Steven Berlin Johnson

On the trail, when one finds another blogger with the same first name (well almost the same spelling), there is a connection.

 

When the first post you read is about their trouble with a universal remote, and you have also had trouble with a universal remote (such that you still have not gotten yours to work and as a result, you endure the wrath of the women of the household who at every opportunity remind you that this universal is Not).

 

When they do a follow up post on having resolved the universal remote problem, then there must be hope. There may be an end to this madness.

 

Steve

is a father of two boys, husband of one wife, and author of four books. We spend most of the year in Park Slope, Brooklyn, where all writers with young children in NYC are now legally required to live. (You can see the full story here.)

Read more of Steve here.

 

 

Technorati Tags : Steve, blog, universal+remote, hitchhikers

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Posterwire

Posterwire is a blog on and about movie posters. The art of the poster. The content. The stars, the creative catch or hook to attract the hords to attend the movie. In it's words:

a movie poster weblog. From images of the latest Hollywood one-sheets to vintage movie posters, this film poster weblog hopes to offer a bit of insight into film key art.

Poster award winners

The passing of

Fantasy artist Tim Hildebrandt, half of the legendary "Brothers Hildebrandt" illustration team, died on June 11th from complications due to diabetes. "Tim was an otherworldly artist. For 47 years, his captivating work fostered the dreams and fantasies of millions of fans, young and old."

So if movies are your bag, this is one place to put on your trail list...


Technorati Tags : hitchhikers, movies, posters, stars, art, design, buzz

Success Connections - Lora Adrianse

Lora writes:

... things like limiting beliefs, lack of awareness or action, or ineffective interpersonal relationships, can stifle overall effectiveness as well as success. That's when it takes an objective, in depth listener to bring about thought provoking questions and conversations that will remove barriers and open doors. It's the "AHA, now I get it" moments that create breakthroughs, shifts in thinking and behavior.

So if you are looking for

Essential Connections To Help You Remove Roadblocks To Success!

Then you need to visit Success Connections and read mmore of Lora Adrianse

 

Technorati Tags : success+connections, advice, coaching, AHA, blog, hitchhikers

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Aula Network

The sidebar proclaims:

Aula is an open community of people working in different fields of life including science, art, business, government and NGOs.

Much of the recent postings were for the event just held on June 14th in Helsinki featuring:

The Aula 2006 keynote speakers are Clay Shirky of New York University, Alastair Curtis the Nokia Head of Design, Martin Varsavsky founder of the Wi-Fi network FON, and investor and internet visionary Joichi Ito.

The gathering will also include performances by saxophonist Jukka Perko and dancer Nina Hyvärinen.

Coverage of the event is plentiful.

 

This should be something to check on periodically.

 

 

Technorati Tags : creative, design, 2.0, blog

 

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Where did the trail go?

A year ago (June 22, 2005), the Hitchhikers found and posted on three sites.

 

All three are still operating and posted to regularly.

 

Check them out here and here.

 

One was a joint venture and they ended up going their separate ways. 

 

 

 

Technorati Tags : Hitchhikers, blog, past, dead, brand+autopsy

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InformationWeek IT Confidential - John Soat

InformationWeek publishes the News Show, a fun look at technology news. A good way to start your day (as I do) viewing the 5 minutes show from the previous day, or you could take a break during the day and catch the feed as it updates.

Either way, you will probably see John Soat. He is usually the anchor for the show as well as writing the IT Confidential column for the InformationWeek magazine.

John is both good and funny. A great combination for work today.

So the hitchhiker trail brought you two for one today, or three depending upon how you count it. Either way, you should get a chuckle or a laugh out of John.

Enjoy!


Technorati Tags : InformationWeek, IT+Confidential, hitchhikers, News+Show

Sunlight Foundation

The quote lives prominently in the header:

Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.... - Justice Louis Brandeis

This site features three blogs:

• Sunspots
• Under the Influence
• Dollarocracy

The about page reveals:

The Sunlight Foundation was founded in January 2006 with the goal of using the revolutionary power of the Internet and new information technology to enable citizens to learn more about what Congress and their elected representatives are doing, and thus help reduce corruption, ensure greater transparency and accountability by government, and foster public trust in the vital institutions of democracy. We are unique in that technology and the power of the Internet are at the core of every one of our efforts.

Our initial projects – from the establishment of a Congresspedia, the making of “transparency grants” for the development and enhancement of databases and websites, and two separate efforts to engage the public in distributed journalism and offer online tutorials on the role of money in politics efforts – are based on the premise that the collective power of citizens to demand greater accountability is the clearest route to reform.

Sunlight’s work is committed to helping citizens, journalists and bloggers be their own best watchdogs, both by improving access to existing information and digitizing new information, and by creating new tools and websites to enable all of us to pool our intelligence in new, and yet to be imagined, ways.

As this is a political year of importance, this is one site to add to your reader and visit regularly!


Technorati Tags : sunlight, democracy, congresspedia, hitchhikers, election

I blame the patriarchy - Twisty

I'd like to borrow one of my favorite lines from the Monty Python gang to introduce this next blog to the hitchhikers: And now for something completely different!

Yes, Twisty writes at I blame the patriarchy. As the tag line reads:

I Blame The Patriarchy exists to advance the radical feminist views of Twisty Faster, a gentleman farmer and spinster aunt eating dinner in Austin, Texas.

I Blame The Patriarchy is intended for advanced patriarchy-blamers. It is not a feminist primer. See Patriarchy-Blaming The Twisty Way for details.

and if you follow the links you can get to Twisty Faster's story:

Meet your host, Twisty Faster. Twisty grew up on a farm in Texas. One day she went to St. Louis, Missouri. There she was drugged and held prisoner without any decent tacos for 25 years. Eventually she was able to reach escape velocity. She hooked it back to Texas pronto. She now resides in North South Austin.

Twisty's pop culture credentials include coming of age in one of today's most popular decades, the 70's. She studied E Lit at Washington University in St. Louis for a while, toiled as a bartender for a while, wrote songs and played guitar in a couple of loud rock bands, and wrote songs and played Casio in one quiet Casio band, for a while.

For a while, Twisty was a restaurant critic at a Midwestern news weekly. Her unorthodox views regarding provel "cheese," combined with her effete and pompous style, earned her a prestigious James Beard Award nomination in 2003, which we mention merely to alleviate any anxiety that she is without credentials in the food-obsession racket.

Nowadays, she is a spinster aunt. These are her stories.

So check in on Twisty. You'll be glad you did!



Technorati Tags : twisty, patriarchy, hitchhikers

problogger - Darren Rowse

Darren Rowse is the problogger. He writes:

I’m a 34 year old Australian living in Melbourne. I am married to ‘V’ and live in a wonderful inner suburban part of the city. I am a full time blogger making a living from the medium now for well over a year.

The Hitchhikers do not do ads but if we did, I would follow Darren's advice.

He does provide good advice on:

How to Increase a Blogs Pageviews

Experimenting with Flickr Groups

31 days to building a better blog!

Even if you are an experienced blogger, visting Darren will bring some new ideas!

 

Technorati Tags : blog, blogging, advice, hitchhikers

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Robert Fulghum

I made a nice discovery today that Robert Fulghum, author of All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, has his own website where he publishes new stories.

 

Kirk Weisler, an inspiration in his own, would read from Fulghum's books at his early morning reading sessions during the HDI Conferences I attended in New Orleans and Orlando.

 

I picked up the books and they have a priority space on my recommendation listing.

 

Now, to find (yes, it's about time) that Robert has written more than the two I have. And has this web site.

 

Well, let's hope for your sake that I don't get too lost in catching up on Robert. The trail here will get mighty quiet.

 

Check out Robert's site and read some stories!

 

 

 

Technorati Tags : kindergarten, stories, learning, education, hitchhikers

 

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qlog - Thom Quinn

Thom Quinn writes at the qlog. His headline reads:

Thom Quinn presents a daily look at the philosophy and psychology of Productivity, Life Management, Leadership, Creativity, Problem-Solving, Peaceful Conflict Resolution, and Eudiamonia (the good life). I invite you to join the conversation!

Thom is writing a Productivity 101 series with

iPod University

Goals Friday #1

Late Fee Litmus Test

and

Back to Basics!

read the qlog!


Technorati Tags : qlog, hitchhikers, productivity

New England Vacations Guide - Cliff Calderwood

New England is a wonderful vacation spot with many opportunities depending upon what you are looking for beaches, mountains, or a quiet lake in the woods. Cliff Calderwood writes at New England Vacations to focus on:

Guide to attractions and tours to take on new england vacations, massachusetts vacations, cape cod vacations, new hampshire vacations, rhode island vacations, boston vacations, lake winnipesaukee, white mountains, mount washington, newport ri, mystic seaport, new england inns, new england bed and breakfast, martha's vineyard, block island, new england vacation, winter vacations, christmas vacations

You can read about:

A Day on Mt Monadnock

Ben and Jerry's

Tanglewood

If you are thinking of coming to New England, consider stopping here before making your plans.



Technorati Tags : hitchhikers, vacations, New+England

06/06/06 - Part 3

One of the trails, I like to explore is following links on blogs or web sites that catch my attention.

This site is a small attempt to share some of the better findings out amongst the long tail.

Quite a few of my findings over the prior months have made it to my "regular" reading listing.

You might find something here that will interest you.

Add this site to your RSS reader of choice and then follow me

Come Gather Round - Dick Richards

Dick Richards writes at Come Gather Round. He says:

I guide people and organizations in pursuit of their aspirations. In practice, that has meant a lot of things: offering guidance and counsel to leaders, developing change agents, designing and delivering training programs, articulating visions and values, facilitating whole system change, and helping teams and organizations work on the right things in the right way and for the right results. I have been a senior consultant to three major corporate turn-arounds. I have coached leaders and/or consulted for more than fifty organizations in over a dozen countries. The vast majority of that work has involved helping people and organizations change to meet new realities.

His Google Group is quite active as folks seek for their genius and others provide advice.

He has written a book Is Your Genius at Work?

What is your genius?

If you don't know, or are not sure,
you should read more about Dick and he can help you find it!


Technorati Tags : genius, passion, hitchhikers, blog

The Coach Approach - Lora Banks

in Lora's About page:

Her passion for coaching high achieving individuals has its roots in her ten-year professional career as an equity trader for Salomon Brothers, New York and Montgomery Securities and Banc America Securities in San Francisco. She brings to her consulting practice more than fifteen years of management, marketing, sales, and training experience on Wall Street as well as in the field of sports marketing. Lora also taught several semesters of Business Communications at the Haas Graduate School of Business at U.C. Berkeley.

She writes on Leadership pitfalls to avoid

Leadership happens in the relationship whether it is between two people, a team, a whole organization, a church, or a community. And that relationship is characterized by many of the attributes present in all relationships such as assumptions, expectations, values, emotions, successes, failures, dreams and disappointments.

She writes on Leadership Skill: The Fierce Conversation

But honest, direct communication is what's needed in our organizations and in our relationships. In fact, an unwillingness to have fierce conversations will undermine a team and, potentially destroy relationships. As leaders, we need to be willing to say what we see, what we sense. We need to be able to name the real issues and be in conversation around what is real.

Read more of Lora here.


Technorati Tags : hitchhikers, coach, blog

SuperViva - The Blog

Along the different path, the one less traveled, I found SuperViva. Start dreaming of what you want to do and make the list. Connect with others with similar goals to share advice, news etc.

Susiew writes:

The site came to be as part of my mission to make the world a happier place.
In 2006 I am going to do all the things I`ve thought about doing since college OR put them on my backburner. I`ve signed up for guitar lessons and a motorcycle riding course, both things I`ve wanted to do forever!

The Plea: SuperViva needs funding and team members. Interested?

If you are interested check out the SuperViva Blog

Tags: hitchhikers, blog, superviva

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Wood's Lot - Mark Woods

Continuing the trail off the beaten path, I found this blog to be one with a difference; highly intellectual, thought provoking, with pictures and references.

See he quotes Whitman:

Human bodies are words, myriads of words; In the best poems re-appears the body, man's or woman's, well-shaped, natural, gay, Every part able, active, receptive, without shame or the need of shame.

Read more of Mark here.

Tags: Whitman, Woods, blog, hitchhikers

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Patently Silly - The Humor of Invention

During the recent RIM court fight over their patent, I started wondering why the Patent Office was so busy. Research does take time. Understanding the intent of the patent application could be a challenge. Then this week I found a news article about a patent issued for a cordless jump rope.

 

Yes, cordless jump rope.

 

But doesn't jump rope imply there is indeed some sort of cord or rope there?

 

Yes, but there are those who get tangled in the rope and would prefer to get the exercise without getting tangled.

 

Ah, so the cordless jump rope!

 

Yes, there is such a thing: Patent # 7037243

 

and Alcoholic Beverages Derived from Animal Extract: Patent # 7037541

 

and Magic Bean Wishes: Patent # 7024817

 

If you would like to explore the silliness of some patents that have been issued, check out this site.

 

 

Technorati Tags : invention, patents, silly, blog, blogging, hitchhikers

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Wingedpig - Mark Fletcher's Blog

Somewhere along the GEL 2006 trail I found out about Mark Fletcher and his blog at wingedpig.com. The bread crumbs have been picked up already so trying to figure out how and where the twists and turns and clicks occured is too much effort. The short of it is that Mark is someone folks probably should know. if they do not already.

In 2003, Mark started Bloglines, a free web-based news aggregation service. Using Bloglines, users can search, subscribe to, share and publish blogs and RSS feeds. With the goal of becoming the Universal Inbox for average Internet users, Bloglines is the most popular news aggregator on the Internet.

I am a Bloglines user so I am thankful for the work Mark has done. Bloglines suits my needs nicely.

 

Mark is not a frequent poster to his blog but he does have good links to follow. Who knows what you'll find when you go exploring?

 

Read Mark here.

 

 

Technorati Tags : bloglines, blog, blogging, hitchihkers

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Smart Mobs - Howard Rheingold

A slight deviation from the GEL 2006 trail to note this cool site I found this week. Howard Rheingold wrote Smart Mobs: The Next Social Revolution in 2002. In much of my own explorations of the blogosphere, I have been developing an understanding of how to use the net to foster collaboration, teamwork, the "Power of We"... it is not surprising that this has been forecasted.

 

I need to get the book.

 

I need to keep up with the blog.

 

You might be interested in doing so as well!

 

Check it out here.

 

 

Technorati Tags : smart+mobs, Rheingold, social, revolution, blog, blogging, hitchhikers

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TrueTalk Blog - Tom Guarriello

Next stop along the GEL 2006 path, we come upon Tom Guarriello writing at TrueTalk Blog. I met up with Tom briefly during the Google party on Thursday night during GEL.

 

Tom is the Chief Idea Officer at TrueTalk, a management consulting firm specializing in connecting people for results.

 

He writes on design:

We need to get used to the fact that this process isn't creating "artificial needs," it's part of the great evolutionary process which makes one bird more attractive than another; one flower bring on more bees. We are attracted to beauty and wired to acquire things that attract us. What could be more "natural" than that?

Read the full post here.

He writes on the Microsoft Mini blogging efforts:

So, an anonymous blogger, expressing ideas that must have resonated deeply with a significant portion of Microsoft's workforce, plays a major role in helping his company adopt practices that will make it a better company. More competitive. More focused. More employee-respectful. HR pros: What on earth is keeping you from opening up this kind of dialogue within your company?

Read the full post here.

If you like what you have thus far, put TrueTalk in your RSS reader and keep up with Tom.

 

Technorati Tags : GEL2006, hitchhikers, TrueTalk

 

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Berkun Blog - Scott Berkun

Continuing the hitchhiking along the GEL 2006 path, I find Scott Berkun writing at the Berkun Blog. Scott lead the Thursday afternoon session at GEL touring Sacred Spaces and writes about it on his blog.

In my studies of architecture, especially sacred architecture, I realized that churches, shrines, and temples are all designed by people. There are no blueprints, and few descriptions, for them in most bibles or holy texts - so what you see in them is an expression of design imagination and talent, as much as anything else. I’m confident that most people can appreciate these buildings and designs in a non-religious way, if they choose too.

In the "What is this blog" section, Scott writes:

This weblog started to log the making and release of a book. Well, the book is out and doing well - But what to do here now?

Here’s the plan:

Weekly short pieces on:

• Management, teams and leadership.
• The making of good things.
• Design, technology and creativity.
• Highlights from the pmclinic and uxclinic discussion lists.

Monthly pieces on:

• As new book projects come together I’ll be writing about them here, bringing you into the process.
• Longer essays once a month will be posted here along with other book news, meetups or tour dates.

Read more of Scott here.

Technorati Tags : GEL2006, design, hitchhikers

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Personal Democracy Forum - Blog

Continuing the tour through GEL 2006, I wrote about the Personal Democracy Forum as founded by Andrew Raisej. There is a blog on the PDF.

 

Justin Oberman posted about a new ringtone "Call connected through the NSA" today.

 

Participant comments from the recent PDF event were summarized by one of their interns.

 

And if you would like to hear some of the podcasts from the PDF event, check them out.

 

Bookmark, load to your RSS reader, do whatever to check in on this site periodically. Is suspect it will be very important for all Americans to be fully informed as the November 2006 elections approach.

 

 

Technorati Tags : GEL2006, democracy, hitchhikers, PDF

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Learning Lab - Annette Kramer

The trail through GEL2006, also brings to light some other attendees who blog. I found out about Annette post conference, so next year I'll have to look for her.

 

Annette writes at Learning Lab. She says that she is:

a consultant and research professional living in New York City. Her work focuses on the tendencies, talents, conversations, and perspectives that lead to successful learning and innovation. For businesses, Annette specializes in identifying and building strategic alliances to leverage resources, expand brands, and develop markets. For teachers, she offers innovative ways to teach critical thinking.

She wrote about GEL 2006:

 

Craig Newmark

Jane McGonigal

Ji Lee

Linda Stone

Katy Borner

and

out of time on GEL

 

 

She also writes at As Annette Sees It:

Life is so much fun that it's worth noting as frequently as possible. Therefore, this blog is reserved for musings on all subjects that don't really belong in my Learning Lab a blog on sustainable innovation and creativity across contexts.

So, go forth and discover some hidden potential in both of Annette's blogs!

 

Technorati Tags : GEL2006, good+experience, hitchhikers

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Online Bubbles

Continuing this hitchhiker trail through GEL 2006, I wrote about Ji Lee's Bubble Project here. He has an online version of it as well.

 

He finds a picture from current media and posts it allowing all visitors to enter a comment on what they think the bubble should say about the picture.

 

Truly an interactive site!

 

You can visit it here.

 

 

Technorati Tags : GEL2006, good+experience, hitchhikers

 

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Seth Godin and This is Broken

Continuing the hitchhiker trail through the sites associated with GEL 2006, I find two more to talk about today. One should need little introduction, Seth Godin's Blog. If you have not found this one previously, do not pass Go, do not collect... just go there, add it to your reader (he has a nice Bloglines button to make this easy) and listen to what he has to say.

 

The other site, This is Broken, is not so much a blog in the traditional sense (can a blog be considered a tradition?) as an interactive site around things that are found to be broken.

 

Like: This ATM that will only dispense in multiples of $50

 

Or like: an unfortunate sign with one letter out

 

Or like: this unreachable balcony

 

So if you find something that is broken, you can submit it following these instructions:

Send us your submission: E-mail us a picture of what's broken, and a message explaining why, in an e-mail (broken at goodexperience.com).

 

 

Technorati Tags : GEL2006, good+experience, potential, hitchhikers

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Avant Game - Jane McGonigal

Like many games if you play correctly, you get a bonus. Well, this stretch of hiking has turned up a couple of really good blogs.

Jane is writing her disertation and blogging about the best sentence of the day. For example:

#51 - In the field of ubiquitous computing games research, these playtests are conducted on site; they are field tests as much as they are play tests.

#48 - This design concept, then, effectively performs the anxieties ubiquitous computing has about the balance of power between users and technologies, displacing these anxieties onto the relationship between two different classes of users.

#44 - But how do you make invisible computing visible?

In the mean time, Jane also writes at Avant Game

Jane writes here:

an open letter to going and doing

Mostly, I think and write and design and talk... and really mostly, I just think.

Sometimes, however, I go places and do things. I like those times.

I already have a pretty good record of the thinking and writing and designing and talking that I do.

So this is a new record.

For the going and doing.

And the cookie rolling.

And you have two for one going today!

Enjoy!


Technorati Tags : GEL2006, hitchhikers, avant+game

Craig Newmark's Blog

Continuing the hitchhiker trail through the GEL 2006 Conference references, I present to you Craig Newmark, of craigslist fame, who also writes on his own blog.

 

He writes:

I probably shouldn't shoot my mouth off, but I've talked to a coupla cops, and done some reading.

What cops, firemen, teachers and other civil servants need is good quality, affordable housing.

I understand the former World Trade Center area is available, and mostly office space is planned for it. Does NYC need more office space? Seems to me that it's more practical, and safer, to disperse financial institutions.

It's late in this game, but maybe if you want to honor people who do the heavy lifting, every day, give 'em a break. Is there some smart architecural team that could propose housing for people there that would be very livable? It'd need to be profitable for the land owners, maybe not as profitable as big office towers. Is it doable? or am I being a pain in the butt?

Read more of Craig here.

 

 

Technorati Tags : craigslist, GEL2006, Newmark, Hurst, potential

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Douglas Rushkoff Weblog

The Hitchhiker's trail has been full of twists and turns; work, family committments and some travel but this week will bring a special focus on blogs related to the GEL 2006 Conference.

 

Douglas Rushkoff, who had the honor of opening the full day of presentations on Friday, May 5th writes:

In my comic book Testament (now in a first collected edition!), I look at the same passages as a first and second draft of creation. My "god" characters try it one way, don't like how it turns out, and then start over. I'm hoping by re-introducing readers to the Bible as it was actually written and understood at the time (to the best of my ability) while showing how its stories apply to our current military, technological and economic fiascos, I can bring its power to a new generation. All while dispelling the hardened belief sets of True Believers. I'm going to show how the Bible was intended not to give people religion, but to get people over their obsessions with religion and the fictional character, God. (Obviously, the Bible hasn't worked out as planned. At least not yet.)

Read the full posting here.

For more of Douglas, check out his blog here.

 

Technorati Tags : GEL2006, Rushkoff, Hurst, potential, hitchhikers

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/personal - Niko Nyman

In the About Me section of /personal, Niko writes:

Just like a blog should be, this blog is about my personal opinions on my personal interests. And right now I’m interested in the following topics:

• Corporate blogging. How businesses can use blogging to their advantage and what does blogging require from the companies.
• Future of music business. How the music industry is coping with the changes brought on by internet.
• User interfaces for regular people, which I hope to be the future of user interfaces. I also like to call this the human rights battle against software. My new mobile phone, Nokia N90, has the questionable honor of being an example for my writing about UI problems on a larger scale.
• User experience as a business advantage. How to sell the idea of user experience? How to prove the business value of focusing on user experience?

Niko has an interesting layout for his blog using WordPress. Read Niko.

 

Technorati Tags : music, UI, blog, blogging, hitchhikers

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Personal Fitness Blog - Tim

From the About Me page at the Personal Fitness Blog, Tim writes:

My name is Tim, I’m a 25-year old college student majoring in Political Science with a minor is Psychology. I drive a 2001 Ford ZX2 (paid off), have a wonderful girlfriend, and live in Vancouver, Washington.

My Stats:

• 6'4?
• 250 lbs.
• 1-Mile Run: ~8:00
• 2-Mile Run: ~16:45
• Max Bench Press: 215 lbs.
• Max Leg Press: 450 lbs.

The Goals:

• Max the APFT (Army Physical Fitness Test)
• Lose 50 lbs. by September 8th, 2006
• Run 1-Mile in 6:30

Follow Tim on the effort to reach his goals.

 

 

Technorati Tags : run, running, exercise, lose+weight, hitchikers

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Alan Watts Podcasts

I heard only one of these so far and I am hooked. I want to hear it again and take notes.

Good stuff from Alan Watts.

Great food for thought!

Give a listen.


Technorati Tags : podcast, blog, philosophy, eastern, hitchhikers

a penny for - Todd Sattersten

 

You my have read something by Todd if you visited 800-CEO-READ blog. He writes at "a penny for" as his personal blog.

 

He writes:

My reviews will contain books from time to time. I will provide link to Amazon to make it easy to purchase the item if you are interested. The referral fees collected will be donated to The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, in honor of my mom - a breast cancer survivor.

A thoughtful disclosure.

 

Read more of Todd here.

 

 

Technorati Tags : hitchhikers, a+penny+for, blog, books

 

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MBA on the Run

What is the value of an MBA? What if you could get the experience in a non-traditional way?

Try books on tape, walking amongst commerce, with periodic essays and collaboration amongst others doing the same thing.

An interesting project!

Check it out here.


Technorati Tags : MBA, education, learning, blog, hitchhikers

Good News Network

Hey, it's about time we got some good news. The Hitchhikers have found the Good News Network for you.

Check this out:

The Dalai Lama and Muslim Leaders hold a historic peace gathering

and this:

The fourth annual Volvo for Life awards were announced and the 2006 grand prize winner is Dr. Ingida Asfaw of Pontiac, Michigan. Asfaw is a medical doctor who has galvanized over 550 medical and non-health professionals in the US and Canada to give their time and talents to address the profound healthcare crises in Ethiopia.

read the full post here.

If this is the kind of new you prefer, then add this to your reader!


Technorati Tags : good+news, news, blog, hitchhikers

UX Magazine

UX Magazine?

UX Magazine sets out to explore, promote & discuss the multiple facets of user experience one article at a time. It is built upon the foundations of ProjectNeo, a global interactive design community.

Who?

UX Magazine is a collaborative publication by writers, technologists, designers, marketeers & business gurus from around the world. This project was created & developed by C. Demetriadis, H. Mann & A. Schleifer.

Interested in the user experience? Then UX Magazine is one place to stop by on a regular basis.


Technorati Tags : UX, user+experience, blog, hitchhikers

365 First Time Parenting Tips

Yes, you read that correctly.

A full year's worth of daily parenting tips for mothers and fathers just starting out. Written by a first time parent, for first time parents

Not a bad idea. A modern day source for Dr. Spock like info. No, the writer is not a doctor but he calls it like he sees it.

Try reading:

The First Night Out
Slung aound your shoulder
Under the Sun

and if these posts work for you, then put this site in your reader to keep on reading!

If you know someone about to be a parent, let them know.


Technorati Tags : parenting, tips, blog, hitchhikers

Limerick Savant

I believe it is good day when you have a good laugh.

 

If you have not already found Limerick Savant on your trails through this wonderful blogosphere, I suggest that you trek on over, enjoy the limericks and have a good laugh or two.

 

In his own limerick he writes about his intentions:

My aim is to needle and pester
'Til puns I inflict start to fester.
And now it appears
I have four more years,
Self-elected, to serve as court jester.

Read Limerick Savant daily. It is good for your health!

 

 

Technorati Tags : limerick, nonsense, humor, blog, hitchhikers

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Via Crucis 2006

 

For many Christians, this week leading up to Easter is an important one. Via Crucis 2006 is a grid blog with many contributors writing about the stations of the cross.

Both Mary and Veronica do seem to imbue a loving presence to Jesus beyond words.  Consolation -  to be with the lonely one. The simple act of wiping someone's face when facing sickness, suffering or death. Again, as Nouwen would point out - not cure, but care.

Read the full posting here.

Mark at Cowpi Journal remixed the Via Crucis Grid Blog image.  I love the contrast.

It reminded me of a line from the the book The Outsiders, which was written in the 1960s by S.E. Hinton, a then 15 year old girl.  The book was adapted into a movie in the '80s. In the scene, Johnny (played by Ralph Macchio) tells Ponyboy (played C. Thomas Howell)

Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold.

Stevie Wonder took this line and did a a wonderful song based on it.

Read the full posting here.

I was in Jerusalem on September 28, 2000 when Ariel Sharon went into to the al-Aqsa Mosque, provoking what came to be known as the second intifada. There was a riot and the army occupied the area around the mosque and the Western Wall. Seven Palestinians were killed by the IDF. The next day the city was tense and quiet. Soldiers were everywhere, and everyone's nerves were shot. There was no noise except for the call to prayer broadcast from loudspeakers on the minarets that looked over the city.

Read the full posting here.

For the remainder of the week, check out Via Crucis 2006

 

Technorati Tags : grid+blog, blog, blogging, passion+week, religion, Jesus

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Blogidarity

Blogidarity kicks off this week.
Blogidarity is not just any old blog.
This blog is the result of a brain storm by Felix Gerena with the assistance of Team Synergy

Blogidarity will enable you to do more than post a comment.
It will enable you to take some action.
You can contribute to the cause.

Not just any cause.
The cause this month is Clear Path International.
Read the story of Ha and her success after multiple surgeries to regain the use of her legs.

With the assistance of PayPal, Blogidarity is set up to accept your contribution.

Subscribe to Blogidarity via RSS
Subscribe to Blogidarity with your wallet.

Cause 1 $ can save a life.

Technorati Tags : Blogidarity, contribute, blog, cause

Just visiting... no, more than that -- Erik Hansen

Erik writes in his one line bio

Might be in the middle of a mid-life crisis and just don't know it yet

You might recognize him from the Tom Peters Blog. He wrote Who Does Own Your Brand? recently.

On his own blog he wrote about his participation in the Critical Mass

I did join the Critical Mass monthly bike ride last Friday in Boston. Got myself to Copley Square by 5:30, on the way noticing a number of 20-something bicyclists headed in the same direction. Wearing street clothes. I didn't know what to expect. This was my first demonstration, though I'm not quite sure how to classify these monthly bike rides.

He posted a video of Jory desJardins at SXSW doing her part in What's the Secret?

Read more of Erik here.


Technorati Tags : Tom+Peters, blog, blogging, hitchhikers, Hansen, SXSW

Johnnie Moore's Weblog

Hiking along the trail, you may have been confused when reading something about Johnnie Moore who is not the John Moore (PDF) who writes at Brand Autopsy.

Johnnie writes at Johnnie Moore's Weblog

Both write about marketing.

Johnnie writes:

I work as a facilitator and consultant. I've a strong background in marketing and am interested in the human aspects of organisation. Some call what I do the "soft" skills... or the "touchy feely" stuff. I prefer to think I can combine a certain amount of business logic with an appreciation of the ability of humans to surprise and amaze us. I sum up the way I work as Authentic Facilitation - click the link for more about that.

Johnnie contributed a chapter to More Space.

Way too many organisational guides trade in complicated rules for dealing with uncertainty. None of them capture the real mystery of what it is to grow something new. It’s a bit like putting up an elaborate rococo trellis and not noticing that instead of a Russian vine, someone’s planted potatos.

In “Simple Ideas, Lightly Held” I suggest some simple practices that allow groups of people to make the most of a complex world, instead of making life, and organisations, complicated and rigid.

Read more of Johnnie Moore here.

Technorati Tags : Moore, Johnnie, marketing, More+Space, blog, hitchhikers

Marketing Momentum - Mary Ann Davis

Mary Ann Davis writes at Marketing Momentum. She is

A marketing professional interested in learning the latest on marketing trends and the fine science of reaching targeted audiences as we move towards a more customized media society.

She writes on Corporate Branding in Sports Going Too Far:

Personally, I think commercialism has gone too far when stadiums, and most certainly teams, are being named after companies. Going from a mentality of dedicating a stadium to those who lost their lives in World Wars I & II to intentionally seeking to name a stadium after a company that's willing to pay the most, is just sad.

Professionally, as a marketer, renaming a team is like renaming a brand. It's extreamly challenging because of issues like consumer loyalty and perception. I would imagine it would be even more difficult as team fans express such loyalty that it becomes a cultural way of life.

It looks like that she will expand her writing into another blog as she begins teaching a class on blogging in the fall at Hagerstown Community College.

You get two blogs for the hitchhiker effort today.

1) established -> Marketing Momentum

2) just starting -> Teaching to Blog

Technorati Tags : blog, blogging, marketing, teaching, hitchhikers

The Moleskin - Kelsey Ruger

Kelsey Ruger writes at The Moleskin

Think. Try. Teach

The Moleskin is my tiny corner of the web. It is a collection of creative work, thoughts and lessons that represent my thinking on my various areas of interest.

In his About section, he writes:

So what kind of name is the Moleskin? If you’re thinking that is a randomly selected name – it’s not. There really is a story behind the name. For years now I have kept a small notebook for jotting down notes, thoughts and sketches that pop into my head from time to time. There was even a point where I wrote a few poems in my notebook. Recently, I wanted to switch to a small less cumbersome book. That’s when I ran across a small black book called the Moleskine (pronounced Moleskina)

The Moleskine is the legendary notebook used by European artists and writers during the 19th and 20th centuries – from Ernest Hemingway to Vincent Van Gogh. A simple black rectangle with squared or lined pages, end leaves held by an elastic band , an inside pocket for loose sheets the Moleskine is handy tool for keeping up with your thoughts.

The Moleskine is bound in Moleskin (Get it?) which gives it its name. This pocket-sized book contained notes, stories, thoughts and impressions before they turned into the pages of books that have been read the world over. While I am not promising that things I write about on The Moleskin will ever end up in a book - it is a collection of creative work, thoughts and lessons that represent my thinking on my various areas of interest.

I happened to be hiking by when he posted on CSS

Back in the day when you needed inspiration for your site there were places like Cool Home Pages and How Design where you could see what and how other designers were doing things. With web standards and CSS becoming more the norm for building your site a lot of CSS galleries have emerged over the last year. One of the great things about the web standards movement is that alot more people are willing to share the work that they have done with CSS and XHTML. So if you are a designer or developer looking for inspiration for your latest project here is my (somewhat) definitive list of CSS galleries. Most of these galleries have some type of RSS feed, so you can keep track of them with your favorite RSS reader.

The hitchhiker trail leads me into the CSS galleries but you can read more of Kelsey here.

Technorati Tags : CSS, hitchhikers, moleskin, blog, blogging

Musings of a Social Architect - Amy Jo Kim

Amy Jo Kim writes at Musings of a Social Architect

Part of her BIO reads as follows:

Amy Jo Kim is an internationally-known designer of social games and gaming environments for clients like Digital Chocolate,Electronic Arts, eBay, Limelife, and Yahoo!. Her expertise in community architecture and social systems design was showcased in her book, Community Building on the Web, a design handbook for networked communities. This "cult classic" is available in 7 languages, and has become required reading in game design studios and univerity classes worldwide.

She wrote about Digg

I'm doing some research on Digg for a client project, and during this process I've run across a number of good articles about the site. So I thought I'd share 'em. Good reading if you're interested in learning more about this fascinating and influential site.

• Wikipedia entry for Digg
• Wired News story on Digg
• TechCrunch: The Power of Digg
• How digg Uncovers the News.
• Digg Argues It Has Ways to Prevent Manipulation.
• Alex Bosworth's Weblog: Dynamics of Digg.
  

Which has caught enough of my attention that I need to go explore Digg.

Catch you on the trail later!

Technorati Tags : architect, social, Digg, hitchhikers, blog

Blogging in Paris - Claude Covo-Farchi

Claude Covo-Farchi writes at Blogging in Paris

She writes of Family Lore

Family lore says that Léa, my grandmother, when she turned sixty, sat down and said:
“Now I’m old and I am not going to work any longer”.
My brother, who was born in 1934, remembers how during the war, when the family had to cross the demarcation line which separated the Occupied zone from the Free zone of France, our grandmother said that she was too old to go on, sat down on a tree trunk and said she wouldn’t go any further and that was that. To which my mother got furious and ordered her mother-in-law to get up and walk if she didn’t want to put the whole family in danger.

She writes of Willy Ronis, Ageing and me

Went back to see Willy Ronis’s photo exhibition at Hôtel de Ville, as I didn’t have time to see all of it last time — I mentioned this exhibition at the bottom of this post. There was an interesting movie about Ronis, in which he talks about his life and his photographer’s career, and how he loved photographing people. At one point he quoted Trotsky who said that Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man.Ronis then went on to tell how at age 85 or so, his legs betrayed him and he couldn’t walk around Paris taking photos any longer as he had to use two walking sticks. It was a case of either walking, or taking photographs, as he needed both hands to lean on his sticks.

Read more of Claude at Blogging in Paris

Technorati Tags : Paris, blog, blogging, hitchhiker

The Dilbert Blog - Scott Adams

If you can't get enough of Dilbert in the daily comic from your local paper, you might want to load The Dilbert Blog in your RSS reader.

 

Scott Adams writes at length about some of the items that he normally covers in three panes.

 

For example, on Free Will

I don’t believe in free will. That’s partly because it’s indefinable in any sensible way, i.e. you have to assume that the rules of cause and effect are optional for your brain chemistry. Second, it doesn’t do a good job of predicting behavior. No one would choose to be a drug addict or a pedophile, just to pick two examples.

I prefer my own theory. I call it the Pleasure Unit Theory. It does a much better job describing behavior, and it goes like this.

Pleasure Unit Theory: People organize their lives to get their minimum required units of pleasure. While individuals vary in terms of how many units of pleasure they need, everyone is striving to reach their personal minimum.

And on Dancing:

For those of you who have never taken a dance class, it goes something like this. First, the instructor demonstrates some footwork a bit too fast for you to have any frickin’ idea what he did. Luckily he repeats the demonstration several times, each time differently as far as you can tell. And often you can’t see the demonstration at all because a big guy named Tim is standing in your way.

Armed with this lack of information, you take your partner and proceed to humiliate yourself by moving randomly and hoping that this flailing somehow turns into dancing over time.

and on creating words

According to the Internet, I have become a prolific coiner of phrases. You can do a Google search on any of these gems and get all kinds of hits.

The Dilbert Principle
Dilbertian
Catbert
PHB
Rat Dance
Frooglepoopillion
Elbonian
Induhvidual

And more recently in this Blog, BOCTAOE and YSLE. If you haven’t been paying attention, those mean “But Of Course There Are Obvious Exceptions” and “You Stupid Lemon-Eater.”

Read more at The Dilbert Blog.

This is the number one business blog in the world. BOCTAOE!

 

 

Technorati Tags : Dilbert, hitchhikers, blog, blogging, language, BOCTAOE

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ze frank

ze frank by the numbers:

1 - this is my blog. sometimes i don't write for a while. that usually means that i am doing something else. i don't forget about you though. i like you.

 

2 - these are things that i made for you to look at. click on them. when i add something new, i'll post it in my blog (see 1).

 

and so it goes...

 

a most interesting site.

 

he recaps the news today.

 

he provides this link to the coalition fatalities for the War in Iraq shown in time phased and superimposed on the map of Iraq. Stunning!

 

 

Technorati Tags : blog, blogging, hitchhiker

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