Archive for May, 2008

Rage

Posted on: May 28th, 2008 by Geoff Livingston No Comments

Rage, motherfucker, Rage.

Finally after almost twenty years I am going to see one of my favorite bands EVAH! Yup, Rage Against the Machine.

lolla_logo_270w_2.jpgFor my birthday, I bought tickets to Lollapalooza 2008. Rage is one of the headliners. Old motorcycle buddy Tony Rinker will be joining me for madness and mayhem in Chicago on August 1-3. Side bennies, a phenomenal line up that includes Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails. This is actually Rage’s second Lollapalooza (1993).

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This one is so important to me, I actually have it listed as #58 on my 101 Things I Want to Do Before I Die list.

I almost saw them with the Beastie Boys on the Battle for Los Angeles Tour in 2000, but one of the Beastie Boys broke his leg or something, and the tour got canned.

In the interim, I got treated to two fricking phenomenal Audioslave shows. Audioslave is basically RATM with Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell as the front man. Audioslave was probably one of the top 20 bands I have ever seen (I’ve seen hundreds). Clearly, this was just an appetizer.

Popularity: 24% [?]

Thoughts on Amsterdam

Posted on: May 26th, 2008 by Geoff Livingston 3 Comments

It’s funny how you mention Amsterdam to Americans and they instantly start making jokes about drugs or sexual debauchery. The city has a lot more going for it. Like always, whenever I return from Europe I cannot help but think that our country is so repressed in this sense.

In reality, this city is just the European version of Vegas or New Orleans. And quite frankly, it’s a lot more beautiful. Consider all of the gorgeous canals and rich history that there can be found throughout the city.

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Amsterdam was built on a marshy area and soon became the trade capital of the world, as well as the champion of Protestantism in the late 16th and all of the 17th centuries. It’s here that the Stadholders and most notoriously William the III shirked off the rule Catholic Spain and then fought off the Sun King, Louis XIV. The Dutch East India company rose and explored the world, “discovering” such places as New York city.

This flat land makes for great bicycling. Local Amsterdam citizens use bicycles to get around, as well as walking. It’s a very accessible city.

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Of course, to ignore the debauchery in Amsterdam is to ignore the national deficit. Ironic that the the city’s coat of arms is triple x, that the city was a champion of Christian Protestantism, and is now the home of the red light district.

Perhaps the funniest part of this district are all of the tourists, including lots of old folks taking a gander. It’s a bit of a freak show. The world’s oldest profession and “coffee shops” (a.k.a. drug bars) are throughout this region, more of the previous than the latter.

Caitlin and I arrived in the early evening and found the smells to be a bit much, so we elected to leave and return during the late morning the next day. The red light district frowns on photographing the window inhabitants, but this image gives you an idea of what it’s like. As far as the window shopping, you can get the equivalent from the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue or your nearest beach as all of the ladies are wearing bikinis.

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The coolest part of Amsterdam was Jordaan, a funky neighborhood on the west of the city. We spent a majority of our time, eating, shopping (I hope I don’t see another shoe store for three months) exploring, and hanging out here. This is also where Anne Frank’s house can be found.

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All in all, Amsterdam is a three day trip, and a worthwhile one. I don’t think I want to go back, but am glad that I took it all in. Perhaps the best way to end this post is to show you some of Amsterdam’s inherent and timeless beauty. Consider the tulip trade which is based out of the Netherlands. All trip photos are available on Flickr.

tulips.jpg

Popularity: 16% [?]

The Amsterdam Tryst

Posted on: May 21st, 2008 by Geoff Livingston 2 Comments

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I’m off for a long, unscheduled weekend with Caitlin in Amsterdam (image by Macropoulos).  Who knows what crazy, fun memories this tryst will bring? I promise you one thing, there will be no updates. :)

See you next week.

Popularity: 14% [?]

Social Media Soundtrack (feat: Cypress Hill, The Beatles and the Eurythmics)

Posted on: May 21st, 2008 by Geoff Livingston 3 Comments

Evange.LIST author Qui Diaz — a.k.a. Da Boss — kicked off the social media soundtrack meme yesterday. And I was tagged. Though I’m not quick to respond to memes, I thought this one was pretty creative and fun.

The premise:

The "community" is constantly plagued by industry in-fighting, which is so disenchanting and not at all sexy. Whether its one A-list blogger defaming another, or nasty comments left by people hiding behind their computer screens, or gurus blacklisting PR firms that are trying really hard to do right by the blogging community, it’s tiring! And probably a big turn off for folks who are still trying to understand this space.

She then suggested three artists and tracks that imbue a few of the many perceptions, lessons and ideals offered within our community. So here are my choices.

Geoff’s Social Media Playlist

Cypress Hill, Rock Superstar (2000)

chill Lessons

People don’t handle micro-fame well, instead buying their own BS (Trapani) and acting like morons.  Further, when you "make it" as a blogger or social media personality you don’t make instant cash, aren’t treated any better in the real world, and you get pestered left and right. Lastly, sometimes fans get over-attached and things get weird.  Most recently, I received an unwelcome approach visa vis a strange video sent via Twitter.  All in all, social media rock stardom isn’t all that people make it out to be.

Choice Lyric

You ever have big dreams of making real cream
Big shot, heavy hitter on the main
And you wanna look trendy
In the Bentley, be a snob and never act friendly
You wanna have big fame, let me explain
What happens to these stars and their big brains

The Beatles, We Can Work It Out, 1965

pswecanLessons

Conversations are just that, and if two people are sincere in their intent the finer points of debate mean little. For the fair of heart, estranged views about trivial matters often become a touchstone for friendship. The relationship becomes paramount. That is the true value of social media.

Choice Lyric

Life is very short, and there’s no time

For fussing and fighting, my friend.

I have always thought that it’s a crime,

So I will ask you once again.

The Eurythmics, Sweet Dreams, 1983

262280~Annie-Lennox-Posters Lessons

It’s a wide open canvas, and we all have so much to say, all very individualized, all very special in a unique way. Seeing so many dreams expressed in such vivid fashion always compels me. I miss the days when I roamed the blogosphere soaking these stories up like a sponge. For while relationships are the value, these brilliant dreams are the heart of social media.

Choice Lyric

Sweet dreams are made of this

Who am I to disagree?

I travel the world

And the seven seas–

Everybody’s looking for something.

 

Here are the bloggers I’d like to tag to continue the meme: Kami Huyse, Chris Brogan, Erin "Queen of Spain," Shashi Bellamkonda, Xtopher1974, Ike Pigott, and Jane Quigley.

Popularity: 42% [?]

Prince Caspian: A Worthwhile Endeavor

Posted on: May 17th, 2008 by Geoff Livingston 1 Comment

Here’s my review.

Warning: Not a movie for the militant atheist, but certainly one for anyone with open belief in things spiritual.

Popularity: 11% [?]

Episode 19: Where Do We Go with Blogger Relations

Posted on: May 14th, 2008 by Geoff Livingston No Comments

Actually a very good episode given all of the brew haha that blew up across the blogosphere.

Aaron started us off as I was late (doh!).  This is Aaron’s last week at b5media, so he’s up in Toronto.

Within a couple of minutes I showed up, usual niceness (aaaawww).

Then we had a very long civil discussion about the whole blogger relations issue.  Ground covered included:

  • Basic background
  • Some of the causes, including undo pressure
  • Whether or not all bloggers really have the power to blacklist vs. the top tier
  • Press releases – why bother emailing them?
  • Better uses of our time, including social good
  • Flat out building relationships

Presto Vivace’s Alice Marshall joined us for a good part of the conversation and added a lot of great colorful insights.

Silly Valley: We briefly discussed whether or not Andy Beal is right, that Google is Dying and determined the post was likely titled for SEO/link bait purposes.

Episode 19 – MP3

Aaron Update: We called Gina Trapani Rita all show. So sorry, Gina!

Popularity: 23% [?]

A Time of Advocacy

Posted on: May 12th, 2008 by Geoff Livingston 11 Comments

It’s funny how things will bring you full circle. Last Sunday night my neighborhood almost got flooded with the severe rains that hit the Washington region. As EMS personnel enacted a voluntary evacuation (I stayed), I talked with my neighbors and collectively we had great fear.

We had been through this before in 2006. The catastrophic results were just unbelievable, affecting 150 homes in my neighborhood. My wife and I were just devastated, fighting and destroyed, probably clinically depressed. We sustained tens of thousands of dollars in damages. The business was in shambles.

It quickly became apparent that the flood was a result of over-development and neglect, compliments of Fairfax County and VDoT. Both organizations did their best to shun responsibility, but the neighborhood knew. We were gentrifying folks who were probably too poor to be taken seriously by uber-rich Fairfax County.

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So I used my powers for good. I actively petitioned the community. See above cover of the Washington Examiner. That’s me getting people to sign a petition to Governor Kaine. What was then the Buzz Bin was used for media relations and community updates to fight for the Huntington neighborhood. I found a nationally recognized law firm that handled the Three Mile Island and Valdez class action suits to represent us on contingency.

This time of advocacy yielded fruit. Today I received my papers for the class-action suit. My neighborhood is going to take Fairfax County and VDoT to task for their actions over the past 35 years, and I am the lead plaintiff. Wow.

Similarly, two years ago I started my company because I was real fed up working for dishonest crap PR firms (not including Widmeyer, which is an awesome organization). I got tired of pettiness in the business, and nasty back stabbing.

Today, I think about the drama that ensued in the blogosphere compliments of the latest PR people suck meme started by Trapani. All I know is nasty actions hurt people.

Over what? What are we doing? Is this really what I got into social media for? Personally, I am just disgusted by all of it. All of it. Both us, the PR people shilling for long tail hits about crap, and mean cranky bloggers who think hiding behind a keyboard with a decent Technorati ranking is a license to act like jerks.

It’s all bullshit. I mean this is a real waste of time, you know?

Think about what we achieved in Huntington, what other great people try to do with their blogs, social media, resources and time. There are better things to do.

One of the things we are doing at my company — in great part because of the leadership and hopes of evange.LIST Qui Diaz — is building a formal non-profit practice. We already had some clients and leads, and now we are making great strides. I hope, I believe we will succeed. That would be good because I really don’t care that much for the current conversation. My powers can be used for greater things.

Popularity: 100% [?]

New Ink: I’ve Got Short Sleeves

Posted on: May 9th, 2008 by Geoff Livingston 4 Comments

Because some folks wanted to see them…

Popularity: 12% [?]

I Have a Dream. It Does Not Include Verizon Business.

Posted on: May 8th, 2008 by Geoff Livingston No Comments

verizon_logo I have a dream. A world where connectivity is abound, and data, voice and video are easily attainable.   The best part of my dream?  Well, in addition to democratized information, it does not include Verizon (or if I lived in a different region, AT&T).

Yes, I hate the phone company.

And today it reinforced my belief that Verizon Business as an entity has no interest in serving its customers. Why bother when you are a monopoly?

I got stood up today by Verizon Business (wholesale unit through XO Communications), who was supposed to turn up my new office’s T1 lines. Nothing angers me more than wasting my time. Wasting — nine hours of my time from 8-5 — takes things to a new level. Normally, I’d bill $2700 for that time. Yeah, great. Not all for naught, as I did have the trusty laptop and a wireless connection.

Oh, yeah. Now I will have to come back tomorrow and do the exact same thing.

I have a dream. It’s connected, and Verizon free. Heck, it’s just big telco free. In the interim, I will continue using other companies for my business wherever possible. 

P.S. While I’m at it, I’d just like to thank the FCC for relaxing the M&A rules from the Telecom Act and allowing these big ogres to re-consolidate. Another example of crap governance.

Popularity: 20% [?]

In Love, Each Soul Reflects the Others

Posted on: May 7th, 2008 by Geoff Livingston 1 Comment

The love of God, unutterable and perfect,
flows into a pure soul the way that light rushes into a transparent object.

The more love that it finds, the more it gives itself;
so that, as we grow clear and open,
the more complete joy of loving is.

And the more souls who resonate together,
the greater the intensity of their love,
for mirror-like, each soul reflects the others.

Dante, The Divine Comedy, Paradisio (translated by Stephen Mitchell)

The poem I read to Caitlin as part of my vows

Popularity: 13% [?]