Article Date:   01/09/2009

Beyond The Norm At CES 2009

As we enter this new year, Positive Image News is going through a transition to bring the news and reviews to you in a whole new dimension of coverage never seen before. This change has delayed the delivery of our normal top-level and exclusive features that can eb found nowhere else, yet that content will be back shortly. We have decided to start this year's first CES with a more non-tech and fun, yet informative article for you to peruse a you soon will see.

CES 2009 host plenty of exciting new product debuts which will amaze you without a doubt, but this year there was an added edge...an alternative dimension in making a point and demoing of unique product concepts.

While CES 2009 was filled with plenty of the latest consumer electronic technology which is being introduced inside the convention centers and hotels, there was something afoot outside which was gabbing the attention of many. The Electronics TakeBack Coalition has chosen to speak out against the number of manufacturers of the older television, sets who have made no attempt to create a place for those TV's to be taken for recycling. The problem we are facing I on a monumental scale when you consider how many of the older TV's were designed for analog signal reception only and will most likely soon be ending up in refuse facilities. Plastic does not breakdown quickly and the compounds of the plastics will leach into our soil, poisoning our environment on many fronts. The Electronics TakeBack Coalition chose to make a public protest statement by having a large number of people dressed up like a combination of character's from Michael Jackson's famous "Thriller" video, and television heads comic characters. The sight was strong enough to draw plenty of attention by both the drivers in the cars as they passed by, as well as the pedestrians walking by trying to make their way through to their final destinations.

In my interviews with several people walking by, I queried them if the action by The Electronics TakeBack Coalition made any difference in their feelings about the matter of concern for the environment. Many of the people were quite prompt to respond with an affirmation of their intent to write to the Electronics TakeBack Coalition, contact their state Congressman, or take other action.

It appears that although CES 2009 is primarily focused on the introduction of innovative new product development, there the Electronics TakeBack Coalition has show that there is a side to things that is often overlooked and needs a far greater level of attention put upon it. What's your thoughts on this? You can find more information on this subject at http://www.etakeback.org or drop an email to Barbara Kyle - National Coordinator bkyle@etakeback.org.

Tom Dickson, the famous celebrity and CEO of Blendertec, was demoing inviting the press at "Lunch@Piero's, ( A press event produced by Pat Meier Associates PR ), to witness what most people would consider impossible with a food blender. Now your first though might be that there couldn't be anything worth paying attention to about a blender, but you would be further from the truth than you could ever imagine! As stated by Pat Meier Associates PR, "Blendtec, famous for their "Will it Blend" videos in which they blended an iPhone in their kitchen blender, are on hand to talk about their highly successful viral campaigns that have garnered millions of YouTube views. Blendtec CEO Tom Dickson and VP George Wright will is on hand throughout Lunch@Piero's to blend a phone, a garden rake, a large Stanley metal tape measure, and who knows what else Thursday and Friday." In the image to the left, you can see a Stanley heavy duty grade metal tape measure sitting in one of the Blendtec Blenders and see it begin to disintegrate right before your eyes in this blender! See IS believing! Now the final point that is of primary importance is that there are blenders, and then there is Blendtec, or knockoffs of the Blendtec concept. If you are preparing food as a consumer or more so serving people in some aspect of the food service industry, quality and image are of the highest priority. Most of the blenders you purchase at a department store or even many specialty stores that have a retail price point of $200 or less, you will never have the quality, sturdiness, assurance of good health and nutrition in the preparation of your meals as with a Blendtec blender.

In today's society, obesity is common and is a serious matter of concern which many simply overlook. I can speak for that personally due to my own issue with being overweight. When you blend fruits, vegetables and other food products effectively, your body gets a far greater contribution of vitamins, minerals and so much more. The problem with the standard benders is a short life span of operation, and more often than not, you get the hiccup effect where the motor bogs down and speeds up, bogs down, and speeds up. Sometimes just ceasing operation altogether.

Tom Dickson has years of experience as a top level product design engineer and even a strong background in the medical field of practice. He understood the need for the quality and performance needed to ensure good health and nutrition in a blender and decided to sit down and design what was lacking as far as blenders go. The end result was the Blendtec blenders. A masterpiece of consumer electronics, the Blendtec blenders set the bar level for other products to meet.

For further information you can contact Pat Meier Associates PR or Blentec directly at: http://www.blendtec.com

Over the next few days there will be plenty more to come with our news features from "Lunch@Piero's, and other events, the show floor imagery, and of course, our new product evaluation summaries. See you back soon!

Rev. James G.W. Fisher - Editor / Product Evaluation Specialist