Sep 13, 2007 | blog
Since I’ve been having a hard time writing things in my genre of topics I usually try to post on here I thought I’d let myself go off in a different direction.
While I’m not a hard-core foodie, I do like to eat good food. I’ve got a few favorite shows on Food Network and a number of things are starting to really bother me more and more.
When did we allow our food preparation to be outsourced to a growing industry of bland, mechanized, "individually sealed for your safety", corporations that get to dictate taste to us?
Why do we feel the need to make it taste the same in Los Angeles as it does in New York?
…Anthony Bourdain
I’m not faulting any of the companies that cater to our desire and perceived need for quick, easy, meals. They’re just businesses trying to make money and grow market share. Yes, the national chains can offer good coffee, breads, ice cream, noodles, cheesecake, pizza, etc… but what about our cultural heritage that brings so many different regional ideas, experience, tastes, and ingredients to the table.
Alas, the modern interstate has rendered our palates comfortably numb with it’s rolling miles of paved pablum.
…Alton Brown
One last thing: portion size. WTF!? The food from all fast food, chain restaurants, and so on is soooo mediocre that one wonders why we need to super-size any of it. Even when going to a "sit down" restaurant, the servings are too big. And experts wonder why we have a obesity problem in our country!
I’m ranting here, and for good reason. Most cities have lost what culturally significant foods and dishes that were developed because of their geographic location and the unique combination of nationalities that had settled there. It’s sad to loose these dishes and flavors that have melted into the bland fabric that is American food today.
Don’t know the answer to any of this except to suggest you seek out the local mom & pop restaurants and frequent the ones that have keep to their regional specialties. Encourage them to continue doing what they do best and look for more that keep our regional specialties unique and special.
In addition, don’t forget that the cultural makeup of our country is changing. With larger numbers of various ethnic groups, the idea of food, flavor and ingredients are and will change. This is OK, because this brings fresh ideas and new techniques to our kitchens and our palates. And that is a great thing too.
Technorati tags: Cultural Foods, Ethnic Foods, American Eats, Alton Brown, Anthony Bourdain, Foodie, Food Network
Aug 10, 2007 | blog
The last few days, I feel like I’ve been trapped in an echo chamber, or time warp. The amount of time that I’ve been spending following the A-List bloggers has gotten me so in a pickle that I’m having problems thinking about new things. I really need to think without some inputs for awhile. There has been a lot of talk the last few days about social media, this product, that service, preferences and opinions. The sum total really got to me this morning and I was probably a tad grumpy to some Twitter Friends who were commenting on a speaker at Gnomedex.
What I really think is at the root of it is that I’m jealous of their ability to toss comments out, and my reluctance to share my opinion. I don’t normally like arguments as I believe them to be more destructive than constructive – that’s just a feeling I have while in the middle of one. My opinion is that open discourse really brings new thoughts and ideas to the surface – which is where I’m at today (so there’s your answer Chris).
What I think is wrong here, is that I’m finally where a number of bloggers have been for quite some time. The A-List echo chamber. There is too much of the same conversation going on and it’s clouding my judgement. In addition, I’m going to go through my RSS feeds in Google Reader with a fine tooth comb to whittle it down to feeds that bring value to me. Then identify the bloggers that I really think are bringing some innovative thoughts & ideas to the conversation. These blogs I will visit directly rather than just their RSS feed.
As I develop these lists, I’ll share them & the OPML of the feeds I end up with for anyone who’s interested.
Technorati tags: A-List, Blogging, Gnomedex, Social Media, Echo Chamber
Aug 9, 2007 | blog
Before I get started, I’m not going to abandon my LinkedIn account – I’ve invested a lot in my profile and believe there is value to the service.
There has been a lot of talk recently about Jeff Pulver’s decision to leave LinkedIn and simply use Facebook as his lone social network. The problem in announcing something like this in a mainstream business publication like Jeff’s article in Business Week is how general business people perceive it.
While an adventurous few of these users are willing to try these services, the majority are just awakening to online social networking and, of course, find things like Facebook to seem unprofessional. You have to admit that LinkedIn comes across as a professional-oriented service that is designed to build professional relationships between its users.
This has probably helped cultivate strong feelings about Jeff’s switch…. that and most user’s anxiety to change. Also, most people work so hard on their professional image (i.e. Personal Brand) climbing the corporate ladder, that they cringe at the thought of using something that may seem less than professional.
Of course, I think the point of Jeff’s BW article was to stir the pot. Good!
Related Links:
P.S.
I can’t help but wonder if this doesn’t somehow tie into Robert Scoble’s announcement that he is no longer answering email?
Technorati tags: Jeff Pulver, Chris Brogan, LinkedIn, Facebook, Linked vs. Facebook
Jul 23, 2007 | blog
Are you a wireless communications carrier in the US? Then I have a very scary revelation to share with you.
You’re about to loose control. You will lose control of your network, its devices, and your customers.
Will you throw an infantile temper-tantrum like the RIAA and threaten/bully/sue your customers into compliance?
Or will you be a leader in the industry and embrace the concept of an open network and make it easy for your customers to come & go as they choose?
I admit it’s a frightening proposition to contemplate. However, accepting the notion of an open network will allow you to provide more innovative, better quality, and a larger number of interesting services.
Technorati tags: FCC 700MHz Auction, Open Network, Google Wireless Bid
Jul 5, 2007 | blog
It seems that there is a growing undercurrent of interest in voices outside the “A List” of bloggers. Several “smaller” bloggers are becoming interested in reading people from their own “level” in the blogosphere.
I use the terms “smaller” and “level” with disdain here because blogging is about much more than being labeled as A List, C List, etc… Perhaps we can call many of the A Listers the first generation of bloggers – because many of them have been at it for several years. Dave Winer for example has over 10 years of blogging under his belt! These bloggers have done the work to develop and promote blogging.
The “echo chamber” effect of reading and re-reading many so-called A List 
bloggers is real, and there has been a lack of new voices and fresh ideas for some time. However, that is starting to change as less known bloggers are becoming very good at getting their voices heard. Its also helping with well-known bloggers like Robert Scoble making a concerted effort to listen, comment and engage less-known bloggers.
Scoble himself points to his Google Reader Link Blog as his example of a wide-ranging list of bloggers and information that is not tapping into the A List.
Chris Brogan, who has really come into his own and become a much more well-known blogger in 2006/2007 is probably one of the best examples of engaging literally everyone he meets in the new media world.
The blogosphere is a-changin’ and its for the better. Its turning into a much more level playing field for anyone who wishes to participate.
More excellent posts on the subject:
Technorati tags: Dave Winer, Chris Brogan, Robert Scoble, Joe Duck, Kent Newsome, Gaping Void, Mathew Ingram, A Lister
Chris Brogan
