Monthly Archives: November 2009
Holiday lights an economic indicator?
Several news sources indicate that Black Friday retail sales rose only slightly compared to last year. Much of the media, of course, will use this information to forecast doom, gloom and utter destruction of our way of life. In my neighborhood, however, people aren’t having it. As we returned home from dropping off my daughter …
Obama & Reagan: the master messengers
As a media relations pro with more years than I care to admit in this business, I find the way President Obama approaches messaging to be very interesting. He follows a strategy that—ironically—President Reagan perfected in the 1980s. President Reagan’s approach was slightly counterintuitive and contrary to the media relations axiom that demands credible third-party …
Heart rending lessons for all
Some months ago, a colleague from an agency in Detroit needed a small favor best handled from our home market. We were happy to oblige, of course, as he has done for us. Jim Berline sent me a book as a thank you with a note saying that the contents had changed his life. I …
Peeing green
No, I’m not speaking of a bodily necessity after a St. Patrick’s Day excursion of green beer consumption. I am, however, speaking of a “green” initiative of The National Trust, a charity that promotes British heritage. The organization is encouraging the male gardening staff at one of its properties–Wimpole Hall–to urinate outside on straw which …
Google Wave begins a bumpy ride toward the future of collaboration
Our senior programmer cautioned that most people aren’t accustomed to working with beta versions of computer applications. A simple function might work in the morning, for instance, but not later in the day. Or, it might disappear altogether only to reappear in a slightly different form. Fascinating for an IT guy; maddening for someone like …