DISQUS

Thanks to Steve Garfield, I saw your post. Please check out my post on a protocol I am developing called SLAP for Simple Lightweight Announcement Protocol. http://joecascio.net/joecblog/2009/05/18/announ... The key thing about SLAP is that it would work with any existing publication type, as long as it can be identified by a URI and the post by a permalink. Would love to get your thoughts on it.

Thanks,
Joe Cascio

Although I haven't met Calacanis, all I've read about him, including the foregoing, leads me to believe that he's the asshole you warn people not to tolerate.

If Google had built a truly open platform with technology like OpenID instead of one that simply allows developers to write more idiotic garbage "applications" like SuperPoke they may have had an opportunity to knock Facebook's socks off, and in the process make Facebook compatible. But as it stands, this is just another example of competition for its own sake rather than to benefit the consumer. Just like IE vs Mozilla, just like Mac vs Windows, just like Java vs. .NET, it forces developers and consumers to make an unnecessary choice so a corporation can benefit.
Consumers win when open standards win, not when two corporations intentionally set up barriers to interoperation to please their investors.

The real answer to keeping profiles updated is to eliminate the plural. You should only need one profile that's associated with your OpenId. What we need is for people to own their own profile and have soc-net sites subscribe to it. That way, we update it once, and they get the update the next time we use the site.
Unfortunately, soc-net sites still live under the illusion that just because someone registers on their site, they "own" that person.

It seems to me the best thing for companies to do with their social media initiative is to try to help the consumer. And I mean truly help, not just set them up for The Pitch. The last corp. I worked for did very well because they provided a truly consultative service for their customers in the pre-sales process. Customers are so, so welcoming to simple honesty. Just help me, don't make me endure your "sales process". Just give me what I need, not what you want to sell. Your reward is a friend made, a good-will ambassador for your brand.

But this strategy is one of planting seeds, not harvesting. The payback comes much later. Unfortunately, corporate minds want to see immediate results, measurable ROI. That's unlikely. The company I keep pointing out as truly understanding this mode of operation is Blip.tv. They're fanatical about support and listening to what their users need. It's a company built by listening, not talking.

Not even a hiccup for me. Sorry y'all had trouble

This is not good news for US software developers. I took a quick look at the site. Average rate for a .NET developer is $15/hr? Are you kidding me? That's 30K a year. You can't live in America and support a family on that.

I think you answered your own question about how bloggers play in the process. They show what the process is and how it works, not from the press's point of view, but from a citizen's, a voter's point of view. Maybe more of us can come away with that new respect that you seem to have found.

I just watched Steve Garfield's video of you and Chuck Olsen at the NH campaign setup. What you said about catching fleeting moments rather than trying to duplicate what MSM is doing is right on, in my estimation. Here's what I wrote about that today.

I started using Google Reader when I got fed up with feed clients that I couldn't figure out, or that had too many "features". Google Reader was so easy to use, unencumbered by crap and just so intuitive: it fits my understanding of what RSS does. Plus, when I click on an RSS link, it does what I expect: it goes to my G.R. page. That little bit by itself was enough to sell me. And finally, it's web based, so reading at work or reading at home doesn't involve duplication of effort.

Anyone who is interested in Internet freedom of speech ought to check this out before supporting John McCain. I have a hard time believing anyone is going to fall for his crap, but then again, look who is sitting in the Oval Office now. I used to think McCain was sort of ok because he spoke for veterans and against torture, but apparently he has been turned into another authoritarian dolt.

Must have been National Fun Friday. I sure had fun, as did "The Dope"'s Lisa Kate. Check 'em out and read my comment on LisaKate's blog.

Blip.tv has the same attitude. Call now, see it a couple of hours from now. The fact that Google can do this at their size is encouraging. As a 35 year veteran of software development, all I can say is, woo hoo, no QA department!

Ditto to #12. Doesn't anyone remember "flame wars?" The flaming rant was practically invented on the Internet.