is based on her book, “Net Crimes and Misdemeanors.” One point we make is you’re far more at risk for identity theft offline, usually from someone you know or work with. Online activity is actually safer. That said; always double check and protect your safety online and offline. In this very modern world of instant communication it’s best to remember the old saying, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

By the way, I wonder what they did with all those pay phones? I’ll bet a few ended up at the Smithsonian. Just like the Apple® iPhone will be someday. In the meantime check out our Digital Devices Made Easy or Protect Yourself Online tutorials to help you out with it all, and rest assured when the next generation of modern gadgets comes along, the Video Professor team will have a tutorial for that too!

Until then, I’m going find an outlet where that pay phone used to be. I’ve got work to do.

-John

John W. Scherer

(CEO and Founder of Video Professor, Inc.)

You can read more about him at www.johnwscherer.com.

Read Corey O’Donnell’s article at http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1035_22-6122707.html

 

Space tourism. Finally, it’s our turn.

I’m a proud member of the generation that got to watch the first manned space missions in the 1960s. That was the time of the space race. What used to be called the Soviet Union beat us in putting both a satellite and a man in orbit. It all happened smack dab in the middle of the Cold War. Both America and the Soviet Union were vying for the chance to be the first to put a man on the moon. A Texas Senator named Lyndon B. Johnson said he didn’t want to sleep by the light of a Communist moon. Today, we watch television broadcasts and get directions on our GPS devices from dozens of satellites orbiting the earth.

For a few years American played catch up, I clearly remember watching and waiting as American Astronaut Al Shepherd sat on top of the rocket, while Walter Cronkite kept us posted through each agonizing minute before the rocket finally launched, May 5, 1961, sending the first American into outer space. Our successes and failures were well documented; while the Soviets were far more secretive.

The big goal was still the moon, and America was the first, and still is the only, nation to land men there and return them safely back home.

We haven’t been back in a generation, just low-earth orbits aboard the International Space Station. Routine stuff, if anything about space travel can ever be considered routine.

In those days, who among us didn’t dream of becoming an astronaut? Nowadays, if you have a spare $200,000 lying around Richard Branson can make that dream a reality. Branson is an English entrepreneur, best known for his Virgin brand, which includes over 360 companies.

He and designer Burt Ruttan just unveiled Spaceship Two, a very cool looking Virgin Galactic spaceship that will carry up to six passengers for a quick trip to the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere. Passengers will actually experience several minutes of weightlessness and one heck of a view with full orbital flights coming soon.

Risky? You bet. However, there is already a long waiting list of people who want to fly to space and back.

Richard Branson is the classic entrepreneur. He believes that space shouldn’t be an exclusive domain of the government. It’s no different when other entrepreneurs made it possible and affordable for computers to move outside the once-exclusive domains of government and academia. I’m proud to have played a small part in all of that. Someone had to teach you how to use the darn things. We’ve taught over eight million people.

Flight tests will begin soon for Spaceship Two. Branson’s spaceship is to outer space what the Commodore 64 was for home computing. Look for the first-paying passengers to start their space adventures by 2010. For innovators like Branson, space won’t be the final frontier; it will be just another opportunity.

You, too, will be able to experience the right stuff if you have the right amount of cash and a true sense of adventure. Just think of all those frequent flier miles!

Would you fly into space if you could afford to? Let me know at:ceo@videoprofessor.com.

-John

John W. Scherer

(John W. Scherer is CEO and founder of Video Professor, Inc.)

A newspaper’s “cautionary tale for the Web era.”

Like you, I spend a lot of time on the Internet. Many times during the day I surf the Net to look for information on business, hobbies and interests or to find out what’s going on in the world I live in.

I remember reading an article on the Net where the author said something along the lines of, “It’s on the Internet; it must be true, right?”

Not necessarily. In fact, not even close.

Rocky Mountain News Editor John Temple’s column on Saturday, February 2 brought focus to the whole issue of anonymous posting, or unsubstantiated reporting via the Web. The story centered on a Colorado state legislator caught in a compromising situation with a lobbyist. That legislator has since resigned.

But Mr. Temple took us through his own organization’s process of getting it right, both in the print and online editions of the Rocky.

He’s as competitive as any legitimate journalist in wanting to get the story first.  He also holds the highest journalistic standards for himself and his organization. Other outlets may have already printed or posted a story. He decided to wait, to gather more corroborated information. Not to be first, but to be right.

John Temple’s issue was simple. The source was anonymous and the lobbyist in question wanted to remain anonymous as well.

Here’s the official policy of the Rocky Mountain News. “The Rocky Mountain News discourages the use of anonymous sources. Their use threatens the credibility of the newspaper because the reader has no way to judge whether the source is reliable and/or whether the source is using the newspaper for his or her own end.”

He stuck to his guns when the Denver Post ran the story, but remained suspicious when that story also appeared on political websites.

Ultimately the story was indeed true, the legislator admitted to what happened and his resignation was part of the official record. That’s when the Rocky ran the story. They waited and got it right. To do otherwise wasn’t worth the risk to the paper’s credibility.

John Temple calls it all a “cautionary tale about the Internet.” He says that many stories posted on the Web are indeed true. But he adds that many others aren’t.

And his ultimate point is, readers don’t know the difference.

Finally Mr. Temple says that his paper did the right thing in staying clear of the story until facts were authenticated. Otherwise he says, “Anonymous people with axes to grind will exploit the media for their own agendas-destroying reputations along the way.”

John Temple and the staff of the Rocky Mountain News are among the very best at what they do. For just the reasons I outlined above.

I congratulate them.

Do you believe everything you read on the Internet? Let me know by contacting me at ceo@videoprofessor.com.

-John

John W. Scherer

(John W. Scherer is CEO and Founder of Video Professor, Inc)

Campaign ‘08 via Web 2.0

Before you read any further, I’m not endorsing any candidate. I’ll leave it up to your good judgment as to who you want to be our next president.

We’ll be bombarded again with television and radio ads this year. Although, I think the 2008 Presidential Campaign marks the true arrival of the Web as a campaign tool, to connect, to raise money and as a source of information and misinformation.

Politics and the Web are not a new mix. John McCain made effective use of it in 2000. Howard Dean successfully harnessed the Web to raise funds in 2004. His famous scream after the Iowa Caucus was both heard and seen around the world by that same Web. Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee shot a spot on the cheap with actor Chuck Norris (who endorses his run), posted it on YouTube™ and got a million hits.

Succeed by technology or fail by technology. It still comes down to content, message and voter perception; their perception is their reality.

A new survey released by the Pew Internet and Review Project shows 48 percent of Web users have been to video file share sites like YouTube. The daily traffic to these sites has doubled since last year. Predictably, it’s younger users who visit the most. They’re a key demographic in this election.

A recent article from MediaPost.com Publications called “Politicos Spend Big On Traditional Media; Crumbs For Web” said that of the $5 billion spent on campaign advertising this campaign, less than one percent will be spent on the Internet. Broadcast television will still get the largest portion of money, at least 60 percent. The story from MediaPost also said that “the Web’s importance for candidates goes well beyond what they’re paying for online media.” It cites Barack Obama’s 2007 second quarter fund raising of $17 million, $10 million of which was raised through his campaign on the Internet. It’s hard to argue with that kind of return on an investment.

What candidates have also discovered is the Internet removes the filter of network reporters, pundits and analysts. Why risk “Meet the Press” when you can meet the people via the Web? If you watch network coverage, you’re merely seeing reports on what the bloggers have already reported. Today’s political campaign stops include YouTube, Flikr™, Facebook® and MySpace®.

Your blog can link to your candidate and if you have any influence on Web 2.0 during Campaign 08, they’ll link to you. Link is replacing ink for coverage.

At least two debates this campaign season featured questions from folks living along Main Street, U.S.A. via YouTube. But, say something stupid during a stump speech and you can count on that blunder showing up on YouTube instantly. The Web makes everyone a reporter and everyone fair game even when it’s unfair. The rule still applies; if you don’t want to be quoted, don’t say it. Just ask George Allen.

The Web is the information source of choice for the younger generation of voters. They could care less about the opinions of those who report on America from inside the beltway. TV and print are out as far as they’re concerned. Their parents, who use the Internet in growing numbers, still read the paper and get their news from TV. So the question is, who will be more informed and more importantly who will actually vote?

As races get tighter and sadly, nastier, be prepared to see a flood of various e-mails and postings designed to mislead and misinform. It’s often hard to track the source, so pay attention to everything you read. Just because it’s on the Web does not make it true. Dirty campaign tricks are nothing new, the Web simply provides a high-tech way to create political mischief. It also allows nimble and Web-savvy campaigns to react quickly to such attacks.

Ultimately, I don’t think it will be the best political machine that wins, but the campaign team that best knows how to use the machine on their laps.

Regardless of your party affiliation, let’s take a moment to salute those who have the courage to stand up and put their name on the ballot. It’s a deeply personal commitment to do so and a high form of personal patriotism. You can’t run for office anonymously.

Respect the process by casting your vote for your candidate of choice in this year’s election.

Where are you getting your campaign information this year? Let me know at ceo@videoprofessor.com

-John

John W. Scherer

Beginning of the end for online predators?

MySpace® is in the news, having reached an agreement with at least 49 states and the District of Columbia attempting to prevent sexual predators from using the site as a cyber trap. MySpace has agreed to add several layers of protection and develop new technologies including ways to verify the age of users.

It’s a common tactic used by predators and deviants to create false identities to lure unsuspecting kids. That cool 16-year-old guy might actually be a 45-year-old weirdo with a long rap sheet, his true identity hidden by online anonymity.

Keeping kids safe online isn’t new. Back in 2000 President Clinton signed the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). CIPA legislation was originally introduced by Sen. John McCain of Arizona. There was a Supreme Court challenge to the law made by the American Library Association (ALA), but the court upheld the law.

This is all great news. Who isn’t against protecting our kids from the worst of society, predators who will stop at nothing to exploit or even kill a child lured by a trap set on the Internet?
"The Internet can be a dangerous place for children and young adults, with sexual predators surfing social networking sites in search of potential victims and cyber bullies sending threatening and anonymous messages," said New Jersey state Attorney General Anne Milgram.

I learned a lot about all this while working with author and cybercrime expert Jayne Hitchcock on our new tutorial, Protect Yourself Online. The Internet is full of anonymous users who can post just about anything they want, regardless of the truth. Predators and just plain cyber bullies troll the Net for victims.

Texas psychologist Shari Julian was quoted in a Denver Post article, “Craigslist develops a dark side” that the Internet has created “an “artificial” sense of community among the hateful.” Julian said “When you have a venue for ventilating your rage, your belief in that rage is ratified.”

For proof look no further than the story of a 13-year-old Missouri girl who was the victim of what she thought was her new cyber boyfriend on MySpace. The posts eventually turned hateful and due to this she committed suicide. It turns out the posts were actually the work of her next-door neighbor, the mother of a former friend.

Legislation and enforcement are two very different things. Again, when you have a group like the ALA challenging such laws, it makes it that more difficult to protect our kids from anonymous predators.

A novel approach is being taken in the Missouri case. According to the Los Angeles Times, a federal grand jury is issuing subpoenas to look into the circumstances of the case. Prosecutors are considering charging the neighbor, Lori Drew, with fraud against MySpace for creating a false account.

Here’s the bottom line: It’s the line between constitutionally protected free speech and conduct that is illegal, immoral or untruthful.

A long time ago, prosecutors never did nail Al Capone on murder. They instead convicted him of tax evasion. It will be interesting to see if the tactics taken by Los Angeles authorities, making MySpace a victim, will actually work.

At best, there may be some minor punishment doled out but as Loyola Law School Professor Laurie Levenson said, “I doubt it’s really going to lead to the type of punishment people really want to see, which is the woman being held responsible for the girl’s death.”

It could set an important precedent and as with Capone, at least a measure of justice.

The announcements made by MySpace and laws like CIPA, are all tiny steps, which will be challenged by those who put the First Amendment above the safety of our kids. I really don’t think it has to come to choosing between the two.

Let’s not give up, especially when it comes to protecting kids from those who lurk on the Internet under a cloak of anonymity.
What do you think? Write me at ceo@videoprofessor.com.

-John

John W. Scherer

Small is big at CES

Imagine a football field sized room filled with all sorts of electronic toys and goodies. Then, multiply that by 90! That’s the size of the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that was held January 7-10, in Las Vegas, Nev. Strangely, consumers aren’t invited to the show, just those in the business and those who cover the business of selling to consumers.

Among the highlights, Sony® introduced a 150 inch plasma TV. If you have over 12 feet of space on a wall in your house, this screen is for you. Also, Bill Gates bid farewell as he approaches retirement from Microsoft®.

The real news, however, is that small is big. To call the economic situation uncertain is an understatement. Many companies are hoping you’ll spend money on the content pipeline, multiple connected media types that fit in your pocket or purse, rather than the larger (and more expensive) TVs that take up an entire wall. While the line is becoming blurred between computer and TV entertainment, the mobile phone is becoming the true center of attention.

We’ve developed an insatiable appetite to be connected to the Internet regardless of where we are, simply because we can.

Music, e-mail, pictures, Internet access and even live television will all be options available to you on your phone.

However, no device does it all.

Simply because of content providers and owners, no studio, record label or other outlet is able, nor willing, to come up with a universal pricing policy. It would take an electronics industry version of the United Nations to make it work and let’s face it; the UN simply does not work very well.

That said; you as a consumer will be in pretty good shape when it comes to choice based on competition. We’re all part of an international market place and while you won’t be able to have it all, you will still be able to have a huge variety of content and a fast connection. You will even have choices between either low-cost or free service, if you’re willing to watch an ad before you make a call or access certain content. Which means it’s entirely possible for those political ads you hate so much to be on your phone or latest electronic device!

A generation ago, we bought televisions and phones with the expectation of having them for several years. Today many of you think in terms of just several months, because something newer and better is always around the corner.

Bob Dylan had it right years ago. “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” so is technology and the availability of the next big thing.

It’s always good to hear from you, drop me an e-mail anytime at ceo@videoprofessor.com.

-John

John W. Scherer

Thanks for making my point, Goofy!

I was among the millions going to the movies over the holidays and once again the folks at Walt Disney® proved they're simply the best at what they do. I hope you had a chance to see "National Treasure: Book of Secrets." Without giving away the plot, I am happy to report that there will be yet another sequel! I wonder what's on page 47?

A nice surprise before the movie started was a genuine, old-style Disney cartoon starring Goofy. At first I thought it was a nostalgic cartoon from the Disney archives. When I looked at the art and animation, I thought I was in for a wonderful trip back to the days of my childhood when before every movie there were a few cartoons.

The subject matter, however, was definitely 21st century. In the cartoon, Goofy is portrayed as a TV and sports nut who realizes he's missing out on the modern technology of HD flat screens, Digital Video Recorders with movie theater sound along with satellite or digital cable.

So ole' Goofy heads to the nearest electronics superstore and buys the latest in video and audio technology in sight.

The cartoon takes a hilarious turn when he waits for everything to be delivered. You know, the “between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.” promise that is never met. Once his packages arrive, Goofy is surrounded by stacks of boxes with “easy” instructions that look more like the plans to the International Space Station than directions on how to set-up your new flat screen TV.

Goofy gives it his best shot but when he plugs in the power, everything blows up, including the roof of his house sending Goofy into orbit.

This, of course, reminded me of the commercial featuring a couple of guys who are playing a baseball video game using sensor controlled hand devices . One of the guys accidentally tosses the controller at the flat screen TV on the wall, shattering the TV.

When mainstream media starts poking fun at something, you know it's truly arrived.

In order to keep up with the ever-changing technology, I decided to produce our “Digital Devices Made Easy” lesson.

It is very likely that there was a high-tech device under your tree this year from phones that play videos, music and yes, even make phone calls to a home theater sound system and flat screen TV that actually places you in the middle of your favorite sport or movie.

And this week video rental giant Netflix® announced an agreement where they'll deliver rental movies directly to your television via a set-top box produced by LG Electronics. You'll need to have high-speed Internet to use the system.

More wires and more boxes.

While all this is very cool and fun to use, hooking it all up is another matter! Instruction manuals remain complicated. You can choose the option of hiring someone to do it for you, just remember the installers do not work for free and always come with a “between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.” promise.

I would hate to see you end up like poor Goofy, or go goofy trying to hook cables to outputs and inputs, making sure your woofer isn’t where your satellite dish should be or vice-versa.

I recommend you take the least goofy route and try “Digital Devices Made Easy” for free.

-John

John W. Scherer

ceo@videoprofessor.com

How guarded is your gate?

I recently read a story about a home in a high-end gated community that was burglarized. The place was ransacked and many valuable items were taken. The owners were surprised because they lived in a gated and walled community.

The police told them the crooks simply crawled over those gates and walls.

So how about the gates and walls around your computer?

We just partnered with author Jayne Hitchcock for a new set of lessons based on her book, “Net Crimes & Misdemeanors.”  Not only is the book a real page-turner, it’s also an eye-opener. Look for our new lesson set called Protect Yourself Online from Video Professor this month.

I was once a victim of identity theft. So was Jayne. You can understand why we’re both so passionate about this subject. The Internet is an amazing thing. It’s an incredible cyber universe to explore, learn, socialize and shop, but it also has many dark and dangerous alleys.

Even some of the well-lit streets on the Net can be dangerous to the uninformed. You’ve likely heard of the Nigerian money offers scam where you receive an e-mail from someone claiming to be a relative of a deceased millionaire. You have been singled out amongst millions of people to assist them in moving several hundred millions of dollars from one bank account to another. Of course, you will be rewarded handsomely for your efforts. It all sounds, and is of course, preposterous. Yet, some very intelligent people fall for it, and lose thousands and thousands of dollars.

So if something as obvious and transparently bogus as the Nigerian money offers scam fools people, you can only imagine other devious tactics being used to separate you from your money, identity or both.

Twice as dangerous are the stories involving Internet predators. They’re especially adept at seeking out young and innocent kids via a myriad of social sites and chat rooms available on the Internet today. If you’re a worried parent, I don’t blame you one bit, just read the headlines every day. You can learn how to monitor your child’s activities on the Internet. It’s actually quite simple.

Other people will try to rip you off using fake auctions. One trick of some Internet auction sites is to conduct several, small transactions so you build up a good rating. Then the crook offers something of real value, you win the auction, send the check or even worse, turn over your credit card information, and then wait for something that never arrives.

Have you ever received an official notice from what appears to be your bank or a government agency? These look absolutely legitimate, right down to logos, language and forms asking for your personal information. This kind of online fraud is called phishing. I received one such e-mail last week. It had the logo of my bank on it and informed me that my account was locked and that I needed to click on the supplied link to verify my account information. It looked official, but misspellings, poor grammar, etc. quickly confirmed my suspicions. I notified the bank and deleted the e-mail.

Thousands of people fall for these phishing schemes each and every day, and lose their money, identity or both.

O.K., I guess I’ve scared you a bit. Truth be known, the Internet can be a very safe place. It’s a place to conduct business, to learn, to meet people and to expand your life experience. Who could have imagined earning a college degree from a prestigious university via computer, buying a car or booking a dream vacation via computer?

When you were a child your parents always told you to look both ways before crossing the street, you have to do the same thing on the information superhighway.

Like the folks who thought they were safe living in that gated community, don’t be lulled into a false sense of security.

Working with Hitchcock was a great experience. I think you’ll both enjoy and be enlightened by this new set of lessons, available either on CD-ROM or online, which can be streamed directly to your computer.

Have prosperous and safe, 2008.

-John

John W. Scherer

Video Professor Version 21.0 aka I can’t wait for ’08!

Wow, another year has flown by. Why do they seem to go by faster the older one gets? I’ll save that subject for a future blog.

This certainly is a time that people tend to look back. But, since I started this company I’ve always preferred to look ahead. Rearview mirrors are great in cars but not in business. Always best to keep your focus on the road ahead.

That said, 2007 was a challenging year for most businesses. The folks who run Wall Street acted like drunken sailors with money to burn. They burned so much of our money, but of course, not their own. More than ever, people are looking for maximum value and customer service for every dollar they spend. Both are something we’ve been proud to offer since we started, in 1987.

I’ve stayed in business for two decades by watching my pennies and hiring good people. So far so good!

This is a good time to salute the hard work and generosity of our Video Professor team. Recently, they collected over 330 gifts for 110 needy families through the Salvation Army Angel Tree Project, over 850 food items and hundreds of dollars to the Jeffco Action Center, dozens of coats to people in need, plus gift cards and turkeys for holiday dinners. Many of our employees are active volunteers in the community. I’m proud of them all and I fully support their efforts.

As a company we were able to donate to groups like the Fisher House Foundation™, which provides a free place to stay for families of our soldiers recovering from illness and injury at Military hospitals. Also, to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver that makes a difference in the lives of 9,000 terrific kids each and every day. We just presented a check to Jeffco Action Center as well. They tell us that families who used to come in one door to donate food, clothing and shelter, now come in another door to get help themselves. All of these nonprofits have coveted 4-star ratings by Charity Navigator, which analyzes and rates the financial health and efficiency of charities and nonprofits in the U.S.(www.charitynavigator.org

We also donate computer lessons to many nonprofit organizations which include computer education as a part of their programs. We recently helped the New Horizons Independent Living Center in Shreveport, La. Daryn Broussard runs the program there and tells us “The tutorials we received have worked marvelously. Our students report an overall positive experience with the Video Professor products.” We’re glad to have helped you and your clients Daryn.

O.K., lets move on to next year.

I can’t recall ever looking forward to a year like I am 2008. There’s an excitement at our corporate headquarters that’s simply contagious. It’s generated by some of the team who’ve been with me since day one. It’s also fueled by a new generation of leaders and technical wizards who’ve recently joined us.

Video Professor is known for our lessons that teach you everything you need to know about operating your computer. But, when you look at our library of over 50 titles, you’ll also see lessons about online travel, buying and selling on eBay®, online investing and how to connect and actually use all those new digital toys you found under the tree.

We’ve taught a generation how to use their computers. Now we’re teaching them along with new customers how to get the most benefit and value out of their computers. All this technology is designed to make our lives easier, more productive and simply more efficient. You just have to know how.

I know Internet safety is an important issue for the entire family. We’ll be revisiting that subject with a terrific new tutorial being released in just a few days. Definitely content you can use.

Finally, our list of titles is going to increase dramatically from dozens to thousands in 2008. If you can place a “How to” in front of it, we’ll have a tutorial for you. While CD-ROM lessons are still a part of our business, we’ll be making a very strong move to provide lesson material that can be streamed directly to your computer.

It will be easier and faster than ever before to start learning with Video Professor.

2008 promises to be an exciting year. I wish all of you a most happy and prosperous New Year and promise you that whether or not you agree with everything I post on my blogs each week, I will sign my real name to it!

Never hesitate to contact me at ceo@videoprofessor.com.

-John

John W. Scherer

The Mitchell Report: Major League Baseball’s dark cloud

Shoeless Joe Jackson must be smiling somewhere. Along with his fellow Chicago White Sox players, Jackson is finally off the hook, the 1921 Black Sox scandal is no longer the worst disgrace in baseball history.

There are far more opinions about the Mitchell Report than there are actual findings issued by former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell on the use of performance enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball. Almost everyone has an opinion, including me.

Let me say this right now. I’m old school. Baseball is a game to be played on green grass, on warm afternoons under the bluest of skies. The game itself doesn’t have to be played by saints. Hank Aaron was darn near perfect while Mantle and Ruth were far from it. What made them all special is that they played the game with a level of integrity baseball needs to remain America’s favorite past time.

But the list of names in the Mitchell report is staggering and stunning.

The numbers: 409 pages. 86 names. 30 teams.

We expected to hear about Barry Bonds, but Roger Clemens? Clemens was known for his seven Cy Young Awards, but now people will only think about his 82 mentions in this report. Ouch.

Let’s begin where the stink starts: Bud Selig and Donald Fehr. Selig, by any measure, is the weakest commissioner in the history of baseball. Fehr, heads the Major League Baseball Players Association, the players’ union, is equally complicit. They’ve always known and they’ve done nothing. I would hate to look under the rugs in their offices.

Both should step down immediately. Of course, they won’t. Selig will hide behind record attendance and revenue numbers. Same goes for Fehr, the only thing we have to fear is Fehr himself.

It doesn’t help matters that Sen. Mitchell is on the board of directors of the Boston Red Sox. Which makes him an insider. He does, however, have a well earned reputation as a respected and honest man. So while his report has no legal weight behind it, it is a damning indictment that the past 20 years of baseball will forever be known as the Steroid Era.

Numerous records, awards and even World Series titles are tainted forever.

Congress, of course, will call hearings; they love to do these sorts of things. It gives them plenty of face-time for the folks back home. Unfortunately, while Congress loves to hear, it seldom listens and they will do nothing. It’s what these appointed officials do best.

But when every single team in Major League Baseball is named, teams that play in stadiums financed by you and me, action needs to be taken. Selig says the “report is a call to action” and that “[he] will act.” We’ll see.

So, will Roger Clemens be locked out, instead of a lock for the Hall of Fame? That will be decided by voters who are all a part of this sorry mess.

To be fair, everyone named in the report deserves a chance to defend themselves. It is indeed likely that some of the players named did nothing wrong at all. Major League Baseball commissioned the report and now must deal with the consequences. 

There is simply too much dirt hidden under the rug to hide anymore.

Here is my solution, simply step up or step aside. All the members of Congress, should have hearings, bring in league officials, owners and players, and meet in private if they have to. (There will be less showboating that way.) The best way to handle this is to listen, then act and give us a plan.

Make testing for steroids and other human growth drugs mandatory. Testing would be random and conducted by an outside independent agency. If a player tests positive, they’re off the team for good. One strike and you’re out. What possibly could the players’ union have against that? What honest player wants to play against a cheater?

 We’re going to hold every member accountable which you will see at voting and ticket booths. Some fresh leadership is in order.

The report is out, what’s done is done. I agree with Sen. Mitchell, to a point. Let’s not hang the players out to dry. The people in charge weren’t doing their jobs. In fact, they failed miserably. Let’s hold Selig and Fehr accountable instead. Moving forward, everyone knows what the rules are. Life and business are all about rules.

There are rules for fans. If I throw a bottle on to the field or chase after an umpire, your tossed out, arrested or both. No second strike. Fans have a clear choice: behave yourself and  enjoy the game, but if you do something stupid, you’ll be tossed out.

Players should follow the same rules. Behave yourself and enjoy the game.  Do something stupid, like take performance-enhancing drugs and you’ll be the one tossed out.

I’m just one fan who hopes the game can save itself, from itself. I’m not an optimist.

What do you think? Share your thoughts with me at ceo@videoprofessor.com.

-John

John W. Scherer

My name is URL

I thought about calling this blog “Shootout at the E-comm Corral.”

E-comm is short for electronic commerce, which is business conducted over the Internet. We love jargon in this industry, so we often refer to it as e-commerce or e-comm. We might even shorten it to EC one day, but I can assure you it’s anything but EZ.

Enough with the one-liners, even if they are intentional. What was once “the wave of the future,” has become more like a Tsunami.

You’ve likely conducted electronic commerce, which is when you buy something on the Internet. Perhaps you were notified by e-mail from businesses you have bought from concerning a sale, or perhaps you followed a link suggested in an e-mail.

Imagine a shopping mall with millions of stores. Then imagine the many ways they would try to get your attention: huge billboards and signs, people handing out pamphlets, or even being lost and wandering into the wrong store, where they make it very difficult to leave. All of these methods have electronic equivalents that exist today.

E-commerce is a business full of terms like SEO (Search Engine Optimization) the process of improving the volume and the quality of traffic to a web site,  URL’s (Uniform Resource Locator) which specifies an actual web site address, keywords and new terms being developed every day.

We have a very talented team of professionals here at Video Professor who specializes in all of this. In fact, they’re pioneers of sorts, whose ancestors settled the West in the 1800s.

That’s where “Shoot-out at the E-comm Corral” comes in. Cities like Tombstone, Ariz. sprung up overnight. It was a wild and wooly place, until lawmen like Wyatt Earp brought in a little law and order. While the early Western towns were full of fine, law-abiding folks, there were also more than a few villains.

The Wild West relates to e-commerce due to issues like cyber squatters that buy up domain names of very familiar or popular brands, but with slight misspellings. We often type faster than our brains can keep up, or misspell the URL we’re looking for. Cyber squatters want you to end up at a web site much different than what you intended. It could be a pornographic web site or one that is simply designed to steal your identity. Some very important companies recognize how damaging this can be and are taking legal action. There aren’t many laws pertaining to this subject and lawmakers are finding it hard to keep up with the technology.

Another nasty bit of business going on the Internet these days are web sites designed to allow users to post blogs, or anything, for that matter, anonymously. Many allow people to make any claim they want and then sign their work with a false identity. Forget the facts, anyone can be falsely accused or slandered on these sites. There are sites that will charge money to clear your name and absolve you of wrongdoing. Whether you are part of a business or are a private individual, we’re all equal opportunity victims, so be careful.

You may have read about the 13-year-old girl who committed suicide as the result of false and hurtful postings made under a phony name. This is all protected by what some would consider free speech. I wonder how the parents of the young girl feel about this falling under First Amendment rights. These were not just innocent postings; they were malicious attacks made on a young girl, which inevitably lead to her taking her own life.

The great thing about the Internet is that everyone has access. The bad thing about the Internet is that everyone has access.

Again, technology is moving much faster than litigation and businesses, so government agencies are starting to take notice. Just like in the old West, people are calling for law and order. It is on the way, it is hard to say how long it will take, but it will be good for all of us.

This is obviously a hot-button topic. I’d like to hear your thoughts. Send an e-mail to ceo@videoprofessor.com and let me know how you feel.

-John

John W. Scherer

To TiVo® or not to TiVo? That is the question

You may have read recent news stories about the just–completed, November television ratings period. It’s a time for networks and their local affiliates to get a measure of who is watching and who is not.

These rating periods are conducted four times each year in November, February, May and July. You’ll have no problem noticing these occasions because it’s when the networks air their most popular shows’ premieres and   promote various new series.

A company called Nielsen Media Research measures the results which are critical to programmers as it sets the rate they’re able to charge people like me for commercials..

One method involves a group of selected viewers filling out diaries and sending them in. Others have boxes hooked up to their TV’s in order to electronically measure viewing data. In a market like Denver, between 4-600 viewers are needed to make up the sample to be able to measure the viewing habits of hundreds of thousands of people.

But is measurement technology keeping up with viewing technology?

Here’s an example that one of our staff here at Video Professor shared with me.

He watches programs like NBC’s “Meet the Press” and CBS’s “Face the Nation”, at his leisure instead of Sunday mornings when they both air. He can watch them later that evening or while eating lunch on Mondays. Both programs are available as podcasts which he watches on his video iPod® player.

On a recent Tuesday night he watched episodes of “Shark” airing on  Sunday evenings on CBS, and “Heroes,” airing on Monday evenings on NBC,  via DVR (Digital Video Recorder.) He enjoys being able to skip through commercials, two hours of programming is compressed into less than 90 minutes.

He also mentioned that at least twice that Tuesday evening, he checked in with a local station’s news website via his BlackBerry ® device. He didn’t have to watch a traditional newscast to find out the news, weather and sports he needed.  I just hope he read the e-mail I sent to that very same BlackBerry about getting next year’s budget numbers in!

So, while he does watch some programming live, much of his news and information comes via delay on the DVR, his iPod or BlackBerry device. So it appears that while he watches, he’s not one of the counted.

Companies like Nielsen are working hard to catch up with technology, like many of us these days. While technology moves ahead at what seems light speed, the methods to measure it, and legislate it effectively, move far slower. So, is that good or bad? Do you even care?

However, that’s just part of the equation. You could get your news on the Internet and comment about with a blog, like I do. Some blogs are extremely influential in politics, business and entertainment.

While you may be watching a show on television or your iPod, others are listening to music on their MP3 players, playing video games, watching movies on their home theater systems, or downloading video to their computer. Nowadays, people are not just watching television. We have many choices, whether it’s between a satellite provider or cable company, both are  available in HD (High Definition) which is optional. There are even more choices with the invention of HDTV, built-in digital video recorders and third party hardware such as  TiVo ®  digital video recorder.

Here’s the bottom line: Technology is doing what it’s supposed to be doing: Empowering you, the consumer, with choices. Networks do not dictate when or how you watch. You do. When there isn’t something interesting to watch in  our 500 channel universe; you now have so many other choices.

All of us here at Video Professor have been paying very close attention to this surge in technology since we started working on our Digital Devices Made Easy tutorial. We learned from our own experiences, plus those of our customers that while all this technology is fabulous, understanding how it works can be quite frustrating. We’ve also learned from all the lessons we’re selling, you will continue to come to us for help.

It reminds me of when I first started Video Professor over 20 years ago, people knew that computers were the future. They knew that like it or not, computers would become a part of their every day lives. They just needed someone to teach them how to operate their machines.

Technology we could only dream about 20 years ago, including  HDTV’s, iPods and digital video recorders are here to stay. So, the technology has changed. What hasn’t changed is that we simply need to learn how to operate it all!

I guess it’s true, the more things change, the more they stay the same. We’re happy to keep up with it all in order to help you keep up with it all.

I’m curious as to how the many home entertainment choices available today are used in your house. Share your stories with me at ceo@videoprofessor.com.

I look forward to hearing from you.

-John

John W. Scherer