Avatar photoSteven Savage

News of the Day 8/14/2009

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Career:
Tips on Resume Keywords – We're all geeks here, so I'm sure we'd get ideas of how to use this . . .

Economics/Freakonomics/Geekonomics:
Europe is recovering ahead of the US – Despite some predictions by respected economists.  Frankly I think they had less deep systemic problems than the US, and my guess is the different approach to physical and social infrastructure is helpful.  More in the next article to think of . . .

A few US economic myths to chew over. Most noteable is a surprising lack of entrepreneurship, which I've been reading of for years.

News and Publishing:
Hyperlocal is big for news – and may now be for advertising.  This is big for news, but makes me wonder what other opportunities will be available for webcomics, conventions, travel, etc.

Mixed feelings on the Google Book settlement: Author's Guild is for it, National Writer's Union ISN'T.  I've said legal issues will be complicating content issues/content wars, and this is just one.  It's not over – and it suggests what kind of factional battles can start over content issues.

Social Media
2/3 of Markets use Social Media – Anyone surprised?

Basic professional networking tips for Facebook

The Army using wiki structure to edit field manuals?.  Very intriguing on a number of levels.  First, it will help make wiki-methods more accepted in government and in general.  Secondly, another testimony to good wiki skills.  Third – if you're trying to sell your company on using wiki tech, here's another justification.

Twitter may be used as a way to control botnets by some . . . well, its time to bash Twitter according to my calendar.  Still, the usual growing pains one sees in a technology.

And finally . . . There is a LOLCat Off Broadway musical

– Steven Savage

Wither the Merchandise?

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I've been pondering the future of enjoyable collectible stuff for fans.

You know what I'm talking about.  The plastic collectibles, plushies, bobbleheads, etc. 

I've been wondering what the economic future of these is, to be frank.  Little useless trinkets may be fun and collectible, but in a touch economy, I figure they're going to get less and less attention (and as I expect it to be years for the economy to recover, this could be awhile).  There's far more payoff in a rare video, a neat book, etc. than something that presents no other use than ownership.

So I wonder if the collectibles are going to take a hit in the geekonomy and the fannish economy.

This is a casual speculation, but these collectibles form the basis of some specialty stories, they're big at conventions, etc.  This would in turn affect the social experience of fans as stores close, change focus, etc.

Just some idle, geekonomic speculation.

– Steven Savage

News of the Day 8/13/2009

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Career:
Google reader is your key to being a subject matter expert – A nice explanation of a simple but useful technique – a good series of news feeds educates you fast.

Anime and Manga:
More on Tokyopop's publishing of manga online – They seem enthused about it (and oddly historical about it). Also interesting they were syncing with Free Comics day, showing good market awareness.

Movies:
A lego movie. No, really. Unless they get the folks behind Lego Star wars or make it a heck of a parody, this sounds lame. Side note – there also is a Tom and Jerry movie coming. At some point you guys are going to run out of stuff to recycle into films . . .

Publishing:
Not always visible in the e-book wars are the document wars. It appears that DocStoc is expanding to allow for document purchases, going beyond document sharing. A bit of a glimpse into other worlds of text content and technology. I'm going to keep an eye on this as an interesting e-publishing solution.

The ever-insightul Fitz and Jen give their ideas on Sony's e-book reader. They simply note Sony's strategy is providing an open reader in a market of closed readers. Simple, to the point, and pretty effective. (And shout out to Bonnie – what if you could get e-books via your PS3?)

Social Media:
40% of Tweets are useless babble to that all I can say is 'duh.' An amazing amount of human conversations are babble or maintenance or "sonar" statements to see if someone is still listening. I hope this doesn't result in yet ANOTHER round of Twitter-is-useless pseudo-intellectual discussions . . . I'd like to think the issue of Twitter was settled in the last few months.

How to earn trust via social media – Aimed at entrepreneurs and business, good advice and general.

Technology:
A hot and spicy bit of insider info on the Apple tablet – Big note here is that, according to [redacted] it will be a netbook like computer, a webcam, AND a peripheral for a regular mac. As oddball as that may seem at first, I can see Apple thinking they'd increase sales by making it a laptop/desktop companion. Still if the price is the $700 to $900 I hear I'm not quite sure that's going to fly – it's really not a netbook so much as a netbook AND an expensive peripheral.

Video Games:
Social games and media are sucking in more Big name game talent. A little demographic to watch. I myself wonder if the social media/gaming division isn't overly artifical anyway . . .

Finally, there may be a new Godzilla movie. This is not career-relevant but . . . you know, GODZILLA.

-Steven Savage