Archive for August, 2006

Sen. Stevens is ‘the secret senator’

CNN.com - Sen. Stevens is ‘the secret senator’ - Aug 30, 2006

WASHINGTON (CNN) — The identity of the blogosphere’s “secret senator” has been revealed.

Humm, does this say that blogging is now the mainstream? No more strugglinig for recognition. Now blogs take precedence over news

30 August, 2006 | No comments

Can a day without DSL be too far off?

Can a day without DSL be too far off? | InfoWorld | Column | 2006-08-25 | By David L. Margulius

Speaking of DSL, did I mention that I hate companies that make you fight to do business with them? My one-year contract on DSL expired this month, and the company promptly jacked the rate from $19 to $34 a month (for the slowest and the only-available service they offer on my block — I think its 2,400 baud). I know you have to wait until your contract expires and call to negotiate, which I did, only to reach a literal-minded sales rep who said there was no way I could keep the $19 rate. Only after 10 minutes of huffing and puffing and insisting on talking to a supervisor was I put on hold and told, OK, $19.

I found this article entertaining for 2 reasons. 1) It highlights our dependence on technology and 2) It shows how companies can still provide horrible customer service if they do not think about the customer.

29 August, 2006 | No comments

Blogging for big bucks

Business 2.0: Blogging for big bucks - Aug. 22, 2006

With Internet-like speed, blogs have gone from self-indulgent hobbies to flourishing businesses. Real businesses, with real revenue streams from real advertisers.

Its been a pretty busy couple of weeks as I get ready for classes, but seeing Blogging on the Front Page of Business 2.0 got me pretty pumped. There are some really good articles and blogs are getting the recognition they deserve. As a platform there’s nothing quite like them. They are easy to use, publish, and they look good (most of them). This is a dangerous combination.

This article is good becasue it outlines many of the things that are happening in the industry.

24 August, 2006 | No comments

The Unmaking of a Senator: How Bloggers Pulled It Off

TIME.com: The Unmaking of a Senator: How Bloggers Pulled It Off — Page 1

The much-hyped Internet activists of the Howard Dean presidential campaign, liberal blogs like Daily Kos and activist groups like MoveOn.org had generated lots of buzz, but few results at the ballot box until now. But in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, the bloggers didn’t just get a win, but a victory no one could have expected even four months ago. Joe Lieberman wasn’t just a three-term Connecticut Senator, he was only a few thousand votes from being the vice-president in a Democratic administration six years ago. And despite almost the entire Democratic establishment supporting his run against a virtually unknown businessman named Ned Lamont, including former President Clinton campaigning for him in Connecticut, the bloggers and Connecticut voters have essentially kicked Joe Lieberman out of the Democratic Party.

The power of the blog? Is it that simple? Blogs do offer perspective outside of the mainstream media. The key is that they are perceipved as to me more conversational than media, which adds a different level of trust.

9 August, 2006 | No comments

How Hizballah Hijacks the Interne

TIME.com: How Hizballah Hijacks the Internet — Page 1

“As the Israelis tighten the noose on Hizballah in Lebanon, these communication nodes become critical,” said Fred Burton, a former U.S. counterterrorism official and now vice president of Stratfor, a security consulting and forecasting company in Austin, Tex. In today’s asymmetrical warfare, the Internet is vital to groups like Hizballah who use it to recruit, raise money, communicate and propagandize, Burton said, including transmissions from Hizballah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah.

Now this is fascinating. The creativity, the perseverance, the name …”whack-a-mole” Interesting how they do it and interesting how volunteers are tracking them and shutting them down.

9 August, 2006 | No comments

College Football Blog: Oklahoma’s ‘Deep Throat’

SI.com - Scorecard - College Football Blog: Oklahoma’s ‘Deep Throat’

The story is just the latest example of just how powerful a role fan message boards play in college football. These sites have literally turned anyone with a screen name into a potential reporter — albeit anonymously and with no accountability. From Peter Warrick’s 1999 Dillard’s spree to the 2003 Alabama coaching scandal, countless major stories have first broken on message boards. Unfortunately, they’re often buried amongst other more reckless, unsubstantiated rumors. “This was the 1 in 20 that turns out to be true,” said Jones.

More on the power of message boards But if it is truly 1 in 20 and the cost of non-compliance is so high, don’t you think unoversities would check out the “rumors” to make sure that they are only smoke?

7 August, 2006 | No comments

Sports message boards become major players

Board Games: Sports message boards become major players

“If I wanted to keep my family - I’m not saying it was that deep - but I didn’t want to have any friction in the household,” Bishop, 36, said.Ross Weinstein, a Long Island resident who goes by NYGator on Florida’s two main fan sites, became such a serial poster that he forced himself to go cold turkey for three months last year.

Honestly I had not thought about this much as a digital stakeholder relationship tool. But it becomes quite evident when you think about message boards and college athletics. I know the NCAA keeps a close eye on it. But this technology keeps many people in touch with organizations, helps them keep on top of products, or trends. Pretty powerful stuff…and pretty addicting too. In many ways relationships are developed. On one board I read a regular poster passed away unexpectedly. Many were grieving. Many who had never met the man. But through the message board relationships had former and just as with any relationship when it ended people were hurt.

6 August, 2006 | No comments

U r sckd: worker fired by text message

U r sckd: worker fired by text message - Yahoo! News

Katy Tanner, a 21-year-old sales assistant, received the message while she was off work with a migraine, the South Wales Echo newspaper said Friday.The text message said: “We will not require your services anymore…Thank you for your time with us.”

Wow, I wish there was a button I could push which said “follow this story as it continues” but there is not. Should she have been dismissed via. SMS? Well on the surface this does seem unfair, but if you read further they tried several other ways including leaving a message with her boyfriend. So she did not give them the courtesy of returning their calls? They simply used a form of communication they knew would get through and she would be forced to check. But, could she pursue some sort of legal action for being “improperly terminated”? Sure it sounds silly, but I wouldn’t be shocked.

5 August, 2006 | No comments

Google Strikes Ad Deal With XM

Google Strikes Ad Deal With XM

“This partnership with XM Satellite Radio will provide a powerful marketing and distribution tool for Google advertisers,” said Ryan Steelberg, the Internet company’s head of radio operations. “By providing access to XM’s premier satellite audience, Google advertisers will have an easy way to target, schedule, deliver and measure satellite radio campaigns in a timely and efficient manner.”

This is an interesting development as Google spreads its wings beyond the web.

2 August, 2006 | No comments

The Blog That Ate a Presidency

Inside Higher Ed :: The Blog That Ate a Presidency

The president and her cabinet appeared completely befuddled by the new technology. Ignoring the blog seemed out of the question; once the blogmaster installed a counter on the main page, it was evident that the blog had a substantial readership. Although Alfred State has only a few hundred employees, the original blog recorded over 12,000 hits in just a couple of months, and the newer version recorded almost 100,000 page views in less than a year. Using legal means to shut down the blog were considered; Alfred State administrators consulted with the central SUNY administration in Albany and got the bad news that it would be legally difficult if not impossible to shut down the blog.

Absolutely fascinating story about how a blog was a critical component to bringing down a university president. You must read it.

The blog hurt the administration in two key ways: First, administrators were unable to focus on correcting the problems that led to the creation of the blog, and second, the administration’s clumsy and futile efforts to combat the blog simply compounded the anger and contempt on campus.

1 August, 2006 | No comments