Degels App

Finally, we have done it!  After several failed times in the last five years trying to develop an app and have it approved by  the Apple developers to post it in the App Store,  I can finally say we made it!

This app that we are officially launching in February 2013, took us approximately four months to develop. It’s called “Degels”. The word degel actually means flag in Hebrew. The “S” at the end is  the word in plural in English. Degels is an educational and entertainment app. Is a very basic game where you paint all the flags of the world. The app is completely free and is now available in the AppStore  Check it out!

Here is how it works!

Below is the menu that shows the flags distribution. You can select one or more continents to play. The screen shot is in Spanish, but the game is available in English, Hebrew, and French. After you select the continent, select the level of difficulty and if you need, the Help menu.  With the Help menu the name of the country appears at the top and the uncolor flag. If you don’t select the help it will appear as a small picture with the silhouette of the country in the background. Then just press GO!

Here is an example of how it will appear without the help:

And here is an example with the help:

                

Each flag will have thirty seconds to be drawn. Depending in how fast you complete it correctly you will make more points.

After you complete the whole set of flags your final score appears and the option to share it in the app’s website. The screen looks like this:

Check other’s scores at www.DegelsApp.com

Some flags have a lot of details. For example, the Venezuelan flag has eight small and white stars in the middle. When this occurs you just place white circles, the system will read it. Also, white is a color! You actually have to use it too.  If not the system won’t capture it as correctly.

Here is our Profile in iTunes:

Degels is available to use in iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch,

Here is a small video playing Degels,

Please, give me your personal opinion on this app. I want to improve it and fix any mistakes.

Good luck playing!

Daniel Simkin

Esperando en el JFK

Hace un par de meses mi hermano viajo desde Caracas a Nueva York. Yo fui al aeropuerto esperarlo un par de horas antes de que llegara y me senté en una de las salidas del gigantesco aeropuerto JFK. Sentado ahí, me puse a ver la gente que salía por la puerta, valga la redundancia, a intentar saber por su apariencia cual era su destino de partida. Este tipo de “juego” lo he hecho antes, pero hacerlo en el JFK ha sido un reto muy difícil. Lo que lo hace tan complicado es la cantidad de gente distinta que viaja de donde sea en el mundo y que siempre por esa puerta donde esperaba se mezclaban los vuelos. Bueno, el primer grupo de gente sale, el patrón era de estatura mediana, morenos, hablaban español y tenían en vez de maletas eran bolsas plásticas con cierre y la imagen de “Piolín”. Esto es típico en Perú, Bolvia y Ecuador. Pues sí, el vuelo era proveniente de La Paz, Bolivia, lo sé por que lo confirme con uno de los pasajeros. Luego empezaron a salir jóvenes muy blancos con chaquetas de vestir azules, lo primero que viene a mi mente fue “no son latinos”. Eran muy ordenados y silenciosos, ellos iban como en fila uno tras otro. Era obvio que venían todos en grupo, pero no podía identificar de donde eran. Pensé que eran Alemanes, Polacos, Lituanos, pero es que ninguno tenia el color de pelo oscuro. Bueno, el grupo de jóvenes se reúne a un lado esperando a que salgan todos y en eso noto que los hombres tienen a un costado de la chaqueta la bandera de Finlandia. El contraste entre los Bolivianos y los Finlandeses era demasiado, y yo esperaba a los Venezolanos, mi mente no sabía que esperar a ver. En eso sale otro grupo y noto que el patrón es señores mayores como con cinco maletas en un carrito, esas maletas viejas de tela con flores estampadas. Ellos venían usando el teléfono hablando español y las familias (hijos y nietos) venían todos corriendo a recibirlos. Yo los identifique rápido y acerté, venían de República Dominicana. Ya se acercaba la hora de que el vuelo de Venezuela saliera y ponía mas atención a la gente que salía por si acaso mi hermano saliera. Alrededor mío había gente preguntando a los empleados del aeropuerto si el viaje de Madrid o de Francia ya había llegado. En eso sale otro patrón de gente de pelo muy negro, morenos y tenían muchos muchos niños consigo. No supe identificar de que país venían pero estaba seguro de que eran de cultura Árabe. Tal vez una o dos mujeres venían con la cara tapada, es decir, no vienen de un llegaron de un país muy religioso o de un país mas mente abierta. Seguido salio gente con el patrón de sombrero de llanero y sobreros de vaqueros hechos paja. No eran muchos los que salían con sombrero, pero todos o casi todos salían con camisas manga largas de tela con cuadros. También de ese grupo salieron seis o siete personas con traje de vestir que se notaba que tenían reuniones en la ciudad el mismo dái. Ellos venía hablando Inglés con acento un poco raro que realmente no podía identificar. En mi mente decía “Quién caminará por la quinta avenida con un sombrero así?” Me acerque a preguntar y ellos venían de Texas. Después, hubo como diez minutos donde paró de salir gente, eso fue raro ya que la última hora fue corrido. En eso sale gente usando camisas del Real Madrid, del Barcelona y de Argentina. Las mujeres y niñas venían muy arregladas y con lentes grandes, las jóvenes usaban sweteres unicolores, mas que todos rosados, amarrillos, verdes manzana, etc. que decían “Aeropostale” en todo el medio y grande. En general el grupo era muy ruidoso. Los señores llegaban con camisas manga larga marca polo. No se porque hubo un par de gente que salía con gorra y lentes de sol al mismo tiempo,  jajajajajaja, será que había sol allá adentro? La gente traía muchas maletas pero como las movían y cargaban con tanta facilidad concluí que estaban casi vacías y venían Nueva York a llenarlas. Era claro que el se trataba del viaje de Venezuela. Me acerque mas a la salida y empezaba a escuchar la gente diciendo “llegamos marico”, “José, agarra esa vaina coño!”, esto reafirmo que se trataba de los Venezolanos, en especial cuando un señor muy gordo y con bigotes dijo “mi hermano, hemos llega’o al Imperio mesmo”.  En eso salio mi hermano con una camisa y Crocs amarrillos fosforescentes, con una gorra de Venezuela Fútbol Club y un bolso anaranjado inmenso. Definitivamente, nos tenemos que hacer notar, somos distintos.

En verdad es un orgullo ser Venezolano! 

Blacksmith and Entrepreneurship Program

From July 25-28 2012, 75 students from 35 different countries were selected to participate in the Blacksmith and Liberty Entrepreneurship Program held in Trakai, Lithuania. The name of the program is derived from the names of its founders, Mr. Simon Black and Mr. Smith, both successful American entrepreneurs who give amazing opportunities to young people that show strong entrepreneurship skills.
This year, Mr. Smith couldn't attend, but instead Mr. Brian Tannura Mr. Sam Wolanik, and Mr. Craig Ballantyne were invited. During the four days, we had the opportunity to ask questions to these mentors, hear their entrepreneurial lectures, and have our own concepts and ideas evaluated in terms of internal business competition.

Brian is a guy from New Jersey that took Spanish in high school and in college for a total of seven years of Spanish. After graduation he decided not to follow his friends to Mexico or Spain, so he took a plane to Japan. Brian has over 25 years of experience of living in Japan and owns more than 5000 gum ball selling machines and more than 2000 sticker selling machines. To our amusement he proudly admitted to being the one who introduced the cartoon Spongebob to Japan. Brian is a very down to earth and an approachable individual who really made himself available to students during the program.

Craig is a Canadian entrepreneur and owner of one of the most successful online health businesses in North America. Craig graduated in 2000 as a researcher and started as a personal trainer. On his website you can find diets, training programs to lose weight and other health tips. He appeared many times in Health Magazine and other TV shows related to being healthy. At the time of the camp, he had on one of his websites more than one hundred thousand followers, real people buying and commenting on his products.

Sam created a company (that he no longer owns) that improved the price of stock in the exchange market in NY. He created one of the first "financial quotes" websites. He shared the following impressive story at the Camp:  One day he visited an American Oil company that was doing very well in business but very bad in the stock market, no one wanted to buy the stock. On the Friday afternoon when the market was almost closing he sent a financial report with his own quotes providing real information "the one that everyone knows but not pay sometimes that much attention", at the end of the quote he talked about the oil company. By Monday the company grew 400%, and on Tuesday grew 500% on top of the Monday result. He did that over several years and is a trading expert- he knows the secret to not ending up as an insider trader. The exciting news is Sam is creating a new currency.

These four mentors and young entrepreneurs had the opportunity to relate and exchange stories and experiences. This was time well-spent and much valuable information was shared. I will cite some of the conclusions, discussions, quotes, relevant notes that I jotted down during the Camp.

•    It is not true that 90% of the work is a great idea
•    There are always opportunities, all around, step back and see the market
•    When starting a business you do everything you can to identify the key tasks
•    Who is your customer? How you reach him? What do you do to maintain a relationship with your costumer?
•    Find a way to differentiate what makes you unique from your competition
•    To find an investor, don't show it as a brainer investment
•    Always be really specific when answering questions: What business are you in? Who are your customers?
•    In online business, communicate with your customers, but that communication has to be perfect, make videos.
•    On websites, customers like sale deadlines
•    Do something you really love, something you are passionate about.
•    As most of you English is not your mother language so always write in simple sentences. Business is about simple and specific sentences.
•    I found a government distortion in the market place, if the stock is less than 5 Dollars nobody can talk about it. There were many companies that wanted to raise prices.
•    While raising investing capital, make sure you really need it and answer easily, tell me about your business. Always avoid family and friends. Be specific in numbers and not in future projections.
•    Never say "I need between half million and one million Dollars", be specific.
•    Everybody thinks that they need more capital than what he/she really needs.  Ask for the minimum amount.
•    What is your opportunity? What is your growth plan? Find credibility.
•    Create a board of advisers; their credibility is your credibility.
•    To raise money check: crowd founding, kick starter, micro landings, etc.
•    Yes it is possible to raise money from your competitor, they understand you.
•    DO YOUR HOMEWORK = study the market
•    The whole business exists because of you
•    For your investors, write them monthly reports and be transparent. If things are bad, tell him/her don't hide things, anything, from them.
•    "When you point someone with your finger, there are three fingers pointing towards you"
•    In order to do the marketing, go to online forums to hear the problems that your prospect costumers have. What kind of phrases do they use? Then, determine what product/service you will sell and how you will sell it.
•    95% of the businesses fail because they force a solution in a market place.
•    You guys know that you don't have to pass through the scan at the airport
•    Think about how to add value
•    The older you get, the more difficult life gets
•    Learn valuable skills, spend time learning: languages, check other places around the world, seek a mentor find someone you can help and make yourself absolutely indispensable for this person, socialize and network, "if you can sell shit, you’ll always be valuable", learn to program, introduce one friend to another.
•    Find an open door

Congratulations to the hydroponics on the roofs of Hong Kong team that won the first place in the competition. Also, congratulations to the umbrella vending machines at the exits of the underground in London team and the cafe with the parking concept at Moscow team for the mention.

I want to mention www.froam.com, the phone international services company that made possible my attendance at the entrepreneurship program. Special thanks to Mr. Hershberg and Mr. Warman, CEO's of Froam, thank you for being my mentors and for giving me this opportunity. The experience has had a positive influence on me and I hope to share it with the Froamtm community.
I'm proud to say that Froam has helped me to save funds by not having to pay for international roaming in my device. As a business prospect, Froamtm is also the perfect company from which to learn about any aspect of international connections.
I encourage you to check online how much it costs to call from Germany to Chile for example, then ask to yourselves how this amazing price is possible. Froam is also available to answer any questions; they are always there for their customers and wider community. Once again, thank you Froam!
I would also like to thank the organizers and sponsors of Blacksmith and Entrepreneurship program for accepting me. It has been my pleasure to get to know each of the participants of the program and I had the chance to meet some amazing and impressive individuals. I wish them all well in their projects.

Daniel Simkin

Info:
www.froam.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6d-A1Wu7lk&list=HL1346058822&feature=mh_lolz

Dans Le Noir, a blind restaurant experience...

The other day I went to a restaurant in NYC called Dans Le Noir. Its a place in where there aren't any lights at all. So, you make your reservation online a couple days ahead. Then, you go to the
place and once you arrive they show you the menu and give you a key for a locker in which you have to put everything that's may produce light (watch, cell phones, etc). Becky and I chose our plates, then we sit next to a curtain waiting for our waiter. A few minutes later a blind woman came out stretching out her arm asking "Where are my next costumers?", Becky said " Here we are". Maria, the waiter, told us "You don't have to be weary... welcome to my world".

We enter to a small tunnel and the light gets dimmer and immer with each step until it disappears completely. I enter and my other 4 senses activate. I started to hear the voices of people from other tables, the sound of cubists and people laughing. Also, I felt the temperature much more, colder. We
Sat in a row with other couples entering the restaurant. Somehow Maria remembered the name of each of us and she led each one in the right and correct seating place.

Well, Becky and I were seating in front of each other, at the end of the table with other couples and
we started to talk about the environment. In a second, Maria was very close to our table asking for beverages. A few minutes later she came with a cart serving beverages to each of us. I knew it was a cart because I touch it. I didn't know how to drink, and I didn't even know if it was the beverage I ordered because my mind used to see the color and the recognize the beverage.

We spoke with the guys next to us and the only way you can identify them is by their voice. You don't know their appearance and in this city the guy could sound as a woman, but its a man...you know.
In this case he wasn't.

The dinner continued, the conversation with my girlfriend was very good and deep. When the first plate came I just didn't have any idea how to start to eat. Sincerely, the knife wasn't useful, only the fork and the left hand I used. I didn't have idea what I was eating; I tried to identify the flavors. The experience inside the place was simply amazing. Maria moved from one side to the other side of the table in a second, she was there for you. It was the first restaurant I went to where they called me by my name and the first one I was truly having dinner with Becky without thinking in my phone and emails. I was really with her eating and hearing her voice. You don't even know what time is it, but you don't have to care about the time because you are with the person you want to be with. That dinner was a discovery path.

When we were done with the food we decided to stay and have some wine at the bar just outside the dark room. Its just that your not in love with someone because of the way she looks, you use the other senses. Then, we went out of the dark room with Marias help and we talked with other waiters. One of them named Collin. He told us a little bit about his life, how he lost his sight, and what he was working on before working in the restaurant. Collin told us that sometimes as a pedestrian before crossing a street he stands next to the traffic light listening waiting for the beep that tells him to cross. Well, a person comes to help him cross and the person helps him, whether he needs the help or not because its the same path he does everyday he lets other people help him so they can feel that they did a good thing. Collin also likes the fact people go to the restaurant and a that a blind person helps them, so we feel what he lives everyday. Instead of him "needing" our help, its us that need his inside Dans le Noir. Collin is very happy in his life and has developed other skills that someone else might not have.

For me its admirable to see people like Maria and Collin continuing and having fun with their lives. If you step in NYC and you are with someone speacial for you, you mother, father, a close friend, your girlfriend, or a friend you haven't seen for a while I'd recommend you to go to Dans le Noir 
Restaurant.