Useful Sounds - Nicole Simon's english [blog|podcast] http://useful-sounds.de/index.php A little voice from Germany ;o) eng Copyright 2005 2005-02-26T02:30:02+01:00 daily 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 February 2005 - the month the business blogging industry took off http://useful-sounds.de/pivot/entry.php?id=131 http://useful-sounds.de/pivot/entry.php?id=131#comm Yes, I know, blogging is already a business. It has been before Jeremy's Ebay auction. But I think that auction got something started. Because since then, the business blogging world expanded. Big times, together with podcasting. And the last weeks, heck, the last days have been amazing. I just found another great example: Paul Chaney from Radian Marketing Group will open up "Bloggeropoly: World's First Blogger-for-hire Agency"Before long, there will be enough companies large and small -- not to mention existing and yet-to-be developed blog networks like Weblogs Inc and Creative-Weblogging -- needing freelance bloggers that the demand will quickly overcome the supply. These companies are going to have to find bloggers somewhere. I would just as soon they find them at Bloggeropoly.A great idea and I think this will bring movement to the blogosphere, both in energy and in quality. There is still room for the diary of a teenager - but the business market is the bigger partner. I was tempted to write "the bigger fish" but that is not true. This time feels as if we are cooperating and will be partners. And from the same weblog comes another great news. Come and meet BizBlogBuzz: I just reserved the domain name for a new blog I'm developing to be called BizBlogBuzz. As the name implies, it's a blog that will talk about the business of blogging, with an emphasis on business blogging news and developments. I'm going to really have to keep my ear to the ground for this one.I love talking about blogs. And I am all for Business and using these too things. Many people whine "oh, why do you all talk about blogging and not about topics" - hell, because to me it is interesting to talk about it. There are actually even more people who want to do so. Have fun doing it and earn money by doing it. Search engine industrie is a notable business, why should blogging not be? But that is not the fun part. This is:Part of the plans for the blog include a weekly interview-style podcast with business bloggers. I already know enough people to do six-months worth.Very cool. Can I please have the feeds so I can subscribe? Perorder the feed? :o) Cameron said, that this is feeling like 1995 all over again - I was not part of that movement and also not of the dot com. But today, this feels exciting. Energizing. Making me smile - and I am just tipping my toes a little bit in the water. But I have to look overseas to have this vista; this part of the earth is far behind ... *sigh* 131@http://useful-sounds.de/entries/ Jeremy's Ebay auction. But I think that auction got something started. Because since then, the business blogging world expanded. Big times, together with podcasting.

And the last weeks, heck, the last days have been amazing. I just found another great example: Paul Chaney from Radian Marketing Group will open up "Bloggeropoly: World's First Blogger-for-hire Agency"
Before long, there will be enough companies large and small -- not to mention existing and yet-to-be developed blog networks like Weblogs Inc and Creative-Weblogging -- needing freelance bloggers that the demand will quickly overcome the supply. These companies are going to have to find bloggers somewhere. I would just as soon they find them at Bloggeropoly.
A great idea and I think this will bring movement to the blogosphere, both in energy and in quality.

There is still room for the diary of a teenager - but the business market is the bigger partner. I was tempted to write "the bigger fish" but that is not true. This time feels as if we are cooperating and will be partners.

And from the same weblog comes another great news. Come and meet BizBlogBuzz:
I just reserved the domain name for a new blog I'm developing to be called BizBlogBuzz. As the name implies, it's a blog that will talk about the business of blogging, with an emphasis on business blogging news and developments. I'm going to really have to keep my ear to the ground for this one.
I love talking about blogs. And I am all for Business and using these too things. Many people whine "oh, why do you all talk about blogging and not about topics" - hell, because to me it is interesting to talk about it. There are actually even more people who want to do so. Have fun doing it and earn money by doing it. Search engine industrie is a notable business, why should blogging not be?

But that is not the fun part. This is:
Part of the plans for the blog include a weekly interview-style podcast with business bloggers. I already know enough people to do six-months worth.
Very cool. Can I please have the feeds so I can subscribe? Perorder the feed? :o)

Cameron said, that this is feeling like 1995 all over again - I was not part of that movement and also not of the dot com. But today, this feels exciting. Energizing. Making me smile - and I am just tipping my toes a little bit in the water.

But I have to look overseas to have this vista; this part of the earth is far behind ... *sigh* ]]> default 2005-02-26T02:25:00+01:00 Watching TV Shows on the net - Scifi.com to offer the first episode of Galactica for free online http://useful-sounds.de/pivot/entry.php?id=130 http://useful-sounds.de/pivot/entry.php?id=130#comm Usually I don't reblog things I wrote on my German blog, but this one is something I would like to hear your opinions on my speculation. Scifi.com has always been a very clever channel from my perspective and now they go a step further. eclecticism writes: This is incredibly cool: The Sci-Fi Channel has posted the first episode of Battlestar Galactica season one (not the miniseries that’s currently available on DVD, but the currently-running TV series) on their website, free, uncut, and without commercials. Just go to the Battlestar Galactica site and click on the banner at the top of the page. You’ll need RealPlayer, unfortunately, but that’s the only downside I can see.You will get the first episode and some deleted scenes. Which is great if you would like to take a peak - but from my point of view, there is MUCH more behind it. I think they are testing if the world is a possible market. To understand my excitement, please remember I am sitting in Germany, Europe. The country where everything in television is dubbed. We don't have Tivo. We don't have all the shows - we only get them years later if they are picked up by a channel. My most loved TV Show West Wing will probably never appear on German screens (on the other hand, the synchronisation would suck anyway). The only way to get the shows is buy DVDs, which also have to be the correct region code - and therefor have to appear in Region 2 ... But that is so 20th century. I am talking to people all over the planet, timezones being the biggest problem. We want TV shows, and 'we' means 'the world', not only the U.S. So if a channel takes his own productin and offers the first episode for free, this speaks to me as: Would you like to watch the show via internet? Would you pay for it?And my answer is YES. Thank you for expanding your market worldwide. The rest is to be negotiated. Your take on this? 130@http://useful-sounds.de/entries/ my German blog, but this one is something I would like to hear your opinions on my speculation.

Scifi.com has always been a very clever channel from my perspective and now they go a step further. eclecticism writes:
This is incredibly cool: The Sci-Fi Channel has posted the first episode of Battlestar Galactica season one (not the miniseries that’s currently available on DVD, but the currently-running TV series) on their website, free, uncut, and without commercials.



Just go to the Battlestar Galactica site and click on the banner at the top of the page. You’ll need RealPlayer, unfortunately, but that’s the only downside I can see.
You will get the first episode and some deleted scenes.

Which is great if you would like to take a peak - but from my point of view, there is MUCH more behind it. I think they are testing if the world is a possible market.

To understand my excitement, please remember I am sitting in Germany, Europe.

The country where everything in television is dubbed. We don't have Tivo. We don't have all the shows - we only get them years later if they are picked up by a channel. My most loved TV Show West Wing will probably never appear on German screens (on the other hand, the synchronisation would suck anyway). The only way to get the shows is buy DVDs, which also have to be the correct region code - and therefor have to appear in Region 2 ...

But that is so 20th century. I am talking to people all over the planet, timezones being the biggest problem. We want TV shows, and 'we' means 'the world', not only the U.S. So if a channel takes his own productin and offers the first episode for free, this speaks to me as:
Would you like to watch the show via internet? Would you pay for it?
And my answer is YES. Thank you for expanding your market worldwide.
The rest is to be negotiated. Your take on this? ]]> default 2005-02-26T02:17:00+01:00 I'm interested in people, not topics. http://useful-sounds.de/pivot/entry.php?id=129 http://useful-sounds.de/pivot/entry.php?id=129#comm Of course I do read blogs on special topics, but the charme of the blogospere to me is building relationships with people through reading their blogs, commenting, mailing, and even more. From very close connections to very loose ones. Heather, one of the Microsoft recruiting bloggers, is a loose connection to me. I read her blog and sometimes comment on it - but still, for me this is a kind of relationship, as I get to know her through her blog. Now she will change her job a bit and asks in Are two blogs better than one?Anyway, so here's my question...given the fact that I'm still going to be blogging, what do you think about this being a marketing and finance blog? Taking into account blogger fatigue if I were to have 2 blogs, of course....plus that fact that a lot of what I blog isn't specific to one discipline or the other. Would I lose readers if I blog about both? I was thinking about tweaking the design a bit anyway...what do you think? It got me thinking. I might have been initially attracted by the topics described or by links from other blogs with a text like "this blog is about - go read it". If this would be a professional blog on marketing and recruiting, I might be disappointed, and look out for a new blog on this topic. But Heather's blog is not a blog on that topic - it is her blogging about these topics, clearly stated through her headline: " Marketing, Careers, Recruiting, Microsoft and other bright shiny objects that caught my attention". A small but important difference. If I stay with a personal blog, it is because the blogger makes it fun and worthwile to read. I read the entries and they are connected with this person. And I get to like the person behind it - for the part he or she is showing to me. As usual, there is much, much more behind a person than is shown on a blog. And because it is the blog of a person, of course it changes and evolves over time. I would be more disappointed if not. Either way, some people will leave when changes happen (or not). And new readers will come. I just unsubscribed from several blogs, because they are not interesting to me anymore. And subscribed to new ones. In Heather's case, I am looking forward for the changes to come. :o) 129@http://useful-sounds.de/entries/
Heather, one of the Microsoft recruiting bloggers, is a loose connection to me. I read her blog and sometimes comment on it - but still, for me this is a kind of relationship, as I get to know her through her blog.

Now she will change her job a bit and asks in Are two blogs better than one?
Anyway, so here's my question...given the fact that I'm still going to be blogging, what do you think about this being a marketing and finance blog? Taking into account blogger fatigue if I were to have 2 blogs, of course....plus that fact that a lot of what I blog isn't specific to one discipline or the other. Would I lose readers if I blog about both? I was thinking about tweaking the design a bit anyway...what do you think?
It got me thinking. I might have been initially attracted by the topics described or by links from other blogs with a text like "this blog is about - go read it". If this would be a professional blog on marketing and recruiting, I might be disappointed, and look out for a new blog on this topic.

But Heather's blog is not a blog on that topic - it is her blogging about these topics, clearly stated through her headline: " Marketing, Careers, Recruiting, Microsoft and other bright shiny objects that caught my attention". A small but important difference.

If I stay with a personal blog, it is because the blogger makes it fun and worthwile to read. I read the entries and they are connected with this person. And I get to like the person behind it - for the part he or she is showing to me. As usual, there is much, much more behind a person than is shown on a blog.

And because it is the blog of a person, of course it changes and evolves over time. I would be more disappointed if not. Either way, some people will leave when changes happen (or not). And new readers will come.

I just unsubscribed from several blogs, because they are not interesting to me anymore. And subscribed to new ones. In Heather's case, I am looking forward for the changes to come. :o) ]]> default 2005-02-25T02:51:00+01:00 Of little girls and pythons ... http://useful-sounds.de/pivot/entry.php?id=128 http://useful-sounds.de/pivot/entry.php?id=128#comm Wanted to post this a long time ago and had a really good laugh when I got this from my best friend. And it is meant to be a shout out to all those python developers out there - the nice ones, who make proper keyboard shortcuts and such stuff. (But you know already, what I want from you *gg*) This posting is from Dino Müller and was published in de.alt.sysadmin.recovery (Message-ID: ) A precious little girl walks into a pet shop looking for a Christmas gift and asks in the sweetest little lisp between two missing teeth, "Excuthe me, mithter, do you keep widdle wabbits?" As the shopkeeper's heart melts, he gets down on his knees so that he's on her level and asks, "Do you want a widdle white wabbit, or a thoft and fuwwy bwack wabbit, or maybe one like that cute widdle bwown wabbit over there?" She, in turn, blushes, rocks on her heels, puts her hands on her knees, leans forward and says, in a quiet voice, "I don't think my python weally gives a fuck."*grin* 128@http://useful-sounds.de/entries/
And it is meant to be a shout out to all those python developers out there - the nice ones, who make proper keyboard shortcuts and such stuff. (But you know already, what I want from you *gg*)


This posting is from Dino Müller and was published in de.alt.sysadmin.recovery (Message-ID: <160p8zocs2aaf$.1exyn9bc4tcml.dlg@40tude.net>)
A precious little girl walks into a pet shop looking for a Christmas
gift and asks in the sweetest little lisp between two missing teeth,
"Excuthe me, mithter, do you keep widdle wabbits?"

As the shopkeeper's heart melts, he gets down on his knees
so that he's on her level and asks, "Do you want a widdle
white wabbit, or a thoft and fuwwy bwack wabbit, or maybe
one like that cute widdle bwown wabbit over there?"

She, in turn, blushes, rocks on her heels, puts her hands
on her knees, leans forward and says, in a quiet voice,

"I don't think my python weally gives a fuck."
*grin* ]]> default 2005-02-24T02:43:00+01:00 Bush in Germany - lock-down for the region. http://useful-sounds.de/pivot/entry.php?id=127 http://useful-sounds.de/pivot/entry.php?id=127#comm As President Bush visits Germany, some parts of Germany are really in 'shut down mode' - which is in no way acceptable for a single person just visiting a little bit. Or as Heiko puts it in his post "Bush bollocks": JFK will be remembered for his "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech in front of thousands of enthusiastic Germans in the center of Berlin. Ronald Reagan will be remembered for "tear down this wall", a speech delivered in front of a public audience at Brandenburg Gate. Even President Clinton will be remembered for warmly shaking many hands of ordinary people while visiting Germany - just like any other world leader, from Chirac to Putin, does. George W. Bush will be remembered for insane security measures and fear of the public. Or what justifies closing down Frankfurt Airport (which is the busiest airport in continental Europe) for two full hours just because Air Force One gets parked?If you lived in a special area, you where not allowed to open your windows during this visit, had to give notice if you wanted to stay or leave your appartment and so on ... To get some impressions of the visit in Mainz, Gerrit has posted some pictures in his flickr. 127@http://useful-sounds.de/entries/ Bush bollocks":
JFK will be remembered for his "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech in front of thousands of enthusiastic Germans in the center of Berlin. Ronald Reagan will be remembered for "tear down this wall", a speech delivered in front of a public audience at Brandenburg Gate. Even President Clinton will be remembered for warmly shaking many hands of ordinary people while visiting Germany - just like any other world leader, from Chirac to Putin, does.



George W. Bush will be remembered for insane security measures and fear of the public. Or what justifies closing down Frankfurt Airport (which is the busiest airport in continental Europe) for two full hours just because Air Force One gets parked?
If you lived in a special area, you where not allowed to open your windows during this visit, had to give notice if you wanted to stay or leave your appartment and so on ...

To get some impressions of the visit in Mainz, Gerrit has posted some pictures in his flickr. ]]> default 2005-02-24T01:25:00+01:00 How to get a Tablet PC as a toy for some days. http://useful-sounds.de/pivot/entry.php?id=126 http://useful-sounds.de/pivot/entry.php?id=126#comm I somehow have the feeling, that a little tablet pc might be a good toy for me, because I have a special kind of remembering things. I don't remember "8:00 pm, Thursday", I remember the weekly view before my inner eye (preferable the one with Mo-Wed on one side and Thu-Sun on the other side) as 'there in the upper corner was something'. One of the benefits of working in a bigger company is sometimes the easier access to some toys. Not to get them, but to have a look at them. As it turns out, it might be possible to get my hands for a day or two on a tablet and to play around with it. And if I like the touch and feel of it, I might be tempted to install a wifi and buy one of these - and this coming from a woman who hates laptops and has no use for wifi at the moment. Wish me luck that this works out. ;o) 126@http://useful-sounds.de/entries/
One of the benefits of working in a bigger company is sometimes the easier access to some toys. Not to get them, but to have a look at them. As it turns out, it might be possible to get my hands for a day or two on a tablet and to play around with it. And if I like the touch and feel of it, I might be tempted to install a wifi and buy one of these - and this coming from a woman who hates laptops and has no use for wifi at the moment.

Wish me luck that this works out. ;o) ]]> default 2005-02-23T23:44:00+01:00 A Nerd, a Canadian and a Quaker http://useful-sounds.de/pivot/entry.php?id=125 http://useful-sounds.de/pivot/entry.php?id=125#comm Meet the guys from NCQ TalkWelcome to NCQ Talk where a Nerd, a Canadian and a Quaker talk about the intersection of technology and learning. We’re very excited that you’ve taken the time to find us.Kris' has had both on his show and I am interested in how this will develop with their view on education etc. The first show is already up: Today’s Title: The Portable Prof Students can listen anytime/anyplace. Concerns? Is that a good thing? How can you make a podcast fit in the learning cycle and be a positive experience? Podcasting should be one of many instructional strategies.:o) 125@http://useful-sounds.de/entries/ NCQ Talk
Welcome to NCQ Talk where a Nerd, a Canadian and a Quaker talk about the intersection of technology and learning. We’re very excited that you’ve taken the time to find us.
Kris' has had both on his show and I am interested in how this will develop with their view on education etc. The first show is already up:
Today’s Title: The Portable Prof

Students can listen anytime/anyplace. Concerns? Is that a good thing? How can you make a podcast fit in the learning cycle and be a positive experience? Podcasting should be one of many instructional strategies.
:o) ]]> default 2005-02-23T02:32:00+01:00 The 25th podcast - served with a cold http://useful-sounds.de/pivot/entry.php?id=124 http://useful-sounds.de/pivot/entry.php?id=124#comm As most of you listen to my voice and not to the content, I figured it would be good to have some real content this time because my voice is not the best at the moment ... :) 38 min, 22 MB (right-click and say 'save link as') Starting work at 8 in the morning is really not my time ... I follow the tradition of podcasters with a cold (while recording this podcast it snowed again *grrr*) yes, I am a proud user of ipodder lemon :) Take a look at my blogroll, for example 'podcasts sometimes' and other stuff around podcasting And here are my lemonized podcasts (even if they have some backlog ...) Yes, you will have to listen to my podcast to hear my comments on them. :o)Today's Podcast Evil Genius Chronicles OpenPodcast.org In The Transition The Bitterest Pill WebTalk Radio Coverville The Chris Pirillo Show Reel Reviews | MWGblog Jimmy Jett Adam Curry's Weblog Engadget BlogosphereRadio.com Recent Episodes The MothaB Show Revolution in the Corner Podcast from Austin, TX IT Conversations /Nerd: Tod Maffin's CBC Radio Tech Column First Crack Podcast with Garrick Van Buren Riley on blogs podcast None of this matters NevOn The MousePod The Dragon Page - All postings (full posts) Accident Hash In Our Time Almost Translated News Radio Clash Mostly Trivial Podcast Career Opportunities: The High-Tech Career Handbook Podcast Brothers The Social Customer Manifesto The Wizards of Technology - Why be a geek, when we can geek for Tod Maffin's I Love Radio .org Reality Bitchslap Radio Area 51 Show Not in the list, but waiting for the feed from Curt Rosengren. Of course, my favorite aussies from G'dayworld, now presented with their own 'branch' in my bloglines folderThePodcastNetwork Blog The Mobiles Show G'day World Tech Addiction Claybourne Jazz Gadget Show and, last but not least, Croncast with Kristopher Smith (don't eat and listen to this show!). Good luck with his newly founded palegroove studios. And now I am off listening to futureshock's Hiding! :) 124@http://useful-sounds.de/entries/
38 min, 22 MB (right-click and say 'save link as')




Not in the list, but waiting for the feed from Curt Rosengren.

Of course, my favorite aussies from G'dayworld, now presented with their own 'branch' in my bloglines folder

and, last but not least, Croncast with Kristopher Smith (don't eat and listen to this show!). Good luck with his newly founded palegroove studios.

And now I am off listening to futureshock's Hiding! :) ]]> default 2005-02-22T01:43:00+01:00 Passion Catalyst Curt Rosengren joins podcasting http://useful-sounds.de/pivot/entry.php?id=123 http://useful-sounds.de/pivot/entry.php?id=123#comm Curt from The Occupational Adventure has posted his first podcast a few days ago (I am still in catching up mode and it does not help that my cold is getting worse ...). It is short (about 1:40 min) but sounds very promising for further podcasts. Just needs a feed and some little other adjusments, but as usual, the most important thing is the content. And so I don't have to research that long again, this is the perfect post to point to another ressource: perfectcustomers.com I have not read the book, but the text about the lighthouse test on their page is such a strong image and metaphor, that you will start looking out for beautiful lighthouse images to remember it all the time. Read "The six standards of strategic synchronicity" and "Attracting Perfect Customers and Clients. They are not long and in short they say: You need to be like a lighthouse so people know where save land is. The knowledge to be gained from this type of experience is to listen for that "inner voice" and its warning signal when you encounter a "less-than-perfect" customer. This is the signal that your own distinctive light has gone out....or perhaps that you forgot that lighthouses do not wade out into the water looking for boats to serve. It is your responsibility to stand still and keep shining your own distinctive light, to keep polishing the lens to ensure that your light has the power and brilliance to break through the darkness to attract the attention of only perfect customers and clients who are a "perfect fit" for you, your company, your products and services.This last sentences works good as printout on your wall. And if you don't want to use such text, take a picture instead: They have Ligthhouse Art available", or take a look at the Flickr page for lighthouse (Feed is here). The best photos on Flickr to represent the essence of this image are from someone called Green Destiny and especially this one! 123@http://useful-sounds.de/entries/ posted his first podcast a few days ago (I am still in catching up mode and it does not help that my cold is getting worse ...).

It is short (about 1:40 min) but sounds very promising for further podcasts. Just needs a feed and some little other adjusments, but as usual, the most important thing is the content.

And so I don't have to research that long again, this is the perfect post to point to another ressource: perfectcustomers.com

I have not read the book, but the text about the lighthouse test on their page is such a strong image and metaphor, that you will start looking out for beautiful lighthouse images to remember it all the time. Read "The six standards of strategic synchronicity" and "Attracting Perfect Customers and Clients.

They are not long and in short they say: You need to be like a lighthouse so people know where save land is.
The knowledge to be gained from this type of experience is to listen for that "inner voice" and its warning signal when you encounter a "less-than-perfect" customer. This is the signal that your own distinctive light has gone out....or perhaps that you forgot that lighthouses do not wade out into the water looking for boats to serve.

It is your responsibility to stand still and keep shining your own distinctive light, to keep polishing the lens to ensure that your light has the power and brilliance to break through the darkness to attract the attention of only perfect customers and clients who are a "perfect fit" for you, your company, your products and services.
This last sentences works good as printout on your wall.

And if you don't want to use such text, take a picture instead: They have Ligthhouse Art available", or take a look at the Flickr page for lighthouse (Feed is here).

The best photos on Flickr to represent the essence of this image are from someone called Green Destiny and especially this one! ]]> default 2005-02-21T01:28:00+01:00 The good thing about Music Trivia on DSC? http://useful-sounds.de/pivot/entry.php?id=122 http://useful-sounds.de/pivot/entry.php?id=122#comm You are remembered of many good songs. :o) I'll have to dig out my Scritti Politti LP (and then find a way to get a LP-player) 122@http://useful-sounds.de/entries/ default 2005-02-20T21:22:00+01:00