Book Review: Blink, Malcolm Gladwell

The Power of Thinking Without Thinking

Another great book by Malcolm Gladwell, author of The Tipping Point.

The Big Idea in this book is that it's possible to know something without knowing why we know. We need to accept this - and sometimes we'’re better off this way. If we all took our instincts seriously we would live in a very different and better world.

Analyzing why we think what we think or know what we know can radically change our thoughts. Often people give extremely different answers to a question when they need to explain or justify their answer - introspection can sabotage solutions.

Our "Adaptive subconscious"” makes these quick decisions for us (it has nothing to do with Freud'’s subconscious, The Oedipus complex, or any other such psycho-mumbojumbo). It throws away most details and concentrates on what it considers to be most important in order to make quick decisions. In general it is remarkable at making great decisions very quickly with very few facts available.

Our subconscious can certainly make errors as well. For example, Warren Harding, perhaps the worst US President ever, "looked" presidential. Everyone thought he would make a great president based on his appearance, but apparently they were extremely wrong! Another example: US CEOs average approximately 3 inches taller than average. There is no link between CEO ability and height, but certainly an ingrained bias that tall men are leaders (or something like that).

This is an engaging book with many well-researched examples, each of which is fascinating in it'’s own right. This was a hard book to read in two days -– I wanted to read it cover to cover. It was so riveting that although I started reading it at night when both mentally and physically exhausted, I seriously considered making coffee when nodding off around midnight so I could continue reading!

Time Management for Anarchists

I found a great flash presentation (about 8 minutes, fast download) on time management for anarchists.

It's "based on the paradoxical notion that anarchists have to be more organized than average if they don't want to depend on power structures" - which find to be true.

Then again, I'm an anarchist AND fundamentally disorganized.

You can find it here -> Time Management for Anarchists
Both amusing and true!

Some of My Favorite Sayings

A friend in need is a pest.

If you can't convince them, confuse them.

Marriage is one of the chief causes of divorce.
(hmm ? now do we have statistics to prove this ?)

Work is fine if it doesn't take too much of your time.

Life is unsure; always eat your dessert first.

Smile, it makes people wonder what you are thinking.

The trouble with being punctual is that no one is there to appreciate it.

If you tell a man there are 300 billion stars in the universe, he'll believe you. But if you tell him a park bench has just been painted, he has to touch it to be sure.

If you cannot change your mind, are you sure you have one?

Never underestimate the power of very stupid people in large groups. ( NEVER !)


Have a great weekend everyone,

Ted

Email Fundamentals (broken)

I've been using email for about 25 years now, and now find myself working with an organization that seems to not understand some email fundamentals.

Everyone NEEDS their own email address if they use email professionally, and everyone needs to sign their own emails. This is soooo obvious to my readers I'm not quite sure why I'm writing it - clearly it isn't obvious to everyone.

This small organization has a director and a coordinator. They share an email. Apparently they don't have other email addresses; so they tell me. The director has more experience and some questions require her expertise. The coordinator usually answers emails. The director says she reads every single email.

Of course, emails get lost, from my direct experience quite often. Or at least they go unanswered. No surprise.

Usually the coordinator signs her emails with her name, sometimes she doesn't. Her emails are somewhat obvious as she sends a lot of emails and her responses tend to be short one or two liners which are direct and to the point.
The director's emails seem to get signed with the coordinators name as well. Her emails tend to stand out as they are much longer and heartfelt.
Once I got an email signed by someone I didn't know worked in the office - still not sure who she is? Part-timer? Temp?
An occasional email is written by both - signed by the coordinator of course. Hmm, maybe once both names were signed.

And the shocker - They PREFER to communicate by email!

So, what's wrong here? Briefly:
1) When an email is received, its hard to know who it came from.

2) When you send an email, its hard to know who reads it.

3) Emails *always* get lost in scenarios like this. Certainly they are in this case.

4) From the customer service viewpoint, one person needs to be in charge of each customer request/question/issue. It's hard to tell what is happening here.

They should teach this stuff in school! Not everyone has been using email as long as myself - maybe it's not all obvious??

Blogging and Security Videos from WatchIT - free temporarily

WatchIT does a phenomenal job of producing short videos on IT topics, available via streaming video as well as DVD.

I have two new videos out, and you can see them for free now - WatchIT has a free 24 hour preview available if you act soon - just click on Free 1-day Access on WatchIT.com:

Understanding Blogs and Their Business Uses
and
Application Security Principles

If you take a look, let me know what you think!
Of course they have lots of other good video segments as well.

Apple joins Windows in Intel support

Unconfirmed reports today allegedly from top "industry executives" claim that Apple is going to support Intel chips in a move away from IBM produced microprocessors.

No details as to whether Apple would offer the Intel architecture as an option or if this is a full scale switch to Intel. Intel and Apple neither confirm nor deny this breaking news, originally from today's Wall Street Journal (not available online unless you pay).

Don't expect to run MacOS on your standard Intel PC! Apple embracing the Intel chip does NOT mean they will be embracing the entire PC architecture. I still expect to see proprietary hardware optimized for Macs even if they go Intel all the way.

Some of you may wonder WHY this is big news.

It represents a historic change in industry alliances which have always existed with nearly religious fervor. This is roughly analogous to the US getting its first Muslim president or Israel getting a non-Jewish Prime Minister. If it turns out to be true that is . . . .

Luddites and Sailing and Morse Code, Oh No!

There has been a lot of interest in Morse Code since the Jay Leno segment where Morse Code was shown to be faster than text messaging, but it IS obsolete, just like sailing.

Sailing and Morse Code are no longer used commercially. Yes, I'm sure there are insignificant counterexamples, but it's essentially true; they are both obsolete. I know they have advantages - e.g. you can sail the world for close to free if you've got a sailboat and lots of time, Morse Code transmitters are extremely simple and very effective, etc.

I'm sure the Dodo bird also had some advantages but it's still extinct!

Sailing and Morse code do have big followings. So big that many of their fans are no doubt seething over my comments.
Why?? Simple: Both Morse Code and Sailing are FUN!!! Fun is important.

Although I don't sail, I'm a Morse fan. I'll be using Morse Code for 36 hours next weekend in a ham radio competition (the maximum allowed by the contest rules). Many of you readers are now thinking "That Ted, he really is mad." If I said I was sailing for the weekend, including an overnight on the boat, that would probably seem relatively tame. And if I was running a marathon, you might think "Good for Ted."

Hey, to each their own (form of insanity).

Expired Certificates and Wireless Internet Access

I was in the Manchester New Hampshire airport today and powered up my laptop.
There was a wireless signal, and I thought I'd check if there was free Internet access as in some airports. I hate paying to briefly check email.

I was advised:
"login.airportwins.com" is a site that uses a security certificate to
encrypt data during transmission, but its certificate expired on
5/10/2005 7:59 PM.
. . . blah blah . . .
Would you like to continue anyway?

These bozos let their certificate expire??? I clicked on "View certificate" and saw the bozos were apparently "WebCenter Techologies, Inc." and the certificate was issued by RSA Data Security. Looked legit, and like they just forgot to renew their cert.

However they wanted about US$7 for a few minutes of access, so instead I sent them a message, which I could do for free:
"Your certificate has expired. I refuse to signup until it's renewed!"

Letting their certificate expire is a boneheaded move for a commercial enterprise. Especially with current headlines of "Evil Twins exploits" (really nothing new), pharming (multiple definitions available), and phishing (I get almost daily attempts), prospective customers are probably paranoid and hopefully refusing to pay and send their required credit card info!!

Keynote Speech: Why Technology Matters

An amusing and accurate look at how technology sometimes helps us and sometimes impedes us.

We are so enamored with computers and technology that we often lose the basic idea:

Technological advances allow the production of more output from existing resources.

These include more efficient ways of producing existing output as well as the production of new (or substantially improved) items. We gain both from more output/cheaper prices and from improved items and innovations.

We can break technological advances into two rough categories:

1) Killer Applications of Technology - ones that change our lives.
These include email, online shopping and retailing, and cellphones.

Email has so fully permeates our lives, how could we live without it? My wife says I check my email more often than I go to the bathroom - she might be right!

2) Incremental or “Less than Killer Applications” of Technology - non disruptive applications of technology whose net sum is extremely significant. These include DVD players, antilock brakes, and central heat and air conditioning.

For example, I’m a coffee aficionado. When I absolutely positively must wake up early and know I won’t want to, for example when I have an important morning meeting after flying in late or staying up half the night working with Hong Kong clients, I wake up to the smell of fresh coffee. My coffee maker has a built in timer. Just the smell of the fresh coffee makes all the difference in the world. It might sound foolish, but it does make a difference to me and that’s all that matters.

There are also some severe problems with technology, or at least our uses and applications of them. These include the unreliability of PCs and Software, safety (or lack of it) on the Internet, Excessive Connectivity, as well as
“Technology for Technology’s Sake.”

My mother has a avocado green refrigerator from the 70s that's 100% reliable and never had to be rebooted. It puts my PC to shame!

My wife’s new spaceage minivan is more high tech than many spaceships in old science fiction movies. Much of this technology is very useful, but some of it is simply ridiculous.For example the keys have microprocessors in them! A key without the microprocessor can unlock the doors but not start the engine. Allegedly it’s an antitheft feature, although it reeks of “technology for technology’s sake.” Somehow I think it’ll be more of an impediment to the rightful van’s owner if they ever lose their keys than a professional car thief.

Technology has improved our lives significantly. Most of us have friends or family who quite literally wouldn't be alive without the massive advances in medical technology.

Unfortunately as technology has evolved, our applications and uses of technology haven't. In fifty years or less a lot of our uses of technology will seem ludicrous and comical in retrospect! Some of them already do.

Ted Demopoulos' first significant exposure to computers was in 1977 when he had unlimited access to his high school's PDP-11, and hacked at it incessantly. He consequently almost flunked out but learned he liked playing with computers a lot.

Ted's first business ventures began in college and have been continuous ever since. He's a veteran of several startups, including both successes and textbook failures. He currently consults and speaks on Technology and Business, and has equity stakes in two startups.

Please contact us to explore a great keynote for your event

More Keynotes

Book Review: Naked in the Boardroom, Robin Woolaner

A CEO bares her secrets so you can transform your career.

An easy to read book by Robin Woolaner, perhaps best known for founding Parenting Magazine. She recounts her experiences in business, and calls them out as “"Naked Truths."”

For example, “"Naked Truth #60: Follow up is easy and instills trust”" and “"Naked Truth #21: When something happens that doesn'’t sit well in the pit of your stomach, don'’t forget that feeling even if the circumstances have changed. The feeling is real; the change in circumstances may not be."”
She spends at least as much time on her failures as her successes and draws lessons from all her experiences.

I got the feeling that at first this book was aimed at businesswomen, and then was recast as a general business book. Probably a book positioning move, and the book doesn'’t suffer from it. That said, there are some lessons that apply specifically to women, for example “"Naked Truth #45: Women are damned as aggressive if we negotiate for more pay, and damnably underpaid if we don’t. Force yourself to negotiate and learn how.”"

I read this is about three hours and enjoyed it. It would make a great airplane book. Some of the “Naked Truths” resonated strongly and will no doubt stay with me.

Supreme Court Wine Shipment Ban Overturned - partially

I live in New Hampshire. I just called four large wine retailers in California. One will ship wine to New Hampshire. One won't but will ship wine to nearby Massachusetts. Another won't ship wine to either state but will ship wine to also nearby Maine. One won't ship to any nearby state. I also called three wine retailers in Illinois. Two will ship to me and one refuses to ship anywhere nearby.

They state legal issues for any refusal to ship.

The laws pertaining to interstate shipping of alcohol are confusing and vary by state. They seem to be massively subject to interpretation. They certainly impede free commerce!

The Supreme Court of the USA took a major step in allowing free commerce - they just ruled that states must apply the same rules to in state and out of state wineries when it comes to shipping. For example, Michigan prohibited direct shipment by out of state wineries but allowed it for in state wineries.

This is a massive step in the right direction.
Why do I care?? I like wine and I like freedom, although not necessarily in that order!

Some wines are available only direct from the winery, and many wines are not available locally in many places. Price can certainly be an issue as well.

Those opposing shipping of alcohol, most notably wine, have vested interests. They are typically involved in the convoluted "three tier distribution system" currently (previously?) required by law in many areas, and profit handsomely from the restriction of free trade.

Now for those that claim we must not allow interstate shipping of wine to prevent children from drinking, you are either misinformed or lying bastards! No one believes underage drinkers order their alcohol out of state and have it shipped to them in order to bypass age restrictions. Any such argument is ludicrous!

Spying on employees is stupid AND unethical

I always felt that spying on employees was counterproductive. It’ simply demotivates people and stifles creativity!

This is explained far more eloquently in “Another company to avoid” by Shel Holtz.

Some of the products now on the market, for example the heavily advertised SpectorSoft, which can log every email, every IM, every keystroke, and much more border on evil. I wonder how many in management are qualified to interpret the results?? (You spent 5 minutes more than average using search engines, and you urinate 20% too frequently. Both result in loss of productive time!).

I remember one clueless idiot I worked for (note: the only clueless or idiot boss I'’ve ever had) about 10 years ago who was upset that I was spending so much time on the Internet. I was managing development teams across 6 time zones and 3 continents, as well as being the main point of contact for several vendors. Hmmm, so maybe that explains my time on the Internet?

I ignored the dolt and concentrated on getting my work done - am I a difficult employee or what? :)

If someone wants to make sure employees ONLY work while at work, perhaps they should spy on employees at home as well to make sure they are not working there!

It is unethical and probably illegal in many jurisdictions to spy on employees electronically or otherwise. Certainly recording every phone conversation is illegal in the USA and much of the world (disclaimer, I’'m no lawyer!).

It's probably best to summarize by: Companies that are nice to their employees have employees that are nice to them, and spying is not nice!

Messaging vs Morse Code, Jay Leno, Part II

Jay Leno's "Tonight Show" will have a message sending/receiving contest between a cell phone text messaging team and a Morse code team tonight.

I'm betting on the Morse Code guys, if for no other reason that Morse Code guys regularly have contests. They typically compete in 48 hour no holds barred marathons (called "Contests" or "Radiosport"), and the Morse Code team consists of two experienced and very competitive gentlemen.

I don't know if text messaging aficionados hold competitions or not :)

Postscript: It happened last night. The text messaging teenagers were amazed to be beaten by a wide margin. Interestingly, the Text Teens were allowed to use their normal shorthand and slang but the Morse Code ham radio guys, better known as Chip Margelli K7JA and Ken Miller K6CTW, did not use normal Morse Code abbreviations and sent the full text.

In the words of the Ham Radio contesting club Yankee Clipper Contest Club President, Mark Pride, "our contest boys kicked their butts."

Video currently available online at http://www.kkn.net/~n6tv/Text_vs_Morse_Leno_2005_05_13.wmv

Book Review: The Art of The Start, Guy Kawasaki

The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything

This is a wonderful book on starting things, not just companies, but also non-profits and new ventures within existing organizations. I wish I had this book 10 years ago!

I’ve been in three startups, intimately involved in two others, advised quite a few more, and read plenty of additional business plans. Guy has lots of words of wisdom, as well as some rather unorthodox thoughts. I often smiled while reading and thought, yup we got that wrong.

From the very beginning there is (perhaps seemingly simple yet) profound advice.

“The hardest thing about starting is getting started” – I’ve had friends who have planned and schemed for years but never actually started.

“You should always be selling – not strategizing about selling.” Yes, seen that done a lot.

Some of his unorthodox advice: On business models, “ask women – and only women. My theory is that deep in the DNA of men is a killer gene.” He believes men are likely to have a business model which is “kill competitor XYZ” and women are not. I’ve certainly known companies whose business model was kill company XYZ, for example Sun Microsystem’s desire to kill Microsoft. I find this advice bizarre, although thought provoking.

The entire book – every chapter – is useful. I’ve underlined many passages and written copious notes in the back. I’ve not only read the book, but also gone back and reread many parts as well as skimming it in its entirety.

In case anyone is wondering, yes I have a current startup, The Arial Group. I’m still consulting as usual as they don’t need my daily input anymore. They do like calling me occasionally in the wee hours of the morning (they are based in Asia-Pacific).

And the startup with the most problems, both in my opinion and certainly in Guy Kawasaki’s? Drum Roll please . . . The Cerint Technology Group. I don’t wanna talk about it!

Ted is a Luddite!

Last Sunday's Boston Globe has a nice article "Giving Up on Gadgets" by Maggie Jackson.

"A small but growing number of otherwise tech-friendly people, however, are saying 'enough' to the assumption that more technology is best," says Maggie.

I'm quoted as someone who gave up my handheld email device (years ago). It had some great features and functionality, but basically it was NOT improving my productivity.

I was TOO connected and people expected immediate email answers on non time critical issues, simply because they knew I was getting my emails almost instantaneous.


Earlier this year I was working at a client site where each employee had a cell phone, pager, email, and instant messaging. If we needed to contact someone to get something done, for example rebooting a server, it was great.

However the people I was trying to work with were constantly getting interrupted and our productivity was running probably about 50%.

No, of course they didn'’t have any metrics, just a warm fuzzy feeling that being able to interrupt anyone at anytime was a great thing!

Morse Code faster than Instant Messaging

Many young people consider email to be old and obsolete - something old fuddy-duddies like myself use. They don't email friends, they Instant Message. Email is too slow for them. But a far older technology has shown itself to be faster.

Morse Code beat Instant Messaging in a speed competition put on by an Australian Museum. A 93 year old Morse Code guy beat a teenage messaging kid.

No surprise here.

Morse Code is about the simplest form of digital communication possible. A signal, for example an audio tone going "ahhhhhhh" is modulated by turning it on and off. On and Off - that's all. Pretty Simple!

As a general rule "Simple Equals Fast" and "Simple Equals Reliable."

Talkr - free audio from blogs

Being able to listen to blogs and other websites instead of reading them is extremely cool!
Talkr, which I mentioned a few posts back, does this is and is now live.

A few blogs are available as audio for free, and I recommend you check it out!

Who has enough time to read?? Not me!

But we all have extra "ear time" - time spent commuting, in the gym, bowling, juggling, break dancing, sitting in meetings and participating in teleconferences, etc. (OK, I don't really breakdance, or sit in meetings often, but the others apply!) Why not listen to something informative and useful?

Talkr can download what you're interested in to your mpeg player automagically, and you can listen at your convenience. The audio is fine - a non robotic female voice.

So, you don't have an mpeg player (cheap) and you have zero technical knowledge? No problem, even my mother could figure out how to listen to blogs on her computer while emailing/surfing/etc in maybe 60 seconds.

No financial interest blah blah blah, I just think it's cool and the man behind Talkr bought me lunch once.

Chief Blogging Officer

CBO - Chief Blogging Officer - that's a new one for me.

Maybe we bloggers really are all full of ourselves (many of us clearly are, but all of us?)
OK, as long as it's understood to be intentionately somewhat comical and funny, I guess it's OK.

I guess I'll need to Google "Chief Blogging Officer" now! Uhh, Ohhh. There is a www.chiefbloggingofficer.com - it's a blog. A business blog sort of. How can something be soooo strange yet make sense ???

Ted, Chief - just "Chief"

Bloggers Code of Ethics

In the recent New York Times article The Latest Rumbling in the Blogosphere: Questions About Ethics, Adam Cohen writes about how Bloggers are gaining credibility and perhaps should be held to the same standards as other journalists.

As he says:

"Every mainstream news organization has its own sets of ethics rules, but all of them agree broadly on what constitutes ethical journalism."

as opposed to

"in the world of bloggers, where few rules apply"

ETHICS-SMETHICS

We don't need no stinking code of ethics!
Ethics ALWAYS apply, and drafting a set of rules will not stop the unethical!
Do criminals heed laws?

Nice article by the way.

Safe Blogging - without getting fired

S. Faolán Wolf has a interesting and commonsense post on some guidelines for blogging without losing your job.

I have friends who feel they have the *right* to blog from work, the *right* to say anything about anyone with zero fear of repercussions, etc. And what kind of moron is going to publicly comment on their illegal activities, whether is drugs or something else?

Apparently lots of them . . .

"If you would not call the boss, "The biggest dipshitted prick to ever live" in the office where others can hear you? Don't say it on your site. If you wouldn't go telling your co-workers how you "made it with 6 different whores last month while going on a bender and sniffing up half an 8 ball of cocaine", then don't say it on your site."

Seems obvious, doesn't it??

Although you may or may not agree with all The Wolf's points as he is quite cautious, it's all good commonsense, which is unfortunately uncommon.

Talkr - Listen to your favorite Blogs

I was driving to my office listening to my favorite blogs. Sounds like a dream or fantasy?

No, It's Talkr, an amazing new service which transforms your favorite blogs into audio and lets you listen to them anywhere and anytime you want! I've been fortunate enough to beta test Talkr and it delivers more than I possibly imagined.

My life has no extra time to sit in front of computers -I already do that WAY too much!! But I do occasionally have extra time "ear time," when driving, biking, in the gym, fishing, mowing the lawn, etc.

I can now use that extra "ear time" to catch up on my favorite blogs! Maybe catch up on my favorite newspapers in the future as well.

The blogs are read in a pleasant non robotic female voice. No expensive mobile connectivity is required - you can have your audio choices downloaded at night to most any modern audio device. It's simple to setup. It's even fine over slow speed dialup.

Talkr is the next wave of the blog revolution. My spare "ear time" while in the car, gym, etc. is now used to "read" my favorite blogs!!

So, what are you doing now? I'm simultaneously blogging while listening to Scobelizer via Talkr.

Bloglet - email blog updates

I just added a way to subscribe to this blog via email using Bloglet's Service.
A couple of my blogging clients use this so I know it works well.

I've also had a change of heart - or perhaps I should say I changed my mind. OK, I'll admit - I was downright wrong!

Theoretically, you are "supposed" to subscribe to blogs using RSS and then use a feedreader, for example bloglines.com, to see new information posted. Services like Bloglet shouldn't be necessary.

Sure, I do use RSS and a feedreader. But what percentage of blog readers do? I haven't seen any stats, but I'll guess it's 5-10% at most. For example, I know some of my regular readers only read my blog and I'm sure they don't use, need, or understand RSS and feed readers.

So, if you want to get email updates, go for it. Just input your email on the box at top - it's basically self explanatory. You'll get any new words of wisdom from me emailed to you.

And if you still want to visit and click the occasional Google Ad, feel free!

Blogging for Business Overview

Just sent this to a Book Agent and thought I'd post it too. Yes, considering writing a book, yet again!

“ . . . blogs are a phenomenon that you cannot ignore, postpone, or delegate. Given the changes barreling down upon us, blogs are not a business elective. They're a prerequisite.”
- Business Week, May 2, 2005

Blogs are the next wave in the Information Revolution. With over 9 million blogs in existence and a readership of 32 million which grew 58% last year alone, blogs are here to stay. New business blogs are being started almost every day and companies are reaping benefits from their blogging.

Blogs, short for “web logs,” are simple websites or parts of weblogs. They are dynamic, often updated daily or more often, and show the most recent information first. Unlike a website, adding information to a blog is trivial and as easy as sending an email.

Many companies are encouraging their employees to blog and many are incorporating blogs into their websites. Examples include Microsoft, Boeing, General Motors, and many more.

Blogs can help companies in several ways:

• Blogs add a more personal voice to a company and add personality to its website and brand. This can help build trust and make closing sales easier.

• Blogs attract traffic. Since they are dynamic and interactive they tend to attract a regular following of readers.

• Search Engines love blogs.

• Blogs help position companies as experts in their industry.

• Blogs are great for communicating both with internal and external audiences. Some companies are using blogs to communicate with their employees. Some companies have replaced newletters and ezines with blogs.

• Blogs can also easily generate revenue by incorporating advertisements, e.g. Google AdSense.

• Blog advertising is an effective way to reach niche audiences. Blog readers tend to be very interested in a blog's topic.

Until recently, blogs were considered a bizarre Internet phenomenon without any use to most people. Now they are rapidly proving themselves as significant business tools. Blogs are a cutting edge information dissemination technique that companies cannot afford to ignore.

Keynote Speech: Understanding Blogs and their Business Uses

"Ted Demopoulos has a unique ability to captivate an audience with his clever insights and droll presentation. He can make the most esoteric and challenging topics engaging and fun for everyone within an organization. Whether it's a tough IT audience or a team of people-focused HR professionals, everybody 'gets' Ted and his material."
-James D. Foster, Corporate Learning Services, The American Management Association

Blogs are the next wave in the Information Revolution. With 32 million people regularly reading blogs they are quickly becoming mainstream.

Blogs are simple websites and many companies are encouraging their employees to blog or incorporating blogs into their websites. Examples include Microsoft, Boeing, General Motors, and many more.

They have been responsible for breaking a number of news stories including the capture of Saddam Hussein and the recent CBS “Rathergate” fiasco.

In this speech Ted examines blogs and their business uses. Topics include:

What are blogs and why should I care?

Five ways blogs can help my company.

The four characteristics of all successful business blogs.

Should my company have a blog?

Who should blog for my company?

Essential defensive blogging strategies ALL companies must take.

The future of blogs and blogging.

Ted blogs on Technology, Security and Business at www.thetedrap.com which has over 1000 visitors each week and has positively impacted his business.

He is the author and featured expert of the WatchIT video production "Understanding Blogs and their Business Uses," has written several articles on blogging, is often quoted by the media on business blogging issues, and consults on business blogging.

Please contact us to explore a great keynote for your event.

Email or Marijuana - which is worse??

Email and other electronic communications temporarily lower your IQ significantly more than smoking pot does according to a recent study at London's Institute of Psychiatry, reports Red Herring Magazine.

Email and other distractions lower a worker's IQ an average of 10 points, which is the equivalaent drop of missing an entire nights sleep. Smoking marijuana however causes a temporary drop of only 4 points.

They didn't comment on Pot head email junkies, and I can offer little commentary as I'm only an email junkie.

However, I will take a stand as being 100% in support of Blogging While Drinking (BWD). While BWD can cause problems, just like anything done inappropriately or recklessly, in moderation it is an enjoyable pastime and usually far more productive than Watching TV While Smoking Cigarettes (WTVWSC), or Emailing While Stoned (EMS).

And to those that wonder, yes, I'm having a glass of wine, a 2001 Chateau Climens Sauternes.

Cheers!

Laptop Security for Travelers

This article may be freely reprinted as long as “About the Author” and copyright are included.

Most of us travel at least occasionally and traveler’s laptops are especially tempting targets for thieves. When a laptop is stolen it is at least a major inconvenience and if company confidential data gets into the wrong hands the results can be truly catastrophic.

There are some simple steps everyone can take while traveling to protect their laptop from physical theft.

General: Consider a locking cable and perhaps an alarm for your laptop. They are available from most computer stores. Carry your laptop in something other than a laptop bag, for example a briefcase or backpack.

Cars: Try not to leave laptops in a car. This isn’t always practical, but minimize it as much as practical. Never leave a laptop, laptop case, or briefcase in plain sight.

Airports, train stations, etc: Watch your laptop carefully! Certainly do not put it in checked luggage, and be extra vigilant when it’s going through the X-ray machine. Do not ignore or leave it alone for even a few seconds. If someone spills food or drink on you, watch that laptop – it could be a scam!

Businesses: Many laptops are stolen from businesses. If you don’t know if it’s safe to leave your laptop unattended then ask someone.

Hotel: Don’t leave your laptop or any laptop accessories visible in your hotel. Don’t leave your laptop in an obvious place, for example your briefcase. I usually put mine in a drawer mixed in with clothes.

Bus or shuttle: If you take a bus or shuttle, for example from the hotel to the airport, hold on to your laptop. Don’t put it “in back” with the other luggage.

It only takes a few seconds for a thief to grab a laptop. These simple steps will help protect your laptop, your data, and your business trip from disaster!

About the Author:
Ted Demopoulos has been consulting and delivering keynote speeches for companies like Cisco, IBM, and US Department of Defense on Information Security, IT Entrepreneurial Issues and Business Blogging since 1990. He can be reached at www.demop.com.

Copyright 2005 Demopoulos Associates.

Rebooting the Car

I was driving with the family in the family's super high tech spaceship - errr, make that minivan, when something stopped working.

It wasn't the sonar, on dashboard screen map, or rear camera, but the DVD player. If you don't have kids and an in-car DVD player you won't understand, but trust me it bordered on crisis. I was about to live through 45 minutes plus of whining.

I was driving, so I gave my wife suggestions. "Turn it off and then on again. Try again. Try another DVD" etc. Nothing worked. It was dead in the water.

I pulled over to the side of the highway. Turned off the car. Removed the ignition key. Replaced it and started it again.

Everything worked perfectly! (I should have said we closed the Windows first, but this is no Microsoft Windows joke!).

Yet another example of something with too much technology!

"Technology for technology's sake" no doubt. Give me a stupid car with a semi intelligent driver, than an allegedly smart car with any driver please!