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Olympic Dreamin'

I’m obsessed with the Olympics. Ever since I was a kid (and there were only 3 channels) I become a fan of every sport in the Olympics, wanting to watch nothing but that. Even today, when I have 500 channels and a DVR, the only thing on TV for me during these two weeks is the Olympics.  I had the privilege of being in Atlanta during the 1996 Summer Olympics and, being young and without children at the time, I took great advantage of them.  I can attest that particularly the Jamaicans and Irish absolutely know how to celebrate.
 
In 1996, too, I had many friends in Public Relations working different aspects of the Olympics. Some of it was “grunt work” of handing out flags or client-branded pencils to passerby, but what a great professional experience nevertheless. The atmosphere in the Olympic venues was wonderful.  
 
Here are my favorite Winter Olympic events to watch on TV:

Snowboarding/Half-pipe: OK, so I admit I have a completely age-inappropriate crush on Shaun White ever since that Fast Company cover story last year. But that’s not the only reason I love the sport. It’s just cool. Something I never was. So maybe watching it makes me just a fraction cooler? I watch the X-Games for the same reason. I can’t wait for its Freestyle Snowmobiling to make it to the Olympics!  
 
Biathalon: This sport is simply primal. Shooting at a target, racing through the snow, then shooting at another target. You can just see that the origins of this sport obviously spurred from necessity vs. the want for a game. I can imagine cave men with spears trudging through the snow and tossing spears at the animals for food. But you had to be the fastest and the sharpest shooter to feed your family or the spoils went to someone else.
 
Freestyle Arial: These are the high jump skiers who then flip themselves around in the air and land like they are just getting out of bed, nice and easy. I wish I had the moxie to try a sport like this. But the closest I’ll ever come is the big slide at the playground, I think.
 
Short Track (Speed Skating): This is fun to watch because it’s rock and roll on skates. Roller derby on ice. The bumping, the elbows, the crashes and the occasional bloody gash all make for constant entertainment.
 
The Fashion: I LOVE all the uniforms designed by Ralph Lauren, etc.  The snowboarder pants on the U.S. team this year win, however, for coolest uniform.

What's your favorite winter Olympic sport?

By Kira Perdue

A Decade Shaped by Technology

When I stop and think about it - it startles me to realize how much of my life revolves around technology. From my Verizon Wireless Blackberry to online music database managed by LaLa.com, technology follows me everywhere I go. And I love it. As a creature of habit, influenced by a technologically advanced society, I don’t know how I made it through the day ten years ago when I couldn’t easily access Google on my mobile phone.

Recently eWeek listed out the top 25 technologies that they believe changed the past decade, while admittedly there are some things on the list that 1. I don’t know what they are and 2. I have never heard of before -- there are others that I thank the IT geeks for creating because I don’t want to know life with out them. Some of the more familiar items on the list include:

·            3G Broadband -- allowing me to travel pretty much anywhere and still be able to find out how long it takes to boil an egg or what time it is in China (yes, I’ve done both, thank you again, Google mobile browser)

·            Blackberry -- I think there should be a sonnet called “Ode to Blackberry”

·            Gmail/Google Apps -- as if I haven’t already expressed my love for Google

·            Social Networks -- you make life easier. I now know what my roommate from college who lives 5 states away had for dinner last night. What more could you ask for? But in all seriousness, social networks keep us connected no matter where we are or what we’re doing. Whether it’s a common hobby, working in the same industry or graduating from the same high school -- these social networks allow us to easily keep in touch with all of our different communities.  

·            Twitter -- please see my previous post for my thoughts on Twitter. http://www.pr-speak.com/my_weblog/2009/06/win-them-over-with-a-smile-or-a-tweet-.html

To read eWeek’s complete list of the top 25 technologies that changed the decade check out the article here, http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Enterprise-Applications/25-Technologies-that-Changed-the-Decade-363376/.

So now, what couldn’t you live without?

By Carrie Crabill

February = Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

Girl meets crown prince of some mythical kingdom; they share love’s first kiss and live happily ever after….or so claims the Disney propaganda that’s passed down to children as lessons in love. Unfortunately, they soon learn life’s not a fairytale. Cellar maids don’t become royalty, the world doesn’t spontaneously break out into song and dance, and the prince and princess in stories aren’t always charming.

In real life, one in three teens experience dating violence; and 80% of parents are unaware there’s a problem. Teen dating abuse has become such a large-scale national issue that 10 states (including our own) have passed laws against this type of violence and 14 others are bring up similar legislation. Congress also has taken both notice and action by recently proclaiming February 2010 as “National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.”

Locally, a new awareness campaign – Letter To My Child – is adding fuel to the nationwide movement to increase public awareness by issuing a ‘call to action’ to Georgia parents, asking they play an active role in keeping their dating preteens/teens safe through communication.

Created as an extension of Verizon Wireless’ domestic violence awareness philanthropic platform (HopeLine), Letter To My Child encourages Georgia parents to open up the conversation regarding healthy relationships and defining unhealthy behaviors by sending a letter to their child. To help parents and family members get started, the campaign’s site, lettertomychild.org provides sample letters, statistics and links to other resources where to find more info and assistance.

Have you talked to your child yet about dating abuse?

Consider observing the first National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month by writing your own letter to your child to let them know you’re there for when they need you. Write a letter, share it with other parents through lettertomychild.org and help keep youths safe from dating violence.

By Brenda Becker