Now for the news:

kgb has been bringing our customers a smarter way to get answers for over a year now. So we’re pleased and excited to offer you all a first look at the newest kgb service, kgbDeals.

kgbDeals combines the power of the kgb community with the best knowledge about how to shop smart and save money.

Sign up now and help us get kgbDeals started. And start to save 50% – 90% on all the things you love to do, eat, wear and enjoy in your city. And get your friends and family to sign up and start saving to.

See you at kgbDeals!

Thomas Falconer
kgb

But even better, he said the commercial made him curious about the service, which means it worked as intended. Even better that that, when he tried the service, he loved it.

“The ad succeeded, in that I couldn’t resist texting a question to KGB this morning. In less than two minutes, the service successfully identified Ollie Halsall, the dazzlingly brilliant guitarist in the ultra-obscure ’70s English band Patto, and even added the fact that he also played keyboards and sang” said Mr. Reynolds.

We couldn’t be happier about this excellent review. Our kgb Special Agents are the best.

thomas falconer
kgb

The Google ad features a searcher — what you see is the pointer, words being typed into the search field, and the first three or four results. The searcher is sitting at a desktop, and “surfing” as we used to say. That’s fun, useful, and I always learn something new when I do exactly that. We used to call this behavior of finding related information “serendipitous discovery,” and it can be a very cool way to spend time.

kgb, however, provides an immediate answer to a specific question, in minutes, when you need it. You don’t have to be at a desktop, you can be anywhere your mobile phone works, and a human agent answers your question accurately, quickly, and with panache.

So it isn’t one or the other. It’s different.

Thomas Falconer
kgb

And our banned ad has exceeded 120,000 views on youtube.

We aired to spots this afternoon during the pre-game show, and had a huge spike in questions to the kgb542542 service.

This of course bodes very well for what we can expect to happen when our ad runs during the third quarter. And our agents are ready and standing by to answer!

Thomas Falconer
kgb

Adam gives wonderful detail about what it’s like to be an agent and how the kgb service works. He talks about one of his most interesting questions and how he researches answers.

Agents like Adam are the core of what makes kgb so useful, time-saving, and fun.

Thomas Falconer
kgb

Often, our Special Agents answer questions that are so timely, they are inclined to do further research. So here is our Agents choice for question of the day:

Q: What’s this “death panel” thing all about?
A: Some political conservatives suggest that the health care legislation bill promotes “mercy killing,” or euthanasia. Reform supporters say “not so.”

Know more:

All the fuss is over a provision that would allow Medicare to compensate doctors for counseling patients about end of life issues, with the patient’s consent.  Items for discussion might include topics like living wills, health care proxy, hospice options, as well as medications for chronic pain. Funds are blocked if any discussion of assisted suicide is present.

The American Medical Association and a National Hospice organization support the provision.

Some question whether the government should get involved with highly personal issues.  They already are, actually. The government requires hospitals to ask patients if they have a living will or advance directives and hospitals have to help out if the patient wants one.

Supporters of the provision think it is a great idea to bring doctors into these discussions, which primarily take place among family members and attorneys.

Social conservatives are worried and feel stronger language is needed to prevent sick folks from signing away potential medical treatment when they may be overwhelmed with depression and despair.  Some suggest it doesn’t take much to influence a sick and tired, vulnerable person.

The White House has launched a reality check page for worried citizens.

kgb_   Text your question to 542542. We answer to you.

Source:  FACT CHECK: No ‘death panel’ in health care bill

Often, our Special Agents answer questions that are so cinematic that they are inclined to do further research. So here is our Agents choice for question of the day:

Q: So why did the Oscars change the Best Picture award?
A:  The Academy Awards is doubling the nominees from five to ten in order to include more worthy films, return to its roots and possibly boost TV ratings.

Know more:

During the 1930′s and ’40′s, a best picture line-up of 10 films or even more was commonplace.  The Academy just announced that it is now looking to return to that tradition.

In 1939, “Gone with the Wind” won against competitors “The Wizard of Oz,” “Stagecoach,” “Wuthering Heights,” “Love Affair,” “Goodbye, Mr. Chips,” “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” “Of Mice and Men,” “Dark Victory” and “Ninotchka.”

1943 was the last year of a 10-movie line-up for Best Picture, when “Casablanca” won.

After a review of last year’s line-up, Academy President Sid Ganis noted that the Board felt there was room for more heavy hitters. Films like the acclaimed “The Dark Knight“were overlooked.

The Academy feels that opening up the competition will yield a broader mix of nominees, perhaps including foreign-language films, documentaries, animated movies and comedies.

Films nominated for Best Picture could still be nominated in other categories where they traditionally were placed.

Improved television ratings for the Academy Awards might be a bonus as more fans tune in to root for their favorite film. While ratings were up for the last Academy Awards, the year before was the lowest viewed ever and overall, ratings have plummeted the past decades.

kgb_   Text your question to 542542. We answer to you.

Source:  Oscars doubling best-picture nominees to 10

Often, our Special Agents answer questions that are so timely that they are inclined to do further research. So here is our Agents choice for question of the day:

Q:  So what’s North Korea’s problem?
A:  The country is impoverished, and may be playing a nuclear game of sorts for food and fuel rations.

Know more:

President Obama reports that North Korea’s behavior is a “grave threat” to the well-being of Asia as well as the rest of the world.

He is joining with South Korean President Lee Myung Bak to take a tough stand on sanctions imposed on North Korea as a result of recent nuclear testing.

They cited a pattern where North Korea behaves badly, and if they hold out long enough, get rewarded with food, fuel, loans and other goodies.

In the parenting world, this is called, “rewarding bad behavior.”

The term “rewarding bad behavior” has also come up in the press surrounding discussions of government bailouts.

Parenting experts suggest that children who learn that bad behavior will not be tolerated and that good behavior brings rewards will develop skills that will last their lifetime.

“My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you’ll join with me as we try to change it.” – Barack Obama

kgb_   Text your question to 542542. We answer to you.

Source:
U.S., South Korea united on North, but options are few

Often, our Special Agents answer questions that are so timely that they are inclined to do further research. So here is our Agents choice for question of the day:

Q:  What is the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic?
A:  A pandemic is normally used to indicate a far higher number of people affected than an epidemic, and a pandemic refers to a much larger region affected, commonly global.

Know more:

On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization announced that swine flu is now officially a pandemic.  This announcement facilitates speedier vaccine production and sparks government spending to combat the menacing bug.

The announcement of the pandemic does not suggest that the virus is now more lethal, simply that it has become unstoppable.

Since its outbreak in April 2009 in Mexico and the U.S., swine flu has infiltrated 74 countries and 29,000 people.  Of note is that most patients only have mild symptoms and do not seek medical attention as a result.

U.S. officials have increased the availability of flu medicines and are planning a potential vaccination program.

While anxiety and fear at this point may be unwarranted, complacency is not recommended as time will tell if the virus will morph into a more serious problem in the U.S.  For now, the stinkin’ virus is resilient and is remaining present even during non-tradition flu seasons like summer.

What You Can Do to Stay Healthy

• Stay informed.

• Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.

• Take everyday actions to stay healthy.

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

• Stay home if you get sick. The CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

• Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.

• Find healthy ways to deal with stress and anxiety.

• Call 1-800-CDC-INFO for more information.

kgb_   Text your question to 542542. We answer to you.

Sources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)
WHO: Swine flu pandemic has begun, 1st in 41 years