Grit is a concept we talk about a lot at Greentarget. So we were especially taken this week by a story of Doctors Without Borders health workers in South Sudan who have been forced to establish mobile clinics to serve war-torn areas. It kind of makes the struggles of modern office life pale in comparison. Now, who took my stapler? We’ve also been reading about really, really bad dreams, efforts to bring back the woolly mammoth (you read that right) and Facebook’s attempt to be a positive force in politics (you read that right, too). With that, here’s Recent Reads. When Bullets Fly, These Medics Grab Their Packs And Treat Patients On The Run – In civil-war-torn areas, such as South Sudan, members of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) are often forced to flee from their hospitals as a result of bombings, gunmen, intruders and other threats. Talk about having the strength of character to persevere when faced with adversity. These brave people are a humbling example of the importance of grit and why everyone needs to strive for it. – Kyerstin Hill The strange case of the phantom Pokemon – If you ever woke up to find yourself pinned down by a Pokemon, or a New England witch, or a Scandinavian elf, you’re not alone. According to sleep scientists this is a common type of nightmare known as sleep paralysis, where you’re actually awake but still dreaming and unable to move. It’s a fascinating story about nightmares that will also cause them. Especially if you’re sleeping in Norway, which is apparently crawling with evil elves who shoot sleeping Norwegians with poison arrows, then perch on their chests. Tough way to start the day. – Brandon Copple Welcome to Pleistocene Park – When I think of the word “extinct,” the first animal that comes to mind is a woolly mammoth, but that may soon change. This article took me on a journey to Eastern Siberia to follow a pair of scientists in their quest to bring back the mammoth from extinction and bolster an ecosystem threatened by climate change. Although their plan is eccentric, and maybe even impossible, I couldn’t help but admire their bold vision for a future where humans own their creative capabilities to counteract years of destruction. – Scarlett Waldrop A Positive Outlook May be Good for Your Health – This article points to numerous studies that show those who suffer from chronic illnesses live longer if they demonstrate positive emotions – and separately, specific skills that lead to positive emotions can impact how well people manage stress and their physical health. I believe in the power of positivity and feel that I achieve peace of mind and balance when I maintain a positive mindset. Professionally, I’m able to extend this positive thinking in the work we do at Greentarget. We are tasked with protecting and promoting one of our clients’ most valuable assets – their reputation. We dig deep to get a better understanding of what makes our clients unique and what they do better than anyone else – and from there, share these positive attributes to their current and future stakeholders. – Lisa Seidenberg Why I’m Moving Home – The mid-2016 publication of J.D. Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis has been described as required reading for those who seek to understand President Trump’s popularity. Now, the former U.S. Marine and Yale Law School grad is returning home (to what he calls “flyover country,” specifically, Ohio) to devote himself to economic development. His book is on my bedside table right now, and International Trade Commission Vice Chair Dean Pinkert gave a nod to the book in a recent interview. – Steve DiMattia Google’s Plan to Engineer the Next Silicon Valleys – A fascinating look at how Google’s new Launchpad Accelerator, meant to generate successful startups in emerging markets, is a “strategic philanthropy” play to get more people living, working and playing online where Google has mastered an ecosystem of top experts across digital and business areas. Current geopolitical environment be damned, Google has the freedom to “pursue rising stars in The Rest of the World,” meaning outside of Silicon Valley and the U.S., and mentor anyone, anywhere to engender a treasure trove of data for its own benefit. – Pam Munoz Facebook’s Newest Feature Could Revolutionize Politics – Social media has taken a lot of hits in the past several months over its perceived negative effect on the 2016 election. To its credit, Facebook listened and just launched functionality that could take activism on social media to new heights. With the new Town Hall functionality, individuals can find contact information for their elected representatives pretty easily. As the article says, the idea is to “make calling your legislator as easy as hitting ‘like.’” – Paul Wilson

One thing we can all agree on in these polarizing times: Nothing gets the juices flowing after a busy week like talk of punctuation! So we start this edition of Recent Reads with a tale of how one much-debated punctuation mark affected an actual court case. Also, we find out what happened to that guy whose kids barged in on his live TV interview, look at whether the privacy profession needs a code of ethics and learn about the life lessons of Villanova basketball coach Jay Wright. Oh, and what do video rental stores and Richard Simmons have in common? They both still exist. With that, here’s Recent Reads. An Oxford comma changed this court case completely – Oxford comma enthusiasts, rejoice! The lack of the much-contested comma decided the fate of this court case – due to ambiguity, of course. Will this be the tipping point in bringing the Oxford comma into favor? Probably not, but it’s a good reminder to double-check that your sentences actually mean what you want them to mean. – Stephanie Burke When the Children Crashed Dad’s BBC Interview: The Family Speaks – Most people, including myself, are getting a good laugh out of the BBC clip of Robert Kelly in which his kids swaggered into his interview on the impeachment of South Korea’s president. But it also drummed up controversy, as some viewers assumed the South Korean woman who came in to round up the kids was the nanny instead of Kelly’s wife. That issue aside, the article highlights the challenges that come with live guest interviews and the conveniences and risks created by advances in technology. While Kelly thought this would affect his future as a guest commentator, it’s certainly done the opposite. I highly doubt any future broadcast interviewees will ever forget to lock their door. – Tana Watanabe The Life Lessons of Villanova’s Jay Wright, the Anti-Coach – It’s hard not to get swept up in the excitement of March Madness, especially when your alma mater is the number-one seed in the country and returning to defend the NCAA title. But to me, the more interesting aspects of all this are the personal backstories, and the hard work, dedication and experiences that shape these uber-talented coaches and players. Hats off to you, Coach Wright, and best of luck this year! – Kevin Iredell The Last Video Chain: The Inside Story Of Family Video And Its $400 Million Owner – Visiting relatives in recent years, I’ve marveled that Family Video locations still exist while Blockbuster and other video stores have … well, gone the way of Blockbuster. Family Video has survived through a combination of smart meat-and-potatoes business decisions, hard work and cultural relevance in rural America, among other factors. – Paul Wilson Should the privacy profession adopt a code of ethics? – The debate about a privacy industry ethics code is fascinating given Greentarget’s regular work with many of the top legal minds in privacy and cybersecurity. Obstacles to establishing a clear code of ethics include the diversity of the privacy industry (e.g., various areas of expertise from IT to legal) and the tug toward a compliance-driven, as opposed to a privacy protection-based, profession. Even more interesting, and perhaps confounding, is the fact that a privacy ethics code may be at odds with many lawyers in the field, lawyers who focus on compliance and are “ethically bound to their clients, not the data subject.” The fact that it’s a discussion is heartening in the current environment in which ethics seems to be up for grabs. – Pam Munoz We All Love “The Fearless Girl.” But What About Fearless Women? –  Last week, to celebrate International Women’s Day, the “fearless girl” statue was installed in Manhattan’s Financial District. It signifies workplace gender diversity and seeks to encourage companies to put women on their boards. However, this article argues the statue sends the wrong message, being that it is a girl rather than a woman. The statue stands strong and takes up space, but “Somewhere down the road through adolescence and into womanhood we are told to put those akimbo arms down by our sides, lest we make a mess like a bull in a china shop.” – Sarah Rocca GT Podcast Recommendation Missing Richard Simmons – Yes, that Richard Simmons. Three years ago the fitness guru with the colorful personality just disappeared. He cut all ties with close friends and stopped teaching classes at his fitness studio, Slimmons. His disappearance is especially strange given how accessible he had been over the years. The new podcast from Dan Taberski, a filmmaker and friend of Richard’s, seeks to find out where Richard is and why he left. Throughout, Dan explores popular theories as to what happened to Richard, including my personal favorite – that he is being held captive by his maid. Dan gets to the bottom of these theories by interviewing those who knew Richard best. As the podcast progresses, these theories get even stranger. Through it all, “Missing Richard Simmons” is a fascinating blend of pop culture and mystery. I dare you not to become obsessed. – Tyler Rabel

Monopoly is (wait for it) pulling the plug on the thimble. We’ll pause for a moment so you all can catch your breath. One of our favorite pieces of late is an inspired, satirical look at the thimble’s feelings, now that it’s been put out to pasture. We’ll also look at the role of Playboy magazine during the Vietnam War, the changing nature of work in America, an astonishing BuzzFeed investigation about hyperpartisan news and a fascinating analysis of the demise of the grassroots energy that got Barack Obama elected. With that, here’s Recent Reads. Do Not Pass Go: Interview With The Monopoly Thimble – I’m sure all the Monopoly fans were devastated to learn that the 82-year-old brand lets the public decide to replace playing pieces with new symbols. Or at least they’re (probably?) upset that the (beloved?) thimble will be retired. But how does the thimble feel? This Q&A with the game piece discusses his thoughts on being discontinued and what might replace him, including a hashtag. “[T]hat’s not a thing!” the thimble insists. “We were things. Dog. Shoe. Iron. Wheelbarrow. How do you put a hashtag in jail?” – Sarah Rocca How Playboy Explains Vietnam – The most successful publications, in print or otherwise, perfectly capture the zeitgeist of their readers. During the Vietnam War, Playboy became the publication of record for U.S. soldiers with its vivid depictions the lifestyle they aspired to, its advice on the things they cared about, its pre-digital interactive features (letters) and its hard-hitting, smart journalism, including about the war itself. Who knew? – Brandon Copple Medium Launches Snapchat Stories, But for Medium – Medium’s new way of storytelling for mobile devices, “Series,” has a little bit of Instagram and Snapchat (more Snapchat) rolled into one product. This could be a refreshing way to attract an audience that craves images. But my favorite part about this new product is that it allows for stories to unfold over time. It would be nice to slow down the pace a bit and truly consume a story, look forward to the next chapter and gain the satisfaction of adding a bit more knowledge once the story is over. – Pam Munoz Obama’s Lost Army – Ever wonder what happened to the huge grassroots movement that was instrumental in Barack Obama’s ascendancy to the White House in 2008? This insider account is at minimum an important historical footnote of why populism seemed to abandon Obama so soon after he was sworn into office. “Instead of mobilizing his unprecedented grassroots machine to pressure obstructionist lawmakers, support state and local candidates who shared his vision, and counter the Tea Party, Obama mothballed his campaign operation, bottling it up inside the Democratic National Committee.” The author describes that decision as “the seminal mistake” of Obama’s presidency. – Paul Wilson The Jobs Americans Do – An examination of the current state of the American working class, represented by Ofelia Bersabe, a Hispanic woman paid to serve others. Her title is various forms of the word “nurse,” as she cares for children, parents and the elderly. Given the loss of traditional blue-collar jobs – notably to automation – caring for aging Baby Boomers is now the largest driver of job growth in the American economy. If there was any doubt left, it’s clear that service work should no longer be considered a way station for teenagers, mothers and senior citizens. It has become a way of life for many Americans. – Amy Yanow This Is How Your Hyperpartisan Political News Gets Made – Remember a few months back when “fake news” referred to total fabrications, and not just news accounts that public figures didn’t like? Well, it turns out those sources are still out there – and at least one is actually creating clickbait aimed at both conservative AND liberal audiences. The photo at the top of this BuzzFeed piece says it all. The business is outrage. And business appears to be good. – Jackson Pillow GT Podcast Recommendation The Axe Files – Former Obama adviser David Axelrod has returned to his journalism roots with a great twice-weekly podcast interviewing important newsmakers, usually from politics. From Corey Lewandowski to Madeleine Albright to J.D. Vance to Theo Epstein, Axelrod is doing his best to have a candid exchange of ideas (from both sides of the aisle) at a time when the national conversation feels like a screaming match. – Paul Wilson

One of the more troubling trends of the past few months is the growing lack of consensus about the basic information that should be – that used to be – the underpinning of rational dialogue. We’ve written about the rise of so-called “alternative facts,” but this edition of Recent Reads is heavy on the controversial topic of “fake news.” Perhaps relatedly, we’re also looking at new ways information can be consumed – and at how artificial intelligence might not take over the world after all. But it sure seems poised to take a lot of jobs. With that, here’s the latest Recent Reads. The new civic course in U.S. schools: How to spot fake news – For those of us PR pros/news junkies, it can be very frustrating to have conversations with our children about current events. If your kids are like mine, they believe that Facebook or Twitter is the source of what they read, so they trust it. Schools are seeing this troubling trend and are proposing curriculum to support what kids should do to identify and ignore fake news. While fake news has always existed, it is an interesting educational outcome from the 2016 presidential election. – Larry Larsen Colorado Newspaper Vows Defamation Suit After Senator’s ‘Fake News’ Tweet – I’ve been wondering when something like this would happen. A Colorado newspaper publisher is threatening to sue a state senator for defamation after he tweeted that the publication is “fake news.” Of course, threats of lawsuits don’t always end up with court filings – and proving actual damages could be difficult. But considering that public officials (or, really, any member of society) can now compete with traditional news outlets as far as reach on social media – and if we’re all journalists now – why shouldn’t a news organization explore its legal options? Especially when reputation – possibly the most valuable thing traditional media outlets still have – is at stake? – Paul Wilson Donald Trump delivers a series of raw and personal attacks on the media in a news conference for the ages – It was already a volatile week for the White House – Michael Flynn’s resignation, the Labor Secretary nominee stepping aside and rumored staff infighting – but President Trump incredibly and predictably came out swinging during a combative press conference Thursday. From the article, “Trump understands something very important: For his supporters, the media represents everything they dislike about American society.” Whether cracks are forming in the administration or not, Thursday was a clear example of President Trump’s strategy to avert the public’s eyes when things aren’t going his way. Instead of talking about Russia or Flynn, we’re now focused on the press conference. Is this his perceived authenticity in action as we discussed late last week? Perhaps, but maybe the better question is at what cost? – Christian Erard Flipboard revamps its approach personalized news with new “Smart Magazines” – I love the concept of a Smart Magazine from Flipboard. I can’t consume enough material – books, magazines and blogs – and wish I was one of those people who only needed three hours of sleep so I could read more. The choices can be overwhelming, but one needs to commit to actively reading. I hope Flipboard does well with this and am now seeking a B2B version. Smarter, mobile content to replace the laundry lists of blogs, articles and white papers on most professional services websites may have been a pipe dream a few years ago. Maybe Flipboard can make it a reality. – Pam Munoz Can Virtual Reality Teach Empathy? – This headline caught my attention and made me ask how a technology tool can create empathetic feelings. The article describes how a teacher is immersing VR into his curriculum, so students can literally see lessons “from wandering the streets of ancient Rome to touring the International Space Station.” Educators are cautious about implementing VR, like any technology, but this article describes one of its clear strengths – the ability to tap emotions. As VR enters the classroom more regularly, it makes me wonder how/if businesses will implement it into their strategies. – Sarah Rocca How tech ate the media and our minds – Technology has fundamentally changed the way the average individual receives information. This article underscores just how much the environment has changed – and the media landscape along with it – during the past decade. In the B2B world, there is still somewhat of a disconnect about how engaged companies should be and what their return on investment actually is. Do corporations and senior executives truly make purchasing decisions at least partly based on what they read in their LinkedIn or Twitter feed? We think the answer is in the eye of the beholder and we advise our clients not to risk it; you don’t want to be conspicuous by your absence. – Larry Larsen The AI Threat Isn’t Skynet. It’s the End of the Middle Class – Turns out all (or, at least, most) of the fiction about artificial intelligence taking over the world was only half-right. The real concern among scientists these days isn’t a Terminator scenario – it’s economic catastrophe, with a proliferation of automation and technology supplanting middle-class jobs. This is definitely worth watching in the next few years, especially considering how much economic hardship in traditional blue-collar areas played a role in November’s presidential election. – Jackson Pillow