Blogvious

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.

– Carl Melville / Blogvious

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.

– Carl / Blogvious

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.

– Carl Melville / Blogvious

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.