Herod Antipas was NOT the husband of Salome; Herod was married to her mother, Herodias. Salome was Herod's step-daughter. Herodias wanted John the Baptist dead because he was speaking out against her marriage to Herod. She conspired with her daughter, Salome, to ask for his head.

Sgt. Pepper was released in June 1967 :-)

"Transparency" -- maybe that's a concept the PRSA should look into...

RepMan: You make excellent points. The Titantic "reenactment" cruise is beyond creepy and inappropriate. Some people need to get a life and stop tempting fate. I wonder: How would people feel if we "reenacted" 9/11? I think there would be unanimous outrage. I'm sure in 100 years some opportunist looking to make a quick buck will arrange a death tour. Two more unfortunate events that happened in April: Death of Stuart Sutcliffe: April 10, 1962 Beatles Official Breakup: April 10, 1970

Wow. What a shame. A real recipe for disaster. I'll never understand why companies allow this kind of pervasive dysfunction to continue until it's too late to do anything about it. There were probably many smart, innovative employees there at one time who were pummeled and tossed to the curb.

I guess the moral of the story is "the cover-up is worse than the crime." Also - regarding that teacher - it's unfortunate to hear how little children can be terrorized using shamed-based methods. Reading this account made me cringe. A therapist's dream.

If you really want an eye-opening experience regarding the beef industry, watch "Food, Inc". Slime is the least of the problems - http://www.amazon.com/Food-Inc-Eric-Schlosser/dp/B0027BOL4G/ref=sr_1_2?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1333452720&sr=1-2

I don't know why I am shocked, but I am. Another example of corporate duplicity. How do these people sleep at night? Just gimme some truth.

Fascinating discussion, RepMan and Dawn. I find it interesting that (some) women go for the "bad boy" archetype, while (some) men want the "trophy wife." Maybe it's the art of the chase that's most attractive.

What a great idea! I love when "happy accidents" spawn new creations. And kudos to the client for being open-minded enough to handle the unorthodox pitch. It's been my experience that people say that want new, innovative, out-of-the-box thinkers, but, unfortunately, they wind up choosing the tried and true.

I like the Frank Abagnale solution. Either that -- or have Koz set up a non-profit to care for the hungry and homeless. That $6000 shower curtain could feed a village.

No wonder there is so much turnover among CMOs in companies... Gut instincts? Give me a break.

Now that Greg Smith has blown the whistle on the toxic "greed is good" philosophy of Goldman Sachs (which, quite honestly, should be no surprise to anyone who has ever worked in the financial services industry) I hope he uses his 15 minutes to start a new chapter and career where he "gives back" to those less fortunate.

Wow - that Summit sounds like it happened inside a bubble where the participants drank large quantities of Kool-Aid. Sounds like they slapped each other on the back and congratulated each other... for what, I don't know, since you aptly point out that the serious issues affecting the PR industry were not addressed.

You're absolutely right; there is no strategy for rudeness. But in the cases you've described, it's not only rudeness, but bad business. An agency deserves the courtesy of a "thanks, but no thanks" conversation at the very least. Radio silence is the cowardly way out.

If it's any comfort at all... As a former client of PR firms, I can tell you that I have never cared about these awards. It was never a deal-breaker regarding which agency I chose to hire for a campaign.

"These individuals are classically-trained salesmen, accountants or engineers who can't measure branding, positioning, sentiment or social media. So, they dismiss it." RepMan - You've pinpointed the problem in a nutshell. Unless these folks can "monetize" (a totally manufactured word that I cannot stand) PR, they see it as an expendable "expense," along with other "non-revenue generating" departments (like HR).

The "Habit Heroes" exhibit at Epcot sounds reprehensible. This just proves that companies like Disney are in the business of Entertainment and not Education. They should stick to what they do best -- animated family films that are politically incorrect. Nutritional education should be aimed at the parents of Snacker, Glutton and Lead Bottom, not the kids.

Yoga isn't a sport, therefore, it should not be included in the Olympic Games. The mere suggestion demonstrates how Westernized this spiritual practice has become, what with "power Yoga" classes, etc. Seems to defeat the entire purpose of the discipline. Regarding the NYT article, I, too, thought it unfair. The writer paints with "Broad strokes" (pun intended) and unfairly maligns the entire discipline of yoga because of the questionable practices of some of its leaders. That's like holding Jesus accountable for the corruption of some Catholic Church priests.

"Can you imagine the Twilight films trying to connect with white men over 60?" That didn't stop the Academy from honoring the "Lord of the Rings" franchise in 2001-2003... I remember one year Peter Jackson and Co. swept the Oscars.

I agree with RepMan; it's a perception problem that has been fostered by the young clipboard-wielding, gum-snapping, superficial "party planners" who are portrayed on TV as overseeing PR. As a woman in PR, it's been my experience that folks generally don't take the role seriously as a profession that requires skill, training, and strategic prowess. They think anyone can do it because all it requires is the ability to alphabetize a list and check off names at the door of a posh nightclub. Why would men want to join a field that promises low entry-level wages to work in this kind of environment?

Even if they were told the calorie/fat content of the food, it wouldn't matter. They would still eat it. The same way that smokers have ignored the Surgeon General's warnings on cigarette packets for years. You can't save people from their own nasty habits.

No matter how disgusting and unhealthy the food in this establishment is, it has the right to exist, and patrons have the right to buy and consume this artery-clogging food if they choose to do so. I don't want the government deciding what food I can and cannot eat.

My Definition of Success: Health, daily bread, a nice roof over my head, great family and friends. Everything else in life is a bonus.

I am so glad to see the former CongressDog rallying behind a worthy cause since his "PR faux pas" awhile back. I agree with the Mick that Mitt's treatment of the family dog, Seamus, is reprehensible. Attention must be paid to such a dog.