Mom, can I read a rated R blog?

Mingle2 has created a just-for-fun tool that determines the parental rating of your blog, website, Facebook profile, etc.

Apparently my blog is rated G. Hm, good to know. The tool reports that the word "stab" is written in my blog and is of concern. Interesting...

Not that this tool can be taken very seriously; however, imagine what this could mean in the future.

Check it out.

Mingle² - Online Dating

Always Talk to Strangers

This morning I listened to a great podcast on the Forward Blog about establishing your personal brand. The podcast interviews Mitch Joel, president of Twist Image. I highly recommend this podcast because of the great advice it offers PR students and new professionals.

Mitch Joel discusses the importance of talking to strangers with no hidden agenda or specific purpose. So introduce yourself and chat with neighbors, taxi drivers, friends, co-workers, church members, professors, baristas...anyone you come in contact with! These connections can help you down the road when you need a new job or need outside assistance for a PR campaign. He advices to invest in these relationships now. (I love it!)

So forget mom's advice and start talking to strangers!

(Mitch also outlines three action items for establishing your personal brand at the end of the podcast. It's excellent advice- check it out! I'm going to give it a shot and report back later.)

Summer in Eugene

Well summer is finally here, and this is my first summer in Eugene. So far the weather has been wonderful! (It's quite a bit warmer than Olympia, Washington). Now that I've moved, started a new internship and am back from church camp, I'm back to blogging world.

This summer I am working for United Way of Lane County helping to promote 211Lane.org. In the past, information and referral (I & R) was done by poking through the phone book or or person to person contact. As of yesterday, Lane County now has it's very own online information directory. Community members now can easily FIND HELP and also GIVE HELP. It's exciting.

Need assistance with a medical bill? Want to find an after school program for your kids? Struggling to pay the electric bills? 211Lane compiles contact information for hundreds social service agencies that help OUR community.

The other half of the database compiles local volunteer opportunities. Want to give back to community? Volunteer at a soup kitchen, chat with with the elderly, care for pets? Check out all the great opportunities. Help is needed!

Breaking outside of the blogging box

Blogs can take on many different forms. They can be used for rants, a forum for specific topics, be the primary website for a group, or be a useful tool for class projects.

Here are a few examples of non-traditional blog formats:

Eugene Faith Center Middle School Group has used Blogger to create it's primary web page. The blog contains information about meeting times, upcoming events, recent videos and even brochure downloads.

What I find great about this format is that it creates dialogue between middle schoolers, adults and leaders. Viewers can leave comments about any post, which are usually upcoming events. The site is fairly new, but comments are picking up.

Recently, I used Blogger for a online geology class assignment. The professor requested a Word document with hyperlinks embedded; however, I asked if a blog would meet the assignment objectives. It was easy to supply the information about Great Sand Dunes National Park, post pictures of the geographical features and supply outside links.

Blogs are easy to use, easy to update and provide great information. Businesses, groups or individuals who are technically challenged might find blogs easier to maintain than a full web site. Anyone can do it!

These are only two creative uses of blogs out there. What other non-traditional blogs have you seen? I'd love to check them out.

Playing indoors with Barbies...online?

The New York Times recently wrote an article noting the increase of interactive web sites targeted for children. Instead of playing outside or interacting with other children, kids are staying home and playing in virtual worlds, such as BarbieGirls and Cartoon Doll Emporium.

The article discusses child advocates' concerns over the amount of advertising being displayed on these sites and the amount of time children are spending on these sites.

With the increase usage of interactive web sites, will children participate less in physical activity?

I can see how these sites appeal to children, but I can see a few negative effects. Are there benefits as well? What do you think?

Ultimately, parents have the final decision on how much time their children can spend on these websites. Children and adults a like must find a balance between virtual worlds and the "real world."

On that note, I'm going to go play outside.

I love kids, books and PR work.

Recently, I've had the opportunity to help coordinate Springfield Public School's Gift of Literacy event. Over the last few months, every first grade student was read nine books from the Gift of Literacy collection. They each chose their favorite book, and last week they were presented with that book at a day long event held at Lane Community College. Every student received their favorite book with their name inside, a reusable book bag, and a handful of educational goodies. Local celebrities read out loud to small groups of children and then every child received a free lunch. Nearly 150 volunteers and $40,000 of donations made the day possible.

It was such a rewarding experience. Seeing the children's faces was worth the time at the office and in meetings.

Here's what I learned so far from this experience:

1. Take initiative: When assigned a task, just go for it. Get the information you need from your supervisor, and then just take a stab at it. You may not always know what the supervisor is looking for, but do the work and let him or her make changes and edits.
   
2. Network like crazy: In my case, I worked with a committee of 20 rotary members, teachers and district employees. Take every chance to get to know these people before or after the committee meetings. You might just have something in common with them.
3. Not everyone likes email: Emails are not everyone's preferred method of communication. Sometimes it takes a hard copy sent via snail mail to get your message through.
4. Stay organized: When dealing with a new project, start an organizational system from the very beginning and stick with it. It is time consuming to reorganize paperwork and emails later.
5. Memorize names quickly: It's easier to ask someone for assistance if you know who you are talking to.
   
6. Be passionate: Put heart into your work and hours will fly by.

These are just a few of the things I've learned during this process. I can't wait to start planning for next year's Gift of Literacy and see the kids' excitement when they open book bag with a cool, new book inside. It's amazing.

Check out the local news coverage here and here.

PR in the Garden of Eden

I'm fascinated by the new Creation Museum that opened last week in Ohio. What an interesting idea. The museum reminds me of a Christian version of The Pacific Science Center in Seattle, Washington.

The Creation Museum "brings the bible to life" and introduces visitors to the concept of creationism, while rejecting evolution. A. Larry Ross Communications, a Christian PR firm, headed up the PR campaign. The campaign will be measured on the number of visitors to the museum. The expect to see 300,000 visitors in the first year.

The commercials are visually appealing and well done. The media campaign has a newsroom with images, press releases and backgrounders, and the museum seems to have great coverage. Even with all the PR bases covered, how will the campaign hold up against critics? Many non-Christians are sneering at the idea.

I'm thinking the controversy behind the Creation Museum will only aid news coverage and increase the number of visitors.

What do you think? Will the news coverage help or hinder the number of people who visit the museum?