Does Stephenville, Texas, have better dreams than San Antonio?

Unless you were an advance public relations guy for the Air Force Band of the West, it's a good bet that most San Antonio residents have never been to Stephenville, Texas. But for those of us who follow viral changes that may change soon as the new Twitter and blog site, @Dream_bigger is coming to this Lone Star Community for a 30-day visit.

Journalist (or as some younger folks term journo) G.D. Dan Gearino is already in Stephenville for a 30-day visit. Gearino's blog focuses on the positive vibe that we can find in America.

According to the blog: "This summer, the "Sleep Better. Dream Bigger" project will travel to a small American town where we'll learn about folks' dreams and aspirations."

While the details are not forthcoming, Gearino's blog did not enclose how Stephenville was selected from other small towns. Having grown up in the world's biggest small town, Decatur, Illinois, I can understand the need for communities to publicize their accomplishments. I am impressed that Stephensville and their city leadership stepped up to help Gearino start his 30-day quest.

Somehow, in a city of more than one million residents, we lose sight of our accomplishments. Visit Decatur, and you will soon learn of its reputation as the "Soybean Capitol of the World." When I came home for my parents' 55th anniversary, you could feel the pride of the city in its many accomplishments.

Gearino's blog, after close examination, has the makings of a classic promotion as Carpenter Co, the largest manufacturer of comfort cushioning, is sponsoring his work. As someone who has worked in public relations and new media, I am impressed by this company's vision to sponsor such a social media event.

Yet, the question remains..... What would San Antonio do if its dreams were granted with a visit by this blogger. Surely, we can encourage Gearino to visit us after his 30-day stint in north central Texas for a visit of our River Walk and to meet with dreamers and visionaries. Surely, the folks at Carpenter realize we have a lot of hotel beds where dreams of Shamu and Six Flags are made every night.

Perhaps, if we could reach out Gearino at his Twitter account (@dream_bigger). All every San Antonio resident has to do is go onto their Twitter account and send a message such as "@dream_bigger, please come to San Antonio after your 30 day tour in Stephenville." Perhaps, that will cause him to consider a trip south to our community.

Great recipes can't be conveyed in 140 characters or less.....

When I read an article in the Christian Science Monitor about twecipes, I had to think what would Karen Haram think. Haram, the Express-News food editor, would probably not publish this online Twitter-based recipe for rhubarb from Martha Stewart in Wednesday's food section: Stewed Rhubard - Cut lb rhubarb 1/2″ +3/4 C sug/simmer 15 min + T corriander &grated orange rind + 2T buttr serve w/creme fraiche
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Or what about this recipe from Rick Bayless for Guajillo Salsa: Simple Guajillo Salsa:toast 2 clnd guajillos n med-ht oil 4 20-30 sec.Blend w 4 rstd tomatillos,3 rstd garlic,1/2c H20. Salt.
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While I truly embrace Twitter, I don't think you can truly convey how to prepare these dishes in 140 characters or less.

Instead, food professionals should consider using text shortening tools such as Budurl to fully capitalize on Twitter's full outreach. For example, that Guajillo Salsa could be listed on Twitter with: "Feel the passion of Guajillo chiles in this great salsa recipe: http://budurl.com/4b8f.

The problem with some social media types is they don't think through the full capabilities of all the tools available to them. While some of us may embrace shorthand code and algebra to cook, I think that I'm a little old fashioned in having the full details of a good recipe when I or someone from my family prepares a dish.

Fanmail from some flounder..... why reblogging one of my blog reader's comment is worth my time and effort

As a guest blogger for the San Antonio Express-News, I get a lot of comments from people.

This morning, as I logged onto my computer, I saw this email reply to my last blog from someone named "Bleh."

His comment is worth repeating in my personal blog. To paraphrase Casey Kasem, "and he wrote:

"If this was the way to go, the city would have someone updating a
myspace page, a facebook page, a twitter account, their web page.
These tools are for marketers, kids, and the lonely. They are not for
serious government. Maybe you can pay for the salary for this person
to update all these accounts."

So, let me reply to Bleh.

1) How is it that serious politicians like Barack Obama have a web site and a Twitter account? n fact, I believe that when historians look at this election, they'll note his use of social media tools as a major factor in his defeat of John McCain, the guy who has someone read his email for him?
2) Kids, the human type, are the future of government. If our local government doesn't engage them now, how will we get them interested in government?
3) Our city spends millions on communications and public relations. It doesn't do a very good job of it but I'm sure anyone with a little management skill could find a person who is on the city payroll who could take it over.

Finally, Bleh, I'm not sure if you watched TV, but you might have noticed the 100 million of Twitter posts concerning the rigged Iran elections. According to urban legend, our federal government asked the web communications site to forgo maintenance so that it would allow people to comment on this sham of an election.

Despite its growing popularity, city of San Antonio is still not using Twitter

Despite its growing popularity thanks to folks like Oprah and Terrell Owens, Twitter is still not being embraced by our local government.
An article in today's Austin American-Statesman notes that the city of Austin has a Twitter account with 41 followers.
However, the article notes that the city is starting to put more emphasis on its marketing of its Twitter site and hopes to add more followers.
Here in San Antonio, a Google search of the term "city of San Antonio and Twitter" found the @SAGovernment site. This is a job announcement site, listing open positions within our city.
I am hoping that someone in our city administration realizes that Twitter has become a mainstream form of communication. Furthermore, there's a core group of social marketing experts who could advise the city on how to add more focus on the use of social media sites as a communications channel.
So, here's hoping that @SAGovernment adds more to its site than job openings. There's a growing number of people who are turning to the Twitterverse for information. It's a low-cost communications solution that is pretty easy for city staffers to use when they want to reach out to others.

Building a new home? Get a security professional to help you design a state of art system

If you're building or remodeling a home this year, now's the time to confer with a home system security expert.

Despite the advertisement from ADT Systems and Brinks Security that promise home security is only a click away, there are better ways to provide security for a home or small business.

Today, home and business owners should build a security system that includes video verification. If you own a small business, and there's a 2 a.m. alarm that goes off in your business, most require you to go back to the business to reset the alarm. With a video system, a owner can verify from the comfort of his home if a burglar had entered the building. If there wasn't an incident, a business owner can reset the alarm from home.

Home owners, especially senior citizens, should ask for a home security system that allows their loved ones to remotely check on them. If you remember that "Hello, I Fallen and Can't Get Up" commercials, then you'll understand why a home verification system would help the children of elderly relatives feel this is a better way to check in on them rather than wait for them to hit a panic button.

The cost for video verification monitoring systems is more expensive than the traditional forms of security. However, in time, the costs will drop to a lower level.

So, if a new home, office or a major remodeling project is in your future, it's time to engage a security specialist at the design phase of your home or business planning phases. It's better to get alternatives from the pre-installed security systems that most builders give to their customers.

How job retraining can go from a crap shoot to a sure thing

Is job retraining a "crap shoot?

An article in the New York Times details the struggle of Michigan workers deciding on which career to pursue after losing a job in the automotive industry.

Under Michigan's "No Workers Left Behind program, " the state's 78,000 unemployed can begin work retraining programs in a new career. After completing retraining, many still have not found a job.

The problem with job retraining programs is that very few factor in the art of finding job champions as they begin their instruction. According to Joshua Shipsey, the founder of cardboardresume.com, a job champion is someone who can help someone find contacts within his or her industry.

With 1.4 billion in federal stimulus pending, it's time for the managers of these workforce programs to call upon former industry leaders to help build a network of job champions for those who want to enter a specific industry.

Even armed with the latest data from the Department of Labor, workers need a job champion to help them build a network within their chosen industry. There are thousands of these semi-retired executives who want to help people succeed in a new job search. It's time for our government to help connect them.

So what is the dress code for business in Austin?

For years, I had a pretty easy choice when it came to determining what to wear to work. It was usually the basic blue uniform with a sweater when the weather determined the need for it. About once a week, one of my commanders would determine that a certain day was "Warrior Day," which meant wearing my green or battle dress uniform.

For 20 years, my basic work wardrobe was easy to determine. Now, 11 years later, I am still trying to figure out what appropriate for meetings.

Yesterday, I traveled to Austin to visit with some technical types. Having attended a lot of events with techies, I knew that wearing a pressed short sleeve shirt with jeans would be appropriate. I was right. The folks I met with had on shorts, T-shirts and didn't wear socks.

Having traveled between both Austin and San Antonio, I have seen a interesting difference in what I would ex-military types would call the "uniform of the day."

For example, in San Antonio, it's appropriate to wear a suit jacket with a pair of trousers. In Austin, a dressed up person would sub jeans for the more formal business wear.

But the question arises: "Do clothes really make the person?" I find it refreshing that in Austin, it's not the cut of the cloth, but the passion of a person's brain and heart that truly matter.