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Adventures of the Hokkaido Bush PigBy The Hokkaido Bush Pig
The Winter 'Low Down'
Staying warm in sub-zero temperatures when camping, or in unheated mountain huts, in the middle of winter does not mean you have to take your heavy down jacket or half your closet.
Down is definitely the way to go if you are in extreme temperatures but, in the past, it was bulky and heavy. Today's down is lightweight but still keeps you warm. For the past few years, I've been using Mont-bell down products, and I haven't had any problem staying warm during my winter adventures.
There are more high-end options out there but, for the price, they have some good gear. I've been impressed with the Mont-Bell Ultra-light inner down jacket and pants. They are the first things I put in my backpack on any multi-day winter adventure and even some day trips.
The jacket weighs in at just 200 grams and the pants are 190 grams. Both roll up to the size of a 350-ml. pet- bottle, and you wouldn't think something so light would keep you so warm, but it does.
A few years back, I was at a winter outdoor leadership course in the Hidaka Mountains, one of the coldest places on Hokkaido. One night in mid-February, the temperature got down to -30 C. Nearly everyone on the course had a hard time that night, but I happily did not.
I wore a three-layer system; a thermal base layer, a mid-fleece layer and my outer shell. Once the sun went down and the temperature dropped, I put my lightweight down layer under my outer shell and was nice and toasty.
Most people were in their tents and sleeping bags fighting the sub-zero cold, while I was out enjoying the beautiful winter night sky. The inner down jacket and pants are exactly that, inner wear, but when I'm in a hut with temperatures around -15 C to -20 C, I can usually get away with only wearing the inner wear. Just be careful around sharp objects; one trade-off to ultra-light gear is it's not very tough.
No question, keeping your feet warm in sub-zero temperatures is one of the hardest things to do. I use the Mont-bell Windstopper Down Foot Warmers (booties) and after a hike, I towel off the down and pour on some baby powder before putting on a dry pair of thick, woolen socks and the booties. One thing I like about the down foot warmers is you can wear them outside if necessary.
Finally, my Mont-bell Ultra-light Super Stretch Down Hugger Exp. sleeping bag hasn't let me down yet. For a four-season bag, it's lightweight (1,590 grams). One thing I've noticed is many people don't cocoon themselves in their bags, then they complain they were cold or their bag wasn't very good. In extreme temperatures, for any bag to work, you must cocoon yourself in and pull all the chords tight so there's just a small hold for your face, keeping your body heat in.
I hope this helps you to stay warm during your winter adventures.
Word from the Pig


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If you have or know a solar project, please submit it to us for consideration as a featured project using Submit an Item. http://www.solaripedia.com/302/submit-an-item.html
The Solar Decathlon challenges 20 college teams from around the globe in 10 contests to design, build, and operate the most livable, energy-efficient, and completely solar-powered house. Solar Decathlon houses must power all the home energy needs of a typical family using only the power of the sun. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends aesthetics and modern conveniences with maximum energy production and optimal efficiency. The first Solar Decathlon was held in 2002; the competition has since occurred biennially in 2005 and 2007.
For three weeks in October 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy will host the Solar Decathlon—a competition in which 20 teams of college and university students compete to design, build, and operate the most attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar-powered house. The Solar Decathlon is also an event to which the public is invited to observe the powerful combination of solar energy, energy efficiency, and the best in home design.
Exact dates of the 2009 event are:
* Oct. 8-16—Teams compete in 10 contests
* Oct. 9-13—Houses are open to the public
* Oct. 15-18—Houses are open to the public
* Oct. 19-21—Teams disassemble their houses.
The Solar Decathlon houses will be open for public tours 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Monday–Friday and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Please note that all homes will be closed Wed., Oct. 14.
The Solar Decathlon consists of three major phases:
Building: This is where most of the work—and the learning—happens. In addition to designing houses that use innovative, high-tech elements in ingenious ways, students have to raise funds, communicate team activities, collect supplies, and work with contractors. Although the Solar Decathlon competition receives the most attention, it's the hard work that students put in during the building phase that makes or breaks a team.
Moving to the Solar Village: When it's time for the Solar Decathlon, the teams transport their houses to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and rebuild them on site.
Competing: During the competition itself, the teams receive points for their performance in 10 contests and open their homes to the public.
The Solar Decathlon brings attention to one of the biggest challenges we face—an ever-increasing need for energy. As an internationally recognized event, it offers powerful solutions—using energy more efficiently and using energy from renewable sources.
The Solar Decathlon has several goals:
1.To educate the student participants—the "Decathletes"—about the benefits of energy efficiency, renewable energy and green building technologies. As the next generation of engineers, builders, and communicators, the Decathletes will be able to use this knowledge in their studies and their future careers.
2.To raise awareness among the general public about renewable energy and energy efficiency, and how solar energy technologies can reduce energy usage.
3.To help solar energy technologies enter the marketplace faster. This competition encourages the research and development of energy efficiency and energy production technologies.
4.To foster collaboration among students from different academic disciplines—including engineering and architecture students, who rarely work together until they enter the workplace.
5.To promote an integrated or "whole building design" approach to new construction. This approach differs from the traditional design/build process because the design team considers the interactions of all building components and systems to create a more comfortable building, save energy, and reduce environmental impact.
6.To demonstrate to the public the potential of Zero Energy Homes, which produce as much energy from renewable sources, such as the sun and wind, as they consume. Even though the home might be connected to a utility grid, it has net zero energy consumption from the utility provider.
Who competes in the Solar Decathlon?
Twenty teams from colleges and universities across the globe participate in the Solar Decathlon. Today's students are tomorrow's engineers, architects, scientists, entrepreneurs, and homeowners. The Solar Decathlon encourages students to incorporate energy efficiency and solar energy into their future professional projects and personal lives.
Like Olympic athletes, the Solar Decathletes draw on all of their strengths, including design and architecture, engineering and performance, and education and promotion. The teams rely on expertise from many disciplines as they spend months fundraising, planning, designing, analyzing, and finally building and improving their homes. Future engineers work with future architects to create high-performance homes that are also highly attractive.
How are the competitors selected?
Teams composed of faculty and students from numerous post-secondary institutions submit proposals and plans for consideration. The Solar Decathlon Proposal Review Committee assesses these entries and selects teams. The committee consists of engineers, scientists, and other experts from the U.S. Department of Energy and its National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
In October 2009, 20 teams from colleges and universities from around the world will again gather to compete. See the 2009 Request for Proposals, which might be useful for planning purposes if you are interested in competing in future Solar Decathlons.
What goes into building and operating a Solar Decathlon house?
The student teams spend almost two years designing and building their approximately 800-square-foot homes and preparing for the competition. Students test their homes in contests encompassing all the ways we use energy in our daily lives.
The competition places demands on the buildings' energy systems to maintain the house within a certain temperature range, to provide lighting, to run appliances, and much more. The homes generate energy with photovoltaic (also called solar electric) systems, to produce electricity, and with solar thermal systems for space heating and cooling and water heating.
Who sponsors the Solar Decathlon?
The Solar Decathlon is an educational project of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and is organized by DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and sponsored by the private sector.
What are the 10 contests?
* Architecture — 100 points
* Market Viability — 100 points
* Engineering — 100 points
* Lighting Design — 75 points
* Communications — 75 points
* Comfort Zone — 100 points
* Hot Water — 100 points
* Appliances — 100 points
* Home Entertainment — 100 points
* Net Metering — 150 points
Where can I see the teams' house designs?
The Web site features complete "as-built" drawings and submittals from previous teams, including
* 2007 Technical Resources
* 2005 Technical Report
* 2002 Event in Review (PDF 2.1 MB) Download Adobe Reader.
How much do the houses cost?
The construction costs of the team houses vary widely based on the technologies employed and the target market for which they were designed. In general, however, construction costs range from about $200,000 to more than $800,000. It is important to remember, however, that these houses are one-of-a-kind designs. If they were to be mass-produced, as most residential homes are, their overall costs would likely decrease significantly.
Learn more about Solar Decathlon house construction costs, including individual construction cost ranges and information about how these figures were derived.
What is net metering?
Today, the majority of homes with solar systems are connected to the utility grid through a meter. The flow of electricity is in two directions, giving homeowners the ability to draw electricity from the grid if needed and to give back to the utility grid any excess electricity their homes produce. This is called net metering.
What happens to the houses after the competition?
Some of the homes are sold to recover costs or raise money for future teams. For instance, the 2007 Kansas home was purchased by Sun Edison, which plans to use it as a demonstration home.
Most of the homes, however, are being used for research and are on display for public tours at their respective universities. Missouri Rolla, a participant in all of the Solar Decathlons, has formed a permanent Solar Village with its 2002, 2005, and 2007 houses at the university's Student Design and Experiential Learning Center.
What is a zero-energy home?
A zero-energy home (ZEH) produces as much energy from renewable sources, such as the sun and wind, as it consumes. Even though the home might be connected to a utility grid, it has net-zero energy consumption from the utility provider—usually measured on an annual basis.
What is building-integrated PV technology?
One of the fastest-growing segments of the solar industry, building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) technology incorporates PV panels into buildings during construction. BIPV replaces traditional building materials such as roofs, window overhangs, and walls to improve system reliability while reducing costs.
Solar Decathlon 2009 (1,681 kb)
Solar Decathlon 2009 (Washington DC, USA)

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All this month, we're giving away $10,000 right here on kmmsam.com. Plus we're giving listeners two chances every day to win $1,000 (just listen all day for your cue to call or click here to find out exactly when to listen).
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You could take yourself to see a movie once a week for ten years.
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His first day on his new job was the day of the
When you're rank and file in any job, you shoot the breeze and say, "Well, if I were in charge …" Now you are.
I never thought I'd be in charge! My perspectives have changed somewhat [from] when I was [a firefighter]. Growing up in the department has been beneficial; my six years running the Emergency Management Department was almost like going to grad school.
The Fire Department, like a lot of large, hierarchical organizations, is slow to change, and I'm not one to change for the sake of change. There's a Peter Drucker quote, "Culture eats strategy for lunch." The good ideas we come up with, we have to be careful that a large organization can accept.
We need to embrace data more. We will have Firestat [a data system paralleling the LAPD's Comstat system].
We [still] have big technology [issues] and everyday, working technology [issues]. It took me over a month to get a computer in my office that's contemporary. The automatic vehicle locater [technology] should be on its way by midsummer. That'll impact response time. Right now we dispatch from the closest fire station, and that's old technology. With AVL, we will literally dispatch the closest resource to the incident.
What else is on your to-do list?
My four priorities are service delivery, training and recruitment, leadership development and technology.
Service delivery hasn't changed in several decades. Part of the way it's sustained itself [is that] the men and women of the department deliver high-quality services. That being said, we need to continue to move the needle.
Leadership means putting together an executive team that's not [only] looking at an honorable and cherished tradition but at what's on the horizon. I'm sure I'll make some unpopular decisions; that comes with the territory.
Did the mayor give you a checklist?
He didn't necessarily give me a checklist. He wants to start moving to a data-driven culture, to start looking at technological improvements, at the overall culture. The mayor didn't put me here to be a place-holder. It's not my nature. When possible, you should always leave an assignment better than what you inherited. I will act as if I am the fire chief, without the "interim."
One piece of technology that didn't work so well was the recent 60-second cutoff for receiving online job applications, which excluded thousands of potentially qualified applicants.
Before I took the seat, I got a briefing from personnel; it was the first knowledge I had, and I'm thinking that it was embarrassing, that we were arbitrary.
How can you address diversity issues for a department that doesn't look like L.A.?
I'm certainly sensitive to diversity. The Fire Department, at least recently, has done a fairly decent job. In the latest recruiting effort [which resulted in a class that's less diverse than the rest of the department], I'm turning over more stones. We need to look at the front end; we need to professionalize recruitment. "Army of one; be all that you can be" — the military was smart enough to invest in professional PR and advertising. Maybe one of our strategies is to invest in people who do this for a living. The face still needs to be the firefighters; we are our own best recruiters.
Among the latest recruits, nearly 1 in 4 was the son or nephew of a current firefighter. That doesn't send the message that the department wants to change.
Where there was the appearance of possible conflict of interest, I've moved personnel to other assignments. I don't think there's been any malicious intent. The people I moved, they're good folks. It was a hard decision. I thought the optics were bad.
We're going to get [recruits] who have relatives on the job — our families see us do the job, so it's only natural they would want to be firefighters. What I have to ensure is that the process is fair. I can do a lot about that.
The city has paid out $20 million over the years in discrimination lawsuits against the LAFD. Did discrimination ever touch you?
Have I experienced discrimination? Absolutely. [When] I came on the department in 1986, I was older, I'd been in the military, so there were things I was not going to tolerate as a grown person.
Some recommend restoring the LAFD to its pre-cuts budget. There are also calls to find money by making the department's 911 call takers civilians, as in some cities.
It may work for them. Here, there's a lot of validity to having sworn firefighters. We have call takers and we have dispatchers. The call taker picks up 911, discusses your issue with you, then sends the right resource. Once the resource is running, that resource talks with a dispatcher. There's an advantage in call takers being sworn firefighters. They can sense what's happening out there; they can read the silence between the notes. Certainly there are some jobs that can be civilianized. But it would take some significant study.
About 80% of calls are for medical assistance, not fires. Should the department change to reflect that?
All recruits have to be emergency medical technicians by the time they start the academy. In South L.A., my first day with a brand-new crew, I explained we were all about being aggressive firefighters but to be able to intervene for a person who'd had a heart attack or traumatic injury — that was the greatest difference we could make on any single day.
The Times reported the average firefighter makes about $143,000 a year, with salary and overtime. After the five-year hiring freeze, which left more than 200 vacancies, do you hire more people or pay more overtime?
When you stop hiring — and we lose about 10 [retirees] a month — at some point overtime becomes excessive, which doesn't look good in the paper. Firefighters are working more than they should, so we get into a safety issue. Firefighters probably don't want to give up the overtime, but we do need to hire; we can't run the fire department solely on overtime.
Councilman Mike Bonin said morale is in the toilet in the department.
I don't agree. I talk to [the firefighters] all the time. They're happy with the changes. They see the top starting to change. For the most part, they're very supportive. There's hope; there's also an expectation that the department will move forward.
You spent nearly two decades working with the union, as chief negotiator and a member of the executive board. Is that a good thing for your new post?
It's a very good thing. It has to do with understanding the labor side. [People wonder], will I side with labor, will I side with management? I like to think I'm going to side with the right side.
Is there a fire department you know of that does it right?
Is there another model?
All big cities are unique; each is going to have idiosyncrasies. People talk about [bringing] a Bill Bratton of the fire service here. It's not that simple. I've got a lot of respect for Chief Bratton, [but] let's be careful in what we expect.
I'm a big proponent of getting off the island, to go validate your premises and see what Boston's doing, San Francisco, Houston. If it makes a safer environment and more productive environment, we can bring it back here. Everything doesn't have to be homegrown.
Every fire department must face different challenges.
Out of the 16 disasters defined [by the federal government], 13 could happen here.
What are we missing?
Snowstorms, hurricanes and volcanic eruptions!
So what keeps you awake at night?
The same things I've thought about for 10 years. Pandemics — urbanization has brought us much closer together. A bioterrorist event. Catastrophic wildfires. Climate change. Catastrophic earthquake. And cyber disaster. Cyber disaster isn't necessarily a computer
This interview was edited and excerpted. email@example.com Twitter: @pattmlatimes


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Join my list for an exclusive PDF excerpt of Likeonomics!*
Rohit is a marketing expert focused on helping companies bring more humanity back to their businesses. He helped found the world's largest team of social media strategists at Ogilvy and currently teaches global marketing at Georgetown University. His second book, Likeonomics, is a global marketing best seller and is currently in negotiations for translations worldwide.
"Likeonomics offers a clear path to boosting your believability, which is the secret to sales and marketing success. The premise of the book is scientifically sound: People reciprocate, especially when we elicit their emotions. Great stories, clear tips and a strong point-of-view make this a rich read." –Tim Sanders, author of The Likeability Factor and former Chief Solutions Officer at Yahoo!
"Likeonomics is a wake-up call to companies and customers that the critical new business currency is brand likeability. Using insightful stories and case studies, Bhargava explains how your brand uses truth to earn trust, leverages relevance to inspire loyalty, and fosters meaningful relationships to create the most powerful competitive advantage today – likeability." –Simon Mainwaring, author of New York Times bestseller, We First
"It's true. Likeability matters. Rohit Bhargava brilliantly and succinctly explains why likeability and authenticity are central to creating a trustworthy brand. In a cynical world where people are looking for things and individuals they can believe in, "Likeonomics" is a roadmap for growing your business." –Karen Kerrigan, President, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
"Rohit Bhargava's wise and wonderful book proves that your mother was right, after all: People respond to those who treat them right. Companies and organizations need to heed this lesson and use Likeonomics to steer their thinking on ways to become more open, accessible, and trustworthy in the marketplace—and find success doing it."" –Daniel H. Pink, author of DRIVE and A WHOLE NEW MIND
"Having sat through hundreds of pitch meetings, I can tell you one thing for sure ... unlikeable entrepreneurs never get funded. In business and in life, the people who enchant us are the ones who get our attention. If you want to be among the rare few who manage to do it, read this book!" –Guy Kawasaki, Author of Enchantment
"Finally a book that gets to the heart of why likeability is so important for both relationships and branding. Rohit Bhargava's book Likeonomics is a great read with well defined principles, interesting case histories and insights that uncover what really drives customer and relationship loyalty." –Porter Gale, Former VP of Marketing Virgin America and author of Your Network Is Your Net Worth
"A fascinating look at the unexpected science and power of likeability to sway our beliefs and decision making. I loved the idea behind this book!" –Ori Brafman, coauthor of Sway and Click
"Likeonomics finally puts into words so many of the things I have done to build my company from the ground up. The book itself is a case study in what Rohit preaches; he is believable, honest, relevant, and of course, likeable! His focus on storytelling instead of just theorizing makes Likeonomics one of the most readable business books out there." –Scott Jordan, CEO and Founder of ScotteVest
"Rohit has hit the nail squarely on the head in terms of showing how we can better work with others to improve our chances of success in all that we do. He demonstrates through real-world examples why being liked is so critically important. "Likeability" in the public affairs community, whether military or civilian, is critical to one's success. If you can't work and play well with others, no matter what your credentials, the results you hope to achieve will often be beyond your grasp. The views expressed are my own and do not reflect the official policy or position of the United States Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government." –Colonel Kevin V. Arata, US Army
"In Likeonomics Rohit reinforces the popular notion that culture eats strategy and makes the case that likability is an indispensible part of success. Rohit encourages us to create person-to-person connections that are authentic, relevant, and accessible. Gone are the days where Alpha-dogs rule… In the era of Likeonomics, personal connection is king." –Jonathan Becher, Chief Marketing Officer, SAP
"Every once in awhile a book comes along and changes everything. Likeonomics is that book. Rohit Bhargava is a modern day Dale Carnegie, in that he has pinned a new personal development classic. I will now replace my annual read How to Win Friends and Influence People with Likeonomics." –JB Glossinger Founder MorningCoach.com (#1 Rated Self-Help Podcast on iTunes)
"At the first skim of the Table of Contents, I was intrigued ... but after reading Likeonomics, I was hooked! This book offers the rare combination of a highly practical primer filled with real world ideas for how to succeed in building your business, along with step by step guide to building trusted relationships in any situation." –Ann Handley, Chief Content Officer MarketingProfs & Author of Content Rules
"In this highly entertaining book, Rohit Bhargava proves just how important being likeable is to making a compelling argument. For anyone who needs to be persuasive, deliver a great presentation or just inspire anyone else-Likeonomics will help you do it." –Nancy Duarte, CEO of Duarte and author of Slide:ology & Resonate
"The simple but powerful stories in this book prove that values like truth, relevance, and timing matter far more than the hard sell and the seductive lure of data. We need these precepts to bring humanity back to a business world that has forgotten it." –Josh Bernoff, co-author of Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies and Empowered: Unleash Your Employees, Energize Your Customers, and Transform Your Business
"Being more successful in business and in life often require the same things. If you want to do both, read this book!" –Deepak Chopra, Author of The Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success
"Likeonomics shows us that you have to be liked to be trusted. And trust me, you are going to like – really like -this book." –Ed Keller, Author of The Face to Face Book and the Influentials & CEO of the Keller Fay Group
"This is a bold, fresh and most important-a likeable book. Rohit reveals why networking must die and the gap that should keep you up at night is your 'likeability gap.'" –Christopher Graves, Global CEO, Ogilvy Public Relations
"Likeonomics explains the importance of great relationships and building long-lasting, enduring brands." –Tony Hsieh, NY Times bestselling author of "Delivering Happiness" and CEO of Zappos.com
"Being truly liked as a brand is not about the size of a number. It's about being human trustworthy and believable. Rohit will draw you in with his engaging storytelling style and his principles of Likeonomics will inspire you to rethink how you look at marketing." –David Alston CMO, Salesforce Radian6
"Rohit Bhargava has it right with Likeonomics! There are more currencies than just money and time. Building real trust involves creating a personal connection with your employees and your customers, and this book will show you how. Pay attention to Likeonomics and profit from being more believable than your competition." –Chris Brogan, President Human Business Works & NY Times Bestselling Author of Trust Agents
"Finally, likability is no longer a black box! Bhargava has unearthed prime forces that will help you make an impact in what matters most to you." –Scott Belsky CEO of Behance, Author of Making Ideas Happen
"Likeability is the new currency for success. Grounded in both research and experience, Rohit shares practical insights that will stand the test of of time. Likeonomics is a must read that will forever change the way business is conducted." –Gautam Gulati, MD,MBA,MPH, Chief Medical Officer & SVP Product Management, Physicians Interactive & Adjunct Professor of Medical Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Johns Hopkins Carey Business School
"Likeonomics is the How to Win Friends and Influence People for a new generation. Rohit shows us how to be more likeable and believable, and as a result, more popular and relevant, which are the keys to success in any endeavor. Highly recommended." –Michael Port, NY Times Bestselling Author of The Think Big Manifesto
"Rohit Bhargava gets to heart of what underlies and sustains relationships -likeability. If you want to be successful in business, don't leave Trust to chance -keep "Likeonomics" and it's online workbook close at your side and you'll be on the path to success." –Charlene Li, Author of "Groundswell" & "Open Leadership", Founder of Altimeter Group
"Want to build a business that customers can't wait to refer to others or that employees love to work for? This is the book for you." –John Jantsch, Small business marketing expert and author of Duct Tape Marketing and The Referral Engine
"At multiple points throughout life, your ability to build a meaningful relationship will make all the difference. From the quiet student in your chemistry class, to the cheerleader you admire from the sidelines, to the co-worker on your project, to the ideal prospect you are meeting for lunch, to the boss who will decide whether or not you get a raise regardless of your situation, you need to be likeable. Rohit's masterful book Likeonomics will show you how TRUST (truth, relevance, unselfishness, simplicity, and timing) is the secret to getting the connections you desperately seek." –Joey Coleman, Chief Experience Composer at Design Symphony and author of Your Personal IPO: Taking Yourself Public to the World
"If you want to be successful, you need to read Likeonomics! Rich in relevant, entertaining stories and takeaways you can easily and immediately use, Rohit proves why being more likeable is the driving force behind building sustained relationships and exponential success." –Peter Guber, CEO, Mandalay Entertainment and Author of the #1 NY Times bestseller, Tell To Win
"If there is one professional fact of life, it is that having strong technical skills will only get you so far in your career. In order to boost your personal brand and make a name for yourself, you need to be likeable. If you want to build a winning career or business, then you need to read Likeonomics. In it, Rohit shares the truth about how likeability, unselfishness and trust are the real keys to success!" –Dan Schawbel, Personal Branding Guru and Managing Partner of Millennial Branding
"For too many of us, there is a gap between what we do and what we dream of doing. It doesn't have to be this way. For anyone who wants to close this gap of intent and really achieve your dreams, Likeonomics can help you get there!" –Mallika Chopra, Founder of Intent.com
"To succeed in business you need to be more than nice, you need to be likeable -and those are two different things. Likeonomics offers a simple premise which I love that your ability to build strong relationships is the real path to prosperity and happiness." –Linda Kaplan Thaler, CEO of The Kaplan Thaler Group and author of The Power of Nice
Rohit Bhargava is a marketing expert dedicated to bringing more humanity back to business. He is the author of 4 best selling marketing books (including the award winning Likeonomics), CEO & Founder of the Influential Marketing Group and Professor of Global Marketing atGeorgetown University.
An early digital marketing pioneer, Rohit co-founded the world's largest team of social media strategists at Ogilvy and spent more than a decade leading digital strategy for clients of two of the largest brand agencies in the world (Ogilvy and Leo Burnett). His previous client list includes Intel, American Express, Novartis, Pfizer, IBM, Unilever, Pepsi, Heineken, and dozens of others prior to starting his own "concierge marketing" practice to offer Digital CMO consulting for brands. His popular "Influential Marketing" blog has been read by more than 2 million professionals and was named one of top 25 marketing blogs in the world by AdAge magazine. On stage, Rohit has delivered "non-boring" keynotes in 27 countries and his highly visual presentations have been viewed and downloaded on Slideshare over 1 million times.
Personality Not Included was released in June of 2008 and published by McGraw-Hill. The book talked about the importance for brands to have a personality and communicate more authentically with their customers. It reached #1 in the Global Marketing category on Amazon, has been published in 7 languages around the world and is used as a textbook in dozens of University courses and corporate training programs.
This is a visual introduction to the book produced soon after it came out:
© 2019 Likeonomics
site by Out:think Group


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The City has planted over 1,200 new street trees in the past three years, and oversees another 18,000 trees across Cambridge. We're asking for your help to care for young street trees and the urban forest.
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During the summer, a Tree Ambassador inspects, weeds, and waters young street trees via bicycle and cargo trailer. The Tree Ambassador speaks with pedestrians, residents and businesses, explaining basic tree care and encouraging street tree stewardship.
You'll easily be able to spot the Tree Ambassador on a bike with a long trailer, full of hose and green gator bags, and a bright green canvas reminding you to "Water Your Tree". With your help, we can create a healthy urban forest.
Learn about Volunteer Opportunities or how to become a Junior Forester.
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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — For the first time since September, the Buffalo Bills had their No. 1 quarterback, running back and wide receiver all healthy enough to be on the field together in the same game.
There might be something to that.
Tyrod Taylor completed a record percentage of his passes Sunday as the Bills ripped off 266 yards on the ground to earn a much-needed 33-17 victory over the Miami Dolphins at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
The win moved the Bills back to .500 at the midpoint of their season and kept their wild-card hopes alive. They'll face another tough divisional test Thursday when they travel to New Jersey for a game against the Jets.
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May 2 | 2011
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Update and revisions to SAVIX data quality ratings
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VIDEO: Coach K talks about Team USA at West Point
WEST POINT, N.Y. — Addressing the crowd in Christl Arena just before Monday's USA Basketball open practice began, U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski said, "I take West Point everywhere I go."
Krzyzewski attended the United States Military Academy at West Point as a cadet, and was a three-year letterman under coach Bob Knight from 1967-69. After five years of service in the Army and one year as an assistant coach at Indiana under Knight, Krzyzewski returned to West Point as coach, his first head coaching position. In five years at Army, before moving on to Duke in 1980, Krzyzewski accumulated a 73-59 record.
Which explains in part why Krzyzewski was looking forward to Monday as part of the USA Basketball's Men's National Team's preparation for the 2014 FIBA World Cup. The practice itself was nothing more than shooting drills and layup lines, with a short scrimmage mixed in. But Krzyzewski felt the lessons learned were less about basketball and more about teaching what it means to represent the United States.
"A day like today is one of our most important days," Krzyzewski said, "because these guys get a chance of feeling America, feeling what it is to be on the U.S. team. You know, we've done that with all of our teams, whether it be Arlington Cemetery, the Statue of Liberty, Wounded Warriors, people coming in from the military to talk. To spend a day here is better than any offensive or defensive drill you could have that bonds a team together. That's what today was about."
The team spent the early part of the day touring the campus and doing things like watching cadets run an obstacle course, observing a Combat Water Survival Swim Lab, as well as visiting the West Point Cemetery. Just before the practice, they ate lunch in the mess hall with the cadets.
"They only have like, 20-25 minutes to eat," said Team USA guard Derrick Rose. "That's what shocked me. How can you even prepare yourself to eat with 20-25 minutes? That's what shocked me. And waking up. I think they have to get up at 5:30 or something like that. To me, that would be devastating. But it tells you that they've committed their whole life to this, and that's pretty cool."
"You walk around this place and you just … feel," said Krzyzewski. "You feel good about being an American, and you feel a little bit more proud of being a USA Basketball player and coach. And that's what we wanted our guys to get today. You can talk about it, you can see it, but today we all had a chance to feel it. And that's why we do these things with the military."
Despite spending over three decades at Duke, it's obvious that West Point still plays a huge role in Coach K's life. He calls West Point "the foundation of who I am." He still wears his West Point class ring just above his wedding band ("I never take it off"), and he visits the campus at least once a year.
"You go to the best leadership school in the world, and something's gotta rub off, you know," Krzyzewski says. "Part of it is organization, understanding of teamwork, not accepting failure — all these things. I got married on graduation day here at West Point. And I lived here for five years when I coached, so it's been a cool place."
Even his former Duke players understand Krzyzewski's special relationship with West Point, as they heard him frequently reference West Point during locker room motivational sessions.
"You know, 30 years at Duke, he's got some Duke stories," admitted Team USA center Mason Plumlee, who played for Krzyzewski at Duke from 2009-2013. "But he'll always reach back to some of his West Point stories — when he was a player, when he was a coach here. The most frequent were the ones where Bob Knight was telling what he could and couldn't do. Those were always good stories."
After the open practice, the team headed back to New York City to prepare for exhibitions against the Dominican Republic (Wednesday) and Puerto Rico (Friday). While Monday might have been about team building off the court, with Paul George injured and Kevin Durant gone this group first assembled in Vegas, Krzyzewski says there is plenty of work left to do in the gym.
"We need a lot of practice time, quickly, because we've had so many changes in our roster. And the guys are working hard but hopefully the next few days will be good for us."


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So now I get it --- had to look it up on-line.
If teabagger cannot be used because in some quarters it is known to have a sexual connotation in slang, then hummer (for hummingbird) and Hummer (the car) should be avoided because it too can have a sexual connotation.
Let's not lose our head, so to speak. In other words, let's grow up.


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Each month we challenge our community to share their best photo according to a theme. This month, share a photo of how you decorate for the holidays at your property.
Christmas tree? Garland and fairy lights around the reception desk? Stockings above the fireplace? Show us how you deck the halls!
Make sure to post your photo by December 31st. Based on your votes, we'll post the winning photo on January 2nd.
Booking.com may use the submitted content for other purposes (e.g. marketing) and that we can also edit, crop, enhance or modify same in a way that we deem fit.