As Parry Headrick says, you’re banana pants crazy if you aren’t squeezing every last drop out of every piece of content you create.
Think he’s being hyperbolic? Just remember how many writers and movie makers have made a killing off of tweaking Romeo & Juliet. Or how many cooks find ways to stretch yesterday’s leftovers into today’s new recipes (thank you, Anthony Bourdain!).
There’s more than one way to tell your organization’s story.
This is 100% spot on. Any PR pros who don’t naturally think like reporters and storytellers — who don’t have or haven’t built that innate muscle to ask questions in a flow that advances a story — are in for a world of hurt.
I’ve been using AI for just this reason (and have a couple of other experiments with it that turbocharge my communications quiver). If you use it right, it’s a force multiplier.
As someone who’s been lucky to have opportunities to explore the world, I’ve learned that life is all about opening your horizons to new experiences. Whether traveling to a new country, trying a new dish, or meeting new people, I try to embrace new and different experiences with open arms. Wine has always been a powerful reminder of this – a symbol of the importance of embracing the unknown.
I’ve spent time in some of the world’s most legendary wine regions, from the rolling hills of Tuscany to the rugged coastline of Sonoma. I’ve journeyed to the sun-kissed vineyards of Sicily, where the blend multicultural influences made for bold and beautiful wines. And every time I taste a new wine, I’m struck by the way it embodies the unique character of its place of origin – the terroir, the climate, the traditions, and the people.
Wine is much more than just a drink, it’s a cultural phenomenon that has shaped civilizations and left an indelible mark on history. From ancient Greece and Rome to the royal courts of Europe, wine has been a symbol of wealth, luxury, and sophistication for thousands of years. However, wine is not just about status, it is also a tool for cultural exchange and diplomacy, bringing people from different backgrounds together to share stories, ideas, and traditions.
Wine also reflects the land and the people who produce it. Exploring different wine regions offers a glimpse into the culture, history, and geography of a place. When you drink wine, you engage all of your senses – from the visual appeal of the wine’s color and clarity, to the aroma of the bouquet, to the taste and mouthfeel of the wine itself. Wine also has the power to evoke memories and emotions, making each sip a personal experience.
Lately, I’ve been feeling the urge to break free from my traditional go-to grapes. With so many different styles, regions, and grapes to choose from, it’s never been easier to broaden my wine knowledge and expand my palate. There’s a world of flavor waiting to be discovered.
My most recent wine journey was not to some amazing vineyard in a far off country, but to the state store around the corner (yes, Pennsylvania is weird when it comes to alcohol). One of the bottles I picked up was a Bulgarian red. Despite being lesser-known on the global wine scene, Bulgarian wine is a hidden gem in Eastern Europe that deserves more recognition.
The wine-making tradition in Bulgaria dates back thousands of years and has been an integral part of the country’s culture and history. Bulgaria has a diverse wine-growing region, with varied soils, microclimates, and topography, which results in a wide range of wine styles and flavors. From the rolling hills of the Thracian Lowlands to the rugged mountains of the Balkan Range, each area has its own unique terroir that contributes to the individuality of the wines produced there.
One of the most exciting aspects of Bulgarian wine is its indigenous grape varieties. Bulgaria has a rich heritage of its own grape varieties, including the highly-regarded Mavrud, Rubin, and Pamid. These grapes are known for their intense flavors, high tannins, and strong aromas, and are used to produce some of the country’s finest red wines.
In recent years, Bulgarian wineries have made significant investments in technology and winemaking techniques, resulting in a higher quality of wine. Many wineries are now producing wines that are on par with some of the best in the world.
The red I picked up at the state store was a bottle of Rossidi Enophile Rubin – Syrah 2018. This red is a blend of the indigenous Bulgarian Rubin grape and the French Syrah grape. The Rubin brings a rich, full-bodied flavor to the table, while the Syrah adds some serious aromas and flavors of black fruit and spices. It’s a match made in heaven.
I also cracked open a bottle of Sun Wine Mukuzani 2018. This red is made from 100% Saperavi grape variety grown in the Mukuzani appellation in Kakheti, Georgia. Wine has been an integral part of Georgia’s cultural heritage for over 8,000 years, with evidence of grapevine cultivation and winemaking dating back to the Neolithic period. In fact, some historians believe that Georgia is the birthplace of wine. Georgia has over 500 grape varieties, many of which are indigenous to the country.
The Saperavi grapes used in this wine are harvested by hand and then fermented in traditional Georgian clay vessels called “qvevri” using natural yeasts. This traditional winemaking method, which is still used by many Georgian winemakers, produces wines that are rich, full-bodied, and complex, with a distinct orange color and earthy flavor profile.
So next time you’re faced with a new experience, whether it’s trying a new wine or visiting a new place, I encourage you to embrace it with open arms. Life is too short to live it in the same old ways – so why not open up your horizons and see what the world has to offer?
“You’re submitting that shot of the two nuns, right?”
I was thinking about it, I told my friend, but life was busy and I shoot mostly for fun now. Well, mostly. It’s still an adrenaline shot to the ego seeing one of my images on a display ad around town or accompanying a news story.
So, I submitted what I consider the single luckiest frame I’ve ever captured to the single biggest competition I know: National Geographic’s Pictures of the Year contest.
Two nuns engage in conversation atop Aventine Hill in Rome as the sun sets behind St. Peter’s in Vatican City. The viewpoint draws locals and tourists alike at sunset. Many make the trek to the top of Aventine Hill in Rome, Italy, to queue in line for a glimpse of St. Peter’s Basilica through the famous Aventine Keyhole. Aventine is one of seven hills ancient Rome was built on. A few steps off the beaten path, however, one walks onto the cinder esplanade of Terrazza Belvedere Aventino with its sweeping panoramic view of the city. Shot on iPhone 12 Pro.
While best is subjective, there is little argument for this one being my luckiest. We were on a tuk tuk tour of Rome late in the afternoon getting our bearings to explore the city more throughout the week. We motored up to see the famous Aventine Keyhole. The line of other tourists extended farther than any of us cared to wait. Instead, we walked the adjacent grounds of Terrazza Belvedere Aventino and watched the sun descend behind the Eternal City.
Tourists and locals sat and stood against the stone wall overlooking Rome. I wandered. While wandering makes for a good photographer, it, conversely, makes for a frustrating travel companion. I wander because I want to see what others don’t, to get a different perspective. That’s when I saw the frame: two nuns in blue habits in casual conversation, legs dangling over the edge, Saint Peter’s dome perfectly aligned between them. I held my iPhone close to my chest, framed as best and quickly as I could, and fired off a couple of frames…giggling at my luck.
My news reader is filled with a variety of feeds: technology news, culture, wine reviews, blogs of interesting people, shopping…it’s all over the place. I choose to populate it wildly because it is an easy way to broaden my knowledge of the world. It also surfaces quirky items that I’d never otherwise learn about.
The Death Valley Germans (as dubbed by the media) were a family of four tourists from Germany who went missing in Death Valley National Park, on the California–Nevada border, in the United States, on 23 July 1996.[1] Despite an intense search and rescue operation, no trace of the family was discovered and the search was called off. In 2009, the remains of the two adult members of the family were discovered by experienced hikers, Les Walker and Tom Mahood, who were carefully searching a remote area for evidence of the fate of the tourists, and conclusive proof of the fate of the male adult was later established.
My dad lived in Germany. His dad was a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army. They lived in Kaiserslautern from 1949-1951 and again from 1960-1962. I’ve been to Death Valley. Years ago, I spent a day climbing the dunes of Mesquite Flat in Death Valley National Park while on a photo assignment for PayPal to create images for a solo exhibit at one of the company’s VIP customer events (I was, inexplicably, on the same agenda as NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon and Boston Philharmonic conductor Benjamin Zander).
The story was glücklicher Zufall (that’s Google German for serendipity).
Well, serendipity-lite. It became full-blown serendipity when I read this part of the story about the Death Valley Germans:
“Post-trip examination of the symbols and markings on the bottom of the bottle showed that it was manufactured by the Thatcher Manufacturing Company. The company ceased operations in 1985, thus the bottle had to be older than 1985.”
Not only did this story include a connection to my family’s German history, not only did it include a connection to a place I once stood, but then it decides to throw in a reference to the glass manufacturer where my dad spent a good part of his working years.
Hello, Hollywood, have I got a story for you. No, seriously. It almost writes itself.
The Lost Germans
Follow the story of Ethan Bauer, a talented magazine photojournalist who’s always on the hunt for the next big story. But when he stumbles upon the tale of the Death Valley Germans, a family of tourists who went missing in 1996, he never could have imagined the journey he was about to embark on.
As Ethan delves deeper into the story, he realizes that there’s a surprising connection to his own family’s past — a past that began in the aftermath of World War II, where his grandfather navigated the complex political landscape of post-war Germany, to the height of the Cold War, where his father grew up on one of the most strategic military outposts in Europe, and 2018, when Ethan stood on Death Valley’s dunes during a corporate assignment.
Ethan immerses himself in the hunt for the Death Valley Germans, driven by a deeper sense of purpose, but the closer he gets to the truth, the more it seems that fate has a role to play in the journey. Through a series of serendipitous events, Ethan discovers a shocking connection between the missing tourists and his own family’s past, one that forces him to confront a web of secrets and lies.
As Ethan connects the dots, he uncovers the truth about the glass manufacturer where his father spent many years of his working life, and the unexpected connection it holds to the missing tourists.
With stunning visuals and an emotional storyline, “The Lost Germans” takes you on a journey of discovery and connects you with the power of serendipity. The film shows how a series of seemingly unrelated events can come together in the most unexpected ways and how, sometimes, the things that are meant to be, will find a way.
This episode of “Bald Guys on Bikes” with pro cyclist Erica Zaveta was so much fun. She really does put the pro in pro cyclist. Brian Boger and I? Not so much a lot.
“What are your hopes and dreams for what developers can do with your platform?”
It’s subtle, yet profound. Asking what can people do generates a bulleted list of features. Asking what you wish people could see beyond those features creates excitement.
Think of this the next time you are building out your company’s next product announcement. Inspiring your customers, communities, and employees happens when you allow them to see why you built what you built, not just what you built.
I’m married to a teacher. I get a front row seat witnessing how hard teachers work and how dedicated they are to their students — their kids. I have, on more than one occasion, used the phrase “rock star” to describe my wife and her colleagues. Once a year, I get to use that phrase in its literal definition.
Because for the past two decades, the music teachers of Central Bucks School District in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, trade their classroom stage for the concert stage, talented musicians coming together to put on a performance that goes above and beyond their classroom commitments. What began as a simple recital with a small philanthropic element, has grown into an all-weekend, sold-out, four-show, two-and-a-half hour concert for students, community, and, ultimately, other school districts struggling to provide music programs for their own students. Oh yeah, that small philanthropic element has grown, too: the annual concert has raised more than $300,000 for the Save the Music Foundation, whose mission is to deliver equitable access to music education for millions of students nationwide.
The Save the Music Foundation is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1997. Its goal is to ensure that music education is a core component of a well-rounded education for all children. The foundation operates in various communities across the United States, working to restore music education programs that have been cut or diminished due to budget constraints. A report from the National Association for Music Education found that between 2011 and 2014, nearly 90% of school districts in the United States experienced cuts to their music programs. This is a concerning trend, given the numerous benefits that music education can provide to students.
The foundation was created by John Sykes, the president of VH1 at the time. He was inspired to start the organization after he learned that many schools were cutting music programs in order to balance their budgets. Sykes believed that music education was an important part of a child’s development and he wanted to help ensure that children had access to it.
The foundation’s first major project was in New York City. In 1997, the foundation partnered with the New York City Department of Education to provide new musical instruments to public schools in the city. Over the next few years, the foundation expanded its work, partnering with school districts across the country to provide new musical instruments, professional development for music teachers, and support for music programs. In 2000, the foundation launched the “Adopt-A-School” program. This program allows businesses, individuals, and community organizations to support music education in a specific school by providing new musical instruments, funding for professional development, and support for music programs.
In addition to its programs, the foundation has also been a strong advocate for music education. The foundation has worked to raise public awareness about the importance of music education and has helped to promote music as a core component of a well-rounded education. The foundation has also been an advocate for music education at the federal level, working with policymakers to ensure that music education is a priority in the nation’s schools.
In recent years, a growing body of research has confirmed the numerous benefits that music education can provide to students of all ages. From improving academic performance to promoting social and emotional development, the impact of music education on students is significant and wide-ranging.
Studies have shown that students who participate in music education programs tend to perform better academically than their peers who do not. A report from the National Association for Music Education found that elementary school students who participate in music education programs score higher on reading and language arts tests than those who do not. Additionally, a study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology found that high school students who participated in music programs scored higher on standardized tests in both math and verbal sections compared to students who did not participate in music programs.
Music education can also have a positive impact on students’ social and emotional development. Participation in music programs can help students develop better teamwork skills, improve their self-esteem, and increase their overall sense of well-being. For example, a study published in the Journal of Research in Music Education found that participation in school music programs was positively associated with students’ self-esteem and their ability to work well with others.
Schools with music programs have an estimated 90.2% graduation rate and 93.9% attendance rate compared to schools without music education, which average 72.9% graduation and 84.9% attendance. Schools that have music programs have an attendance rate of 93.3% compared to 84.9% in schools without music programs.
The schools that produced the highest academic achievement in the United States today are spending 20% to 30% of the day on the arts, with special emphasis on music. ~ International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement
Music enhances the process of learning. The systems they nourish, which include our integrated sensory, attention, cognitive, emotional and motor capacities, are shown to be the driving forces behind all other learning. ~ Konrad, R.R., Empathy, Arts and Social Studies
95% of Americans in a Gallup Poll believe that music is a key component in a child’s well-rounded education; three quarters of those surveyed feel that schools should mandate music education. ~ Gallup Poll, “American Attitudes Toward Music
Students of lower socioeconomic status who took music lessons in grades 8-12 increased their math scores significantly as compared to non-music students. But just as important, reading, history, geography and even social skills soared by 40%. ~ Gardiner, Fox, Jeffrey and Knowles
College-age musicians are emotionally healthier than their non-musician counterparts for performance anxiety, emotional concerns and alcohol-related problems. ~ Houston Chronicle
Research made between music and intelligence concluded that music training is far greater than computer instruction in improving children’s abstract reasoning skills. ~ Neurological Research, Vol. 1
Over the past two decades, the Save the Music Foundation has had a significant impact on the lives of children and communities across the country. The foundation has provided new musical instruments to thousands of schools, provided professional development for music teachers, and helped to ensure that music education is a priority in communities.
This is why the CB Save the Music concert is one of my favorite events on the calendar. Not just because I get to hear great music and have the privilege of making rock stars look like rock stars, but because I know the power music possesses to impact a child’s life. Both of my daughters are products of the dedicated teachers that take that stage. Their love of music, whether Harry or Hayden, is a big part of who they are today. Every kid should have that opportunity.
Yesterday, Central Bucks School District teachers and students protested Policy 321, a controversial rule enacted by the school board that bans teachers from talking about or displaying decor that advocates for “any partisan, political, or social policy issue.” The ban includes the display of Pride flags.
I was able to step out to record the protest, doing my small part to give voice to this issue and fight against the ignorance and hate that has permeated this once model school district.
Mike Maney 