I was scanning AdRants when the quote above caught my eye. Here’s a couple of chunks from the post:

“Want to hear an interesting conversation about social media and it’s impact on marketing, advertising, public relations and journalism? Want to know how the role of public relations is changing in the world of public relations? Want to explore the differences in mentality between new media and old? Want to now whether or not it’s sinful to publish a story before every last detail of the story is known? Want to know why readers, who are now commenters, are so important to the whole of the story? Then give this podcast a listen.”

I caught about 15 minutes over lunch and look forward to hearing the rest. It sounds like a pretty good peek into the minds of some PR pros, with the focus on New Media (whatever that is). If you blog, send or receive news releases… I think you’ll find this worth the listen.

The Generation Iowa Commission, with help from the Iowa Department of Economic Development, has launched a website designed –among other things– "to keep young people from leaving the state."

GenerationIowa.com will eventually include written material, photos and videos submitted by young Iowans.  "We really wanted to make it a user generated content site. We want young folks across Iowa to send their stories, their photos, their videos…and really make it their own website," Rolland said. "We don’t want it to just be a state marketing website." [More on the story at RadioIowa.com]

One of the stories on the site ("High Life, Low Price") describes the advantages of living in Iowa compared to Manhattan. Amanda Brend cautions:

"Don’t let the bright lights of New York City blind you — the city is fabulous when you have a New York City-size paycheck. Here’s the download on my life as a New York City intern versus my current gig as a Des Moines entrepreneur."

"Here’s the download?" "My current gig?" Hmmm. I smell older person trying to write hip.

But wait. One of the comments displayed on the home page reads:

"Hi, This is Amanda Brend from Indianola. While I would like to take credit for such a well written article, I can’t, because I did not write this. I have never lived in NYC. I’m not sure why my name is posted on here, but I did not write this. I am, however, a huge advocate for Iowa and maybe someday I’ll be able to post MY story. Amanda"

Oops.

Here’s a screen shot of the home page and the story in question.

I like Iowa. But if you want to keep young people from leaving, you’re gonna need razor wire. Lots and lots of razor wire.

Some researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have constructed "a fully functional, fully integrated radio receiver, orders-of-magnitude smaller than any previous radio, from a single carbon nanotube. The single nanotube serves, at once, as all major components of a radio: antenna, tuner, amplifier, and demodulator."

"The nanotube radio’s extremely small size could enable radical new applications such as radio controlled devices small enough to exist in the human bloodstream, or simply smaller, cheaper, and more efficient wireless devices such as cellular phones."

They’ve provided short videos of this little bugger playing Layla, Good Vibrations, and the Star Wars theme. [Thanks, Trish]