links for 2008-05-11
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Tips on preparing video for YouTube
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If you thought spam on your computer was a bother, brace yourself: spammers want to find you on your cellphone.
Video: Caught on tape, but I was only trying to help!
I honestly didn’t mean any harm…in the beginning.
On Friday, I was on my way home, walking through the Zurich main train station and minding my own business when the guy you’ll see in the video walked up to me and asked, “Do you speak English?”
“Yes. I do.”
“Great. We need your help. We’re students and we’re here in Zurich and we don’t have that much money. The hostels are too expensive. We’re trying to find a place to stay or someone we can stay with. I was wondering if…”
Now, this is when I went into ‘Well, I don’t have any money but I can help this guy get his plea out’ mode and pulled out my Flip. I thought perhaps I could upload the video, get his email and have folks contact him to help out.
Then he started acting stank, as you’ll see in the video. Now, I’m not one to pass judgment. Maybe he just didn’t want to be on camera. But, something was really “suspect” about the way he started tripping; especially when he grabbed my hand and started squeezing it really hard as he tried to pull my camera away. That snatch you see is when I yanked back…but not without digging my nails in first.
In any case, this is just my opinion, but if you encounter this guy or guys with the same line, walk away…
…cuz something in the milk ain’t clean.
Cross posted at rashundatramble.com.
Finally! Gmail Group Chat
Why it wasn’t part of the initial rollout of Gmail Chat I have no idea, but I’m tickled pink at the prospects of Group Chat. My editor-in-chief, who lives in Sarajevo, and I communicate by Gmail Chat throughout the day.
If you’re wondering why we don’t use an instant messaging service, my shop doesn’t allow unauthorized programs to be downloaded on work computers. Since Gmail Chat works in-browser, I get around that rule.
Carol’s Daughter online
I’m about to call it a night, but not before giving props to James Andrews of The Key Influencer and Lisa Price, owner of Carol’s Daughter, for pulling off something that I hope more businesses do: holding an online video forum for customers.
Carol’s Daughter is a line of hair and skin products primarily for women of color. James set up a session on ustream for customers and soon-to-be-customers to speak with Lisa about her business and her life. Lisa also has a Mother’s Day promotion going on at Carol’s Daughter TV.
The session was a wonderful way to put a voice and face to the woman behind the products. Also, in the Cluetrain vein, the session fomented two-way communication. Viewers could call in or type in their questions.
I called in and talked to Lisa, asking her a few questions about the availability of her products in Europe and for some hair tips. She was extremely gracious.
There were a couple of hiccups, like the mics being way too hot when folks laughed and we got started late. But other than that, the session was fab. Businesses, take note.
Also, I’ve got to send a shout out to Lynne Johnson. I wouldn’t have known about this unless she’d sent me the e-mail.
Also hi to Calinative, George, J Brotherlove (did you make it in?), Bill and the other folks I chatted with.
Alright, off to bed.
links for 2008-05-01
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AT&T Inc. will subsidize $200 of the purchase price for new iPhones this summer, according to a story posted by Fortune today, reducing consumers’ out-of-pocket expense for the popular device to as low as $199.
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Most of us think of batteries as being hard stuff, but this Paper Battery certainly throws the equation out of the loop. Measuring a mere 0.5mm in thickness, this unique battery can be rolled just like paper.