Life: Version 2.0 » Internet

Check out my new semi-serious blog

Susan — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 23:37:40 +0000

http://virtualanything.wordpress.com

I am still working on a better domain, and better categories. All suggestions are welcome.

Election Results with Cool Google Mashup

Susan — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 15:16:52 +0000

Check this out – folks are twittering about primary results on a Google map

Big Think

Susan — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 12:31:08 +0000

One of my new favorite bloggers (Shaping Youth) recently posted a story about “Big Think”, a YouTube-ish site that aims to facilitate conversation about thought provoking topics and ideas. Topics range from religion to philosphophy to history and the media or anything else you can think of. Site users (anyone can join) can respond to existing ‘Big Think’ ideas and topics, either through written response, video or audio. More importantly, users can create their own ideas in any medium, and open it up for discussion.

Here is a video on Love & Happiness – Leaving your mark

from www.bigthink.com posted with vodpod

Big Think is a great concept, what will be interesting is if it will be used and if this will inspire users by giving them an place specifically to discuss creative, thought-provoking ideas. A lot will depend on how the folks behind Big Think approach this. I can see it potentially being used as part of a curriculum for school projects and the like, or being connected to facebook and similar community sites.

What I don’t like is their concept of ’experts’. How are ‘experts’ defined? While I understand the need to ‘seed’ content to get the ball rolling, this may come off as a bit pretentious and turn some folks off….

Check it out and let me know what you think!

http://www.bigthink.com

Online Strategies: Learning from the experts

Susan — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 06:19:37 +0000

As an avid (some would say obsessed) Harry Potter fan, I felt compelled to write a post on this topic. Although I am incredibly sad that there will be no more midnight book release parties to dress up for, I am encouraged by the fact that Harry’s magic lives on by making a positive impact on the world in ways previously unimaginable. All of this made possible by a community of compassionate, creative, and innovative individuals – and the Internet.

Amidst the flurry of Harry Potter madness — including anti-Christian controversies and debates on whether or not the series is appropriate for children — it seems that a clear, positive global impact has been made on our youth. Check out Amy Jussel’s blog post “Harry Potter Alliance Tackles the Darkness of Darfur” on her Shaping Youth Blog where she discusses this topic in the context of how media and marketing influences kids.

Here are just a few examples of how the Harry Potter fandom uses the Internet to make a difference:

Wizard Rock — musical fan-fiction with a cause – raises more than $10,000 for First Book in 2007

Harry potter fans are extremely creative – so much so that they started an entire genre of music all their own called Wizard Rock. This genre of music has grown on me over the past few months - as some of it is really great and some is simply entertaining! Out of the Wizard Rock movement came the Wizard Rock Club - where fans subscribe online to receive monthly cds, and artists have a way to easily distribute their music. Fans can visit the Wizard Rock websiteto get a sampling of upcoming releases and discuss related topics. Subscription fees are used to cover all costs associated with producing and distributing the CDs to members. After that, all remaining proceeds are donated to First Book, a non-profit organization that gives children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. I am, of course, a proud subscriber.

The Harry Potter Alliance: The politics of Harry Potter & grassroots advocacy at its best

Couching themselves as the real ‘Dumbledores Army’ (only true Harry Potter fans know what this means), the Harry Potter alliance leverages the power of the Harry Potter community to make real change happen in our world through using online community outlets such as Myspace and Facebook, as well as producing events, podcasts and other multimedia messages with a cause. My favorite effort is the HP Alliance House Parties with a Cause, where there is an online toolkit you can download to help you plan a socially concious house party. You gotta love it!

Other HP Alliance efforts include:

WaldeMart Watch (part of WalMart watch -you have GOT to watch the video)
Stop Big Media (stop big media consolidation)
DarfurFast ( to benefit STAND and the Genocide Intervention Network)

The HP Alliance is growing in numbers and has created an energized movement that raises funds, awareness, and engagement by youth around the globe. They have implemented incredibly sophisticated and effective grassroots advocacy efforts through using community outlets, websites, videos, podcasts, events and more – all made possible by the power of community.

What strikes me most about all of this is that they did not need to hire ‘high-dollar’ Internet strategy experts to strategize and figure this all out. They had no boundaries, just conviction, compassion, creativity – and the Internet. Most of them started out using free tools to get the job done. All of us could stand to learn from this – it is genius.

There are other great examples of how this fandom uses the Internet to make change, but I will leave those for another post. I think you get the point.

Thankful for Thirty: Day 15: Courage

Susan — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 21:11:50 +0000

After 20 successful years of working for non-profit organizations, I have decided to leave the Association world and try my hand at consulting. I have joined a very small, women-owned company to head up their Internet and new media strategy efforts.

I am scared and excited at the same time – this is a huge change for me, both professionally and personally. I am climbing off the corporate ladder, giving up my CIO title and all that goes with it in the name of creativity, flexibility, and the ability to innovate.

Today I am thankful for having the courage to make such a significant change in my life – and I hope this leads to many more.