It’s a simple story with a happy ending.
Ten days ago, Maker’s Mark Distillery announced plans to reduce the alcohol content in its popular bourbon. Intent was to stretch the supply by about 6% to meet surging demand. They would do it by watering down the whiskey.
This decision to place quantity ahead a quality is one that surprised some people and shocked others. Continue reading
After 21 years of grading other people’s work, I thought it might be fun to turn the tables.
Bob Batchelor
In this post, I grade my own work and that of my teammates in the Kent State Online Master’s in Public Relations. Those teammates, Bob Batchelor and Gene Sasso, developed the curriculum, the architecture and the vision over a 3-year span. I consulted on curriculum and created two of the courses in my supporting role. Continue reading
Don’t read too much into this post. It one of those “It occurs to me” things that pop up over morning coffee and the newspaper. ___________________________________________
The past decade hasn’t been kind to mainstream media in the USA, and that’s hardly news. When advertising revenues began to evaporate, so did money to pay real journalists who dig for the real stories. When I open my morning newspaper today (I still subscribe to one) I see one of three things: Continue reading
They say bloggers fall into two categories: linkers and thinkers. I’m a thinker. Or at least I think I am. Therefore, I am.
But today I don’t feel like thinking. I just want to share a couple of fun stories that might make you laugh, groan and/or roll your eyes. It’s today’s edition of “30 days, 30 thoughts.” Continue reading
In love and in politics, it’s long been the practice to tell your “target audience” what they want to hear. And there is an upside: Just before you get screwed, at least someone promises to love you in the morning.
Mitt Romney’s “47 Percent” speech (Do I even need a link here?) handed us something hot and sexy. And today, the orgy continues needing no more help from Mother Jones. Continue reading
Sometimes I think I’m living in a Dilbert comic strip. You know what I mean. Everything the pointy-haired boss says makes no sense, and all new policies sound like they were developed in Elbonia. Continue reading
You’ve all heard the warnings about charity telemarketers. And you probably know that these paid solicitors keep a disproportionate amount the monies they raise for charity.
But these companies do provide jobs, and in our rustbelt town of Akron, Ohio, one telemarketer provides even more. Infocision Management is the name sponsor of the new $61-milliion football stadium at Akron U and a frequent supporter of local charities and institutions.
I never intended to launch this blog on the 5th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. I mean, who would want any anniversary to coincide with a tragedy? Continue reading
Since I began creating and teaching courses in Kent State’s Online PR Master’s last year, I’ve been eager to share my experiences here on the blog. But I haven’t had the time.
Since our “baby” was born in January 2011, it’s pretty much taken over my life and the lives of my colleagues, Bob Batchelor and Gene Sasso. Bob is the architect of the academic side, Gene the organizational/administrative side. They’re a kick-ass team, though they don’t sleep much. Continue reading
My wife and I are enjoying a romantic weekend in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (which includes two nights at the lovely Inn at Brandywine Falls), taking long hikes and even longer bike rides.
You didn’t know Ohio had a national park? Most folks don’t. Yet CVNP ranks among the 10 most visited parks in the NPS system. Continue reading