Trek it Out Photo Studios—Business Proposal

Art is in the midst of a revolution. Over the past five years, the use of photographs, instead of painted pictures, in decorating schemes has grown exponentially. While painted pictures will never become obsolete, they do not offer decorators the variety and fluidity in style that photographs make possible. So, demand for them will continue to plummet. While there are a lot of photographs available for consumers to choose from, the things that make a photograph valuable are exclusivity, singleness and quality.

The decorator of today is seeking pictures with certain themes in mind. Photos of tulips in Holland, rivers in Thailand, mountains in Northern Africa, or crowds in Mumbai. The list goes on and on, but the availability of such, keeping exclusivity and singleness in mind, is not usually possible. Consumers are craving this and they are willing to pay top dollar for the right to own beautiful, exclusive photographs for decorating purposes. This is where Trek it Out Photo Studios comes in to make it possible—bringing highly sought after, but out of the way photographs to the homes, offices and galleries of demanding consumers everywhere.

The Mission

The mission of Trek it Out Photo Studios is two-fold. First, the mission is to bring beautiful, high-quality photos from abroad and here in the States to consumers. Second, our mission is to help provide a source of revenue for those living in nations surrounded by beauty, but rife with poverty. This revenue stream would be intermittent, but the value of the United States Dollar is very strong in many of the poorest countries. So, while the money may not be steady, a single payment could be a great boon to an individual.

The Method

Given a $10,000 budget, this is how Trek it Out Photo Studios would use the funds. Trek it Out management envisions purchasing 10 high quality digital cameras with memory cards and a sufficient supply of lithium batteries. Trek it Out producers would travel to various places around the world and once there, hire locals as amateur photographers to capture the essence of where they live.

Trek it Out producers would teach the chosen locals how to use the cameras, give them rules and ideas about what to capture and then spend two or three days traveling across the area where they live to capture some of that region’s beauty and wonderment in photographs. The locals in any given country would be given $50 for each four hour work day. The assigned Trek it Out producer would provide food and water throughout the course of the day’s excursion. The Trek it Out producer will also be taking photographs during the excursion, but the goal is to have the local capture the “money” shot. The Trek it Out producer will serve as a backup in the event the local’s camera malfunctions on a particular photo.

Once the two to three day excursion is over, the producer will have the local photographer sign an agreement that states that should any photos captured by him be sold, he will receive 30 percent of the sale price, per photo, in United States Dollars. Each photo is only available for sale once, fostering the exclusive nature of Trek it Out Photo Studios’ products. If none of the photos are sold, he will not be owed anything additional. Payment will be forwarded to the local photographer within 15 days of the sale of any individual photograph.

Trek it Out producers and editors will handle any necessary, minor editing of photos once they are brought back to the Trek it Out studio. This will not effect the payment to the local who captured the photograph.

The Breakdown

Costs for this effort should be minimal, with the bulk going to travel, but even that will be purchased in as frugal a manner as possible. The digital cameras selected will be high-quality, but on the lower end of the cost spectrum for a number of reasons. One, the cost of digital cameras has decreased tremendously in recent years making it much easier to get a quality camera at a much lower price. Two, the camera should come with sufficient features to capture a good photograph, but should not intimidate the photographer. In the 2004 documentary Born Into Brothels, children in India were given very basic cameras to take photographs with and they were able to capture some amazing images. The location is the greatest factor in whether or not a great photograph will be captured, not the camera.

Once the first five excursions are completed, including the sale of photographs captured during those trips, Trek it Out Photo Studios should see a tremendous return on the initial $10,000 investment. It is highly possible and likely that more than 10 times the start-up costs will be generated at the end of the first five excursions. This is the breakdown of costs and projected revenue:

Five (5) Kodak EasyShare Z915 Black 10MP Digital Cameras
$179.99 each, Wal-Mart
Total Cost: $1,000 including tax

Five (5) Dane-Elec 4GB SDHC Memory Card, 2-Packs
$19.99 each, Wal-Mart
Total Cost: $110.00 including tax

Five (5) Ape Case PRO1800 Professional Digital SLR Backpack by Norazza
$78.84 each, Wal-Mart
Total Cost: $425 including tax

Five (5) AA Ultimate Photo Lithium Battery 24 Battery Bundle
$43.75, Amazon.com
Total Cost: $250 including tax

Estimated cost of five (5) flights to TBD locations
(These first five excursions will more than likely be in locations near South America and the Caribbean as the flights will be less expensive. Trek it Out will venture to more distant lands after revenue streams from these first excursions is realized.)
Total estimated cost: $3,500

Lodging for five (5) producers in each location for a maximum of three (3) nights
$125 per night
Total for five producers: $1,875

Food for five (5) producers and local photographers for a maximum of three days in each location
$75 per day
Total for five producers and local $1,125

Payment to local photographers in five (5) countries for a maximum of three (3) days.
$50 per day
Total for five local photographers $750

Website domain name, hosting and other peripherals necessary to sell photographs online
$100

Total Cost
$9,135

The Revenue

Once the initial costs have been realized, the next step is preparing the photos to be posted to the web for sale. Each image will only be sold once, making the photographs absolutely exclusive. Each image will only be sold in either digital format, available for download directly from the site, or as a 30x40 sized print, with the option to come with or without a frame.

Photos will be marketed to individual homeowners, business owners (including popular magazines) and art galleries. Prices are as follows:

High-quality digital download, which comes with exclusive licensing rights
$500

High-quality 30x40 print, mailed to the location of choice (no frame)
$700

High-quality 30x40 print, mailed to the location of choice (with frame)
$1,000

It is estimated that at each location, at least 500 photos will be taken during the maximum three day excursion. Of these, a minimum of 100 should be viable for sale purposes. Heavy marketing to the right clientele should make selling the photographs very easy as there is an already established market for these images.

The possible revenue, compared to the startup costs, is exponential. If, even only 50 of the 100 viable for sale images captured at each location sells, that would mean $25,000 in sales. For all five locations, the number totals $125,000. A total of $37,500 would be directed to the local photographers, offering a remarkable opportunity for them to have a better life for themselves and their family for only a few days of relatively easy and exciting work. The Trek it Out producers would each be paid $1,000 per day during the excursions and they too would be paid either the same 30 percent as the local photographers per photo or stock options in Trek it Out Photo Studios if one of their individual photos is sold. It would be their choice to make. The local photographers will not have the choice of being paid in stock options.

All of these numbers are based upon only 100 of the photos captured at each location being viable. There is no reason to believe that no more than100 will be viable. This raises revenue expectations considerably.

The Conclusion

Trek it Out Photo Studios believes that this is an extremely worthwhile investment. Not only does this project generate massive revenue streams, it also does something good for the state of mankind globally. The first year will see steady growth of the project, but nothing like that which will happen in later years. Through word of mouth alone, the project will grow considerably.

Much of the equipment purchased initially will only have to be replaced every few years, and there is little overhead beyond that. This is one of the most pain-free investments of a lifetime.

How to Make No Recipe Mashed Sweet Potatoes

The sweet potato is a healthy alternative to the standard white potato. They are filled with fiber and good sugars, so they should be used as substitutes for white potatoes whenever possible.

To make delicious mashed sweet potatoes, it is important to pick good potatoes during your trip to your local grocer. Look for larger rather than smaller potatoes in order to cut down the time needed to prepare them for cooking. Smaller potatoes mean more time peeling and cleaning. So, start with the big guys in the beginning.

Once you’ve chosen your potatoes and you are in your kitchen ready to begin preparation, wash your cutting board with warm soapy water and place it on the countertop where you will do your prep work. Thoroughly wash your potatoes in warm running water, carefully rinsing all of the dirt and grit away. Place each potato in a clean bowl after you are done. Use one large potato for every one person who will take part in the meal.

Next, you should begin peeling your potatoes, using a clean knife. Carefully cut away any areas where the flesh is damaged. After peeling each potato, rinse again, this time under cold water, and cut into medium sized chunks, tossing into a clean bowl.

When all of the potatoes are cleaned and cut up into chunks, place into a pot (use an appropriate size based upon the amount of potatoes that you have cut up) and fill with cold water about two inches above the height of the potatoes. Place on your stove over high heat and bring to a boil.

The goal here is to boil the potatoes until they are soft, but not mushy because additional ingredients still have to be added that will further soften them. Check the potatoes often as they are boiling and add more water as necessary. You will probably have to add some water twice, but definitely at least once.

When the potatoes are sufficiently softened, take away from the heat and strain in a colander, then add them back to the pot. Remember, these are no recipe needed mashed sweet potatoes, so this is where your creativity and instinct will have to come in. Mashed potatoes, no matter what kind of potato is used, need to have some milk added to them. The more milk used, the more runny the potato. So, start out adding about a cup of milk depending on how many potatoes you boiled. More potatoes, more milk. Add your milk, and then add a dash of salt, some cinnamon (to taste) and at least a third stick of butter. Whip these ingredients together with the potatoes, until you reach the desired consistency. Once you have, put the pot back onto the stove and heat slowly over medium heat, stirring frequently. This will allow the ingredients to bond together, creating the perfect mashed sweet potato. Enjoy!

These mashed sweet potatoes go well with baked chicken, roast pork and just about any other baked meat, though they probably go best with poultry and pork.

Note: An even healthier alternative is to substitute chicken stock for milk in your potatoes. If you choose to do this, you will need less chicken stock than you did milk because the stock adds a real flavor explosion. It will also require less of that liquid than milk to sufficiently moisten the potatoes.

The Necessity of Economic Empowerment for African Women

Economic independence would help free many African women from human rights abuses. Across the continent, many women are forced into horrific situations that most in developed nations can scarcely fathom. In 2004, Amnesty International released a report entitled Rape as a Weapon of War in Darfur in which more than 100 refugees were interviewed about their experiences in the conflict in that nation. Today, rape of women and girls is still being used as a method of humiliation and intimidation Darfur. For African women in other countries, the choices that they have to make in order to survive make them prime targets for use and abuse. If these women were given greater control over their financial situations and the ability to make money, the threat of abuse would not disappear, but it would subside. Economic independence would chiefly give them the ability to avoid making choices that could expose them to HIV/AIDS. It would also give them a hand at the bartering table for goods and services that many of them have never had before.

Over the past three decades, many studies have been conducted to get a gauge on whether economic independence would have a positive effect on the plight of African women. One such recent study does even more to determine the benefits of empowering African women. Conducted by Physicians for Human Rights, the study focused on the alarming female HIV/AIDS rate in Swaziland and Botswana. Many women in Africa engage in prostitution and other sexual practices to get the basic necessities and it is leading to horrific consequences. In Botswana, approximately 44 percent of women and 36 percent of men aged 30 to 35 are estimated to be HIV positive (Rights, 2007). It is estimated that 23.9 percent of adults aged 15-49 are living with HIV/AIDS in the nation. In Swaziland, that number climbs to 26.1 percent (UNAIDS, 2008) and it is estimated that 54.5 percent of those are women (Rights, 2007).

Researchers in the Physicians for Human Rights study concluded that the drastic number of females living with HIV/AIDS in both Swaziland and Botswana were due to gender inequalities that tie directly to their economic dependence on the men in their lives. Karen Leitner, the study’s chief author, had this to say in a statement released at the same time the report was made available to the public:

"If we are to reduce the continuing, extraordinary HIV prevalence in Botswana
and Swaziland, particularly among women, the countries' leaders need to enforce
women's legal rights, and offer them sufficient food and economic opportunities
to gain agency in their own lives. Men and women must be educated and supported
to acknowledge women's equal status with men and abandon these prejudices and
risky sexual practices. The impact of women's lack of power should
not be underestimated."

The PHR study concluded that one of the primary reasons for the high HIV/AIDS rate among women in the two countries is the failure of their governments to “promote the equality, autonomy and economic independence of women.”

The continuing lack of gender equality across many parts of Africa is the primary reason why women continue to be used as property and given little regard for having the desire to gain independence. In South Africa, after suffering decades of oppression under Apartheid, black women with a desire to become business owners have been labeled as “empowerment Spice Girls”, facilitators of wealth accumulation by captains of industry and beneficiaries of patriarchal institutions (Iheduru, 2003). Never mind that many of these women are just as well-educated as their male counterparts.

The deeply held belief that women have to maintain strong familial, gender-based roles continues to lend to a disrespect of their accomplishments in the business industry. In an article for the Journal of Developing Societies, Okechukwu Iheduru wonders whether the growing number of women entering the business world is simply a mirage or an indication of the opening up of political spaces, or of a narrowing of gender inequality (Iheduru, 2003). The constant ridicule of the decision by these women to gain some sense of autonomy points to the reality that the success of their efforts would put them in a place of power—a place that many of the men in those nations would rather not see them in.

Iheduru notes that post-Apartheid, South African black women knew early on that their real freedom and autonomy lay in carving out their own niche in the business world. He writes that they responded by mobilizing professional, urban, and rural women for business entrepreneurship as an arena for challenging an apparent emerging alliance between patriarchy and capitalism (Iheduru, 2003). Later in the report he writes, “Women’s corporate entrepreneurship, therefore, has a symbolic importance that explicitly questions popular conceptions of the position of women in society.” It is this notion of a woman’s “place in society” that continues to dog many women in Africa and across the globe still today.

A January, 2009 Business Week article asks, “Where Are the Women” at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Morice Mendoza writes, “A glance at the attendance list shows that women are not being allowed to take their rightful place in attacking 21st century economic problems (Mendoza, 2009).” Of the 81 business leaders in attendance at this year’s event, only four were women. If more women are not at the table during events like the World Economic Forum, the ability of African women to become empowered economically will continue to be a seemingly impossible proposition.

In light of the current global financial crisis, the United Nations and World Bank are hoping to make countries see that empowering women is “smart economics”. In a statement released shortly after the 53rd meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women, Mayra Buvinic, Senior Spokesperson on Gender Equality and Development of the World Bank notes, “The role of women in pulling countries out of economic peril was vital, she said, noting that countries worldwide had coped with previous crises by putting more women into the workplace. That was true, for example, during the Great Depression in the United States and the Latin American crisis of the 1990s.”

If more African nations decide to hedge their bets on women helping them through the economic crisis, it will be a bittersweet moment of advancement. Yes, the women would be assisting their countries in avoiding further peril as they make their own money, but they will in essence be being used yet again. Prior to this crisis, most of them were regarded as not having any value. Also, who is to say how this movement into the workplace will be regulated? Will the women merely be working for slave wages as the countries reap huge benefits? How would this be monitored? The intent of the World Bank seems genuine, but the possibility for further abuse is very high.

Considering the global economic crisis, it is absolutely imperative that world leaders do more to help women in African nations break free from human rights abuses. During the 53rd meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women, it was noted that “the crisis, if not addressed effectively, could increase poverty levels and jeopardize future development” (Women, 2009) in various nations. It is for this very reason that now more than ever, the human rights abuses of women in Africa must be given a fresh examination. This must be accompanied by new efforts to increase economic empowerment of women on the continent. If this does not happen, by the time the dust settles on the global economic crisis, even the smallest advances that have been made in the struggle to help African women gain equality will have been completely eradicated.

References

Iheduru, O. C. (2003). Corporate Amazons or Empowerment Spice Girls?: Elite Black Businesswomen and Transformation in South Africa. Journal of Developing Societies , 473-508.

Mendoza, M. (2009, January 26). Davos 2009: Where Are the Women? Retrieved July 17, 2009, from Business Week Online: http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/jan2009/gb20090126_612317.htm

Rights, P. f. (2007). Epidemic of Inequality: Women's Rights and HIV/AIDS in Botswana &Swaziland. Cambridge: Physicians for Human Rights.

UNAIDS. (2008). 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic. Geneva: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

Women, C. o. (2009). 53rd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women: Moderator's Report. New York: Commission on the Status of Women.

Who Wouldn't Want to Be a Baker?

For a while, my friends and I had a running joke that we should just quit our current jobs and apply for positions as baristas at Starbucks. No more of the political posturing. No more having to stay late in the evenings to finish a project that’s due the next morning. No, we’d just work out shifts at one of the thousand or so Starbucks in our individual cities, making Chai tea lattes—“180 degrees, no water, skim milk, and a pump of caramel.” In between making various and sundry hot beverages for our oft-demanding “clients”, we would read copies of the latest issue of Vogue and dream of what might have been, all the while believing that the joke was on everyone else because we were the ones living the good life.

Now though, I’m beginning to think that maybe a position as a Starbucks barista isn’t the best, living life with no cares, contingency plan. I am now convinced that the job of a baker has to be one of the best jobs in the world. I mean, what’s to hate or even dislike? Admittedly, some of the shifts for bakers would require an adjustment period. For instance, one job that posting that I found for a baker at Einstein Bros. Bagels in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania noted that the hours are from 2am to 10am. Not too appealing, but here’s how the rest of the advertisement reads:

Bakers must be able to multi-task, adhere to product recipes and specifications and have strong hand-eye coordination. Bakers must demonstrate a commitment to company standards to product quality and availability. We are looking for a candidate who can be passionate about baking daily our award-winning bagels!

Physical requirements include the ability to lift weight up to 50 pounds, tolerate heat blasts and tolerate cooler temperatures.

PLEASE NOTE: This is not a scratch-baker or pastry chef position. This is a permanent, long-term opportunity (temporary candidates need not apply). No experience necessary - we will train the right candidate.

Is that it? The ability to tolerate heat blasts and cooler temperatures are the most demanding aspects of the job? They even give you the recipes! No need to brainstorm with others on the team to figure out how to make the bagels chewy enough, leading to an argument about whether to use an extra cup of flour here or there. Just read the recipe and make some oven magic happen.

Working in a bakery would also be very pleasing to the senses. The smell of fresh baked breads and sweet treats must be such a nice environment to work in. After a while, the desire to nosh on baked goods all day must subside, so that doesn’t concern me as a possible occupational hazard. I think the ability to quietly bake my goods with a little music playing in the background, then put on the finishing touches and prepare them to be eaten by sugar-craving customers sounds heavenly.

The greatest headache that any baker would have to endure would have to be a broken oven, running out of the goods necessary to creating finished products and the occasional burn, which should only happen in moments of carelessness. Other than that, the life sounds very relaxing. Even for those bakers who have to work at places like Einstein Bros. or Dunkin Donuts, with very early morning shifts, life sounds sweet. Once the shift is over at 10am, the rest of the day is yours to use as you please. No more scrambling to make it to the post office before they close at 6pm after you get off work. No more trying to figure out how to squeeze in that routine, but important doctor’s appointment without being absent from work. It just all sounds like a win, win situation. You get the ability to create something that can be somewhat artistic, near instant, unbiased feedback on your work after customers start buying, a relaxing work environment and a great shift to add to it all! What could be better?

[Image courtesy of: Martha's Country Bakery.]

Origins and Evolution

I was born by the river, in a little tent and just like the river I've been running ever since...That's not true. Those words, the opening lyrics to Sam Cooke's A Change is Gonna Come just kind of popped into my head. I was born in a small town in South Carolina--named after a Scandinavian country of all things. I haven't lived there in a lot of years and though I cherish the memories that I have about growing up there, it's really become quite a dump. I wish my parents would move away. But, such is life. Growing and moving. Learning and adapting. I think that eventually I'll be able to get them to move away. I just hope it's not after they've become old and too feeble to enjoy life in the city where I'm living at that point in time.

I'm 32 years old and I swear, I feel more and more my age with each year that goes by. I'm fairly physically fit though my southern-ness has imbued me with a love for delectable plates of greasy, fatty food that requires that I workout often. When I fall off of the exercise wagon, it seems those extra ten pounds that stalk me like Marion Barry(allegedly) quickly find their way back into my arms and cheeks and thighs, etc. But, when I get on a workout "kick", I tend to go very hard and in no time at all, those stalkers are nothing more than an after-thought.

I am a news junkie though I am deeply disappointed in the way the media has seemed to morph into a government mouth-piece over the past 10 years or so. Fox News for George W. Bush, now everybody else for Barack Obama. It's a little scary to me. In one of Professor Halavais's posts at the Writing for Interactive Media blog, he mentions how it is bogus for a journalist to claim that she is simply reporting what she sees. I agree, but what we have witnessed in the way of media bias over the past decade is a bit nauseating to me, but I digress from the original purpose of this post--the origins of Shana.

I'm an eldest child so I admittedly tend to be just a tad bit on the bossy side...okay, maybe a bit more than a tad but that's debatable and you'd do yourself well not to argue with me. I'm pretty good at it, or so they say. The losers that is. I grew up with a deep desire to practice law. Sometimes, I still feel those pangs. I haven't ever told that to anyone else. That I still feel those pangs every now and again, but it's true. I don't think I have it in me to go to law school at present though, so unless they come up with some sort of six week correspondence course that lets one earn a law degree, I don't think I'll be heading down that path in this lifetime. Fresh episodes of Law and Order (I have a bias towards SVU) and Nintendo DS games (I own a pink one) with a legal slant will have to suffice.

I live in Maryland now and I work in Washington, DC. I love the area. I love the richness of the history of the city and what it stands for. Maybe some of it is this seemingly insatiable news jones I've got, but there never seems to be a dull moment in this town. There's no bright lights and glitz and glamour like New York City or Los Angeles, but my goodness when you can drive right past a hotel where you know some politician used to do his dirty deeds, the realization of the close proximity to where power corrupted its owner is breathtaking.

Speaking of breathtaking, I absolutely love traveling, especially to areas with gorgeous architecture or natural landmarks and parks and such. I haven't traveled nearly as much as I plan to before it's time to cash in my chips, but I try to get to a few places each year. So far this year, I've been to Montreal, Canada (nice) and Phoenix, Arizona (blah). Maybe my "blah" about Phoenix isn't really fair because I didn't spend as much time as I should have exploring the desert landmarks and I didn't have time to make it out to the Grand Canyon. I think I'll check the Canyon out when next I'm in Vegas. I'm hoping to make it to London or someplace similar (as if huh?) in the Fall. I tend to plan vacations with only a two to three week head start and it all comes together rather quickly, but the planning is always feverish because I hate to arrive to a location without at least some semblance of a plan.

I'm in this Interactive Communications program because I feel as though I need some new skills where public relations and communications are concerned. I just finished taking a class on Interactive Development and though it was very exhausting, it was exhilarating at the same time because I learned so much so quickly. I kind of taught myself how to use Dreamweaver, at a pretty basic level. I'm really looking forward to learning how to use that program for more than tossing up text and some pictures. I'm almost certain that it is useful for more than what I managed to use it for in the course.

When I finally hit the jackpot in either the Megamillions or Powerball, I'm going to toss my cell phone in the nearest dumpster, after I give my mother, father, brother, sister, two nieces and nephew their portion of my earnings, and hit the road. I'm not even going to buy a place. I'm just going to rent cottages or other small homes/apartments in each city or country that I visit, then turn my keys in and just keep it moving. I think life is better spent outside the box. Now, if only I could find my way back out of this one they keep putting me in... --Shana

That Daggone Technorati!

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Not REALLY Down With Grammar...Sort Of

Alright English grammar teachers, at ease. I'm an English literature major and I love grammar. I get all warm and tingly when I think about gerunds and diagraming sentences and such....well, not really, but I'm not for doing away with grammar. I needed a catchy title for this blog, the place where I'll log my writings for my Writing for Interactive Communications class and this title came to mind. So, sue me. If any of your students come here ranting, "Yeah! Down with grammar!" trust that I'll gently chide them and do my level best to convince them that they do want to know exactly when to use a colon instead of a semi-colon and such. Okay? Good. Now, let's have some fun okay? Go Chaucer! --Shana