Aug 14, 2007 | blog
Recently I’ve mentioned on Twitter about getting tired of the information overload. What it really is, is that I’ve jammed almost 200 feeds in Google Reader and am having trouble getting value out of all the information.
To rectify this, I started by identifying my Top 10 bloggers. Why? Because I get the most value out of their writing. I’m going “old-school” on them and actually visiting their blogs every day and reading their content in it’s “native environment” instead of the text in a feed reader. The reason for this is because I believe that greater understanding and enjoyment of their work is gained on their site. (btw – the position on the list is irrelevant, I just pasted them in as I decided on which ones I wanted.)
So here are my Top 10 Bloggers:
Earlier I had Twittered that I was going to remove their feeds from Google Reader while I do this – not sure about that after I think about it. It’s easy to jump over them by hitting “j”, so I may just leave them there.
Also, I took a real hard look at some A-Listers and in the end decided to look at the value of the content. I believe that these 10 11 blogs are interesting enough to spend time there, reading, interacting and enjoying the experience.
Technorati tags: Blogging, A-List, Top 10 Bloggers
Aug 11, 2007 | blog
I’m sitting here on a Saturday wondering about the state of media. Old & new, knowing with certainty that the world is changing – not a revelation to most fellow bloggers. The technical abilities are the leveling factor here, of course, with nearly anyone having the ability to publish all forms: text, audio, video.
The most incredible part about blogging is the stunning talent that exists among these “amateurs”. With the wide ranging opinions, perspectives, and knowledge – bloggers have the ability to slam the MSM to the mat.
Old media has more expensive equipment, assigned stories that may or may not be of interest to the journalist, a set publishing schedule, radio broadcasters have developed a method of speaking that can make you laugh, and alienating talking heads that only need to look pretty on a glowing tube. Most important – they all refuse to state their bias. All these are are reasons why they will ultimately fail unless they change. And that of course is where the corporate part of these organizations will take over and correct the incorrect assumptions of the entrenched personalities.
Bloggers, however, are a bit different. It’s true that there is less “professional” equipment being used to produce blogs – but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the quality suffers. The very nature of blogging allows the individual journalist to take interest and passion in topics they write about. Video bloggers can actually be interesting and have a personality. They can be offensive and inflammatory if they choose. They can be themselves. Podcasters can build interesting, informative, creative shows that knock the socks off most traditional broadcast programs.
Moreover, all these forms of new media allow the individual to adapt quickly. There is no set schedule, there are no rules if you don’t want there to be. You can discuss your passionate topic all day long if you like. The story or topic your interested in doesn’t have to come prepared (“canned”) from 3 or 4 sterile processing plants (MSM studios) – sanitized for you protection – in New York.
Bloggers (YOU) are the the future of journalism in the world. It’s your passion, skill, and knowledge that will change the face of media. Also, it’s OK to have a bias – tell people up front and shout your message from the rooftops. Opinions are what makes the world interesting, and are relevant to changing perceptions.
Technorati tags: Blogging, Old Media, New Media, MSM
Aug 6, 2007 | blog
I really enjoy reading Robert Scoble. His blog, The Scoble Show over at PodTech, and of course, his Tweets (on Twitter). He usually has some good thoughts, and is usually on the money. Sometimes I really disagree with him and think he’s too close to Silicon Valley for his own good, but he is on top of everything.
So it was one of this tweets today that got me thinking on email more. I don’t disagree with him on this one, and I thought I’d expound a bit on some of the thoughts he was throwing out on.
It turned out to be an interesting thread on Twitter. Scoble started off with this tweet:
It’s amazing that in this age of Twitter that people still send email. I hate email. I hate direct Tweets. I hate Facebook messages.
Followed quickly (Twitter is great at fast follow-ups) with this Tweet:
PR people are the worst in the email regard. Speaker planners are close. I don’t answer a lot of my email anymore. If I did, I’d never do.
It’s interesting how the technorati are continually moving to an open communications model – where only their private communications are conducted through email. Private life requires a little bit of privacy after all.
But for communications where privacy doesn’t matter, and after all most communications fall into this category, why not use a fast, scaleable, mobile communications system? Who cares if everyone reads the message – most people ignore anything that is not of interest or of importance to them.
Robert answered one of his followers in this Tweet:
@dweezel: that’s the whole point. Most of my email does NOT need to be private. It’s far better to do most communication out in public.
This seems to sum up the growing perception in many people’s minds.
Chris Brogan asked this question in a Tweet:
@Scobleizer – agreed in the “get in contact” mode. What about the “more details” mode? What do you prefer for “payload?”
While Robert didn’t answer the question, I think that this question is being answered by many Twitter users themselves. Initially shortened URLs (using TinyURL or URLtea) helped link to blogs, news sites, YouTube, etc… In addition, creative users like Dave Winer come up with solutions like TwitterGram where you can upload an audio file, or call one in from your phone. This is where the payload of services like Twitter will be augmented.
Robert rounded out his perspectives in this Tweet:
Basically this is my gesture to the world: I am not answering my email and I’m not going to start. I’m overloaded. Tweet me.
The whole idea of not using email is possibly a bit extreme, but the reality is that we rely on email too much. We use it in place of face-to-face conversations, some use it in place of IM, some use it to spread viral marketing, some unwittingly help spammers and virus hacks by resending pictures and messages they find profound.
The fact of the matter is that email is abused and few messages are worth reading at all. Between the spam, poorly written lengthy messages, it’s a time-sink for many individuals and their employers.
I’d be curious how many hours any of you spend dealing with email – an old but still valid question.
I guess that I really don’t use email much myself, and through the use of instant communications services like Twitter/Pownce/Jaiku, I have gotten used to saying something in 140 characters, or being able to split it into two such posts. Being succinct is an art and an asset that many should practice.
Oh, and thanks to Robert for the post idea! 🙂
UPDATE: I guess that one of the things I wanted to point out though is that while email is abused and is a problem, it is going to be one of our “classic” communication methods. Like radio when television came out, there is still much value in it. There are many times you can absorb auditory information without a video stream and gain value from it. Also, newspapers – the morning ritual of reading the news with a cup of coffee, or on the commute to work is something that will never go away. The same for books – the more digital we get and how quickly we can send information, the more important the relaxing affect of getting lost in your favorite book is.
Email, like a good Whiskey, needs to be used in moderation.
Technorati tags: Email Abuse, spam, Twitter, Pownce, Jaiku, TwitterGram, TinyURL, URLtea
Jul 17, 2007 | blog
Shel Israel makes the point that blogging is normalizing, and I think he’s right on the mark here. The discussion among several bloggers is that blogging is “cooling off”, or becoming less popular. It may be true, but Shell posits the idea that there are additional social media tools and services that people are migrating to.
The social media webscape has changed in the last two years, not so much because people are becoming less enamored of blogging, but because of additional outlets. Micro-blogging services like Twitter (and Jaiku, Pownce, and Hictu) are making huge changes in the conversation. Social networking sites like the now-booming Facebook, or LinkedIn are bringing new ways to connect, network, and share in the conversation.
He points out that we all enjoy talking about the latest thing, whether its blogging, Facebook, iPhone or Harry Potter. Its what’s new that takes up a large part of the popular conversation and media attention. Many of us still use landline telephones even though we also have mobile phones. The analog clock is still popular even though digital clocks are abundant and easier to read at a glance. We still read newspapers despite radio, television, and the Internet.
Blogging is another medium that, at this point, is maturing. It’s entering that next stage, past fad, where it grows up a bit. Starts getting more respected, more widespread. The determined professional bloggers are what will emerge in the next months and years – many have been with it since the beginning, a decade ago.
As new technologies and ideas of new ways to communicate are developed, the conversation is naturally going to jump onto these platforms. Some will thrive, others will bust, but one thing is for sure. The conversation will continue.
Via: Global Neighbourhoods – Blogging. Not passe, just normalizing
Jul 10, 2007 | blog
Darren Rowse over at ProBlogger has a series of posts this week dealing with “What we wish we knew when we first started blogging”. Five in total, and cover the gamut from building a blog to answering comments. Looks like a good read, which most of his posts are.
There are a million things a blogger learns over the course of their blogging career, and learning about the most common “gotchas” is an important one. Hopefully, this five part series will help identify some things for new bloggers, and provoke a smile for seasoned bloggers. Thanks Darren!
Via: ProBlogger – What We Wish We Knew When We First Started Blogging – A Series
Technorati tags: Blogging, ProBlogger, Darren Rowse
