Filmmaker Nico Holthaus is joining the Music Maker Foundation in their effort to preserve the musical traditions of the South by directly supporting poor and slighted musicians who make it, ensuring their voices will not be silenced by poverty and time.

Nico Holthaus

Nico is a prolithic, Arizona based, documentary filmmaker whose work has bought him award winning critical acclaim, fame, and controversy.  All of these  as a documentarian doing his craft skillfully should.

When you purchase either the  movie, Mill Ave, Inc. or The Avenue, for just $20⁰⁰ plus shipping, 20% of your purchase price will be donated to Music Maker.  I strongly encourage you to purchase both movies, since you’ll receive a discount and even more as a bonus!

Purchase Here

About the Films

Mill Ave, Inc.

In the mid to late 90’s Tempe AZ was a hotbed of creative talent. Mill Ave, Inc. is a documentary that started with video footage of bands and venues along Mill Ave , when it became apparent that a lot of these venues would be closing their doors. It seems there was not one singular cause for the disintegration of Mill’s culture and liveliness that people everywhere had come to enjoy.

Or was there?

The Avenue

The Avenue is a documentary film based in Tucson, AZ. 4th avenue was threatened with gentrification, much like Mill Ave in Tempe, AZ. Winner of Best of Arizona at the Arizona International film festival.

By purchasing these films, you will not only have some terrific, eye-opening, quality entertainment.  You will make an impact on historical the historical musical history that is the south.

Read more & purchase

Kara works with legal marketers and small to mid-size business to create a more clearly defined focus and distinctive business strategy that will provide them with a competitive advantage for new business, higher reputation recognition, and enhance their ability to attract, win, and retain the clients they really want.

You can reach her at 917-856-5410

More of the latest Philadelphia news on Mumia Abu-Jamal’s case and Filmmaker Tigre Hill’s “Barrel of A Gun”…

Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams’s recent decision not to seek the death penalty for Mumia Abu-Jamal is stirring strong reaction. Thirty years after the fatal shooting of Officer Faulkner, the case still has the power to generate headlines across the globe.

Read the full story here

Kudos once again to my dear friend and filmmaker!   As controversial as his viewpoints may be, Tigre is’ one of the brave ones to be sure!  If you haven’t seen his film, I highly recommend you do.  It’s a sure start for intellectual conversation!

Other Articles you may be interested in:

Legal Marketers – Director Tigre Hill’s Anti-MOVE movie “Barrel of a Gun” in Philly Magazine

MOVE — A Legal, Political and Emotional Turmoil In Philadelphia’s History Revisited

Kara works with legal marketers and small to mid-size business to create a more clearly defined focus and distinctive business strategy that will provide them with a competitive advantage for new business, higher reputation recognition, and enhance their ability to attract, win, and retain the clients they really want.

You can reach her at 917-856-5410

September is my birth month, so it has always been a month of full of contemplation for me.  I was a New Yorker who, until the end of January, 2011,  worked on Wall Street for more than 15-years.  Thus, the occurrences of September 11th have made this time of remembrance all the more prevalent for me.

This year, the state-of-mind most prevalent for me is CHANGE and the manner in which I’ve implemented it over the last 10 years. So, this post is about honoring the people I’ve lost, not the sadness that I still feel over not having them in my life.  Instead, I’ve chosen to write about CHANGE.

For 10 years now, on September 11th, we’ve see an abundance of media images illustrating that day.  Personally, I avoid them.  Instead, I focus on my own good memories about the people I lost.

Today, I am in the midst of my annual thought processes, I am present to the changes I’ve put into place over the last 10-years.  I completed undergraduate and graduate school, started my own company, and recently relocated to Phoenix, Arizona and am working in the realm of one of my passions:  working with attorneys.

My vision for all of us feeling moved on this day is to bask in the memory of people we’ve lost by ‘riding the wake of their spirits’ and create, re-create, prosper & love each other fully.

Heather Morse over at the Legal Water Cooler made mention of CHANGE in her article “Best Quote Ever“.

Heather’s looking at the speed that we communicate now vs. only 7-years ago, and if legal marketers are ready take to take it on…

Honoring the memory of my friends and family who have passed,  and all those young spirits surrounding me, I’m going to shift this conversation into one about quality of life aka “business development and lifestyle”.

Heather’s right on point here…

I began educating attorneys about how social media works and the importance of it for their firm’s growth more than 3-years ago.  When I realized that what they needed was not only more information, it became obvious to me that I could not provide them with the services that supported their needs as a sole-proprietor.  This is why I implemented CHANGE, and began working as an Advisor at The Rainmaker Institute.

Keeping in mind this idea of a hyper-connected world, there are a few questions I think we need to ask ourselves:
*    Am I up to the challenge?
*    Am I willing to invest the time, money and resources to advance my practice/my business?
*    Am I willing to let the world continue to pass me by at hyper-speed?
*    If I do nothing different, what results will I achieve?

If you are an attorney or a marketing person working with a law group, your time is best spent practicing what you have mastery in, not talking on Facebook all day!  The Rainmaker Institute provides knowledge and Done-For-You services of Blogging and Social Media and Customized Newsletter Writing services that attorneys need.

Please give me a call at 480-648-2628 if you’re seriously ready to take on CHANGE.  I look forward to working with you on your firm growth goals and putting a plan into action!

I looked up from my desk at The Rainmaker Institute yesterday afternoon, my attention drawn to the exclamations coming from two of my colleagues.

“Man, that was good!”,   It turns out that they had cheese steaks from Mike’s Burgers, Cheese Steaks and Ice Cream, located near our office in the Gilbert Town Center.  Now, our Director of Sales is a big guy, and he said, “At 6′6″ and 295 pounds, you know I’ve have a few cheese steaks, so for me to say this place is good…”

(I’m a Philly born & raised gal, so I’ll be taste testing this afternoon and updating this post a bit later!)

Mike’s Burgers, Cheese Steaks and Ice Cream has the look & feel of the malted shop on “Happy Days”, with the old-school warmth, hospitality and aromas of great food radiating.

Connect to Mike's Burgers on Facebook

His online platforms aren’t in full swing just yet, but do show him some love by Liking Him on Facebook .  (His page isn’t branded just yet — see, ol’ school goodness!!)

You can check out a really nice article about the restaurant’s re-launch in

The Arizona Republic.

Mike’s will be adding family special event nights, like family night where kids eat ree, two-for-one burgers, and $1 Scoop Wednesdays!

Owner, Mike Canzona impressed me so much when I met him, that talking with him got my creative muse in action.  I’ll be adding faves to my Phoenix Hot Spots page as I continue on my new adventure of life out west.  Stay tuned!

Kara works with  small to mid-size business and  legal marketers to create a more clearly defined focus and distinctive business strategy.  This new design provides a competitive advantage for new business, higher reputation recognition, and enhance their ability to attract, win, and retain the clients they really want.

You can reach her at 917-856-5410

You may already realize that I relocated from New York City to Phoenix, Arizona and I am very proud to announce my new position as a Rainmaker Advisor with a remarkable legal marketing company, Stephen Fairley’s Rainmaker Institute.

Over the last 3 years, I’ve talked with literally hundreds of solo practitioners and partners in small law firms who were faced with the need to manage their firms as successful business enterprise.  Unfortunately, my do-it-yourself seminars were not products in high demand from lawyers who already worked 60-80 hour work-weeks.

One, cold Saturday evening in mid-January, after returning from an annual visit with my mother in Arizona, I was writing a press release in my apartment office. That was the moment I decided it was time for a dramatic change in my life.

So, I bought myself and my cat a plane ticket, started taking pictures of my belongings for Craig’s List and posted an announcement of my impending departure.

Shortly after I published my relocation announcement, I received this Direct Message from Stephen Fairley on Twitter.

In April of 2009, I wrote this article for Stephen’s magazine, The Rainmaker Advisor, “7 Essential Tools You Need to Manage Your Law Firm’s Online Reputation & Position Yourself as an Expert”, so I was acutely aware of The Rainmaker Institute’s dedication to excellence and integrity.

I am excited to say that going forward, all of the legal marketing business I conduct will be through The Rainmaker Institute in my position as a Rainmaker Advisor.

For the last 12 years, the programs Stephen developed have helped more than 7,000 attorneys create successful and sustainable law practices, with over 22 of the largest state and local bar associations having sponsored his live law firm marketing seminars & Rainmaker Retreats to their members.

This white paper on How to Market Your Articles is specifically for lawyers. It is a sample of the exemplary free information we make available on a regular basis, so be sure to connect!

Keep me posted on your accomplishments and let me know if I can help.

Kara works with  small to mid-size business and  legal marketers to create a more clearly defined focus and distinctive business strategy.  This new design provides a competitive advantage for new business, higher reputation recognition, and enhance their ability to attract, win, and retain the clients they really want.

You can reach her at 917-856-5410

You may know that I relocated Karasma Media to Phoenix, Arizona about a month ago.  I must say, it’s pretty phenomenal being in the midst of mountains and sunshine!

I’ve been fairly quiet with my online conversation for the last several months, and I wanted to provide you with some clarity about what’s been going on with me.  In January 2010, I looked up and noticed that I put on 50 pounds!   Honestly, it was as if I suddenly woke up and someone had played a very mean joke on me…

I was always tired regardless of how much sleep I got, stressed, and it seemed like I stayed hungry…

Using some very special products and with the assistance of my nutrition coach, I’ve already lost I’ve lost more than 14 pounds and 24-inches of body fat.  The best thing is, I have so much energy that it’s amazing how much I get done!

It’s no wonder that my enthusiasm for writing and marketing in general slowed down…

I’m feeling so good  about the products and the company, now that I’ve become and Independent Distributor.   Needless to say, contributing to intercontinental nutrition and financial well-being completely supports my desire to make an ongoing difference with the overall well-being on our the planet.

Here’s a link to a video that encompasses what I’m up to pretty well, so please do take a look and feel free to call me if you have any questions

Karasma Media is alive and well in Phoenix.  Please stay tuned for more info!

More news to come!

Kara works with  small to mid-size business and  legal marketers to create a more clearly defined focus and distinctive business strategy.  This new design provides a competitive advantage for new business, higher reputation recognition, and enhance their ability to attract, win, and retain the clients they really want.

You can reach her at 917-856-5410

Vermont Senator, Patrick Lehey is sponsoring The Coica Bill , “Combating Online Infringements and Counterfeits Act”, aka the internet sensorship bill, a bill that essentially focuses on copyright infringement.  However since an enormous amount of noninfringing content, including political and other speech, could disappear off the Web if it passes, it is generating serious concerns about censorship.

My friend social & digital media entrepeneur, Rik Willard of Rule 7 Media, LLC, was on CNN this morning discussing his concern about the bill’s enabling guilt to be assigned to to companies before they’ve had due dilligence, which could be particularly dangerous for entrepreneures.

Rik Willard, President, Rule7 Media

I look forward to your thoughts…

Kara works with legal marketers to create a more clearly defined focus and distinctive business strategy that will provide them with a competitive advantage for new business, higher reputation recognition, and enhance their ability to attract, win, and retain the clients they really want.

You can reach her at 917-856-5410

I attended a delightful event last night at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria hotel.  My dear friend Pamela Skinner and I had a wonderful evening last night as guest of Trail Blazers at the Youth Inc. year-end celebration, honoring Trail Blazers and 12 other child-development program.

As I was leaving and admiring the hotel’s Arte-Deco décor, I saw Ben Stein in the lobby! I walked over to him and said, excuse me, but I used to work for some of your favorite people, TIAA-CREF”.  I watched as his entire face light-up.

“TIAA-CREF, he said. “They changed my family’s entire life.” Needless-to-say, we had a great conversation and I gave him my business card before we departed.

Kara with Pamela Skinner

Reil Peirbooms, Trail Blazers Exec. Diretor; Kara; Susan Bryant

As Mr. Stein walked away, I left with his profound commitment to education an the well-being of his family. I was also very aware of how incredible it felt to have shared this moment in the heart of the greatest city in the world, in one of it’s most spectacular landmarks.

There is nothing better to me than doing what I love to do professionally, with absolutely wonderful people, wrapped around a cohesive commitment.

Kara works with legal marketers and small to mid-size business to create a more clearly defined focus and distinctive business strategy that will provide them with a competitive advantage for new business, higher reputation recognition, and enhance their ability to attract, win, and retain the clients they really want.

You can reach her at 917-856-5410

I am excited and enthusiastic about a conversation happening among barristers practicing international law.

European Parliment; Strasbourg, France

On the Martindale-Hubbell Connected German Law Group Blog, a London based journalist who specializes on the European legal market commented,

“There is no privilege for in-house lawyers in Europe.   As it stands now, any lawyer who wants to benefit from legal privilege has to be completely independent of the client they are taking instructions from…

Attorneys need to… re-focus their efforts on trying to persuade their local bar associations to allow them to join their organizations on equal term with private practice lawyers. Only once a significant minority of European countries treat in-house lawyers as just as “independent” as their private practice colleagues is the ECJ ever likely to change its opinion on corporate counsel privilege.

A scenaro which makes this situation worse, is often in-house counsel based in the United States is granted privilege by a European judge due to their US origin, in accordance with the standard practice here.

See the Poll on Martindale Hubbell Connected’s German Law Group Forum asking:
Should (German) in-house lawyers be allowed to be members of their bar?

It occurred to me that this situation is exemplary of the kinds of imbalances within the international legal community that attorneys using social media platforms designed specifically for them, will have the ability to bring to light and alleviate.  Martindale Hubbell Connected’s closed community on  is ideal for this, due to the scrutiny, reputation, and expertise of the firm; while other newer platforms may not be as oriented in the needs the international legal service provider.

Many law firms and individual practitioners alike work to resolve their areas of concern and skepticism about social media, from a strictly theoretical perspective.   However, those who are actively embracing the nuances online social media interaction are going to be far out in front in there ROI as a result of using it masterfully over time.  Legal organizations working globally are going to more subject to this than any other practitioners.

Log -in here to read and contribute to this discussion on Martindale Hubbell Connected
Joining Martindale Hubbell Connected is free of charge, the only requirement is that you are a legal professional.

Other articles you may be interested in:

Generate an International Legal Marketing Conversation Using Social Media

How to Use Twitter To Build Your International Conversation

Small and Medium-sized Firms Can Generate Business From Blogging

Listening, monetization, and ethics are key for successful social media campaigns and your legal marketing reputation

Alain L. Locke Elementary School P.S. 208 Celebrates World Dance

Kara works with legal marketers to create a more clearly defined focus and distinctive business strategy that will provide them with a competitive advantage for new business, higher reputation recognition, and enhance their ability to attract, win, and retain the clients they really want.

You can reach her at 917-856-5410

The attributes of Facebook’s ability to generate business for legal marketers are regularly touted on the Karasma Media Legal Marketing Blog.

With Facebooks’ recent changes on their platform, I wanted to be sure to include instructions for how to opt out of “Open Graph”, which brings into questions some be privacy issues your most likely concerned with.  I’ve already deactived this app on my Personal Facebook Page and all those associated with it.

There has been some controversy about instant personalization, because Facebook has automatically opted in its 400 million plus users. TechCrunch reports some Google employees are so disturbed that they are unplugging from Facebook altogether by deactivating their accounts.

In the open graph, Facebook sees us as connected not just to other people – our friends — on Facebook, but to myriad things all over the Web. These things could be favorite bands, news outlets or restaurants. It’s a potentially powerful idea – Facebook wants to uncover all these interests and predilections and let us share them with our friends, whether we’re at Facebook or somewhere else, in ways that could deepen personal connections and help us discover cool and interesting information.

Read complete detail and instructions in the NY Times:

How to Opt-Out of Facebook’s Instant Personalization.

Other articles you may be interested in:

Here’s the Scoop: Facebook for Lawyers Is In the News

10 Essential Rules for Legal Marketing Brands in Social Media to Follow

Ease, Steadiness and Awareness Work for Legal Marketing Social Media

Kara works with legal marketers to create a more clearly defined focus and distinctive business strategy that will provide them with a competitive advantage for new business, higher reputation recognition, and enhance their ability to attract, win, and retain the clients they really want.

You can reach her at 917-856-5410