Digital ad revenues close in on $10B in Q1

Digital advertisement revenues in the U.S. hit a record high of $9.6 billion in the first quarter, a year-over-year increase of 15.6%, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau and PricewaterhouseCoopers. "This first-quarter milestone clearly illustrates that marketers recognize that digital has become the go-to medium for all sorts of activities on all sorts of screens, at home, at the office, and on-the-run," said IAB CEO Randall Rothenberg. CNET (6/3), MediaPost Communications/Online Media Daily (6/3)

Members who are still in the business marketplace should be aware that advertising dollars are being spent, by big companies and small business, where they get the most results. If you have a business and you are not using a marketing company to divide your ad dollars into multi-media, you should learn what electronic advertising best serves you. 

If you are looking for practical direction on print or web advertising you may want to confer with eraserhead a local company owned by a member. We have been in the advertising and marketing of graphic services for over 30 years. We can format and publish your e-books, business cards, manuals, web-sites, blogs, print publications, book and CD covers and more. We can develop corporate ID, stationary, logos, original art and provide text and research material for publications of any kind. Email eraserhead at eraserheadgraphics@gmail.com or nan.sherrill@gmail.com or go to www.eraserheadgraphics.com

 

Controversy on the immortality of consciousness

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May 2013 • News@IONS • IONS Conference • Media Store • Featured Partners Dear Noetic Now Subscribers,   In recent weeks a public controversy has emerged over scientific research into the nature of consciousness. It involves IONS scientists, as well as some of our colleagues, and may reflect shifting attitudes about frontier research, so we want to share a little about it with you here. TED, the popular conference organizer with the tag line "ideas worth spreading," recently removed videos of two TEDx talks from their official YouTube channel and then cancelled a TEDx event. The censored talks and cancelled event had a common theme—exploring the possibility that consciousness extends beyond the brain. TED's justification for their actions was that the contributors were promoting "pseudo-science." The videos were talks presented by Rupert Sheldrake and Graham Hancock, and the event presenters included Russell Targ, Larry Dossey, and IONS' Marilyn Schlitz. TED's actions, based on recommendations from its anonymous "Science Board," kicked off a heated Internet discussion and shed light on how some segments of the scientific mainstream tend to stifle conversation on the nature of consciousness, including the kind of cutting-edge research that IONS conducts. However, the enormous attention this controversy has received, and the discussion it generated, may signal a shift towards more openness to including the possibility of non-local consciousness into scientific dialogues. "Based on the thousands of comments generated by TED's action, I think it is clear that the majority of TED fans were very upset with TED," said IONS Chief Scientist Dean Radin, "and contrary to TED's complaint that these people were legions of woo-woo fans, many of the commenters explicitly said that they were quite skeptical of this line of research and that their primary concern was about TED's act of censorship, because the scientific process requires open dialog, otherwise it isn't science any more." Radin is part of a group of scientists, headed by Deepak Chopra, who pushed back hard on TED's recent moves with open letters on the Huffington Post, and in many commentaries published on the web. They argued that the history of science shows that scientific breakthroughs often come from researchers working outside the mainstream, so attempting to censor frontier science runs contrary to the very spirit of scientific exploration. Neil Theise, MD, commented, "Sheldrake and Hancock may be wrong in their ideas, but we do not yet know. Even if they are, the creativity of their work and their insistence on looking at aberrations and exceptions is certainly of value, at least to point the way to the kinds of creative explorations TED hopes to foster." In response to the massive outpouring of public comments, the videos of Rupert Sheldrake and Graham Hancock were eventually re-posted by TED, but on their lower-profile TED Blog. TED revoked the license for TEDx West Hollywood's planned conference "Brother, Can You Spare a Paradigm?" but that program ultimately went ahead without TED's sponsorship. It is encouraging to see these issues discussed in a public forum, and to witness the strong support for more open conversation and inclusion. To explore this issue in more depth, you can use the links in the preceding paragraphs, or start here: Dear TED, Is It 'Bad Science' or a 'Game of Thrones'? Consciousness After Death In what could be another indication of a societal shift to a more open-minded attitude about research on the frontiers of consciousness, Wired magazine – generally considered highly skeptical of this topic – recently published an article entitled "Consciousness After Death: Strange Tales From the Frontiers of Resuscitation Medicine." The article interviewed Sam Parnia, MD, about resuscitation and the nature of consciousness, and reviewed cases of people who have memories from times when their brains were presumably flat-lined. Neurosurgeon Eben Alexander wrote about his memories from when his brain was shut down due to illness in his bestselling book, "Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife." We hope you can join us to hear Dr. Alexander speak about his astounding experiences at the 15th International IONS Conference this July. We'll also be screening a special sneak preview of a "rough-cut" edit of the documentary film "Death Makes Life Possible," which IONS is co-producing with the Chopra Foundation. Please continue reading for more news, events, and special opportunities...

A Quote from Urantia

(1572.6) ^140:4.6 Strong characters are not derived from not doing wrong but rather from actually doing right. Unselfishness is the badge of human greatness. The highest levels of self-realization are attained by worship and service. The happy and effective person is motivated, not by fear of wrongdoing, but by love of right doing.

A List of Provocative Websites to Investigate

http://www.closertotruth.com/
The website for the TV series Closer To Truth with discussions from various experts in the different thought of the description of God . Cosmos . Consciousness. is part of their repertoire.
This is a comprehensive site with hundreds of short and long videos and television programs developed by Robert Lawrence Kuhn, who is the interviewer. Photography and graphics are superior and opinions vary enough so as not to present a focus on position concerning the subject matter.
The interviews and subjects cover mostly unanswerable questions about God and all of creation, including, time, nothingness, and man's place in the grand scheme.

"Can Religion Be Explained Without God?

Most people believe that God exists and religion is God's revelation. But some claim that religion needs nothing supernatural; that religion, without God, can flourish because personal psychology and group sociology drive religion."

I really liked it. The interviews are slow-paced but thorough to give you time to mentally digest.

www.freewillastrology.com
Rob Brezsney's astrology website and the gateway to Pronoia the Antidote to Paranoia. Most of you are familiar with Rob's irreverent disregard of established lines of religion and his never-ending quest for Truth and Beauty.

Rob has so much to offer. It would be a shame to ignore his insight into the unseen miracles of life on all planes.

www.urantia.org
OK, I tried to download the e-book Urantia to my reader and experienced an error. Later I realized my connection to the Internet is somewhat unstable so I don't blame the Urantians. However: the book contains 4,700 plus pages and covers subjects that you and I have probably never imagined existed.

The book is supposed to have been written by spiritual beings who rule not only this universe, but ALL universes and the life they support. Much of the book is dedicated to Jesus Christ and provides remarks and events in his life not found in the Christian Bible.

Minute detail is given to descriptions of the races of people (not the races we recognize), the governing bodies of the planets in all universes (the multi verse), the original plan for the development of life on Earth (Urantia), and the explanation of some of the multitude of myths about Adam and Eve, The Gods, Satan, Knowledge and more.

Challenging to read, but transforming.

 www.lumosity.org
"Brain and brain! What is brain?" The quote uttered by the IQ-challenged female leader of a forbidden planet from the original Star Trek. After stealing Spock's brain to hook up to a central nervous system that runs their underground empire.

This is the same question asked by the Lumosity website -- except they have a lot of it figured out. The site is dedicated to expanding and stretching the properties of the human brain to bring it to the highest point of usefulness achievable. Accomplished by graphic videos, surveys, diagnostics, planned lessons, studies and practices. A lot of of this is eye-brain cooperation and improvements in memory, acuity, inventiveness, problem solving, relaxation, comprehension and IQ are possible.

I particularly like the "square eater" a free downloaded mini program of about 8 animated exercises during which you are not required to think at all. Just watch and let the magic begin. I started hearing crackling sounds, some optical illusions, and felt a bit 2 dimensional at times. If you have any seizure problems you are warned NOT to use these exercises. I have bouts of vertigo, but have not been bothered by the animations. I have them on my tablet and use at least one of them about 3 to 4 times a week.

It's kinda fun!

www.noetic.org

Another path to the inevitable that leads to more questions. A well designed site that is very comprehensive. It covers the subjects "Discover yourself, Inspire others, Engage the word" Their 15th International Conference is July 17-21 2013. They have a Facebook Page (look up IONS), and concentrate on forms of meditation to help get us all through the bumps and twists of normal life in a more conscious way.

• The Institute of Noetic Sciences was founded in 1973 by Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell. To learn more about their history and work, go here.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  http://www.summum.us/
  A book is available for Kindle. Small cost for big info. I don't know how to describe this book. It is a collection of mystical myths and probabilities that could change all existence. The Summum publishers believe that the law of attraction will draw the readers who are ready for their version of truth.
  
  I rather liked it and I like the history of how these texts were created. This organization exists in the US and is pictured in the newly designed website.
  
  The truth to YOU will become apparent and you can lose the rest of it, but studying this book gave me a sense of warmth and elation. For one, it was easier to read than Swedenborg or Urantia, for two - I identified with some of the phenomena described in the chapters. Far out, but harmless and can promote a very emotional awakening of sorts. Try it!
  
  A lot of study material is available right on the website. Photos of the constructed Pyramid, logos, sacred geometry and more. This work is the vision of one man, much like the Swedenborg papers.
  
  
  
  
  www.concept-therapy.org

  What IS Concept-Therapy?

  

  What is Concept-Therapy^®?  It is a philosophy of life based on the idea that our lives are profoundly influenced by the ideas that are stored in our minds: ideas about life, right and wrong, God and religion, health and disease, self, education, etc.
  
  As we grow up, we are presented with all kinds of ideas—some accurate and some distorted—from people we accept as our authority figures.  Right or wrong, we come to accept these ideas, or concepts, as representing the way life really is and we come to see the world in that way.  Concept-Therapy is a course of instruction designed to assist you, in a perfectly logical and factual way, to discover and change those concepts which impede your health, happiness, success, and peace of mind.
  
  In the Concept-Therapy course, you will learn ways of improving your life by working with your own concepts, for you can change your thinking patterns and thereby change your life for the better.  Concept-Therapy explains the part that concepts play and how we can use this knowledge to our advantage.
  
  If you have begun wondering whether you have to believe everything you have been told, if you have begun to check what you have been told with what reason tells you, or if you have started looking for clear, straight forward and honest answers to your questions, Concept-Therapy has great knowledge to help you find answers.
  
  Once you begin the Concept-Therapy course of instruction, you will soon realize that you are a soul evolving in consciousness for better or for worse according to the nature of your basic concepts.  Examine this information and test its validity in your own life.  If this is true—and we can prove that it is—what a secret you have!  You now know something many do not know: Our lives are continually becoming better or worse depending upon the nature of the basic concepts we hold in our minds, shaping our lives.

  I was a member of, and studied concept therapy for years. I even presented some seminars on the subject matter. I carried the Rays of the Dawn with me everywhere, and met at least once a week with like-thinkers who liked to discuss the precepts. Unknown to me I was promoted in stature in the organization and felt comfortable with this guide to continue a successful life. The creator is a colorful man who went to extremes to offer CT to his students. It is said that he sequestered himself in a hotel room and wrote the text on the walls. Another famous story is that he pulled all his teeth to help resist the temptation to eat meat.
  
  We all had lots of fun with the Inner Klean diet.
  
  This "cult" is harmless to those who use it only for good. My experience with a member who used CT to dominate and manipulate others was extremely negative. As long as ego is kept at bay -- the programs are helpful and inspirational.
  
  Bloggirl