When my husband shot me the same disbelieving look I get when the announcer's obvious gaffe during a Detroit Tigers game floats over my head, I knew I was missing something.

On this week's news from GM about phasing out Pontiac, I understand the impact when it comes to loss of jobs and dealerships. That's so unbelievably huge it's hard to fathom. But I was the wrong target audience for the Muscle Car, or too young to remember, because I don't understand the affection for the Pontiac brand.

But I do appreciate the power of advertising. So here's a tribute to Pontiac told through a history of ad campaigns, from Advertising Age. More 

I had to laugh when I saw City Planning Director Suzanne Schulz dubbed the godmother of the Green Grand Rapids initiative. But somehow it fits. The article here describes a recent meeting with the Honorable Mayor George Heartwell, Suzanne and leaders of Rochester, NY, who look to learn from the successes of West Michigan.

During the 2002 Master Plan, I had the privilege to work with Suzanne, the City of Grand Rapids and Connie Dimond of JJR to encourage input from people all over the city about land use in Grand Rapids -- what it is, and what it could and should be.

The Green Grand Rapids initiative is a special update to the 2002 Master Plan -- this time a focus on parks, bikes, the Grand River, farmer's markets, community gardens and more. What are the green initiatives important to our city, and if and how can we make them happen?

Attend the May 13 Green Gathering: Actions to voice your opinion on that topic. Please join us, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Harrison Park Elementary School, 1440 Davis Ave NW in Grand Rapids.

Questions/information: 616-456-3031

www.greengrandrapids.us

If you like books, music and wine, you have several ways over the next three weeks to help support St. Cecilia Music Center, where I am honored to serve on the board. The people who perform on this historic stage, both local and from afar, have talent that is truly amazing. The staff and volunteers are dedicated to making sure this 125+ year organization keeps growing and supporting our community. If you have a chance to participate, thank you in advance for your help.

April 26-May 2 -- Mention St. Cecilia's this week at Schuler Books'  three Grand Rapids locations. With your request, they'll generously donate 20% of your purchase to St. Cecilia, helping us to continue bringing West Michigan world-class concerts and local music education.

May 8 -- Wine tasting event by Martha's Vineyard starting at 6:30 p.m. with silent auction. Live auction starts at 8:30 p.m. Reserve your ticket by May 4. Call 616-459-2224.

May 14 -- Classical concert by pianist Christopher O'Riley and cellist Carter Brey, with pre-concert dinner at St. Cecilia Music Center, 24 Ransom Ave NE, Grand Rapids. Buy tickets now.

Children drew the first pictures at 11 this morning in the middle of Rosa Parks Circle. And the Chalk Flood is still a tidal wave of artistic family fun, spilling all over downtown GR sidewalks. Two people from the UP asked me how long the Chalk Flood has been going on and how much a box of chalk costs. Thank you, Rob Bliss. Look out, Drummond Island!

What's interesting about the article in USA Today about the Domino's sub sandwich video is that the Tuesday's online discussion I saw wasn't that rosy. Critics were quick to say Domino's should have responded sooner instead of giving this story added life.

(AP Photo/ Iowa State Daily, Morris L. Manning)

That was two days ago from people responding to an Advertising Age story. AA's Abbey Klaassen even posted a sidebar, How to Weather a Twitterstorm. Today's version of how to talk directly to consumers on an instant, global basis has its roots in how people prepare for media interviews during times of crisis. Abbey's tips are posted here:

1. Listen to the what -- and to the who.
2. It's OK to say, "We don't know."
3. Address the crowd where it's gathered.
4. Tone matters.
5. Explain how you'll address the future.
6. Invest now to prepare for accidents later.

The USA Today article points out Domino's did take action -- first responding on The Consumerist blog, whose readers helped find the store and employees who made the video. Then the company tweeted where the discussion was really heating up. Since different discussions were happening in different spheres -- because that's how we get our news now -- the USA Today story was a mainstream response.

Most interesting is that one of the employees accused in the video, which had been viewed more than 550,000 times by Wednesday, said she didn't think it would get that much attention. Then why...? 

Sounds like we all learned a lot from this incident. 

If you're among those who questions the need for minute-by-minute updates on what people think and do, read this article by Claire Cain Miller at the New York Times. She documents how Twitter and Facebook are being used by businesses to not only monitor what people think about their brands and products, but to communicate during crisis and alert people to product recalls or service problems. 

For many, the thrill of social media is to mobilizing people based on their interests or beliefs. “Twitter reverses the notion of the group,” said Paul Saffo, the Silicon Valley futurist. “Instead of creating the group you want, you send it and the group self-assembles.”  More

I'm in week three without the Detroit Free Press and surviving so far. I've started RRS-ing the comics. Another option: Daily INK. How can the Grand Rapids Press seriously still run Hi and Lois?

In 1918, another round of dailies was hitting the dust, provoking a thoughtful history lesson on the cyclical demise of print news from Jack Shafer at Slate. More

Chuck Saylor, founder and CEO of izzy, is featured on the cover of this week's MMQB, a daily news e-publication for the office furniture industry. Reporter, photographer and video journalist: Rob Kirkbride.

Chuck's notable quote in this design-focused story is that design is one of those things that finds you. You don't find it. He wanted to be an artist, but ended up in industrial design. As fate would have it, he joined Haworth in the 1970s, when office panel systems were just taking off. At that time, Chuck and his friend Dick Haworth were only in their 20s.

"I tell students all the time that when the office furniture was born, when the industry was created, it was done by a bunch of 20-somethings and 30-somethings. We need that kind of passion in the industry today," says Chuck.

Joan Stewart, aka The Publicity Hound, forwards a tip on what to tweet about on Twitter. The following formula is from Perry Belcher, a recent presenter at Live7:

• 30 percent: Tips that help make people's lives better

• 10 percent: Information that keeps them informed

• 30 percent: Anything that makes people laugh

• 25 percent: Compliments and praise

• 5 percent: What you're doing