The real Stephen Colbert and copyright law as marketing opportunity

I’m not sure actually if the real Stephen Colbert cares one way or the other about copyright laws and their relative suitability in the digital age. After all, that’s the point, isn’t it? So how much of Colbert Report truthiness is the real Stephen, as opposed to the anti-Stephen pundit persona (or the writers)? He seems to keep that pretty cleverly disguised for the most part, although last year’s strike was an interesting opportunity to see Stephen himself vs. the writers first hand. I’d say about 60/40, wouldn’t you? But Stephen vs. Stephen? That’s a question that was tackled by researchers at Ohio State University and reported in last Sunday’s Boston Globe. Their study found that the real Stephen Colbert is more or less in the eye of the beholder. Conservatives tend to think he’s for real, while liberals believe that he’s just kidding. (boston.com, What Colbert really thinks) So if you see him as a liberal pretending otherwise to make his point (and so do I) then we are one. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t right! In fact, that view seems to be supported by real Stephen Colbert interviews such as the one with 60 Minutes which it turns out is no longer available on YouTube due to copyright claims by CBS. Go figure.

I do think he’s done an admirable job, as usual, of using Mr. Lessig’s book promotion opportunity brilliantly to promote himself and his audio book. I could only wish to have a fraction of his marketing and promotion savvy, and keep hoping that if I continue to watch him and Stewart every day (well, when they’re not taking a week off) that a touch of the genius will rub off on me.

Facebook or Fortune 500? Or both?

As a veteran of corporate America, insurance and financial services division, I’d say the notion that creativity and progress was overly stifled by the stodgy old guys in senior management was pretty well accepted. And although management is certainly getting younger and somewhat more diverse, I’m not so sure that much has changed today, beyond the bare minimum, like the occasional day care center or pizza party. It’s a shame to see so much time and talent wasted in bureaucratic clutter. And at least some if not all of the 12 Web Ways would be a big improvement, with their greater emphasis on substance over form, but there’s plenty of institutional resistance to plow through. I do wonder if today’s economy may push that process along a little, especially if the trend toward growth in successful startups that demonstrate more of those values continues, as many of the more established firms decline. The one exception I’ve seen is an enthusiastic embrace of #11, since substituting intrinsic rewards for actual salary increases can really save the company a bundle!

But that was my old life. Looking forward, I’d like to think that just because I’ll never be in the Facebook generation doesn’t mean I can’t play. There’s a lot of appeal to an environment where you can be productive by sharing good ideas and having fun. Is there a risk to a world where there’s so little structure and control? I suppose so, but no more than the risk of ignoring its benefits. There’s got to be a best of both worlds solution here somewhere, and with any luck, we’ll find it, and society will be the better for it.

Creative work in Vermont? Sure!

“Do you know why adults are always asking kids what they want to be when they grow up? It’s because they’re looking for ideas.” I stole that from Paula Poundstone, but I use it whenever the topic of work comes up, because I can so relate to it personally. I feel a bit on the other end of this scenario from most of you, since I am winding down from a long career rather than just beginning, but I’m still looking for something new, as usual. Over many years in the insurance business, I used to think of myself as climbing the traditional corporate ladder with every promotion and transfer, but in hindsight I can see that it was more like having attention span issues. I know it sounds a little silly to be looking for new opportunities at my age, but it’s what I do.

And fortunately, with the possible exception of some internet infrastructure issues, Vermont seems like a great place to do just that. I love the focus on local business and the mutually supportive business community. You might not expect it in our rural neighborhood, but I found my professional logo and web design folks right in the next town. (NEKInfo Associates) And they don’t know this yet, but I do have them in mind as a potential client for some freelance work once I’ve completed a few more courses and developed some proficiency in graphic design and multimedia.

But in the meantime I’m planning to focus on promoting my new book when it’s out in another month or two. All of this video, blogging and podcasting experience is going to come in handy! Most of my marketing efforts will be online, because that’s the most practical choice when you live where I do, and because I love being able to work from my computer at home, more or less on my own schedule. I have spent more than enough time on the road for business travel or commuting. And while it’s been great research, enough is enough. I am perfectly content to stay at home and spend my future driving time on road trips for fun instead of work.

Here’s an interesting example of a successful work at home business model that I stumbled across a couple of years ago. Shortly before we left Colorado, when I was deciding to go with self-publishing and looking around for a publisher, one of the reasons I decided on Outskirts Press was that it was local. Or so I thought. As it turns out, the founder/owner of the business was local, but the employees are scattered throughout the country. My author representative, for instance, is right next door in New Hampshire, working on her own computer at home, for a boss in Colorado and with authors in a variety of locations. There are so many advantages to that way of doing business, both from a lifestyle point of view for the employee, and an efficient use of resources perspective for the employer, that for creative work especially I can only imagine the opportunities will continue to grow. And I think that’s a good thing, don’t you?

Why I’m starting to like WordPress a lot better, and a note on blog podcasts

First, Lisa’s suggestion about disabling the text view and using just the html window seems to have eliminated those irritating html codes that were creeping into the occasional post before.

And, WordPress, unlike Blogger, has an official widget for box.net that makes it easy and far more attractive to add a podcast to your post. Yay, WordPress!

One of my favorite things about creating a podcast of your blog posts is that folks can download and listen to them on the go, rather than sitting in front of the computer screen. This seems kind of tricky, though, when you’re using video or even images and links. I tried to cover that in my first practice podcast by describing the photos and repeating the links, but am not sure it was all that effective. What do you all think?

One more podcast try, in WordPress

My attempt to add a podcast version to the latest post in my regular blog (in Blogger, using box.net) didn’t work out well, so I”m going to repeat the whole thing here to see if WordPress may be a better environment. Here goes…

Because I said so, that’s why!

And I’m not the only one…not even close.

Mother Rider is always glad for a good excuse to say I told you so, especially on one of her favorite lecture topics, so she was thrilled (and grateful) to find a link to these photos in an email (subject: WEAR YOUR SEAT BELT) from her friend Laura. Check it out…

Notice how the driver’s seat remained remarkably intact in the midst of the mangled wreckage around it, and imagine how different the driver would have looked from that fellow we see casually checking his cell, without a seat belt holding him securely in that small refuge. OK, that’s enough; I want you to buckle your safety belts, not to have nightmares! Quite a vivid demonstration, wouldn’t you say?

Surely after looking at these photos you are not still thinking of lame excuses not to buckle up, are you? I doubt it, but just in case, let me share this link to snopes.com, where the ever popular what if I’m trapped in my seat belt and can’t get out? argument is soundly debunked: Risk-O Inferno And by all means, get yourself one of those handy little hammer/slicer escape gadgets at any discount or auto parts store, or online at Amazon. You’ll feel better.

Mother R is proud to see that seat belt use in America is creeping up (from 82% to 83% in 2008, according to the NHTSA’s NOPUS), with a #1 performance by Michigan at 97.2% (you go, Michigan!) but she’s still pretty mystified as to what the heck is wrong with the other 17% of you! Come on, folks, you know I keep saying that there is no reason for mandatory safety belt laws because we are smart enough to buckle up without being told, yet a few of you continue to make me look bad (never mind getting yourselves killed) by failing to buckle up. Now I want you to get with the program and get those numbers up to 100% for 2009. Do you hear me? Do I have to tell you again? Right, well I guess that’s about enough harping for one day.

So I will leave you to enjoy a Happy Easter Sunday, with my thanks for your best and most salubrious driving behavior, and with special thanks to Laura and the anonymous individual who was so generous (and smart) as to assemble and send along this amazing testimony.

Happy trails and a cheery Rider wave to all!

Podcasting, still a bit hazy

I have enjoyed learning about the variety of podcasts and formats, and am beginning to see how they could fit into my website plans. As to how to go about coming up with a podcast of my own, this tutorial on using Audacity to create podcasts was quite helpful: How to Podcast Yet I’m still a bit hazy on getting from the recording to the blog, and think I had better spend a little more time studying before giving it a try.

Stay tuned…

And Happy Easter!

Oops! or It’s a Miracle!

Last night when I first posted the vlog below, it was extremely sluggish and the audio and video were all out of sync, so I left the Oops part of this post. Today as I took one more look before trying to fix it, the whole thing ran just fine. I don’t get it, but wonder if my computer may simply have been exhausted late last night. I will leave it be for now, and will be curious to see if it runs OK for you all. Thanks!

It worked fine in Windows Media Player, but doesn’t seem to be so happy in YouTube. I think the audio/video disconnect may have to do with the title screen. I will try to figure it out and have a better show for you tomorrow. Sorry!

Vlogging in Vermont (on a spring day)

Here’s a walk about town in the fresh spring air, hope you like it…

Sorry about the clipped transitions, I still haven’t quite got the knack of leaving enough extra time for them. And please excuse the tinny sound in the driveway section. My Handycam battery died, so I finished up the last bit with the digital.

What a difference