Blogs and Feeds

The Media and Blogs

Don't let anyone fool you into believing that the media do not read blogs. Nothing could be further from reality. When I wrote Remembering George A. Smith IV almost a month ago, it was my intent to honor the memory of a special person.

Here is what has resulted. I have been contacted by tv producers, newspaper reporters and freelance writers all grabbing onto this story. They have been relentless, pursuing me by e-mail and even somehow contacting me at my spouse's cellphone number on a Sunday morning while I was out of town. As I have told them, it is not my wish to comment on this story.

It is my only hope that the law enforcement looking into the truth about what happened to George are as relentless as the media. 

Remembering George A. Smith IV

On July 7th I received an e-mail that George A. Smith IV was missing on his honeymoon. In subsequent weeks accounts of George's disappearance have been splashed across newpapers and television shows across the country. These reports all tell bits and shreds of a tragic loss, but little do they tell of the George that I had the pleasure of knowing and working with for two plus years.

George was a special guy. I will always remember his dry sense of humor. We were a small research department, just myself and two analysts, and our department created numerous reports for clients. Proofreading is a must-do chore. George and the other analyst would swap reports for proofing and signify that they were proofread by initialling the copy. George would proof a report and initial it, but he would write "B+" and "Try Harder" or "Nice Work, B-." In context, it was very funny, since the quality of the work and the "grade" were totally disconnected. It added a note of levity to some serious work.

George was a special guy. I will always remember how fond he was of his family. Several years ago, he went on a cruise with his parents and his sister. For many young adults the thought of going on vacation with "the family" is anathema. George looked forward to the trip, so it was no surprise to me that he was on a honeymoon cruise.

George was a special guy. In the two plus years that he worked for me, I cannot remember him ever having an unkind word for anyone.

George was a special guy. No matter what task I put before him, he would forge ahead, meet the milestones, occassionally ask for clarification and dependably got the job done.  No whining, no complaining, no but must I's. That was not him.

George was a special guy. He had his wisdom teeth removed on a Friday and assured me that he would be in to work on Monday. Being more familiar with the process than he was, I had my doubts, so I was not surprised Monday morning to see his desk empty. When I got into my office there was no phone message either. But, I was not prepared for the email that was awaiting me. It had a digital picture attached of him with an extremely swollen jaw. The picture was worth thousands of words.

No matter what happened that fateful night on the waters between Greece and Turkey, the real story about George A. Smith IV is not the sensational disappearance. It is the patchwork of memories that those who knew him will hold in their hearts forever.

Basted, Roasted, Toasted and Fried

Thanksgiving will never be the same! I know how the turkey feels as it is basted and roasted. I did my personal turkey simulation at the US Rowing Nationals in Indianapolis, IN, July 20-24. I had the privilege of being a referee at this amazing event. It was fun, but the climate performed with temps in the 90s and all the humidity we could stand.

Instead of a delicious savory juice applied by a cook, I basted myself with SPF 50! sunscreen (Yes! sunscreen lovers, it does come in SPF 50). The temperatures were so intense that frequent rebastings were needed to prevent burning. Even so, I came away with a wonderful tan -- a healthy pre-cancerous glow, so to speak.

The month of July has left me roasted and toasted. Having lived for most of the past 20 years in coolish climes, I'm not much of a hot weather person. Extended periods of intense heat -- such as the week in Indiana and some days here in Boston -- leave me totally abstracted. Toasted! Chilled air (air conditioning) just feels like refrigeration.

Frying has taken the most time. This process started with the completion of two books in less than 6-months. It is a thrill to see the book, A Call to Action,  that I edited for Bryan and Jeff Eisenberg zoom to the top of the charts, however, it was a considerable effort for all involved. Like a short order cook, while this book was on the front burner, my own book Business Blogs: A Practical Guide was awaiting final editing, by me. That done, plus some fascinating client projects, has left me fried.

So when the dog days of summer arrived, I decided to snooze on the porch with the other dogs instead of blogging. For recreation, I've chased a little white ball across very nice lawns (golf courses) instead of blogging. As summer comes to a close, my blogging efforts will increase, my golfing will decrease, my swimming will decrease, my boating will decrease, so there should be plenty of time for thoughtful blogging.