Off On A Tangent

AT&T USBConnect Momentum 4G LTE - Speed Test. Whoa!

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Garfield) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 04:34:00 +0000

Image: AT&T USBConnect Momentum 4G LTE Speed Test

Just did a speed test with the AT&T USBConnect Momentum 4G LTE that I got as an evaluation unit.

Whoa!

Download Speed 30.72 Mbps
Upload Speed 9.35 Mbps

I think that's faster than my Comcast wired connection.

Hang on, let me plug the internet cable back in and run the speed test again.

...

Image: Comcast Wired Connection Speed Test

That's the Comcast Wired connection test.

Download Speed 35.27 Mbps
Upload Speed 5.44 Mbps

Download speed with Comcast is a little faster, but the AT&T USBConnect Momentum 4G LTE is faster on upload by about 4 Mbps.

That's going to be very important when I do some live video streaming tests.

AT&T USBConnect Momentum 4G LTE - Device components

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Garfield) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 02:17:00 +0000

AT&T AT&T USBConnect Momentum 4G* - Device components, a photo by stevegarfield on Flickr.

Just got this device in from AT&T to do some Live Streaming testing.

It can either plug directly into the USB port, or it can plug into an extension cable that is provided along with a clip to attach it to your laptop screen.

There are two lights on the AT&T USBConnect Momentum 4G Device. ONe for power and one for data.

When I plugged it in I saw a power light immediately. No data.

So I confirmed that the SIM card was inserted correctly based on the online help page.

I plugged the device onto a Mac and A PC. Same thing.

Then I had an online chat with AT&T support and they suggest a reboot.

So I rebooted my MacBook Air.

The data light came on.

A Reboot always seems to fix things.

Up next, a speed test.

Masterpiece | Watch DOWNTON ABBEY, SEASON 2: EPISODE 5 Online for FREE | PBS

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Garfield) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:27:00 +0000

Masterpiece | Watch DOWNTON ABBEY, SEASON 2: EPISODE 5 Online for FREE | PBS, a photo by stevegarfield on Flickr.

For some reason, on Superbowl weekend, my TiVo recorded a repeat of Downton Abbey instead of the new episode.

So I went online to see where I could watch last week's episode.

Turns out that they are online at PBS.

Watch: DOWNTON ABBEY, SEASON 2: EPISODE 5 online.

Livestreaming @MassMouth with Ustream Producer over WiFi at Doyle's Cafe

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Garfield) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:08:00 +0000

View the story "Livestreaming @MassMouth with Ustream Producer over WiFi at Doyle's Cafe" on Storify

Here are a few selected videos:

https://www.facebook.com/people/Domingo-Guyton/100000265276385

Janelle Coizianni

Here's Violet Maxfield singing two songs at the break:

Note on live streaming over WiFi and MiFi:

For hardware a Panasonic HD video camera with HDMI out to a Blackmagic Ultrastudio 3D box which converted the HDMI to Thunderbolt Out. That went into a MacBook Air. I didn't use any additional miss since the room sound was amplified.

At times the WiFi bandwidth dropped too low and the live stream stopped.

When the stream stops the archiving also stops, but starts back up when the stream starts up again. It's just a short time to restart. A little longer if the app has to reboot.

I tried lowering my output bandwidth to stay on Doyle's WiFi but it got to a point where I had to switch to the Verizon 4G LTE MiFi.

That unit was actually better and didn't drop the connection.

Why no (Applause) for a peaceful resolution?

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Garfield) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:01:00 +0000

Bad option on the table

Saber-rattling on Iran may be popular, but the results may prove dire

By James Carroll | GLOBE COLUMNIST FEBRUARY 13, 2012

THE PUBLISHED transcript of President Obama’s State of the Union address is striking for the way in which the parenthetical rubric “(applause)’’ punctuates almost every one of the dozens of paragraphs. That is true of the first half of what the president said about Iran: “Let there be no doubt: America is determined to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and I will take no options off the table to achieve that goal. (Applause.)’’

Almost as an afterthought, there follows immediately one of the rare paragraphs from which (applause) is missing: “But a peaceful resolution of this issue is still possible, and far better, and if Iran changes course and meets its obligations, it can rejoin the community of nations.’’ What gives? The transcript underscores what a number of commentators noted upon watching the speech - that the president’s hawkish tone drew more response than the dovish. Why (applause) for “no options off the table’’ and nothing for “a peaceful resolution’’ being “far better’’?

There's plenty of white space at the bottom of this Boston Globe Opinion piece for a QR code.

Would make it so much easier to share printed Globe articles.

Illustration: What a QR code would look like on the Boston Globe Opinion page

Pinterest: Images, Copyright and Benefits. What can you post?

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Garfield) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:45:00 +0000

Pinterest - People - A clean sweep for Adele as Grammys mourn Houston, a photo by stevegarfield on Flickr. Photo courtesy of GETTY IMAGES via Boston Globe

Photo as seen when pinned to Pinterest

I've been thinking about copyright issues and Pinterest.

People who've been following my blog for a long time know that I'm always careful when using images on the web. I always search for Flickr Creative Commons license and give credit and link back to the original photo from my blog posts.

When writing a post that is a comment on something, giving my point of view, I'll use an image for illustration and link back.

Now there's Pinterest.

What are the rules here?

It's pretty clear on the Pinterest site, which I just read for the first time, under member content:

Member Content
We may, in our sole discretion, permit Members to post, upload, publish, submit or transmit Member Content. By making available any Member Content through the Site, Application or Services, you hereby grant to Cold Brew Labs a worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, royalty-free license, with the right to sublicense, to use, copy, adapt, modify, distribute, license, sell, transfer, publicly display, publicly perform, transmit, stream, broadcast, access, view, and otherwise exploit such Member Content only on, through or by means of the Site, Application or Services. Cold Brew Labs does not claim any ownership rights in any such Member Content and nothing in these Terms will be deemed to restrict any rights that you may have to use and exploit any such Member Content.

You acknowledge and agree that you are solely responsible for all Member Content that you make available through the Site, Application and Services. Accordingly, you represent and warrant that: (i) you either are the sole and exclusive owner of all Member Content that you make available through the Site, Application and Services or you have all rights, licenses, consents and releases that are necessary to grant to Cold Brew Labs the rights in such Member Content, as contemplated under these Terms; and (ii) neither the Member Content nor your posting, uploading, publication, submission or transmittal of the Member Content or Cold Brew Labs’ use of the Member Content (or any portion thereof) on, through or by means of the Site, Application and the Services will infringe, misappropriate or violate a third party’s patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret, moral rights or other proprietary or intellectual property rights, or rights of publicity or privacy, or result in the violation of any applicable law or regulation.

Oops.

I searched around and found a few people writing about it.

ReadWriteWeb: How Pinterest Uses Your Content Without Violating Copyright Laws.

Pinterest is able to avoid violating U.S. copyright laws thanks to a provision in the Internet Service Providers Act, which gives immunity to sites that publish information provided by others, according to Aaron Messing, an associate with OlenderFeldman LLP in New Jersey. As long as Pinterest continues to comply with a provision of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act that requires it to remove content when asked by the copyright owner, users are free to continue pinning any images they find on the Internet.

Pinterest Copyright Page

Pinterest ("Pinterest") respects the intellectual property rights of others and expects its users to do the same. It is Pinterest’s policy, in appropriate circumstances and at its discretion, to disable and/or terminate the accounts of users who repeatedly infringe or are repeatedly charged with infringing the copyrights or other intellectual property rights of others.

savingforsomeday.com: avoiding copyright pitfalls on pinterest

I do have serious concerns about Pinterest hosting full-size images on their server, often without knowledge or permission from the original copyright holder. In doing this, Pinterest removes all references to the the original source. That creates significant issues with copyright (as well as other issues), especially when the copyright holder may not have provided authorization, tacit or otherwise, for the redistribution of the image. Now, the image can easily be redistributed without any determination of whether the image is protected by copyright. This is an issue I have with Pinterest directly, and not necessarily with Pinterest users. And, of course, Pinterest is based in the US yet it is a global board and thus there are concerns with protecting the rights of non-US citizens as well.

greekgeek at hubpages: Is Pinterest a Haven for Copyright Violations?:

Thousands of Pinterest members are stomping all over copyright and causing headaches for artists, photographers, and bloggers. Some image owners don't mind and are happy for the publicity. But for many photographers and artists, the problems caused by these copyright violations outweigh the benefits.

This is a great article with a lot more information.

PIN IT
Here's the Photo on BostonGlobe.com

When you click the PIN IT bookarklet that Pinterest provides, it pretty says to post any photo on the page to Pinterest.

Image: Clicking PIN IT while on a BostonGlobe.com page

Could Pinterest know if select images on the page shouldn't be shared?

Is Pinterest a site where all the photos are supposed to be user generated, public domain, or Creative Commons licensed? If so, in practice, that's not what's happening.

Pinterest at least needs a better mechanism for carrying over license information from the originating sites.

What do you think?

Earlier:

Pinterest is adding it's own affiliate code behind some product pins

Update:

Nice discussion about this Pinterest post is happening over on G+.

exfm: trending

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Garfield) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:50:00 +0000

exfm: trending, a photo by stevegarfield on Flickr.

Trying out ex.fm

Church Braces to Fight People's Right To Die

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Garfield) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:29:00 +0000

I think my headline is better.

Boston Globe, Church braces to fight doctor-aided suicide:

Steve Crawford, a spokesman for Dignity 2012, the leading support group for the ballot initiative, said that the archdiocese’s effort was expected...

Crawford pointed out that Dignity 2012 has had a website supporting its cause for months, at www.Dignity2012.org, and said it is wrong to view the ballot initiative as a call for physician-assisted suicide.

“These are people who are being killed by their disease, they have been certified by two doctors as being terminally ill, and their physician will be allowed to prescribe them life-ending medications which they will self-administer,’’ he said. “The physician is not allowed [to administer the drugs] and the death certificate will list their disease as the cause of death.’’

Would be nice if the links in the article were clickable.

More:

Boston Magazine: Death with Dignity?

Cardinal Sean O'Malley and the Catholic Church need to stop the fear-mongering so Massachusetts can have an honest debate about physician-assisted suicide.

[Video] Barack Obama: You should be with us in 2012. The Story of Us: Five Years Ago Today

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Garfield) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:17:00 +0000

President Obama wrote a message to us today:

Five years ago today, a few thousand of us gathered in Springfield, Illinois, to launch an improbable campaign for president.

The task was to build a grassroots movement capable of making the kind of change we believe in.

You've got to see this video about that journey -- it will make you smile.

From the very start this has been an experiment in our political process, testing whether ordinary people really can still come together to change this country.

We proved that it's possible. But we've also learned that entrenched interests adapt and claw back even harder, which means this election will be even more of a challenge.

I can't wait to see what you can do.

Barack

You should be with us in 2012

Boston Bruin Tim Thomas' Posts on Facebook are Public, Not Private.

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Garfield) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:47:00 +0000

Boston Bruins Goaltender Tim Thomas posted this to his TimThomasOfficialPage public Facebook page:

I Stand with the Catholics in the fight for Religious Freedom.

"In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up."
-- by Martin Niemöller, prominent German anti-Nazi theologian and Lutheran pastor, best known as the author of the poem First they came....

Gresh and Zolak on 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston, were talking about this today and talked about the post without knowing if it was actually public or not.

Gresh & Zo: Tim Thomas Causing Another Distraction

Guys, It's public:

- The post is public to anyone
- You don't have to LIKE the page to see it

On personal Facebook pages you can choose who can see your posts, they can be private. On public pages, like this one, your posts are visible to anyone.

Also, Facebook has a new feature for personal pages. The page owner can choose to let anyone subscribe to their page without having to approve friend requests.

Thanks Ryan

What, no advertising? #eggs #expirationdate

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Garfield) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:27:00 +0000

What, no advertising? #eggs #expirationdate, a photo by stevegarfield on Flickr.

Just got these eggs at Traders Joe's and saw that each egg has an expiration date stamped on it.

I told the cashier I thought it was cool, and the next thing we'll see is advertising on individual eggs.

They already got movie advertisements with QR codes on bananas:

Image via skryer on flickr

[Archive] Gary Vaynerchuk did a Q& A on Spreecast

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Garfield) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:13:00 +0000

Nice platform.

Ustream Producer Pro Test

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Garfield) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:19:00 +0000

Quick Test of Ustream Producer Pro, broadcasting at HD Bandwidth. 1196 kbps.

Bandwidth: Hardwire connection.

Connection: HD Cam > HDMI > Blackmagic UltraStudio 3D > Thunderbolt > MacBook Air

Next test: Verizon 4G LTE MiFi

Bandwidth: 6.42 Down 4.34 Up

Wirecast 4.1.3 Update Now Available

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Garfield) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:15:00 +0000

Get the Wirecast 4.1.3 Update here:
www.telestream.net/update-check/wirecast/wirecast-update-...

Wirecast 4.1.3 Update Now Available, a photo by stevegarfield on Flickr.

Wirecast 4.1.3
Fixes and Enhancements
• New! Added a USB Devices dialog to enable users to monitor UBS device errors and USB bus traffic to diagnose connection issues. (Mac OS X & Windows)
• New! Added the ability to display actual resolutions as options when configuring System Devices rather than simple high, medium and low. As a result, this offers more resolution choices for devices, including many USB devices. (Mac OS X & Windows)
• Desktop Presenter now recognizes secondary monitors properly. (Windows)
• Fixed multiple USB connection issues. (Mac OS X & Windows)
• Fixed cropping issues with Vixia HDV cam (Mac OS X & Windows)
• Microsoft Lifecam Cinema now displays with 16:9 aspect ratio (instead of 4:3.) (Mac OS X)
• Addressed various issues with the Logitech C910. (Mac OS X & Windows)
• Allows user to override "Open Last Document" feature in Lion (Mac OS X)
• QuickCam Vision Pro at 1280x720 now displays with 16:9 aspect ratio (instead of 4:3.) (Mac OS X &
Windows)
• Fixed intermittent issues with Master Audio Level slider not holding volume level. (Mac OS X)
• Fixed issue with mouse cursor not being captured by Desktop Presenter in Windows 7. (Windows)
• Fixed crash when recording/broadcasting H.264 for longer than 8 hours. (Mac OS X & Windows)
• Fixed auto filename issue that occurred when using Scandinavian characters. (Mac OS X &
Windows)
• Facetime HD cameras now capture at 16:9. (Mac OS X & Windows)
• Fixed issue that caused ProRes .MOV files to be distorted. (Mac OS X & Windows)
• Fixed issue that caused pulsating audio when using Cisco WVC80N IP Camera. (Mac OS X &
Windows)
• Fixed issue that caused lack of audio when working with Sony SNC-RZ50. (Mac OS X & Windows)
• Fixed issue that caused ProRes .MOV files to be distorted. (Mac OS X & Windows)
• Fixed issue that prohibited simultaneous use of identical USB cameras. (Mac OS X)
• Improved video quality/performance with Logitech cameras at higher resolutions. (Mac OS X &
Windows)
• Fixed CPU usage display issue on Windows 7 64-bit. (Windows)
• Fixed issue that caused jagged edges in PAL sources. (Mac OS X & Windows)

Wirecast Pro 4.1.3
• Wirecast can now differentiate between streams from one Teradek Cube (Mac OS X & Windows)
• Reduced latency when working with a Teradek Cube (Mac OS X & Windows)
• Added the ability to define an RTSP session name manually when working with a Teradek Cube.
(Mac OS X & Windows)
• Wirecast will now display more than one stream during configuration from a Teradek Cube if multiple are available. (Mac OS X & Windows)

Copyright © 2012 Telestream, Inc Feb 8, 2012

Uploaded with Skitch

Twitter: Link will appear shortened NOT

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Garfield) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:38:00 +0000

Twitter _ @stevegarfield: Link will appear shortened NOT, a photo by stevegarfield on Flickr.

When you write a twitter post and include a link, a message at the bottom appears saying, "Link will appear shortened."

Guess what? It doesn't.

Twitter is making us all look bad with a confusing user interface.

When are links shortened?

When do they display as shortened URL's?

I have NO IDEA.

Here's the tweet with the supposed shortened link:

Hey @JetBlue Your new site looks great. Link will appear shortened: jetblue.com <- That's a link to JetBlue DOT Com
— Steve Garfield (@stevegarfield) February 8, 2012

The problem is that when you hover over it, you can see the shortened link in your browser's status bar, but it's displaying as a regular link.

Pinterest is adding it's own affiliate code behind some product pins

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Garfield) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:15:00 +0000

Image: My page on Pinterest.

Pinterest is adding it's own affiliate code behind some product pins when they don't already have affiliate codes.

We agreed to it.

Pinterest Terms, Member Content:

Member Content
We may, in our sole discretion, permit Members to post, upload, publish, submit or transmit Member Content. By making available any Member Content through the Site, Application or Services, you hereby grant to Cold Brew Labs a worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, royalty-free license, with the right to sublicense, to use, copy, adapt, modify, distribute, license, sell, transfer, publicly display, publicly perform, transmit, stream, broadcast, access, view, and otherwise exploit such Member Content only on, through or by means of the Site, Application or Services. Cold Brew Labs does not claim any ownership rights in any such Member Content and nothing in these Terms will be deemed to restrict any rights that you may have to use and exploit any such Member Content.

More: Skimlinks.

via Josh Davis at [ LLsocial ]

Update from Alicia Navarro, Skimlinks’ CEO and Co-Founder:

It’s not a secret. We do monetize social discovery, and it’s great.

There have been a few articles popping up discussing Pinterest’s use of Skimlinks, so we wanted to dive in and talk about what they are doing, as it’s not a secret or sneaky or covert, but a very popular, mainstream, and valuable approach to content monetization.

First off, Pinterest’s use of Skimlinks technology is nothing new, nor is it secretive. Skimlinks has been around for almost 4 years now, we are established and relatively well-known, and a large proportion of our customers are blogs, forums and social discovery sites. Pinterest and many other social discovery sites have been working with us for a long time, and although they are fabulously popular now, we like to think we helped them get the revenues and insights that helped them grow.

Update Karen Garcia explains how affiliate linking works on Pinterest:

As soon as a pin is posted you can edit the link on your pin to your affiliate link, HOWEVER if anyone repins your pin between the time you post it and the time you edit it, the link on the repin will remain the original link (and you won’t get paid for sales through it).

This is where the Skimlinks affiliate link comes into play. Links that are not affiliate links on Pinterest and are directed to a merchant website (and they have an affiliate program, that skimlinks is approved for, etc) are replaced with Skimlinks affiliate link when the user clicks through

Her explanation is a comment on Joel Garcia's post, What Affiliates and Merchants Should Know About Pinterest Links from January 20, 2012.

Update:

Now the false accusation that Pinterest swaps out existing affiliate links is spreading. Oh my. Make it stop.

Image: Has Pinterest been pulling a switcheroo with some links?

No. They haven't. This is lazy reporting. There is no evidence of Pinterest swapping out existing affiliate links. The Washington Post is syndicating a post from The Verge, and to their credit, they change the headline into a question, but they still leave in the false accusation.

Update:

The Next Web's Matthew Panzarino writes: Pinterest does disclose it modifies links, and we shouldn’t blame it for making money

When I briefly spoke to Alicia Navarro, CEO of Skimlinks, she said that the ‘out of the box’ functionality of Skimlinks does not overwrite existing affiliate links. This appears to jibe with the way that Pinterest currently operates.

Google Places

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Garfield) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:08:00 +0000

Google Places, a photo by stevegarfield on Flickr.

This Google Places interface looks famiiar. Very easy to use. I think it might even know where I've been. Hmm...

Uploaded with Skitch

Pawngo #FAIL

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Garfield) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:53:00 +0000

Check out this twitter conversation regarding: Pawngo dropping 900 lbs (literally) of Butterfingers in Copley Square today making fun of Wes Welker?

Pawngo (pawngo) on Twitter, a photo by stevegarfield on Flickr.

Seriously? "email our pr firm"

@xylem If you have any questions or comments, please email our PR firm at pawngo@5wpr.com
— Pawngo (@Pawngo) February 7, 2012

#FAIL

Update 2/9/12:

The Real Loser Of SuperBowl 2012: Online Pawning Startup, Pawngo

In one of the worst marketing stunts in startup history, Pawngo dropped 900 pounds of Butterfinger candy bars in Boston ‘s Copley Square Tuesday with a gift tag in the form of a large placard that read, “Thank you Wes Welker.”

Included in the article is an apology:

To All of Boston, Wes Welker and Patriots Fans Across the Nation

I Apologize.

...

We got caught up in the moment, reacting to a suggestion that we thought would be funny, but we were wrong, and on behalf of everyone involved with Pawngo, I apologize.

...

Todd Hills, CEO-Founder
Pawngo.com

Connecting Panasonic HD Video Camera via HDMI to Macbook Air using Thunderbolt via BlackMagic UltraStudio 3D

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Garfield) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:20:00 +0000

Connecting Panasonic HD Video Camera via HDMI to Macbook Air using Thunderbolt via BlackMagic UltraStudio 3D and live streaming on Ustream via Telestream Wirecast 4.

Image: Telestream Wirecast 4: HDMI via UltraStudio 3D

CABLE CONNECTIONS
Panasonic camera > HDMI > UltraStudio 3D > Thunderbolt Cable > Thunderbolt Monitor > MacBook Air

This gets tricky if you have just one setting wrong. I've had this working, then moved to a remote location, and couldn't get my camera to be recognized. In the end, it's a matter of standardizing on your settings and procedures. A checklist might be a good idea.

First of all you need to make sure that the Macbook Air sees the Blackmagic Ultrastudio 3D box.

Note: I'm using this box to test until the new Intensity Extreme ships. I'll also be interested in learning more about the Intensity Shuttle.

You can quickly check that by going into the APPLE Menu > System Preferences > Other: Black Magic Design

It's important to get the "Set input" field to match your video input, in this case "HDMI Video & HDMI Audio".

Image: System Preferences Display

If you've got something wrong, the display won't even let you change the settings. That's a basic connection issue. In my case it might have been the Thunderbolt cable. I replaced a generic one with an Apple Thunderbolt cable and it worked.

But only after I also matched the setting on for the camera type.

You do that in Wirecast under the SOURCES > Show Sources Settings... menu item.

Here's the setting in Wirecast I changed:

Wirecast Source Settings, a photo by stevegarfield on Flickr.

Next up is the Processing menu.

I'm still looking into how to set this up to take advantage of the processing on the UltraStudio 3D to reduce processing load on the Macbook Air.

Updates will follow. This is a living blog post. Comments and discussion appreciated.

Disclosure: http://CMP.LY/4 ;-)

Update:

Looking into saving a local high quality video file while streaming.

My friend Phil Campbell was nice enough to have posted the setting he uses on flickr:

Image: Wirecast 4 Local Video Settings

Update II:

Video walkthrough of the physical connections and a quick look at my Wirecast 4 Multi-Camera setup.

I recorded this with Wirecast 4 in 'Save to Disk' mode. It's a very cool way to produce a multi camera video with live switching.

Interested in video?

Check out my book, Get Seen:

Setting Up a Fund Raising Page on Causes.com: Hit a Home Run for Allie Lundy and Support Pediatric Brain Tumor Research | causes.com

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Garfield) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:18:00 +0000

Hit a Home Run for Allie Lundy and Support Pediatric Brain Tumor Research | causes.com, a photo by stevegarfield on Flickr.

A good friend's daughter Allison recently passed away, and her father asked me to set up a page where we could do two things:

1. Display a video of Allison and Red Sox player David Ortiz. "It's a powerful video."
2. Put up a link to support Dana Farber's research into Pediatric Cancer.

I could have put up a static web page, but thought that it would be better to post the video to a page that included social media sharing and tracking.

SETTING UP A FUNDRAISING PAGE
I hadn't set anything up like this before, but on the same day that I was looking into it, I received an email from another friend, Beth Kanter, asking me to support Planned Parenthood, Komen Can Kiss My Mammagram. Beth is an expert at helping nonprofit use "social media to power change." ~~She~~ Her friend was using causes.com to power ~~her~~ the campaign, so that's what I used.

Note: You can read more about Beth's campaign here: Komen Kan Kiss My Mammagram, PinActivism, and Newsjacking for a Cause

My final page is called: Hit a Home Run For Allie Lundy to Support Pediatric Brain Tumor Research. [Image Above ]

There are a lot of great things about using causes.com.

I could choose a custom banner color. Allison's favorite color was pink, so I used that.

Next I could embed the video and add a description with links. The video post encourages viewers to share via Facebook and twitter, and also keeps track of views, and allows comments.

As more people view the page, if they are Facebook users, which lots of people are, you start seeing their faces as they visit and choose actions.

It's nice to see.

A very different experience than what you see on a static web page.

DONATE

The donate page is fairly simple. In set up mode, you can choose which charity you want your donation to go to. There are two things missing though from this specific Dana Farber donation page.

- The ability to make the donation a Tribute or Memorial
- The ability to Direct Your Gift to Support a Specific area

Here's what the donation form at the Dana Farber site looks like.

Image: Make A Gift - Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Here's the ability to designate an area:

Image: Dana Farber Direct My Gift To Support Pediatric Brain Tumor Research

I spoke with both Dana Farber and Causes.com to see if these functions can be added.

DESIGNATION
The designation of an area can be done by the charity adding Custom Fundraising Projects on causes.com. That's something they are looking at doing. It's simple.

TRIBUTE or MEMORIAL
As for adding a Tribute or Memorial field, that is something that causes.com has to do on their side and they are looking into it.

CUSTOMER SUPPORT
I was extremely happy with the support I received from causes.com. Sydney was great and opened up a Skype video chat with me and shared her desktop to clarify a few things.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
After setting up the page Beth told me about two other sites that do similar things, Razoo and Crowdrise.

Looking at their donation pages I see that each has the ability to capture additional donation information.

Image: Razoo Donation Page

Image: Crowdrise Donation Page

I'll have to take a look at those others.

PINTEREST
Beth is also experimenting with “Pinactivism”by starting a Pinterest board to keep track of images of her PLanned Parenthood fundraising efforts.

I decided to do a similar thing with Pinterest and share the Allison and David Ortiz video, both on Pinterest and on a similar site for video only, Chill. On each post I link back to the causes.com page.

Image: Allison Lundy and Red Sox player David Ortiz Video on Pinterest

Image: Allison Lundy and Red Sox player David Ortiz Video on Chill

I think these are visually interesting sites for posting and curating videos. Check them out too.

SHORT LINKS
The causes.com URL to Allison's page looks like this:

http://www.causes.com/causes/650856-hit-a-home-run-for-allie-lundy-and-support-pediatric-brain-tumor-research/actions

You can also use a shortened version:

http://www.causes.com/causes/650856

That's better, but still hard to remember and share.

So I used the link shortening service bit.ly to make a short URL:

http://bit.ly/AllisonLundy

I didn't realize, when I made it, that bit.ly links are case sensitive. So I made another:

http://bit.ly/allisonlundy

YOUR EXPERIENCE?
What's your experience with online fundraising solutions?

Also, please visit Alison's page: Hit a Home Run For Allie Lundy to Support Pediatric Brain Tumor Research, watch the video, and consider a donation.

Thanks.

[Video] Phone Innovators: Official 2012 Best Buy Game Day Commercial

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Garfield) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:50:00 +0000

"I created the ability to share video."

Who said that?

Let's ask on twitter:

@twelpforce Who said, "I created the ability to share video?" [Video] Phone Innovators: bit.ly/yDkMJL
— Steve Garfield (@stevegarfield) February 6, 2012

via LYBIO.net with updates and added links:

[Philippe Kahn (March 16, 1952)] Source: LYBIO.net
Hi, I’m Philippe Kahn and I created the camera phone.

[Raymond "Ray" Kurzweil (February 12, 1948)]
I’m Ray Kurzweil, I gave your words a voice.

video platform video management video solutions video player
Video: Ray Kurzweil

[Daniel Henderson]
I created the ability to share video.

An entrepreneur, inventor, and sculptor, Daniel A. Henderson has been granted 26 U.S. patents covering telecommunication systems and devices, most notably for picture and video messaging to wireless devices.

video platform video management video solutions video player
Video: Daniel Henderson

[Chris Barton and Avery Wang] - Shazam
We turn your smart phone into a musical genius.

video platform video management video solutions video player
Video: Chris Barton and Avery Wang

[Jim McKelvey] - Square
And I turned it into a bank.

Mobile Payments Start-Up Square Raises $100 Million

[Kevin Systrom] Instagram
I created insta-gram.

[Neil Papworth] - Text Messaging
I created the first text message.

video platform video management video solutions video player
Video: Neil Papworth

[Paul Bettner & David Bettner] Source: LYBIO.net
We created Words With Friends

Update:

The Best Buy twelpforce comes through with a link to a video that includes lower thirds graphics identifying each person.

video platform video management video solutions video player

Would have been nice to have seen this earlier. The YouTube video needs a link to this.

Disappointed in Patriot James Ihedigbo calling UMass 'Zoo Mass'

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Garfield) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:21:00 +0000

So disappointed in you calling UMass Zoo Mass. #brandbowl, a photo by stevegarfield on Flickr.

I was shocked when I head James Ihedigbo call UMass 'Zoo Mass' on the Super Bowl broadcast.

I'm an ~~alumni~~ alumnus of UMass and for years we've tried to removed the tag 'Zoo Mass' from the school.

I'd thought we did.

It's not funny.

When I was at UMass I studied and went to parties. When friends came up for the weekend, we'd show them the BEST TIME EVER by taking them around to all the best parties. Then they'd go home and tell EVERYONE that UMass was such a fun party school.

That's how the label Zoo Mass gets propogated.

What they didn't see was that when they left, I'd be in the library studying every day and night.

Bad Feelings
James Ihedigbo gave me a bad feeling at the start of the broadcast.

I hope he appologises.

But he probably won't.

He's done it before.

[Video] Audi 2012 Game Day Commercial - Vampire Party

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Garfield) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:01:00 +0000

I liked this ad enough to pause it on my TiVo, take a photo of the LED headlights, and tweet it out.

Audi LED Headlights #brandbowl Like. instagr.am/p/oghTv/
— Steve Garfield (@stevegarfield) February 5, 2012

Image: Audi LED Headlights. Courtesy Audi.

Audi Vampire Super Bowl Commercial: LED Headlights Ruin Vampire Party In Ad

With "The Killing Moon" by Echo & the Bunnymen providing the soundtrack, this Audi ad promises "Daylight, now in headlight," and concludes with the hashtag #SoLongVampires.

Update - Audi LED Technology:

These LED headlights are really interesting.

If Audi puts as much creative thought into the rest of their cars then Audi is a brand to consider.

Report Twitter Spammer CamryEffect5

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Garfield) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:50:00 +0000

Report Spammer CamryEffect5, a photo by stevegarfield on Flickr.

Toyota takes to spamming Twitter for Camry Super Bowl ‘promotion’

Toyota responds:

shandspencer
We apologize to anyone in the Twitterverse who received an unwanted @reply over the past few days. We were excited to share the message of our Camry Effect campaign in a new way and it was never our intention to displease anyone.
We’ve certainly learned from this experience and have suspended the accounts effective immediately to avoid any additional issues.
Kimberley Gardiner, National Digital Marketing & Social Media Manager, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. Inc.

Go Pats! #brandbowl cc @bostonglobe #gronking #patriots

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Garfield) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:34:00 +0000

Go Pats! #brandbowl cc @bostonglobe #gronking #patriots, a photo by stevegarfield on Flickr.