December 13th, 2008 — Blogging, Odd Ends
I love having such fun online friends. Jill Foster is one of the friendliest. She just got tagged with Seven Things You Didn’t Know About Me, and decided to share the fun with me. Hers list is very interesting and she really dug up some unusual things to share. I’ll try to pick some interesting things as well.
- I didn’t learn to swim until I went to boot camp for the Navy. Tried taking lessons as a kid but never got over water anxiety. Boot camp gave me no choice. Surprising plus for joining the Navy.
- I married into having a 5 year old. The lady I married, Sharon, already had a young son. He turned five within two days of us getting married. Talk about a radical lifestyle change.
- I have participated in a seance. Did this when I was a much younger man with a group of cohorts to raise spirits of old St. Charles. Not the most productive use of my teen time.
- I went to a strip club one time. This was back in my Navy days. One of the guys on our sub was insistent it would be a great time while we were in port. Biggest waste of money ever. Girls looked drugged and it seemed so demeaning to them and us.
- I was born with a extra toe on my left foot. The extra toe came with webbing between it and the last two toes on that foot. The extra piece is gone now but the left two toes are still together. Brother born with same defect on right foot. We are not twins.
- I used to play Dungeons and Dragons and other pen and paper RPGs when I was a teenager. Playing and being the game master were both things I enjoyed. Other games included Champions and Traveller.
- My wife and I met while working at Jack-In-The-Box together. She was one of the first women in my life I’ve used the term b*tch about. Go figure.
Bonus item: I had the hots for Tina Turner when I was younger. The voice, the face, the legs. N’ough Said.
I’ve tagged a few folks lately with things, so I’ll set this one out for picking on someone else. However, if you feel motivated to share something about yourself, feel free to link back here as your inspiration point.
Yours,
Todd
December 6th, 2008 — Uncategorized
December 2nd, 2008 — social media, social networking
Yes, you PepsiCo, are you listening?
There are many of us out that blog and use social networks that are fans. Sure, we may not be the top five in the A list, but is our thirst and opinion any less important?
It has recently come to my attention that Pepsi has a room on FriendFeed. This room is purportedly for Pepsi fans. It’s a bit odd of an arrangement though. It seems in this room only a few select individuals can actually post.
Pepsi hand picked four guys to make all of the posts. The rest of us FriendFeeders get to just make comments. Those will even be moderated. Don’t believe me? Here’s the scoop from the room.
Welcome to The Pepsi Cooler. Join us as together we shape Pepsi’s social media future. We’re changing the way we do things and want to have you along for the ride. Contributors include Bart Casabona, Bonin Bough and Josh Karpf from Pepsi and Steve Rubel from Edelman. Note: comments are held for moderation but we will get them up as quickly as we can.)
Pepsi just doesn’t seem to get it on more than one front it appears. They hand pick the talkers; they moderate the comments; they claim you are joining them as ‘we’ shape the future of Pepsi’s social media future.
News flash, that future came without you. Pepsi folks have been talking about you online for quite a while now. They’ve been sharing stories, facts, pictures and forming groups without your involvement. Have you totally missed those of us doing that sharing?
Here’s a clue Pepsi, join the conversation and community, don’t try to run it. Your few fans that realize the room exists aren’t likely to use it. They can’t even post there. Where’s your presence on Flickr? What about Twitter?
It’s not enough to have an idea on those platforms. It’s about joining in and being part of the talk your fans are already having.
On a personal note, I’ve been posting pictures, and writing good things about your Diet Pepsi brand for 2 years now and not a peep from you. Perhaps you’d have noticed that if your team had searched around a bit for those conversations instead of trying to push it down to your fans.
I’m calling you to the mat Pepsi team. Step up your game. Bring out someone on your team that loves your brand and is ready to be the face of that brand on the social networks. Find someone that will find us fans, and those that aren’t, and engage them where they are.
Where are you? I stand here in the midst of web 2.0 waiting for you.
November 30th, 2008 — Blogging
This is the final post in NaBloPoMo. Enjoy. Now that I’m in the habit, maybe I’ll post everyday anyway.
I’ve been enjoying some great link love this week. Just going to return the favor.
It’s not much, but if you’d visit those blogs I’d be much obliged. They are good folks. All of them just happen to be on Twitter. Perhaps that’s where we discovered each other. Who can say.
If you give them lots of clicks, I’ll do this more often. Maybe your blog will be next.
November 29th, 2008 — social networking
The most important thing in every relationship. Really we spend an immense amount of our lives communicating either actively or passively.
Our society is very judgemental of the ways and what of our commincations, be they spoken, written or physical. Perhaps rightly in some ways though. For few people take responsibility for the how, why and what of their own communications at all.
In this day and age, not only are many more conversations possible but they are actually happenning. It’s an exciting time and taking ownership of our side of those conversations is even more important.
For Christians, the Bible speaks on more than one occasion about taking our tongue under control, and beyond that our thoughts. For everyone in general, much worldy advice has been given and I won’t belabor that again here.
One point I did want to make is to reinforce that whether we intend to or not, we are constantly in communication with those around us, both in our homes, at work and online. People we’ve never met and know well in the same day we send out signals too.
My encouragement is that we put our best face forward and attempt to postively communicate. Not just be passive but choose what we say, to whom we say it, and in what manner it gets said. Have a lover? Have you made a connection with that person intentionally lately? How about that coworker two cubes down? Talked about anything but being bored at work?
What are you communicating?
—————-
This is a ‘best of’ post; it’s taken from a blog I had temporarily titled So Possible.
I still feel the same way about communications. It’s important that we take it seriously. So many of us have become all to complacent and easy going on our online communications especially. We find ourselves quickly escalating beyond simple banter to the risque without even trying. Other times we catch ourselves making light of a tragedy simply because the speed and conciseness of online tools lends its self to that.
Take back your online life by taking stock of how you communicate. Make adjustments. Be the owner of what you say and do. You won’t be sorry.
November 29th, 2008 — Odd Ends
November 28th, 2008 — Blogging
It’s the Friday after Thanksgiving and I’m too mellow to post. Deep topics abound though, and here’s a few I’m thinking on.
- Social networking gets me past my bias
- Am I supporting my favorite things well enough
- Do we use the tools anymore or are we just playing now
Not Earth shattering but things weighing on my mind. No, no posts about terrorism and such. Don’t hate me for that, but appreciate that I can’t add anything there.
Feel free to make suggestions.
November 27th, 2008 — holiday
These ladies one of the best parts of my life. They are just part of what I’m thankful for.
I’m very blessed and I know it. Regrettably I don’t tell folks that enough. I complain about circumstances way too often. To help that, here’s a few of the things I’m thankful for.
- my salvation - ask me some time
- my wife - my biggest blessing on earth
- my granddaughters - shown above
- their mother/my daughter-in-law - she rocks and does a great job for the girls
- my sons - through thick and thin
- my worldly success - in spite of myself
- my online success - again, in spite of myself
- all the wonderful people I’ve met online and off this year - you all rock!
- the gift of a touch of genius/madness - the blessing I struggle the most with
This year has been one of the most interesting of my life. That was my only New Year’s resolution, to have a most interesting year. Each of you in my life has contributed to that in some way. Give yourself a hug or pat on the back as you feel appropriate.
I’m not sure what I could ask for that I need but don’t have. Oh, there’ll be things under the tree for Christmas, but this year I’ll be happy just to have some peace of mind. For next year I’m asking for direction.
Again, I’m thankful for all of these blessings and more, and for even being able to look forward to a ‘next year’. What are you thankful for this year? Can you be thankful for just knowing you have a future to hope against? I am.
Cheers folks. May the Lord give you what you need and more.
November 26th, 2008 — Odd Ends
November 25th, 2008 — Blogging
Well according to Typealyzer I’m this type.
“The entertaining and friendly type. They are especially attuned to pleasure and beauty and like to fill their surroundings with soft fabrics, bright colors and sweet smells. They live in the present moment and don´t like to plan ahead - they are always in risk of exhausting themselves.
The enjoy work that makes them able to help other people in a concrete and visible way. They tend to avoid conflicts and rarely initiate confrontation - qualities that can make it hard for them in management positions.”
And this about my brain?
