***Important Announcement – Syracreamsicle Recall***

Note: This is a post for my summer class, IST600 Blogging for Information Professionals.  There is no such company as Salt City Ice Cream, and there is no  Syracreamsicle product.  This is merely a class blogging exercise.  The company and product are fictitious.

***IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT TO OUR CUSTOMERS***

Warning Danger Sign
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net  

We are sorry to inform you that we have learned of the possible presence of salmonella in some of our orange flavor Syracreamsicles.  Upon discovering this, we immediately halted production of this product and recalled all orange flavored Syracreamsicles from our retailers.

Although we are not aware of any customers who have contracted salmonella from our orange flavored Syracreamsicles, we are asking that everyone who purchased this product to return it to our retailers for an immediate refund as soon as possible.

Again, we are sorry for the inconvenience to our customers.  We take great pride in delivering only the highest quality products to our customers and apologize for letting you down in this situation.  We are continuing to work with the New York State Department of Health to ensure that this problem does not happen again. 

The product affected by this recall is the orange flavor Syarcreamsicle.  None of our other products are impacted.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us by email at info@SaltCityIceCream.com or by phone at 1-888-SYR-ICRM.

Engaging and Growing a Blog Community

Note: This is a post for my summer class, IST600 Blogging for Information Professionals

Race Track Lane 1
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

My blog is called a “runners devotional”.  It is meant to be about running, but not strictly in an athletic sense.  As a Christian, I am strongly influenced by the imagery of Biblical writers who compared life to a long distance race. Running not only provides me with the physical exercise that I need, but also allows my mind to wander and think more deeply about the essence of life. The primary goal of my blog is to draw parallels between my experiences as a runner and my everyday life challenges as a middle-aged father, husband, son, employee, and global nomad while remaining optimistic and encouraging in tone and outlook.

Here are some things I plan to do to engage and grow the community of this blog:

Social Network
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

1. Connecting with Readers

I plan to establish a “runners devotional” presence on Twitter and Facebook as a way to reach out to people and develop a “human” connection in the social media sphere. This will also allow me to distribute links to my blog and help to get the message out in a search for like-minded community members.

I currently run in approximately 10 races each year.  I plan to print up t-shirts to wear when I race which will highlight my blog and twitter addresses. This will give me an opportunity to publicize my blog as well as connect with others from the local running community.

Stopwatch
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

2. Posting on a Regular Basis

I plan to post on a regular basis, approximately three to five times a week.  This will require me to get up early, go on my run, and then sit down to record my thoughts for the day.  This will take a lot of discipline to fit into my busy life.  Unfortunately, I’m somewhat of a perfectionist, so I will need to set strict time limits for myself; otherwise, I’ll spend all day proofreading and searching for better visuals without getting a single post published. It may make it easier for me if I find and schedule guest bloggers (see #4. Guest Bloggers below) in order to take some of the pressure off me, while facilitating fresh posts and new insights on a regular basis.

Laptop and Books
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

3. Study, research, and write Pillar articles

While I have gained a good number of helpful tips from my kids and their coaches since I started running, I will need to continue researching running topics on the internet and discussing running with others better than myself in order to increase my expertise and lend credibility to my posts.  This will allow me to write “pillar” articles and incorporate more advanced tips into my other articles so that I can grow along with my readers.

Welcoming Guest
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

4. Guest posts

I will seek out other bloggers to help keep the content fresh and coming at a regular pace.  I will ask my kids to write posts in order to provide a younger person’s perspective and keep my blog from deteriorating into an opportunity for middle-aged whining.  As more people join the community, there will be opportunities to meet new people who could potentially become guest bloggers as well as community members.


Blog Carnival Index - browse the archives

5. Submitting posts to the Blog Carnival

I will review the Blog Carnival regularly for categories that could fit my postings.  I can see opportunities for my posts fitting well with the “sports”, “medicine, health, and fitness”, and “religion and philosophy” categories in the Blog Carnival.

Social Media Formats Pyramid
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

6. Use a variety of different communication methods

I will use a variety of different mediums and communication methods in order to keep my content fresh.  I will incorporate photos and videos in my posts, and will utilize vlogs and podcasts to add a personal touch to my blog.

Amelia Earhart’s Fate: New Clues 75 Years Later

Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery has announced that it has discovered evidence of 57 transmissions that could have been made by Amelia Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, after their plane disappeared over the Pacific Ocean in 1937.  The group made the announcement at the beginning of a three day conference dedicated to determining the fate of Earhart, Noonan, and their Lockheed Electra aircraft.  They theorize that Earhart was able to land on an uninhabited island in the Western Pacific  and radioed for help until the plane was swept out to sea.  Consequently, when U.S. Navy search planes flew over the island, the plane was not spotted.

A recent discovery of an old jar of anti-freckle cream on Nikumaroro Island (a.k.a Gardner Island) is thought to have belonged to Earhart and has lent support to this theory.  On July 2, the 75th anniversary of Earhart’s disappearance, the International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery will launch their ninth expedition to Nikumaroro Island seeking additional evidence to confirm their theory.

San Diego Zoo – What’s Happening this Summer

San Diego Zoo Entrance Sign
San Diego Zoo Entrance Sign

If your family is vacationing in Southern California this summer, the San Diego Zoo offers something different from your typical amusement park.  Here are some exhibits you need to see:

  1. The Giant Pandas – Panda Cam: San Diego Zoo panda, baby cub ‘bonding’

A new member of the Panda family has just arrived at the San Diego Zoo. Bai Yun gave birth to a four ounce cub on July 29th. Unfortunately, zoo patrons will only be able to see the cub on the zoo’s Panda Cam for the next several months, until the mother/child bonding period is complete.  This was Bai Yun’s sixth child and based on her advanced age of almost 21, most likely her last.  She has become the most prolific mother in a breeding program outside of her native China.

2.  The Double Decker Bus Ride – San Diego Zoo Bus Tour

The bus ride is a great way to see about 70% of the zoo without hiking the 100 acres on foot.  You also get a guided tour with live commentary from your bus driver.  It’s a good way to find out where your favorite animals live, so that you can return and view them later.

3.  The Swimmers – Polar Bears, Hippos, & Pandas, Oh My!

Kids love viewing the “swimmers” at the zoo.  The Polar Bear Plunge and the Hippo exhibit both have underwater glass viewing areas, which let you catch a different view of your favorite “swimmers”.

4. The Gorillas – First Birthday for Gorilla Monroe

The “baby” gorilla just turned a year old in June. Come watch his antics as he learns to tease and play with his peers and older clan members.

5. Chinese Acrobats – Nighttime Zoo Returns with Chinese Theme

From June 23rd through September 3rd, a special celebration of China is taking place at the zoo.  As part of this celebration, the Hebei Chinese Acrobats perform feats of acrobatics, martial arts and dance in their show “The Legend of Dragon Mountain”.  See them at the Hunte Amphitheatre at 2 and 5 p.m. daily.  You can also catch short glimpses of their skills at various places throughout the park.

So, stop by the San Diego Zoo this summer with your whole family and see if there isn’t something to entertain everyone!