{"id":27790,"date":"2011-11-19T03:46:58","date_gmt":"2011-11-19T03:46:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?p=27790"},"modified":"2011-11-19T03:48:03","modified_gmt":"2011-11-19T03:48:03","slug":"online-in-the-store%e2%80%a6let-the-holiday-battles-begin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/online-in-the-store%e2%80%a6let-the-holiday-battles-begin\/","title":{"rendered":"Online, in the Store\u2026Let the Holiday Battles Begin"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\/\/ <![CDATA[\n                 google_ad_client = \"pub-7021221536180758\"; \/* 468x60, created 11\/11\/09 *\/ google_ad_slot = \"1949837292\"; google_ad_width = 468; google_ad_height = 60;\n\/\/ ]]><\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"http:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h6><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">The following is by G. A . &#8220;Andy&#8221; Marken, President of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.markencom.com\/index.htm\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/www.markencom.com\/index.htm', 'Marken Communications']);\" ><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">Marken Communications<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"> Inc. He has kindly given us permission to republish his thought-provoking article. As with everything that we publish at AlienBabelTech, the opinions expressed are solely those of the individual writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and the <strong>opinions of the rest of the ABT staff.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"> \u2013Mark Poppin,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">ABT Senior Editor<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Black Friday<\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-12.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-27801\" title=\"Untitled-1\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-12.jpg?resize=250%2C209\" alt=\"\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><strong>\u2018Tis the Season \u2013 <\/strong><em>Either time passes too quickly or the year is getting shorter.\u00a0 Seems like Black Friday, Cyber Monday 2010 were just here and BAM!!! they\u2019re back.\u00a0 True Halloween is barely passed but retailers have missed you crowding the malls, beating each other up for those marvelous Christmas gifts.\u00a0 This year, you\u2019re ready because all your mobile device batteries are fully charged and you know how to use these shopping tools.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>It\u2019s hard to believe but the most dreaded period of the year is almost here\u2026Black Friday, Cyber Monday.<\/p>\n<p>If you thought last year was \u201cinteresting,\u201d this year is lining up to be a terror.<\/p>\n<p>Yes, folks have lost jobs\u2026yes homes are underwater\u2026yes things are tight.<\/p>\n<p>Financial institution greed, political hypocrisy only makes the human spirit more resilient<\/p>\n<p>Yes **** it you\u2019re still standing!<\/p>\n<p>People are sick and tired of being sick and tired.<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturers, online\/storefront retailers are determined to move the needle even if global governments can\u2019t\/won\u2019t!<\/p>\n<p>It used to be simple &#8230;\u00a0 Retailers \u2013 management, employees \u2013 would have an uneasy Thanksgiving meal and rush to the store to get the merchandise ready for the mobs.<\/p>\n<p>Women would hit the stores fighting over half a bra.<\/p>\n<p>Men would hit the stores to struggle under the weight of a new huge TV set.<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturers would be readying next year\u2019s plans, budgets, preparing for good\/bad news on end-of-year sales.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Unleash the Hounds<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This year it\u2019s all about getting close to and getting the consumer faster, better than ever before.<\/p>\n<p>Retailers \u2013 online, retail &#8211; have fine tuned their websites, loaded up their social media pages, tested\/retested every link, limbered up their fingers to make every Tweet count.<\/p>\n<p>Women have already tagged all their favorite coupon sites, store\/product pages.\u00a0 They\u2019ve loaded all the hot sales aggregators, store\/product sites on their tablets\/smartphones so they are ready to deal like the pros.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-22.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-27800\" title=\"Untitled-2\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-22.jpg?resize=269%2C194\" alt=\"\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><strong>Fueling Up \u2013 <\/strong><em>Some folks believe in more protein, others more carbs, others lots of liquids\/sleep.\u00a0 However you prepare for the biggest shopping day of the year get ready and don\u2019t forget your protective gear<\/em>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Men are loading up on energy food to lug out the new tablet, streaming TV box, game system, smartphone for \u201csomeone\u201d special.<\/p>\n<p>Yes, the coupon\/deal stuff is on their tablet, smartphone.\u00a0 And they\u2019re not afraid to use them when they queue up at checkout.<\/p>\n<p>A lot of the shopping will be done online as folks get SSD upgrades instead of new light computers, iPad\/iPhone accessories for people who are special.<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturers\/retailers have loaded up last-minute specials, offers, deals ready to release on their websites, social media pages for online, in-store sales.<\/p>\n<p>Expect to hear from them early&#8211;and often&#8211;because they\u2019ve limbered up their Tweeting fingers.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-32.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-27799\" title=\"Untitled-3\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-32.jpg?resize=528%2C251\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-32.jpg?resize=528%2C251 528w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-32-300x142.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 528px) 100vw, 528px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><strong>Fully Invested \u2013 <\/strong><em>Retailers of every shape, size have made big investments in knowing how to reach customers using social media, online, inline communications.\u00a0 They\u2019re doing everything possible \u2013 including shaving profits \u2013 to ensure they meet your wants\/needs this holiday season<\/em>.\u00a0 <strong>Source \u2013 BIGresearch<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Everywhere Online<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>What has made it more difficult \u2013 and easier \u2013 for retailers and manufacturers is that not everyone on the country, globe camps out on Facebook or sits around waiting for a Tweet.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s difficult because folks who want to sell stuff to other folks have to be updating, adding stuff, testing messages on multiple sites\u2026everyone just enough different so that the look-feel of the message has to be tuned to be correct on every social media site.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-42.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-27797\" title=\"Untitled-4\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-42.jpg?resize=413%2C357\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-42.jpg?resize=413%2C357 413w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-42-300x259.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 413px) 100vw, 413px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><strong>No One One \u2013 <\/strong><em>Some folks will tell you that the only place you need an online social media presence today is with Facebook.\u00a0 Wrong!\u00a0 Great thing is people self-define themselves and the sites\/people they want to associate\/work with even online.\u00a0 Beauty of social media is that all of the sites can very precisely tell retailers, manufacturers who is out there, what they want, what they\u2019re doing, more.\u00a0 This helps eliminate the barrage of weird messages\/offe<\/em>rs.\u00a0 <strong>Source \u2013 Google Ad Planner<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Of course that also makes it a little easier on retailers\/sellers because people profile themselves by the social media sites they use regularly.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s even better than most mass media because if you\u2019re a Hispanic male, 38-45 they know where you hang out.\u00a0 Or you\u2019re Italian 50-65\u2026got your number.\u00a0 African American 18-24\u2026ditto.<\/p>\n<p>Pick a demographic \u2013 religion, race, political affiliation, age, sex, you name it \u2013 social media sites know where to find you and who do you think they tell (for a price)?<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Yep!!!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Come on it\u2019s the holiday season and they\u2019re all doing it just to make your searching, spending a little easier.<\/p>\n<p>Trouble is the so-n-so consumer has leveled the playing field.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019ve got tools of their own to figure out what store \u2013 online or brick n mortar \u2013 which outlet has the product they want, which products have the best overall reputation (quality, service, etc), where they can find it at the best price.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re smarter, armed to the teeth.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-52.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-27796\" title=\"Untitled-5\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-52.jpg?resize=270%2C332\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-52.jpg?resize=270%2C332 270w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-52-243x300.jpg 243w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 270px) 100vw, 270px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><strong>Tooled Up \u2013 <\/strong><em>Seems like every passing year consumers get better devices, better search\/research tools to find the best gifts for friends and family, with the best quality\/lowest cost, best overall reputation.\u00a0 At home or the office people spend the days before Black Friday checking all of their sources to make the best buy every time.<\/em>\u00a0 <strong>Source \u2013 PowerReviews, e-tailing group<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Talk about price fixing!!!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Not that many consumers read many of the industry projections when they head out or online but analysts expect us to spend about $825 this season.\u00a0\u00a0 That\u2019s about three percent more than last year.<\/p>\n<p>With gas prices still high and the reluctance to face the unruly mobs at the store, ecommerce is projected to take a growing share of the consumer\u2019s holiday budget.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why any retailer worth his\/her salt also has a strong web presence.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-62.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-27795\" title=\"Untitled-6\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-62.jpg?resize=300%2C284\" alt=\"\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><strong>Online Sales \u2013 <\/strong><em>Ecommerce sales show no signs of slowing down as people shop in-person and online.\u00a0 There are some leading on-line firms that have built a strong following by being open 24&#215;7 to provide product, information, assistance.\u00a0 This is probably why storefront operations have their feet in both camps even though they favor getting you into the st<\/em>ore.\u00a0 <strong>Source \u2013 eMarketer<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>eCommerce Plus<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The days are long gone when you could throw up a half-way decent website and say you were open for ecommerce business.<\/p>\n<p>Folks today want more, expect more.\u00a0 According to BIGresearch they have a laundry list of must haves.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t have them?<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re a click away from someone who does.<\/p>\n<p>People who shop\/buy online expect to see a final shopping cart total, itemization of in-stock products, value and clear\/concise descriptions.<\/p>\n<p>In addition they expect:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8211;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Guaranteed on-time delivery<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8211;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This holiday free shipping is \u201cstandard\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8211;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Solid merchant reputation<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8211;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Free return shipping policy<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8211;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Customer product reviews<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8211;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Promotions, coupons, specials available<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8211;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Knowledgeable customer service reps available<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8211;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Shipping deadline calendar<\/p>\n<p><strong>Feet on the Floor<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>But what is post-Thanksgiving without your smartphone in one pocket, drumstick in the other pocket and tablet clutched in your hand.<\/p>\n<p>Yep you need &#8217;em all because even with GroupOn\u2019s logic-bending IPO, daily-deal sites are losing their panache.<\/p>\n<p>Folks who used the daily deal just bought the special offer and less than 20 percent of them returned according to Uptal Dholakai, Rice U professor.<\/p>\n<p>Sheess no brand loyalty there.<\/p>\n<p>But our wife still likes \u2013 heck loves deals.<\/p>\n<p>She and the hordes hitting the stores with their mobile devices humming expect manufacturers, retailers to pony up the offers.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-72.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-27794\" title=\"Untitled-7\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-72.jpg?resize=387%2C216\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-72.jpg?resize=387%2C216 387w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-72-300x167.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 387px) 100vw, 387px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><strong>Online Sales \u2013 <\/strong><em>Ecommerce sales show no signs of slowing down as people shop in-person and online.\u00a0 There are some leading on-line firms that have built a strong following by being open 24&#215;7 to provide product, information, assistance.\u00a0 This is probably why storefront operations have their feet in both camps even though they favor getting you into the store<\/em>.\u00a0 <strong>Source \u2013 eMarketer<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>They\u2019ve got an arsenal of mobile messages \u2013 emails, coupons, discounts, limited time offers \u2013 ready to make your smartphone and iPad start vibrating the minute you hit the door.<\/p>\n<p>Yep, IBM found that an iPadder was twice as likely to buy as the user of any other mobile device.<\/p>\n<p>Probably why our wife has loaded all of her tagged locations on our iPad and will be charging it up the night before Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-82.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-27793\" title=\"Untitled-8\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-82.jpg?resize=333%2C232\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-82.jpg?resize=333%2C232 333w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-82-300x209.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 333px) 100vw, 333px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><strong>Double Teaming \u2013 <\/strong><em>Retailers are taking advantage of newer, more advanced communications tools including portable digital signage to attract you to specific products when you\u2019re in the store and email\/tweet messages to seek out the specials.\u00a0 A new wrinkle is to flash a semi-personal Tweets across the sign to make the messages even more compelling.<\/em>\u00a0 <strong>Source \u2013 BrightSign<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Clothing retailers \u2013 and just about everyone with a storefront \u2013 are pulling out all the stops this year.<\/p>\n<p>One retailer did some pre-holiday testing of a portable, battery-powered digital sign that also had Tweet capabilities.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019ve found the live semi-personalized feeds have pushed sales up 25-30 percent compared to POP (plain ol paper) signs.<\/p>\n<p>Hope the wife walks by one of them during her shopping safari.<\/p>\n<p>She\u2019ll come home and swear to gawd that <strong><em>Minority Report<\/em><\/strong> was more than a movie.<\/p>\n<p>Not quite yet but\u2026maybe next year.<\/p>\n<p>But it is true that her stores and she aren\u2019t alone out there.<\/p>\n<p>So are the bad guys\/gals.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-9.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-27792\" title=\"Untitled-9\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-9.jpg?resize=447%2C279\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-9.jpg?resize=447%2C279 447w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-9-300x187.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 447px) 100vw, 447px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><strong>Everyone Wants You \u2013 <\/strong><em>If you suddenly feel as though you\u2019re on the new TV show <strong>Person of Interest<\/strong>\u2026you are!\u00a0 Retailers are certainly vying for your attention to make a purchase.\u00a0\u00a0 At the same time amateur and professional cybercriminals will be hunting overtime to capture your personal and private data.\u00a0 Up-to-date system and security files for all of your devices becomes even more critical this time of year.<\/em>\u00a0 <strong>Image &#8211; NYTimes<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>That\u2019s because there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019re a very trusting soul or very cheap.<\/p>\n<p>If you trust folks won\u2019t whack into your mobile device\u2026surprise!<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re cheap and you downloaded a couple of those new free or near-free (buck-99) solutions are you in for a surprise.<\/p>\n<p>They may not be totally worthless or next to worthless.<\/p>\n<p>Translation?\u00a0\u00a0 Go with a name you can trust especially if you\u2019re one of the really with it folks who are using their mobile device as a wallet.<\/p>\n<p>Of course as Forest Gump said, <em>\u201cStupid is as stupid does,\u201d<\/em> so you just know a bunch of folks will get hooked on the phishing expeditions again this year.<\/p>\n<p>Contrary to what his mama said some folks just don\u2019t work with what they got\u2026or maybe they do!!<\/p>\n<p>But you\u2026you\u2019re different!<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019re better\u2026you\u2019re smarter\u2026you\u2019re ready to have fun and shop till you drop or sprain your thumbs.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-10.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-27791\" title=\"Untitled-10\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-10.jpg?resize=445%2C298\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-10.jpg?resize=445%2C298 445w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Untitled-10-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 445px) 100vw, 445px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Enjoy the Holidays \u2013 <\/strong><em>This year it is even more important for people to get into the holiday spirit, choose wisely but move forward.\u00a0 The new mobile devices, online contacts\/content have put the consumer back in control\u2026we think you\u2019re ready!<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Jump in and enjoy it.<\/p>\n<p>Make the retailers, manufacturers get you what you want, when you want it, at the right price.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"># # #<\/p>\n<p><strong>by: G.A. &#8220;Andy&#8221; Marken<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong> President<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong> Marken Communications Inc.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong> <a href=\"mailto:Andy@markencom.com\">Andy@markencom.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Please join us in our <a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/abt\/index.php\" target=\"_blank\">Forums<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Become a Fan on <a 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'http:\/\/www.worldcommunitygrid.org\/reg\/viewRegister.do?teamID=3P39R3SRV1', 'World Community Grid &#8211; Team AlienBabelTech']);\" target=\"_blank\">World Community Grid &#8211; Team AlienBabelTech<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The following is by G. A . &#8220;Andy&#8221; Marken, President of Marken Communications Inc. He has kindly given us permission to republish his thought-provoking article. As with everything that we publish at AlienBabelTech, the&#46;&#46;&#46;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":396,"featured_media":27801,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2533,7],"tags":[4265,4978,4981,4980,4979],"class_list":["post-27790","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abt-news","category-technology","tag-black-friday","tag-cyber-monday","tag-e-commerce","tag-online-sames","tag-smartphonee-shopping"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27790","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/396"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27790"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27790\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27801"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27790"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27790"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27790"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}