Headlice Makes Headlines

In the words of Steven Tyler in the Aerosmith song “Livin’ On the Edge,” something’s wrong with the world today.

But, in the case of this story, these seven Germans might as well be singing Kylie Minogue’s “I Can’t Get You Outta My Head,” referring to the lice they are host to in the name of art.

Last week, fellow Torch employee and Arts and Entertainment editor Megan Tower wrote about the recent story of a Yale student whose senior art project entails multiple self-inseminations followed by self-induced miscarriages: All in the name of art.

This not only sparked some anger deep within my conservative self, but also sparked a little interest in what people are calling art these days.

And boy, did I come across some head scratching ideas. Seven young artists from Berlin, Germany, have infested the parasite into their hair and are living in an Israeli museum. For three weeks.

This is not some scientific experiment to help discover more about the pesky head-crawler or invent new ways to rid them from your hair. This is an art exhibit people!

What the? Are we talking about the same contagious six-legged, breeding-bloodsucking parasite? Yep. And this has caused quite a controversy.

The Museum of Bat Yam, located in Israel, came up with a theme that centered around hosts and guests in line.

Proposals were sent in from around the world and the idea of hosting head lice won over Milana Gitzin-Adiram, the chief curator of the museum.

So now, the artists are sleeping, eating and bathing in the gallery. In Sunday’s Reuters’ article, one of the artists, Vincent Grunwald, said, “The idea is that we live in the museum as their guests, and at the same time we are hosting lice on our heads.”

But the controversy doesn’t lie behind the fact that these artists are home to cooties, it’s what the bugs represent.

Some are saying that the exhibition brings back memories of the Holocaust and Nazi propaganda, when Jews were described as “parasites.”

Apparently that was never intended by the artists. They just wanted to use this chance as a way to ask whether the word could be “reclaimed” in Israel.

Stefan Reuter, another host to the bugs, said, “We were aware that, as Germans in Israel, there was a risk we may be misunderstood, that we would open up wounds.”

Well, of course you’re going to open up wounds. Aren’t they aware that the lice feed off of small amounts of blood from the scalp? Yuck.

He added, “People ask about it -- we had one woman who came and thanked us for making such a great statement against the fascist rhetoric of German history.”

It’s too bad the statement that they are trying to make has me self-consciously scratching myself on the head.....

I'm Baaaaack!

It's been too long friends. My blog was in hibernation, but it's back!

$19 Billion??!!!

It's a shame to admit that I contributed to this incredible chunk of change that the banks have made this year.. Grrr...

Ugh!

Organization? Or Organisation?

I'm such a stickler when it comes to grammar, punctuation, and most of all SPELLING! But, I have seen so many people spell this word with an 's' .... and I'm almost certain it's a 'z' .... I might lose sleep over this.

What does the Princeton Review know about PR anyway?!

Gah.. It's been awhile since I have been on here. But with the overwhelming-ness (word?no?) of school, work, and my new j-o-b at the Torch, I have been excruciatingly busy..

Anyway, I read a blog about the Princeton Review (not affiliated with thee Princeton) and their claim that colleges should not have degrees specializing in Public Relations... waaahhaaaawhat??

Yes. Colleges do. And not only should more colleges offer PR as a major, but it belongs in the business-area of things, not communication. I have undoubtedly learned SO much at Ferris (not necessarily a school with a high background in things but golf, construction mgmt., and whatever else), but PR is an area of work that needs specializing.

I don't disagree that PR is majorly concerned with marketing and sales techniques, but there are things taught in PR courses at Ferris, that my marketing classes have gone no where near.

PR IS IMPORTANT. It is a sad thing that so many people have given PR a bad name. Notice I didn't say organizations.

I put the blame for spin on the people who NEVER HAD A PR COURSE IN COLLEGE.

Secrets create Suspicion.

Recently at a Starbucks, a barista knocked a scalding coffee into a customer's lap (by accident of course). Instead of giving the man a cool towel for his burn or apologizing, the barista reached for a questionnaire and prepared to ask the man a few questions.

WHAT!? Seriously, who trained these people?

After $500 in medical bills, the man was granted a $50 gift certificate---to STARBUCKS. No, no, no....

The victim's son asked Starbucks what the emergency protocol was in case a customer was burned by the coffee, which I assume can happen quite often.

Apparently employees are trained to follow certain procedures, but when asked what these procedures were, the Starbucks representative stated that it was secret. They have what is called a "scalding incident program"...but the procedures are apart of an internal practice... which is why they can't go into details.

I can't believe this. Starbucks is a name known around the world. Their lack of concern for customers really makes me skeptic of their business practices. Not only should the man's medical bills been taken care of, but the immediate reaction of the employee should have been to grab a first-aid kit.

Does Starbucks have a first-aid readily available and equipped for burns? They should. And why is the "scalding incident program" so top secret? Secrets only create suspicion..

What's wrong with you Starbucks?

LTLYM

I am really excited about this new website I found. (I actually will give credit to a blogger at Hill & Knowlton)

This is a website that I hope will spark some creativity in my work. Whether it be writing, drawing, or anything else. There are about 60 or more assignments that you must complete. You can even send them in to the website, which makes you instantly qualified for grant money.

I'm not sure if I will complete every assignment, or turn them in for that matter. It just feels good doing something fun and creative. Project "60" is--write a press release about an everday event. Project "10" is--make a flyer of your day.

Maybe if I don't turn them into LTLYM, I will post them on here...only if relevant to PR though. I don't want to get to personal on this blog. Ha.

CONTENT IS KING....that's what the survey says anyway.