Luke Thomas, Author at SAM Agency Newsletter

Vacationing Artfully

July 24, 2019July 24, 2019 Luke Thomas

We’ve heard that vacations are a good thing.

Just last month, Robin reminded us of the bevy of benefits workers enjoy from taking even one day of vacation.

Thanks to the recent PTO reform, SAM employees have more opportunities than ever to get out of the office for a little sun and fun.

One department that’s taking advantage of vacation season is Graphics. From European excursions to roller coasters from another realm, there has been no shortage of adventure with our local artists.

Tour d’Europe – Terry

In May, Senior Graphic Designer Terry Wirt took his first voyage to Europe.

Terry and his wife, Allison, decided to celebrate their anniversary and Terry’s birthday with a two-week tour of Scandinavia. The first stop was in Gothenburg, one of the country’s oldest cities. It’s known for its Viking trade routes.

“This trip was the first time that I realized how young America is,” Terry said. “Everything in Europe seems so much older, even the streets and buildings.”

The rest of the trip consisted of museums, tours, and sightseeing on foot. One of Terry’s favorite memories was of the Vasa Museum in Stockholm.

Terry explained how the museum was home to a fully reconstructed warship from the 1600s. The king who commissioned the ship insisted that it be richly decorated as a symbol of Swedish wealth and power. But to his dismay, it proved a little too ornate. The ship sank on its maiden voyage, just 1,300 yards from where it launched.

Given that this was Terry’s first European excursion, he shared his biggest misconceptions about American’s eastern neighbors.

“One thing I noticed was that everyone there rode public transportation,” Terry said. “It’s pretty unusual here. It also seemed like people kept to themselves more. You didn’t just walk up to a stranger and start talking like you would in America, especially in the South.”

Terry and Allison ended their trip in Denmark, seeing sights like the Nyhavn Canal and a Viking settlement that dates back to 1030 A.D.

Roller Coaster Rocker – Mark

Senior Graphic Designer Mark Marquis made a trip to Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida this summer.

This wasn’t Mark’s first visit, but it had been several years since he had been to the park. He was excited to return and see the developments in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

During his last visit, the park had just built Islands of Adventure. It wasn’t even open yet. But Mark’s curiosity got the best of him, and he decided to peek inside just for fun. To his surprise, he stumbled upon the soft opening and got to experience the park before most anyone else.

It was this lucky streak that he wanted to recreate on his 2019 trip. In fact, Mark decided to go solo since he already had the days off and couldn’t line up schedules with the original invitees.

“This was my first time going on a trip without anyone,” Mark said. “I loved it. I didn’t have to worry about keeping up with someone else’s pace or schedule, and I could go back to the hotel for a break whenever I wanted.”

Just days before Mark arrived at Universal, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure had opened. The new roller coaster was a massive hit, but with technical and logistical hurdles, it had an average wait time of 10 to 14 hours.

“I went not expecting to ride the motorbike coaster,” Mark said. “The day I walked by, the signs said it was closed for the rest of the afternoon, and people had already started scattering.”

But Mark wasn’t so easily deterred. Each time he would near the ride, he glanced inside.

Finally, he saw people returning to the line and discovered it had covertly reopened.

Mark waited about 3.5 hours to ride the roller coaster. A small price to pay, in his opinion.

Fun in Philly – Holly Bl.

Halfway through June, Graphic Designer Holly Blalock and her husband took a trip to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

This was Holly’s first trip to the City of Brotherly Love. She stayed in an Airbnb in the Northern Liberties area of the city. While there, she toured food and art offerings around town.

“I really enjoyed the art museum and the impressionist exhibit they had on display,” Holly said. “I saw some fantastic works by Monet and Van Gogh. Impressionism is one of my favorite movements.”

Holly shared her favorite part of the trip, which was when she visited Reading Terminal Market.

“It was like the Pizitz on steroids,” Holly said.

She also visited the Eastern State Penitentiary, the United States’ first prison. Outdating Alcatraz, the Pennsylvania prison is rife with ghostly vibes that Holly definitely could feel. In fact, the retired prison transforms into a haunted house each Halloween season.

Since this was Holly’s first time in Philly, she naturally had a few preconceived ideas on what the city would be like. Her biggest shock came from the pace of living.

“I expected Philadelphia to be much faster-paced,” Holly said. “It was crowded in places, but it wasn’t the same as somewhere like New York.”

SAM’s graphics team has taken advantage of all that summer vacations have to offer. If you’ve been on any exciting trips lately, make sure to share for a chance to be featured in an upcoming newsletter!

Dear Dad: Jokes From Our Favorite Blokes

June 19, 2019June 19, 2019 Luke Thomas

Few things are as equally endearing and exasperating as the dad joke. With June comes Father’s Day, so the dads of STRONG have pulled out their best lines.

1. I was playing chess with my friend, and he said, “Let’s make this interesting.”

So we stopped playing chess. – Stan Long

2. What’s a pirate’s favorite restaurant?

ARRRRRby’s – Will Giuliani

3. How do you find Will Smith in the snow?

Look for the fresh prints! – Jeremy McRee

4. “Dad, can you put my shoes on?”

“No, I don’t think they’ll fit me.” – Chris Jones

5. Where do Volkswagens go when they get old?

The Old Volks home. – Marcus Turner

6. Dad: “Have you heard about the new movie Constipation?“

Kid: “What? No!”

Dad: “It never came out.” – Nathan Phillips

7. Son: “Dad, how many people work at your office?”

Dad: “About 10% of us.” – David McMath (referencing his former company)

Mike Raita Presents: The Show Goes On

May 15, 2019May 15, 2019 Luke Thomas

Go anywhere in Birmingham with Mike Raita, and you’ll learn the meaning of local celebrity.

The former sportscaster was a staple in living rooms all across Central Alabama. Since leaving television, he’s sharpened a new set of skills. At STRONG he’s played the role of manager, liaison, and success coach. But there’s one hat that you might not know he wears: that of an author.

Raita’s debut book, “The Show Goes On” is a collection of personal anecdotes detailing the ups and downs of working in local television. What began as an exercise in catharsis grew into something Raita hopes will pull back the curtain on an industry riddled with big egos and big misconceptions.

“I left television in January of 2017,” Raita said. “A couple of months later, I began jotting down stories and would email them to my friend in Cincinnati. He encouraged me to turn these stories into a book. At the time, writing kept me sane while I wasn’t working. But about six chapters later, I realized I was out over my skis. I thought, ‘I guess I’m really going to do this.’ At that point, I had told too many people about the book, so I had no choice but to follow through and write it.”

Raita recalls that the most difficult parts of the process were finding the time to write and battling the curse of knowledge. That is to say, making sure the book and its chronology would make sense to anyone who picked it up, not just the television initiate.

“Organizing all of the stories I have was challenging,” Raita said. “I myself know how all of these events intertwine and the temporal relationships between them, but I had to lay them out so that the reader could easily understand what happened when, and how people and events connect.”

When readers finish “The Show Goes On,” there are two big ideas that Raita envisions as takeaways. The first is that television and hubris can go hand-in-hand.

“There is a lot of power in TV, and the people behind that can get sucked into it and get an overdeveloped sense of self-importance,” Raita said. “In reality, TV people are going in to do a job just like anyone else.”

The second takeaway is that working in sports reporting can be an awesome gig, but it’s not always a walk in the park.

“There is a beauty in getting paid to go to ballgames,” Raita said. “Many people would want that job, but it’s not as glamorous as people think. When you’re working at a local level, you’re doing a lot of traveling, sometimes with only a few hours between destinations, all while having to prepare stories and newscasts on tight deadlines. I used to wonder how athletes got burned out. I mean, they’re playing a game all day. But I got burned out just talking about sports, so it can definitely happen.”

There’s no denying that Raita has experienced two different worlds between TV and automotive advertising. More than anything, the one difference that stands out to him is the work ethic.

“In TV, you have about 20 percent of the people doing 80 percent of the work,” Raita said. “At STRONG, everybody is pulling 100 percent of their weight.”

Interested readers can purchase “The Show Goes On” from Raita directly for $20. He is working with local booksellers to make the book available in-store. He will also be doing several signings, the biggest of which will take place at a Barons game next month.

As for what’s next, Raita hasn’t made any commitments, but he’s interested in partnering with a mystery writer and penning out a newsroom thriller. Readers will have to stay tuned for the next Raita opus, and in the meantime, make sure to pick up a copy of “The Show Goes On.”

Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities

April 9, 2019April 10, 2019 Luke Thomas

Whether it’s been 12 months or 12 years since you moved your tassel and tossed your cap, the benefits of learning never stop.

For career-minded individuals, professional development events are an excellent way to stay on top of trends and keep your mind fresh. Check out these industry opportunities coming up in 2019. There’s a mix suitable for any schedule and budget, depending on how much time and money you’d like to invest.

Continue reading “Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities” →

Beauty in Birding: Andrea

April 5, 2019April 10, 2019 Luke Thomas

Photos and writings by Andrea Kring

I have always been an observer of nature, curious about the things around me. One year ago, this month, my best friend passed away and I was completely heart broken. Shortly after that, I was searching for comfort in poetry and nature. I heard a poem by an Englishman named David Whyte who is a poet/essayist. His first job in his young life was as a nature guide in the Galapagos. The poem was called “Make a Nesting Now” about making a place for the birds to come. There were some lines that spoke to me.

“Make a nesting now, a place to which the birds can come…
and be the one, looking out from this place
who warms interior forms into light.

Above all, be alone with it all,
a hiving off, a corner of silence
amidst the noise, refuse to talk,
even to yourself, and stay in this place
until the current of the story
is strong enough to float you out.”

I was in a place where I didn’t want to talk about my loss. I realized that watching birds and being quiet in my small back yard brought me joy and it made me feel better in the midst of grief. Birds are a great example of how life goes on. They are delicate creatures that face the extremes of life and they continue to sing a beautiful song with every sunrise and sunset. It became a meditative and healing hobby for me. It brought me much needed joy during a very sad part of my life.

Finding a hobby that truly makes you happy and heals you at the same time is a gift.

Andrea’s Bird Watching Tips:

Sit, be still, breathe, wait for something wonderful right in front of you. I typically see something wonderful and get a wonderful shot when I quiet myself to see it.
Pay attention to repetitive behaviors in birds, those repetitive moments provide good photo opportunities.
Look up a bird you see on Google, note the region, the color, the size, etc. It won’t take long to find out something new about the species you see in your own yard.
I believe it isn’t so much the type of camera you have that makes good photos, it is knowing the camera you have and to keep trying to get the best shot you can with that camera. My current camera is a Panasonic Lumix Superzoom pocket camera that I bought at Costco for about $280.
Pay attention to light and get very still to capture the clearest photos.
Any good nature photographer knows that you have to take many, many photographs to get that one that makes your heart leap a little. Take a lot of photos and don’t be afraid to delete the ones that are not good. I try to be very “Marie Kondo” with my photos and only keep ones that “spark joy”. This is not easy, but it is worth it. A really good photo elicits an emotional response. I take hundreds of photos searching for that one good moment that makes me smile over and over again. Try to get that one shot that brings you joy for a long time, THAT is the goal. It is good for the soul.

Read David’s Story Here

Beauty in Birding: David

April 5, 2019April 10, 2019 Luke Thomas

In the foothills and forests of Spokane, Washington, there lives a deceitful little bird. The killdeer, with its amber-lined eyes and unassuming stripes, protects its nest not with force, but with weakness.

David McMath watched the killdeer’s “broken wing act” all throughout his childhood in the Evergreen State. Because the bird nests on the ground rather than in trees, its eggs are particularly vulnerable. When a predator approaches, it feigns injury, holding out one wing and wobbling in the opposite direction of its nest, luring the egg thief away.

David hadn’t seen the broken wing act in decades. He caught on as a child, running in the opposite direction of the bird to glimpse its granite-colored eggs. It wasn’t until several weeks ago that he was on a bird-watching trip at the Auburn Fish Hatchery and stumbled upon a killdeer nest built right into the gravel road.

“It was a nostalgic moment,” David said. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen a killdeer nest. I thought Spokane had a lot of wildlife, but I’ve been amazed at the biodiversity here in Alabama.”

The childhood love for observing backyard birds manifested into something greater when he came to Birmingham. David found the Birmingham Audubon Society‘s Introduction to Birding class, and the rest is history.

“The group meets for a monthly class, and there are plenty of expeditions all around the state,” David said. “The field trips give me the chance to see parts of rural Alabama I’d otherwise never visit.”

It was during one of these outings that David witnessed his most memorable bird moment to date.

“We were watching a field of about 50 wild turkeys by Guntersville Dam when, all of a sudden, I saw a bald eagle flying overhead,” David said. “The eagle, who was much larger, was being attacked by a red tail hawk. It looked just like a WWI dogfight and was amazing to watch.”

David explained that neither of the birds was hurt. It was a battle for turf, not death. In fact, he said he rarely sees birds engaged in a true fight.

Aside from field trips and sight-seeing, David enjoys the arcane knowledge that goes hand-in-hand with a niche hobby.

“I like stats and numbers, so birding gives me the chance to fill up that part of my mind,” David said. “A lot of people learn sports facts, but since I’m not much into sports, I soak up knowledge on birds and their habitats instead.”

For instance, David shared that there are 28 varieties of flowers in Alabama alone that are pollinated exclusively by hummingbirds.

“There is so much to learn,” David said. “It’s a neat feeling to walk down the street and be able to distinguish between a cardinal and a towhee calling.”

For anyone interested in learning more about Alabama’s fauna, the Birmingham Audubon Society offers monthly classes at affordable prices. Field trips are free of charge and open to the public.

Read Andrea’s Story Here

Precious Plastic Alabama

March 7, 2019March 7, 2019 Luke Thomas

When China shuttered its doors to much of the U.S. recycling industry, Americans were left with lots of trash, and few options to address it.

One of the worst culprits is single-use plastics. Even in areas with curbside recycling, single-use items like plastic forks and cups are rarely accepted. After their brief moment of mealtime glory, these products are condemned to a landfill, where they will spend the next 100–1,000 years decomposing.

In the Netherlands, one organization seeks to change that fate. Precious Plastic is a non-profit group dedicated to collecting and repurposing discarded single-use plastics. The organization encourages new chapters, and that’s how Jr. Editor Aaron Anderson became involved with starting up the new Alabama group.

A Plastic Solution for Birmingham

Precious Plastic Alabama (PPA) is currently headquartered in a local art studio and staffed by a team of five volunteers. Here’s how the process works:

PPA collects unwanted plastics that can’t go in curbside recycling
The team places plastic in a grinder
Shreds get melted down, then injected into a mold
Plastic dries and hardens into a new product
Products are sold, and money is used to fund operations

“Our goal is to take plastics that people only use once and turn them into objects that have a long lifespan,” Aaron said. “We can make phone cases, park benches, climbing wall grips, bowls, and 3D printer plastic, just to name a few.”

Helping the Planet and its People

In addition to helping the environment, Aaron wants to impact Birmingham on a humanitarian level.

“My dream for this program is to pave a path for Birmingham’s homeless to get off the streets,” Aaron said. “They’ll start by collecting and sorting plastic, then learn to operate the machinery and eventually design products using the 3D printer. We can teach them skills that will give them a way to a better life.”

Along with employing homeless persons, Aarons seeks to use PPA’s proceeds to fund a substance abuse counseling program.

Grinding Forward

The group is still in its infancy right now. Two of the three machines required are built and operating, with others still being tested. All machines are made of repurposed parts, with the exception of one of the motors.

Aaron notes that it could be several years before PPA is fully functioning as the group envisions. Right now, what it needs most are monetary and plastic donations. The group is also in search of volunteers willing to lend their time and expertise.

“We want to deal with our plastic problem ourselves versus having to send it to China,” Aaron said. “In doing so, we’re bettering Birmingham by lifting up our people and bettering the environment by reducing plastic waste.”

Considering a Standing Desk? Read This First

March 6, 2019July 16, 2020 Luke Thomas

For most of us, being productive at work means being at a desk.

However, sitting for too long can cause back, neck, and shoulder pain, along with tightened hip flexors and increased lethargy. Some workers mitigate this by taking regular standing and walking breaks. But another solution that has gained traction lately is the introduction of a new contraption: the sit-stand desk.

How Do Sit-Stand Desks Work?

The nice thing about sit-stand desks is that you’re not stuck in any one position. Using either a motor or a manual hydraulic system, the desk can be raised and lowered to accommodate both standing and sitting.

Researchers agree that the best way to stay healthy at work is by incorporating a mix of sitting, standing, and moving. Sit-stand desks allow you to work however you are most comfortable at that moment.

What Can You Expect from a Sit-Stand Desk?

Traffic Coordinator Andrea Kring is among the agency’s first sit-stand adoptees.

“Because I have a spinal condition, my doctor recommended I try to avoid sitting in the same position all day,” Andrea said. “I’ve noticed having more energy from being able to stand and stretch out, and my back pain has lessened.”

Andrea notes that she prefers standing and working when she first arrives at the office. She likes to alternate throughout the day, depending on the kind of work she’s doing.

“I really can’t think of a downside of being able to choose sitting or standing while you work,” Andrea said.

Andrea prefers the VARIDESK brand for its reputation for well-designed products. She offered the following advice for those interested in purchasing a sit-stand desk:

“Make sure it has proper hydraulics. Yenae shared with me that she had one at her old job that she had to hoist up and down, and it was a lot of hassle at times. Mechanical risers do cost less and do not make noise to reposition, but you may want to consider the possible additional noise that comes with a motorized version. This is something to consider if you work in a cubicle environment.”

Considering Investing?

Standing desks were once bulky and expensive. We now enjoy an abundance of well-priced options for sit-stand risers.

SAM complies with federal regulations in accommodating employees with ADA-registered disabilities. If you do not meet this criterion, you can still browse the selection of affordable sit-stand desks available from retailers like Amazon. There are many quality products available for under $150.

After reviewing the benefits, you may just feel it is worth the investment!