Happy Father’s Day to My Dad

Posted on June 21, 2015 by brent

Today we celebrate Father’s Day. Most of us do all we can to recognize and honor our dads as we make this day as much about our patriarchs as possible. Excuse my selfishness, but today I am feeling pretty good myself. This isn’t a year where I tell my dad Happy Father’s Day and then wish that I was there with him, knowing that I still have to wait until the holidays to see him again. Rather, this year I get to wish him a Happy Father’s Day and then say “See you later this week!” It is true, by Thursday I will be in Spokane, together with my dad and family once again. I think this upcoming reunion definitely makes Father’s Day a little more special this year.

My dad and I when I was just a little boy.

It seems like I hear people describe their dads all the time as strict, unemotional, down-to-business-type figures. This is definitely the exact opposite of my father. I grew up with a dad who was about as invested, loving, and interested in the lives of us Reser kids that a parent could possibly be.

Whether it was creatively documenting our major achievements or coaching our sports teams as kids, my dad was there. If it was helping me with my penmanship or aiding me on a school project, my dad was the guy. When it came to having someone take me to sporting contests, parades, and movies, I was riding with my dad. As I grew older, I knew he would be at every athletic event I played in, every team banquet I attended, and every school-related function I needed him for. Once I hit college I knew he would always be up to call me, always there to attend the family weekends, and always eager to welcome me home when I returned to Spokane on breaks. As I started my professional career it was my dad who wanted to know every detail of my job, who asked me non-stop assiduous questions, and who would at the very end always say, “I sure wish I had your job.”

My dad and I on the field after a football game in Missoula a couple years ago.

No matter what, both of us will forever fondly look back on the amazing cross country trip we took together in April of 2014. It wasn’t even a question, my dad was going to help me move from one part of the country to the other as I started the next phase of my career. Driving a U-Haul some 2,700 miles, we had a very special time spending every minute together as we passed through some of the most scenic parts of this nation. It was the absolute bonding experience, an experience that consisted of four days living in strange hotels in sleepy towns. It went perfectly.

A photo from a rest stop during our epic voyage across the nation in May of 2014.

On this Father’s Day I would like to tell my dad how much he is valued and appreciated by our whole family. Dads don’t come any better than Tom Reser and that just isn’t me blowing smoke. This upcoming week will be the start of a very memorable time and I can’t wait. See you soon, dad. Don’t Blink.

Starting the Rundown on a Somber Note

Posted on June 18, 2015 by brent

Good day everyone! Hope you all have enjoyed your week thus far. It is that time of the week! Here comes my Thursday Rundown…

On Charleston – I really can’t say anything more than what has already been said. Even if I could think up something else to add it wouldn’t matter because words just can’t explain the evil. What I can say is that Charleston is an awesome city, a historical hot bed of our country that I have enjoyed the opportunity to visit a couple times since I have moved to the South. With the rest of the country, I pray for that poor church community and the city as a whole.

Sidney and I in front of The Citadel in Charleston last summer.

Food I Need to Eat – Over the past couple of weeks I have come across some food items on social media that I need to try. Of course all of these are terribly unhealthy but I would love to sink my teeth into them. In no particular order, I need to try Dr. Pepper cake, cake batter cheesecake, Pizza Hut’s hot dog pizza, and the Jurassic Park Blizzard at Dairy Queen. I am going to try to make a deal with Sidney. If she will make me the first two items, I will pick us up the other two items. Although eating all of this would put the functioning of my heart in a very precarious position, it would make a great blog post.

I need to try these food items!

The Brew Mile – Have you heard of this yet? The Brew Mile is a challenge that encourages you to run a mile while pounding a beer every quarter of a mile. You attempt it on a track and each time you circle around you chug a can. This has become a big thing. I have thought long and hard about this and I have humbly concluded that I don’t think I could do it. I calculated that probably by the third beer I would be so bloated and side ache-stricken that I would have to walk. It gets me thinking though if anyone out there could complete a Brew 5K or maybe even a Brew Marathon.

South Carolina Heat Wave – The past week we have experienced temperatures that reached well past 100 degrees on the heat index. The humidity that we “enjoy” in this part of the country has made breathing and staying outside for just a couple minutes a tough task. But you know what? I will take this weather over snow, wind, and cold every single day. When you have the beach and a beautiful pool at your disposal you can overcome the nastiest of warm conditions.

The forecast in Myrtle Beach for the next five days. Temperatures in the mid-90’s mean conditions that feel well over 100 degrees.

NBA Finals Wrap-Up – First off, congrats to the Golden State Warriors on a big championship victory. It was very well-deserved. Over the past couple weeks, I had been critical of Lebron James’ performance in the Finals. Because of this, a few of my friends routinely trolled me on Twitter. However, their attempts to change my thinking always fell short. Lebron put up CRAZY numbers during the series against Golden State. However, he simply wasn’t “at his best when his best was needed.” Every game during the NBA Finals he either blew it during crunch time of the fourth quarter or wasn’t a factor at all. Again, King James put up astronomical numbers but when it mattered most he fizzled. Twitter users tried to win me over to Lebron’s camp with outdated articles or blog posts that never addressed the main issue. James is an incredible player but he definitely was not the MVP of that series.

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Have a fantastic weekend! Once again, thoughts go out to Charleston. Don’t Blink.

Staying Relevant on Social Media over the Summer

Posted on June 17, 2015 by brent

When summer rolls around and students leave campus, many professionals in higher education have the opportunity to become lackadaisical. The good ones don’t of course, including the social media marketers. While things definitely do slow down it doesn’t mean you stop trying to improve. Especially in the realm of social media where you spend all academic year trying to engage your audience, the last thing you would want to do in the summer is slack off and lose everyone.

The months of June and July give me an opportunity to be especially creative while experimenting a little bit. In tonight’s blog post I will give three quick examples of what I have done this week to make sure we stay in front of our social media audience.

Snapchat Alphabet Soup – Yesterday afternoon I placed a time sensitive challenge over our large and engaged Snapchat audience. I gave them a half hour to spell out “#CCU” anyway they pleased. They then of course had to Snap us a photo. In 30 minutes, I received about 30 images! Some people got really creative as one person used waffles, another used M&Ms, and another used s’mores ingredients! Others wrote the hashtag in cool calligraphy or wrote it on the beach. In the end I chose a winner (the s’mores entry won) and posted a really cool photo gallery on Facebook from the Snaps I had captured via screenshot.

Here is a collage of some of the Snaps we received from our Snapchat audience spelling out #CCU.

Value Your Alumni – During the summer, students have the tendency to stray away from social media because they are on vacation. However, that is not the case with alumni as most work year round so they stay consistent with their daily habits (which includes looking at social media). Today on Facebook I asked our alumni audience to comment underneath my post so that we could thank them for attending Coastal. With that motivator of a personal thank you from CCU, we had hundreds of alums leave comments. I spent today writing over 230 replies to Coastal grads. Don’t think I was just saying “thank you” either. I tried to work in a personal note for each person. It was time consuming, but fun, and best of all, our audience really appreciated it.

On the left you can see the original post. On the right you can see three examples of the dialogue that I had with alums.

Face-To-Face with the Future – During the summer, our university hosts nine different freshmen orientations. Last year I used guerilla marketing tactics to reach this very valuable group. On the second day of each orientation, there is an info fair that takes place. When this year rolled around, I wanted to take a more organized approach than what I did previously. I requested my own table for #CCUSocialMedia. This past Friday I was given a half table but by the second orientation on Tuesday I had my own space. During this one hour info fair I run social media promotions exclusively for the freshmen and bait them with sweet swag. I have had the opportunity to talk to many parents and students while literally watching our following on Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat shoot right up.

Myself with Chauncey on the left at my table. On the right you see students engaged.

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I don’t love summer just because it is hot outside and I get to eat a lot of ice cream. I also like it from a work aspect. Although it is more of a low key time, there is the potential to make some big gains. While some higher education social media marketers might use it as a time to rest, we at Coastal Carolina University are using it to get better. Don’t Blink.

Made Me Laugh More Than Cry

Posted on June 16, 2015 by brent

**To watch the video this blog post is based on, click here.**

Every now and then a viral video will hit it big on Facebook and make the rounds on newsfeeds. I am not talking about a mega YouTube viral sensation, but a well-done video that touches people and generates some social media buzz. Recently I viewed a video that fits this criteria.

Have you seen the “Ex-Lovers Meet After 30 Years” video? I have seen it shared on timelines by several of my friends, all girls. The situation itself is interesting. A man and a woman had a passionate relationship three decades ago. For whatever reason it came to an end. Then, many years later, the man surprises the woman. However, for me, a couple really weird quirks make the story much more entertaining (click here to watch the video).

First off, this couple ended their relationship in a very strange way. When they decided to cease the romance, the man went to one end of the Great Wall of China and the woman went to the other end of the Great Wall of China. The two then walked toward the middle where they met each other for one last goodbye. WHOA. Who does that? I guess some people find it romantic, I just find it really funny. I immediately wanted to get a good look at these people.

The second bizarre circumstance centers on the “art performance” the woman was engaged in when her former love surprised her. This lady had a show at the Museum of Modern Art where she would partake in an “artistic display” with museum patrons. What would actually happen, you ask? People would form a long line and wait forever just to have the opportunity to walk up to a chair, sit directly in front of her with just a coffee table as a barrier, and stare at her while she stared back. Seriously. That’s it. You pretty much play a blinking game with someone…and it is called art. Just like with the Great Wall of China act, this one didn’t really impact me in any way except for making me laugh. Now I really needed to see this video! What type of people would possibly do this?!

Who would possibly do this? Well, this guy! No joke, this is an actual person who waited forever to stare at the woman.

The production was typical of these type of viral videos. You had simple camera shots, a lot of facial expressions, and a powerful song. The set up was pretty much what I envisioned when I read the article prior to viewing the video. It was literally in some plain room with people standing all around watching the staring contest in the middle. The idea was just as outrageous in reality as what I had envisioned it in my brain.

But not all of it meshed with my preconceived notions. In fact, I made a couple blunders in what I thought I would see. I believed the man and woman would be Asian. I was wrong about both of them. But race was hardly what surprised me the most. What really struck me was how disappointed I was.

The former loves staring at each other.

While many of my Facebook friends called the video “beautiful,” or went on about how much it made them cry, I never felt any of those ways. Instead, I was very much underwhelmed by the woman’s reaction. I was fully expecting that the second she saw her old flame her eyes would widen, she would gasp, and then she would fly out of the chair and jump into his arms. She never came close to doing any of those three things. Rather, she sat in her chair and looked back at him. She then extended her hands for an embrace. Sure you could see emotion and tears but I was expecting just a little bit more.

An emotional woman after seeing her former love for the first time in over 30 years.

Of course people will probably say that her simple reaction and the act of her putting her hands in her face when he left was more powerful than what I had expected. I can’t come to grips with that. Especially with these two very interesting people, I was hoping that a barrage of interesting things would occur when the man sat down. For me it just fell short. While the story and the backgrounds of the man and woman got me to watch it, having now seen it, I can’t recommend it. Instead I guess I will just write a blog post about it. Don’t Blink.

Embarrassing Attention for my Hometown

Posted on June 15, 2015 by brent

During the lunch hour today, Sidney and I met up at a local burrito place for lunch. We got our food, sat down, and gazed up at one of the televisions. The TV was set to a national news channel and sure enough, the hot story of the moment, which just happens to take place in my hometown, was up on the screen. The screaming headline taking up the lower third of the television read “NAACP Leader Resigns.”

Ah yes, the curious case of Rachel Dolezal. For those who don’t know (and I wish there were more of you) Dolezal was the President of the Spokane NAACP chapter. She recently came under fire because she was caught doing something dishonest. While the unraveling of her scheme played out, her biological parents came forward with some interesting news. The mom and dad said that Dolezal did not have one ounce of African blood in her. The former NAACP leader had claimed for a long time on official documents that she was part African-American.

This whole ordeal has turned into a bizarre tale of twists and turns, one that we will undoubtedly see on Dateline a couple years from now. Catching the curiosity of so many is that Dolezal didn’t just identify as black on forms, she also tried to alter her appearance to look black and referred to herself as black on social media.

Rachel Dolezal as a girl and then what she looks like currently.

We now live in a society where you can pretty much be anything you want to be when it comes to gender or race. Agree with it or not, it is where we are. Because of this, I won’t condemn Dolezal for trying to portray herself as black. However, I will call her out for what she did to draw attention to her in the first place. You see, the woman has made a career of staging fake hate crimes against her. She will send hate mail to herself, disguising it as anonymous vile that was directly sent to her because of her “African” heritage. This past time she attempted the scheme she got sloppy and investigators jumped in. Her parents then emerged with her secret.

The lies of Rachel Dolezal have impacted many. A large number of people probably have serious gripes against her. My only trivial complaint is that she is defacing the name of my hometown. If I walk inside a restaurant 3,000 miles away and they happen to be talking about Spokane, it better be about the Gonzaga basketball team or some kid doing well in a geography bee. I don’t want to eat lunch over some compulsive liar/attention-seeker who is making the Lilac City a laughing stock.

When I return to Spokane in ten days, I wonder if I will bump into her at the airport. For some reason I don’t think she will be sticking around town for that much longer. Best of luck to her as she gets her life back together but I am really rooting for this story to run its course so Spokane can save face. Don’t Blink.

A Proud Digital Newspaper Reader

Posted on June 14, 2015 by brent

A couple weeks ago I stopped cold turkey a practice I had enjoyed for the past 20 years. Over the last several months I had really considered pulling the plug and I believed the time was finally right. After two decades of religiously reading the daily newspaper in physical form each day, I recently made the switch to the online edition.

Dating back to living in my parents house, going through when I lived in the dorms, and following me every place I have lived on my own since college, I have (or my parents have) subscribed to the local newspaper. Without fail, I have read the paper every single day for the longest of times. As an 8-year-old kid I emulated my dad at the kitchen table and it turned into my own habit.

I used to always read the print edition of the newspaper. I have since changed my ways.

I really had no good reason to continue reading the print edition. I read sappy newspaper columns all the time about people who can’t live without the touch/smell/look of a physical paper but that was never my issue. I had no emotional bond with the paper and ink. If anything, I kind of got annoyed at how the papers would fill up my garbage can (I don’t recycle) and how the Sunday paper would just completely overwhelm the space of my living room.

I converted to the digital newspaper because I could no longer rely on the print version showing up on my doorstep before 5:30 a.m. When I moved to Myrtle Beach, the local newspaper here unfortunately had problems getting the paper to me before I left for work. Many times, it would never arrive at all. It frustrated me a great deal.

However, with my print subscription I also was given access to the online edition. When the papers first didn’t start showing up I went and bought a replacement from the gas station, not knowing about my digital perk. Probably about the fifth time I complained, my newspaper told me that I could view all content online in the exact same layout as the print edition. Another morning came where I didn’t get my paper and I pulled it up online. After viewing it that first time, I knew I wasn’t going back to my old ways.

The digital version of the newspaper is awesome. Outside companies contract with local papers to scan the actual newspaper and use fancy software to make it very user friendly and readable. You are looking at the newspaper as if it was the print edition (layout and all), you just simply don’t have to worry about disposing of it or getting ink on your hands. It is all right in front of you on your computer. Again, you aren’t presented with a wasteland of links, you are presented with the actual paper…just in digital form.

This is what the digital version looks like on my computer. I can click on a story for a window that will open up with the full text. I can easily go back and forth. I can zoom in as much as I please.

The best aspect of this all is the price. The subscription rate for the digital version is much cheaper than the print version. At times I think my newspaper lost business and money with me because of the poor delivery service but then I reason that they probably did it on purpose. I think there is a big push to convert all customers to digital.

No nostalgia from me! I am glad to now be an online/digital newspaper reader. It is convenient and eco-friendly. I wish I made the upgrade a few years back. Don’t Blink.

The Hangover Thursday Rundown

Posted on June 11, 2015 by brent

With Thursday here, it is time for the rundown. However, this might be the hangover posts of all hangover posts. After my Sean Carty resignation post last night, what you are about to read will be an afterthought. As far as posts that receive a high volume of views within 24 hours go, my Carty article will enter the all-time top five for Don’t Blink before the day cycle is over. Needless to say, I made sure that my five topics tonight especially sucked. Let’s get to it!

Kicked Out of the Office – The building that houses our University Communication offices here at CCU will undergo a renovation this summer. With that date looming soon, all of us will be moved out by Monday. In the interim while the building is remolded, our whole team will shift to a temporary location off campus. Well, I stand corrected, actually one person will stay on campus grounds. That person is me!! Because of the nature of my job, our Vice President worked out an arrangement that will keep me on campus. For the next year or so, I will be located with Media Services in Hampton Hall. I am so thankful that I will continue to be able to cover Coastal Carolina University while still located in the heart of campus.

I will be moving from Singleton Hall (left) to Hampton Hall (right).

A Return to Taco Bell – I used to love Taco Bell! It was a high school hangout and even into adulthood I enjoyed stopping by for food every week or so. Then I just kind of stopped going. Due in large part because I can only think of one location in Myrtle Beach, the opportunity just isn’t there in general. Before I stopped at that lone restaurant yesterday, I had not ate at Taco Bell for at least two years. When I walked in yesterday, it was like a whole different world. The menu had Fritos burritos, Doritos burritos, desserts (besides empanadas), a full dollar menu, and breakfast. What was this? The restaurant layout was something I had never seen before either. I ordered a bean burrito and Fritos burrito and went home and ate. Honestly, I had been missing out! That $3 meal was incredible, even better than I remember it. I don’t think it will be another two years until my next visit.

Pitch Perfect 2 – Sidney and I went and watched “Pitch Perfect 2” this past weekend. I kind of enjoyed the first one and Sidney wanted to see the sequel so it was an easy choice. We both left a little disappointed. For Sidney, she just thought it was stupid. For me, the movie lacked the iconic songs that “Pitch Perfect” provided. You didn’t have anthems like “Titanium,” “Give Me Everything,” and “The Sign.” I mean come on, they performed an ORIGINAL song for the finale of their championship routine. Who wants to see that? What really spoiled the movie for me though was just way too much Fat Amy. I am not her biggest fan and it seemed like she never left the screen. Not to mention her antics and jokes annoyed the heck out of me.

My ticket to “Pitch Perfect 2”.

Wal-Mart Brawl – I don’t typically write about trashy viral videos like this on my blog but since I have pretty much already called this the worst Thursday Rundown ever, this would be the time to do it. If you have a few minutes, click here to watch these two women go at it in a Wal-Mart aisle. The name calling, the swings, the commentary, and the products falling down provide all the ingredients for millions of YouTube views. The one regrettable part is the little boy who is participating in the melee.

Where Were You When American Pharoah Won The Triple Crown? – I was at a Tex-Mex restaurant called Nacho Hippo in the Market Common district in Myrtle Beach. The race was on inside the full restaurant and it had everyone’s attention. As American Pharoah went down the last stretch with a big lead, everyone started cheering. To be honest, I wanted the horse to lose. Although it is cool to say that I saw a Triple Crown winner in my lifetime, I kind of like the mystique of a long streak that just can’t seem to be broken. And although he is not at Fat Amy’s level, I didn’t really want to see Bob Baffert celebrate.

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It is going to be a hot hot hot weekend here in Myrtle Beach. I am ready to get my half day done tomorrow and then enjoy it. Thanks to all for your loyal readership. Don’t Blink.

On Carty’s Terms

Posted on June 10, 2015 by brent

This past Monday evening, Sean Carty stood up in front of parents at an information meeting and announced his resignation as head football coach at Mead High School. To some who first heard the news, the reaction was shock. Why would someone who fought so admirably to retain his job turn around and walk away? Why would someone who put his name and his reputation on the line to save the post he held for 14 years step down? Why would someone who pulled off one of the greatest victories ever over parent interference and entitlement call it quits? The answer is easy:

This was never about Sean Carty.

This was about securing the confidence of coaches in the district who feared they would have to work according to an outrageous and flawed precedent. This was about preventing parents from thinking they could hire an attorney, make false claims, and ruin someone’s life. This was about retaining the dignity of the Mead community, a community that had its reputation suffer greatly when the initial decision was made. It just so happened that the burden to make things right fell on the shoulders of Sean Carty.

Sean Carty resigned as head football coach at Mead High School on Monday. His leadership will be missed.

For six turbulent months starting with the investigation and ending with Coach Carty’s reinstatement, the man went through hell. However, even though Sean admits that his “health suffered drastically” throughout the ordeal, he kept fighting until the victorious end because simply it was the right thing to do. He fought so the next amazing coach victimized by delusional parents wouldn’t suffer what he endured, he fought so the district that many of us grew up in wouldn’t become a joke.

After engineering a major win for the Mead community, Carty was finally in a position to do what he felt best for him and his loved ones. Once the parents were silenced and the decision reversed, he decided to step away under his own power and on his own terms.

“The pressure stopped and that is when I felt I could clear my head and finally do what was right for my family and I,” Carty told me last night.

With the crusade behind him and a strong message sent, his family decided that football could go on the back burner for a little bit. Of course, because of the person Sean Carty is, he didn’t take the decision lightly.

“This decision was difficult because I didn’t want to let anyone down,” Carty remarked while once again offering up heaps of gratitude to the community for the tremendous support throughout the trying months.

Carty assured me that neither the district nor parents put pressure on him to resign. Despite a quote from a parent suggesting otherwise in the local newspaper (which he erroneously attributed to the wrong historical figure), defeated moms and dads played no factor. I recognize that I have been critical of this group so let me say that I do appreciate their respect of the reversed decision. Bottom line, you can take it to the bank that Coach Carty’s call to step away wasn’t influenced by anything or anyone besides Sean and his family.

Also, Sean asked for the clarification of one thing. In the Spokesman-Review article that covered his resignation, it mentioned that an improvement plan was completed Friday. In reality, that plan, according to Carty, was “not even a document yet.” In fact, there had only been a loose discussion on what any such document would stipulate. He called this piece of the reinstatement process “no big deal” and added that it “had zero to do with my decision.”

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The legacy of Sean Carty during his tenure as head football coach at Mead High School is twofold. The first component will be his success working with students. He will be remembered as a brilliant coach who ran a clean program that produced great individuals. He will be remembered for his four Greater Spokane League Championships and solid win-loss record over a 14-year-span. The tradition, passion, and integrity he brought to Mead football will resonate within the program for a long time.

Of course the battle he fought over the past six months will serve as the second component of his legacy. As I have already talked about what his resiliency meant during this period, let me just say this: A lot of district coaches, community members, and Mead football alumni will be walking up to Sean Carty and shaking his hand for a long time to come.

In the end, Sean Carty got his job and reputation back. However, it took him a couple extra weeks to finally realize what he needed to do to get his life back. He made that decision on Monday night. Just as the community can now move on, so can Sean.

“I am very happy right now and at peace,” a relieved Carty breathed.

You deserve it, Coach. Don’t Blink.

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Previous Posts About Sean Carty’s Ordeal:
Feeling Bad for Coach Carty
The Triumph of Sean Carty and the Community
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Periscope

Posted on June 9, 2015 by brent

Not since I discovered Instagram almost four years ago have I been more excited about a social media channel. In its short two month life, this live streaming app knocked out its closest competitor while taking the new media world by storm. Although many have heard of it, many have not heard of it. Within the next six months, it could be a household name. No doubt about it, there is a hot new social media application out right now that has limitless potential and a concept that will draw just about anyone in. It is called Periscope.

For those who feel lost when I write about social media, please bear with me. You need to hear about Periscope. I promise I will make it super simple for you.

Get used to seeing this logo. Periscope will soon be a major player in the social media world.

Periscope is a live streaming social media application for iPhone and Android. If you get lost with the words “live streaming,” let me make it even more clear. Periscope is a service where you record something on your phone and that video stream is shown LIVE on a global scale. As you broadcast through your phone, whoever is watching has the opportunity to participate by posting questions or comments in real time. I like to think of Periscope as a hybrid between Skype, Chat Roulette, and Twitter.

The power that comes from Periscope is what draws me to it. You can target your “broadcasts” (Periscope’s term for a live video) to your Twitter followers but unless you have a privacy setting on, the whole world can watch. Knowing that you have folks from every corner of the country and abroad watching your content is pretty cool. It adds just a tiny bit of pressure and accountability to what you put out, more so than the other social media services that are out there. Your performance is critiqued. Give your audience garbage and they will embarrass you with mean comments. Produce quality content and you will receive compliments and “hearts,” the equivalent of an Instagram “like” or a Twitter “favorite.”

This is my Periscope profile.

I have already instituted Periscope at Coastal Carolina University as I briefly wrote about it last Thursday. Since then, I did another broadcast yesterday and I will conduct two more this week. It has taken off here at #CCU. But for this blog post, I want to talk more about it on a personal level as opposed to a professional level.

Periscope just makes you feel special. It is as if you are in the confessional on a “Real World” episode or as if you are holding your own press conference. Quite simply, if you like the feeling of swimming around in the fishbowl while everyone looks in at you, Periscope is your thing.

Periscope has great reach. Who would have thought that 135 people would be interested in a live broadcast of me driving?

I have conducted 20 Periscope broadcasts and garnered over 1,600 hearts over the past week and I must say I am a little addicted. It is just so much fun. Throwing ideas at people and conversing with a global audience is a little intoxicating. For me it is also just good practice when it comes to communication. We live in a society where Skype interviews and video correspondence are becoming more and more prominent . To have the opportunity to stage Periscope broadcasts will do nothing but improve my skills in this area.

I also enjoy Periscope because I don’t have a shortage of topics to talk about. When you are a blogger who has published over 800 posts, you have a large library of subjects you can pull from print and have come alive on a Periscope broadcast. For example, last night I chatted about whether I should go to Great Clips for my next haircut or go to a more reputable salon, a topic based completely off of a blog post from three years ago. Although the subject was old for me, it was fresh and interesting to my Periscope audience as the questions, suggestions, and jokes steadily came in.

The hearts go up and a user comments during a recent broadcast I conducted on energy drinks.

Of course with any social media service, advanced users will make sure it is a two-way street. I can’t get enough of hopping on random broadcasts from all over the nation. You never know what people are going to say and what you are going to learn. Engaging with interesting folks is a lot of fun. In the past few days I have gone to sleep early in the morning just because I was watching people on Periscope. Users can be very creative, honest, and entertaining.

If you aren’t on Periscope yet, I encourage you to download the app and explore. Although I have anointed social media services before that never materialized, I think Periscope is the future. If you ever want to catch me live, make sure to follow me on the service by searching “@brentreser.” Don’t Blink.

What Made Me Ashamed as a Kid

Posted on June 8, 2015 by brent

When I look back on my childhood, there is one slightly embarrassing struggle I battled with. Until around fifth grade, I saw a speech therapist.

My mom tells the story every now and then. She took me in for a physical check up when I was about four years old. The doctor performed the exam and while he worked he talked me up. When the check up was nearing its conclusion the doctor looked at my mom and said in a disgusted tone, “Take your kid to speech!”

My mom knew I would need speech therapy. It wasn’t a total shocker that I needed help pronouncing my words. Both my parents needed speech lessons as kids. I just don’t think she was expecting to be condemned by the family doctor. Not too long after the physician’s “lighthearted” suggestion, I was attending speech classes in preschool. In fact, because I had a speech problem, it qualified me for an early start type of preschool program where I went to school with children who were either in wheelchairs or who had severe behavioral/mental problems. After a couple years in this type of classroom, I entered Kindergarten at the normal age in a mainstream class. I was just like any other kid.

However, I still didn’t pronounce all my words correctly. I struggled mightily with the “s” sound and the “th” sound…even if I didn’t think so. A couple times each week I would be pulled from class. A speech therapist would lead me down a different hall where I would practice pronunciation with her along with one or two other unlucky students who also had to do the walk of shame. We played stupid games, did tedious pronunciation exercises, and received nightly homework. It sucked so much. Overall, I considered it embarrassing and distracting to my overall education.

During fifth grade the therapist surprised me during one of our sessions with a smile and a handshake. She said I had graduated from speech. By that time I no longer had any tendency to say “shoes” like “shoezz” or “three” like “free.” Although I hadn’t said words as blatantly bad as that since probably second grade, I went through a lot of language refinement in those latter years.

Of course I never had to physically be in speech. My parents had the power to make the decision. Even when I begged them to take me out of it in third, fourth, and fifth grade, they kept me in it until the speech therapist said I was good to go. I remember classmates who talked even more messed up than me who didn’t have to attend the terrible classes. I didn’t understand it, it seemed so unfair.

But of course it all makes sense now. My mom and dad wanted me to grow up so I could talk clearly and articulately. What would have happened if I didn’t go to speech? Could my bad habits have reversed themselves naturally as time went by? Perhaps. But what if they didn’t? I would be at an extreme disadvantage as an adult trying to make my way both professionally and socially. Although I felt shame at the time, I am just glad that now as a 28-year-old guy, people can understand me (most of the time). Don’t Blink.

Don't Blink

By Brent Reser

Author Archives: brent