Returning after a Long Absence: Paying it Forward with Social Media

Obviously, I've been quite neglectful of this particular blog. I haven't posted here in over a year. The only reason I even thought to stick my head behind this curtain is because someone commented on a post I'd written regarding whether or not social media can turn you into a victim. I'm sure the commenter (who, by the way, appreciated the post) was simply doing a basic search on social media and various topics and happened to stumble upon my post. Cool, that's how the how game is supposed to work, isn't it? A post from long ago can resurface and get comments today. I love these inter-webs. They just might catch on.

I'm posting an article, I wrote for a magazine late last year, regarding using social media in connection with charity work and giving to others. However, I need to preface it by saying that Elizabeth Fallon, the person about whom it is most heavily written, passed away in January 2011.

Paying it Forward with Social Media

I’ve been so busy talking about what Social Media can do for your business that I’ve bypassed an opportunity to talk about something even more important than money. Fortunately, the story of Elizabeth Fallon reminded me that when it comes to Social Media, giving to others, giving to our communities and just plain GIVING are easier than ever. All it takes is the click of a mouse or the tap of a mobile phone, and suddenly, you’re paying it forward.

Elizabeth Fallon is a breast cancer survivor from Wales in the UK. (She now lives just outside of Portsmouth.) This young lady has the brightest smile and friendliest voice I’ve ever heard in someone who has every right to not smile or sound happy. Naturally, she has an adorable British accent, a chipper personality, and she’s just filled with hopeful light.

I met Liz at a friend’s birthday party a few weeks ago. She was here in the US visiting a childhood friend of hers who lives in Virginia. She also was able to take advantage of the opportunity to finally meet in person, her friends from Facebook.

Liz had become friends on Facebook with a woman (also named Wendy) who saw a picture that Liz had taken of herself in a silly-but-cute magenta (some call it purple) colored wig. Apparently, Wendy had been searching for a friend with a similar name and she saw Liz then noticed that she was a cancer survivor…like herself. See, Wendy had battled and beat lung cancer, so she reached out to Liz and said hello, and a friendship was forged. From this friendship, Wendy’s son Scott friended Liz, then Mike Gibbons “the button guy” also became Liz’s friend. This is how Social Media works, it’s a web that connects people to one another, and that’s what happened here. When Mike read about Liz’s second fight with breast cancer, he was “saddened and inspired” by her story. So when Scott came up with the idea to cheer Liz up with some buttons of her face in that magenta wig, Mike was on board. Wendy helped get the Buttons of Hope to Liz and now, they’ve gone viral.

At first, Liz thought she would sell the buttons to family and friends and raise a couple of hundred pounds for the local cancer support center. Within months, she was astonished to find that she had raised over £2,500 (over $3,000), and her amazement didn’t stop there. The positive energy that she got from the people who kept passing along the buttons helped to lift her spirits, and the darkness that had returned with her second diagnosis of breast cancer slipped away. She recorded a thank you to Mike for the Buttons of Hope, and her short video has become a beacon reminding us all “how powerful small things can be.”

People started posting their pictures on Liz’s Facebook page with the buttons as they literally traveled across the globe. Celebrities have had their photographs taken with Liz’s button; billionaire entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, Olympian Triple Jumper Jonathan Edwards and Theresa May the Homeland Secretary of England, are just a few who have had their picture taken with the button. I have a package of buttons on their way to an auction for the Ronnie James Dio cancer fund to be worn by several rock bands from the ‘80’s and today. Buttons of Hope have made their way to Mount Kilimanjaro, Las Vegas, the Carolinas, Spain, Australia, and many more places. In fact, when Liz got on the plane to make her trip across the Atlantic, all of the flight crew and the 300+ passengers were wearing them! The buttons are still on the go!
When it comes to “paying it forward”, everyone who posts pictures with the buttons to Facebook is doing their part in passing along Liz’s story. Buttons of Hope offer more than decoration; the buttons have helped inspire cancer victims and their loved ones, because they point the way to Liz. Elizabeth Fallon is such a bright character and her energy is contagious; she truly lights the way for those who are in the darkness of their fight with cancer.

January 17, 2011 - I am deeply saddened to share the news that Elizabeth Fallon passed into the brightest of lights this past weekend. She is missed and remembered with the deepest of love by those had and had not met her.

Wendy D. Wells is President of WD Wells Writing and Editing, LLC
She is a Charlotte, NC based, Telecommuting Copywriter, Professional Blogger and Editor.
wwells@wendywellswrites.com
Follow her on Twitter! @WendyWells

Company Shame

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Aren't they ashamed of themselves? Yahoo plans to announce a $100M marketing campaign Tuesday morning. (September 22, 2009.) They just went through another huge round of layoffs in April and now they have this kind of money to spend on marketing?

In a time when most Americans are terrified of whether or not they'll be able to pay for the roof over their head for another month, put enough gas in their car to make it to a job interview, or afford their medications…Yahoo is shelling out hundreds of millions of dollars for what? To remind us that they exist? Have you forgotten to Yahoo lately? I haven't.

Maybe if we all give them a quick click, they'll realize we haven't overlooked them and they'll do something more remarkable, like announce they are hiring back their laid off workers. Honestly, Yahoo, you don't need to spend so much money on marketing…we know you're just a click away…

Right now, many Americans are on Yahoo and other search engines looking for jobs and cheaper housing. I know that I often waste hours of time on their virtually useless "Monster" career site where so many invitations are awaiting my investment to make me rich.

In fact, Yahoo…if you want to invest your money in a better marketing campaign for yourself, clean up your job search site. Get some legitimate businesses on their who are REALLY looking for workers. Sift through and get rid of all of the work-from-home scams that clutter the site and give those of us who are trying to find a job a fighting chance.

A $100M marketing campaign after all of the layoffs you had earlier this year? You should be ashamed of yourselves.

Where is Our Civility Going?

Our nation needs its mouth washed out with soap, and certain individuals should be made to stand in the corner. Insolent, childish behavior has put us in the spotlight showcasing our lack of civility toward one another.

Recently, the worst breach of civil conduct came from James Wilson, the Senator from South Carolina. By shouting the words, "You lie!" at our President during his address, Senator Wilson disgraced his constituents, his family, his party, and his country. Anyone who is not ashamed, does not realize the magnitude of what he did. It was the mockery heard round the world. Even though a few people interviewed in South Carolina's capitol city, Columbia were supportive of his actions, Wilson's behavior has been seen as deplorable to every other country on the globe. The reaction of citizens of other nations are overwhelmingly against his behavior, and consider his outburst beyond disrespectful. Only children and those who suffer from turrets are excused from not being able to contain their explosive vocalizations. From what I can tell, Senator Wilson is neither.

Days later, at the MTV video awards show, Kanye West jumped on stage, took the microphone out of Taylor Swift's hands as she was making her acceptance speech for winning best female video. He completely ruined her moment in the spotlight as she was saying that she was a country singer, so she was grateful to win. Kanye practically said that she didn't deserve the award by saying that Beyonce's video was one of the best of all time. Taylor was frozen, microphone and Moonman award in hand, her chance to shine tarnished. The next night, Kanye went silent when Jay Leno asked what West's late mother would have thought of his behavior toward Swift. He never really did answer the question. Surely, Kanye knows where ever his mother is, she's frowning in disappointment, shaking her head, "this is not how I raised my boy."

Once again, our President was disrespected when his trust in journalists was broken as an off the record comment made its way to Twitter. Terry Moran of ABC posted President Obama's opinion of Kanye West's behavior, even though Mr. Obama specifically asked those within earshot to "cut the President some slack." In other words, keep the remark out of the public stream. Instead, Terry Moran childishly passed along a secret to make himself look like the big man on campus. Or was he being a tattle-tail? Regardless of whether or not the moment was one of, "look at me!" or, "ooh, I'm telling!", his actions were far below the standard of what a respected news organization, such as ABC, should hold its reporters up to.

Then, Serena Williams, who lost the U.S. Open semifinal threatened a line judge with bodily harm after the judge made a foot fault call on Williams. Now, Williams didn't say just one little, flippant threat; she described in colorful detail how she would use a tennis ball to kill the line judge. Serena acted like a typical playground bully, who wasn't getting her way. She took what used to be one of the most civilized, "gentlemen's games" and turned it into back alley brawl.

What we need is a good old fashioned dose of Ozzy and Harriett, Ward and June Cleaver, and Father Knows Best. Manners were taught at home because they were exhibited at home. Parents said, "good morning" to one another and their children. The word, "please" always accompanied the request of a favor, "thank you" was the immediate response when the favor was granted, and "you're welcome" was replied in return.

Yes, these were idyllic lives on TV, but when you watch these old shows, don't they seem to express a sense of good will toward one another that we are lacking today? These were the post-war years, our nation was prospering, and perhaps like in the days following 9/11, we were more aware of how fragile life truly is. Maybe after all of the death and destruction that World War II had caused, hurting someone's feelings was just as damaging as physically hurting them. It still is, yet somehow we've forgotten that.

We have so many tools for Social Media and ways of keeping each other connected, but we're standing further apart than ever before. Kanye West was right beside Taylor Swift the other night when he took the microphone from her hands, yet he was miles away – in his own world, where only he matters and he is King. However, it's got to be a very lonely place. His mother can't join him there, he is booed as he walks the streets, and still he doesn't understand the power of the words, "I'm sorry." He won't energize them and make them real…he says the words, then backs up his original actions as if he were right to do what he did. Tim McGraw used the Kanye West moment as a lesson for his daughters to learn how not to behave. How many other parents did that?

Senator Wilson says the President has accepted his "I'm sorry" over the phone, but refuses to publicly verbalize an apology to the House. There are more than just the President he insulted. How about apologizing to the American people? He has embarrassed us across the world and now, by his refusal to apologize publicly, he's only showing his lack of remorse. He is a petulant, stubborn child with his fingers tied behind his back as he makes an apology over the phone to a voice on the other end. Wilson says it's time to move on, yet he's still wasting our time by making us all wait for sincerity I sincerely doubt he has. Former President Carter is probably right, Senator Wilson thinks the matter is beneath him.

Then we have Serena Williams saying she won't change the way she is. She assures her fans that she will remain "passionate" and still plans to argue as she plays her game. Why can't she set a better example instead by saying she plans to act like a lady and give the word Diva a more refined nuance?

From what I can tell, Terry Moran is business as usual since ABC deleted, or had him delete his tweet about President Obama's Kanye West comment. I suppose ABC didn't see reason to reprimand the reporter too harshly for the breach of journalistic integrity. One almost might see that as an oxymoron in today's society. Are there any rules of journalistic integrity anymore? Do true ethics and integrity exist anywhere? If so, name the field. I'm curious.

How do we find our way back to civility and better will toward one another? Is there a way to return the shock value to words like, "bitch" and "whore"? Can purity and chastity back pedal to our teens and cover their midriffs and make them pull up their pants? Will it ever be cool for teens to destroy CDs that don't stand up to proper values? (Think back to when the Beatles' records were burned.) If we can't create a false idyllic time like the days of the post WWII TV shows, where is our civility headed?

Parents are the only ones who can truly impress upon their children the difference between good behavior and bad. As adults, we have to monitor one another. Letting Kanye West know we won't tolerate his infraction against Taylor Swift can take place simply by not buying his CDs, downloading his music, or attending his shows. Congress has already passed a resolution rebuking Joe Wilson's behavior and Serena Williams was fined a large amount of money. You can tell Terry Moran directly that you don't approve of what he did by reaching him on Twitter (@TerryMoran). In fact, speak out against all of these examples of bad behavior on blogs, twitter, etc. and state that you're against what they did.

We have to be the ones acting like adults with the bar of soap in hand and one finger pointing to a corner. Otherwise, we are losing our battle against bad manners. Our civility is being lost to rudeness, ill will toward one another, and an overwhelming sense of nihilism.

Manchester United News

Checking in with our lads at Old Trafford today, Wayne Rooney has set a goal for his goals this season. He wants to beat his 20 nets from last season, especially since everyone is looking to him to earn the majority of them since Cristiano Ronaldo's departure.
Over the last two seasons, Ronaldo scored 68 goals for the team, which equals out to 30% of the team's overall total goals. That leaves a huge gap of goals to be made up. Between Michael Owen, Dimitar Berbatov, Federico Macheda, and others that have already been scoring in preseason, as long as they can keep up and step up their streaks…the team should be able to fill that gap.
Wayne told ManUtd.com, "There are a lot of great players in our team and we know if we all work together then we’re capable of achieving great things."
The team is on their way to Munich for the Audi cup where they will play Boca Juniors and Bayern Munich or AC Milan.
Rooney said, "You want more difficult games as pre-season progresses and I think the matches in Germany will be a really good test for the team. We're still a couple of games off peak performance and from a personal point of view there's still a bit of work to do."
Rooney might be referring to his missed attempts at finding the back of the net during the second half of the second Malaysia game. He was trying very hard to score but it just wasn't meant to be. Otherwise, on this Asian friendly tour, he's really been scoring very well…just like we know he can.
Rio Ferdinand had high praise for Jonny Evans as the defender stayed on at Old Trafford even after receiving offers from Sunderland, where he most likely would have had more guaranteed time on the pitch. Some advice from Ferdinand could have helped him stick to his guns and keep the red jersey on his back.
"He's a fantastic young player," Rio Ferdinand told the Press Association. "For centre-halves it's always difficult to see the best of them at early ages. There's always a chance of them making mistakes but Jonny keeps that to a minimum."
"I spoke to him in pre-season last year in South Africa," Rio said. "He was at a stage where he wanted to play every week. He'd been doing that the season before at Sunderland and he didn't want to come back and play for the Reserves again. He wanted to play first-team football.
"It's the same argument for any young player: Do you want to go and play for mid-table team or do you want to be in the squad of a team where you're going to get chances to play in a title-winning or European Cup-winning team?
"When you look at it like that it's a bit of a no-brainer. The manager didn't want to let him go anyway, but I think Jonny came round to thinking that it was better to be a part of the squad and play when the opportunities came."

He's Bringing Seven Back...

So Michael Owen has been handed number seven. Ok, that's a surprise. I love Michael Owen. We all know I've been a huge supporter of his and I will continue to be so long as he doesn't let me down. But number seven? Wow…Sir Alex is either expecting greatness from him, or we're all placing too much importance on the jersey. I'm thinking it's probably both. I have faith Michael Owen is going to deliver AND I think we're placing too much importance on the number.
George Best wore number seven. We all know the saying, "Maradona good, Pele` better, George Best." 'Nuff said.
Eric Cantona wore the jersey. King Eric won back to back titles, player of the year, and who could ever forget that notorious kick?
David Beckham was number seven for a long time. Part of Manchester United's Treble, European Footballer of the Year and FIFA World Player of the Year. One of the most famous number seven's for Manchester United thanks to great publicity and fantastic management. If he retires from the game, he'll have modeling and cologne to fall back on.
Most recently, Cristiano Ronaldo wore the jersey. He had a record setting season in 07/08 with 42 goals. That's now ingrained in Old Trafford's history as legendary.
In between George Best and Eric Cantona, Bryan Robson wore the jersey. "Captain Marvel" was the longest reigning captain in Old Trafford's history. He's back at the club today as an ambassador. I can't help but think he must have had some sort of say in giving his blessing for Michael Owen to take the threads this time around. Would Sir Alex Ferguson has consulted Bryan Robson regarding the number? Some of us thought perhaps there would be a switch off similar to what Beckham did when Teddy Sheringham took the number ten and he took number seven. We were thinking that perhaps Rooney would give his number ten jersey to a new, incoming player and then be handed number seven.
What if we're all just making too big of a deal out of the jersey? Maybe we shouldn't be putting so much stock into the number or the shirt and just consider the man inside the clothes. What's important is how they play the game when they wear the colors no matter what number they are. Their behavior off the pitch is important, too. Representing the club with dignity and class will go a long way. Other number sevens have had trouble off the pitch with that. Think of what killed Best, his alcoholism. Cantona's temper wasn't even off the pitch when he kicked the fan and caused a commotion. Michael Owen is a solid family man and he has style. He'll be able to make Manchester United look good off the field and when he's on it, I firmly believe there are better days ahead for him.
I've said it before and I'm saying it again, I'm not writing this man off. He has had injuries but they all have. Some of his unfortunately, have come close together.
Maybe by giving Michael Owen number seven, Sir Alex is making a promise to the fans that he also knows this player has better days ahead. SAF has that ability to spot and cultivate talent, why shouldn't we believe he can do it in a man beyond his twenties?
Let's get over our initial shock at Owen's being handed the shirt and stop looking back at who's had it before him. Why don't we try looking ahead to what he can do for our team? Have faith in Sir Alex's decisions and give Michael Owen our support. He's part of our team now, he is Manchester United.

This post appears in one of the blogs for which I am paid to write.

Torchwood: Children of Earth ~ The Finale

The miniseries wrap up of Torchwood: Children of Earth was certainly worth the wait! The four nights prior did a great job of building up suspense and sympathy for the characters. The storylines were shocking at times and the parallels to our own modern day dilemmas could not go unnoticed.
When the aliens were demanding that a tenth of the world's population of children be surrendered to them, or they would wipe out our entire species, the leaders involved in the negotiations had to make a choice as to how they could select which one tenth of the population would go. Then, they would have to come up with a story line that the public would believe. Supposedly, children would be collected for inoculations, when they would really be collected and handed over to the aliens. The brash eliteness of the situation came to a full head when one of the women in the leadership summit admitted that no one was going to send in the children who one day would become doctors and judges but instead, they needed to send in the kids that were already on the path to prison. She said that placement tests are exactly for that reason, aren't they? Take the lowest ten percent of the test scores and send them to the aliens. The admission of such elitism was so shocking and yet, so true. And in this case completely excusable because the situation is one of fantasy and science fiction.
The senselessness of having to sacrifice so many lives was beginning to wear on everyone, especially on John Frobrischer, the civil servant who had been working hardest at devising plans, negotiating with the aliens and taking all of the heat on behalf of the Prime Minister. Then, the Prime Minister tells Frobisher he has to go on TV and show his own daughters being turned over for "inoculation," as it would be good publicity. At first, Frobisher says, "but there is no inoculation…we're just giving them a fake inoculation, right?" The Prime Minister tells him that, no…Frobisher's daughters are to get the real inoculation…they're to be turned over to the aliens. We really hate the Prime Minister, even more than ever.
Frobisher goes to his secretary, Bridget Spears and tells her a code word, which stuns her and makes her robotically go to an evidence type room and sign out a box from a guard. Bridget turns it over to Frobisher, he kisses her on the cheek and he leaves. Bridget remains stunned. The next scenes were handled beautifully though they were completely shocking TV and not for the weak of stomach, so you might not want to read on if you can't handle the worst that a parent can do to his children in order to save them. Bridget goes to see Lois in jail and says that she wants to tell Lois that no matter what she hears about John Frobisher over the next coming days, Bridget wants Lois to know what a good man John Frobisher had always been. While Bridget speaks, the scene is of him going home and sending his wife and girls up stairs. There is an army outside ready to "inoculate" his two daughters. He opens the box his secretary had requisitioned for him and it has a gun inside. He goes up the stairs, into the girls' bedroom and shuts the door. We hear four shots. He has saved his daughters from being "inoculated." His wife will never know the pain of seeing her babies turned over to aliens and he will never live the rest of his life feeling like a failure because he didn't stand up to the Prime Minister to save his children.
Back at Thames House, one of the generals speaks with the alien in the tank and asks why they need the children, do they keep them alive? The alien says something like, "no. They release a chemical, it feels good. The chemicals feel good." The general then says, "it's like drugs? The children are drugs to you?" Suddenly, they realize – it's a drug war. One side is more powerful than the other. Unfortunately, it's the side that wants the drugs and is willing to kill everyone in their way to get the drugs.
When we compare it to our own lives and our own world today, it really is the "lower test scores" set of people that do the fighting and the dying in the drug wars. Chemicals that "feel good" create a demand with a price so high that people are willing to pay anything for them. Lives are lost because chemicals make someone that has more money or power feel good. Whether it's from the high of the chemical or the money and power it brings, on this planet now, there are people much like that alien in the tank demanding that a number of lives be sacrificed for their own pleasure. Russell T. Davies knew what he was doing when he wrote this script! What a commentary!
I haven't even gotten to how Captain Jack (John Barrowman) saves the day. He's finally released from his holding cell from the woman who put him there, Johnson. He figures out how to reverse the alien's signal by sending it back through the children just as they had been broadcasting through the children. In order to do so, they need one child to be the conductor but that child would "be fried" from all of the current going through him. The only child in the vicinity is Jack's own grandson, so it's a case of sacrificing one to save millions. He makes the decision, and they lock his daughter out of the hangar where they are working. They set up the boy to act as the conductor. Sure enough, the plan works and it blows up the alien in the tank and the aliens in the sky disappear. The boy is dead afterward and John Frobisher has killed his family and himself for nothing, but the alien threat is gone. The "alien drug war" is over.
The end of the show jumps ahead seven months when Gwen and Rhys are driving out to a field in the middle of nowhere to meet Jack. Gwen had been able to retrieve his arm band transmitter from the hub because it is indestructible. Jack tells her that he has traveled the world but the planet has suddenly become too small for him. He can't stay, he activates the arm band and a passing ship in the sky beams in aboard. Now, he's back out in the universe.

Corporate Blogging is Good for the Bottom Line

This article appears in the July 2009 issue of Saathee Magazine

Many companies today are hiring corporate bloggers. Some are simply hiring them to talk about what it is they do with their product, others are hiring them to actually promote their products and services. This morning, I attended a breakfast for "Social Media Charlotte," and our guest speaker, touched on the topic, but not enough in my opinion. See, I write blogs for a few companies. I am a corporate blogger. Some people might think it's disingenuous to have professional writer blog for a company, and others think it's a great way to stay in touch with your core audience. In fact, in California, they passed a law saying that items containing a certain cancer causing ingredient had to have a sticker on it. Recently, someone wrote on a local community's blog that they couldn't believe a particular scissor company would make a cancer-causing scissors for children. One of the corporate bloggers on the East Coast caught the comment at 5AM West Coast time, explained the reason behind the sticker, and that the scissors did not cause cancer. Before the open of business on the West Coast, the person who wrote the original comment retracted her statement and the whole issue never blew up beyond that one exchange. What could have turned into an ugly, sales plunging catastrophe was averted, thanks to corporate blogging.
Some of you may be wondering what is corporate blogging and what does corporate blogging do? What can it do for your company? Corporate blogging is when a company hires someone to blog either daily or a few times a week. That's the most simple explanation. If you hire a blogger, they don't necessarily blog strictly about your product or services, but whatever their passion is that is performed with the product or from the service.
For instance, you're a restaurant owner, who hires a blogger. You wouldn't necessarily need the blogger to talk only about your type of food and your place of dining, instead, they would blog about their whole passion of eating and what food means to them. They would write about the sensations the aromas bring to them, the experiences they have with their family, what happens when they wash the dishes after dinner with their daughter, the bonding time they spend teaching her how to cook, memories of learning to cook when they were little….it's the genuine, human qualities of blogging that bring people back to reading over and over again.
Let's look at another example: an auto repair shop owner hires an older gentleman copywriter to blog. The man blogs about the road trips he took as a young man on the turnpikes and freeways when he was a kid, the roadside picnicking he and his family did, as the only restaurants back then were a few Howard Johnson's scattered throughout North America. He might blog about teaching his son to drive and the melancholy ache of watching him drive away to college. The blogger could share how it felt to lose his sharp vision as he aged, and what it was like to get his first traffic ticket because he was driving too slowly. If a corporate blogger is a genuine person and not a fake product pusher, their audience will grow. They have to be real.
Corporate blogging is about relating to people on their level and giving them a slice of another person's life. It's voyeuristic in a way that is allowed, legal and acceptable. Now, how does it benefit your company? Here and there throughout the blog, you would place hyperlinks that direct traffic to your webpage. Or at the bottom of the blog, there can be a statement or short paragraph about your shop or services, and how something like what they've written is made possible due to services like yours. This increases the traffic to your website, thus increasing your brand name's exposure. One of my blogs is for a huge satellite TV company. I usually end up blogging about European Football, Manchester United is my team, I'm obsessed. I have a following of people who want to know what is happening with the players, transfer speculations, who is injured, and what my general opinion is. Instead of trying to force a plug for the satellite TV company in my writing where it won't fit, I'll simply say at the end of the blog that maybe I had to DVR the game and watch it on my (name brand) HD digital, crystal clear picture satellite TV…I'll say how I get so many channels of sports and movies, and I'll put hyperlinks on certain words that pertain to the satellite TV.
As a corporate blogger, the benefits I offer are that the traffic to the company's website escalates at a rapid rate, there is constant exposure of their product, and an increase in their brand's recognition. The fact that I have a loyal readership, means that their name brand is always exposed to a growing number of people who read my blogs. Some of my articles are passed around via emails, Twitter and links that get posted throughout the sports world; which includes the UK, after all, Manchester United is from England. The team also has a huge fan base in the U.S., so their exposure is circulated in North America where they want to generate sales, thus increasing their revenue. That's what matters most, the bottom line – money. Whether or not these people are buying satellite TVs within the next 60 days or 12 months, the brand awareness is consistently increasing as the audience of my blog continue to become engaged in what I write. When the time comes that my readers want to buy a satellite TV, because I've been genuine, I'm their friend…they feel like they know me, so they trust me, and the satellite TV company I recommend is brand X. Bottom line: corporate blogging increases revenue.

Wendy D. Wells is President of WD Wells Writing and Editing, LLC
She is a Charlotte, NC based, Telecommuting Copywriter, Professional Blogger and Editor.
wwells@wendywellswrites.com

Twitter handle: @WendyWells

News of Michael Owen and David Beckham

In the most surprising turn of events this summer, Michael Owen is at Old Trafford undergoing his physical to make a move to Manchester United. This is a move that I begged Sir Alex to do in a blog I'd written on December 22, 2008 when we won the World Cup. At the very bottom in the P.S., I asked Sir Alex to imagine the rhythm that he would have with the rest of our lads (at the time I was including Ronny) as they all played together. I knew then that he was going to be up for grabs at some point in time, and now…here he is! Coming to us! I couldn't be more pleased than if Ronaldo decided to stay.
This isn't the first time that SAF has given eye to Owen. Back when Michael was a young lad and he was training for the youth leagues, Ferguson was interested in his joining the Red Devils then but some stipulations from Daddy Owen (Footballer Terry Owen) couldn't be met at the time. Unfortunately, this led young Michael west to Liverpool. We aren't holding that against him now, and instead, are welcoming him with open arms, and an open wallet apparently. Sir Alex is looking at a £50k,weekly cheque to Owen and that's with the current record of injuries that he has at this point. Personally, I believe that Michael Owen's injury issues are going to be a thing of the past with the right team, training and physio behind him.
Look at it this way. He was on a team that was just relegated. How well could things have been going behind the scenes if they were going so poorly on the pitch? Also, Owen's place on the team has yet to be determined and most likely will not be one of a shining star but more like the one Tevez left behind and a place that Scholes and even Giggs currently hold. These are men that aren't always starters, they do not always go in every game, and are often used as substitutes in order to save the strength of the other players or they're used as ringers. We'll be getting to know Michael Own more and more as the weeks go by and as we hear of his interaction with the other lads. We'll see how he fits in. Once Rio features him in "5" and plays a few pranks on him, we'll know he's gelled off the pitch with the team, which will announce to the world that he's really become a Red Devil.

Now, for my BOLD prediction or suggestion that I'm going to make, just like the one I made on December 22 when I suggested Sir Alex being Michael Owen on; I think he should place a bid for John Terry. We need another great defender. Toward the end of the season, we started seeing some holes in our defense that never should have existed. Edwin Van der Sar was left exposed by Nemanja Vidic on more than one occasion, and was scored on when it never should have happened. I am usually one to always jump up and down for Vidic but the last few games of the season, the important qualifying games, and the Champions League were all disappointments. I'm not saying they were all Nemanja's fault but he wasn't always where he should have been. He can't always be everywhere he needs to be. That's why a little help from another friend might be a really good thing. So, there it is. Sir Alex Ferguson, please bring John Terry in from Chelsea! Our defense would be so strong and our striking force would be so great once again, we'll be saying, "Ronaldo WHO?"

Speaking of former Red Devils, David Beckham returns to the LA Galaxy as they down the New York Red Bulls on July 16th. Apparently, some fans are not thrilled with his return as they feel he never should have left in the first place. Is this a case of fans acting like children who are upset when Mummy and Daddy return but then warm up once they've been sufficiently "punished" for leaving in the first place? Probably. More likely than not, his fans that are glad to see him back will outweigh those that will be petulant.
My concern isn't fans who are the most peeved at Becks but his own teammate, Landon Donovan, who has been very outspoken in his disapproval of Beckham's overall performance as Captain and player. ESPN interviewed Donovan and he had plenty to say.
"When David first came, I believed he was committed to what he was doing," Donovan said. "He cared. He wanted to do well. He wanted the team and the league to do well.
"Somewhere along the way - and in my mind it coincides with Ruud being let go - he just flipped a switch and said, 'Uh-huh, I'm not doing it anymore'."
Donovan says Becks is a bad teammate because he lacks commitment.
"He's not shown (he's a good team-mate)," he said. "I can't think of another guy where I'd say he wasn't a good team-mate, he didn't give everything through all this, he didn't still care. But with (Beckham), I'd say no, he wasn't committed."
Ouch! Let's see, how do you define "bad teammate?" Is it someone who bashes a fellow teammate and doesn't stick by them, perhaps? Someone who doesn't always show a unified front no matter what their personal opinion is? Could be. See, these guys still have to play together. That's what I don't get. I'm sure Becks will gallantly stride up to Landon Donovan with an outstretched hand and a smile on his face with every intention of mending torn fences.
Donovan, on the other hand seems to be the type of teammate who would rather build a higher fence.

Twitter as Social Media

This article appears in Saathee magazine's June 2009 issue.

Last month's edition of Saathee featured a terrific article introducing you to Twitter, by Gail Martin of DreamSpinner Communications. She explained the 140 character system conveying ideas called, "Tweets" and gave some great advice on using Twitter to increase your business's visibility.
Twitter can be a valuable tool to generate traffic to your business's website and raise the number of hits you receive on a regular basis. If you're a blogger, your subscription levels can go up markedly with a few well spoken tweets.
The popularity of Twitter has increased over the last couple of years, and savvy Tweeters have been using the service to generate income, build brands and even raise money for charities. Google has seen the value, and as recently as April 2009, was trying to negotiate their way into acquiring the upstart. Twitter holds the key to the best real time database and search engine on the Internet, one to which not even Google can compare.
Companies are listening to what consumers say about their customer service through tweets. In order to protect their brand, companies are respond in real time on Twitter. Complaints about a business can be answered immediately, because Twitter's search engine brings comments to the attention of public relations and marketing departments' the moment they are sent into cyberspace. All it takes is a "hashtag" ( pound sign) in front of any name or word, and a grouped conversation, appears when a search is completed. Whomever is talking about that subject in Twitter, will pop up.
Here's an example: I use a program called, "Tweet Deck" that allows me to have several columns of Twitter conversations at once. I have a column devoted to my @replies, which my personal conversations, I have other columns with my business interest of #copywriting and #editing, another column with my personal passion of #ManchesterUnited, and another column with a friend's name, which doesn't need the hashtag but their handle instead with an @ symbol. So, let's say I stay at Acme hotel one night and have a terrible experience. In my 140 character tweet, I might say, "Terrible guest service at #Acmehotel last night. Avoid it, I won't be back. Left with bedbug bites, too." Now, since I have the hashtag in front of Acme Hotel's name all in one word, and they most likely have a column with their name just like I have columns with my personal interests, they're going to see my tweet come up right away. If they are working hard to make a good name for themselves and manage their reputation, a representative will email me immediately or tweet me, and ask that I call them or inquire as to what they can do to make things right for me.
Companies that want to protect their brand and their revenue, are creating full-time positions by a range of titles such as, Social Media Marketing Coordinator, Online Media Marketing Manager, and Blogger. Earning income through Twitter is just as possible as it is through any other online media outlet. Personally, more than one third of my current clientele has come from Twitter. The columns I mentioned earlier, #copywriting and #editing, are what helped me to find a number of jobs and a couple of steady writing gigs. I literally answered the call of a few 140 character cries for help to the effect of, "Does anyone know a good copywriter to help with some SEO's?" and "Any editors out there that can work on a project, send me an email." I've started blogging professionally for a couple of marketing companies and I write SEO (search engine optimization) articles for them as well. The occasional plea to write a press release has been sent out, and whomever gets to the person in need first, or whomever's work samples and prices suit the client's needs best, are the ones who get the jobs.
Pleas for help of a different nature are also met on Twitter. This past February, Twestival (Twitter + festival) took place throughout 200+ cities, worldwide in a simultaneous online broadcast. The event was held in order to bring Twitter communities together and raise money for Charity:Water, an organization that builds wells to bring safe drinking water to developing nations. The entire Twestival raised more than $250,000 and Twestival Charlotte raised enough money build a well in Ethiopia. Asheville and Raleigh also participated. Other organizations, such as animal rescue groups have figured out the benefits to setting up Twitter accounts that link to FaceBook pages or other websites. Word has spread to make Tuesdays a day of charity giving and the reminder to give is "retweeted" throughout the Twitter community.
Recently, Twitter downsized the "neighborhood" we all hang out in by taking away the ability to see Tweets by anyone whom we do not follow (these are called the @replies). Many of us feel this defeats the whole purpose of Twitter. If someone says something clever in their 140 characters, we go to their Twitter page, click on their website, see what they're about and follow them. Without the option of seeing @replies of people we don't know, we have to go to the pages of each individual person we follow, or who follow us and click on who they're talking to. However, once you find clever people, stick with them and most likely, you'll find that the people they follow are worth following. Also, look for common personal or business interests, see if they have more than a few hundred followers, take the time to see what they've tweeted in the last few days. If they've said anything worthwhile, or you like their website, follow them. While you're at it, give me a try! @WendyWells

Wendy D. Wells is President of WD Wells Writing and Editing, LLC
She is a Charlotte, NC based, Telecommuting Copywriter, Professional Blogger and Editor.
wwells@wendywellswrites.com

How to Get Your Music on the Radio

I used to work for a radio station, where I produced and sometimes hosted a show that highlighted new music from established artists and music from artists trying to break into the industry. They could be on independent labels or large labels, it didn't matter. The show was even called, The New Music and Indie Label Show. Not an overly creative title, but it got the point of what the show was about across well enough.
My job was to go through the hundreds of packages from bands and agencies that would come in each week, listen to the music, research a bit about each band and decide what would be played on the air. Yes, there was an element of power to this job. I was the gatekeeper to the musical airwaves of the market in which I worked. In order to get on the air and not get thrown back into the stack of "I'll get to them later," I had certain criteria that I needed to see. If I had to work too hard at finding this criteria, I gave up and the band got lost in the pile. I've had many people ask me what it took to get played on the radio. What exactly was I looking for in order to get their band to the top of the pile?
Here is the list of things I needed to see in order for a band to get played on the radio:

1. Send a professional looking package with a studio quality CD. Or, guide me to an active link with an MP3 or MP4 file for downloading. (Not all systems can do this. Smaller stations might ONLY take CD's. Check first!)



2. Sometimes gimmicks in a package would make me curious enough to wonder what was in the envelope to want to open it. I had a band that sent me cute little key chains that were airbrushed flip-flops. The envelope wasn't flat with just a CD, it obviously had something else in it, I had to know what, so I opened it first. I don't remember the name of the band, or whether or not I played their music. Was their money wisely spent? Probably not. Buttons and gimmicks with your band name should be the last thing you invest your money in. Wait until you're established. If you buy a box of cheap key chains, use a sharpie marker to write your name on them, that's money better spent. Get a nice, fabric back wall made made for your band to put behind the drummer at gigs. That's money really well spent. However, the gimmick worked in the fact that I opened the package, and for all I know, I might have played their CD. Also, always send two of something. There is usually a producer and a host, you don't want to slight anyone. Also, the host often uses extra schwag as giveaway prizes for listeners.



3. Type up a biography about yourself or the band and give me a FEW basics. Don't tell me how your entire band was conceived in your basement when you fell on top of a guitar. Some people might want all this, for me, it's too much to wade through. I only want to know what city you're from, if you've been touring or playing local gigs, and how long you've been together. Give me the name of each member and maybe a small bio on each person.



4. If you do not send me a bio, you better have a darn good Myspace page with ample information that I can cut and paste onto a prep sheet before I or the other host go in to broadcast or record the show. If I have to search for information about your band, I am taking too much time to work for you. Professional promotion agencies and record labels know to send a single bio page about the band or artist, which is why they are often the ones getting the most airplay. They're more prepared, and therefore, easier to grab and play.



5. I cannot stress how important it is to be professional in your package. If you send something hand written and I cannot read your writing, it goes in the trash. If you are too familiar with me, I might get insulted; if you flatter me too much, I will know you are not genuine. Be professional. This is the music business and people think about a certain lifestyle, but it is a business. Many of us are highly degreed professionals working our way to the top of the corporate food chain.



6. Tell me which song to play and make sure it is radio friendly. Don't try to make me listen to each and every song in order to find the song that fits my genre. If you think this will get me to think every song is great and you're so talented that I can't hear a single so I'll want to get behind your band and promote you…you're wrong. I won't take the time to listen to every song. I'll randomly pick one, which might not showcase your best skill, which in turn, might not make the audience want to hear you again. Or, I'll give a couple of songs a ten second listen and pick one that way. Again, not the best way to find your best work. Have the confidence in your music to tell me which one you think needs to be your breakout hit.



7. Follow up with me but don't bug me. Email me and ask if we played your song. Keep track of which cities are playing your music. Use an Excel spread sheet of how many times you are getting played. If you can get this information without bugging the DJ too much, you'll be able to email other DJ's (or jocks, as we call ourselves in the business), and tell them, "we've been going strong in Columbus, OH, where DJ Sally Strong on WWWE is playing us weekly on her New Music show." Or, "At WWWE, they've showcased us on their drive-time show, "take it or break it?" where the audience phoned in and voted to keep the record." Many stations have a playlist of what was played on line nowadays. The host surely has a playlist – often posted on their personality page.



8. If there is not a new music show to send your package in to, send it to the music director or the program director at the station. If they have one of each and you can afford to do it, send it to both. You can never really be sure who is listening to the music and deciding what gets played. The music director is supposedly the one who deals with the music reps and selects the music but some program directors like to keep the power and only let the music directors enter the new music into the music system, or do each day's log. It's the tedious work the program directors will often pass off onto their music directors.

That's about all I can offer without throwing in my cynicism of the music business and how so few artists make it. If you ask questions or leave comments about specific things, I'll do my best to respond based on my 10+ years in the radio business in addition to the years that I spent affiliated with the music business before radio.

Good luck!

The Kind of Fan I Am....

A Nigerian man ran a bus into a crowd of Barcelona fans, killing four and injuring many others. Could he have been so mad or hurt our team lost that he was driven to such a thing? Obviously, some other illness had him long ago and the revelry of the Barca fans was the trigger that was finally pulled in his mind for him to fire off. This is the worst reaction in world that we've heard of, and I am hopeful, this is the only one of its kind.
Yesterday I wrote about losing with dignity and how Manchester United did that on Wednesday when they lost the UEFA Champions League to FC Barcelona. The lads on the team held their heads high, their shoulders back, and while their faces looked grim, they respectfully shook hands with the dignitaries on the platform as they accepted their medals. One of them was their own future King, His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales.
Manchester United are the Royalty of European Football, whether they win or lose, and they proved that in their behavior yesterday. I already went over this in my previous post (read it) but they were very gracious in their compliments of Barcelona's playing.
But how does one go about hurting with dignity? Losing and hurting are different. I know we lost, I handled myself in kind with the team, dignified, graciously. I congratulated people on Twitter who cheered for the other team. I admitted we'd been outplayed. I left it at that and then I wrote my blog, I purged.
But today, I still hurt. My heart aches for the players, Sir Alex, and myself. I'd been so excited to think we could be the first to retain the title, that I had not prepared myself at all for a loss. It came as a shocking blow. I think the news reporters who made predictions that Manchester United would come out on top were just as stunned. But do they hurt the way we fans do?
Last night, I went to see a friend's kids play soccer and when I first arrived, I was yelling at the players to "cover up the hole, Defense! Get in place! Guard your keeper! Get the ball back, drive it up the middle!" Twenty minutes into the game I looked out from under my umbrella and saw the parents' of the players' staring at me like I was insane. I'd forgotten this wasn't a pro game and I wasn't yelling at the TV, these were kids. I remembered I can't behave at a teenage soccer game they way I do at home, or at the pub.
I felt deflated all over again when I realized that what I was doing in my mind, was guiding Manchester United to a win. I was trying to re-orchestrate the game we'd lost, to a better outcome. As it happened, the kids won 2-0 and they made it to their playoffs. Ironic, huh? They turned out to be Barcelona and the other guys were Manchester United.
As happy as I was for them, I still felt the dull ache of a spoon in my heart. Our Red Devils lost and I've been in a depressed fog ever since. I have so many friends on Twitter across the world, literally everywhere on the globe that feel the same way. We're still stunned and hurting. I only hope that as we all hurt, we are all doing it with respect to the winners, and with the dignity our team showed when they lost. If we're going to be fans of the Royalty of Europe, perhaps conducting ourselves in their image would do us good. Hold our heads high, keep our shoulders back, compliment the other guys. Admit we were outplayed that one night. Next season, when we win, we'll be gracious winners and tell the losers, you tried hard, good luck in your next game. Because when we win, we have to do that with class and dignity, too.
The Nigerian man who drove a bus into a crowd killing four people is not the kind of fan we want to identify with and not the kind we want to claim as one of our own. He's not a member of our club, we'd never teach him the secret handshake.
Instead, we'll get over our hurt, slowly but dignified. Because that's the kind of fans we are. Classy. Just like the players, gracious. Royalty.
Glory, Glory Man United! We'll be here, waiting for you next season!

Losing With Grace and Dignity

When a team loses a game and someone says, "winning isn't everything," the words offer no comfort. They aren't meant to. What they really mean is that winning isn't everything that makes up what a team or individual is made of. Being a winner is not always about getting the highest score and winning the game; being a winner is about knowing how to lose.
The UEFA Champions League Final was played between Manchester United and FC Barcelona. The result was a major blow and disappointment to Manchester United and their fans. The game began with such a wonderful start. United dominated the ball for the first ten minutes of the game and from out of nowhere, Barca grabbed the ball, found a hole and scored. Once Barca took possession of the ball, United had a hard time getting it back. When they would get it back, they were not able to do much with it. Cristiano Ronaldo had several chances to make a shot and just couldn't find the back of the net. Ryan Giggs came close a couple of times as did Wayne Rooney.
The end of the match, was heartbreaking. Barca was too good at keeping the ball away from United and even with added time, the game was over with a nil score on United's behalf. Nothing. If only one goal could have been made, the sting of defeat would have been lessened but that wasn't meant to be.
Manchester United lined up to receive their medals for having participated in the Champions League Final. His Royal Highness, Prince William was in attendance and shaking hands, which must have been a true honor for the lads. Their future King had been there to show his support and let them know how proud of them he was. Each of the Manchester United players shook the hand of each man in the procession (there were about 5-7 hands to shake), and they came off of the stage with their shoulders back and their heads high.
After the game, the players and Sir Alex Ferguson were all quoted in various interviews, but the message was nearly always the same. They praised the Barcelona players as having outplayed them. They admitted to not having played their best game and that Barcelona deserved to win. Wayne Rooney gave the most gracious quote of all, giving over the notion that "Andres Iniesta is the best player in the world, at the moment."
To lose with such grace and dignity makes a team with this kind of class a great winner indeed.

One Manchester United Fan's Pre-Game Jitters

I keep looking at the clock. I know it makes the time go by slower to do so, but I can't help it. There are five hours until Manchester United square off against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League Final. If Manchester United retain the trophy, they'll be the first team in history to ever do so. Like Sir Alex Ferguson recently said, this is a team that is good at firsts. They were the first and only team to ever win the Treble. They won all three European titles in the same season, the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League. Since they weren't able to make a ten year anniversary win of the Treble, being the first to retain the Champions League title will be good compensation.

Four and a half hours to go. I'm trying to stay busy by reading the game predictions and interviews from the teams, but it only it only gets me more excited. I should try and write one of my other blogs. My paid satellite internet and satellite TV blogs are going to be written after the game. Although, I could make them tomorrow's blogs if I go ahead and write something today.

Why do we get so worked up over our teams? I know psychologists have done studies about how the need to belong to a group is satisfied by being a fan of a sports team.. We live vicariously through the victories of our teams and we suffer with them when they fall. But how does it start, why do we choose our teams?

Often, the team is chosen for you. The city you live in might become the team you follow due to the sense of hometown loyalty, plus there is the ease of enjoying local games with others. We often love the team our family identifies with, alma maters, or birthplaces left behind. I'm a woman in Charlotte, NC who fell in love with "the beautiful game" of European Football (soccer), and the team, Manchester United. Both are far across the pond. How did it happen? It's almost embarrassing to admit but it started with a soap opera. I was into the show, Footballers Wives and realized I was interested in the game that they would talk about as an aside to the drama. I began watching the soccer channel, learned the various leagues and teams, then discovered Manchester United. Now, I've been told that loving this particular team is like being a Yankees fan, but what exactly does that mean? The Yankees baseball team aren't always on top, they have good marketing but they aren't cliché to follow. Nor is Manchester United. I've been with this team when they were in 17th place back in 2007 and they still managed to get up and win the Premier League title and the World Cup that season. What's not to love? I've seen this team place rookies and under 21's on the pitch because Sir Alex didn't have many other players due to an extensive injuries list. Owen Hargreaves has been gone so long, people have forgotten he's a member of the team. We just saw the return of Wes Brown after missing over half of the season. I'm grateful Rio Ferdinand is fit to return and will be protecting keeper Edwin Van der Sar in today's game. I know these guys, they get up and play when it hurts, and they climb back to the top when they drop low. That's why I love this team.
I've stuck by Manchester United not because they're the cliché "best of Europe" but because they simply are the best in Europe. Over the past few years as I watched the game and learned more about it, I have grown fond of a number of teams. I am a fan of Inter Milan and AC Milan from the Serie A League, I liked the Blackburn Rovers until they screwed Paul Ince. I enjoy watching other teams because they are good and have talented players. I can imagine a dream team of today's footballers and those of any decade mixed together.
I became a fan of the game first, and then I became an fanatic about the team, Manchester United. Today, regardless of the outcome, I will still be a fan of this team and I will continue to love the beautiful game.
Four hours to go.

Letting Go of My Hate for Michael Vick

I'm hearing impaired and my dog is really helpful to me in alerting me to things I can't hear. The alarm clock beside my bed, someone at the door, the kitchen timer…she's a smart dog. Shasta learned to signal me with different whines and barks. On more than one occasion, she's even stopped me from crossing the street when I didn't hear a truck coming. I never trained her to be a hearing dog, she figure things out on her own. Shasta is really quite amazing.
I look at her and I try to imagine someone pulling out all of her teeth and hanging her upside down to let angry pit bulls attack her. Or tying her up, forcing mate, and deliver litters of puppies over and over again because she's a Chow Chow. That's what Michael Vick used to do to his dogs. That's what all dog fighters do to dogs. They do so much more, too. Gruesome things I block out of my mind because the image is too disgusting and nauseating.
I have to run and love on my Shasta, and I imagine the way I would harm or kill someone if they ever tried to hurt her. She loves me back and without any fear or trepidation, she exposes her belly and neck to me because she trusts me. She knows I would never hurt her. That's why this dog would die for me.
She has stood to fight and protect me when she thought she needed to. Out running one day, a group of five dogs came rushing at us, she stood her ground and started to fight, to keep them away from me. The moment was over quickly, and no one was hurt. The owner ran over, and I pulled her away from the dogs. I made it clear to the irresponsible dog owner, that he needed to know how to control his dogs. Mine was on a leash, she was doing her job, protecting me. I told him how my hand had been mauled the summer before because of dogs getting in a fight.
It was Shasta who got into a fight with a German Shepherd. I tried to break it up myself. My hand got in the way and the Shepherd clamped down on it as she went for my Shasta's face. The Shepherd shook my hand like it was a stuffed toy, but Shasta did something that got the dog to release my hand. Then, Shasta flipped the Shepherd over onto its back and went for the soft parts of its body. Finally, a neighbor helped me break up the fight. Both dogs were injured, my hand was mauled.
I still love dogs and even after that happened, I kept rescuing them every chance I could. But I had trouble with their growling for long time. Even in play, the sound of growling was a trigger that struck fear in me. Instead of giving in to that fear, I over came it because I love dogs so much. I can't stand the thought that anything about them would be fearful to me. I've always been such a whisperer with all animals.
My love of dogs, will help me overcome something else. I have to stop giving in to my hate of Michael Vick. This is hard. I've hated him so deeply since we first learned about his dog fighting. I changed my MySpace page to a sounding board and blog for very nasty things that should be done to him. Once he was put away, I also locked him away in my mind and almost forgot about him. Then, came a show about rehabilitating his dogs-- the few that were salvageable from the compound. Seeing the fear, mistreatment and physical abuse these dogs had been through bubbled all of my hatred of him to the surface again. So, I blogged and wrote more about what I hoped was happening to him in prison. Then, I locked him and the hatred away in my mind once more.
Now he's out and it's back. My hate is worse than ever because he's free. He has his freedom and he's sucking up to the Humane Society to prove the remorse that Roger Goodell says he needs to see from Vick before the felon can play ball in the NFL again. I'm finding it harder to breathe.
I read articles from sports writers and other news journalists discussing how Vick got to where he is now, and I see the skeletons of dogs buried around the dog fighting compound in my mind. The one Michael Vick put there. I see the bloody injuries of yelping dogs who don't understand why they are being forced to fight this way, when all they want to do is please their human.
I have to find a way to stop hating Michael Vick. It sickens me too much. This hatred gives my mind these images and I have to let them go.
I have finally reached a point where I don't imagine going up to him and hurting him, or doing awful things to him. I imagine walking up to him and sobbing. Just standing there, sobbing and crying in front of him. And he has to watch me. He's force to watch the pain I feel bend my body forward, and crumble me to my knees. His ears are sentenced to hearing the agony moan out of me as I cry for the dogs, and I let go of the hate. This is what I imagine, this therapy. I don't know how to make it a reality but it is what I think would help me and what I think would actually help him to feel true remorse.
If he has a heart, and he saw how much pain he caused a total stranger, who never met a single dog that touched his property; maybe he could multiply it by thousands and know how many more like me there are. So many others, like me trying to stop hating Michael Vick.

90210 Season Finale

This week and last week have been a number of season finales. Tuesday night was the season finale for 90210. So, if you've DVR'd it to watch later, stop reading unless you want to know what's going to happen. This is what you call a *SPOILER ALERT!*
90210 ~ Well, my goodness…didn't Jen turn out to be Naomi's evil sister? Jen betrayed her sister for so little a thing as throwing a party and obviously, for throwing in her face the fact that Naomi is paying for everything. The way she lied to Liam and then used him to hurt Naomi is really going to have to come back and bite her somehow. If the writers and producers don't let that happen, their audience will never forgive them.
Rumors are that Ethan will not be returning next season, so some people are guessing that whatever Annie hit with her car will be Ethan. Or they think it will be Liam because he's getting sent off to military school and maybe he was able to run away. Anyway, there is a big question of who was in the older model Mercedes with the WBHS sticker on the back? Whomever it was will have witnessed Annie's hit and run, they'll either report it, or use it to blackmail her. Or another scenario is always the "guilt them into turning themselves in" where someone like Kelly Taylor maybe saw her (after dropping off her stoned parents), and it will turn out whatever was in the road had been there for hours and was either dead or needing help. Kelly (or whomever) will constantly drop hints and give looks directly into Annie's eyes that will eventually make her crack and admit what she'd done. That's just a guess.
Dixon and Silver are a big, wide yawning gap in the story line. The writers need to seal this off and move one. The audience has grown tired of the back and forth with the two of them and regardless of whether or not Dixon and Silver love each other, it's time to let it go. She should leave town with Ethan or something. Maybe that was him in the road, and because of his death, she'll realize she had feelings for him, and she'll be so confused that she will turn into a convent bound freak like the one at her Catholic school, who wanted to fast on her behalf.
If Kelly Taylor develops a crush on Harry and it causes a rift between him and Debby, it will be very obvious that it's merely a ploy to rock a boat on calm waters. Writers: Don't go there. Come up with something else. You've already done the "he has a kid with someone else, her job is too demanding, and your mother is driving me crazy" issues between them. Be more original. The audience of this show is geared more toward a teen demo, but they can handle something a bit deeper than a crush on Dad that gets Mom angry.
As for Navid and Adrianna, they're a sweet couple and she needs to be strong enough to move on from her decision to give up the baby. Strong enough to stay clean and stay with Navid. Just let them be the typical, happy high school couple for a little while. They can be the teen image of Debby and Harry. You can always mess them up later with what his father does for a living…perhaps Navid meets a woman that is too innocent for that business and falls for her. Maybe the sorority sister he met in the bar will have fallen into "the biz" and he'll get her out of it, thus causing a rift between him and Adrianna.
That's it for this season! That's the last of my ideas the writers' get for free, too!


This post was originally written for my work blog for DIRECTV.

Has Twitter Come Full Circle ~ Already?

Mark Twain said, "If you don't read the newspaper, you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper, you are misinformed."
This was in an age where the only news was coming from the newspaper. Letters and gossip were the other sources of information, so where do you think he got his facts? Knowing Twain, he listened to what he heard, took in what he read and came to his own conclusions. Somewhere in the middle, there is always a truth. Somewhere on the edges, there is always a lie. Between the edges and the middle are the facts. This is why we're always beating around the bush, circling the facts, coming full circle, and in the middle of it.
So, which circle of information should we believe? Do we listen to the news, blogs, Twitter, or read it online? Like Twain probably did, coming to our own conclusions is the best way to go. This past week, Twitter gave us conflicting stories about its new method of operation and how it was going to give us its @ replies. First, it took away the ability to see the replies of people whom you don't follow. Many of us feel this defeats the whole purpose of Twitter. We like to see what other people say so that we can figure out whether or not we want to follow them. If they say something clever in their 140 characters, we'll go to their Twitter page, click on their website and see what they're all about. If they look like someone worth following, we'll follow them. Without the option of seeing @ replies of people we don't know, we have to go to the pages of each person individually we follow (or who follow us) and click on who they're talking to. It's time consuming and we often find more duds than dandies.
Twitter has given us bogus explanations and repealed some of the restrictions but other reports say that they aren't going to lift any @ reply restrictions at all. I'd rather be completely uninformed than so misinformed at this point.
So for now, I'm practically talking to myself and few select friends on Twitter (yawn!) and I'm growing stale in making new followers or finding new folks to follow. The social media aspect of it has diminished. What's next? Who's got the next best and biggest thing? I'm ready to move on. If the changes are going to remain, in my opinion, Twitter has come full circle…it's already too yesterday.

Grammar Issues 101

There is a mistake among writers on the internet that I see all too often. When I come across the error, I stop reading, re-read the sentence, look for the author's name and credentials, go back to what I've been reading and often don't finish the article. This one little mistake has taken away enough credibility (in my eyes), that I no longer want to hear what the writer has to say. I'm not saying I never finish reading, I'm saying that sometimes I don't.
Here's an example of the mistake that I found online today, let's see if you spot it before I point it out to you:

They then begin counting hours—where prior they probably worked more then 40 hours and never gave it a thought—you can now plan on no extra discretionary effort.

I don't know how this sentence made it past their grammar check. When I copied it onto my Word document, a squiggly lavender line appeared under the error on my page. The word "then" before the number 40 is the error. The sentence should read "more than 40 hours…"
The rule is really quite simple. When doing a comparison of one against another use the conjunction, "than." When using any measure of time, use the adverb "then."

• The new Star Trek looks better than the old Star Trek.
• In the original TV show, the future back then is funny compared to the special effects of today.
• Even the later TV show has less to offer than the new movie.
• His nap was longer than hers.
• He slept, then he woke up, and went back to sleep.

Which is correct, than I or than me?
Now, if you're wondering which pronouns to use after the word than, you're not alone. Many of us have to stop and think this one through. Even though this isn't part of the exact same grammatical issue, I'll go over this quickly, the solution is easier than it seems. Take I and me as examples, depending on the meaning of the sentence, either one can be correct.

• Jason loves swimming more than I, means he loves to swim more than I do.
• Jason loves swimming more than me, means he loves to swim more than he loves me.

See? Easier than pie! Now then, go forth and get it right!

How to Avoid Plagiarism

Writing a paper involves reading. A great deal of reading. In fact, writing is all about reading. A writer that doesn't read is usually not a very good writer. By reading, we learn how to write better. We can appreciate the beauty of another author's words on the page as they describe the human condition. So often we writers are Empaths, soaking in the world's emotion. We reflect everything that everyone around us is feeling, by taking it to the page. When someone else writes a really great line, frequently, I'll think, "ah, that's gorgeous…why didn't I come up with it?" After all, I feel the same way…I just didn't get it on paper first. Now, it's too late. The line is theirs and I can't have it.

Although, we writers steal from one another all the time. It's true. We do. But when we do it in the right way, it's ok. For instance, it was through Stephen King that I learned the art of conveying inner emotion through inner dialogue with just a few words. He doesn't make a character have a complete conversation with themselves (not all the time), but he'll move the plot forward omnisciently and throw in a short thought or two so we stay connected to the character. He reminds us we are in the character's head but we also know we are outside of the character.

If, however, I were to steal lines from Cujo where the mailman is talking about "keeping the mail moving" as he's delivering the mail, that would be stealing from Stephen King in a bad way.

So, stealing technique to some degree, is ok. Many authors teach technique and structure in courses during downtime when they're between books. Many are professors are also authors. I've stolen an adjective from an author, but was it really his? I didn't use it in the exact same way he did, so was using the same word in a remotely similar context stealing?

Plagiarism is illegal and wrong. If you get caught plagiarizing a paper, you will fail and you might even be subject to expulsion. Taking the easy way out is not worth the difficulty of student trial, heartache and the soiled reputation that will follow you for the rest of your career. Plus you will have wasted money on tuition, books, boarding, and if it was your parent's money…I can't imagine what kind of trouble that will cost you.

Once a professor has completed their Ph.D or MFA, they have read so many papers, books and journals that you will have hard time coming across something in the way of theory or fact that they have not read. When a professor is suspicious of a student's paper, consulting with one or two colleagues is usually all it takes until someone knows where the plagiarized work came from. Most professors will know the exact article from which either the concept or verbiage has been stolen. Even if a work is only paraphrased, which means not quoted exactly, if the idea is taken and reworded and not credited, it is plagiarism.

In today's advanced and developing technology, we have not only fellow professors to rely on but the internet has made it easier than ever to find out if a student has cheated. Software recognition programs have been developed specifically for the detection of plagiarism. They are highly reliable.

So, now that you understand what plagiarism is, don't do it. Always cite your sources when you paraphrase or quote content from another author. When writing a paper, in order to lend it credibility, you're supposed to quote and use sources, just not for the whole content. Use your head, if it feels like you're copying from the book or not coming up with your own ideas, then you are not. You're plagiarizing and it's wrong. You will get caught.

Writing a Paper - Help for College and High School Students

Starting the Process

With graduation so close, not only is it time for high school students to think about to which colleges they want to apply, but it's also time to wrap up the current school year! These next few posts will benefit both high school and college students. I'm going to discuss writing papers. (Up front, I'll let you know I am an Instructor of College Composition.)

Final exams are almost upon us but most likely, will have term papers to submit prior to taking exams. Writing is crucial to your success in and out of school, so learn to do it well. Communication is the key ingredient in everything from a well structured resume to a project proposal for a potential client.

To begin the process of creating your term paper for school, get a good handle on what is expected of you. Read your syllabus! My syllabi are very clear as to how the paper must be formatted, the length I expect and the way the Works Cited page must be structured. Before you start writing anything at all, if you have the option, ask yourself what type of paper you want to write. Make sure you're interested in the topic and in the way you will present the topic. Read over your notes, look over your information and review your sources.

An informative or expository paper teaches the reader something about a particular topic. You explain an idea or a theory within the body of your paper.
An argumentative paper makes a claim or takes a certain position on a subject, then justifies the claim with carefully detailed evidence. You must use research and documentation to support your position (as with all papers). The claim can be your opinion, but you'll need to back it up with solid evidence as to why your opinion is better than the counter opinion. You'll have to introduce both sides. The goal of the argumentative paper is to convince the audience that the claim is true based on the evidence provided.
An analytical paper divides an event, issue or an idea into its component elements, examines each one individually, then presents this breakdown and evaluation to the audience. Frequently, literary analysis is a popular topic for this type of paper. The theory behind a piece of work would be studied and interpreted for an audience. Or a moment in history, a way of life, a type of culture, just about anything can be broken down and analyzed.

Next, devise your thesis statement. It needs to be concise and interesting, and should cover only what you will discuss in your paper. On that same note, make sure you cover your thesis statement in your paper! As you write, your direction and focus may change, so be prepared to revise your thesis statement at the end of your paper. The body of your paper will also help you to determine what the introduction and conclusion paragraphs must say. Write the introduction last. (I'll get into that more in another post.)

The writing process can be broken it into several parts, prewriting, drafting and revising. These are the three basic stages of writing a paper, and I will explain them more over the next few days.

I rewrote this for my personal page because it was originally written for my paying gig for HughesNet satellite Internet.

Internet Killed the Newspaper Star

As a writer and journalist, I would have thought the day the newspaper died, would personally, be painful. I was an idealistic kid and used to think I'd forever be a double or triple-column, half-page writer in some major newspaper…naturally, I'd also be writing the great American Novel, Oscar winning screenplays, and directing all of my own films.

Twenty years ago, most of us would not have thought that the majority of our news would be from an online source as opposed to the newspaper. We all thought that it would be television that would kill the newspaper…as it had done the radio star. Now, in a way it still is video doing the killing…except the broadcasting takes place online.

I'm so keen on writing this because recently, a local survey came out measuring the difference in the size of newspapers from 20 years ago in various cities. The amount of shrinkage is significant. We shouldn't blame ourselves over the demise of the newspapers. Nor, should we be made to feel guilty about it. Progress changes and moves everything forward. Some older folks at dinner one night implied that by not reading the tangible newspaper – our generation, and those that follow are missing out on some additional level of intelligence. One that only they would be privy to, because of their ink stained fingers.

I occasionally enjoy the Sunday morning phonebook-sized paper with the sale ads and coupons. Sometimes, certain sections are fun to read cover to cover…I just don't have time to read the whole thing, nor do I have the space to store it. Plus, it uses too much paper!

The tree-saving method of reading my news online at high-speeds is not the same experience as flipping through ink on paper, that I concede. I also love books. However, for my news I prefer to use the internet. I select which ads I will allow to interrupt my field of vision, I read whole pages at a time, without a "continued on page…"

The internet is always on and ready for me to engage. In one click, I am instantly updated on developments that took place just moments prior. I have access to satellites in space that will show me more than one publisher's point of view, in fact I can see the news from more than one nation's point of view…THAT is the amazing part of being tied to the global community. I am more informed minute by minute than my friends waiting in their driveway each morning, coffee in one hand, the other hand ready to be stained with ink.

With respect to my older friends at dinner that night, which part of these advantages of internet news gathering is deficient in, or empty of intelligence? I've yet to see where it is.

~ As Usual, Nathan Knows Best ~

(Shh! Don't tell him I admitted it!)

Once again, world news has had an unusual correlation into my own life. Back in mid February, I posted a blog to one of my work sites about the movie, "Taken," starring Liam Neeson. I'd mentioned the kidnapping in the film as a good example of why home security is so important.

Now, I am mentioning Liam Neeson again in a completely different context. He has suffered a terrible loss in his personal life. His beautiful wife, Natasha Richardson has died from a head injury. On Monday, March 16, 2009 she fell a ski slope, hit her head, but seemed to be ok afterward. Since the fall seemed like a minor one, she didn't think she needed to go to the hospital. Unfortunately, if she had received medical care right away, the injury she suffered could have been treated. The type of blow to the head she sustained allows an artery to freely pump blood directly into the brain—it pools and creates pressure, which is not always fatal if it is quickly relieved. When this type of injury occurs, the victim can be lucid – walking and talking for a short period of time, which is why this syndrome is often called "Talk and Die." When the swelling and pressure between the brain and skull have nowhere to go, the victim will soon lose that cognizance and die without treatment.

In the first line of this blog, I said there was a correlation with my own life in this news. The Sunday before Natasha Richardson fell and hit her head on the Canadian ski slope, I hit my head on a metal bracket under a shelf in my home office. I was bent over a file cabinet and stood up too quickly before I'd cleared my way from under the shelves. At first, I was lucid and operated normally for a few moments, while complaining my head and neck hurt. Then, I started to say strange words like, "rainbow, bubblegum, and bologna," for no reason. When Nathan started asking if I was ok, I responded with nonsense statements. He asked me to recite the alphabet. I got stuck at E, F, G, H, and kept re-looping back to A.

He said someone, like the paramedics should come and take a look at me. I didn't want that, nor did I want to go to the hospital. My head wasn't working the way it should have though, and Nathan knew this. So, he made the call. He told the 911 operator the situation, and that he wasn't sure if I had to go to the hospital but he wanted someone to check me out. When the paramedics arrived, they asked him my normal range of intellect. He said, "this woman has two Master's degrees and right now, she can't say the alphabet." I remember hearing the alarm in his voice, which is I'm sure is accurate. However, my scrambled brain also distinctly remembers the two men discussing the topic of windsurfing, which never happened. The trip to the hospital and my time there was filled with more odd words like, "cocker spaniel, driftwood, tequila," and others I don't remember. I'm thankful they weren't embarrassing or swear words.

I've still got a pretty good sized lump on my head and a headache that seems to have taken up residence. The doctors said that just like any other part of the body, the brain can be bruised and it will take some time to heal. I have a mild concussion but no bleeding or swelling in my brain. My family and I are very grateful for that and for the fact that Nathan made the choice to call 911. If we'd have read about Natasha Richardson the day after my head injury without my having gone to the hospital, we'd probably be alarmed…freaking out is more like it.

Now, I can only say that my thoughts go out to Natasha Richardson's family. Liam Neeson has lost his wife, their children have lost their mother. Vanessa Redgrave has lost a daughter -- which every parent says is something that no parent should have to experience…children are supposed to go after the parents. Joely Richardson has lost her sister, and that's a pain I'll never know.

I'm so sorry Natasha Richardson didn't have her own Nathan with her the day she hit her head, to force her to get treatment. I'm sure if Liam had been with her…he would have. That's what our men do when we can't, or don't know how to do what is best for ourselves. Sometimes it turns out to be the right decision. If we've hit it lucky, he's the kind who steps in gently, then doesn't crow like a rooster from being right. I'm one of the lucky ones, because in my case, he's almost always spot on and he's never a cock about it.

Rest Without Pain
Natasha Richardson
1963 - 2009

Can Social Media Make You a Victim?

Today's social media world has nurtured a landscape in which a level of camaraderie develops online that normally wouldn't be felt in person. Often, a person's identity and information is available because of their business and their desire to gain new clientele. But, when is too much information – too much? When you're writing about being in the airport on Twitter, the world suddenly knows you're not at home. If any of the "pals" you've made along the way know you're single, live alone, and run a business from your home – the fact that a house with office equipment is empty of its occupant has just been released to the world.

So, how can Twitter, or other social media go really bad? This past week, I've talked about stalking a few times. These new means of instant communication are an easy way for someone with ill intentions to gather enough information, to stalk a person and plan a physical attack, harass them, or vandalize their property.

Here's an easy one, the wealthy business person mentions taking the kids to soccer. A few days later mentions going on a trip overseas — have you seen the movie "Taken?" If not, just think kidnapping or some other harm to the partner left at home. Another scenario: men and women, who discuss their toys: jet skis, motorcycles, convertibles, and then Twitter about being away from the house on a trip, or simply at the kid's recital, soccer practice, baseball game, etc. Bye-bye toys. Finding out where someone lives is not hard to do, Polaris systems make looking up anyone's real estate property easier than looking up their phone number. Plus, with the telecommuting capabilities of today, many of us work from home and use our home and business address interchangeably. Again, it's easy for the wrong person with dark motives to find a victim.

Take a clue from some of the stalking prevention tips I gave out over the last few days. Use a post office box or a package and box rental service that will give you an actual physical address. Many of the newer UPS stores are doing this in lieu of PO Box numbers as they know packages are often undeliverable without a physical street address. Plus, a business looks more legitimate with a street address as opposed to a PO Box.

Most people using social media services and tools, have the right intentions and are using them for business networking purposes and to build a list of potential clients. However, for the small percentage of people with the wrong motivations, these tools also have the ability help build their list of potential victims.