Avatar photoSteven Savage

News Of The Day 10/24/2011

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Financial sadness, an ngry Steve Jobs, an aggressive Netflix – it's quite a day today!

Economics/Geekonomics:
There's a new analysis of the way MERS created all sorts of title problems. It's not just the mistaken foreclosures, it can make selling a house difficult as well, and create problems for purchasers. If you're up for reading the full report, good, but if not at least read the executive summary. This is good to know economically, but for econogeeks and techs, imagine the opportunities out there to unwind this mess . . .

Comics:
Aspen comics adds fan participation to a new comic. Should be interesting to watch.

B&N replaces it's DC stock with AD 2000 and related material. Not sure how well this will do, but as we're on the fourth or fifth "British Invasion" I'm not sure.

Publishing:
Penguin has a digital-first imprint coming though this comes from the romance perspective. Hopefully we'll hear more soon – and that's a venerable publisher going digital-first.

Social Media:
Google+ is going to integrate with Blogger. Just a bit of news.

Technology:
The late Steve Jobs was incredibly angry at Google and ready to go to war over Android as he felt it ripped them off (and I get the impression may have broached what was seen as a territorial agreement). We have an idea of Apple's focus – and a lot more exposure about the mercurial Mr. Jobs.  So is the battle going to continue with his death?

Television:
Where are the family friendly shows? A gap in television is explored. Might indicate some useful opportunities – but also is food for thought on television trends.

Video:
Netflix is going to be in the U.K. and Ireland in 2012. World domination continues – and you may want to see what oppos are in your country. Also remember in the U.K. they're up against Amazon-owned Lovefilm.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: So, where are the family-friendly entertainments? Is there a market?

– Steven Savage

Promoting Professional Geekery #9: Build a Site

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(I've moved this series to Monday, since it's a way to encourage you for the week to come – and a good lead in before we know the news of the week).

Want to share your legacy and enthusiasm for professional geekery?  Start a web page.

Oh, I'm not talking a blog – though it may be part of it.  I'm talking a page that has and does something for people you want to reach, mentor, encourage, or just kick in the backside until they get their progeek on.

I'm talking a page that is a tool.  A page that does something.  A page that is basically an application or a library or something that lets people get something done.  Say . . .

  • Maybe an archival page filled with useful advice, lessons, diagrams, what have you for a given profession.
  • A blog/archive where people swap and record advice.
  • A useful interactive map of services, locations, clubs, etc.
  • A calculator, destination-finder, or planner of some kind.
  • Snippets of code, useful stuff, etc.
  • A "compiler" that combines several sites (social media, code archives, what have you) in one place for various projects, lessons, etc.
  • A site documenting a continual project – and it's continual educational benefits for progeeks.

Ask yourself what people need – and then build it.  Or team up with someone to build it.  You get the idea.

What do you get from it?

  • You get to create a unique service for people.
  • You get to make that service available.
  • You get to learn a lot from deploying it.
  • It can combine well with other projects – like speaking or writing.
  • It looks good on a  resume.

Making a site is easier than ever, from a repurposed blog to Joomla to template-driven creators.  Teamed up with (or being) a web developer and the sky's the limit.

Set your sights on a site and help share your professionally geeky wisdom and knowledge!

– Steven Savage