What’s your take on BP and the Gulf of Mexico spill?

Posted moments ago on the PRSA Dallas LinkedIn group:

Crisis communications counselors et al., I’d like to hear your opinions regarding BP and the situation in the Gulf of Mexico.

I hadn’t visited the BP website until a friend’s email arrived Wednesday evening. That note contained a link to a video that is one element of BP’s response.

The speaker in the May 24 Tech Update video is Kent Wells, BP’s senior VP, exploration and production. The video runs 13:02.

BP has devoted its home page to its Gulf of Mexico response.

You’ll find links there to the company’s Twitter account and a Facebook page: “Deepwater Horizon Response.”

The Facebook page has 25,324 “fans.” The Twitter account has 6,594 followers, and it offers SMS updates.

This is a tragic and serious situation, but it will make a memorable and instructive case study.

Blue Bell Ice Cream: the dilemma of leftovers

The only problem with Blue Bell ice cream is having leftovers. If you don’t let that stuff go to waste, it’ll surely go to waist.

— Richard A. Solomon

That’s how I responded to high-school friend Tom Mills’ paean to Blue Bell’s supreme and unchallengeable goodness.

Tom had written to comment on my news flash that Texas soon will be getting its first taste of California’s In-N-Out Burger empire.

The storied chain’s first location in the Lone Star State will be in Garland’s Firewheel Town Center, just 15 miles from home.

Tom wrote:

In-N-Out burgers are pretty good, but if someone says that opening a location in Garland is going to change their life, it must not have been much of a life to begin with.

It’s sort of like what Jeff Foxworthy says: “If an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger, changed your life, you might be a redneck.”

Now bringing Blue Bell to California, THAT would be a life changing experience.

Blue Bell, which comes from the little creamery in Brenham, Texas, backs up with every bite its claim of being The Best Ice Cream in the Country.

They even wrote a book about this delicious stuff: Blue Bell Ice Cream: A Century at the Little Creamery in Brenham, Texas; 1907–2007, by Dorothy McLeod MacInerney. The book’s cover is shown above.

If you haven’t tried Blue Bell, you owe yourself a taste.

And if In-N-Out is as good as it’s reputed to be, they should take a look at Blue Bell before they choose an ice cream supplier.

40 years ago today, an F5 tornado struck Lubbock

On May 11, 1970, at 8:30 p.m. an F5 tornado roared through portions of Lubbock, Texas. The storm killed 26 in the city of 149,000, injured hundreds and, according to the National Weather Service, did approximately $250 million in damage. That amount is equal to about $1.25 billion in 2005 dollars.

Jeff Klotzman and Jim Douglass of Lubbock radio station KJTV-AM (950) discussed the storm and its aftermath on the air this morning with experts and survivors.

News coverage of the tornado from The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal is available at Lubbock Online.

After the tornado Texas Tech University established the Wind Science and Engineering (WISE) Research Center at its Lubbock campus.

Focusing on multidisciplinary, wind-related research, education and information outreach, the center works to exploit the useful qualities of wind and mitigate its detrimental effects.

According to Wikipedia, the center led the effort to develop the Enhanced Fujita scale (EF scale), which has been used in the United States since 2007 to rate the strength of tornadoes.

The EF scale replaced the Fujita scale introduced in 1971 by Dr. Tetsuya Theodore (Ted) Fujita of the University of Chicago.

The Enhanced Fujita scale was developed from 2000 to 2004 by the WISE Center's Fujita Scale Enhancement Project, which brought together dozens of meteorologists and civil engineers.

More information on the Enhanced Fujita scale is available from the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center.

May 8 is V-E Day

Today, May 8, marks the 65th anniversary of V-E Day, the day the Allies accepted Germany's surrender. Take time to remember the commitment and sacrifice of those who served ... and the contributions and support of those who remained at home. Without their efforts our world would be a very different place. Find a way to express your appreciation for their efforts ... and for the freedom we enjoy today.

Something delicious this way comes?

Judging by aroma alone, there’s something delicious about Purina Whisker Lickin’s® Brand Tender Moments® Soft & Delicious Salmon Flavor cat treats.

Of course, that’s why we don’t judge things by aroma alone.

Recent ads by big companies go awry, spark controversy

Mercy, how I love advertising.

Good ads. Bad ads. Even mediocre ads ... yep, even the awful and the bland give me something to consider.

What do I like? What would I change? What were they thinking?

Speaking of what were they thinking? ... here are three recent ads that are in the news because some viewers or readers have found them controversial:

Recent ads by big companies go awry, spark controversy

• Burger King's "The King's Gone Crazy" campaign
  
• Nike's Tiger Woods comeback ads
  
• POM's "Cheat Death" campaign
  

Thanks to the sometimes-controversial Brett Michael Dykes and Yahoo's blog, The Newsroom.

And, say, Will Rogers: I love you, man, and I know where you're coming from, but we need to talk.

Searching for a Green Job?

Green Jobs Panel, Resources, Employers at Live Green Expo in Plano
April 17, 2010

From http://livegreenexpo.net/

The American dream is turning GREEN as the U.S. shifts its priorities to include climate change and sustainable energy policies. Publicly traded companies, private corporations, colleges and universities, non-profits and government institutions are all responding to this shift by creating new opportunities for you!

North Texans interested in finding out more about green-collar jobs should plan to meet at the Live Green Expo to learn more about this evolution in the job market. The Expo will host a green job panel to define the term "green-collar job" and provide resources for those looking for training and development. Our panel includes Ruben Johnson of Cedar Valley College, Sidney Bolfing of the Texas Renewable Energy Consortium, Jyl Dehaven, Chief Sustainability Officer for Prism3 Solutions and Dr. Eric Woodroof of Profitable Green Solutions.

Additional companies looking to hire will be on-site to meet and greet Expo attendees and answer questions. Continuing Education Units (CEU) will be provided to those registering on-site for this educational program.

April 17, 2010 • 9am - 7pm • Free Admission
Plano Centre • 2000 E. Spring Creek Pkwy. • Plano, TX 75074



Volunteer at Live Green Expo

The Live Green Expo is ready to recruit and train more than 600 volunteers! "We welcome volunteers from all walks of life -- concerned individuals, friends, families, scouts, employees and school groups -- volunteering together to make a difference for North Texas," says volunteer coordinator Deb Bliss. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Deb Bliss at (972) 769-4313 or volunteer@livegreenexpo.net.

View the variety of volunteer activities available at http://www.j.mp/4yFmIS.