Approximately 9 days, 4 hours and 16 minutes ago my awesome wife Liz gave birth to our second child, Franklin Patrick Larson. But who’s counting, right? Since it’s my turn to write our weekly Whatever Wednesday blog article, I thought it would be a good opportunity to share what I’ve found to be the most useful techniques in keeping a newborn as happy as possible, as often as possible. I call these techniques “Dad’s secret weapons” and it all comes from a man whom I consider a prophet living among us: Harvey Karp, MD a nationally renowned pediatrician, child development specialist and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the USC School of Medicine. You can learn more about him on his appropriately titled website: www.happiestbaby.com.

Karp teaches techniques for calming newborns (even ones with colic) by utilizing what he calls the 5 S’s. These S-words are:

• swaddling
• side/stomach position
• shushing
• swinging
• sucking

The whole point in using these S-word techniques all at once or in any combination is to simulate the environment your baby grew so accustomed to while in the womb. Karp states, “Overstimulation is not nearly as big of a problem as understimulation… Babies miss the rhythmic, hypnotic sounds and movement.” In the womb babies hear a whooshing sound that’s actually louder than the typical household vacuum cleaner. This should give you an idea of just how loud your shushing may need to be. Couple the shushing with swaddling, swinging and the side position and you’ve found the “off switch” for your crying newborn.

With my first child, watching Karp’s DVD The Happiest Baby on The Block was by far the best thing I did to prepare for caring for a newborn. I’m using all the same techniques the second time around and they’re still working like a charm! I feel so strongly about these methods that I firmly believe a viewing of Karp’s materials should be mandatory during the hospital stay for both parents. In fact, I could probably do an infomercial about it, so if you’re out there Harvey, drop me a line. Now somebody go find me a screaming infant and a swaddle blanket and I’ll show you how it’s done. I only ask that you make sure the diaper is free and clear first.

Are you all done with the newborn thing and are wrangling a troublesome toddler now? There’s a DVD and book for that too here.

Further Reading:
Dr. Karp’s Website
Five S’s May Calm the Crying Infant (by Linda Little for Medscape Medical News)
The New Way to Stop Colic, Reduce Crying & Eliminate Tantrums (YouTube Video)

Do you currently have a newborn of your own? Are you familiar with Dr. Karp and his techniques? Please let us know your thoughts by commenting below.

-Brian Larson

Late last week Hennepin County took the unprecedented step of closing all lakes to vehicle traffic. It’s not necessary to be an avid fisherman like I am to see that the unusual decision was made during one of the warmest, strangest winters in recent memory. In fact, within the fishing community, ice conditions have been a hotter topic than fishing reports. A Star Tribune article from February 10 noted “unseasonably warm weather and unpredictable ice conditions have plunged eight vehicles into the water since mid-January—six in the past seven days.” And more vehicles have fallen through since then.

To me, the most interesting point about this issue is not that Sheriff Stanek decided to close all county lakes to vehicle traffic—that seemed to be a fairly sensible decision based on the odd winter and the abnormally high number of vehicles dropping through the ice. But quite frankly, I was surprised to see such a quick call of (what some considered) government overreach and “rights violations.” Many argued Sheriff Stanek’s decision represented a “slippery slope” that will make it easier for the government to impose greater restrictions on sportsmen in the future. The theory seems to be if they can close access to cars and trucks in the winter, what’s to stop them from prohibiting a boat launch in bad weather during the summer? Keep in mind, people are still free to walk or drive an ATV to their favorite fishing spot. They just can’t drive their car or truck.

Is public discourse really on such thin ice that any decision made by any government body will be met with such resentment? After all, this judgment was certainly within the sheriff’s authority and was made as a safety precaution. Considering how infrequently this statute is put to use, I find it hard to buy the slippery slope argument. If anything, the statute is used so infrequently it seems to illustrate how reluctant the county officials are to use it except under extraordinary circumstances.

But on a larger level that goes beyond our little fish bowl in Minnesota, have people become so jaded that their initial reaction is to fight any decision the government makes? I certainly hope not. As a state and a country we have much bigger fish to fry.

What are your thoughts?

Read more blogs from SCG’s 41 Stories.

-Jeron Udean

One of the burdens of being an adjunct professor of PR and Advertising is the obligation to read many of the newly and often hastily published books on social media. So many of them are pretentious, shallow and fraught with hyperbole and weak critical thinking that it is hard to stay unjaded enough to spot a gem. I have spotted that gem and would like to encourage you to spend a few hours to read one of most interesting and insightful books on social media that I have come across. Here is a short preview of the book.

“The Dragonfly Effect,” by Jennifer Aaker and Andy Smith, offers a clear and compelling digital approach for nonprofits and others interested in discovering “quick, effective and powerful ways to use social media to drive social change,” as the book’s subtitle promises.

But this book is not just for nonprofits and companies involved in cause-related marketing. Although many of the examples are about efforts to help others, the book also offers useful ideas that brands can use to build meaningful relationships with customers and importantly, employees. The broader scope of this book is on using social media to inspire people to take actions that will truly make a difference. Illustrations of how this can work for brands include examples from large companies such as Google, Nike and eBay as well as from smaller ventures such as Groupon, FourSquare and Cookpad.

This book is interesting, persuasive, extraordinarily well-researched and yet easy to read. It is part narrative—with an assortment of rich, compelling stories—and part instruction manual. “The Dragonfly Effect” is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn how small acts can add up to big change. Social media may be the best vehicle mankind has ever had to enable that vision and this book lays out insights to move productively toward that vision.

The authors of this book are uniquely well qualified for the challenge. Jennifer Aaker is a professor of marketing at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business; Andy is a principal of the consulting firm Vonavona Ventures. This book will stay with you, like a very nutritious meal. No empty calories here, like so many of the other social media books that have less carefully arrived on the shelves. This is a very thoughtfully written book.

I find myself regularly referencing the book’s primary themes in conversations with clients and students as we discuss social media strategies and opportunities. Particularly useful are the four tenants of social media the authors have synthesized from their research and practical application. These four elements:

1. Focus,
2. Grab Attention,
3. Engage, and
4. Take Action
are the metaphorical four wings of the dragonfly.

“The Dragonfly Effect” is the kind of book I like to keep extra copies of handy to give to clients to help them understand social media and the enormous potential that it possesses. It is also a book I have now included in my assigned reading list for Strategic Communication Campaign Planning at the University of Minnesota.

If you are going to read just one book on social media, The Dragonfly Effect, would be an excellent choice.

-Patrick Strother

We’re a month into 2012 so I thought this might be a good time to check in on my New Year’s resolutions to see if I’m really sticking to them. I realize it’s only been 31 days but I’ve always found resolutions tough to keep. My health and fitness was one of the resolutions (of the millions of others out there!) that I’ve been particularly focused on seeing through beyond just the usual two weeks of hardcore dedication before my motivation wears off.

So, at the beginning of the year, rather than making my goals the typical “must lose X number of pounds this year” and “eat less junk food and sweets,” I set out to make more specific and more manageable goals. I discovered smaller daily goals would contribute to my overall resolution to eat healthier and enhance my fitness level as well as help make my resolution seem more attainable. For example, a few of my goals are to drink at least 2 Nalgene bottles of water a day, eat at least one vegetable and/or fruit with every meal, run at least 20 miles per week and get a personal record for a half-marathon.

I’m very proud to say that I have been sticking to most of my goals, with the exception of a few indulgences, which are perfectly okay every now and then. However, I have recently encountered one minor setback: my chronic back issues (thank you scoliosis), which have flared up in a major way after running the Twin Cities Marathon this past year followed by a 10-mile race three weeks later. This has put a damper on my ability to achieve my 20 miles per week running goal without feeling excruciating pain afterwards. My chiropractor has been a great help in keeping the pain at bay but has also strongly advised me to cut back on the running and try cross-training or simply to run less. This news, if you’re a runner like me, is one of the most disappointing and discouraging things to hear, especially if you’re trying to achieve a PR for a race.

Rather than let this obstacle completely get me down and put a damper on my motivation, however, I resolved to face it head-on and with more gusto. I’ve been doing a run/walk combination on my runs to lessen the impact of the constant pounding that running does on my back, doing more strength training with a focus on my core and back to ease the strain on my spine and trying other methods of cardio like circuit training, getting on other machines like the elliptical or stationary bike and aqua jogging.

When it comes to resolutions, obstacles are inevitable. Here are some tips to overcome and stick to any of your resolutions:

• Find support. Staying motivated is much easier when someone is right behind you, pushing you to achieve your goals.
• Set short-term goals. When we set longer-term goals, it’s tempting to put it off because we think we have plenty of time to achieve them. Short-term goals will help you stay on track.
• Don’t forget these things take time. Because resolutions require changing habits, results won’t happen immediately. In fact, it takes four weeks for new behaviors to become habits. Focus on day-to-day improvements that will only get easier with time.
• Remember the reason behind the resolution. When you find yourself slacking on your goal or feeling like giving up, remind yourself why you chose this resolution.
• Think positive. Develop a personal mantra (mine is simple: “You’re strong. You can do it. Just keep going.”) or find an inspirational quote. Do whatever you can to keep a positive outlook when your motivation starts to fade.

How do you stick to your resolutions?

Read more blogs from SCG’s 41 Stories.

-Mary Nhotsavang

Over the last few years, North Minneapolis has undergone some tremendous hardships, such as the devastation from the tornado that tore through North neighborhoods last summer and increasing youth violence. However, there is an upcoming event that offers some hope. The Miss Seventh Avenue Pageant will take place on March 31 at 7:00 p.m. at Wayman AME Church. The pageant supports young women in the area and gives them opportunities to achieve success.

Wayman AME Church embraces these young women with a sense of family and community. The church provides coaching and guidance for the contestants as they prepare for pageant night and reaches out to the neighborhood to expand community involvement. The pageant participants will be encouraged to focus on their strengths and their future as the leaders of tomorrow.

Local judges of the event include fashion designer Rosa Bogar, former model Roxanne Crossland and film producer Lee Jordan of “A Look Over Jordan Productions.”

All contestants will receive gift baskets from local businesses and are given complimentary gowns and beauty services from Minneapolis salons for pageant night. The crowned Miss Seventh Avenue will receive a scholarship.

The Miss Seventh Avenue Pageant is a great example of how a local church can support and encourage Minneapolis’s young women as well as the Northside.

-Carol Payne

Recently I had a new addition built onto to my house. Instead of regular construction, we ended up going with an all glass solarium. The building of the solarium took about one and a half months to complete. I was really amazed as to how much work went into erecting a glass solarium. Construction wrapped up a few weeks ago, and we have been enjoying our solarium. I actually need my sunglasses during peak sun hours!

Like many who live in northern climates, my husband suffers a bit from Seasonal Affective Disorder during the long winter months when sun is scarce. As we head into the rest of the winter, we are hoping that spending time in the solarium during the peak sun hours will help lift our moods and make the winter feel shorter. I am currently trying to fill the room with tropical plants and bright colors to create a Florida-like ambiance. It has been difficult, to say the least, to find a real palm tree to purchase here in Minnesota… but I am persistent and will hopefully find just the right one.

While we are especially excited to enjoy our new room this winter, the type of solarium we had built can be enjoyed year round. It will be our  tropical escape in the winter, and in the summer I can imagine opening all the windows for a nice breeze, viewing the stars through the glass ceiling at night or reading during a rain shower all while staying dry. We can now bring the outdoors inside and stay warm, dry and bug free all year round. We are very excited to experience all the seasons in our new solarium.

-Jane Tomassetti

I did two things on January 1, 2012: ran a half-marathon and dedicated part of my day to sharpening my computer programming skills. Enter Codecademy, a start-up geared at interactively and easily teaching with its CodeYear program, a weekly lesson plan that steeps the user in code, starting with the basics and moving up from there. The thought of getting back into a year-long computer science course was slightly more intimidating than the 13.1 miles. Fast forward to January 9^th and my first CodeYear lesson. I dug right in and got through the lesson relatively quickly. 

Figure 1: Codecademy’s Hyper-intuitive Interface. Hey, I got a robot badge that I am going to tweet about!

After completing my first lesson, I found that Codecademy is incredibly accessible (you can walk through the first lesson before you even create a user account) and is very user-friendly with features like simple lesson explanations and an editor that provides real-time proof that you are coding properly.

Users also receive points and badges for exercises completed and reaching certain goals (think Foursquare but the incentive is a stronger understanding of computer code and how computers work). This is the big selling point of Codecademy and CodeYear: they utilize the aspects of countless social networks out there, apply it to an audience that wants to understand more about the tools that are at their disposal, and provides an easy way to start using them.

­

I had a really positive experience with Codecademy and CodeYear, and I plan on following through the entire program (I now have a Foursquare-like addiction to getting achievements and badges ).  I would recommend it to anyone trying to gain more insight into programming and would like a little help in their effort to easily communicate across fields.

Figure 2: The start of a big year

What other resources do you use to strengthen and reinforce your technical skill set?

-Robby Cecil

While the beginning of a new year signals a time for many Americans to hit the gym in an effort to get in shape (fitness ranks #2 on the top 10 resolutions list this year) January also brings anticipated television premieres and returns for the slightly more sedentary. With the 2012 season underway, I’d like to share one of on TV’s best and brightest comedies you may be missing—which I wholeheartedly recommend you fit into your lineup…

The Middle is a smart, funny sitcom that premiered in September of 2009 starring Patricia Heaton (of Everybody Loves Raymond fame) who leads the great ensemble. She plays Frances “Frankie” Heck, a working-class woman married to Mike Heck. They reside in the small, fictional, Midwestern town of Orson, Indiana with their three children: Axl, Sue and Brick. After airing for just two episodes, the show was picked up for a full first season of 22 episodes. Now in its third season, the 2012 season begins tonight at 8 p.m. eastern/7 p.m. central time.

3 Reasons Why I Love This Show

1. The Middle rejects the “typical” family portrayal.
   I grew tired of the way families were portrayed on TV—full of sarcasm, eye-rolling and biting remarks. “TV has depicted teens for decades as angst-ridden and rebellious, and parents as out-of-touch and unhip,” says this Wall Street Journal article. Then network executives realized that shows that tapped into the defiant-youth subculture were losing viewers. At the ABC Family network, market research around this shift influenced programming: in a study of more than 2,000 kids ages 12-17, nearly 75% said they get along with their parents and like spending time with their families. The Middle is a celebration of the quirky, loving ties that bind.
2. You’ll see yourself.
   Let’s face it, for most of us our teen years weren’t the glamorous, glitzy Beverly Hills 90210-version of the journey to adulthood. The kids of The Middle offer more realistic portrayals, and by seeing myself in the characters, the show is both humorous and believable.
3. You can actually watch it with your family.
   Humor without profanity, suggestive dialogue or raunchiness. What a novel concept! “Who needs those when there’s an abundance of eccentric humor and bright writing?” asks TV critic Nancy DeWolf Smith. The Middle manages to be funny and clean—a nearly extinct combination.

What the critics say
The show has received very positive feedback, with critics praising the show’s realistic look at the middle class combined with good writing and acting. In his USA Today article, Robert Bianco explains, “This series seems to more assuredly offer a first-class version of what so many viewers say they want: a humorous, heartfelt, realistic look at middle-class, middle-America family life.”

During its first season, ratings were not initially impressive. So at the beginning of the 2010/2011 season, ABC moved to show to 8 p.m. central and ratings increased substantially. I think the show gets overshadowed by fellow Wednesday night ABC comedy, Modern Family. While I understand the hype (and thoroughly enjoy Modern Family) I believe The Middle is just as funny—and often more touching. So when the January temps drop and you’re channel surfing at home (or maybe at the gym) tune into ABC a little earlier!

Do you watch the show? I’d like to hear your opinion!

-Jenny Silgen

My mom and brother live in Chicago, so I am often looking for cheap and efficient ways to get there. I abhor driving long distances, so many frequent flier miles have been accumulated between Minneapolis and Chicago.

But, after becoming disenchanted with the whole “airport experience” (read: crowded planes, late departures, cranky fellow passengers) I decided to explore a different mode of transportation: the mighty train.

Every day, Amtrak’s Empire Builder leaves the Midway Station in St. Paul at 7:50 am and chugs east to Chicago’s Union Station with an arrival time of 3:55 pm. (The route originates in Seattle.) In the same time it takes to drive to the Windy City, Amtrak will get you there with limited stress and effort.

I had taken Amtrak once before and was looking forward to my trip last Thursday. I arrived at the station in the nick of time, only to be greeted by a handwritten sign, taped to the door that read, “TRAIN LATE. ETA 9:20.” Ugh, I thought. But, the jovial clerks promptly announced nearby food options, that included a quaint cafe. I made my way to Bonnie’s Cafe on foot, and the delay soon became the highlight of the trip. A few other delayed travelers occupied the counter, and I watched as they became acquainted over friendly banter. As relaxation took over, I told myself “Vacation starts NOW!” and marked it with a satisfying breakfast.

Feeling fortified, I made my way back to the station. The train arrived at 9:20, as promised. The boarding process is by destination, so no clamoring for a spot in line. They added a car for the Chicago-bound, so I boarded last. The train was not crowded. Everyone in my car got an early holiday gift of access to two seats, which I and the majority of other solo travelers turned into makeshift nests for horizontal lounging.

Employee training must be top notch, as all Amtrak personnel are surprisingly cheerful. Once in your seat, constant updates via the intercom inform and comfort. The attendant in charge of our car only requested one thing from his ensemble of travelers. In regards to bathroom cleanliness, he good-naturedly explained, “There is just one of me and 40 of you, so keep the bathroom clean for each other.” I found the honesty refreshing. This was our “home” for the next 8 hours, and we should treat it with respect.

One would think that 8 hours on a train would evoke cabin fever. But, it is exactly the opposite. Whereas planes can feel claustrophobic, the train is rich with room and roaming potential. Legroom is far more ample than what is found in coach. The aisles are wider, and passengers are welcome to walk from car to car. Some trains have over ten cars to explore, including a dining car and on the Empire Builder, a sightseer Lounge/Café car. This was my favorite spot: the seats faced the windows and snacks were available for purchase just a few steps below. On a plane, the majority of the view is that of clouds. On my adventure to Chicago, I couldn’t take my eyes off the ever-changing scenery that played like a movie starring a panorama of the midwest.

I am not alone in my affinity for the rail travel. During fiscal year 2010, the Empire Builder carried a total of 533,493 passengers, a 3.5% increase from FY 2009′s total of 515,444 passengers. This made the Empire Builder the most popular long-distance train in the Amtrak system. Even though I like the extra room, I encourage people to give Amtrak a try. It is a unique way to travel that is fueled by fun rather than frustration.

All aboard!

-Joy Wagner

Last Friday, we told you about one holiday shopping app. Well, here is another app recommendation to help you complete your last minute shopping. I have found the Google Shopper app incredibly useful this holiday season. It allows you to find the perfect gift for that special someone on your list.  Even if you don’t know what to get, Google Shopper can offer suggestions based on gender, age, category or season. Below are a couple of screen shots to give you a sense of how the app is laid out and the sleek interface.

Google Shopper is loaded with features. One of my favorites is the barcode scanner. Frustrated you can’t find a price anywhere on the item you’re looking at? No problem. Simply use the scanner feature and scan the item’s barcode or even take a picture of the item itself. Within seconds it will pull up the name of the item along with availability from local stores and internet sites. When the results come up you can filter them in a number of ways such as free shipping or price.

Google Shopper will even keep a history of your searches so you can easily recall items that have yet to be purchased.  You can also star items to make your own list.  Using this great app, I was able to identify a number of gifts, determine who had the best deals and then plan my trip to fill my sleigh.

-Randy West