Day 30 of 100 blogs in 100 days

Day 30 of visiting 100 blogs in 100 days...

Deep Thought, Shallow Ideas, and Random Ramblings is a blog that I have a special interest in...

While I was in North Carolina, I grew to embrace blogging for a variety of reasons: primarily as a tool to redeem my time when I did the monthly commute back and forth to Nashville from Chapel Hill; as a backdoor way to learn HTML and journal a bit about positive things in life. I later met up with other bloggers under the leadership of Anton Zuiker who is passionate about networking bloggers in N.C.

I would be remiss not to mention my initial influence of my blog parents Michael Ashby and Mike Rohde whose blogs I read often, that gave me the impetus to start a blog for the reasons mentioned.

At newHope Church, we were encourage to be a part of a small group or start one depending on whatever was of interest to connect with others... BLOG HEAVEN was the name of my small group -

BLOG HEAVEN! Calling all fellow bloggers! If you are interested in writing, journalism, photography, blogging, have a blog or don't know what it is, *** then this is the small group for you! Blogging - another way to use technology for God's glory! For more information on this new small group, please contact Kerry Woo at wonderdawg@gmail.com

*** and want to hang out with geek wannabes without the geekness, this is the small group for you! (PC or laptop required; thick glasses not required).

Christy was one who showed an interest; while the group was short lived as I moved back to Nashville, Christy had the oomph to try her hand at it. In her blog, she always has a analogy or a parable mixing in her love for Scripture in God's Word with life's experiences. Must be the school teacher in her. Blogging is a great way to express thyself and in this case, hone some writing skills and tell some stories along the way that inspire and speak life - Way to go girl! Keep blogging!

Deep Thought, Shallow Ideas, and Random Ramblings is tangible proof that demonstrates that we can excel at anything by taking that first baby step and having some encouragement along the way - and for as for this blog, Go with God, for great is His faithfulness...

Picture source

video journalists - a WIKI discussion

WKRN, the local ABC affiliate in Nashville is using the video journalist model of gathering news. Here's a spirited WIKI discussion regarding the topic plus links to Apple's involvement with coursework that follows -

Says Michael Sechrist, GM of WKRN:

"Today's newsrooms despite all the technological changes that have occurred in our business are still running essentially the same way they did when broadcast news began in the '50's. Using smaller cameras and laptop editing allows us to make long overdue and exciting changes to the way news looks and is covered. We will embrace the technology and what it allows us to do and not fear it.... We see the VJ model as a way to increase the amount of news we can cover and report on, which will differentiate our brand from our competitors while attracting a larger audience."

The stations are equipping their VJs with Sony Z-1 HD cameras, Dell laptops and Pinnacle editing software.

Pity the pioneer. The trail-blazer might be first to latch onto an idea, but that also means those defending the status quo see a bull's eye on his head. Thus it is for Michael Rosenblum, called a "prophet" and "guru" in the quotes on his bio but also derided as a profiteering con-man by readers of the Lost Remote blog after a recent Q&A.

Rosenblum's idea is to bring "video journalists" to TV newsrooms and beyond, one-man bands that can report stories, shoot digital video, edit it on laptops and broadcast it. His client list already includes the BBC, New York Times TV and Oxygen, and he is currently helping to train VJs at local TV stations such as KRON in San Francisco and WKRN in Nashville.

Rosenblum sells his vision to station management by promising to cut the cost of production by 20 percent to 70 percent with no loss in picture quality or storytelling. In fact, he argues that TV news can improve by giving many more people the tools to tell stories rather than the four or five news trucks full of equipment that limit what they can cover.

But critics see him as the ultimate snake-oil salesman, breaking down the longstanding cameraperson/on-air personality duo and threatening the jobs of traditional TV newsgatherers while cozying up with cost-conscious management.

discussion continues on video journalists

Apple Digital Campus Curriculum offers a Video Journalism Course

glossary

Student Gallery

Are you using the right blogging tool?

I've been using blogger by Google and generally pretty happy with it - No doubt, it allows anyone who wants to blog an easy to learn (and easy to teach) entry point into the blogosphere.

I guest blog over at pknashville2005 and find TypePad to be very tempermental. There is nothing more frustrating than to work on a posting and have it disappear, or worse become a chore with type sizes and formatting. I'm very visual as well and often wonder if there are other blogging tools that have features I'm really need or want - such as graphics, categories, trackbacks, etc.

Any thoughts or feedback? How about WordPress?

Susannah Gardner offers up this useful article:
Time to check: Are you using the right blogging tool?
Blogs are one of the hottest publishing tools around, but picking blog software can be confusing and frustrating. Use this primer to get a feel for what's available and what will work best for you.

Article here

Handy dandy blog software comparison chart

Comprehensive Guide to a Professional Blog Site (using WordPress) by Michael K. Bergman from AI3 [PDF]

Aggies and Rita: Priceless

(Credit: Snopes)

Does your team stink?

Elise Amendola

Jay Mohr (I think he's a comedian) offers up four foolproof ways to figure out if your team stinks - "You can log on to some professional sports team Web sites and have no idea the team stinks. If you use the Internet instead of the box scores in your local newspaper to find information on your team, you might find it to be very misleading."

Read the rest here

Day 29 of 100 blogs in 100 days

"Musical Appreciation" The Art of Steve Hanks

Day 29 of visiting 100 blogs in 100 days -

We all love our music - from the time we were rocked in our cradle to lullabyes... I remember those early parenting nights rocking my son to sleep when the only song I could coherently sing at 3 am was the National Anthem. Nowadays, we rock out to our iPods, computers, MP3s, surround sound, some smoky music venue, whatever radio throws our way and even dare venture out to other types of music found for example on Jack FM or Lighting 100.

We all have memories of hearing a great tune and that sense of "discovering" a song or band that no one was aware of - or before a performer's first LP ever released - for me, is was the Allman Brothers, Alice Cooper, Robert Palmer, Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen...

I would be remiss if I didn't share with you my "musical find" - aurgasm. This blog by Paul Irish reaches in our own backyard and around the world and simply fishes out musical gems - you have to be adventurous and very open to sample musical offerings from various categories; some that I never knew existed - japanese turntablism // traditional remixed, singer songwriter //indie folk, afro-cuban // cuban son, funky house // french house, conscious hiphop // old-school, folktronica // indie electronic // post-rock...

Paul also takes the time to explain each selection, provide a little research and photos as well - You'll will feel right at home on your PC, listening to great tunes while taking an online music appreciation course. Paul explains why he is so passionate about music:

aurgasm brings to you an eclectic menagerie of aural pleasures. I scout out music you've never heard and deliver only the finest. Expect music curiously different, yet simply enjoyable. I want music to move me. I listen to how it sounds and consume how it feels. I want it to groove my soul, wrench my heart, nod my head, or fascinate my brain. The exceptionally distinctive sounds I hear are the ones you'll see on aurgasm; they'll resound inside you as well.

This music is here for evaluation purposes ONLY.That's what I want you to do: eval-u-ate: try on this music for size, see if it fits you. If you enjoy it, learn more. Explore the artist, delve into the genre. Take an active approach in finding music you love. Only you can find what you love. Immerse yourself in it. Buy the CD. Go to the show and meet your favorite artist afterwards. Tell them their music changed you. Support the artists whose work you adore. Be passionate about music. It'll love you back.

Giving thanks to Lynnette and Jim

props

I would like to give thanks to God, my wife and childrens, my posse and the big dawgs in my life for this award - God Bless! Thank you Lynnette and Jim for being gracious hosts of Tennessee Bloggers

All the best blogs in Tennessee. Period. Exclamation point. Pound sign. Funny squiggly thing. recently wrote:

Kerry's is an interesting blog.
He writes what he's passionate about -- knowing that, directly or indirectly, he'll connect with others that are passionate about the same things.
He sees his blog as an opportunity to enter into a dialogue, read, understand, listen, and see life speak all around him.
According to Kerry, you'll find "no politics, rants or cussing, but rather positive, faith based postings."
WonderDawg is a refreshing read, largely about the positive things in life, and rarely about the negative. Check out all the GOOD news...

Categories: Best General Info Blogs Best Middle Tennessee Blogs

Award designations for the websites featured on TennesseeBloggers.com are created by the host of this site merely in the spirit of good will and fun. Site awards are based on the overall theme or tone that each site depicts. Please don't take these awards too seriously... it's all for FUN!

Picture source

Prior proper planning and personal responsibility

Be Prepared!

I was up to 3 am the other night watching the rerun of Mike Brown, formerly of FEMA testifying before the politicians on CSPAN -

He contended it's "unreasonable" to expect the U.S. government to provide food, water, gasoline and transportation for everyone.

"You should, as an individual, take personal responsibility and be prepared to be on your own for perhaps up to two or three days," said Brown.

I recall when Y2K was on everybody's mind. Personally, I think Y2K was the biggest con ever perpetuated in the history of mankind, but my point being -- while I was not convinced that my Honda was going to stop running at the stroke of midnight, or when I was flying to San Jose on 9/9/99 that the airplane was destined to fall out of the sky -- we were prepared at home.

Food, water, propane, supplies... we were heavily prepared either for a disaster or an extravagant camping trip. We knew the stress levels of not being adequately prepared during the ice storm in Nashville. In January 1994, we and seven neighbors were without power for seven days. It was cold, hotels were booked and we took shelter at my inlaws. The Comcast cable guy was parked outside of our home for 16 hour shifts, running a generator to provide power for its cable customer to watch Nancy Kerrigan during the Oympics. On the seventh day, we physically flagged down a Nashville Electric truck to repair the blown transformer.

From The Red Cross site: Disaster can strike quickly and without warning. It can force you to evacuate your neighborhood, workplace or school or can confine you to your home. What would you do if basic services -- water, gas, electricity or telephones--were cut off? Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone right away. Therefore, the best way to make you and your family safer is to be prepared before disaster strikes.

The Red Cross offers detailed resources on preparing for all types of disasters.

Building A Disaster Supplies Kit should be a first priority -

There are six basics you should stock for your home in the case of an emergency:

Water, food, first aid supplies, clothing and bedding, tools and emergency supplies, and special items for medical conditions.

Keep the items that you would most likely need during an evacuation in an easy-to carry container.

So I agree with Mike Brown - taking personal responsibility - what a concept!

Picture source

Day 28 of 100 blogs in 100 days

Day 28 of visiting 100 blogs in 100 days - I've been visiting Steve Pavlina's Personal Development Blog for quite some time - Steve Pavlina is passionate about personal development - in fact he's not interested in wasting his time... (odd for a blog!) if you're not serious about personal development...

This site is dedicated to helping you make conscious decisions in your personaldevelopment and courageously follow through on them. This means having thematurity to take 100% responsibility for your health, your career, your relationships, your emotions, your habits, and your spiritual beliefs. It requires taking a hard look at yourself, consciously deciding what kind of person you truly are on the inside, and then getting your actions to be congruent with your true self. The goal is to help you achieve internal congruence, where your thoughts, feelings, actions, and skills are all pointing in the same direction.

Steve addresses a number of topics including the usual suspects - time management, motivation, overcoming procrastination, setting realistic goals and much more... No ear candy on this blog - Steve offers a free newsletter as well as a number of free articles. Add Steve Pavlina's Personal Development Blog to your must have resources for personal development.

Special: Be Your Own Mentor - Lifehacker

From Lifehacker: I love the art of mentoring and below reprinted entirely, is a great posting on mentoring thyself - I trust that this article will get you started - enjoy!

Special: Be Your Own Mentor

In today’s fast-paced working environment companies don’t always have a straightforward plan for their employee’s personal and professional growth. Even if they do, chances are it’s a pretty low priority. To be sure you’re successful and growing in your career you often have to take matters into your own hands.

A lucky few of us have mentors that can guide us down the right path. A good mentor can show you the ropes, point out potential pitfalls and be a sympathetic shoulder to lean on. If you have access to a mentor don’t take them for granted. Make sure you pay attention to them. Make sure you listen to their advice. They may not be around for long.

I’ve spent most of my life without a good mentor, for various reasons. I found out early on that if you want to grow and learn you need to push yourself. You can be your own mentor, and in some ways, even if you’ve got someone pushing you, it’s a good idea to take that high-level control yourself.

As I’m pretty familiar with self-mentoring, I thought I’d offer up a few tips, observations and suggestions. Let’s begin with lifelong learning.

Lifelong Learning
I’ve been a big fan of what many people call “lifelong learning”. It’s a philosophy of always pushing yourself to learn new things and expand your skill-set. I think the first step to mentoring yourself is making a commitment to lifelong learning. This means taking the initiative to read books on topics that interest you, take classes, ask questions and take an active stake in your personal and professional growth.

Discover Your Strengths and Weaknesses
You’ll want to evaluate yourself on an ongoing basis. Ask for feedback from your coworkers and peers. Listen to what they say about you and then honestly evaluate that feedback. Learn what you’re good at and what you need help with. Then take steps to improve upon those things.

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
One of the best ways to grow is to get uncomfortable. Try something you aren’t sure if you’ll succeed at. Push yourself to take chances now and then. Some of the best learning I’ve ever had has been when I’ve been put in a situation that I didn’t really like.

Reward Yourself
When you’ve made a breakthrough, or done something you’re proud of, treat yourself to something good. Have a special dinner. Go see a movie. Buy yourself something nice. Life is about living, not working, so live it up once in awhile.

Network and Look to Your Peers
Being your own mentor doesn’t mean going at things all alone. It’s important to connect with people who share similar talents, skills and interests. Take the time to get involved in your professional community, to meet your peers and get to know them. Chances are you’ll learn a lot.

Ask Questions
Be sure and ask lots of questions. One of the things I do is solicit “mini-mentorship” from my peers. I ask them about their lives, their work and their lessons learned. I’ve found that almost everyone has something good to share, and if you’re willing to listen you’ll learn something.

Become a Mentor Yourself
Some of the best lessons in life are those I’ve learned from someone I’m trying to help. Teaching can expose gaps in your own knowledge that you might have never thought you had. Take the time to help others, to share with them and answer their questions. You’ll be helping yourself in the process.

Take Some Time To Dream
Every once in awhile stop what you’re doing and think about where you want to be. Think about what you love to do, what you’ve got a passion for. Reflect on yourself and dream about what the future holds. I think sometimes we get so caught up in the grind that we lose site not only of the place we want to be, but the path we’re taking to get there.

Just Do It
I know, it’s cheesy, but it’s true. If you want to succeed at anything you first have to make the choice to do so. Sometimes heading out on a path with no guidance is very daunting, but you’ll never get to where you want to be if you don’t even take that first step.— D. Keith Robinson

Picture source

Bible Stories according to FEMA

Day 27 of 100 blogs in 100 days

GreetMachine

Day 27 of visiting 100 blogs in 100 days -

The Greet Machine blog immediately greets the visitor with a rule (see above). So I won't. I'll talk around it - this blog is based in Minnesota and talks about all things being Minnesota - stadiums, Twins, Vikings, Mall of America, winter... I'm sure somewhere in the rich postings that there's an entry on 3M - (manufacturer of Post-it products, Scotch Office tapes). The quality of life in Minnesota surely is greatly enhanced by local availablity of office supplies.

I have a few friends that live in Minnesota and my question is why? The winters are brutal, the Vikings are a perennial letdown and the winters are, for added emphasis, brutal. My friends tell me that the brutal winters keep out the riff raff.

Two things that endear me to this blog are the lavish review of U2's concert and the emphasis on the stadium referendums in play in Minnesota. Upon further reading, I can conclude that for a married guy with three kids, they sure know to have fun in Minnesota!

Nice blog - check it out - (reality is that I may actually be visiting Minnesota within the next two months!)

Lessons for leaders from Hurricane Katrina.

Eric Reed, Leadership managing editor offers up his "rant" on lessons for leaders from Hurricane Katrina. Eric is right - everything rises and falls on leadership - Rosalynn Carter comments, "A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be. "

.........................

Please forgive my rant. I pastored in New Orleans for almost ten years. For a month now, I have watched as two hurricanes have devastated my church family, friends, and relatives in the region. I've searched the internet for aerial photos of our neighborhood, only to find most of it under water—our work of a decade, at least in terms of properties, destroyed. Whether the church body will return to renew the work there is seriously in doubt.In the Insight just below I offer a few observations about the failure of leadership in a time of crisis.

I have spent much of the past month calling ever-busy phone numbers, e-mailing friends who might have heard from other mutual friends, and searching the internet for aerial photographs of my old neighborhood. Was my former church still standing? My seminary? My friends' homes?

I have spent much of the past month remembering. I lived in New Orleans nine years as seminary student and pastor. In that time, the grimy gumbo of cultures became my home. I became enamored of the food and music. I was befriended by people I hope will remain close for my lifetime. I came to care deeply about the place. I also became aware of the depth of New Orleans' poverty—and its breadth, especially in Orleans parish where I lived and ministered.

And I have spent much of the past month pondering the effects of one, now two hurricanes; the horrific loss of life and the state of my former church, whose current pastor—rescued from the roof of his home—now ministers in exile. So many members are deciding to relocate outside the city that the future of that church and many others is in jeopardy.

And I have come to the conclusion that once again it's about leadership.

Read the rest here

Here’s to the crazy ones...

Ansel Adams

Here’s to the crazy ones.
The misfits. The rebels. The trouble makers.
The round pegs in square holes.

The ones who see things differently.
They’re not fond of rules.
And they have no respect for the status quo.

You can praise them, disagree with them, quote them,
disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them.
About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them.
Because they change things.

They invent.
They imagine.
They heal.
They explore.
They create.
They inspire.
They push the human race forward.

Maybe they have to be crazy.

How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art?
Or sit in silence and hear a song that’s never been written?
Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels?
We make tools for these kinds of people.

While some see them as the crazy ones,
We see genius.

Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

- Apple Computers

View ALL of the Apple commercials here

Day 26 of 100 blogs in 100 days

(c) Forkum 2003

A day in the life.. Day 26 of visiting 100 blogs in 100 days –

Today is one of those bizarre days where there was a lot of activity but very little accomplishment… Yes I got my Tetanus and Hepatitis A shots so I stand officially ready to go to Louisiana to wade in the water to help where I can… a few phone calls here and there... the dreaded Windows XP blue screen of death – that killed off several blog postings… grr…

So I push away from the computer and try watching / reading the news which doesn’t help, as I can’t make sense of Iraq, the IRA, my IRA, Israel, the Gaza Strip and even what to have for supper.

Then the song, A Day In The Life (how bizarre is the timing) by the Beatles plays in the background on my stereo…

I read the news today oh boy
Four thousand holes in blackburn, lancashire
And though the holes were rather small
They had to count them all,
Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the albert hall.
I’d love to turn you on...

…to Cox & Forkum Editorial Cartoons as my blog for the day – I need visual aids today… Allen Forkum writes the cartoons and John Cox illustrates them. They started creating gag cartoons in 1990 and in August 2001 decided to try their hands at editorial cartoons.

Surprising, this blog works for me today -

NPR : The Mix Tape: Art and Artifact

Thurston Moore, of pioneering art-rock-noise band Sonic Youth, explores the magic of the mix tape in a new book, Mix Tape: The Art of Cassette Culture.

Before the iPod and the random playlist of the MP3, there was the original: the mix tape.
The advent of the cassette tape some 30 years ago made it possible for anyone with a tape deck and some tunes to be a record producer, mixing and matching songs, genres and bands. And become at-home record producers we did....

I'm going through my big box of old mix tapes from the seventies and eighties... one tape has three long songs (a minimal mix at best) - Boz Scaggs "Somebody Loan Me A Dime", Traffic "Low Spark of High Heeled Boys" and Elton John "11-17-70". Somewhere in the big box of several hundred cassettes, many unlabled, there's a breakup tape at least 30 years old, old party tapes, demo tapes, new release tapes when I worked at Warner Bros with 10 second snippets of Fleetwood Mac, Asia, Quarterflash, Van Halen with voice over hype... aah the memories...

And in this corner, a big box of unlabled mix CDs...

read more ... from NPR

Sharon Cobb and prayer

Since my return to Nashville, I'm fortunate to be part of the vibrant local blogging community in which resides great diversity, interests and yes, strong opinions. I confess that I've never been one to hang with liberal bloggers as most are just insane in their approach to garner a listening ear. However, one "liberal" blogger that I come to appreciate is Sharon Cobb. Her blog was featured on day 10 of my journey to visit 100 blogs in 100 days.

Sharon comments, "Thanks for visiting my blog. I think I am actually harder on liberals than I am on conservatives...and I'm a liberal. One thing I've noticed since I started blogging, and that is other than the obvious, there is no difference between the far left and the far right. There is much more we can accomplish if we focus on the things we agree on, and agree to disagree in a civilized manner when we can't. "

Now at this time, as a community of bloggers, we need to set aside our differences and focus on Sharon' time of need - Please keep Sharon in your prayers as she goes into surgery for ovarian cancer this morning.

As a Christian, I offer up a simple prayer on behalf of Sharon - will you agree with me in prayer as well? - "Heavenly Father, I entrust Sharon to your care this day; guide with wisdom and skill the minds and hands of the medical people caring for her, and grant that every cause of illness be removed, that she may be restored to soundness of health. Lavish your grace, mercy and loving kindness upon her, meet every financial need and restore her to perfection. Through Jesus Christ. Amen."

Day 25 of 100 blogs in 100 days

Day 25 of my journey to visit 100 blogs in 100 days.

Sunday. The Lord's day. Inspiring Word and fellowship. Big lunch. The perfect day to rest, move in and out of a football induced coma, do some light reading and if surfing the internet, simply relax and give the old eyeballs a break with a photoblog.

Ever since I have embraced blogging, the biggest joy for me is to visit the category of photoblogs. Words provide expression of many viewpoints, however being visually oriented, I love looking at photographs - expressions that are indeed worth a thousand words.

One of my favorite photoblogs is a daily dose of imagery published by Sam Javanrouh.

Sam photojournals what he calls "a simple view of his day to day visual experience." The photos that are posted are beautiful in composition capturing every day street scenes, soaring buildings, rooftop views and much more of Sam's home base in Toronto/Canada.

Two things from my daily visits to this blog - I am impressed with Toronto and quite frankly, this photoblog has motivated me to purchased a digital camera. Sometimes we just need a visual stimulus to jump start and inspire our day. a daily dose of imagery could be all you need.

I'm itching for a new iPod!

new iPod commercial

Day 24 of 100 blogs in 100 days

reality tv

Day 24 of my ongoing endeavor to visit 100 blogs in 100 days...

It's the weekend and with the onslaught on network television's fall lineup of new shows, I decided to take advantage of the TIVO special from DirectTV - basically a TIVO setup with a $100 dollar rebate, meaning that the equipment is free.

So Thursday night, I'm scrambling to rewire the bedroom tv setup to accomodate the seldom used VCR to tape Survivor... After Rob & Amber, I swore never again to watch Survivor... but I digress... I caught about ten minutes of Martha's Apprentice and wasn't impressed yet, but suffice it to say that I would much rather work for her than the Donald... also Three Wishes is such a great show - Amy Grant is perfectly suited for the show - more about that in another post...

My choice for day 24 of visiting 100 blogs in 100 days, is REALITY BLOGS, a reality television based blog about watching reality television and living the E.P.I.C. life *

I think it's worth tuning in - (at least the content is new) - I'm going to read it to see if they repost the exact same postings when the reruns start! Also I need the help to keep up with all of these reality based shows!

The shows we really dig are Survivor, The Amazing Race, American Idol, and The Apprentice ... and we certainly catch plenty of other shows when we can. From time to time, we try to bring some perspective on what is real and what's reality (TV)!

These shows allow us to live vicariously through tests of survival, fear, and talent — through amazing races, extreme makeovers, and blind dates. These are experiences that we long to have, or maybe we're just fascinated by them (and sometimes a little disgusted too).

* Tune in to the blog and find out about the E.P.I.C. life - and I would add as a caution - "Television enables you to be entertained in your home by people you wouldn't have in your home."- David Frost

picture source

Handbook for bloggers and cyber-dissidents

Handbook for bloggers and cyber-dissidents

Handbook for bloggers and cyber-dissidents

Blogs get people excited. Or else they disturb and worry them. Some people distrust them. Others see them as the vanguard of a new information revolution.

Because they allow and encourage ordinary people to speak up,they’re tremendous tools of freedom of expression. Bloggers are often the only real journalists in countries where the mainstream media is censored or under pressure. Only they provide independent news, at the risk of displeasing the government and sometimes courting arrest.

Reporters Without Borders has produced this handbook to help them, with handy tips and technical advice on how to to remain anonymous and to get round censorship, by choosing the most suitable method for each situation. It also explains how to set up and make the most of a blog, to publicise it (getting it picked up efficiently by search-engines) and to establish its credibility through observing basic ethical and journalistic principles.

Download the 46 page PDF here

Reporters Without Borders is an association officially recognised as serving the public interest

More than a third of the world’s people live in countries where there is no press freedom. Reporters Without Borders works constantly to restore their right to be informed. Fourty-two media professionals lost their lives in 2003 for doing what they were paid to do — keeping us informed. Today, more than 130 journalists around the world are in prison simply for doing their job. In Nepal, Eritrea and China, they can spend years in jail just for using the "wrong" word or photo. Reporters Without Borders believes imprisoning or killing a journalist is like eliminating a key witness and threatens everyone’s right to be informed.It has been fighting such practices for more than 18 years.

Hurricane Rita blog...

J.p. Moczulski / Reuters

MSNBC is on the scene of Hurricane Rita blogging with updates...

The worst of the storm is only a couple of hours away now, and people are hunkering down. Families bring their kids downstairs, too, for one last bit of fresh air. As night falls, the rains and wind arrive. Curious wind-watchers poke their heads out the front door, but they don't stray far. Two 3-year-olds near the entrance make up a game, throwing paper in the air to see how far it flies back into the hotel. I wonder how my family, and how all our families, would find ways to stay happy the night before a storm.

Hurricane Rita blog

Blessed are the peacemakers....

war and peace

We live in a world torn by animosity. Several years ago a Norwegian statistician computerized every war that has ever been fought. He discovered that during the past 5,560 years of recorded history there have been 14,531 wars.

All in all, in nearly six thousand years of recorded history, there has been peace upon the face of this earth about 5 percent of the time-286 years out of 5,560!

Right now in Afghanistan, young men and young women are laying their lives on the line in a war against terror. And we watched with sadness and emotion this past week as the bodies of 8 young U.S. soldiers were transported back here to America in flag-draped coffins.

But malice and animosity lurk much closer to us than that. It's as near as that guy on the interstate who tailgates you and hollers at you and shakes his fist.

It's as near as the place you work...where people often undermine one another and slander each other and hold grudges.

It's as near as your home...where sometimes the people you love the most hurt you the worst...where disagreements and quarrels and conflict often go undetected by the outside world.

Source: Ypsilanti Free Methodist Church

Picture: buffaloworks

Day 23 of 100 blogs in 100 days

Day 23 of 100 blogs, in my quest to visit 100 blogs in 100 days...

I have a deep appreciation for wisdom gleaned from business books. Often the tragedy in the real world is the lack of implementation that most books espouse. Nonetheless, it is gratifying to cluster with individuals from various disciplines of vocation and see their businesses in action with innovative thinking and dynamic leadership.

There is quite a glut of books on the market today; leadership, sales & marketing, biographies, histories and futurist works are just some of the categories to wade through; that's why I appreciate 800-CEO-READ. This one stop blog (and online book store) helps me to grab hold of the various books available with interviews, excerpts of books, podcasts, reviews and commentary.

The Tipping Point, A Whole New Mind, The Wisdom of Crowds are part of a new breed of business books and Jack Covert, founder and president of 800-CEO-READ observes that "The new business book is not about how to run a company, it is about how to look at the world differently."

There are three blogs that support the online retailer - http://www.800ceoread.com/...
http://800ceoread.com/excerpts/ where excerpts and Q&A with the author are spotlighted, http://800ceoread.com/blog/ where daily commentary on business books are presented plus 800ceoread.com/podcasts

Take advantage of the above resources!

About 800-CEO-READ's Blog
This is the company blog for 800-CEO-READ. Our idea here is to give you an unparalleled resource for business books. We are going feature reviews by Jack Covert. We are going to pull content from mainstream and on-line media. We are going to have authors stop by. And that is only the half of it.

Like any good blog, we are just going to jump in and see what happens.

New page-turner Bible is launched

A new version of the Bible which its author says can be read in less than two hours has been launched. The 100-Minute Bible, written as a page-turner for those who do not have the time to read the full version, was unveiled at Canterbury Cathedral.

It has been written for those who want to know more about Christianity but who do not have the time to read the original Bible, the company says.
bbc news

Obviously, this Bible is a Cliff Notes version which should give a good overview... and introduce people to the Bible... might be a good companion in hotel rooms alongside the Gideon's Bible as well as available in the seatback on your next flight out... My other thought is life is being reduced to soundbytes and quick bursts of information, which tells me we are way too busy with activity. A wise man said never confuse activity with accomplishment. And now the Bible is reduced to 100 minutes to accomodate our time starved lifestyle. Think I'll slow down... and get my balance back...

My pastor friend, Dr. BK addresses the issue of Balance in his new sermon series - here's his speaking notes Slow Down to Get Ahead from newHope church in Chapel Hill SermonResources

The Sermon on the Mount - as retold in the 100-Minute Bible:

Much of Jesus’ teaching was brought together when, seated on a hillside, he spoke to his disciples about life in the kingdom of God. He taught that true happiness comes from having the right attitudes. Those who are humble, concerned about the world’s sinfulness, gentle, devoted to goodness, merciful, single-minded in God’s service, and peace-lovers will be blessed by God. Those of his followers who are persecuted in this world should rejoice, because they will have a rich reward in the next.

Jesus emphasised that he had not come to destroy the moral demands of the Jewish Law but to fulfil them. He taught that it is not enough not to commit murder; the anger which can lead to murder must be set aside too. It is not enough not to commit adultery; lustful thoughts must be set aside too. It is not enough to keep only our solemn promises; we should always mean what we say.

The Jewish Law taught that retaliation should be proportionate to the harm done - an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth - but Jesus taught that we should love our enemies and that we should return good for evil, turning the other cheek when others attack us.

He went on to say that ostentatious piety and charitable giving are wrong; both piety and giving should be between ourselves and God. No-one can serve two masters; it is impossible to serve both God and money. God knows what people’s needs are and will supply them, in the same way as he provides food for birds and glorious clothing for flowers; we should not be anxious but should trust him. We should not judge others; for we shall be judged to the degree we judge. It is difficult to find the way to the kingdom of heaven and there will be those who will try to mislead us. We should assess others by the moral and spiritual quality of their lives.

He summarised the whole moral teaching of the Old Testament in the command to treat others as you would like them to treat you.

Jesus said that anyone who acts on his words is like a wise man who built his house on a rock. When storms came the house stood firm. But anyone who does not act on his words is like a man who built his house on sand. When storms came the house fell, and the ensuing devastation was great.

Matthew 5 - 7

Experience the Collision

David Crowder Band has a new musical offering - A Collision releasing on September 27th - if you go to the Passion website "Here Is Our King" is the featured song...

Get your copy here

View the songs here

The heartbeat of Passion... needs you

passion06

The heartbeat of Passion is the glory of God- specifically, a generation of students living radically for His name and campuses across the nation awakening to His fame.

Passion is returning to Nashville for Passion06 January 2-5 2006 where thousands of students will merge from all across the nation, and from around the world, to sink their hearts into the confession of Isaiah 26:8 and what it means to live all of life for the glory of God.

So, what does that have to do with you?

We would love for you to serve as a volunteer. It's fun and life-changing and tiring... and we hope you'll consider partnering with us. There is a lot of information on the website under Volunteer, so check it out and you can contact passion06@268generation.com if you have specific questions.

Here's what you need to know:

• January 2- 6 at the Gaylord Entertainment Center & Convention Center.
• Set-up in the Exhibit Halls at the Convention Center on Dec 30-Jan 2.
• Tear-down in the Exhibit Halls at the Convention Center on Jan 5, starting at 1pm.
• Put together Regstration Packets prior to Jan 2.
• We will need as many as 1,000 volunteers, so please help us get the word out!
• You must be 26 years or older to volunteer.
• Team descriptions are listed under Volunteer.
• The greatest need is for the Touch Team. It will be especially helpful to have a lot of Nashville folks on this team because its focus is information, directions etc.
• If you can't get time off from work, we can still use you for set-up. Just indicate the days you are available when you register.
• You need to register SOON as a volunteer on the Passion website.
  volunteer link
• There is no registration fee for volunteers, but there is also no guarantee how much of the conference you will be able to attend. Our prayer is that our volunteers will come with servants' hearts.
• Let us know what specific questions you have so that this posting doesn't need to be any longer. Lots of your questions are probably answered on the website.

We need you! Please join us.

Meanwhile, two very cool (short) promo videos for your enjoyment and to share - (right click on the links to save - requires QuickTime)

download passion06 promo video number one

download passion06 RENOWN video number two

The Palm Treo 700w (aka Treo 670) - Exclusive first look!

Exclusive first look! from Engadget

Day 22 of 100 blogs in 100 days

Here on Day 22 of my quest to visit 100 blogs in 100 days, I dug beneath the hood of one my favorite blogs 800 CEO READ - which I'll write about that great blog tomorrow since they are next door. There is a guy who helps to pull some of the levers behind the curtain. His name is Todd from Milwaukee (yeah, yeah cheesehead / Packers fan) and his destiny in life is to plow through a lot of business books while endeavoring to stir up interesting conversations about what is going on in business. A Penny For... is where he hangs out.

Todd says,

"I have always found the dynamics of business very interesting. Psychology drives in the interaction between customers, suppliers, and employees. Science and discovery fuel innovation. Art becomes the basis of great design. You can find all of the great human endeavors.

As I started with, I think there is an interesting conversation here. I want to talk about issues and opportunities facing business. My idea is to create a community with a lot of different voices and tap into the vast knowledge and experience that community.

Idealistic?

Maybe.

Interesting? We'll see."

Todd is like the faithful bookworm who swings by the library or Barnes & Noble on the way home and tells you about a great business book that he came across, or a wisdom nugget from a leader or marketing guru. Sounds like a good guy to hang out with at lunch for 2 hours.

On his sidebar, Todd has links to business blogging and interspersed throughout are links to various business resources. Last for me, there's a kindred spirit - Fast Company... check... Dee Hock... check...relationship management... yup... jazz... working on it. Todd, you have exceptional tastes!

So deposit yer two cents worth here and get a dollar back - this A Penny For... blog and all the subparts are worth your time if you're serious about improving your business serve.

Thanks Todd - U DA MAN.

Hey consumer... I command you...

start fresh

A corporate command is an advertising message in the imperative, such as JUST DO IT, GRAB LIFE BY THE HORNS and HAVE IT YOUR WAY.

The Institute for Infinitely Small Things uses the Corporate Commands collected here to conduct research performances in public space. The Institute attempts to enact, as literally as possible, what the corporation instructs us to do in the location where it instructs us to do it.

Today, I am going to open my wallet, be a good consumer and obey the corporate command to:

Expect Something Extra
Take a sip. And taste a legend.
Relax. Go Nuts.
Enjoy uncertainty.
Do More, Feel Better, Live Longer
Wash. Dry. Fold. Give.
Grow. Achieve. Thrive.
Awake the serpeant not
and...
ENJOY [my] DOUBLE QUARTER POUNDER WITH CHEESE
Take home a pie for the holidays

So what are you doing today?
Corporate Commands

What we all wish someone had told us

Paul Graham writes an essay intended for high school students - but adults will benefit as well...

When I said I was speaking at a high school, my friends were curious. What will you say to high school students? So I asked them, what do you wish someone had told you in high school? Their answers were remarkably similar. So I'm going to tell you what we all wish someone had told us.

I'll start by telling you something you don't have to know in high school:what you want to do with your life. People are always asking you this, so you think you're supposed to have an answer. But adults ask this mainly as a conversation starter. They want to know what sort of person you are, and this question is just to get you talking. They ask it the way you might poke a hermit crab in a tide pool, to see what it does.

Paul encourages students to stay upwind, addresses ambition, corruption, curiosity...

The only real difference between adults and high school kids is that adults realize they need to get things done, and high school kids don't. That realization hits most people around 23. But I'm letting you in on the secret early. So get to work. Maybe you can be the first generation whose greatest regret from high school isn't how much time you wasted.

check it out for yourself... we're never too old for wisdom What we all wish...

My old Bible study notes from way back when I was a young man myself talks about the other Paul, (Apostle Paul) who being the quintessential mentor to Timothy says: "Let no one despise your youth, but set a good example before them."

The Apostle Paul means setting a good example in the areas of speech and conduct; also three qualities ought to come through -- love, faithfulness, and purity. Those are the things that ought to characterize every young person: loving, faithful, pure speech, and loving, faithful, pure behavior.

Loving means not being arrogant, boastful, rude, critical, cruel or sharp in either word or deed. And he must be faithful and demonstrate integrity to his commitments by being irresponsible, unreliable and breaking promises.

Paul's Advice to Timothy

Clothing the evacuees of Katrina

Graceworks need your help!


O my gosh - look at that 16 foot mountain!

Do you have the faith to move mountains? The above photo is just one corner of donated clothes that the Nashville area has generously donated; however Graceworks needs volunteers to help with sorting donated items for hurricane victims so the items can be shipped out to the states affected.

The job is easy - sort clothes by gender into men, women and children piles, separate the soiled clothing out as the Salvation Army will process those clothes and trash the filthy clothes that are landfill quality (c'mon people - what are you thinking!) One hour of your time after work hours will make a difference in clothing a family and now the need may be even greater with Hurricane Rita on the way.

When: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays.

Where: Graceworks in Franklin, TN. Take Mack Hatcher Parkway to Columbia Avenue and turn right on Southeast Parkway. Mapquest

How: Call (615) 794-9055.


Clothes that are processed for evacuees to choose from by sizes...


Graceworks

volunteer info

Day 21 of 100 blogs in 100 days

welcome

Day 21 of visiting 100 blogs in 100 days... A picture is worth a thousand words - check out Unkempt Women which is a Portuguese-based illustrated blog... grab a glimpse of some Portuguese culture from a talented illustrator. Heavy on illustations and a bit quirky to follow... however, it's a welcome change of pace from heavy on text blogs. Worth a visit!

So who are these ladies? - The Webb sisters: Vit 'n' Madge ('n' Violet 'iggins in the background... shy as a wallflower, always trying to flog her paintings to support her seven children... she was abandoned by her sailor husband), Vit writes, Madge draws the piccies and all three of them inhabit the body of an english girl called Pepper who lives in Portugal with her two little poppets and her one big professor clever so 'n' so... er... poppet. And it's ALL true.

Chat to the Big Man...

My blog friend, the mysterious and man about town, DIAMOND BK writes:

Hi God, It's Me. Are You Busy?

Has God ever spoke to you? I mean really SPOKE to you? Ever want to talk to the big guy upstairs? Sure you probably have sent prayers up to heaven and waited for an answer, but that can be too time consuming. In today's fast paced world, who has time to wait for a reply...even if it's from the almighty one himself!

Well wait no more as I introduce you to the modern wonders of technology. You can now chat with God! That's right, it's a one on one session like IM (Instant Messaging) so no fighting for the big guy's attention in a crowded chat room. Talk to the man himself in private via your computer. He is online 24/7 in spite of the fact that he has massive "To Do" lists piling up.

The guy just loves the net, what can I say. Plus who really has big enough balls to tell him to quit surfing the web and get some work done? Ah, not me.

CHAT WITH GOD HERE

So for all you out of towners, give Him a shout! Of course, you can always reach Him on the mainline; remember that's it's a local call here in Tennessee...

See it ! Hear it ! Get it !

Susannah Cullinane from BBC News asks: Why should a transistor radio from 1954 be causing a buzz online? Could it be part of a realisation that, amid talk of invention, no novelty is completely new?

BBC article


IRTR - IPOD

Regency TR-1 transistor radio

How to Study...

William J. Rapaport, Associate Professor at the University of Buffalo writes a Guide on How to Study. Whether you're in academics or just a knowledge sponge like me, this excellent guide will serve you well.

Sure it's hard work - education requires an investment of time - who wants to be an IGMO? I grabbed hold of some wisdom from an old friend, Larry Burkett who told me that I could be an expert in any subject if I devoted 1 hour a day for three years on any subject. The byproduct of that wise advice is redeeming the time such as curtailing TV time, carrying a Palm PDA or HipsterPDA to collect thoughts or read a ebook / book while waiting... which frees up study time. Of course being noctunal living on 4 hours sleep and implementing David Allen's Getting Things Done all helps...

The good professor covers learning styles, managing your time, taking good notes, speedwriting and provides a wealth of resources and relevant comic strips to humor us along the way -

Study onward -

The Gospel of Jay

As you know Hurricane Rita is headed toward Florida, Texas and Louisiana. Another hurricane! It’s like the ninth hurricane this season. Maybe this is not a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance. - Jay Leno

Hurricane Hurricane Center

Day 20 of 100 blogs in 100 days

Since Blogger's servers were down last night, I had trouble posting my entry for day 20 of visiting 100 blogs in 100 days - but I am dogged and determined to do so - although staying away from blogs that are link farms, heavy on fingerpointing or use of foul language makes the task daunting at times! In my favorites folder, there are links to 100 plus blogs - using my above criteria, the 80/20 principle is at work -

Nonetheless, I visited a quirky, humor, I- love-life, proud to be a Canadian blog by Queen Victoria Elizabeth i.e. The Quipping Queen: "'The Quipping Queen' is devoted to merry musings about the little things in life, the universe and everything in between that make one chortle, giggle or laugh out loud."

I'm not really sure how to describe the Quipping Queen's and her courtyard of merry jesters, and the royal family that contribute postings; other than to say it's a smorgasbord of high brow humor, witty use of words, nice illustrations, play on words, sage advice on life in Canada...but I like it. As a bonus, the Quipping Queen also publishes THE WORDORIUM - A Dictionary of Daffy Definitions, a boisterous blog of ballyhoo, bosh and bravado.

Before I forget, the Quipping Queen reminds us that today, September 21 is: Bat Woman, Bionic Woman & Xena Warrior Day (What would the world be without these indefatigable feisty feline fighters for freedom from kitchen duties if you please!)

Her motto? Be true to yourself and laugh a little every day. Remember the old adage, "Behind every wet blanket lies an incontinent universe". So, if you missed a ride on Noah's Ark, you can always count on a politician, preacher, pundit, or public relations professional to have a bumbershoot, a pair of hip waders, plus a genie in a bottle hiding somewhere in their magic bag of goodies.

While you weren't looking -

Wall genes

Somewhere in Nashville... I snapped this photo this afternoon - but it's ok - I called the staff to tell the manager it's on the internet ...

Talk Like a Pirate Day / Day 19 of 100 blogs in 100 days

Shiver me timbers! A hat tip t' lovely Alison at Astraware for tellin' me about Talk Like a Pirate Day! Bein' Chinese, I'm not culturally sensitive t' these thin's, but since t' day be almost gone, thar be Dress Like a Pirate Day comin' up in October. It's called Halloween.

Here a few choice phrases -

• Avast Ye Scurvy Scum
• Ahoy Matey
• Aye, aye, captain
• Dead men tell no tales
• Grab thee a wench
• Li'ly livered land lubbers
• Polly wanna cracker?
• Shiver me timbers
• Swab the deck
• Yo ho, yo ho
• Arr, Mateys!!

Me favorite pirate / cowlad be Yosemite Sam -


Yosemite Sam

but over in t' United Kin'dom be Cap'n Redbeard Howard -- "Bejeweled" to a "T"


Mad Cap'n Redbeard Howard

and o' course t' Tampa Bay Buccaneers where professional pirates play football.


Buccaneers

So drop your anchor, hide your beauties and be prepare t' walk t' plank - locally, I think Long John's Silver seafood restaurant be havin' a All You Can Eat Batter what crawled out o' t' port hole dinner specials t' celebrate this momentous day! Ahoy!

O yeah - to keep from walking the plank my day 19 of visiting 100 blogs in 100 days goes to - The Ship's Log O' the Festerin' Boil created by the two guys who started all this barnacle infested mess.

Here's a bounty chest of links links

and don't forget! Your suitable for framing poster here