Writer, Agilist, Elder Geek
PROS:
* A site that has news on fantasy, sci-fi, comics, science, and more.
* Occasional articles about career issues, ranging from science to writing.
* A great editorial staff and writers.
CONS:
* None
SUMMARY: What, you aren't going to io9 already?
Tablets are a-coming, plenty of venture capital is flying around, and the Old Spice Social Media campaign is the campaign that your campaign could smell like! It's must-know geek news time!
Economics/Geekonomics:
More seniors working or looking for work than teens these days. Wow. Demographic disorder. Read for more insight – I'm not sure what to say.
This came to my attention via other blogs: fraud in foreclosure cases, at least in Florida. I'm not sure how widespread this is, but cases like this further increase sympathy for people with home ownership problems, and decrease trust of those handling foreclosures – further.
Stress tests for European Banks coming, but delays may happen for some stats and info. Yeah. How shocking.
Total Econongeekery: what supermodels tell us about bad assets. In short, social value. Wow. Great read.
Location:
Can the move from homeownership to rental help revitalize urban areas? A very interesting question.
Internet:
ZocDoc gets $15 million investment. They make online doctor scheduling applications. That may sound, well, lame, but consider that online apps are big, and doctors have a lot to keep track of. My dentist uses online services already, and they've made life easier on her, her staff, and me. They're also in NY, which positions them well. Maybe they need your resume . . .
Web publishing company Squarespace raises $38.5 million. Wow. I've heard of them but never explored their offerings, but apparently someone is ready to help them go up against others. They also appear to have some good clients and nice prices. And again, $38.5 million? Sounds like they've got something special. Also as web presence is more important all the time, I see companies like this having a good future.
Mobile:
Mashable's ideas on what Apple should do to deal with the iPhone 4 problems.
Social Media:
This is me on the internet. This is me posting an article on how the Old Spice Spokeshunk is making personalized videos. Now I'm noting this is a great example of using social media. Now you're reading this.
Technology:
Velocity Micro to introduce a $300 Android Tablet with a 7" display. It's also only 6 weeks away from shipping . . . that means we get to see how Android devices compete with the iPad. Public reaction and impressions will be important.
More details on the Acer Tablets.
Apple acquires mapping tech company Poly9. Their own non-Google Nav software is on the way?
Video:
Hulu Plus Playstation Preview will be available to some. So. Go try it. Let us know what it's like!
Video Games:
Rhode Island discusses a $75 million loan to lure online game company 38 Studios. Looks like RI is taking a tip from Toronto and other places that want to lure the power of gaming into their location . . . and their tax base. That's a hefty chunk of money (maybe too hefty in these tough times), so let's see what happens. Could RI become a gaming powerhouse?
QUESTION OF THE DAY: What's the next state to follow Rhode Island's lead?
– Steven Savage
"Fansourcing" is a term I use for calling upon your fellow fans, geeks, and otaku for your various business, career, and personal ventures – designing your business cards, helping with your website, and so on. It's something I strive to practice because it helps friends, builds relations, and lets me call upon considerable talents.
However, Fansourcing is not just something you can practice for yourself. You can help others with it – and it's a great way to encore networking
Know someone working on a website? Refer the people that do your online portfolio or con website to them. You help out both friends – and help them get to know each other.
Know someone trying to get a book done? Hook up that person who edited your self-published book with them. Everyone wins. (I of course speak from experience here).
Don't just think of it as a chance to put together two people who need each other. Sure that's good and all, but you also have a chance to help people use and develop that all-important job skill of networking. You can encourage them to build connections by showing them how it works – by helping do some fansourcing.
So next time you find someone looking for some help and realize you can fansource some efforts for them, remember you're not just helping two people get some work done (or find work). You're teaching the value of networking.
– Steven Savage