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Thoughts and things I care to shareMy Top 5 Blogging Tools – Answering ProBlogger
Darren Rowse over at ProBlogger asks:
If you had to choose 5 blogging tools that were the only ones you could use for the next 12 months what would they be and why?
Well, here is my list of 5 blogging tools I can’t live without (in no order of importance):
- WordPress
- Windows Live Writer
- Feedburner
- Google Analytics
- Akismet
Via: ProBlogger – What are Your Top 5 Blogging Tools?
About the Header Image
I’ll be updating the header image hear on my blog on a monthly basis. Since I was testing this theme and layout in February when it was really cold I selected a picture clip that reminded me of my favorite sport – snowmobiling.
Not quite halfway through March here in Minnesota, what snow we had gotten from two decent storms is rapidly melting – it was in the mid 50’s today. It sure doesn’t look like winter much at this point.
At any rate I just thought that I would let you know that the header image will change on a regular basis. I’ve got a stash of pics that I’ll start from, but will be out hunting for great scenery or events to take a clip from, so stay tuned.
Oh – if you have a suggestion or recommendation for a header image, let me know! Below is one I almost used for this month.
links for 2007-03-12
- Exciting news to see the Q1P with OEM Vista install. Now about the Q2 – can we get that with WinXP instead of Vista?
- The debate of keyboards for UMPCs rages on… Personally, if it doesn’t add any noticable weight, or impact the tablet aspect usability of the device, I say put it in. Otherwise, don’t.
- In this post, I see a single shining light for Windows Home Server – adding 3rd party home automation software and tools. This could be the one area of WHS that I could be persuaded to take the plunge when it goes gold. Could also be a good blog post. :
New Bedouins – The Mobile Lifestyle
If ever there was an article that summed up my idea of what work 2.0 is, this article at SFGate.com does. Since one of my top goals for 2007 is starting my own consulting firm, this article sums up the direction I’ll be taking in running the company from day to day.
Via: SFGate.com – Where neo-nomads’ ideas percolate
Twitter Rocks the ‘Net
For the past two weeks or so I’ve been using Twitter; and up until the beginning of this week, I was struggling to understand it’s relevance. Then the light bulb when on. When I was in the fog trying to “get it”, Twitter seemed to be a jabbering hoard of irrelevant messages between strangers. Sometimes, it is that – but when you start using the service from the perspective that you are updating people you know on what you’re currently doing, it really comes into its own as a useful service.
Twitter is an interesting social presence service that allows a user to simply and quickly convey what they are doing at any given time. As people add each other as friends, you begin to see the rhythms in their day – when they’re available, when they’re hard at work, when they’re having fun, etc… The thing I’m trying to convey on this point is that many people who you know about via the blogosphere become more personable, more accessible, whether you interact more because of it is irrelevant. Because Twitter brings more personality to participants, it becomes a powerful tool for social interaction in an age where we increasingly isolate ourselves from each other.
There are many, many great posts and articles in the blogosphere about Twitter, and I’ve linked to several below that I believe capture what Twitter is about, or at least the perceptions of it’s power user base. Overall the enthusiasm and fun found in the Twitter community is undeniable and unlike any other web-service or social tool I’ve every used before.
Some Twitter community conventions to take note of:
- Use ‘@username’ when addressing someone specifically in a group
- Use TinyURL (http://tinyurl.com) when posting a link
Twitter Oriented Tools & Solutions:
- Twitter Tools – a WordPress plug-in currently being developed (Alex King)
- Twapper – a WAP-based service to monitor Twitter on your phone! (30 Boxes)
- Twitterific – a Twitter client for the Mac
- Post to Twitter – A FireFox search tool for posting to twitter!
- Twitter Search – A custom Twitter search engine (Steve Rubel)
- Twitter Fan Wiki – WOW!
Input from the blogosphere on Twitter:
- Andy Carvin: Can Twitter Save Lives?
- Robert Scoble: Research is great, but Twitter is shipping…
- Steve Rubel: Twittering, Peers vs. Pros: Who’s Faster On News?, A Basic Twitter Search Engine,
- mayflower hill: Twitter
- Steven Fettig: I hate bandwagons… yet I jump on them all the time; Twitter & del.icio.us
- Ross Mayfield: Twitter Tips the Tuna
- Anil Dash: Consider Twitter
- mamamusings (Liz Lawley): Why Twitter Matters
- Brian Solis: Twitter is Instant “Anywhere” Messaging
- Slacker Manager: The Several Habits of Wildly Successful Twitter Users
- 30 Boxes: Introducing Twapper!
- Betsy Weber: Camtasia twittercast – (starts playing immediately, appropriate while in the office)
- Alex King is building a WordPress/Twitter integration plug in: Twitter Tools Road map
- Iconfactory (For the Max) – Twitterific
Lots of action on twitter 3/11/2007
Twitter traffic has increased tremendously this weekend – fantastic tool. I started the weekend with about 3 friends, and now am approaching 25. The point isn’t so much making friends as it is participating. It’s also great for leaning new things, news (nothing is faster), and gathering contacts. Highly recommended.
Hosting Outage
Looks like GoDaddy was down for some time today – I only noticed it about 30 minutes before it came back online. Frustrating – they’ve been pretty darn good for the past year+.
links for 2007-03-11
- Rob Bushway also uses a Fujitsu P1610 similar to James Kendrick at www.jkontherun.com. While packing for his MVP trip to Redmond, he talks a bit about the P1610.
- Warner Crocker of GottaBeMobile is on Twitter.
- Incredible. If you use twitter while on the go, you have got to check this out.
- Om Malik gets some MSM juice from The San Francisco Chronicle for his Web Worker Daily site that talks about the new work environment.
Going to Windows Connections – Spring 2007
I’ll be going to the Windows Connections conference in April, which looks to be an interesting session on Windows Vista, Office 2007, and Exchange 2007. I’m also attending some SharePoint 2007 sessions that are being held pre & post conference.
It’s a 4-5 day conference, mainly for Information Technology professionals focusing on deploying technology within a corporate environment. But even so, it can be a lot of fun – the speakers are some of the best on their topics.
It should be a pretty great time – let me know if you’ll be there!
Link to Windows Connections 2007
New feeds because of Twitter
Well, I’ve added at least a dozen new feeds to Google Reader, simply because of Twitter. With only a mention and a link, I’ve discovered many new sources that I find interesting. Fantastic!
@MAC_Arms Pay taxes when you make your money, pay taxes when you spend your money, pay taxes when you successfully invest your money, pay taxes when you save enough taxed money to afford a house, pay taxes to live in your house, pay taxes when you sell the house that you paid taxes on to
Yup, taxes are criminal and we need serious reforms. I've always said that if you want to see a tax revolt, make withholdings illegal and have Americans write a tax check every payday. They'll revolt for sure. You don't miss what you never had.
I think it’s safe to say that @GovEvers should stop blocking audits in Wisconsin and open the books…
“Only AMERICAN citizens should vote.”
Sen. @berniemoreno says voter ID and proof of citizenship are simply common sense.
“We’re talking about a very low threshold — identify who you are and prove you’re a U.S. citizen when you register to vote. I think we’re getting closer to
Wrong. Democrats are solely responsible for hours-long airport lines.
They voted to defund TSA three times and won’t even entertain a conversation about reopening it. Why?
They’re using it as leverage to stop enforcing immigration laws.