Square Peg....

You WERE Their Valentine............ All 8400 of You!

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:13:00 -0500

Today’s post is a simple THANK YOU and follow-up to the cool project for Valentine’s Day at Children’s National Medical Center. The marketing folks came up with both a brilliant outreach plan and neat way to get “homemade” cards to kids stranded at the hospital over Valentine’s Day.

It took just minutes to create the card online, was free, and the process asked if the Medical Center could contact the card creator in the future. You could opt out of course- right then, and there, if you chose. Great way to reach out to potential new donors while at the same time creating magic for these kids.

Thank you so much for your enthusiastic support for our Valentine’s Day campaign. Because of people like you who helped us spread the word, we were able to surpass our goal of 5,000…by a lot. In fact, we collected and delivered more than 8,400 valentines to the children at the hospital.

The kids and their parents appreciated the cards so much, and it was a nice distraction from the emotions that come with being in the hospital when you’d rather be out celebrating the holiday in a different way. We are so grateful to everyone who sent a card and told others about the campaign.

- Mark Miller, Director, Philanthropic Communication, Children’s National Medical Center

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What else is there to say? Thank you, just, THANK YOU. From the kids.

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PHOTOS used with permission of the Children’s National Medical Center.

Won't you be THEIR Valentine?

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:38:00 -0500

This is an EASY ONE.

In just two steps, online, for free, you can make and send a special Valentine’s Day card for a child that may not be feeling all that special next Tuesday.

3,500 cards were distributed a year ago at Children’s National Medical Center to little ones stuck in the hospital. They’re doing it again this year with even bigger goals for more cards:

“After people choose their design and write a message, we literally produce printed cards to distribute at the hospital. I love it because it gives people an easy way to connect directly with children, and it combines email/social media with traditional paper cards. Anyone can send an email – but we’re allowing them to send a real card to a child who will really appreciate it.”- Mark Miller, Director, Philanthropic Communication, Children’s National Medical Center.

You can choose from card designs on the site, or create your own. Your card will be printed out at the hospital, and given directly to a child.

Won’t you join me and make Tuesday special for some little person that won’t be in their classroom that day when everyone else gets the bag of cards from their classmates?

Follow this link, craft your card- so much better than the candy or flowers you’re getting for someone else! Help them reach their goal of 5,000 cards this year!

http://ow.ly/90bp3

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Have been thinking seriously about a career change,...

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:23:15 -0500

Have been thinking seriously about a career change, anyway…

- Posted using Mobypicture.com

We're Four Days Into This Lovefest. And They're Not OURS.

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:35:51 -0500

Meet Addi. She’s a Lab/Heinz 57 mix. Barely 2 months old and from the local Humane Society. You probably ought to meet her brother, Gabe, but, he’s sleeping.

In our household, we have a dog “limit”. That means our “permanent” dog count is two: a 15-year-old Fox Terrier, and a 7-year-old Pom Poo.

But, for good reason, we’ve decided to stretch that limit temporarily by becoming Foster Parents at the Humane Society.

The Humane Society is a no-kill shelter, so that means they need help to place pets in a good home. The fact is that many of the pets aren’t quite ready to be adopted when they come to the shelter. That’s where good foster parenting is needed.

Our current guests, Addi and Gabe, are with us for ten days while we help them get over their kennel cough. The best thing we can do for them is to get them ready for adoption. In the meantime, a little good lovin’, some time outside their crate….anything to make them more “marketable”.

The folks at the Humane Society are no Dummies….this is really just marketing with the cutest product available. Sooner or later, one of the foster kids will end up never going back to the shelter! (I know they’ll get us, and it will be a pleasure to be “gotten”).

How does it work? From the Greenville, SC, website

http://www.greenvillehumane.com/foster-program:

Animals are placed in foster care for a set period of time and later returned to the Greenville Humane Society for adoption. For the duration of foster care, the Greenville Humane Society provides food, any necessary medications, training for the volunteer, a collar (for dogs), a pet carrier (for cats) and leash (if needed). All the foster needs to provide are love, attention and proper care for the pet.

There are many reasons why the Greenville Humane Society must rely on foster care. A lack of available space in our shelter or minor health issues that the animal may have are a couple of those reasons. By opening up your home to these animals, you’re saving their life.

Addi would like to make one final comment. Oh wait..

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Here’s the national site:

http://www.humanesociety.org/

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Nothing like being with a couple of Sea Gals & Blitz on a...

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:05:10 -0500

Nothing like being with a couple of Sea Gals & Blitz on a cold, snowy Seattle day!

- Posted using Mobypicture.com

A Vendor That Cares.

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:01:00 -0500

You don’t always get to pick vendors because they are interested in the right causes. It sure helps when they are.

PHOTO CREDIT: deems.wordpress.com

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This week we’re in Seattle with our preferred merchandise vendor, BDA (http://www.bdainc.com/) for what they call their “Supplier Alliance Fair”. (Read on, this is NOT about a trade show for SWAG).

BDA recently formed the BDA Cares Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, to manage all of their philanthropic giving. The driving force behind the BDA Cares Foundation will be Susan’s Rock, named in honor of a longtime BDA family member, who unfortunately was a fatal victim of domestic violence.

I’ve got to hand it to BDA: faced with a huge tragedy (they are still privately held and promote a “family feel”)- they decided to do something about it. The message of Susan’s Rock is to be strong, to be there for someone and to save lives. Standing strong together against domestic violence is a cause BDA will be firmly committed to on an ongoing basis as a company.

PHOTO CREDIT: trailchatter.com

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So, as a show of strength, BDA is going to “Rock the Needle” the morning of Thursday, Jan. 19.

More than 80 employees will be given the rare opportunity to climb the Space Needle staircase—all 832 steps.
Another 160 employees will walk laps around the observation deck.
In total, BDA will climb and walk 1,000 miles in the name of domestic violence awareness and prevention.

PHOTO CREDIT: pddnet.com

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Since we’re here, it’s a good week to be asking vendors and clients for donations. For me, it’s a good week to agree to do it. Here’s what Susan’s Rock will help with:

Stronger Education of Young Men – Domestic violence awareness and prevention programs aimed at coaching young boys what it means to be a real man and not commit these crimes.
Stronger Empowerment and Networks for Women – Improve the resources and services that provide domestic violence survivors options for safety, healing and hope for themselves and their families.
Stronger Legislation & Enforcement of our Protective Laws – Strengthening and improving the criminal justice system/laws (state and federal) that deal with domestic violence criminals.

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It’s a good cause, and from a vendor that makes me feel good to buy from. Because they care. I’m sure they wouldn’t turn down a donation from you.

Winds are calm at our stadium. The seats are filling up…

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:34:14 -0500

Winds are calm at our stadium. The seats are filling up…

New Year. Same Old You. So What?

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:19:08 -0500

Thought I’d let a week or so into 2012 lapse before I posted this.

It’s not:

A Best-of List
A Worst-of List
Comment on Resolutions
Diet Advice
Motivational Suggestions
A Moment of A-Ha
Key to Self-Awareness

IMAGE CREDIT: inspirationline.com

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There, did I pretty much cover everything else written that you really didn’t care to read? Well, I covered most of my list. Please feel free to add.

Fact is, today, and you, pretty much look like any other day. These changes that are only made with the convenience of a calendar change always seem to end badly.

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We’re not simply all shiny and new like the New Year’s Baby’s butt, with all of our concerns, crises, and challenges simply wiped clean. We’ll hold the Baby’s Butt analogy right there.

How many days make a Fad, how many days make a Habit of any resolution to change? What, we’re at the 10th Day of the Year and I have missed the gym all 10 of them?

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I have a great idea, and it’s not that hard. Might make for a great resolution to form a few days late. Definitely is a habit that it won’t hurt to pick up.

Starting NOW…..OK, at least by tomorrow….how about spending a few minutes each day just doing something nice for yourself? You KNOW there are precious few others who will do it for you.

A few minutes of solitude, your favorite music, positive reflection or projection.

Don’t over-eat, don’t over-sleep, don’t over-indulge. This is a positive declaration of moderation. Try it, you might like it.

There, I feel better already.

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Secret Santa... at a KMart Near You.

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 11:14:00 -0500

Perhaps you have heard about this groundswell of goodwill. Folks walking into mass merchants- the most frequency seems to be at KMart- and anonymously paying off Layaway accounts.

Have to admit, I liked the idea so well, I did it myself yesterday.

I liked it even better AFTER I did it. In case you are considering it, here’s how smoothly it worked for me:

I went to a local Big KMart, and back to the Layaway Desk. I had actually thought about what I would need to explain to the clerk, just in case they weren’t aware of what was going on in Nebraska, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and elsewhere. No need for that- as soon as I said, “I want to pay off an account, I just don’t know which one…”, the clerk was on the phone to Security.

“I’ve got a Secret Santa”.

From there, it was easy. The security person relayed accounts about to default. Without disclosing the account holder’s names, the clerk and I looked at the account detail and selected ones with primarily toys, and at an amount I wanted to spend. KMart then calls the account holder with their “new” balance. EZ PZ.

I was frankly relieved that I didn’t have to explain what I wanted to do, and THAT turned out to be the best part- “Oh no, sir, LOTS of people are doing it”. Take that, Mr. Scrooge!

Now, I have heard the cynics suggesting that KMart is somehow gaining itself from all this generosity. A quick check of both the KMart layaway website (www.kmart.com/Holiday-2011) and their Twitter account, http://twitter.com/Kmart have no mention of Secret Santas. Probably a miss in the PR realm, but save that for another post.

There is, of course, the reality that any retailer offering layaway does stand to gain if the account defaults- merchandise is returned to stock and down payments and service fees are forfeited.

While perhaps a slightly unfortunate part of the retailer’ business plan, by being a Secret Santa, you can avoid that happening, too.

Double Bonus. Take my word for it. Double, at least.

How about you, it there a little “Secret Santa” in you somewhere?

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Sometimes the view from the office can be downright stunning!

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:57:31 -0500

Sometimes the view from the office can be downright stunning!

How Dallas Cowboys lose at Social Media. While Not Playing.

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 11:03:00 -0500

You may have seen South Carolina native Melissa Kellerman and the beginning of her 15 minutes of fame during Thursday’s Cowboys-Dolphins game.

It was a harmless incident, and Kellerman, in her fourth year with the team, was a really good sport about it. TE Jason Witten was a gentleman in helping her up and making sure she was OK. A great opportunity for a feel-good Social Media opportunity was born. On Kellerman’s Twitter account Friday:

Harmless. All in good fun, and you would think “America’s Team” would have been all smiles for this great PR opportunity to drop in their lap. This is the team that allows a “reality show” on CMT with the cheerleaders. The “official” Facebook page refers to the cheerleaders as “America’s Sweethearts”. Great opportunity, right?

Yep. Great opportunity for the Cowboys… to TOTALLY BLOW IT.

According to reports in Yahoo! Sports, the Hollywood Reporter and FOX Sports Southwest, the NFL franchise has now kicked Kellerman off Twitter for her Tweets.

According to CNBC, the Cowboys will not allow Kellerman to speak to the media about the incident. Really?

For their part, the Cowpokes have released no statement on the incident. They clearly don’t approve of non-corporately approved cheerleader Twitter activity.

So now, with Social Media, the Cowboys have performed as they have many times on the field.

Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

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UPDATE: Finally, an official response from the Cowboys. No comment on the opportunity, no positioning of the response. Just a simple denial of responsibility.

Following a request for comment from CNET, the team’s director of public relations, Rich Dalrymple, wrote in an email, “The organization doesn’t get [into] administering the Twitter accounts of players or cheerleaders. Melissa made her own decisions regarding her account over the weekend.”

Oh, and one other little twist to the story. Kellerman’s account is back on Twitter, but her tweets are now private. Her bio reads, “22-ish. Wears white cowboy boots and stars to work. Bridesmaid x2. Chapstick addict. Enjoys romantic walks to the fridge.”

Looks a little sanitized from the weekend to me.

The Cowboys. Still. Don’t. Get. It.

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PHOTO Credits: Getty Images, The Hollywood Reporter

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Black Friday. Self-named Line Monitors and Non-Working Coupons

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 11:49:00 -0500

Neither Jeanette nor I had ever done the shop-in-the-middle of the night Black Friday thing before, so, last night/this morning, we tried it. For “the experience”.

We stopped at the closest watering hole to the Mall first. I’d suggest that. Just to, you know, get ready. We were apparently going to save MILLIONS.

Either the Beatles had a reunion tour scheduled in the Jewelry department, or Macy’s was handing out $500 bills just inside the door at Midnight. This now seemed like a good idea. Strategy developed at the bar was already required- a single line at one door, this disorganized entry point, or the main Mall entrance and head for the upstairs entrance.

Since the first target was a $99 tree, and we had only 8 minutes (Jeanette had timing duties), the entry point was decided. This was it, we were going in.

Alas, the search for the tree was short. There was a reason it was $99.

From there, we did snatch a half-price deal on some Holiday plates, tried on some clothes and then moved on to the key opportunities for “experience”- the Line Monitors and the Coupons-That-Never-Work.

I am reasonably sure that Macy’s had met with their retailing friends at the Mall, and laid out the strategy of rolling openings throughout the night. Over coffee, they did rock/paper/scissors and Toys “R” Us got first shot, then Macy’s at midnight, Jacque Penne at 3, etc., etc.,- just to keep us excited for a new door to open. Wal-Mart didn’t go along, or missed the memo. They opened at 9, right after “Charlie Brown Thanksgiving”. We watched Charlie, we skipped Wally World.

It seemed almost from the moment we surged through the door at Macy’s, people had stacks of crock pots and comforter bags and were looking to descend on a defenseless checkout associate. Because I mistakenly looked at other items before deciding on my purchase of a Martha Stewart retail-pricing strategy bed sheet set, I was destined to meet my first Self-named Line Monitor.

When Macy’s decided to open at midnight, they didn’t do anything to establish where to STAND in the lines in the aisles waiting for the defenseless checkout person. Enter the Monitor:

HER: “The Line starts OVER THERE behind (a different) HER.”

ME: “Oh”.

Heck, I didn’t know any different, so I moved over one of the tiny little aisles of stuff they have there and got in line behind the designated “HER”.

That’s when four of the Self-named Monitor’s friends and their 3 crock pots and 5 comforter bags EACH sidled into another little side row next to the Monitor.

THEM: “Did you get the free pillows?” “Can you believe this line???”

THAT was when I realized the Self-Named Monitor had moved me over behind “HER” to facilitate the 3 crock pots and 5 comforter bags folks to CUT IN LINE.

Uh-huh.

ME: “Excuse me, Ms. Self-named Line Monitor, but since you were kind enough to point out to ME where the line started, I suppose you’ll do the same for your friends and their 3 crock pots and 5 comforter bags.”

ALL OF THEM: (Glare).

But they moved. Sweet. Victory.

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So, after we got our little line differences worked out it was time to use the Coupon-That-Never-Works.

You see, I had selected the retail-pricing strategy Martha Stewart sheets. That’s ridiculously-priced at $160, but just for you RIGHT NOW, $80. Since I had so much time on my hands in line with the crockpots-and-comforters crowd breathing down the back of my neck from BEHIND ME, I used the price scanner we glided by to confirm. See, I told the Self-named Monitor’s friends, $80!

(Glare).

By now, I had reached the defenseless checkout person, and of course, the Coupon-That-Never-Works did its magic. It, um, didn’t work. Because I was getting SUCH a great deal, exception number 34 on the coupon (out of 200) kicked in. It is explained clearly on the coupon as “you’re already getting a good deal”.

Oh.

But then, thanks to the coupon-cutting queen Jeanette is, I had the crock pots-and-comforters crowd totally wowed with my coupon prowess. I had just waved the Coupon-That-Never-Works for show, because I KNEW it NEVER WORKS. What, you didn’t know that??

Out of my pocket came the coupon that DID work, $10 off my purchase.

To end the evening on a high note, the defenseless checkout person explained to me that “looked like the best deal”. To reassure me.

Thank goodness that $10 off of $80 is better than 15% off of $80.

I knew that. Not sure whether the glaring crock pots-and-comforters Self-named Monitor’s friends got that good a deal. I didn’t wait to find out.

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PHOTO CREDIT: thegreenhead.com

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The Rescued Dogs at RUFF Need Help. Like Now.

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:05:00 -0500

Twitter can help you find almost anything. Today it helped me find some rescued dogs that need your attention. Today. Their shelter is doing everything it can to expand and get up to snuff to avoid these dogs- many of them more than 5 years old- facing certain death at Animal Control.

Janice Brooks is the Director of RUFF (Rescue Unwanted Furry Friends) in Fort Walton Beach, FL. She reached out with a desperate plea that their funding has run out and they cannot afford to complete the current needed renovations to a new facility, or provide salaries for their 4 employees.

Since the Gulf spill, Janice has been barely getting by. RUFF is a non-profit, non-kill shelter and has adopted down from a high of 149 dogs to just 48. But her building is currently only big enough for 26. She found a new one, and was in the process of fixing it up to save all 48 until they can be adopted.

Fencing has been donated, doggie doors are being cut, but they face a serious crisis TODAY.

Janice wrote me: “Please sir, please help me save these dogs. We need donations badly to continue on.” How could I not?

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I sent a donation today, and I hope you will, too:

http://www.911ruff.org/

janice@911ruff.org

RUFF

850-796-3647

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If Not Happy, Could You Keep It Classy, Happy Valley?

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:07:00 -0500

There’s no need to tread once again here on the facts of the child sex-abuse scandal that has wiped any happiness out of State College, PA. The most delicate of children the victim of a predator. The significant lack of reporting of that activity that brought down a coaching legend, a university president- and the attitudes about what had been one of the nicest college communities in America.

Rick McKee / Augusta Chronicle

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But then there are the Penn State students. Of today. With a chance to make a statement about what tomorrow’s leaders in this college community think about such winking and nodding. What do they do? They show they are upset. While the nation watches.

PHOTO: LA Times

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But what they were upset about was NOT the abuse. Well, unless you consider it to be the “abuse” by the media of their beloved “Joe Pa”. Many of the students focusing on thoughts that somehow the media focused inappropriately on the coaching legend that admitted himself he should have done more when he first learned of the alleged abuse. “This is a tragedy,” the 84-year-old coach told the media Wednesday. “It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more.”

But, still he wanted to coach four more games. And if the throng would have had their way, he would have.

Penn State students had the opportunity to communicate the right message. The same opportunity we all do, but without the limelight. This kind of abuse should not be tolerated anytime, anywhere, and any knowledge of it SHOULD be shouted out loud- even from the streets. I’m not talking about the abuse of a coaching legend, either.

There were reports of students that knew what the RIGHT position was- but were afraid to appear on camera or talk to reporters last night.

Finally, one beacon of light. And from the Penn State quarterback, Matt McGloin. On Twitter late Thursday: “This is a tough time But the outrage we are feeling now is nothing compared to what the victims are going through.keep them in our prayers.”

THAT is well said. Stay Classy, Penn State. I know you have it in you.

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Please help me help. The Wounded Warrior Project.

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:51:34 -0400

The day job over the past couple of years has provided some satisfying opportunities to give back.

We helped raise nearly $40,000 this summer for local non-profits and gave away 17 sets of 50 tickets for their use at Larkin’s Rhythm on the River concert series.

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Proud to have helped get the word out as our friends at BF Goodrich Tires stuffed two trucks for tornado relief at their Tuscaloosa plant.

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Heading into the Holiday season, will be partnering once again with WSPA-TV as we have in years past to grant wishes in the “25 Days of Wishes” program, to also give Holiday gift cards for Foster Kids who wouldn’t otherwise have them, and soon, we will be making the announcement about the first annual “Holiday on Main”- THE ONLY PLACE (and PARTY) to view the Greenville Holiday parade this year! A fundraiser so that we can grant even more wishes!

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But today, I wonder if you might consider a little larger opportunity.

We’ve been working with Riverside High School locally to benefit The Wounded Warrior Project. They are ending their “Spirit Week”, today’s the final day. They’ve collected $10,000, but they have an ambitious goal of $30,000. We’re proud to have dropped a few shekels in the pot this week, but now would you consider joining us with a donation, too?

The Wounded Warrior project provides programs and services to severely injured service members during the time between active duty and transition to civilian life.

If you would like to contribute, here’s the link:

http://wwpproudsupporter.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=308932&lis=1&kntae308932=3FFC9AE6A3CD4A81AA3EE1A55620C411

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Thanks in advance, and have a great weekend!

Something Wicked This Way Comes...

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 12:02:00 -0400

He’s always up to something. If you don’t read Danny Brown on a regular basis, you should. But, now there’s this. It has a feeling of mystery about it.

I don’t think you want to miss it. And he’s bringing friends:

On November 1st 2011, a new social media blog will launch. Set to counter the hyperbole of many social media stories and claims, it will be different from your normal social media blog.

With viewpoints from award-winning bloggers, as well as business and media professionals, the new blog aims to question the status quo and make you think. Ready to be entertained?

Here’s the link, and the sign-up for the Feedburner:

http://dannybrown.me/2011/10/29/something-wicked-this-way-comes/

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Do yourself a favor, DON’T miss the launch Tuesday.

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It could have been a LONG flight home.

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:43:46 -0400

It’s a cute story and a cute video with a happy ending. With much of the news of the day, seemed appropriate for a little break.

No big set-up needed, and just one point about business. Delta has been scoring some points with me lately, like when CEO Richard Anderson was on a flight a couple of weeks back from Seattle- and flew coach with us.

What did they do right this time? Nothing. Sharp flight attendants seizing an opportunity for a feel-good moment, and did exactly the right thing- stayed out of the way and just let it happen. Don’t see that often on ANY airline.

Arvin and Alex are on a flight from Chicago to NYC, he grabs the intercom to ask a question…

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Courtesy of the Happy Couple- Champagne for everyone!

But, horrors, can you imagine if she had said, “No”?

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YouTube Video: Arvin Shandiz

Wendy's: Did you KNOW your Frosty machine was broken?

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 10:53:00 -0400

A confession up front. I have always LIKED Frosty’s from Wendy’s.

Willing to overlook the fact that Wendy’s takes 14 ingredients to do what others do with milk, ice cream and flavoring of some ilk.

So that I GUARANTEE that today’s post offers some educational value, here is what is in a Frosty:

Medium Frosty™
Milk, Cream, Sugar, Corn Syrup, Cocoa (processed with alkali), Guar Gum, Mono and Diglycerides, Cellulose Gum, Dextrose, Carrageenan, Calcium Sulfate, Disodium Phosphate, Artificial and Natural Flavor, Vitamin A Palmitate. CONTAINS: MILK

.http://www.wendys.com/food/Nutrition.jsp PHOTO: consumerist.com

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There, now the actual information value is out of the way, on with the story. But please note that a Frosty SHOULD come in a yellow cup and is thick enough to stand a spoon up in. Even though it now answers to the name, “Classic”.

Yesterday, I was playing nurse to Jeanette as she had a little oral surgery. On the way home, thought I’d swing in to get her something a little cold to make her feel better. What the heck, I hadn’t had one in forever, so I ordered a Frosty treat for myself while we were there. Make me feel better, too.

OK, make it a LARGE.

THIS is what I got.

Now does THAT look like the delectable gathering of 14 ingredients pictured above? The one I expected?

The marketing folks at Wendy’s have branched out with something like 4,000 fru-fru new choices to add variety to the Frosty offering. That’s fine. But those are just pretenders to the throne. That’s not what I ordered, I ordered the “Classic”. As it should be.

When I am handed this pretender, I pointed out that I had ordered the “Classic”, fully expecting that just a simple mistake had been made. Surely it would be corrected.

ME: “Excuse me, I ordered the classic.”

THE WINDOW: “Our Frosty machine is broken. We are just putting vanilla mix in the cups and adding some chocolate instead. Trust me, it’ll taste the same”.

WHAAAATTTT? You didn’t know this when I ordered 20 seconds ago? Is this the treatment the “Frosty Posse” would expect to get?

I don’t THINK so.

Now, I realize that this is just one franchise. One person’s decision that “close enough” was good enough. I am sure substituting vanilla mix, tossing in chocolate flavoring and barely mixing the two is NOT corporate policy.

I also realize that we’re talking $2 that I ended up throwing down the sink.

But for years, Wendy’s has spent a bundle creating the Brand differentiation the Frosty offers from the other burger joints. Everybody can do a shake, only one can do a Frosty. You are NOT going to dip your fries into a shake from McDonald’s. Sacrilege!

PHOTO:dosomething.org

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But isn’t this what has happened to much of the “Customer Service” industry of today? “Close Enough” is good enough? Education, training, communication…lather, rinse, repeat. Who really does this kind of consumer experience heavy lifting anymore?

I am sure that graduates from Wendy’s University are NOT trained to act this way.

One experience, one consumer, what does it really matter?

But it doesn’t take too many pretenders in the ranks- poorly understanding your corporate values- to soon make your company a pretender in the consumer mindset, too.

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I tried to explain why you would do: "The Twitter"

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:05:00 -0400

Maybe you have had this experience.

Around the office watercooler today a conversation came up. Someone mentioned seeing the grandkids’ pictures on Facebook, then the conversation switched over to business uses of LinkedIn (OK, someone ELSE was looking for work, don’t rat them out).

Then, someone, knowing that I was, said, “aren’t you on ‘The Twitter’?”

After a little pause, I knew what was expected. An explanation. The answer to the REAL question, which was “why would you do THAT?!”

A quick decision was needed.

I needed to choose between a serious answer talking about the search functionality, the building of community, the links to content that start true conversations…

…and the reality that any and all of these choices would simply glaze over the eyes of the questioner, or cue deer-in-the-headlight syndrome.

Still waiting was the questioner. No doubt the addictive nature of the fast-paced 140-character conversation would be lost in the conversation.

Then, it happened. I realized that the questioner already knew what the answer back, at least from him, would be. No matter what I said, the retort would be:

“And WHY would you want to do THAT!”

So, you ask, what DID I say to wittily inform him? When, if you’re honest, the incredulous response is really pretty bulletproof?

I told him what I always say to those that say it is “stupid”, that all people talk about is their breakfast, or complain where nobody is listening. The reality is that people ENJOY the content, or they wouldn’t be there in the first place. It’s not for everybody, just like all the content is not for all the people, or all the time.

But that’s the real beauty of the channel. You take out of it what you want, when you want. You put into it whatever you want, whenever.

Then, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

fanboosting.com, Duane Hoffmann / msnbc.com, carrotcreative

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Verizon and Sprint iPhones Running on Best Network of 2006

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:24:00 -0400

This one may be a little hard to swallow for the AT&T haters. If you have a bad AT&T signal now, it doesn’t matter if you have tin cans and string, you’ll have a bad AT&T signal tomorrow. But if you have a GOOD AT&T signal, you will have the best 4S performance. Best article I saw today sorting it out, this one, from PCMag.com:

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AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon are all getting the iPhone 4S soon soon, but AT&T is getting the best one.

That’s because AT&T’s network supports iPhone 4S features that Sprint and Verizon don’t. AT&T’s phone will let iPhone owners surf the Internet much faster, and talk and surf at the same time. It’s looking like Sprint and Verizon will be stuck in the slow lane.

Here’s why. AT&T’s iPhone runs on HSPA 14.4. That isn’t the fastest wireless Internet network out there by far, but it’s faster than the EV-DO Rev. A that Sprint and Verizon are stuck with.

We’ve reviewed a bunch of HSPA 14.4 phones, as well as testing AT&T’s network in our annual Fastest Mobile Networks feature. The iPhone 4S should get similar speeds to the dual-core, HSPA 14.4 LG Thrillphone. In our experience, with good network conditions, that’s 3-4Mbps down.

But Sprint’s and Verizon’s phones will run on slower EV-DO Rev. A networks. We tested those networks extensively earlier this year and found that Verizon’s 3G network averaged 700kbps down, with peaks of 2.5Mbps; Sprint’s only eked out 480kbps on average, with peaks of 2.22Mbps.

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AT&T’s network also permits you to talk and use the Internet at the same time. The other two networks probably won’t. (There’s an extension to EV-DO called SV-DO which allows simultaneous talking and surfing—Verizon’s HTC Thunderbolt has it—but the iPhone 4S, as far as we know at the moment, doesn’t have it.)

Sprint and Verizon have answers to these problems, of course: 4G. Sprint’s 4G WiMAX system covers more than 120 million Americans. Verizon’s 4G LTE covers more than 160 million, and it’s super-fast. But the iPhone 4S doesn’t support either of those networks. As far as Sprint and Verizon are concerned, the iPhone is running on the fastest network of 2006.

Now, I can hear the howls of protest from AT&T haters. None of this will change your experience if you have trouble receiving AT&T signals. None of what I’m saying has any bearing on voice calls. And Sprint hasn’t released its iPhone service plans yet—they may be cheaper than AT&T’s, or include unlimited data. We just don’t know.

But if you’re looking for the fastest iPhone and you have decent AT&T coverage, AT&T’s model will be the one to go with. It’s just a simple technological fact.

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Original Article:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2394144,00.asp#fbid=pPs_yFkq9kf

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Verizon and Sprint iPhones Running on Best Network of 2006

View SlideshowSee all (23) slides

View Slideshow See all (23) slides