Remember the "Seinfeld" episode in which the failure to shake hands ruined a business deal? When Elaine's boss, the publisher Mr. Lippman, sneezes and doesn't have his handkerchief, he avoids shaking hands with a Japanese businessman. Though he only wants to avoid spreading germs, the Japanese executive thinks he's being rude and quashes a deal, putting Pendant Publishing out of business.
So the question is: With both the seasonal flu and H1N1 virus causing illness and death this year, should you avoid shaking hands in business situations?
The latest word from Miss Manners (Oct. 18, 2009, Washington Post column) is to make sure you have a clean handkerchief with you every day, and keep it where you can get to it quickly. She recommends that as a better solution than the "sleeve sneeze" some have advocated. I agree. I really don't like the thought of sneezing into the sleeve of a silk shirt or dress. Yuck!
A nationally known surgeon, Dr. Vicki Rackner (www.drvicki.org) of Washington state, recommends just saying “Nice to meet you,” and then not offering your hand.
Both the etiquette and medical expert think it's a good idea to carry hand cleaner and use it discreetly. Dr. Rackner also recommends washing your hands frequently using a NON-antibacterial soap. (Overuse of antibacterial cleaners can lead to deadly antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as MRSA.)
In my own experience, there have been occasions when someone has shied away from shaking hands, usually after saying they have a cold and might be contagious. Any momentary awkwardness quickly passes.
What do you think? Are you less willing to shake hands this flu season than in past years?
Monday, October 26, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Letter on Grammar Published in DM News
Those of us who are cursed with a knowledge of correct word usage and spelling cringe every time (not "everytime") we read copy filled with errors. Social media in particular have become a breeding ground for careless writing.
Here's the unedited version of my letter to DM News, which appeared in the Sept. 28 issue:
Your Aug. 17 headline asks, “Has new media changed copywriting?" I agree with “contender” Suzanne Darmory Dunleavy, who says that copywriting must still be “be on brand, be on strategy, be engaging, target the right audience with the right tone and have a clear call to action.” As always, effective direct marketing requires three main ingredients: the offer, creativity and the list. Effective copywriting is integral to the first two of those.
Contender Steve Caputo, meanwhile, says that new media have affected the writing process in part because of “unprecedented speed.” Unfortunately, speed seems to have become an excuse for sloppy writing. Yet reporters have always had to produce accurate copy while racing against deadlines – and following Associated Press news style.
Since my background is journalism, I'm acutely aware of the daily parade of typos, misspelling, poor grammar and style errors. Careful writing in any medium still helps ensure (not “insure”) that your message is clearly communicated. When someone writes, "Your welcome" or "Please bare with me," both of which I’ve seen lately, the message I receive is that the company doesn't care about quality.
Mistakes I see most often include:
• Confusing "Everyday low prices" and "Low prices every day." ("Every day" should always be two words in the second usage.)
• Using apostrophes to form plurals. A recent article on social media used "company's" as the plural of “company.”
• Misusing "its" and "its" or "their," "there" and "they're."
• Confusing “principle” and “principal” or “complimentary” and “complementary.”
• Not bothering to check the spelling of tricky words: Use “impostor,” (not “imposter”), fireplace “mantel” (not “mantle”) and “a real “trouper” (not “trooper”).
• Confusing “podium” with “lectern.” A speaker stands behind a lectern and on a podium.
• Not putting a comma after dates and states used in apposition: “The company will launch its product on Nov. 1, 2009, in Kansas City, Mo., the marketing director announced.“
These days the fingernails-on-the-blackboard error I see most frequently is "Get it for free." Writers seem to like the alliteration, but the "for" is unnecessary. After all, you wouldn't say, "You can get it for cheap."
One more quibble: Most stylebooks still hold that the word "media" requires a plural verb. So your article’s headline should have been, “Have new media changed copywriting?"
Here's the unedited version of my letter to DM News, which appeared in the Sept. 28 issue:
Your Aug. 17 headline asks, “Has new media changed copywriting?" I agree with “contender” Suzanne Darmory Dunleavy, who says that copywriting must still be “be on brand, be on strategy, be engaging, target the right audience with the right tone and have a clear call to action.” As always, effective direct marketing requires three main ingredients: the offer, creativity and the list. Effective copywriting is integral to the first two of those.
Contender Steve Caputo, meanwhile, says that new media have affected the writing process in part because of “unprecedented speed.” Unfortunately, speed seems to have become an excuse for sloppy writing. Yet reporters have always had to produce accurate copy while racing against deadlines – and following Associated Press news style.
Since my background is journalism, I'm acutely aware of the daily parade of typos, misspelling, poor grammar and style errors. Careful writing in any medium still helps ensure (not “insure”) that your message is clearly communicated. When someone writes, "Your welcome" or "Please bare with me," both of which I’ve seen lately, the message I receive is that the company doesn't care about quality.
Mistakes I see most often include:
• Confusing "Everyday low prices" and "Low prices every day." ("Every day" should always be two words in the second usage.)
• Using apostrophes to form plurals. A recent article on social media used "company's" as the plural of “company.”
• Misusing "its" and "its" or "their," "there" and "they're."
• Confusing “principle” and “principal” or “complimentary” and “complementary.”
• Not bothering to check the spelling of tricky words: Use “impostor,” (not “imposter”), fireplace “mantel” (not “mantle”) and “a real “trouper” (not “trooper”).
• Confusing “podium” with “lectern.” A speaker stands behind a lectern and on a podium.
• Not putting a comma after dates and states used in apposition: “The company will launch its product on Nov. 1, 2009, in Kansas City, Mo., the marketing director announced.“
These days the fingernails-on-the-blackboard error I see most frequently is "Get it for free." Writers seem to like the alliteration, but the "for" is unnecessary. After all, you wouldn't say, "You can get it for cheap."
One more quibble: Most stylebooks still hold that the word "media" requires a plural verb. So your article’s headline should have been, “Have new media changed copywriting?"
Friday, October 2, 2009
Honor Flight Is a True Honor for 40 WWII Veterans
It was a great day in honor of highly deserving World War II veterans. Arriving at the airport at 5 a.m., we flew to Washington, D.C. and spent the day touring the World War II Memorial, Vietnam and Korean memorials, and Arlington Cemetery. We also saw the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington...a moving experience that brought tears to the eyes of many veterans.
In honor of the occasion I wrote a poem, and was asked to read it at the dinner before our return that evening:
In Honor of Those Who Served
Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Rising Sun –
A date of infamy, a war begun.
Japan awakened “The Sleeping Giant,”
The United States arose defiant.
From Guadalcanal to Omaha Beach,
The Axis could never avoid our reach.
From the Atlantic to the Pacific,
The hard-fought battles were horrific.
Germany and Italy – brutal foes
In the end were no match for our heroes.
On Mount Suribachi our flag did wave,
A tribute to blood lost by the brave.
Purple Hearts and Bronze or Silver Stars
Were awarded to those who bore the scars.
In withering fire and under attack,
Thousands went to war and never came back.
On land, in air, on –and under – the sea,
They fought to preserve the land of the free.
For these veterans who fought the good fight,
We thank them for serving – through Honor Flight!
Susan Pepperdine
Guardian, Kansas City Metro
Sept. 30, 2009
In honor of the occasion I wrote a poem, and was asked to read it at the dinner before our return that evening:
In Honor of Those Who Served
Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Rising Sun –
A date of infamy, a war begun.
Japan awakened “The Sleeping Giant,”
The United States arose defiant.
From Guadalcanal to Omaha Beach,
The Axis could never avoid our reach.
From the Atlantic to the Pacific,
The hard-fought battles were horrific.
Germany and Italy – brutal foes
In the end were no match for our heroes.
On Mount Suribachi our flag did wave,
A tribute to blood lost by the brave.
Purple Hearts and Bronze or Silver Stars
Were awarded to those who bore the scars.
In withering fire and under attack,
Thousands went to war and never came back.
On land, in air, on –and under – the sea,
They fought to preserve the land of the free.
For these veterans who fought the good fight,
We thank them for serving – through Honor Flight!
Susan Pepperdine
Guardian, Kansas City Metro
Sept. 30, 2009
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