Bloggy Life Question 29 — Will You Sell the URL to the Porn King?

November 12, 2006 by Liz

On Second Thought . . .

For those who come looking for a short, thoughtful read, a blogging life discussion, or a way to gradually ease back into the week. I offer this bloggy life hypothetical question. . . .

You’ve been blogging a children’s book for three years. It’s part fairy tale, part science fiction meant for kids who are 10-12 years old. Hallelujah and happiness! You’ve not only finished it, but you’ve got agent who’s sold it to a publisher — one of big ones. We’re talking major advance. You’re not J.K. Rowling yet, but you’ve made the minor leagues. Your book will be on library and classroom shelves.

The story is about a boy named Jack who is genetically altered. He can become a giant when the world needs saving. Jack is a superhero with all of the qualities that kids need to read about. The publisher loves Jack but wants to call him Slate to make the book appealing to a wider audience.

You don’t mind. You kind of like the name. Besides, they’re going to build you a fabulous website, and they are already talking a movie deal.

One condition of your contract is that you take down your old URL. You plan to remove the content, and so you put the blog up for sale.

As soon as you put the URL — www.jackthegiant.com — on Site Point the bidding goes crazy. Suddenly you realize what that means. . . . It would make a perfect porn URL.

How do you respond?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

I Want to Call You a B.A.D. Blogger! Wanna Be One?

November 12, 2006 by Liz

It all started when I went to Blogher and met up with Sabine Kirstein, and we met up with Janice Myint. I found out what it’s like to converse in real time with bloggers. It was an invigorating experience.

After that, I went to Seth’s seminar in NYC with Ann Michael. I talked to Joe Hauckes when my plane was delayed. I met Phil Gerbyshak for his speaking gig in Chicago. All in all, I’ve talked to some 50 other bloggers. To a person, the bloggers I’ve met are cool, vibrant people. I learned something from every one of them.

So I’ve decided to form a B.A.D. habit.

I Want to Call You a B.A.D. Blogger

i’m calling a Blogger A Day every day. I’d like to do a voice chat with you. Would you like a call? I’d like to get to know who you are, what you do, and tell you a little about me too.

It’s one more way to link up the blogosphere. It’s one more way that we can get smarter. It’s a way we can take blogging to the next level. It’s a way you and I can meet to say a real “hello.”

After we talk, I’ll call you a B.A.D. Blogger and I’ll post a word and link on Successful-Blog. It’ll be fun. It’ll also be great promotion for you and your blog.

Here’s what to do.

Write an e-mail to me at lizsun2@gmail.com.
Put Call Me a B.A.D. Blogger in the subject line.
Include the following information in your message:
a number or Skype contact to call (Int’l has to be VoIP)
your location on the planet and good times to call.

I’ll email you before I call to make sure you’ll be around. Of course, the only one who reads my email is me.

I’m calling a blogger a day from now on. With some 57 million blogs indexed at Technorati. I figure I should be able to find at least one blogger a day who’s willing to talk.

What do you say? Do you wanna be a B.A.D. Blogger?

Send me an e-mail now. So I can arrange the call. I’d sure like to meet you for a conversation.

Liz's Signature

PS. THERE WILL BE THE COOLEST BUTTONS YOU’VE EVER SEEN!

Net Neutrality 11-12-2006

November 12, 2006 by Liz

Net Neutrality Links

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

Shift Happened: How Might a Democrat-Controlled Congress Affect Media, Internet, Communications and Entertainment?

The shifting of the balance of power from Republicans to Democrats on Capitol Hill will likely have dramatic consequences on US foreign military/diplomatic policy and on domestic social policy. . . .

My first relatively obvious observation is that the shift in power tips the balance to the Net Neutrality forces and puts the Bells on the defensive for the first time since passage of the “96 Telecom Act” as they continue their efforts to obtain video franchising relief. Perhaps this means there is a potential compromise in the works – video franchising relief for a more meaningful iteration of Net Neutrality?

But is it all good news for the Internet voice/video/media/entertainment disruptors? I know, given the vast resources devoted on all sides of the debate to Net Neutrality, one might conclude that Net Neutrality is the only issue that matters, but it is not. While the Internet application providers and users might win on the Net Neutrality front, I harbor no great expectations that the Democrats will be any less paternalistic than their Republican corollaries on the social issues affecting the Internet and communications, particularly the inertia pushing traditional emergency response, lawful intercept, and now indecency statutes and regulations on Internet applications, without any serious regard for the deleterious effects on innovation and progress.

Bottom line, however, is that I no longer expect Congress to pass any significant, Internet-affecting, legislation this year. I, however, do expect that the FCC might try to fill the breach and try, itself, to move on video franchising reform, universal service contribution methodology and access charge reform, and continuing down the path of imposing traditional telecom- and broadcast-like regulation on Internet applications, while further deregulating the transmission media. I also expect that many of the battles might move back to the states as Congress becomes less fertile turf for the traditional carriers.

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

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

Net Neutrality 11-11-2006

November 11, 2006 by Liz

Net Neutrality Links

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

The top censored news stories of 2005-2006 [via Center for Creative Voices]

FOR 30 years, Sonoma State University’s Project Censored has released an annual list of the most important news stories not covered by the corporate media in the United States. Here again are the Top 10 news stories that didn’t make much news.

1. Net Neutrality

Throughout 2005 and this year, a largely underground debate has raged regarding the future of the Internet. More recently referred to as net neutrality, the issue has become a tug of war with cable companies on the one hand and consumers and Internet service providers (ISPs) on the other. Yet despite important legislative proposals and Supreme Court decisions throughout 2005, the issue was almost completely ignored in the headlines until 2006. And except for occasional coverage on CNBC’s Kudlow & Kramer, mainstream television remains hands-off to this day. . . .

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

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

Net Neutrality 11-10-2006

November 10, 2006 by Liz

Net Neutrality Links

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

Cable and TelcoÃ¢â¬â¢s Lying about Net Neutrality

. . . My point is that if the Cable and TelcoÃ¢â¬â¢s are spending Advertising Dollars Lying about Net Neutrality, we need to amp up our efforts to Protect our Rights to a Free Internet.

And in case our friends in Canada think they are safe from Cable and Telco interference with the Internet in the Great White North, Read The NewspapersÃ¢â¬Â¦ TheyÃ¢â¬â¢re trying the same thing up there.

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

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

Net Neutrality 11-09-2006

November 9, 2006 by Liz

Net Neutrality Links

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

On Network Convergence ( Susan Crawford )

It would be a great day for me, if I as a subscriber, had the power to download the movies I like, edit these movies for my home viewing ( for example when my kids are up, edit out violent and sex scenes and when they are asleep, edit back these scenes) and generally have the power to select what comes into my tv.

Today, broadcasters decide what comes into my home and typically say, if you don’t like it…change the channel.

NO, I DON’T WANT TO CHANGE THE CHANNEL. ITS MY HOME, I LIKE TV AND I SHOULD HAVE A SAY ON TO HOW THE CONTENT IS PRESENTED IN MY HOUSE.

Afterall, we all agree that most of the evolution is happening at the edge of the network which is directly interfacing with me and my family.

So there are various arguments to what convergence means, there are economic implications that trigger off political, corporate and technological events, but please don’t loose focus that all this is done to serve me, since I and another 4B people are paying for these past present and future services and of course salaries.

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

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE