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Thoughts and things I care to sharelinks for 2008-02-23
- Bernard Lunn of Read/Write Web is starting to get more adventurous with Google Docs…
links for 2008-02-22
- Liz Strauss is highlighting a series of posts by Geatano Caruana on the topic of procrastination.
I really should read this series as it would probably help me out – but I think I’ll put it off until tomorrow.
KIDDING!!! 😉
- This is a great development in the OneCare service. Now if they can tie this into the Windows Home Server and tack on an online WHS backup service – that’d be great.
- A fair question.
- All hail Google… so the corner has been turned. Frederic provides his take on the topic
- Polaroid’s Instant Film will be phased out in 2008 – the end of an era.
Deep in the doldrums of winter
I think it’s really that part of February that starts to effect everyone. I’ve been reading it around the ‘net the past week or so. Posts on enthusiasm, procrastination, motivation, etc… we’re all looking to break out of the same winter blandness and get cranking again. At least that’s what it feels like.
March is a couple weeks away, and even then, winter still has a firm grasp up until the end of the month in many places. We’re affected by the surroundings and the weather can play a big part in how active we are.
Maybe it’s just me – I’ve been “heads down” this winter at a client for the most part, getting the job done. Come April, that’ll change to a new client and we’ll start planning for the spring vacation and such. I’m starting to get antsy for not only warm weather, but to get more active with my favorite bloggers and social media friends.
To all those that have been keeping the posts rolling this winter, working to motivate people and make things happen – thank you! I’m constantly amazed at the energy level that many people have this time of year – you’re an inspiration!
Anyone feeling the same way? Have some great plans to share for spring? Whatever you’ve got planned for the coming weeks I wish you well. 🙂
The Asus Eee PC – Is this the real cloud computing client?
While it’s been out for awhile now, and I’ve read a quite a bit on it – only last night did it really hit me how useful this device may be. The little device with an instant-on capability that can be had for as little as $300 is getting rave reviews by just about everyone. Especially those that have been using one.
I’m thinking this is the perfect device to provide the grab-and-go needs that I have nearly daily. My laptop is great, but it’s always set up and running either at home or work. With a second device, I could simply grab it and head off to anywhere and still be able to take notes, read feeds, blog, write manuals, perform remote-control support as needed all in a 2 pound package.
Guess we’ll find out more about it this week. While mentioning it to Amy, she pointed out how nice it’d be to have a smaller device for herself to be able to use around the house and such. The interesting part was that after pointing out all the “deficiencies” in the device, like no storage space, slower processor, Linux instead of Windows, small screen resolution, etc… she was still really interested in the device. We’ll be off later today to try a hands-on with one to see what she and our daughter think of them.
At any rate, using nLite, I’ve built a small Windows XP build (533MB installed)that may fit nicely even on the extremely storage challenged Eee PC 2GB Surf model. Personally though, I’m interested in looking at getting Ubuntu loaded on it.
Anyone else have one, or thinking about getting one? I’d love to know your thoughts on this super-inexpensive and uber- portable device.
Two years and counting: RickMahn.com
Yep, two years ago today I posted my first post here on RickMahn.com. Friends and coworkers thought it was a tad self-centered at the time, and I did feel a little uncomfortable launching a blog with my name. However, starting my third year with this site, I think the content I generate (when I’m productive 😉 ), fits more than just my own needs. The experience working on my own personal brand and career allows me to share what I learn, and meet many, many more interesting and knowledgeable people.
So, my first post was on February 17th, 2006 where I said hello:
Welcome to the culmination of my blogging efforts for the past year. RickMahn.com is the place where I will talk about daily events in the technology space and blogosphere. About work, a little about life, and sprinkled with a few rants on occasion.
The reason for starting a new blog is both simple and complex. I’ve been using a number of blogging tools (Blogger, WordPress.com, MSN Spaces) with differing results. I’ve come to the conclusion that Blogger.com currently was the most flexible, WordPress.com the most powerful, and MSN Spaces – well… oh my, look at the time.
So after a lot of research, learning new technologies, blogging, thinking, and figuring costs and such, I’ve set up shop here at www.rickmahn.com. I’ll be here mostly every day posting on things that I find interesting, interacting in the blogosphere, commenting on others’ posts and so on.
So, come on back from time to time and check out what I’m doing – drop a line and let me know what’s good and what’s bad. See ya round the ‘net!
So, that’s a quick look back to the beginning of my personal blog, though I did start blogging a little over a year earlier in December of 2004 with a MSN Spaces blog. Learned a lot since then! 😛
I’d like to take a minute and thank everyone who continues to stop by. I plan on keeping relevant content on social media, personal branding, some technology stuff, and a few selfish posts on what makes me happy. Cheers folks and onward into year three!
Happiness CXXIII
Blogging.
links for 2008-02-13
- It never seems to come easy for AMD, no matter the time or product line. Dell has thrown a curve ball in only selling AMD based units at retail. How does AMD compare at retail? Read and find out.
When the “A-List” stops being “The A-List”
So I was sitting at my local coffee shop this morning reading feeds, Twittering and writing. Not an unusual morning, but like other times a person gets inspired, it came from a comment from someone. This time from Jeremiah Owyang via Twitter. While talking about a the new Egos site created by Guy Kawasaki he Tweeted:
My recommendations to you: somewhere in the middle, develop your own feedreader of high value blogs and alerts everyone is unique
What occurred to me is that I didn’t think much about the a-list much any longer. While the semi-annual meme of beating on the a-list being a favorite sport for many bloggers, something any committed blogger will realize after awhile is that they develop their own a-list. This is simply the list of bloggers that they read and are influenced by.
It becomes less about the celebrity status of the blogger and more about the value of their content. I think it was Chris Brogan who started calling his personal list of favorites “Rockstars“, and it’s an apt title for a list of people who continually influence you on a daily basis. Hey I know good ‘ol Diamond Dave did that back in the ’80s for a heck of a lot of people. 😉
I’m sure a number of people are sitting back saying that I’ve missed the point of “The A-List”. They’d point out that this group of high-profile bloggers control the topics on Techmeme, Tailrank, et al. I don’t see that – I see a *lot* of great bloggers moving that conversation all over the place. At any rate, that’s not the point of this post. I’m really just talking about building your own list of blogs and bloggers that influence you.
Here are some opinions I’ve developed (though some are obvious 😉 )
- There is no one definition of the A-List – everyone’s a list is different
- “The A-List” everyone talks about are just bloggers – albeit with industry insight
- The more time you spend reading in the blogosphere, the more important the content and less the celebrity status of the blogger
- Your A-List will include high-profile bloggers, because of the value they bring to you, just like the lower-profile bloggers you read
I guess I just want to people to keep exploring and finding that content that has value to you. Don’t worry about if they are part of “The A-List”, there really are some great bloggers among them and many of their observations are relevant to the conversation that we’re looking for.
So, the A-List stops being “The A-List” when the reader realizes that each blogger brings value to the conversation and you start looking beyond who they are and more at what they say. What’s your take on this?
Photo credit: jzawodin
Blogging and the IT Professional
Why is it that the very people who make all that wonderful technology work for your company don’t blog that much? That’s a question I’ve been curious about for the last few years. Yeah there are many technology bloggers, but I’m talking about people who staff the information technology departments around the world. Where are you guys? I find a few here and there, but there aren’t many.
I’ve suggested, recommended, given ideas and supported many of my fellow IT friends to help them find the value that blogging can bring. I’m continually confused at the explanations, or reasoning that people find not to. Answers like, “I can’t talk about work”, or “it’s not secure” and the one that still amazes me for many IT pros, “the Internet isn’t safe”.
Yeah, all those answers (and more) are true, but it shouldn’t keep you from engaging and bringing your expertise to the party. I’ve several friends who could bring a great deal to the blogosphere, some are true gurus on many aspects related to enterprise information technology implementation. The biggest limiting factor for most people really comes down to time.
Time is every bloggers most challenging aspect, but it’s no different than any other endeavor. How to balance, career, home life, and a blog is what we all battle every day as bloggers. However, there is so much reward that the challenge and the cost in time is worth the effort. Many of the IT people I know, are so busy with their current projects, that they can’t even get away from their desks at lunch time. What the heck is that about? Even during the most interesting and challenging projects, you need to allow yourself to think about other things.
If there is one thing I would pass on to fellow IT workers about blogging is that it allows a person to disengage a little bit. Writing about things that are interesting to you lets you exercise a bit of your mind that yearns for attention. It allows you to think in new directions, learning more about your interests as well as yourself.
Back to those excuses… yes they’re true to a certain degree, but their mainly just excuses. Kind of like finding reasons you didn’t do your homework back in high school. Come on, you can find more than the work aspect of IT to talk about – you do in person, why not on a blog? Not secure – talk about security if it’s a passion, make it interesting to the average person so they learn more about it. Don’t think the Internet is a safe place to bare your soul? Use a pseudonym – writers have done it for centuries and blogging is nothing different.
For some reason, IT is not where many bloggers are coming from lately, and I really would like to see that change. Maybe it’s just the circles I run in, or the market here in Minneapolis, MN that is a bit more conservative when it comes to voicing opinions. How about your IT friends? I’m looking for more IT bloggers! 🙂
Photo credit: Grant Mitchell
links for 2008-02-07
- I’m trying this out since I use a lot of Google services. Any feedback on your experiences?
😢
“We are not enemies but friends.”
Live your life.
Completely.
Without fear.
Live it with Love, compassion, empathy, tolerance and joy.
Treat every person with the kindness, respect and dignity they deserve by the very virtue of being a human being.
Out riding this rainy, wet spring. Got 1,000 miles on the clock with more to come this season. #IMRG #IndianMotorcycle
Watching early seasons of #GoldRush. Fun seeing @GoldrushRick in season 3! Hope his new season is off to a good start!
Oh yes I did! https://www.instagram.com/p/BsRDO9ogSO0/?utm_source=ig_twitter_share&igshid=1kha5yzhjq3ot