Pure F-ing Genius

Sorry for the delay folks. Work has been busy and according to my coworkers, “Tim is trying to take over the world.” In reality it’s just California and Las Vegas.

Remember that computer Steve Jobs released last week? The small, yet significant paper-thin laptop that instantaneously created an obesity epidemic for laptops everywhere?

Well it has gotten better. And in true Apple fashion, the creators are as far from Steve Jobs as you can get.

I present to you AirMail. No seriously, I’m not joking, this thing is so F-ing genious, even Fake Steve wrote about it.

Two hippies: one journalist, one web designer/musician have done what millions wish they could. Make and market vinal manila envelopes to double as sleeves for the new Macbook Air.

Their website, eye candy in itself, not only mimics Apple, but proves how stupid Fortune 500 companies are.

In it’s entirety the site has less than 300 words of written text.

They have three simple choices for visitors.

- AirMail: All you want to know
- Press about AirMail
- AirMail: About the makers

They have three high-res graphics for press to utilize. Multiple email hotlinks for questions, and ordering options from the home page.

There is no clutter. No splashing quotes on the header. Just simple white with a splash of manila.

These guys are genius. Pure F-ing geniuses.

Toaster Status and the Wall Street Journal – Must Read

It was 1963, a golden age for newspapers. Budgets were high, TV a threat but not enough to take advertisers money. Photographers had stopped carrying around fake birds to frame shots and the Internet was only a word circulating through the deepest geek circles.

Then one morning, in the depths of San Francisco’s financial district, a young 23-year-old journalist was hired by the Wall Street Journal. Green, ambitious and full of energy, the young reporter worked his way to the top.

Now after 26 years, managing editor Paul E Steiger is packing his bags and moving on.

But unlike some exits, Paul took the time not to reflect just on his own career, but on the industry itself.

In just shy of 2,500 words, Paul laid out the history of the modern newspaper and the threat the Internet poses. It is a must read.

Best quote?

After a print journalist suggests the Journal give away its online content for free an online editor responded, “It relegated their site to “toaster status,” as in savings banks giving away cheap gifts for opening an account.”

And obviously the online guy won.

New Social Capital blog — Worth checking out

A few months ago, I wrote a post about social capital and why college is a perfect place to build your network.

In the post I referenced a very smart blog I had been reading on the subject of social capital and interconnectedness.

Now that blog has spun off into another blog, and even though I truly hope it can survive, I’m still a bit skeptical about the business model of a blog and if it can make money to support its writers.

Penelope Trunk, the “it lady” of modern Gen-Y blogging, left a great comment on Ben Casnocha’s blog regarding book deals, questioning why more people don’t write blogs instead of pursuing a book.

I agree with Penelope, but only to a point. My blog helped me get my current job as an Intern at a national magazine, but editors still want hard clips that have been printed on someone else’s dime.

Not just digital content that lacks an editor and submission process.

So then why do I continue to write a blog you might ask?

For starters, it allows me to voice my opinion on a wide range of topics in an open forum which can accessed anywhere there is an Internet connection.

Secondly, a potential employer who spends more than five minutes on my blog will see I can discuss several high-level issues regarding journalism, technology, economics, photography and others.

Thirdly, it has allowed me to make connections and build relationships with professionals who were not accessible beforehand.

For The Little Red Suit, that is exactly what building social capital is all about.

So as Tiffany Monhollon breaks away and starts another blog, I can only hope her decision to go digital will pay off .

Which is exactly why I think you should take a second and check it out.

I need your help please

If you have a moment, I would love to hear how you consume media.  

 

• Do you read headlines online? 
• Do you pay for a Wall Street Journal.com subscription? 
• Do you get a local newspaper and rely on it for national news?
• When was the last time you watched one of the “big three” nightly news shows?
• Do you read blogs? 
• How do you involve yourself in the conversation?
• Do you comment on stories?  Do you write a blog?  Do you talk with your friends?
• Finally, if you read a story in print, what would it take for you to go online and pursue other multimedia facets?

 

Thanks for helping,

Tim

Circuit City Falls Flat….“What are they? VHS Tapes? I don’t understand.”

It was late, around 8:30 and Circuit City was winding down from a day of LCD sales and digital camera demonstrations. I was picking up some blank videotapes for my brother, who needed them for a class project. After wandering around the store for a few minutes and not seeing any, I decided to ask for some help.

To a girl walking through the store. (FYI This is the smallest Circuit City Store layout. You can throw a football from one end to the other with no problem)

“Hi, excuse me do you have a quick second?”

“Um, yea, I think, wait, ok, yea, what’s up?”

“I’m just looking for some blank VHS tapes. Any chance you know where they are?”

“Um, no, of course not, I work in computers, but that girl over there (points to the middle of the store seven feet away) would know.”

“Thanks.”

I walk over and ask the other girl

“What are they? VHS Tapes? I don’t understand.”

(Trying not to show my obvious surprise) “Ah you know, videos, like what you play in VCR’s, what we used before DVD’s?”

“Oh, yea, I think I remember those,” – Think? You think? Good God Girl, DVD’s only came out in the late 90’s “Let me ask my manager if we have them.”

She disappears for five minutes.

“Were out, sorry.”

“No worries, thanks though.”

Moral of the story. Walking into a Circuit City now no longer means that the sales person knows what VHS tapes are. Why is this important? Because if they don’t know where technology came from, then how the hell are you supposed to trust them when they tell you the $6,000 you are spending is well worth it?

Just like the video I posted a few days ago…Shift Happens

Shift Happens — Amazing video with even more amazing statistics

Did you know that it is estimated that a week of the New York Times supplies more information than a human would get in an entire lifetime in 1800?

How about the fact that 100% of India’s college graduates speak English?

Or that Nintendo spent over twice in research in 2006 than the US Government did on research for education?

No? Then watch this quick six minute video. Honestly folks, the stats will blow your mind.