Are you a twitter shitter?

found at http://www.penny-arcade.com/

I'm still on the fence about twitter. I can't find the strength to update everyone that I'm feeding my dog, but I've enjoyed learning a bit about people that I know and work with in reading just these type of things. I hate lurking in and not contributing to systems like these, but I have still not bought in to it's value. (By the way, we have two dogs)

Alan, Rob and John have expressed their views and I find that I agree with all of their points. But I need some one to sell this to me. Pretend it is not a free cacophony of seemingly random information. Why would I buy into this? Would anyone pay for this service?

Keep in mind this blog is free and so is probably the reader that you use to aggregate it and others. However, IBM Lotus and competitors make money selling these as products and can express value in doing so. Three years ago, I was still explaining blogs to people, so I feel that the pattern should be there, but I don't see it.

The value may be in automating updates in some way. An RFID system knows that I just walked into a Starbucks. Mastercard lets you know I am enjoying a vanilla latte. A Notes agent reports that I've opened a Document in a certain Database. Yet this sounds disgustingly obtrusive and reeks of Big Brother.

What am I missing? Or am I over thinking this one?

P.S. Follow my silence - http://twitter.com/macguidera

Social Networking Wars

http://current.com/items/88913552_social_networking_wars

Try as you might, you cannot escape the lure of social networking!

<quote>

Think social networking sites are fun and useful? See what happens when things get a little out of control for one social networker who might just be over the whole social network thing. Let the social networking wars begin!

</quote>

It's funny, because it's true. :)

A chat surprise!

This caught me off guard today. Found on the Facebook footer, you can click to chat with friends who are online. I haven't gone through the features fully, but found the FAQ here.

Ping me if catch me there!

Stop Talking. Start Doing

http://www.ibm.com/connecting

News from IBM Lotus Marketing:
Lotus Collaboration messages are reaching the marketplace in more ways than ever; driving awareness, visibility and mindshare! On April 9, 12 and 13, 2008, Lotus is in the spotlight on CBS television when IBM advertisements run during the Masters Golf Tournament broadcast from Augusta, GA. USA.

Great stuff, maybe now I can explain to my family what it is I do! :)

It's so blue...

The Lotus Greenhouse, has migrated to Lotus Connections 2.0 beta. Great work by the Greenhouse team, thanks guys!

Greenhouse, Quickr Webcast

Come catch up on what is going on with IBM Lotus Quickr.

Lotus Sametime Connect 8 + Advanced Server

Adam Gartenberg, points out that the Lotus Greenhouse now has a Sametime 8 client for trial purposes, pre-provisioned with the forthcoming Sametime Advanced plugins and he's right!

Lotus Greenhouse users can download this client for use with our Lotus Sametime Advanced server and try out the plug-ins.