Blog Consulting, LLC.

The Future of Magazines and Newspapers?

Mag+ (video prototype footage only) from Bonnier on Vimeo.

Light at the end of the Tunnel

I was talking to my son today about life. 

Sometimes life, and a business venture, can leave you feeling cold, alone, void, colorless, hopeless, and with no end in sight.

Often, the answer, and the way to find the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel is to:

• ask questions of trusted friends/family
• keep moving
• open lots of doors
• don't give up

Sometimes this means that you will find yourself down a rabbit hole with no course of action but to turn around. 

But keep going.  Don't sit down.  If you do, gather your thoughts, stand back up, and press on.

Life, business, and relationships are all on a moving track.  If you jump off the track, you will find yourself hopelessly frustrated.

If you find yourself moving, but also constantly frustrated, perhaps you are blind to something in your life, or your business, and you need the counsel of a good friend.

Remember the definition of insanity?  Doing the same thing, over, and over, and over, and expecting a different result.

A good many, in today's tough economic climates are looking for light at the end of the tunnel.

Son, if it makes you feel any better, I am bopping around those damp, dark, cold halls myself right now, as we are building this new business.  The advantage I bring to this task is my 20+ years of additional life.  I have learned that the quest is fun, and with persistence any task can be very rewarding.

Keep plodding.  Most will sit down.  Keep plodding.

Could this Amazing Two-Headed Man keep up with his Google Reader?

I love my Google Reader.

I hate my Google Reader.

Sometimes, I wish I was Pasqual Pinon, the amazing two-headed man.  Then, perhaps I could keep up with my Google Reader.

I suppose, at the end of the day, I need to do some more pruning in my Google Reader.

Do any of you have this challenge?  Have any of you solved this challenge?

Dear Apple Computer, please provide inventory before you attempt to sell the new iMac

In our business meeting this morning, my wife and I decided to invest in the new iMac that we saw on Apple's website.

Being a sort of techie-geek, I hopped in my car and set out on the journey to the closest Apple store to get me one.

Here's how the 45 second conversation went, when I walked in the door:

Nice Apple employee:  can I help you?

Me:  Yes, I am here to buy a new iMac.  (I must admit, my pulse quickened.  Just a little, mind you.)

Nice Apple employee:  we don't have any.  We haven't received them yet.  Maybe we will get some today.

Me:  your kidding...right?

Nice Apple employee:  no, I'm afraid not.  In fact, we don't even know when we will get any.  They never tell us.

Me:  That's crazy!  Why would you put them on your website without having them available, or at least saying that they aren't available yet.

I walk out the door displeased.  Come on Apple, you are better than that!

Lijit: A Search Engine Tool for your Blog

While we were visiting the Blog World New Media Expo we had the opportunity to spend a few minutes with Grace Boyle (Development Manger Business Development for Lijit).

I have always been very, very impressed with Lijit's willingness to go out of their way to create raving fans. 

While at the expo, Grace loaded up my blog on her computer, made a few recommended tweaks, and then just followed up by e-mail to see if there was anything else she might do for me.

Wow!

I can highly recommend Lijit as a free search tool for your blog, but also tell you that I am a raving fan of their company.

Another wonderful stay at Trump Hotel Las Vegas

We just completed perhaps our 5th stay at the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas.

There is much that we enjoy about Las Vegas, but there is also a great deal that we don't.

Not being gamblers, we are long past the allure of the clanging casinos, the smoke, the crowds and the general temptation that is calling us to leave our prurient behavior here. 

We don't come to Las Vegas to bring out our inner demons, and tend to shy away from places where this is likely to occur.

However, we do enjoy Las Vegas for the food, the shows, and as is frequently the case, the conventions that are generally the impetus for our visit.

The Trump Collection in Las Vegas offers us a luxuriously appointed room, replete with a kitchenette,  and even that long lost, and even greatly dreamed of Las Vegas appliance:  a coffee pot!

The hotel is just a block off the strip, our room peers directly down upon the strip, yet we have the peace and quiet, the luxury, and the appointments that a well traveled baby boomer would come to expect, and appreciate.

Thank you Trump Hotel Las Vegas for another wonderful stay, and perhaps most of all, thanks for the coffee pot!

Travel Tip:  when you stay at the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, request a room facing the east.  This way you will not lay awake at night listening to the trains near the west side of the building.

Trump on Twitter

I just finished my tentative schedule for the Blog World New Media Expo 2009

Blog Consulting, LLC - I just put the finishing touches on my tentative schedule for the Blog World New Media Expo 2009.

Here is my tentative schedule. 

Who knows, perhaps we will share a class, and get to meet one another.

I say tentative because some of the class descriptions are not on-line, so I might make a few last minutes changes.

I am looking forward to hearing the keynote speakers, as they tend to be fairly well traveled, and will offer 30,000 foot perspectives.

In contrast, I will be attending quite a number of smaller sessions where I will be exposed to veterans in various niches of the social media spectrum.

It should prove to be a valuable conference. 

I look forward to making some new friends, and learning more about this incredible medium that is social media.

We are attending the BlogWorld New Media Expo 2009

Blog Consulting, LLC - next week, my wife and I will hop in our Porsche convertible, and enjoy a glorious four hour drive to Vegas, for the BlogWorld New Media Expo 2009.

This will be a veritable who's who of social media, replete with a wonderful expo hall jam packed with social media technology companies.

I am quite certain that I will be doing a lot of blogging from the expo.

How could I make our visit to this expo a beneficial experience for you as well?

Share your thoughts in the comments section.

Blog Consulting, LLC's Weekend Links

Blog Consulting, LLC - here are a few links that I found, this week, in my 21st century mailboxes, that are worthy of your time:

Scottsdale/Phoenix Links:

• I have started Yelping.  
• The Daily Groupon - $40 worth of drinks and food for $20.
• Phoenix Symphony sold out for its opening concert of the season.  I am such a dork for not thinking ahead!
• Famous watercolorist Tony Foster lectures at the Phoenix Art Museum, on September 16th.
• Arizona Opera Opens October 23rd, with Mozart's Cosi fan tutti.  Just bought tickets for that.  It will make a wonderful date night with my bride.

Social Media Links:

• Outbound Links - An Endangered Species? - Darren Rouse (ProBlogger) shares the important social media courtesy of providing outbound links.
• HubSpot TV - is a weekly video podcast covering all the inbound marketing news of the week with Karen Rubin and Mike Volpe.
• Google Reader Blog - the Internet who's who provide their daily reading list with Google Bundles.
• Keeping up to date with my favorite e-mail client:  the Gmail Blog.
• Blog World Expo - we will be attending this large new media expo for the second time.  This is a grand place to explore, learn, and find new friends.

There is a little weekend reading.  See you next week!

Phantom Sightings Fiesta featuring Low & Slow: The Art of The Lowrider at the Phoenix Art Museum

Phoenix Art Museum - looking for something fun to do in Phoenix tomorrow? 

Check this out:

August 22, 2009, Noon to Midnight
Throughout Museum Grounds

In conjunction with Phantom Sightings: Art After The Chicano Movement, this very unique event will feature the works of Lowrider artists from the Southwest. It also includes a special dedication of the Official Lowrider Hall Of Fame pictorial and some of the hottest Lowrider cars and bikes to hit the show floor.

From noon to 4pm, activities will be focused inside where families can explore galleries filled with Latino and Chicano inspired art or maybe roll up their sleeves and try their hand at a printmaking workshop. Masks and music are provided by Zarco Guerrero.

As evening approaches almost 100 Lowrider cars and bikes will be on display throughout the Museum grounds. The fiesta style atmosphere will be family-friendly featuring live music from five Latino bands and DJs including Caribe and Herencia de Sinaloa. Inside there's late access to the galleries to see Locals Only and Phantom Sightings. Outside in the garden check out the work of artists including a group from spraygraphic.com. And of course, remember to grab a plate of food from our friends at Mi Patio.

Admission FREE for the car show. Other activities available at General Admission rates.

Brought to you by Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix New Times, La Campesina, Prensa Hispana, Honest Ade Tea, Ear Candy, Lowrider Magazine.

Maybe will we see you there!