I will be writing many of my thoughts about these, and related, topics and organizing them into a series entitled “For the People.”  It is my goal to post at least one article per week to the series.  While it appears that I won’t have any shortage of material to discuss for quite some time, suggestions are certainly welcome.

For The People: A series of thoughts about government in America is a post from: The Burnman Experience

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This morning, CNN reported via Twitter that a suspicious boat was in a river near President Obama with shots fired:

Minutes later, CNN reported that a the United States Coast Guard attempted to prevent a boat from entering a security zone on the Potomac River near the Pentagon, where President Obama was at an event commemorating the 9/11 attacks, and again mentions the police scanner reports of shots fired:

Coast Guard confronts boat as Obama visits Pentagon

Just ten minutes after CNN posted that update, NPR reported that the FBI confirmed that no shots were fired, and the Coast Guard was conducting a training exercise:

FBI: No Shots Fired On Potomac ; Coast Guard Was Conducting Training Exercise

One minute before NPR reported that there were no shots fired, CNN posted another update about the situation stating that police scanner reports indicated the Coast Guard had fired 10 rounds of ammunition, and they were not sure if they were warning shots or not:

Reports of shots fired on Potomac near Pentagon

While CNN stated that they could not immediately confirm the report of shots fired, NPR was reporting that the FBI confirmed no shots had been fired at all.  In what seems like an attempt to win the race for “first to report” bragging rights, CNN neglected their journalistic responsibility to provide accurate and factual data.  It would have taken just minutes to discover that no shots were fired.  While CNN may have beat NPR to the punch, NPR was reporting facts before CNN was done reporting conjecture.

Was this an example of sensationalism or incompetence?  Either way, shame on you CNN.  Shame on you.

Shots fired! Shots fired! (not really) is a post from: The Burnman Experience

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Before the White House released “Remarks by the President in a National Address to America’s Schoolchildren,” I was not sure what to expect from the speech.  In today’s politically charged environment, I could not help but wonder how much agenda would make its way into the speech.  I was happy to have the opportunity to read the speech before it was aired, and while my initial concerns were quelled, a couple of new ones took their place.

Now don’t get me wrong, I did think a much of President Obama’s speech was spot on.  For example:

“I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself. Every single one of you has something that you’re good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That’s the opportunity an education can provide.”

- President Barack Obama, “Remarks by the President in a National Address to America’s Schoolchildren”

I could not agree more with that sentiment.  I believe that each and every individual has the potential to do great things.  What those great things are can only be determined through self discovery, which is often a side effect of a good education in a free country where children and encouraged to recognize their individuality.

What I do not agree with, is the idea that success in school should be associated with patriotism or nationalistic pride.  A child should attempt to do their best in getting a good education to better themselves.  To open doors to a brighter future and a more fulfilling life.  Not because their country expects them to:

“What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country. The future of America depends on you.”

“We need every single one of you to develop your talents and your skills and your intellect so you can help us old folks solve our most difficult problems. If you don’t do that — if you quit on school — you’re not just quitting on yourself, you’re quitting on your country.”

“And even when you’re struggling, even when you’re discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you, don’t ever give up on yourself, because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.”

“Don’t let your family down or your country down.”

- President Barack Obama, “Remarks by the President in a National Address to America’s Schoolchildren”

While I am sure some will tell me I am overreacting to President Obama’s words, I do not believe in telling children that doing poorly in school makes them bad Americans.  Do we seriously want to associate difficulties in education to a lack of national pride or patriotism?  And think of all the pressure this puts on children.  Could you imagine a child getting a bad grade and thinking that they have failed America?

Many of the criticisms that I have read of President Obama’s speech come from parents who feel that it is the responsibility of the parent to instill a sense of educational responsibility in their children, not that of the President.  After reading and later watching the President’s remarks, I am not at all surprised people feel that way.

When Barack Obama was elected as the 44th President of the United States, I truly hoped we would see a positive change after 8 horrible years under the Bush administration.  But now, I can’t help but wonder what we’ve gotten ourselves into.

You’re quitting on your country is a post from: The Burnman Experience

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It seems that many of the people who have been happy to share their opinions about the bill also have yet to read it.  This worries be greatly, and it should worry you too.  How can anyone formulate an honest opinion about a document they have never read?  Especially when that document is a bill which will introduce a whole range of sweeping changes to our Nation’s health-care system.

I intend to read the entire bill over the next couple of days.  From first glance, the bill would probably fit into about 500 to 600 pages if lines were not so widely spaced and the type wasn’t so big.  I find myself wondering if the bill was formatting this way specifically to scare people away from reading it.  Would the average person really read a 1,017 page bill, written in government legal-speak?

I will write about my discoveries here, though I do hope you will take the time to read the bill for yourself.  This is one of those important moments in history, when the health and well-being of the entire Nation truly does hang in the balance.

Reading H.R.3200, America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 is a post from: The Burnman Experience

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Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is your opportunity to honor breast cancer survivors, remember people we have lost, and raise funds and awareness to help end this disease. Making Strides is not a race; it is a celebration of survivorship, an occasion to express hope, and a shared goal to end a disease that threatens the lives of so many people we love.

- Making Strides event info page

My wife is leading a team of fundraisers with a goal of raising US $2,000 for the American Cancer Society’s efforts to educate about, and eradicate, breast cancer.  I will be email everyone on my contact list soon asking for donations for this worthy cause.  Please visit my Making Strides profile page and make a donation.  It doesn’t matter how much or how little, every dollar raised is one step closer to finding a cure.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, Boston 2009 is a post from: The Burnman Experience

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I finally got around to renaming the blog to something which better matches the domain upon which it resides.  “The Burning Blog” is now known as “The Burnman Experience.”  When I first named the blog, I thought incorporating my name with a bit of biblical wordplay would be fun.  In truth, I would most likely have kept the blog’s old name had it not been for the BDSM porn site which chose the same name AND purchased the matching domain name.  Nobody wants their site confused with another one (unless they are trying to scam people), but I was especially unhappy with being mixed up with that particular site.

And while I will miss the blog’s old name, I must admit that “The Burnman Experience” better suits the place.  I suppose referring to my blog as something akin to God speaking through the burning bush may have been a bit conceited anyway. 

The Burning Blog is now The Burnman Experience is a post from: The Burnman Experience

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There are two display modes for each column as well.  You can choose to the traditional display, or a list of collapsed Tweets which can be expanded to view the whole message as well as the user’s picture.  The collapsed list gives you a longer view at your timeline, while the traditional view allows you the familiar Twitter experience.  You can chose your preferred method of display for each individual column.  The single column mode uses the collapsed list view, and currently cannot be changed to the traditional expanded view.

Clicking a conversation in the list will open a column containing the messages sent to and from the other party in a way which resembles an instant messaging service.  At the head of the conversation’s column, you will find a textbox to for adding a message to the conversation, as well as URL shortening.  This feature takes Direct Messages and changes them into a much more usable and dynamic messaging service.  You can open multiple Direct Message columns as well.  I would absolutely love to see the Seesmic desktop client handle Direct Messages this way.

One of my favorite features in Seesmic is the ability to preview certain links without needing to open another browser window or browser tab.  In-line preview pictures via twitpic, yfrog and mobypicture or preview YouTube videos or Google maps from bit.ly shortened links.

One feature missing from Seesmic Web which you will find in Seesmic’s desktop client, is user groups.  Adding this feature would take an already amazing web based Twitter client, and put it over the top.  While I primarily use Seesmic’s desktop client, I am definitely learning to appreciate Seesmic Web with each use.  If there is a better way to interface with Twitter using a web browser, I have yet to find it.  I look forward to seeing what the future holds for this promising application.

Seesmic does offer a mobile client as well, though I will not be reviewing it since I do not own an iPhone.  If they develop an application for the Android OS, I will be happy to install it on my G1. (hint hint)

Review: Seesmic Web, web based Twitter client is a post from: The Burnman Experience

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Perhaps that is the problem. In my opinion, TweetDeck’s user-interface appears to be a work-in-progress waiting to progress as new features are developed instead.  Recent updates haven’t done much to improve the interface, and it certainly could use some love.  The tiny buttons which are the key to most of TweetDeck’s features look a bit out of place, and the default color scheme is as dark and gloomy as the TweetDeck website.  While you can change the color scheme in the settings window, the default colors are not my idea of a good first impression.

I would need to see major improvement to the TweetDeck user-interface before I would feel comfortable recommending it.  I believe that Twitter applications should be simple and easy to use, much like Twitter itself.  Though TweetDeck isn’t the most difficult software to navigate, the user interface is not very intuitive.

The overall functionality of TweetDeck is acceptable, I haven’t had any major issues aside from the UI design (and this: Hidden TweetDeck Ad Injected Into Blog).  And I do like that you can choose whether the Tweet notifications appear at the top or bottom of the screen, as I use a notifier for my email accounts which displays in far right of the browser status bar, and having TweetScoop integrated with TweetDeck is a nice touch.  TweetDeck can be used with your Facebook account as well.

At this time, I will be sticking with Seesmic.  My opinion is that TweetDeck is simply not as user-friendly as Seesmic, and it lacks the same level of polish.

Review: TweetDeck desktop Twitter client is a post from: The Burnman Experience

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What they fail to report, is that FTC regulations already apply to bloggers and their blogs.  In fact, these regulations apply to use of email, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, just to name a few.

Blogs and discussion boards are both discussed in the FTC’s “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising, Notice of proposed changes,” but not as newly regulated media.  The pending changes to the guide introduce new example scenarios intended to illustrate how FTC regulation may apply in some situations.  The guide is not the definition of the law, nor does it encompass every possible scenario in which the FTC can take action.  The sole purpose for the guide is to act as, well, a guide.

It appears that some journalists covering the pending changes to the FTC guide failed to do any actual research into the law behind the guide, and how it applies to the Internet.

“This would, for the first time, bring bloggers under FTC guidelines that ban deceptive or unfair business practices.”

- Caroline McCarthy, CNET — “Report: FTC to go after blogger freebies”

While the pending changes will clarify policy as it relates to “new media” such as blogs, the laws behind the guide haven’t actually changed.  Spending just a few minutes on the Federal Trade Commission website turned up plenty of information related to how FTC regulation applies to the Internet.

“The Internet is connecting advertisers and marketers to customers from Boston to Bali with text, interactive graphics, video and audio. If you’re thinking about advertising on the Internet, remember that many of the same rules that apply to other forms of advertising apply to electronic marketing. These rules and guidelines protect businesses and consumers — and help maintain the credibility of the Internet as an advertising medium.”

“The FTC Act prohibits unfair or deceptive advertising in any medium.”

- Excerpts from “Advertising and Marketing on the Internet: Rules of the Road”

This means that any advertisement, endorsement, or testimonial on the Internet should already be in compliance with FTC regulations.  With more and more attention being paid to online marketing by the agency, Internet marketers who have long enjoyed the lack of enforcement would do well to attempt compliance with the law.

“The same consumer protection laws that apply to commercial activities in other media apply online. The FTC Act’s prohibition on ‘unfair or deceptive acts or practices’ encompasses Internet advertising, marketing and sales. In addition, many Commission rules and guides are not limited to any particular medium used to disseminate claims or advertising, and therefore, apply to online activities.”

“In addition, the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising apply to endorsements, which are defined as any advertising message… [that] consumers are likely to believe reflects the opinions, beliefs, findings, or experience of a party other than the sponsoring advertiser. The Guides refer to advertising without limiting the media in which it is disseminated, and therefore, encompass online ads.”

- Excerpts from the FTC guide, “Dot Com Disclosures” [PDF]

While I certainly think the FTC will be taking a more active role in monitoring online advertising practices, the idea that such practices are only just now being regulated by the FTC is simply not true.

I am forced to wonder if Facebook’s decision to crack down on paid status updates relates to the FTC’s new-found interest in web marketing oversight.  Perhaps we will see Twitter follow suit, and ban sponsored Tweets.  I certainly hope so.

FTC endorsement regulations already apply online is a post from: The Burnman Experience

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Seesmic makes it easy to share pictures from your hard-drive with your Twitter followers, or you can use your webcam to snap a picture.  Seesmic offers a variety of image hosting services to choose from.  Combine this with the integrated URL shortening services and text shortening, Seesmic helps you make the most out of the 140 character limit.

I was using TweetDeck before I found Seesmic and now rarely open TweetDeck, and only for reference while writing about it.

You can organize Twitter users you follow by assigning them to groups, and open a column dedicated to a group to see what is happening with the users assigned to it.  Opening and closing columns couldn’t be easier, and keeping your timelines organized this way certainly saves time.  Twitter users who follow many others will benefit from Seesmic ‘s user-friendly interface greatly.

Review: Seesmic, Desktop Twitter Client is a post from: The Burnman Experience

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