Monday, May 19, 2008
in need of an update
I'm very pleased to announce that Miriam has finally moved her blog out of the depths of MySpace and onto a real blogging platform. Now all of us adults can read it, too.
I am such a bitch about MySpace, but really, it's the devil's tool. You should stop using it. Right now.
Since she added me to her blogroll, I plan to reciprocate. But this also opens another can of worms that I've known for some time needed opening: I need to seriously update my main site. The services offered on my website no longer coincide with the range of services I provide to Tucson's non-profit and political communities.
To wit: I've made sort of a cottage industry out of interim development work. I'm currently Interim Development Director for Wingspan, southern Arizona's LGBT community center. It seems to be where there's the most need among Tucson non-profits right now, and I'll gladly do the work.
So keep your eyes peeled for an upgrade to m2powered.com over the next couple of months. And since my contract with Wingspan ends on July 31, please also keep your eyes peeled for new opportunities for me to support the non-profit sector.
I am such a bitch about MySpace, but really, it's the devil's tool. You should stop using it. Right now.
Since she added me to her blogroll, I plan to reciprocate. But this also opens another can of worms that I've known for some time needed opening: I need to seriously update my main site. The services offered on my website no longer coincide with the range of services I provide to Tucson's non-profit and political communities.
To wit: I've made sort of a cottage industry out of interim development work. I'm currently Interim Development Director for Wingspan, southern Arizona's LGBT community center. It seems to be where there's the most need among Tucson non-profits right now, and I'll gladly do the work.
So keep your eyes peeled for an upgrade to m2powered.com over the next couple of months. And since my contract with Wingspan ends on July 31, please also keep your eyes peeled for new opportunities for me to support the non-profit sector.
Labels: career, jobs, Miriam, social networking, Wingspan
Thursday, April 12, 2007
richardson's website worries
I've touched on this on some previous posts - Bill Richardson's website for his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for President. I'm supporting Richardson because I feel he's the absolute best prepared candidate (of either party) to lead this country out of the woods we've been wandering around for the past six years. It's a good thing that preparation doesn't hinge on an internet presence.
First of all, take a look at the URL's for most of the Dem candidates:
One of the first rules of having a successful web presence is having a web address that's simple and easy to remember, or one that you assume people would intuitively type into the address bar without having to Google it. When I first looked for information about Governor Richardson online, I typed in "www.billrichardson.com" into the address bar, only to get directed to an unregistered domain. "Richardsonfor president.com" is not intuitive. I had a science teacher in eighth grade who loved to remind us to KISS - keep it simple, stupid. Governor Richardson's internet team definitely missed the boat on that one.
I'd also be concerned that the campaign hasn't bought that domain name. As the Governor starts to catch fire, it will be incredibly easy for his opponents to buy the guy's domain name right out from under him and fill it with misleading or inaccurate information. I seem to remember somebody did the same thing to George W. Bush when he was running for re-election a few years ago.
I also have a problem with the website's blog, which does not allow comments. One of the reasons Howard Dean became so popular four years ago was because his campaign leveraged emerging technology to help build a sense of community and facilitate his supporters connecting with each other. Blog for America and MeetUp were key components of that campaign. The other leading Democratic candidates understand this. Why doesn't Governor Richardson?
Mark my words (I love getting dramatic like this), if Bill Richardson has any intention of moving up out of the second tier, he must leverage established and emerging internet technologies so we, his supporters, can start building the kind of grassroots communities absolutely vital to his success. I've already e-mailed the campaign with that suggestion, but never received a response.
Come on, Gov, get smart with your online campaign!
First of all, take a look at the URL's for most of the Dem candidates:
www.BarackObama.com
www.JohnEdwards.com
www.Kucinich.us
www.RichardsonForPresident.com
www.HillaryClinton.com
www.JoeBiden.com
www.ChrisDodd.com
One of the first rules of having a successful web presence is having a web address that's simple and easy to remember, or one that you assume people would intuitively type into the address bar without having to Google it. When I first looked for information about Governor Richardson online, I typed in "www.billrichardson.com" into the address bar, only to get directed to an unregistered domain. "Richardsonfor president.com" is not intuitive. I had a science teacher in eighth grade who loved to remind us to KISS - keep it simple, stupid. Governor Richardson's internet team definitely missed the boat on that one.
I'd also be concerned that the campaign hasn't bought that domain name. As the Governor starts to catch fire, it will be incredibly easy for his opponents to buy the guy's domain name right out from under him and fill it with misleading or inaccurate information. I seem to remember somebody did the same thing to George W. Bush when he was running for re-election a few years ago.
I also have a problem with the website's blog, which does not allow comments. One of the reasons Howard Dean became so popular four years ago was because his campaign leveraged emerging technology to help build a sense of community and facilitate his supporters connecting with each other. Blog for America and MeetUp were key components of that campaign. The other leading Democratic candidates understand this. Why doesn't Governor Richardson?
Mark my words (I love getting dramatic like this), if Bill Richardson has any intention of moving up out of the second tier, he must leverage established and emerging internet technologies so we, his supporters, can start building the kind of grassroots communities absolutely vital to his success. I've already e-mailed the campaign with that suggestion, but never received a response.
Come on, Gov, get smart with your online campaign!
Labels: Bill Richardson, Pres-08, social networking, success, web developers
Sunday, March 18, 2007
i knew this would happen
I get a lot of good-natured ribbing from friends and strangers alike for my stalwart refusal to join MySpace and lend credibility (which they earn through sheer volume of subscribers) to a web presence owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, the same parent company that started and owns the Fox "News" Channel.
MySpace is well on its way to becoming just another arm of the vast right-wing noise machine that the right has been building for the past 40 years. To wit: today it was announced that MySpace is launching a "politics channel" ahead of the 2008 Presidential elections.
MySpace claims it will offer profiles of five candidates from each party. I am happy to take bets on those profiles being skewed to a flattering light for the Republicans while making the Democrats each look like the second coming of Stalin.
So if it's just the same to you, I will continue my boycott of this element of Rupert Murdoch's evil empire.
MySpace is well on its way to becoming just another arm of the vast right-wing noise machine that the right has been building for the past 40 years. To wit: today it was announced that MySpace is launching a "politics channel" ahead of the 2008 Presidential elections.
MySpace claims it will offer profiles of five candidates from each party. I am happy to take bets on those profiles being skewed to a flattering light for the Republicans while making the Democrats each look like the second coming of Stalin.
So if it's just the same to you, I will continue my boycott of this element of Rupert Murdoch's evil empire.
Labels: personal, Pres-08, Rupert Murdoch's evil empire, social networking
Saturday, December 23, 2006
miriam's great big beautiful adventure
Still not really wanting to be absorbed into the MySpace evil empire, I popped over to see if I could find my friend Miriam's blog to read it without signing up. As luck would have it, I can read up on her adventures in NYC without selling my soul.
I always knew Miss M could write, but I never knew what an incredibly talented scribe she is. She's in New York visiting her sister (hi Ryvka!) and all her friends who she claims have deserted her by moving to the city. And now she's contemplating moving there too.
I'd miss her terribly, but I think it could be a good move for her. New York City is a frenetic, vibrant metropolis that I think would really suit her. I'd of course be terribly bitter and jealous, but I can also be a supportive friend. Really. I know I could.
I anxiously await Miriam's return to Tucson so she can regale me with all her wild tales of adventure and drunken revelry. Until then, keep living the dream, Miss M, keep living the dream!
I always knew Miss M could write, but I never knew what an incredibly talented scribe she is. She's in New York visiting her sister (hi Ryvka!) and all her friends who she claims have deserted her by moving to the city. And now she's contemplating moving there too.
I'd miss her terribly, but I think it could be a good move for her. New York City is a frenetic, vibrant metropolis that I think would really suit her. I'd of course be terribly bitter and jealous, but I can also be a supportive friend. Really. I know I could.
I anxiously await Miriam's return to Tucson so she can regale me with all her wild tales of adventure and drunken revelry. Until then, keep living the dream, Miss M, keep living the dream!
Labels: Miriam, New York, personal, Rupert Murdoch's evil empire, social networking
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
any web developers out there?
Since I'm Time's Person of the Year, I might as well take advantage of my newfound fame and embark on new projects.
I had what I think is an original idea during my morning meditation, but I'd need somebody with a lot more techno-savvy than me to help pull it off. If I'm correct, this new web-based networking tool could dramatically shift the way people give and receive gifts for holidays, birthdays and other occasions.
So if you want to get in on the ground floor and you have some programmer or developer knowledge, please get in touch with me: michael -at- m2powered -dot- com
I had what I think is an original idea during my morning meditation, but I'd need somebody with a lot more techno-savvy than me to help pull it off. If I'm correct, this new web-based networking tool could dramatically shift the way people give and receive gifts for holidays, birthdays and other occasions.
So if you want to get in on the ground floor and you have some programmer or developer knowledge, please get in touch with me: michael -at- m2powered -dot- com
Labels: gift giving, social networking, web developers
