Everyday PR

QB Trent Edwards of the Buffalo Bills apparently passed an IQ test.

• All quarterbacks drafted into the NFL must take an IQ test to determine the level of intelligence as the pro game requires so much more cognitive ability.
• The success of the Veg-O-Matic was due to several things: the product was the star, the product was completely transparent, and it could be explained in less than two minutes.
• From the 1950s to 1970s, the percentage of women who colored their hair went from 7 to 40 percent.  Thanks, Clairol.
• The commercialization of Mt. Everest has resulted in climbing fees of $70,000 per person.
• To succeed in mountain climbing, you must be exceedingly driven; but if you’re too driven, you’re likely to die.  Thus, the slopes of Mt. Everest are littered with corpses.
• Unlike most all other animals, dogs are students of human behavior.
• An obvious, but often forgotten, point is that what’s clear in hindsight is rarely clear before the fact.
• Following the U.S. bombing of Hiroshima in 1945, the Japanese government did not readily use the word “survivor” for those who lived through the event.  Instead, they were called “he bo cushu”, which means “explosion affected persons”.
• Indicative of the Japanese culture of politeness, a pack of cigarettes in the 1940s had “Let’s be careful not to smoke too much as to affect our health” printed on it.
• Only the middle class and middle-class wannabes seem to fret about which fork to use; working class folks just don’t know; and seriously loaded people just don’t care.
• Being class mobile means you’re rejecting at least some part of your past; otherwise, you would have stayed.
• Being best at something isn’t necessarily how you’re judged in the business world; it’s more important to fit in, get along and play the game.
• The days you thought you were done with are never done with you.

What are you reading this summer?

When I was growing up, we would eat dinner promptly at 6 p.m. watching Walter Cronkite tell us that’s the way it was.  Not uttering a word, my Dad would often shake his head left to right which was code for “the world’s going to hell in a handbasket.” 

Now I know what that head-shaking, eyes-on-the-plate, pass-the-gravy glare to my Mom feels like.  Today’s headlines are horrible.  Lies, wars and corruption in the first news block followed by special reports on all things bad about real estate, the economy and the stock market.  What little time that’s left for any positive news at the end of the broadcast is summarily overshadowed by the previous 25 minutes of death and destruction.  As I’ve previously explained, that’s because if it bleeds, it leads.  Maybe it’s because I just read Anderson Cooper’s Dispatches from the Edge book (well written, but troubling accounts of Rwanda, Katrina and Iraq) or it could be that I’m listening to Game Change about the 2008 presidential election (this is just self-induced depression about political campaigns). The point is that I’ve practically metamorphosized into my Dad around the dinner/evening news hour. 

So what to do? 

1)  Start a new type of newscast/daily publication/Internet stories called The Good Time Channel.  Maybe if the media covered more positive news that actually enhances our quality of life, some of the shrill makers wanting coverage for the sake of coverage would diminish.  Sort of a “starve the idiot, feed the reporter” approach.

2)  Base the next season of Survivor (disclosure: I’ve never seen the show) on media reps from the networks, dailies, tabloids, wire services, etc.  Let them fight it out via worm-eating contests and bug-ridden islands.  Last person living gets to be the single source of news until the next season.

3)  Change the channel.  Thank goodness for TV Land, HGTV and The History Channel.  Instead of punishing yourself by watching the news at the end of a typically hard day at work, reward yourself with an episode of Andy Griffith, House Hunters or American Pickers. 

Am I the only one who’s being negatively impacted by today’s headlines?

As reflected in my first post on this topic, reading expands your vocabulary and gives you new insights, among countless other benefits. I discovered the following from recent reads including Mere Christianity, The Zookeepers Wife and Holding Her Head High.  CAUTION: I  read mostly history and non-fiction.

Who knew flamingos had ankles?

• Flamingos look like they have backward facing knees, but those are actually their ankles. Their knees are higher and hidden by feathers.
• In the 1400s, anyone who harmed beehives were condemned to death as bees were revered as God’s servants providing honey for the table and candles for churches.
• A 2006 DNA study track Ashkenazi Jews (92% of the world’s Jews in 1931) back to four women who migrated from the Near East to Italy in the second and third centuries.
• According to legend, when Saint John was beheaded, his head rolled into a patch of plants, giving the herb superstitious powers/belief to ward off evil, hence St. John’s Wort.
• Lice caused the death of more soldiers from Napoleon’s army and the American Civil War than death from the battlefields.
• On April 19,1943, the first day of Passover, Heinrich Himmler vowed to kill the remaining Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto as a birthday gift to Adolf Hitler.
• Penicillin was discovered in 1941 from a moldy canteloupe in Peoria, IL.
• Polish folklore says that if a pregnant woman craves sweets, she’s having a girl; if she’s craving something sour, she’s having a boy.
• A Burmese man invented a hopping stick for his daughter to use to jump over puddles on the way to school. His daughter’s name was Pogo.
• Living in pre-Civil War days, slave Harriet Jacobs was born a victim, but she died a victor.
• Hillary Clinton was not the first women nominated to be President. The first woman was 53-year-old Belva Lockwood nominated in 1884 for the Office of the President of the United States on the Equal Rights Party ticket.
• Constantine (the first Christian ruler of Rome and namesake to Constantinople) was born to Helena, an impoverished single woman.  At 80 years old, she became the first person to go on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where she is credited with discovering Golgotha, the site of Christ’s crucifiction. 
• Rachel Lavein Fawcett, a young, intelligent 16-year-old widow living on the island of St. Croix, is the mother of Alexander Hamilton, a great founding father of America, one of this country’s first lawyers and loyal confidante to George Washington.

What have you learned from reading lately?

In our society where moral standards continually hit a new low, I find someone like  Tim Tebow to be refreshing and comforting. When I heard he was going to speak at a fundraiser for David Lipscomb University, BFF Valerie and I rushed to buy tickets.  The event not only exceeded expectations, but gave me greater hope for the next generation.

This Bible verse resulted in 93 million Google searches within 24 hours.

First, the guy is huge.  He dwarfed the cadre of armed police officers surrounding him as he walked on stage.  Second, he is so comfortable in his own skin – I know adults two and three times his age who still aren’t there.  Finally, he is a man of conviction.  Regardless of your religious beliefs, you can’t help but admire that unusual trait.  During his 30-minute talk, Tim outlined his three keys to a life of excellence.

1)   Have the power to stand for something. While Tebow didn’t mentioned the NCAA’s new rule regarding eye black, he did cite the power of his convictions in college football.  Typically sporting Phil.4:13 as his eye black message,  he decided to change the scripture to John 3:16  for a particularly critical showdown.   According to Google, 93 million people had search the verse within 24 hours of seeing Tebow being interviewed following the Gators win.   

2)   Live your life with passion. Love what you do; hang out with like-minded people who are passionate and enthusiastic about life.  Passion can be both contagious and life changing.  If you need inspiration, study William Wallace’s character in Braveheart like Tebow and his father did.

3)   Finish strong. The best way to finish your life strong is to invest in other people’s lives. That’s how you matter; that’s how you make a difference; that’s how you live a life of excellence.

Tebow pointed out the only four eternal things in this life: God, His Word, people and heavenly rewards.  May God continue to richly bless and protect this man of faith and leadership.

As an avid reader and a professional public relations counselor, I highly recommend reading to improve your writing.  As reflected in my first post on this topic, reading expands your vocabulary and gives you new insights, among countless other benefits. I discovered the following from this winter’s reading, which included Can We Do That?!, The Seamstress, Inside the Revolution to Dominate the Middle East and Called to Greatness.  CAUTION: I believe in the “garbage in, garbage out” philosophy so I read mostly history and non-fiction.

1.         Former Muslim PLO sniper and anti-Semitic  Tass Saada became an evangelical Christian after moving to the U.S. and now serves as a peacemaker in the Gaza Strip.

2.        Think differently.  Normal people often get ignored.  Be a bit above normal.

3.         One major hit does not retirement make.

4.         Hitler ordered German auto makers to produce a cheap people’s car called the People’s Car, aka the Volkswagen.  

5.         Immunity can be deadly, especially the spiritual kind.

6.         Originally from the French word, homme d’armes, gendarme refers to members of a uniform police force.

7.         Budapest has the highest number of Jewish citizens per capita of any European city.

8.         ALWAYS confirm what your client tells you.

9.         Crises, by nature, are pretty darn disrespectful.

10.       The creature doesn’t tell the Creator what to do – it’s the other way around.

What have you learned from reading lately?

Only 12 percent of people actually acheive their New Year’s resolution, that annual commitment people make to typically improve something about themselves. Loose weight, exercise more, save money, quit this, start that – these top resolutions are all in the name of making our external bodies better.

I’m all about maintaining a healthy lifestyle (I actually eat brussel sprouts), but here’s a thought:  Instead of primarily focusing on our physical bodies, how about resolving to change something internally? Instead or in conjunction with trying to eat better, try to treat others like you want to be treated.  Want to move your body more?  Volunteer to help someone in need of some household chores.  Need to quit a bad habit?  Replace it with a good one like compassion.  

Let’s face it – 2009 won’t go down as the best year for many of us.  And considering the lackluster success rate of New Year’s resolutions, it’s time for an internal focus. Let’s start 2010 off with resolving to change something that matters – ourselves.  Personally, I’m resolving not to be so quick to judge.  What do you want to internally change about yourself?

Besides costumed children coming to your door for candy, what is the point of Halloween? I know the holiday is rooted in tradition, superstition and, of course, retail.  But seriously, what is the point?

Zombie has question about purpose of Halloween.

As I’ve stated in previous blogs, I don’t have or even know any children.  However, as a former child, I do remember dressing up like a ballerina for one Halloween. With that kind of benchmark, I believe this annual ritual has evolved from a harvest celebration to children oozing innocence to teens dressed like zombies.  Wouldn’t it be interesting to turn this mix of pumpkins and pimps into something beneficial and worthwhile for the community?  I’m always hearing about the need for school supplies, canned goods and clothing.  In addition or in lieu of giving out all this unhealthy candy for kids (and overserving yourself), how about “celebrating” Halloween by working with neighbors to meet a local need?  I know that idea sounds dull and unappealing to children (and maybe to parents), but so is going to school without learning materials or warm socks. And once again, what are our children learning from the current Halloween rituals?  

Finally, please don’t egg my house for my opinions.  I welcome yours – should Halloween continue as is or can we improve on it?

Today marks the eighth anniversary of 9/11.  Unlike most anniversaries, this is a sad and painful reminder of how determined radicals relentlessly pursued their mission, regardless of the human death toll.  At the same time, the day reminds us of the inner strength and innate goodness that countless people showed to help total strangers find safety and comfort.  May we never forget the victims, the families, the firefighters, the police officers, the medical staffs, the volunteers, the bystanders and all the others in NYC and DC who experienced life at its most fragile time on that tragic day.

Plate-size sunflowers. Endless rolling hills. Plentiful fruit orchards.  Not a scene from a Tuscan postcard, but a typical countryside view in Moldova, a small Eastern European country regarded as the world’s hub for human trafficking.

I recently returned from a mission trip there to Straseni Orphanage, a government-run facility that’s clearly bottom of the budgetary totem pole.  Remember the outhouse scene in “Slumdog Millionaire”?  The institution’s bathrooms were slightly above that, which explains the pungent smell of sulphur everywhere.

At the same location were the most beautiful children I’ve ever seen. I’d heard that many couples go to Eastern European countries to adopt native children as they look most like Americans.  I disagree.  Moldovan children are much prettier.

We worked with children ages 4 to 16.  The innocence of the youngest was refreshing and heartwarming.  The teachers consistently displayed their genuine concern for the orphans, and they even had a separate cook to prepare meals.  The funding must be greater for preschoolers.

The older the kids were, the less innocent they were – similar to this country, but in a different and awkward way.  Pre-teens wore provocative, albeit cheap, clothes like halter tops, tight jeans, spike heels and huge earrings.  I asked my translator about it, and she said two words: “Brittany Spears.” As if these girls didn’t have enough to worry about with kidnapping and trafficking, they think they have to emulate a Western pop star who most Americans regard as a joke.

Moldova’s beauty is best seen through its natural scenery, purity of fresh food and virtue of its youngsters. Although the country is a long way off from impacting human trafficking, I find it  sad to see how Western influences have infiltrated an otherwise traditional and beautiful environment.

Following a recent fundraising dinner in which several people were recognized for their contributions to the cause, a colleague remarked that he would never be honored for anything because he had never done anything.  Well, gee, who’s the best person to change that?

The children of Straseni Orphanage in Moldova.

I just returned from a mission trip to help orphans in Moldova, a tiny Eastern European country best known for human trafficking. The decision to go wasn’t easy.  I would be out of pocket for a week; the cost of a trip halfway around the world isn’t cheap; and I don’t even have children so how could I possibly help kids who didn’t speak English?

Several things fell into place that made the decision to go an easy one.  Among them were trip sponsors, the availability of translators, and sound advice to make sure I wouldn’t kick myself later for not going.

There aren’t many things I’d kick myself over. I could live the rest of my life without ever experiencing a jail cell or an onion-eating contest.  But do NOT make me miss an SEC football game or homemade ice cream.

I wasn’t going to miss out on the trip to Moldova either.  I wanted to do something, to make some kind of difference.  Now that I’m back, I don’t know if I’m a better person or if I had a positive affect on a child.  But I do know the children made a meaningful difference in me.  I’m so glad I’m not kicking myself.