The Long Blonde Tail

Tagged: Tell Me Five Things

My friend Mario Sundar, a prolific blogger and incredibly insightful (and nice) person, tagged me with this meme: Five Things You Didn't Know About Me.

So, here goes:

1. I am an equestrian. Or at least, I was an equestrian. I started riding horses at the age of 9, and continued throughout my college years. At the age of 12 my Dad bought me my first horse, and I tended to him every day. It is both a labor of love, and a passion. Horseback riding is a sport, it is therapeutic, intimate, competitive, and spiritual. Since the onset of my career, I've ridden far too little, which is something I intend to change.

2. As one of six children (the eldest of the four sisters, and second eldest sibling), I'm a sister of a Vietnamese-born brother. On April 6, 1975, Jay (born Phan Van Hung) came to us at just three months of age, after my parents decided to help a child of the War who would otherwise be left parent-less, or without life. I wrote a song for him (music and lyrics) when I was 13, and would play it often on my acoustic guitar.

3. I've been hugged by Oprah, chatted up by Jason Mraz, waved at by John Elway - in the day - and kissed by Dan Ackroyd, Buddy Guy and B.B. King - on seperate occasions, of course. Each is a really great story, best told over a drink or two. :)

4. While earning my BSBA, I double-minored in Geology (because of my love for nature) and Political Science (because of my intense curiosity towards human nature, and how it has shaped our country, and our world).

5. My life goal is to help change the world. Both in my work and as a human being.

There. I've done it. Knowing that they are likely not to even consider doing this, I will still follow the rules and tag five others, whose answers I (and many) would love to read:

Mike A.
Seth
Doc
Jeff Barr
Brad Feld

Update: Here are Jeff's.

And Justice for All

At least, it's a good start.

Background story on Jackie's plight, here and here.

Go, Cisco

This, from Sunday's New York Times Magazine:

On the human network, people everywhere are experiencing a new kind of day. Encyclopedias update themselves every minute. Movies appear wherever there's a screen handy. And a phone can double as a train ticket or a lift ticket. Welcome to a place where wikis, collaborative applications and social networks are making us smarter, better and faster. Welcome to a network where anything is possible. Because we're more powerful than we could ever be apart.

A colleague's reply, after I read it aloud: "What a mission statement!" I agree.

I love it. I love it because it is a campaign to the masses which will educate, create curiosity, and spread the right message...to those outside the early adopter/Web 2.0/social media/Silicon Valley-centric crowd. And, meeting after meeting with major corporations recently have told me one thing, if nothing else: this education is sorely needed, and desperately (yet cautiously) sought.

Go, Cisco. Great blogging, too.

Do Something. Not Nothing.

Yesterday, my friend Jackie Danicki was attacked and assaulted on London's public transport (the Tube's Bakerloo line platform at Baker Street, all the way through Piccadilly Circus to be precise).

For those who don't know her, Jackie is one of the most generous, giving, straight-shooting and sincere people you can know. She's the type who will slave over catering an entire party the eve of an international flight, prepare an American Thanksgiving feast for visiting compadres, continuously share her knowledge and help, and go way out of her way to connect people.

It is disheartening and disturbing to know that not more than one man and one woman did anything at all  to help Jackie during the assaults and attacks.

Part of the reason we're here, in my eyes, is to stand up and do something. To stand up for others than merely ourselves - complete strangers included. Might it get you in trouble? Put you at risk? Potentially hurt you? At times, it might. But who are you, if you're here only for you? This doesn't call for some super-human heroic action, necessarily. But doing something. Not nothing.

Unfortunately I can't do much from the US, but try and leverage the power of many. If you are in London, and can identify him ... please do. Turn him in, and get him off the streets. The next woman (or man) might not be as lucky as Jackie, horrific as the experience was, to walk away from his (and his accomplice's) assaults.

[And Jackie, you are absolutely worthy of the overwhelming amount of support that you've received.]

 

Judging a Book

If you're somewhat interested in not just the topics, but the people behind blogging and podcasting, there's a book you should know about, entitled What No One Ever Tells You About Blogging and Podcasting. Thanks to author Ted Demopoulos, I'm a proud bearer of this button:

A few months back I had quite an enjoyable interview with Ted, and he included me and Waxxi in a chapter on podcasting. Even more interesting is the company I keep in the book, which includes Seth Godin, Guy Kawasaki, Dave Taylor and Jeremiah Owyang - among many other very cool beings.

Back to Ted. Not only is he extremely knowledgeable, articulate and learned, he's one real nice guy. So if you or someone you know is in the market for an engaging guest blogger, a podcast, blog, radio or print interviewee, a guest speaker or even a dance contest MC, Ted's your man. Contact info is here. And the book blog is here.  Now, go buy the book. :)

Tags: Books, podcasting, blogging, Waxxi, Tracy Sheridan, Jeremiah Owyang, Guy Kawasaki, Seth Godin

A Party by Any Other Name...

There's something about a party in London vs. a party in Silicon Valley - or for that matter, any city USA - these days (especially when it's a smaller, more intimate gathering). The following sums it up pretty nicely:

And, to prove it:

I can't quite yet put into words how strongly this trip has affected me, on many levels. I'm quite taken by London, as I am Londoners.

To the hostesses of the party, I am eternally grateful. To a beauty named Jackie Danicki, who not only planned, orchestrated, and catered (single-handedly I might add) this gala -- did so with about ten thousand other things hanging over her head that week. Not to mention, the party was held on the eve of her return trip to the US - this time, L.A. Some of Jackie's pics are here, and here. 

And to the world-rocking, company-imploding Adriana Lukas, who not only made sure to invite and introduce me to some of the most intriguing intellects in the city of London. Heck, even Hugh MacLeod was invited. Sorry to have missed you, Hugh. Same goes with UK TechCrunch's Sam Sethi. Thankfully, though, Sam and I will be meeting up before I leave for the US. That is, if I get on the plane.

Adriana and her esteemed colleague, the brilliant Perry de Havilland, have graciously invited me to stay at their residence/HQ (Samizdata and Big Blog Company) in Chelsea for a few days. Not just Chelsea, mind you. But a neighborhood in which, well let's just say I'm two houses down from Bill Wyman, and 'round the corner from Eric Clapton.

And not just staying, but being treated to mid afternoon chocolates du Monaco and Chelsea Chai tea (the most amazing Green tea with cardamom, cloves, sweet whole red pepper, Cinnamon pieces and Egyptian mint), the best that Chelsea restaurants have to offer, and home-made, full-on gourmand meals.

That's it. I'm never leaving.

Tags: London, Adriana Lukas, Jackie Danicki, Samizdata, Big Blog Company, Waxxi, party, TechCrunch, Gaping Void, UK, Tracy Sheridan,

London Calling

It is with great anticipation that I await leaving for JFK International Airport, to board a plane en route to London.  In a relatively short period of time, many instances - and, more importantly, persons - have brought on the calling to this great city.

Two such persons are Jackie Danicki and Adriana Lukas - two people for whom I have great respect and admiration. More on Jackie can be found here and (humbly) here. Adriana, to start, here and here.

On the eve of Friday, 8th September 2006, they will throw a party in my honor. And I am that, indeed. I'm told a 'good number of people will be attending' and that a spread by a well known foodie will be presented. I am humbled and ever so grateful to have such friends and colleagues. Thanks to you both, in advance of this great celebration and in general, for your generoisty - and for the smart, interesting, and learned conversation to date. Merely saying 'more to come' would be a vast understatement.

btw - if you'll be in London from 7-12 September and would like to meet up, please email me at tsheridan at waxxi dot us.

Frankly Speaking

Somewhat Frank, authored by Frank Gruber, is an excellently written blog focused on the world of Web 2.0. It's been a keen source of knowledge and resources for me over the past several months, along with the 'industry standard' TechCrunch (for which Frank has been a recent guest blogger).

Today he's written a post describing our new project waxxi and our May 20th event featuring Robert Scoble and Shel Israel (thanks, Frank!).

Some bloggers who'll be attending include Tom Raftery, Zoli Erdos, Alex King, Pete Dawson and many more. There will also be not-yet-bloggers in the crowd (or people who want to explore the idea for them or their company). It should be a fun event. We imagine some interesting conversations will result, both during the interactive podcast and after.

(disclaimer: Frank Gruber is acting as a strategic consultant to waxxi)

Tags: Techcrunch, Frank Gruber, waxxi, Interactive Podcast, Shel Israel, Robert Scoble

Taking Podcasts Interactive

The lull in this blog is due to some hard work and focus on a new project. Interestingly, it came about after attending Techcrunch's party celebrating the book launch of Naked Conversations, and co-authors Shel Israel and Robert Scoble. They, and everyone else had a great time.

In a series of serendipitous conversations, Shel and I talked both at the party, on the phone and later in Silicon Valley. I told him about a virtual event I'd done with Seth Godin (during the days of Purple Cow), and mentioned that the same type of thing - only updated - might be interesting for him and Robert. He agreed, so here we are.

Backstory: a few years back with Fast Company magazine's global readers network, I moderated a telecast with Seth and a few hundred Company of Friends members around the world. Simply by posting to different "cells" (or groups within the network), the word spread like wildfire, and virtual seats were filled.

The result? People were excited. They were excited to get the chance to talk directly to Seth. They were even more excited to pick his brain. Then, the most interesting thing happened: the conversation continued. People talked about it online. Then they talked about becoming a Purple Cow, and what measures they could take to make that happen. It was taken offline at meetups, seminars and social gatherings. But it was all based around a central theme.

This time around, that theme is how blogs are changing the way businesses talk to their customers, or having Naked Conversations with them. And, it's an "interactive podcast" - one in which hundreds of people can participate. Instead of one person asking the question for the audience, the audience gets to ask the questions and say hello. More details at waxxi.us and here.

Tags: Techcrunch, Robert Scoble, Shel Israel, Naked Conversations, podcast, social network, interactive

How Does Your Feed Reader Rank?

I've enjoyed reading Frank Gruber's blog, Somewhat Frank, for some time now. Today he wrote an excellent overview on Techcrunch comparing nine online feed readers. Typical of his style, the post is very well written, clear and right-on-the-money. Well done, and congrats, Frank!

Early on I loved Rojo (admittedly because of its mojo), but am a Google Reader user now. I use it everyday but am not what one might consider addicted to RSS. Really. :-)

The 120 comments (and counting!) to Techcrunch's post clearly demonstrates the amount of passion people have for this topic. Based on a couple of them, I'm going to take a look at CNET's Newsburst.

Whether you're a seasoned reader of feeds or still trying to figure out the whole RSS thing, go take a look, if you haven't already.

Tags: Techcrunch, Frank Gruber, Feed Readers, RSS, Google Reader