SOB Business Archives - Page 198 of 238

Introducing TechzOnline

September 2, 2006 by Liz

SOB Hall of Famer: TechzOnline

TechzOnline started out as just a personal space to put down a few thoughts and a central place to let people know more about me. It slowly became a very comfortable medium via the exellent CMS, WP, to put down my thoughts and interact with a wide spectrum of people, in terms of culture & thoughts. I’m a technology fan, and as such my Friday Link Day usually has a good bunch of tech links, not to mention I keep categories devoted solely to tech. I keep my blog ad-free so users need not worry about pop-ups and ugly boxes with ads in them.

Notes from Liz: In the olden days when I was a kid, TV had variety shows. Today you meet a tech blog with variety posts. Techzonline from Bahrain is that blog. It’s not only more informative and it’s way more entertaining than those old variety shows were. You just never know what the next post will bring you. The Microsoft Dead for the Live Challenged Review was one of my favorites. The blogger behind this tech blog is clever and worth paying attention to. Each post is packed with refreshing new slants, and facts and ideas that make fun tuning into this blog — like it used to be fun to tune into TV in the olden days.

You’ve probably seen Techz commenting on Sucessful Blog. He’s planning to visit the blogs in the Hall of Fame. He’s one Successful and Outstanding Blogger.

Thanks, Techz, for letting me introduce you to the readers of Successful Blog.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Has your SOB Blog Been Introduced to US?
Blog Promotion: May I Introduce You?

Net Neutrality 9-02-2006

September 2, 2006 by Liz

Net Neutrality Links

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

Comcast Provides Preview of Net Non-Neutrality

. . . I have to wonder if a recent gripe from a Comcast cable modem customer, plus a story I read in this morning’s newspaper about Comcast blacklisting The Well, might be providing a sneak preview of what one of the biggest players has in store for us all.

A reader who is a Comcast broadband customer had a disturbing experience recently. “I’m at a total loss about how to handle this situation,” the reader wrote. “An e-mail to me from a friend got bounced apparently by Comcast. He resent it to my G-Mail account so I could see it. It said that his message was “Blocked for abuse. Please send blacklist removal requests to blacklist_comcastnet@cable.comcast.com’ among other stuff. So apparently there exists a Comcast blacklist that I cannot control that stops e-mails and that requires my correspondents to ask to be permitted to send me messages.”

[ . . . ]

Yes, there’s no question that all of this is far more easily explained by the remarkable incompetence Comcast has long displayed (see Comcast Seems Clueless About Blacklists) in the e-mail arena than some malevolent plot. This is a company that has never been able to properly support its own broadband customers, much less innocent third parties impacted by its random actions. But that’s just the point. Is there any reason to believe that non net-neutrality would make Comcast any better at handling such issues? . . .

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

Happy Blogtipping September 1 All Ready? Go!

September 1, 2006 by Liz

Three Optimists

Everyone has those people they know that are always up and making others feel positive about what’s going on. I know at least three that I count as special that I want to tip my blog to.

Here’s how it works.

Choose three or more bloggers you admire and link to them,
List three reasons why you admire each one.
Then add a tip at the end.

That’s all there is to it.

1. Starbucker I tip my blog to you because

You blog like you live — with verve and spirit, dancing through the ideas and over the keys. It makes visiting your blog a pleasure.

You posts are about real things and real ideas, but you don’t take yourself or them too seriously. There’s always that touch that says you know there are so many things that aren’t worth worrying too hard about.

You haven’t forgotten what fun is. You know how to play and how to be a friend.

My blog tip: Be careful driving in those mountains. Don’t be thinking of blog posts going around those hairpin turns.

2. Mike Sansone I tip my blog to you because

Your blogging style is all about relationships. I always find myself staying longer and reading more than just a single post.

You’re such a warm, authentic presence. I feel better just listening to your point of view on business.

When you study an idea or subject, you never lose track of the human side of it. I feel proud to know you.

My blog tip: You seem to have so much going on. I can’t keep track of it all.

3. Tom Vander WellI tip my blog to you because

You’re always celebrating someone else’s success.

You’re constantly curious about how you might make the world a better place.

It’s obvious that you listen actively to what your readers say. It shows in your comments.

My blog tip: Don’t forget to give one of those gold mugs to yourself.

Thanks to all three of you for making my blogging life a nicer place to be.

–Me “Liz” Strauss

Net Neutrality 9-01-2006

September 1, 2006 by Liz

Net Neutrality Links

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

Note To Telcos: Please Get Better Shills

. . . Now, we have Sonia Arrison, who works for a think tank that is funded by telcos. Last month she was claiming that if net neutrality legislation came to be it would be the end of the internet, while then trotting out a freebie about how muni-WiFi would also destroy the internet (ignoring, of course, that almost every muni-WiFi effort nowadays is structured in an almost identical manner to the deals her telco funders got for copper and fiber rights of way — and, in fact, that telcos have now started bidding on muni-WiFi contracts themselves). This time, however, she’s flipped the argument we’ve made here around, saying that dishonesty from the likes of Google proves that net neutrality legislation isn’t needed. There’s just one problem: it’s her side which seems to be acting much more dishonest. She calls it a “scare tactic” by Google to suggest that there would be a two-tiered internet where people might not be able to get to Google. She might want to go talk with the heads of the telcos that fund her think tank, because they’ve all made it clear that they would love to force Google to pay extra to reach their subscribers. . . .

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

Net Neutrality 8-30-2006

August 30, 2006 by Liz

Net Neutrality Links

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

Schumer On Net Neutrality

. . . I’m no fan of Chuck Schumer’s political decision-making, as many of you know. As a legislator, though, he can be great sometimes. . . . he’s out on net neutrality.

“. . . As the Internet continues to grow and evolve, we must make sure that average consumers can still use the web to learn, shop, and communicate. The Internet has the power to enhance one of the most fundamental values of our democracy: freedom of speech. . . . I will oppose the flawed and limiting provisions in Senator Stevens’ bill, S. 2686, which would allow Internet providers to discriminate against the websites of their competitors . . . If the Stevens bill is not changed to protect network neutrality, I will oppose it. Network neutrality has allowed the Internet to be an engine of economic innovation, democratic participation, and free speech. Eliminating it would be a serious mistake.”

This is a very very good thing. A thank you call to his Washington office at 202-224-6542 would help Schumer understand that net neutrality is something voters care about.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

The Mic is On and It’s a Commercial!

August 29, 2006 by Liz

It’s Like Open Mic Only Different

Here’s how it works.

It’s like any rambling conversation. Don’t try to read it all. Jump in whenever you get here. Just go to the end and start talking. EVERYONE is WELCOME
The rules are simple — be nice.

There are always first timers and new things to talk about.

Tonight we’re talking our favorite commercials!

We might also talk about

AND THE EVER POPULAR,
Basil the code-writing donkey.

–ME “Liz” Strauss