Five-O Faux Pas compounded by PR Faux Pas

A disclaimer before I continue, I'm a fan of Hawaii Five-O. Great over the top action-adventure show. So it was doubly disappointing to hear about how the show's crew handled, make that mishandled visiting Pearl Harbor Vets in Hawaii to mark the 70th anniversary of the "Day which will live in infamy."

23 vets, hosted by the Denver-based Greatest Generations Foundation were visiting the Punch Bowl Cemetery. Hawaii Five-Oh was also using the location to shoot scenes for the show. The vets planned a small ceremony and the playing of taps to honor their comrades but the crew from Five-O essentially hustled them out of the cemetery.

Witnessing it all was Steffan Tubbs of 850KOA and a board member of the Greatest Generation Foundation and he's led the charge in making sure amends are made to these vets making likely their last visit to Hawaii due to age.

Compounding the mess was the response from CBS. The network response was the standard PR hoo-hah saying "Any rudeness can be attributed to haste to finish our work."There was more but pretty tepid stuff. When anyone representing your business screws up, it's best to say so and make it right pronto. In most cases you end up with a positive result instead of a negative one.

This all has created quite a controversy. If I were CBS I'd offer to fly everyone of those vets who are able, back to Hawaii along with their immediate family. While none of this was the fault of the cast members themselves, it wouldn't hurt to have them on hand to personally meet these vets. Finally, at the end of the next episode of Five-O cast members should be on screen personally thanking all those who both survived December 7, 1941 or who paid the supreme sacrifice.

What is most surprising is that the show portrays the military in a very favorable light. The character of Steve McGarrett played by Alex O'Laughlin is an ex-Navy Seal.

All that said, CBS can and must do better.

Fix it Danno.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations

Coke, Polar Bears and Perception.

There's a saying in the news business, "Perception is reality." In other words, regardless of the story, it's how people perceive the story that can often trump the facts.

Case in point: A promotion by Coca-Cola and the WWF to increase awareness of what some claim to be the dwindling habitat of Polar Bears. Coke produced white cans with polar bears on them. Same coke, just a different can. Personally I thought it was a great promotion.

I was wrong.

So what went wrong? Plenty. Some consumers were confused that the white cans were diet Coke and not the regular flavor. Others claimed the Coke tasted "different" even though it was exactly the same as what was in the familiar red cans. Many of course, went online to complain.

So a can designed to keep polar bears from going extinct, may become extinct itself as Coke is replacing many, if not all of the white cans with the tried and true red cans.

A rare marketing misfire for Coca-Cola? Nope. But a classic case of how consumer perception is their reality. Regardless of what's true, it's what consumers THINK is true.

The campaign also brought out protests claiming Coke was spreading a disinformation campaign.

I attended a Social Media marketing seminar at Coca-Cola last year in Atlanta. You'd be hard pressed to find a more skilled marketing team. This was obviously a well-thought out campaign with the goal of saving polar bears, regardless of your stance on global climate change or whatever it's called these days.

But none of it mattered because ultimately it was all about consumer perception, and nothing to do with reality. For a lot of them, their favorite drink tasted different in a white can, or a bottle with a white bottle cap.

In this case, Polar Bears lost to perception.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations

Pepper Spray and the Power of Imagery

I was driving by the "Occupy Denver" folks recently near the state capitol. 20 people at most, looking worse for the wear, sitting around without a sign or message in sight. A blight on an otherwise beautiful location in Denver.

So how does a movement with no motion stay in the news?

Imagery. Has anyone NOT seen the protesters pepper sprayed in California. A surreal set of videos and pictures as a campus police office calmly walked back and forth like he was fumigating a garden.

The incident was followed by satiric images like this one posted all across Social Media.

So a movement that isn't moving anywhere, with no discernible focus stays in the news, like the folks I saw sitting along Broadway in Denver.

So what do we learn from all this? The power of imagery. Pictures are worth a thousand words, video even more. One can of pepper spray sustains a movement with no perceived motion.

Visual inertia: The perception of something not moving, to be doing just the opposite.

Brian Olson

Conversation Starters Public Relations

In Flanders Fields

By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army
 
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Lt. Col. McCrae died of pneumonia while on active duty in 1918. No poem or story better captures the spirit and importance of this day.

Wings over the Rockies to honor Tuskegee Airmen

Before we had a Black-American President, before the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's there were the Tuskegee Airmen. A highly decorated group of pilots in World War II.

There were/are a lot of decorated pilots in WWII. But this group is special. They were black, putting their lives on the line for liberties they were denied back home. The names they were called back then are no longer fit for any conversation. Their story cannot be told enough. They cannot be honored enough.

I urge you to visit their website. Often. In WWII, the military was segregated. Soldiers of color were often assigned to menial duties in labor battalions or other support positions. Then came the great experiment. President Roosevelt, anticipating we would enter the war knew there would be a huge demand for pilots. So civilian pilot training programs were set up all over the country including the Tuskegee Institute, a black college founded in Alabama in 1881 by Booker T. Washington. Tuskegee graduated its first pilot in 1940. More followed, eventually becoming the 332nd fighter Group.

The rest as they say, is history. For a generation thrice-removed from WWII, you have to understand the incredible racism and discrimination that existed then. But despite enormous opposition and bigotry, not the least of which was the thought that blacks weren't capable of flying in combat, the Tuskegee Airmen flying as the 332nd Fighter Group went on to become one of the most decorated units in the war.

According to the National Museum of the Air Force, "When the war in Europe ended, the 332nd Fighter Group had shot down 112 enemy aircraft and destroyed another 150 on the ground. Also, they knocked out more than 600 railroad cars, and sank one destroyer and 40 boats and barges. Their losses included approximately 150 killed in combat or in accidents. During the war, Tuskegee had trained 992 pilots and sent 450 overseas. By any measure, the Tuskegee experiment was a resounding success."

Saturday November 19, Wings over the Rockies Air and Space Museum honors these extraordinary pilots and human beings at their Spreading Wings Gala. As a side-note, Colorado is home to the greatest number of surviving members of the 332nd.

The Tuskegee Airmen are also the subject of the upcoming major motion picture "Red Tails" starring Cuba Gooding Jr. who will be in attendance at the gala. Yet another reason to attend! 

Gala truly describes the annual Spreading Wings Event. Here are highlights from last year's gala honoring Apollo 17 Astronaut Gene Cernan, the last human to walk on the moon.


You can be part of a true historical moment by attending the gala. I hope to see you on the 19th.


Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations

"Occupy" Movement proof 1st Amendment is alive and well.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

"There's battle lines being drawn, nobody's right if everbody's wrong. Young people speakin' their minds, gettin' so much resistance from behind ..." -For What It's Worth-Buffalo Springfield

Nothing so far in the "Occupy" movement has reached the level of what so many of us witnessed in the 60's and thank goodness. It was too often bloody and deadly. But what started out as a gathering on Wall Street has spread to Main Street. Many pundits criticize the protesters for not having a "message." It's not about a message, it's about them being pissed off. Either political party that seeks to align themselves with these folks does so at their own peril. Our political parties are why they're pissed off in the first place. They're also mad at Wall Street, Banks and Corporations. Are they right? Depends on one's point of view.

The point here is not whether we agree or disagree with the protest, but that we can do either.

It's not only young people speakin' their mind, it's people of all ages and backgrounds. Here in Denver they've gathered around the Capitol area. A tent city was set up as people exercised their freedom of speech. But both the Governor and the Mayor realized that free speech only goes so far. The park was just that, a park. Not a campground. So they were kicked out. A handful were arrested.

At no time was their right to free speech stopped. Just keep it on the sidewalk and off the street. Free speech only goes to the point where it doesn't infringe on the rights of others, like people trying to use that street to get to work.

There's no small irony seeing how many people in the crowd were using digital cameras and cell phones, products of the very system they're protesting. And of course, when the media shows up, things get loud and "visual." Social Media is keeping the protesters who claim not to be organized, very organized. Again, all protected by free speech. They couldn't do that in China. No Facebook or Twitter there. China frowns on protest.

There's also the cost to consider.  Police over-time, the impact of pulling officers from other duties to keep things under control just to name a few. Costs payed for by "We the people." But should we put a price tag on something that is supposed to be priceless?

Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with the "Occupy" movement, let's embrace the fact that they have a right to express themselves. People are paying attention to their "non-message." These folks are young and old, professional and unemployed, poor and affluent.

The same kind of mix that makes up the fabric of this nation. They carry signs saying they're the 99%. That also depends one's point of view. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

Regardless if you're part of 1% or 99%, everyone has the right to speak their mind.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations

Facebook Changes: It pays, to pay attention.

Wow, if anyone is left on this planet who doubted the power and impact of Facebook, all they needed to see was the mix of curiosity to plain outrage over recent changes made to the social media engine, with more changes to come.

Topping the list is privacy fears. Fair enough. But keep in mind, Facebook is an opt-in thing. It's free and it's important to realize that with any kind of social media, what you post can and will be held against you. There's an old saying in PR; "If you don't want to be quoted, don't say it." You can replace "post" for "say" in this age. But again, privacy groups continue to be concerned.

One new feature coming soon to your Facebook page, if it hasn't already is something called Timeline. 


Yep, everything you've ever posted on Facebook from the day you first signed up. The good news is you can go in an clean up ill-advised posts done when under the influence of emotion, alcohol or both. At least Facebook claims you can.

When it comes to all these changes I'm just as confused as you are. But then I do my homework. For the impact on my business I look no further than Heather Lutze and her great company, the Findability Group. What you don't know about social media can hurt you. So know as much as you can.

Facebook used to be just a simple and fun way to keep up with family and friends. It's morphed into a sophisticated source of information about you, and for others to find out about you. The current issue of Bloomberg Business week has this article about how political campaigns will be seeking you out, then targeting you based on your interests, friends and posts. You can log off, but you can't hide.

With all these changes come all sorts of scammers and mischief makers. A rash of posts, cut and pasted over and over again claimed Facebook was going to start charging if you didn't opt-out. All false of course, but most folks are trusting in nature and want to share both good and bad news, regardless of it's true or not. The great thing about social media is, everyone has access to it. The bad thing about social media is everyone has access to it.

So, take some time to do a little house cleaning on your Facebook page. You can organize friends and family into lists and adjust security settings to protect yourself. Facebook is becoming more complicated. You owe it to yourself and your personal well-being to keep up with those changes.

All this said, Facebook remains a remarkable, powerful and innovative way to keep in touch, or to market yourself.

And all THAT said, Google+ traffic is surging. It's now wide open for use by everyone and offers some very cool options. I've been checking it out and will write about it more in another blog. Do we need ANOTHER social media site? Well, that's up to consumers. As always, competition is a good thing.

Again, just remember and always be aware that once you post something online, it's out there. Forever. Back in a very analog time, President Ronald Reagan famously said, "Trust but verify." It applies to our ever growing digital world today.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant

Conversation Starters Public Relations

9/11. Remember? Yes. Holiday? No.

This Sunday we mark the 10 year anniversary of the attack on America. Planes became missiles as thousands died at the hands of terrorists. We'll never be the same again. Ever.

There are more than a few people who think that 9/11 should become a national holiday, like Martin Luther King Day.

I disagree.

MLK deserves to be honored and remembered. But the national holiday in his name is only celebrated by some, not all. Federal and State employees get the day off, most schools are closed. Malls are busy, movie theaters are full. But most folks head off to work. Martin Luther King was all about all people having equal opportunity to do just that. Not just some.

MLK day has always seemed to me a wasted opportunity. Schools are closed. Why? Wouldn't this be a great day for this generation of students to look back and study what Dr. King and countless thousands risked their lives for? A day to watch his famous speech at the Lincoln Monument, arguably one of the best delivered and impactful speeches in our nation's history. To talk about it, analyze it and learn more about all that led up to that speech.

I fear that if one was to walk into a classroom and ask students who Rosa Parks was, most wouldn't know about a lady who by refusing to give up her seat, allowed everyone eventually to have a seat.

Instead we simply waste a valuable educational opportunity.

IF, there were to become a 9/11 holiday, some but not all would have the day off. Malls would be busy, theaters full. The rest would head off to work.

We must and always remember 9/11 and remember the lives lost, the heroics of those who rushed towards the carnage instead of away from it, the impact of that day on our nation today.

It seems to me that both days should be seen as opportunities to unite this divided nation. Another holiday will accomplish just the opposite.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations

Raising the bar on Dumb in Washington DC and Austin, TX.

Good morning, two stories have me scratching my head and wondering why people who should know better, just act stupid.

1. The President's latest jobs plan and the announcement thereof. Anticipation has been building for weeks. The President wanted to announce it before a joint session of Congress next Wednesday, September 7th. Fair enough but it's the same night as the GOP presidential debate at the Reagan Library.  The White House of course, knew this all along.

Speaker John Boehner officially gets to decide who speaks in the House of Representatives, although as a rule, you don't turn down the President of the United States. But the President put Speaker Boehner in a bad spot, who in turn asked the President to address Congress, and oh yeah, "We the people" on the 8th instead. It's my House and I'll cry if I want to.

Late night night it was announced the President will now deliver his speech on the 8th. All this creates another issue, the 8th is the opening night of the NFL season. Green Bay vs New Orleans. Cheese, Gumbo and rotten politics. Pass the Tums please. The White House says the speech will end before the scheduled kick-off, my guess without enough time for a response from the GOP.

Frankly, the GOP should have agreed to Wednesday, then just backed up the debate until after the speech. What an opportunity! Run clips from the speech, then have the GOP have at it. Don't like the President's plan? Then tell us how you'd do better.  I think we'd be well served by this sort of thing.

But no, cheap political partisanship by both sides is once again put ahead of the best interests of us folks who live on Main Street, USA and who of course, pay the bills. Wasn't August wonderful? September and beyond, not so much.

Shameful.

2. Let move on to college football. Earlier this year, the University of Texas announced an exclusive broadcast partnership with ESPN to create the Longhorn Network. All orange all the time. Great expectations Texas-style. This disclaimer: I'm a proud Longhorn Dad and we've lived in Texas twice. Everything is bigger in Texas, especially football. We heart the 'Horns.

All good right? Nope, quite the opposite. The season opener has Texas hosting Rice at Austin. Broadcast rights are exclusively on the Longhorn Network. One problem. As of now, other than a few tiny cable outlets, no major satellite or cable provider has reached an agreement to carry the network. Not even in Austin.

So we have a television network that makes it impossible to watch the team it was designed to cover.

LHN and ESPN are demanding lower tier coverage on all carriers and want (according to one report) 40 cents per subscriber whether or not they actually want to watch LHN. When you have companies like DISH Network or Time-Warner, you have customer bases of tens of millions of people and, well, you do the math. Those costs have to be passed on to those customers. But who cares about them?

So here we sit on Thursday morning, game day is two days away and it's quite possible most Texas fans around the country won't be able to watch their team on TV, since TV was invented.

LHN is urging fans to put pressure on the program providers. Flood the phone lines and their social media pages demanding they carry LHN! It hasn't worked.

Come on Texas. Put your money where your swagger is and while you're at it, put your fans first. If LHN is so good, offer it up to carriers at no charge and go out and sell advertising to pay for your $300 million investment. As an aside, most start up networks actually pay carriers to be included on their channel line-ups.

So here we sit, stuck in the middle again. In Washington, the people's needs are put last. In Austin, the fans needs are put last.

It's wrong, but sadly these days, business as usual.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations

Making the case for a la carte television programming

Pay Television customers are cutting the cable and ditching the dish by the hundreds of thousands.

There are a few reasons for this, not the least of which is the economy. Folks simply can't afford to pay over a hundred bucks a month for TV. The real reason is the alternative programming choices like Apple TV or the increasing amount of programming available on the Internet. You can receive local stations free off-air, many other channels are free via the 'Net and there's a huge amount of programming that yes, you have to pay for, but it's on demand and you only pay for what you really want to watch.

I love Entourage but don't subscribe to HBO. So I just wait for it to come out on iTunes and buy the season for under 20 bucks.

Here's the challenge satellite and cable companies face. It's the program providers themselves because of a process called bundling. When you purchase a programming package from a satellite or cable company, you do so in tiers. You can't just pick the channels you want to watch.

Here's how it works, and why satellite and cable companies are held hostage, then have to hold you hostage as a consumer. Let's say a hugely popular channel decides to add another one to its programming line-up. Maybe they come up with the "Best of George Hamilton" channel. With apologies to George, it likely would attract few, if any viewers. But darn it, they believe in it and want eyeballs.

So the company will tell the satellite and cable companies that if they want to carry the hugely popular channel, they also have to "bundle" the boring channels as well. Which costs more, and that cost is passed on to you. You pay for what you don't watch.

Think about it. Of all the channels you have available to you, how many do you actually watch at your house. 5, 10, 15? This out of a several hundred you're having to pay for. So Apple TV, or services like Netflix provide an alternative. You pay only for what you actually watch. Plus more and more channels are available free on the 'Net. Click, play, enjoy.

Out of the tens of millions of people who use satellite or cable, the loss of a few hundred thousand may not seem like much. But I remember back in the day when satellite companies came along and the cable companies laughed at the few hundred thousand original customers companies like DISH Network or DIRECTV offered. The cable companies long since stopped laughing. Actually a few tears were shed.

To be fair, no one has fought harder to keep programming costs down than DISH Network's Charlie Ergen. His battles with program providers are legendary. He's already adapting his company for the new way people watch TV, when and where.

In the toughest of economic times, the last thing people will give up besides food and shelter, is television. But they are no longer interested in, and can no longer afford to pay for programming they don't watch in the first place.

It's time for consumers to have the freedom to pay for only what they watch, a la carte. People that produce programming, and the companies that distribute it better wake up to that fact and find a way to make it work.

There's a counter-argument that a la carte programming would cost consumers more. It's akin to another argument (from Washington) that the states would never pass a balanced budget amendment. In both instances why not let us make that decision? "We the people" pay the bills. We're not "Monetary" units." We're customers.

(I've offered a friend in the industry equal time)

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations

Loose lips sink ships. Why it's important to always be on message.

Teachers, salaries, pensions and benefits remain very much in the news. The recent ruckus in Wisconsin is a high profile example. To be fair, here are two recent stories about where the situation stands from the Weekly Standard and Huffington Post.

A lot of contention, opinion and emotion remains on both sides.


My point here is not what side you may take in this issue or any other, but why it's important for everyone involved to be on message. Just like the old saying "Loose Lips Sink Ships," loose lips can also sink a cause or movement.

Case in point: I was watching the news yesterday and there was a story about people lining up two days in advance of the opening of the new IKEA Store in Centennial. (Why this is "news" in the first place is another story)

A reporter asked one lady who is spending a full two days in line how she could afford to do it. "I'm a teacher, we get the whole summer off," was the reply. Oops. One could almost here the groan of the National Education Association all the way across the country.

When you, your organization or cause is in the middle of a high profile campaign, everyone and I mean EVERYONE has to be on message all the time. Even when standing in line to buy furniture.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you" (And teach your team to help manage that conversation)

Blood in the Media Waters and the Sharks are circling.

A pundit said the other day there are two types of journalists: Those who work for News Corp and those who compete against News Corp. The latter are having a field day. There's blood in the media waters and it's attracting crowds. Even a shaving creme pie.

Led by Uber Media Baron Rupert Murdoch, News Corp became arguably one of the most powerful media companies in the world. A powerhouse in print and broadcast with online affiliates, often making headlines for the headlines and stories they broke.

Now it appears they might have broken the law while breaking headlines, hacking into the cell phones of political leaders to crime victims in England. A rogue operation within an organization led by a powerful rogue. Executives have been sacked or arrested, a whole newspaper was shut down.

The media business is highly competitive. Make that incredibly competitive. The outlets with the most eyeballs make the most money. And News Corp outlets like the Wall Street Journal and FOX News have the eyeballs. Just ask CNN or MSNBC.

So when a competitor is down, all's fair in love, war and journalism. Let the kicking begin!

Right now the lawbreaking appears to be contained only to England. But unsubstantiated reports have News Corp hacking into the cell phones of 9-11 victims here in the USA. Again, unsubstantiated reports. But there's enough smoke that the FBI is checking for the smallest sign of fire.

There's plenty at stake. News Corp owns several local television stations as part of it's US holding  and they're licensed by the FCC, which if laws were broken, could yank those licenses. The White House, no doubt, is also watching with no small amount of glee that FOX News, which it considers to be "unfriendly" could be impacted by all the fall-out. Guess who likely called in the FBI?

Commentators on FOX News often take potshots at their lower-rated competition. Now the competition is returning fire. All are devoting significant air time and resources to covering the Murdoch saga with great enthusiasm.

I'm not taking sides in this other than if laws were broken or journalistic ethics compromised, those guilty need to be punished. I have my favorite news outlets and so do you. There are plenty to choose from. That said, everyone has to play by the rules. But the story is a juicy one and as long as it has legs, you can bet those who've been bested by News Corp will spare no expense or resources in covering this story. You can also bet there will be a movie about it.

To be fair, the coverage here on this side of the Atlantic has been fair, but also tough. FOX News isn't shying away from covering the story either, helping hold as it were, the spotlight that is on all News Corp properties.

What's next? Stay tuned. There will be no shortage of coverage--and it's great fun to watch.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations

When it's smart to say you're stupid.

Remember the recent incident involving TSA and the 95 year old cancer patient? They made her get out of her wheel chair and remove her diaper. People, justifiably, were outraged at what happened. TSA's official response, no doubt carefully vetted by a cadre of bureaucrats, was they were following "established procedures."

What TSA needs to do is have some established common sense. That includes simply saying what happened was stupid and they'll re-think a similar situation next time instead of making a 95 year old woman, with cancer, in a wheel chair take off her diaper.

TSA serves a critical role in keeping us safe when we travel. Sure, it's a hassle going through security these days but the acts of others make it necessary.  I travel a fair amount and in most cases going through security is  usually done with a minimum of hassle.

But what TSA gets attention for is making 95 year old cancer patients take her diapers off, or patting down young kids or the infamous "touch my junk" episode. TSA does nothing to promote the human side of their mission, so instead they are perceived as being inhuman.

Google "TSA Grope" and you get 765-thousand hits. It's too bad. Arguably TSA's role is as important as our military fighting over seas. The difference is TSA is fodder for viral videos and the source of punch lines by late night comedians.

And far too many negative news stories.

TSA has fallen into the trap of hiding behind rigid "officialese" and so far at least, resisting any attempt to put a human face on the agency or it's mission and most importantly the people that carry it out. They aren't alone. When you hear "BP," what comes to mind?

It's avoidable of course. Sadly, that's the stupid part.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations

1st Amendment Ramblings this July 4th.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

These words make us unique in the world, what we commonly call "Free Speech." Simple in concept, difficult in execution.


It's OK for the Westboro Baptist Church to protest at a fallen soldier's funeral spewing all sorts of vitriol. The huge majority of us want them stopped. But the Supreme Court says it's OK for them to continue. The Court also says it's OK for video game companies to sell extremely violent games to teens and younger.

All because of the 1st Amendment.Free speech.

But don't yell "Fire" in a crowded theater. That will get you arrested. Don't describe the President as a male organ on a cable news program. That will get you suspended from work.

A newspaper can voice its opinion about who we should vote for on the editorial page. But journalistic ethics prohibit, at least in theory, a reporter from expressing personal views in a story about politics.

What's the difference? I have no idea. I'm not a lawyer. So while the 1st Amendment is far from perfect, it sure beats the alternative.

The precious right to sound off on just about anything, regardless of whether anyone agrees with us is just that, precious. Certainly something to contemplate as we celebrate our freedom this day.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations.

Weinergate: What's "Law" got to do with it?

It's been a fascinating couple of weeks following the whole, sordid scandal involving now former Rep. Anthony Weiner of New York. He posted dirty pictures of himself to more than a few women other than his wife on Twitter He then called in the  national news media to his congressional office and lied about it Then, caught with his PR pants down, literally, admitted he lied. He then resigned. Game, set and Tweet.

This comes on the heels of former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger fathering a child with his house keeper, about the same time he did the same with his own wife.Weiner is a Democrat, Schwarzenegger is a Republican. Stupidity apparently knows no political bounds.

I could go on about other recent scandals, but there just isn't enough time or space. More than a few PR pros are weighing in on this, and a myriad of articles are being written about the "lessons learned."

What surprised me most was all the political pundits analyzing all of the above with a constant theme. Were they" breaking the law?"

Excuse me?

To borrow from Tina Turner, "What's law got to do with it?" When you're in the public eye, especially when you make the conscious decision to do so, you don't set the standards for behavior, the public does. There isn't, and never will be a PR professional skilled enough to dig you out of that hole.

To borrow from Nike, "Just don't do it."

Is it fair? Weiner and Scharzenegger aren't the only guys who've done something stupid. What sets them apart is they were elected representatives of "We the people." We may sin ourselves, but we expect a higher standard from those in public office. Which makes the whole concept of "law" laughable.

Years ago, when starting out my career as a news anchor, my wife and I went out to eat on a Friday night. I was done working for the week, over 21 and had a cocktail with dinner. Like about everyone else in the restaurant. My wife drove us home. The following Monday, my boss gets a call complaining I was seen "drinking" in a bar. My first lesson about life in the spotlight. The expectations for my behavior, however legal and responsible were set by someone else, not me.

Perhaps it's old fashioned to expect a certain level of moral and ethical behavior from those who serve us in government; that their personal standards should at least, if not meet, the standards of office where they conduct the people's business. Heck, they swear an oath to do so when they take office.

If, when Anthony Weiner's behavior is excused, at least by some as being "within the law." then this government of the people, by the people and for the people, shall indeed perish from the earth.

Law has nothing to do with it.

What's especially sad is there is life and money to be made after scandal. Look at Elliot Spitzer. He now has his own talk show on CNN.

Brian Olson
Founder/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations

LeBron: It's not the Heat, it's the Stupidity.

I purposely waited a day before posting thoughts about this whole LeBron debacle so I could hear what the coverage of the Dallas Maverick's NBA Championship victory would be. They've barely been mentioned. LeBron sure has though.

There's a simple reason for it. LeBron set the bar very high and couldn't jump over it when it counted. The guy is a remarkable player, and let's be fair, he never had much of a title shot with Cleveland. So he left for greener pastures. I know they're greener because LeBron said they were. With the Heat, the heat would be off him for no championship rings on his fingers.

Still no rings. The Mavericks beat the Heat 4-2. They won because they scored more points than the Heat. They won because they won more games than the Heat. They won because they're a better team because they played as a team.

A concept LeBron James has yet to grasp. Maybe he should have stayed more than one year in college. Maybe he should stop listening to an obvious group of slobbering followers who tell him what he wants to hear, not what he needs to hear. LeBron needs to be reminded that when he goes to the bathroom, he leaves a detectable odor. He's uh, human.

The bar got raised a bunch when, with the aid of a certain 24/7 multi channel sports monolith aka "The Mother Ship" he announced his decision to blow off Cleveland for Miami on national television. Then came the prancing roll-out of the new-look Heat. Lots of high expectations and high fives which raised the bar only further. Start planning that victory parade!

**Update** Parade moved to Dallas!

Then came his Twitter handle; @KingJames. King? All that was left for LeBron was to single-handedly win the NBA Championship, which essentially he guaranteed. Miami fans should have asked for a money back guarantee.

So Sunday night, just about the entire nation rooted for the gritty Mavs to knock LeBron and the Heat down a peg. Mission accomplished.

There not only has to be a morning after, there was a morning after and the talk was all LeBron all the time. About how he failed and the rest of of us we're supposed to get a life.

Crow with humble pie for dessert are not the best of meals. Hopefully LeBron will remember how bad it tasted.  Hopefully kids and the grown-ups that cover sports, will learn that sports, regardless of the level is about team.

Congrats to the Mavs. They won their rings the old fashioned way. They earned them. As a team.

Brian Olson
Founder/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations.

Hangin' with the Greatest Generation

It was Tom Brokaw who coined the phrase, "The Greatest Generation"  to describe the men and women who won WWII, then went on with the business of building America.

We've all met them. They're family members, friends and neighbors. Thankfully many are still around to share their stories. But we're losing them quickly. I have several favorites, not the least of which is my late father, Flying Officer L. "Hardy" Olson who flew with the RCAF during the war. He flew Wellington Bombers and was set to transition to the Lancaster Bomber for the invasion of Japan. No one was happier than he when Paul Tibbets and the crew of the Enola Gay dropped, as my dad called it, "The Big Cookie" over Hiroshima that led to the end of the war. The most conservative efforts had the invasion costing a million Allied casualties. One mission that saved a million.

In 1996 I had a chance to meet Paul Tibbets along with fellow crew members bombardier Tom Ferebee, navigator "Dutch" Van Kirk and radio operator Richard Nelson. They autographed a poster of the Enola Gay which hangs proudly in my office. Nice guys all, no swagger or bravado, just men who stepped up and carried out the mission that ended the war. I thanked them all on behalf of my dad for what they did. Tibbets died a few years later. He rests in an unmarked grave as it was feared it would be desecrated by some crackpot nut job. Not everyone understands the price of freedom.

My father-in-law George Portz served aboard the USS Missouri and was aboard for the surrender ceremonies in Tokyo Harbor. Ceremonies made possible by the Hiroshima mission. Yep, a great generation.

Some years later, I was doing PR connected with the HBO series "Band of Brothers" and met one of the real soldiers profiled in the production. Carwood Lipton served with the 101st Airborne "Screaming Eagles." He told me he weighed 140 pounds when he jumped behind enemy lines on D-Day carrying 160 pounds of equipment.  I asked him, that if our nation was threatened again, would kids his age today step up like he did. "Absolutely," was his reply.

We shot the interview on September 10, 2001. My nephew just got back from a tour in Afghanistan serving with the 101st Airborne.

At Wings over the Rockies Air and Space Museum, I volunteer with a gentleman named Saul Nova. Saul flew P-38's in the Pacific during WWII. (He was also qualified on the P-51 and B-25) He's 87 and sharp as a tack. A gentle and shy man. Again, no swagger, he just did his job when his country called.

This past Tuesday, I visited with Newell Moy at Centennial Airport where the EAA and Wings Museum are hosting the visit of the B-17 bomber, "Aluminum Overcast." Newell enlisted in 1939 before we got involved in the war. He later flew B-17's over Europe when we did. He's 90 and like Saul, plenty sharp. His favorite story involved him flying American POW's back home to America. His boss was Jimmy Doolittle. 
 
A nice man, part of a great generation. An honor to meet them, an honor to get to know them and we as a nation simply can't honor them enough. Nor ever forget them. Ever.

Brian Olson
Founder/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations

Aluminum Overcast-EXPERIENCE history aboard a B-17 Bomber

We just honored those who made the supreme sacrifice for our freedom this past Memorial Day. Much attention was focused  "The Greatest Generation" who served during World War II on land, sea and air.

This coming week you can both honor those who flew dangerous air missions during the war and at the same time see and feel what it was like for those brave young fliers. Wings over the Rockies Air and Space Museum will be hosting EAA's Aluminum Overcast, restored WWII bomber. Starting next week you'll see it over the skies in and around Centennial Airport. Only a very few remain flying.

It's a magnificent aircraft and while seeing it is incredible, flying inside the aircraft is a truly unique experience. Flights are open to the public and as you climb aboard, imagine what it was like to be an 18 year old kid, going out on a mission with the odds stacked very much against you returning alive. During a mission over Europe, temperatures inside the aircraft could be as cold at 35 below zero. All the way to the target and back, you'd be under attack from enemy fighters, flak or both.

Words can't describe the experience. But flying aboard this B-17 at least gives you an opportunity to sense what it was all about. The best part of the flight is you have access to just about all areas of the plane during your flight including the bomb bay, flight deck, the nose of the aircraft where the view is incredible and several of the air gunner positions.

Aluminum Overcast will only be here a few short days. Take it from me, it's a flight you'll remember the rest of your life.

If I still haven't convinced you, watch this video shot last year.

Hope to see you on a flight!

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant

Conversation Starters Public Relations

"We start the conversation about you"

The FDA, Facebook and Pharma. A lot of PF'n around!

Social Media is all the rage, unless you're in the pharmaceutical industry and waiting while the Food and Drug Administration figures out rules as to what Pharma can and can't post using Social Media.

Right now the FDA's policy is "Hurry up and wait" for a policy. There is a line, but it's a blurry one so Facebook at least, is trying to clear it up. 

Gnerally,  the pharmaceutical industry has been hesitant to get into Social Media, fearing that if they develop successful strategies using the medium, the FDA will come a long and change the rules after the game has started.

Some companies using Facebook want the ability to delete comments from their posts. Facebook says that's not the way it works. If you post, you live with the comments which could be good or bad. (Note to Pharma: Engage your critics)

Frankly, it's all very confusing. Pharma too often gets a bad rap, and Social Media would be a great way for for the industry to share its story, about the huge amounts of money it spends on research and the very lengthy clinical trials involved before a drug can even get to market. The industry jumps through more bureaucratic hoops than acrobats at cirque du soleil.

The best way to make people aware is to make them--aware. Meanwhile the FDA fiddles and faddles which leaves me flabbergasted. The Pew Internet & American Life Project reports that 8 out of 10 Americans go online for health information. Websites like our own client, Chemo101.com provide valuable and well researched information. Knowledge is empowerment.

Social Media is a great way to both educate and engage readers. It's way past time for the FDA to either lead or get out of the way.

Brian Olson
Founder/Consultant

Conversation Starters Public Relations

If you don't want to be quoted, don't say it.

Most of us have seen pictures of a ship launch. It's a grand affair. It starts with the smashing of a champagne bottle on the bow of the ship, then it gracefully slides down into the water and as it floats on that water we hear the sounds of applause. Everything goes according to plan.

Imagine however, if the ship just continued to slide into the water, then went under the water. It's what may have happened to the Newt Gingrich Presidential Campaign. It started out with fanfare, both traditional and social media announced the launch then the message that followed may have sunk the ship.

As Alexander Burns writes in Politico, the campaign is now fighting for its life.


Loose lips do indeed sink ships. It all started during an interview between Gingrich and David Gregory on NBC's "Meet the Press." Gingrich called his own party's Medicare reform plan "Radical." It was one of many gaffes and the response from his own party for both immediate and brutal as outlined in the Burns' Politico analysis. "Main Street" in key battle state Iowa didn't think much of it easier as seen in this video that went viral as the sharks circled the political waters. Gingrich broke Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment of politics.

I've talked before, and will talk now that it's not the communication pipeline that matters, but what you put into that pipeline. If the content is bad going in, it's even worse coming out. And as Burns points out, the campaign was caught flat-footed in trying to respond. No crisis management plan.

Whammy followed by whammy. Which makes it a double whammy.

The Gingrich campaign found out the hard way that bad news spreads at the speed of light these days. What's most surprising is they didn't seem to understand that going in.

Content dear friends. It's all about content. If your crisis management plan is back-pedaling, you only go backwards. If you don't want to be quoted, don't say it.

What you say can, and will be used against you. Over and over and over.....

Brian Olson
Founder/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations

We trust, but still need to verify.

I have no doubt the Bin Laden is dead. I also don't care to see a picture of him with his head blown off. But I at least, want independent verification that he is indeed--dead.

By deciding not to release photographs of the body, the administration has made murky became murkier.A few Senators thought they'd seen real pictures which turned out to be fake. It can only get worse.

As one story said, there are no pictures but thousands of words. Herein lies the problem.

At the very least, why not invite a non-partisan panel of members of Congress and the media to look at the pictures and the DNA evidence?  They, alongside the President, could then speak to us and confirm everything and put the whole thing to rest.

There are conspiracy theorists, who regardless of what they see or won't see, still won't believe it. But after all we've gone through as a nation since 9-11, we need more from the administration that to take their word for it. By having independent observers in, we don't compromise security of any kind and no one needs to be allowed to take copies of the picture with them.

We've seen too often pictures of the planes flying into the twin towers. Every news story about the decision not to show pictures of a dead Bin Laden shows file pictures/video of Bin Laden when he was alive. So we keep on seeing Bin Laden over and over.

It's nice of the President to go to Ground Zero today. 

But in this case, trust comes up short. 99.9% isn't enough. 100% proof. Please.

Brian Olson

Conversation Starters Public Relations

How did you get THE news?

Like we did on 9-11, we'll remember where we were when we got the news of Bin Laden being killed. Unlike 9-11, the way we got the news was far different.

We actually got the word at our house in a decidedly analog way. We were watching a show via DVR and got a phone call about it from our daughter. We quickly switched to live TV, then pulled out our iPad and smartphone.

It turns out the story actually broke on Twitter as someone who was living near the Bin Laden compound start tweeting when he first heard the sounds of gunfire and helicopters.

The tweet heard 'round the world.

The speed and huge amount of posts on Facebook and Twitter was phenomenal. As the President's address was pushed back more and more, Social Media became the source for news with reporters posting even before their stories cleared traditional broadcast. I heard a report this morning that Twitter traffic about Bin Laden peaked at 3-thousand posts per second.

One network posting on Facebook confirming  Bin Laden's death had hundreds of "Likes" within seconds of being posted. A few minutes later the post had over 20-thousand.

The most telling proof of the power and speed of Social Media came from footage shown as people got the word at a baseball game.  Fans checking their phones got the news, and the word quickly spread. It must have been weird for the players on the field to understand why the" USA!" chants began.

Was there misinformation? Yes. But most of what was posted was solid and backed up when we heard the President's remarks. Through it all, we shared ideas, shared posts and spread the news just like we told friends about the attacks on 9-11. Although back then it was by phone and e-mail.

One constant are the images from both events. For me it was the video of the 2nd plane hitting the tower. Sunday night it was people gathered in front of the White House singing our national anthem.

But how we got the news 10 years ago versus now changed and empowered us. We were part of the conversation, we helped spread the news.

Brian Olson
Founder/Consultant

Conversation Starters Public Relations

Two Couples, Two Stories. One Day.

**UPDATE*** Shuttle launch has been scrubbed for 48 hours. This happened after original post.

There are two major stories happening today involving two couples. A prince and princess, and an astronaut and congresswoman. Two extraordinary couples.

First there's the Royal Wedding of Prince William and now Princess Katherine. We knew them as William and Kate, now officially they're the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. They will be the focus of world-wide attention, especially the princess, the rest of their lives. An often ugly horde of "paparazzi" will follow "Kate's" every move as they did Prince William's mother. Let's hope for a happier ending. There's nothing like a prince, a princess and a castle to capture our imaginations. Here in America, which long ago threw off the yoke of British Monarchy, tens of millions got up well before dawn to view the nuptials. The media horde in London today is mostly comprised of Americans, and the British.

Closer to home at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, another story unfolds as Astronaut and Navy Captain Mark Kelly commands the crew of Shuttle Endeavour on its final flight before being retired from service. Most of us didn't even know who he was until earlier this year, even though he's an astronaut. Capt. Kelly is married to Arizona Representative Gabrielle "Gabby" Giffords who was gunned down by a crazed assassin this past January, shot point blank in the head. Many died in the senseless slaughter but Giffords somehow survived, her recovery amazing everyone and today she's at the Cape to watch her husband blast off to the International Space Station. The Astronaut and the Congresswoman.

Prince William, an RAF Search and Rescue helicopter pilot is officially called Flight Lt. Wales when working his "Day job." Captain Kelly is a Naval Aviator today commanding an always dangerous mission to space. Both are highly skilled, doing something only a few are qualified to do.

Princess Katherine is an educated woman, hardly a "commoner" who embarks on a new life full of public scrutiny as she joins the family business. Rep. Giffords continues her remarkable recovery, defying extraordinary odds each and every day. The best part of her future is she has a future.

It's the Royals getting the lion's share of attention today, but  to me the big story is happening here at home. Mark and Gabby, two profiles in American courage in every way.

Here's to the best of outcomes for both couples in the future.

Brian Olson
Founder/Consultant

Conversation Starters Public Relations

The Art of the Trump aka Marketing 101

"The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about. "-Oscar Wilde

Donald Trump is running for President of the United States. Maybe. Before continuing, this is not about whether he'd be a good President or a bad one, but an analysis of classic marketing.

Before I wrote this, I made a point of checking in with the weekend news/talk shows to see if indeed, Trump was still the big story. He was and is.

One columnist opined that voters are chumps, hence the popularity, at least for now of the idea of a Trump candidacy. The electorate is anything but chumps. What the public is, is pissed off. Donald Trump is tapping into that emotion. It's what marketing is all about. He seems to be about the only person who understands a lot folks are unhappy on Main Street.

It's fun to watch the news media come along for the ride. Left-leaning media (yes they exist) lampoon Trump at every turn. The right-leaning media (yes they exist,) pooh pooh's Trump at every turn. The rest of the media reports it all. Over and over and over.

All this coverage costs Trump nothing. Trump doesn't care what the media says, or thinks about him just as long as they're talking about him. He's a showman even P.T. Barnum would be jealous of. All he cares is that everyone spells his name right because if they spell your name right, there's no such thing as bad publicity. Unless it's your obituary; not my opinion but that of Irish writer Brendan Behan.

Trump is marketing the Trump brand, which may or may not be a political one. Either way, he has the full support of the media.

Before posting this I did a last minute spell-check and Trump is spelled correctly. You're welcome Donald.

Brian Olson
Founder/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations

To Two, or not to Two.

Leading up to last weekend's NASCAR race at Talladega, I didn't think much about the two car hook-up style of racing. It just looked, well, silly. That view was based on the Daytona 500 race in February.

But after Talladega, my view is changing and I'm looking forward to the July race back at Daytona. Here's why:

Drivers learned that to win, you had to have a strategic plan in place. Hendrick Motorsports understood that and their 4-car team of #5Martin, #88Earnhart Jr, #24Gordon and #48Johnson became two, two-teams with the #48/#88 combination winning the race in a thrilling finish. .002 seconds the margin of victory. Johnson wouldn't have won if it wasn't for his team mate, and teamwork from, Dale Earnhart Jr.

As a returning fan, it was fascinating to hear the strategies being developed during the race as drivers not only talked with their crew chiefs and sponsors, but could also talk with any number of potential "dance partners." It meant for some strange bedfellows but driver Carl Edwards summed it up best when he said they weren't getting married, just going to prom.

Lots of things could impact the future of the "Two Car Tango" including rules changes and simply wear and tear at both tracks in the coming years.

But for now,the grip is super and is the racing. I'm looking forward to see how this evolves leading up to, and during the Daytona race this July.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"

Our Royal Fascination-Britannia rules the Airwaves

The Royal Wedding is all set for Friday, April 29 at Westminster Abbey. If you haven't received an invitation, you're out of luck. (I didn't get one either)

News organizations, budgets already pummeled by events in the Middle East to Japan are mustering for breathless "Wall to Wall" coverage. The biggest scramble has been to secure the best "Royal Watchers" to add commentary in the crispest of British accents since The Masters at Augusta.

When it comes to pomp and circumstance, no one does it better than our friends across the pond. Prince William and Catherine Middleton will join hands in marriage and it's estimated 2-billion people will watch it live. A significant number of them will be here in the United States. All will have to getup either early, or very early in the morning depending on time zone to watch it all.

For a nation that threw off the yoke of British rule centuries ago, we remain fascinated by all things Royal. The most recent example being the critical and popular reception of "The King's Speech."

The merchandising of the wedding is amazing, and in some cases very tacky. Royal Souvenirs profiled this week in Businessweek Magazine include "Kiss me Kate Ale," iPhone apps, Toilet Seats and even--gasp--"Crown Jewel Condoms." I wonder if the Queen knows about this?

So while this nation's founders hated King George, Dodge Commercials show George Washington attacking the Red Coats and the whole taxation without representation thing, we still love the Royals.

A dear friend and colleague, knowing I was going to blog about this sent me this post:

"As a million little girls will tell you, a prince and a princess, a crown and a castle make for a mighty fine fairy tale. Even if it is politically incorrect."

The news each day being what it is, one can understand the attraction of a real life fairy tale once in awhile.

Coverage will certainly eclipse the nuptials of Prince Charles and Diana. Maybe this time we're all just hoping for a far happier ending.

Regardless, coffee pots, televisions and electronic devices will be on bright an early on the 29th. Social Media traffic is bound to be huge. We'll all be "A Twitter." Literally.

Britannia may no longer rule the waves, but it certainly will rule the airwaves.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversations about you"

New look at Wings over the Rockies

If you haven't been to Wings over the Rockies Air and Space Museum lately, you should go tomorrow. Be prepared for some amazing changes.

The staff and volunteers at the museum have been working for months and the results are spectacular.

For a sneak peak, here's the opening ceremonies for the new "Gateway to Flight to Flight" held earlier this week.



Tomorrow is also Open Cockpit Day, a chance to actually sit inside some fabulous and legendary airplanes. Cockpit hours are 10-2. My advice is to come early.

Enjoy your day at Wings over the Rockies!

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"

Southwest 737. What's age got to do with it?

Just about everyone has heard about the incident involving a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737. When a piece of the fuselage tears off at 34-thousand feet it's a scary thing. Blue skies are better seen from a beach than your passenger seat.

All this, justifiably, has resulted in a lot of media coverage. We're a nation of fliers and chances are you've flown in a 737 at least once. A popular and very safe aircraft. I sure wish more of the reporting focused on how the flight crew landed the aircraft safely. The folks in the cockpit, and the team in the cabin train all the time for just this sort of thing. It's exactly why everyone lived to tell the tale.

Sadly, some news outlets have gone to extremes, one east coast operation used the term "Death Trap" in a news tease about the story. I guess the goal was to scare their viewers to death. But most media are at least trying to avoid sensationalism and stick to facts. That's a good thing.

One issue that comes up in a lot of the stories is the age of the aircraft. Age isn't the issue. In the past couple of years I've flown in a Ford Tri-Motor which was built in 1927. Another flight was in a WWII B-17 Bomber.

I made it back safe and sound. The aircraft are in great shape and well-maintained. The crews that fly them are very, very well trained.

Actually, an aircraft's age is based on "cycles." Cycles meaning the number of times a plane takes off and lands. When an airlines takes off, there is stress on the airframe. Cabin pressurization causes expansion and contraction of the airframe. A landing also puts stress on the airframe and landing gear. Sometimes turbulence makes for some bending of the wings. You've likely seen it.

Aircraft design allows for all this. If wasn't some "bend" involved in aircraft design, airplane parts would simply snap off. In the case of the Southwest 737, a piece tore off.

So what happened to that Southwest plane? Investigators will find out. If maintenance changes need to be made they will be. Stuff breaks sometimes, even on airplanes.

Flying remains an incredibly safe way to get from here to there and back again. The real danger of flying is the drive to and from the airport. If cars and drivers were held to the same standards as commercial aviation the world be be a far safer place for all of us.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"

6 Minutes and 43 Seconds

What could you or your team to in 6 minutes and 43 seconds? Let me share about what one team does in that time.

This past weekend I attended the 140 WG Air Sovereignty Alert Building Ribbon Cutting at Buckley Air Force Base, HQ for the Colorado Air National Guard. A lot has changed since September 11, 2001 including our perception as the guard being "weekend warriors." Not any more, and that certainly holds true at Buckley.

The F-16's, the pilots that fly them and ground crews that keep them flying have to be on alert 24/7. The rules changed on 9/11. These crews now have a somewhat spartan, but new place to be at the ready working 24 hours on, 48 hours off. Akin to firefighters in a way. And when one crew is off, another crew is on alert. The quarters have sleeping, eating facilities and lounge areas right next to the F-16's they fly. The quarters replace trailers that were brought in after 9/11 to support this new mission. A much needed and deserved improvement in accommodations.

You've heard the stories about some plane flying where it's not supposed to, or passenger getting getting out of control on a flight. You also hear about fighters being "scrambled" to intercept the plane. It's part of the mission of the 140th.

Just in case.

There was the required ribbon cutting, but then we saw a demonstration of an alert scramble. When the klaxon sounded, crews headed to Ready Aircraft already fueled and armed. Pilots climbed aboard their aircraft in flight gear, ground crew members made final preps for flight including arming weapons systems. We then heard the sounds of jet engines coming to life and shortly thereafter aircraft taxiing for takeoff.

When it comes to keeping our skies safe, efficiency is critical. From the initial alert signal to the F-16's taxiing out to the runway for takeoff it all took 6 minutes and 43 seconds.

The crews we watched, and crews like them all over the country have our back just in case the bad guys try something again. They'll do it in just minutes from learning about the threat.

One more thing, that alert building has a number, as do all military buildings.

It's #911.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"

NCAA and Pay to Play? Here's One Way.

I caught an interesting discussion yesterday on ESPN's PTI. (A great show by the way) It was about some way to pay NCAA players, who through their play generate millions of dollars for college sports programs all over the country.

OK, your argument against is these students are getting valuable scholarships, along with tutoring and you can't beat the travel and national attention which pays off in some big time pro contracts. Fair enough. For some.

But to my original point, the ROI for schools on scholarships is to be envied. So how about this idea? Let's say a star QB for a team generates a lot of money in the sales of his jersey. Or a premier volleyball player generates some significant cash for her school through merchandise sales. Perhaps a percentage of sales from all team merchandise can go into a collective pool for players.

Give them a percentage, akin to what the pros make for merchandising rights and keep the money in escrow in some sort of account that generates a fair rate of interest. When the player graduates or leaves early for the pros, the school cuts them a check. They're not as much getting paid, rather they are being rewarded for generating money for the school.

The NCAA generates billions of dollars in revenue from college sports. I do believe it's time for those responsible for the cash flow to get at least part of the revenue stream.

I'll finish with a fearless prediction. Bye bye Fiesta. The Cotton Bowl joins the BCS at Jerry's World.

I love college sports, especially football. But I also realize it's all about money so let's get real.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"

Making the case for Cursive

I recently read in the Denver Post that Cursive could be an endangered species. Some schools are replacing pencil and paper with keyboard and computer screen as the primary skill set for putting letters and words together in a coherent fashion.

When was the last time you wrote anything, other than signing a credit card tab?

My own hand-writing skills, never considered at all graceful, have deteriorated as my use of computers and other devices has increased.

Do kids really need to know how to write with pencil and paper? That's the question being discussed by teachers, students and parents; likely by e-mail or texting.

My wife and I make regular use of Facetime to visit with the grandkids when we can't be with them in person. But we're also starting to write to our grand daughter who is finishing kindergarten. Writing, literally or at least printing using real paper and sending it to her through the mail. (Hopefully she writes back!)

The goal is to help her as she learns to read and write. Both our grandkids are comfortable with computers and devices like the iPad. They've never known a world without this technology.

I was talking, actually e-mailing with a friend yesterday. He said he still likes to send personal hand-written notes to people. He believes there's still a place for a human touch, especially in communication. Hard to disagree with that.

So what's the need for Cursive? The flame isn't out, but certainly starting to flicker. In our digital world, do we need Cursive? Maybe no--unless the power goes out.

Something to ponder.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"

How to get TONS of free coverage.

OK, did I get your attention? About the best way I know of to get tons of free coverage is to be Apple or IKEA.

What got me thinking about this is the new sign that just went up at the new IKEA store being built in Centennial, CO. The darn thing is almost a hundred feet high. You can see it from Kansas. IKEA got tons of local and regional coverage just because they put it up!

What made it newsworthy besides being IKEA and HUGE is that Centennial city ordinances prohibit signs taller than about 30 feet. Unless of course, you're IKEA. When you bring a store that big, and employ hundreds of people, the skids get greased quickly at city hall.

We all know all Apple has to do to get gobs of coverage, all of it free, is simply to hint at a new product coming down the pipeline.

Both businesses do buy traditional advertising, but you'd be hard pressed to come up with any others who get the free publicity they get simply for doing what they do.

What they do, and figured out a long time ago, is to provide products and service that are unique, that stand out, that are truly one of a kind. It's what makes them Apple and IKEA and everyone else, "not exactly."

Easier said that done, but it can be done.

So there you have it, all you need to know to get tons of free advertising. If you need extra help, contact us.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you" (Unless your IKEA or Apple)

Quotes O' the Day

A couple of interesting quotes from the current issue of Businessweek Magazine.

This first is the lead in an article by Brendan Greeley about Nuclear Power in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

"Nuclear accidents like Japan's are scary. So is a future without nuclear power." If that doesn't get you to read on, nothing will. Good journalism. (I just started to follow him on Twitter)

Now this one from rocker Jon Bon Jovi originally published in the Sunday Times of London.

"Steve Jobs is personally responsible for killing the music business."

Say what? If it wasn't for iTunes, I wouldn't have purchased a tenth of the music I own, listen to and subsequently buy more of. And this hurts the music business....how?

The good and the bad this Tuesday.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"

It's going to cost you more to poop!

Have you heard the cost of toilet paper and diapers is going up? Kimberly Clark, which makes both products cites the rising cost of raw materials, and of course those costs are passed on to you and me. Totally understandable, it's the way of the world. It's not like they can corner the market can they?

Well, they can when you think about it. Not a free trade issue, but our need for tissue.

When prices for things like gasoline or steak go up, we deal with it by cutting back. We can drive less, or eat hamburger instead of steak.

But we can't cut back on pooping.

It's a tough world sometimes.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"

Beware of "ClickJackers"

Americans are generous to a fault. Something not lost on those who prey upon kind-hearted people in times of disaster. The news had barely broken last week of the catastrophic events in Japan when on-line disaster relief efforts began.

Some are legit. Sadly, many are not. I came across a new term today called "Clickjacking." Pretty sneaky stuff. Crooks create faux relief agencies, often hijacking, make that clickjacking the good names of reputable relief groups.

Add some video lifted off of Internet news sites and the scam is on.

The message is clear. Beware of e-mails, social media pleas and the like asking for your money. Better to go direct to the agency you'd like to give to. Many national and local news outlets are providing lists of places where your donation will actually help victims instead of crooks.

Want to double check? I recommend going to CharityNavigator. They rate the efficiency of how charitable agencies use the money you give. I don't know about you, but I prefer my money going to people who need it, and not bureaucrats or worse yet, crooks who prey on our generosity then disappear into the digital night.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"

That one image...

When major events, good or bad happen, there's always one powerful image that seems to tell the story. It's the classic "One picture is worth a thousand words" to the power of 10. This picture to the left of a house floating miles out in the ocean is the one so far, that has brought the enormity of what happened in Japan home to me.

One house, miles out to sea, anywhere than where it should be. I don't know who lived there, but someone did. It was a place for family gatherings and parties. A place to come home to after work or school. Home.

Not anymore. An earthquake followed by a Tsunami changed all that. So this one house, part of a once likely peaceful and happy neighborhood, now floats miles away in a huge ocean surrounded by nothing. One small symbol of an event that there are simply no adjectives to fully describe.

One image. One event.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"

I miss the squirrel

This morning's heavy dose of very heavy news including Japan, the Middle East, budget impasses and very shaky financial markets have me missing that water skiing squirrel. Remember that cute little critter? It was the classic "kicker," a light story that most newscasts used to squeeze in at the end of the broadcast.

Kickers aren't in vogue anymore, or at best rarely seen.

Yes we depend on newscasts both local and national to keep us informed. But my goodness there sure is a lot we need to be informed about and most of it not good.

I sure miss that squirrel. Hope he's OK.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations

Japan Earthquake: Power of the Info Pipelines

A generation ago coverage of a story like today's earthquake in Japan was anything but on-demand. Other than a network cut-in, we'd have to wait for the evening paper or Uncle Walter to bring us the latest.

Then came the moment when Ted Turner threw the switch at a 24 hours news service out of Atlanta called CNN. As long as we were near a TV, we could be informed.

This morning I first got the news via digital device. Soon as I turned on the screen there was an alert with the news of the 8.9 earthquake. The news outlets I follow in Twitter provide a Tsunami of content about the resulting Tsunami. Many of those news outlets are reaching out to us, asking us if we have family or friends in the impacted areas of Japan or Hawaii and to share any news we have from them.

A tap on the link to my Disaster Alert App instantly shows me a global map of impacted areas and alerts. Need to drill down for more specific and scientific information? There's an app for that.

Video is available from multiple streams, in real time, direct to your device or computer.

Oh yes, it's also on TV.

As I've posted so often, all this means empowerment for us as consumers of news and information. We are now our own newscast producers.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"