Blogvious

I thought I’d heard every possible story from tech support people - until today. A great new CMS tool, Remix, has come out with an update. I visited their site today seeking a solution and was told that tech support was unavailable. Seems their town of Surat India is under TERRORIST ATTACK. That’s a first.

Here is the message:

 

“The WP Remix 2 has received a good praise, suggestions and support from the valuable clients since its release. At WP Remix site, we have support forum for any and all queries that the buyer might have and I have been providing in time support to all the queries generated by the users.

Unfortunately, the city where I live has some bad news. My city is under terrorist attack and many live bombs (nearly 25) has been detected in past 3 days as you can see in the following news websites.

Though I wish to provide support in time, the circumstances are as such, I might not be able to come to office for few days and as a result, I might not be able to provide support in time.

I request all the existing buyers to co-operate in this situation and also would request to active support forum members to help each others as much as you can.

Again, I appreciate the warm support of all the people, and hope to the things get well soon.”

Wow. We take much for granted in our sheltered existence - but the threat posed by extremists impacts the lives of all of us. I hope my friend in India is soon back at his desk and that his company continues to prosper.

Do you ever Text, email, blog, Twitter, or schedule on your cell phone? Do you wish you could?  How about while driving?

It’s rare that a new product really gets me excited. This one does. Dial2Do, a new FREE service for your cell phone, turns you and your phone into a hands-free productivty machine. You can use it while driving, walking, sky diving - anywhere or anytime when it’s not convenient to use your hands.

Best of all, it works with my existing email, blog, and calendar software. I don’t need to change ANYTHING. It works the way I do, and it all begins with a simple phone call.

 To use it, I dial a local number. Dial2Do recognizes me (from my cell number) and asks me what I want to do. I say “Send Text”, “To Nick”, “Don’t forget to bring cold beer”. Done. He gets the text. I can even get a confirmation if I want. This coudl also have been done via email.

Yesterday I was on my way back from the gym when a Twitter thought crossed my mind. I said “Twitter”, Diak2Do asked for my post. I said “I’m writing a white paper on the California Hands Free driving law and looking for case studies.” - BAM. It was posted on Twitter (after it read it back to me to approve).

While on the call, I said “Reminder”, “Finish monthly recap and email before noon”. When I got back to my office, this reminder was on my calendar. How cool is that?

Oh, this product / company just took top honors at the Silicon Valley Entrepreneurs awards (2008), so I expect it may be a company to watch out for.

Want to try it?  Warning: It can be addictive. Go to www.dial2do.com for a activation code. If you sign up now, you get it for free. The product is in late stage beta but work great.  Enjoy.

In a previous post I pondered the proposition of Twitter. To Twitt or Not to Twitt. Open minded but skeptical, I said that I would try to see what all the fuss was about. I was unexpectedly surprised with what I discovered.

More than just a self-aggrandizing podium for ego-centric technorati, though there is plenty of that, Twitter is actually fun - and a bit addictive. I’ve set up several Twitters now and am using them for personal and business reasons. Have they had a huge impact? Probably not. But as anyone involved in SEO can tell you, every little bit counts.

If you’ve not yet Twittered, take it from a would-be-doubting-dinosaur, it’s worth a look. For more information or to sign up, go to www.twitter.com.

Don’t you love the old rock groups that recapture the public eye?  Well, not always. The Strolling Bones can still kick it out, but a few others need to pack it up and move along.

Remember Devo? Yes, that Devo. As in “Whip It” and a host of other widely forgotten tunes? Well they are back. What are they doing? Touring? Recording? Nope. They’re suing McDonald’s. Yes, lovable Ronald McDonald - a guy not geeky enough to be a member of Devo - is now the target of a lawsuit.

Seems Donald had donned the red Devo hat. While they are at it, they are also suing American Idol. They are actually suing because they claim a toy in the Happy Meal box is wearing ‘their hat’. As I said, you can’t make this stuff up. If you really want details, here’s the link: Divo sues over Happy Meal Toy.

By the way guys, the 1980’s called. They said your 15 minutes ended when Members Only went out of style.

I respect Wesley Clark’s service to our country. Seriously injured in Vietnam, he recovered and has spent his career in the military. Respecting Clark the man however is quite another matter. I can respect him no more. His most recent act of utter arrogance was made on national television on Sunday. Given an opportunity to walk his comments back, he further enforced them, leaving no doubt they were not an error or poor choice of words. It was a personal attack and one that was groundless - and which backfired on him.

You may recall that General Clark (ret.) made an aborted run for the Democratic nomination in 2004. His ballyhooed campaign lasted about 10 seconds - vanishing with barely a whisper. Since then General Clark has been a perennial gadfly on every cable channel, news show, and open podium that will have him. Wind him up and he will distort the intentions of the administration and contort the facts on the ground to suit the requirements of his Democratic masters.

His 15 minutes of fame long expired, Clark continues to speak of things as if anyone really cared what he thinks. Senator Obama, in an effort to beef up his military cred, hired Clark as a hack to promote the Senator as a savvy and wizen leader on military issues, in spite of never having worn a uniform. Even in this role Clark bungled the assignment and felt the need to exceed his commission.

On Sunday, in front of the entire world, he proclaimed that Senator John McCain, a man that served his country honorably, spent years in a Vietnam prison camp, and then devoted his life to national service, did not possess qualified military credentials. For those unaware of McCain’s background, he was offered early release from the Hanoi Hilton (as it was called), which he refused unless his fellow prisoners were also freed. In poor health and badly injured he went on to endure years of sadistic torture that have left his body damaged, but his character intact.

Admiral McCain? Almost. Many people do not know that John McCain, who had committed his life to military service, was about to accept a promotion to one star Admiral (Naval equiv of General). He turned down the commission to run for public office. He was successful in that pursuit and has served his nation and state for over 20 additional years.

Clark’s comments, which were immediately disavowed by the always-nimble Obama Spin Machine, are beneath contempt. They were not an accident. They were not a slip of the tongue. They were a calculated attempt to besmirch McCain and nullify his credentials in this particular domain.

From today forward Clark is a non-entity for me. He’s cashed in his credibility and dignity for cheap shots and quick headlines. The fact that it backfired goes to the ineptitude of the effort but does not remove the dark underlying intent.

Living in Southern California and traveling for business across the US, I am frequently asked about our legendary Southland traffic congestion  (for the uninitiated, that’s everything from just north of Los Angeles to the Mexico border).

Well, yes. It sucks. However, it sucks pretty much everywhere else too. In fact, many places are much worse. If you live or work in a major US city, you are probably dealing with horrendous traffic on a regular basis.

I was in Atlanta a few weeks ago. They have an Interstate Highway (285), which forms a 70 mile loop around the city. It is actually a 70 mile long used car lot. Nothing moves. Houston, Phoenix, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, Boston -  the list is endless. So, the next time you hear about Southern California traffic, you are actually hearing about traffic across our fruited plain.

This picture, by the way, is a city in Europe. It has nothing to do with the story but is the coolest traffic jam picture I’ve ever seen.

In the Pantheon of great comedians, those that blazed trails, smashed barriers, and changed popular culture, none stand taller than George Carlin. A master of the language and an incredible comic talent, he used his gifts to actually change society’s norms. He gave voice to an entire generation, making it OK to challenge authority - especially arbitrary rules created for the benefit of the few. He did all this while keeping us laughing.

A friend of mine once referred to Carlin as “…a burnt out remnant of the ’60’s…”. While far from burnt out (he continued creative and productive work until the day of his death), he truly was a product of the 1960’s. Shunned by the establishment, he was a huge underground and counterculture hit. I was in grammar school when I first heard the “Seven Words You Can’t Say On Television”. Even at that tender age, listening to something I know I was not supposed to hear, I began to wonder “why?”.

Carlin made us ask “Why?” on a range of social, religious, and political issues. Agree with him nor not - he always left us laughing. He was also an equal opportunity harpooner. Democrat or Republican, white or black, north or south, everyone was fair game - so long as their pomposity made them stand out.

Raised a Catholic, Carlin saved his sharpest barbs for religion. Any religion. I have no doubt this offended many. The issues he raised, for the most part, were fair game - but not normally things we are comfortable talking about. No one could do that like Carlin.

When I listen to the razor sharp comedy of Chris Rock, and note the uncomfortable feelings it brings up in his audience, all the while laughing hysterically, I can’t help but think also of George Carlin. He’s left an indelible mark, and he will be missed. Bye George, and thanks for asking “why?”

If you’ve not heard of Steampunk, you are not alone. What an unbelievable visual tour de force. The look is hard to describe. My best shot was Retro-Nuevo-Chic-Techno-Deco, but even that comes up short. A friend is really in to this look and turned me on to it. The keyboard pics are just some of the items these guys concoct. To see and learn more about this genre, visit The Steampunk Workshop. Not sure how well they work, but I want one.

For more information on the Steampunk genre, visit Wikipedia.

Based upon requests from friends, I’ve added a page called “Reading
List” with recent books and my comments on them Here is the
June list. Note: I don’t always recommend these books. Check out
my views then read other reviews at Amazon if you are
interested.

Here is my June 2008 Reading List

Word of Mouth Marketing: How Smart Companies Get People Talking

by Andy Sernovitz

This book has forwards by Seth Godin and Guy Kawasaki. While
they both annoy me, I must admire their ability at brazen
self-promotion. This was a good read. If you are seasoned
publicist you will find it familar but worthwhile. If you are
not a practicioner, you may find out a few things about stealth
marketing that will change the way you process Word of Mouth
messages from friends, associates and strangers.

High Visibility: Transforming Your Personal and Professional
Brand by Irving Rein

The third edition of High Visibility is a great read. To
survive in today’s market you need to build and maintain your
‘personal and professional brand’. Those of you that are
fans of Stanley Bing know what an impact this can have on your
life, income and career. This is not a light read, nor is it all
that entertaining. If you want a serious review of what it
takes, I recommend this book. It’s one I will keep on the
shelf for future reference as well.

The New PR: An Insider’s Guide to Changing the Face of Public
Relations

by Phil Hall

Well, I read it, but would not recommend it. It’s a very
light read - and is actually not a bad book as a PR primer. That
said, much of it is fundementals that are well worn for
marketing and PR practicioners.

We are witnessing yet another transformation of Barak Obama. From darling of the left to champion of middle America. Changing his positions, tweaking views and morphing his rhetoric to fit his needs is something at which he excels. He is certainly not the first politician to pander - in fact we’ve come to almost expect it during election season. The difference with Obama is that he so darn good at it.

One reason his chameleon routine works so well is that he rarely takes a discernable view on anything remotely controversial. He speaks in generalities and vague allusions that stir the emotions of the faithful.

For a man that claims to be “above it all”, he has certainly shown to be up to his waist in the muck he eschews. His political skills, combined with a strong anti-Republican sentiment sweeping the nation - plus the ongoing ineptitude of the McCain campaign, means that he is the prohibitive favorite as our new leader. Or should I say our old leader. We’ve seen this before. Old Book / New Cover.