Skeptico - Richard Rockley

Have you heard or seen a commercial that you just felt was too good to be true?

And thought to yourself, why doesn't someone tell the real story about this?

Well, there is someone who can do that; Richard Rockley. He writes:

... this site is the antidote. I aim to apply critical thinking and humor
to some of the idiotic stories I see in the news and elsewhere. Some of the
articles will be a little flippant; some will be more serious... Above all
I hope you will leave this site enlightened and entertained.

I think you'll enjoy skeptico!

The Divine Miss Em - Emily Mann

Emily after writing a bunch of stuff about herself in a long and winding sentence provides a few quotations that she apparently likes. From George Costanza, to E.B. White, to Jim Morrison and George Sheehan... an diverse, eclectic bunch but good company.

One in particular:

"Everything always turns out OK in the end; if it's not OK, it's not the end."

An optimist trait if I ever heard one.

One good link to follow to read about how this turns out.

Ticketstub - Open for your story

This is a simple concept.
You purchase a ticket to go to an event.
You have (hopefully) a good time.
You leave and you have a ticket stub in your pocket or purse.
What do you do with it?

Well, if you can scan it, post the picture of the stub,
you can also share your story of the event at this blog.

As Andrew Taylor writes:

"It's clear from reading just a few entries that these are moments that define people's lives, and that the ticket stubs are markers of personal history. What a fabulous way to invite the world to share those markers. "

So if you really wanted to go to that (you fill in the blank) event, maybe someone else did and you can share what they experienced.

Certainly, I would encourage you to share your own experiences with your ticket stubs.


Thanks to Andrew for the link.

CPH127 - A Group Blog on Design

This group blog announces from their home page:

"Welcome To A Blog About The Influence Of Design On Innovation

This is a brand spanking new blog about the major influence of design as a motor for innovation, and like wise the other way around. We are neither 100% design-focused nor are we 100% business-focused.

Our team consists designers, MBAs, dot-com entreprenours and all the other folks you would never expect to be on this kind of blog. Welcome aboard - we are about to take off!"

This blog has taken off.
All those interested in design should check this out!

Connecting the Dots

Tagline: Miscellaneous observations of Steve Borsch.

Recent posts include "When technology is outlawed" and "Blogging makes your brain bigger."

One-Line Bio: I run strategic alliances at an enterprise software company.

Two Quotes:
The best ideas are common property -- Seneca (5 BC - 65 AD)

To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe -- Marilyn vos Savant

Read Connecting the Dots

Woulda Coulda Shoulda - Mir

Mir tells us about herself, her two kids (Chickadee and Monkey) and then adds a thing about herself, actually 100 things.

Given the choice between laughing and screaming, she'd rather laugh.

She writes well enough about life's daily challenges that she'll have you laughing (and occasionally screaming).

So don't leave it to say later "I woulda done that"

or "I coulda followed that link"

when you know based upon our recommendation
"I shoulda followed that link".

Barry Hardy's Nanomosis

Nanofluidics, nanobiology, nanofabrication, nanoparticles, nanomaterials, nanotubes, nanodevices, nanoelectronics... This is heady stuff.

Read Nanomosis

Brian Weaver's Grafyte.com

Brian Weaver has more than 20 years of experience in dealing with strange and diverse people and it shows. Grafyte.com is an eclectic mash of art, photography and editorial.

The tagline, "Never let your objectivity interfere with your telling the truth as you'd like to see it," provides a glimpse behind the curtain where Brian's thought processes are anything but linear.

The background Brian has created for himself comprises web-site and video game design, webmastery, storyboard creation, and illustration. His interests include: computer graphics special effects, cartoons, cats, Kauai, Hawaii, photography, Irish and Jewish poetry, hunting down obscure links on the Internet, running a Technology and art news log, heavy metal, hard rock, trance, dance, techno, classical, early and industrial music.

Read Grafyte

Legacy Matters - Jill Fallon

The USA is very much a land for the young. Marketing is targeted at the young brackets, even though the demographics say its the older ones who have the money and the women who make the decisions. We'll go there more fully another day.

This day is focusing on the end. Yes, it will come to that some time.

With, or without warning, our life (your life) will be over.

What will your legacy be?

Jill Fallon covers this area with much practical advice.

If you don't do it today, remember that this site is available, and come back.

You need to do it soon.
While you can!


Thanks to Ronni Bennett at Time Goes By for the link.

PC World's Techlog

News, opinion, and links from PC World Editor in Chief Harry McCracken.

Read PC World's Techlog

Oracle Blogs

This site features RSS Newsfeeds & Blogs about Oracle and related technologies.

In addition to the following RSS feeds, this page features links to more than 2 dozen Oracle blogs.

Oracle Technology News
Product Documentation Index
New Software Downloads
Oracle Security Alerts
Technical Articles for Developers
Technical Articles for DBAs and Sysadmins
AskTom.com - Recent & Most Popular Questions
Best Practice PL/SQL with Steven Feuerstein - Recent Questions
Oracle JDeveloper News
HTML DB Studio - Most Popular Questions
HTML DB Studio - Recent Questions

See Larry Magid. See Larry Magid Blog.

If you click on Larry Magid's "About" link at Larry Magid's New Blog, you will find nothing. You have to go to pcanswer.com to find his bio, which is quite impressive.

This blog is only 2 months old, but if Larry's resume is any indication of what is to come, his blog has a promising future.

Larry Magid News Blog features news snips about technology.

Read Larry Magid.

Hello, my name is Blog - Scott Ginsberg

I have posted about Scott before.

How open are you to an approach by someone else?

While you may have heard that you have don't have a second chance to make a first impression, Scott has good advice about creating your front porch so that you won't need a second chance.

Practical advice that works, not high-falutin ivory-tower stuff that doesn't.

Say hello to Scott

Burningbird - Shelley Powers

If you have not heard of or not yet come across Burningbird, please go check it out.

It is the kind of place where I would tell you to go, (ala Monopoly) do not stop and collect $200, just go!

Shelley is a special woman.
She speaks her mind with wit, honesty, and a good sense of humor.

She is an artist with a camera.

If you have not already discovered her, please do so.

The Lazyway - Fred Gratzon

This may be considered the other side of the coin today. If hard work gets you success, could you also achieve success via the "lazy way"?

Fred Gratzon claims you can.

Sounds interesting...

get comfortable...

and read about the "lazy way".

Doc Searls Weblog

He can keep more balls on the floor than anyone he knows...

Doc Searls is Senior Editor for Linux Journal, the original (and still the leading) Linux publication; Proprietor of Doc Searls' IT Garage, a new group journal launched by Linux Journal's publisher, SSC; and one of the four authors of The Cluetrain Manifesto, the iconoclastic web site that became the best-selling book.

Additionally, he is a marketing, PR and advertising veteran, and a talking source on The Linux Show, CNET Radio, ZDTV, CNBC, KOMO-TV, KING-TV, and ZDTV, as well as a lifelong writer.

Read Doc Searls

Cooking for Engineers

Have an analytical mind? Like to cook? This is the site for you.

Cooking for Engineers features cooking tests, equipment and gear, kitchen notes, pro talk and a recipe file that will make your left brain water.

Read Cooking for Engineers

Tediousness - Wendy

Wendy provides no last name.

She says: "I'm me... wife, mother, geek, artist, student and individual."

She revels in tediousness.

She succeeds!
Try to google "tediousness" and hit the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button.

I think you'll enjoy her writing.

Celebrity Blog - Rosie O'Donnell

A new category for me. Rosie probably needs little or no introduction.

Did you know she has a blog? I did not.

She writes as a woman, a mother, and as a comedian.

She has a voice. She can make you laugh. Laughter is a good thing.

d2 Redefined - Martin Hattingh

Martin writes:
"I am not a professional because I understand that businesses are nothing but people, and that fancy brochures don't matter if the people don't have passion."

I like the quiet confidence his writing conveys.

He also says:
"I do things properly, and differently - If this means something to you, I'd be delighted to work with you. If you're just looking for an affordable website, and you don't really care how things get done, then you're probably better off looking elsewhere..."

This statement indicates an honest professional.

To read more of Martin, add this link to your RSS reader or blogroll.

Inspiration is everywhere - Drawn

Thanks to David Pescovitz at Boing Boing for bring this to my attention.

Normally, I'll check out a blog for a day or so before deciding to add it to my Bloglines or RSS Reader. Not the case with this one.

This is a group blog but with a tag line like "Inspiration is everywhere" this gets my attention right away.

If you have any inkling for creativity.
If you look for fun artsy stuff.
If you need inspiration from time to time.

Check this out! You will not be disappointed.

Managing Product Development - Johanna Rothman

Johanna writes:

"Management, especially good management, is hard to do. This blog is for people who want to think about how they manage people, projects, and risk."

So if you want to think about how you manage people, projects, and risk read this.

Time Goes By: Ronnie Bennett

Time is the one thing we never seem to have enough of that everyone shares equally in wanting but can't get. (Some seem to get the money thing taken care of.)
But time, now that is another story.

Of course, as time moves along so do we.
What we are now, we were not yesterday, nor will ever be again.
Some of us don't deal with this very well.

Ronni seems to deal comfortably in this dimension.

What was that line: "... and the wisdom to know the difference."

If you want to understand the difference, read Ronni.

Thanks to Frank Paynter at Sandhill Trek for the link.

Change the World!

Visit WorldChanging.

According to Diego Rodriguez, this "is one of the most remarkable blogs around..."

From their unique mission to their strong point of view to the depth and breath of their content, the crew at Worldchanging will change the way you approach being a global citizen.

I you have a child, talk to her about the things your learn here. If you have a blog give'em a link. There's too much important stuff at World Changing to ignore. Like this. Or this. And this.

Wow.

Read World Changing.

Thanks to Diego Rodriguez for the link

The Manolo's Shoe Blog

And now for something completely different!

No, not Monty Python but very close to it in thigh slapping hilarity.

What could be better than shoes that walk the talk!

The Manolo's Shoe Blog

The Hobopoet - AJ Hoge

I found AJ Hoge during February 2005 and posted about his blog here and here.

Sacred drift.

A view of the world that should be read, and understood, if not lived!

Put AJ on your list to read. You won't be disappointed.

The Artful Manager - Andrew Taylor

Andrew Taylor's blog focuses on the business of arts and culture. I found this blog about a week or so ago and have been impressed with the crossover possibilities it poses.

Business is a transaction between two parties. So while there are non-profit businesses and for profit businesses, there are still transactions, and there are still budget issues, market issues, personnel issues, etc.

Andrew reviews the business world and looks to see what can be done to improve the business of arts and cultural institutions.

For example in this post, he looks at Wal-Mart; how they operate particularly around price points, and how they use data to drive their operations.

He concludes: "There's lots in that statement of direct value to arts and cultural managers. We don't have to become Wal-Mart, but we can learn from it."

Yes, much of the best learning comes from looking into other businesses.
Seeing how they operate and if what they or how they do it could be applied in your area.

Good writing, Andrew!

To take a hike with the Artful Manager, follow this link.

The Blogosphere trail is open

We still have lots of snow on the ground here in New England
but I look forward to getting to a trail and hike in the spring.

You get a water bottle, a snack, your good comfy boots,
your camera, etc. together in our day pack
and arrive at the trail head.

You sign in on the trail log.
Check the sign out comments, usually some good info there.
Almost a real time update that the guide book can not provide.

And start walking.

Similar to what Troy and I are starting here.
You can consider this a trail head.

We are both hiking in the blogosphere.

We have our individual likes and dislikes, our passions
and a common desire to share the experience with fellow hikers.

As we find a blogger voice that sounds like something you might be interested in
we'll post it here.

We are dependent upon your feedback to let us know how we are doing.
So come back often. We hope you'll find some good things here.

The Blogosphere is a Giant Time Capsule

The blogosphere is a giant time capsule that offers a panoramic view of our world. It is a collection of personal expressions that represent virtually every human perspective of our times. It is filled with millions of personal accounts, diaries, essays, stories and photos. It is filled with art. It is filled with emotion. It is filled with thought. It is our collective conscience. Better than any collection of books or articles, the blogosphere will capture the story of our existence.

Read Orbit Now!