I have been using various apps to “listen” to the social media tools that I pay a little attention to. I said that right. Days will go by and I will not have tuned into Twitter or Facebook.
In the past I have used the computer and my phone to occasionally see what is going on however it doesn’t quite do the job. I want to be able to tune in from time to time without a great deal of hassle.
I have been using TweetDeck and have found it quite useful however it is one more thing to start up and I am looking for something that is just there.
Enter TweetDeck for the Chrome browser. I have downloaded and installed it and so far it looks very good. I have added my Buzz account as well as Twitter and Facebook. From a review that I read (more links below) TweetDeck is planning on adding Gmail and other options to this browser.
Since I have just downloaded this I will give it a few days to see how well it does.
For the last few weeks I have been out of touch with either of the blogs that I try to update regularly. Admittedly a number of things have happened; computer crash, remodeling our kitchen cabinets, and work. This doesn’t mention looking for a new car reading two books simultaneously or a myriad of other things that can be time sinks.
The books; “The Way We Are Working Isn’t Working” by Tony Schwartz and Jean Gomes, “The Little Big Things: 163 Ways to Pursue EXCELLENCE” by Thomas J. Peters (Tom Peters). And as noted earlier I have just finished “I Live In The Future” by Nick Bilton. It was a great read – if you are into what is happening to us with technology.
I think my Kindle will be my best technology purchase of the year. My HP Mini won last years prize.
Note: Books are not everything, my wife and family are everything. Next comes reading and learning (books and experience). Everything in it’s proper perspective.
Back to the blogs. I started Curious Voyager to talk/write about technology, it’s affect on us personally as well as having the ability to give small (or home) businesses great advantages. It was also to reflect on Life, Living and the Pursuit of Happiness in this ever changing world.
I started Ease Of Blogging to demonstrate just how easy it is to start a blog, not necessarily how easy it is to maintain it. To do this on a regular basis takes time. You have to do a great deal of reading so it best be a subject that you like. Blogging itself is like having one half of a lunch conversation where the other half may or may not be listening.
I have to thank Gary Vaynerchuk for that last line. I paraphrased something from his book “Crush It"!”. Another great read.
I know that in my writing I have ventured off on the closing of a Starbucks and my moving over to McDonald’s, who by the way is not into the “conversation” as Starbucks is. I have vented at business operations that are money driven and not consumer or employee concerned. So Life is full of all this.
I have had my successes and failures at leadership and management so I can talk about them. The same goes for Life, Living and technology.
Life is an ever changing experience and trying to stay on the curl is not easy. Every once in awhile we have to stop and look around. I guess that is what I have been doing.
It doesn’t mean that I have stopped reading the blogs or the tech news. I still get a paper edition of Bloomberg BusinessWeek and Inc. Magazine (how quaint). I really should look into getting them on the Kindle.
My Google Reader fills up everyday however I have been getting Seth Godin’s Blog on my Kindle as well as TechCrunch. In the Google Reader they are free however on the Kindle there is a cost and yet I can read them without having to boot up a computer. Easy, that is the way it should be and the cost, $0.99 or $1.99 a month is not out of line. I think of it as a subscription. I give $2.00 a month to Leo Laporte and TWiT.
So I am still here and I am still thinking. I am writing and I am sure the heat will return. Just this week I got mad at a what I thought was a dumb article at Computerworld; 10 Things I don’t Understand About Consumer Technology.
This one was far reaching to find something to write about, really far. “1. Why is the iPad so slippery?” First I have never heard this complaint anywhere and second I have not found that to be even true. I had an iPad for about 10 days to learn how to use it. No problem here. The writer must have had a greasy hamburger for lunch while using the iPad.
It gets worse from there. The worst waste of time in my opinion was no. 7; “Where are those Google personal time projects?” It is none of your business! Not now, not ever. Good things have come from it not to mention the thought of working for someone who just might value your outside thoughts and contributions.
Been to the Google Campus and would love working there however I would really increase the average work age I am afraid.
OK I just survived a Windows Live Writer crash and still writing. Life does get a little edgy once in awhile.
Have a GREAT WEEKEND and an even better week!
I know it has been a while since I have posted here. So many things going on besides work that it has been hard to think about writing on Ease Of Blogging.
We are remodeling our kitchen cabinets, that is my wife and I. Replacing the wood panels in the doors with glass, replacing all the shelving and hinges. Adding door handles and then painting everything – including ourselves. It is a labor of love with a little pain thrown in for good measure.
Work has also eaten into my time so my casual/learning reading has not always been up to par with whatever par is. I woke up this morning to 6 magazines laying on the dinning room table and was immediately reminded that I had some old business information to look into – old by now. At least my Google Reader does not remind that I have things to read.
I suspect that renewals of subscriptions one day will all be for online reading and I will read the magazines on my computer, my TV, or on my Kindle.
I will admit to giving a great deal of my discretionary time to reading on my Kindle. I have finished “I Live In The Future” by Nick Bilton and it is really, really good. The further into the book the more I just wanted to keep on reading. I am now following Nick’s blog.
On another note.
This morning I decided to write. I am at McDonald’s having breakfast and inspiration takes hold. Now I had to wait for the computer to boot. While waiting it made me think that I too want an ‘instant on’ computer. One that is right there, right now, when I am ready to use it. Take it out of the sleeve and it is on. No muss, no fuss, no waiting. The waiting becomes a big sink hole.
Now one would say, ah ha, the iPad. Well yes that could be however it is a bit awkward with it’s on screen keyboard and I happen to use Windows Live Writer to do my writing and that is not available on the iPad. Someone might say “well learn something different” and my response; “This is the best, why leave it”. So the conundrum.
Now what was it that I was going to write about?
New book to review. Nick Bilton of the NY Times has written I Live In The Future. I listened to Nick on this week’s TWiT 266: Musty Shelbang and not only enjoyed the show but enjoyed his telling about his book.
Of course I purchased the book on my Kindle e-book reader. I must admit to reading the intro and into the first chapter and I am thinking about subscribing to the NY Times on my Kindle. I have been a registered member of the NY Times for years (12?) and I enjoy going there.
Based on the premise of the book it just might be good reading for those of you who are still trying to get a handle on the digital world. I will write more as I read.
Reading InformationWeek’s latest issue the lead article, How the Leaders Drive Growth (Sept. 13, 2010) there are some interesting statistics;
“A year ago, just 42% of InformationWeek 500 companies used wikis, blogs, or social networking to reach out to customers, suppliers, and partners. This year, that figure shot up to 72%”.
There are other statistics and graphs to support what I think are more changes toward a greater acceptance of communication technologies of today.
One other graph shows 59% of respondents “Deployed new types of collaboration software” as well as 23% “Encouraged workers to use Web 2.0 technologies".
Interesting read and I have written more myself at Curious Voyager.
OK so this may not be in main stream with topics on this blog however I thought this article in Computerworld would be of interest to some of you. It deals with battery life on an Android operating system.
The article; Improve Android Battery Life: Here’s How by JR Raphael is quite good and on the two pages there are 10 tips worth looking into. I do recommend that you read this.
There is also a QR barcode that will lead you to download a helpful app. The app, JuiceDefender, will work with most Android systems and allows you to further control battery life.
I have to admit that battery life has been one of my issues with my Droid. I have removed Advance Task Killer and added Watch Dog and then removed Watch Dog and went back to Advanced Task Killer. After reading this article I have once again removed Advanced Task Killer. My Droid is running FroYo (2.2) and I read that the Advanced Task Killer is more hurtful than helpful.
Read the article by JR Raphael, Improve Android Battery Life: Here’s How and then I have added some other articles below.
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I have an eye opening experience this morning and I think it completes the transformation of an individual going from Analog to Digital. Another position could be that I have gone over to the Dark Side.
To set the scene; I have changed my coffee drinking preference in the morning to McDonald’s (for reasons mentioned in earlier writings) and therefore I am becoming a McDonald’s Blogger. I am sure I am not the only one, however this morning there was an awakening. Well it wasn’t like receiving the “Water Of Life” but close.
I went to get a refill (FREE) and on the way back to my seat I passed an individual reading the newspaper. As I approached him, his back turned toward me, I noticed that his coffee cup had an antenna. My first reaction was “That is a strange place for an antenna.” My second reaction; “Why would anyone put their phone in a coffee cup?”.
When I discovered that the alleged antennal was his coffee stirrer I just about lost it. I know I have been at this way too long.
I started laughing and with everyone looking at me I had to explain and after the explanation I realized the absurdity in the picture. I will never be able to look at another stirrer without wondering who it is connected to or if Big Brother has found a new way to follow us.
I will laugh every time I see this. Laughter really feels good.
I woke up this morning trying to look at what I do across two blogs; Curious Voyager and Ease of Blogging and I found that in both cases it is discovery.
In one, Ease of Blogging, it is to expand on what I know to hopefully give someone ideas on both how to proceed with blogging as well as thoughts about what to blog. I do this by writing my thoughts (some of which might be original) and also by passing along thoughts of others on the subject of blogging.
I also include thoughts on life, attitude, and work processes. It is all about what we do and someone else’s opinion on how to do it. I don’t have all the answers and I have discovered that other’s do not either. Perhaps in sifting through the different methods of thought we can come up with one that works for us.
Above I stated; “I do this by writing my thoughts (some of which might be original)…”. I wonder about originality sometimes. We are a little bit of everything we have seen, read, and heard. We are a part of all that is going on around us and “real” original thought could be elusive yet we go on thinking and writing.
For blogging this is where the “curator” idea comes from. From Wikipedia; “In contemporary art, the title curator is given to a person who selects and often interprets works of art.” In our case the term ‘art’ could refer to writing. More to the point writing of others. That is what we do when wen pass along links to other blog posts that we think are important for one reason or another and would like you to find them also.
All of it is a part of discovery.
All of us read or follow different writings as well as RSS feeds and linking to them and passing along the information to whomever might be reading. I feel this is an important part of what we do.
I also have personal opinion and if you have read this for some time you have seen that. YOU have to make up your mind what is the right thought for YOU!
For Monday – Go And Discover!@
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It would appear that the city of Philadelphia would like you to pay taxes if you blog. Per the article at Computerworld: Philadelphia wants bloggers to start paying taxes.
I think if you make any money at blogging, be it very little, then in Philly you will pay for a business license. I wonder if they go around to all garage sales and dun them for both sales tax as well as a business fee? Just curious – but then that’s me.
I may have a different view. My curiosity would ask, along side the revenue potential; "Do specific public official's, in the Philadelphia area, feel that the out spoken ability of the web should be penalized?" Or better yet; "Is this another way to hinder freedom of speech through taxation?"
If I lived in Philadelphia and blogged for a living I would be quickly looking to move to small town outside of the Philadelphia governments web. And I mean that like the spider and the fly.
Government representatives everywhere I suspect are trying to figure out how to 1) get money from the web – in some fashion, 2) how to control the freedom of speech, and 3) use it to benefit themselves.
Philadelphia wants bloggers to start paying taxes - Computerworld
Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership. Colin Powell
In Windows Live Writer go to Tools then to Options and on the left side of the dialog box that opens select Plug-ins. As you go through the 8 pages you will find various Plug-ins such that give you the ability to have your post sent to Facebook as well as to Twitter. The idea being that you can get the word out to a number of places at one time.
There are a number of other Plug-ins that could be of value. One that I have seen recently used is Zemanta. Follow the link and check it out.WOW another good book to read. So many lately but this one is right up my alley – or blog. The book; “Power Friending” by Amber Mac. If you are into social media and want to look into ways to grow your business this book is
right on.
I have been listening to Amber Mac (Amber MacArthur) for a long time. She is the co-host on Net@Night with Leo Laporte. It is a fun show and worth listening to. I get many tips on software and links to check out from the show.
Check out the link to the Power Friending website to learn more. Awesome blogger also.
I know I will be writing more about Power Friending as I read through the book however Amber started by thought processes in chapter 1. I am now at chapter 4 and I am making notes.
I know a lot of business people, big business and small business, who should be reading this book.
I have always been of belief that if you want to learn something about business, about software, or about life, you need to read. I was once told that Leaders are Readers, unfortunately I have found business people who say I don’t have time to read. That is sad because one day they will wish they took out 30 minutes a day to read something reasonable.
Most people who say they do not have time to read have time to watch mundane sitcom’s on TV that will not enrich their mind in any way. If you have to get up 30 minutes earlier.
Take time to read. Who knows, you may have something to write about after reading. Look at me.
I had been pointed to a blog from my friend over at The Eponymous Pickle. The blog, Carpe Diem, is rather interesting. The author is Mark J. Perry.
The specific post that I am referring below to is; "Chicago's Only Wal-Mart Has Improved Its West Side".
I personally found this blog post interesting, nicely presented, and without malice toward any. The blog was informative and true to the author’s interest in Economics and Finance. What was even of more interest to me were the comments.
Some of the comments were also very informative however some came bearing a flag of their own and some got rather testy. This is something you as a blogger must be prepared for. You can moderate comments or let them flow but you should always be aware of what is going on.
Read the blog and then read through a good deal of comments. One thing for sure is that Mark has started a good conversation and then it takes on a life of it’s own. Truth is you may get a better perspective as the comments flow which is the objective of the conversation.
Mark, the author, will get more information for his own needs via this lively discussion.
The comments really do become a conversation and as in most conversations you get a variety of points and counter points and then some that come out of nowhere. It would stand to reason that most of these commenter's follow this blog.
Obviously Mark J. Perry has a good following.
On a final note for all you LeBron fans here is another post by Mark J. Perry. U-Haul Index: LeBron’s Not The Only One Leaving. Interesting.
Have a GREAT SUNDAY – it is time for my second cup.
Sometime back I downloaded the Kindle for PC software from Amazon (Free) and yesterday I
downloaded the book PROBLOGGER - Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income (not Free). I started reading the book on my HP Mini netbook. So far I find it to be a very interesting and useful book so I wanted to pass it along.
I am finding the book to be straight forward and easy reading with lots of good content. There are eleven chapters in the book and they include Bogging for Money, Niche Blogging, Setting up your Blog, Blog Writing, and many other worthwhile things to read.
The web site for PROBLOGGER is the work of Darren Rowse, co-author of the book by the same name. The blog at PROBLOGGER is also loaded with plenty of information and follow up to the book.
Another style and method for you to review.
A note on Amazon and the Kindle for PC.
I found reading this book on both my netbook and my tablet PC very easy. To get your own software go to Amazon’s Kindle for PC then scroll down to find the link for Kindle to PC or Kindle for Mac.
I started reading on the netbook and then installed Kindle for PC on my tablet PC and was able to access the book and open up to the page where I left off on the netbook. Synching is automatic with Wispersync (part of the software).
There is a registration process however once you set up the Amazon account it really is quite easy.
The book, PROBLOGGER, retails for $24.99 and Amazon had it for $16.49 however on the Kindle it was $9.99 and that is a good savings.
The Kindle allows you to make bookmarks and to write notes which for me is necessary. I had that issue with Audible – Amazon’ audio books on tape or CD.
I know that Amazon’s Whispersync will let you synchronize between the PC, the Kindle, the iPhone and the iPad. I suspect that very soon there will be a Kindle download for the Android phones as well.
Enjoy!
The good people over at lifehacker had a post about blogging software and in that post directed it’s readers over to Wikipedia and a Blogging Software entry.
This is an interesting link as it shows a great number of links and or items that can be of great interest to you. It could be a good reference tool for you.
Look through the entry for Developer-Hosted Platforms and you will find a current list of places to have your blog hosted.
They is also a list of the top 20 blogs (not sure if this is maintained) and the software that is used by each blog.
It is amazing how a little medication can inhibit your blogging (or anything else for that matter). I have been away from this blog for almost a week and it is due mainly to the pills I have been taking for back condition.
A little history here. Last Saturday I was sitting in Starbucks reading and writing and posting information to the blog’s I maintain. I got up to leave and felt a my back twinge and hurt a little bit. I did not know that was going to start the downward spiral.
By Sunday I could not stand up straight and walking was not one of my better abilities. A doctor’s visit on Monday and then
the medication; Muscle relaxer, anti-inflammatory, and pain killer. That's about all one needs to lose concentration when reading or writing.
Sometimes there is a reason for not writing. Like the medications says “This could cause drowsiness as well as make you dizzy (don’t go there). Reading the warnings on the sides of the medicine bottle can sometimes scare you into getting better faster.
The long and or shot of it all is I am getting better and the back is on the mend. I just might be able to stand up in a classroom next week and that is a good thing. I enjoy showing people how they can use their software and to tell about all the ‘new’ things coming down the pike.
My wife will also like it since she will get the living room back and get rid of all the “stuff” that one brings to the sick bed. I have been resting on the couch so if the medicine didn’t put me to sleep the TV would.
Have a great day and take care of your back, you will need it. In fact take care of all the parts it could make for along life. Hope to see you in a class soon.
And that is my excuse for not writing and I am sticking to it.
"The reality is that the web is full of too many great ideas and different types of content, that you should never run out of things to blog about, regardless of your industry."
