Successful Blog

Archives for December 2006

Chris Cree and Liz Converse and Conspire

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I agree
Last night I had dinner with Chris Cree. What a thrill that was. It reminded me of one of my favorite quotes.

People from the same family are rarely born under one roof. Richard Bach, Illusions

That’s how the conversation felt from the first word to the last. The food was excellent, as was the company.

We talked about life, work, family, and philosophy. We talked about times when we feel sorry for ourselves. I told him the best cure for that was Phil Gerbyshak. To prove it, we called up Phil and Chris only had to hear his voice to see what I meant.

Then Chris and I did some conspiring about Successful-Blog. Yep. We came up with a really cool idea or two — ways to broaden the scope and depth, to offer more, and more fun to readers. I’ll be announcing what’s happening in a day or so . . .

Meanwhile this morning, I went back to find the first comment that Chris left on this blog. Here it is.

. . . It doesn’t matter if the conversation ends up being about work. The take-away is that it is about making a connection. If a connection is made, it will most likely help work too.

Talk about a simple yet powerful tool to hang on our belts! Thanks. –Chris Cree, comment on “Better Than Hi! How Are Ya?” April 25, 2006

I guess that kind of explains everything.

Liz's Signature
_________

Net Neutrality 12-07-2006

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Net Neutrality Links

I’m adding this link to the Net Neutrality Page.

Net Neutrality Is Clear

[ . . . ] I’m cited in the second paragraph of the current Wikipedia article on Net neutrality. Here’s how the article begins:

Network neutrality is a general principle of Internet regulation which states that a network is neutral if it satisfies all application needs equally. For example, a perfectly neutral network would not give better service to some web sites than others, and it is argued that it would likewise not favor web-surfing or blogging over online gaming or Voice over IP. It is also guided by the assumption that the public good is maximized by limiting Internet innovation to the edges, where things are often easier to change, rather than the core of the network.

However, it has no completely precise, agreed-upon meaning. One prominent net neutrality advocate, Cluetrain Manifesto author David Weinberger, expresses frustration at his attempts to reach a precise understanding: …I recently spent a day—sponsored by an activist think tank—with a dozen people who understand Net tech deeply, going through exactly which of the 496 permutations would constitute a violation of Net neutrality. Caching packets within a particular application area but not according to source? Caching application-based non-cached application-based packets? Saying “Hi” to all passing packets, but adding, “Howya doin’?” to only the ones you like? Patting all packets on the back but refusing to buy some lunch? The whole thing makes my brain hurt.[1]

[ . . . ] FWIW, I agree that the paragraph that cites me should be edited out. It is unencyclopedic. It also is used to make a point that it in fact does not support. . . .

Want to know what you can do?
MA Bell Monopoly Versus the Free Internet — Tell the FCC Net Neutrality Is Not Negotiable

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

Char Polanosky Is a B.A.D. Blogger!

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Blogger A Day Call: Hello is Char there?

The first thing that Char Polanosky told me is that she lives in area of Virginia steeped in history. I said that having lived outside of Boston, I understood what she meant. She explained that where she lived was on a Civil War Battlefield. I countered that she had me there, and Then I said that I hoped she had a house in the package.

That was the light note that began our conversation.

Char told me that her life in technology began when she directed a center teaching kids about design and technology. We talked about how teaching is the best way to learn things. She mentioned that soon after that she was doing things for clients, designing for the web. That has obviously become her passion.

Char said her beginnings were in technical writing, but that’s not where she works now or wants to be. I said that’s not a place I would want to be either. We discussed the incredible detail and the hard work of techinical documentation. Char and I were soon talking about the romance of and her love for design and marketing.

Soon our conversation shifted slightly. We were discussing designing for print and designing for web. We discussed the differences between the two media and the differences between the clients who worked with each type of media. Char was much kinder to the print folks than I was. I told a few stories from my past in print. Char gave a why print wasn’t attractive to her. She also said the web is where she enjoys working most.

We both agreed that too many people don’t know how to find the fine line between something that is different and something that is wrong. Char said she prefers a client who strongly knows exactly what she wants, to one who wants to be told what to do. That made me feel better about having strong feelings about what I know.

The conversation turned to having ourselves as clients. We agreed that sometimes we are pickier on our design, yet in a strange balance we can be more forgiving of mistakes. I wondered whether that was because it seemed silly to try to read too much into what clients say, or to try to predict what clients might like beyond what they actually tell us.

Char and I talked about the traits of blogging during winter. I said lately I was thinking mine started in October, not November as it once had.

Before we hung up. Char and I promised to meet at Tuesday Night Comment Night that eveinng She helped me pick out a theme for us to talk about on. Thanks Char! It was a rousing success! Char is one creative, helpful, and enthusiastic lady.

Then she asked me what essential tools I use daily. I told her. She wrote a post about it for her blog. She got her post up hours before I got mine up. Char is also one efficient lady.

No wonder I like her admire her work so.

B.A.D. Blogger Quote

Blogging works very well. It’s as if you start behind your shield of annonymity., and it lets you reveal parts of yourself as you want to. —Char Polanosky

Stop by Char’s Blog, Essential Keystrokes, and say hi!

Thanks, Char, you B.A.D. Blogger!

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Want to be a B.A.D. Blogger see the. . . a B.A.D. Blogger? page in the sidebar.

Link Leak and Lists — Say that Fast!

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Listening to our Lists

This time of the year, we’re all so innundated with things to do. Many of us make lists and other folks make lists for us. We talked about all kinds of them and what we think about them. Tuesday Open Comments Night was a list of lists.

The Link Leak Virus was with us as well. — The Link Leak Virus is a special strain of the indie virus with blogtipping mutations that occur in threes and keeps Open Comment Night a link free-for-all.

Welcome to every person who came — all of you are on my list of favorite people in the blogosphere.

Cool links were shared. Here’s a list of them.

Twisting the Listing by Rick Cockrum

A list of lists is what you missed
If you weren’t here for last night’s tryst
Bloggers from around the globe
Tipped their hats to those they know
Newfound friends came out to play
As we all had our say

Joe was first as he tries to be
Making lists of what he’d see
Liz the ever gracious host
Watched neighbors list what they loved most.
Scorpia panned the creation of lists
Stultifying shells to block her bliss
John T Unger sat a spell
But Typelists’ called sounded his knell
Carolyn said she loves lists
She may explain to a therapist
Valeria came for the first time
Lists for her, harness the mind
Delphine, too, was also new
Lists for her keep things to do
Trisha stopped just to say hi
To her lists she says goodbye
Chris is in a frigid clime
But with Klondike’s he’s doing fine
Derek came, proud to say
His new blog layout makes him say Yay!
Vaspers returned, with his unique sound
Bearing links and quips, and links round rou….
Char says she’s a lover of lists
For holding her thoughs so life she won’t miss
Roger surveyed the list on their blog writing time
Was he making a list? I gave him mine
Ben stopped in. We gave him pink slippers
And promised him links if he’d just send us pictures
Cat is busy, preparing to fly
To England for Christmas – now she’s lacking time
Shopping lists are popular at this time of year
Meikah really does hope the list of bills disappears
Christine (she’s a P) doesn’t follow her lists
Resolutions are out, but a year’s word can bring bliss
Rodney just joined the BAD blogger club

For Starbucker ice cream supplied the true grist
For a mouth-watering, luscious, flavorful list.
Tony felt bad that he came so late
John R brought books, a list that was great
Troy Worman said hi, Jeff Brown was alone
Douglas winged in and back out on his own
Jessica’s list gave us food, not just a bone
And 1-800 HART said a last hi from his unique time zone.
David said he’s from Chicago.
Liz said they’d have to meet in town.

As Joe said in his great rendition of Rudolph
And the end of the year comes once more to be
With lists like this
You’ll go down in history!

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Business Rule 3: In PRM, the First Test Always Outweighs the Final

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People Relationship Mathematics

Business Rules Logo

In the world of textbooks, I worked on problems in Discrete Mathematics for kids. Discrete math includes finite algorithms that do not go on beyond a particular problem or scenario. I have decided that in order to keep the world in balance, I’m adding to that a distinct pattern I’ve noticed about business, PRM — People Relationship Mathematics. PRM is about what folks mean when they say, “do the math.”

In general career management, PRM is more diverse and applicable than traditional mathematics. Every thing we do relates to the people and how we relate to each other. If we do the math on that idea from the very first moment, business life can be much more of a pleasure. Take it from me — I remember well the days I didn’t know that.

Let’s start from the beginning. Beginning — that’s a great word. There are more beginnings than we might suspect. Here are a few:

  • first day at a new company
  • first day in a new role
  • first day with a new boss
  • first day with a new client or new customer

Any one of those and you’re the new guy all over again. Whether you go to work at a home office or one down the road, Personal Relationship Mathematics says you have to show up.

Showing up is like long division, a whole lot trickier than it looks. Showing up requires paying attention to everyone and everything that’s going on. It also means doing the best work that you’ve ever done–beginning, middle, and end.

Day one –- that’s 100 days in PRM –is when you build a concrete foundation. What people think, decide really, about you now will determine whether they will forgive you then. The relationships you forge on the proverbial day one are your safety net.

Do the PMR to pass the first test. The first test always outweighs the final.
[Read more…]

Net Neutrality 12-06-2006

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Net Neutrality Links

I’m adding this link to the Net Neutrality Page.

The Unrecusal of Commissioner McDowell

The unseemly political pressure to try to force FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell to participate in the AT&T takeover of BellSouth is increasing with each hour. So far, McDowell has stuck to his decision not to participate because he recently represented CompTel before the Commission and because of ethics concerns from the Virginia Bar Association.

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has sent a letter to Capitol Hill saying he’s asked the General Counsel, Sam Feder, to determine whether it’s possible for McDowell to participate, citing a 2000 precedent of then-Chairman Kennard having been authorized to break a 2-2 tie. AT&T sent a letter to the Commission saying that competitors are holding up the merger despite all that AT&T has been willing to concede. These two items, both dated Dec. 1, are of course related. Martin wants the merger, as does AT&T. They are also related in that each makes claims that don’t hold up under further scrutiny.

[ . . . ]

We have defined Net Neutrality all along as applying to the last mile. We don’t want any network provider to make a decision for a customer on how well a service or application will function based on a financial arrangement between the network company and the provider. It’s that simple. We have always endorsed the ability of companies to charge customers, whether residential or commercial, for the bandwidth they use. We wish the market were more competitive, but that’s another story. No one has talked about rates in terms of cost recovery. We use the term non-discrimination.

Want to know what you can do?
MA Bell Monopoly Versus the Free Internet — Tell the FCC Net Neutrality Is Not Negotiable

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE