A small linkarama

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To read later today: Paul Graham: How to do what you love: I am sooo close. Software engineering and publishing are extremely interrelated. via Slashdot.

Speaking of that, we have a new featured blog at Philly Future, this time we took a public poll! We’re going to expand upon the idea down the line.

Jeff Jarvis: The ethic of interactivity: Democracy and discussion are messy, like life.… tell me about it!

The new Performancing for Firefox is out.

Blogs I wish I knew about before, but am happy to read now:

Bill Burnham’s Beat – whose A Unified Theory of Search, Social Networking, Structured Blogging, RSS and the Active Web, and his previous The Walled Garden “Hit List” verify much of my thinking for where – all this – is going. I’m really enjoying reading his blog. It’s great to read someone of similar opinion. I’m kinda different that way.. usually looking for opposing minds to expand my point of view, but in this case – well, I’ll allow myself this once.

Publishing 2.0 – Recent sampling of : Who Are the New Media Gatekeepers?, Blogging to a Higher Standard, Is there Hope for Content Brands. Don’t agree with everything he posts, however, it’s thought provoking and Jeff Jarvis now has some company.

And gapingvoid. How the hell I miss Hugh MacCleod all these years?!?

I need to get some business cards and some t-shirts. Mr. McNulty‘s rock.

How do you handle this?

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Lets say you have a friend, one you have a rough history with to be sure, but was once a friend nevertheless, and everytime you reach your hand out, it gets bitten off? That to continue to reach out is to be subjected to put-downs and insults. That your every move is judged as a negative one and an attack – that this very post will be regarded as one – when all you are doing is reaching out?

Well what do you do? I know what my other friends have suggested – and I’ve tried to do otherwise. I’ve tried to build a bridge. Cause that’s what I believe in doing. I’m a bridge builder.

But when the dude keeps blowing it up… well damn. It’s just depressing. Have I just allowed myself to be used? Again and again?

Makes my heart sink.

Talk about a culture shift….

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Ten years ago there were rumors, whispers, ideas shared here and there about what’s going on now. If you brought them up, even in knowledgable conversation, out side of geekier circles, well you’d be considered little more than a conspiracy-nut or someone who’s spent too much time facing screen glow.

Some geeks have long shared their concerns about how the net works, the deal we are making by sharing so much of ourselves online, the web’s push towards transparency of all things, and the existence of such systems as Eschelon. So hearing some folks telling others to calm down, like Seth or Cringely, is to be expected. This is the same as it ever was right? No biggie.

The awareness of all this is now mainstream. That should amount to….something. However, it seems that there is a complete lack of shock, and lack of outrage. Indeed, among those I’ve talked, their response to me isn’t to question whether I’m a conspiracy-nut – after all – this stuff is real – it’s to question – you don’t have anything to hide do you?

Well I’d say no. From 1996 to now I’ve shared almost everything I can imagine on the web. Well close to it.

Something Scott said to me yesterday has a ring of truth to it – privacy was a temporary phenomenon – 100 years ago it didn’t really exist. Maybe we’re just cycling back to an older social norm. Maybe he’s right. And maybe we’re better off for it. But then again…

What’s a friend?

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A little meditative thought, going over old lyrics of mine. Powerful stuff to face old writing. All sorts of things become clear upon reflection.

One thing, for example, that got me was how black and white the world once seemed. Was it that way for you long ago? Here’s a question to frame it for you: What is a friend?

I’ve been blessed with many in my life. One who is my wife. One who is my brother. One who may not be my brother by blood – but is my brother nevertheless. One a mentor. One practically a father. One my zen master. Three who called themselves my mom. Those I’ve worked with thru some hard times, and those who work to try and build something special with me, with little resources, and little personal gain.

And then there is the instance of the one I turned on for a break of trust. It still can shock me the depth of anger I felt at the perceived betrayal. Since then I’ve actually let a few people walk all over me, my response to that situation bothered me so. Richelle says I’m now too trusting. It’s a compliment… I think 🙂

Well according to dictionary.com a friend is:

  1. A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts.
  2. A person whom one knows; an acquaintance.
  3. A person with whom one is allied in a struggle or cause; a comrade.
  4. One who supports, sympathizes with, or patronizes a group, cause, or movement.
  5. Friend A member of the Society of Friends; a Quaker.

If I recall correctly, as a kid your definition of a friend is very black and white: Someone you play with.

And as a teenager it gets a bit more complex – A soul you can trust. A heart that accepts you. A person you care for. A fist that will fight for you. Two feet that will stand beside you when things get hairy.

But as an adult we muddy our definition of the word friend. It becomes elastic to include acquaintances. People who we simply share interests but may not care for in the least.

Maybe this is a good thing. We grow tolerant. Our hearts less exclusive. Maybe its the acknowledgment that life is a whole lot easier if we lay down our walls and be cool with one another.

Maybe its an acknowledgment that we had it right when we were children – simply now a friend is someone you share a drink with and maybe a joke.

I’d like to believe that, but…

A part of me holds that teenager’s definition a little too dear – for example, it pisses me off how some throw around the word friend and then walk away the first time someone needs help.

That same part wants to revolt at how we market our 1,251 friends on My Space or look at our link ranks on Technorati… speaking of which… if you link to me.. are you my friend? If you don’t… what does that say?

Well, then again, sometimes a link is just a link. A comment is just a comment. And it’s expressions of reaching out that counts. One way, or another.

Back to my guitar and those old lyrics.

Rough Week

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And an exciting one. There is a possibility of a huge – and terrific – life changing event, in the near future. I’ll share if it happens. Maybe still if it doesn’t.

In the meantime, I’ve missed some work due to a nasty cold (with sniffles and cough), that led me to miss this month’s monthly blogger meetup, and to fall behind on sharing a bunch of conversations I’ve been involved in recently.

Some can be found in my latest post on media 2.0/publishing 2.0/whatwascalllednewmediabutnowisn’t at Philly Future, including links to interesting reading on copyright, RSS, the A-list, and more.

Also of note is part 1 of a report on where things stand at Philly Future.

“Happy 300th, Ben!”

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Philadelphia Inquirer: Happy 300th, Ben!:

If Benjamin Franklin were alive, he might skip the events planned around town today for his 300th birthday.

Too much folderol for his taste, too much speechifying. Too much Franklin, Franklin, Franklin.

It would offend his sense of modesty, and while Franklin wasn’t humble (he knew he was smarter than most), he worked hard at being modest.

It was a virtue he cultivated, aware of its value in everyday life. To be a leader of men, he realized, it was best to be one of the guys: generous in praise, respectful of divergent opinions, quick to give credit to others, slow to take it himself.

In short, Franklin was a genius with a first-class disposition, a rare thing. His brainpower, his energy, and his high emotional IQ made him the de facto civic leader of Philadelphia, its go-to guy, while still in his 30s.

The story of the founding of Pennsylvania Hospital is one example of his uncanny ability to get things done.

It wasn’t Franklin’s idea. It was Dr. Thomas Bond, a London-trained physician, who wanted a hospital for the poor and indigent. As Bond pitched his idea around town, people invariably asked: Have you talked to Franklin?

Franklin embraced the plan. But how to raise the 4,000 pounds?

Franklin had an idea. (He always had an idea.) He had a citizen petition presented to the Colonial Assembly, asking it to create a hospital.

When – as he knew they would – rural legislators objected to such a large expenditure for Philadelphia, Franklin, a member of the Assembly, rose and asked it to put forward half the money – but only if the other 2,000 could be first raised privately. Assembly members agreed, thinking that the private appeal would fail but that they could collect political credits for their generosity.

Franklin then organized the fund-raising, the 2,000 pounds was raised, the Assembly put up the other 2,000 pounds, and America’s first hospital was erected at Eighth and Pine Streets, where it stands today.

Thus did Ben Franklin invent one of the mainstays of modern philanthropy: matching funds.

As Franklin wrote later: “I do not remember any of my political manoeuvres, the success of which gave me at the time more pleasure…”

The hospital was chartered in 1751, three years after Franklin retired to give time to civic and scientific pursuits.

To friends who asked why he would give up a lucrative printing business, Franklin explained that when he died, he would rather have people say that “he was useful” than “he was rich.”

Related: Dan Rubin: Happy Birthday, Blog Daddy. Indeed he was.