Wish I could present like Lawrence Lessig

Aside from the material shared in his presentation, I thought the delivery itself was captivating. I loved those one word slides for effect. I can present, but that is definitely at a higher level than anything I've ever done.

I thought the concerns of John Philip Sousa were really interesting--the idea of people singing songs together and how the new age of technology (recorded sound) would kill that. I thought Lawrence Lessig's explanation of how we are restoring the old days of John Philip Sousa and changing sing-alongs to a read-write culture online was a great point. However, I do think that he may have discounted the entire 20th century of technology. It's true that I may not have been able to make my own movies, but let's not forget that it was Elvis who went into a studio where he was going to pay to make a recording (supposedly for his mother). Here was a teenager from humble beginnings in Tupelo, Miss, who had "read-write" access (even if he had to pay). Sure it's easier now, but it didn't all start on January 1, 2000.

How can I keep my second life going when I can barely keep up with the first?

I have to confess, I was a little skeptical creating my avatar and going through the lab planned for next week. (As I'll be "teleporting" to another country next week, I got a little head start.) I admit it was fun flying through the air and teleporting to new locations. It was also a little lonely. Aside from my two friends who will also miss next week's class, I ran into very few people.

So what was the point?

I think it would have been useful had I read this article by Randall Hand first or this article by Grace Patuwo. The idea of using it for a classroom (although someone is going to have to teach me how to sit down if that is the case) or for interviewing someone as this YouTube video showed, is really intriguing.

There definitely looks like more potential out of Second Life than just playing with your avatar, though I understand shopping for your avatar in the virtual world is a business that is taking off into the billions. Imagine that. Come to think of it, I was not that thrilled with the dress I was wearing...and I could have used some accessories. I may just go back to explore.

It's Not About Me, It's About You!

After reading Liz Ryan's article, I'm convinced that I must be a great networker. I'm a nice person, I'm interested in people, I'm a good listener, and I'm helpful. So today I'm thinking, "How can I help fellow students in my blog circle?"

Let's start with Geoff. Geoff has a good eye for design--just check out his blog and his new website. Last semester we worked together on a couple of projects, and I would definitely work with Geoff again, not just for the visual appeal of his work but also for the content.

Danielle seems to put a lot of thought in her posts. They aren't just a quick overviews of an article--they include a good analysis and a real-life application to her own situation, which always makes the reader think.

Half the semester is over, and I still don't think I've spoken to Jonathan in real life...only in the online world. I enjoy reading Jonathan's blog. His titles are always catchy and make me want to read on.

Olivia is the one who impressed me with her gadgets. Once I saw Yelp on her blog, I had to put it on my own. Not only are her posts thoughtful, but they've got a lot of good visual content.

Jodi-ann was last to join our circle, but she caught up really quickly, and impressively on her own. Her blog, like the others, is well thought out, well written, and interesting to read. And we had fun (and did well) in the group project from last week.

I sure hope this helps you in the search results. It's been a great class, and I've enjoyed being in the circle with you. Keep on blogging and keep networking!

Big Brother is watching you...but who is watching big brother?

I have always had mixed feelings about sharing information about me--whether it's personal details on a product registration survey, home phone number (it's unlisted, so that rarely happens), or my position. I guess I was just not sure (other than looking up a restaurant when I'm out and about) that I could see a measurable benefit.

This weekend has provided the first real-life experience where I think this information would be useful. I have been trying to track down a brother of mine, who lives in another city, and have been worrying for the last 24+ hours. It's unlike him not to have called me back by now. Of course, he's not the most tech-savvy guy. In fact, he rarely even has his cell phone switched on, so tracking wouldn't work--unless we convinced him that there was a reason to stay connected.

...if only to ease little sister's mind.

American Values 2.0

I'm of a mixed opinion that Google and/or the Internet in general are making us dumber and more narcissistic. Aren't these traits already there in the American public? Haven't we seen our kid's scores, particularly in math and science lag behind other countries for years? Are these concerns purely about kids in the US or are our concerns about the nation as a whole?

I see examples of these concerns every day.

• When we are being advised about finding a new job, aren't we told that we have to have a brand? And like any good brand, it must be advertised fully to achieve recognition.
• In the workplace, we often produce written materials to inform and educate colleagues and management. How many times have you sent a document that answers every question a person would have only to be asked a question because the individual hasn't read the document that was provided?
• Participate in conference calls? Ever ask a participant a question only to have him ask you to repeat it because he was "multi-tasking" on something else?

These concerns or problems aren't new, but the speed of technology makes them so obvious.

Do I think that the Internet encourages it? Absolutely. Perhaps it's time to challenge our teachers, parents, writers, etc. to incorporate ways of using today's technology to improve the learning experience and better educate our kids.

Crowdsourcing an option for disaster relief

This article on the application of crowdsourcing in relief efforts in Haiti is timely. It seems like a useful application.

Achieving a balance in corporate blogging

Marketing and corporate blogging don't go together? Does that mean I need to change my MBA concentration from marketing to blogging? I'm certain the two can go together--it's the mindset of corporate marketing that needs to change to make companies better able to connect with its customers in this new medium.

If that's the case, where does the Head of Corporate Blogging report in the organization? If corporate blogging doesn't belong in the marketing organization, perhaps it would be better suited in customer service. That would make sense if the goal is to engage with customers so as to improve their experience with the company and products and incorporate their feedback.

What happens, however, if there is some controversial issue and the company wants to control its public response to it? Some articles contend that the company has to be honest and respond to these issues openly. At times (if the company is facing a lawsuit, for example), it may be wise for the corporate blogger to look to the official PR machine of the company for a response or perhaps answer honestly to say, "This is an issue that is being dealt with by our company's legal counsel and therefore I must refer all questions on this topic to them."

This area will evolve within the corporate space as it is embraced by more companies. There will need to be a reasonable balance between openness and honesty and protecting the company image.