Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Help Jerry Get a Blog!
I am a huge fan of Jerry Saltz … and have actively been following his posts on Facebook. He is trying to blog, but using FB rather than a blogging tool. Naturally, this has become frustrating because of FB limitations. (It is not good for having over 5000 followers, not good for long-form posting, not good for unlimited comments, not indexable by Search Engines). I want his writing to be more open to the rest of the world.
I asked him on FB if there were any contractual reasons for not having a blog … he said “no.” And that the reason he doesn’t have a blog is because he “doesn’t know how any of this stuff works.” Ok, well I know 5000 people that would be happy to help.
Jerry, if you don’t have a personal friend you trust that can help you set up a blog, I will personally volunteer to do this for free. And to provide any lessons, whenever you need for free. Anyone who knows how easy blogging is, realizes this is not that generous an offer.
I realize he is starting a FB group with an “open status,” but this is difficult to interact with or link to. (Non-Facebook users cannot comment and archives are impossible). He has put some work into this, so perhaps he does not have motivation to start a blog? But it really is the best medium for what he is trying to do.
Anyway, I am raising a stink only because I am a huge fan.
Update: I also believe someone like Jerry deserves to be compensated for his writing via ads or sponsorship. Someone as famous as him could potentially make good money blogging. This is not possible on Facebook. It’s hard to believe that he does not have any friends providing him sound tech/business advice?
Update 2: I have just made a more detailed post about this topic on Glasstire here.The message is not really about Mr. Saltz anymore, rather I am to clarify technical misconceptions about Facebook and blogging.
posted by cjagers at 02:40pm 3 comments
Monday, June 29, 2009
Follow Me on Twitter
I started a Twitter account as an experiment, to learn about the popular service. I post interesting resources/links several times a day, so follow along. I will write about my opinions of the service later, when I have more of an informed opinion. My initial reaction is a little negative; it seems like everyone is talking and noone is listening. And the large numbers of followers are mostly spammers hoping you will return the favor of following.
On the other hand, I have found it a very efficient way to follow many people who I do find interesting … so there is promise.
posted by cjagers at 01:52pm Add comment
Friday, June 19, 2009
Mobile Revolution: Interview with Dean Terry
I have just posted Part 1/2 of my interview with Dean Terry on Glasstire.com. Here is an excerpt:
“With the emerging generation of mobile platforms, everything has changed. With this change brings shifts in perspective and expectation about “where” our media is, and where we are. It also changes how we think of our connections to other people, and the nature of these connections. In a sense, you are carrying your network of people around with you all the time. You are co-present with them and able to share a variety of information, both intimate and environmental. In some ways this group is like an extension of your own mind. Thoughts and ideas can be developed in real time among a group of collaborators.”
Update: Part 2/2 is posted here.
posted by cjagers at 04:36pm Add comment
Monday, June 15, 2009
Wouter’s World 2
Wouter has been posting more incredible photographs. The ones above are 360 degree views stitched together to form a planet look, very cool! Click on the images for a larger view and exquisite detail.
posted by cjagers at 01:40pm Add comment
Monday, June 15, 2009
Artists already have many entreprenuerial characteristics.
Starting a business takes more than just business-skill (although that must be developed at some point). It takes a variety of personal characteristics that most artists already embody. Many people with “Ideas” don’t take the plunge because of some intimidating hurdle (like they don’t know how to write a business plan, raise money or something else which is probably easy to learn). So I would like to focus on those traits which turn out to be very difficult, but artists already do well:
1) Know how to live cheaply. They are accustomed to creating a cool lifestyle without spending much money. This is essential for any start-up. The founders cannot be taking huge salaries and rob the company of essential funds for growth. Rather, the founders must be content living with low expensens for a few years. It is surprising how many business people are incapable of doing this.
2) Have a passion for making things. Making a product/business is requires much of the same temperament as making an art object. One must be willing to:
- enjoy creating something from scratch
- enjoy the process of trial & error
- have the stamina for 15 hour days
- engineer things with sensitivity for how it will affect a larger audience
- be flexible enough to experiment
- be strong enough to survive setbacks.
3) Think outside the box. More important than having a “great idea” for a business, is the ability to be creative once a business is underway. When you start with no money, no connections, no advantages … you still have to figure out how to progress. This means taking every advantage of new technologies (which are free), not having any waste and figuring out how accomplish things outside the normal channels of doing things. This is where innovation is born.
posted by cjagers at 10:55am Add comment
