Welcome to the latest issue of Write for You News & Notes with some words of wisdom on writing, business, and life. If you'd like to share any books or favorite links with our readers, send us an email. And remember -- on paper or on-line, when you need words that work for you, I can write for you! Nancy Passow
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It's Not the End of the Computer World as You Know It
| Reading the various tech e-mails, blogs, tweets, and Facebook posts, you would think that the computer world as we know it has come to an end. Microsoft is no longer supporting Windows XP -- except for when they are. And this week the news hit that Internet Explorer has a terrible flaw that will allow evil forces to take over your computer -- especially if you're still using Windows XP.
There is some truth in all of this. Microsoft will not be supplying updates and patches for regular users of XP. If you're a commercial organization with a major XP license, you will still get some support. There is a flaw in Internet Explorer -- but only if you click on links from unknown, rogue websites will hackers be able to gain control of your computer. And even if you're still running XP, Microsoft will still send you updates for IE.
Last year I did get a new desktop computer with Windows 7 (because I didn't want to get stuck with Windows 8). For the most part I like it and found it fairly easy to make the transition from XP to 7. As far as Windows 8, I understand that Microsoft is busily working on Windows 9 -- enough said. (Someone in the techy world pointed out to me that every other major launch from Microsoft is a dud -- Vista, Windows 8 -- while the alternates -- XP, Windows 7 -- work fine.) My netbook is still running XP. It's also getting older, slower, and the battery isn't holding its charge as well as it used. So, sometime in the not too distant future, I will need to replace it. A tablet? A hybrid? Another netbook (if they're still around)? We shall see. (All recommendations gratefully accepted.)
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Doing Good
| Both my daughter Kate and I will be participating in charitable events in May. For the second year in a row, Kate will be riding with the Muddy Angels on the east coast leg of the EMS Memorial Bike Ride (May 17 to 24). She explains "Held during EMS Week, the EMS Memorial Bike Ride recognizes the lives of EMS providers who died in the line of the duty or after years of service to their community. Participating in this ride is deeply moving as the riders pedal hard to bring awareness of these providers. Last year a team of riders and wingmen from PTS [Physicians Transport Service, the ambulance company Kate works for] participated in the ride and even before the week was over could not wait to return again. There are a great deal of expenses involved in participating in the ride, so we are looking for the help of our community. Funds go to help defray travel costs so we can carry on the memories of these EMS providers." Here's a link to Kate's Go Fund Me page.This year the ride will go from Boston to Washington, DC (I hope to see Kate as they go through NYC).
On Sunday, May 18, I am walking in The ALS Association Greater New York Chapter 2014 Walk to Defeat ALSŪ in Long Branch, NJ. I am walking in memory of my friend Laurie Speight, who lost her battle with ALS in December, 2006; I am walking in memory of Tom Hernacki (his wife was a colleague of my husband) who died in March, 2011; and I am walking in memory of Rabbi Jehiel Orenstein, father of my temple's rabbi, Rabbi Debra Orenstein (Congregation B'nai Israel, Emerson, NJ), who died May, 2013. I've set up a team, the ALS Shore Walkers and would love to have people walk with us (in person or virtually). Here's the link to Nancy's Page and to the ALS Shore Walkers Page.
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Words Working for You
|  How's your website content? Have you updated your brochure recently? Do you need help telling the story of your business? There are many ways I can help words work for you!
E-mail marketing is a great way to stay in touch with your clients and colleagues. I can help you get started -- whether it's set-up, writing the content, or managing the entire process. I'll even remember to pay the monthly bill for you. I can set up your contact lists, help you choose a template (and customize it with your logo and website colors), and develop your e-mail schedule. To learn more, click here. LinkedIn is still making changes. Need help figuring out where things went? Trying to hide some of your endorsements? Wishing your profile was more descriptive of who you really are? Let me help you! Even with all of the changes, LinkedIn is still a great way to be found on the web and to network. |
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phone: 201-541-9702 (o)
phone: 201-362-3404 (m)
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Book of the Month . . Spin Sucks
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I've written in past newsletters about Gini Dietrich and her blog "Spin Sucks". The good news is that Gini has put her ideas together in a great little book subtitled "Communicatin and Reputation Management in the Digital Age". Gini, founder and CEO of Arment Dietrich, an integrated marketing communications firm, is an outstanding communicator and PR professional. As you can tell from the title of the book and the blog, however, she has a problem with how PR is sometimes practiced and perceived.
Using examples of work she and her company has done, Gini looks at how PR works in today's digital world. The book has four section, each divided into chapters. Section 1 is "Tell Your Story Without Sex or Extortion" with chapters on "Sex Sells", "The Google Drama", and "Shareable and Valuable Content Creation". Section 2 is "Scammers, Liars, and Beggars", broken down to "Whisper Campaigns and Anonymous Attackers', "Media Manipulation", "The Dark Side of Content". Section 3, "Your Brand, Your Customers", only has one chapter, "Your Customers Control the Brand". The last section, "Spin Sucks", includes "The Convergence of Media", Crisis Communications: Trolls, Critics, and Detractors", and "The Future of Communications".
I recommend the book for anyone in the communications field or anyone who wants to better understand how to get their message out. However, a caveat or two as I don't want you to be disappointed if you get the book. It is shorter than I had expected, particularly for the price. And I've already found several typos (two in just the Introduction). So the book isn't perfect, but it's message is still worth it!
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| Quote of the Month |
"He who angers you conquers you." ~ Elizabeth Kenny, nurse
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