Author Archive
Yesterday the Wall Street Journal reported that Facebook wants to allow kids under 13 into their social media club. It seems that because about 7.5 million kids under 13 are already using Facebook, Mark Zuckergerg thinks it is OK to open this Pandora’s box further.
My client, Gwenn O’Keeffe, MD, a pediatrician CEO & Editor In Chief of Pediatrics Now speaks out against this move in her Huffington Post blog.
Author of CyberSafe: Protecting and Empowering Kids in the Digital World of Texting, Gaming, and Social Media (AAP 2010), Dr. Gwenn is one of the most highly sought after pediatric and social media experts today.
THIS ANGELIC LAND – One Man’s Journey Through Riot-Torn Los Angeles
Aris Janigian’s third novel This Angelic Land is a poignant story of 27 year-old Adam Derderian’s journey to find his place in America. His family, having fled from Beirut, have settled in L.A.’s Little Armenia. The backdrop is the LA riots of 1992 and Adam’s quest to make sense of it all — but the story takes the reader in and out of the six-day riots back to Adam’s childhood in Lebanon, his college friendship with a Hancock Park playboy, an academic, and a Kurdich scenic artist. Beautifully crafted, Janigian, never ceases to surprise the reader. It is a book you don’t want to put down and a story you don’t want to end because the writing and the characters are so compelling. I highly recommend This Angelic Land.
D. J. Waldie call’s This Angelic Land “Today’s necessary book” during his commentary at KCET. Read D. J. Waldi’s review in the Los Angeles Review of Books.
Another review was posted on the OC Weekly blog.
To read an excerpt of the novel click here.
To order your copy click here.
Praise for Bloodvine
“Aris Janigian is a strong, welcome new voice.” Los Angeles Times
“(An) absorbing debut novel…(Janigian) brings immediacy and naturalism to the story of the Armenians who immigrated to California.” Washington Post
Praise for Riverbig
…”an engrossing, satisfying tale of betrayal, feud and redemption.” Publisher’s Weekly
About the Author
Aris Janigian is the author of Bloodvine, and Riverbig, and the co-author, with April Greiman, of Something for Nothing. From 1993 to 2005 he was senior professor of Humanities at Southern California Institute of Architecture. He was a contributing writer to West, the Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine, a finalist for the William Saroyan Fiction Prize, and the recipient of the Anahid Literary Award from Columbia University. He is a contributing writer to thenervousbreakdown.com.
My client parenting expert, Betsy Brown Braun talks to Vicky and Jen: What Really Matters about kids today and playdates. Playdates come with issues: different parenting styles, new rules, safety concerns, bad kids and left behind siblings. Parents need solutions. Betsy Brown Braun gives listeners the protocol for productive and stress-free playdates. Have a listen here.
You can find Betsy’s books – Just Tell Me What To Say and You’re Not The Boss of Me on Amazon.
My client, Karen L. Schiltz, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in private practice, specializing in the clinical and forensic neuropsychological assessment of children, adolescents, and young adults was asked to contribute to Atriumpsych.com. Her article One Suit Doesn’t Fit All: The Role of Pediatric, Young Adult Clinical and Forensic Neuropsychological Assessments outlines the different needs of clinical and forensic assessments when dealing with children and young adults.
Dr. Schiltz is the author of Beyond the Label: A Guide to Unlocking a Child’s Educational Potential (Oxford University Press).
My client, Nina L. Shapiro, MD, FACS, FAAP Director, Pediatric Otolaryngology and Associate Professor of Surgery at the UCLA School of Medicine shares insights on how to avoid a painful summer in her feature article in Westside Today.
Dr. Shapiro is the author of Take a Deep Breath: Clear The Air For The Health Of Your Child (World Scientific, January 2012)
Here are her suggestions to avoid ‘swimmer’s ear.”
The joys of swimming, toned moms, and tired tykes. But, like with most things in life there is also a downside to this stellar summer exercise: swimmer’s ear. A seasonal nuisance for both children and adults “otitis externa,” or “outer ear infection” as it technically referred to, is oftentimes painful. But, there are some precautions that can be taken to minimize ones’ chances of suffering an earful of hurt.
Swimmer’s Ear is caused by swelling and irritation of the skin of the ear canal. What causes this skin to go bad? The bacteria, or fungus, growing rapidly thanks to the warmth, water and humidity of watery settings. When water gets trapped in the ear canal, bacteria that usually exist quietly in the skin begin to grow, as these organisms are nurtured by these moist environs, resulting in their multiplying, thus causing swelling and pain. Other common symptoms include itchiness; wet, sticky drainage from the ear; pain when touching the ear; and occasionally fever, hearing loss, or facial swelling and redness. Once these microbial critters are entrenched, the infection can spread to the rest of the outer ear and face, so treatment, an antibiotic or antifungal eardrop, prescribed by your doctor, is a necessity. It’s also best to stay out of the water until the infection clears.
So how can you and your family avoid going down this moisture-fed rabbit hole? Here are some tips.
1. When you get out of the water, get the water out.
When you or your tyke exits the pool, gently dry the outside of the ear with a towel. If your child hasn’t had any ear surgery, including ear tubes, it’s safe to use an over-the-counter alcohol-based eardrop, which helps absorb ear canal moisture after swimming. If it still feels like water is trapped, set a hair dryer on a low, warm setting, and gently dry the ear, holding the hair dryer at least six inches from the skin.
2. Water, water go away – you won’t be in my canal today.
If you or your kids like to wear earplugs, then make sure that they are properly fitted so that they can help cut out or down on water entry into the canal in the first place.
3. Key Tip: No Q-Tip
DO NOT use cotton-tipped applicators. These are actually the second most common culprits of “swimmer’s ear,” after swimming itself. While it feels like these implements “clean” the ear of wax, water, and debris, they actually strip the delicate ear canal skin of its protective lining, thus enabling the aforementioned critters to take hold. If you must ‘clean’ your kids ears, use the corner of a washcloth to rub away what you can see. When using a cotton-tipped applicator, you remove only a little bit of wax, and push the rest into the deeper part of the ear canal, which inevitably leads to a big pain in the…ear.
Remember what your mother, grandmother and great-grandmother said when grooming ears: “Nothing smaller than your elbow in your ear!”
The May/June issue of Calgary’s Child features an article by client, Karen L. Schiltz, PhD called “Why Don’t They Like Me: 30 Social Skill Shortcomings.” In this article, Dr. Schiltz discusses the importance of positive peer relations among children and what are the signs that your child may have problems interacting with other children.
Karen L. Schiltz, Ph.D., is the author of Beyond The Label: A Guide to Unlocking a Child’s Educational Potential (Oxford University Press, September 2011).
My client, parenting expert, Betsy Brown Braun, recently appeared on MyFoxLA to talk about the preschool application process.
Here’s some of her tips:
1. Consider the location – Traveling too far, too long in the car, is not good for the child, for the parent, or for the environment.
2. Consider the philosophy of the school – Every school has a different philosophy the educational philosophy and approach to child development. You need to agree with it.
3. Consider the director – Are you comfortable with that person? They hire the teachers who disseminate the educational philosophy – this is the person who will help and support you through all the trials you will experience in raising a young child.
4. Consider the culture of the school – This doesn’t refer to the ethnic culture. It is who the families are and if you feel aligned with them, if you speak the same language (they will be your friends forever.)
You can find Betsy’s books – Just Tell Me What To Say and You’re Not The Boss of Me on Amazon.
Pilates Trainer to the Stars Mari Winsor on Staying Fit Over 40
Cindy Pearlman’s exclusive one-on-one interview with Fitness Guru Mari Winsor for StyleGoesStrong.com
No one does The Hundred quite like Mari Winsor. Of course, she also does a mean Rolling Like a Ball.
If this means nothing then you’re not versed in the ways of Pilates.
Mari has trained all the Hollywood A-listers and did so in the days when Pilates just sounded like some sort of dish at a fancy restaurant.
The breathing-stretching-deep-core workout is actually one of the ways most Hollywood A-listers stay so toned.
Now, you can do the same sort of routines at home with Mari’s newest DVD, Lower Body Pilates, which will be released March 6 and can be found on Amazon.com and ShopGaiam.com.
Mari found some time to get off her mat and answer some over 40 body questions:
SGS: What are the challenges for women over 40 when it comes to fitness?
MW: “That’s a tough question because I consider forty and over to be still young. If someone does not keep up a routine of fitness before 40, they may notice changes in strength, flexibility and endurance. There are so many choices for fitness. It’s important to choose something you like, so you will stick with it. Consistency is very important. If you get in to great shape then stop as you get older, it just takes longer to get back in shape.”
SGS: What is the appeal of Pilates for us over 40s?
MW: “Pilates exercise when done correctly will help to keep you strong, flexible, graceful, more coordinated and more connected with your own body. It’s also great for your spine and joints.”
SGS: Do you need to be toned and flexible to start?
MW: “Anyone can start Pilates exercise at any fitness level. There are always modifications for exercises. We always say if a particular exercise doesn’t feel right, leave it out. For the more advanced person, there are many challenges.”
SGS: Why are the lower abs so hard to tone?
MW: “Lower abs are part of your Pilates powerhouse! They very important to use for balance, stability and movement. Many exercise regimes focus on external movement, which makes it more difficult to get those hard to reach areas. We focus in Pilates with every movement being initiated from your powerhouse. This will strengthen and tone your tummy everywhere faster than doing 300 crunches every day.
SGS: Can you also give us some tips for arm fat…we hate it!
MW: Light weights or resistance for the arms will help with unwanted fat. Diet, however, plays a major role in getting rid of unwanted fat. Cut out sugar and eat less of the starches and eat smaller meals. Stay away from carbonated drinks and stay hydrated!.
SGS: What are your favorite 3-4 Pilates positions for over 40 ladies?
MW: “I like The 100, The Roll Up and Criss Cross.”
SGS: What are your favorite diet tips?
MW: “If you drink alcohol every night then cut down to one drink two times a week. The weight will fly off your body. Don’t give in to the temptation of a wonderful dessert, although once in a while it is okay. You don’t want to feel deprived. Don’t skip breakfast and don’t eat too close to bedtime.”
SGS: What do you eat during an average day?
MW: “For breakfast I might have an egg burrito, scrambled eggs or egg white omelet. Maybe, I’ll add one piece of whole grain toast with no butter, but I will use apple butter. I’ll drink some coffee. For snacks, maybe I’ll have some almonds or some other form of protein. Lunch and dinner are veggies and a piece of protein. I love eating an apple with a little bit of cheese. I don’t eat close to bedtime.”
SGS: What else do you do to stay fit besides Pilates?
MW: “I love to walk and I take at least three ballet classes a week. Of course, I do Pilates workout every day!
SGS: Switching over to style, what are your favorite skincare tips?
MW: “I use La Mer skin products for my face and body. It’s very dry in Southern California and I find that La Mer keeps my skin hydrated the best. Drinking water is also important for the health of your skin. I have been a sun-bunny most of my life, but that’s changing.”
SGS: Can we throw in a hair care tip?
MW: “I have gone to the same person to cut and color my hair for twenty years! Everyone needs an Art Luna for their hair. A lot of sun is not great for your hair. I think the less you do to your hair the better. I wore extensions for five years and it practically ruined my hair. It took a long time to get normal again.”
You’ve researched your target list, crafted a great pitch, and sent it out to the appropriate contact. Your pitch was timely and newsworthy. Now what? How do ensure your pitch will avoid getting tossed in the trash and making it to print or the airwaves?
Getting attention has as much to do with the fine art of follow up as it does with the pitch itself.
Think about your contact, the producer, the editor, and walk in their shoes. They are constantly on deadline getting their current news story on-air or in print and perhaps also trying to make it out the door in time to see their kid’s softball game. And all the while, your pitch lands in their mailbox amongst 100 other PR specialists vying for their attention.
If your pitch is as well written as you think it is, and has a catchy subject line and lead paragraph, they might actually save it in midst of their already busy news schedule for further thought – when the time is right. But, more often a pitch can go unanswered and forgotten, if there is no follow-up – because your contact is just busy.
So what do you do? AJGpr, a Los Angeles PR firm, has some tips to share.
Let at least two days go by and call. Why? Because you want to remind your contact that your pitch was sent and get it back on their radar.
But what you do when your contact answers the phone is just as important as a well-crafted pitch? There are rules for the follow up with journalists, and if a break them, your pitch and your relationship make go by the wayside for good. So, make the call and:
Keep it Short, Simple, and Snappy – Your follow-up phone call should last three to four minutes tops. DO NOT RAMBLE. If need be, write a script and practice introducing yourself, reminding the contact (in a few short sentences) why you’re calling, and asking if they’re interested in covering the story. If they say no, thank them for their time and hang the phone up politely
Be Prepared – Your contact may very well be interested in your story, but remember they may also be on deadline when you call. Be cordial and ask when there might be a better time to talk. If in fact, they are interested in hearing the pitch again — be prepared to answer questions, provide quotes and facts, and offer to resend the initial pitch if necessary.
Do Not Sell – This is not the time to SELL the story. If they remember the initial pitch and want to hear more – the door is open. But if they are not interested even the best sales pitch will not persuade them if they’ve already determined that the story is not a fit. So again, say thank you and move on.
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