Clever Thoughts

Social Media Hackery

// February 13th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Let me start off by telling you about this great new podcast Media Hacks. Some of the coolest kids from PodCamp get together and talk about the social media “space”. In case you are un-aware, the social media “space” is the “space” where people go online and talk. That’s it. Whether it be a blog, podcast, vlog, or social network… it’s all about open online dialogue. (email is not in the “space”)

Here is some background for complete transparency. I heart Julian Smith, Chris Brogan, Chris Penn, and CC Chapman. So when they talk in this show, I listen. I also have a great respect for the rest of the cast and Mitch Joel who is the organizer of the show. Mitch is a hardcore marketer who does the social network/media thing, but is always looking for the value social media has for him and his company (good for him). This makes Mitch a knowledgeable source for how to use and work the “space”. Check out his regularly updated podcast at Six Pixels Of Seperation.

After listening to the first episode I really got annoyed with Mitch’s stance on blogger relation campaigns. Mitch is of the opinion that in order to have value to your readers as a blogger you must keep journalistic standards and not take anything for free from companies. Something about integrity and standards for blogs.

Mitch… friend, you are not a journalist. So why are you holding other people in the “space” to that standard?

I was thinking about it this morning and I realize that journalist’s standards were created for people who were paid to report about a specific subject. Journalist are “ethically” not allowed to be involved with the subject of what they report about, so much so that they are dis-inclined to hold stock in companies related to their beat or subject as well as to be a part of the subject industry groups. These ethical standards are to control bias in the reporting both positive and negative.

Unless you are being payed to report about a subject, you are not a reporter and your bias is going to play a role in your participation in the “space” whether you are taking free stuff or not. Actually, I think taking free stuff or money is the easier part of the ethics issue, it’s clear and simple. Take the stuff and you are showing bias. But what about not taking the free stuff, what about not reporting about negative things, what about not reporting about companies you would like to gain as clients?

It’s what you are not saying that is also very important as a journalist. Seeing as Mitch is in the “space” and does not want to piss off current or potential clients I think he is going to be dis-inclined to talk trash about either group. So, Mitch… have you ever blogged/podcast; trashing others for bad content or poor use of the “space” when this would effect your business? I suspect you have not, hey you are a smart guy….( I know I cannot bad mouth companies that will bring me business)

I think that bias is a part of the “space”. Taking free stuff and not talking trash is a part of the “space”. But like Chris Brogan points our, online relationships to your readers is about trust and transparency. In order to gain trust you must be clear about where you are coming from and what you are doing. You cannot take free stuff and act like it’s not going to bias you a bit. You cannot talk about your field of interest and not feel pressured not to talk about the flaws of companies within your field because of retribution or possible job opportunities lost in the future.

So the “space” is not a completely open and honest conversation beholden to journalistic standards. But what public conversation has anyone ever had that was truly open an honest?

Fail Whale

// January 29th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

My aunt is dieing.

In my heart I have so much love for her and her family. I am sad that I am not geographically closer to be there for them all.

I cannot really solve any of there problems, I know. But it feels so akward to send love and thoughts through emails.

Yes, it’s all about me… I want to be closer because I want to feel connected, because I am the one getting updates in small chunks…

Perhaps my expectation are too great. Perhaps I have spent too much time online with twitter. I want to know what is going on right now.

Sad…

It’s got nothing to do with me. I can only hope, pray, and support from afar. But for some reason, because I follow so many on twitter I feel like I am not far from them.

I hope you are all well. I hope that you can all find joy in your life. I hope you all have people their for you when you need them.

ok… enough contemplation…

His brisket is Beyond..

// October 2nd, 2008 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

The Great Schlep from The Great Schlep on Vimeo.

Bear with me

// July 14th, 2008 // 1 Comment » // Uncategorized

Yorick, I knew him well

// July 11th, 2008 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Just finished reading the end of Y: THE LAST MAN. It’s a story about a world where all of the men are killed in an instant except for one man. That man, Yorick, is not a super hero or super important… just a regular dork.

It’s a great series and has brought me back into comic books. It’s been about 15 years since I followed a series in any real earnest. I miss this kind of story telling. Between the sci-fi story and wonderful art I found myself transported to an earlier time in my life. It was good.

Anyhow, that’s all for now.

Where to start…

// June 26th, 2008 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

I have so many things I would like to do and so many that I am doing. It makes my head spin to try and pin them all down. it’s like a circus in there.

FiberGuild

Fiber Un-Conference

GIS Podcast

Knitting Podcast

Family Podcast

podcast Presenter

Cooking Competition Chairman

Fishing

House Cleaner

Online Map Callaborator

Design… Design… Design…
It is embarrassing how poor my skills are at web design. All my websites use default templates. So many of them look the same.

I really need to take a step back and start taking pencil to paper and drawing some ideas. I guess this would be a way to get the ball rolling. I don’t know that learning more CSS or HTML or Illustrator will get me any closer to a vision for any of the sites.

If any of you have some ideas about how one gets from paper to website I am all ears.

New friends

// May 20th, 2008 // 1 Comment » // Uncategorized

I spent the weekend at the Easton Mountain Retreat center attending the Men’s Spring Knitting Retreat. It was a wonderful event filled with knitting, spinning, and glee. So many men who were just happy to be hanging out with other guys and sharing their passion for fiber arts/craft.

I wish the weekend could have lasted a lot longer. I can’t wait to get to the next Men’s Knitting Retreat.

A good Friday

// April 26th, 2008 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

After a rough start, blah… blah… blah…, last night was a lot of fun. The wife and I put ourselves into the capable hands of faith. Faith lead us down Mass Ave into Boston and found a parking spot near Newbury Street.

From there we followed the walk signs and ended up at the Summer Shack. We had some delicious jerk shrimp in Beer and yummy healthy bluefish. Then to top the night off we watched Dan in Real life at home and went dancing… a little before going to bed.

It was nice.

Err…

// April 1st, 2008 // 1 Comment » // Uncategorized

Hey you…

Yeah you with the teeth. What you lookin at?

Blah

Can’t Sleep

// March 21st, 2008 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

I feel like I have been hit by a truck in the head. And that’s just the half of it.

I have been avoiding this week. Avoiding illness, my own and others. It’s hard to feel sick but, it’s harder to be there for others who are really sick. Other than feelin for them and sending them positive energy I don’t know that there is anything else we can do for them. So I work on myself.

My doctor told me that I am having maintenance issues. If I want my body to keep from getting hurt I am going to have to start to take it into the gym to be serviced on a weekly basis. This is how I learned the truth:

Downward facing dog is not man’s best friend.

In fact downward facing dog is a joke between some yoga instructors that probably started off with a dare that went something like: Hey Alison, I bet I can get my entire class to stick their butts up in the air ….

Anyhow… I have been thinking I need ot start a new practice of writing. It’s a good creative outlet for me and it keeps me in touch with myself if no one else. Funny thing, I tend to read my blog entries months later and think… who is that guy.

As always more to come when I am feeling coherent…