Twitter Crushes?

This past week The Toronto Star ran a story "Tweet Hearts". Which lead me to thinking, yes most dangerous for me to do;) In today's social medial world where do you met new people?

Everyone is busy in today's world: school, work, other activities. So how do you fit in the time to met new people?

Facebook is a great place to re-connect with old friends. And at times to met new people. Facebook is more for people you have already met in the real world and to keep in contact with.

However the best place to met new people is on Twitter. It is a less formal and you can find like minded people. On Twitter you for go the usual preconceptions of how you meet people. There is some work in getting to know people. It takes time to work through all the feeds yet worth while when you find a core group of awesome people.

Through tweeting with people you do find that you do 'chat' with certain core group of people And at times these tweets can lead to more f a relationship. Yet you do have to remember there are still the unwritten rules of conversations. Plus you wish to always present yourself as how you are.Always the best policy to be yourself, be truthful and honest. Because everyone can read your feed! Including any future employers.

So go out have fun, met some new people and see where it leads you.

May the Force Be With Katie

This week was Ant-Bullying Week.
The biggest story I heard was of Katie from Chicago. She is a first grader that got bullied for all things a water bottle. However not just any water bottle mind you but one that was Star Wars.
This of course went absolutely viral. Why? Because Star Wars fans are a community that cares.
See this story also resonated with many people, including me. For as geeks we have always been that slightly different person in school. We didn't dress, read, watch television/movies quite like our fellow classmates. I even today is teased for my love of the Universe far far away. Yet I have learned and accepted that this is who I am. That what others think of that, I do not mind. At lest it's a safe hobby/addiction.
However, I one thing I found out about this love of mine, is that I am not alone. I have found some of the most awesome people that also love it as much if not more than me. This is what Katie and her family has found out this week.
The other reason why this story had an effect on me was that I too am a fan grrl. Which did bring another set of teasing. Girls just should not like Star Wars. This has also lead to a small fact that I have more guy friends than girl friends. Just on the base that not many girls will admit to their love like I do or just out grew the love because of teasing.
And with the television show The Clone Wars there will be more fan grrls showing their love!
So this week and on every day for that matter we should embrace our differences and support that differences in others. Life and this world would be truly boring if we were all the same.
So support girls in their love of all things geek, especially Star Wars;)
Other great articles about this: Death Star PR and the Queen of fangrrl Bonnie Barton and TCW own Princess Ashley Eckstein
Also I read on a friend's blog (my bad can't remember where) That maybe we all should wear purple light sabers in support of Katie and anti-Bullying. I know I'm going to make up a pin for my support of this:)

Remember: The Force will be with you always!

National Philanthropy Day

On Wednesday, November 17, our class, Loyalist PR, spend the day in Kingston for National Philanthropy Day.
Started with the guest speaker John Cairns. A truly inspirational speaker. After which we broke up into out groups to participate in the different sessions.
First up was 'saying Thank You - Stewardship'. This session was given by Pamela Shanks. Ms shanks was a very interesting speaker on this subject. This enhanced what we learned in our class.
After a short break sat in the session of 'What's Hot, what's not' given by Taslim Somari. She talked mostly how your organization could use social media,especially Facebook and You Tube, to promote your organization.
In this session got the most interaction by one question: 'So what?'
It appears that a certain percentage of the fund raising population, has yet to grasp the importance of this medium to reach new, younger demographic.The other remake was 'well we don't need $5 donations'. Total miss on understanding the younger, first time donor demographic.
This is the one speaker I found that lacked depth. However, this could be due to the time and questions that steered the talk off target.
In this session, I learned that organizations need to grasp that whatever social media is out there. They need to understand the sufficient. If they do not know how to use this medium then they need someone that does.
After the lunch and awards, half of headed to a special session for our class. Here we learned more Stewardship form Heather Smith: Gift Planning with the amazing Liz Dobbs-Jones: and Major gift Fund Raising with Beth McCarthy.
After this afternoon, we headed home. It was a very interesting day. Even though we learned most in class, it was informative to hear others speak of their experiences.
However, the one thing I learned was the lack of interest of the importance of social media. I noticed the lack of wanting top understand SM impact and how it will benefit Non-For Profit.
Another comment that was expressed was why we, PR students, were there. This was a total lack of understanding the importance of good communicator.
I found that the local groups need to understand and accept new ideas because it will all benefit the organizations and the people they help.

Filters

I had a conversation with my classmate, Steph on how high performance athletes need media training. That they have troubles speaking to and with the media..
They more than ever are not only athletes but brand ambassadors of their respected teams. However, they need the training not only in speaking to members of the media, but how to conduct themselves in all social media.For more and more are finding themselves called on their behaviour or what they have said.

A few athletes have either tweeted inappropriately or have been called out on Twitter.
If athletes behave as professionals, they will also perform better. Especially if on a team. This is important to forming team bonds.
Athletes must, however, remember their fans. Most of which is children. This I think is lost on some.
I have been around high performance athletes, and know how they think and act. So in SM based world, athletes live in a crystal clear fishbowl with everyone watching.
SRC Magazine, a Canadian ski magazine article: Norwegian Gentleman vs American Brat - Who will prevail in WC'11. This article pits American bad boy Bode Miller against Norwegian superstar Askel Lund Svindal. It points out that same fans are drawn to the bad boy.
Some attitude is fine, goes to that fight spirit that makes them great athletes.
Sport's teams need to have a cohesive team look and need an unified image to present to the media and public. For right now some teams have problems with some players on overall team moral.
Until the athletes start listening to the PR people some will still get into socially awkward situations. Also they need to engage their own personal brain-mouth filter as well.

Respect

To me three words always come to my mind: understanding, listening, and love.

Facebook are friends you wish were strangers. Twitter are strangers you wish were friends.

This week while perusing the Twitterverse. I came across one tweet that was poking fun about social media. This was not tweeted by the person, it was told to them.
Strange as this is, it's not the first time I have heard this. I have friends that don't understand my fascination with my social media sites, especially Twitter.
I have already told everyone why I got onto Twitter. Yet I find myself spending time defending myself about it. Facebook has become not so much a boring place. Only because of my cool Tweeps/classmates have joined me.
I have noticed that many of my friends that don't get it, especially Twitter and some extent blogging, are over a certain age. And the most part not an outgoing social group. In the way they stay within their clique and don't meet many new people.
They don't understand that Twitter has become a strong influential networking place, for both business and socially. I have seen this with many of my classmates. Yet, when you try to inform them they don't believe you are telling them the truth. They parrot back back that why would they want to tell everyone what they are doing or where they are every five minutes of the day? When you go to explain that Twitter has evolved beyond this, they shut down and don't want to hear anymore.
The odd thing is that this does not happen just to my friends but to business executives. This whole new medium is a foreign land/language to many. However, it's an important one for it has the possibility of your message reaching out to a whole new audience.
It is good that we are being taught about it all in school.And that employers are realizing thatthey need employees with these skills.
However, I do think we need more time in class with more hands on with this subject. I have heard this from some of my fellow classmates that may not have had any contact with the mediums. Or need a bit more time with those that have, to be more comfortable with all this new Verse of the Interweb. This will lead to a stronger skill set in all of the class.
For without the actual hands on, dive feet first into social media like Twitter can a person truly understand it's impact on people and our lives?

It's a job you only get one mistake in

This past Friday The Toronto Star published a story on the causality list from 2008. This got me to thinking about a question: Do we need to know this?
Why I ask such a question is that I have always believed that information about the military should be 'need to know'. And as a civilian I don't need to know every detail of the military. Yes I am naive about this I guess.
In this information age do we really need to know every piece of information especially when it comes to the military. This posses a public relations nightmare for The Canadian Armed Forces.

I grew up with both my grandfather and uncle servicing in the military.   My grandfather served in WWII and my uncle was a PeaceKeeper for 32 years plus 10 years as a civilian contractor. My grandfather total me the time he spent during the war in the last few months before he past. My uncle never talked about 95% of what he did. I knew he was a munitions technician. That my uncle's job was to disarm all manner of explosive devices. What and where my uncle was deployed will always be a mystery to me and my family. Don't get me wrong we were worried when he was deployed. But had faith that he would do his job and that what he did was bettering our world.
I do believe that the military needs to operate in some black area. That they are only accountable to a oversight committee. They need the support and ability to conduct the duties of a military force. Canada does need to return to the PeaceKeeping heritage that we are known through out  the world for.
The news that disturbed me about the military was that when my uncle retired he was not considered a veteran. Because he did not service in an active war. Yet he serviced in every major PeaceKeeping theater in his 32 years. Even the troops fighting in Afghanistan had to fight Ottawa to get veteran status.   
I do live in a social media world but I still do not need to know every little bit of information about our military. Because most of it will never change. We need to let the military run the military. And if this means keeping certain information to themselves then so be it. Because they only thing really we need to know is that they are there and doing their jobs. The other thing need to be understood it that the military is different to us civilians. They live in a different world with different code of conduct that we can not come close to understanding.
The thought just came to me the job my uncle did and PR is much the same  philosophy: You only get one mistake in it. One chance to do the correct and effective job.
                                                             

Twitter 102

To expand on my post Twitter 101, today's post is about interacting on Twitter and Facebook. This was in-lieu of a question I was asked earlier this week. 'How do you interact with people?'
Well, you just do! At lest that's what I do. I make comments to what others say that I follow. I make it revant to the topic. I also ask questions.
Another thing you can so, is also comment on the person' blog. Should use your Twitter screen name and avatar picture. If on Facebook have the same profile picture as your Twitter avatar. This will let whom you are commenting get to know who you are.
The thing to remember is to follow people with the similar interests and comment on what you know. Even with the anonymity of the interweb, my advice is to be true to who you are.
I don't say go out and tell everything about yourself. Tweet and comment as you would in the real world. You do get a sense of people once you banter back and forth with them. I should know this well. I have gotten into some of the most interesting and best conversation with people.
When you make your own 'what's happening?' Do make it interesting. This will let people get a sense of you. They can also tell this by who you follow.
Another thing to remember when you do reply a comment or question don't except an instant tweet or comment back. Some of the people you follow have many followers and following many themselves. Plus have a busy real world life. So it will take time. This is were being interesting, creative and knowledgeable comes in.
I can speak from experience how this can be. However, if you are a great admirer of this person it can be  euphoric when you get that acknowledgment.
After sometime you will find that there are a few people that you tweet often with. This can lead to being friends.
This has happened with me. All are awesome people and glad to have gotten to know them. I treasure their continuing friendship.
So with perseverance and savvy you can make the best of both Twitter and Facebook. And met some awesome people.
Best of Luck.
Any questions feel free to ask (please)

Randomness #2

To Dude or To Bub
Why do guys love to call you dude?
Ms Lauren O'Nizzle posed this question the other night on Twitter. (She is awesome and you should totally follow her) I have just started to wonder about this. Me, I prefer to use Bub. It's short and to the point. I don't know where I picked up to using this term. But I works for me. Plus it sounds kewl!
While Dude sounds too Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for me. Don't get me wrong I love The TMNT. Big fan since forever. So when a guy calls me this , that's all I think about. That or the surfer dude at the beach.
So I challenge you to think of which term you use. Then to start to used the other for say a day.
However, you won't be getting me to say it, Dude;)

Open House Fall 2010

Was up early again today, which is not unusual for me. However today was different as my PR class was to be volunteering at the school's Open House.
After getting to school and receiving our funky limited edition T-shirt. I was assigned to greet the visitors as the arrived. Oki dai that's right the shy person got to be greeter yet again. Someone is so determine that I am no longer shy around people.
As the first of many buses of high school student arrived I had no time to truly think about anything of my shyness. Yet I did have a fun time with my classmate Grace. She made the day go quickly, fun and not too panicky.
Also my high points of the day: seeing the little chipmunk in the garden
:being called a bouncer, if you know me you understand that I am a small person so not bounce like
: another awesome day to bond with my amazing classmates, talked with some classmates that I had not really chatted with before

But my most fave high point was the lunch. For almost the whole class sat down together to eat. It was like a large family gathering, the green T-shirts kind of had a cohesive look to us all.

Things That Come From the Strangest Places

This horrid drawing is from a conversation I had yesterday with @stnoman on Twitter.
Somehow we chatted about Cat Troopers verses Ewoks.
So last night I had to whip this up.

I apologize. I did fail art back in school;)

What is PR?

We are learning all this in school. Yet, we do PR everyday. For everyone is their own brand, and every conservation we have is PR for ourselves, whether personal or business.
How we dress, act, and present ourselves is in away branding. For everyone has their own style ans personality. A message they like to share with everyone. In today's social media personal branding has become more to the front.

I have found out that I have branded myself, unknowingly. This started on Sunday in August. I made this silly R2 hat for FanExpo I was attending.That day I had my picture taken, the most I have ever had. I put a picture of me with Hat up on Twitter. I have had people recognize me because of it. Six hat(and counting) later they have a small following. Thankx for the support;)
So have I accidentally branded myself? Is it a good brand?
What makes a good brand is how it is managed. I am not into self promotion and do not like to talk about myself. So I have no clue about that. Yet can you over expose a personal style? done correctly I don't believe you can. However, our personal taste changes over time. These days at times very quickly. The faster life is the slower it goes. A classic style is always in vogue.
My great question to this is does online translate into real life and vice verse.
To my own answer is I hope it does. For I am normally shy and do not talk much. Twitter has built my confidence up.At lest with school I have become more engaging.
So thank you and you know who you are;)
With so many Twitter, Facebook, and blogs finding originality is easy. However to keeping yourself in this 'Verse' many be difficult for some. You have to become a stronger person to keep true to yourself. However, when you find yourself in a great group of people they make it easier to be yourself.
If your lost this Verse can help you find yourself. Yet you do have to have a sense of who you are.
So get out and surf, get engage, and find yourself;)

Twitter 101

Since our class on setting up and using Twitter I have had a few of my amazing classmates ask me to help them. So I thought i would write it down.
First a little background. I know the myth is now expelled. (sorry Luke)I have only being online since March and Twitter since April. I joined to follow the skiers. Yes I'm a ski nut! Twitter at this time was the oddest/confusing thing ever. Until I started snooping around. Took me about month. Which lead me into my current groups of friends. And how did I get to this point? Well continue reading. (Please)
First thing about Twitter is signing up. Do you use your real name or like me a screen name. I am a very shy person so I use a screen name. Also it's good to have a pic as your avatar. It took me til august to put an actual pic of me (well sort of). Don't laugh the hats are famous (somewhat) I do apologize for my bad art til then;)
After that you can start to follow people. First try someone you know: a friend/classmate, athlete, celeb, or another interest. Then look into who is following them. Some people tweet as RP - role player of famous character. I started tweeting random thoughts or what was going on. Also replied/retweeted to any of the people I followed when they said something of interest. Yet, as one person I follow states he will only respond to anything that is interesting. So be witty, and on point. Asking questions (intelligent/relevant) does at times get you a reply. Before long you could get into long tweet conversations with a very cool person.
But, always remember to be yourself. Being shy it's hard for me to talk to people. However, Twitter (and some of the people) has helped me to talk with people. And it has lead me to being more open, especially at school. Some of these great people have become friends on Facebook.
Word on followers: to follow them back. My answer is to check them out and if they interests you then do so. I find it also is good to thank those whom follow you.
Twitter is great tool to network with people. I have only used it for more social. Yet it is good for business as well. Well at lest what I have hear.
Social media is the way of the future. Hope this little insight has helped;)

Randomness

The other morning just before class I was showing my Hello Kitty/Boba Fett picture I had. When my classmate Logan asked what I had. So showed him and said my fave character. His answer was 'he is everyone's fave character'. This launched follow classmate Dante to voice that his fave character as Lando. We even got Kyle involved, too.
This got me thinking how random this conversation was that we could sit down for a few minutes to discuss Star Wars. Star Wars can start a conversation with anyone. Plus you can tell a lot about people by the characters they love. I have known a few times heated arguments have come about over certain situations that have been portrayed in the films.
Also this has shown that Star Wars is truly part of the culture. Everyone knows the music to the films. Plus who can forget the quotes: Use the force. May the Force Be with You. Luke, I'm your father. He's no good to me dead. Oh how about this one: Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.
I have found many a people on Twitter and Facebook into the Verse of Star Wars. Some have become good friends in our love of the Galaxy Far Away.
My most fave random SW moment came at the toy store when a father with his son got into playing with the talking Capt. Rex and Anakin figures. We come in all sizes;)

Where is the Social in Social Media

Steaming from a class assignment I got to thinking what social media really means to me, and how I use it.
Facebook was started as a tool to keep in touch with friends and family. Twitter was started as a way to quickly keep in touch with friends. Both mediums has drastically changed in their short life. I did join Facebook so I could keep up with my long distant friends. Then I joined Twitter more to keep up with skiers.Joining Twitter has ballooned and I have met some awesome people there.
However, hard to believe, I'm an extremely shy person that hides behind my fun loving, geeky persona. In using Twitter and Facebook,  I have met some people who has helped me (a few special people, thank you). So viewing them as a means of a business tool is hard. Maybe I look to the mediums naively, as I do everything. What they should be, not what they have become.
I have come across people on Twitter that at first seem like average people then they get into talking of a product or service. These people I do not follow. I find is very intrusive. On Facebook I did not realize the advertisements until I started using the school computers. Guess I have uber security that block all adverts/spam/useless stuff. However, in our society we have advertising everywhere. Why would social media be any different. Yet, Facebook you do have security that you can block your site to only those you invite. Twitter is more open, reason I don't give out too much.  You can choose whom you follow and can see whom follows you. But what you say is out there for all to see and read. With big business gorilla advertising is taking away what these sites are about or were about - connecting with people with like minded interests. Most of the people I have 'met' post blogs and tweet about their jobs. Yet not so much as I would say 'shamelessly plugging' what the do. Some make you actually want to do what they do. I find this very differently from the others that just tweet about their product or service. Which tunes me out. I do follow some organizations and PR firms to get information about what I'm interested in. I do think the best organizations/products are the ones that openly advertise their Twitter/Facebook pages and lets you decide if you wants to follow.
Networking on these sites I'm still trying to figure out. Do not get me wrong I love the people I have met on these sites. Some of the people I would love to sit down with face-to-face to talk. Networking has always been a large part of business, so extending to this medium is inevitable. It comes down to actually figure out how best to use these mediums for you personally.
This blog has me truly thinking. A very public place where strangers read your thoughts. I just wondering if what I say is interesting to others?

What's with the Chicken?

Last night, I along with my PR class went out to see the movie The Social Network. The story of founding Facebook at first did not appeal to me. However, after hearing from some of my Twitter friends of how good it was, I thought maybe I should check this out.
It being Tuesday - cheap night - we decided to meet a tad bit early. Which was good, for it allowed some more time with classmate to get to know each other more.
Sorry for the haunted theatre stories:)
During the trailers noticed two must see upcoming films. The Fighter with Mark Wahlberg & Christian Bale (yes CHRISTIAN BALE!) And The Tourist with Jolie & Depp. (Do I tell mum about this one;-/)
I must say the acting in The SN was amazing. They had the perfect cast for the characters. Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg was truly an awesome performance. Andrew Garfield (the new Spidy) as Eddie Savenin also was amazing. David Finchen directing was brilliant. Without Finchen directing and his brilliant cast, I could say The SN potential would have been in doubt.

What also made the night amazing was the great group of people I was with. Thankx to our awesome profs Kerry and Aaron for taking us out!
I thank @thementalkavity and @seanward for suggesting to see this film!

Class Trip To Toronto

On Wed, 6.Oct my PR class took a small trip to Toronto. After getting up early for students and settled down at the back of the bus. We headed to Tdot. Didn't get much sleep. For some reason, either the bus or the driver, shifting the gears did not go smoothly.
Our first stop of the day was at Steam Whistle Brewery. Where we were introduced to the company by Sybil Taylor, Head of Communications. Then treated to the best tour ever by Shannon.
Next stop was RBC. We were treated to a wonderful, if not interesting, presentation on the Olympic Torch Rely,by the two Jackies and Chathan.
In both these presentations you felt the passion everyone has for their company and what they do. Realizing you too can find a job where you can enjoy going to work everyday.
Our last stop was CBC. First was an honoured moment in meeting with Mr. Peter Mansbridge. Very humble and generous person. He even had a story about not hired by one of our local radio stations.
Then it was time to head upstairs to The George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight studio. this is an experience I will not soon forget. Not because we watched the taping with comedian Jeremy Hotz. Which I must say was an amazing experience. The energy was infectious. You could not help yourself but be in that moment.
As Strombo did his Q&A, you realize a lot of luck came his way. A lesson everyone can incorporate. To take a leap of faith when a new opportunity presents itself. Even when you're not sure of yourself.
However, the experience that will stay with me took place after the taping and Q&A. some of us made our way over to chat with Strombo himself.
Spending that short time you realize he is just like he is on his show. He took his time with each and every one of us. making sure we got photos with him. And genuinely listened to what each of us said. He talked like an old high school friend that had not seen in awhile.
He truly was the most generous ans gracious person I have met.
What I took with me is that everyone that worked on his show seemed to genuinely enjoyed their jobs. You could feel it from everyone you met and saw. Watching interaction with his co-works this comes right from Strombo himself.
Strombo is full of energy and positive attitude that is infestious. Even days later I still fell that energy.
The whole day I hoped that when done school, I will be able to find a job that I will enjoy as much as everyone I met that day.

YouTube - World Equestrian Games Eventing

YouTube - World Equestrian Games Eventing

Why no story?

Today I looked through the Toronto Star to see the story on the Canadian Silver medal win yesterday at The World Equestrian Games. Yet after searching the sports section, nothing.
 There was the story on Workforce winning the l'Arc de Triomphe. This was an European horse winning a race in France. While at WEG this was the first major win for our Eventing team since 1978. And this was a young team as well. This is an amazing feat, for eventing is one of the toughest sports to do. It takes years to train and the competition is held over three days. Plus this is the first time the WEG is held outside of Europe. This year it's held in Lexington, Kentucky.
Now the Canadian Olympic Committee asks why they should give lots of funding to this sport. They don't give results. This with the teams poor record gives the sport no press coverage. This leads to no fans to this exciting sport. However, you would think that Canada winning a silver medal would at lest earn at lest a paragraph in the paper. No wonder eventers do this sport for the love.
With London 2012 coming up, our Equestrian teams will need all of Canada to support them. We do have one of the top show jumping riders and Olympic reigning champion living right here in Ontario. Eric Lamaze is top of his sport but he is not known to the average Canadian.
I hope that the equestrian sports will get the recognition it so deserves.  

The 3D Buzz

I am trying to figure out this 3D thingy. So I'm out of it because I have not seen any of the new 3D films. Main reason none to me have been that interesting. However this week an announcement from The Ranch has that starting in 2012 the Star Wars saga will be released in 3D. One film per year.
Now a lot of people are wondering if this is a cash grab for him. But I don't care about that. What I can't wait for is to see the films, especially the original trilogy, on the big scene. To see all the characters, battles, and Troopers in all their 3D glory. Hoping the new technology will transport me back to being a youngling again.
Now the real cash grab with this 3D technology is James Cameron with his plan to release Titanic in 3D in 2012.
With this announcement, is Cameron just trying to see if Titanic can go head to head with the most money making film franchise in  history. Come now. From the story of Avatar, could the film, without 3D, be the huge film it became.The reason I did not go see Avatar was that the core story did not interest me. (Sorry, Sam Worthington could not even get me to see this.)
I am a Science Fiction fan, so this story was very old news. Plus I just watched an animated film called 'Battle for Terra'. This film same story, but to me more my taste. It was well animated, with a great voice cast. I recommend this film to anyone to see.
Guess we will have to wait and see in 2012 what the verdict will truly be. So I hope to see you in line;) For more information check out Star Wars

Just getting started

I'm hoping that what I have done will be saved.
Wondering if blogging will be interesting?
Rocking right now to MC Chris' Han Solo.
Hope visitors enjoy your stay;)

Beginnings

Welcome to my small piece of the InterWeb.
Hope you enjoy your stay;)