Thursday, July 17, 2008
Quarantined!
Yup. I have pink eye. Ew. So I'm quarantined for the rest of the week and weekend. Not that I'm complaining about a long weekend, but I'd really rather just not have pink eye. It's gross.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
What's On My iPod
I just uploaded my "summer mix" to my iPod. Here's a sampling of the songs I'm jamming to now:
Lots of Beastie Boys - the ultimate summer music
"Ain't Nothing Wrong with That" by Robert Randolph and The Family Band - the song in the awesome new Discovery Channel commercial
"The Sickness" - Disturbed
"Lovefurypassionenergy" - Boy Hits Car
"Lust for Life" - Iggy Pop
"Freak on a Leash" - Korn
"Diddy" - P. Diddy or whatever he's called today
"Hot and Bothered" - Cinderella
"Now Is the Time" - Crystal Method
"Where It's At" - Beck
"I Can't Drive 55" - Sammy Hagar
"Hollaback Girl" and "Rich Girl" - Gwen Stefani
I still have to add my favorite summer Priest tunes - mostly off the Turbo and Point of Entry albums.
What are you listening to today?
Lots of Beastie Boys - the ultimate summer music
"Ain't Nothing Wrong with That" by Robert Randolph and The Family Band - the song in the awesome new Discovery Channel commercial
"The Sickness" - Disturbed
"Lovefurypassionenergy" - Boy Hits Car
"Lust for Life" - Iggy Pop
"Freak on a Leash" - Korn
"Diddy" - P. Diddy or whatever he's called today
"Hot and Bothered" - Cinderella
"Now Is the Time" - Crystal Method
"Where It's At" - Beck
"I Can't Drive 55" - Sammy Hagar
"Hollaback Girl" and "Rich Girl" - Gwen Stefani
I still have to add my favorite summer Priest tunes - mostly off the Turbo and Point of Entry albums.
What are you listening to today?
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Family
There's family that you're related to by blood, and then there are friends that become so close and intertwined into your life that the word "friend" no longer suffices to describe them. I am blessed with both types.
I'll be spending 4th of July weekend with my chosen family - best pal Chris, her husband Mike, nephews Andrew and Daniel, and her sister-in-law Gayle. I consider both Chris and Gayle to be sisters - friends just doesn't cut it. They're family. Which makes Mike my bro-in-law and I've always considered Andrew and Daniel to be my real nephews. And I can't forget my four-legged niece and nephew - Leia and Darth! I can't wait to drive down to Dayton on Thursday for a weekend of fun.
Happy 4th,
Cindi
I'll be spending 4th of July weekend with my chosen family - best pal Chris, her husband Mike, nephews Andrew and Daniel, and her sister-in-law Gayle. I consider both Chris and Gayle to be sisters - friends just doesn't cut it. They're family. Which makes Mike my bro-in-law and I've always considered Andrew and Daniel to be my real nephews. And I can't forget my four-legged niece and nephew - Leia and Darth! I can't wait to drive down to Dayton on Thursday for a weekend of fun.
Happy 4th,
Cindi
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
What Public Relations Is - and Is Not
Recently, a book by a former White House press secretary came out. In it, Scott McClellan confesses that he lied to the American public about policy decisions made by the Bush administration. Several weeks after that, CBS News legal analyst Andrew Cohen made some very disparaging remarks about the public relations profession that basically amounted to "what do you expect? All PR professionals are liars."
I took great offense to that as public relations is a large part of what I do for a living. And unfortunately, Mr. Cohen is not the only person who does not understand what public relations is and is not about. It is not about lying.
Like ANY profession, there are ethical and unethical PR professionals. And there are ethical and unethical employers for which these professionals work. Those folks at the unethical end of the spectrum may indeed use public relations practices to lie.
What PR is really about, though, is communicating information to an audience - the media, the public, shareholders, consumers, etc. For example, no one would know that PlayhouseSquare offers a spoken word poetry program for teens if I did not communicate that through various means.
Now, I don't tell everybody everything that goes on at PlayhouseSquare. Why not? For a few reasons - 1) that's a lot of information; 2) not everyone needs to know everything that we do and 3) not everything would be interesting or important to everyone. But if someone has a question, I or another PR professional on our staff will answer it.
Let me address the topic of "spin" for a moment. "Spin" is a negative term that refers to a portrayal of of an event or situation that is biased in one's favor and is, in my opinion, an utterly ridiculous concept. If I am sharing information about myself or the organization for which I work, why would I not present it in a way that is favorable? We all do it all the time.
For example, let's say you are going in for a job interview. You know that you procrastinate on your work, but in the end, you always get it done on time and it's always quality work. Do you tell your potential employer exactly that, or do you leave out the part about procrastinating? Is it lying if you do?
"Spin" rears its ugly head, though, when crisis situations arise - a cave-in at a mine, tainted food, etc. The best thing to do in these situations is to provide information in a clear and timely fashion - and if someone messed up, the company/person should take responsibility and admit it. Sooner or later, the truth will come out. Unfortunately, some companies try to "spin" crisis situations. This is always a bad idea, and I believe that this is part of what has given a bad name to public relations.
Saying that all PR professional are liars is like saying that all cops are crooked because a few take bribes, or that all rock stars are drug addicts just because a few are, or that all doctors rip off insurance companies just because a few do. You get the point. I hope someday Mr. Cohen does too.
Offended in Cleveland,
Cindi
I took great offense to that as public relations is a large part of what I do for a living. And unfortunately, Mr. Cohen is not the only person who does not understand what public relations is and is not about. It is not about lying.
Like ANY profession, there are ethical and unethical PR professionals. And there are ethical and unethical employers for which these professionals work. Those folks at the unethical end of the spectrum may indeed use public relations practices to lie.
What PR is really about, though, is communicating information to an audience - the media, the public, shareholders, consumers, etc. For example, no one would know that PlayhouseSquare offers a spoken word poetry program for teens if I did not communicate that through various means.
Now, I don't tell everybody everything that goes on at PlayhouseSquare. Why not? For a few reasons - 1) that's a lot of information; 2) not everyone needs to know everything that we do and 3) not everything would be interesting or important to everyone. But if someone has a question, I or another PR professional on our staff will answer it.
Let me address the topic of "spin" for a moment. "Spin" is a negative term that refers to a portrayal of of an event or situation that is biased in one's favor and is, in my opinion, an utterly ridiculous concept. If I am sharing information about myself or the organization for which I work, why would I not present it in a way that is favorable? We all do it all the time.
For example, let's say you are going in for a job interview. You know that you procrastinate on your work, but in the end, you always get it done on time and it's always quality work. Do you tell your potential employer exactly that, or do you leave out the part about procrastinating? Is it lying if you do?
"Spin" rears its ugly head, though, when crisis situations arise - a cave-in at a mine, tainted food, etc. The best thing to do in these situations is to provide information in a clear and timely fashion - and if someone messed up, the company/person should take responsibility and admit it. Sooner or later, the truth will come out. Unfortunately, some companies try to "spin" crisis situations. This is always a bad idea, and I believe that this is part of what has given a bad name to public relations.
Saying that all PR professional are liars is like saying that all cops are crooked because a few take bribes, or that all rock stars are drug addicts just because a few are, or that all doctors rip off insurance companies just because a few do. You get the point. I hope someday Mr. Cohen does too.
Offended in Cleveland,
Cindi
Monday, June 30, 2008
The New PlayhouseSquare Logo and Brand
I can't believe it's been more than a month since I last posted, but I've been super swamped with the launch of PlayhouseSquare's new logo and brand. I'm very proud to be working on this project, as it signals a major step forward for an organization that has long been a cornerstone of downtown Cleveland - its development, its economy and so much more. To check out the new logo and hear a message from our CEO, click here.
Now that the launch is complete, I can come up for some air and not have to work so much frantically paced overtime!
Happy Summer,
Cindi
Now that the launch is complete, I can come up for some air and not have to work so much frantically paced overtime!
Happy Summer,
Cindi
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Missing Barry and "Chicken Parm"
It's the best time of the year! Last night I watched Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals on NBC (do not even get me started on the fact that they don't carry the first two games; I guess I'll just be grateful for what I can get). It was a great game, but I am disappointed to say that NBC has hired two of the biggest dorks I have ever seen to do commentary.
I don't know who the main guy was (and I really don't wanna know) but they've got Mike Milbury doing color. Now, I must admit to having an ounce of respect for a guy who, as a player, went into the stands, removed a spectator's shoe and beat said spectator with said shoe. That, my friends, is hockey! No place for wimps on the ice or in the stands. But his dubious record as a coach and GM, and his misplaced sense of hockey coolness, left me wanting to vomit last night.
During one of the period breaks, Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals was invited on to chat with Mike and his fellow dorkmeister. Apparently during one of the Capitals' playoff games, Mike had made the following comment about Ovechkin, "If it looks like a dog and barks like a dog, it's a dog." That has to be one of the most inane comments ever made in the history of the sport. I don't even know what that could possibly have meant! Ovechkin smartly turned it into a compliment saying, "I do play like a dog."
At the end of the interview, Mike had the audacity to tell Ovechkin to get a haircut! Um, buddy - if you don't like it, become a golf commentator and leave my hockey boys alone! Sheesh.
I so miss Barry Melrose and Ray Ferraro (AKA "Chicken Parm"). Heck, I even miss John Buccigross now! IMHO, Barry Melrose is the best sports commentator on the face of the planet. Watching hockey on TV is just not the same without Barry. Put it this way - Barry is to commentating on hockey what Wayne Gretzky is to playing hockey. And Chicken Parm was the perfect sidekick for him.
NBC - wise up and get Barry for your NHL broadcasts next year. He rocks! See? Melroserocks.blogspot.com.
HOCKEY RULES! GO PENS AND WINGS! BRING ON THE CUP!
I don't know who the main guy was (and I really don't wanna know) but they've got Mike Milbury doing color. Now, I must admit to having an ounce of respect for a guy who, as a player, went into the stands, removed a spectator's shoe and beat said spectator with said shoe. That, my friends, is hockey! No place for wimps on the ice or in the stands. But his dubious record as a coach and GM, and his misplaced sense of hockey coolness, left me wanting to vomit last night.
During one of the period breaks, Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals was invited on to chat with Mike and his fellow dorkmeister. Apparently during one of the Capitals' playoff games, Mike had made the following comment about Ovechkin, "If it looks like a dog and barks like a dog, it's a dog." That has to be one of the most inane comments ever made in the history of the sport. I don't even know what that could possibly have meant! Ovechkin smartly turned it into a compliment saying, "I do play like a dog."
At the end of the interview, Mike had the audacity to tell Ovechkin to get a haircut! Um, buddy - if you don't like it, become a golf commentator and leave my hockey boys alone! Sheesh.
I so miss Barry Melrose and Ray Ferraro (AKA "Chicken Parm"). Heck, I even miss John Buccigross now! IMHO, Barry Melrose is the best sports commentator on the face of the planet. Watching hockey on TV is just not the same without Barry. Put it this way - Barry is to commentating on hockey what Wayne Gretzky is to playing hockey. And Chicken Parm was the perfect sidekick for him.
NBC - wise up and get Barry for your NHL broadcasts next year. He rocks! See? Melroserocks.blogspot.com.
HOCKEY RULES! GO PENS AND WINGS! BRING ON THE CUP!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Checked Bag Fee
American Airlines is now instituting a $15 fee for checked luggage, apparently in an attempt to offset the rising cost of fuel. This has created more of a PR nightmare for them than if they would have just raised their rates $15, but who am I to say? Oh wait...I AM someone to say being a PR professional! HA HA!
This is just another instance of how we the people are suffering for the greed of the oil execs. Why don't the airline executives, or better yet all transportation executives, push back on the oil companies? Our country is being held hostage by one industry. Everyone EXCEPT the fat cats at the oil companies is suffering. Instead of going to work to earn money to buy things we need, we're going to work to buy gas to get back to work.
How does this make sense?
This is just another instance of how we the people are suffering for the greed of the oil execs. Why don't the airline executives, or better yet all transportation executives, push back on the oil companies? Our country is being held hostage by one industry. Everyone EXCEPT the fat cats at the oil companies is suffering. Instead of going to work to earn money to buy things we need, we're going to work to buy gas to get back to work.
How does this make sense?
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