... a beginner at something

Why the bailout package failed

Together with the commenters, Ben McConnell blogs it clearly (highlighting by this author):

The ... historic vote in Congress for a $700 billion bailout of Wall Street failed on a vote of 228-205.

...

Maybe what this financial crisis will finally change about American business and government and the interplay between the two is the unquestionable need for transparency. A Google-friendly form of governance. Let's hope the secret-keepers in charge are finally, and forever, driven from power.

... comments ...

Berend -- Agreed. It'd be difficult to label this a partisan issue given that 133 Republicans voted against the bill as did 95 Democrats.

Richard -- Good point. "Bailout plan" became the de facto story title.

Posted by: Ben McConnell at 2008 Sep 29, 19:15:46

Now this is news I feel I can trust. Having just shifted from  "read-only" to blogging read-write", I am pleasantly surprised by the insightful and civilized discourse these people elicit. Well, you may say, Church of the Customer's blog is famous. "...for a reason", I'd add and try to learn from them. My respect, and keep it going.

Ever heard the grass grow? Wikipatterns.

Who knows why this user-maintained site chose a pot of grass as its logo?

New to wikipatterns? Start here.

Looking to spur wiki adoption? Want to grow from 10 users to 100, or 1000? Applying patterns that help coordinate people's efforts and guide the growth of content, and recognizing anti-patterns that might hinder growth - can give your wiki the greatest chance of success.

This site is powered by Atlassian Confluence, one of the few wikis I know that integrates wiki and blog under one user interface.

To compare many more wikis, jump to wikimatrix.org.

20 ways to use a wiki in education

Moving at the Speed of Creativity Wesley Fryer posted on 2008-09-18 in web 2.0 |

In my presentation “Get Wiki with It” today at EncycloMedia 2008 in Oklahoma City, session participants brainstormed different ways educators can and are using wikis to support learning inside and outside the classroom.
...

For chronological publishing, like a regular journal or science experiment diary, I suggested a blog might work better than a wiki. But a wiki could still be used!

One corporate wiki I know a bit better offers both rolled in one, (wiki) pages and (blog) news. This is Atlassian Confluence.  They offer a free community or open source license.

How often to blog? How long to post?

Glad to see I am not alone with this question - every beginning blogger will deal with it one way or another. According to current sources, it is ultimately up to the writer's goals. Logging a few useful references for today.

In 2008 June Problogger.net did a reader poll (with many and great comments)  and pointed to timeless useful advice written on May 25th, 2005 at 11:05 pm by Darren Rowse

Frequent short sharp posts work on a number of levels: 

• Highly Targeted Content
  

• Search Engines like shorter posts

• Readers like bite sized content

• High quantities of posts = more entry points to your blog
  

My tool of choice to make my blogging faster and a bit easier: Scribefire

Print the Truth political posters blog

Ban Research

Caption: Ban Research. Stem cell research could change everything. Fact: McCain and Palin want to ban this research. Is this OK with you?

A blog posting a poster a day, free to print and spread, or link to. Neat. Here comes everybody joining the political campaigning. I do not get to vote, so no use in taking sides.

But: Why single out Stem Cells? Are not genetic modification and cloning much more risky and should be banned long before we get concerned about stem cells?

Stem cells have given us innovative applications, for example, indicating presence of substances poisonous to unborn life much faster and cheaper than animal testing. Now, that is cool.

Source: http://www.axiogenesis.com

(Animal testing for cosmetics is scheduled to be banned in the EU from 2009)

When in blog-city, do as the bloggers do

Lesson from an expert blogger: Claim your site. I steal this idea and do the same.

43 Folders: Time, Attention, and Creative Work

Merlin Mann  |  Sep 10 2008

5. This is my site. There are many like it, but this one is mine

43 Folders is now, once again, about what I have to say about things, and I want that to be the sole reason that the idea of a visit here either attracts or repels you.

...
If you have comments about what I say here, post about it on your own blog. That’s what it’s there for, and it’s a place where owning your words will have gravity and, in most cases, will be associated with the name of a real person who doesn’t pinch loaves on his own couch.
...

”What’s 43 Folders?”
43Folders.com is Merlin Mann’s website about finding the time and attention to do your best creative work.

As for comments on this site, I am warned but leave them open for now. Gotta start somewhere.

Here is another stolen idea on what may happen, though.

Join the Discussion!

Let us know what you think.  Or ask us anything.  Or offer your own sage advice.

The only rule: RESPECT THIS HOUSE! Postings that contain abusive language and/or personal attacks will be cheerfully VAPORIZED. One cross word and – POOF! – your well-thought-out post will be gone in a puff of smoke.

– Clayton

Nohing to add.

How much extra for nice? Free in Japan.

In Japan, the customer isn't just king, the customer is god. Although fraying at the  fringes, front-line employees in general know or are made aware that all their salary and perks come from what customers choose to give the company.  And no tipping, please, the gesture could be misunderstood as implying customer care was not inclusive or could be bought.

Contrast this with today's article from

Seth Godin's blog:

How much extra for nice?

...  And I know that some of your customers (maybe a lot) would happily pay a little extra to get that one thing they want most of all...

I think there's a huge gap between what people are willing to pay for nice (a lot) and what it would cost businesses to deliver it (almost nothing). Smells like an opportunity.

I had "reverse culture shock" when returning "home" to Germany and went to an electronics shop to get a spare battery for the video camera. Had to wait 15 minutes and was already on the way out of the store when finally a clerk showed up behind the counter. Had to put up with his drossy face as he realized he would have to walk to the stockroom to get my battery. A year later that shop was gone. Served them right.

Most customer-facing employees in Japan smile. They radiate purpose.  I enjoy it.

Sorry Seth, for resending trackbacks to your post. I rearranged my content, pulled some before the quote of yours to make the trackback understandable.

Note to blog:  I wish that a site accepting trackback removes prior trackback requests linking to the same page instead of listing multiple. Not everyone can write articles  "print-ready" when hitting the  "publish" button.

...  And I know that some of your customers (maybe a lot) would happily pay a little extra to get that one thing they want most of all...

I think there's a huge gap between what people are willing to pay for nice (a lot) and what it would cost businesses to deliver it (almost nothing). Smells like an opportunity.

I had "reverse culture shock" when returning "home" to Germany and went to an electronics shop to get a spare battery for the video camera. Had to wait 15 minutes and was already on the way out of the store when finally a clerk showed up behind the counter. Had to put up with his drossy face as he realized he would have to walk to the stockroom to get my battery. A year later that shop was gone. Served them right.

Most customer-facing employees in Japan smile. They radiate purpose.  I enjoy it.

Sorry Seth, for resending trackbacks to your post. I rearranged my content, pulled some before the quote of yours to make the trackback understandable.

Note to blog:  I wish that a site accepting trackback removes prior trackback requests linking to the same page instead of listing multiple. Not everyone can write articles  "print-ready" when hitting the  "publish" button.

Everyone's an Expert ebook

Wandered over to Squidoo just now, trying it out to find what it is all about. Given a choice of reading about and test-driving, the kind reader probably has figured out my preference by now. Was there yesterday to read a few examples and today after login this very last link hit me.

Everyone's an Expert ebook

Hey, that is the second half of my blog motto. (The first half explained on day one.) Of course I downloaded it and link to it.

Note to blog: Useful.  A great little ebook with a focus on "So you're blogging, now what?"

Purple Cloud

A new blog is like a wiki page, only much bigger, almost like a new website. Design decisions to be made and revised, and - oh well - a banner image. As focus for this blog is still rather fuzzy, I go with clouds. Fuzzy feelings.  Just to be a bit easier to remember, I opted for purple cloud.

What does it almost rhyme with?

Purple Cow. Read all about it after the jump.

Europeans know another purple cow as a mascot for a brand of chocolate.

In your opinion, what should the "purple cloud" become a symbol for? Wisdom of crowds, maybe? 

Put your comments in the space below. Thank you.