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Season 20 Ep 16: Sellers Hate Hoarders, not the Game, Golf Stance

Wed, 14 May 2008 07:20:58 -0500

Croncast - 2008-05-14.mp3
Show: #491
Length: 19.7
Size: 28:40 mb
Format: mp3

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Special note: Betsy and Jeanie are having a meetup in San Francisco May 21, 2008 at House of Shields 39 New Montgomery St., Time: 6:30 p.m., stop and have a drink or two!

Betsy "Classified Ads" Smith
That is your new name
You're like silly putty
Let me see your palm
I guarantee that their is an ad transfered to it
Did I see a Happy Mother's Day Classified ad?
Nope
Did I sleep on a floor for you?
Mr B I am going to kick your ass
I don't want to hit golf balls
Then I win by default
You are very competitive
My brilliant delightful wife made it rain golf balls
I thought it would be like a coffee machine
I wanted a cute paper basket with a handle
The second of the idiots is now here
They should put up a sign
There was a sign I am sure
Based on how you played it should be bright pink
You are so full of crap
I couldn't put my arms around you
Resting in your schwetty palms
A boy at the disco
You missed the ball completely
Then I got it dialed in
I was the winner no doubt
The driving range isn't on my to do list
If you had one we would have been doing the next
I am a bald man, I don't need to be sleeping on carpet
The divets on my head were too much
I won't make you sleep on the floor
Call you Betsy "Lemon Juice" Smith
This is my super bowl weekend
Where is the sale this weekend?
Bears, 23 consorted sub divisions all at once
They have a consortium of sub divisions?
Yes
Betsy now reads the classifieds
Leaving your boxes on the driveway
Somebody is going to steal them
UPS picked them up
Are you sure?
What are the rules?
You show up first and the item is your's
They might share a bag Gardetto's
You have done this to her
Bird Lady I am going to get you
I am going to walk around with

Tags: silly putty classified ads sub division consortium

Make better RSS feeds by not making them

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:00:20 -0600

Did you pick the content of the RSS feeds that you are syndicating from your site right now? Or did you let your readers pick?

Within reason my guess would be that most of you answered, yes then no. I know on my sites, even this site, I would have answered the same.

The solution isn't to create more feeds. The best solution is for publishers to create no feeds at all. Let your readers make their own.

Here are a couple examples why this is a better method for content syndication than relying on your own editorial skills.

Example 1: How not to do it make good RSS.

Don't get me wrong on this, CNET is offering nearly all of its content up for syndication. This is an excellent strategy to create value from older content. However, do readers really need the option of subscribing to 100 plus predefined RSS feeds? Simply, no.

Finding feeds for the topics you are interested in is difficult. The worst of it is that you can only access them individually, i.e.; you want 10 of feeds, copy and paste them one by one into your feed reader. Sounds like a party to me. If you have more skills you might use a service that rolls all of them up into one feed for you. I would guess that about three people have done this.

Why overwhelm your readers like this? And besides, it is pretty intimidating for someone new to the RSS game. Shouldn't they be able to access your content in a way that makes it relevant to them?

Example 2: How to do RSS right.

What you see above is one of two flavors of how to let your readers pick what they receive in RSS feeds. It's a simple and easy to use text input that allows readers to enter keywords and phrases that they want in their feed. There's nothing fancy, easy access to old content in the straight-forward way that RSS is delivered; updates of the newest items first and set number items in the feed, usually twenty-five.

What the second screen shot shows is the magic of thinking differently about RSS feeds. This image demonstrates what happens when someone clicks on the 'advanced' link. The reader is then given control over every aspect of the RSS feed. They choose the content, when it is delivered, how much content, in what order (none of this newest stuff first mumbo jumbo - great use for episodic content) and how many updates to get at a time.

Who is better to choose than the person doing the consuming? RSS needs to be like Burger King where a customer can have it their way.

When this concept is applied to large volumes of content the value of it increases with each new article or podcast. Imagine if you could have this type of access at the NY Times or with your local paper. Even the obits from 30 years ago are now of value again. Value to the reader and value to the publisher with ad inventory.

The future of content syndication isn't in prescriptive channels created by publishers. The future is in the subjective choices of the consumer. They neither need or want every product that you have to offer.

We need to be smarter about our syndicated content via RSS and take into consideration how to make that user experience more satisfying. Whether it is by allowing users to pick topics or order of updates, something needs to change. Why? Because it is all about attention; the premium of which is measured in subscribers, influence and the influence of those subscribers.

Tags: RSS CNET readers consumers interaction

The Wallpaper Bandit

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 15:51:16 -0500

The Wallpaper Bandit is busted not far from the scene of the crime.

All these posts in the last hour are coming from tests.

I'll explain in a bit.

Tags: wallpaper bandit tests coming explain

Last seen

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 11:00:49 -0500

The 'Wallpaper Bandit' last seen at 108 S. Washington Ave, Naperville.

Suspect considered cute and dangerous.

Tags: considered cute dangerous suspect naperville

Podcasting gets a plug from Eric Zorn

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 07:26:06 -0500

Eric Zorn has a good, succinct write up about podcasting in today's Trib, Pull up a chair, the plug in some podcasts. Well, at least the online version. As I sit in my room here in Boulder the only thing available to me is a paper printed on recycled hemp with biodegradable ink that is already fading. I kid the Boulder.

Anyway, in the blog version Eric did something else cool, he posted other podcasts that were recommended from people on his mailing list. We didn't make Eric's list but we did make Rick's. Thanks for the nod holmes.

With us in Rick's list and many of the others was the Wait Wait Don't Tell Me podcast. It is only correct that we showed up in front of this Chicago Public Radio staple in Rick's list. Why? As I will remind the the rest of planet earth with a connection to the tubes we are Peter Sagal's favorite podcasters. Heheheh. I have the photo to prove it. He wrote it on his own program from May 2005, no less.

If you happen to listen to the show from 2005 where we review the Wait Wait Don't Tell Me live show, just keep in mind it is from the olden days of podcasting back when tumbleweeds and buffaloes ruled the plains.

Since then we've put over 375 more shows under our belts and gotten much better at this thing. Tighter, as they say in the biz.

Tags: Eric Zorn Chicago Tribune Wait Wait Don't Tell Me podcast my favorite podcaster planet earth

Betsy and her husband Kris Aug 15, 2007

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 11:33:00 -0500

Croncast - 2007-08-15.mp3
Show: #397
Length: 29:34
Size: 20.3mb
Format: mp3

Betsy and her husband Kris Aug 15, 2007

photo on left by dave winer and photo on right by josh hallet thanks to both!

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The nerd things that drive me crazy
Betsy is going to find me a online geek mistress
That would be sweet
You go ahead and marry that girl Mr. B
After days of this haven't you had enough?
Apologies for no show on Monday
I blew it on Sunday and had to take the red eye
No one wants to hear your drama
If it were done on graph paper it would have all been good
I didn't hear any of this "life would be better on paper" at Gnomedex
Here's what made it so cool
I had my nerds on one hand and my baby on the other
It was our 11th wedding anniversary
Yeah, and you take me to a nerd convention
Your nerd buddies are cooler and much more high functioning than I thought
Apologies to me for the ewok comment
A dude was dressed as a pirate
It was just one guy
The 12 sided dice and hoods were missing
The 11th wedding anniversary is as special as turning 36
Up to 10 you are swimming upstream . . . after that . . . floating in a tube
Seattle is a great place
You didn't plan our dinner Mr. B
Yes I did . . . reservations are a plan!
That is a large step
The restaurant turned out to be really nice
There was an attentive gay waiter
Can you hire one of those for me here at home
The beautiful view
Then a 3 story tall lighted Cadillac Escalade barge floated by
Nice view
The other awesome part was that you got to meet some listeners
Mark is an awesome guy
I know I told you that
Yeah, but you are usually wrong
At the party I saw the nerds trying to sink into their ringer tees
You have blossomed like a $10 orchid
Having social skills, Mr. B you have grown
Betsy got to see me in my element
I still don't get your people
Let's take Kosso for instance?
You can't pick Kosso he is normal
What about the guy dressed as a pirate Mr B?
The dudes that split a suit
The pic on right above is from the Thursday night out
Strange woman talking to us, looks at floor and walks away
The nerd wife put one shiny shoe right in front of him
My Nerd!
This nerd off limits
She busts out, "Well, I dress him!"
Not in a ha ha way
I don't understand your "Party Only" badge
She scared me
Those chicks look alright . . . "The Women of WarCraft"
God Damn
I'm not in to that type of stuff
These chicks were hot on a nerd level scale
We're going to score some mad nerd ass tonight
My people were talking to you because you were a personable lady
You've got nerd engagement skills
You've got to pretend your eyes are lasers
Yep, right here buddy
Asking a nerd what they do is not the right thing to ask
It is always difficult to explain
You asked me what the hell do you do?
Then tell them my title . . . right, what does that mean
The guy on the way home asked me, what do you do?
What was your reply Betsy?
I do nothing. I buy and sell shit.
So your husband is a nerd? Are you a nerd?
No
Do you podcast?
Yes
How many times a week?
3
You're not a nerd?
Do you sell your stuff online?
Yes
You're not a nerd?
Do you watch Heroes?
Yes
Watch John From Cincinnati?
Yes
You're not a nerd?
When buying swag for nerd events don't buy them white shirts
The other great part for me was first alcoholic beverage in 10 years
I had to announce it because you called me the teetotaling nerd husband
Not he hardcore found Jesus type of not drinking
That's not it Betsy
My first drink was Jagermeister with Aaron Brazell
I broke the seal and enjoyed the libations
Had an awesome time on Saturday night with Mark, Greg, Aaron, Kosso, Steve, Josh, Dave C., Mike, Chris, Michael and Dave D.
Not having to be on, Betsy's specialty
Betsy does her first improv class
Pretend you are a tree
Were you there?
My theater background is you know . . .
Yeah, lying under a theater major once doesn't count
My neighbor is in this class
Leave us some comments
Great American Yard Sale is this weekend
Thanks to Bernadette for this review and write up!

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Tags: Gnomedex 2007 Seattle Great American Yard Sale improv class The Women of WarCraft Jagermeister

Heading to the land of John Elway Dodge

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 05:50:39 -0500

Yes, off to Colorado for work two weeks before vacation was set to begin. The car will be here in less than an hour and I have to pack enough stuff to last me three weeks on the road. Solution: Let Betsy loose and have her ship me my stuff instead of trust that the United will get it all there.

Every time that I travel with all of my nerd gear all I can think about is how last September in one of my checked bags I had a 30 gb video iPod when I entered LAX and when I arrived in Chicago it had disappeared. It was replaced with an awesome non-music playing, no screen having scrap of paper notifying me that TSA had taken the liberty to search my bag. No big deal. However, what was missing was the paper notification that they swiped my iPod.

Anyway, what all of this means is that last night we knocked out four shows for the time that I'll be gone. The shows are a shorter than normal at around eighteen minutes in length. On Friday, July 20th the show will be the Q & A from the live show.

That's all I got for now. More from the road and Boulder soon.

Tags: 30gb video iPod Boulder, CO LAX working on the road

If I had $5 million . . .

Fri, 25 May 2007 08:50:09 -0500

Update: It's a meme for sure. A commentary over at the WSJ online by Andy Kessler makes my idea sound less crazy.

I've been thinking about this since last Saturday when I read that the SF Chronicle would be cutting 25 percent of it's editorial staff in their newsroom. And with the conversation taking shape online I decided to stop procrastinating and write this.

On Tuesday of this week I was talking with Scott about podcasting quality and new media production when I went segued into, "If I had $5 million dollars . . ."

Here's what I would do with it:

1. I would pick up half of the Chronicle staffers that are being canned [around 40 people]
2. Spend a couple of weeks working with them to understand RSS, blogging, podcasting (audio/video), production software Mac/PC and anything else DIY media - don't get me wrong most of them probably understand this stuff but I would want them to be self-sufficient, decentralized producers (Mark is already getting this on)
3. Find out what they really like to do in life, what they like to report about and where they like to travel
4. Send them all off to report (blog and podcast) with the gear and skills they need to produce finished works, and a login to a central web based CMS. There is no big fancy office in this plan.
5. Distribute the work via blog, podcast, RSS and closed system for contract work

You might ask, at the core, how this is different from Reuters or other media organizations? It's not really that different. It's simply a model that uses the greatest distribution platform - the internet and maintains agility by avoiding bloat.

The way that it is really different is that a new crop of seasoned print news pros would show up on the scene with the ability to use the knowledge, interview skills and the contacts that they have gained in their tenure to produce work - news reporting, investigative, human interest . . . what have you, from their own perspective. I agree with Dave Winer on this, it is the next step.

So how do you keep it going? With a smaller, nimble, decentralized model like this I think you could get really creative with ways to generate revenue. The real nut comes from selling the content back to traditional media outlets as a buyout for rights or licensing it to them for a fee. Ad revenue should be viewed as beer money.

When I stood inside the building at 1211 Avenue of the Americas, a.k.a News Corp, I was told that the 10x10 room with equipment floor to ceiling and 5 people inside was the only room in the building that turned a profit. The room? Distribution by satellite for affiliates, rival networks and other buyers around the globe. One hundred square feet! Btw, have you seen how big this building is?

So, if I had $5 million I would look to these and other journalistic professionals as partners in building the next generation of media publishing. Sure, they are showing up after most of the heavy lifting has already been done and many of them spent an inordinate amount of time picking us apart, but we should welcome them to the party. We have just as much to learn from them as they do us.

I can't forget this . . . that is $5 million business money. Do you think that Betsy would let me near it if it was really mine? I mean hers.

Tags: SF Chronicle firings Hiring Chronicle employees new media rival networks decentralized media

Betsy and her husband Kris May 18, 2007

Fri, 18 May 2007 07:22:15 -0500

Croncast - 2007-05-18.mp3
Show: #364
Length: 25:44
Size: 17.6mb
Format: mp3

Betsy and her husband Kris May 18, 2007

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Tickets for the live show in Naperville July 8th will be ready 20 minutes after this post
The comments are getting light
Look at what I bring to this show
Kris please don't put "farm animal antics" in the show notes
It doesn't happen to other people it happens to us
Yeah, the searches are out of control
Some people serious help and the internet tells me so
Today's top search result might make you sick
Put down your sandwich, coffee or beaker
I am not going to type it in the show notes . . . these 9 words will change your life forever
It's not sexy or anything, it is rather gross and I can't get it out of my head
Here it is . . . now listen to the show at 3:28 to hear it
It's just gross . . . and why put "fanny" in it
It had to come from an old man, a dirty old man
The proper term from his day as not to offend
I don't get it
Kris I don't want to talk about it anymore
I do think Betsy
I've been married to you for 10 years . . . you rarely think
The search result came from something that had the words in it
Betsy is reaching a level of zero success and possibly negative at this point
I've been telling you for years to stop working with the subdivision people
The treat my baby like crap
These people don't want you around
They are all a generation ahead of us
They make jokes about things . . . they must be bands
The block party is coming
Give me a paper and it will take me two minutes and I will lose it
I signed on for the newsletter Mr. B not record keeping
Their is this weird power struggle going on with the home owner's association board
Weeks and weeks to come together
Lack of Betsy putting out the signage
No once cares more than a week ahead of time
Can you make sure she checks her email
This is your abusive relationship . . . your Lifetime show, Betsy
He is a very weak president
I don't get it . . . don't put that on his tombstone
The prior conversation that puts them at odds against Betsy
Open invitation to join the board
You should have gotten up and left Booba . . . called them on the carpet
Doing it all by yourself
This is our bunco
Coordinating not to bring double desserts . . . are you kidding me
Every subdivision party is drunken daddy's walking around with their coolers
This whole thing is dram for you . . . I am sorry for you baby
Betsy passed her first hurdle in the race to get her real estate license
She's got skills from all of our experiences buying houses and the legal issues
The semi-exploding furnace that left us cold for 3 weeks in 2003
What should I do with my live Mr. B
Liz is coming to garage sale with me
You raised me to be a beast
Betsy's suburban burnout
Garage sale wisdom

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Tags: block parties suburban burnout farm animal antics search terms home owner's association

Podcasting's 13th Anniversary?

Fri, 23 Mar 2007 10:11:08 -0500

Crack research and a journalism degree can help you too when you need to write an article for your local paper:

"Podcasting, which was developed by Apple in 1994, stands for iPod and broadcasting."

This must have been the real first generation iPod the size of a backpack with swappable floppy's for memory and 10 second podcasts in aif format.

I don't really mean to pick on Ms. Carey, well, maybe a little. I would also think that the Editor also deserves some razzing.

What this article and eventual syndication to a sister Texas newspaper under the same ownership of Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.(CNHI) highlights is that your tiny corner of the world isn't so tiny anymore. Especially, when it is brought to my attention by a Google alert for subjects I am interested in, like podcasting. Yes, your intended audience maybe local but that doesn't mean the 5000 people in your community are the only ones listening.

Publishing + Syndication + Internet + Filters = One very large conversation.

Maybe someone at CNHI should read the The State of the News Media Report 2007. Pay special attention to the section titled "Newspapers".

Tags: Meghan Carey Schools make podcasting debut Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. CNHI The State of the News Media Report 2007

Betsy and her husband Kris Nov 03, 2006

Fri, 03 Nov 2006 06:30:33 -0600

Croncast - 2006-11-03.mp3

Show: #293
Length: 25:37
Size: 17.6mb
Format: mp3

Betsy and her husband Kris November 03, 2006

The puffy cuff fashion show is a reality
Betsy does up her QVC and I bust out my TailorByrd shirts (aka the ultimate puffy cuff shirts)
Kris's beard is outta control and Betsy didn't tell me
Betsy mistakes pun and analogy
She blames the cleaning product fumes
Zout has alcohol in it?
"Mixing Comet and Mr. Clean like the best drugs I've ever done. Except my toddler wasn't there and I wasn't in a bathroom"
Before the Bear's fashion parade Betsy talks about her dream come true and how it was crushed
Kris wouldn't know this because he didn't grow up in civilization
The greatest carpet company in the world
Hanging out in the breezeway watching Three's Company waiting for the commercial
Booba gets excited and then quite
Kris crushes her dreams twice
Some how you show in all of my dreams
Who is on the other line?
A sweet woman named Florine or Lorretta
She is a carpet warehouse in Cicero . . . not Bombay
Did she pick a great American movie star name?
Why didn't she sing the jingle before she hung up?
It's like waiting for the cable company
"Carpet the next day"
I'll be sitting on urine soaked carpet for Christmas
Ed is not the blue collar, named stiyched on his chest and no mustache like the guy in the commercials
Empire guys dolls in the Goodwill hamper
Betsy wants hotel carpet
"I want carpet that makes me feel lucky"
Everyone has boring carpet
One color carpet cut to different lengths
It's not like a swimming pool you retard
Yes, hotel carpet Betsy
I can make this carpet with my clippers
Why $.88 paper backed carpet isn't Betsy
Betsy is trying really hard to sell me on new carpet
I don't care about Ed from Empire or his carpet or his Escort full of samples
It is a syllogistic loop with Betsy's carpetdom
Simply fix the garage door opener for drama
10 minutes of Ed . . . You wish you got 10 minutes of Ed

Here Comes Puffy Cuffs in his TailorByrd threads:

Full blown Puffy Cuff with contrasting bling

The multicolor puffy cuff and Betsy's photo goal. It's too cold to puffy in Chicago now

Betsy says that I would like Oswald Boateng get up
Very anti-climactic fashion parade
You used to be happy with the orange tag items from the Target end cap
Just because it was on sale?
Ben Witt sends his thanks . . . You're welcome Ben
Ben was around B.B. (before Betsy . . . that's Ben's abbreviation)
Betsy gets no more cleaning products . . . she can't add and there are five examples in 1 minute
Kris gets called the ageist
I put this ageism on Betsy
Betsy's first stalker
Many more show in the next couple of days!

1) Fill out the appropriate form for you - *New* Listener or Get a Handle (current listener)
2) Verify your email address (Activates and qualifies those with a "Handle")
3) *New* listeners get activated and qualified by using their special RSS feed
4) 300th new listener and the person whose Handle they use win iPods AND
5) A drawing for 2 more iPods from everyone who entered!

Tags: TailorByrd Oswald Boateng Empire Carpet (800) 588-2300 Naperville

Betsy and her husband Kris Jul 07, 2006

Fri, 07 Jul 2006 07:11:07 -0500

Croncast - 2006-07-07.mp3

Show: #246
Length: 36:58
Size: 25.4 mb
Format: mp3

Betsy and her husband Kris July 07, 2006

Betsy will have gifts from Maggies guacamole love
All she says is momma
Betsy and Maggie had lunch with me
The guacamole caked her dress
Betsy fed her some more guacamole at home
Eating food off the floor, she has standards
Off setting the guacamole with cheese
If they sold milk at garage sales
My jeans were $80
When you're listening to this I will be wearing the same clothes
What you and your wife do is cute
Jeans were not that much money for ones that fit right
Knock-off ketchup will set Kris off
Betsy says I spend too much money on stuff
"Do you know how many pairs of jeans I could have bought you for $80 at Goodwill?"
Betsy is trying for the senior discount
Garage sale booty
The secret to Betsy shopping speeds
Possible fake Coach purse
Hanging at the Tech Cockatil mixer
Being able to buy things makes me feel good
It's the nicest gift besides giving her grand-children
Doctor asks if Betsy and I are related . . . nice
Our fly farm and my fly paper business
More anniversary talk
Slowsky is coming home!!!

Tags: guacamole tooth paste Goodwill TECH Cocktail Coach