Asshole: Live blogging in Real Time

I’m in a bad mood so i’ve decided to liveblog me being an asshole. Yeah, fucking revolutionary huh?

6:31 pm. Changed my facebook status to “Phillip Allen just de-friended Don Bailey on facebook. Only REAL, rappers are allowed to on my wall son

6:41: Vernon Davis has his own diet? Maybe he should come up with his own learn how to catch the fucking football book next?

6:47: Probably the gayest thing I’ve heard all day. SCary’s facebook status: “just has to brag a little bit more. Guess who got a first edition of “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” by Julia Child for Christmas? THIS GUY!!”

6:50pm- An Aim Conversation

Mr. Awesome: so when you get pregnant are you going to stop wearing shoes?

Hannah0913: i barely wear shoes as it is. Only when in public

Mr. Awesome: damn right

Hannah0913:shoes are for people who go do things. i stay at home

Mr. Awesome:…that was dare I say facebookable

Hannah0913: whatever

Mr. Awesome: that was a compliment!

Hannah0913: must be a slow week for yo u

Mr. Awesome: you just dont like talking to me unless im putting you down and insulting your boobs

typical woman

Mr. Awesome: IM NOT A PIECE OF MEAT THAT YOU CAN USE FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT

Hannah0913: Now  have to go home and ask my husband if my boobs are saggy to help build my self esteem

[Via http://thechairman66.wordpress.com]

Regulations on social media in school

Should there be an age-limit on accessing and using social media? Many educators, parents and government sectors have strong opinions on the destructive nature of social media access to students.

Although there has been, and will continue to be, tremendous amount of debate surrounding the issue, I think it necessary to acknowledge that social media can and has provided both constructive and destructive value to the general populace. When brought into an educators’ medium, it poses additional threats, and offers tempting opportunities for collaboration. It is then, unsurprising, that this topic has undergone so much debate.

The primary constructive benefit of emerging media is the tantalizing possibilities it offers in connecting students within schools, and even between schools. Intra and Inter-school engagement between students can engage students with their academics in a truly revolutionary way, providing educators with a more aware, and open-minded student set.

The destructive benefit is far more threatening though. Exposing students in schools to engage with social media is opening a new portal for wayward behavior – it can and probably already has resulted in the sharing of non-educational material. Since there is no content filter on Twitter, Facebook or Youtube, this can result in far more leniency and destructive behavior amongst students if allowed.

Proponents of social media in schools as well as critics have valid arguments. Perhaps the solution lies (as it often does) in balancing between the two extremes. Like Facebook when it first started, perhaps a new social media portal restricted to a student pool would provide most value. Developing applications intended to encourage discussion, debate and knowledge sharing can lead students to educate each other, thus enhancing their educational experience. Does such an application exist? If not, what are the constraints to developing such an application? It  will allows students to mingle socially, but has a primarily educational purpose – has something like this been tried?

After the success of educating through traditional media (Sesame Street, Blues Clues etc.), digital media probably can provide great value if the destructive threats are eliminated through a filtered content and streamlined application.

[Via http://vidyaven.wordpress.com]

What Does Your Perfect Client Look Like?

Can you imagine, in your mind, what your perfect client looks like?  Who is a client so ideal that if you could clone them you would be booked solid?  In marketing everyone calls this our target market, but is our target market changing in our New Economy?  In the senior market we have to deal with the idea of marketing to and shooting for different target markets (the senior and the parent).  Now we have third target market introduced into our marketing targets (in this new economy) and that is the Grand-Parents.  More than ever before we are having seniors bringing in their parent for their session, but the grandparent coming into the viewing to pay for the portraits.  If 40 to 50-year-old parents of seniors are having to turn to their parents at 65 to 75 to pay for portraits, I can imagine this is even more common with younger families that have smaller children.

I never thought I would see the day come when seniors would be telling parents and grandparents they really don’t need wallets!  Senior portraits used to be an expected expense of a student’s senior year, now there are many seniors that want premium portraits having to ask for them as a birthday or Christmas Present.  I don’t think the people we photograph will change but until the economy drastically improves, I think the people paying for the portraits we take will be changing and remember where there is change there is opportunity.

Realizing that many seniors are now having to request senior portraits be a present  for a birthday or Christmas (or in some cases both) we have started marketing more toward the “perfect gift” theme.  Since Grandma is now thrown into the mix of our target audience we make sure to include at least one cap & gown image as well as a few more traditional senior portraits into our information to satisfy grandma’s more traditional taste.  As our predominate buyers changes we need to change our marketing to include them or we can easily lose them to another studio that does.

You have to find and address the predominate buyer (the one that holds the purse strings) and see how dominate they are in the decisions that are made.  In our family campaign we are working on we have included a few portraits with grandparents added, since they seem to have the most discretionary money to spend and a portrait with grandma’s money is more likely to be taken.  We have even added a few portraits of seniors not only with a parent, but also their grandparent as a way to include those that will be paying the bill!

As a business person you must identify who your target market is exactly, know who’s is the predominate buyer is (the one making the decisions) and then who will be the one paying for the portraits.  You may be lucky and in your market that may still be one person, if not you need to find ways to get your messages out to all of your targeted markets with a message skued to fit their taste.  If you don’t know this basic information you are not targeting you message, you are doing what everyone else is doing and the person you are following probably doesn’t know any more than you!

[Via http://jeffsmithbooks.wordpress.com]

Have Music Instrument and iPhone Will Travel!

Technology. It allows us to multi-task, entertain ourselves, learn, play and organize. One of the great things about technology today is that we can travel and market ourselves in so many ways all at the same time. The way technology works these days, we’re not just stuck at a desk to do all this.

For musicians, technology in the form of social media can transcend geography. On the iPhone and iTouch musicians can add to their list of tools. Have a music intrument and iPhone will travel.

Geography doesn’t matter anymore. Sitting at an airport in Georgia with your guitar and iPhone? Record a riff and send it to your social media center and Riff Raters. Get it heard in San Diego. By Monday you could win a prize and have thousands of followers.

Musicians now are no longer constrained by promoting their music in their small town or big city. Technology now allows musicians to be heard anywhere and everywhere.

www.riffraters.com

[Via http://frankiemarketing.wordpress.com]

De-Criminalizing Children

Every day children are sent to jail, not for heinous crimes.  Most are sent for non-violent crimes, and to adult prisons at that.  Can you imagine leaving your room, warm bed, computer, internet, games, books, comics, cartoons, parties, cellphones, and everything else you enjoy in life.  See in jail, you may have television but you have to watch it with over 50 other people who may not like to watch the things you like.  It’s real and happening every day.  To your friends, family, and can happen to you.  I would like to know your thoughts on this topic because children like you are the victims and the only ways we (adults) can help is by listening to you.  What do you need to keep you from getting caught up?  What do you see in your daily life that would help us know how to help you.  It’s time your true voice come out.

[Via http://innercc.wordpress.com]

Most Expensive 2010 Cars

Got some extra change in the bank? Blow it on one of these pricey rides.

Last month, sales of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class (MSRP: $90,000 to $202,000) were up almost 12% from November 2008. That’s unusual: Overall, the luxury segment was down 8% year-over-year, and is down 27% for the year to date.

It turns out that while it’s tough to sell top-end luxury cars in a time of high unemployment and an uncertain economy, there are exceptions to the rule. Buyers will still flock to special cars with a lot of cachet and the price tags to match.

http://www.forbes.com/2009/12/23/expensive-2010-cars-lifestyle-vehicles-luxury-cars.html?partner=forbeslife_newsletter

[Via http://ramanan50.wordpress.com]

You can now become my fan on facebook.

I’m about to add the link to the blogroll thingy. I’m trying to build some type of base I can work from for 2010, when I’ll really be making a move towards writing constantly, mailing works to publishers and writing agents, and really earning the title of “writer.” I would consider it a personal favor if I you, whoever you are, would support me in this pursuit. Odds are, you know me, and if not, nice to meet you. Now that we’re all introduced, please do me this favor.

[Via http://trafficjamparades.wordpress.com]