Like a lot of folks concerned with social media, I got my mini-geek on at the Mesh Conference held at Toronto’s MaRS Discovery District. I’m not going to go into a play-by-play account of Mesh — if you wanted that, you’d have followed the meshing on Twitter. Mesh (re) tweaked my interest some important issues that I believe need to be constantly challenged in the PR world. Those are privacy, anonymity and reputaton.

Many folks have an online self which can often have a different personality than their offline self. This is one of the privileges of the Net and social media. We have infinite potential to be who we want, when we want to our chosen audience. I’m sure that many poignant 10-minute unions of the heart and hand have been made this way. I am also confident that there are an equal number of folks who have been cyber-bullied because of this set of circumstances.

As some background … I started blogging in 2001 when I found out that I was pregnant with my daughter. My partner’s family lives in B.C. so we thought that a blog would be an excellent way to communicate the changes of our lives and the pregnancy progress to our family and friends as well as to document the experience of becoming a mother.

Being a “gung-ho” type of chyk, I really dove into the online world. I joined Mamatron.org, a BB for, “mamas of color, bi/lesbian/poly mamas, very young mamas, mamas on public assistance, sex worker mamas, single mamas, artist mamas, socialist mamas, green mamas, anarchist mamas, and pro-choice mamas.” There was a discussion group for women who were due at the same time. I loved that group of women. They supported me through sleep deprivation, money concerns, hormonal flux, and I know that I was able to share with them as well.

That was until a cyber-bully named “Big Fat Breeder” decided that because I had used the dreaded “b” word (hint - rhymes with itch) in a conversation of support with another woman. Essentially, in spite of a mea culpa, I was drummed out of a supportive community because of the actions of a person who lived behind her online identity.

I’m over it, don’t worry. The experience has flavoured my approach to social media, however.

Everyone needs privacy - no doubt. However, if someone wants to participate in a conversation, isn’t it just good manners to say who you are? Otherwise, it is akin to walking into a person’s home, not telling her who you are, provoking an incendiary political discussion and leaving.

Students are being expelled for cyber-bullying: curiously, this practice remains de rigueur, for many adults. It’s too bad. I have to wonder how many conversations are limited due to the power of an anonymous comment.

I was at the gym last night in my own little world, thoughts percolating and I was suddenly shocked to realize “hey, this could be a blog post!” Obviously, we Girlz aren’t having so many of those moments lately…

Now to be honest, this isn’t really a PR topic…though maybe you could make the argument that it is in some ways. (Gee Jos, you’re finally writing a post, get to the point, will ya?) So in case you didn’t know, I’m American. Not dual, just American. Now I’ve lived here since I was three and am a permanent resident (so yes, I can work here legally) but my passport is American. And I can vote on Super Tuesday next week in the California primaries. As it happens, I’ll be there then for a family thing so it works out quite well. Here’s where you come in: I can’t decide who to vote for. At first I thought it might seem unethical to ask internet strangers who I should vote for, but upon further reflection I realized that this year’s candidates are waging their battles more and more in the online space. Youtube, Myspace, they’re there. Many of them have blogs on their main site. So why shouldn’t I use this blog as a testing ground?

Here’s what you need to know to help. I’m a card carrying Democrat. Ok fine, I don’t carry a card (do they have a card?) but you get the point. It’s either Hillary or Barack. And I can’t decide.

I think Hillary has more experience. I like her. She’s intelligent, well-spoken and would make a fine leader of a country in need of such a thing. Bill’s indiscretions? Give me a break. He made a mistake, an error in judgment. Did that cost the Americans anything? No- it was personal but because he was the President and he chose an attention-wh**e, it became front page news. Bush’s “errors in judgment” have cost THOUSANDS of Americans and Iraqis their lives and has seriously damaged the US economy. Don’t get me started. Bill, in some ways, is a huge asset for Hillary. In other ways, I see him as a liability. He will have to stay out of the limelight while she’s in office so as not to take the focus off of her. I think he can do a lot as “First Laddie” but it will have to be under the radar and I don’t know if that’s possible. So that concerns me.

Barack is charismatic and I like him too. Goes without saying that he’s also intelligent and when I see him in interviews, he comes off very well. I like his wife. I think she could do a lot more as First Lady than Bill could in the role and you really are voting for them as a team. Having a great President is all well and good but if they don’t have strong support at home and a partner who’s willing to get out there and improve America, then the “great” President isn’t so effective. I don’t like Oprah’s endorsement of him. Not because she should have supported the female candidate, but because I think she made it more about race than it had been prior to her getting involved. Here’s my main concern with Barack and it does not make me proud of my country: they’re not ready for a black president. It’s not his time. Yes, most Americans would embrace the idea and don’t care what colour he is. But the ones that do? Look out; they’re the dangerous ones. If I were Michelle Obama, I would be afraid for the life of my husband and the father of my young children every time he ventured out. That’s the sad reality of it. Like I said, it pains me to think this, but there it is.

John Edwards? No thanks and here’s why: his wife is dying of breast cancer. Not right now and maybe not even in the next four years. And while I think it’s admirable of them to continue with their lives as though everything was fine, I think it’s dumb. Because at some point, she’s going to be very sick. And his focus would and SHOULD be on her and their very young children. But it wouldn’t be on America and that’s a problem to me.

So there you have it. Barack or Hillary. I go back and forth. Who gets your vote?

I’d like to thank the Canadian Mental Health Association for focusing on something during their recent awareness week that many people would not consider a mental health issue: work-life balance. It’s true, this phrase is being bandied about a lot and companies being featured in news stories like to talk about how important it is for them. I even noted at least one of the recently named “Top 40 Under 40” types claims to live by this rule and insists his employees do as well.

The sceptic in me (read: can’t believe at least 50 per cent of what I hear/read in the media) says “that’s nice”. Glad to hear some companies are speaking up on balance but I sure bet they didn’t think they were throwing their lot in with the CMHA.

Work-life balance in my experience has generally been one of those corporate policies that mean the bosses can feel ok going off golfing on a Friday afternoon in the summer because everyone has the option of leaving early – as long as their work is done. But it’s more important than that and the CMHA survey gets to the heart of it. It’s all about how much control you have in your life – all the parts of it. Work is demanding but how much has to be taken home (such as that ubitiquitous Blackberry)? Our time at home is cluttered with family demands how much is too much to do with/for the kids? We have commitments to our community but have we learned to say no enough?

Is work/life balance a mental health condition? No, but lack of balance can lead to depression and other mental health issues.

Since we all know that technology has actually made the work day busier and means more pressure in terms of turnaround times, etc. I’m glad we’re not forgetting that balance in our lives is still an issue that needs attention.

I’m pretty set in my ways (cue collective “no shit” from all who know me) so change is a big deal. I like my routine and don’t like when things veer off-course. So the fact that I’m considering a rather large change in my life is a little disconcerting. Especially since it’s completely my initiative. What is this huge change I’m considering which will have a dramatic effect on my life?

I’m considering switching to Firefox. (Cue dramatic GASP from the internet).

Yes folks, it’s true. I haven’t even switched to Explorer 7 for the same reason- I hate change. I’m set in my ways. I have all my links nicely lined up where I like them and can find them in my sleep and having to reset them all. Ok laziness is part of it for sure. But lately, Explorer just isn’t cutting it. It won’t load some of my most used websites properly, such as CFRB-AM and Hotmail. Both seem to prefer Firefox, which is particularly weird for Hotmail, don’t you think? (Bill? Are you listening?)  My father uses Firefox because he tries to stay away from Microsoft whenever possible, but he might have the right idea for once;)

Many of my colleagues say Firefox is faster. I’m inclined to agree. It seems to be the browser of choice for bloggers and social media fanatics, so there must be something to it.

So what do you use? Are you an Explorer or a Foxer? Am interested to hear what everyone prefers and why.

In the mean time, I’ll be quivering violently about making this monumental change on my own accord and wondering what I’ve gotten myself into. (Cue collective eye roll about my pathetic dramatics).

You know that feeling: a mix of exhaustion/relief/satisfaction after big event which you have been working on for some time was successfully executed. Like when you hit it too hard with the nightlife, it usually takes a day or two to recover.

Well, I am experiencing this malaise, yet no event occurred. I spent the last two months planning a press junket for my client. The writer/director of the film a major American comic was to be in Toronto today and tomorrow. The press were eager to meet him and all the major players had confirmed interviews.

Then two days out, the request came that the junket had to be shortened to one day, due the death of a close family friend of the comedian. Understandably, he wanted to be back home in time for the funeral.

After some scurrying, I managed to condense a two day junket into one, loosing just two interviews. I was thinking, “Phew! The Gods of Media Relations must be smiling on me!” I went home for the day tired but relieved things had gone somewhat smoothly.

I arrive at the office the next morning and there is an urgent voicemail from my client saying “Pease call me, ASAP” Sadly, the comedian’s father had passed away. My thoughts were with him and his family. It sucks, no one is prepared to loose a parent, at any age.

Personal tragedies aside….everything, the junket and associated events had to be cancelled. The whole day, I kept thinking, “how can I make this sad situation better for my client?”

My media contacts wonderfully understood the situation. I managed to salvage most of the opportunities, turning them into phone interviews to occur at a later date. The TV folks, I hope can be accommodated via satellite.

Ever had a situation like this? When forces beyond the control of the PR pro conspire against you and your best laid plans?

The holidays are upon us and the Thornley Fallis team have things under control. 76design made these funky holiday cards with detachable gift tags. Client and new biz contacts were wrangled from all employees and mailing labels were created. Chris and Joscelyn should be proud of the fact that the cards went out in early December, a much improved track record than years past. With the cards done, we were confronted by another holiday task… client gifts.

Who gets them? How much do you spend?

This year our accounting department outlined budgets for each client; we were then dispatched across the city to select items that we anticipated our clients would enjoy. It is hard enough to shop for members of your immediate family let alone friends and clients.

This time of year, offices are inundated with boxes of chocolates, gourmet food baskets, booze, bath products and other goodies. Personally, I am in favour of donating the money allocated to client gifts to charity. Maybe to a food bank or charity that has meaning to your organization. It is the thought that is supposed to count, right?