Month: July 2007

Twitter Updates for 2007-07-31

  • I’m back on the grid. What did I miss? #
  • I plugged in my phone to sync after months of not syncing. It’s having issues. #
  • good night. I’m trashed. #
  • Got a coffee from convenience store. Damn hot! #
  • Construction zone. I wanted to get to work early. Looks like I’ll be on time. #
  • At the office getting ready to make calls. #
  • Trading diabetes horror stories. #
  • Finished listening to iPadre podcast #
  • @mosqueda feel better soon. Get rest. Get off Twitter. #
  • Just finished eating. Another serving of the miraculous lima bean taste nullifying fideo. I’m normally not a big fan of fideo. #
  • @epodcaster Hope J gets better soon. #
  • It just dawned on me that newmediajim is twittering from abroad. Why don’t reporters twitter? #
  • @conniereece I do follow @juliemason now. Just followed. #
  • Just ate a Wendy’s baconator. It was me or the burger, only one of us would walk out of there. #

Chris Brogan asks, “Why Create Personal Media?”

Why Create Personal Media?

Chris Brogan asks a very thought provoking question and then proceeds to give reasons why one should create personal media. Below are just some of the main headings. Of course, to learn more you should read his post.

  • Tell a Story
  • Because It Gets Consumed
  • Personal Media Conveys Your Message
  • You Can Reach the Deep Niches
  • It Answers A Basic Human Need
  • Create: It Makes a Difference

I’d like to add a thought that just started creeping into my mind. In my experience with blogging, learning video, and doing a little bit of podcasting, it seems that I find myself thinking of things to do that would be interesting to write about or record. In other words, once you start to get the hang of creating personal media, you tend to want to live more so that you have more interesting stories to tell. If you don’t think you have anything interesting in your personal story to tell, then perhaps you should go out and do something interesting. Once you’ve done that, share it. Get out there and live so that you have a story to tell. Some of us would be glad to hear your story.

If you want to take baby steps, you can start by writing a little bit about yourself in the comments below. Tell me about yourself.

Copyblogger asks, “What Keeps You From Writing?”

What Keeps You From Writing?

That is a very good question. I was going to comment on Copyblogger, but last count was around 84 comments. I’d kind of get lost in there somewhere. So, I brought the online discussion here to my blog. It’s a seemingly simple question that seems to have struck a nerve.

What Keeps Me From Writing

I don’t write because I don’t have alone time. The most I can muster up between work and spending time with my family is the length of a blog post. Beyond that, I can’t seem to gather my thoughts sufficiently. I don’t write because I spend so much time reading other blogs and posting to my own. I don’t have time because I am busy creating video and audio and live shows. I don’t write because I am busy doing other stuff.

That’s an easy cop out. If I really wanted to write a book or something worthwhile, I’d get up an hour earlier, and devote that time to writing. While everybody is sleeping, I’m sure I could put out some words on paper. So, what’s really stopping me? Apparently nothing.

What about you?

In case you want to chime in and don’t want to be one of dozens at Copyblogger, go ahead and comment here. What keeps YOU from writing?

Things Just Got Better on The T-Mobile Dash

RGV iTech tipped me off to the latest release of Yahoo! Go in his latest post titled Cool Apps For Yahoo Users. I had signed up to be notified when they released the update, but it never came. The previous version was not compatible with the T-Mobile Dash, so all I had was email access. The interface is pretty smooth and includes your Flickr account. I like what it does.

What I Like About Yahoo! Go

  • All-in-one screen
  • Satellite photos in color and sharper than Windows Live Search
  • Easy photo upload to Flickr
  • Easy email app

The Downside

The only downside to Yahoo! Go is that I tried to install it on the memory card instead of my phone and it would not work. In addition, I notice that it is a bit of a resource hog. A T-Mobile Dash can have up to 12,000 KB (more when brand new). Lately, after activating Windows Live, my resources are around the 8,000 KB mark. After shutting down all programs in the Task Manager, adding Yahoo! Go brings resources down from 8,000 KB to about 1,500 KB. This means that if I try to run anything simultaneously, I won’t be able to do it. If it runs out of memory, something will shut down.

What I Don’t Like

  • You cannot remove items from the carrousel
  • Cannot figure out how to remove default updates on carrousel items I don’t want
  • I can’t figure out how to update the calendar

Still Going To Give It A Try

I am still going to give Yahoo! Go a try. Compared to Windows Live, it’s a one-screen solution with the exception of instant messaging. Yahoo! Go does not include an instant messenger in their package whereas Windows Live has the Live Messenger built-in with the phone. Windows Live lets you easily upload photos to your MSN Spaces album and Yahoo! Go makes uploading pics to Flickr simple as well. This is an ongoing trial and I’ll be updating as I learn more.

Questions

  • I can’t tell if Yahoo! Go is able to use my WiFi connection or if it defaults to EDGE.
  • Will it crap out if I don’t empty my mail Inbox regularly?
  • If I synchronize my phone and Yahoo, will I end up with double entries? (I don’t want to delete 700 contacts again).

Twitter Updates for 2007-07-30

  • @chriscrogan Would you PLEASE install a plugin for mobile browsers on your site? I’ll use use it, I swear. #
  • Wrapping up 1 hour + walk with mrs mata. #
  • Just drove through pothole retirement home. #
  • Just finished post-walk shower. Back online in a few. Awesome chips and salsa distracting me. #
  • I am on pownce now. thanks for the invite. I like Twitter, but I decided to cybersquat my own name. #
  • Prepping for bed. Good night. #
  • Good morning. Well, as good as a Monday morning can be. #
  • Getting breakfast for me and the van. #
  • Just heard in the news that Tom Snyder died. I liked his show. #
  • Dr Edell quotes study that claims people who watch Fox news know the least about the world. Grr! #
  • Heating frozen lunch I brought from home. I haven’t bought lunch for a couple weeks. #
  • My wife made an awesome meal in which I can’t taste those vile, worthless lima beans. #
  • At edinburg post office. Long line. #
  • @cliffordsound trying another live show on saturday #
  • @cliffordsound we can schedule something this week if you like. #
  • Facebook mobile loks ok #
  • @chrisbrogan I use vitalist. It has a mobile interface. I do manual and jott entries. #
  • I missed saying hi to MaryEllen from NPR. Is it too late? #
  • Headed home. #
  • Showing solidarity with @doctorlinguist #
  • @mdeleon die hard is fun, although Apple Boy should know better than to BS geeks. #
  • @brendajos GSM = Global Services for Mobile #
  • Mrs wants to chat with me. Turning off sms notifications for a bit. #

Twitter Updates for 2007-07-29

  • Back on the twitter grid. Recovering live show jitters. #
  • Wife is watching phantom of the opera next to me. #
  • Been trying to think of something funny for @conniereece but nothing comes to mind. #
  • @giovanni art bell kicks ass #
  • @Dayngr can’t I just PayPal you some money? I don’t want to register at blogathon. Please, let me just send money. #
  • I am so tempted to call @scobleizer #
  • @scobleizer do you still program? #
  • I’ve had 3 beers and ready to quit. Turning to coffee. #
  • Watching Fearless on cable. #
  • Going offline. #
  • I am back on the twittergrid. #
  • Does anybody have a Pownce invite laying around? #
  • @doctorlinguist be glad it’s not 130 degrees in Iraq with bullets flying. #
  • Just sent JasonCalacanis a facebook invite for shits and giggles. #
  • Watching @scobleizer on facebook #
  • Just saw an awesome video post by @scobleizer inside facebook. Commented too. #
  • Just spent 5 minutes chatting with an illegal alien who wants to mow our lawn (we live right on the border, it’s common). #

My Experience With Illegal Immigration

J.D. over at Get Rich Slowly has a controversial post titled What Developing Nations Can Teach Us About Personal Finance. J.D. has generated quite a discussion on this topic. I see that there are some who accept that our standard of living in the U.S. is different from that of other countries. There are those who, I suppose, feel guilty for being wasteful and exaggerate a bit on their reaction. And there are some who have no concept whatsoever about what J.D. writes about.

In my case, being Mexican-American, one comment stuck out to me by beanspants1. I am not one to defend illegal immigration, but this jerk is generalizing. Those people who live a comfortable middle-class existence in Mexico are not the ones swimming across the border. In fact, the “desirable” middle class people are the ones who come across legally. The people who come across the border illegally are the ones who live out in the country with limited education and limited employment prospects. For them, whatever our minimum wage is can be a much better living than staying back home. We aren’t trying to keep out all Mexicans, many of them are happy. The Mexicans who come across the border would rather face death, as it is a real possibility, than stay home. No middle-class Mexican would make that choice. It is a choice of desperation.

I don’t pretend that having an open border with Mexico is the right thing to do. I would much rather have closed borders. I only want this because I know the crap that illegal immigrants have to endure to live here. I would rather spare them that fate. Yet, deep down inside, I know that they are much better here putting up with hate than they are back home.

I can tell you these things because as late as last year, I lived with, worked with, and taught the children of illegal immigrants. I live right on the border with Mexico where some of our neighbors are illegal immigrants. I have spoken with HR offices who hire illegals; they have told me that they try to hire locals for the jobs in factories and the fields, but they only last a week or two. The only people who will stick it out a whole season are the immigrants.

It’s easy to blame wages on the reason why Americans won’t do the jobs. But the fact is, as soon as you raise the wages, more illegal immigrants will come across and citizens will demand more. I’ve worked those jobs. I didn’t like them. I can get better jobs; and I do. I’m sorry, that commenter is ignorant.

Rex Cameron on Jason Calacanis and Facebook

Rex Cameron has a good post titledJason decides Facebook is not the golden fleece, which refers to Jason Calacanis’s decision to declare Facebook bankruptcy. This is something with which the Scobleizer has issue. In case you’re not up to date, Calacanis complained that he cannot keep up with the demands of keeping up with all his Facebook friend requests. Robert Scoble who has way more Facebook friends than anybody on Earth essentially calls Calacanis out on this bluff. Rex Cameron, goes into why Facebook is currently popular.

The concept is simple. Facebook, although far from an open community, has opened up their API and allowed other networks to come in. Their biggest problem would come around if another social network, were to allow people from other networks to access their communities.

Rex then goes into the move into inter-community communication via some open standard. It would be great if, like the telephone, people could communicate using different brands of phones on different carriers and in different countries. The discussion is much more intelligent than I, so I suggest you read Rex’s well researched post.

loose wire blog: The Gadget Gap

Good Blog Post
Loose Wire has a piece titled The Gadget Gap, which covers the gap of devices between the mobile phone and the laptop. There has to be something that fills that void. I don’t have the connections or the clout to go out such a device. If I did, I certainly don’t have the money. But there should be something that I can use between a huge laptop and my little T-Mobile Dash.

Why a New Gadget is Needed
If you don’t understand why this is necessary, allow me to explain. My home currently has three Windows computers that are plugged in. There is an old laptop that I use on occasion and a Mac that has no place for us to put it. One of the three computers that are plugged in runs Windows ME, so we only use it for playing games. The other two are in high demand. That leaves the laptop.

It is such a pain to lug out the laptop compared to just using my phone to check email and Google Reader. I find that I can keep up with what’s going on, even my Twitter account, by using my phone. In keeping up with my accounts, my little Dash does a fairly decent job. The only problem is that it is such a puny screen and tiny keyboard that replying to comments and posting new content can be slow. I won’t complain about Internet speeds because HTC built in WiFi on the phone, which I turn on when I have some serious “community work” to do.

I resort to the phone because it is simply on all the time. I don’t have to log in. I don’t have to kick somebody off of Myspace (which fortunately is worthless on a mobile). Except for Ning, most of my favorite sites have a mobile version that allows me to keep up with everything.

Why isn’t there something in between?
Why can’t I have that instant-on, non-cumbersome experience? Why can’t I have something that is smaller than a laptop with a full-featured browser? Most of my use for a computer revolves around the browser. As a matter of fact, if I could knock a user off the home computer to use a wireless browser device, I could do more video and audio editing on a computer.

Most People Don’t Use Their Computers to Their Fullest Potential
I think most people have too much horsepower on their computers. They would do very well with a “hand-held browser device” to keep up with their social networks and other online media. Even laptops have too much power with the introduction of Google Apps and Zoho. Why do you need a DVD player 90% of the time? Why do you need an 80+GB hard drive if you’re just browsing the web? Why store photos when you can upload them to Flickr? A computer nowadays is like the human brain, most people only use a fraction of the full potential.

We Need Something Halfway
I too resort to my phone because it is closer to meeting my needs. But if only something slightly more powerful and slightly bigger existed, I might just go for it. Of course, it has to be halfway between the price of my phone and a laptop, or less.

Twitter Updates for 2007-07-28

  • Finished watching Pan’s Labryth (El Laberinto del Fauno). Spanish movies are brutal. #
  • @epodcaster you should fire your Internet. #
  • @mdeleon Yes, they’re rescheduling the show. #
  • I’m so dumb. At epodcaster states her internet is down and I proceed to send her a tweet. #
  • Geez, I set my phone aside for a couple hours and come back to 131 tweets. #
  • @Marti_L I’ve actually had styrofoam shipped to me in blocks. They ship it in boxes. #
  • It’s getting close to showtime. My wife will join me for the blogtalkradio show. 40 minutes. #
  • Going off the twitter grid. #

Bobcasting and Mobile Users

Seth Godin has a post that caught my attention titled Bobcasting (and Google Reader). I like this post because it gives a name to something that many of us have already started doing. He calls the action of putting a link to your posts Bobcasting. I can accept that; we have to call it something.

A while back, I installed Alex King’s Twitter Tools plugin. What this does is take your latest post and posts a notice on your Twitter account with a link. Being a mobile web user, I am sensitive to the needs of mobile web browsers. So, to compliment Twitter Tools, I also plugged in King’s plugin that strips down your blog for mobile browsers. This way I know that if you get a link to my post via Twitter on your SMS, you will be able to read it on your phone. Or, if you are sitting in front of a computer, you’ll link to the same post in all its full html glory.

First BlogTalkRadio Show



listening to music

Originally uploaded by shainelee.

The Live Show Experience

I dragged out my old RGV Life Podcast and made it the basis of my first live cast experience at BlogTalkRadio.. This is one of those projects I wanted to do, but was just nervous as heck to go out and do. Once you do something often enough, it’s not as exciting, but I’ve never done a live stream. It’s exciting to me. I had the shakes long after the show was over.

Drawing from prior experience

In my experience with podcasting, and then video, and now live audio, first experiences are a bit crummy. But you don’t let that stop you. You need to keep trying and improving. This is something I try to teach my children. Don’t give up because you didn’t do as great the first time. You don’t get good without failing first.

Another experience, recently, is one in which I posted a YouTube video that uses expletives in Spanish on my RGV Life blog. Somebody commented that I ought to delete it as it is insulting. I do agree that it is insulting, but I have to respect that the creator is out producing something. This is a skill. Rather than kicking somebody down, I’m more inclined to promote their work and hope that they get the incentive to improve their work.

Why should you care?

So, how does this apply to you? Well, you ought to make your mark. Start a blog. Start a podcast. Create some video content. Start a live show. Whatever catches your creative interest, go out and do. Don’t let fear stop you. You only fear the unknown. Once you know what you’re doing, the fear goes away. I certainly look forward to mine going away. Go; create.

More on Community Development

Mother Egan's Irish Pub Inside

Not too long ago, I wrote a post titled If You Build It, Will They Come?, which links to a great post by Chris Brogan titled Understanding Community Development Strategies. Nik Butler has chimed in with his ideas on the topic with Blogging As A Marketing Tool.

Having a blog for your business or organization would do quite a bit in terms of reaching the audience that you want. While you are building your online brand, you do want to give your readers something to do once they are there. It makes sense to keep them engaged somehow. It’s not too forward to ask your readers for what they think. After spending some time to read your finely crafted post, they have already invested some of their time on you. Asking for their interaction only requires a little bit more time.

More and more, I keep stumbling on the same words and realization, it IS about people. Something as simple as a blog can be interactive, but you do have to be appealing to your audience, to some degree. Once you have interaction from your readers, it really is like a local pub. People know who you are. You can have open discussions. You can agree, or agree to disagree. But, just like old pubs, adding a new gadget here and there may only provide a marginal improvement. People go to your place for the service you provide, but they also go there for the atmosphere and the people there. Ultimately, you’re not building a site, or a brand, or even a fancy social platform. You are building a community. We should ask ourselves when plan our next move, “how will this help the community?”

Twitter Updates for 2007-07-27

  • To Twitter friends et al, I will be playing frisbee with my son. TTFN. #
  • Back inside after some frisbee and baseball with the boy. Came in before the “glowing eyes” come out. #
  • Storm is brewing to the south of us. The Mexicans are getting soaked. #
  • Really, they are. Watch Reynosa http://tinyurl.com/2afwud #
  • Geez, I stepped on dog poo. #
  • @epodcaster @mdeleon Will there be live shows soon? #
  • @mdeleon will you be taking calls during the show? #
  • @mdeleon did you get the email from btr about upcoming features? I can forward. #
  • @mdeleon I’ll help you promote your shows. Down here it’s big time Spurs. Let’s work out a plan. #
  • @chrisdoelle Send me a list of what you need for HS football games. #
  • @the_wendy_lady That is the result of tuition deregulation. Campuses started expanding and raising our fees. #
  • @epodcaster do 11 am if you must. I’m there dude. #
  • @the_wendy_lady as long as students and faculty vote for new buildings, the state will lend the money. UTPA will raise fees. #
  • @epodcaster It will be a live show extravaganza. Who else wants to do a live show on Saturday? #
  • @epodcaster the biggest benefit of live is not having to edit. Make sure to upload intro and outro. Add the coffee clink too. #
  • Caught up on news feeds. Going to bed. #
  • Good morning @newmediajim #
  • Good morning @chelpixie #
  • @ejfisher have you tried clipmarks? #
  • @enlighten_up mornin’ #
  • Good morning @conniereece #
  • @conniereece rain every night this week and last week. Flash flood watches. #
  • Besides it being Friday, today feels like it will be a great day. #
  • Writing a press release. #
  • The show with chris brogan and jeff pulver is over. #
  • Pouring rain in the RGV. #
  • Watching pan’s labrynth #

Twitter Updates for 2007-07-26

  • Woohoo! I got skype going on the pc. #
  • listening to Learn to Podcast with Blubrry http://tinyurl.com/ywfhd4 #
  • Lightning knocked out power for a few secs. In the middle of the show! Will wait for storm to pass. #
  • @ all You guys keep mentioning more and more people. T-mobile will eventually cancel me for abusing sms. #
  • @doctorlinguist it is scary that he is ONLY slightly below average intelligence. Doesn’t speak highly of average. #
  • Hello @brendajos the company you keep speaks highly of you. I’m happy to follow your tweets. #
  • @conniereece oh, no! #
  • Hi new twitter friend @davidward #
  • Will have coffee and hit the hay. #
  • Trying to get skype on vista. #
  • Bsod after installing skype on windows vista. #
  • Just installed and tested skype for windows smartphone. Cool. #
  • giddy to think that I have skype on my mobile. I have no use for it yet, but the possibilities excite me. there is wifi at the new office. #
  • Good morning #
  • It’s been ages since my last croissanwich. Yum. #
  • @pistachio now I have Otis Redding playing in my mind. Sitting on the Dock of the Bay #
  • Headed to office. #
  • According to study quoted by Dr Edell, some friends are bad for your health. But are these stressful friends healthier by killing you? #
  • @chrisbrogan I did that yesterday, I messaged facebook friends whom I haven’t heard from in a while. #
  • Just scheduled a BlogTalkRadio show for this weekend at 5.http://tinyurl.com/29gnz2 #
  • I have no clue what the show will be about. #
  • Welcome @MikeChapman #
  • Out of the office. #
  • Gas @ $2.69 at HEB in Mission. #
  • Suddenly people started piling in at the gas station. #
  • home #
  • @the_wendy_lady who needs furniture when you have broadband? #
  • Just showed my sister video of Harry Potter release here in McAllen. http://tinyurl.com/yqnh7g #
  • @doctorlinguist What’s wrong with your patients? They’re all sick and stuff! ;-D #
  • @doctorlinguist Healthy patients are more reliable. They don’t miss work, have more money, and are more likely on time for appointments. #
  • @doctorlinguist You should read 4-Hour Work Week. Fire your worst patients and outsource to India. *chuckling* #
  • When I see MY doctor, I already know what’s wrong; I just need a second opinion.I give symptoms, he gives options. 10 min chats after. #
  • I even let my doctor do unnecessary tests. Hey, he has to put bread on the table. #
  • Dammit, the boy baited me. He left sunflower seeds I did not want. I ate them. He’s good. #
  • @doctorlinguist Then make them healthy and your troubles are over. 🙂 #
  • @doctorlinguist Lest you think I’m a moron, I know you have no control. #
  • LOL, open MRI #

Join Me On BlogTalkRadio

I’ll be doing a live show, RGV Life – Weekend Chat, on BlogTalkRadio this weekend, July 28, at 5 PM. You are welcome to call in and chit chat. I’ll try to throw together some talking points. English or Spanish is welcome. Give me a call at 646-716-8227 when the show starts so that you can be on the air with me.

Follow the link below so you can bookmark.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/hostpage.aspx?show_id=41720

I was able to convince Mrs. Mata to join me as a co-host for my first venture. You are welcome to join us.