Favorite Finds

Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs…

Oh. I’m sorry. My bad. I was just reminded I’m supposed to recap this week’s Favorite Finds. You know. To demonstrate how LCWA is constantly on top of what’s hot. What’s trending.

 

So here goes:

Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs…

What? Oh. Yeah. I’m back.

Apparently Twitter shut down the 6-second video app Vine yesterday.  I guess that means we’ll all have to look to Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat for fun, short videos about the Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs, Cubs…

Oops.  Sorry.  I got distracted there for a second. Where was I? 

Right. Video. Well, here’s this week’s #1 top trender. It shows a bunch of mean, burly baseball players teasing their teammate about an old video that surfaced showing his pitch perfect dance moves in high school choir.  Isn’t it ASCHWARBABLE!?

Separately, World Series weekend is certainly no time to binge on podcasts. But on the off chance you’re not enduring Joe Buck’s play by play - or enjoying Pat’s and Ron’s - I suppose this list of top ranked podcasts might be of some interest. To somebody. Somewhere.

Unless of course you’re a “Superfan.” Or a “Collector.” Or a “Partier.”  No, that’s not a list of the types of people you’ll find at Wrigley Field (yes it is.) Rather, those are just three of the 15 types of people you’ll find at a business conference.

See? I’m keepin’ it all business here.

Speaking of which, lcWa (get it?) placed a friendly wager with Stevens Strategic, our PRGN (Public Relations Global Network) partner in Cleveland. When the Cubs win, we get Cleveland’s signature Malley’s Chocolates.  If the Indians win, we’ve agreed to ship them Chicago-style Lou Malnati’s pizza.

Fair warning Mr. Stevens – lcWa likes our chocolate. When placing your order, I’d say an

108-count box should just do the trick.

Have a great weekend and GO CUBS!

Favorite Finds

Another fast-paced week of internet news and reactions. Here are some of my favorites. 

• Not TODAY– Blow back from the released audio from the Access Hollywood RV in 2005 cost Billy Bush his job. Soon after the tape was released, NBC put Bush, currently a host of TODAY’s 9 a.m. hour, on suspension. However, on Monday, NBC made it official by releasing Bush completely from his post at TODAY. Bush has released a statement saying “I am deeply grateful for the conversations I've had with my daughters, and for all of the support from family, friends and colleagues. I look forward to what lies ahead."
• We can all use a bear hug – The beloved black bear who became internet-famous by walking on his hind legs, has been killed. Pedals, hailing from New Jersey, was confirmed dead on Monday by the New Jersey Department of Environment Protection, and since then, America has gone into mourning. Since 2014, an American Black Bear named Pedals has been seen roaming through suburban New Jersey – on his hind legs no less – all caught on camera. Fans smitten with the adorable Pedals have even started a Facebook page to mourn his death. Head there to add your dearest sympathies.
• So long Snoopy – Major insurance company, MetLife, has decided to part ways with its longtime branding partner of over three decades, Snoopy and the Peanuts gang. Snoopy and the Peanuts gang was first brought on to MetLife 30 years ago to make insurance more “approachable” and “friendly,” two things rarely associated with “boring” insurance companies. “Snoopy helped drive our business and served an important role at the time,” said CMO, Ester Lee. Now, the insurance giant is taking a new branding approach, with bright blue and green colors coming together to create the M in MetLife. This branding effort will be rolled out throughout 2017. Only time will tell if blue and green can measure up to Snoopy and the Peanuts gang.
• Mr. Oscar – Yes, it’s that time of year already! Time to start gearing up for some great movies worthy of Oscar attention. Save some room for extra popcorn because this season is looking up to be pretty great! The list included La La Land, starring adorable on-screen couple Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, Silence, directed by Martin Scorsese starring Andrew Garfield, Liam Neeson and Adam Driver, Jackie, about America’s beloved Jackie-O starring Natalie Portman, and so many more! Is it awards season yet?
• The final debate – The last presidential candidate debate took place on Wednesday night. Here’s everything you need to know. The one big takeaway from the debate is that no matter which side you stand for, it’s important to go vote! Don’t forget to head to the polls on November 8.

Favorite Finds

With temperatures in the 50s and 60s this week, sweater-weather is officially here in Chicago – but sweater-mania has hit the internet. Cozy up to this week’s Favorite Finds…
 

• Bone-afied Star – Whether you’re a Trump or Clinton supporter, the undisputed victor of this week’s presidential debate was undecided voter Ken Bone, whose bright red sweater, huggable demeanor and disposable camera secured him instant viral status. @BuzzFeed captured some of our favorite tweets on the man, the myth and the legend. With Halloween around the corner, it’s no surprise that his now famous frock is reportedly sold out.
• Fall Fashion Cat-ure – One of the tiniest survivors of Hurricane Matthew is also one of the most stylish. This newborn kitten was rescued from the torrential downpour and taken to a Raleigh, N.C. PetSmart, where employees fashioned a sweater for her out of a tube sock. A shopper’s tweet captured the adorable images, which have received 128,000 likes and 72,000 retweets, as well as coverage by @ABC News and @HuffingtonPost. Best of all, the tiny kitten has already been adopted.
• Fly the W – In non-sweater related news, our hometown @Cubs staged their greatest postseason comeback in 106 years Tuesday night, knocking out the San Francisco Giants and winning the National League Division Series. @Chicagoist captured some great images of the celebration.
• Keep Calm And… – Plagued with issues since first launching in August, Samsung's Note 7 is officially recalled by the company yet again, but the complete damage caused to the brand is yet to be determined. @PRWeekUS examines the five things the company must do to salvage its reputation, while @PRDaily offers these tips for navigating a crisis.

 Have a great weekend!
 

Favorite Finds

This week has had its fill of news! From Paris jewelry theft and the Google Pixel announcement to the vice presidential debate and the onslaught of Hurricane Matthew, social media gurus have been busy. I tried to weed through to find some useful communications tips among the latest breaking news updates:

• This blog post gives some thoughtful advice on leveraging the growing presence of Snapchat. The statistics on this booming user base are pretty compelling, too!
• PR Newswire tweeted a link to this article about earned media and its importance in a content marketing strategy. This is a particularly good read for PR novices, who will nod their heads as they read this.
• Have you ever struggled with starting a script for a presentation? PR Daily offered up some useful ways to make a better impact and advice on what not to do.
• Human brains “process images 60,000 times faster than text”! Read about some visuals that help attract social shares, courtesy of jeffbullas.com.

 Have a safe weekend!