Successful Blog

SOB Business Cafe 7-21-2006

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SB Cafe

Welcome to the SOB Cafe

We offer the best in thinking–articles on the business of blogging written by the Successful and Outstanding Bloggers of Successful Blog. Click on the title shots to enjoy each selection.

The Specials this Week are

Creating Passionate Users makes the point that if you’re not having fun, you’re just not doing it right somehow.

Usability through Fun

Solo Marketing offers some advice on how to deal with spousal distractions. These aren’t just tips for holidays.

Symplebyte shows us how to make smaller PowerPoint files in five easy steps. Maybe then we can actually send them to clients via email.

Service Unlimited has some customer service tips for freelancers. They really apply to any business that has clients.

Customer Service Tips for Freelancers

Related ala carte selections include

Scrappy Marketing Solutions reminds of the qualities that make an effective business blog.

What Makes an Effective Small Business Blog

Sit back. Enjoy your read. Nachos and drinks will be right over. Stay as long as you like.
No tips required. Comments appreciated.

Have a great weekend!

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Net Neutrality 7-21-2006

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Net Neutrality Links

I’m adding this link to the Net Neutrality Page.

How Washington will shape the Internet

In the end, it’s really an argument about who will bear the costs of building out the robust networks that we’ll all use in the future. And while net neutrality has received the most press, in the end it may not change the status quo as much as either side fears or hopes. If the networks win, the government will probably intervene if it sees unfair discrimination against competitors or censorship. If the Googles of the world win, the network owners will undoubtedly figure out some other way to raise prices.

No matter which way it goes, it means a new element of government regulation. And as far as who pays to build out the networks — in the end, one way or another, most of the costs will still be passed on to the consumer.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

Net Neutrality 7-20-2006

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Net Neutrality Links

I’m adding this link to the Net Neutrality Page.

Net Neutrality On Life-Support.

It’s clear to me that net neutrality is on life support. If Ted Stevens is any indication of how well these issues are understood by the people allegedly paid to represent us, expect to hear him and his cronies echoing this ad’s message when they vote to do to net neutrality something they would never have done to Terri Schiavo.

The problem is that in addition to net neutrality, the communications bill is also dealing with the issue of “red lining” and broad band access to disadvantaged communities. The lobbyists for the cable and telco interests have focused on splitting the digitial “haves” from the digital “have nots” in their effort to kill net neutrality. So far they have succeeded. That is why the Markey amendment didn’t pass in the House. The people hoping to get high-speed access are looking at the bill as a way to protect their right to access, while we are arguing about access to content.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

Airplanes, Airports, and Ideas

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Field Trip

Customer Think Logo

I’m on an airplane to meet with a project partner for the next few days. What a great opportunity to be a customer. I’ll be capturing moments and ideas for posts to come. Can’t let those real events go unrecorded. Observing is what writers do. I figure I’ll collect a week’s worth of ideas in the next hour or two.

I love flying, but the airport I’m flying into always has a delay. . . . More after I’ve landed.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related articles
See the Customer Think series on the SUCCESSFUL SERIES PAGE.

Net Neutrality 7-19-2006

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Net Neutrality Links

I’m adding these links to the Net Neutrality Page.

Googleman: Congress needs a comic book!

Kid you not, Google’s Vint Cerf in his debate today actually ruminated on the need to create a comic book to educate Congress on the Internet and net neutrality. He also played to the elites in the audience, by giving veiled instructions to a questioner to google “Stevens” and “tubes.” Mr. Cerf apparently is not shy about telling a room full of press that he and his colleagues do not have a very high opinion of the mental aptitude of our national legislators.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

Net Neutrality 7-18-2006

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Net Neutrality Links

I’m adding this link to the Net Neutrality Page.

Technologists square off on Net neutrality

WASHINGTON–Two Internet pioneers dueled on Monday over whether proposed Net neutrality regulations supported by companies like Google and Amazon.com are the best way to prevent “abusive” behavior by broadband providers.

A debate here hosted by the Center for American Progress, a nonpartisan research institute that brags of challenging “conservative thinking,” pitted Google Chief Internet Evangelist Vint Cerf, who co-developed the Internet’s backbone protocols and has emerged as a leading proponent of congressional antidiscrimination mandates for network operators, against Dave Farber, a Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist widely considered to be a “grandfather” of the Internet.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE