This week’s podcast was likely the last one we’ll be able to do in studio for a few weeks, but we won’t stop recording! So, if you are looking for a new podcast, we hope you’ll check out the Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast.

We talked about the all-new 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, which I was able to drive at one of the last press-previews before the Coronavirus put us all on lockdown. We also took a look at the virtually revealed 2021 Hyundai Elantra, and we came up with a cocktail that will make a lot more sense once you listen to the podcast.

Then we spent a lot of time talking about classic cars with Collectible Automobile magazine Editor-in-Chief John Biel. The new issue of CA is set to hit newsstands soon, and we give you a preview of what’s inside — including a profile of the pioneering female drag racer Shirley Shahan Bridges — the “Drag-On Lady.” 

Oh, and (spoiler alert) I didn’t even come close to winning this week’s quiz.

While I will continue to post the podcast to my blog each week, you can subscribe to the Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast on any podcast subscription service or visit the Buzzsprout link. New episodes are usually posted on Friday, and then the show itself airs on WCPT 820 AM on Sundays from 1 to 2 p.m.

Be sure to let us know if you have questions or if there are any topics you’d like us to cover on future podcasts.

You can follow us on social at:

• Jill: @jillciminillo (instagram/twitter)
• Tom: @car_guy_tom (twitter)
• Damon: @DBell72333786 (twitter)
• Consumer Guide Automotive: @cgautomotive (twitter/facebook)
• Consumer Guide Car Stuff on facebook

SELF-ISOLATION, DAY 7

So this is the seventh day. It is also Monday, so I did not plan this very well, but I actually did not plan this whole thing at all. It is not one of my made-up stories.

Today I have been kind of tired and groggy, but not like I am sick. I am always tired after working the weekend but, like many people who find themselves working past their expected retirement age, it is not easy. But we all have to work for a living; many people work at something which does not give them pleasure but is just a necessity. So, late in life I am learning new things about Life and being a human.

Today still, I have very mixed feelings about our situation. I DO believe the statistics I read in the media. Cases are spreading fast, including in this country, with a real decrease in China. But the statistics are to some extent misleading because comparatively few people in our country are being tested: not enough test kits and no uniform system to test people, so there are likely many more already infected but not tested. But you likely already know this from the media.

There are no frightening pictures of the sub-microscopic virus. When we only know that we might have a disaster in the making, it is hard to be concerned. No skyscrapers falling, no giant waves crashing on the beaches, torrential rains or earthquake scenes. And, as a coworker from Eastern Europe reminded me yesterday, America/USA, is such a large country so we can have a horrific disaster in one part, and sunshine and chirping birds elsewhere. Right now, outside my living room window the sun is in fact shining.

But… WE NEED TO LISTEN TO THE SCIENTISTS! The Surgeon General, Jerome Adams warns things could get worse and we really, really need to shelter in place as much as possible. Isolating ourselves is very important. I try to not make this political, although some of you know my leanings, but this should not be about politics but listening to our many educated healthcare specialists. If I were a healthcare worker in New York, I would likely be too tired to argue this point. There are so many who cannot avoid contact: bus drivers, taxies, police, fire dept, those who maintain the energy grid, maintain our heating and air-conditioning, groceries, and I already said healthcare workers.

Another group, I watched a short video from the Grayzone.com, about our huge prison system. I believe we have the largest in the world, and we take poor care of those in the system. Just because they are in prison does not mean we have a right to not care about them. Anyone here have strong religious beliefs about caring for the prisoners and the poor? No? Or maybe yes. Besides that many, many are people who are in some form of incarceration merely because they were arrested, could not afford bail, and may be innocent but they will sit there, in confinement with others, until they can have a trial. If you cannot pay traffic tickets or some other fine, you may end up in confinement. This only adds to their problems, and if there is a spread of the epidemic in the prison population, the workers there will contract it also and take the virus home with them.

As I said, I am conflicted. We should keep our morale up, keep our beliefs intact, care for each other and enjoy life. Teach our children.

I have finished my veggie smoothie and my potatoes are boiling. After that I will take the dog out again for some fresh air. Hang in there and be safe.

March 23, 2020

Antonio Perez, Chicago Tribune

Wake up at 4:23 am.

Panic hits you right away that this wasn’t a nightmare.  It’s real.

Peek outside blinds to see if Earth is still spinning. She is.

Try to go back to sleep.

Anxiety sets in.

It’s so eerie and quiet.

Shower? Nah. Not going anywhere today.

Get dressed? Nah. Pajama pants and t-shirt are more comfortable.

Grab paper off driveway. Read headlines. Put paper away for later.

Turn on Today Show. Reruns. Turn off.

Play Solitaire on my phone for 17 hours.

Make a pot of split pea soup.

Drink coffee.

I just coughed. Shit. Do I have it? Is this a dry cough? Or a wet cough? How can you tell the difference?

Can’t make bed. Cat sleeping under comforter.

Work in garden? Nope. Snowed last night.

I miss the Chicago Blackhawks. And Cubs spring training. I feel guilty about that.

Box up adult children’s trophies we’ve moved and stored in the basement closet for over thirty years.

Make notation to write the Manager and Director of our local Jewel to thank them and their entire staff for all they have done for our community.

Dread going to Jewel.

Look at calendar. Everything cancelled for the next two months. At least.

Can’t read my Book Club book (meeting cancelled) because I can’t concentrate.

Play Solitaire.

Brush teeth. Finally.

Take a long walk.

Watch the robins dance in the yard. They haven’t a clue what COVID-19 is. Lucky birds.

Breathe in fresh air. Face the sun.

Text Jacquie.

Email Meaux.

Email Biz.

Text Nina.

Play Solitaire until I win.

Thank you Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Governor J.B. Pritzker for your leadership during this dark time.

Shame on you, Donald Trump.

Thank you Dr. Anthony Fauci.

Thank you railroad workers.

Thank you truck drivers.

Thank you first responders.

Thank you everyone in the medical profession.

Thank you scientists.

Take another walk.

FaceTime grandchildren and watch them dance to Brenda Lee’s Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree even though it’s….

Check phone to see what day and month it is.

It’s March?

Call Dolly.

Watch two seasons of Grace and Frankie. I love Lily Tomlin. Jane Fonda looks so young, but why do the heavily starched collars of her blouses always stand up straight around her neck? That looks so uncomfortable. And it’s distracting.

You may wonder, did I take my walks in my pajamas? No. Of course not. I pulled on a pair of jeans. But as soon as I got home, the jeans were replaced.

I think I’m gaining weight?

Metra just announced that “Medical personnel on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic can ride for free.” Nice gesture, Metra. Thank you.

Drink 19 bottles of Chardonnay. Okay, 22.

Thank God Binny’s is considered an “essential” business and is still open.

Look at stock market and tremble. Again.

If you see me out walking in my pajamas, please tell me to go home.

Chicago Tribune announces “plans to rent thousands of hotel rooms for coronaviruse isolation in move to preserve space in hospitals.” Thank you Chicago. That’s why I love this city.

Write a letter to cheer up Maureen isolated in the retirement home in Virginia. She just turned ninety-one. I love this great lady.

Play Solitaire. Can’t seem to win.

Glance over the newspaper. Get anxious. Put it away.

Eat almost entire pot of split pea soup (with a little help from husband).

I am gaining weight.

Is Home Depot open? I want to plant some pansies, but that is probably not essential. Well, to me it is.

Shower? No. Why now?

Already in pajamas. Time for bed.

Repeat again tomorrow.

And the next day.

And the next day.

And the next day…

Hang in there everyone.

We will somehow get through this.

Have faith.

Have hope.

Have some soup.

Every affiliate marketer is always looking for the successful market that gives the biggest paycheck. Sometimes they think it is a magic formula that is readily available for them. Actually, it is more complicated than that. It is just good marketing practices that have been proven over years of hard work and dedication.

There are tactics that have worked before with online marketing and is continuing to work in the online affiliate marketing world of today. With these top three marketing tips, you will be able to able to increase your sales and survive in the affiliate marketing online.

What are these three tactics?

1. Using unique web pages to promote each separate product you are marketing. Do not lump all of it together just to save some money on web hosting. It is best to have a site focusing on each and every product and nothing more.

Always include product reviews on the website so visitors will have an initial understanding on what the product can do to those who buy them. Also include testimonials from users who have already tried the product. Be sure that these customers are more than willing to allow you to use their names and photos on the site of the specific product you are marketing.

You can also write articles highlighting the uses of the product and include them on the website as an additional page. Make the pages attractive compelling and include calls to act on the information. Each headline should attract the readers to try and read more, even contact you. Highlight your special points. This will help your readers to learn what the page is about and will want to find out more.

2. Offer free reports to your readers. If possible position them at the very top side of your page so it they simply cannot be missed. Try to create autoresponder messages that will be mailed to those who input their personal information into your sign up box. According to research, a sale is closed usually on the seventh contact with a prospect.

Only two things can possibly happen with the web page alone: closed sale or the prospect leaving the page and never return again. By placing useful information into their inboxes at certain specified period, you will remind them of the product they thought they want later and will find out that the sale is closed. Be sure that the content is directed toward specific reasons to buy the product. Do not make it sound like a sales pitch.

Focus on important points like how your product can make life and things easier and more enjoyable. Include compelling subject lines in the email. As much as possible, avoid using the word ìfreeî because there are still older spam filters that dumps those kinds of contents into the junk before even anyone reading them first. Convince those who signed up for your free reports that they will be missing something big if they do not avail of your products and services.

3. Get the kind of traffic that is targeted to your product. Just think, if the person who visited your website has no interest whatsoever in what you are offering, they will be among those who move on and never come back. Write articles for publication in e-zines and e-reports. This way you can locate publications that is focusing on your target customers and what you have put up might just grab their interest.

Try to write a minimum of 2 articles per week, with at least 300-600 words in length. By continuously writing and maintaining these articles you can generate as many as 100 targeted readers to your site in a day.
Always remember that only 1 out of 100 people are likely to buy your product or get your services. If you can generate as much as 1,000 targeted hits for your website in a day, that means you can made 10 sales based on the average statistic.

The tactics given above does not really sound very difficult to do if you think about it. It just requires a little time and an action plan on your part.

Try to use these tips for several affiliate marketing programs. You can end maintaining a good source of income and surviving in this business that not all marketers can do.
Besides, think of the huge paychecks you will be receiving

The one thing everyone has in common at the moment is that no one has experienced anything like the current pandemic-related world-wide quarantine. The current situation is so different and so unique that most of us don’t know what to do or how to act. In the 1930’s and 40’s, while in the midst of the Great Depression and then World War II, Americans would gravitate toward the radio for an uplifting “fireside chat” by Franklin Roosevelt. These briefings gave Americans confidence to know that there was a plan in place and to be patient while the plan ran its course. Now, our main source of information / comfort / discomfort is the internet, or more specifically, social media. That’s progress?

We’re bombarded each and every day with briefings, articles, quotes, memes and videos, many produced in someone’s kitchen. Much of the disseminated information is either biased, misleading or completely false. Full disclosure; I’ve produced a couple of those “kitchen videos” too, but I’ve done my best to keep the information benign and unbiased. Still, I worry about what people are thinking these days and how that might impact our already uncertain future. Regardless of age, most of us are a bit anxious about what lies ahead and, in order to better prepare, I’ve considered a few things which are important to me:

Expertise matters: In a time where far too many are posing as “experts”, it is vitally important that one’s level of expertise matches their rhetoric. Simply by having a platform to share ideas from such as a radio show, social media account, or a blog, does not necessarily mean the information is factual. Who are we supposed to believe? What qualifies them to even make statements related to the situation? Albert Einstein once said, “Incompetence is the true crisis”. Where’s Einstein when you really need him?

Big events cause big change: If you’ve ever ridden a bike and felt a tire begin to go flat, you know it’s an ominous feeling. The bike is still rolling along, but you know it’s not going very far. Today’s economy has all of that vibe and it’s not very reassuring to wonder what the future might bring. It’s safe to say that things will look much differently a year from now. We hope for the best, but it’s also safe to say that we should prepare for some rough waters. Good-paying jobs might be scarce in the months ahead, therefore a mindset that is open to change might be something to work on. Actually, this might be the best time ever to start a home-based business and see where it might lead.  We certainly have some time on our hands at the moment to research it, at the very least.

Clean it up: Manufacturers of soap and sanitizing products are doing their best to keep everyone supplied with products to satisfy our newly-found (or hopefully reinforced) need to wash our hands and clean the place up. Maybe a silver lining to this cloud we’re under will be that, as a society, we’ll start to work a little harder to not only keep ourselves cleaner, but take a bit more care when it comes to tossing that trash bag out of the car window. Throwing garbage on the ground can’t be a good thing when it comes to the propagation of germs.

Well there you have it…my two cents. Maybe that’s exactly what it’s worth, but there’s no charge to read it.

MUGEN! The Human is an artist who has gotten increasingly more conceptual with his music as time has gone on. His songwriting has gotten more concise, his pen game has improved leaps and bounds and the emotional depth of his subject matter has deepened as well. On “Zoro,” a cut he recently dropped off on Soundcloud, he has reached a whole new level of artistic maturity — and he did all of it from his own iPhone.

Entirely self-produced, “Zoro” is the most multi-dimensional track MUGEN! has done. The song starts off with some busy sounding string sections that increase in tension, leading right into his first verse. Utilizing a triple-time flow and a rap-sung delivery, he drops some hardcore flex bars about his place in the music scene as well as his relationship with the people he holds close. The first section of this track is boisterous and triumphant.

The floor quickly drops out in the second part of the song when a gentle synth-progression softens the mood. The bragging quickly turns to self-deprecation as MUGEN! croons on about his shortcomings to a lover of his. Instrumentally, this part of the song is absolutely beautiful, as a beautiful guitar melody pops in over the synths.

The mood picks up again after yet another beat switch, which turns the song into a full blown rock number. The strings and drums are explosive and MUGEN! takes on the roll of lead vocalist. It is yet another fork in the road in terms of mood, ending the song on an unexpected note.

“Zoro” sees MUGEN! The Human dealing in movements. It is a journey that takes the listener on a myriad of different peaks and valleys, ultimately landing in a place of triumphant resolve. He continues to take bigger and bigger risks with each passing release, yet he also keeps driving the ball out of the park, even with his unorthodox recording methods. To quote him directly: “It doesn’t matter where or how it’s made, as long as it’s heard.”

“Zoro” is now available on Soundcloud. Stream it here:https://soundcloud.com/mugenthehuman

Follow MUGEN! The Human on Instagram @mugenthehuman

Tonight’s City of Chicago edition of Public Affairs features Ted Dabrowski, President of Wirepoints debating w/show host Jeff Berkowitz (1) whether the Fed’s and State Government policy to create a catastrophic economic meltdown was (and is) good public policy and (2) whether IL and Chicago will be hurt even more than other states & cities by the meltdown.

******

The show airs tonight at 8:30 pm and midnight on Cable Ch. 21 (CAN TV).

The show also airs tomorrow night in 25 Chicago Metro North and Northwest suburbs at 8:30 pm:

You can also watch the show featuring Dabrowski 24/7 by clicking here.

*******

Dabrowski is well credentialed for tonight’s show topics: Wharton MBA, two decades in the private sector and a decade in Public Policy.

The show was taped 4 days ago, and in large part revolves around the question: Will it be time in a week or less for the U. S. to reverse policy, i.e., stop the Federal engineered shut-down of the U. S. Economy, the very action President Trump said a few hours ago–Monday night at 6 pm (CST)– he was contemplating taking within a week. 

******

As the President said, the meltdown cure may be worse than the disease.  All of life is a matter of making trade-offs, balancing benefits and costs, and that is what President Trump is doing– and that is what Berkowitz and Dabrowski debate and discuss in tonight’s show.

******

Ted Dabrowski: At what point is the human and economic toll of shutting down America, right? That’s what it is. How does that compare to the potential human toll of the virus itself. And, that’s the benefit- cost analysis that needs to be debated [by Congress, the President and the American people].

******

Ted Dabrowski:   It’s here: It’s not an IL or Chicago specific crisis, it’s a global crisis, but now we are wrapped in it. And, everything that we were worried about, that we talked about- those of us who want to see reforms– it’s coming true, it’s come true…the crisis, the recession… and what it spells is massive trouble for Illinois– relative to other states. And Chicago, relative to other cities.    

Filed under:
Uncategorized

Tags:
Balancing economic meltdown and lives lost, Benefit Cost Analysis, Chicago bankruptcy, Chicago economic crash, Chicago unfunded pensionj debt, COVED19, CPS too much power, Economic Meltdown, economic trade offs, Gov. Pritzker, IL bankruptcy, IL economic crash, IL pension unfunded debt, IL unions too much power, JB Pritzker, Jeff Berkowitz, Mark Gennon, police right to strike, President Trump, Public Affairs TV show, Public Health analysis, Ted Dabrowski, US depression, US recession, Wirepoints

Tweet

• Advertisement:

• Advertisement:

• 
  

  Welcome to ChicagoNow.

  Meet
  our bloggers,
  
  post comments, or
  
  pitch your blog idea.

  Sign in
  Pitch your idea
  Play games

• Latest on ChicagoNow

  • Are you surprised Dr. Anthony Fauci hasn’t been fired yet?

    from I’ve Got The Hippy Shakes by Howard Moore
    posted today at 1:00 am

  • 3 Reasons You Should Attend Seminars with Business Expert Nakita Nicci

    from The Media Doctorz by Nakita Nicci
    posted Monday at 9:31 pm

  • 3 Must-Have Strategies to Stay on the Cutting Edge with Business Expert Nakita Nicci

    from The Media Doctorz by Nakita Nicci
    posted Monday at 9:19 pm

  • Watch Berkowitz w/Dabrowski tonite in Chicago: Economic meltdown worse than disease? IL/Chicago mess: Cable & Web

    from Public Affairs with Jeff Berkowitz by Jeff Berkowitz
    posted Monday at 8:27 pm

  • MUGEN! The Human continues his artistic renaissance on “Zoro”

    from City of Wind by rosenrosenrosen
    posted Monday at 7:50 pm

• Posts from related blogs

  • 

    The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor

    Most recent post: The coronavirus cure is worse than the disease — II

  • 

    The Patriotic Dissenter

    Most recent post: Coronavirus Pandemic: Eight News Stories Providing Hope

  • 

    Politics Now

    Most recent post: Aren’t newspapers supposed to expose corruption?

  More from News: Politics

• Read these ChicagoNow blogs

  • 

    Cubs Den

    Chicago Cubs news and comprehensive blog, featuring old school baseball writing combined with the latest statistical trends
    • MLB pushes back Opening Day by at least 2 weeks
  • 

    Pets in need of homes

    Pets available for adoption in the Chicago area
    • Caledonia — Petraits Rescue
  • 

    Hammervision

    It’s like the couch potato version of Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
    • Movie Review: The Platform

• Read these ChicagoNow Bloggers

  • 

    badjack

    from The Amused Curmudgeon:
    The Coronavirus Threat the Media Have Overlooked
  • 

    Richard Davis

    from Life is a TV Dinner:
    Covid-19 — Chicago — March 22, 2019 — The Bells Toll
  • 

    Edward Shanahan

    from Chicago Paranormal and Spiritual:
    Internal Spiritual Knowledge being discovered by Individuals. Psychic Medium Edward Shanahan discusses it.
• Advertisement:

ChicagoNOW

• About ChicagoNow
• •
• FAQs
• •
• Advertise
• •
• Recent posts RSS
• •
• Privacy policy (Updated)
• •
• Comment policy
• •
• Terms of service
• •
• Chicago Tribune Archives
• •
• Chicago Internet Marketing Services

©2020 CTMG – A Chicago Tribune website –
Crafted by the News Apps team

It’s difficult to reach your business goals if you don’t have the right materials and/or the information to help your business reach the success it’s capable of.

These three insights will help you generate the business you’ve always dreamed of.

1. Explore New Advertising Methods
The first sign that you might need to explore new marketing strategies, is a sharp decline in the effectiveness of your advertisement campaign. Yeah, you shell out a lot of hard-earned cash to advertise, and the public turns its nose up! Don’t wait until your profits are plunging to start hunting for new marketing strategies.

Keep searching for the pot of gold. The whirlwind of change that continuously sweeps through the marketplace offers a great opportunity for discovering new advertising mediums. Be on the lookout for one that will set you up for brand new heights of success.

Here’s the rule of thumb for advertising: Keep 80 percent of your advertising budget invested in the “tried and true” methods that bring in a steady flow of profit, and invest 20 percent into the exploration of new ways to get your message to potential customers.

2. Be On The Lookout For New Markets
Be alert! Diversification is the key to staying on the cutting edge of an everchanging marketplace. You’ll be insulating yourself against the effects of these changes by continuously changing as well. And hey… you never know when a brand new market will translate into millions of dollars in sales!

You don’t have to go out on a limb to reach new markets. There are marketing niches within the market you are currently dealing with. Think of it like this…your market can be subdivided into several narrowly defined markets. A Multi-Level Marketing company may notice that many of its prospects are stay-at-home moms and retirees. Hey, a few advertisements directed at the right people…two additional Web pages targeting stay-at-home moms and retirees linked to their home page…and they’ve effectively customized their markets and are likely to see a 20 percent increase in sales.

3. Invest In New Products or Services
Have you noticed a continuously progressing slump in the sales and profits of a product or service you currently offer? It’s no sweat if you have other products and services to fill the gap. Keep a sharp eye out for new products and services that complement what you already have to offer.

A bridal shop owner may have a humming business that sells gowns and veils, but what about tuxedos? Wouldn’t it be easier for the wedding party to get everything in one place? Tuxedos aren’t just for weddings…proms and parties call for bow ties and tails as well. The potential is expansive.

Yeah, you don’t have to be intimidated by clever competition and new technology when you stay on the edge and make changes with it. Try these 3 strategies to keep your sales numbers vibrant and climbing!