Vegas - Oh so good and Oh, so bad!

The good news? Las Vegas showcases the best the United States has to offer.  The not-so-good?  It also showcases the country’s worst.

I love Vegas.  I’m not ashamed to admit it.  It’s bundles of fun.  The city never sleeps.  You  can do what you want, when you want it – as long as you can pay for it.  It’s perhaps the purest example of capitalism one can find – and there’s nothing wrong with a solid dose of it from time-to- time, just to keep things in perspective.

Vegas is built on illusion, trickery and facades to survive– and that it not only is surviving, but thriving - is proof positive the city’s on to a winning formula.  That also means the tricks and illusions have to get more impressive year-after-year.  It's city where we all go to be wowed.

I can hang, eat, drink, gamble and be merry with the best of them, (my close friends can attest) but this last week, I smelled, saw and heard some stuff during my 4-day stay there, that frankly, is disturbing.

Remember the lovely coconut aroma permeating the air in the Mirage and Mandalay Bay, or the old-lady perfume smell in the Venetian.   I asked employees at each of these hotels if they pump this scent through the air system.  The answer?  Nope!  Well, a little research revealed otherwise.  Aroma Systems Inc. manufactures the devices that do just that. And they list these and other Vegas resorts as their clients. Visit their website and see for yourself.

Vegas is so unreal and so far from the general populace’s reality that it’s actually dangerous.  A few years ago, one of the think-tanks surveyed ten-thousand tourists, each of whom had been to Paris, London, Sydney and the Vegas strip for vacation, (there’s nothing slouchy about any of these places).  Three guesses which city caused each tourist to be most depressed when leaving?  Well – you won’t need three guesses silly – Vegas caused more depression than the other three cities – combined!  Here’s why:

1.      The Vegas strip is to civilization what North Korea is to human rights.  In other words, there is no notion of civilization on the strip.  Yeah, there are world class shows like numerous Cirque Du Soleils, famous magicians, singers and celebrity chefs, but that’s about as close to civilization as you’ll get on the strip.  It’s uncivilized that you won’t find a clock in a casino.  That’s because the passage of time represents reality – and who really wants that.  It’s even more uncivilized that you cannot find a newspaper on the strip --- again, newspapers are harsh bitter reality – reality that’s about as welcome as a festering rash on a baby’s bum. 

2.      It’s all – and only about the buck.  Think watching an iPad disappear before your eyes is neat?  Well, no need to pay Kris Angel or David Copperfield two bills.  Just leave yours unattended for 4-6 seconds.  Poof – t’will be gone. Everytime! 

3.      Everything is fleeting.  I was in the Mirage on election night --- what was on the hundreds of TV monitors scattered throughout?  Not the election results, but college football.  Am I kidding?  Hell no!

4.      The strip is designed to consume your mind, body and soul, (not to mention your pocketbook).

a.      I almost lost my mind walking down the strip when I ran into two (obviously very very inebriated) middle-aged women physically entangled with one-another in an awful cat-fight.  Trust me, it was not a pleasant sight – but that was nothing compared to a bunch of 6 twenty-something testosterone-filled young men, egging them on.

b.      It’s hard on the body knowing The Bellagio, Caesars Augustus Tower and Treasure Island all have an architectural feature designed to trick the eye into seeing the buildings as smaller (thus closer) than they really are. Each window covers four rooms on two floors. Wynn Las Vegas uses the same trick, in that there are two floors between each white stripe. Click here to see some examples. 

c.       The soul?  There ain’t no soul on the strip baby!  It’s best summed up in a song by Sheryl Crow.  “Leaving Las Vegas” one of my favorites --- “Life springs eternal on a gaudy, neon street. Not that I care at all. Spent the best part of my losing streak in an army Jeep from what I can recall. Oh, I'm banging on my TV set.  And I check the odds and I, and I place my bet.  Pour a drink and I pull the blinds.  I wonder what I'll find”.

The bottom line.  It’s a city you either love or you hate.   Personally, I love it – I can draw the line between the artificial bling on the strip and my life - I know full well Vegas represents the diametric opposite of everything the mind, body and soul of John Sacke stands up for and believes in.

Meanwhile, I’m gonna get to rounding up a bunch of friends so we can plan our next trip back.  Viva Las Vegas!

 

 

 

 

Now I Am Beyond Peeved Off - This is Ridiculous

OK, last week I was peeved at our government for outsourcing production of Canadian Passport covers to a Netherlands-based company, that purported to be a Canadian company.  And this week, it only gets worse.

Get this. The Toronto District School Board is concerned that calling “Halloween” Halloween is offensive to some.  Huh???  You boneheads. 

Nope, I’m not joking.  They’ve sent out a guide, aptly entitled “A Teaching Resource for dealing with Sensitive Issues in Toronto District School Board Classrooms.” 

And if that was not enough, they’re recommending Halloween be renamed “Black and Orange Day”.   Utter balderdash and it makes my blood boil.  Whether you’re wiccan (I understand they celebrate the holiday), or pagan, (I understand they don’t celebrate anything) or atheist (I understand they don’t believe there is a G_d), Halloween is Halloween – and if you don’t like it --- well --- you can go straight to hell.   

You know what?  I am getting offended at people who’ve got nothing better to do than be easily and permanently offended at something, anything.    

G_d forbid you wish someone “Happy Christmas”, only to find out they don’t celebrate it, or even worse, call it by a different name.  Christmas is almost a curse word now.  It’s now “the festive season” (how convenient) and if someone is not festive at the year-end – well, shame on you for not having known that. 

I am a proud, card-carrying Jew.  Always have been.  Always will.   I identify myself as such, so does my wife and kids. I love Israel and believe it belongs to the jews.   

I don’t celebrate Halloween.  I celebrate Purim, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and the like.  Halloween’s  just not a Jewish concept.  And that’s fine, I promise.  Halloween’s a fun holiday for those that choose to celebrate it.  They dress up.  They scream and shout.  And they stuff themselves full of candy.  It’s harmless fun. What’s the matter with that?  Nothing!

A long time ago, a Rabbi told me, “There are different religions, and each should be allowed to celebrate their religious beliefs in the way in which they’re accustomed.  We’re not all the same – and although Canada and every other civilized country may be a melting pot of immigrants, each should hold by their culture.”  I could not agree more.

Muslims should celebrate Ramadan.  It’s a tenet of Islam.  Jews, Passover and all the other holidays.  It’s what keeps us jewish.  Christians, Christmas – and no, it should still be called “Christmas”, despite what some lunatics say.  (Those same lunatics want to ban the nativity scene --- Pu-leeeaaase!!!)   And African-Americans, Kwanzaa.    You get the picture!

So, I want to take this moment to wish everyone a Happy Halloween.  And an especially Happy Halloween if you’re one of those idiots on the Toronto District School Board who want to call Halloween, “Black and Orange Day”

Oh – and please – don’t razor-blade my candies or egg my house after you’ve stuffed your mouths full of Halloween candies.

Shalom- if that's not too much to ask!

 

I'm Peeved Off With Canada Right Now.

I’m a proud Canadian.  I arrived in Toronto on July 1, 1988.  Became a citizen in 1991 and I love this country.  Come to my house and you’ll see the Canadian flag flying high at our door.  I doff my cap at anthem time when I see the Leafs, Jays or Raptors.  I joyfully cried when the Kid scored to win Olympic Gold in overtime.  You get the picture!

But I’m peeved off at Canada right now.  Really Peeved off.

I understand the concept of economics as well as anyone.    Comparative advantage is important too.  Very simply, it means that countries should produce according to their strengths and import goods that they can’t produce themselves.

But when it comes to Canada’s iconic passport covers - economic concepts like comparative advantage should be thrown out the window:  right out the window.

I heard today that Canadian Bank Note, an Ottawa-based company has been given the federal contract to produce Canadian passport covers.  Good, but there’s a fly in the ointment.   They’re outsourcing the job to a company in the Netherlands, forcing Ontario-based Columbia Finishing Mills, the company that produced the passport covers for the past three decades to lay off 25% of their staff.

I’m as a-political as they get – in other words I believe that all politicians, with rare exception will do whatever it takes to get the vote.   Compromise your ethics to win the vote?  Check!  Badmouth the other guy to win the vote?  Check!  Suck and blow at the same time to get the vote?  Sure!

Rick Roth, press secretary for Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said the government had nothing to do with the decision to outsource the work and that Canadian Bank Note was chosen because "it was the only company capable of printing the documents in Canada."

Baloney!

Shouldn't 'made in Canada' have been a stipulation in the contract?  And if the feds were unaware that Columbia Finishing Mills were outsourcing the job to a Netherlands-based company, what does that say about the concept of due diligence?  Apparently, not much!

Sadder, is that this is not the first time Canadian symbols have been made abroad. In 2009, the ministry of Canadian Heritage bought $200,000 worth of Canadian flag pins imported from China.  And more recently, lapel pins commissioned by the Harper government and distributed during the diamond jubilee celebrations were also made in China.

OK, so it may be cheaper to get the stuff in China.  But should Canadian symbols, like passports in particular, be just about dollars and cents.  These are Canadian icons – and things that should be nearest and dearest to our collective hearts.  Problem is they’re not.

Let’s show some gold old fashioned patriotism here and demand that our national symbols be made by Canadians in Canada.

  

I agree with a comment I heard yesterday, (typo included) – “Think about it. If the government is so gun ho about saving money, maybe we should outsource our government too.”

 Peace, especially to all those on Parliament Hill, soon to be located in China.  

Long-term Friendships Have Their Benefits

I’m a marketer - and like all astute marketers, I place great importance on relationships. It’s what keeps guys like me going.  Not only can relationships be good for the pocket-book, but far more importantly, they can be particularly good for the heart.  

Yesterday, I saw a story out of Florida, about a Joseph Katz and an Al Spiegal.  I’ve never heard of either guy - but their story’s really cool.  You see, just last week, not only did each celebrate their 100^th birthdays, but they celebrated 91-years of being best friends.  Remarkable.  I know!

"We've been friends since we were 10-years-old. We both went to the same elementary school and we graduated from that same elementary school. We worked together for the same company and we kept our friendship together," Katz said.  


Katz and Spiegal, both originally from Brooklyn, New York, held their joint birthday partyat Inverrary Diner near their homes in Florida. Speigal's actual birthday was on August 26th, but he waited until his best friend's centennial celebration on September 29th to celebrate.  How’s that for being a gentleman!

"We could not wait. We've been dying for this, even before my son was born my grandfather told us he couldn't wait until 2012," Katz's granddaughter, Melissa Teger, 42, said.  "I'd say, 'Why Grandpa?' And he'd say, 'Because I'm going to be 100.' That was the driving force to keep him healthy and happy the last couple of years."

Remarkable!

I’m in my mid-forties.  I enjoy awesome relationships.  I count among my closest friends today my closest junior and high-school friends from Johannesburg.  There’s Peter G, Rob S, Howard S, Barry L, Dion J, Michael R, Hilton K and Mark N.  And although we’re now all scattered across North America, there’s nothing that any of those guys wouldn’t do for me or I wouldn’t do for them.    No question, old friendships run really deep.  In fact, they’re irreplaceable.

Let’s face it - we’re all busy no matter what we do.  As we age, we all have our issues to deal with - kids, health, finances, marriages, parents - you get the picture - and if we fail to make time for our friends, they’ll fail to make time for us.  Guaranteed.

Over the years, I’ve realized that we’re generally very bad at keeping in touch - this despite the fact that it’s easier than ever before.  And had Joseph and Al never kept in touch with none another, they certainly would never have enjoyed the party they did.  Perhaps one or neither would have even lived until 100.

Katz, who has 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, shared his secrets to a long life:

 "You don't reach 100 just like this. With your body, you've got to use it, not abuse it. Live the right kind of life. Take care of yourself," he said. "Eat the right kind of food. Don't smoke. Don't touch alcohol. Go ride a bike. Go ballroom dancing. Keep occupied and you'll make it."

He’s right. His last point --- "Keep occupied and you’ll make it" being "spot on!"
  
The bottom line’s clear - no-one is on this earth forever and everything good (or even bad) must and will come to an end. 

 The devil finds work for the idle. Everytime.  Bored? Nothing to do? At a loose end? Yeah, you can watch paint dry or bet on two roaches climbing the wall, or crash at the idiot box (something too many of us do) --- but that thinking’s going to kill you.
  
Do something good. Keep occupied. Keep in touch with someone.  It’s better for you (and every study’s proven that). You’ll be glad you did and maybe - just maybe - you’ll live longer. Or you can follow Katz’ last piece of advice - "Just keep breathing, that's the secret to my longevity."

Follow his ways or mine. You choose. Either way - live a long and happy life.  Just like Joseph and Al.  Now do something useful - reach out to an old friend.  Just say "Hi, how are ya"

Peace!

The Importance of The First Impression

I was almost through my teenage years (19 years old to be precise), when I had my ear pierced. I was not a stoner. I was not a bad or rebellious teenager and nor was I “troubled”. Au contraire.

I got it done “ just because”. It was fashionable. It was cool. It was the mid-80’s. And since I was working in my family’s record store at the time and going to university, I was good to go with an earring. In short, it was my image.

Three years later, I immigrated to Toronto. It took me a mere 8 days to learn how important first impressions were. I needed to get a job – a real job, and fast – and so my earring (without regret, I may add) had to go. Without question, image matters a lot. In the workplace, the evidence is even clearer. In a recent survey, developed by Accountemps, (a Robert Half company) and conducted by an independent research firm, 29% of respondents interviewed indicated it takes them less than five minutes to draw conclusions about an interviewee.

The bottom line - in today’s marketplace, job seekers don’t have much time to win over hiring managers. In the same survey, a full 52 percent of HR managers polled said they form a positive or negative opinion of candidates during interviews in 10 minutes or less.

“Image is everything today, especially as far as job seekers are concerned,” said Koula Vasilopoulos, a Vancouver-based, Senior Regional Vice President at Accountemps. “Not only do job seekers need to impress the interviewer, but they need to impress all others in the company with whom they’ve interviewed or even interacted.”

And here’s the rub. Our 15-year old son Jason is now looking for a part-time job – like any other teenager, he wants the iPhone 5. We’ve told him he can get one with his first (or rather his first few) paycheques. I helped him prepare a short resume. Told him do put on a nice pair of trousers with a dress shirt. He did. His tousled, teenage face was freshly washed and his hair neatly brushed. The preppy look. Bright-eyed and bushy tailed, and with his newly-minted resume in hand (with me in tow), we headed to our local mall yesterday: job-hunting.

He looked damn good, even if I say so myself. Jason’s a confident kid. He’d rehearsed his lines a few times with me. He had his act together.

He hit Pharma Plus, EB Games, HMV, No Frills and a few others – dropping résumés and completing applications. I’d hardly say he was interviewed, but a few managers saw him and seemed keen. I’d like to think he made a good impression in the 30-60 seconds he chatted to each. On our way home I told Jason that he should follow up this week with each application. “No” he said. “They’ll call me if they want to hire me.”   Yeah right! (is what I'm, thinking)

Koula and I both believe the follow-up is as (if not more) important than the initial encounter. He thinks not. But that’s OK. I’m just glad Jason is looking for work. To note, he’s also at the age where he thinks his parents are totally clueless about everything (sound familiar?). By the time he’s 20, we think, he think we’ll be smarter.

So, what are some tips I’d give Jason (or any other job-seeker).

Accountemps says it very well.

1. Attention to details. Shake hands firmly and maintain eye contact. Present a professional image. Ensure your shoes are shined, clothing is pressed, and nails are clean and trimmed.
 
2. Ace the likely questions. Make sure you know how you will respond to predictable questions, such as, “Can you tell me a little about yourself?” Research the firm before your interview and tap your network for their insights to enable you to couch your answers in the context of how you can help the company.
 
3. Don’t be cocky. Strike the right balance between presenting your accomplishments in a positive light and coming across as overly confident. Being arrogant is one of the worst mistakes a candidate can make.
 
4. Tell memorable stories. Give specific examples of how and why you’ve been successful. You’ll make a positive impression on hiring managers by sharing interesting anecdotes about how you solved tough business problems or saved an employer money.

5. Be yourself. Don’t come across as overly rehearsed. Interviewers want to get a sense of your personality and how you would fit into the office culture.

And in the coming weeks, I’ll tell you how Jason’s doing in his job search. Stay posted.

Help! I'm Having An Affair (With New York City)

I first met New York City in July 1981 when as a fresh-faced 15-year old kid, I went into Manhattan every day with my child-hood friend, Peter. We were young, naïve and innocent, bumming around as teenagers do, when we happened on Serendipity. We blew our daily budget on their decadent banana split, $8.95 in those days.

My letter of thanks to Serendipity’s founder, Calvin Holt started my love affair with that remarkable city – and things haven’t changed a bit.

I returned to New York City in 1983, met Calvin and worked at Serendipity for pocket money. We became fast friends – he was 55 at the time. A socialite. A bon vivante. A raconteur tres extraordinaire.

He showed me a side of the city that few adults ever see, let alone a seventeen year old kid from the backwaters of Africa.All nighters at Studio 54. Harvey Wallbangers galore. Long lunches on Hester Street. Whole days at the Met. Dinners at Lutece.

Sadly, Calvin departed this world - May 14, 1994. I still speak to Serendipity’s co-founder and the-late Calvin’s best friend – my friend Steven.

New York City – there is no city like you. Not quite 23 square miles big, Manhattan is home to some 1.8 million people – it’s crowded, yet sublime. And so very cosmopolitan. Where else in the world can you blow almost $700 for 250g of Osetra caviar and seconds later scarf down a street dog for a buck-and-a-half?
It’s appealing - despite the fact that I’d eat neither.

Fifteen years ago on a visit to New York City I found myself taking a train from Grand Central Station to Connecticut on a bitterly-cold and snowy Sunday night in February. It was about 9:30pm, and the station for once was eerily quiet. Ten feet away, a lone woman in a wheelchair began the familiar refrain … “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.... I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now, I see.”

It was like she was singing for me. Just me. Twenty minutes and four songs later, I’d emptied my pockets. So had dozens of others. I’d also missed my train. It didn’t matter.

Only in New York.

Eight years ago, I took my grand-uncle, Herbie, (then in his late seventies) a retired gynecologist (and the doctor who delivered me, by the way) to watch a Sampras-Agassi tennis match at the U.S Open Tennis in Flushing Meadows. We’re both huge tennis fans. After the game we stopped at the Second Ave. Deli – a kosher, New York City culinary institution. Herbie had the smoked meat sandwich; I had the pastrami on rye. With a couple of scotch and sodas each (Herbie’s signature drink) to wash our dinner down, we rolled out of there, tipsy and content.

I’ve made innumerable trips to that city – and the love affair continues.

Last weekend I was there again. As they say in Paris (my second most-favorite city) --- “Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose.”

This time, I did not go to my many favorite haunts. Instead I spent ten fantastic hours alone - wandering. Wandering here. Wandering there. I discovered the Chelsea Market. I had cappuccino on Mulberry Street. I went to the Beacon Theatre and then to Mario Batali’s Eataly. I walked Times Square. I also spent a tremendously inspiring hour pondering social media with Peter Shankman.

Most importantly, I went to Ground Zero where almost 11 years ago to the day, cowardly terrorists brought the World Trade Center down in a heinous act of crime against humanity. All humanity. And in doing so changed the world. I paused. I bowed my head. I paid my respects to the slain. The young. The innocent. The lost forever.

Then I moved on, bitter-sweet - blending in with the millions of New Yorkers hustling to get home for dinner.

Happy, sad, funny or bizarre experiences in New York City? Don't be shy! Write them below ---

The Edenbridge Street Party

We’ve been living in our house for almost 3 years now. The boss (a.k.a Karen) and I are Mr. and Mrs. Joe average. Million Dollar Family. Jason’s 15 and Amanda' 12. We have 2 cats, Miss Kitty and Orie. Without question, we have a lot and we have a lot of good things going on too.

So a few weeks ago, when I mentioned to Karen and my kids that we’re going to organize a street party, I got (well how do you say it) a less than warm reception. Since then, they’ve come around and are now enthusiastically (well sort of) helping to put this thing together. And that is a good thing. It’s called Teamwork. Very important.

We have about 40 families on our street. Numerous pets. Many teenagers. We’re a diverse bunch of people that live harmoniously together. Edenbridge Drive is a quiet street and nothing exciting seems to happen. Oh yeah – turnover is low too and property prices have kept their value. But I digress.

I’m big on two things: Marketing and learning. And in planning this party, here’s what I’ve learned about marketing and learning:

1. Engage – I can’t stress this enough! What I mean is that work with your fellow residents, stakeholders and clients at their level, not yours. Be one of them. Show you understand their thoughts and where they’re at. As it related to the party, I designed simple invitations, printed them out and walked them door to door. I’ve also spent considerable time on the street many evenings, chatting and talking and … you guessed it --- engaging. It’s easy and very effective. Marketers, listen up!

2. People like leaders (as long as the leader is likeable) – Anyone can arrange a street party – you don’t need much skill or experience. In fact it is pretty easy. But I took the initiative (like I have the time??) and am putting this together – the wife and kids are onboard too. And if responses are anything to judge by, I have some 20 families already committed, they’re all very grateful. This is a good thing! We hope to get 20 more families to come.

3. Keep it simple – I’m finding that simple is always better than complex. Ever seen those complex PR plans that seem to say the same thing three times over? That list co-dependencies and contain scary-looking Gantt charts, each color coded? Well, I saw such a plan a few weeks ago. Not only was it not pretty, but it’s not practical, it’s also way too expensive to implement and would marshal too much of the company’s already scarce resources. As it relates to the party, we’re keeping it simple. Burgers and dogs with all the fixings. Sodas, beer and wine to drink. And that’s it. That’s not to say I don’t appreciate everyone offering to bring something, but with it comes complexity. If there’s salads, there have to be plates and cutlery – and pails for all the garbage – and serving spoons, and lots of napkins … you get the picture.

4. Keep your purpose in mind – The aim of the party is for all the families to meet one another in a congenial atmosphere. That’s pretty much end of story. And that’s what I’m doing with this one. No gourmet food. No give-a-ways. No fancy stuff. Burgers, dogs, beer, wine, soda, munchies. And that’s the purpose.

It’s Sunday 9 September at 3:30pm. If you live on Edenbridge, we’re looking forward to hanging! (Rain or Shine)