Yesterday our government finally passed legislation that raised the debt ceiling and supposedly tackled some areas of our government’s budget issues. The drama behind this legislation was played out for weeks in the media. Today the new’s coverage is focusing on Missouri Congressman Emanuel Cleaver and his candid comment that when you look beneath the surface this deal is really just a “sugar coated satan sandwich”. I watched Rep. Barney Frank voice his objections to the deal last night and couldn’t remember one thing he said. Obviously, neither could the media, because Rep. Cleaver had all the guest spots this morning. People are talking about Cleaver and now people are talking about the deal. What struck me as interesting about this is how the simple use of outlandish alliteration was all it took to get the media/pr machine rolling. Nancy Pelosi is supposedly credited with saying the deal is served with an order of satan fries. Again, this doesn’t really have the same legs as the triple “s” threat of “sugar coated satan sandwich”. And whether he did it on purpose or not, Cleaver nailed another alliteration goody this morning by throwing in the “demon drink” addition.

So what lesson can marketing/PR professionals take away from this? It’s simple. People like things that are slightly outlandish and catchy. We like things that are easily remembered and what better way to remember something than the elementary use of alliteration.

MIT Media Lab Identity, 2011 from readyletsgo on Vimeo.

Check out the discussion on the new MIT Media Lab Identity on the Under Consideration Blog. I personally think the logo is brilliant and love its innovative use of technology. A perfect fit for the client. Kudos to the brand’s creator The Green Eyl.

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/different-kind-of-company-name.html

Happy April Fools!

Recently her roommate and best friend in college, Didi Benami, has auditioned for American Idol and has made it to the top 24. Didi auditioned in honor of Rebecca and lists her as her biggest inspiration. Much to her family’s joy, this publicity has brought some attention to Rebecca and her music. Recently Strum Magazine published a review of her music. My father in-law’s email says it all “I am completely blown away” he writes. As we all are.

I hadn’t been to Rebecca’s website in ages but followed the link from the article. I immediately felt bad because there is so much more I felt I could have done on the site, and more that I knew needed to be done. But while listening to my father in-law expressing his deepest gratitude while talking to my husband, I realized that although not perfect, my efforts were extremely appreciated and cherished. As I listened to Rebecca’s music on the site it got me excited about the changes we are going to make in March. We will be posting new music and videos, updating photos and adding a guest book. I am humbled that I am able to use ”my gift” to share and promote the gift Rebecca has left us.

When I moved to the mid-west 4 years ago, I had a friend explain the over arching difference in doing business on the east coast, where I had moved from, and the mid-west, my new home. She said that I would find that while out in the east coast the mentality for doing business was ”what can you do for me”, here in the mid-west that mentality is “what can I do for you”. I initially thought it was an over simplified exaggeration, but as I have watched my business grow and experienced the support of my clients and colleagues here in Kansas City I am recognizing that there was a lot of truth to that statement. The dinner on Thursday evening was just another example of the support this community provides for small businesses and entrepreneurs. The KTEC program “is designed to systematically identify high potential technology entrepreneurs and match them with best-in-class training, resources and mentors to facilitate their dynamic growth in Kansas.” The fact that the program has decided to focus not only on the business opportunity but more specifically on the business leader is another example of the mid-west’s practice of putting people first. As the economy struggles to get out of a recession, one that was in no small part caused by businesses choosing to put profits first, it was refreshing to witness the culmination of a program that was created “as an aggressive model to create leaders for the Innovation Economy.” I believe along with many others that it is those leaders of the so-called Innovation Economy that will be a driving force in our recovery process as a nation. It was exciting Thursday to honor the 2009 innovators andwelcome the 2010 class.

On the other hand, as a female business owner who has always believed that glass ceilings were something only our mother’s had to worry about it was eye opening to see that out of the 19 participants on stage (members of the 2009 and 2010 class) only 1 was a woman. Is this still really a boys club? Come on ladies, are we really leaving all the innovating in this world to the men? I will admit that it was refreshing to see that the President of KTEC Pipeline was a woman, Joni Cobb, as well as one of the speakers and investors, Laura Kilcrease, so all is not lost. But if nothing else.. my eyes have been opened and I am more adamant that ever to prove that women can play a very important role in technology innovation too… watch out KTEC class of 2011, I think there will be more high heels on that platform next year…

The Kansas City Freelance Exchange hosted its annual ICE awards last night to recognize local “Independent Creative Excellence”. Curious Pixel was honored to take home 6 awards including Interactive “Best of Show” for the website we created for eShipping (www.eshipping.biz). Other awards included:

Interactive - Gold Award – eShipping’s website (www.eshipping.biz)
Interactive - Gold Award – Curious Pixel’s website (www.curiouspixel.com)
Interactive – Silver Award – Acta Wireless’ website (www.actawireless.com)
Logo Design – Silver Award –  Connectiv Solutions
Logo Design – Silver Award – The Hope Center

I am always grateful that our clients provide us with the opportunity  to produce great work and thrilled to have this work recognized by our peers.