“Asking why you should use blogs is like asking why you should answer the phone. It might be a customer, a developer who wants to use your services, or a reporter who wants to write about the company. Your competitors answer the phone, so you should too.” — Dave Winer’s
XM adding seven regional news and talk channels
“XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. announced a new channel lineup Monday, expanding the number of channels by a dozen, adding several new music and news channels while deleting some others. XM will also add seven regional news and talk channels, bringing its new channel total to 176 from 164. In the fall, XM is also launching a channel with talk show host Oprah Winfrey.” — MercuryNews.com
I remember hearing about the Oprah channel but somehow missed the “regional news and talk channels” item. Uh, I think our company does regional news.
Scott Adams: Ask my opinion
Scott Adams recently invited readers to “ask for my opinion on any topic and I will give it to you in the clearest possible terms (as many as I can get to).” They did and he did. And I found myself agreeing with about 98% of his answers. A few of my favorites:
Q. Who, out of any person, would do the best job of dictator with total control of the world, and please give a real response.
A. Bill Gates. He’s rational, experienced, and has a good track record of helping the disadvantaged through his charitable trusts.
Q. Can you give an easy solution for all the Middle East problems, including but not limited to ethnic issues, religious issues, corruption issues, oil issues, nuclear issues, and last but not least, the poor history of this region in the soccer world cup?
A. There is no solution. But I often wonder what would happen if we surrendered, apologized for interfering in the region, and withdrew all financial and military support for everyone including Israel. I think Israel would survive just fine, countries would still sell us plenty of oil, and our enemies would get busy killing each other. We learned from the Cold War that enemies really do need a reason to want to kill you. It’s not for entertainment.
Q. Most futuristic thing you wish would be invented now?
A. Orgasm ray gun.
The Perfect Day
I’m still struggling to post regularly. How in the hell do people with kids find time to blog? How do people with jobs find time to blog? (Yes, I hear whining, too) Between work, the dogs, Barb (not necessarily in that order), exercise, eating, sleeping, American Idol and a weekly nap…there’s just no time left. I’m telling you, this blogging thing would be a lot easier if you were out of work.
09:00 a.m. – Get out of bed. Shower and shave (optional)
09:30 a.m. – Breakfast at the Towne Grill
10:30 a.m. – Large Rocket Fuel at The Coffee Zone
10:45 a.m. – Barnes & Noble
11:45 a.m. – Lunch (Pastrami on Rye at the Sub Shoppe)
12:45 p.m. – Home. Half hour of fetch with Luch and Ripley
01:15 p.m. – Nap
02:30 p.m. – Surf the Web/blog
05:00 p.m. – More fetch with Lucy and Ripley
05:30 p.m. – ABC World News Tonight
06:00 p.m. – Feed the dogs
06:05 p.m. – Check email; surf/blog
06:30 p.m. – Dinner with Barb (microwave something or take her to Chili’s)
07:30 p.m. – Free time
08:30 p.m. – Surfing/blogging
10:00 p.m. – Daily Show
10:30 p.m. – Colbert Report
11:00 p.m. – Unstructured online time
12:00 p.m. – Reading in bed
01:00 a.m. – Lights out
Of course, things would slow down a bit on the weekends.
Posted by Clyde
It’s a little too early to say that our company is blogging (corporately). But there’s a teensy, weensy spark that could become a flame. Clyde Lear –our CEO/President/Founder and All Around Good Guy– has dipped his toe in the blog pond. Several us always thought he’d be a natural and today’s post would seem to confirm that. For reasons known only to him, he asked a few employees at random what they were reading and posted the results. Why do I think this is worth a mention?
No news release. Nothing about our company’s growth. Just a little nugget about the people that make up our company. He didn’t ask the senior management staff what they were reading. He walked down the hall and asked the folks in the cubes. Clyde was once a journalist and has always been a good writer. I hope he becomes a regular blogger. He’ll have interesting and important things to say.