Easy Explanation of Bail Out. Simple Guide to the Financial Crisis

The market, the economy and society in general are illusions that we all agree to participate in.

These two comedians sufficiently explained it all back in 2007

Watch and learn

Beranys and Connie have to be laughing out loud at the recent news

The Idea of Pattern Recognition

I found this in my inbox.

I've lost all traces of where I found it.. so there's a mystery here.. why as this in the "draft folder?"

I'm pretty sure I didn't write or edit it... but it's very profound and I don't want to loose it.

The idea of pattern recognition one of the peculiar new
awarenesses of our time is the result of speed up. When things move
very quickly, their pattern or form of them appears very plainly
whereas when things move very slowly, it is not so easy to see a
pattern.
This so has something to do with a lot of the confusions of our world
and when people who had previously been quite content in a fixed
position, in a job, or a career, are suddenly confronted with very
fast-moving situations where they can see overall patterns, they
suddenly become very discontented with their place, with their fixed
position. So the dropout is a normal kind of response to pattern
recognition... not that I mean in all aspects of our society, the
people who were dropping out right, left, and center are people who
suddenly have seen a pattern in their lives instead of just a fixed
position; visually oriented, everything in its place, a place for
everything, a classification, a job.

If you come across the origion, please post a comment so I can give proper attribution.

Mama Taught You How To Use Social Media

You mom said it best

"You have 2 ears and 1 mouth.. use them in that proportion"

Ross Goldberg wrote that "the only thing that matters in social media is the first word social." He give some good advice for being social.

I'll add a bit by asking you -- Do you like it when someone is "socializing you"

Yes, be sociable. Just don't forget that Mom had the right ratio. If you really listen, and never force yourself on others, you'll be liked more and get more done.

Dale Carnegie taught in "How to Win Friend and Influence People" that the key to being social was to listen. Instead of hitting people over the head with your socialness, he suggested listening. In one story, he related how he quietly listened to a man for over an hour, paying attention and offering nothing more than a nod and agreement at times.

Later, the man was heard to say that Dale was the best conversationalist he had ever met.

Translating this to online technologies... You can't lurk (just read quietly). You have to do a nod from time to time. I suggest that you read blog posts and web sites with the idea that your acknowledgment and praise is the price you pay for reading.

Leaving a positive comment wherever appropriate is a great bargain. It let's the writer know you appreciate his work, it let's other readers know you are there and can build your reputation as someone who is up to date and expert on the subject.

Today I read Ross's post and wanted and thought "good job my friend." I'd usually post such a comment on his blog. Instead, I decided to tweet about it on Twitter so my followers could learn from Ross and write here to elaborate. I've placed a trackback (a link back the original post) to give some juice to the post.

When I link to Ross, people who read my post may hop over there, and the search engines all will follow the link and associate our posts for increase crediblity for both of us.

OK.. I've rambled a bit more than needed to say "good job Ross" .. I do hope you see that I was aiming to pass on some tricks of the trade.

Thanks for reading. Leave a comment or trackback so I know you've been here

The Payoff: RickRoll Promotion is Finally Eposed

For many months, I've been getting messages from friends telling me to go see this or that, only to find the Rick Ashly video (this is commonly known as a "RickRoll" or "RickRolling someone")

I thought it was all just good clean fun.. till I saw this.. The ultimate reason we were being taught that song

Twitcast Fun - We're Writing and Promoting Our Book on Twitter

Deb Micek and I are writing a book on Twitter.com call Twitter Handbook

We decided from the start that the book would be open source, we want to do whatever we can in public, using Twitter and social media to connect with Twitter users and those who want to know more about social media.

This week will be our 3rd Twitcast (a broadcast on Twitter). It's actually just the two of us working in public. After a few minutes, Deb and I hardly get anything directly back and forth, there are so many more people involved.

Last time, we tried to get Twitter users to post comments to our blog, most just wanted to add their 140 characters right on Twitter. So this time we are using BlogTalkRadio where Deb and I will chat with those that want to call in, while reading and responding to Tweets.

Not the quickest way to write, but a lot of fun.

Read Deb's blog post and join us Friday live on Twitter.

Follow @BookWarren and @CoachDeb

How To Get Rid of That Song Stuck in Your Head

Blogs, Social Networks and the Internet in general are great for spreading a meme

While reading the history of mememtic theory, I found a link to a Mark Twain story.

If you have ever had a song stuck in your head, you'll like his cure found in this post that includes the entire story.