« September 2007 | Main | November 2007 »
Halloween in the Learfield IT department. Thank god for the punk rocker (Jennifer). Without her, Mr. Clean (Jamie) and I would be posing for the Gayest Couple at the Prison Ball. I've skipped the last few years and suspect it will be several more before I do this again.
...and why I will always have the Sturdy Soapbox in my blog roll. You will know them by their posts.
I remember when installing a new operating system took a huge stack of 3.5 inch floppies (or 5.25 inch floppies!). And a lot of time. But what was really needed back then --at least by me-- was patience and courage.
You knew to a near certainty that your computer wouldn't work at the end of the process. Or some of your applications wouldn't work or you'd spend hours tracking down and installing drivers.
Somewhere along the way, I stopped upgrading my computers with new operating systems and just purchased a new computer with the newest OS already installed. An expensive solution.
So I have had mixed emotions about the new release of Mac OS X (Leopard). Lots of new features I'm eager for, but trepidation. My plan was to wait until my Mac sensei, George, had time to do the installation.
On Saturday he informed me that this was something that I could do. Back up my data, and stick in the installation DVD.
I took the added precaution of burning my photos and music to DVD and then (with hunched shoulders and squinted eyes) slipped in the installation DVD for Leopard. Less than an hour later, the new OS was running and --so far-- nary a problem.
I won't bore you with my early impressions of the features of this new system. The web is swarming with those. I will share one thing...
Time Machine is the new backup/restore application that comes with Leopard. So I bought a new external HD, plugged it in, and let Time Machine make another full back up of my computer. It will update that back up every time I connect the laptop and the drive.
The real test of any such app is the restoration. When the time comes I need to recover a file or --god forbid-- the entire contents of my computer. Let's hope that's off in the future. But it's a pretty slick tool and so easy to use, I will.
But the installation was as advertised: slot the DVD and take a nap.
I recently read Halting State by Charles Stross. It's science fiction (for lack of a better description) set in 2012 (in Scotland and/or cyberspace). You can read the description on Amazon. A couple of paragraphs have been haunting me for a few days. Not sure they'll make much sense out of context, but I include them here for future reference:
"This is the twenty-first century, and we're in the developed world. You're probably thinking wars are something that happen in third-world shit-holes a long way away. And to a degree, you'd be right. Modern warfare is capital-intensive, and it hasn't really been profitable for decades; it was already a marginal proposition back in 1939 when Hitler embarked on his pan-European asset-stripping spree -- his government would have been bankrupt by March 1940 if he hadn't invaded Poland and france -- and it's even worse today. When the Americans tried it in Iraq, they spent nine times the value of the country's entire oil reserves conquering a patch of desert full of -- sorry, I'm rambling. Pet hobby-horse. But anyway: Back in the eighteenth century, von Clauswitz was right about war being the continuation of diplomacy by other means. But today, in the twenty-first, the picture's changed. It's all about enforcing economic hegemony, which is maintained by broadcasting your vision of how the global trade system should be structured. And what we're facing is a real headache -- a three-way struggle to be the next economic hegemon."
Who is we? That's the question you're asking yourself...
" 'We,' for these purposes, is the intellectual property regime we live in -- call it the European System. The other hegemonic candidates are the People's Republic of China, and India. American isn't in play -- they've only got about three hundred and fifty million people, and once we finish setting up the convergence criteria for Russian accession to the Group of Thirty, the EU will be over seven hundred. China and India are even bigger. More to the point, the USA went post-industrial first. Their infrastructure is out-of-date and replacing it, now oil is no longer cheap, is costing them tens of trillions of euros to modernize. Plus, they've got all those rusty aircraft carriers to keep afloat. It's exactly the same problem Britain faced in the 1930s, the one that ultimately bankrupted the empire. But today, our infrastructure --Europe's-- is in better shape, and the eastern states are even newer. They went post-industrial relatively recently, so their network infrastructure is almost as new as the shiny new stuff in Shanghai and New Delhi. So there's this constant jockeying for position between three hyperpowers while the USA takes time out."
My colleague David produced a 2 minute video for one of our clients recently. His post provides the background. I like the piece because a) it illustrates how easy and inexpensive it is to produce video and b) it effectively tells the story (public health program, in this instance).
David shot the video with a small, consumer-grade still camera (with video setting) and edited with iMovie 08. I should note this was David's first try and he did it while watching a World Series game.
Any company that has "communication" in their name, better have some people capable of producing a video like this. I have a hunch we'll wind up doing a lot of these for current and future clients.
"A (Wisconsin) man accused of murdering his wife told a jury today that he shoved a ceramic candy dish down her throat so she would shut up -- but he didn't mean to kill her. Patrick Zurkowski of Spencer also says his wife, June, attacked him with a paring knife.
The 40-year-old Zurkowski is charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the March 2006 death of his wife.
An autopsy determined June Zurkowski had been beaten and suffocated after pieces of an Easter bunny-shaped plate were lodged in her throat. Prosecutors say Zurkowski killed his wife of 3 and a half years after an argument over money.
Zurkowski testified for about two hours this afternoon and was the only defense witness called as the trial winds down." [WCCN Radio]
I've known Marhall Wilson since he and Barb started working together at the same law firm (Marshall has recently moved on). If I had to guess, I'd say he'd be better at fixing a broken generator than partitioning a hard drive. I don't think he's goofy for gadgets like many of my acquaintances.
So when I heard he'd purchased and iPhone, I was curious about his experience to-date:
"The San Diego Union-Tribune's site SignOn San Diego offers a streaming Internet radio station, SignOn Radio. Today they've been supplying steady coverage of the fires, including phoned-in live reports from area residents and people following the story from other regions. News staff are manning the radio, taking calls. It seems like they're doing a pretty good job of applying journalistic judgment to both official information and call-ins." [E-Media Tidbits]
I'm listening to the SignOn Radio stream on iTunes. W is stumbling through a press conference. I think he actually said, "I'm from the federal government and we're here to help you."
They just broke for AP headlines. I keep looking at the MacBook to remind myself I'm listening to "radio" from a newspaper. Spooky. I remember boasting that only "radio" could really cover this kind of story.
In the 17 years I did affiliate relations for our networks, I was on the road a lot. Typical trip would have started early Monday morning (sometimes Sunday evening) and ended late on Friday. I might have have extended a trip over a weekend once or twice but that was very rare.
The new Endurance Record for an affiliate trip has to go to Scott Brandon, the head of operations for Learfield's news division. Scott has been on the road --continuously-- since September 17th. He's been in seven states; 45 towns (and counting); covered 4,500+ miles; eaten 13 Chinese buffets; stayed in 8 really bad motels; 4 really, really bad motels; consumed three bowls of beer cheese soup; two glasses of beer (Miller); attended one Packer's game and lost one iPod. And saw some sights:
"A camel grazing on the side of the road in Fond Du Lac; a giant fish thing in Hayward; and two truckers sharing a one bedroom at the Super 8 in Park Falls. But, by far, the strangest and creepiest was just outside of Phillips, WI. You round a bend and see a field full of... well... concrete people and horses and deer and dogs. Very Adams Family-ish. I walked through the park just to make sure it was really as "chill down your spine" as I thought. It was." [Photos]
Scott's long journey comes to an end next week as his affiliate ghost ship comes back into harbor. He's going to need a lot counseling and time to adjust. We assume he's working on a book.
Karl Long, a Web/Social Media Integration Manager at Nokia, identifys three traits of a successful blog - focus, passion, & originality:
"Focus - I think one of the most important choices a blogger makes when they start their blog is what their focus is. Think about a first time visitor getting dropped on your blog from a search engine or stumbleupon, are they going to understand in 2 seconds exactly what your blog is about? If the answer is yes you will have a much better chance of building a readership quickly and you will have a successful blog. If not, you may well build a successful blog but it will take years as opposed to months.
Passion - This is the only possible way that you will be able to sustain regular posting of a high enough quality over the course of years. If you don’t have the passion your blog will become a ghost town very quickly. People talk about the passion in the writing, and how important it is for readers, but IMHO the passion is all about the ability to sustain you through the emotional roller coaster ride of writing a blog. Sure your passion will come through in your writing, but it is your passion that will keep you plugging away when no one is coming back, no one is commenting, and no one is linking to you. Passion may not be the only thing that will drag you along, but it is the most enjoyable so unless you are a masochist you better love what your talking about.
Originality - In branding terms, what differentiates you from the crowded playing field of blogs all talking about the same thing. They don’t call the blogosphere an echo chamber for nothing, because most of the time everyone is reflecting and amplifying what else is happening around the blogosphere. Original content and original ideas in the blogosphere stand out like beacons in the night, and not to labor the metaphor but they also attract other bloggers like moths to a flame."
[via LexBlog]
I'm not sure I've got all of the details of this story exactly right but someone will let me know if I don't.
Through her charity work, Sheryl Crow arranged for her daddy, Wendell, to play tennis with Billie Jean King. I believe this took place the day after the U. S. Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium ("when we finally were successful in getting that Roger Federer guy off the court.").
While chatting with Wendell last weekend on our visit to Kennett, I said I'd heard about the event and hoped there were photos. Thanks to Wendell's daughter Kathy, there are. And Wendell gave me permission to share them here.
A nice one of Sheryl, Ms. King and her pop; a very nice family shot; and --my favorite-- Wendell preparing to serve a ball to the back of Billie Jean King's head (not really).
This is a really good article by Sam Zuckerman at SFGate.com (San Francisco Chronicle):
"More quickly than most anyone imagined, blogging is growing up. From the blogosphere's anarchistic roots, a professional cadre is emerging that is creating an industry whose top-performing businesses now earn serious money. The industry is expanding at warp speed. Blog-based media could just be poised to elbow aside traditional print and broadcast outlets to become one of the dominant sources of news, information and opinion, many observers believe."
This is a must read for anyone in the media business. Management or foot soldier.
It just doesn't get any closer to home than this. Don't miss Scott Adams' new book, "Stick to Drawing Comics, Monkey Brain!: Cartoonist Ignores Helpful Advice"
The high bid for the Thinkpad was $276.01. My little silent auction drew six bids. There was a tie for the high bid ($250) so I gave the high bidders an chance to submit another bid. Mary went up to $275 and Myra bid $276.01. I think that's a fair price for the Thinkpad but I'll hold on to the check for a few days, just in case she gets Buyer's Remorse. Then it's off to the local Humane Society. Thanks to all who submitted bids. Sorry, Henry, but this was a lot more fun than eBay.
Stephen Colbert appeared on "Meet the Press," with Tim Russert Sunday to talk about his recent announcement that he is running for president (only in South Carolina so far). Stephen assured the incredulous Russert that he was very serious about his candidacy, and that this was not "a dream you will wake up from."
Barb's pop --Dr. Paul C. Miltenberger-- is one of eleven residents (and former residents) that will be inducted into the Hall of Honor at the county library.
To have been considered for induction, individuals "must have distinguished themselves within their occupation, trade, or field of endeavor, through intellectual, creative, humanitarian and professional accomplishments."
Great opportunity to visit with some old friends and spend quality time with family. Took a drive around the old home town but didn't take any pix. Just too much plywood.
Mac users are all tingly with anticipation of Leopard, the new version of the Mac operating system, which comes out this Friday. I only mention here for those that might be thinking about getting a Mac. (Die-hard Windows users till dismiss this out of hand)
If you're thinking about buying a computer, you owe it to yourself to watch this well produced video tour, which demos a few of the 300 new features of Leopard.
Prospective clients almost always get around to the question: "Why is a blog better than my (traditional) website?" It's difficult to answer without using words like: boring, stagnant, lifeless, etc.
But even a well-designed site, packed with information, rarely has the energy, immediacy and humanity of the average blog. Today I was presented with a great illustration of this quality.
One of our sports producers pulled a short (90 sec) sound bite from one of the coaches shows we produce, and sent it on to Clyde for the corporate blog. (I'll wait while you take a listen)
That post says a lot about our company. Who we are, what we value. Where would you put something like that on a conventional website? But it fits perfectly in the contest of the blog Clyde has created.
Poll: Bullshit Is Most Important Issue For 2008 Voters
Bonus video: In The Know: Is The Government Spying On Paranoid Schizophrenics Enough? Panelists discuss ways to care for the nation's paranoid schizophrenics, such as hiding cameras in their homes or audio transmitters in their ears.
Barb and I headed down to Kennett this weekend. I honestly can't remember the last time I was there. We used to joke, "Nobody goes to Kennett... you have to be born there." I'm looking forward to seeing old friends.
I'm a little fuzzy on the details, but I think the Dunklin County Library is dedicating a room to some of Kennett's former citizens, including Barb's father, Dr. Paul Miltenberger. So the family heading home to show the colors. Won't be much blogging this weekend.
There would be millions of us who would vote for Stephen Colbert over any of the current crop of hucksters.
Dave Winer weighs in on the relationship between subscriber numbers (to your blog or website) and actual readership, and why he's more interested in "the small picture":
"Ultimately what matters to me is not how many people subscribe to my feed, rather how much of a connection I can make with the people I want to connect with. I'm satisfied that the people I care about read my site.
I'm a blogger not a broadcaster. Blogging isn't about mass markets, it's about the small picture. My small picture (and for you, yours). I'm trying to draw a picture, create a frame of reference that's personal, not corporate. I'm a zig to corporate media's zag. I am a blogger. I am personal."
I was a broadcaster for a dozen years. My father for 30+. The company I work for was once all about broadcasting (now less so). It's a little... unsettling, to realize that I'm no longer a broadcaster.
A tip of the fishing cap to Bob Heater for pointing to this story about an 844 pound shark caught 70 miles southwest of Destin this past Saturday.
Adlee Bruner and five friends were on a charter boat, hoping to catch some grouper to enter in the annual Destin Fishing Rodeo. The story reads like the second hour of Jaws and includes some good stills and a little video of the shark being brought up to the harbor.
"Hey, little boy... I'll give you a dollar if you'll wade out into the surf and get my Frisbee."
You know, the 20-somethings that drop out of school, move back in with their folks and refuse to let good work habits get in the way of their lives?
"There used to be four common life phases: childhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age. Now, there are at least six: childhood, adolescence, odyssey, adulthood, active retirement and old age. Of the new ones, the least understood is odyssey, the decade of wandering that frequently occurs between adolescence and adulthood.
During this decade, 20-somethings go to school and take breaks from school. They live with friends and they live at home. They fall in and out of love. They try one career and then try another."
Why is this, you wonder? NYT columnist David Brooks takes pretty good run at explaining what makes them tick (so slowly). You might have to create a free account to login and read the full piece but it's an interesting read. [via Grow Learfield]
A week ago I mentioned that I was selling my Thinkpad (IBM laptop) on eBay. Actually, my pal Henry was kind enough to list it on his eBay account. He told me not to expect much for a 3 year old laptop, so we were all surprised when the high bid topped out at $809! Too good to be true? Yes, it was.
This morning eBay posted a notice that said the transaction was null and void. Not sure why. I didn't read it closely and Henry says he's never seen that happen before.
Henry (a deacon in the First Church of eBay) wanted to re-list the laptop but I've decided to go a different direction.
After listing the computer on eBay, I discovered that a few people at work were interested in buying it (if the price were right). So, I've decided to hold a "silent auction." I'm going to post a photo and specs on the bulletin board at work and invite anyone that's interested to submit a sealed bid. On Friday, I'll open the bids and the computer goes to the highest bidder. Done.
"Most industries innovate from both ends:
They wait for 'proof' that this new idea is going to work, or at least won't prove fatal. (It's the impulse to wait that made them mediocre in the first place, of course).
So, in every industry, the middle waits. And watches. And then, once they realize they can survive the switch (or once they're persuaded that their current model is truly fading away), they jump in.
The irony, of course, is that by jumping in last, they're condemning themselves to more mediocrity." [Read Seth's full post]
"Consumer-generated content is by far a more trusted form of advertising worldwide than search engine ads, banner ads, or text ads, according to Nielsen, and is trusted almost as much as physical word-of-mouth. 66 percent of North Americans trust consumer-generated media, such as blogs. Only higher trust ranking was 'other consumer recommendations,' which earned 78 percent of respondents' trust." [WebProNews via LexBlog]
Recent example: George's review of the new Sony HRD-CX7 digital video camera. I happen to know that George knows a LOT about cameras, hardware and software. If he likes this camera enough to buy and recommend it, that's all I need to know.
Proposed (Classified) Bill Will Defend Against Flesh-Eating (Classified)
I continue to be amazed at the incredibly high production value of these Onion segments. As for the biting wit, these are right up there with The Daily Show and Colbert Report.
Roger brought back some video he shot at a North Carolina Tar Heels game last month (he has the same little pocket Casio I do). I decided to take one more run at the new iMovie, and finally "got" the new version. At least I think so.
Quickly trimmed the clips... threw in some transitions... tacked on a title and done. I can see where this would be a quick/easy solution for the typical user. While the resulting Quicktime file (20 meg .mov) looked great, everything I encoded for YouTube (I tried several times) looked shitty. Not sure why because I had the option of exporting with Quicktime, just like I do in the last version of iMovie. Bottom line: I will probably try this version of iMovie again.
TechCrunch wonders if Google's radio ad network --Google Audio-- is in trouble:
"Google is offering $2,000 to any advertiser who spends $1,000 on a Google Audio ad campaign. The $2,000 comes in the form of a credit on future ad campaigns, but part of it still comes out of Google’s pocket since it needs to pay the radio stations who will run the ads. It amounts to a “buy one, get two free” offer and is good through the end of the year.
If (Google) truly has a better way of buying and selling radio ads, advertisers and radio stations will quickly figure that out on their own. It is not a good sign when Google has to resort to paying customers to try out a new product."
Update 10/15/07: This from a reader (who prefers to remain anonymous) who works at a radio station that runs Google Audio ads:
"This week we ran on average 18 :60's a day for Google. They just fill in avails that are on our schedule, so many of them are in the evening between 6p-11p. Some hours may have a Google Ad in each stop set.
I don't see the checks but I've heard they range from $500-$2,000 a month. We do have the ability to block out any hours or programming we don't want their stuff in.
To me it would just seem to be up to the station owner/company is the money worth tying up the time with these filler type ads. I've yet to hear an ad I thought specifically targets to our region or even state... and no real big name company's like Ford, GM, McDonald's, JC Penney, Target or anything."
Another angle of the same room with the sole ACER computer circled. [Lost Remote]
Seth Godin on how to create a great website and how to create a good enough website. A few of my favorite nuggets:
Fire the committee. No great website in history has been conceived of by more than three people. Not one. This is a dealbreaker.
Many websites say, “look at me.” Your goal ought to be to say, “here’s what you were looking for.”
Start with design. Don't involve the programming team until you're 90% done with the look and feel of your pages.
(Do) not to create an original design. There are more than a billion pages on the web. Surely there's one that you can start with? If your organization can't find a website that you all agree can serve as a model, you need to stop right now and find a new job.
Henry has been kind enough to sell my IBM Thinkpad on eBay. Proceeds will be donated to the local Humane Society. This baby is in mint condition but you just don't get much for a 3 year old (?) laptop. I paid $3K for the thing and the bidding is at $50.
I'm told that's likely to jump up near the end of the bidding period (Oct 14) but I shouldn't count on it. So, if the thing is gonna go for peanuts, I'd rather it go to someone I know. Might be a good box for student or your grandma. Built like tank. I'm only selling it because Henry nagged me into it : ].
From a Forbes story on job prospects over the next few decades:
"Another endangered species: journalists. Despite the proliferation of media outlets, newspapers, where the bulk of U.S. reporters work, will cut costs and jobs as the Internet replaces print. While current events will always need to be covered (we hope), the number of reporting positions is expected to grow by just 5% in the coming decade, the Labor Department says. Most jobs will be in small (read: low-paying) markets.
Radio announcers will have a tough time, too. Station consolidation, advances in technology and a barren landscape for new radio stations will contribute to a 5% reduction in employment for announcers by the middle of the next decade. Even satellite radio doesn't seem immune from the changes. The two major companies, XM and Sirius--which now have plans to merge--have regularly operated in the red."
The U. S. Department of Labor stats identified a few growth areas: Health care, education and financial services.
Back in the late 80's I discovered a little computer application called ACT. It was a DOS app at the time. A year or so later, I purchased the first Windows version while at Comdex. I used ACT for everything for several years. As our company migrated to MS Office, I moved over to Outlook and have been there ever since.
Over the last week I've been moving my digital life from Outlook to the Mac. XP is running great on the iMac, so there was no reason I had to switch but I've grown fond of iCal, Mail, Address Book and the other OSX tools.
Don't get me wrong, Outlooks is a great program. And powerful. But it just feels... cramped and busy to me now. So, I'm spending even less time on Windows at work. I jump over to use Internet Explorer from time to time but that's about it.
It might just be the result of packing up and cleaning house, but for the first time in years, I have an empty in-box. Stuff comes in, I deal with and zap it. Very liberating.
Speaking of things Apple, while in St. Louis yesterday, Barb stopped by the Apple store and did a little window shopping. She's still on board for a MacBook. Stay tuned.
"Oh shit, he's dumb as hell." That was Richard Nixon's assessment of Fred Thompson 30 years ago when he was running interference for the Nixon Gang during the Watergate investigation. ABC News has the story. How humiliating to hear one of the biggest crooks in American political history call you dumb but loyal (in this case, to the GOP).
This doesn't mean much today, but it makes me a little nostalgic. If I had to choose, I think I'd take a crook over a moron. Unless I can have both.
Cover story on Broadcasting & Cable looks at how some local TV stations are "rediscovering" high school football:
"Vital to high school football's rise in popularity is the fact that technology has finally reached a point where the typical teen, raised on YouTube, can easily upload video and share highlights from that night's game. Station managers say the interactive nature of new media -- whether it's user-generated video, scores or trash-talking -- is a critical component of their school content.
Hearst-Argyle Television has taken the interactive concept a step further, training students in seven markets to be “sideline reporters” for its social-networking platform High School Playbook. A total of 60 students shoot high-def cameras, edit and post their work on the Web site."
The good news --and the bad news-- is this is no longer the turf of any medium. I know TV, cable and newspapers are jumping in. I hope there are radio stations doing them same. How hard would it be?
Let's say there are 10 HS football teams within the range of my station's signal. I recruit and train 10 reporters (and 10 back-up's) on how to shoot/edit game highlights. They upload same to the station YouTube channel (sponsored, of course) and we promote like mad. Incentive? Maybe some pocket money. Best video of the season wins a video iPod (others get iPod Shuffles and iTunes gift cards).
Want to see how a serious blogger and podcaster covers an event? Former Learfielder Chuck Zimmerman clogged his arteries recently at the World Dairy Expo:
Please don't try this at home.
Publishers Weekly: "This brilliantly conceived techno-crime thriller spreads a black humor frosting over the grim prospect of the year 2012, when China, India and the European System are struggling for world economic domination in an infowar, and the U.S. faces bankruptcy over its failing infrastructure. Sgt. Sue Smith of Edinburgh's finest, London insurance accountant Elaine Barnaby and hapless secret-ridden programmer Jack Reed peel back layer after layer of a scheme to siphon vast assets from Hayek Associates, a firm whose tentacles spread into international economies. The theft is routed through Avalon Four, a virtual reality world complete with supposedly robbery-proof banks. As an electronic intelligence agency trains innocent gamers to do its dirty work, Elaine sets Jack to catch the poacher."
Yum!
PS: The final Harry Potter book was long(er than it needed to be), boring and depressing. Sorry, Mrs. R, I loved the others.
My favorite pull from a story by Peter Baker at WashingtonPost.com:
"(Rove) does not want to be identified solely by his ties to the president. He knows he will go down in history as Bush's "architect," but he thinks he can expand his identity beyond just that. "It's not like my life from here forward is going to be defined by it," he said. "I have a chance to create something else. I'm not just going to be typecast as, 'Oh, that's the Bush guy.' "
We'll see. I'd love to see someone put together a website that keeps up with all of the people most responsible for the last seven years. Maybe a big map of the world with a little red dot representing each of the players. Just showing where they are now, and what' they're doing. They played a major role in creating the world in which we live. I'd just like to know where they live and what they're up to. Sort of a Marauder's Map.
"...I see printed newspapers lasting until you upgrade your phone two more times. But the newspaper business can thrive online if it changes how it gathers and edits content. And clearly there will be massive amounts of consolidation. There won’t be 3,000 newspapers online. There might be a dozen. And local news will come from hometown bloggers who self-syndicate to all of the newspapers."
It's a brilliant post and I encourage you to read it. I've asked Mr. Adams to take a stab at the future of radio.
"While walking to our mailbox along the gravel road today I had my head up to enjoy the fluffy clouds. Then circling overhead silently a Red-tailed Hawk appeared." Check out the photo Henry snagged. Reminds me of this photo by Jackie.
Mark Ramsey observes that broadcasters have given listeners the talk radio they want... but do a crappy job of giving them the non-music radio they might want:
"Wandering amidst the posters at NAB promoting radio's prime Talk properties, it's hard not to be struck by the fact that these talents are overwhelmingly Male, late-middle-aged, conservative, politically-charged white guys in suits. Sure, there are the exceptions, but for every Dave Ramsey there are a dozen Michael Savages."
Ramsey goes on to point out that younger folk are not listening to these guys. You think?
Radio Iowa News Director O. Kay Henderson will be doing a weekly shot on XM Radio's POTUS'08 channel (XM 130). Few details yet, but looks like her bit will be around 1:10 p.m. Central time. I'll try to remember to record and share snippet here.
Update 8-Oct-07: And here's the snippet. Kay gives the low down on the campaign in Iowa to XM host Rebecca Roberts. Runs about 10 min and my apologies for the audio quality. I recorded on the nano, holding the wee microphone up to the car speaker. But this clearly illustrates why the Big Kids can't get enough of Her Kayness.
Just had a nice chat with Brad Olsen and Amy Laughlin. They're involved with Revolworks.com. They've got a really nice looking site, packed with ideas, mostly of a "spiritual" nature. They're ready to move on to "phase two," in terms of what they're doing online and wanted my thoughts on blogging. I talked until their eyes glazed (Amy was on speaker phone, so her head was probably on her desk) over.
The point of this post is to illustrate how well blogs do in terms of Google search results ranking. I predicted this post would --within a week-- show up on the first page of results of a Google search on "RevolWorks."
This is happening hundreds (thousands?) of times a day. Companies and organizations jumping into the online conversational pool. RevelWorks.com looks great and the information found there is rich and deep. It's like walking into a beautiful, well-furnished home... but you can't find the people who live there. You can tell they've been there... but they don't seem to be home a the moment.
A good blog would be like throwing a party on the front lawn.
Cory Bergman posts at Lost Remote:
"I just returned from a three-day seminar with Paradigm, a highly-respected sales training firm, and they recommend that managers ensure that new account executives are “adaptable” and “resilient” before hiring them. In fact, these two traits should be at the top of the list in the hiring process because the media world is changing so quickly.
Wouldn’t it be interesting to apply this same thinking when hiring for new journalists? That adaptability and resiliency are just as important as storytelling skills, for example? Of course, those traits not as easy to identify as watching a resume tape and looking at online writing examples (both of which should be required for reporters, by the way), but it means we need to ask job candidates to explain specific examples of how they’ve flexed with change and bounced back from failure."
I was terrible at hiring. God willing, I'll never have to do it again.
Been doing more and more iChatting since getting the MacBook. Starting to take it for granted. Today we did our first three-way chat, just to see a) if we could and b) how it works. [a: yes, b: easy]
David works from his home in Springfield, MO. Roger's office is on the other side of our building. I selected both of them in my "buddies list" and hit the video button. As they accepted the invite, they showed up in facing windows on my desktop. And that's it. We chatted for a few minutes, marveling at how falling-off-a-log simple it was.
I mean, this is how shit is supposed to work, folks. I remember oohing about this to one of our IT folks last year, who responded: "You can video conference on the PC, too. You just have to get the ports configured correctly."
Lost Remote: "Taking the one-man band news crews a step further, ABC News President David Westin announced today that they will open seven new bureaus around the world with only one person per bureau. According to TVWeek, the reporters will write, shoot, edit and feed their material digitally from DV cameras and laptops wherever they are in the field. Assignments so far put people in South Korea; Jakarta, Indonesia; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Nairobi, Kenya; Mumbai, India; New Delhi, India; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates."
Sorry, I'm a radio reporter. I do interviews, cut up the sound, write the wrap and anchor a three minute newscast. You're just gonna have to hire some more people do to that other stuff.
