Ravenweb Blog

Last week, I posted a BIF pledge as an immediate reaction to the inspiring BIF-7 conference I was fortunate enough to attend in September in Providence, RI. Part of the pledge included my promise to "reflect on the speakers". As I began to do so, I realized I wanted to share some of my reactions and make others in my network aware of these amazing storytellers. Tallying the number of storytellers and counting the days in the month of October, I noticed the unexpected synergy and decided I would write a short post about a different BIF-7 storyteller every day in October. My intent with this exercise is to revisit each BIF-7 speaker in greater detail and reach people who may not have heard of BIF or the speaker. Day 1 - Richard Saul Wurman Day 2 - Angela Blanchard Day 3 - Alexander Osterwalder  Day 4 - Graham Milner Day 5 - Eva Timothy Day 6 - John Werner  Day 7 - Fred Mandell  Day 8 - Mallika Chopra Day 9 - Gotham Chopra  Day 10 - Andrew Losow...

I began this post fully intending to sum up my thoughts and reflections about BIF-7 . As I started, though, I realized quickly that it's way too early for me, that I'm still processing all the speakers, ideas, visuals, and -- most of all -- the many new people I was fortunate enough to "collide" with at BIF. So instead of a summing up, I opted for a BIF pledge, or a simple list of things I plan to do before the next BIF event. Get someone who's never been to a BIF to attend next year. Reflect on the speakers, and review their websites. If any of them write a blog, read the blog for the next thirty days. Consider reading any books they've written. Continue the conversations I started with the many people I met at BIF and stay connected. Go through the attendees list (and the Valdis Krebs list of recommended connections) and connect with some new people who, unfortunately, I did not connect with at BIF-7. Answer the questions  Mallika Chopra posed to th...

Lebanon, PA is a well executed mediation on the value and benefits of living in the big city versus a small town in contemporary America. Will is a mid-career ad professional from Philadelphia who returns to Lebanon, Pa. to bury his recently deceased father. As he closes out his father's affairs and spends some time in Lebanon, he discovers to his surprise that the small town life suits and soothes him. He discovers the simple pleasure of mowing a lawn, begins a romantic affair with a local, and questions whether he can live in a small town like Lebanon permanently. Lebanon, PA was an interesting film and I enjoyed the performances and attempt at a nuanced, non-judgmental portrayal of the cultural divide in America. In summary: give this indie movie a chance. My rating: three stars (out of four). You can learn more about the film at the Lebanon, PA movie website or on Twitter @lebanonpa_movie , and watch the theatrical trailer at http://youtu.be/mulTye9gsFk .

We're approaching a point with collaboration technologies where users can opt out of traditional consumer models and use alternatives to acquire, borrow, trade, and give away just about anything. Need a car? Instead of buying or renting, you can use Zipcar  or RelayRides . Want to buy or sell old possessions? Try Ebay or Craigslist . Need a loan but want an alternative to a bank? Try Zopa . Staying overnight in another city? Sure, you can rent a hotel, but now you can also use Airbnb  or Couchsurfing . What's Mine is Yours sums up the new universe of what authors Rachel Botsman and Roo Rogers term "collaborative consumption". The book, like the movement it describes, is a game changer, as the authors connect the dots and show how key systems (like redistribution markets and collaborative lifestyles), principles (like critical mass and belief in the commons), and drivers (like environmental and cost concerns) have all matured to the point where collaborative consu...

This week Fast Company featured a decision tree infographic from Mindflash  showing when companies should allow employees to work from home. I really think the infographic missed the mark, and though not nearly as pretty, here is my attempt to answer the question visually:

Check out my article on Computerworld about why Google+ isn't a threat to Twitter: #RIPforTwitter? Not so fast. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9218786/_RIPforTwitter_Not_so_fast. In addition to the source article, the piece has also been picked up by various sites throughout the world that apparently use aggregated Computerworld feeds. CIO AU http://www.cio.com.au/article/395683/ripfortwitter_fast Computerworld UK http://www.computerworlduk.com/in-depth/applications/3294847/why-google-will-never-kill-off-twitter/ Computerworld NZ http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/newmedia/ripfortwitter-not-so-fast

Switch is a smoothly readable and deceptively simple book about making lasting change. To set the stage for change, the authors contend that you need to do three fundamental things: speak to people's rational site and provide direction, appeal to people's emotional side and stir feelings, and shape the way forward. It doesn't matter if the change is directed at a person, group, or organization - the principles are basically the same in all instances. I loved the clear-headed logic in Switch and the many anecdotes of everyday people who achieved dramatic change results. For example, there's a teacher who helped motivate under-performing first graders by challenging them to perform as well as third-graders . Then there's a manager who helped executives feel the need to drive down purchasing costs by literally stacking 424 different types of gloves on a conference room table to show the different prices and glaring lack of economies of scale. There are also stori...

Check out my guest post on SmartBlog on Leadership: 10 ways social media can help “flip” your network http://smartblogs.com/leadership/2011/06/06/10-ways-social-media-can-help-flip-your-network/

My neighbor recently had a disagreement over a payment and an unpleasant customer experience with Independent Health , a large health insurance carrier that operates in Buffalo, NY and the surrounding area. To release some of his frustration, he posted an entry to his blog , in which he recounted the entire episode and even created a mock ad, revealing how the organization treated him. A few days after publishing the post, Independent Health (to its credit) contacted my neighbor and agreed to cover the full amount of the disputed payment . Score another one for social media. Never underestimate the power of this emerging bullhorn. Links: Initial post in which neighbor vents on his blog: http://kaynou.wordpress.com/2011/04/27/advertising-we-can-believe-in/ Follow up post recounting Independent Health's response: http://kaynou.wordpress.com/2011/04/30/independent-health-comes-through/

There are so many books out now focusing on some aspect of the environment, including climate change, sustainability, green business initiatives, and many other concerns. Please share any books you've recently read in the Comments that relate to Earth Day or the environment. In case you're looking for something to read, here are a few titles relating to the environment that I'd recommend: Unbowed by Wangari Maathai Unbowed is compelling the story of Nobel Peace Prize winner and Green Belt founder Wangari Maathai's devotion to natural balance and sustainability. Read Full Review In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan Food may not come to mind immediately when considering Earth Day topics, but Pollan's messsage is as much about ecological sustainability as it is about nutrition. Read Full Review Fruitless Fall by Rowan Jacobsen Fruitless Fall explores the perilous state of honey bees, which in recent years have been dying at unprecedented levels. Read ...

Personally, I'd rather connect with Mark Twain or Mary Shelley ....

If you have to pick one desert island, all time favorite first sentence of a novel, what would you choose? Though deceptively simple, I always think of the opening of Melville's Moby Dick when I consider memorable first sentences. It's the utility and purposely vague phrasing -- just three words, but a sentence that absolutely sets the stage for the rest of the novel: "Call me Ishmael."

I first learned about Joel Salatin from the 2008 documentary Food, Inc. Salatin was one of the farmers featured in the film extolling the virtues of local food. Fortunately, I had an opportunity to hear him speak earlier this year , and learn more about his Virginia farm and strident beliefs about community-based agriculture. After his talk, I picked up a copy of his book, Everything I Want to Do Is Illegal , and I'm pleased to report it's one of the best things I've read so far this year. Call it the book Michael Pollan would have written if he had been a farmer. Much more than a rallying cry for local food, Salatin illustrates in painstaking detail the everyday bureaucracy and issues with the entrenched industrial food system. He writes about how the system is setup to favor big agribusiness and not the small farmer or the consumer, and the many obstacles small, local farmers face from burdensome regulations. Zoning, wildlife, farm labor and housing, insurance, t...

I really wanted to see Waiting for Superman when it came out in theaters, and I finally had a chance to see it a few weeks ago. That I ended up watching it the day before the Oscar's was coincidence, although I was shocked that the film wasn't even nominated for Best Documentary. A lot has already been written about the movie, so I'll stick to my immediate impressions, which I logged right after seeing the film: The American public school education system is broken. We now lag the other major powers in student performance. Good teachers are vitally important, but unfortunately there aren't enough of them and there are too many mediocre and bad teachers. Even worse, bad teachers are almost never fired. We don't measure teacher performance well enough. We need some way of rewarding excellent teachers. Some public schools are essentially "dropout factories". Charter schools have arisen as a viable alternative to public schools. If you're an ...

I was in the bookstore this evening, and there were a number of displays featuring famous works by prominent black authors. The spread included titles by Frederick Douglass, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Toni Morrison, and Alice Walker. While all of these writers are great -- and I encourage you to read them all -- it got me thinking about which black authors and titles by black authors I would recommend. After some deliberation and a decision to focus on lesser-known and genre writers, I came up with the following short list of recommended titles by black authors. Happy reading. The Chaneysville Incident by John Bradley The Chaneysville Incident is a well-honed and affecting story of historian John Washington's attempt to discover what happened to thirteen runaway slaves in Chaneysville, Pennsylvania. The protagonist's efforts to reconstruct the past elevate the narrative, through various rhetorical devices and an interesting contrast that plays out thr...

I was fortunate enough to get to hear Joel Salatin speak to about 100 people in Buffalo, NY, about the local food movement. If you're unfamiliar with Salatin, he is an award-winning farmer and engaging speaker and was famously featured in the film, Food Inc . This evening he was in top form as he talked passionately about the many benefits of organic, local food. Organic food, he declared at one point in response to a question from the audience, could indeed feed the world. Many thanks to the organization Edible Buffalo for sponsoring the event and Daemen College for providing the venue.

At last, an empty work inbox:

To all my extended colleagues and connections, Many of you already know, but I wanted put up a short post to announce that Friday, January 28 will be my last day at Moog , and I'll be starting a new full-time position with my parent company ( the Superior Group ) next week. I'm excited about my new position. In my new role for Superior, I’ll be working as Brand and Business Innovation manager for the company and be responsible for the creation, development, and maturation of new ideas and driving innovation for the business. I’ll also lead initiatives as they pertain to branding, online marketing, and our intranet and public web properties. Thanks to everyone for all the support over the years and through my recent job transition.

I've selected a song for 2010 and added it to My Life Playlist . I mulled four songs before picking a winner, and enjoyed the process of reflecting on some great music from the past year. First, the winner: "Crash Years" by The New Pornographers This is Indie rock at its best. And, the three honorable mentions: "Jar of Hearts" by Christina Perri Raw but brimming with emotional intensity. Watch Christina Perri -- she's going to be a star. "Animal" by Neon Trees Catchy, with fast beats and a big chorus. "Boy Lilikoi" by Jónsi I'm thankful I discovered this incredibly gifted Icelandic singer in 2010. 

"Eradicating an ugly word won't erase history. And in order to learn from past mistakes, we must understand our history." So wrote one of my friends 1  in an email exchange in which we discussed The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn  and the Alan Gribben NewSouth Edition that's been in the news lately -- the one in which the editors decided to eliminate the racial slurs, including the "n-word." I was bothered by the new edition when I first heard about it and then again when I engaged in some vigorous oppositional debate about it with a neighbor. According to Gribben, the "racial insults" in  The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn  (as well as  The Adventures of Tom Sawyer ) "repulse modern-day readers" such that "this editor gradually concluded that an epithet-free edition of Twain's books is necessary today." On the surface, the intention seems laudable: make Twain's works more accessible to American schoolchildren. An...