e-Scribble...

Can you delete 'that'? It's often unnecessary

2011-02-28T17:58:00.000-08:00

"That" is frequently overused. Can you find ways to delete it from your writing?

I often find myself deleting 'that' on a second go 'round and find my writing flows better.

Then there are times when 'that' fits in nicely like no other word can.

Can you delete the word ‘that’ from your writing?

What results have you found from deleting the unnecessary use of 'that'?

Are you putting two spaces after a period? Here's why it's wrong

2011-02-13T17:41:00.000-08:00

Putting two spaces after each sentence is so old school. When we all started working on computers, the need for two spaces went away. But, old practices die hard.

Two spaces after a period: Why you should never, ever do it. - By Farhad Manjoo - Slate Magazine

And if you need a more detailed guide, here are style guides for the Mac and PC:
The Mac is Not a Typewriter
The PC is Not a Typewriter

Kevin Bacon as... the ultimate Kevin Bacon fan...

2010-12-08T07:15:00.000-08:00

Love this ad about the ultimate Kevin Bacon fan... played by Kevin Bacon...

Generosity Unbound: How American Philanthropy Can Strengthen the Economy and Expand the Middle Class

2010-10-31T12:13:00.000-07:00

In her book, Generosity Unbound: How American Philanthropy Can Strengthen the Economy and Expand the Middle Class, author and professor Claire Gaudiani argues that philanthropy has played a significant role in the American economic engine ever since our nation's founding. She also argues that little regulation on foundations and philanthropic giving is the best environment that encourages philanthropic investment ... and that philanthropy is key to the future of American democracy.

Here's a seven-minute clip from the BookTV program in which Gaudiani introduces the premise of her book.

Watch the entire program on BookTV (about 90 minutes):
Economics - Generosity Unbound: How American Philanthropy Can Strengthen the Economy and Expand the Middle Class - Book TV

NPR Fires Juan Williams for Being Honest

2010-10-21T18:27:00.000-07:00

FoxNews.com - NPR Fires Juan Williams; Fox News Expands His Role

So, what does it take?

When will people recognize that sharing honest feelings about something or someone IS NOT bigotry? (An aside: Just because I don't agree with Barack Obama's policies or politics doesn't make me racist. How absurd is that kind of thinking? If it were so, more than half the country would be considered bigots.)

Where's the bigotry in Juan Williams statements? I see none. Read the article and see the entire context. Listen to the audio and watch the video in the entire context. Where, I ask, is the bigotry? If you're being truly honest with yourself, how can you completely, truly, honestly say that Williams' statements are bigoted? The truth is, he's verbalized what I'm sure so many of us feel. And that doesn't make us all bigoted.

Juan Williams' firing for being open and honest is outrageous!

And the NPR execs who made the decision are cowards and shortsighted for not standing on their own two feet and seeing Williams' statements for what they are.

Honest.

We need more in the media who are willing to be so honest.

Author Dan Brown's 20 worst sentences

2010-09-08T18:00:00.000-07:00

How does stuff like this get past editors?

The Lost Symbol and The Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown's 20 worst sentences - Telegraph

Hat tip to Jeff Brooks at the Future Fundraising Now blog in his post My embarrassing writing style.

The Future of Books: CEO Ingram Skip Prichard Feels Confident - The Daily Beast

2010-08-13T10:08:00.000-07:00

It's amazing to me that amidst the hue and cry that the emergence of e-books and reading devices (Amazon's Kindle, Barnes and Noble's Nook, and the iPad) spells doom and gloom for printed media, the growth of book sales continues to increase. And not just slowly. In this blog post, Ingram's CEO points to double-digit growth!

In spite of the fact that I spend most of my working day at the keyboard, personally, I prefer reading off the printed page instead of an electronic screen. I like to hold books in my hand and mark them up, underline and make notes in the margins. Can't do that very well with an e-reader... Well, yes, I haven't tried it because I have no desire to spring a hundred or two clams to buy one. I'd rather spend that money elsewhere.

Personally, I believe that as created beings we were made to read and view things off reflected light, rather than light projected into our eyeballs. I have no scientific proof. It's just my belief coupled with my own preference. I find that I can read more and for longer periods, and tend to absorb and remember things better reading print media than the PC screen.

However, as Ingram's Skip Prichard points out, the convergence of the printed word with social/new media creates some wonderful opportunities for expanding the reach and learning opportunities that never existed before. And that is pretty exciting stuff.

The Future of Books: CEO Ingram Skip Prichard Feels Confident - The Daily Beast

The Single Most Important Key to Achieving Your Goals

2010-08-12T09:42:00.000-07:00

In his blog post, The Single Most Important Key to Achieving Your Goals, Thomas Nelson Publishers CEO Michael Hyatt says:

"Enlist the help of the best coaches and instructors you can afford."

I enjoy reading Michael's blog. He always has good stuff.

Read this entire post for some interesting examples of how he's sought out the best.

Must people tweet about everything?

2010-06-28T23:23:00.000-07:00

You know, there are some things that people just should not tweet about.

"Is nothing sacred? People tweeting about prisoner executions? People tweeting about trips to the gyno/gastro/whatever the hell other doctor? Social media has indeed produced “oversharers.” " From Jackson Wightman and PR Daily

Inside the Giants Clubhouse: Fathers and Daughters

2010-06-14T19:19:00.000-07:00

Because I have a daughter, I love stories about fathers and daughters. Would have loved to have been there for this father-daughter panel.

Inside the Giants Clubhouse: Fathers and Daughters

Words are pretty much all you need

2010-04-22T18:48:00.000-07:00

As one who engages in wordsmithing now and again, I like what Jeff Brooks, over at the Future Fundraising Now blog, said in his post "Words: you have what it takes to motivate people to action":

"So next time you get envious of whiz-bang YouTube videos or other high-production media, remember this: If you can write well, you have everything you need already."

He refers to the Google ad "Parisian Love" that debuted during this year's SuperBowl. It was simple, but compelling because it told a story. Oh, and the sound to go along with it just enhanced the words on the screen.

So, you don't need to have all the fancy stuff, the latest and greatest technology, and all cool techno-gizmos to be convincing. You just need words. Use the right ones. Use 'em well. Use 'em wisely. Use 'em to tell a great story.

25 Free Educational Resources Online - The Causemopolitan

2010-04-19T14:45:00.000-07:00

Pretty much all of us like FREE stuff.

Even better when it's easily available online, 24/7, whenever you want to reach for it.

And free stuff that helps you learn stuff is even better.

25 Free Educational Resources Online - The Causemopolitan

Ten Ways for Small Businesses to Use LinkedIn

2010-04-07T10:21:00.000-07:00

Ten Ways for Small Businesses to Use LinkedIn

Conventional wisdom is that in addition to a Facebook page, you ought to be on LinkedIn. I've been on LinkedIn for a few years now, but I know I've not fully utilized LinkedIn's features and capabilities.

In this article, Guy Kawasaki offers some tips.

Where the Tea Partiers Should Go From Here :: Karl Rove

2010-04-02T01:18:00.000-07:00

Where the Tea Partiers Should Go From Here :: Karl Rove

Democrats are trying to paint the tea party movement as "right wing nut jobs."

Well, the Dems and Left Wing have their own nut jobs, too. As Paul Westcott says on White House Briefing Radio, every group has its nut jobs... and that's not just political groups. It's just that political and religious groups tend to attract the most media attention.

Here's what Karl Rove says in his March 31 column in the Wall Street Journal about why Dems are attacking tea partiers:

"...Democrats are attacking the tea party movement because it is a new force that's bringing millions of here-to-fore unengaged Democrats, independents and Republicans into the political arena. If there's something a ruling party doesn't like, it's a new political player converting spectators into participants.
The Democrats are particularly concerned because the No. 1 target of the tea partiers—ObamaCare—is not rising in public opinion polls. It remains as unpopular as before it was jammed through Congress..."

Read the entire piece here.

Q&A: Culture Shock, How Social Media is Changing the Culture of Business

2010-03-24T14:08:00.000-07:00

Q&A: Culture Shock, How Social Media is Changing the Culture of Business

From Brian Solis, author of the new book Engaged! ...about the book.

Good friend JD Lasica asked me to answer some fantastic questions for a post he published in celebration of Engage. I poured so much of myself into the responses, that I felt it was worth sharing here with you as well.

Many of the lessons and observations below are important for you as a champion, decision maker, entrepreneur, or executive. Social Media is not only changing how we communicate, we are also changing the culture of business from the outside in and from the bottom up. In doing so, businesses, of all shapes and sizes, will magnetize communities. As such, the intentional creation and crafting of a useful and meaningful culture in business will create a competitive advantage, giving people a reason to align and ultimately embody and extend your purpose and mission.

#Engage

Your new book Engage may turn out to be the definitive work on how social media is transforming business. Looking at the big picture, how is it changing the balance of power between customers and companies?

I invested an incredible amount of passion and also vision into this book as I believe that the time is now to lead a media revolution based on insight, intelligence and experience. I think the minute you hold this book, its intentions are clear. The impact of new media is only just beginning and the road to where we’re going is, to channel the Beatles, long and winding. I believe that the destination is less important nowadays and it is this journey that we each embrace, that defines our experiences and teachings.

As in many books and blogs on the subject of social media, theory plays a role of course, however, new media isn’t as “new” as we might think. There are lessons and applied learning that we must embrace in order to effectively change, not merely for the sake of change, but for the betterment of the tattered relations between businesses, customers, and the influencers and peers who connect them. The shift of balance skewed towards those who believe they held the power and in many cases, businesses invested profits into distancing the nodes that connect us to our networks of relevance in order to reduce the cost of actually “managing” customers. When we lost the universal ability to hit “0″ and connect with a live human being, regardless of medium, it was the final insult that sparked a social uprising.

Social media is the democratization of information and the equalization of influence. Monologue gave way to dialogue and we the people ensured that our voices were not only heard, but felt.

Now that we, as consumers, have the ability to vocalize sentiment and in doing so, cause meaningful and reverberating action, companies have no choice but to pay attention. They must respond. And, they’re not even close to doing so in a scalable nor efficient manner. Brands were blindsided because their focus was on distancing connections instead of embracing them.

Social Media is our industrial revolution, and as sensational as it sounds, we have yet to fully realize its potential and promise.

Continue reading...

YouTube - Ronald Reagan`s Funny answer

2010-03-24T01:54:00.000-07:00

YouTube - Ronald Reagan`s Funny answer

How do you deal with fears of being hurt in relationships, which can limit you?

2010-03-13T17:13:00.000-08:00

Dr. John Townsend wrote:

"How do you deal with fears of being hurt in relationships, which can limit you? Fear and love don't go together.

There are two answers: with safe people, let them know you want to open up, and ask them to help you. With unsafe people, set healthy boundaries so you don't have to be focused on self-protection. Then you can even enjoy what is possible in the relationship. Either way, face the fear and resolve it. "

The Art of Shameless Self-Promotion | Copyblogger

2010-03-12T01:06:00.000-08:00

The Art of Shameless Self-Promotion | Copyblogger

I like the point that Nathan Hangen makes on Copyblogger:

"The reason that self-promotion works and self-adulation doesn’t is because self-promotion is the art of spreading ideas, concepts, and a greater vision. Self-adulation is just the promotion of accomplishments, deeds that have already been done.

"When you promote ideas, you give people something to cheer for. You give people a cause to support. People, in many ways, are selfish. They promote the things that make them feel good. Your accomplishments aren’t likely to make them feel good, but your ideas do."

YouTube - Did You Know?

2010-02-27T13:01:00.000-08:00

YouTube - Did You Know?

Interesting factoids... wondering how accurate these stats are?

Facebook creator is now deciding what is the norm for privacy?

2010-02-14T14:18:00.000-08:00

In his CNET blog Technically Incorrect, Chris Matyszczyk points out in his post Zuckerberg: I know that people don't want privacy that Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg thinks he knows what I want concerning my privacy online, that I don't want privacy...

WRONG, Mr. Z! Just because I reveal some info to "my friends" on Facebook, and express my opinions in a blog, doesn't mean that I want other private information disclosed.

Just because some people -- and I'm sure many of them unwittingly, because they don't understand how much will be "open" and they think they're revealing info to only their friends -- choose to reveal private information, doesn't mean it's becoming the social norm. And because you believe it and say it, doesn't make it so.

(And how much of this issue generational?)

Check out Zuckerberg's declaration in this four-minute interview. The privacy part starts about about 2:50 into this interview. (Be sure to read Chris Matyszczyk's blog post as well. It's well worth the read.)

Makes me wonder when the young bucks at Facebook will learn. More than once they've experience the backlash of their users when they've changed privacy settings and taken that control out of users' hands.

The folks over at Google are experiencing the same kind of backlash with Google Buzz that went public a few days ago. Instead of allowing you to set your settings of who's following you and who you are following, they decided to do that for you. By machine, of course.

See Chris Matyszczyk's post about Google's pickle: "Google changes Buzz privacy settings--again".

When will these knuckleheads learn it's best to err on the side of confidentiality?

It's a matter of trust. And when trust is gone, so are the users. And when the users are gone, what's there to monetize?

212 The Extra Degree Movie

2010-02-13T00:51:00.000-08:00

212 The Extra Degree Movie

The difference between hot water and boiling is one degree...

Your Brain on Stories

2010-02-12T09:49:00.000-08:00

Your Brain on Stories

When subjects read this passage and several others in an fMRI machine, researchers were able to observe which parts of their brain were activated as the subjects read different elements. Depending on what was happening in each sentence, quite different brain activation patterns were observed:

For example, a particular area of the brain ramped up when readers were thinking about intent and goal-directed action, but not meaningless motion. Motor neurons flashed when characters were grasping objects, and neurons involved in eye movement activated when characters were navigating their world.

Wray notes,

Readers are far from passive consumers of words and stories. Indeed, it appears that we dynamically activate real-world scripts that help us to comprehend a narrative—and those active scripts in turn enrich the story beyond its mere words and sentences. In this way, reading is much like remembering or imagining a vivid event.

Clearly, the narratives in the successful ads resonated in some special and universal way with their readers. We’ve all experienced moments of social discomfort, much like the would-be pianist who sits down at the piano only to have his friends laugh. And we’ve all had moments of pride when others acknowledge our skill or accomplishments. Is the narrative nature of the wording in “They Laughed When I Sat Down…” bringing these deep-seated memories to the surface to produce a more profound effect than had the ad simply suggested that we could impress our friends if we could play the piano?

Church Giving Matters

2010-02-08T00:25:00.000-08:00

Church Giving Matters

About Ben « Church Giving Matters

Church Giving Matters (the book) « Church Giving Matters

Christian Leadership Alliance | Management Resources and Leadership Training for Christian Organizations and Growing Churches.
Previously Christian Management Association and Christian Stewardship Association

Adventist Stewardship : Vol 7 no 4 -- The Missing Connection, Ben Maxson
Benjamin C. Maxson, Director General Conference Stewardship Department
Summary: Ben Maxson shares his personal journey through a growing understanding of biblical stewardship. In this open, honest account, you will glean spiritual insights that will not only move you heart, but help you to discover the missing connection Ben found!

Why Money?Adventist Stewardship : Vol 3 no 2
By Benjamin C. Maxson, Director, General Conference Stewardship
Summary: The problem is not a lack of money but a lack of dependency on God. The moment we say "We don't have enough money, we are really saying 'God is not big enough for us.'"

2009’s Hundred Best Tweets and Links for Marketing Copywriters | MarketCopywriter Blog

2010-02-08T00:02:00.000-08:00

2009’s Hundred Best Tweets and Links for Marketing Copywriters | MarketCopywriter Blog

Of 2009’s gazillion Tweets and links, I’ve culled 100 to re-read and share in the New Year...

YouTube - Hollywood Collection: The Worlds Of Harry Connick Jr. (Full Program)

2009-10-27T23:12:00.000-07:00

YouTube - Hollywood Collection: The Worlds Of Harry Connick Jr. (Full Program)

The Gratitude Campaign

2009-10-23T00:05:00.000-07:00

A simple way civilians can express their thanks and appreciation to our military personnel for their service. Spread the word. Help make this a universal sign.

White House rewrites Obama speech to kids?

2009-09-07T18:17:00.000-07:00

Received this tweet today from @LarsLarsonShow:

Wonder how much rewrite obamas indoctrination speech to the kids underwent before they posted it today because of the fuss we kicked up

... I was wondering the same thing ...

Indoctrination: Get ‘Em While They’re Young - The Oregon Catalyst

2009-09-07T12:14:00.000-07:00

Indoctrination: Get ‘Em While They’re Young - The Oregon Catalyst

This blog post title says it all.

It's not that the President is speaking directly to our children.

The protest really is about the mistrust conservatives have of liberals, and especially so now in this day, in this climate, under this administration, when the candidate who promised a transparent administration has been less than transparent (can you say "czar"?).

Obama Back To School Speech: FULL TEXT

2009-09-07T11:59:00.000-07:00

Obama Back To School Speech: FULL TEXT

The text was finally released Monday morning after much opposition to the President speaking directly to students. Was it finally released because of the pressure applied, that the text of the President's was being kept "secret"?

subCITY looks at mental health care in Oregon

2009-09-04T00:34:00.000-07:00

subCITY

From the website:

Mental illness affects about a third of our population. That means the other two-thirds know someone who is afflicted. There are many stigmas and stereotypes associated with mental illness. But after watching this film, your ideas may be changed forever. We explore the thoughts and stories of industry leaders, politicians, mental health experts, law enforcement, and of course consumers of mental health care. As their stories weave together, it tells a tale about mental health that may shock... may enlighten.. may inspire you to change the way the system works.

"subCITY" takes a look inside the subsidized world of mental health care. While it is an issue that affects people on a worldwide scale, we focus in on the state of Oregon as a case study, and see how time and again, people's lives are affected by the changes that have taken place within the system. Witness the final moments inside the Oregon State Hospital before it's infamous "J" building was dismantled. Hear the stories from consumers of mental health, in what is certainly a moving and emotional journey for many. Their heart-wrenching but motivating stories are told in a compelling way that shatters many of the stereotypes associated with mental illness.

Read more... go to the site...

Faces that tell a story

2009-09-04T00:30:00.000-07:00

Faces that tell a story

From: The Lake Oswego Review, Aug 31, 2009

Kevin and Dawn D’Haeze’s new documentary is truly a work of passion and commitment.

Called subCITY: Out of Sight, Out of Mind, the film uses Kevin’s technical wizardry as a maker of commercial films and Dawn’s expertise as an addictions counselor. And $100,000 of their own money.

That is because the Lake Oswego couple so much wants something done to help Americans suffering from mental illness.

Read more...

A 5-step quide to social media strategy for nonprofits « IMPACTMAX

2009-09-04T00:28:00.000-07:00

A 5-step quide to social media strategy for nonprofits « IMPACTMAX

Addicted to the Internet? Residential treatment center opens, said to be first in US

2009-09-03T18:16:00.000-07:00

I've been a little more interested in mental health issues since I've been working as a fundraiser for a mental health services agency. While I've never been a gamer, I find it interesting the extent to which internet games can be addictive, which this story talks about.

Addicted to the Internet? Residential treatment center opens, said to be first in US

Internet addiction center opens in US

FALL CITY, Wash. — Ben Alexander spent nearly every waking minute playing the video game “World of Warcraft.” As a result, he flunked out of the University of Iowa.

Alexander, 19, needed help to break an addiction he calls as destructive as alcohol or drugs. He found it in this suburb of high-tech Seattle, where what claims to be the first residential treatment center for Internet addiction in the United States just opened its doors.

The center, called ReSTART, is somewhat ironically located near Redmond, headquarters of Microsoft and a world center of the computer industry. ...

Read the rest...

The Way We Get By - a documentary film about three senior citizens & Maine Troop Greeters

2009-09-02T11:16:00.001-07:00

The Way We Get By - a documentary film by Aron Gaudet & Gita Pullapilly about three senior citizens & Maine Troop Greeters

"The SXSW Special Jury Award winning "The Way We Get By" is a deeply moving film about life and how to live it. Beginning as a seemingly idiosyncratic story about troop greeters - a group of senior citizens who gather daily at a small airport to thank American soldiers departing and returning from Iraq, the film quickly turns into a moving, unsettling and compassionate story about aging, loneliness, war and mortality..."

Watch the trailer...

Made to Stick in a nutshell -- Presentation

2009-08-06T10:00:00.001-07:00

Made To Stick

View more presentations from bizbooktalk.

Bare Naked Ladies lets fans do remixes - gets extra publicity mileage

2006-11-15T23:24:00.000-08:00

This must be a first...guerilla marketing at its best...using new technology to let fans do the work...

I heard about this today on NPR's Day to Day program...it's a very cool idea.

The band Bare Naked Ladies has created a remix sitewhere they've posted "multitracks" for each of their new album's songs. Then with software such as Garageband, users can remix the tracks - and do other things- to make a totally new sound with the same song - but you still have the same melody when including the vocal track.

Then share your remix with the world by posting it back on the remix site. The band liked some, one even rocked 'em, and some they could just do without.

This is a great way to create buzz, get viral, engage your audience, and get mainstream media coverage...I wonder what other bands might follow suit.

All the tracks are copyrighted - you have to pay $2.49 to download each track.

Give a listen to some pretty cool - and really out there - remixes.

Go to the Bare Naked Ladies remix site here.

Go the the Bare Naked Ladies website here.

Read the story or listen to the Day to Day audio piece that includes interviews with BNL singer Steve Page and guitarist Ed Robertson here.

New inspiration to pick up blogging again

2006-10-27T11:47:00.000-07:00

I attended an OCIABC meeting yesterday on podcasting, presented by Josh Bancroft, a blogger, podcaster, geek (so he sez - look it up on his blog), that has given me some inspiration to pick up this blogging thing again.

We'll see how this goes. Previously I'd felt that I needed to add at least one post per week. Maybe now that aggregators are de rigeur for serious blog watchers and new posts show up automatically, maybe I can post less often and feel less under pressure to produce something so often.

Thing is, I love the process of writing...and posting to my blog. I love the reflection that it takes to write. I love the physical activity of tapping out a message on the keyboard with the added hopes that someone will actually find interesting what I have to say.

But life seems to get in the way. Other things seem more important, more pressing, needing immediate attention. We'll see how this goes...

Muckraker Jack Anderson bridged present with past

2005-12-18T11:49:00.000-08:00

Investigative journalist Jack Andersonwas in his heyday in the days of my youth, the decade of the seventies thatwas peppered with Watergate and the rise of the journalist as celebrity,a la Bob Woodward.

Anderson, who inherited the Washington Merry-Go-Round column in 1969 from its founder and an original muckraker, Drew Pearson,died yesterday at age 83. He'd worked on the Washington Merry-Go-Round columnsince 1945 or 1947 -- depending on which source you believe. (Wikipedia reports 1945; most news stories report 1947.)

Backin 1977 or '78 I came to feel an affinity for the likes of Jack Andersonwhen I changed my college major to Journalism. Watergate, and Woodward andBernstein were still fresh in our youthful memories. I'd pick up a San FranciscoChronicle on my way to classes to check out Herb Caen and hand off the Sportssection to a journalism classmate while I turned to the news and featuressections.

It would seem that I and many of my classmates chose journalism,as I'm sure many of my generation did back then, because of the likes ofWoodward and Bernsteinand Anderson, with a taste of altruism, to "make a difference" in the world.I'm sure many did. I chose journalism because it seemed to be a career thatwould fit my love of reading, research, and a curiousity and interest ina wide variety of subjects.

I made no claim then or now to be a BobWoodward or Jack Anderson. But I won't deny that maybe I had some dreamsabout being that bold. While my career as a reporter was short-lived, I'vefound I've still clung to the principles of accuracy in my work of what'sbeen a checkered and varied working life some might call a career.

Althoughhe may be lumped together with other investigative journalists, Andersonwas one of them, and one of a kind, the last of an old breed.

Washington Post staff writer Howard Kurtz writes of his experience as an intern with Anderson in the Post: Jack Anderson, Gentleman With a Rake

The AP in the San Francisco Chronicle: Pulitzer-Winning Columnist Anderson Dies

Reuters: Crusading journalist Jack Anderson dies at age 83

Blogging is a tough gig to keep up

2005-12-14T23:54:00.000-08:00

OK, so it's been a while since I posted. I've not faithfully kept up on this as I know a good blog ought to be maintained.

And that's the tough part -- keeping up on a blog on a regular basis.

You have to stay alert to things to write about, to keep things interesting, to keep people coming back...

It'stheregularity of it that's tough for me right now...how to do it? It seemslifegets in the way. How do some people do it and have a life?

Maybe that's it...blogging is their life?

And then that brings up the question -- isn't there more to life than blogging?

I sure hope so.

This Chicagoan reluctantly roots for the Sox in the Series

2005-10-26T20:36:00.000-07:00

Ah, baseball. That summertime game that leads to fall playoffs, and the pathos and drama of the Fall Classic, the World Series.

Over the decades the World Series has always been that bright spot when the days are dark. This year is no different. In the aftermath two horrific hurricanes to hit the U.S. in short order, two Cinderella-like teams face off in the waning days of fall -- the Houston Astros who have never been to a World Series, and the Chicago White Sox who haven't been in the Series since ... forever. Well, 1917, anyway.

Chicago is a rare two-team, with the hapless Cubs calling North Chicago home. The Sox call home on the Southside. You'd think that all in Chicago would be happy to root for a "hometown" team in the big dance.

But that's not so, according Aaron Freeman, a Cubs fan. In a hilarious commentary I heard on National Public Radio's All Things Considered today, Freeman admits he's a reluctant fan.

You can hear Freeman's commentary online here.

Extreme path to product publicity

2005-10-22T17:48:00.000-07:00

This is just too much. Some people have all the fun. It's rather bizarre. And it's a way to get exposure for your product.

It's Extreme Ironing.

Say what? From the website:

"...the latest danger sport that combines the thrills of an extreme outdoor activity with the satisfaction of a well pressed shirt."

But apparently it's not all just for the ironing -- or the danger. The sponsor behind it all? Rowenta, a German top-of-the-line steam iron and small home appliances manufacturer.

I stumbled across it at work. A guy there has a calendar posted on his cubicle wall showing people with their irons and ironing boards in all kinds of unusual -- extreme -- places -- mountain tops, sides and ledges, underwater...

Check the Galleries link at ExtremeIroning.com and you'll get the idea real quick. The Times Square photos show the publicity they got from Good Morning America and Fox News, among others.

There's even an entry in Wikipedia.

Makes me wish I'd thought of such an outrageous way to get product publicity.

Better email messages Part 3: How to write useful email subject lines

2005-10-05T00:17:00.000-07:00

Edited 9.8.07 - updated these links
Part 1: Rule of One
Part 2: One-word subject not enough

A while back usability guru Jakob Nielsen published an article titled: "Microcontent: How to Write Headlines, Page Titles, and Subject Lines."
It's an excellent article, useful and a quick read.

Here are some key points in brief:

Clearly explain what the article (or email) is about in terms that relate to the user... an ultra-short abstract of its associated macrocontent...

No puns, no "cute" or "clever" headlines...

No teasers that try to entice people to click to find out what the story is about. [Works in print, but not online.]

Skip leading articles like "the" and "a" in email subjects and page titles...

Make the first word an important, information-carrying on

Read the entire article online here.

Better email messages Part 2: One-word subject lines don't tell enough

2005-10-05T00:16:00.000-07:00

Edited 9.8.07 - updated these links
Part 1: Rule of One
Part 3: Write useful subject line

The infusion of computers and the integration of email into our work and personal lives has done much to expose poor writing -- and thus poor communication.

I'm sure we all use email for informal as well as some more "formal" business-type communication. I've told people that I live and die by email. I rely on it heavily.

One of my pet peeves about email is the one-word subject line. For instance:

Subject: website

Ooookaaaayyy. What about "website"? Which website? Mine? Yours? Someone else's?

You've got a whole subject line. Why not use it? You can use more that a dozen characters. Is it really so difficult to string together a phrase of a few words to give more of a hint about the subject? How about this:

Subject: Broken links on blog website

Now that gives me a little more information. And because I don't like broken links on my website, to me this subject line carries more urgency and importance. This is something I have to pay attention to as soon as possible. Otherwise, it's ho-hum, OK, a message about "website," I'll get to it when I get to it.

Frequently in my reply I'll expand the subject line with the one word leading the subject, and then add a phrase that's adds more light, such as:

Subject: website -- broken links you told me about

I think the exercise here when writing a subject line is to put yourself in the shoes of the recipient and imagining receiving your message among the many -- maybe dozens -- of messages.

Ask yourself: What is it about my message that's important to the recipient?

Then write a subject line that will catch his attention.

Better email messages Part 1: Rule of One

2005-10-05T00:15:00.000-07:00

Edited 9.8.07 - updated these links
Part 2: One-word subject not enough
Part 3: Write useful subject lines

I read something recently that got me on a roll. Here's Part One of three that all center around writing better, clearer, more useful email messages. And for the most part, the principles apply to blogging, too.

An article in a recent issue of Excess Voice email newsletter from web copywriting guru Nick Usborne hit close to one of my email writing pet peeves. The article is titled 'The "Rule of One" for Copywriters.'

While his article deals with web copywriting, the principles apply to communicating effectively in business (and other) email messages, too.

Nick's "Rule of One" has two parts:

1. Confine each communication to a single topic
2. Write to one person at a time

Number 1 above is the one that gets me -- I hate it when I get email messages that cover several unrelated topics. I usually end up breaking them out into separate messages. Don't get me wrong. A chatty message from a friend is one thing, but business correspondence is quite another.

Usborne makes the case that your message will be clearer and stronger when you confine a single topic to a single web page.

I believe the same holds true for writing effective business email messages. One topic per message. It will make it easier for you and your intended recipient to manage the topic at hand. Trying to cover too much ground confuses the reader, I think, and distracts from each of your other messages. If you have to communicate on several topics, I find that it's generally better to break them into separate messages.

Number 2 above is a good one to keep in mind, too. If in your mind you're addressing your message to a large audience, it's easy to start watering down your message and sounding too impersonal.

Usborne's point: Imagine one person sitting in front of you, and write your message to that one individual.

As he says in the article:

This is not a "copywriting trick". This is writing pages in a way that corresponds to how they will be read. It may sound obvious, but so many people lose touch with the fact that every page you write WILL be read by individuals with unique lives and needs.

No "group" will ever read your page. No "industry" will ever read your page. The web pages you write will always be read by individuals, one at a time.

Oh, yeah. That's also something I've had to remember as I blog. In general, one topic per entry...makes it easier to follow.

Technorati: blogging email copywriting

Wow! Where'd it go?

2005-10-04T23:52:00.000-07:00

Well, I've obviously missed a few weeks of being here.

A lot sure has happened since I posted here last...Hurricanes Katrina and Rita...confirmation and appointment of a new Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court...

I won't bore you with the details of my life that have kept me away. But, I'm back! I'll be adding more here soon!

Hilarious iPod spoof

2005-08-18T00:35:00.000-07:00

I'll unabashedly admit that I'm a Macintosh man...have been since my first PC, a Mac Plus, back in 1987. I've liked Macs for home and personal business use, and depended on my employer to keep me up with the Windoze world. In my own low-key way I've been a Mac and Apple proponent. Maybe I just like being different. ;-)

I've not yet been able to justify -- until I recently began listening to podcasts -- springing for the big bucks for an iPod, but I sure do want one. Just can't afford one...yet.

Here's a hilarious spoof of the iPod I first found out about on AdRants.

Warning: It's loud. Use headphones if you're at work...

Technorati: iPod | spoof | parody

Wherefore customer service?

2005-08-14T16:39:00.000-07:00

[ BEGIN RANT ]

I'm calling for companies providing technical services to train their customer support people in good customer service and customer relations, how to make the customer feel that they're important.

Unfortunately, that's not what I just experienced. I have to wonder what these people are thinking when they reply -- or don't -- to an inquiry, and when they do, it's as if the customer has no name.

Since I've started blogging a few weeks ago, I've been in search of the right blogging solution. I'll admit that I still don't have as good a handle as I'd like on things like RSS and trackback. But I've dived in to learn by doing.

Blogger/Blogspot doesn't have everything built in. That brings me to WordPress. It not only offers a blogging solution, it looks like it's flexible enough to offer a content management system for web sites...all at no cost! Ah, the beauty of open source solutions.

On the flipside, I have to install it on and run it from my web hosting service's servers. Which brings me to server requirements -- does my current provider support WordPress' minimum server requirements?

About 2-3 weeks ago I submitted a request for information via the support email form provided on my provider's website. And I waited for a reply. And I waited. And I waited.

Generally I think I'm a pretty patient person. Either that or I just don't know when to say I'm fed up and move on.

That was customer service mistake number 1.

Let me say that I like my web hosting provider. I have fairly simple sites that I've hosted there. They have many features that I like to have without costing me an arm and a leg. I haven't had any technical problems. I may not be a big spender -- I have their lowest-cost plan -- but the dollars I spend with them are the same color as those who have more costly plans.

Then I sent the my second inquiry:

Hi,

A couple of weeks ago or so I sent an inquiry through this form, the message below, and have yet to receive a reply.

I've been with you folks for a few years now, and I'm wondering whether you care to continue to have my business or that I continue to recommend Omnis for hosting services to people I know and consult for on web site development.

My query:

I'm considering running the open-source WordPress blogging software and I was wondering if my account supported the following:

* PHP 4.1 or greater
* MySQL 3.23.23 or greater
* The mod_rewrite Apache module

Thanks!

I see that PHP 4.4.0 My SQL 4.0.22 are supported

I can't see whether the mod_rewrite Apache module is supported.

Please reply.

Thank you.

I don't think it takes much to see that I'm not very happy that I had to ask the second time.

I'd have been happy with a "sorry we didn't get back to you sooner" or something like that, just some sort of acknowledgement of my displeasure.

Then, being the Marketing/PR guy I am, I went a step further, offering what I think would be an opportunity to tap into more business:

P.S. I hope you folks see what's going on in the blog world, that blogs are taking off, and likely here to stay.

I encourage you to look at WordPress.org and become one of their referenced hosting companies. WordPress is free, and has many features that other free blog hosting services, such as Blogger/Blogspot do not, e.g., trackback.

Go to http://wordpress.org/hosting/ to see what other hosting services are offering.

Your hosting plans are VERY competitive, and by adding something like easy WordPress start-up could give you an added competitive edge.

Then I signed off with my name, user account ID, and two email addresses.

And what did I get for a reply?

Here it is:

Dear Customer:
Php: 4.4
MySQL: 4.0.22
Mod_rewrite: Should be supported
Thanks,
Eddie

My response: That's ALL??????

Mistake number 2: It's a short answer. No acknowledgement that they might have messed up and missed my first query, or even that I mentioned this is my second time asking for this info.

Mistake number 3: "Dear Customer:"

What? Dear CUSTOMER????

I signed my name. Did you read to the end of the message? Do you even know I have a name? Dear CUSTOMER????

Mistake number 4: "Mod_rewrite: Should be supported"

SHOULD BE????? And if it isn't? So now I have to follow up my inquiry to find out FOR SURE whether it is. I don't want to go through all the trouble of installing and configuring WordPress, and then finding mod_rewrite isn't supported.

Am I expected to make a decision off of SHOULD BE??? What world are you living in?

Well, Eddie, and all you folks at Omnis. I hope you're listening.

Look, I'm not looking for or expecting an intimate relationship. We hardly know each other. But when I put my name in a message, and I have to believe that when Eddie looks at my message he at least sees my customer ID since I sent the message from my logged in account, he could at least address me by my username.

And please give me enough information so that I can make an intelligent decision.

This is the kind of thing that causes customers to leave...and not make referrals.

I haven't yet left Omnis for one of WordPress' referenced hosting companies -- those that WordPress endorses. But after this experience, I'm thinking about it, even if it costs me a few dollars more a year. It just might be worth it for being treated as if I have a name and mean something to the provider.

[ END RANT ]

Technorati:
customer support | customer service | web hosting

Bleeding edge technology: A step closer to cyborg?

2005-08-14T00:30:00.000-07:00

I just watched (and listened as I do stuff on my computer) to a fascinating Book TV broadcast of author Michael Chorost telling of his experiences as a deaf man learning to live with his state-of-the-art, software-driven cochlear implants.

That's right. Software driven. It's the bleeding edge of hearing technology solutions for the totally deaf, should they choose it.

In what looks like a hearing aid sitting behind his left ear is the computer processor that translates sound from a microphone that is magnetically held in place on his head by the cochlear implant inside his head.

From his website:

Rebuilt: How Becoming Part Computer Made Me More Human (Houghton Mifflin, June 2005) is my story of becoming a cyborg. It's a scientific memoir of going deaf and getting my hearing back with a cochlear implant, that is, a computer embedded in my skull. Science fiction writers and filmmakers have speculated about cyborgs (human-computer fusions) for decades, but in this book I reveal what it's really like to have part of one's body controlled by a computer...

Read more at michaelchorost.com.

Also from his website:

About Rebuilt

Michael Chorost became a cyborg on October 1, 2001, the day his new ear was booted up. Born hard of hearing in 1964, he went completely deaf in his thirties. Rather than live in silence, he chose to have a computer surgically embedded in his skull to artificially restore his hearing.

This is the story of Chorost's journey –- from deafness to hearing, from human to cyborg –- and how it transformed him. The melding of silicon and flesh has long been the stuff of science fiction. But as Chorost reveals in this witty, poignant, and illuminating memoir, fantasy is now giving way to reality.

Read more here.

As he relates to the audience, his book is about learning how to live in a different body.

For example, as a deaf and hard of hearing person, he explains his center of hearing had been in his chest and other parts of his body. With his new cochlear implant, he learns that now the center of his hearing is at his ears.

Technorati: cochlear implant | deaf | hard of hearing | Michael Chorost

Passing of a notable newsman

2005-08-11T11:17:00.000-07:00

I was shocked on Monday, as I'm sure many were, to hear that Peter Jennings had died. I'd known that he was suffering from cancer, but had no idea that he was as sick as he was.

The world is a better place, I think, because of him. He had a soothing, reassuring delivery of the world news. His was one of the few authoritative, yet compassionate voices that was part of the fabric of our culture and life for so many years.

Ted Koppel, who joined ABC at the same time as Jennings in 1964, spoke of his long-time friend and colleague on the radio program Day to Day.

Fresh Air with Terry Gross aired "A Final Farewell to Newsman Peter Jennings", a rebroadcast of a 1998 interview with Jennings.

The Peter Jennings I Knew

Google News Search

Why "e-Scribble"?

2005-08-11T00:24:00.000-07:00

About a month ago I started a blog to mainly focus on my professional interests -- the stuff listed in this blog's About section.

But, I wasn't really happy with calling it "Sam Vigil Jr.s' Blog." So I didn't promote, just added a post now and then, trying my hand at blogging, "practicing," if you will (why do we say that doctors and lawyers "practice" their respective professions?).

So after brainstorming off and on for the last few weeks, not really hitting on a name that appealed to me, I came across "e-Scribble." And I found the domain "e-scribble.com" was available!

Hey! Now something finally felt like the right fit.

While the meaning of "to scribble" is more along the lines of meaningless drawings, doodling, and the like, I hope that my blog is actually the opposite and will have some meaning.

I think "to scribble" fits my blog in that blogging is an informal medium. And while I expect to write informally, I hope the information I offer and my writing is of at least good quality.

Eventually I'll migrate the posts from samvjr.blogspot.com to here. And I'll eventually be pointing the domain e-scribble.com to this blog as well.

[UPDATE 8/11/05] I've now migrated posts from samvjr.blogspot.com.

Which Mountains in Colorado?

2005-08-05T20:52:00.000-07:00

I'm confused. And it appears the Colorado Planned Giving Roundtable website folks are confused, too.

When I visited their site, I was greeted by a beautiful picture of majestic mountain peaks -- just what you'd expect from a Colorado-based organization, right?

But wait a minute! Hold the phone! Are these folks actually meeting in and from California?

That's a picture of Yosemite Valley -- in the Sierra Nevada mountains -- on their site!

Suddenly I feel all a-jumble inside. The name and picture don't match. In my mind I'm reading and picturing Colorado, but my eyes are seeing Yosemite Valley.

I'd feel much more at peace -- and the branding message certainly would be less confusing -- if they used a picture of Colorado's Rocky Mountains instead.

Technorati: branding | planned giving | fund raising

Quit Monkeying with Daylight Saving Time

2005-07-25T01:45:00.000-07:00

The debate over Daylight Savings Time is back. But this time legislators want to extend it to one month, a compromise on the originally-proposed two-month extension.

One of the biggest arguments put forth in favor of the extension by energy-saving proponents is that it will save energy. On other hand, some businesses advocate for daylight saving because people will spend more time out of their homes and spending more on auto fuel and barbecues.

In the past I'd heard -- I wish I could quote chapter and verse -- that the increase in accidents and lower productivity surrounding the time changes cost the nation billions.

In any case, in my view, it comes down to consumers are spending money somewhere -- we consumers still pay.

I wish we'd just quit monkeying with the time changes and leave it all year 'round.

I don't particularly care to have to adjust to the time change. I especially don't like it when we "spring forward" and lose an hour. I have to adjust to getting up an hour earlier, and it's usually not just a matter of "going to bed earlier" the night or two before. It just ain't that easy, I've found, as I've grown older. And, sure, I like gaining the "extra hour" when we "fall back." But you know what? I seriously doubt I'd miss that hour if I didn't have it.

Yes, I do like daylight extending a little longer into the evening hours. But I can remember as a kid living in California going to bed while it was still light out. I pity those kids today whose parents are sensible enough to put them to bed at a decent hour in the summer even though it's still light out and they'd rather be outside playing. I'm sure I'd do better in the summer months if it was dark at 8:30 pm instead of 9:30 -- I'd probably go to bed earlier.

Living in the Northwest today, I really don't like getting up in the winter months while it's still dark. But I adjust. However, it is still rather jarring in the fall when one morning you get up with the sun and the next you're getting up in the pitch black before the sun.

Admittedly I haven't studied this debate forwards and backwards to take a position on whether we should be on "saving" or "standard" time all year.

I think I'd be happy if we'd just pick one, leave it alone and quit monkeying with it.

Lunchtime surprise causes pause

2005-07-23T10:43:00.000-07:00

It's so easy to get caught up in the busy-ness of life. We really need to take regular time to just stop and be quiet. Once in a while something happens to make me pause for a few minutes. Like this that happened a few days ago for me...full post here...

Washington court ruling in radio case could reach bloggers

2005-07-19T00:30:00.000-07:00

Your opinion expressed on your blog on behalf of a political campaign may someday be considered an in-kind contribution and be subject to campaign finance legislation, if a recent court ruling is extended to its logical conclusion.

A recent court decision in Olympia, Wash., ruled that air time during which talk radio show hosts advocated for a political campaign -- in this case opposing a gas tax -- could be considered an in-kind contribution.

This could reach the blogosphere, according to Seattle-based media lawyer Bruce Johnson. That came out in his interview on last week's public radio program On the Media. (Listen online or download the MP3.)

This could have a very chilling effect, I think, on blogs and the free exchange of ideas and discussion that form the basis of our free American society. Our nation was built on the free exchange of ideas and opinions. That has been the life of our nation since before our nation came into its own. That's the spirit of the First Amendment.

Restrictions and conditions placed on opinions expressed on talk radio, and potentially reaching the blogosphere where opinion is one of the underpinnings thereof, is a threat to free speech clothed in campaign finance reform.

Now, I'm not totally opposed to such reform. I believe the law's basic intent was good. But this latest decision is a stretch and to me is just plain wrong because of its chilling effect.

The time to speak up about this kind of thinking is now. What happens to talk radio in this area could very well foreshadow what happens in the blogosphere.

Here's a July 15, 2005 editorial in The Olympian questioning the ruling.

Technorati tags: blogging | free speech | media | political campaign contributions

It's About Time...I'll Just Jump In

2005-07-14T00:56:00.000-07:00

Well, it's time I just jump in.

It's been nearly four years since I first heard about blogs and dabbled with creating them here on blogspot.

Now, after reading a few blogs, reading Hugh Hewitt's book Blog, listening to Shel Holtz's and Neville Hobson's podcast For Immediate Release, and thinking about blogging and how to use this medium, I've decided to just jump in and start, even though I haven't figured out yet how to set up an RSS feed, Trackback, etc., yet

So, here's the start. I'm giving some thought about a description for this blog...I'll post that at some time as I gain more focus on this.

And I have to give some thought for a couple more blogs that I have in mind.