Give me a minute, please?

Posted by on Sep 14, 2008 in Uncategorized | 1 comment

In the next 10 minutes, someone will die of leukemia.

This is a good thing.

40 years ago the survival rate was 14% – or a death every 3 minutes.

Light the NightYour support of me and my family as we’ve done the Light the Night walk the last 3 years has helped stretch out that time to 10 minutes.

Your support again this year could mean another minute.

Another minute means about 2,000 more people live another year, live to see their kids smile just a little longer, live to hug their mother just another day.

Another minute means a little more time to find the cure.

Can you afford to contribute right now to help find that minute?

If you can, please donate.

If not, I understand. Times are tight. Please at the very least Tweet and blog this post.

But if you can, thank you. Click here to donate.

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The best security system in the world, post 9/11

Posted by on Sep 11, 2008 in Uncategorized | 5 comments

I get on a plane this afternoon to head back to Boston.

A few people have asked whether I feel anything about flying on the anniversary of 9/11.

Heck no.

We now have the greatest security system in the world on our planes. No, not the TSA. Not Homeland Security. All of that is very expensive window dressing that does nothing to improve our security.

No, our greatest security system on our planes is the understanding that hijackers will kill everyone, and as a result, the passengers have nothing to lose by resisting.

Put simply, if you try to hijack a plane for any reason in the United States of America, the passengers are going to beat the living snot out of you and then mummify you with whatever they have on hand.

We could eliminate the TSA tomorrow and still be just as safe, if not safer. Heck, instead of the billions spent on airport luggage screening, spend $3 per seat and just put billy clubs next to the air sickness bags.

This is the America I know and love – don’t mess with the bull. You’ll get the horns.

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Declaring Social Media Independence Not Always A Great Idea

Posted by on Jul 5, 2008 in Uncategorized | 9 comments

Declaring Social Media Independence Not Always A Great Idea

We make a great deal out of saying how independent media is terrific. Independent media is the future. The usual stuff – and I don’t disagree, independence is a wonderful thing, the right and privilege to do pretty much whatever you want. No gatekeepers or superiors to answer to, no corporate bosses to kowtow to. As an independent media producer, you’re free, and that siren call lures lots of people to social media. Quit Your Day Job! and its ilk.

Look back at our history. There were a number of occasions when the United States of America very nearly didn’t make it. The Whiskey Rebellion. The War of 1812. The Civil War.

Independence is freedom, true. But independence also means the loss of a safety net. When you free yourself and leap off the cliff to freedom, you’d better be damn sure you’re strong enough to fly. You can have mentors and friends to help to some extent, but at the end of the day, you have to be strong enough to fly on your own.

The same skills that eventually helped America become more than just a rebellious British colony are the skills that any independent media producer absolutely must have. Fiscal discipline, strategy, planning, and a boatload of luck all head up the list, as well as having something worth fighting for. Independence for independence’s sake is not enough.

This is why I continue to happily work for a corporation, for the Student Loan Network. I know that there are people who value what I can do and believe I’d make a fine independent contractor, and if I had to play to only my strengths, I’d of course do that. But independence is a double edged sword, and I also know my limitations. I know what things I’m not good at, what things are weaknesses.

I am happy to exchange absolute freedom for the comfort of not having to deal with bookkeeping, personnel, accounting, sales, contract negotiation, object oriented development, high quality customer service, utility management, janitorial services, vendor selection, and the billion other things that I don’t do when I go to work every day, that you don’t see in my YouTube videos and other social media efforts, but are just as important to the well-being and functioning of a company.

Perhaps someday, I’ll consider making that jump, but if I do, I know for damn sure I’ll be ready to fly.

If you’re thinking about taking that leap, about declaring your independence, recognize that independence carries with it tremendous responsibility. If you don’t know your weaknesses and have a strategy to address them, it’s going to be a short, short flight.

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Food for thought on Memorial Day

Posted by on May 26, 2008 in Uncategorized | 2 comments

Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.

This world in arms is not spending money alone.

It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children.

- President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1956

Food for thought: the United States military budget is $713 billion dollars. (Slate) For every American man, woman, and child, that’s $2,376 paid out every year.

Whatever your politics, understand that this reflects our national priorities, where we put our tax dollars to work, governed by who we vote for.

Food for thought: two months’ worth of the military budget would wipe out the student loan debt of every current student in America and then some.

Four months’ worth would send every student academically eligible to attend college to school for free.

Three months’ worth would pay for the entire reconstruction of the Gulf Coast, erasing Katrina’s damage.

As we remember those who have given their lives for the country, please consider carefully who you vote for this fall, and urge every American you know to get educated about the candidates and participate by voting and staying involved in the political process after the election. Hold your elected representatives accountable by staying in communication with them, sending them email, faxes, YouTube videos, whatever it takes to ensure your voice continues to be heard about the priorities that are important to you.

“Pray for the dead. Fight like hell for the living.” – Mary “Mother” Jones

Staycationing

Posted by on May 24, 2008 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Just added a new article to the Financial Aid Podcast blog – how to staycation properly. In a time of record gas prices, record food prices, record airline prices, record everything, this article will hopefully inspire you to try something different and lighten both your spirits and the load on your wallet.

What I'll Be Sharing at PodCamp NYC

Posted by on Apr 24, 2008 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

What I’ll Be Sharing at PodCamp NYC

A few people have wondered what I’ll be sharing at PodCamp NYC. I’ve got two sessions blocked out, plus possibly a panel – we’ll see about the last part.

Session 1:

Intro to Podcasting: The Podcasting 101 session. 10 AM Friday, Hall of Fame Wunsch Center. How to listen, participate, and create. A high level overview of the world of podcasting and why it’s important to you – or should be. Suitable for beginners new to new media. Veterans may not derive much value from this session.

Session 2:

Power Your Personal Network with LinkedIn. 10 AM Saturday, Room 203. I’ll be presenting how to use LinkedIn to power your networking skills. I’ll be sharing a few of my tips about using the service, what it’s good for, and how to help you build your personal brand with it, including simple but effective techniques you can start using immediately for better results. Suitable for everyone.

Session 3:

Affordable PR for Non-Profits Using New Media. 11 AM Saturday, Room 202. I’ll be co-presenting with Maria Thurrell, founder of Media Awaken, on how new media is changing the way non-profits do business. I’m also going to give away a secret – THE secret – for non-profits to be able to raise literally millions of dollars from the right corporate donors. If you work for a non-profit, this is a session you cannot afford to miss – literally. Suitable for everyone, but targeted to non-profits.

Session 4:

New Media and Politics in an Election Year. 2 PM Saturday, Auditorium. This is a panel hosted by Dan Patterson from Talk Radio News. I’ll be one of the panelists talking about use of new media so far, and where politicians might take things next. Suitable for everyone.

Session 5:

New Media Marketing: How New Media Powers Business. 3 PM Saturday, Auditorium. I’ve been working on refining this ever-evolving presentation which now includes aspects of sales, internet marketing, search engine optimization, and just about everything else, all linked to a framework that you can take home and apply to any product, service, or organization.

If you’re thinking about using blogging, podcasting, social networks, or other new media tools to promote the ideas you care about, this session is for you. Suitable for intermediate to advanced practitioners of new media. Beginners are welcome but may get lost quickly.

I’m unsure whether or not uStream or other services will be available for the distance aspect, as I don’t know what the venue’s Internet access will be like, so if you can make it in person, great

If you plan on attending any of the sessions at PodCamp NYC that I’ll be participating in, please feel free to ask questions in advance of the event itself – just leave comments here!

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