tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71448762024-03-18T23:19:41.723-05:00Waterloo PerspectiveMaybe a perspective from Waterloo will cause you to consider your own world view.Vincent Salashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02147421549501435822noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144876.post-69544481869857232512011-05-19T09:50:00.003-05:002011-05-19T09:58:15.662-05:00Old Dog. New Tricks.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzaNA5kIM8V6w_VUvvuUFNIR5KO1-YidiGDnvuAViZYebxCi4Z7nlCG_T6kwN27vHJ1bHWFXbZSdz5sW_5JNOzvzrpg2wO8RgVvDoDxO8BZ4vH5fPnTDCP1tzfnjAJn_2qYpx4/s1600/photo.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzaNA5kIM8V6w_VUvvuUFNIR5KO1-YidiGDnvuAViZYebxCi4Z7nlCG_T6kwN27vHJ1bHWFXbZSdz5sW_5JNOzvzrpg2wO8RgVvDoDxO8BZ4vH5fPnTDCP1tzfnjAJn_2qYpx4/s400/photo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608440917912263058" /></a><br />As a proud University of Texas graduate, I had a dream of my offspring following the same<br />path of higher education, walking the same halls of the 40 acres-plus teaching facilities, cheering on the Longhorns from the student section of the football stadium, the baseball field or the basketball arena, just like the old man. With four children, what are the chances that at least one of them would pick up my passion and carry the torch of my alma mater?<br /><br />The first child out the door, Anne, landed at TCU. The first-born son and second child out the door, Michael, landed at Texas A&M, and he enrolled in the Corps of Cadets. How deep can the dagger go, I wondered? I found TCU to be acceptable. However, the Aggie experience was a whole different story.<br /><br />I willingly wore purple on visits to the Ft. Worth campus, but during my visits to A&M, I don neutral white or any other color besides maroon. In gentlemanly fashion, and as a demonstration of support to my son, I even avoid wearing burnt orange. What’s a father to do when his house is divided?<br /><br />When the going gets tough on freshman cadets — to the point of making them want to quit — a father encourages them to hang in there, be tough. This is not forever, I tell my cadet son. Just endure, I say. I wonder who has to endure the most, especially on Thanksgiving Day when my alma mater goes down in flames at its attempt to play football against the Texas A&M Aggies. My oldest son cheers, and I change the subject.<br /><br />Now, at the conclusion of the first year for my little Aggie cadet, Michael proudly demonstrates his achievement in his final review march around Kyle Field. The achievement for Ryan Crawford, Michael’s best friend since first grade and fellow freshman cadet in another corps unit, is receiving the right as Mascot Corporal. The distinction for the friend — and someone who we consider as part of the family — is that he now is the caretaker for Reveille, the Texas A&M mascot. The responsibility is coveted by many, and is a 24/7 job. This means, when Ryan comes to our house to hang out, so does the mascot of the nemesis.<br /><br />Where does one draw the line, I wonder anew? How can this be happening to me, when my beloved college campus sits just a mile down the road from my home? As I offer my congrats to the new Mascot Corporal, I followup with a question, “Does that mean the dog comes into our home with you?” The heads of loyal Aggie fans surrounding me turn in my direction with looks of disdain. I used the “D” word in reference to the “lady.” This is something I never learned while attending The University. Dogs were dogs, and Bevo the Longhorn was the mascot.<br /><br />Now, out of support as a father and father-like friend, I must learn a new trick of dog hospitality, shedding hair and all. The Texas A&M mascot Reveille crossed the threshold of my home, and she fears not.<br />Take me home, Jesus. Take me now, for surely these are the end times.Vincent Salashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02147421549501435822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144876.post-61838565615429426212011-04-27T11:54:00.006-05:002011-04-27T21:33:53.363-05:00Big City Thinking<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMe40uQCNyJVyeSAQWJ4OT7zYQdA4lyvwFn7L-XbheHAL8S1WMs8h-W_X9Y1guMeemd4lqaj3X1q9dwvJtvxZzUW8YbKVkMMIpXeMkLrfYoUFWq2G1ZoXdffZZKhfriHIfD-V6/s1600/1514019-Welcome_to_Austin-Austin.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMe40uQCNyJVyeSAQWJ4OT7zYQdA4lyvwFn7L-XbheHAL8S1WMs8h-W_X9Y1guMeemd4lqaj3X1q9dwvJtvxZzUW8YbKVkMMIpXeMkLrfYoUFWq2G1ZoXdffZZKhfriHIfD-V6/s400/1514019-Welcome_to_Austin-Austin.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600338198996654754" /></a><br />A few stories in today's <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.statesman.com">Austin American-Statesman</a></span> convey to me a larger story, if you will allow me to connect the dots.<br /><br />The lead story that I have been waiting to read for more than a week reveals the aggressive plans by the Waller Creek Conservancy to cultivate $60 million of public-private support for transforming a 15-block stretch of prime real estate that currently is underutilized, except as a haven for the transient population. The founders of the conservancy are presenting Austin an opportunity to take a giant step forward toward inclusion in a handful of elite U.S. cities. The creation of an urban greenbelt along the eastern portion of downtown Austin mimics what few cities have tackled. Taking on the challenge that cities like New York, Chicago and Houston have accomplished well, puts our capital city in a cluster of good company. Houston's inclusion may be debatable by some. A good dream or vision needs champions, and Melanie Barnes, Tom Meredith and Melba Whatley create a strong founding team of advocates for what will further distinguish Austin's attractiveness from other places to visit. Unfortunately, the conservancy's new logo falls flat on design and appears disconnected to the group's aggressive positioning.<br /><br />Another smaller story inside today's morning newsprint was a brief about local Austin neighbor (Spicewood, TX) Scott Jeffress, and his idea of pitching a television show about eight young and fearless professionals who have zeroed in on Austin, "the most exciting city in Texas," according to Jeffress. His success as one of the executive producers of <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.mtv.com/shows/jersey_shore/season_2/series.jhtml">Jersey Shore</a></span> gives him credibility and insight into what captures today's viewing audience. If Jeffress continues his success, the spillover is another rainmaker for Austin's visibility and tourism. Reality shows drive awareness and fuels attraction for places and trends. Dallas experienced this benefit while primetime TV viewers were captivated by oil money, soap-opera scripts. <br /><br />The final story of today puts a silver lining on the future of our U.S. economy. Pent up purchasing demand is beginning to rip the seams of fear that have suppressed people from spending as much as they would like. A recent <a href="http://www.ap.org/pages/about/pressreleases/pr_040810a.html">AP survey</a> of leading economists express optimism that our economy will grow faster every quarter this year. Even the higher cost of filling a Texan's F-150 pick up is not preventing the spending necessary to encourage the economy. This is the same encouragement that helps fuel optimism for the Waller Creek Conservancy, and adds energy to the Austin lifestyle that Jeffress most likely wants to capture and convey to the world.<br /><br />Connect the dots for yourself. Austin is on the move, and the world is going to be watching.Vincent Salashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02147421549501435822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144876.post-71403256686766032052011-03-31T09:30:00.007-05:002011-03-31T17:37:48.517-05:00You Will With Apple<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvYDxqeBSriSVY-u64XYyiBsG2zKBxIJDMAmZqI0NvMye168TTmNarpOgbpmC6tttVzGxiYt1-qeJrp6m-0Q6pV1-HS0vXJ8Tb9Q4iEPpeJQV5Rt-tE1OpFQiZUxWe5adnEXd/s1600/images-1.jpeg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvYDxqeBSriSVY-u64XYyiBsG2zKBxIJDMAmZqI0NvMye168TTmNarpOgbpmC6tttVzGxiYt1-qeJrp6m-0Q6pV1-HS0vXJ8Tb9Q4iEPpeJQV5Rt-tE1OpFQiZUxWe5adnEXd/s400/images-1.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590372719499561746" /></a><br />Imagining a future that leverages the benefits of innovative technology is not a dream reserved solely for Millennials. The Baby Boom Generation helped stretch our imaginations about what was possible. A company called AT&T, in an effort to reposition its brand to be more innovative and to appeal to a younger demographic for its loyalty, launched an aggressive campaign in the early 1990s called, "You Will."<br /><br />The repositioning placed heavy emphasis on technology's influence on mobility and flexibility, and it blurred the lines between work and family lives. Today, that is our reality. In the course of a regular business day, we bounce in and out of different worlds, depending on the phone call, email, text or Twitter interruption. Work, marriage, kids, school, and new opportunities clamor for our attention. Technology got us to this place and technology will be our savior.<br /><br />AT&T's attempt to be the iconic innovator worked well in its advertising campaign long ago, but failed miserably in the marketplace because the company could not deliver fast enough on the expectation it created. However, Apple is standing in the gap quite well as today's innovative brand. The, "You Will," concept works well with Apple, because it creates a vision for reinvention at a time when we need it most. And because we "need" it, we will buy it. We seem to be buying it from Apple more because it delivers to our needs with creativity and style.<br /><br />Just when I began to detest Apple (see my earlier blog post, <span style="font-style:italic;">One Bad Apple</span>), I now covet its products all the more.<br /><br />The new iPad 2 made its Austin debut during the recent SXSW Interactive. For a few days, downtown Austin hosted an Apple retail outlet, and the destination felt like you were in Manhattan. The iPad 2 in AnyTown, USA, was the center of the world, and the world was filled with promise when the new product hit the market. The promise of Apple is that you will be able to do more than you can imagine with its products, and the company creatively carves out a companion-like relationship between you and its brand.<br /><br />Scale creates intimacy with its products. The iPhone slips into my hip pocket nicely. I can feel it. My daughter's key ring is attached to mini-purse just big enough for the iPhone or an iPod Touch. Like a little puppy, the new iPad 2 sits easily on your lap. Owners caress it with care. It's personal. At the same time, iPad owners willingly share their tablet. It's a bragging right. "Oh, you don't have one? I do. Try mine. It's cool."<br /><br />Color plays into the brand prominence of Apple, and it enhances the customer experience. Again, it's personal, not generic. The personal relationship with the iPad 2 is more than skin deep. More than 65,000 applications are available via Apple to expand your imagination about what you can do, if you will. It’s like a marriage that never gets old -- always exploring, revealing new possibilities, always serving with creativity. Apps like, FaceTime eliminate distance. Touch-edit features with iMovie and creative music mixing with GarageBand open your eyes to what you never thought possible. Apple's brand is transformational, and its brand essence spills over to complementary product lines.<br /><br />Get ready for sleek, creative iPad 2 covers to help personalize the Apple product further with distinction. The launch price for the newest Apple product makes it approachable. And, although the world was not clamoring for a newer version of the iPad, Apple saw the need for it nonetheless. Estimates indicate a strong consumer demand. Bringing forth the new iPad 2 is like opening a new Starbucks. The new kid on the block gratifies the thirsty and market demand grows. <br /><br />Of the estimated 24.1 million tablets expected to sell in the U.S. this year, 20 million could be branded with the iconic Apple. That is an impressive market share, but one day soon the pool is going to attract more swimmers, and the real olympians will survive. This is the pool of technology and the future. "And the company that will bring it to you," is not AT&T. Today it's Apple.Vincent Salashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02147421549501435822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144876.post-85250064085062508702011-03-21T10:24:00.004-05:002011-04-27T20:06:45.218-05:00SXSW 24/7<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPR-1QrWY2PUnWf8At2eoaf__YS4m9-Lm1e0-T1A-KUv4dsNpjvVexS2fwQO2S8UrZMowv9xT8JJL8pQhGmOw7czlKRaGaq-Cv_bm5LuJcnZCxPLkuYdvmA5SgNvyx1o_vtNUG/s1600/images.jpeg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 275px; height: 183px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPR-1QrWY2PUnWf8At2eoaf__YS4m9-Lm1e0-T1A-KUv4dsNpjvVexS2fwQO2S8UrZMowv9xT8JJL8pQhGmOw7czlKRaGaq-Cv_bm5LuJcnZCxPLkuYdvmA5SgNvyx1o_vtNUG/s400/images.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586662981867734130" /></a><br />Flights into Austin Bergstrom International Airport always seem full. The Texas Capital City always attracts a crowd, and unlike passengers flying into Newark, airline passengers heading into Austin always appear like happy campers. It's not Disney World, but Austin comes close, especially when you compare the fun factor. Just ask one of the thousands of SXSW happy campers who are back at work this week. Most likely their story of Austin and SXSW will be a lasting memory. It's the kind of memory that any chamber of commerce dreams of for its city. It's the kind of memory that lures people to move here, not just visit here. However, these are the memories residents create here every day.<br /><br />Austin is no longer the sleepy college town where hippies hang and politicians periodically hover. The energy level is high, always. And energy attracts energy. The University of Texas, Concordia University, Austin Community College and St. Edward's University all generate an energy of intellect. Countless coffee shops churn out creative works by a covey of entrepreneurs collaborating behind their laptops. Artistic expressions don the walls of museums and informal galleries, and music fills the air from a random corner, a footbridge over Lady Bird Lake or from atop a rooftop lounge downtown. These are the daily habits of a city I call home. And one of the fun periods to tap into the city's rich brew is when so many residents flee it.<br /><br />As Austin locals turned their homes into short-term hotels and escaped for a spring break, visitors poured into Waterloo like a tsunami and flooded our restaurants, our trailer vendors, and our streets with a carefree feeling that makes Austin a magical place. And for the locals who stuck around, the show was practically free. No hotel fees. No HomeAway rental expenses. No airline tickets. No real hassle.<br /><br />A strategic drop off point put me and my high school- and college-age kids into the thick of all things SXSW. Free music, free drink, free food samples and a free-flowing crowd made for great entertainment. It was an instant flashback to college and a time when living in Austin was affordable. The abundance of music was compelling. I could not keep myself from dancing freely in the streets, much to the embarrassment of my offspring who wished I was elsewhere for this March madness. They would say, some things are best kept at home.<br /><br />Our Downtown Austin Alliance could not have ordered better weather, and the SXSW organizers pulled together an incredible array of talent. A National Public Radio crew from New York was on the scene at Auditorium Shores for a live simulcast. The Big Apple was getting a taste of the real fruit, and the NPR crew was thrilled to be here because Austin was delivering on its promise of being a fun city, a creative city, a city of collaboration and cause to celebrate.<br /><br />The City of Austin's brand profile is very high right now. Mickey Mouse should consider being a rock star.Vincent Salashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02147421549501435822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144876.post-48863790930245837212011-02-12T12:26:00.012-06:002011-02-16T22:30:32.184-06:00One Bad Apple<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6g39rFiDKEJidWC3uDWAZu7MtXDEHK_A3IbISoEQ8a-BdIkEIicVLwUxtXGp4UJxdJ1UpAquNZyY56GBPk3daoRkDfib9fS-oIl7CLdy1p783rxt4VB0-_6BquJQ-gEcICGL/s1600/08-29-08-badapple.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6g39rFiDKEJidWC3uDWAZu7MtXDEHK_A3IbISoEQ8a-BdIkEIicVLwUxtXGp4UJxdJ1UpAquNZyY56GBPk3daoRkDfib9fS-oIl7CLdy1p783rxt4VB0-_6BquJQ-gEcICGL/s320/08-29-08-badapple.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574131529276697474" /></a><br />Everyone has a computer story. This is mine.<br /><br />Within the past year, my family made the leap into Mac World. Farewell to PCs and to the treat of viruses. Hello to hipster computer technology, innovation and superlative customer service. The purchase of two 13" MacBook Pros for my two college-age students, an impressive looking 21.5" iMac for the home, and a 17" MacBook Pro for me to use for my small business. Who needs a secretary when you have Apple's Mac and iPhone?<br /><br />Fast forward five months. <br /><br />Wednesday. My laptop assistant performs with precision during one meeting. However, during the next meeting, without warning or any hint of disaster, the MacBook Pro does not respond to a restart. The convenience of making an appointment at the nearest Apple store lets me belly up to the Genius Bar within the hour for a technical consult. David, with title of Genius, kindly evaluates my problem. The hard drive is bad, and needs to be replaced. Thank goodness for warranties. <br /><br />Unfortunately, Apple does not have my hard drive in stock. Sending the computer out for free repair will take from three-to-five business days. I wonder to myself whether I should take an unplanned vacation or just file for Chapter 11. Furthermore, Apple does not provide assistance to help recover the data from its failed hard drive. I am kindly directed to a local service provider that can help me figure that out. I am welcome back to the Genius Bar at my convenience and Apple will send out my computer for a hard drive replacement. However, the expense to recover my data is my burden to bare. I need my data. It's my business.<br /><br />Thursday. I deliver my MacBook Pro early in the morning to trustworthy <a href="http://www.heroicdata.com/">Heroic Efforts</a> , and explain the issue. A very computer-savy Matthew explains the process for data recovery, and if successful, I may incur a $400 price tag. It's worth it, I rationalize to myself. I need my data. It's my business. I leave my ill laptop secretary with Matthew, and drive to Houston to pursue a new potential client opportunity. I'm grateful for my iPhone to keep me tethered to email.<br /><br />Thursday afternoon. Kind Matthew calls with the bad news. My hard drive failure is beyond his capability. The next step is to send the device to a formal clean room for exploratory surgery to discover if my data can be salvaged and restored to me. If successful, the cost will run me approximately $1,700, equivalent to the cost for a brand new Apple MacBook Pro product. Unfortunately, my laptop secretary is not included in my healthcare coverage, and this expense is equivalent to paying my out of my pocket annual deductible. It does not require an Apple Genius to determine that this is the point of no return. <br /><br />Friday. I pick up my MacBook Pro from Matthew. There is no fee for his bad news. I am grateful, but as I drive to the Apple store to deliver my laptop for a replacement hard drive, my anxiety begins to build.<br /><br />Friday, 11:45 AM. The Apple attendant greets me, and within a few minutes, I take my seat at the Genius Bar, across from Holland, no Genius title. She gets the serial number from the computer, as I discreetly explain my disappointment in the Apple product. Now that I am in front of an Apple employee, I can feel my disappointment becoming personal. It's not personal with Holland, but it is personal with Apple and its brand.<br /><br />My deliberate display of discretion at the Genius bar is in response to the store setting. Other Apple customers with their own problems intimately flank me on the left and right. There is no privacy for complaints here, and I don't want to be the screaming customer that others stare at and wonder whether he is concealing a handgun. I express my position clearly: I'm disappointed in the performance of the Apple product, and I do not want to wait three-to-five days longer for a repair job. I want to walk out with a working computer, preferably a new one. <br /><br />My request is an impossibility, explains Holland in a calm but equally deliberate clear tone. I ask to speak with the manager. Michael -- not a manager but the lead -- comes out to greet me in front of the Genius Bar. His willingness to come to my side of the counter is a personal display of concern, and creates intimacy with the customer.<br /><br />In response, I put on my kind consumer face and use my calm but condemning consumer voice as I explain my situation. I do not play frisbee or toss my laptop around like a toy, I explain to Michael. I express my understanding of Apple's brand promise, and express my appreciation and expectation for superlative customer service. However, the product did not live up to my expectation as a customer, and leaving without a working computer was not acceptable to me. Michael, the lead, listens carefully, but expresses the same response as Holland. Unfortunately, he is not able to replace my five-month-old computer. I asked if he clearly understands the expectation that Apple's brand creates with me as a customer, and if he clearly understands that I am not satisfied with Apple's lack of fulfilling, or coming close to fulfilling, that expectation. He understands. It does not seem to matter.<br /><br />What I really wanted to say was that if Michael, the lead, did not do everything he could to replace my computer, I would leave the store prepared to begin the loudest virtual scream I could possibly muster. However, I politely acknowledge his position, and request that he begin doing what is necessary so that I can begin doing what I must do in order to recreate everything that was lost because of Apple's product failure. Michael, the lead, retreats to the back, and I sit quietly at the Genius Bar wondering if Apple considers it genius not to satisfy this customer's request.<br /><br />Within a few minutes Holland returns and tells me that they were able to find a hard drive for my laptop, and that within a few minutes I should be up and running, but without any historical data. Hmmm. One minute, there is nothing available (not even at the other Apple store in town) and I'm faced with up to five days of delay. The next minute there is a hard drive for my laptop. I believe in miracles.<br /><br />Was it genius to find a hard drive or genius to get me to purchase the $300 Time Capsule product that backs up my computer and protects me from a future similar encounter at the one bar in town I do not care to frequent?<br /><br />1:00 PM. I walk out with my MacBook Pro freshly recovering from its lobotomy, and I am careful not to let the door hit me on my way out. I begin anew with a clean slate. I for one do not believe that one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch. However, one bad Apple can spoil the brand.Vincent Salashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02147421549501435822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144876.post-92204099498850163552011-01-30T11:40:00.008-06:002011-01-30T12:39:29.147-06:00Fit to be Old<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzen7Yo_ZS-XAxGP-xoXkGoFpdFomTl49R_ENTPdPGIB7Lg5ryRw3w9JkR3VJRNkKXAteKMr_6H2EfRMDHNQSCVxr-cl-gNJsRaGACjr72XYji5wpOVh4Ct4PqGNTJmoOi6giB/s1600/images.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 305px; height: 165px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzen7Yo_ZS-XAxGP-xoXkGoFpdFomTl49R_ENTPdPGIB7Lg5ryRw3w9JkR3VJRNkKXAteKMr_6H2EfRMDHNQSCVxr-cl-gNJsRaGACjr72XYji5wpOVh4Ct4PqGNTJmoOi6giB/s320/images.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568050338432431938" /></a><br />News of the recent death of Mr. Fitness, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/24/sports/24lalanne.html?scp=2&sq=obituaries&st=cse">Jack LaLanne</a>, came to me via my <a href="http://www.apple.com/iphone/">iPhone</a>. It was news of interest, but life for me that day continued as usual. I worked. I attended a lunch meeting. I participated in a meeting over dinner. I did not exercise beyond the necessary walking to and from my car, and the swivel from my laptop to the writing surface of my desk. I'm a fit man of the 21st Century.<br /><br />Jack LaLanne, way my senior, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/01/30/weekinreview/30marsh.html?ref=weekinreview">opened his first health club</a> in 1936, almost 20 years before my parents even considered having me as their fourth child. His influence on me in particular was a blip, a brief few encounters on a black and white television screen. However, his physique made an indelible impression on my brain. <br /><br />Fast forward to 2011. Everyone, especially the Baby Boomers, wants to be fit, or at least look it. Fitness clubs abound, and before work, people are in a frenzy running on treadmills and spinning on cycles to nowhere. Meanwhile, I am enjoying my morning coffee, grateful for the comfort it gives me and the mild sweat it causes on my brow. A few calories burned. <br /><br />One of my New Year's resolutions is to stay in shape. I like to run a four or five mile loop around <a href="http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/trails.htm">Lady Bird Lake</a> every now and then. I want to do it more often. I like to participate in fun runs, and I especially like being the first in the family to cross the finish line. "It's not a race," I always tell my kids. "It's a fun run." Then, I strategically use my wisdom to pace myself so I can have the speed in the end to pull out a win! As age gains its advantage, I feel like I am loosing mine in the fun run category. I must stay in shape. If Jack LaLanne could do it, so can I.<br /><br />I enlisted my youngest son, Matthew, into joining me for a simple training program to add strength and speed to my running. This is the beginning of my training for the 2011 Capital 10K fun run. I pulled the <a href="http://www.gq.com/how-to/rest-of-your-life/201101/lose-the-last-10-pounds-runners-goals">"how to"</a> from browsing through a recent issue of <a href="http://www.gq.com/?us_site=y">GQ Magazine</a>, while waiting for a haircut. <br /><br />Day one: I tell Matthew, "This training is not a race. We are running against ourselves to make us stronger and faster." He waxes me on all four quarter-mile sprints. The two-minute rests between sprints was not nearly enough for me to collect my aging thoughts about why I wanted to do this. Yet, on day three, it's me out there on my own, focused like Mr. Fitness to make the exercise fun and productive. I can do this. I can do this until I'm 96. I can do this 'til my legs fall off.Vincent Salashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02147421549501435822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144876.post-23232553295763764952011-01-21T11:48:00.008-06:002011-01-21T13:35:05.467-06:00Supersize Me, Starbucks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzTrosmZ6S7bhRjpoION-NXwt5rSZTE1v4ABW_gRSGrwVfUsSoOs5f5uzcWecygmSXqDJeGzU_GfvWEIN6N1gQ5Fa_U-oNh9QmS7A3_7landOpTS4jN1Z19uNuAOCsKu7wCAk/s1600/starbucks-cups-002.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzTrosmZ6S7bhRjpoION-NXwt5rSZTE1v4ABW_gRSGrwVfUsSoOs5f5uzcWecygmSXqDJeGzU_GfvWEIN6N1gQ5Fa_U-oNh9QmS7A3_7landOpTS4jN1Z19uNuAOCsKu7wCAk/s320/starbucks-cups-002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564707277847506450" /></a><br />My love for coffee -- caffeine really -- began as a student at the <a href="http://www.utexas.edu/">University of Texas at Austin</a>. It was the perfect introduction to civility and to cheesecake, which became my favorite dessert at Cafe Camille, a little house-turned-restaurant nestled on Kerbey Lane. <br /><br />During the late 70s, enjoying company and conversation over a cup of coffee was far from both Wall Street and Main Street. Our culture's taste buds and high octane lifestyle were fast asleep, and the brew from Seattle was merely beginning to perk. <br /><br />Fast forward to our current "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fast-Food-Nation-Dark-All-American/dp/0060938455">fast food nation</a>" and the epidemic spread of <a href="http://www.starbucks.com/">Starbucks</a>. After our long collective gasp of disgust over the audacity of McDonald's to supersize practically everything, the company responded by downsizing its portions of poison so deliciously deep-fried or coated with special sauce. <br /><br />Meanwhile, a growing number of consumers were settling comfortably into the soft seating of a neighborhood Starbucks, feeding our addiction to the coffee bean. Starbucks was the fast-food cultural trendsetter; its corporate social responsibility platform made its coffee smoother, worth the price. Forget the jumbo fries and extra-large drink. Ordering in Italian was all the rage. Americans wanted Grande or Venti.<br /><br />The wise Solomon got it right when he penned, "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun." In the nothing-new-under-the-sun category, Starbucks supersizes its coffee. The only thing new is another Italian word in our vocabulary. Can you say, Trenta?<br /><br />Starbucks turns its back to the customer while pouring us an extra large serving of joe. It's as if the new Trenta and its supersize price point signal salvation for Starbucks, which means salvation for our country. The over-caffeinated will lead the way to our economic recovery. After a couple of Trentas, our energy level for business will be like a frenzied day on Wall Street. <br /><br />The new Trenta by Starbucks will eventually supersize the heart rates of our obese nation, and we will find ourselves dying on the dotted line before our jittery hand can sign on it. Do you smell a bad deal?<br /><br />I think I will stick with Grande, thank you very much.Vincent Salashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02147421549501435822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144876.post-20689593195551854792011-01-18T14:28:00.004-06:002011-01-19T15:42:28.021-06:00A Statue of Willie. Coming Soon.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5JpmaHT8lWYOOy0oqw-96H3ccTPBbYvQmf1nfSyYAGdXSPt8OwwX5CwkI0PmHxsx3fJ8mC60GzKO2lJfjwNmSeV5-DEed6FFA05Ig9Zha8moyxM5LqeSqZhzcJnuHdJzt53Fi/s1600/IMG_0098.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 294px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5JpmaHT8lWYOOy0oqw-96H3ccTPBbYvQmf1nfSyYAGdXSPt8OwwX5CwkI0PmHxsx3fJ8mC60GzKO2lJfjwNmSeV5-DEed6FFA05Ig9Zha8moyxM5LqeSqZhzcJnuHdJzt53Fi/s320/IMG_0098.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563933152004788946" /></a><br />The idea of commissioning a sculpture of <a href="http://www.willienelson.com/">Willie Nelson</a> bounced around like a super ball, full of energy and likely never to land. However, over time, the right pieces began falling into place. Beau Armstrong and <a href="http://www.stratusproperties.com/">Stratus Properties</a> landed the gig to develop <a href="http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/downtown/block21.htm">Block 21</a> in the southern hotspot of downtown Austin. The <a href="http://deals.whotels.com/W-Austin-Hotel-3224/so.htm?PS=PS_aa_WSW_WestSouthwest_Google_BD_w_hotel_austin_Exact_101210_NAD_FM">W Hotel Austin</a> would take up residence there along with its <a href="http://www.block21residences.com/?IM=WH_wresidences">high-rise condominiums</a> offering un-obstructive views of beautiful Lady Bird Lake. Then the famed <a href="http://austincitylimits.org/?Itemid=53">Austin City Limits</a> confirmed that it would be part of the cluster, extending the live music scene from the <a href="http://www.utexas.edu/">University of Texas</a> campus and from <a href="http://www.6street.com/">East Sixth Street</a> across Congress Avenue into what will be a coveted performance venue. <br /><br />Suddenly the bouncing ball began to get heavy like clay. The idea began to grow some legs, and the legs were of a man named Willie Nelson. The board of <a href="http://capitalareastatues.com/">Capital Area Statues, Inc. (CAST)</a>, the small non-profit that brought Austin the bronze sculptures of <a href="http://capitalareastatues.com/philosopher.html">Philosophers' Rock</a> and <a href="http://capitalareastatues.com/angelina.html">Angelina Eberly</a>, voted unanimously to commission a statue of the musical icon, and zeroed in on Block 21 as the preferable place for the new work to stand. <br /><br />Historically, CAST commissions the work of sculpture, raises private funds from local residents, private foundations and sometimes corporate interests, and then presents its finished works as gifts to the <a href="http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/">City of Austin</a>. Then, upon accepting the works of sculpture, the City agrees to maintain the bronze works as part of its collection of art in public places. This is how Willie Nelson will come to stand near the intersection of Lavaca Street on Second Street, the street that now bears the honorary name of Willie Nelson Blvd.<br /><br />The sculptor <a href="http://blip.tv/file/362075">Clete Shields</a> molded a fantastic clay resemblance of the performer who played the first gig for Austin City Limits. Recently, a few members of the CAST Board of Directors visited Shields in his Philadelphia studio to help provide guidance on the final changes before the cast is poured. The sculpture stands larger than life and captures the persona of the Willie we all love. It's hard to imagine, but looking into the carved eyes of this statue will cause draw many viewers back to that intimate concert or packed special event when they knew Willie was looking directly at them with a twinkle in his eye that has failed to diminish over time. This statue is for everyone, and its planning, production and placement come together with great forethought and collaboration.<br /><br />Now it's time for you to make your contribution to help finish this great work of sculpture. All <a href="http://capitalareastatues.com/donate.html">contributions</a> are welcome by CAST, but donors of $10,000 or more also receive a numbered limited edition <a href="http://weareaustin.com/entertainment-story?nxd_id=62995">bronze maquette</a> of Willie Nelson, and their names in bronze that will accompany the larger sculpture in downtown Austin. The W Hotel is now open for business. Residents of the higher condominiums are making themselves at home. <a href="http://www.klru.org/">KLRU</a> public television prepares for its inaugural concert in its new downtown venue. The plaza of Block 21 is ready for Willie. Help CAST bring him to Austin for everyone to enjoy.Vincent Salashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02147421549501435822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144876.post-72564820600124727542011-01-13T09:26:00.002-06:002011-01-19T15:42:03.438-06:00Forever Young. A Winning Perspective.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFaS2SI4BdHZ99GjO_s718yClxzLuvWtmr5DFxn6k2LIegkLsr7-StEHru7G1zv2IP6ISq0tokEBZVXViRy9avBJpGoyURn3tsm6FJZRDAsBJNBEQtnmlkaDZ3ewl3ErTptCk1/s1600/rbz+Oxygenated+Golfer.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFaS2SI4BdHZ99GjO_s718yClxzLuvWtmr5DFxn6k2LIegkLsr7-StEHru7G1zv2IP6ISq0tokEBZVXViRy9avBJpGoyURn3tsm6FJZRDAsBJNBEQtnmlkaDZ3ewl3ErTptCk1/s320/rbz+Oxygenated+Golfer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561823903635680418" /></a><br />During 2010, <a href="http://www.shape.com/lifestyle/travel/the-top-10-fittest-cities">SHAPE</a> magazine included Austin, TX, in its top 10 list of fittest cities in the U.S. It's young, vibrant lifestyle contributes to the population's bragging rights of being one of the less obese cities in America.<br /><br />However, the psychographics of a population that is marked by a vibrant, fit lifestyle is not necessarily a trait tied to a younger demographic. Being fit and vibrant is an attitude that extends across generations. It is as much a state of mind as it is a lifestyle. This is a psychographic trait of long-time Austin residents that helped influence the attractiveness of the capital city to a younger population segment. The abundance of parkland, the flowing recreational resources of Lady Bird Lake, Barton Springs and their surrounding trails have been around longer than the average age of the city's residents. Today's old-timers in Austin have been taking advantage of these and other outdoor resources long before there were formal hike and bike paths. The formality of these things are mere extensions of a perspective of fitness and love of the outdoors that was birthed here long ago.<br /><br />The photo of this gentleman was one of many captured in a <a href="http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1418565568?bctid=721381847001">slideshow</a> by the <a href="http://www.statesman.com/">Austin American-Statesman</a>, the city's daily newspaper, in its photo summary that captures the essence of Austin during 2010. The photographer, <a href="http://www.ralphbarrera.com/ralph5_content.html">Ralph Barrera</a>, gives us a glimpse of a spirited man of 88 practicing his stroke at the <a href="http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/lions.htm">Lions Municipal Golf Course</a> in West Austin. Although tethered to his oxygen tank, you can detect the vibrant attitude of this man who loves taking advantage of one of the jewels that lures Austin outdoors. The gentleman is Cesar A. Salas, Sr., my dad. I'd say he has a winning perspective.<br /><br />My perspective is that if we are not careful to guard these outdoor places that lure us, then we endanger the vibrant lifestyle that has attracted people to Austin since <a href="http://capitalareastatues.com/angelina.html">Angelina Eberly</a> fired the city's canon so long ago. Although recognized as a Texas Historical Landmark, the Lions Municipal Golf Course may become mince meat if the <a href="http://www.utsystem.edu/bor/currentRegents.htm">UT System Board of Regents</a> decides to fully pursue the <a href="http://www.utsystem.edu/reo/Brackenridge/ProjectReport.html">recommendations</a> for how best to leverage its real estate, which we have all come to love.<br /><br />Vincent Salashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02147421549501435822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144876.post-36398999615551708762011-01-04T11:19:00.002-06:002011-01-04T11:38:28.815-06:00It's A New Year. Get it Right.Communicators -- or so-called communicators -- are in abundance these days. However, in reality many of these self-professed titles exceed the capabilities of those who possess them. For example, today I received an email from a PR firm wishing me a "Happy New Years!" This made me wonder about the term, and its proper use.<br /><br />Maybe the wish of "Happy New Years" is colloquial to certain boroughs of the northeast or small West Texas towns. However, it does not show up as a formal or proper use of the term anywhere I can find. There are New Year's resolutions, a New Year's Eve, but I cannot seem to find Happy New Years anywhere but in the context of confusion or error. However, I am open to the coaching, if someone can steer me in a different direction.<br /><br />In fact, the correct term is "Happy New Year." The year 2011 is a single year, and the salutation covers a 12-month period. As a result, to wish someone a "Happy New Years," reflects poor grammar. Any professional in the communication field begins the New Year making a bad impression when he marginalizes what should be a foundational strength of the profession.<br /><br />It's a New Year. May 2011 be the year you pursue using good grammar and writing with clarity. I am up for the challenge. Are you?Vincent Salashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02147421549501435822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144876.post-63840624248777748702010-11-30T13:57:00.003-06:002010-11-30T14:20:21.993-06:00Leveraging MayhemFor a while, now, I have been enjoying the television commercial campaign for <a href="http://www.allstate.com/">Allstate</a>. However, the newest spot featuring Dean Winters as the netted Christmas tree that comes lose from the roof of a car is surely to become a classic. The creative captures a quintessential American tradition and a scenario that hits a home run. It's a great reminder of the value of insurance and how it can provide you security against the most unsuspecting circumstances. As Americans continue to look to insurance companies with suspect, Allstate is building its brand equity with consumers leveraging mayhem and humor to stimulate consumers to think about their coverage and perhaps consider a switch to a new insurance company. <br /><br />As a further extension of connecting insurance to the Christmas season, the company uses a <a href="http://www.allstate.com/Mayhem-is-everywhere/main.aspx">12 Days of Christmas</a> spot that mixes different scenes from the campaign. The compilation is sure to put a smile on your face and build your affection for the brand.<br /><br />Bravo Allstate! Mayhem does not have to take Merry out of Christmas.Vincent Salashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02147421549501435822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144876.post-79869270294773212962009-09-01T22:33:00.002-05:002009-09-01T22:40:33.400-05:00Austin Study of Teens and Parents on SexThose who know me know that I love sex. I admit it, but what I also love is programs like Austin LifeGuard that serve as a resource for teens and parents of teens who need help dealing with the facts about sex, especially teen sex. Today, Austin LifeGuard released select data from a study of Austin teenagers and parents of teenagers on the subject of sex. The results reveal a huge gap between the views of parents and teens. Nothing new, I guess, but parents are really off the mark when it comes to understanding the attitudes and behaviors of their teens. Amanda Brown, director of Austin LifeGuard, spoke about the survey today, and Austin's Fox 7 News covered the story. <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" id="video" width="320" height="280" data="http://www.myfoxaustin.com/video/videoplayer.swf"><param value="http://www.myfoxaustin.com/video/videoplayer.swf" name="movie"/><param value="&skin=MP1ExternalAll-MFL.swf&embed=true&adSrc=http%3A%2F%2Fad%2Edoubleclick%2Enet%2Fadx%2Ftsg%2Ektbc%2Fnews%2Fmetro%2Fdetail%3Bdcmt%3Dtext%2Fxml%3Bpos%3D%3Btile%3D2%3Bsz%3D320x240%3Bord%3D381005185904372400%3Frand%3D0%2E4522438519032153&flv=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Emyfoxaustin%2Ecom%2Ffeeds%2FoutboundFeed%3FobfType%3DVIDEO%5FPLAYER%5FSMIL%5FFEED%26componentId%3D130515208&img=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia2%2Emyfoxaustin%2Ecom%2F%2Fphoto%2F2009%2F09%2F01%2F090109fiveTeenSexSurvey1%5Ftmb0000%5F20090901180630%5F640%5F480%2EJPG&story=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Emyfoxaustin%2Ecom%2Fdpp%2Fnews%2Flocal%2F090109%5FTeen%5FSex%5FSurvey" name="FlashVars"/><param value="all" name="allowNetworking"/><param value="always" name="allowScriptAccess"/></object>Vincent Salashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02147421549501435822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144876.post-15820430547186825422009-03-18T10:27:00.002-05:002009-05-01T13:48:49.844-05:00Cool CollaborationEveryone wants to be cool, in his own way. No one wants to be un-cool. We glean the social columns, photo pages and advertisements to see who went to which event, to discover the new cool place to dine or to be seen, or to define our own style and fashion. It's Austin's nature to be cool. Cool directs the new trend. Cool serves as a foundation of new start-up companies. And cool supports the business strategy for long-term survival, especially now that economic times are tough.<br /> <br />In our city, art is inspiring us to be cool, and an exhibition at the <a href="http://blantonmuseum.org">Blanton Museum</a> is rousing a bevy of local businesses and organizations to collaborate in a bid to energize Austin before our overly cautious consumption and the heat of summer further slow us down. <br /><br />"Birth of the Cool: California Art, Design and Culture at Midcentury," the Blanton Museum of Art's featured exhibition on the <a href="http://utexas.edu">University of Texas</a> campus, is like a spring economic development stimulus package that places art at its center. The exhibit's collection of works by creative artists who helped develop the style of high modernism demonstrates how forms, ideals and expressions of one generation can stimulate a new generation of businesses to rally around art as a means of injecting life into our current economic doldrums. Named after the influential Miles Davis jazz album, the exhibition gives Austin an opportunity to crank up the volume on its own creative expressions to chill out this recession and soak up the cool things we love about our city. <br /><br />Art serves as the platform to launch local alliances. However, the collaborative seed was planted nearly two years ago when the Blanton added the exhibition to its calendar and began cultivating synergy with likely and unlikely sources. No one imagined then that now, more than ever, Austin needs something cool to happen that will stimulate our spending in local record stores, at local movie houses and theaters. <br /><br />So, whether out of desperation or creativity, the concept of collaborating around an art exhibit seems like a cool idea, and the door is wide open for building on that concept. The <a href="http://austinfilm.org">Austin Film Society</a> and the <a href="http://drafthouse.com">Alamo Drafthouse</a> are presenting a special 1950s film series starting in late March that captures the era that created cool. The <a href="http://elephantroom.com">Elephant Room</a> is presenting a musical series that honors the post-war period, and several restaurants, wine bars and other venues are planning discounts to encourage consumption of cool food and drink. Local radio and television will leverage their respective frequencies to refresh our minds about the rich cultural awakening of the 1950s. <br /><br />Art is creating the vibe that is reinvigorating business attitudes about trying something new to capture the attention of their customers. Creative collaboration extends the art experience into experiences of taste, sound, entertainment, architecture and décor. However, the possibilities are limitless if more Austin business owners put their minds to it and let the essence of cool permeate the local economic landscape. If more local businesses do this well, we all will rediscover that collaboration is not a measure of last resort, but a first step toward ongoing success. Collaborating is what Austin should do best because it unleashes our creativity, and creativity stimulates action. <br /><br />So act cool Austin. Find someone to collaborate with on an idea that makes this slow period pass quickly. Collaboration is cool, and who doesn't want to be cool?<br /><br />(As published 03.16.09 in the <span style="font-style:italic;">Austin American Statesman</span>)Vincent Salashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02147421549501435822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144876.post-16377123849126401652008-08-20T20:56:00.004-05:002008-08-20T21:07:04.014-05:00The Truth of Abstinence<p>America is deep into summer, and that most likely means many American teens are deep into sexual mischief. Skimpy swimsuits and raging hormones can overwhelm our youth. And yet, we need to remember that just as many teens clearly understand where to stop a sexual escapade because they learned about abstinence. </p> <p>The topic of teen sex and sex education featured by the <span style="font-style: italic;">Austin American-Statesman </span>surely raised Central Texas temperatures. The coverage followed a non-reported gathering in our city of hundreds of medical practitioners, educators and social workers from North America, Europe and Asia who came to hear the Medical Institute for Sexual Health present the latest facts and trends about sex, sexually transmitted infections, sexually transmitted diseases, pornography and the effects of it all, especially on our youth. </p> <p>Teens are especially at risk of contracting and spreading infections because their bodies are not developed enough to fight them off. As a result, they are the population we focus on in studies about pregnancy, abortions and STDs because of their vulnerability and tendency toward risky sexual practices. Yet our focus on teens fades quickly as we politicize the topic. </p> <p>Teens want facts and the respect that acknowledges they are in control of their own sexual health destinies. Treating them all as uncontrollable sexual animals or as controllable objects of fear tactics underestimates their thinking skills and undermines any desire for teens to live healthier, happier, fuller lives. </p> <p>As a trained and experienced volunteer who speaks to high school students about abstinence, sexual health and relationships, I see how thirsty teens are for the truth. If you present them the facts they are most likely going to exercise better judgment about sex and the type of relationships they pursue. </p> <p>Austin LifeGuard provides the abstinence curriculum I use in classrooms. As a parent who speaks openly about the topic at the family dinner table, I believe the abstinence curriculum is rather comprehensive, even without a demonstration of how to apply a condom onto a banana. Students clearly understand the abstinence bent, but I never tell students what is right or wrong, or that teens must choose abstinence. </p> <p>Instead, credible public data is what attracts teen interest and engages them in open dialogue about the real physical and emotional risks surrounding sexual practices before marriage. They quickly begin using the facts to connect the dots between their own sexual activity and its influence on the spread of STDs, as well as its impact on their respective values, relationships in high school and future relationships leading to marriage. </p> <p>We need to be careful not to leap too quickly to a conclusion that abstinence education is failing our teens based on a single data point of increased teen pregnancy over a short period. Abstinence programs have not been around long enough to determine their long-term impact. </p> <p>The abstinence curriculum is not harmful and is clear-cut in its approach. The use of and definitions for biologically and clinically correct terms like penis, vagina, fallopian tube, ovary, sperm, fetus, bacterial and viral infections, HPV, genital herpes and chlamydia break down the walls of ignorance and open the door to genuine education and freedom to make decisions based on reliable information. </p> <p>Real data and visual displays of how STDs spread and what they really look like make the facts even more compelling and true for a generation that continually has to deflect the onslaught of media impressions that subtly or aggressively paint a false but pretty picture on premature sexual activity. </p> <p>Armed with the facts, teens understand the spin of "safe sex" versus what it means to be truly safe and healthy. In the end, sexual abstinence until marriage remains as the responsible, rational and realistic option for teens to practice, if they choose. </p> <p>With the straightforward facts, our youth are free to decide where to draw the line in the sand this summer about sex. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">(Published July 22, 2008, <span style="font-style: italic;">Austin American-Statesman</span>)</p>Vincent Salashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02147421549501435822noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144876.post-70218417611526438022008-02-20T17:56:00.004-06:002008-02-20T21:41:33.914-06:00Hardball Q&AAs the dueling Democratic presidential candidates look to Texas, the current front runner, Senator Barack Obama and his team recently relied on Texas Senator Kirk Watson as personality <span style="font-style: italic;">du jour</span> to convince Americans that Obama is the best choice as the next President of the United States.<br /><br />During yesterday's televised interview between Watson and Chris Matthews, host of <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/">MSNBC</a>'s "Hardball," the Texas senator quickly fell into the hands of his interviewer, and underscored the importance of preparation prior to any exchange with a reporter.<br /><br />Too many business executives -- but especially politicians -- believe their wit and ego are sufficient to master any conversation with a reporter. Watson's disastrous exchange on public television now lives forever on <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=jj4VK9wVAi0">YouTube</a> as a classic blunder, and the results of what can happen when the PR expertise is absent or ignored as part of the preparation.<br /><br />Taking the time to thoughtfully ponder the possible questions and shape the appropriate responses is time well-spent. Taking the time to establish key message points for your interview is absolute, but be sure your message points have substance. Watson's interview with Matthews indicates he took the time for neither. His derelict expression was all too telling, and was not only embarrassing for him, but embarrassing for Texans.<br /><br />Watson's inability to tout any of Obama's accomplishments demonstrates he, like many Americans, is lured by the packaging, but ignorant of its substance. Daily, the news media interviews the public about why they like Obama, and consistently, the answers are generic. People focus on his vision, his charisma, his new blood and expressions of hope. Few express their support of him based on an articulate expression that they know and like what he has done already.<br /><br />This is where Senator Hillary Clinton does well to differentiate herself in testimonies by the public and by public leaders who lend her their support. Her campaign is doing a better job of articulating her advocacy for health insurance for children and her understanding of international issues.<br /><br />I hope Texans will observe with wisdom and gather their facts before voting in the state's primary on March 4. Until then, there will be many testimonials for both Democratic candidates, but who is to say whether either candidate can stand up in November against the experience of Republican Senator John McCain?<br /><br />Let's be sure we all do a better job of preparing and studying our Q&As.Vincent Salashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02147421549501435822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144876.post-91890113187056186292008-02-06T14:33:00.000-06:002008-02-07T11:23:32.792-06:00Missing MateI am still digesting all the data from super Tuesday.<br /><br />The news coverage tells me there is no clear indicator within the Democratic ranks on who will end up leading the party on the November presidential ballot. The coverage also tells me that despite a growing affection by Republicans for Senator John McCain as the party's front runner, there remains significant resistance to McCain among Evangelicals within the party.<br /><br />So the historically minority candidates (woman and African-American) within the Democratic party will continue to make their respective appeals to differentiate themselves, while the white war veteran Republican tries to figure out if he needs Jesus to win in November. <br /><br />The photos that supported the front-page newspapers of Feb. 5 underscore one point of differentiation between Hillary and Barack. During the Kodak moments when each candidate appeared to declare victory, Senator Obama proudly stands hand in hand with his beautiful wife -- what's her name?<br /><br />On the other side of the Democratic victory isle stands Senator Clinton, glowing alone, like a black widow counting her inheritance or an estranged wife celebrating the divorce and her share of the pie. Where is Mr. Clinton, when it matters most for creating imagery and portraying the American family?<br /><br />Perhaps, Hillary's entire campaign is an allegory of the demise of the American family and the values we used to consider important for leadership. Do we expect the leader of the free world to be capable of managing family matters first?<br /><br />When it comes down to voting in the booth, how will the political positioning of a loving, well-packaged African-American couple play over the depiction of an intellectually astute, politically motivated female who was publicly scorned by her husband? Will such an image influence how people vote? Will people bring empathy or sympathy into their voting equation for Hillary or will concern instead cause them to pull the other lever for Barack?<br /><br />On the Republican side, surely there is concern that the party's front runner fails to convince influential media personalities and Evangelicals that he is their man. The party needs to think long and hard whether it even has a candidate that can beat the enthusiasm the Democrats are generating for their party. <br /><br />If Senator McCain carries the Republican banner into the November election, will the dissatisfaction of conservatives and Evangelicals deflate their energy level so much that they don't vote altogether? If that is possible, the Republicans in Washington better start packing their suitcases.<br /><br />I can't wait until the candidates bring their court and spark in the Lone Star State.Vincent Salashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02147421549501435822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144876.post-67318466690460914912008-02-05T08:48:00.000-06:002008-02-05T10:00:36.147-06:00Black or White, Man or Woman, Christian or CultThis morning my 11-year-old son asked me who I would vote for, if the U.S. presidential election were today, and Hillary Clinton was running against Mitt Romney. I was driving my kids to school, and we were talking about super Tuesday and the important indicators that would surface by Wednesday, in terms of America's bent toward presidential preferences. <br /><br />In recent days, I have been pondering how Americans might be sorting through their options. Clearly, this race presents us with a greater array of diversity, but also with a more obvious element of risk, depending on your perspective. Many believe a man is inherently better suited to lead our country, despite race. Many believe a woman is equally up to the task, despite political party. Many believe faith is not an issue, despite a candidate's connection to a cult.<br /><br />When I was 11 years old, LBJ was beginning to lose his political grip on this country, as racial strife stirred an anxious generation caught up in waging war with the North Vietnamese abroad and with each other at home. In 1966, I told my kids, America would never consider a woman or an African American as president. In 1966, Americans would never consider a Morman as president. We were still recovering from the assassination of a Catholic in the Oval Office, the assassination of a black pastor in Tennessee, and the assassination of prayer in our public schools. The term Ms. was not on the public radar screen, and blacks were not on the public short list for lead roles in movies or on television. <br /><br />Today, I have an 11 year-old asking me a question that was unimaginable when I was his age.<br /><br />Today, America now demonstrates its embrace of diversity, by whatever factor you can measure it. It appears there are no longer lingering stigmas in this country about race or gender. However, I have a hunch that below the surface Democrats are quietly struggling about which is a better choice: a woman, or a black man. It appears there are no longer lingering stigmas in this country about faith. However, my hunch is that Republicans are quietly struggling about which is a better choice: a Morman, a Veteran or a conservative Christian. By tomorrow we will have a better indication what road we are on as a country.<br /><br />The silent reaction to my 11-year-old son's question must have lingered too long. Before I could respond, my 15-year-old son offered up his answer for me: "If that were to happen, Papa would not vote at all," he said.<br /><br />I think I will wait to see if the question is premature. I hope the voter turnout is strong.Vincent Salashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02147421549501435822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144876.post-43598171339226170302008-01-24T16:20:00.000-06:002008-01-25T14:36:49.363-06:00Man of the HouseI'm back from the black hole, and so maybe this year, my opinions will flow more frequently.<br /><br />Each Thursday morning before dawn I try to meet up with a group of guys -- our men's fraternity -- to talk about manly topics. It affords us the time to encourage each other, to talk about what man-life is like in this modern world, where a woman is running for President of The United States.<br /><br />Today, we spoke about the role of a man as a leader, and specifically being the leader in his home. This implies, naturally, that leadership is assigned primarily to one individual: the husband. The role of the wife, according to our model, is that of helper. Now, before you delete this post, hear me out a bit longer. Both parties are created equal, but for the health of the marriage and relationship, our premise is that one has to be the leader and one the helper.<br /><br />As guys, our biggest struggle with being leaders in our own homes was with our wives. This was a unanimous position by the small group of men huddled around coffee and cinnamon danish. Each of us put our wife in the category of A-type personality. We all felt that in theory -- at least in heart -- our wives wanted us to take the leadership role in the home and the relationship. However, if we somewhere along the line, through our own passivity, gave it up, how can we get it back? More coffee, please. This is a challenging question.<br /><br />Nationally, it appears that we have a compadre in former President Bill Clinton. Once the leader of our country, he publicly failed as a role model family leader. Now we see how his very A-type, intelligent wife, Senator Hillary Clinton, has managed to take that leadership position and run with the ball. Her end zone: The White House. For her it's the game of the century; a brass ring or nothing. No more second chances.<br /><br />Unfortunately, for him, he's destined for second place, now during her campaign, and in the White House, if she wins. When a man gives up the lead role in a marriage, how does he gain it back with grace and authority, especially when its so very public?<br /><br />It seems for Bill Clinton, you do it by aggressively attacking anyone who might put your wife's potential [Presidential] leadership at risk. Lately, it is confusing whether Mr. Clinton is supporting his wife, or supporting his own delusion that he is a leader. Poor Barack Obama. He does not know if he should position himself as a leader man-to-man or man-to-woman.<br /><br />Is this leadership play by Mr. Clinton going to work for him, or be a disaster for both he and the Mrs. in their already dubious relationship? I won't even bother to guess what Hillary's campaign strategists are saying, but it seems to me that leadership, influence and authority might best be reintroduced through more subtle channels. And, our former president might do himself and all men a favor if he would deeply ponder how this situation came about.<br /><br />As America had to live through the marital struggles of Bill and Hillary while they were in the White House, we may have to live through it again during their attempt to return home. Who is driving the car on this hopeful trip to Washington, anyway? It's a human script perfect for newspapers, news radio and television, without any help from striking writers.<br /><br />My little men's fraternity is investing more into prayer than political posturing as we address this topic of being a man and a leader. I for one wonder if Bill Clinton, or any other man, can last long in the role as helper to a wife who is leader. What would Adam and Eve say?<br /><br />Have we come a long way, or have we strayed a long way off?Vincent Salashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02147421549501435822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144876.post-1162222343054093172006-10-27T09:26:00.000-05:002006-10-30T09:45:42.903-06:00An Incredible Meeting of the Minds in AustinThis is the weekend when Austin turns down the volume of its music and cranks up its intellect for the written word. For two days, Oct. 28-29, the Texas State Capitol sheds its image as the venue for hallway politics and backslapping. Instead, the doors of the pink granite icon become the looking glass that beckons Texans to step into a world of books: fact and fiction, lore and experience, as well as politics and persuasion.<br /><br />For a very worthy cause – to raise money for Texas public libraries – an expected crowd of 35,000 Texans will descend upon the capitol grounds to gain a better understanding of the people behind the bylines of some of the best-selling books in the country. Austin serves as the perfect host city for such a gathering that mixes social, political, intellectual and religious perspectives like a fraternity trashcan punch. The free festival allows us to binge on a two-day marathon of soapbox opinions on history, literature, politics, and whatever else the imagination can tolerate.<br /><br />The exchange of ideas compacted within 48 hours is overwhelming, but nonetheless enriching and invigorating as the public clamors to hear one snippet of a good story after another. Austin attracts great minds, and great minds love to read and explore new ideas. The <a href="http://texasbookfestival.org">Texas Book Festival </a>does a great job of connecting the creators of those ideas with a public who consumes books with voracious enthusiasm.<br /><br />Last year, the Texas Book Festival surpassed a total of $1.8 million dollars in grants the organization has awarded to more than 600 Texas public libraries. The Texas Book Festival serves as the single largest public venue to support our precious archives of literature, against a trend of decreasing public funding. The growing public support of the festival, demonstrates how much Texans still love to read, despite a growing cultural preference for entertainment via audio and video stimulation.<br /><br />Today, libraries and books continue to be relevant for all age groups and language preferences. This year’s festival improves its Spanish-language programming, which promises to enhance the crowd’s diversity and cultivate a stronger connection with Hispanics. Saturday features Univision’s María Elena Salinas, the most recognized Hispanic female journalist in the United States. The same day, a panel of authors will address Chicano literature. On Sunday, two Pulitzer Prize-winning authors, Sonia Nazario and Héctor Tobar, will share their thoughts on immigration.<br /><br />If you seek lighter fare, you will find it under the Bon Appetit Y’all cooking tent, where chefs and authors will fill the air with the aroma of food, or you can hear one of more than 40 children’s authors who will share their new works both Saturday and Sunday. The children’s component is important, because the kids remind us how to imagine, and their attendance and participation gives us hope for the potential of literacy.<br /><br />Well-known Texas authors come out of the woodwork this year in droves. Lawrence Wright gives us an intimate view into the mindset of Al-Qaeda, Steven Harrigan takes us into space, and Gregory Curtis delves us into caves and into art that speaks to our history. And, if you think the volume of music is too low, many of this year’s featured authors will demonstrate their musical talents throughout the weekend in the entertainment tent.<br /><br />The list of headline authors grows each year, along with the Texas Book Festival’s national prominence, and the stature it brings to Austin and the state. Moreover, the festival helps remind us all of the importance of reading and its influence on our culture and our future.<br />When First Lady Laura Bush founded the festival in 1995, she wanted to back an idea that celebrated the literary tradition of Texans and supported our libraries. Today, the Texas Book Festival successfully creates a magic atmosphere that connects readers with authors in ways that make books come alive.<br /><br />The Texas Book Festival provides us exposure to a variety of ideas and topics. More than entertain us, the collection and diversity of authors that will gather this weekend in Austin will challenge each of us to sort out our own worldview, whether that be based on fact, fiction or a frivolous author’s creative point of view.<br /><br />As a result, more of us are motivated to buy books and read them, and more of our libraries will receive the grants necessary to sustain our Texas literary culture.Vincent Salashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02147421549501435822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144876.post-1160059488375368252006-10-05T09:29:00.000-05:002006-10-05T09:55:46.466-05:00The Power of MeRecently, during a normal workday in my home office, I notice the email send/receive error message. I was Internet disabled, and the only option for seeking help was calling Time Warner Technical Support. I use Time Warner Cable (<a href="http://www.timewarnercable.com/Austin/">http://www.timewarnercable.com/Austin/</a>) for my high-speed Internet connection. The situation I face is not new for me, or for hundreds of consumers and small businesses like mine. As a result, I have the tech support number stored in my cell phone memory.<br /><br />I make the call, wondering if I might get faster service by pressing the prompt for help in Spanish. A recording tells me that for quality assurance, my call may be recorded, in order to provide me with the best customer service possible. I listen carefully to follow the correct prompts and after entering and validating my home telephone number, I receive a recorded word of thanks for my recent payment. They know who I am.<br /><br />As I begin to think about Time Warner’s enormous media campaign, “The Power of You,” the phone recording yanks me back to reality. It tells me that my wait time will be an estimated 35 minutes.<br /><br />“Due to extremely high call volumes, wait times may be longer than normal,” a recorded voice tells me. This is the point I should begin monitoring my blood pressure – for quality assurance, and for documenting what one day may cause me to have a heart attack.<br /><br />It may be coincidental, but this seems to be my situation every time I call Time Warner Technical Support. It makes me wonder if the company needs to reassess what it considers normal call volumes. It also makes me wonder if the company has set a standard for acceptable wait times for customer service. If the standard is 30 minutes, it would be nice to know. Then, the next time I have a problem I will FedEx (<a href="http://fedex.com/">http://fedex.com/</a>) a note explaining my situation. That might prove to be a faster approach than the current process.<br /><br />After 20 minutes of listening to the recorded loop of tips and apologies, I give up, hang up, and perform the manual reboot of the modem several times, all along hoping to solve my own problem. No success.<br /><br />I make the call again, desperate to reconnect to the World Wide Web and conduct the necessary email exchange with my clients. My desperation means I must hold for the now 28 minutes of estimated wait time.<br /><br />After too long, John comes on the line asking, “How can I help you?” The question makes me think of Wal-Mart (<a href="http://www.walmart.com/">http://www.walmart.com/</a>), and I shudder. I explain that I have no Internet connection. Before we go any further, John wants my home phone number, which I already provided.<br /><br />Finally, I get to explain to John that my Internet connection is down and my modem lights are indicating no signal. John asks if I have tried rebooting the modem. I explain that I have performed a reboot of the modem three times.<br /><br />“Okay,” John says, “Let me transfer you to technical support.”<br />My jaw drops. I replay the telephone prompts in my head and the buttons I pushed on my cell phone to reach John. I thought he was technical support. This should be the drill in the doctor’s office when one takes a stress test.<br /><br />John – perhaps anticipating my wrath – quickly reconnects me to the recorded loop apologizing for the longer-than-normal wait time, due to high call volumes. This burns five more minutes on my cellular phone plan.<br /><br />Now, Mark greets me. It appears he is having a nice day. I have to pass a security test before Mark and I can cultivate a deeper relationship. After I surrender the last four digits of my social security number, I get to explain my problem again. Mark runs a test at his end and tells me, “It appears there is no signal reaching your modem.” No kidding, I think to myself. Now I wonder whether the slight twitch in my neck is a new development brought on by my customer service experience. I can only imagine my blood pressure reading at this point.<br /><br />After quick research, Mark advises me of an unplanned problem in the neighborhood where technicians are on the scene. Unfortunately, he cannot estimate when the problem will be resolved. I should check my modem, he says. When the lights are solid, the service is up and running. “Is there anything else I can help you with?” Mark asks.<br /><br />“Absolutely not,” I say with certainty.<br /><br />“Thank you for calling Time Warner. Have a nice day,” Marks says.<br /><br />He has to be kidding. I hang up the phone weak and wondering what Time Warner means when it promises, “The Power of You.”<br /><br />Perhaps it means the power I have to write about the company's poor customer service. If you reside in beautiful Austin, Texas, and can relate to this experience, let Time Warner Cable know your thoughts (<a href="http://www.timewarneraustin.com/contacthome.asp">http://www.timewarneraustin.com/contacthome.asp</a>).Vincent Salashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02147421549501435822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144876.post-1155746757394318552006-08-16T11:42:00.000-05:002006-08-16T11:45:57.420-05:00Sending Forth A New GenerationThe anticipation of formally sending off our first-born child to college has been like watching the arrival of the passenger train that seems forever slow as it rolls to a stop and the doors finally open. However, the train of reality eventually arrives and the time to let our protected, fragile bird fly free is upon us. Our arms open in release of a child, as the doors of a university open to receive a fertile young mind for cultivation.<br /><br />The ritual of sending forth a generation of youth into the world of higher education has been in the mainstream of our country’s culture since the industrial revolution. Yet, the excitement felt by one generation walking onto a college campus as freshmen is lost upon the same generation, as parents, sending forth a new round of innocents into a world of unknown variables.<br /><br />For 18 years, parents focus on nurturing and protecting each child, in hopes of preparing them for the future – a future without parental oversight. Yet, somehow as parents, we cannot help but worry about what we left undone or unspoken. As parents, we can only take solace in our self-reassurance that we did the best we could, under our respective circumstances. Now, our minds wrestle for a sense of hope over anxiety about the future of the next generation.<br /><br />We are anxious whether the professors and teaching assistants will take in our child with the sensitivity and care necessary for her continued growth and development. We are anxious about the intellectual prowess of PhDs, and whether they will nurture or negate our child’s current worldview perspective. Yet, we are hopeful that someone will stand in the gap to prevent her from falling into the traps of youthful folly. And, we are hopeful that someone will reassure her that failure is only measured at the end of a lifetime and not at the end of a date or English 101. Such thoughts consume parents as part of the ritual of the sending forth, the letting go.<br /><br />The details of the ritual play out differently for each family, but the similarities are great, nonetheless. Mothers take the lead in logistical preparation. They are the inspectors of the full inventory of what leaves the house with the college-bound student and what stays behind as a memory of the child too young to leave the roost. The drama is especially rich when siblings experience the departure of the first-born. The feelings are mixed. Everyone secretly wishes they were in college, while pondering their respective new position in the hierarchy of the household. Fathers try to be strong examples of encouragement and advisors on adventure.<br /><br />If there is a road trip involved, it becomes another family vacation; denial driving everyone’s behavior. The finality of unpacking the last box in the dorm can be too much to bear for some, and lingering does not help. The room may be small for two college co-eds, but it feels comfortable for the family of six. Maybe we should all stay and enroll together. And, before the final exit, the new comforter on the bed requires a final tucking and the fresh throw pillow needs one more fluffing. <br /><br />The return trip is no vacation. Silence steers us homeward, as we wonder what’s going on with the one we’ve left behind. Finally, after a full hour of torture, the text message arrives: “Thanks for your prayers. They are working.” Hope returns, especially to the parents. The tether snaps and the real education begins for another university student.<br /><br />Professors, deans, student advisors, active alumni and an entire city now become an inclusive flock for which we parents pray. Although we may be a wireless call away, we pray fervently for those who our young daughter may encounter. May her new dwelling be a warm and safe place. May her education be rich and rewarding. And may her new city welcome her as its own and provide her the encouragement and enjoyment of her life.Vincent Salashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02147421549501435822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144876.post-1131652566374087592005-11-10T13:56:00.000-06:002005-11-10T13:56:06.406-06:00Teens Are Making Wise Decisions About Sex<span style="font-family:Arial;"> Recently, I had the chance on three consecutive days to visit a Health class at a local public high school. I was a monitoring the class of freshman through senior students as they were listening to presentations about sex, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), relationships and marriage.</span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;"> My initial walk through the halls on the way to class was a bit frightening. Youth today seem more mature physically, than I recall my peers looking during the 1970s. However, the body language between teens continues to thrive in generational perpetuity. A couple embracing in a breezeway to cop a feel off each other and snag a deep-throat kiss during the precious minutes between classes was demonstration of how raging hormones can lead to reckless abandon.</span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;"> Expecting a guest speaker for a Health class was not enough incentive for students to arrive to class before the tardy bell rang. However, once the presenter revealed the subject matter, the class perked up, and the usual slouching posture of teens changed to one of attention.</span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;"> The subject of sex, STDs, condoms, pregnancy, abstinence, relationships and marriage captivated the audience. The presentation was developed by Austin LifeGuard (</span><a href="http://www.austinlifeguard.com/">www.austinlifeguard.com</a><span style="font-family:Arial;">), a character and sexuality education program partially funded through the Texas Department of State Health as part of its abstinence-until-marriage education effort. As an adult, I also found the presentation intriguing. The facts, especially the new information about the rapid spread of STDs in youth delivered a clarion call for both teens and their parents.</span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;">However, what became clear to me within the first few minutes of the short one-hour class was the students’ thirst for information about sex and about the facts – without bias – that addressed teens as decision makers over their own sexually maturing bodies. There was no judgment delivered; only objective data, that stimulated an honest exchange of perspectives, as the class began to see the act of sex in terms of its connection to both physical and emotional awareness and arousal. Students began connecting the dots between their own premature sexual activity and its influence on the rampant spread of STDs and its impact on self-esteem, relationships in high school and future relationships leading to marriage.</span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;">The use of and definitions for biologically and clinically correct terms like penis, vagina, fallopian tube, ovary, sperm, fetus, bacterial and viral infections, genital herpes, Chlamydia and Gonorrhea may have caught some by surprise, but broke down the walls of ignorance and opened the door to honest discussion and genuine education and learning.</span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;">Facts, through numbers and visual displays of how STDs spread and what they really look like made the presentations even more compelling and true for a generation that hungers for the truth, but is continually deflecting the onslaught of media impressions that subtly or aggressively paint a false but pretty picture on premature sexual activity. </span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;">In the end, sexual abstinence until marriage lingered in the air as the responsible, rational and realistic step for teens to take. The students finished the final presentation with a keener understanding how to filter the seductive come-on by a peer who uses the word, “love,” but is only seeking short-term sexual pleasure. They clearly understood the physical steps that lead to sexual arousal, and they did comprehend that oral sex is equal to intercourse as a sexual act and as a risk for contracting and spreading STDs.</span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;">In the end, these students understood the full facts about sex. They also understood that the decision to engage for the first time or continue engaging in sexual activity was their choice alone, and they understood the possible consequences of that choice. </span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;">In the end, several teens made their choice to abstain from sexual activity until marriage.</span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;">Programs, like LifeGuard, that treat teens in a respectful way, recognizing them as young adults who are shaping their own values about sex based on real-life situations and real facts, are making a positive impact on the youth culture. According to research conducted by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy (</span><a href="http://www.teenpregnancy.org/resources/data/pdf/cautious.pdf">http://www.teenpregnancy.org/resources/data/pdf/cautious.pdf</a><span style="font-family:Arial;">), close to six out of 10 teens surveyed (58%) said sexual activity for high school-age teens is not acceptable, even if precautions are taken against pregnancy and STDs. The vast majority of teens surveyed (87%) do not think it is embarrassing for teens to admit they are virgins. As a result, all Central Texas public and private high school should consider it necessary to present similar programs into their classrooms.</span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;">On my third day walking through the halls of the local high school, I felt more at ease with the student body, and I had a better understanding about the real need for parents to talk with our teens about sex and to remember we are the most influential source for shaping our children’s perspectives on the subject. It has since become a more regular topic in my household. </span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span>Vincent Salashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02147421549501435822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144876.post-1130340770916015632005-10-26T10:32:00.000-05:002005-10-26T10:32:50.953-05:00Books & Libraries Remain Relevant in a Digital Revolution<strong><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;"></span></strong><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;">Increasingly, we live and work in a society based on knowledge. The ability to access and use information strategically is crucial to achieving success in the 21st century. Historically, books served as the printed source of knowledge, libraries provided public access to the content, and literacy reflected success. Today, however, it appears that the knowledge source is boundless. It exists beyond the traditional walls of libraries, and the measure of literacy is subjective to one’s intake of bits and bites. The dam has broken on the spiraling outpour of information, and it makes us all the thirstier.</span><br/><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;">The ease of access to digital information puts pressure on public libraries to maintain buoyancy as the Internet floodwaters rise. The pressure to be relevant may be even greater on libraries within institutions of higher learning, as the current generation, of young learners, demands instant gratification for its thirst for information and entertainment. </span><br/><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;">Today, bibliographies include lists of formally published books as well as sources with the World Wide Web prefix. Reading for pleasure can mean settling into a club chair at a library holding a copy of a classic Pulitzer Prize-winning author’s work, or sipping java at a local coffee shop and flipping the pages of a digital novel with a computer mouse or stylus. Neither form of reading diminishes the knowledge or pleasure gained. Both are necessary for the society based on knowledge.</span><br/><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;">This understanding compelled the University of Texas to harness the capacities of the digital revolution, as a means of keeping books and their content relevant and accessible to the community at large. </span><br/><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;">As a result, libraries as the access to knowledge are changing. Now, the knowledge gateway is digital, and the University calls it Utopia (</span><a href="http://utopia.utexas.edu/">http://utopia.utexas.edu</a><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;">). UTopia provides for everyone a personalized window into the intellectual resources of UT’s libraries, collections, museums and much more. A UT agreement with the Texas A&M Libraries, the University of Houston Libraries, Texas Tech University Libraries and Rice University Libraries will establish the Texas Digital Library. The Texas Digital Library will become a modern venue for the assembly and delivery of information that will benefit a variety of communities, including K-12 students and their parents, university researchers and the corporations doing business within the state and interacting with its institutions of higher education.</span><br/><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;">The formal library spaces also are changing. The University’s Flawn Academic Center, which contained the Undergraduate Library, now serves as an expanded learning commons, providing an array of coordinated information resources and instructional services. The collections in the Undergraduate Library (some 90,000 volumes) now reside with the University’s eight million volumes in other libraries across campus. The University of Texas Libraries collaborates with other divisions on campus to foster information literacy and creativity, in a commitment to assemble one of the world’s preeminent repositories of the human record, and in recognition that in the 21st century we cannot ignore those vast portions of the record that are now captured in formats other than print. </span><br/><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;">We are astride two worlds right now. The pervasiveness of the Internet, along with the popularity of audio books, sometimes evokes dire predictions about the future of the book. Yet, not everything is available on the Internet, and in Texas, the love for books does not appear to be diminishing. </span><br/><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;">This weekend (Oct. 29-30, 2005) we celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Texas Book Festival. Nearly half a million people have gathered in and around the Texas Capitol, over the past nine years, to celebrate authors and their contributions to the culture of literacy, ideas and imagination. The event has quickly evolved into one of the premier literary events in the Southwest and one of the top three book festivals in the country.</span><br/><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;">The printed book clearly remains at the center of the spiraling information universe. Last year, the University of Texas Libraries spent just over $9.5 million to purchase books. The Texas Book Festival in 2004 exceeded the $1.65 million mark in total grants it has awarded to Texas public libraries. Libraries and books remain faithfully linked.</span><br/><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;">One can hardly make the case that electronic resources have supplanted the book as the cornerstone of public education. Our libraries may look and function differently than they did just a decade ago, but they will not only continue to exist, but to flourish. And knowledge—in all its myriad forms—will continue to be our pursuit. </span><br/><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;"></span><br/>Vincent Salashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02147421549501435822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144876.post-1126274564268243902005-09-09T09:02:00.000-05:002005-09-09T09:02:44.276-05:00We Should Be Hungry For Better Television Programming<strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;">The decline of cable television programming spiraled further downward recently, with the premier of </span><em><span style="font-family:Arial;">Starved </span></em><span style="font-family:Arial;">on FX.</span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;">The network bills the 30-minute program as a sit-com. Its storyline is built around three men and a woman who all struggle with an eating disorder. The premise is that there is comedy in such subject matter. However, it is hard to imagine laughter flowing from the more than 10 million women and one million men in the U.S. whose current struggles with anorexia or bulimia are no joke. The additional 25 million Americans fighting a battle with binge eating disorder most likely do not view their collective struggle as a sit-com.</span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;">However, the joke seems to be playing out on our culture, as FX serves up a cast of characters with eating disorders in the latest blue-plate special to fill our appetites for something funny, anything funny, even if it marginalizes the real suffering that exists behind the jokes.</span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;">The estimated 40,000 Texas women between the ages of 15 and 49, who currently struggle with eating disorders, will tell you there is no joke in purging their meal before it gets digested. They will tell you there is no joke in being admitted into an intensive care unit because their primary organs were denied the necessary protein to keep them functioning normally. And, the parents or spouses of eating disorder victims will tell you it was not a laughing matter when they discovered their loved ones suddenly dead from cardiac arrest, only later to find out that anorexia or bulimia was the cause of death.</span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;">In fact, anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, about 12 times higher than the annual death rate due to all causes of death among females ages 15-24. This age group is the bull’s eye targeted by so many fashion magazines and retailers that project images of tall, extremely slim females whose physical frames contradict what medical examiners agree to be the appropriate healthy weight for women of such height.</span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;">As if the heat of summer and the pressure to look even slimmer in a two-piece swimsuit was not enough to push some women to the brink of physical disaster, FX makes light of the anxiety that prompts so many young people to avoid eating or to secretly throw-up what little food they consume – all for the sake of looking like the role model in the advertisement, or now because television programming validates such behavior.</span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;">For many young females – and a growing number of males – the recent return to school pulls the trigger on a mental and emotional struggle with food consumption and the need to look thinner, no matter how thin they may be already. The mirror never reflects the reality, and in many cases the reality even escapes parents, friends, teachers and coaches.</span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;">Clothes provide the veil that covers the boney framework and the internal breakdown of the natural physical operation of the body. Advertisements in August are more about clothes than about calculators or college-rule paper. Parents would be wise to talk with their high school and college-age children about unrealistic expectations they may have of looking like the models in magazines and newspaper ads. They should include in their conversations about academic performance encouraging comments about looking unique and beautiful just as they are. Parents should be watchful of their youth who already may be thin, but who may be portraying a false sense of energy. </span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;">On the surface, the ones who are most swept up by the struggle with an eating disorder are those that seem most in control. They are the leaders of the class, the cheerleaders, the top athletes, the ones voted most likely to achieve. The stress of achievement and the fear of failure and rejection can be a devastating combination. Parental or peer pressure plants the drive for success, but many times leaves no room for failure, at least in the mind of the patient. The one thing people with eating disorders hold onto, as something within their control, is the consumption of food and control of weight. It becomes obsessive and eventually weight control leads to a steady and slow starvation of the body. </span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;">While the lack of intake of food causes the body to burn muscle instead of fat, the female begins to experience an irregularity of her menstrual cycle. Those who purge their food begin to experience tooth decay from the acidic flow of vomit that passes through the mouth. The lack of protein causes the heart to atrophy and slow down to rates that are life threatening.</span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;">The beginning of the new school year already means the beginning of another mean season for those with eating disorders. The fall season television programming of FX does no service to the very at-risk population it mocks. The program, </span><em><span style="font-family:Arial;">Starved</span></em><span style="font-family:Arial;">, only perpetuates the negative stigma associated to those struggling with eating disorders. </span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;">The irony would be for the FX program to trigger enough disgust in the public that we force the insurance and medical communities to respond with the necessary concern, medical coverage and treatment that eating disorders warrant, yet still hunger for in Texas and throughout the country. But first, let’s change the channel on </span><em><span style="font-family:Arial;">Starved</span></em><span style="font-family:Arial;">.</span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span>Vincent Salashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02147421549501435822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7144876.post-1125094051716330132005-08-26T16:42:00.000-05:002005-12-16T09:30:06.373-06:00Wal-Mart in VogueIt has been quite some time since my last posting, but I have been wondering lately about Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., (<a href="http://www.walmart.com">www.walmart.com</a>) and its recent advertising campaign in the September issue of Vogue. The entire campaign, developed by Austin-based GSD&M, is trying to reposition the retailer away from its lowest price perception with shoppers. Although GSD&M claims the campaign is, "just another dimension," it appears the campaign is a launch of a new definition -- and one that wants to position the brand in a space that Target (<a href="http://www.target.com">www.target.com</a>) successfully owns. This will be a challenge for the largest retailer. Sears -- once the retailing giant -- surely can relate to the effort of trying to redefine an iconic image that is emblazened upon the minds of consumers. Unfortunately, Wal-Mart's initial effort does not create enough differentiation from what consumers associate with Target. As a result, the effort may only fuel more loyality with Target customers that their look and combination of Target merhandise with other higher-end purchases stands above the new Wal-Mart offer. However, Wal-Mart's scale and influence should not be taken lightly. Let's see what shoppers think.Vincent Salashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02147421549501435822noreply@blogger.com0