If your MySpace page defines you as a ‘wild debaucher’, you should probably be a college student and not executive director of Arizona’s state fingerprinting agency.

An AP report on Dennis Seavers said his MySpace profile contained some questionable content, where he stated his less than ‘for the public good’ outlook on life:

Seavers’ MySpace.com web page said he lived “a quiet daytime life as a state employee” but that his friends knew him “as wild debauchery, interested in self-promotion and enrichment. And by enrichment, I mean money. None of this self-esteem crap. Though afflicted by dipsomania, I stroll through crowds under the guise of sobriety. I volunteer as a Big Brother, only to indoctrinate children in the gothic splendors of lawlessness.”

“It’s exactly the opposite of me as a person,” Seavers said in the report. “If I had known that the public would see it, I never would have done it.”

IBM recently announced a partnership with the University of Arizona’s business school aimed at offering a New Media curriculum to students. One of the major components of this curriculum will likely focus on the concept of podcasting as a communication resource.

In an effort to probe deeper into the importance of podcasting and new media technologies, I had the opportunity to converse with Dr. Kathleen P. King, Director of the Fordham RETC Center for Professional Development and professor of Adult Education and Human Resource Development at Fordham University’s Graduate School of Education.

Dr. King comments on the podcasting phenomenon, “If students are studying communications in the specific efforts to understand newest digital media, this would be an interesting area of concentration to explore.”

“However, it would be important to include trends in digital media and communications. Podcasting is one of the current forms that New Media is taking at the given time.”

Acknowledging the importance of podcasting on the social media landscape, however, is only the beginning of the process. One must also understand that successful, informative, and meaningful podcasts are intricately woven together with the right mixture of technique and content.

Dr. King elaborates, “While technical aspects of “how-to” of course are important in such a program because they have the potential to really provide us with some leading edge developers, the technology will constantly change with time, even week by week.”

“However, the myriad of options for developing content even within this one medium needs to be explored tremendously. For example, if you carefully comb through podcasts and listen to them, you can pull apart the ideas and see strands of ways that people address content in creative ways.”

When the understanding of podcasting significance and the exploration of content come together in a harmonious way, the end result is significant content. That statement may seem a bit melodramatic, but the medium of podcasting offers an unparalleled platform for expression in today’s digital landscape.

Dr. King considers the possibilities, “On an even more conceptual level though I believe the depths of sociological, multicultural and global relational dynamics and impact are real questions and issues that can be discussed and explored.”

“We are spanning the globe in milliseconds with our podcasts. We are bringing people around the globe into partnerships and relationships in podcasting and broadcasting and Web 2.0 New Media development that would otherwise be so much further separated by time and space.”

The ultimate significance of podcasting lies in its ability to give voice to the “average” person. Traditional media models are losing ground to social networking communities, and the commentary of popular podcasters is becoming more persuasive to public opinion than expensive marketing campaigns.

Dr. King summarizes these concepts nicely, “Podcasting and New Media is a nexus of innovation, technology and empowerment: these are generative elements.”

So if you’re college undergraduate with a nose for journalism and a penchant for new media, you might check out what IBM and the University of Arizona are doing with this new project.

Maybe your show will be the next big hit on the Internet.

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Joe is a staff writer for WebProNews. Visit WebProNews for the latest ebusiness news.

So, while reading the papers, I look at it from a PR perspective and more often than not, I just sit there shaking my head and wondering what the thought process was for the person speaking.

So, this past week a few gems popped out at me.

From the Arizona Republic came an interesting story about homeowners who have sold their homes at what they hope is the top of the market, moved into an apartment, and are looking for the market to correct itself. It’s an interesting investment strategy, but two things jumped out at me.

Kurt Nishimura is taking a calculated ride on Arizona’s real estate wave. He sold his home in the Willo neighborhood, believing its value has topped out, and is renting an apartment in the Arcadia area for a year, hoping to buy something after the wave has crested.

Kurt, however, is the vice president of acquisitions for Pivotal Group. Pivotal Group is a “strategically sophisticated investment and development company.” Yes, they are in the business of developing residential communities (among other high-quality real estate assets). Okay, so following this thought … your VP of acquisitions tells a local paper that he thinks the market is over valued and is getting out? Must have been a fun day in the office that following day.

Here’s a great PR lesson: make sure that only qualified and media trained executives speak to the media. There was no reason Kurt should have been contacted … unless he’s going out on his own. There’s a reason we have PR people: to create messaging. I am pretty sure … this was not on message.

From USA Today, about the lawsuit against Nickelodeon and Kelloggs because, well, kids are fat comes a great quote.

“Going out on a limb here, perhaps her (Carlson’s) kids want these foods not because of ads, but because they’re children,” said Dan Mindus, spokesman for the Center for Consumer Freedom.

Now, just a guess, but that was probably not the message that was meant to get out: so, your kids are fat not because there are Kellogg’s products with Nickelodeon characters, but, hey, they don’t exercise and you are a crappy parent who folds when they whine for certain products.

I have to admit – I agree with the guy. What happened to the Presidential Fitness Tests where we would get the certificates in front of the whole school? Yes, the pudgy or non-athletic types would feel bad, but we (yes, I was one of the non-athletic types) would work harder the next year to not feel so ashamed. There’s nothing wrong with peer pressure like that.

But, man, I am sure that was not the message that was supposed to get out. Funny, but not on message.

Also, from USA Today … Amazon is working with Bill Maher. Yes, I know everyone loves podcasting and video podcasting and how streaming videos are great … but what’s the upsell here? Commercials at the beginning of each show? Why not just sponsor KSSX or Rocketboom?

“This is the next step,” says Kathy Savitt, Amazon’s vice president for strategic communications. “The mission or common thread through all of these series is to offer innovative and interactive opportunities for customers to discover … new films, music and books.”

Okay, and it gets people to buy films, music and books … how? Maybe I’m being dense, but from a PR standpoint it seems like another instance of stunt PR. How about making the shopping experience better? That might work as well.

Jeremy Pepper is the CEO and founder of POP! Public Relations, a public relations firm based in Arizona, USA.

He authors the popular Musings from POP! Public Relations blog which offers Jeremy’s opinions and views – on public relations, publicity and other things.

It’s a typical product story – first rumor, then confirmation – from Google, and Google itself put out a sorta response on its blog – since Google doesn’t do PR.

But, the interesting thing is that it’s not really news if you read media other than blogs, or if you have the (mis)fortune of living in Phoenix, and reading the tepid Arizona Republic (a good example of how to make a bad paper worse is to get bought by Gannett) and the very good Phoenix Business Journal. Why? Well, when it was announced that Google was going to set up operations in Phoenix, it was noted that

Sources tell The Business Journal that search engine titan Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) is the company in question and that Valley plans will likely include operations related to online auctions and expanded Internet and technology services.

Go PBJ! They got the story before the press conference, and had a nice scoop that Google was going to be launching an online auction division, something that was barely picked up anywhere. But, hey, now the Base story is out there, and the reporter that might have broken the story will get no recognition.

Reader Comments…

Jeremy Pepper is the CEO and founder of POP! Public Relations, a public relations firm based in Arizona, USA.

He authors the popular Musings from POP! Public Relations blog which offers Jeremy’s opinions and views – on public relations, publicity and other things.

Arizona mayors rose from their beds with visions of property and payroll taxes in their heads, as the Arizona Republic wrote Chandler, Mesa, and Tempe are all vying for Google’s attentions.

The prospect of Silicon Valley meeting East Valley bears important significance for civic leaders, beyond the allure of fattened city coffers. Google has achieved a cachet with its name that few brands rival in the world.

Early consideration would have to be given to Tempe, home of Arizona State University. “Tempe is about high-tech, bio-tech, nano-tech business,” Mayor Hugh Hallman said in the report.

Chandler has Loop 101, a high-tech corridor with a solid telecom and power infrastructure that Chandler’s mayor calls “probably one of the hottest locations in the state if not the southwest United States.”

Mesa, like the other two cities, isn’t giving anything away with regards to the targeted marketing pitch it will make to Google. The report noted the prospect of light rail transportation could be a factor, to help future Googlers avoid Phoenix’s rush-hour traffic clutter.

David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business. Email him here.

Construction is set to begin immediately for this $3 billion project. Manufacturing of microprocessors at the new factory is expected to begin sometime in the second half of 2007.

“This investment positions our manufacturing network for future growth to support our platform initiatives and will give us additional supply flexibility across a range of products,” said Intel CEO Paul Otellini. According to a press release,

Intel currently operates four 300-mm fabs that provide the equivalent manufacturing capacity of about eight 200-mm factories. Those factories are located in Oregon, Ireland and New Mexico. The company also has an additional 300-mm fab currently under construction in Arizona (Fab 12) scheduled to begin operations later this year, and one expansion in Ireland (Fab 24-2) scheduled to begin operations in the first quarter of next year.

Manufacturing with 300-mm wafers (about 12 inches in diameter) dramatically increases the ability to produce semiconductors at a lower cost compared with more widely used 200-mm (eight-inch) wafers. The total silicon surface area of a 300-mm wafer is 225 percent, or more than twice that of a 200-mm wafer, and the number of printed die (individual computer chips) is increased to 240 percent. The bigger wafers lower the production cost per chip while diminishing overall use of resources. Three-hundred-mm wafer manufacturing will use 40 percent less energy and water per chip than a 200-mm wafer factory.

“For Intel, manufacturing is a key competitive advantage that serves as the underpinning for our business and allows us to provide customers with leading-edge products in high volume,” said Otellini.” The unmatched scope and scale of our investments in manufacturing help Intel maintain industry leadership and drive innovation.”

Fab 32, which will be about a million square feet, will be the company’s sixth 300-mm wafer facility. It will create around 1000 new jobs with the company. Over 3,000 people are being hired just to work on the construction process.

Intel said it will also be investing $105 million into the conversion of an existing inactive wafer fab in New Mexico to a component temporary test facility, creating 300 new jobs in New Mexico.

Chris is a staff writer for WebProNews. Visit WebProNews for the latest ebusiness news.

The factory is expected to begin manufacturing microprocessors sometime in the second half of 2007. It is a $3 billion project and construction is set to begin immediately.

“This investment positions our manufacturing network for future growth to support our platform initiatives and will give us additional supply flexibility across a range of products,” said Intel CEO Paul Otellini. According to a press release,

Intel currently operates four 300-mm fabs that provide the equivalent manufacturing capacity of about eight 200-mm factories. Those factories are located in Oregon, Ireland and New Mexico. The company also has an additional 300-mm fab currently under construction in Arizona (Fab 12) scheduled to begin operations later this year, and one expansion in Ireland (Fab 24-2) scheduled to begin operations in the first quarter of next year.

Manufacturing with 300-mm wafers (about 12 inches in diameter) dramatically increases the ability to produce semiconductors at a lower cost compared with more widely used 200-mm (eight-inch) wafers. The total silicon surface area of a 300-mm wafer is 225 percent, or more than twice that of a 200-mm wafer, and the number of printed die (individual computer chips) is increased to 240 percent. The bigger wafers lower the production cost per chip while diminishing overall use of resources. Three-hundred-mm wafer manufacturing will use 40 percent less energy and water per chip than a 200-mm wafer factory.

“For Intel, manufacturing is a key competitive advantage that serves as the underpinning for our business and allows us to provide customers with leading-edge products in high volume,” said Otellini.” The unmatched scope and scale of our investments in manufacturing help Intel maintain industry leadership and drive innovation.”

The factory will be the company’s sixth 300-mm wafer facility. It will be about a million square feet, and will create around 1000 new jobs with the company. Over 3,000 people are being hired just to work on the construction process.

Intel said it will also be investing $105 million into the conversion of an existing inactive wafer fab in New Mexico to a component temporary test facility, creating 300 new jobs in New Mexico.

Chris is a staff writer for WebProNews. Visit WebProNews for the latest ebusiness news.

Empire High School in Vail won’t be a welcome place for the ancient concept of book covers this coming scholastic year. It’s hard to put a book cover on a book that you don’t have. Well, at least not as many as students have had in past years.

This year, parents will be investing in backpacks with built-in padded laptop pockets, which will be better suited to carry the laptop computers the school will issue this year.

Content on the notebooks will complement the traditional teaching methods used in classrooms. The school will have wireless connections throughout its campus, and at night the students will take them home to complete homework lessons on them.

According to the Arizona Daily Star, parents will have the option to purchase an insurance policy for $54 to cover a laptop should it be lost or stolen. That amount probably represents a prudent investment parents should consider.

It’s a step toward what will likely be a standard in classrooms of the future, but a number of factors, like costs and other constraints, keep even an optimist like Microsoft chairman Bill Gates from seeing that change happen overnight.

In February, Bill Gates, chairman and chief software architect of Microsoft Corp., spoke before the National Governors Association, calling the American high school obsolete.

“Training the work force of tomorrow with the high schools of today is like trying to teach kids about today’s computers on a 50-year-old mainframe,” Mr. Gates said. “It’s the wrong tool for the times.”

David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business. Email him here.

And what a PR gaffe! This story in Saturday’s Daily Telegraph said that Kanelos is understood to have been responsible for a full-page ad in the Arizona Daily Sun in Flagstaff, Arizona, on 8 May that featured an historic photo from the Nazi Germany era that showed Nazi supporters throwing books into a large fire.

According to the Telegraph’s report, the text read: “Should we let government tell us what we can read? Of course not. So why should we allow local government to limit where we can shop?” The ad was taken out by Protect Flagstaff’s Future, a lobby group financed by Wal-Mart that was fighting proposals that would limit large superstores in the Arizona city.

Another casualty of this PR gaffe is Highground, the PR and lobbying firm based in Phoenix, who created the ad. The Telegraph story quoted Wal-Mart saying it was “no longer working with HighGround.”

I really can’t imagine why anyone would think to use anything associated with Germany’s Nazi era in advertising. Quite a bit of chat (and some strong anti-Wal-Mart opinions) around the blogosphere.

It’s another blunder by Wal-Mart, the Telegraph said, which has been struggling to clean up its image in the face of criticism of its labour practices and effects on local communities. It was forced to take out a second ad apologizing to Flagstaff residents for the first one.

Read the Daily Telegraph’s report

Comments…

Neville Hobson is the author of the popular NevilleHobson.com blog which focuses on business communication and technology.

Neville is currentlly the VP of New Marketing at Crayon. Visit Neville Hobson’s blog: NevilleHobson.com.

The pilot was on approach for landing at Marine Corps Air Station-Yuma, about 186 miles southwest of Phoenix when the Harrier jet experienced undisclosed technical problems and crashed into someone’s backyard.

There was some structural damage to two houses and only one person was reported injured with an arm laceration.

Nearly 1300 homes were evacuated to give a military explosives team time to dismantle the bombs and remove the 300 rounds of 25mm ammunition at the crash site. Neighbors were allowed to return to their homes later in the evening Wednesday.

“I was just sitting here. It was a low soaring sound. It got real low, it was like a rumbling and I heard an explosion,” said Marita Jane Wichman, a resident who lives down the block.

The unidentified pilot was hospitalized and treated for minor injuries during ejection.

Marine Corporal Michael Nease said the Marines were investigating the accident but had not determined a cause.

This is the fourth Harrier accident in Yuma since December of 2003. The AV-8B Harrier is a light attack aircraft that has the ability to take off from a sitting position, similar to a helicopter.