A Planet Changing Podcast. I’m always suspicious when someone says an experience changed their life. People always seems to settle back into their established norms. I’m not going to say this Tech Nation podcast with 90-year-old scientist James Lovelock on the Gaia Theory changed my life, but I can hope the information it provides might possibly change the planet. According to Lovelock, we humans aren’t the problem in Global Warming, but our contributions have pulled the trigger on a process that was already in the works. Everyman Word of the Day is geoengineering.
Am I the last man on Gaia to learn about Stargate Universe? My wife told me about a new Stargate series coming: Stargate Universe. My wife! I really need to spend less time following TechMeme links. I’ll be looking forward to seeing The Big Monty’s Robert Carlyle again. If SG-U adds “You Can Leave Your Hat On” to the soundtrack mix I’m sure the show will be a hit. In other Stargate news, I noticed a new SG-1 movie titled “Children of the Gods” in my Netflix New Releases feed. Position: Move to #1.
I need to learn more about hidden video cameras. Fascinating story about a man who complained to his Toyota dealer that quarters were being stolen from his truck when it was in the shop. Being ignored twice he installed a video camera on the passenger side. The video captured employees going through his medication, using racial slurs and watching porn. His letter, video excerpts, dealer video response link, customer response to dealer video and more(!) start here.
AT&T. Diving allowed. The Burke Family dove full frontal into AT&T waters this week, with three new phones on an AT&T Family Plan. I’ve been hearing about crappy AT&T service since 2003, but when AT&T bought Unicel and came to Vermont recently I had a great Unicel number I didn’t want to lose and my wife was jonesin’ for an iPhone, so we took the plunge. The guys at the local Vermont AT&T store (formerly Unicel, formerly U.S.Cellular), were outstanding in every way and our new iPhones are, well, iPhones. You can’t help but be apprehensive about AT&T after assaults like this one from TechCrunch, but many people in the comments thought their AT&T service was excellent. The Burke Family will hope for the latter and keep you posted.
The Human Capital Dividend of Social Networking. I don’t get all of the ramifications of this Fast Company article titled “It’s Time to Create Your Own Economy,” but I do know that personal gains achieved through Social Networking lie outside of traditional Gross Domestic Product measurement.
I love your blog! Beth Harte describes the scene when individuals say “I love your blog!” hoping to manipulate you through flattery, yet can’t specifically tell you what they like about it. Harte nails it when she says, “a lot of us bloggers don’t blog to be self-important, so ‘I love your blog’ doesn’t mean much.” As a blogger, what hits me is when I’m at, say, New England Code Camp, conversing with Code Camp buddies and sharing an experience I blogged about. Having them say, “I already know that” in an indignant tone because they already read it on my blog is the best flattery of all.
Who’s your Trust Daddy? Steve Rubel lists the degree of trust we place in various sources. There’s going to be revenue in being a trusted resource some day, and when that day comes perhaps someone will view me as a trusted resource.
Will Art of Community Chapter One be our last? Chapter One of Jon Bacon’s new book “The Art of Community” is available for download. It’s well-written and lays the foundation for a book I’m sure filled with good things. So I went to pre-order on Amazon. $26.99, pre-order price, and for a paperback? You’re kidding, right, Mr. Bacon? Do you think yours is the only Community book out there? Next.
Branding equals Distribution. Chris Brogan shares my appreciation for McDonalds iced coffee. It’s practically the only thing I buy at McDonalds, but that doesn’t make me less of a fan. “You see, the very best brands in the world do something not addressed in the [standard branding] definition. They work on perfecting a product/service, and then owning distribution.”
Yes, you’re that important. Novel airport terminal billboard that might make you act like more of an arrogant, know-it-all jerk than usual.