This is just amazing. ‘Nuff said!
Continue readingGreat Marketing Advice
I happen to be an avid reader of everything PR/marketing related. Here are a few great articles that have come in handy lately:
The Ingredients of a Marketing Plan
15 Email Marketing Tips for Small Businesses
12 Ways to Increase Online Sales
5 Daily Habits for Effective Social Media Marketing
What have you been reading?!
Two Hours without Technology: A Personal Journey
“For many Americans wilderness stands as the last remaining place where civilization, that all too human disease, has not fully infected the earth. It is an island in the polluted sea of urban-industrial modernity, the one place we can turn for escape from our own too-muchness” (Cronon, 1995, p. 1).
But, about 250 years prior to this notion most were not looking for what we now consider “the wilderness experience” (Cronon, 1995, p.1). Wilderness, by the 18th century definition was essentially “barren,” “waste,” or just “deserted” (Cronon, 1995, p.1). Moving on to the early-mid 1900s, Marafiote (2008) suggests that American citizens believing in the American Dream changed the term drastically. Citizens began making the move for consumerism and cultural progress after significant technological advances in instigated by World War II (Marafiote, 2008). Thus, post-war not only increased America’s economic prosperity but also created more and more leisure time for middle and upper class citizens (Marafiote, 2008). As a result, Americans created excursions for vacations where one could go back into the wilderness “to get away from it all.”
Today, the clash between wilderness and technological advancements are stronger than ever before. I am even beginning to feel the tug… As of late, I use the internet for everything from groceries to communicating with family, watch television for at least a few hours a day and use my cell phone more frequently than not. But, every once in a while I miss my life before internet, television (and not to be forgotten- the invention of the cell phone). I missed the days of being a carefree teenager who could walk to Lake Washington from home and sit for hours. No noise. No people. Just silence.
Lake Washington and the staircase three blocks from my childhood home.
In protest, I decided to go sans technology and “into the wilderness” for two hours. So my fiancé, Jeff, and I took a 30 minute drive out to Snoqualmie Falls- a place I had never explored. Nonetheless, there I was on a Saturday morning in a parking lot full of cars from Canada. I noted the waterfall in the background and the Salish Lodge, which was conveniently within walking distance and almost on top of the waterfall itself. Just as Cronon (2008) states, there are various pockets of American now considered “wild beauty”- and this seems to be one of them. Walking in the opposite direction of the crowds, Jeff and I ended up finding a quiet spot underneath a tree to sit. Looking in the distance, it became obvious that not only as humans do we like to control nature (i.e. cutting down trees to build a lodge and modern amenities), but that nature can also be super profitable (i.e. putting your lodge right next to a huge waterfall).
After about 30 minutes of silence, a child screeches in the background. My peace of mind and the silence was over. And I will not lie, the first few minutes was not the most peaceful nor was it entirely horrible either. The rest of the hour and a half Jeff and I made small talk without a cell phone interruption- something we hadn’t done in a while. When the technology protest was over we enjoyed the view of the falls together. However, I was also sad to find out that the trail to the bottom of the waterfall was closed due to “redevelopment” and new “enhancements” to come in 2013. Have we come to a point in history where wilderness alone is considered primitive in comparison to human constructions? Until this day, I still don’t have clue as to what these “enhancements” truly pertain. Maybe the state decided the falls needed a picnic area at the bottom. Or as Marafiote (2008) shares, in the dualism between wilderness and technology, the civilized look towards progress while primitivity is seen as the untainted.
“No one spends twenty-four hours a day watching television…And almost no one spends much time alone outdoors—the hermit tradition,” (McKibben, 1993, p. 10).
What I did find out was that Puget Sound Energy (PSE) has been using the falls for a renewable energy source since the late 1890s with the start of the Puget Sound Energy’s Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Project (PSE, 2011). According to the PSE website, Snoqualmie Falls is the home to one of the oldest hydropower facilities and the first company in the world to have “a hydroelectric plant built completely underground (PSE, 2011).” As of today, PSE customers continue to receive a renewable energy source between two powerhouses generating around 44 megawatts of electricity (2011). Thus making Snoqualmie Falls the perfect blend of modern technology and wilderness.
Overall, it seems I have found the in-between. Those who come to the Salish Lodge want the best of most worlds- modern amenities so close to the wilderness, as defined by Cronon (1995). Yet, according to McKibben, the transition from natural sources to technological ones is almost complete (1993, p.10). So while the wilderness technology dualism mixed with cultural constructions of nature seemed to have shaped many thoughts and for the most part have denied any middle ground. However, the middle ground is where we live-“all of us, in our different places and ways—mak[ing] our homes” (Cronon, 1995). I have a feeling that Cronon is on to something. Snoqualmie has shown me that there can be balance but only if you care to look for it.
References
Cronon, W. (1995). The trouble with wilderness; or, getting back to the wrong nature. In W. Cronon (Ed.), Uncommon ground: Rethinking the human place in nature (pp.69-90). New York: W. W. Norton & Co. Retrived from http://www.williamcronon.net/writing/Trouble_with_Wilderness_Main.html
Marafiote, T. (2008). The American Dream: Technology, tourism, and the transformation of wilderness. environmental communication, 2(2), 154-172. doi:10.1080/17524030802141737
McKibben, B. (1993). Daybreak. In The Age of Missing Information (pp.8-36). New York, New York: The Penguin Group.
Puget Sound Energy (2011). Visit Snoqualmie Falls. Retrieved from http://www.pse.com/aboutpse/ToursandRecreation/Pages/Snoqualmie-Tours.aspx on July 31, 2011.
Makeup Tip #2- Winterize Your Skin
The wind is blowing, snow is falling and it is beginning to feel a lot like a winter wonderland. But, a change in temperature also means a change in how you should take care of your skin. Utilize these seven tips to have a hot bod all winter long.
+Keep showers short. I am a lover of long, hot showers, but the winter cold sucks the moisture out of your skin. Shorter shower with lukewarm water and bath oil helps to retain some of the moisture.
+ Exfoliate (but not more than twice a week). Now that the heat is cranked up in the house there is less humidity and that can make your skin extremely dry.
+ Pat your skin dry after taking a shower. By leaving your skin slightly wetyour skin will retain more of its own oils.
+ Wear layers. Make sure to shield your skin by wearing a long-sleeved cotton shirt underneath your Sweater. Sometimes the fibers in your clothing dry out your skin, especially in the winter months.
+ Don’t forget the sunscreen. The sun shines all year long so if you plan on going outside sun protection is a must.
+ Put down the scented lotion. Fragrances in your lotion may cause itchy, dry skin. Buy products that use natural scents.
+ Drink water. Your skin will be happy and healthy if it remains hydrated. Customize your water intake by dividing your weight in half.
Example: A person who weighs 140 pounds should drink 70oz (or 8.75 cups of water).
Need help collecting these items? Here is a winter tool kit made just for you!
1. Julep Pink Grapefruit Body Frosting
2. Julep Daylight Defense Lip Balm SPF 15
3. Julep Daylight Defense for Hands & Face SPF 30
Posh Parkas
The next few months will be chiller than ever so why look drab and shapeless in your winter wares. Parkas with a cinched waist can keep a girl looking flirty and fun. Here are a few of my favorites:
1. Tall Fur-lined Parka Jacket, Topshop
2. Parajumpers Kodiak Parka in Red, Stanwells
3. ‘Howenda’ parka by Malene Birger, Farfetch
4. Brown Long Sleeve Drawstring Waist Zipper Pockets Coat, SheInside
5. H&M Parka, H&M
Being Privileged in America: The Internet as a Right
At the age of eight, I discovered the Internet.
I remember looking at the shelf next to the sliding doors of my neighborhood grocery store and grabbing a bright blue AOL disc container. Subsequently, the car ride home was filled with incessant whines to unload the disc’s contents onto the family computer. But, my Mother was not interested in children using the Internet. It was not until day four of my whine fest that my Father broke down, downloaded the AOL program and set up the child lock. My eyes grew big as I watched the three step system connect me to the web. Even the sound of the dial-up connection was magical. It was then that my life of unlimited internet access had begun. During the course of a few weeks, I had mastered the AOL system- I was able to talk to my friends, go shopping, and do my homework quicker than ever before. The world was in the palm of my hand.
“There’s more to technology than technology. It’s human communication and what we do with our technology that really counts… It’s all about the transformation of our patterns of social interaction- how we live and work through, with and around the technology” (Thurlow, Lengel & Tomic, 2007, p.2). Image Source.
About ten years later, as a freshman in high school I came to the realization that the Internet was more than a tool I had the ability to use every day. In the world of technology, innovation may achieve advancement for some, while undoing the advancement for others. And, what is known as the Digital Divide can further explain this notion. Norris (2001) explains the Digital Divide as, “The difference in the kinds of information and communication technologies to which people have access” (as cited in Howard, Busch & Sheets, 2010, p. 110). Furthermore, in the 1990s, the Digital Divide was based on technological aspects (Howard & et al, 2010). Many found that the connection was slow and could be easily lost (Howard & et al, 2010). But, today the digital divide is measured by Internet use per capita (Howard & et al, 2010). So while technology is an effective tool for those who have access to it, the power of this tool has yet to reach those who really need them (Menschel, 2011; Postman, 1993; Thurlow & et al, 2007).
Nonetheless, I now wonder how can any person who has unlimited Internet access not take action? What is the true power that the Internet holds? And why can’t everyone has access? I always felt that it was safe to assume that those who did not have the same access to technology I have were those outside of the United States. But, American students do not all have unlimited access to the internet compared to those in other parts of America (Howard & et al, 2010; Menschel, 2011). According to Howard & et al, the divide in the U.S stems from the lack of access by virtue of income, education, or geographical location (2010). Internet service providers have decided to skimp on setting up infrastructures in rural areas, where companies believe that many will not pay for or cannot afford the services they provide (Howard & et al, 2010, p.116).
So what is the solution? The ability to have access to a wealth of knowledge should be a right. Yet, Postman reminds me that, “Every technology is both a burden and a blessing; not either-or, but this-and-that” (1993, p.5). Therefore, in this moment, I feel confident in saying that that Internet still is a privilege and the only way that this will change is through government policy. The American people, along with all other countries, need to find a way to make technology accessible to all. This way everyone can feel like they have the world in their hand.
References
Howard, P. N., Busch, L., & Sheets, P. (2010). Comparing digital divides: Internet access and social inequality in Canada and the United States. Canadian Journal of Communication, 35(1), 109-128.
Menschel, B. (2011). One web to unite us all: Bridging the digital divide. Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal, 29(1), 143-177.
Postman, N. (1993). Technopoly: The surrender of culture to technology. New York: Vintage Books.
Thurlow, C., Lengel, L., & Tomic, A. (2007). Computer mediated communication: Social interaction and the internet. London, England: Sage Publications.
PR Working Wonders
Have you seen How PR Helped Me Through a Breakup?
Best. Thing. Since. Sliced. Bread!
What are your thoughts?!
There is ALWAYS more to learn
I must say that I have learned a lot over the past sevenish months:
1.) Sometimes being an intern means doing odd errands- like going to the store for coffee or magazines.
2.) Nonprofits are great places to get experience. Every nonprofit I have worked at has let me do REAL WORK. I get to run social media campaigns (which is awesome), write press releases that ACTUALLY go to the press, and pitch stories to actual people. How is THAT for experience!
3.) Staying somewhere for more than six months isn’t necessary- unless you are still in school, loooove the work, or you are still learning new things!
4.) It is way easier to find unpaid internships then paid- go figure!
5.) When you actually ask someone if you can attempt doing something people are very willingly to say, “Yes, give it a try!”
What have your internships been like? What have you learned? And what is the next step in your career?
She Said What?!
Image Found On: http://www.egajones.com/2011/07/how-to-feel-glamorous/
“Reality check: PR is not glamorous. If that’s in your top five reasons for entering the industry, you had better change directions now.” –Jennifer Nichols
.PRimped. 