ABC News 20/20: The Candidate's Secret

8 Million people watched, but in case you missed our exclusive Andrew Young interview on 20/20 about the secrets behind John Edward's affair with Rielle Hunter watch it here:




Producer: Eric M. Strauss

Watch: Howie Mandel's Struggle with OCD

Watch an inspiring story as Howie Mandel discusses his lifelong battle with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
CLICK TO WATCH PART 1
CLICK TO WATCH PART 2

20/20: Friday 10pm - Howie Mandel

This Friday on 20/20: A fascinating look at funny man Howie Mandel's real life struggle with mental health. You will be surprised by what you see. Set the DVR and make sure to watch live with the whole family Friday at 10pm on ABC

My Folks are TV Stars

My parents on Long Island TV:

Full OCD Program Online

You can now watch our full OCD Kids program online with limited advertisement interruption BY CLICKING HERE


Here is a list of some other online components from the show:
Overall Article: (With resources)

Living with OCD: Michelle’s Diary

Dr. Weg’s Guest Column

Hair Puller Article

SLIDE SHOW:
http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/MindMoodNews/popup?id=8221920

VIDEO: Ian and Emily (Cut for the web)

VIDEO: Meet Bridget:
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=8221508

VIDEO: Meet Rocco:
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=8214435

VIDEO: Meet Michelle:
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=8253918

Press Release of Show:
http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=8214328&page=1

OCD Kids: Tonight - ABC - 10PM

INSIDE THE THERAPY ROOM: CHILDREN FIGHTING OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER ON “PRIMETIME: FAMILY SECRETS,” AIRING TUESDAY, AUGUST 4 on ABC 10pm

http://abcnews.go.com/primetime

I hope you will watch an hour program I have been working on for about a year. Children struggling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I shot a lot of it myself. The families that gave us access were amazing.

Before Arranging Playdates, Ask About Guns

Read my article HERE about keeping your child safe before they visit a neighbor's house and watch 20/20 tonight (4/10/09) about gun safety.

"But after months of visits, it did come as a surprise to Stephen's mom, Carol, that Robbie's dad, Jan, kept handguns in his home for protection.

"Stephen's been going to Jan's house to play with Robbie, and I had no idea Jan even had guns," Carol admitted. "It just never came up as a conversation."(More...)

Watch ABC News Tuesday Night 10pm - Bounty Hunter - What Would You Do!

You’re at a fruit stand. A Bounty Hunter asks you to help him capture a fugitive… What Would You Do? Watch a story I helped produce tonight on ABC - 10pm.

Go here: http://alturl.com/uxk and make sure to comment. Watch a clip.

Twitter my reporter and tell him what a great job I did:
http://twitter.com/johnquinonesABC

Watch Tonight: What Would You Do? ABC TV @ 10PM

Tune in Tuesday night – 10pm – ABC News: What Would You Do?
I co-produced the final segment in the hour about going to the beach.

You’re at the Beach… A woman gets up leaving her iPod behind… It gets stolen… What Would You Do? What if she was annoying to you? What if she was flirting with your wife?

That's the scenario we put to the test and the results are part of tonight's show.

(I am the thief for the first part of the show and it’s my iPod that gets stolen :-)

Spread the word. Make a comment. Take a look at a promo here: http://tinyurl.com/cqre5m

Twitter my Correspondent John Quinones and let him know how well I did: JohnQuinonesABC

I'm sad to learn that a very nice woman I did a story on was in a car accident this week. My thoughts are with Lee Redmond in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Woman's record-length fingernails broken in crash
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Salt Lake City woman who was in the Guinness Book of World Records for her long fingernails has had them broken off in a car accident. Lee Redmond sustained serious but non-life threatening injuries in the Tuesday accident. Redmond was the current Guinness record holder, with nails that hadn't been cut since 1979. Her nails measured a total of more than 28 feet long in 2008, with the longest nail on her right thumb at 2 feet, 11 inches, according to the Guinness Web site. Salt Lake County Sheriff's Lt. Don Hutson said she was ejected from an SUV in the crash and taken to the hospital in serious condition.

ABC News 20/20: Guinness Record Holders: Smallest Waist and Longest Nails

SLIDE SHOW: 'How Do You Sleep?' and World's Smallest Waist and Nailing a World Record

Extreme Measures: The Smallest Waist and the Longest Fingernails

My dad is going to the Inauguration in case of emergency

ELTON STRAUSS, MD, has been selected by the Department of State as a member of an elite team of trauma specialists to care for any orthopaedic surgical emergencies during the inauguration of president-elect Obama, in Washington, DC, January 18 through 20

Dr. Strauss is Chief of Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and has been a member of the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) since it's inception six years ago. He looks forward to bringing his abilities to the nation’s Capitol.

“Because of the expected record-setting crowds, our team is being deployed from throughout the Northeast so we will be in position in case there is a need for emergency medical care,” explained Strauss.

“It will be exciting to witness this historic inauguration in person. We’ll be out there with the masses, in our government issued uniforms, in the cold, eating our MRE’s (Meals Ready to Eat), and ready to help if called on.”

The population of Washington, DC is expected to swell by the addition of over 2 million visitors for the inauguration festivities; Dr. Strauss and the rest of a 40 member International Medical Surgical Response Team (IMSuRT) will be mobilized to provide a 60 bed field hospital in the event of a mass casualty event. The temporary hospital will be located on The National Mall.

The complexity of today’s mass casualty incidents has increased the need for specialists in disaster care. The NDMS responded to this need by creating rapidly deployable world-class medical/surgical teams for the treatment of disaster victims under the sponsorship of the US Government (Department of Health and Human Services).


Contact Information
Mount Sinai Newsroom
Telephone 212-241-9200
Email NewsMedia@mssm.edu

War on "Honica"

Occasionally as a Producer at ABC News Magazines I write to people in jail. I inquire about hearing their side of the story and sometimes request a meeting. Few prisons allow on camera interviews and many inmates see little benefit of speaking to the media. Most of my letters sent on ABC letterhead go unanswered.

So, I was initially surprised to learn that my requests live on well past our interest in the story. My attempts at printed persuasion are passed from inmate to inmate as reading material - year after year - along with my salutation and return address that was meant for another.

The newly inspired inmates send me respectfully worded ramblings. Some notes arrive hand-written and some typed, but they often follow the same rhyme and flow; declaring their innocence, inviting me to follow up with someone on the outside and often sending me blessings.

Today I received a note from such a stranger and at the end of the note - after the part about being innocent - I was wished "Merry Christmas or happy Honica. (SIC)"

I have some advice for future inmates writing to journalists. Because Hanuka /Hanukkah / Chanukah can be spelled multiple ways correctly (and incorrectly) and because sometimes the choice between Christmas or Chanukah can be answered many ways (ONE/NEITHER/BOTH) I suggest we all wish each other Happy Holidays and call it a day.

Parallels Tech Support Works

Computer tech support departments historically blame problems on the user, deny the problem is their fault (contact your computer maker) or re-direct the user to unhelpful online literature. That is why I would like to give a gold star to the team at Parallels for admitting to me my problem was real and having their developers fix it!

Parallels ($49.99 at Amazon) makes software that allows you to run Windows on your Mac. I had a friend who set up webcams at his house and the software that came with it (Nubix Eclipse Security) required an Active X component. Active X only runs in Internet Explorer and only on a PC. We set up Parallels in a flash, installed Windows XP, downloaded the Active X component, connected to the webcams three states away and .... Black screen. Parallels could not render the images even though they could be seen on a physical PC. (For the record VM Ware's Fusion could not render the images either.)

I wrote to technical support and expected to be dismissed. There were some standard suggestions about checking security settings and some other back and forth that might have been helpful to non-advanced computer users, but I knew this was a limitation of the software.

Imagine my surprise when I was told the issue was confirmed by the technicians and that the developers would work on the problem and repair it in the next free update. I waited a few weeks, and when I was notified I downloaded the free update and my problem was fixed. Operational Active X Nubix webcam software on an iMac running Windows XP with the help of Parallels 4. Thank you.

Perfect Gift - ConfettiCakes Cookbook For Kids

Buy my sister's new baking book. Great for a kid interested in baking or a parent who wants to bake with or for kids…

Confetti Cakes For Kids: Delightful Cookies, Cakes, and Cupcakes from New York City's Famed Bakery (Hardcover)
Elisa Strauss is the founder and head designer of Confetti Cakes in New York City. A former designer for Ralph Lauren, Strauss is famous for her imaginative and elaborate cakes. Her work has been featured in dozens of magazines, as well as on Good Morning America, the Today show, Martha: The Martha Stewart Show, The View, and the Food Network.

Special link at Amazon.com for 30% off ($19.79): http://tinyurl.com/cc4kids
Buy directly from Elisa and get an autographed copy and shipping ($24): http://confetticakes.com/books/books.html
Barnes & Noble or Dylan's Candies for $29

So, if I've ever fixed your computer, made you laugh on a gloomy day, or taught you how to shoot with a DV cam please support the Strauss family and buy Elisa's book.


From yesterday's Daily News:
Cost of a child's custom-made birthday cake: Hundreds of dollars. Cost of making it from scratch: Much less. Look on your child's face when she sees your creation: priceless. And Elisa Strauss , owner of an Upper West Side cake design café/bakery, leads you through every step of the mostly painless process in her new book, "Confetti Cakes for Kids" (Little Brown $29).

ABC News: iChat or You Drive

Chit, Chat or iChat
Video Chats Are Simple, Fun and Accessible
By ERIC M. STRAUSS
Nov. 27, 2008

It's holiday time and, for many of us, that means family visits. Over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go -- unless the economy is in the tank, and grandma is an expensive plane ride away... (MORE)

Confetti Cakes on The Today Show

Watch my sister Elisa Strauss talk about her new book "Confetti Cakes for Kids"

Watch the video here.

Here is the recipe from The Today website.

ConfettiCakes has a newly designed website and Elisa has been blogging a lot recently HERE.

Elisa on the Rachael Ray Show

My sister was on the Rachael Ray Show today 10/3/08. She is super cool and awesome.

See The Video Here:
http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/show/segments/view/rach-rescue-hits-kansas-city/

Enter to win a copy of Elisa's upcoming book.
http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/club/giveaways/confetti-cakes-kids/

ABC News: Mac or PC, Incentives Abound for Students

By Eric M. Strauss

With just two weekends left before school starts Heintzman has modest plans of hanging out with friends, eating sushi and taking a drive with her father, Mark, to an Apple store to make that one last purchase.

She usually makes her electronics purchases at Best Buy, but this time a perfect storm of educational savings and promotions is too strong for her to ignore, including a rebate to cover an iPod Nano ($199) or a widescreen iPod Touch ($299) with the purchase of a Mac through Sept. 15, an educational discount and a tax-free weekend. (More...)

My Friends Are Heros

My friend from work Joan Lefosse donated her kidney to our friend Ani Mozian-Whitney. Read about it below.

Please Watch: "Kidnapped Cousins"

ABC News PrimeTime Crime - "Kidnapped Cousins" - July 16th, 2008 - 10PM

A story I have worked on for a while will air this Wednesday night on ABC @ 10pm. Please watch it, blog about it, tell your family and friends. It's an important and compelling story about domestic trafficking of minors.

PrimeTime gained exclusive access to the story of two young victims; Middle-American teen cousins Carol (14) and Kimberly (15) on their way to buy milkshakes, who end up kidnapped off of Toledo, Ohio's, Main Street and into a world of forced sex with men for money.


Viewers will hear first-hand of the terrifying abduction, the militaristic training and seasoning period, and eventually the dramatic rescue of one cousin and the terrifying journey to save the other.


Federal and Local authorities explain how these predatory pimps operate loosely held networks from typical residential communities to our nation's highways. PrimeTime brings you unprecedented access to interviews, 911 calls, interrogation videos, and a truck-stop sting operation in order to bring you inside the unimaginable world of domestic sex trafficking.

I was able to do a lot of the auxiliary shooting myself. Look for time-lapse shots and additional B-roll shot by me.

Special Thanks: FBI SA Mike Beaver, University of Toledo sociologist Dr. Celia Williamson, Cumberland County DA's Office and Washtenaw County's (Michigan) Sheriff Daniel Minzey and Commander Dave Egeler.

READ A TEASE HERE

READ A DETAILED ARTICLE HERE
WATCH VIDEO HERE
WATCH VIDEO ABOUT TRUCK STOPS HERE
READ A REVIEW IN THE NY POST HERE
WATCH A TEASE BELOW:

EJ and EMS Breaking Glass

Assy McGee Staring Jason Potts

My buddy Jason Potts was recently the voice of a barber in an offensive, but funny adult cartoon called Assy McGee.

You can buy the 11 minute episode (#14 Hands Up) for $1.99 HERE

No Drinking and Voting

As I was passing through Cincinnati's Airport (which is actually located in Kentucky) I saw this funny sign. Seems in Kentucky they don't serve alcohol on the day of elections. Jake Tapper posted my photo on his blog at ABC News.com

Political Punch

How to make a sculpted dog cake in 4 minutes

You have to see my sister's time-lapse video creating a dog out of cake for my dad's birthday party.

See it here on YouTube.

"Elisa Strauss of Confetti Cakes sculpted her dad's labradoodle for his birthday. For more information, please visit http://confetticakes.blogspot.com/"

Happy Mother's Day

I've posted a few tech gift ideas for Mother's Day. Check them out:
Save Parents' Digital Heirlooms With a Time Capsule

Kodak EasyShare 5300: Print Pictures at 50 Percent Less Than Competition

TomTom 920 GPS Finds Cheapest Gas

Happy Birthday: Elton Strauss is 60

The votes are in and it has been confirmed that I have the best Mom and Dad in North America. My Dad turned 60 last week and we had a couple fun parties for him. My sister made him two amazing cakes in the shape of his favorite child (his dog). I made him a slide show with the new iMovie application that you can watch here, or below.

Here are some photos from his surprise party.

Health Goes High Tech

by Eric M. Strauss
ABC News
...Most people don't leave the house without their cell phones, which gave tech startup Confidant an idea: Use mobile phones as powerful databases and liaison to health care professionals for patients with chronic diseases.

"After you start dealing with it you realize it really stinks. You need to incorporate it into your routine. Diet and exercise now become life and death," Leinart said. "You have to develop a positive attitude or it will take you over. You realize quickly it's not going to go away." ... (Read the article at ABCNews.com)

Tim Stevens at Switched read my article. Thanks.

See more article I've written on ABCNews.com here.

20/20 Tonight: Weather Myths

ABC News 20/20 - Friday, April 18 at 10 p.m.
Tonight we have an interesting show about the myths and truths about wild weather. I was able to travel to Gainesville, Florida with Sam Champion to meet the nation's expert on lightning, Dr. Martin Uman.
Watch as he tells us how he can create lightning and spells out what you need to know about it.

Confetti Costs

For those that ask me if my sister will make them a cake for their Birthday... I hope you have wealthy parents.
See this article for the reason why.

"Elisa Strauss' Confetti Cakes created this $1,500 Coach bag-themed cake for a 10-year-old girl's birthday party."

While you are at it check out Elisa's new blog and let her know what you think about it. http://confetticakes.blogspot.com/

ABC 20/20 Tonight: Intervention

Please tune in to 20/20 tonight for a story I've been working on about drug interventions with Daniel Baldwin. It's an idea that came out of our very successful hour last summer about Daniel's struggles.

ABC News 20/20 Friday, March 28th, 2008 10-11pm

Read my article here: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=4543817&page=1
Video preview here: Lessons Learned from Daniel Baldwin
Eamon's Journal Entry: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=4537761&page=1

Addiction has touched Hollywood's Baldwin Family as well. Last year, actor Daniel Baldwin allowed Cynthia McFadden to follow his progress through drug rehabilitation. In a new interview, Baldwin talks about how he is doing today. Is he winning the battle?

And because of Baldwin's experience with rehab and sobriety, he says he wants to "give back to others." He helps facilitate an actual intervention to try to get a young man to turn his life around. Will Baldwin be successful in saving this young man's life? "20/20" is there to document.

20/20 Show on Prostitution

We've been working on a series of programs about the real world of prostitution for two years. Tonight (March 21, 2008) we will have a 2 hour program on some of the exploitation involved. Please watch. ABC 9-11pm

I specifically worked on the parts about the undercover stings and the pimp culture. (Parts 2 and 4)

Prostitution Stings
Online video
Online resources to end the exploitation
John's School

MacBook Air Review

MacBook Air: Sexy, Skinny as a Supermodel
by Eric M. Strauss
"Carrying around Apple's MacBook Air is like dating a supermodel: She's going to turn heads with her beauty, she'll improve your self-confidence, and you can go everywhere together — from crowded nightclubs to cramped airplane flights. You'll be happy in the end, but there's sure to be a friend who just doesn't approve."
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/GadgetGuide/story?id=4421038&page=1

Take a look inside a New Yorker's $500,000 Home Theater

ABCNews.com's Eric M. Strauss, speaks with a high powered exec who turned to Goldmund, the same people who announced the $17,000 Blu-ray player this week, to create a half-million dollar home theater in his NYC home. By Eric M. Strauss

read more | digg story

Kathy Griffin is Funny

Kathy Griffin is hysterical live. If you have the chance you should go.

ABCNews.com Article

Porn Industry Still Struggles With Condom Issue
At Annual Conference, Optional Condom Policies Called Into Question
By Eric M. Strauss

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/AIDS/story?id=4130615&page=1

See some video here:
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4132676

CES 2008: Day 2 by Eric M. Strauss

CES 2008: A Driverless SUV Gives a Tour of the Future

VIDEO CES 2008: The SUV That Drives Itself

CES 2008: Day 1 Articles by Eric M. Strauss

2008 CES: New Generation Remotes Ready to Bring Peace

2008 CES: Tech Goodies off the Beaten Path

CES 2008: Sony OLEDs

At CES 2008. I just saw the first thing I would really like to have. I'm at the Sony Press Conference and they just introduced an 11" OLED super slim TV set $2500. It's only the thickness of 3 credit cards. 11" is kinda small though. Sony will be the first to sell OLED displays in the US. They have a 27" one in their booth as a prototype and Samsung has a 31" prototype.

At the press conference before introducing Sony's super slim 11" Sony CEO Sir Howard Stringer said,
"All of us at Sony are feeling a bit blue today (big chuckles), but that's a good feeling. Along with WB decision to support Blu-Ray I want to thank Bob Iger at Disney and Rupert Murdoch at Fox for being true blue from the start"

Warner Brothers decided to stop putting out titles in the HD DVD format and Sony which has a strong interest in the competing Blu-Ray technology must be on cloud nine. -EMS

ABC News 20/20: Guinness World Records

I worked on a fun and surprisingly touching broadcast set to air Friday 11/23/07 at 10pm on 20/20 about the Guinness World Record Book Phenomenon.

I specifically worked on the piece about Guinness By Choice. The world's longest fingernails and world's smallest waist. Lee and Cathie are both lovely women and I am happy for all the success their records have brought them

Check out our article here: http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3893475&page=1
Check out a short version of our piece here: http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3893432
See slides of the smallest waist: http://abcnews.go.com/2020/popup?id=3897714
See slides of the longest nails: http://abcnews.go.com/2020/popup?id=3897859
Read a bio and more answers about Lee and Cathie: http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3906738&page=1

BNL Live DVD

My guys are at it again. If you are a fan of the Barenaked Ladies you have to get the fun DVD / CD combo tour package: "Talk To The Hand" - Barenaked Ladies Live in Michigan

The first-ever LIVE Barenaked Ladies DVD! "Talk to the Hand" Live in Michigan is a tight blend of classics including "One Week," "Pinch Me," and "If I Had $1000000" as well as hits from their recent releases 'Barenaked Ladies Are Me' and 'Barenaked Ladies Are Men." With 15 tracks as well as backstage and sound check footage, this DVD showcases why Barenaked Ladies is one of the world's greatest touring bands. Also includes an audio CD of the same performance. It's really fun. Enjoy.

Holiday 2007 tech gadget gift guide

It's never too early to start shopping for your holiday tech gadget gifts and over at ABCNEWS.com we are starting to post some of our holiday picks.

Here are a few of my early suggestions:

Green gift ideas: iMac, APC Power, 1 Laptop Per Child, Lamp, and Video Game
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/GadgetGuide/story?id=3803350&page=1

iPhone Review
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/GadgetGuide/story?id=3822984

Apple TV
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/GadgetGuide/story?id=3803125

Sling Box
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/GadgetGuide/story?id=3802985

Blackberry Curve:
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/GadgetGuide/story?id=3803171

Wii Classic Controller:
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/GadgetGuide/story?id=3802953

OtterBox Rugged Phone/PDA Cases:
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/GadgetGuide/story?id=3834596

Club Pogo (Online Casual Gaming Service):
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/GadgetGuide/story?id=3834586

E+E+B in the Audience

I attended Regis and Kelly Live last week and sat in the front row. Look how excited I was about 50 seconds into the show. Two of my favorite teachers Bridget and Efrat seem even more happy!

Marriott Rewards For You and Me

I love getting rewards for showing loyalty to a company and whenever I travel I try and stay at Marriott hotels. With well over 400,000 reward points now I hope to one day retire and move into a hotel for free :-)

Help me out by signing up for the free Marriott Rewards program, staying at a Marriott and then we will both get bonus points. Yeah bonus points!

Sneezing Revolution

Have you heard the news? The CDC now encourages citizens to cease sneezing into our hands and instead sneezing into our sleeves! Check out this funny video, but first look over these a few things you can do to prevent the spread of cold and flu viruses.

• For more information on Pandemic Influenza, go to: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/general/index.html
• Wash your hands often and wash with warm water and soap for 15-20 seconds. This is the most important this you can due to prevent the spread of germs.
• If you are sick, stay home and away from other people as much as possible.
• When coughing or sneezing, cover you mouth and nose. Please watch this short video about the new “sneeze in your sleeve” technique the CDC is recommending we all learn. http://www.newfluwiki2.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=125

High Tech at US Open

I'm a fan of Tennis and Technology so I would like to thank Ken Rossi and Jeff Volk of the USTA Advanced Media group for giving me a behind the scenes tour of the 2007 US Open and how they make usopen.org such a fabulous site.

Thanks to my pal Pam Allison for bringing me as her guest when we sat in the front row to watch Serena Williams and Roger Federer up close and even for taking me the next day when we sat in the 1003 row :-)

Check out my online article by Eric M. Strauss on ABC News:
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=3573832&page=1

"A high-tech infrastructure is what makes all this instant data available. About 100 yards down the hall from the plush-carpeted player's lounge, where Maria Sharapova, the 20-year-old Russian champion could be found recently psyching herself up for a match by listening to her iPod, and where other players relaxed playing Nintendo Wii and Sony Playstation 3 video games, sat a nondescript high-tech data center that would rival that of any Fortune 500 company."

Videotaping Death

Part of my job as a Producer for ABC News Magazines includes meeting people who have done horrible things or have had horrible things happen to them and seeing a lot of senseless violence. People always ask me how I deal with it and I often wonder myself. I think the day that I no longer feel sadness for others is the day I've seen too much.

A friend of mine - who I met while producing a story in Louisville, KY - Dan Chesser is the chief videographer for WHAS-TV. Dan was videotaping a breaking news story last week from the station's helicopter, and one of his cameramen Ron Johnson was 70 yards away from the action. The action was a bank robbery gone wrong and the police shot the suspect as he exited the door. WHAS decided not to show the shooting on TV.

Here are some of Dan's thoughts that were published in a local KY paper.

I was in the helicopter yesterday// But then we knew from the scanner traffic in the newsroom that things were winding down just before noon. After the four hostages were released, things moved quickly. The pilot was flying figure eight patterns so that we could see both the side and rear doors without going around the whole building. // The pilot has just made his turn and the skid cleared my shot and I zoomed in to reframe the shot when we saw Guy exit the bank. The next ten seconds will always be etched in my memory. We both could not believe what we witnessed. The camera is always in high speed shutter in daylight to sharpen the images. The streaks of red seem to show four to five feet in front of Guy as he fell to the ground. Toward the end, something flew away from Guy and landed on the ground several feet away, never figured out what that was.

I didn't know until later that Ron was so close and got the scene as well. As the news hour was about over, I heard through the radio in Sky11 that Ron was not feeling well afterward. When we landed at Bowman Field, I drove over to the scene and found Ron. What he had witnessed and the heat together was getting the best of him. We sat in the truck and decompressed for a few moments. We both in our careers had never witnessed something like this before. We both agreed that we hope that we never will again.

I was not involved in the decision making process to show the video but feel that the station handled things properly. Viewers needed to be able to see that Guy was leaving that bank at that moment to die.

Jets 2007 Training Camp

My dad and I were able to attend a day of NY Jets Training Camp thanks to the generosity of Defensive Coordinator Bob Sutton. Coach Sutton arranged for an awesome behind the scenes tour. Extra special thanks to Jay Mandolesi, Coordinator of College Scouting who showed us around, introduced us to everyone, bought us lunch and answered all one million of our questions.

See the photos here: http://flickr.com/photos/ericmstrauss/sets/72157601184909315/


Everyone we met went out of their way to make us feel welcomed and we had a terrific day!

Special thanks to all that were so welcoming to us including...
Jerome Henderson
Terry Bradway
JoJo Wooden
Brendan Prophett
Mike Tannenbaum
Eric Mangini
Bryan Cox
Cole Hufnagel

Baldwin Rehab, July 17th 2007 10pm

Daniel Baldwin is a celebrity, a brother, a father and a son. He is also a drug addict.

Watch the promo video here

Read the full article here

The actor gave "Primetime" unprecedented access as he struggled for his life. He was addicted to smoking cocaine, and with legal, financial and health problems breathing down his neck, he allowed cameras to track his successes and failures at a $50,000-a-month rehabilitation center in Malibu, Calif.

Addiction is a powerful, progressive disease that touches 25 percent of American families, afflicts all classes, races and genders and can bring even the strongest to their knees.

What lessons does this 46-year-old addict share with others who suffer from the same disease? What steps will he take as he tries to help himself and offer advice to others? Go behind the doors of rehab with Daniel Baldwin Tuesday, July 17, on "Primetime: Family Secrets" at 10 p.m. EDT

Please send in your comments here.

Emmy Nomination for Foster Care

A great project I worked on last year has been nominated for a 2007 Emmy in the category of Outstanding Continuing Coverage of a News Story in a News Magazine.

A Call to Action: Saving Our Children about Foster Care in America anchored by Diane Sawyer.

Senior Producer: Jon Meyersohn
Producers: Claire Weinraub, Eric M. Strauss, Greg Fisher
Associate Producers: Keturah Grey, Christina Krol
Editors: Bram Harris, Gina Pampinella, Jack Pyle, Vanessa Cochran, David Ward, Joe Schanzer, Faith Jones
Executive Producers: Jessica Velmans and David Sloan

Cross your fingers for us. On September 24th we'll find out if we won.

ABC News PrimeTime: Daniel Baldwin

Upcoming: ABC News PrimeTime:"Baldwin Rehab" July, 17th - 10pm
Update your calendar. Tell a friend. Plan a party...
Daniel Baldwin is the second oldest of the famed Baldwin acting clan, he has appeared in over 70 movies, but he may be most famous for his addiction to crack cocaine. Daniel has been battling drug addiction for 18 years and has allowed our cameras unprecedented access to document his 90 days of struggle at an exclusive Malibu rehabilitation facility. Daniel will share his personal thoughts as he participates in group and individual therapy, as he struggles with his family issues, and as he goes to court to beg for his freedom. From detox to release Daniel's experience is a tool to illustrate the issues surrounding addiction and his personal attempt towards a sober and productive existence.

Tune in Tuesday night - July 17th at 10 p.m. on ABC

Bridget Kelly: A Survivor's Story

This is an amazing story of a victim of a senseless violation who was strong enough to survive and composed enough to share her experience and to let it be known that there should be no stigma associated with the wounded.

The introduction to the story by Charlie Gibson says it all, "And now, we're going to turn to the story of a young woman, who made a big impression on all of us here at "Primetime." She has an extraordinary story of survival, and we keep asking how did she do it? How did she survive one terrible night at the hands of a crazed attacker. And what happened inside of her? How did she end up concluding that what happened wasn't something to be ashamed of? And how did she decide that women deserve a voice? And how did she find her voice?"
A SURVIVOR'S STORY is a must see for any human with a heart.

Purchase Bridget's segment on DVD at amazon.com

Award winning columns written by Bridget's dad, Mike Kelly, Omaha World-Herald

http://www.asne.org/index.cfm?id=4838

http://www.justicejournalism.org/crimeguide/chapter06/sidebars/chap06_xside1.html

TAASA

http://www.taasa.org/latest_news/article09042003.php

Kelly wanted to take part in the campaign to help fight the sense of social stigma that casts silence over the topic of rape. "There is no way anyone is going to make me feel ashamed of having been raped," Kelly said. "I'm so grateful for the opportunity to participate in TAASA's public awareness campaign."

ABC Article:

http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=132391

Cincinnati Enquirer Column:

http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2003/06/29/loc_Pulfer29.html

RFK Award for ABC News PrimeTime

" I am proud to announce ABC News has been awarded this year’s Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award in the Domestic Television category for our reporting on foster care, “A Call to Action: Saving Our Children.” This prestigious award is given for the outstanding reporting of the lives and strife of disadvantaged people in the United States." - Phyllis McGrady, Senior VP ABC News

I was part of the team that issued a Call to Action: to examine the US foster care system, and challenged ourselves to ask -- what are we doing wrong, and how can things be better?

It was a rewarding program to produce for and quite an honor for our team to receive. I was able to fly to Washington DC with three of my colleagues to attend the awards reception.

Photos from the event:
http://flickr.com/photos/ericmstrauss/sets/72157600263909620/

RFK Award winners can be seen here: http://www.rfkmemorial.org/legacyinaction/2007BJAnnounce/

About our show: http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=2008981&page=1

Here is an article about a Kentucky social worker I shot and produced:
http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/FosterCare/story?id=2021066&page=1

Watch the video here

Who is Sick

This is a wacky web site where people who are sick report it online. Check it out and see who is sick in your area.
http://whoissick.org/sickness/

Blackberry Cake

My sister the world famous celebrity baker and author created a completely edible RIM Blackberry made out of cake. Her cakes usually start at $1000, but this one was for her fiance' who is leaving a job at New York's City Hall for the private sector. He will leave his Blackberry behind, but Elisa will still use her old-school Treo :-)

Elisa Strauss on the Today Show

My Sister Elisa Strauss on the Today show 5/2/07 "The Confetti Cakes Cookbook" Buy her book http://confetticakes.com/book.html

The Confetti Cakes Cookbook: Spectacular Cookies, Cakes, and Cupcakes from New York City's Famed Bakery

Free Credit Report - Really. Free.

Every citizen is allowed a free credit report every 12 months. There are a lot of scams online that try and get you to pay for this free service. Don't fall for it.

There are three ways to get the free reports:
ONLINE: http://www.annualcreditreport.com
PHONE: 1-877-322-8228
MAIL: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
(A form must be printed from http://ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/credit

More info from the Federal Gov't:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/freereports.shtm

Linkin Park is Back - Minutes to Midnight

My guys from Linkin Park are back at it again.

Pre-Order the full Album Minutes to Midnight at iTunes and get bonus tracks and video downloads from previous tours. Just $19

ABC News Internships

I started my career at ABC News many moons ago as a summer intern at 20/20. If you want to break into TV news there is really only one way. Volunteer your services to a multi national billion dollar company for free. It's fun and educational and the networking opportunities are priceless.

ABC News Internship info.
http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=2938454&page=1

Convert File Formats Online - Yippee!

I think this website is a gift from above. Converts file formats online for free. The company asks a simple question and the answer for me is yes!

"Have you ever wanted to convert files without the need to download software ?"

http://www.zamzar.com/

My Dad is Cool

STARR REPORT
By MICHAEL STARR
February 26, 2007 --

* Mt. Sinai's Dr. Elton Strauss a featured speaker March 4 on the Annual Ar thritis Foundation TV Special and Telethon, airing 3-5 p.m. on Ch. 55 (TW Cable) and Ch. 10 (Cablevision).

It's 'All' unscripted

Here's a first: The March 9 episode of "All My Children" will feature transgender actors/actresses, playing themselves, in scenes in which Zoe (Jeffrey Carlson), a transgender woman who's come out in Pine Valley, at tends group support sessions. These sessions will be uns cripted - a first for "AMC" and highly unusual for any dramatic show in any daypart.

Media Relations Graduate Assistant

Cool job with the NY Jets. Feel free to apply and get me free tickets when you get hired :-)

Overview: A graduate assistant in the New York Jets Media Relations Department is a key member of the media relations staff. Our goal is to provide you with on-the-job training, real-life work experiences and a hands-on knowledge of every aspect of what is required to work in the NFL, in a major market, in media relations. This graduate assistantship could be the last step in your sports public relations training. We are looking for qualified individuals who have proven themselves at the college level or have excelled in similar positions in the NFL or in other major sports

Qualifications:
bachelors degree in journalism or related field preferred
sports public relations experience necessary

Apply for this position

Recipe: Red Velvet Cake by Elisa Strauss

Adapted from "The Confetti Cakes Cookbook" by Elisa Strauss (Little, Brown, to be published in May). Purchase now for big savings.

Time: 90 minutes, plus cooling
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
3½ cups cake flour
½ cup unsweetened cocoa (not Dutch process)
1½ teaspoons salt
2 cups canola oil
2¼ cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
6 tablespoons (3 ounces) red food coloring
1½ teaspoons vanilla
1¼ cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons baking soda
2½ teaspoons white vinegar.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place teaspoon of butter in each of 3 round 9-inch layer cake pans and place pans in oven for a few minutes until butter melts. Remove pans from oven, brush interior bottom and sides of each with butter and line bottoms with parchment.
2. Whisk cake flour, cocoa and salt in a bowl.
3. Place oil and sugar in bowl of an electric mixer and beat at medium speed until well-blended. Beat in eggs one at a time. With machine on low, very slowly add red food coloring. (Take care: it may splash.) Add vanilla. Add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk in two batches. Scrape down bowl and beat just long enough to combine.
4. Place baking soda in a small dish, stir in vinegar and add to batter with machine running. Beat for 10 seconds.
5. Divide batter among pans, place in oven and bake until a cake tester comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool in pans 20 minutes. Then remove from pans, flip layers over and peel off parchment. Cool completely before frosting.
Yield: 3 cake layers.

iPhone

While I was in Las Vegas for CES 2007 I missed all the iPhone excitement. Thankfully I was sent these links:

- Microsofts's Zune Phone

- Make you own iPhone

- Watch it's birth

- Buy the iPhone nobody wants

I'm in Las Vegas at CES

I'm in Las Vegas at CES. Read about me over here: EMS @ CES 2007

ABC News - Wanted: Your viewer submitted video!

Wanted: Your viewer submitted video!

2006 is the year of digital video, and ABC News wants to put the best of the best, the worst of the worst, and the most powerful moments on national TV.
Have you captured an astonishing scene others missed? Has your video helped the voiceless be heard? Have you recorded a life changing event? Caught a celebrity in a predicament? Used the camera in a creative way? Cameraphone. handheld video. Webcam.

Our producers are asking for the most powerful, compelling, emotional video moments captured in 2006. If your video is strong enough, important enough, really meaningful, we will put it on TV. Upload your video or tell us about it.

"Caught 2.0" is airing nationwide on ABC News '20/20' on Dec. 29, 2006.


Submit your video here


Find out more about our special here

Happy Thanksgiving

Have I ever mentioned what a talented sister I have? Check out this sculpted work of art, and "yes, it is really a cake".

My sister's amazing book is available for pre-order over at Amazon.com. Buy early and save over $5 with free shipping and no tax. The Confetti Cakes Cookbook: Spectacular Cookies, Cakes, and Cupcakes from New York City's Famed Bakery

Vote for my photos please

Submitted to JPG Issue 8: Tourist. Is it a good fit?




Submitted to JPG Issue 8: Embrace the Blur. Is it a good fit? Vote Now!

Regis and Kelly Audience Spottings

ABC TV - Regis and Kelly 9.25.06
Guests: Marcia Cross (Desperate House Wives) and Nelly Furtado

When my friend Kevin visited from Oregon I offered to take him to the broadcast of Regis and Kelly. Perhaps not the most exciting tourist activity, but the show is broadcasted from the building next to my office. It was actually a lot of fun. We were seen in three of the crowd shots and now you can see us too.




This was more a way for me to figure out how to get video online than a real celebration of myself in the audience of a daily talk show.

How...
- Recorded TV show on Time Warner DVR in Standard definition.
- Burned the show to a DVD using my Samsung DVD player/burner
- Imported the DVD video into my Mac Desktop G5 using MPEG Streamclip (Free Software) which converted the DVD VOB video and audio content into a DV-25 file. (Hour show 12GB - 15 minutes)
- Imported the DV file into iMovie HD. Edited out the show minus Kevin and me on TV.
- Exported the edited clip as a h.264 Quicktime file.
- Uploaded it to YouTube and Google Video.

Help public school children through this amazing organization.

DonorsChoose is a simple way to provide students in need with resources that our public schools often lack. At this not-for-profit web site, teachers submit project proposals for materials or experiences their students need to learn. These ideas become classroom reality when concerned individuals, whom we call Citizen Philanthropists, choose projects to fund.

Proposals range from "Magical Math Centers" ($200) to "Big Book Bonanza" ($320), to "Cooking Across the Curriculum" ($1,100). Any individual can search such proposals by areas of interest, learn about classroom needs, and choose to fund the project(s) they find most compelling. In completing a project, donors receive a feedback package of student photos and thank-you notes, a teacher impact letter, and an expenditure report showing that their tax-deductible gift was spent as directed.

I love how productive they are.

Weather Station Online

I have installed a Davis Vantage Pro weather station on the deck of my parent's beach house in Saltaire on Fire Island, NY.

Click for the latest stats here:


Here are some photos of the storm







Here are some photos taken on the beach July 2th, 2006 of a lightning storm.

Juvenile Corrections - Awards

The broadcast I produced about Juvenile Corrections in the state of Arizona has been honored with four awards so far.

- Cine Golden Eagle Award
- Silver Angel Award - Excellence in Media
- NCCD PASS Award (National Council on Crime and Delinquency - Prevention for a Safer Society)
- Communicator Award of Distinction

ABC News: Should You Buy an At-Home Defibrillator?

Should You Buy an At-Home Defibrillator?
By Eric M. Strauss

I wrote an article recently about the importance of defibrillators. Defibrillators save lives. The Phillips HeartStart Home Defibrillator promises to bring this lifesaving tool right to American homes without the need of a doctor's prescription. At a cost of about $1,250, is this product worth the price? It depends whom you ask. Read more ...

For sale at Amazon.com for $1150 delivered.

Clever Cakes

Elisa Strauss doesn't just bake cakes . . . she bakes dreams. Whether it be a stiletto-shaped vanilla-flavored confection or a sugar replica of your cat, her creations are meant to indulge tongues and eyes alike. Delicious - and better yet, you can learn to make them too.

Read More

Program Note | Foster Care in America

I've been working on a broadcast about Foster Care in America for several months now. I hope you will watch our show Thursday 10pm on ABC.


I've worked on the full broadcast, but specifically the parts in Louisville, KY.

Here is an article about a social worker I spent time with:
http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/FosterCare/story?id=2021066&page=1


Below is a message from Diane Sawyer on ABC News' special series on foster care, "A Call to Action: Saving Our Children." Watch "Primetime" this Thursday at 10 p.m. ET for Sawyer's report.

During the years that I've been covering this topic, I've met children who were in 11 homes, 18 homes — moved from place to place and then moved again. Even though everyone knows this shatters lives — one study says there's a higher percentage of post traumatic stress disorder among these kids than war veterans.

So what if we made a commitment to stop bouncing kids from home to home to home? What if we asked communities to band together, to find homes, to support damaged families, to help these kids have a better chance for a normal life? What if, instead of lurching from horror story to horror story, we agreed to do what works.

We can change their chances. As adults, former foster care children make up 30 percent of the homeless and 25 percent of the prison population. Children most of all want one constant adult to love in their lives. That's why I've asked ABC News to dedicate the entire division's resources to this issue. We are calling it: A Call to Action: Saving Our Children. We hope you'll watch, and join in.

Diane Sawyer

John Stossel's New Book

Do yourself a favor and purchase John Stossel's new book. It is a quick and interesting read. He spells out a lot of misconceptions he believes people have, and most importantly I am mentioned in the acknowledgements.

ABCNews.com has created a cool web site that has some video excerpts from the segments that are in the book.

MYTH: Divorce hurts women much more than men, and many men abandon their kids.

TRUTH: Both men and women suffer after divorce, and lots of men want to give more to their kids.

The media (including the men, for psychological reasons involving guilt or other factors best left to Dr. Phil), see men as inviting, politically correct targets. When experts start trumpeting statistics that add up to "men are bad," reporters listen. For years, I heard bad things about deadbeat dads. They were living it up, while their ex-wives and children had to scrape by. It's a recurring story, and the media regurgitates it regularly. It's also group slander.

High Tech Orthopedic Surgery by My Dad

Million Dollar Man’s Million-Dollar Machine

NEW State-of-the-Art Surgical Navigation System

New York, NY – Countless people suffer from arthritis pain associated with hip and joint pain. In the past, correcting these problems via surgery meant lengthy tests and less precise procedures that lead to more post-operative care. The idea of being a bionic man through joint replacement seemed less like fact and more like fiction. The Sci-Fi future of joint replacement has now become a reality. Dr. Elton Strauss, Chief of Orthopaedic Trauma and Adult Reconstruction at Mount Sinai Hospital Center, is among the first to use the revolutionary new technology known as the Stryker Navigation System. The mechanism is an interactive operating monitoring system designed to improve the surgical performance and clinical outcome of joint replacement. According to Dr. Strauss, “the computer guided equipment allows me to achieve microscopic precision, while providing a more cost effective and minimally invasive procedure. ”

Developed by Stryker Leibeinger, the PC based navigational system provides accurate decision making for alignment and orientation of instruments, trials and ultimately implants. Unique to other joint replacement navigators, the navigational system provides surgeons with pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative assessments of the patient's joint kinematic measurements. The software features include imageless technology (no CT/MRI images) and provide patient kinematics derived by using motion analysis and bony landmarks.

The system also provides a unique visualization tool for tissue balancing, online visualization of joint angulations and displacement, and step-by-step comprehensive initialization of a patient’s anatomy. In all, the system provides more accurate, faster and easier assessments of a patient’s condition, which assists the surgeon in providing the best care possible. According to a spokesperson for Stryker Leibinger, “the navigation system allows the surgeon to receive completely new insights that can help optimize the outcome of surgical efforts. The smart instrumentation and the software are tailored to the specific needs of the different surgical branches.” Through smart tools and computer vision, it will also allow for the continued evolution of limited incision surgery.

How does it work?

The navigation system uses an infrared camera and markers along with unique instrument tracking software to continually monitor the position and mechanical alignment of the implant and the surgical instruments relative to the patient’s knee anatomy. Wireless instruments send data pertaining to the knee kinematics (movement) to a computer.

The computer analyzes and displays kinematic data on a monitor in the form of charts and graphs that supply the surgeon with the optimum angles, lines and measurements needed to align the prosthetic joint within the patient. The patient receives the best possible outcome in their joint replacement, accuracy to within one to two millimeters is extremely important. Just as a wheel alignment affects the life of automobile tires, precise alignment is key to smooth movement and long-term wear in joint replacements.

“Joint replacement is an extremely successful way to treat patients suffering from arthritis,” says Dr. Strauss. “The new computerized surgical navigation technology allows my surgical team and me to provide the best alignment of the joint, or bone. By doing so, we can increase the expectancy (20+ years) of an implant and give a patient the best possible stability and range of movement, even in difficult anatomic situations.”


Book an apointment to see Dr. Strauss 212.241.1648 Tell them I sent you :-)

Treating the Elderly

For additional information or to speak with Dr. Strauss, please contact Jill LaVorgna at 212.213.6444, or jill@kmrcommunications.com.

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Pre-order The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ new album, Stadium Arcadium, and automatically receive the new single, “Dani California.” The pre-order also gives users access to pre-sale tickets for the group’s upcoming tour. And they'll be automatically entered to win the band’s complete catalog and an engraved Red Hot Chili Peppers iPod.



Red Hot Chili Peppers' blog

Article: You talk, It checks on your laundry?

My latest article on ABCNews.com is about speech-embedded smart phones that interact with web servers to return realtime useful information.

IBM claims speach recognition has come a long way since early disipointing dictation programs.

Check out the artcile HERE

Carry On

I was always puzzled by people lugging their huge suitcases onto airplanes instead of checking it and taking the extra 5 minutes at baggage claim to pick it up on the way out. Now I know why.

AIRLINES & LOST BAGGAGE - An estimated 30 million bags were temporarily lost by airlines in 2005, and 200,000 of those bags were never reunited with their owners, according to an industry report released today. The report by SITA Inc., a company that provides technology solutions for the air transport industry, also noted that "the problem of mishandled baggage is worsening on both sides of the Atlantic." The 30 million misdirected bags comprised only 1 percent of the 3 billion bags processed last year by airports, up from 0.7 percent in 2004, said SITA, which is promoting technology it says would reduce the problem. Last year, mishandled luggage cost world airlines $2.5 billion, compared with $1.6 billion in 2004, SITA said.

Save the NOLA animals, please.

Two of the more impressive attractions in New Orleans pre-Katrina were the zoo and aquarium. They were very beautiful facilities with educational, environmental, and entertaining programs. Protective open spaces with rare endangered creatures.

They were hit hard by the hurricane, but are coming back strong. For the sake of the economy and the children that live there please consider donating. The aquarium alone employed 700 workers and raised $330 mil a year for the city.

It was one of the few, clean, well run, progressive, educational parts of New Orleans and provided a lot of entertainment and enjoyment for me and my friends when I lived there. I donates and got me a sea turtle!

https://secure2.convio.net/ani/site/Ecommerce?store_id=1301

Are You Ready for some HDTV?

I had the honor of writing a couple tech articles about HDTV leading up to the Super Bowl.

Check them out HERE and some buying advice HERE.



I'm happy with my Panasonic 32" LCD.

PrimeTime : Juvenile Corrections set to air 2/23/06

PROGRAMMING NOTE: The Juvenile Corrections update will not air this week. Please standby for a future date.





In August we produced an hour long broadcast on the Arizona Juvenile Corrections Department. We received tons of feedback and viewers asked us to update the progress of the five youth we profiled.


On Thursday, Feb 23rd we will be showing our program again, but with updates on Ashley, Casey, Jerilyn, Jesse, and Conrad.

Make sure to tune in and check it out. ABC News PrimeTime, 2/23/06 at 10pm.

Consumer Electronic Show 2006

I had the good fortune to attend the 2006 Consumer Electronic Show for ABC News in Las Vegas, Nevada. I did some video reporting for ABC News Now and wrote some articles for ABCNews.com.

Check out some of my articles and let me know what you think.

New Kids on the Technology Super Block
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Business/story?id=1489573

A Glimpse at This Year's Tech Wish Lists
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Business/story?id=1489513

Dell, Intel Unveil New Concepts at 2006 Consumer Electronics Show
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Business/story?id=1477380

Sin City Overrun By Tech Geeks
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Business/story?id=1473241



I received a nice mention in our company wide weekly newsletter:

-----Original Message-----
From: Slavin, Paul
Sent: Friday, January 06, 2006 18:49
To: ABCNews ALL
Subject: note


2006 is off to an extraordinary start. Our coverage spanned the globe with strong reporting backhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifed up by terrific internal coordination and communication among all parts of the news division. This week – we showed what we mean when we say ABC News is available anytime, anywhere.

OF NOTE
ABC News Now provided regular reports from the Consumer Electronic show in Las Vegas with Eric Strauss on “Ahead of the Curve” and “Inside the Newsroom.”

ABC News content will soon be available on the iTunes Music store. Video podcasts will include daily segments from Good Morning America, the new World News Tonight webcast, as well content from ABC News Now.

*** Thanks to all those that helped me on the ground. Special thanks to my host!

Award Season

It's award season in the network news industry and the Juvenile Corrections program I worked on this summer won our first award.


2005 Communicator Awards:
An International Competition Honoring
Excellence In Visual Communications

Primetime
"Juvenile Corrections"
Award of Distinction
Broadcast News/Documentary
In an hour long investigation, Primetime goes inside Arizona's juvenile correction facilities and meets a group of boys and girls at a critical turning point.

Executive Producer: David Sloan
Correspondent: Chris Cuomo
Producers: Eric M. Strauss; Mark Stanoch
Senior Producers: Chris Vlasto
Senior Editorial Producer: Karen Burnes
Associate Producer: Christina Krol
Production Associate: Jack O'Brien
Editors: Vanessa Cochran; Faith Jones; Gina Pampinella

Trapped in the Closet

R. Kelly has produced a Hip Hop Opera in 12 parts available for sale on DVD. It is hysterical. I don't think it was supposed to be, but the situations in the opera are just so silly that it's entertaining. Check it out here or here.



My favorite late night host Jimmy Kimmel has made his own version of the opera which is even more fun. Check out the videos here: (Must sit through a quick commercial)


World Premier of "The Pizza"
Episode #2
Episode #3
Episode #4
Episode #5
Episode #6

Make sure to watch them all as they get better with each video (Less inside jokes and more cameos towards the end of the six episodes.)


SNL: Chronicles of Narnia:
But if you really want to laugh plop down $1.99 and check out this SNL music video:
Andy Samberg and Chris Parnell rap about their Lazy Sunday which includes going to see the movie CHRONIC..(WHAT?)..CLES OF NARNIA and buying cupcakes. They would actualy make my Beastie Boys proud!

Download Saturday Night Live on iTunes

The Rising Tied - Fort Minor - Go get it

I'm a big Linkin Park fan. I may be their only fan who isn't a 14 year old boy, but I just love the music, words, uniqueness, energy, and respect the marketing genius that is LP. I was skeptical when Mike Shinoda, one of the two lead singers, went off and started recording his own side project.

After listening to the album I am really happy that Fort Minor's Rising Tied is actualy a well produced interesting album. Get yourself a copy of the CD. You will be happy too!


Here's a review from a critic:
Fort Minor: Rising Tied (4 stars out of 5) | Orlando Sentinel Review




Here's where to buy it: ($5 off)
Rising Tide $5 Off!

Here is where to download a couple of the songs for free:
Download Remember The Name / Download Petrified

Disney Shopping 20% off

I work for the Walt Disney Company. If you are looking at my Blog you must be a friend or family. Why not follow my special link and take 20% off all your purchases? Just in time for the holidays!

That's right kids. 20% all your purchases at the Disney Store Online.

DisneyShopping.com has everything you need to make your holiday special. All you have to do to start saving is click the link below.

Special link for 20% off!

So don't miss out -- this event ends December 15!

How to redeem your Friends & Family Coupon:
1. Click here start shopping:
2. Place one or more eligible items in your
Shopping Cart.
3. Click the Friends & Family banner in the
Shopping Cart.
4. Apply the promotion in the Special Discounts
and Offers Box.
5. Continue Shopping or Begin Checkout.

Disney Honors Tulane Football

Disney's Wide World of Sports Honors Tulane University

Tulane University will be taking home an unexpected award on Thursday — one which they never dreamed of during preseason practice.

The school's football team has been named this year's winner of Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award, given annually to college football's most inspirational student-athlete or team.

NFL Hall of Fame player Kellen Winslow, Disney's director of Sports and Recreation Planning and New Event Development, will present the award to Tulane head coach Chris Scelfo and seniors Matt Traina and Brandon Spincer as part of ESPN's live broadcast of The Home Depot 2005 College Football Awards. The 15th annual awards show at the Walt Disney World Resort will take place 7-9 p.m., ET.

Specifically, the team is being recognized for its resilience and its indomitable spirit in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the team's home city of New Orleans last August.

Mother nature forced the team to abandon its campus, and Tulane played 11 games in 11 different stadiums, including "home" games in six different cities. The team endured countless logistical challenges in an effort to fulfill the request of university president Scott Cowen to "carry the torch, be the face and represent the name" of Tulane University.

"The Tulane University football team handled these incredibly difficult circumstances the same way we would hope that we would if faced with the same challenges — with fortitude, resolve and unwavering optimism," says Disney Sports and Recreation Vice President Reggie Williams, a former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker.

"Their determination amid such extraordinary circumstances is a testament to the character and leadership within their football program, and is reflective of the very ideals that led us to create Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award."

Cliche Nation

There are only so many words in the English language, but surely we can come up with more original phrases than they do on NBC's The Apprentice - Donald Trump edition.

I was just catching up on season 4 when I noticed two ridiculous cliches repeating themselves. Surely, at the end of the day the contestants can step up to the plate and think of some alternative colloquialisms to use.

cli·ché = a trite or obvious remark

My College ID: Tulane

I graduated from Tulane Univeristy and loved my time in New Orleans, before it was flooded.


Yesterday I was cleaning out my drawers and I ran across this old memento - my college ID. It struck me how much personal information was placed on it in the mid 90s. I wonder now with identity theft a concearn of the common man if they still have photos, signatures, date of birth, social security numbers and a simple sticker that allowed me to post grocery charges to my parents back home.

If you are confused by the computer center sticker... Maybe you think AOL invented the internet or that you were cutting edge when you started IMing your grandparents back in 2002.

Asking what Gopher and Mosaic is? If you don't know - you don't know. It's what Al Gore, Marc Andreesen and I used to create the internet.

Cell Phone Photos

Check out some of my photos taken with my Moto v600 cell phone.

Click to see them all here

ABC News PrimeTime: Safety

I Co-produced a show about what to do if you are a female and caught in a dangerous situation. It's good information to really help you. Check it out. PrimeTime, Thursdays at 10pm/9 Central on your local ABC channel.

Check out expert advice online too:

American Express Rewards

Ok, so anyone who knows me knows that I am a miles horde. I have been saving up miles on my American Express Card, Marriott, Starwood, Multiple Airlines. I don't think I've ever even cahsed any in *.

I see now that AMEX must have lost their mind and they are giving away prizes like 5 day rafting trips for 1000 points. http://exclusivesevent.membershiprewards.com/

The trick is you have to log on at 2pm EST and be the first to claim the prize. I've been trying to figure out how to get the goods, but have had no luck. Anyone already claim a prize and wanna let me know how you did it?

- Browser? Time you signed in? Were you sitting on a prize and just hit redeem? Did you have to refresh right at 2pm? Ia their 2pm my 2pm (Fast or slow)? There could be a bonus in it for any leads that work!

This guy seems legit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/getofab/54421997/ Maybe he will help.

Elisa on Martha Stewart Apprentice

Did you catch my famous pastry sculptor sister on NBC?


If you didn't you may want to sign up for her mailing list. She is starting a newsletter about her company. She has a book coming out soon and more TV appearances.

Sign up by sending a blank email to: cakenews-Subscribe@confetticakes.com

This is her cake company's site: Confetti Cakes, hand sculpted, edible, works of art.

Collectibles

Need a gift in a flash for me? My new interest is emergancy rescue vehicle models. Code 3 Collectibles is where they can be found. The smaller the better. 1/64 scale is what I like.

My Member number is:
C3A1486

http://www.code3.net/

Juvi Corrections on ABC TV

I've been working a good part of the summer on a program that is scheduled to air this Thursday on ABC: PrimeTime Live at 10pm. We visited the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections and watched as they tried to reform incorrigible youth.

Please check it out and let me know what you think. This Thursday at 10pm on ABC. Spread the word.

See the stories online here here here here and here.
Buy the program here.

CHRIS CUOMO TAKES AN UNPRECEDENTED JOURNEY INSIDE A JUVENILE CORRECTIONS CENTER AND MEETS SOME TROUBLED TEENS WHO HAVE ONE LAST CHANCE TO CHANGE THEIR WAYS

“Primetime” Airs Thursday, August 4 at 10pm E.T.

They start out like most children – bright, loving, eager to please -- until something goes terribly wrong. Across the country, some 104,000 troubled teens are locked up in juvenile correction facilities. In an hour-long “Primetime” report, Co-Anchor Chris Cuomo goes inside two of these facilities in Phoenix, AZ, and meets a group of kids at a critical turning point – they have one last shot to either change their ways or face the prospect of doing time in an adult prison. “Primetime” was granted unprecedented access to Arizona’s system for juveniles and spent nearly six months following these teens as they wound their way in and out of the system. Along the way, they share their shame, their secrets and their dreams. They show their pride and promise. And in the end, they reveal that behind the behind the tough talk and bravado, they are still just kids. “PRIMETIME" airs THURSDAY, AUGUST 4 (10:00-11:00pm ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Do Not Call list

I recently received a message at work suggesting I register my cell phone number in the DO NOT CALL LIST.

"The national directory of cell phone numbers is about to be published. Once this happens telemarketers will have access to your cell phone number! In addition to being a disruption, these calls will also use your cellular minutes.

If you wish to avoid this, register your cell number on the National Do Not Call list , managed by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, as soon as possible. You can do this by going on-line to <http://www.donotcall.gov> or by calling 888-382-1222 from the phone you wish to register."


I will not be registering my number with the DO NOT CALL list. There have been a lot of legal challenges to the whole notion of the do not call list and I feel like there is a chance that the list will be given to telemarketers eventually.

I don't like the idea of the gov't having my numbers in a database. Our protectors have been known to slip up and post information on web sites by accident. Plus, an enterprising gov't employee making $9 an hour may copy the database and sell it to an unscrupulous telemarketer.

From the best I can tell the cell phone directory is years away and will be "opt-in" meaning you will need to give your cell phone carrier permission to publish your number. It will also be a directory service where you have to call an operator and ask for a specific number instead of a phone book that people can copy from.

My $.02,

-EMS

Election Day Fun

See who your neighbors donated to: http://www.fundrace.org/neighbors.php

Don't know where your poling place is: http://www.mypollingplace.com

Eminem's colorful Music Video about voting: http://www.gnn.tv/content/eminem_mosh.html

Making Noise

It's nice when something that airs on our program, ABC NEWS PRIMETIME LIVE, brings attention to an important topic.

"North Carolina Congressman Walter Jones says he has no plans to take down a display outside his Washington office showing pictures of American service members killed in action.
Jones, a Republican, and Rep. Rahm Emanuel, a Democrat from Illinois, have memorialized the troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan by placing photographs in the hallway outside their offices.

Frank Tiscone, the House buildings superintendent, asked the two congressmen to take the photos down, saying they were not permitted under House rules to show "any device which brings into public display any person, party, organization or movement."

Jones and Emanuel replied in a letter saying, "While we will not be removing the displays, we are more than willing to listen to suggestions of other methods to present the display should the staff wish to share them."

Jones, meanwhile, is asking the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee to investigate concerns aired on an ABC News "Primetime Live" report about 4,000 American troops who returned from Iraq severely wounded.

"Something is terribly wrong when U.S. soldiers are telling their superiors that they are 'better off dead financially, for their families, if they died as opposed to coming back maimed,' " Jones wrote in a letter to Rep. Duncan Hunter. "This should never happen in America."

Win us $100,000

Click on my link for Vote or Not and register.

http://es11fga.VOTEorNOT.org

Two web producers are giving away the money to promote the importance of voting. I looked into it. It's 100% legit. Sign up and win us some money!

Computer Gem: Ctrl-Z

I just figured something out in Microsoft Word and I can't believe how helpful it will be in the future.

Microsoft Word tries to help you with autocorrect:
- You type 1/2 and it makes it ½
- You hit return and it reformats your whole document adding bullets

Well after it does the re-format if you click CTRL and Z on the keyboard (Un-Do) it will undo the auto formating.

Manners 101 by Tony Danza

Tony Danza (TV's famed taxi driver, house keeper, and father) has a new syndicated Disney talk show coming to a TV near you this fall. He is also an expert with manners. Tony's office happens to be in the same building as mine. We both work for the Walt Disney Company. While I was purchasing surgical gloves at our local pharmacy for an upcoming news report Tony was purchasing a razor. 

I was paying for my gloves and I witnessed Tony Danza holding the door open for an unsuspecting drug store customer. The woman exited through the opened door and continued on her way down Columbus Avenue. Tony decided to yell at the ageing woman, "YOU'RE WELCOME, Gesh! Snort (SIC)"

The woman apologized for not acknowledging the talk-show-host-to-be's act of generosity. This was not enough for "The Boss." He turned to his colleagues who were accompanying him the full city block to purchase his razors and said, "I guess she thought a smile was enough! Gesh! Snort."

What lessons did I learn from this exchange? Tony Danza has a talk show coming out. Tony Danza has some serious rage issues. When talking to Tony Danza... A smile is never enough.  

 
 

Look out Down Below

The other day when I was going out to lunch I ran into two friends from work. Deb and Jenn looked like they just saw a ghost. Unfortunates, they actually saw the remains of a suicide jumper. Read about it here.

I've only known one person personally who killed himself (He choose a rifle in college). This is the second jumper in the last couple months who ended up on the hard concrete close to where I frequent.

Read about my neighbor's jump here.

  

Cake Press

My sister, the baker, gets more ink than Martha Stewart on a trial day.

Elisa designed and sculpted a cake for the cover of this week's New York Magazine about the controversial stadium possibly being built in NYC. The cake is real, the woman is not. Click on the photo to see the cake pre colorization and faux woman.


In addition, this week's JET magazine covers Patti Labelle's birthday bash that featured three Confetti Cakes' cakes. Click the photo to read the text.



Click comments below to comment.

The Hiatus is Back Off Again

The Beastie Boys are back at it again. Paying props and representing New York City with ill flava'. How can you go wrong spewing hot lyrics like "I got class like Pink Champale*"

The three boyz seem to be embracing the anti G.W. re-election campaign and leaving the Tibetan Monks on their own.

Their open letter to NYC is actually very nice. You should ch-ch-check it out.

Buy their album and support legal downloads on iTunes HERE I'm not just a client, but I'm also an owner (AAPL).



* "I am the one with the Clientele. You say, “Adrock, God you rock so well.” I’ve got class like Pink Champale. MCA grab the mic before the mic goes stale. Don’t test me. They can’t arrest me. I’ll fake right cross-over and shoot lefty. You look upset yo calm down. You look Cable Guy dunked off of your crown.

Roslyn Schools Scandal

I grew up on Long Island NY and went to school in the Roslyn School district from first grade all the way to High School graduation day. I had issues with the school district and pretty much waffled between rage and malaise as a student, but I never had a clue that the place was corrupt. Ironically my secondary schooling took me to New Orleans the home of corruption.

Turns out that some greedy administrators had been bilking the poor spoiled children of Roslyn out of $7.8 million. Kinda sad that children in New York city can’t afford text books and $8 million goes missing in Roslyn and nobody notices.


Is it me or is this hideous thief straight out of central casting?
Read the full coverage HERE
If you only have time for one quick article read HERE

Comments? Click on comments below and type.

My Dad in Men's Fitness

I already know my dad, Elton Strauss, MD, is a great Orthopedic Surgeon, at Mt. Sinai Hospital, but if I read Men's Fitness, like James Wang does, I would also know he is an expert on "Saturday Night Palsy."


Read his advice here.

Some other recent press mentions:
Here.
Here.
Here.
Here.
and here.

Minolta Dimage X

Many people who have seen my photos have asked me what camera I am using.

I use a really cool tiny digital called the Minolta Dimage X. It was truly revolutionary when I plopped down $350 in March of 2002. It has 2.1 megapixels and has a real James Bond air about it, because of it's sleek design. Since I purchased "the X" it's been re-introduced a few times. It's on it's 4th generation.

I love the compact style (size of a deck of cards), but I find the images a little soft sometimes, and low megapixels makes it not so good for big prints. But if you are all about snapshots and online posting this is the camera for you.

I am more likely to bring it with me than a larger camera, because it fits in my pocket, has good battery life, plus, it can zoom 3x without physicaly extending the lens. It records images on secure digital cards (SD) and has a USB plug that connects to any Mac as well as all the rest.

The newest edition is the Dimage XG 3.2 Megapixels $260
Previous Version is the Dimage X20 2 Megapixels $160

Arizona Trip

What to do in Arizona:

Hotels:
Westin Kierland. The river raft type swimming pool was just what the M.D. ordered.
Amara Resort Best value I have seen in a while. Very modern decor and amenities. Great staff. Tremendous red rock views.
The Sanctuary at Camelback Mountain Pure luxury. The Spa was the best ever, infinity pool so relaxing, and Mountainside casitas very romantic.

Activities:
Pink Jeep Tours We could not stomach the broken arrow off road roller coaster tour, but we had enough rocking and rolling on our way to see the fascinating ancient ruins.
Horse Back Riding Sunset horse back ride.
Daily Hikes Hikes in Sedona and the Camelback Mountain in Phoenix.

Special thanks to:
- Aunt Bonnie, Kevin and KJ for taking us for two unforgettable dinners, giving us good tips, and showing us your great home.
- Chris and Abby for a great brunch at the Wrigley Mansion
- Dad for treating us to a Hot Air balloon ride even though we ran out of time and couldn't go.

FDNY Cousin

My Cousin Jonathan is in his last week of training with the NY Fire Dept. Next week he is on the job! This Sat was family day where we saw the firefighters go through all kinds of drills. We could not be more proud.



__________________________________
Sent From Eric Strauss' Cell Phone

Recipe for Success

As most of you know my sister is a "Rock Star." Not the type that motivates women to fling their undergarments on stage. More like the type that makes men propose over the internet (True story).

My sister Elisa Strauss owns her own company creating amazing sculpted works of art out of cake. It's called Confetti Cakes and Elisa is being profiled on the Food Network's: Recipe for Success. It's a must see.

Of course she has been featured on Good Morning America, The View, The John Walsh Show, Sex and the City and won the wedding cake competition on the Today Show, but this is two full segments just on her!

Food Network: May 22nd at 2PM

Check out ConfettiCakes online

Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3

Testing Bloggers new site. Perhaps I should have a blog. (interesting)