An interesting discussion is going on at Doc's on blogrolls. My latest comment is here.
Disclaimer: I AM A LONG TIME FAN OF THE BLOGROLL.
I think if people have too hard of a time keeping up with what the folks on their blogrolls are writing, then:
1) who cares. there's no law mandating that I read the people on my blogroll every day, every week, or even every year. my blogroll will be more useful to me and others if I do, yes. but maybe i like someone's blog but they only posted once. guess what: i can put it on my blogroll. maybe i loved that post. so what if that person writes crap six months out of the year, but maybe they shit out a jewel every May. Maybe I love their jewel. maybe i love them. maybe i hate them but love the way they write. maybe i love them but hate the way they write. I can blogroll whoever I want. A link to a blog is not my endorsement of every post. My link says, well lookie there. Stay out of my blogroll methodology. make me a bumpersticker: keep your rules off my blogroll.
2) shut up. if you don't ever get time to click through your blogroll, you could try shutting up for a week and only reading. It isn't that hard. Maybe all of us should shut up and only read/comment for one week each month. I'd rather see that then plain paper pages with plenty of whitespace cluttering the Web and sending me no-where fast.
3) add new voices. if you aren't keeping up, you might be bored with the people on your blogroll. add new voices then. blogrolling.com has 1-click adding. Use your technorati faves to fuel your blogroll. That is saying: "hey, something made my heart go boom-boom a little bit." You are afraid of being a gatekeeper. White space is gate keeping too, pa. It's a fence around your posts. It's opting out of doing the right thing because the right thing takes too long. Bullocks. Fund a startup and solve the problem.
Blogs are not magazines. Fuck white space. Long live the Blogroll.
---
September 14, 2007
Yay Marshall
Marshall Kirkpatrick is a stellar human being and a uber-talented writer. Good for read/write web to nab him. Looks like he's going back to full-time blogging, takin' care of bidness over at Read/Write Web and working on his consulting gig. That was a pretty quick move from indie to day-job to indie. Or some such thing. Whatever the arrangement, good luck Marshall! YAY!
---
---
Startups were launched and dissolved in the time it took this baby to arrive
He's Here!
Let the first round of funding begin! w00t!
Let the first round of funding begin! w00t!
September 13, 2007
Conspiratorial and Proud
"Meteorologists were at a loss to explain the rapid, 16-hour genesis of the first hurricane to hit the U.S. since 2005."
really? let me try:
You get bye-bye with a little help from your friends. From 1997:
"In much the same way that infrared and low-light viewing equipment has made it possible for 20th-century soldiers to own the night, U.S. Air Force planners hope to give 21st-century warriors advanced technologies that will enable them to own the weather. A declassified version of a 2-year study prepared by the Air War College and obtained by PM reveals that this is no dreamland scenario. The Pentagon's top meteorologists believe the United States will be ready to fight--and win--a weather war early in the next century."
I'm thinking we're not to "and win" yet??
---
really? let me try:
You get bye-bye with a little help from your friends. From 1997:
"In much the same way that infrared and low-light viewing equipment has made it possible for 20th-century soldiers to own the night, U.S. Air Force planners hope to give 21st-century warriors advanced technologies that will enable them to own the weather. A declassified version of a 2-year study prepared by the Air War College and obtained by PM reveals that this is no dreamland scenario. The Pentagon's top meteorologists believe the United States will be ready to fight--and win--a weather war early in the next century."
I'm thinking we're not to "and win" yet??
---
Closer and Closer to Home
Just found out Bobby Byrd died yesterday. There must be a show scheduled someplace beyond this place that needs some serious soul. George played with Bobby. Our thoughts are with the family. Our sadness is with the changing face of music.---
September 12, 2007
Follow the Ironic Link
Some interesting articles sponsored by O'Reilly, oddly enough, on women in technology. I can't wait to dig into these, especially Shelley's article, "So What?" because I always enjoy reading Shelley. So THAT'S what you've been up to, Shell!
-----
-----
September 11, 2007
Oh. he said street massings.
i thought he said "street mashups".
Which, ultimately are better than a fox attack.
in other links:
Frank's composing an anthem.
Shelley's still gone. But not forgotten.
I'm wondering what happened to Paul Scheele?
Where's Denise?
Where's Gary's blog--am I on drugs?
---
Which, ultimately are better than a fox attack.
in other links:
Frank's composing an anthem.
Shelley's still gone. But not forgotten.
I'm wondering what happened to Paul Scheele?
Where's Denise?
Where's Gary's blog--am I on drugs?
---
If I were writing the press release...
I posted yesterday an idea on how and why Google should throw it's enormous financial weight and business smarts at the American healthcare problem. If I were in charge of the world, this is the press release I would write announcing a new plan from Google to help their uninsured users.
---
GOOGLE TO OFFER HEALTHCARE BENEFITS TO USERS
The company of “firsts” strikes again with new program that lets millions of U.S.-based users participate in company benefit programs
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (September 11, 2007) - No stranger to innovation, Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) today announced that it would extend benefits to its user and customer base. Under Google’s Well America Plan, U.S.-based users of the company’s enterprise and web-based tools may apply for benefits. For $100 per month per individual, or $250 for a family of three or more, Google’s user base can select from a range of Google-sponsored benefits, including major medical, prescription drug, hospitalization, and alternative health programs. Three pricing tiers are available, with rates varying depending upon the annual deductible selected.
Google-sponsored dental plans are available from $9.99 per month, and Google will offer a complementary vision plan to all users.
“In its current form, the American healthcare system is not working,” said [[I WOULD PROBABLY GET IN TROUBLE IF I PUT A REAL NAME HERE]. “With a U.S. population of more than 301,000,000 -- an estimated half of whom are using Google or related applications at least occasionally -- our estimated U.S. user-base of 150,000,000 deserves access to affordable healthcare in the same way our employees do. We provide benefits to our employees, and now we will offer them to our customers and partners at an affordable rate.”
There are currently 45.8 million uninsured in the United States, half of whom live below the poverty level and as such are eligible for Federally and state-funded healthcare programs. That leaves 25 million Americans uninsured and ineligible for government-sponsored programs. Many of these individuals are self-employed knowledge workers and Google users.
“In a networked economy, the lines between users and employees, between partners and other stakeholders, are blurring,” said [[DON’T WANT TO GET SUED]]. “The search industry is based on content, and that content is provided by the millions of users who publish content to the web. That’s just one reason why this program is the right thing for Google to do.”
Google’s Well America Program will begin taking applications October 1. To apply for Google benefits, visit www.GoogleSaveUS.com.
----
---
GOOGLE TO OFFER HEALTHCARE BENEFITS TO USERS
The company of “firsts” strikes again with new program that lets millions of U.S.-based users participate in company benefit programs
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (September 11, 2007) - No stranger to innovation, Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) today announced that it would extend benefits to its user and customer base. Under Google’s Well America Plan, U.S.-based users of the company’s enterprise and web-based tools may apply for benefits. For $100 per month per individual, or $250 for a family of three or more, Google’s user base can select from a range of Google-sponsored benefits, including major medical, prescription drug, hospitalization, and alternative health programs. Three pricing tiers are available, with rates varying depending upon the annual deductible selected.
Google-sponsored dental plans are available from $9.99 per month, and Google will offer a complementary vision plan to all users.
“In its current form, the American healthcare system is not working,” said [[I WOULD PROBABLY GET IN TROUBLE IF I PUT A REAL NAME HERE]. “With a U.S. population of more than 301,000,000 -- an estimated half of whom are using Google or related applications at least occasionally -- our estimated U.S. user-base of 150,000,000 deserves access to affordable healthcare in the same way our employees do. We provide benefits to our employees, and now we will offer them to our customers and partners at an affordable rate.”
There are currently 45.8 million uninsured in the United States, half of whom live below the poverty level and as such are eligible for Federally and state-funded healthcare programs. That leaves 25 million Americans uninsured and ineligible for government-sponsored programs. Many of these individuals are self-employed knowledge workers and Google users.
“In a networked economy, the lines between users and employees, between partners and other stakeholders, are blurring,” said [[DON’T WANT TO GET SUED]]. “The search industry is based on content, and that content is provided by the millions of users who publish content to the web. That’s just one reason why this program is the right thing for Google to do.”
Google’s Well America Program will begin taking applications October 1. To apply for Google benefits, visit www.GoogleSaveUS.com.
----
September 10, 2007
Google Could Fix Healthcare
Dear Google,
On the eve of making a decision whether to go up to a $3500 deductible and $600/month for health insurance (six sick visits a year before having to pay out of pocket up to the 3,500 and paying 30 percent after that), I turn to you for help. Because you have demonstrated by developing web apps that change the way we work that you are a problem solver of magnificent proportion.
With all this foundation money, which is growing faster than you can spend it, You are in a better position than the U.S. government to fix health care in America. The country is bankrupt, while you are flush. So, who should we trust more to make thing happen quickly--the government and health care industry that have let us down again and again, or the company that makes it possible for us to make a living globally without leaving home?
Google, above all do no harm, okay... but if you want to lend a real helping hand to the challenges of web workers -- to give us what we are REALLY missing -- tell us how you'd make it so we can have access to good health care for our bodies and teeth, ourselves and our kids, without losing our homes, our families, or our lives?
Web app that if you would.
I thank you.
-me
p.s., I am not kidding. What if you extended benefits to your users -- your customers and partners -- not just your employees. the lines are blurred. we already work for you. i have worked for blogger.com for six years. let us in.
---
On the eve of making a decision whether to go up to a $3500 deductible and $600/month for health insurance (six sick visits a year before having to pay out of pocket up to the 3,500 and paying 30 percent after that), I turn to you for help. Because you have demonstrated by developing web apps that change the way we work that you are a problem solver of magnificent proportion.
With all this foundation money, which is growing faster than you can spend it, You are in a better position than the U.S. government to fix health care in America. The country is bankrupt, while you are flush. So, who should we trust more to make thing happen quickly--the government and health care industry that have let us down again and again, or the company that makes it possible for us to make a living globally without leaving home?
Google, above all do no harm, okay... but if you want to lend a real helping hand to the challenges of web workers -- to give us what we are REALLY missing -- tell us how you'd make it so we can have access to good health care for our bodies and teeth, ourselves and our kids, without losing our homes, our families, or our lives?
Web app that if you would.
I thank you.
-me
p.s., I am not kidding. What if you extended benefits to your users -- your customers and partners -- not just your employees. the lines are blurred. we already work for you. i have worked for blogger.com for six years. let us in.
---
Hey that's what I said...
I see the word on Quechup as spam-champ of social-hookup tools is getting around. Check out the last line in the article. Great minds think alike. ;-)
You'd think by now Quechup would have learned that online, there IS such a thing as bad PR. All links are NOT created equal. And being talked about badly is NOT better than not being talked about at all. Google's memory is longer than an elephant's. It persists, reminding customers and prospects after they've forgotten just how stupid you were.
Reputations are branded in an instant online. It takes much longer to undo a mess than the flippant mouse click (or background routine) it takes to do the damage.
Dang, I'm full of em today.
You'd think by now Quechup would have learned that online, there IS such a thing as bad PR. All links are NOT created equal. And being talked about badly is NOT better than not being talked about at all. Google's memory is longer than an elephant's. It persists, reminding customers and prospects after they've forgotten just how stupid you were.
Reputations are branded in an instant online. It takes much longer to undo a mess than the flippant mouse click (or background routine) it takes to do the damage.
Dang, I'm full of em today.
Tell AKMA Happy Birthday!
Stop over at AKMA's place today and say happy birthday!
My goodness when I met AKMA he was just a young man of 44. Now he is Very Very old.
But Seriously, there are two handfuls of people I've met through blogging who have made a difference in my life and the life of my family. There's one handful of these people who are so much part of my life's fabric that they are part of the reason I'm still here and still healing.
AKMA is one of those people. I thank him I thank him I thank him. He demonstrates in life and on his blog the meaning of Grace and kindness. Of wit and understanding. He has not let the conservative bushwhacks run away with his Christianity. Or my Christianity. He cares, truly cares, about people. He is an example of what it means for real human beings, with bumps and bruises and real-human-being-stuff, to have Faith.
He and his wife Margaret and his family are our friends and we are blessed to know them.
Happy Birthday AKMA!!!
(and don't forget the mountain goat!)
---
My goodness when I met AKMA he was just a young man of 44. Now he is Very Very old.
But Seriously, there are two handfuls of people I've met through blogging who have made a difference in my life and the life of my family. There's one handful of these people who are so much part of my life's fabric that they are part of the reason I'm still here and still healing.
AKMA is one of those people. I thank him I thank him I thank him. He demonstrates in life and on his blog the meaning of Grace and kindness. Of wit and understanding. He has not let the conservative bushwhacks run away with his Christianity. Or my Christianity. He cares, truly cares, about people. He is an example of what it means for real human beings, with bumps and bruises and real-human-being-stuff, to have Faith.
He and his wife Margaret and his family are our friends and we are blessed to know them.
Happy Birthday AKMA!!!
(and don't forget the mountain goat!)
---
September 05, 2007
THANKS DARLING!
Chris Shipley called me Dear!
update: the real chris shipley has demo news, here.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Chris Shipley on behalf of DEMO
Date: Sep 5, 2007 9:30 AM
Subject: Tap into what’s NEXT at DEMOfall 07
To: Dear Executive
Dear Dear,
Tap into what's NEXT at DEMOfall 07
In less than a month, DEMO will launch over 70 new companies with products poised to reshape the technology landscape and completely change how you perceive even the latest tech trends. Don't just read about these tech trends, register today, and experience the unveiling of the NEXT emerging technologies first-hand.
update: the real chris shipley has demo news, here.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Chris Shipley on behalf of DEMO
Date: Sep 5, 2007 9:30 AM
Subject: Tap into what’s NEXT at DEMOfall 07
To: Dear Executive
Dear Dear,
Tap into what's NEXT at DEMOfall 07
In less than a month, DEMO will launch over 70 new companies with products poised to reshape the technology landscape and completely change how you perceive even the latest tech trends. Don't just read about these tech trends, register today, and experience the unveiling of the NEXT emerging technologies first-hand.
September 04, 2007
Quechup Can't Cut the Mustard
I got my invite to Quechup today from Euen, who says the newbie-social-site spammed his address book AFTER he deleted his account. Been reading several folks who had bad-quechup-spam experiences today. Which leads me to this question:
Is there a dumber move than for a social network to use the uber-anti-social approach of spamming users' address books to get folks signed on?
Can you think of a stupider PR approach than to steal a play out of plaxo's old playbook and bug the shit out of busy people?
I mean, other than perhaps using a seizure-invoking "join us" logo?
---
Is there a dumber move than for a social network to use the uber-anti-social approach of spamming users' address books to get folks signed on?
Can you think of a stupider PR approach than to steal a play out of plaxo's old playbook and bug the shit out of busy people?
I mean, other than perhaps using a seizure-invoking "join us" logo?
---
Welcome Home (from Home) Doc!
CONGRATS!! Doc made it from left to right coast, where I gather from my recently scattered reading, he'll be calling home for a while--while he does the Berkman shuffle like a good cluetrainian should.
Glad he's safe and sound!
---
Glad he's safe and sound!
---
lots o links
While you were out.... Karsh has a bunch of links worth checking out--especially go and vote for his panel ideas for SXSW. While you're there vote for other panels you think sound like worthwhile investments of your time. And ladies don't bitch about how few women are presenting if you don't stop by the panel picker and check out what your best blog girlfriends are proposing. Give them some stars if you like the ideas.
Looks like winners of the Black Weblog Awards will be announced tomorrow. Weee!
And inspirationally speaking, check out Karsh's 100 in 1oo1.
----
Looks like winners of the Black Weblog Awards will be announced tomorrow. Weee!
And inspirationally speaking, check out Karsh's 100 in 1oo1.
----
September 02, 2007
Things that make you go WTF
Are you drunker than a 4th grader?
10% of 4th-Graders Have Tried Alcohol: Study
As many as 10 percent of 4th-graders have already had more than a sip of alcohol and 7 percent have had an alcoholic drink in the past year, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
The rate of those who have tried alcohol doubles between grades four and six, according to lead author John Donovan, associate professor of psychiatry and epidemiology. The research is published in the September issue of the journal Prevention Science.
"Children are drinking, and our concern with underage drinking needs to start in elementary school, not in high school or college," Donovan said in a prepared statement. "Knowing how many children have had experience with alcohol would serve as an indicator of the number potentially at risk for later use of marijuana and other illicit drugs."
Early drinking also is associated with a greater risk of other behavioral problems, "including absences from school, delinquent behavior, drinking and driving, sexual intercourse and pregnancy," he added.
August 31, 2007
U-Haul, It Ain't the Company It Used to Be
Besty Devine describes a U-Hell of a U-Haul Rental, featuring a load of corporate cluelessness that boggles the mind. When the cops tell you to stay away from a business, I'd imagine that's one outfit to steer clear of (no pun intended, betsy!)
---
It totally quit when I got just 4 miles from the place where I rented it, blocking a lane of traffic on Revere’s busy VFW Parkway. I was able to pull about 6 inches of the truck’s nose into a store’s driveway before it stopped moving entirely. I will leave you to imagine the comments of other drivers, having to maneuver around my dead truck in traffic already bumper-to-bumper on a 94 degree hot and humid Saturday.That just ain't right.
---
What a comment stream would look like as a business meeting... (Hint: Not Work Safe)
saw it on crunchnotes.
{tried to leave a comment here, but it kept thinking I was spam. i tried to add 5 + 8. I really did.}
Notice how in this re-enactment of the typical, there was one important result that is also typical of these types common-if-exaggerated online non-exchanges: nothing was accomplished.
As for whether or not the women should 'stand up' and say something in this video, they could have at least landed a Shelley Powers wallop.
I thought it was funny. Plain and simple. Everyone looked like an ass neighing into an empty well, and that's pretty much what we look like these days.
j.
I feel your pain
(even though i am not teething)...
Yep. I hear that. WTF are we going to do?
---
5. Charlie and Tori's health insurance premium is going up $150/month. Bringing our household total premium to over $1,100. A MONTH. But there's no health care crisis in this country! Everything's fine! Nothing to see here! We have the best health care in the world! Yadda yadda yadda ug.
Yep. I hear that. WTF are we going to do?
---
Don't Go Rockin' My Boat...
What seemed like a PR coup has turned into a PR mess in a triangle of money-grubbing that stands to make Verizon and Universal (as. if. they. could. look. any. worse) look like goobers at the expense of Bob Marley's estate.
Verizon announced an exclusive deal with the Universal Music Group to sell ring tones from Bob Marley's catalog, but the Marley family says no way and is threatening to sue. The family is unhappy because the way the Verizon-Universal deal stands now, it is a music licensing deal BUT is not behaving like a licensing deal. Because Verizon is using Bob Marley's image in their marketing efforts, the family views this arrangement as an endorsement deal (under which the family would have a say in how Bob Marley's image and music are used).
Back to the drawing board, Verizon.
----
Verizon announced an exclusive deal with the Universal Music Group to sell ring tones from Bob Marley's catalog, but the Marley family says no way and is threatening to sue. The family is unhappy because the way the Verizon-Universal deal stands now, it is a music licensing deal BUT is not behaving like a licensing deal. Because Verizon is using Bob Marley's image in their marketing efforts, the family views this arrangement as an endorsement deal (under which the family would have a say in how Bob Marley's image and music are used).
The family's spokesperson Chris Blackwell had met with Verizon previously. Obviously something didn't go right from the Marely family perspective, because Verizon did an end around and struck a licensing deal with Universal and is also proposing to use Marley's picture in their ring tone marketing efforts. This (I'm sure among other things) is pissing the family off.
I cannot accept the way Universal is treating the estate,” Mr. Blackwell said. “We don’t want this deal done. We want to sustain Bob Marley’s reputation, and they’ve done this without any permission from us, and we feel they’re absolutely not entitled to do so.”From a PR perspective, Verizon needs to get its shit together and do some damage control. Because the customers who download ringtones of songs by artists are generally FANS OF THE ARTIST, and if the estate of the artist is pissed, well then you can bet that the FANS OF THE ARTIST (formerly known as your customers) will be pissed too.
Back to the drawing board, Verizon.
----
August 30, 2007
Thank you all and good night!
After another exciting hospital adventure, I'm pleased to report that George's cardiac cath at St. Joseph's today went great. No significant blockage that asprin and lifestyle changes can't take care of. w00t! let's hear it for lifestyle changes and asprin!!!! So we are home now. Thank you, once again, for all of your good thoughts and wishes.
They say that St. Josephs is the best in Atlanta for cardiac care. The doctor and nurses were just great. Processes and procedures, flawless. Not a thing to bitch about, and you know me--I'm on steroids and so not shy.
Wshew. Long day. Time to rest.
Thanks again.
--------
They say that St. Josephs is the best in Atlanta for cardiac care. The doctor and nurses were just great. Processes and procedures, flawless. Not a thing to bitch about, and you know me--I'm on steroids and so not shy.
Wshew. Long day. Time to rest.
Thanks again.
--------
August 29, 2007
Now you see it...
In an attempt to distract Georgians from the horror show that is our public school system, having just earned our rightful place of 46th in the nation on SAT scores, the "baggy pants" debate rages on.
We're just not gonna last in this town.
---
However, they did agree to continue to debate whether the city should regulate whether folks can walk around Atlanta with saggy pants and exposed undies. Council members expect to create a 10- to 12-member task force soon to further the debate and decide whether Atlanta should —- or can —- pass a law to control fashion.Meanwhile, back at the ranch, SAT scores dropped, but by god, we held onto our slot in 46th with all our might.
We're just not gonna last in this town.
---
More steroids...
the last thing i need. the most thing i need. a few more days have been added on for good measure. off to the open house at jenna's school. c-you!
---
---
August 28, 2007
a blogger in our midst?
--- Another View ----
----
Check out the dude's post what added the subtitles south africa the iraq such as to Miss South Carolina's "answer". Good post on anti-art.
At first glance, it may appear that all I did was rip someone else's video off and add sub-titles. But as I see it, I saw a lack in the "original" and took the initiative to fix its shortcomings and in the process created a more valuable video. At least now, you can understand what she says. I guess instead of being a producer on this one, I was a re-producer. I'm sure there's a real discussion on art history's evolution in there somewhere. Could we say the mash-up is the new Dada? They do seem to be founded on the same principles. Rejecting the prevailing standards, enhancing the mundane and effectively creating "anti-art".
August 27, 2007
good blog reads
Kent has some great lists he's gathering in what he calls swivel feeds. I missed the bus on giving him five recommendations, so i did it in his comments. Picked the top five the wind blew through my skull. And it's 90 degrees and there's no wind, so I guess those are pretty much stuck.
and so i said:
Tony Pierce - http://www.tonypierce.com/blog/bloggy.htm
Daughter of Opinion - http://daughterofopinion.blogspot.com/
Brian Moffatt - http://www.brian-moffatt.com/repurpussing/
George Kelly - http://www.allaboutgeorge.com/
Madame Levy - http://lavachequilit.typepad.com/il
oops you already have Madame Levy, so I'll say Badhostess - http://badhostess.com/
thx!
---
and so i said:
Tony Pierce - http://www.tonypierce.com/blog/bloggy.htm
Daughter of Opinion - http://daughterofopinion.blogspot.com/
Brian Moffatt - http://www.brian-moffatt.com/repurpussing/
George Kelly - http://www.allaboutgeorge.com/
Madame Levy - http://lavachequilit.typepad.com/il
oops you already have Madame Levy, so I'll say Badhostess - http://badhostess.com/
thx!
---
not future trash after all
I knew my 500+ record albums would come in handy. I just knew it.
A lot of people (example) are starting to realize that stuff is not all that important. As we get better at mass producing cheap food and consumer products, stuff will cease to be important at all. The only stuff that will be valuable is stuff that can no longer be made due to lack of sufficient demand or stuff that is too difficult or time consuming to make cheaply. Artifacts and original artwork will grow more valuable, but everything else will just be future trash someone will have to get rid of when you die.from LNS.
corner turn?
I am getting so good at sinus infections that I think I can nail the precise moment when I turn the corner toward health. Thank you, Lord, I believe the corner hath been turned. Just now. Yes, like this very moment.
In other news, there isn't much new, and everything old is so overwhelming it seems not worth the stress of revisiting.
--
In other news, there isn't much new, and everything old is so overwhelming it seems not worth the stress of revisiting.
--
best get well video EVar!
You'll have to go here to watch it, since Google seems to have added its own video uploading functionality to Blogger with the direct result of screwing up embedding of YouTube videos. Or maybe I'm just sensitive.
---
---
August 26, 2007
the social networkizing of mechandising (or the webkinizing of retail)
"Did you HEAR??" Jenna gets excited about 24 times each day, but this was one of those 'urgent news' type of yelps that made me ask, "About what?"
She proceeded to tell me that she needed a pound puppy, not a real one (this week), but one of the stuffed kind from the toy store. I told her I thought they had pound puppies back when her cousin Nick (now 25) was young. She told me they're new now--they come with a code you can enter to play with them online, just like Webkinz. Investigating, the only functionality I could see on the pound puppies site was an input form that lets you generate an adoption certificate. But I smell a social network in the winds. The landing page for pound puppies looks like the future entryway to pound puppyville, another virtual pet-owning experience coming soon to a parent's credit card near you.
We owe the resurreciton of the stuffed animal to social computing. If not for social networks, Webkinz would be another cute fad with a $12 price tag and a place on your child's bed. But nooo. Thanks to social spaces vying for our kids' attention, that same stuffed animal can live on ad infinitum, with complementary purchases like webkinz trading cards, waiting for your john hancock too.
Some tween-based social networks skip the merchandising part and go right to the trading cards. Case in point Bella Sara. Right now, it's a virtual world, using packs of trading cards as the merchandising element. I can only figure that Bella Sara is doing a "reverse webkinz," putting the trading cards (which have codes to purchase online clothing and tack for your online horse) out first with the stuffed rendition to follow. I'm sure a stuffed bella sara stallion is coming soon. I think I hear his hoofbeats. More ways to my wallet. Thank you internets!
Watching tweens on Webkinz and Bella Sara, I started wondering how smart companies will find that same sweet spot with adult consumers--a place where real-world point-of-sale drives the online experience.
What would the characteristics of that experience have to be:
1) something we are compelled to purchase.
2) something we enjoy playing with or using in the real world.
3) a replica of something real that can also be experienced virtually.
Perhaps the condoms of the future will come with a special code you can enter to frolic in an online adult world. In turn, the sites could offer special features and access to those with codes, driving future brand preference in condoms.
Same with clothing. Your jeans should come with your DenimWorld code emblazened on your back pocket. You use the code to dress your virtual self and hope that some hottie has been looking at your ass long enough to look you up in Denim City. In Denim City you participate in activities that generate points toward special features or future purchases. Maybe movie tickets for your real-world date from your virtual connection based on your realworld jeans.
I'm thinking out loud here.
Blame the steroids.
------
She proceeded to tell me that she needed a pound puppy, not a real one (this week), but one of the stuffed kind from the toy store. I told her I thought they had pound puppies back when her cousin Nick (now 25) was young. She told me they're new now--they come with a code you can enter to play with them online, just like Webkinz. Investigating, the only functionality I could see on the pound puppies site was an input form that lets you generate an adoption certificate. But I smell a social network in the winds. The landing page for pound puppies looks like the future entryway to pound puppyville, another virtual pet-owning experience coming soon to a parent's credit card near you.
We owe the resurreciton of the stuffed animal to social computing. If not for social networks, Webkinz would be another cute fad with a $12 price tag and a place on your child's bed. But nooo. Thanks to social spaces vying for our kids' attention, that same stuffed animal can live on ad infinitum, with complementary purchases like webkinz trading cards, waiting for your john hancock too.
Some tween-based social networks skip the merchandising part and go right to the trading cards. Case in point Bella Sara. Right now, it's a virtual world, using packs of trading cards as the merchandising element. I can only figure that Bella Sara is doing a "reverse webkinz," putting the trading cards (which have codes to purchase online clothing and tack for your online horse) out first with the stuffed rendition to follow. I'm sure a stuffed bella sara stallion is coming soon. I think I hear his hoofbeats. More ways to my wallet. Thank you internets!
Watching tweens on Webkinz and Bella Sara, I started wondering how smart companies will find that same sweet spot with adult consumers--a place where real-world point-of-sale drives the online experience.
What would the characteristics of that experience have to be:
1) something we are compelled to purchase.
2) something we enjoy playing with or using in the real world.
3) a replica of something real that can also be experienced virtually.
Perhaps the condoms of the future will come with a special code you can enter to frolic in an online adult world. In turn, the sites could offer special features and access to those with codes, driving future brand preference in condoms.
Same with clothing. Your jeans should come with your DenimWorld code emblazened on your back pocket. You use the code to dress your virtual self and hope that some hottie has been looking at your ass long enough to look you up in Denim City. In Denim City you participate in activities that generate points toward special features or future purchases. Maybe movie tickets for your real-world date from your virtual connection based on your realworld jeans.
I'm thinking out loud here.
Blame the steroids.
------
August 24, 2007
First Blogger to do a Breathing Treatment on Facebook
I WON!!!!!
(scroll down paaast the aquarium, paaaast the garden and comments from gardeners, to the wall comments. see pathetic video).
which brings me to point number 2: how about a share FROM facebook, some permalinks, something? [roi to facebook: traffic traffic traffic adoption adoption adoption].
how about a back channel, where people who are not friends (yet) of people who say something interesting can still comment and discuss. oh might not that be fun? if you could get to it while I'm still on steroids, I'd appreciate it.
---
(scroll down paaast the aquarium, paaaast the garden and comments from gardeners, to the wall comments. see pathetic video).
which brings me to point number 2: how about a share FROM facebook, some permalinks, something? [roi to facebook: traffic traffic traffic adoption adoption adoption].
how about a back channel, where people who are not friends (yet) of people who say something interesting can still comment and discuss. oh might not that be fun? if you could get to it while I'm still on steroids, I'd appreciate it.
---
PLAY
Not a novel idea. But a good one.
"...this whole gamut of conversation, from infinite jest to point-specific expertise: who needs it?"Companies need it. Without it they can't innovate, build consensus, or go to market. Markets need it. Without it they don't know what works and what doesn't; don't know why they should give a damn. Cultures need it. Without play and knowledge in equal measure, they begin to die. People get gloomy, anxious, and depressed. Eventually, the guns come out."
My suggestion: not just a conference ABOUT play, but a conference AT play. Man enough? Woman enough? Let the games begin.
--
August 23, 2007
franks got a recipe beggin to be beaten and eaten
first person who runs over here to make it gets to stir in the egg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go see how it turned out--
mmmmm!
For dinner tonight I made a delicious soup. It was amazingly simple. Most of the ingredients came straight of our CSA share, and the recipe came from the Blue Moon weekly newsletter. Thanks Kristen!
The recipe…
- Ingredients:
- 1 large celeriac, peeled, cut into quarters and sliced thin. (Ever wonder what to do with that celeriac? This is it!)
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup carrot coins
- 1 leek, sliced into thin rounds. (Okay, I had small leeks so I used two, but I had huge garlic cloves so I only used one. I finally learned the thing about cooking is that it’s no organic chemistry… doesn’t require an analytical balance to get the measurements right.)
- 2 eggs
- A couple of cups of chicken broth. Mine came from a can.
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- salt and pepper
Go see how it turned out--
mmmmm!
seams, apart
So i'm on steroids and levaquin now as the augmentin didn't work to get rid of this sinus infection/bronchitis, which of course has made friends with my asthma. This has been a rough patch -- thank you for all the supportive emails, friends. You don't know how it helps to read them when I'm worrying through the night. George has a procedure at the hospital next week--we may have an overnight there. I love him.
How's tricks in the blog world?
I checked and briefly noticed that, in addition to Doc moving, Scoble was taking another poignant pause, Shelley had been too quiet, and Elaine had made me a very nice healing collage. Everyone else has either been bought by Google or acquired by Oracle. So apparently I can go back to my warm washcloth and steroids now.
OH did anyone fix healthcare while I was out?
Thanks!
***
How's tricks in the blog world?
I checked and briefly noticed that, in addition to Doc moving, Scoble was taking another poignant pause, Shelley had been too quiet, and Elaine had made me a very nice healing collage. Everyone else has either been bought by Google or acquired by Oracle. So apparently I can go back to my warm washcloth and steroids now.
OH did anyone fix healthcare while I was out?
Thanks!
***
August 21, 2007
doc's new doo
Doc has a new blog home, and quite honestly, it's freakin me out.
Not just the words "law" and "harvard" and "edu" in the URL, though that would be enough. Beyond the establishmentishness, I just can't get used to the template. Even with Doc's face and old masthead at the top, I'm like, "Can we go home now?"
Sure this design is simpler and cleaner, but there's something to be said about Doc's messy old house with small fonts and 100000 people on his blogroll, more than one woman too.
Doc's weblogs.com house was a place I visited before I started blogging in 01. I know I'll get used to his new place over time, but I can't get past thinking, "Doc doesn't talk in that font; Doc talks to me in Serif! Doc has more columns than this--where did his miscellaneousness go? And who ran off with Searls BlueGray Stripes(TM), anyway?"
I realize that final weblogs.com bloggers had to step off the bus eventually, and Doc's posts will still be a daily read for me in his new digs, but I can't help feeling like I've just seen him for the first time in a year, and he's completely bald.
So Doc, one favor--keep your hair, okay?
***
Not just the words "law" and "harvard" and "edu" in the URL, though that would be enough. Beyond the establishmentishness, I just can't get used to the template. Even with Doc's face and old masthead at the top, I'm like, "Can we go home now?"
Sure this design is simpler and cleaner, but there's something to be said about Doc's messy old house with small fonts and 100000 people on his blogroll, more than one woman too.
Doc's weblogs.com house was a place I visited before I started blogging in 01. I know I'll get used to his new place over time, but I can't get past thinking, "Doc doesn't talk in that font; Doc talks to me in Serif! Doc has more columns than this--where did his miscellaneousness go? And who ran off with Searls BlueGray Stripes(TM), anyway?"
I realize that final weblogs.com bloggers had to step off the bus eventually, and Doc's posts will still be a daily read for me in his new digs, but I can't help feeling like I've just seen him for the first time in a year, and he's completely bald.
So Doc, one favor--keep your hair, okay?
***
August 20, 2007
eyes still nose ya!
chat to frank:
HEY SO you know how i've been not able to focus or write much lately, well so yesterday i am just so confounded, right, so i'm sitting in the kitchen when i realize: i can't see SHIT. 45 years old, had 20-20 vision my whole life, and so i had no clue wtf was happening, but i suddenly realize i can't fucking SEE. that's why i can't write or read anything because i can't SEE the shit. So i go over to walmart today and spring for an eye exam (no money for glasses but what the heck), so i find out i have 20-40 vision and two astigmatisms (well one in each eye), and i need reading glasses for now. He says my distance vision is going but still passable so i don't need BIFOCALS yet, and I'm like BIFOCALS??? I was just 22, wtf are you talking about?
Me in George's Dollar Store Reading Glasses
--
HEY SO you know how i've been not able to focus or write much lately, well so yesterday i am just so confounded, right, so i'm sitting in the kitchen when i realize: i can't see SHIT. 45 years old, had 20-20 vision my whole life, and so i had no clue wtf was happening, but i suddenly realize i can't fucking SEE. that's why i can't write or read anything because i can't SEE the shit. So i go over to walmart today and spring for an eye exam (no money for glasses but what the heck), so i find out i have 20-40 vision and two astigmatisms (well one in each eye), and i need reading glasses for now. He says my distance vision is going but still passable so i don't need BIFOCALS yet, and I'm like BIFOCALS??? I was just 22, wtf are you talking about?
Me in George's Dollar Store Reading Glasses
--
August 18, 2007
Jamaica on my mind
I remember when Ivan was set for a direct hit on Jamaica, and how it skirted around at the last minute. Hurricane Dean looks like an unparalleled menace on a truly frightening path toward the tiny island.
streaming radio from jamaica.
Some Jamaica-based bloggers:
Our prayers are with you all.
streaming radio from jamaica.
Some Jamaica-based bloggers:
- Moving back to Jamaica: "...we sit here waiting, doing the best we can to prepare ourselves. And it's still a really nice sunny day today, with blue skies and hardly any clouds and a light breeze."
- Jamaica Girl: "...my plan is to batter down the windows, put things in high places away from flooding and head to the man’s to shelter in his big bed!"
- Stunner's Afflictions: "I will be at work! What the hell! Yes I have been forcibly drafted in the hurricane team and will be at work for quiet a long time. During the entire pre-hurricane, hurricane and post-hurricane periods. So I will spend the rest of my day securing the home front, then later it will be off to work."
- Mighty Afrodite (Grand Caymans): "Dean and his whereabouts dominate the topic of all conversation, as we all get ourselves into a state of preparedness. Supermarkets are packed; cars are moved to higher ground; information is being disseminated like wildfire; plywood and shutters are being off loaded and inspected at individual residences…and it all gives me a strange sense of detached pride for my island and its peoples. Ivan was a hard lesson learned but, we learned our lesson. No one wants to be caught off guard again."
- Jamaipanese: "It's the middle of the month, I am broke, it's two weeks before school reopens and a little bit over a week before elections. I just hope the storm doesn't affect us too badly for too long, I can still remember how Hurricane Ivan and Hurricane Emily blasted us back to the stone age for a couple days."
- Jamaica Gleaner: "Hurricane Dean roared across small Eastern Caribbean islands yesterday, tearing away roofs, flooding streets and killing at least three people as it headed west on a collision course with Jamaica and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula."
Our prayers are with you all.
with little time to spare...
Ladies, do not miss this post, and these wonderful links, and this great idea, that I learned about from Toby today. Go. Do. Build. Link.
Don't forget, Blog Sisters, to add yourselves!
Don't forget, Blog Sisters, to add yourselves!
Maximum Ride: Saving the World
A Book Review by Jenna and Jeneane Sessum
Maximum Ride: Saving the World is maximum fun for a mother and daughter to read together. That’s what Jenna and I did the last couple of weeks when we received the book from MotherTalk.
The book is about six bird-children named Max, Iggy, Fang (who created a blog you can read at http://maximumride.blogspot.com), Nudge, Gazzy, Angel, and their talking dog, Total. They are trying to escape from the mad scientists at Itex Corporation who created them.
The story begins with teenage Max, leader of the pack, guiding the flock of younger children from their traumatic past in the laboratory, where they were ‘bred’ as part human, part bird. But not only is Max out to save her winged friends; she’s also out to save the world. The same bad guys at Itex who altered the children’s DNA to create this uber-species are also out to create a master race and take over the world in a “Re-evolution.”
The children, who are 98-percent human and 2-percent bird, can not only fly, but also have amazing powers of perception. Their part animal makeup gives them keen awareness of danger, and their wings help them escape threats, including their wolf-like predators (also engineered at Itex) called Erasers.
The story gets especially intense when the flock is separated and held captive, and we learn a secret about Dr. Martinez. Does the re-evolution take place? Does Max live to save the world another day? You won’t be able to stop yourself from turning the pages to find out.
The reason you should read this book is that it’s a fun adventure. And if you like this one, you should check out Maximum Ride: School’s Out Forever and Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment.
It’s easy to track the adventures of Max and the flock online too – there are videos on YouTube that make the book come alive.
----
Maximum Ride: Saving the World is maximum fun for a mother and daughter to read together. That’s what Jenna and I did the last couple of weeks when we received the book from MotherTalk.
The book is about six bird-children named Max, Iggy, Fang (who created a blog you can read at http://maximumride.blogspot.com), Nudge, Gazzy, Angel, and their talking dog, Total. They are trying to escape from the mad scientists at Itex Corporation who created them.
The story begins with teenage Max, leader of the pack, guiding the flock of younger children from their traumatic past in the laboratory, where they were ‘bred’ as part human, part bird. But not only is Max out to save her winged friends; she’s also out to save the world. The same bad guys at Itex who altered the children’s DNA to create this uber-species are also out to create a master race and take over the world in a “Re-evolution.”
The children, who are 98-percent human and 2-percent bird, can not only fly, but also have amazing powers of perception. Their part animal makeup gives them keen awareness of danger, and their wings help them escape threats, including their wolf-like predators (also engineered at Itex) called Erasers.
The story gets especially intense when the flock is separated and held captive, and we learn a secret about Dr. Martinez. Does the re-evolution take place? Does Max live to save the world another day? You won’t be able to stop yourself from turning the pages to find out.
The reason you should read this book is that it’s a fun adventure. And if you like this one, you should check out Maximum Ride: School’s Out Forever and Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment.
It’s easy to track the adventures of Max and the flock online too – there are videos on YouTube that make the book come alive.
----
August 15, 2007
skin deep
life's stressors have been mounting at our house since March pretty steadily. if i believed in conspiracy theories, i'd be surveying the grassy knoll down the street 24x7. Traumatrain could you pass by? I'm not taking delivery anymore.
As a brief update, George's mother is still on life support in the hospital in Florida; George has to have some medical procedures done in the next couple of weeks; and there's more but why bore you with sadness when I can tickle you with a funny story...
So, given the amount of stress, I have augmented my general and consistent recovery work with another prong. I attended a session yesterday with a Helping Professional (AKA: shrink) to evaluate medicine options. I thought the appointment went well, albiet quickly. I felt that I shared what I needed to share to get him up to speed and keep him in the loop. Yep, that all went pretty well, I thought, walking down the hall toward the exit. "Good job, me."
That's when I glanced down at my sleeve and realized my shirt was on inside out.
Like all day.
Like, yes, during my session.
When I laughed and thought, I have to blog this, I knew I could check yesterday off as a "made it through++" day.
---
As a brief update, George's mother is still on life support in the hospital in Florida; George has to have some medical procedures done in the next couple of weeks; and there's more but why bore you with sadness when I can tickle you with a funny story...
So, given the amount of stress, I have augmented my general and consistent recovery work with another prong. I attended a session yesterday with a Helping Professional (AKA: shrink) to evaluate medicine options. I thought the appointment went well, albiet quickly. I felt that I shared what I needed to share to get him up to speed and keep him in the loop. Yep, that all went pretty well, I thought, walking down the hall toward the exit. "Good job, me."
That's when I glanced down at my sleeve and realized my shirt was on inside out.
Like all day.
Like, yes, during my session.
When I laughed and thought, I have to blog this, I knew I could check yesterday off as a "made it through++" day.
---
August 09, 2007
Happy Anniversary, Honey!
21 years ago today i said "I do." There are no words for where we've been, what we've seen, endured, come to understand, and how all of that has changed us. All of these many years, they are understood not through language, but through color, shape, and sound. I remember them through my senses in tapestry, patterns, music.
Blue silk soukous.
Red satin straight ahead.
Brown cotton blues.
I loved you that day. And the 7,665 days since.
I will see you soon.
---
Blue silk soukous.
Red satin straight ahead.
Brown cotton blues.
I loved you that day. And the 7,665 days since.
I will see you soon.
---
August 07, 2007
there is a season
Blogging may be sporadic, yet again, as Jenna and I may be traveling down to Florida. And school starts Monday. And I'm not sure which end is up.
George and his brother are in central Florida with their mother, who is on life support. She is 86. And very stubborn. It is long days, long nights. One day, one step, one thing at a time.
----
George and his brother are in central Florida with their mother, who is on life support. She is 86. And very stubborn. It is long days, long nights. One day, one step, one thing at a time.
----
August 06, 2007
Highest OMG BBQ
Head to Shelley's to find out about a must-do wordpress update. NOW! (And to learn the new code word for getting off your ass and doing something quick.)
I think the Dept. of Homeland Security should add this level above terror level red: HighestOMGBBQ! - reserved for an actual emergency, not one made up to keep the population in check.
---
I think the Dept. of Homeland Security should add this level above terror level red: HighestOMGBBQ! - reserved for an actual emergency, not one made up to keep the population in check.
---
August 05, 2007
you've probably seen it, cause i'm always the last to know
but this image mosaic generator is pretty nifty. it uses flickr images (wonder how it gets away with such) stating they are the respective work of their owners to mosaic-ize an image of your choosing. just upload an image and click the button--it's really cool to see how it grabs images by hue to fill in your image. coolio.
---
---
self-censoring
sometimes it's a good idea.
for instance, all of the wise ass comments i could make about this, you know like some jerk who would say, "great idea but don't light the wrong end!" and stuff like that, I'm not going to make those stupid comments. NO i will not make them. because this serious. and it's not something to joke around about. remember that.
---
for instance, all of the wise ass comments i could make about this, you know like some jerk who would say, "great idea but don't light the wrong end!" and stuff like that, I'm not going to make those stupid comments. NO i will not make them. because this serious. and it's not something to joke around about. remember that.
---
legend songwriter and musician Lee Hazlewood is gone.
Madame Levy has it. Lee died surrounded by loved ones. George and I were reflecting that "These Boots" was our favorite song when we were kids. Lee's talent inspired more than one generation in his lifetime; it will inspire many to come.
--
--
state of the state of mind
i haven't blogged this much since the kathy sierra debacle. there are a lot of reasons for that. chief among them: i (like anyone who has been around here 6 years) have some anger at this space. i have some fear about being misunderstood, which causes me to sometimes second guess my gut as a writer. that, friends, sucks. however, i'm getting over it--hold off on the flowers and sympathy cards if you would.
in the long list of things since march, i've had some threats from people i don't trust, and i don't take that shit lightly. i have some boredom with a blogworld that too closely resembles the mainstream we came here to avoid. i also have a suitcase full of anxiety that i'm at least willing to own up to, and as most of you know i've had health issues, surgery, recovery (doing great--THANK YOU ALL), then lots of work, followed by not enough work, followed by work picking up again.
And I have a new Mac bought for me by my readers and blog friends--thank you thank you thank you--that makes being here more fun than it is work. the act of kindness restored in me what was some pretty beaten down faith in this little experiment we're engaged in. the notes, the emails, the energy asking me to keep on.
People sometimes ask me, how i feel about what went down and how it went down. There is no single feeling for being swept up in a tide of openness and originality turned car wreck turned tornado turned wasteland.
Pissed? yeah, ok. more at first than i am now. i am actually more optimistic about people than i have ever been. and i have so many blessings i can't count them all. these are things i realize. they are the switch i am learning to manually flip when the lights go out for too long.
I was also thinking just tonight, the way i see it, most of the people involved in the aforementioned shitstorm -- not everyone, but most -- did the right thing. That's a good thing. an important thing.
we are only human beings. we misread one another. we dance like shy school children and then drunken sailors. we can be jerks and heroes--sometimes in the same instant. we are not so predictable.
But, I don't know if i'm so optimistic about 'blogging'. The blogworld is a place where Loren Feldmen's supposed to be funny and I'm an accomplice to a federal crime? that's wrong on so many counts i don't have enough fingers and toes to do the math.
But it's not over. Not by a long shot.
Everything cycles. Video killed the radio star. We've gotta keep at it. Keep at it with me. Don't stop. not this day. not this week. kay?
-------------
in the long list of things since march, i've had some threats from people i don't trust, and i don't take that shit lightly. i have some boredom with a blogworld that too closely resembles the mainstream we came here to avoid. i also have a suitcase full of anxiety that i'm at least willing to own up to, and as most of you know i've had health issues, surgery, recovery (doing great--THANK YOU ALL), then lots of work, followed by not enough work, followed by work picking up again.
And I have a new Mac bought for me by my readers and blog friends--thank you thank you thank you--that makes being here more fun than it is work. the act of kindness restored in me what was some pretty beaten down faith in this little experiment we're engaged in. the notes, the emails, the energy asking me to keep on.
People sometimes ask me, how i feel about what went down and how it went down. There is no single feeling for being swept up in a tide of openness and originality turned car wreck turned tornado turned wasteland.
Pissed? yeah, ok. more at first than i am now. i am actually more optimistic about people than i have ever been. and i have so many blessings i can't count them all. these are things i realize. they are the switch i am learning to manually flip when the lights go out for too long.
I was also thinking just tonight, the way i see it, most of the people involved in the aforementioned shitstorm -- not everyone, but most -- did the right thing. That's a good thing. an important thing.
we are only human beings. we misread one another. we dance like shy school children and then drunken sailors. we can be jerks and heroes--sometimes in the same instant. we are not so predictable.
But, I don't know if i'm so optimistic about 'blogging'. The blogworld is a place where Loren Feldmen's supposed to be funny and I'm an accomplice to a federal crime? that's wrong on so many counts i don't have enough fingers and toes to do the math.
But it's not over. Not by a long shot.
Everything cycles. Video killed the radio star. We've gotta keep at it. Keep at it with me. Don't stop. not this day. not this week. kay?
-------------
August 04, 2007
Best Wishes, Karl
I hope you are back to feeling better soon, Karl. And seriously that is No Pun intended! Steroids are powerful stuff and can really help reduce inflammation and the associated pain. My thoughts are with ya!
---
---
you smell
with one brain cell
covered in hair gel
you smell
like a jail cell.
forget the oil well.
you can't tell
if you feel well
unless you raise hell
before the school bell.
THANKS RHYMING DICTIONARY!
---
covered in hair gel
you smell
like a jail cell.
forget the oil well.
you can't tell
if you feel well
unless you raise hell
before the school bell.
THANKS RHYMING DICTIONARY!
---
she gives wings to grief
this.
the end begins here.
and i would like to scream for her - i am a mother too - nononono, it is not fair,
it is not fair, change it, make it not so, make it undone. Please. i am a mother too.
the point is---
grief.
---
and this.
I also remember how Wendy told me I would need to be careful not to feed him too much or too little. Too much would make it difficult to die, too little would make it more painful; the same with hydration. I thought that would be an impossible task, but I don’t think he lived too many days after that. I do remember my surprise when he asked for bagel pizzas and soda pop just hours before his seizure and he hadn’t eaten by mouth for days. I heated them up, made them into small bites, and he ate the whole thing. His last supper.
I remember sitting one afternoon, just him and me, making a list of all his favorite things. Like movies, and blueberry jelly bellies. I was compiling the list to use at his memorial service, but I didn’t tell him that.
After Tommy died, and I could find my voice, I made another round of telephone calls. His teachers came over from the school including Mr. Shipman, his favorite kindergarten teacher for whom he had a special love, and they all sat with his body for a bit. My sister, Marilyn arrived from San Francisco about an hour and a half after he died. I was so glad to have her there…no body else could have helped me send his body to the mortuary.
Grandma and Grandpa Smith came from their campground just moments after he left. They helped to get calls made to the Smith side of the family.
Wendy and Bill called the coroner and made sure the body was properly identified. And then they left. I asked them to come to the memorial service, and I received notes from all three, but I never saw them again.
Tommy’s body lay in his bed for about 5 hours. I’d come in and out of the room, putting away the clean laundry in his drawers. When I finished the last bit I told him, “It’s all clean now, you can pack a bag to go home.” I was glad to have time to see him still, not asleep. I could feel his body lose it’s heat. It helped me lose my fear of death.
the end begins here.
and i would like to scream for her - i am a mother too - nononono, it is not fair,
it is not fair, change it, make it not so, make it undone. Please. i am a mother too.
the point is---
grief.
---
Oh come on, ICanHasNOT!
i thought we were a little whacked when we bought katherding.com.
well lookie all these ICanHas domains.
icanhasbreakcore? WTF?
If you missed out on the ICanHas craze, I wouldn't worry. Those domains will probably be re-available next year at this time when no one renews them.
---
well lookie all these ICanHas domains.
icanhasbreakcore? WTF?
If you missed out on the ICanHas craze, I wouldn't worry. Those domains will probably be re-available next year at this time when no one renews them.
---
i think i broke all these rules...
...when i first started working for real, back in the... uh... 80s.
could that be why i'm so tired now?
nonetheless, newly-graduated ones who will NOT be returning back to the college classroom this Fall, take heed and read this post. Good tips include:
The thing is, once you have a baby, and the a school-age child, you have to get up this early even if you don't work at a 9-5 job. So better get used to those early mornings. Maybe you'll be better at it than I am. 23 years post college graduation.
===
could that be why i'm so tired now?
nonetheless, newly-graduated ones who will NOT be returning back to the college classroom this Fall, take heed and read this post. Good tips include:
- Positive Thinking. A common thought that may pass your mind. ‘Oh my god! I have to get up at 7am for every day for the rest of my life. Noooooooooooo. Trust me, block this thought out. It can only do you harm!
The thing is, once you have a baby, and the a school-age child, you have to get up this early even if you don't work at a 9-5 job. So better get used to those early mornings. Maybe you'll be better at it than I am. 23 years post college graduation.
===
coming up on 21
august 9th is our 21st wedding anniversary.
i was 22 when I met george. i was 24 when we got married. I have known him more than half my life. i have lived more years with him than without.
it is a strange and amazing thing, that point at which a couple crosses over the more-years-with-you-than-without-you chasm. it comes with a lot of tears, love, sweat, heart wrenching changes, holding on, letting go, figuring out, losing, finding, circling around, landing. maybe not for every couple, but for most of us who survive the perfect storms I think it's that way. the undoing of what was undone long before you ever came together, and then the placing pieces in new designs, a mosaic of wounds healing, a together together.
i'm not sure what we're doing for our anniversary; something quiet maybe. we're hoping to head to Savannah later in the month for a couple of days, Jenna in tow. I've never seen the Georgia coast.
i love him.
---
i was 22 when I met george. i was 24 when we got married. I have known him more than half my life. i have lived more years with him than without.
it is a strange and amazing thing, that point at which a couple crosses over the more-years-with-you-than-without-you chasm. it comes with a lot of tears, love, sweat, heart wrenching changes, holding on, letting go, figuring out, losing, finding, circling around, landing. maybe not for every couple, but for most of us who survive the perfect storms I think it's that way. the undoing of what was undone long before you ever came together, and then the placing pieces in new designs, a mosaic of wounds healing, a together together.
i'm not sure what we're doing for our anniversary; something quiet maybe. we're hoping to head to Savannah later in the month for a couple of days, Jenna in tow. I've never seen the Georgia coast.
i love him.
---
sleepover
it's party time. it's webkinz time. it's club penguin time. it's making beaded necklaces time. it's popcorn time. it's polly pocket time. it's melatoin time.
---
August 03, 2007
wikipediaphobia
stumbled upon a great list of phobias, which is always fun late at night. now we only need the web 2.0 version with fear of wikis and scobles and stuff.
--
--
directory of open access journals
From Tom comes this pointer to the Directory of Open Access Journals, a wonderful source and resource for READABLE-WITHOUT-PAY journals in many many subject areas. What an amazing find.
From the Mt. Sinai Journal of Medicine (article on cardiac catheterization stents here) to Music Theory Online, and that's only in the "M"s. Check out the Subject Tree.
Tom is a man with a mission, and we all benefit from his determination. Not to mention his humor and impressive library of titillating images.
How I spent my summer vacation. Thanks Tom!!
From the Mt. Sinai Journal of Medicine (article on cardiac catheterization stents here) to Music Theory Online, and that's only in the "M"s. Check out the Subject Tree.
Tom is a man with a mission, and we all benefit from his determination. Not to mention his humor and impressive library of titillating images.
How I spent my summer vacation. Thanks Tom!!
Blogging While Brown - Welcome to Atlanta
I hear from Karsh that Atlanta is home to the future Blogging While Brown Conference, scheduled for next summer. They even have a wiki, and a conference isn't a conference these days without a wiki.
Well it's damn TIME we do something useful here in Atlanta in the social media space. I just told George. He said, "Really? Cool!" I'm sure he could be talked into participating, presenting, or something. But you didn't hear that from me.
---
Well it's damn TIME we do something useful here in Atlanta in the social media space. I just told George. He said, "Really? Cool!" I'm sure he could be talked into participating, presenting, or something. But you didn't hear that from me.
---
August 02, 2007
Disney Coughs Up a Nearly a Billion Dollars in the Race to Grab Virtual Tweens - Acquires Club Penguin
Having just paid the monthly renewal fee for Club Penguin today, I was interested to see that Disney just nabbed the tween-based social networking site for $350 million with another $350 million to follow if earnings targets are met.
HOLY CRAP.
All this time we thought the high-value social networking sites like FaceBook and MySpace that we old people started crashing was where the action is. Ha ha ha. The Internet's getting younger every day, friends.
Jenna, soon to be 10, first heard about Club Penguin from a friend at the beginning of summer. I've watched all summer as she's given out her penguin's name to one friend after another, telling kids who didn't know about the site to meet her there.
On Club Penguin, kids get their own penguins and a variety of objects for free. A monthly subscription of $5.95 (which we pay--making it the ONLY social networking site I give actual hard currency to) gives the kids personalization options, like the ability to decorate their own house, buy special items, etc.
At the beginning of the summer, I had never heard of Club Penguin. Today, our daughter and all of her friends are on Club Penguin. In fact right now, as I write this, they're IMing and skating around the rink like little furbies on steroids.
SO why did I -- expert on social networking and Internet savvy mom -- decide that club penguin was worth six bucks a month?
First of all, the range of activities for the kids is expansive. Ships come every so-many weeks and bring new games for them to play. She's learning tons about how to navigate online spaces. She takes pride in the intricate details of the houses she has built. She can play with her real world friends even when I don't have time to drive her around. I can work in relative peace. But MOST of all? It has a great safety record.
The kids go through a very good tutorial about what is okay and not okay on the site. They are empowered to alert the site of any other member who breaks the rules. So far, I have not seen problems, although it will be interesting to see if the site changes in any way now that the hand of Disney is inserted.
All of this is to say, I just told Jenna: Disney bought Club Penguin for $350 Million! And she ran off and called a friend and said, "Disney just bought club penguin--guess how much!? $350 MILLION DOLLARS!" And that friend just ran and told her brother. News is spreading fast.
Some fast facts about Club Penguin:
Score another one for the Canadians - Club Penguin is the brainchild of British Columbia-based New Horizon Interactive.
Club Penguin has 12 million users, 700,000 of which, like me, pay. [OMG a business model!]
Club Penguin as the third most popular virtual world, while Second Life ranks 12th. Webkinz, the other site my daughter belongs to, is number 2. (Webkinz business model may be even more lucrative, with a realworld merchandising component involved since kids have to buy the stuffed animal to get a code for their online experience.)
Average age users are between 6 and 14.
From a financial perspective, Disney gains $4.95 for every dollar it spent month one. If there are 700,000 users paying $5.95 each, and Disney pays $700,000 out of pocket, well, help me with the math.
Sounds like a WIN-WIN to me.
Grown-ups, lets get busy.
---
HOLY CRAP.
All this time we thought the high-value social networking sites like FaceBook and MySpace that we old people started crashing was where the action is. Ha ha ha. The Internet's getting younger every day, friends.
Jenna, soon to be 10, first heard about Club Penguin from a friend at the beginning of summer. I've watched all summer as she's given out her penguin's name to one friend after another, telling kids who didn't know about the site to meet her there.
On Club Penguin, kids get their own penguins and a variety of objects for free. A monthly subscription of $5.95 (which we pay--making it the ONLY social networking site I give actual hard currency to) gives the kids personalization options, like the ability to decorate their own house, buy special items, etc.
At the beginning of the summer, I had never heard of Club Penguin. Today, our daughter and all of her friends are on Club Penguin. In fact right now, as I write this, they're IMing and skating around the rink like little furbies on steroids.
SO why did I -- expert on social networking and Internet savvy mom -- decide that club penguin was worth six bucks a month?
First of all, the range of activities for the kids is expansive. Ships come every so-many weeks and bring new games for them to play. She's learning tons about how to navigate online spaces. She takes pride in the intricate details of the houses she has built. She can play with her real world friends even when I don't have time to drive her around. I can work in relative peace. But MOST of all? It has a great safety record.
The kids go through a very good tutorial about what is okay and not okay on the site. They are empowered to alert the site of any other member who breaks the rules. So far, I have not seen problems, although it will be interesting to see if the site changes in any way now that the hand of Disney is inserted.
All of this is to say, I just told Jenna: Disney bought Club Penguin for $350 Million! And she ran off and called a friend and said, "Disney just bought club penguin--guess how much!? $350 MILLION DOLLARS!" And that friend just ran and told her brother. News is spreading fast.
Some fast facts about Club Penguin:
Score another one for the Canadians - Club Penguin is the brainchild of British Columbia-based New Horizon Interactive.
Club Penguin has 12 million users, 700,000 of which, like me, pay. [OMG a business model!]
Club Penguin as the third most popular virtual world, while Second Life ranks 12th. Webkinz, the other site my daughter belongs to, is number 2. (Webkinz business model may be even more lucrative, with a realworld merchandising component involved since kids have to buy the stuffed animal to get a code for their online experience.)
Average age users are between 6 and 14.
From a financial perspective, Disney gains $4.95 for every dollar it spent month one. If there are 700,000 users paying $5.95 each, and Disney pays $700,000 out of pocket, well, help me with the math.
Sounds like a WIN-WIN to me.
Grown-ups, lets get busy.
---
Tags: social networks, social media, Club Penguin, Disney, Tech, Blogging, Marketing, Advertising, Internet, PR, Tweens, LOTS OF MONEY
Powered by Qumana
July 28, 2007
Facebook Cool - except if you're "old"
Ronni has an interesting post on FaceBook's non-action (despite terms of service violations) toward some nasty groups that are aimed at dissing and degrading elders or "old people." I would imagine as a popular social network that started out for college kids, then all of a sudden got interesting enough and good enough feature-wise to attract the rest of the Internet, FaceBook's original demographic colliding with their elders offers plenty of incentive for conflict.
All of a sudden we show up at their party--a party they were having as a way to get AWAY from us. We represent what some of these younger people are rebelling against--their parents, authority, anyone over 30. What better place for some to spew stuff they wouldn't dare aim at mom and dad who are paying for college than at their parental proxies on social networks? I say some, because my nephews and niece are on FaceBook and MySpace, and I see them honoring elders, not projectile vomiting at them.
As one commenter at Ronni's said, all of these kids will one day be old--that is unless they mouth off to the wrong person and don't make it past 23. Unfortunately, many of them will also remain stupid. I wonder how many are American kids? I wonder if primarily European social networks have similar hateful groups targeted at the elderly? Why do I doubt it?
Ronni is right that those groups are violating FaceBook's stated terms of service. I don't think leaving FaceBook is the best way to raise visibility--I think staying and representin' is a better way, but I certainly don't fault anyone who is bored enough or sick enough of the FaceBook thing for booking.
---
All of a sudden we show up at their party--a party they were having as a way to get AWAY from us. We represent what some of these younger people are rebelling against--their parents, authority, anyone over 30. What better place for some to spew stuff they wouldn't dare aim at mom and dad who are paying for college than at their parental proxies on social networks? I say some, because my nephews and niece are on FaceBook and MySpace, and I see them honoring elders, not projectile vomiting at them.
As one commenter at Ronni's said, all of these kids will one day be old--that is unless they mouth off to the wrong person and don't make it past 23. Unfortunately, many of them will also remain stupid. I wonder how many are American kids? I wonder if primarily European social networks have similar hateful groups targeted at the elderly? Why do I doubt it?
Ronni is right that those groups are violating FaceBook's stated terms of service. I don't think leaving FaceBook is the best way to raise visibility--I think staying and representin' is a better way, but I certainly don't fault anyone who is bored enough or sick enough of the FaceBook thing for booking.
---
July 24, 2007
STEVE DELIVERS! What a Prince!
A Wicked Cool surprise from reader Steve in the UK who delivered Prince's new only-released-over-there CD -- it came it came!!! So far I've gotten it away from Jenna to hear the first two tracks which are interesting as usual for Prince. But oddly so. The first track - Planet Earth - I described to George as Pink Floyd meets Earth Wind & Fire. So, you know, go ponder that sound fest for a minute or two.
Okay, THANKS AGAIN STEVE!! More as I get time to listen. (And thanks to my other buddy across the pond for the mp3s!)
People. They really do surprise.
---
Okay, THANKS AGAIN STEVE!! More as I get time to listen. (And thanks to my other buddy across the pond for the mp3s!)
People. They really do surprise.
---
FaceBook - Right Name, Right TIme
I know everyone is talking about Facebook, which is why I haven't jumped up and down too much over here. But the things that I'm finding interesting aren't what I see the Web 2.0 experts talking about.
What fascinates me is Susan.
Because, the most real-world-impacting thing about facebook is its faces.
Because Jenna didn't have a cousin named Susan with a smile and a face and a camera phone two days ago, but now she does.
1 day, one face, new family.
Low and behold, I start the Sessum facebook group and we find that Susan's father and George are first cousins, that Jenna and Susan share the same great-grandfather. And now Susan has put up family pictures and George is staring at faces of an Uncle he never knew -- but in his face he knows, you know? -- and looking into smiling eyes and onto etched hands that remember him forward into now.
That could not happen with the velocity with which it IS happening because of Facebook. It could not have happened with such speed and clarity in the vastness of the Internet through search.
It could not happen with blogging because WE -- George and I -- hog the "sessum" search results on google. The Sessums we sift through are ourselves. Are you talking about us and us talking about you. We would never find Susan or Michael or Fred through blogging, and we would never find them BECAUSE of blogging -- because blog results inundate Google search results. And Sessum results are mostly yours truly.
It could not happen with MySpace either, because MySpaces's search capabilities have remained lackluster, despite press releases and claims to the contrary. And because MySpace is more bling and sing than face.
Similarly, with the Dimino group, with 20-some other facebookians -- two of whom are my nephews and one my niece -- we are finding one another: I am not only their aunt anymore - they are not only my brother's kids: we are creatives. From my family group I learned -- through a probable relative's grandmother -- about the long held belief that all Diminos come from the same village of Sicily, this fishing village.
From there, my imagination gives birth to stories. I am transported.
We are the social Web, family.
When we begin to participate on the Internet's intranets -- like FaceBook -- with others who say yes this is who I am and this is my face I'm on this book with you, then we find each other in new ways. And we become new to one another. And the new becomes familiar.
In groups, through play, the way the web has always worked, we meet and move forward and sideways and through together. We expand. We are evolving from hyperlinked-conversation-based relationships.
-----
What fascinates me is Susan.
Because, the most real-world-impacting thing about facebook is its faces.
Because Jenna didn't have a cousin named Susan with a smile and a face and a camera phone two days ago, but now she does.
1 day, one face, new family.
Low and behold, I start the Sessum facebook group and we find that Susan's father and George are first cousins, that Jenna and Susan share the same great-grandfather. And now Susan has put up family pictures and George is staring at faces of an Uncle he never knew -- but in his face he knows, you know? -- and looking into smiling eyes and onto etched hands that remember him forward into now.
That could not happen with the velocity with which it IS happening because of Facebook. It could not have happened with such speed and clarity in the vastness of the Internet through search.
It could not happen with blogging because WE -- George and I -- hog the "sessum" search results on google. The Sessums we sift through are ourselves. Are you talking about us and us talking about you. We would never find Susan or Michael or Fred through blogging, and we would never find them BECAUSE of blogging -- because blog results inundate Google search results. And Sessum results are mostly yours truly.
It could not happen with MySpace either, because MySpaces's search capabilities have remained lackluster, despite press releases and claims to the contrary. And because MySpace is more bling and sing than face.
Similarly, with the Dimino group, with 20-some other facebookians -- two of whom are my nephews and one my niece -- we are finding one another: I am not only their aunt anymore - they are not only my brother's kids: we are creatives. From my family group I learned -- through a probable relative's grandmother -- about the long held belief that all Diminos come from the same village of Sicily, this fishing village.
From there, my imagination gives birth to stories. I am transported.
We are the social Web, family.
When we begin to participate on the Internet's intranets -- like FaceBook -- with others who say yes this is who I am and this is my face I'm on this book with you, then we find each other in new ways. And we become new to one another. And the new becomes familiar.
In groups, through play, the way the web has always worked, we meet and move forward and sideways and through together. We expand. We are evolving from hyperlinked-conversation-based relationships.
-----
Tags: Facebook, Social Media, Web 2.0, Internet, intranet, social networks, myspace, advertising, PR, Marketing, communication, business, everythingisfaces = Powered by Qumana
July 21, 2007
letting go
Going to the pool in the summer has long been my ritual for peace of mind, or some semblance thereof. For lots of reasons, this summer has been on the lacking side of peaceful. But today I made it to the pool with jenna and friends and it was really really nice and really really needed.
...
RIP Max/Marshmallow.
max in his younger days.
"I sure hope she's pregnant."
An odd thing for George to be saying when he walked into the bedroom at about 1 a.m.
"Who? Huh?"
"The hamster--I hope she's pregnant."
"Why?"
"'Cause he's dead. Dead dead dead."
That's how I came to learn that our elderhamster Max, AKA Marshmallow, loving husband to Cupcake and the longest living hamster in show business, had been Promoted to Glory as they are known say in The Salvation Army.
It was bound to happen. He had far surpassed the average hamster lifespan of 2-3 years, survived innumerable stupid hamster tricks and a lengthy marriage to his first wife, Coco, who ate their 13 babies back in 2005 after I mistakenly separated mom from babies. He was also the sweetest hamster we've ever had, and father of all hamsters we've ever had, except for his two wives.
I think of Coco, who died last year on Halloween, and the birth of their first litter of babies, spitting like popcorn from the hamster wheel. I think back on when I tried to figure out what to tell Jenna and opted for the truth.
She heard us talking tonight and already knows about Max. She's glad it's not the cat. A story for another day.
Recently we could tell that Max was aging fast, and that's when George came up with the idea to get him a new mate in Cupcake. We did a trial run with them in the same cage a month ago, but no babies. We put them back together a couple of weeks ago, so we're really hoping for some offspring to remember Max by.
Babies or not, Max you were a gentleman among hamsters. I'll miss you.
==
July 20, 2007
the be all end all of the weinberger v keen thang
Madame Levy summarizes it better than anyone i've seen. i LOLed five times. "mustard is a no go area for most people. trust me." oh man.
i hadn't been reading this stuff and now i don't have to. she's like the cliff notes for blogosphere dust ups. and she cleans fish tanks too.
---
i hadn't been reading this stuff and now i don't have to. she's like the cliff notes for blogosphere dust ups. and she cleans fish tanks too.
---
July 19, 2007
behavioral science
This chat is off the record Learn more Cancel
me: what if a nut falls on my head?
madame: just act crazier than them. this always works.
me: ok thx
July 17, 2007
What a Wonderful Surprise!!
So Steve, a valued reader from the UK, did the nicest thing since my new mac, which you are not going to believe.
Steve saw my writing and wanting for the new Prince CD, Planet Earth, which is available so far only in the UK given the stroke of anti-establishment marketing genius from The Artist himself, and decided to send me a copy -- w00t!
In case you think he's trying to pull the wool over our eyes, dear friends, I give you exhibits A and B. HOW COOL IS THIS:
-----
Steve saw my writing and wanting for the new Prince CD, Planet Earth, which is available so far only in the UK given the stroke of anti-establishment marketing genius from The Artist himself, and decided to send me a copy -- w00t!
In case you think he's trying to pull the wool over our eyes, dear friends, I give you exhibits A and B. HOW COOL IS THIS:
-----
On the Radio
Oh, I was so surprised and shocked, and I wondered too
if by chance you heard it for yourself
I never told a soul just how I've been feeling about you
but they said it really loud
they said it on the air
on the radio whoa oh oh
on the radio whoa oh oh
on the radio whoa oh oh
on the radio whoa oh oh now, now
--donna summers, on the radio
Tonight I join Social Media Diva Toby Bloomberg on her new BlogTalk Radio Show. Toby, Wayne Hurlburt and I will be talking about social media ethics (yeah, i know!) trying to define what it mens, how and if bloggers differ from journalists in complying to rules/mores/norms, how much any of this matters and to whom, and more. A half hour isn't very long, but let's get the party started. Show notes are here. Wish me luck.
---
if by chance you heard it for yourself
I never told a soul just how I've been feeling about you
but they said it really loud
they said it on the air
on the radio whoa oh oh
on the radio whoa oh oh
on the radio whoa oh oh
on the radio whoa oh oh now, now
--donna summers, on the radio
Tonight I join Social Media Diva Toby Bloomberg on her new BlogTalk Radio Show. Toby, Wayne Hurlburt and I will be talking about social media ethics (yeah, i know!) trying to define what it mens, how and if bloggers differ from journalists in complying to rules/mores/norms, how much any of this matters and to whom, and more. A half hour isn't very long, but let's get the party started. Show notes are here. Wish me luck.
---
July 16, 2007
The decisions we make in our 20s...
i love that Betsy and Ronni keep taking us back in time. SO many of us spend our time online predicting things to come--it's nice to see the past join us, remember us. That's what makes this picture of Betsy in her 20s -- Pregnant and adorable -- so special.
July 15, 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)