Ever since we started reading Shakespeare in school - pretty early, because as I recall... Julius Caesar was one of the first plays that was hit, I've been thoroughly amused by my birth date.
I mean, it's no St. Patrick's Day, but I still appreciate the quirks of being born on the Ides of March. I'm a pretty upbeat person and appreciate the irony of being born on the day that Caesar was assassinated by a group of pissed off colleagues.
I follow @someecards on Twitter - HILARIOUS e-cards that my friend Morgan got me into when we were roommates - and found this gem of an Ides of March card:
They just think of everything, don't they?
In case you were unaware, Sunday was International Women's Day. Slate did a slideshow of famous women in the literary world. Stories of women gathering to observe the occasion (that I had no idea even existed) worldwide popped up on my Google reader all day long.
And then comes this article from The Independent about the Vatican getting in on the act.
As International Women’s Day is celebrated, the Vatican had a novel message for the women of the world: give thanks for the washing machine. This humble domestic appliance had done more for the women’s liberation movement than the contraceptive pill or working outside the home, said the the official Vatican newspaper, Osservatore Romano.
"In the 20th century, what contributed most to the emancipation of Western women?" questioned the article. "The debate is still open. Some say it was the pill, others the liberalisation of abortion, or being able to work outside the home. Others go even further: the washing machine."
Lovely! I mean, I get that the Vatican would not be any sort of proponent for the Pill. Or legalized abortion. Those are all topics that I fully believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion about...
But what about suffrage?! Or the right to equal work for equal pay - a privilege for which Alabama's own Lily Ledbetter fought all the way to the Supreme Court?
I'm uncomfortable with the word feminist because of the spectrum of different meanings it insinuates. But really - WTF? You don't have to be a feminist to find this laughable... or insulting?
Did you know that the massive U.S. economic stimulus plan has a Web site? And a logo?! I did not, until just now.
Going to have to check this out further when I am not up to my eyeballs in work projects because I am woefully under informed as far as the stimulus package goes.
Upon initial glance, though, I'm impressed with the site. I'm sure that a lot of it is pure PR, but as a PR person myself, I'm appreciating the language used on the site, timelines and graphs.
From recovery.gov:
This is your money. You have a right to know where it's going and how it's being spent. Learn what steps we're taking to ensure that you can track our progress every step of the way.
The site includes, among other things, a scrollable timeline with milestones, a place to share recovery stories, a link list of state specific recovery sites (only available in 12 states so far...), the full bill for reviewing and a message from the president.
Checking it out more thoroughly soon... What does everyone else think? Do you buy this? Are you skeptical? At this point for me, any sign of transparency and progress is better than nothing at all - and the approach taken here with an interactive Web site updated regularly is a great way to start.
I have been a negligent poster lately, mostly because I don't have a second to think about anything not work related, and when do come up for air, the last thing I want to do is spend more time on the computer.
This was too good, though. And it makes me feel better about our entire political system here in the U.S. - bank bailouts, bipartisan bickering and all.
On my way home from work yesterday, I heard this lovely piece about how Italian members of parliament were protesting a proposed fingerprint ID voting system because...
...they would actually have to be present to cast their votes. Um, SERIOUSLY?!
These guys apparently skip all the time (probably to conduct steamy affairs with Sophia Loren lookalike mistresses - in my head, anyway) and have their buddies lean over the table to hit their electronic voting button for them. Lawmakers are concerned that they will have to spend too much time in the chambers. The lawmakers. Don't want to waste their time. Casting their own (the public's?!) votes. And making laws. The lawmakers.
But they've reached a great compromise! In return for being so flexible and compliant with, oh, agreeing to complete their civic duties as lawmakers and being there for all the votes, they get an extra hour long coffee break each day! And a two hour break on Wednesdays! Gah, we all know how pesky those hump days are - they definitely call for a two hour break to make them more manageable.
So, let's not feel too badly about our politicians... It'd be interesting to see what state of affairs Italy is in right now. If they're better off than we are, perhaps we should consider coffee breaks for all!
Fingerprint voting not popular in Italy’s parliament (1:00) | PRI's The World
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I hate chalking my inherent spaciness up to hair color, but sometimes I do struggle with very simple things. In my defense, I am a ridiculously good speller and communicator, and not to shabby at analyzing literature, popular and otherwise.
Ask anyone who knows me well - it's the small stuff that trips me up. Uh, like enabling comments on the blog I've been writing for the better part of six months.
Sorry about that.
But, now, with the help of Katie (guiding me through the blondness that she too understands so well) the lines of communication are open! Comment away! Criticize my taste in home décor! Differ with my political leanings! Offer advice for my next press conference (coming up on April 23, more on that later)!
Seriously, some days I suspect I need a brain transplant. I've already posted my request for a donor on Facebook and got two offers for barely used ones...
For future reference, when Blogger offers the option to embed your comments under the post, just say "no". Because apparently "embedded comments below post" actually means "hide comment field and disallow any feedback on your blog". Pop up windows all the way from now on.
More social media musings coming soon, including Rick Liebling's Periodic Table of the Social Media Elements - the grail that will help me begin to explain all of this to my colleagues.
Among other things for work, I have been tasked with analyzing the major social media outlets and recommending which of them I feel would be a good fit for our organization, and at what level of participation.
Between Facebook, LinkedIn, Wikipedia, Digg, countless Ning communities, Twitter and the countless other outlets out there, I've come to a couple of major realizations:
- In order to remain current in social media you have to be one of two things (1) young, with time on your hands and the confidence to play with each new wave or (2) an early adopter.
- Becoming an effective early adopter of every. trend. out. there. requires time. Lots and lots of time. Like, full time.
While I am a devotee of social media (thanks initially to Robert French and a little class called Style and Design in Public Relations Messages), I do get overwhelmed. This is not my full time job. This is one aspect of a much larger job - and as the designated "social media girl" I am the only one officially charting these waters at the office for the organization.
Questions I'll work on - and pass along here - as I find answers:
- What new media outlets are the best for organizations? Specifically, non-profit, science heavy organizations? It seems to me a lot of social media (Twitter, online communities and others) are best utilized by individuals unoficially tied to an org.
- How much time out of my work day should I spend on these outlets? On which should I concentrate most of that time?
- Other than reading Mashable and Twitter... and about 500 marcom pro's blogs religiously, is there a good, consistent way to stay current with the latest technologies?
Staying current is key, and I am aware of this - but I also want to tailor these outlets to work for me (as an individual) and more importantly, for my organization. Any ideas or suggestions for a new approach? I'm overwhelmed!
...
Oh yeah - and I think I'm quitting Facebook soon -
TIME Magazine on Why Facebook Is for Old Fogies
My favorite is number three:
3. We never get drunk at parties and get photographed holding beer bottles in suggestive positions. We wish we still did that. But we don't. (See pictures of Beer Country in Denver.)
Funny, while I'm slightly irked about the fogies overrunning Facebook, I am envious that they (aside from the occasional, unphotographed, indescresion) have outgrown this phase. I have not.
Enjoy!
And, if you have some pointers for me about the former, please help!
Photo from the mentioned Time article.
How fitting that the Pantone color for 2009 is mimosa, a bright, yellow-y color reminiscent of a favored brunch refreshment?
Yellow signifies hope (sunshine, rays of light) and change (the changing of seasons - daffodils in the spring; fiery leaves in autumn). According to the Pantone Color Institute's official Color of the Year release, "Mimosa embodies hopefulness and reassurance in a climate of change."
Pantone Color Institute, I appreciate what you're trying to do for us with the pick-me-up color, I really do. It's a noble effort to do your part to ensure sunny skies in 09. And I like the color.
But this is particularly painful for me at the moment because without the home décor Bible, I have no inspiration for decorating with this vibrant yellow! And, with the economy in the state that it is, I'm afraid to spend to much dough on buying new mimosa-themed ensembles for work because I might not have a job by year's end!
So, Pantone, thank you for the effort - really. But I'm just not emotionally ready to embrace the 2009 Color of the Year. Quite frankly, I'm in more of a thundercloud gray mood, myself. Or at most, pea soup green.
I will perk up soon. I just need to finish mourning for my favorite monthly and recover from my exhorbitant speeding fines that I paid for last week.
Another pay period, another day. I will find another magazine or store to inspire me... (Helloooo, CB2! At least I still have you.) And I will carry on as my usually sunny (although really more preferential to Process Blue) self. And I think I could thoroughly enjoy a mimosa accessory or two (love that pillow).
For now, however, I just need a drink. Mimosas, anyone?
They just think of everything, don't they?
In case you were unaware, Sunday was International Women's Day. Slate did a slideshow of famous women in the literary world. Stories of women gathering to observe the occasion (that I had no idea even existed) worldwide popped up on my Google reader all day long.
Did you know that the massive U.S. economic stimulus plan has a Web site? And a logo?! I did not, until just now.
...they would actually have to be present to cast their votes. Um, SERIOUSLY?!
I hate chalking my inherent spaciness up to hair color, but sometimes I do struggle with very simple things. In my defense, I am a ridiculously good speller and communicator, and not to shabby at analyzing literature, popular and otherwise.
Oh yeah - and I think I'm quitting Facebook soon -
How fitting that the Pantone color for 2009 is mimosa, a bright, yellow-y color reminiscent of a favored brunch refreshment?
I will perk up soon. I just need to finish mourning for my favorite monthly and recover from my exhorbitant speeding fines that I paid for last week.