July 31, 2006
Blogher 06 on KRON 4
Brian Shields reports for KRON 4 on the Blogher Conference MySpace.com
Posted by Brian at 11:04 AM | Comments (10) | TrackBack (0)
July 28, 2006
Blogher - Flickr Photoblogs
It's been a while since we photoblogged TBAiT, I know I know it's been a while since I've done anything on TBAiT (thanks Sophie for carrying the torch)
But there's already a Blogher 06 tag up on Flickr. Let's take a look at a few...
TAGS: Blogher 2006>
Posted by Brian at 03:10 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Revving Up the Blogher
Also congrats to Lisa, Elisa, Jory, and the entire Blogher team for scoring a front page profile in today's San Jose Mercury News.
The birth of BlogHer sheds some light into how women use technology differently. Last year, a group of female bloggers held a one-day conference; 300 people showed up. They created a Web page where they could meet and discuss issues. And now, the organization BlogHer.org has several conferences a year complete with corporate sponsors. The group launched an ad network recently for more than 30 parenting bloggers with advertisers such as Elexa by Trojan, Disney and Intuit.``BlogHer the conference became BlogHer the community and then BlogHer the business,'' said Elisa Camahort, BlogHer's co-founder and a former high-tech product manager.
BlogHer, based in Palo Alto, aims to be the Yellow Pages and TV Guide for female bloggers. While any woman can submit her blog, all blogs are reviewed before added to the community.
Nice recognition... right under the Grand Prix coverage on the front page.
TAGS: http://technorati.com/tag/blogher+2006
Posted by Brian at 02:57 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Blogher - The Morning Sessions
As I mentioned I didn't make it down the peninsula past the Grand Prix folks until lunchtime today.
But if you want to get an idea of what went on this morning, check out the terrific live blogging from our friend Susan Mernit..
Susan focuses on the spirit in the air of Blogher.
It's the second annual BlogHer conference and not only is the 600+ audience 90% women, some of them have kids in tow, from babies in arms to toddlers nibbling fruit.. When you see at least five different women walk by, each of them holding a child by one hand, and a laptop in the other, you know this ain't no boys club --au contraire, it's the epitome of open source journalism--lots of the women here just plain don't go to tech conferences--but they come to this one.
Susan also sat in Lisa Stone's writing for blogs session...while right now I'm getting some great information from Elise Bauer on how to build audience for your blog.
The energy here really is terrific.
TAGS: http://technorati.com/tag/blogher+2006
Posted by Brian at 02:43 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)
Welcome to Blogher 2006
The coolest event in the Blogosphere is back and I'm happy to say I'm finally at Blogher, 2006!
Unfortunately I missed the morning sessions but right now I'm sitting in a fascinating lunch session focusing on tagging and Flickr. So far questions have focused on how tagging sites help to create and facilitate the expansion of communities where none were previously apparent. If you're at Blogher please stop by and say Hi (I'm the big guy with a beard in a KRON hat)
There's a lot more to come... I will be live blogging from Blogher both today and tomorrow so please strap in, put your tray tables in an upright postition, and enjoy Blogher 2006.
TAGS: Blogher 2006,
Posted by Brian at 12:33 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
June 14, 2006
Remember the Good Ole Days of TBAiT?
Remember how it was last year when I had a full-time news producer keeping KRON4.com up to date and I could spend time here everyday blogging about the great stuff on our aggregator?
Well it looks like the Good Ole Days are coming back. But first I need your help.
We have just posted a job opening both on our web page and on Craigslist for a full-time Internet News Producer to work on both KRON4.com and TBAiT. Do you know someone who would be a good fit for this position? I'm looking for someone who is more of a news writer and content person than a geek... although an interest and aptitude for things like Flash, Photoshop, Moveable Type, etc. would be much appreciated.
This is an entry-level style job perfect for a recent college grad who wants to break into the media. And as you know, we are the Mainstream Media Outlet that "Gets It"...
If you know someone who fits this bill have him or her e-mail me or e-mail our HR department (or both)
Thanks
Brian "Remember Me?" Shields
Posted by Brian at 07:01 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack (1)
May 24, 2006
Exit Exam - A Necessity?
Concern about the quality of academia in the US has been mounting. Now the evidence speaks for itself. High School students are failing their exit exams and people are left wondering who is to blame. Chris Lopez has more.
Now that the state Supreme Court has stepped in to say California can proceed with requiring the graduating class of 2006 to pass its exit exam in order to get a diploma, I have these questions: How many seniors will not receive a diploma as a result of this action? If you failed the exit exam but have enough class credits to graduate, can you still graduate and just not get a diploma? Can you still get a GED without passing the state exit exam? These are the types of questions we'll look to answer in our coverage Thursday and the follow-up coverage we provide. I'm sure parents and students have other questions.
Exam Exam,
High School Diploma
Posted by Sophie at 06:49 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack (1)
May 15, 2006
More Advertising
Today advertising in America is BIG BUSINESS. Let's face it, entertainment is one of the saving graces for our economy. So as much as people criticize the smog filled city of LA with all the hyped up stars residing in the hills; movies, advertising and entertainment is still a constant income in which the country can count on.
Advertising is asking us to become even more engaged today than ever before. Cell phones are the new device for tracking demographics and local interests. So when you go to the movies be warned, you may be asked to rate the advertisements you have viewed via your cell phone. CinemaTech has more
The text messages will ask cellphone users about specific products, brands and services that appeared during the theater visit, perhaps in an ad before the movie or in a product placement. Or, the studios could use the technology to get an instant reading on the response to blockbuster films on opening weekends.
Nielsen wants to use text messaging, because of the instant feedback it produces, long before the moviegoer goes home and is influenced by other marketing messages.
Personally I want to remain as anonymous as possible. I try not "absorb" advertising but I wonder how much become an unconscious / subconscious inclination towards purchasing, the more we are subjected to it. I don't want to tell advertisers what they are doing right or wrong, that's their job and I don't want to be a guinea pig in their plans to sell, Sell< SELL! (someone's cynical today)??!!!!
Advertising Ratings on Cell Phone,
Posted by Sophie at 01:37 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
More Advertising
Today advertising in America is BIG BUSINESS. Let's face it, entertainment is one of the saving graces for our economy. So as much as people criticize the smog filled city of LA with all the hyped up stars residing in the hills; movies, advertising and entertainment is still a constant income in which the country can count on.
Advertising is asking us to become even more engaged today than ever before. Cell phones are the new device for tracking demographics and local interests. So when you go to the movies be warned, you may be asked to rate the advertisements you have viewed via your cell phone. CinemaTech has more
The text messages will ask cellphone users about specific products, brands and services that appeared during the theater visit, perhaps in an ad before the movie or in a product placement. Or, the studios could use the technology to get an instant reading on the response to blockbuster films on opening weekends.
Nielsen wants to use text messaging, because of the instant feedback it produces, long before the moviegoer goes home and is influenced by other marketing messages.
Personally I want to remain as anonymous as possible. I try not "absorb" advertising but I wonder how much become an unconscious / subconscious inclination towards purchasing, the more we are subjected to it. I don't want to tell advertisers what they are doing right or wrong, that's their job and I don't want to be a guinea pig in their plans to sell, Sell< SELL! (someone's cynical today)??!!!!
Advertising Ratings on Cell Phone
Posted by Sophie at 01:37 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Sony Stepping Up
Hmm, I like what I see, but as technology becomes more intricate and offers more features, I question the lifetime of the device. Once people drop something so high tech the device often breaks so what next?
Fore more info jkOnTheRun has the link!
Would you buy it?
Posted by Sophie at 01:25 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
May 09, 2006
Oily Politics
California Conservative analyzes the oil for food negotiations and abuses that has taken place over a number of years. Now that oil is in limited supply and the US is in desperate need to find some kind of sustainable fuel, the agreements and politics surrounding the purchase and use of oil needs to be monitored closely.
The US news media continue to yawn over the UN scandal involving participants in the Oil for Food Program. In fairness, only part of the reason is the media’s hesitancy to criticize an organization that is practically sacrosanct in the view of liberals. A large part of the media’s failure to report on the UN malfeasance is that it is such a complicated case of fraud, duplicity and mendacity that reporters find themselves incapable of dumbing down the story for human consumption.In 1996, the United Nations (UN) Security Council and Iraq began the Oil for Food program to address Iraq’s humanitarian situation after sanctions were imposed in 1990. More than $67 billion in oil revenue was obtained through the program, with $31 billion in humanitarian assistance delivered to Iraq. The 2005 Defense Authorization Act mandated that GAO review the Oil for Food program.
What are your thoughts on this matter? Should we take a passive position? What should the American Public do?
I appreciate the comment by Len Floyd about boycotting gas stations, but how can we be sure that it is affecting the gas company or just the store.
Oil and Politics, Oil for Food
Posted by Sophie at 03:18 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Graduation for Sophie
Yes, indeed, the time has almost arrived, (next Friday), "free day" aka Free from College! Friday is the day in which I get to walk across the stage at USF and receive my degree, all the while basking in the glory of...yeah, just daydreaming. Seriously though, I am finishing up on my finals and will be more consistent blogging in the near future!!
Thank you all for the great comments and I look forward to more!
Sophie.
Posted by Sophie at 01:29 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
May 02, 2006
Birds Eye View
I have to give rangelife credit for posting some of the most amazing pictures of the Mexican Immigration Protests yesterday.
Imagine being in an office, peering down at a sea of protestors!
Check this out.
Immigration Protests San Franscisco
Posted by Sophie at 03:47 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)
Neutral Control?
You forgot Poland discusses a very important point for our rights on the Internet. Conglomerates and large corporations are continuing to wield their power and now have their sights set on the Internet. The new "Net Neutrality Act" is another way for corporations to limit and control our access to information. We all need to be aware and participate in public discussion around this issue. The Internet needs to be reserved for the pubic and be a place free from corporate tight holds.
So by now you've all heard of Net Neutrality and how Congress is considering a major overhaul of the Telecommunications Act next week.Net Neutrality ensures that all users can access the content or run the applications and devices of their choice. With Net Neutrality, the network's only job is to move data — not choose which data to privilege with higher quality service.
In a nutshell, big media and telecom companies want to get a larger and larger share of the pie, controlling what web sites we view --- or not --- depending on who pays them more. Internet for the highest bidder, essentially. Spoon-feeding us their content, rather than us seeking it out for ourselves. Just think of the implications.
In a world in which big media and telecom already own large portions of network news, print journalism, etc., the Internet is the seemingly last bastion of free speech and a true "marketplace of ideas."
Internet Neutrality Act, Future of the Internet
Posted by Sophie at 02:57 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
May 01, 2006
Immigrants Take to the Streets
Some of you will either be watching it from the TV, your house or perhaps you are even participating in the protest. Today the streets of San Francisco are filled with Hispanic immigrants and supporter's rallying for rights and protection in the US. Here is a graphic from 1ero This is from badgerbag
What do you think? Should illegal immigrants stay in the US and be granted the rights that legal citizens have? What is the future for the Hispanic population living and working in the US?
Posted by Sophie at 03:25 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)
April 25, 2006
GAS - Need I say more?!
As a graduating student living in San Francisco, I am aware of the love/ hate relationship we are developing with our vehicles and the gas pump. While having a car is a necessity, how much is too much? How much money are we prepared to fork out? I am going to continue to avoid buying a car in the near future. But for people who have to commute long distances or want to go on a vacation, how many sacrifices can one make? Chris Lopez's Weblog has more info:
We have this ongoing discussion on gasoline prices, the forum generated from a commentary this morning by features writer Joan Morris who brings some levity to the situation. On my family's recent car trip to Colorado, we hit gas prices ranging from $2.29 in Nevada to $2.89 in my hometown of Alamosa, CO. At some point, you have make a personal decision of how you're going to get around and what you're willing to pay and put up with when it comes to gas prices. You have to re-examine your personal budget and make decisions on what you can cut out of your life so you can keep driving.
Of course in America, we are paying less than the rest of the world for gas and use more than the average country. But with increasing bridge tolls, going up to $5, parking, maintenance etc... It certainly makes one less inclined towards a motor vehicle. We need to focus on sustainable development in all areas of energy dependence. The last thing we need to do is destroy our protected lands in Alaska and continue to ruin other countries land and destory people's homes. As President Bush said, "Keeping America competitive requires affordable energy. And here we have a serious problem: America is addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world."
--President George W. Bush, 2006 State of the Union Address
This is not a solution.
Posted by Sophie at 03:46 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)
April 23, 2006
Hells Angels in Trouble?
I grew up in awe of the Hells Angels, deemed one of the badest affiliations of modern times, these guys and girls share more than their common love for Harley Davidson's, they share their lives. According to Portrero hill SF some of the Hells Angels leaders are now sharing the blame. More:
The clubhouse of the San Francisco chapter of the Hells Angels motorcycle club is located on Tennessee Street in the Potrero Hill neighborhood of Dogpatch.This past Thursday, FBI agents broke down doors of the house and arrested the club’s president, Joseph “Joey” Wilson, 35, and the club’s sergeant at arms, Jason “JB” Peterson, 32. Authorities said they found a pound of methamphetamine in the garage of a home that abuts the clubhouse.
According to SF Chronicle In the past some of the Hells Angel's members have been caught with other illegal substances like marijuana and cocaine.
SF Chronicle:
FBI spokeswoman LaRae Quy said today that she could not discuss the investigation or confirm who was arrested, as the indictments related to the case remain sealed.She did confirm that a total of 11 suspects had been arrested and were in federal custody by midday, with four still being sought and another in state custody.
I still love their motorcycles!
Arrest at Hells Angels Club House
Posted by Sophie at 02:39 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
April 21, 2006
Democrats Unite?
California Conservative offers some quotes from some Democrats and Party Members. As California Conservative cites the title of Associated Press Writer, Liz Sidoti entitled her article, "Deomcrats: No Single Message Sums Us Up."
California Conservative extracts some pertinent quotes:
“It’s not that we don’t stand for anything, it’s that sometimes we stand for everything,” said Barry Rubin, executive director of the Nebraska Democratic Party. Rubin said the stand-for-everything approach invites GOP criticism.You can’t write stuff this good unless if your name is Scott Ott. It gets better:
(Snip)
Before they can have an answer, don’t they have to have a clue first?
Then there’s this:
Janice Brunson, a DNC member from Arizona, said the Democratic Party has a clear message for 2006, but she struggled to explain it. “The problem is we don’t have a two- or three-word slogan that pops out,” she said.
Let me offer a clear, concise slogan for these tongue-tied twits: “We’re clueless but we talk smart.”
On the other hand, perhaps Democrats have a muti-pronged spectrum of issues in which they have yet to collectively enforce. Just as any issues arise, especially community issues, or even the recent immigration protests, Democrats and citizens are reaching out for a collective voice rather than just one small party or community struggling to be heard.
Posted by Sophie at 04:07 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Earth Day - What Are You Going To Do?
Earth Day, I had to educate myself on the origins of Earth Day:
By Senator Gaylord Nelson, Founder of Earth Day
What was the purpose of Earth Day? How did it start? These are the questions I am most frequently asked.Actually, the idea for Earth Day evolved over a period of seven years starting in 1962. For several years, it had been troubling me that the state of our environment was simply a non-issue in the politics of the country. Finally, in November 1962, an idea occurred to me that was, I thought, a virtual cinch to put the environment into the political "limelight" once and for all. The idea was to persuade President Kennedy to give visibility to this issue by going on a national conservation tour.
(Snip)
Earth Day worked because of the spontaneous response at the grassroots level. We had neither the time nor resources to organize 20 million demonstrators and the thousands of schools and local communities that participated. That was the remarkable thing about Earth Day. It organized itself.
After educating myself I returned to TechiDiva's blog on recyclying our technological goods. There are even some incentives from local stores which will recyle your old computer if you purchase another one:
Although local organizations conduct special Earth Day eCycling drives, many familiar corporations have recycling programs in place that go on all year long. Some go so far as to give you credit towards your next purchase.Here is a list of those companies:
Circuit City will trade your old gear in exchange for gift cards.
IBM offers 3X disk overwrites (worth $22 per system) and a Buyback Program.
Dell will recycle your old computer free of charge when you purchase a new Dell computer.
HP'sTrade-In Program also gives you credit towards your new purchase.
If you know of any other companies that offer recycling incentives let us know here. You can also check out the companies participating in Rethink's program and EPA's Pass it On week events .
What a good idea...
Posted by Sophie at 03:46 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
DMV - Reducing Wait Time
We are all frustrated about going to our local DMV, only to wait for a number and then wait for your call. The DMV can be an afternoon activity, and can leave you tired and frustrated. WombatNation: has an alternative perspective:
I never thought I would write “fast” and “DMV” in the same sentence (other than, perhaps, “I conducted an involuntary fast while waiting all day at the DMV”), but I was actually in and out of there in 10 minutes today while renewing my Driver’s License. In fact, the whole DMV experience was pretty damn good.First, I made an appointment online at the Oakland Coliseum DMV office. The online form for making appointments was really easy to use. You could see the current wait times at some of the nearby offices, view maps for the offices, find out the earliest available time slot, and more. On a Tuesday afternoon, I was able to get a 9am Thursday slot.
I highly recommend the morning weekday slots at the Oakland Coliseum DMV office. The parking lot was almost deserted.
For San Franciscans, try the DMV by Buena Vista Park, near Height Street. I have gone in the morning and it took me about 30 minutes.
Posted by Sophie at 03:03 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (1)
April 19, 2006
Immigration Impact
California Conservative writes about the potential "Day Without a Mexican" idea, in which Mexicans will essentially boycott all services and work, to highlight the American dependence on their labor. But as CC points out, the issue with illegal immigrants is only the tip of the ice berg. Americans are lazy, they do not utilize their children or themselves as a means to get through daily chores. The issue has gotten out of hand, and while I believe Americans need to get off their couches or protest their insane work schedules, we should stop denying that the Mexican population makes up much of demographics and they deserve to better their lives too. California Conservative analyzes the situation from his perspective:
Frankly, this whole illegal alien debacle is an excellent opportunity to examine that part of the bigger problem is that as a nation we have allowed this immigration mess to happen by getting lazy ourselves. The generation of the self-reliant has been replaced by a generation of the self-medicating who cannot envision a world without a drive-through instead of a drive-in. The go-go-go world of 21st century America has become addicted to its cell phones, its TiVo, and its remote control for every electronic device in the home. Its time to wake up and realize that if we consent to outsource the labor needed to complete our own chores, then unwelcome consequences will occur.
Posted by Sophie at 06:10 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)