Voice Actor, Comedian
I recently spoke at my own church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. As the church is preparing a new outreach to college students in the Fall, the pastor and I talked about the need for the church get a handle on what it means to build relationships across generations. They need to understand how an older generation understands the church, and how people of differing ages might understand it differently.
Continue reading “Distracted by Math”
If you follow me on facebook, you’ve probably noticed that I don’t like those pictures of sad-eyed kids or lonely American soldiers. But why not?
Continue reading “Why I Don’t Like Much”
What makes one Facebook page better than another one? Is it the nature or the tone of their content?
Continue reading “Get Personal”
Warning Social Media users – there is a new threat to your personal security and it is being perpetrated on Facebook as well as other social media like Google+, Twitter, and Pinterest. The posted virus can infect Windows and Mac users as well as various distributions of Linux. Put simply, if you’re connected to social media at all, you need to be aware of this problem.
Continue reading “Social Media Warning”
I don’t know about you, but I prefer to navigate through my programs using my keyboard as much as possible. The keyboard shortcuts for Undo (cmd+z) cut (cmd+x) copy (cmd+c) paste (cmd+v) and my favorite “Select All” (cmd+a) are indispensable to my every day work. I also use a few shortcuts in my social media platforms like J (next post) K (last post) and L (like photo – in the lightbox view). I had not explored all the available shortcuts until now.
Continue reading “Social Media Shortcuts”
The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) has been governing online advertising on the web and email for years, but as of early March, 2013, the FTC includes governance for social media and mobile technology. How will this effect your employees? Continue reading “Social Media and the FTC”
When a Facebook page has been lying dormant for a time, it’s important to start providing content to engage the audience. Continue reading “Audience Engagement”
I just remembered a moment from my recent speaking engagement in Wyoming. This one came out kinda off the cuff. Continue reading “Pioneers not Settlers”
So, you say your social media is dead in the water?
You’re getting nowhere?
You don’t even know what to post or when?
Take a few deep breaths and know this one key thing:
It’s never too late.
Continue reading “It’s Never Too Late”
We’ve all head the news that Instagram (recently purchased by Facebook) is updating their Terms of Service (TOS). Continue reading “New Instagram TOS”
Yesterday was December 14, 2012 and I spent a large portion of the day producing content for Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. as commentary and encouragement regarding the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newtown, CT. Continue reading “Content Strategy and the News”
Sometimes, just a few days can produce pretty spectacular results.
Social Network Voice took over posting for one of our clients for one week to cover a staffer’s vacation time. After just a few days, we can already see a dramatic increase in the Total Reach numbers. Continue reading “Quick Wins”
Over the last 20 years of talking to people about their technology, the web (interwebz), and now social networking and social media, I’ve heard the following statement too many times: “Let’s just get started, we can do the strategy thing later.”
Continue reading “Why You Need A Strategy”
I’m in a totally new world for me. I’m building a business.
So, I’m trying to read and listen to everything I can about doing that and the advice is all over the place. I’ve been doing the work, I’m trying to get people to hire me to do for them, for nearly 20 years, so I know what I’m doing on that end. But the business… that nebulous what’sit that lurks in the shadows of success, failure, subsistence, bankruptcy, and notoriety – I feel clueless sometimes. Continue reading “Building a Business”
Today, there are more people on Facebook, than there were on the planet 200 years ago.
Here are the facts about that. Continue reading “1 Billion”
My favorite way to help people connect to your brand is through relational messaging. For some organizations this is difficult, because you have to consistently care about your audience. I mean really, really care. You must provide them with the best answers to their needs, even if it’s not you. That builds trust. That keeps your audience loyal. Continue reading “Relational Messaging”
Most anyone who works in Christian Ministry thinks about one of a couple of things: ministry in the church, or some kind of boots-on-the-ground international missionary work. Those are of course a bit limiting, especially as it doesn’t take into consideration how God’s word is spread and people are ministered to through digital means. Continue reading “Doing Ministry Online”
Let’s talk about your social networking content strategy.The key to any successful venture in social media, social networking and any digital endeavor is relevancy. You’re either providing content relevant to your audience, or you need to figure out what they want and then deliver it. (watch the video) Continue reading “Social Networking Content Strategy”
Are you approaching your social networking circles strategically?
(social networking introverts move along…) Most of us have Facebook friends by now and the Pew Internet & American Life Project estimates we average 229 of them. Continue reading “Your Social Networking Circles”
I recently read Noah Kagan’s blog post “Why I got Fired from Facebook (a $100 Million dollar lesson)“. It’s a great refelection on lessons learned from that experience, and one line in particular caught my eye. Continue reading “What’s your super power?”
On March 17 everyone gets to claim their Irish heritage, no matter how fictitious. Continue reading “Everyone is Irish”
Each March 13 (3.14) I find it a moral imperative to celebrate Pi day with Pie!
This year, I made pie! Continue reading “Pi Day”
And if you have a French toast bagel, and bacon, and eggs, and cheese… Continue reading “Genius part 2”
Two words: “Genius”! Continue reading “Two Words”
Total misunderstanding!
I’ve heard about this Kony thing but finally got around to figuring out what’s up. Misspelling there made all the difference! Continue reading “Kony 2012”
For the record, you can indeed freeze gumbo. Continue reading “For the record”
I haven’t posted on this blog in what seems like forever. It’s not that I’ve stopped eating, heavens no. It’s a matter of what to post. Today I drove out to Blue Ball, PA and hit the Smorgasbord at Shady Maple for breakfast. It’s in the heart of Lancaster County, and that’s Amish country. Continue reading “Clip Clop”
I’ve lived in the Philadelphia area for about 2 1/2 years. I have yet to find any really great Chinese food. That is until now. Continue reading “Let’s Get Some Chinese”
Don’t you just love a good burger? I know I do! Continue reading “Mmmm… burger”
I got one of these Aeropress coffee makers for Christmas. I’ve been practicing and playing around with the process and amount of coffee for a few months, and I think I’ve really got it just right now. Continue reading “COFFEE”
Mmmmmm dinner time!
My very dear friend and land-lady Melissa made a quick hodge-podge of dinner happiness. Pierogies with onions and sour cream, fish sticks with tartar sauce, carrots, onions, mushrooms and Brussels sprouts.
The hardest thing for Melissa to understand is that I eat things I don’t like. I don’t like:
That doesn’t mean I won’t eat them. I was taught to eat what’s in front of me, and I can usually manage to do that and smile through it all. So, I’m always a member of “The Clean Plate Club”. I at all my veggies and really liked the queso sauce she put on the sprouts. I also keep trying things that I might not like, because I never know when my tastes will change. For example, I started liking mushrooms this year. Who knew? The down-side of course is that it’s also easy for me to overeat.
For me, it’s ok if food goes to waist, as long as it doesn’t go to waste.
…maybe it’s just me?
I recently had a late dinner special at a little pub. Little being the operative word here. Not only was the room small, so was the food. This “Petite Filet” came with an itty-bitty potato and snow peas. The Steak was fine – just about 3oz. The potato on the other-hand was the size of a ping-pong ball.
I felt like Gulliver.
So what goes with that? A tiny Coke of course.
… maybe it’s just me?
I’ve hardly blogged since moving to the Philadelphia area and starting my new job, and bemoaning that fact recently inspired me to eat something I shouldn’t have.
3 pancakes!
I know – three pancakes doesn’t sound like a big deal, but at a little diner in Royersford, PA they have a challenge on the menu. If you can eat 3, you don’t pay, otherwise it’s just $5.50. So, I figured I could take 3 pancakes.
I was so wrong.
I know some strategies – don’t drink too much, don’t eat other things, stay in training…
After a little while I felt pretty good. I thought to myself,
“I can manage this.” “Should be no problem.”
I’ve eaten plenty of big things in the past:
2 cheese steaks
a really big (1 pound) burger
this thing
and of course – The El Gigante
I even won a donut eating contest once.
To my shame this time it was not to be.
FAIL
Annamarie’s Cafe – you win, please enjoy my $5.50.
That’s right – Texas! An important part of this nutritious breakfast.
The Residence Inn, Austin has been great so far. An easy walk to the Paramount Theater for the Q conference, and it’s got a kicking breakfast.
Now I want more waffles in other shapes!
…maybe it’s just me.
Things I’d like to know how to say in a foreign language, like Russian:
We’re in silent attack mode!
I will be your friend. I am dangerous.
Ha! I have your lawn chair!
There are 10 cars parked here. 9 of them are not mine.
When you win, I win.
Why are there so many trucks?
This is what I call a happy day.
There is fresh milk in the refrigerator.
It’s a shame I didn’t buy a package of cookies.
Where is your refrigerator?
How do I help my self to your food?
Do you think your market is better than my supermarket?
I have found your item in row 14.
So you didn’t buy me a pet?
This is my friend Bob. He is your friend too. Why don’t you say hello. He said hi.
There are times I own more pennies than I have now.
Will you buy my grommet factory?
This is not my friend. Go find my friend.
Oh I bet you think I sound silly. Well, watch me drive your car!
Where do I find a toy store in this mountainous region?
Not-ah! My foot’s bigger than your nose!
I know how to fight cavities!
So my plane was stuck on the approach to the runway in Philadelphia – number 23 for departure…
I’m on my way to BibleTech in Seattle. My flights are scheduled to go from PHL to Dulles, to Seattle. That’s two Washingtons in one day – nice.
I breakfasted at the airport Dunkin Donuts. They have two ad campaigns going right now.
1) America Runs On Dunkin
2) You Kin Do It
The second campaign shows people in impossible situations overcoming them. How? Why – because they have a cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee or a donut, or a waffle-sandwich.
I needed to get from my new home airport to Washington DC – Dulles in time to catch the next flight to Seattle, but there are roadblocks. Getting out on the runway and staying there for 40 minutes with the engines shut down so we don’t have to go back to the gate to refuel is this particular hurdle.
But – I realized – I still had some Dunkin Coffee. I’m all set I guess.
…maybe it’s just me?
I’m not kidding, this thing is huge.
A recent business dinner brought a party of 7 to Maggianos for family style dining. One of the pasta choices was Mom’s Lasagna. Will you just look at the height?
It must be oooh… at least… well… it’s tall isn’t it!?!?
… maybe it’s just me.
Another food blog has taken up the challenge.
Thanks to my friend Rob for pointing the way.
Some awesome samples…
The Mega-Stuff Oreo
Corn Dog Pizza
And my new favorite….
The Double Bacon Hamburger Fatty Melt
And this time I can prove that maybe it’s not just me…
Honestly!
You know how in The Sound of Music, Christopher Plummer and Julie Andrews are realizing that they are in love and they sing, “I Must Have Done Something Good”? Well that’s how I feel.
However, that might be the gayest thing I’ve ever written in my life.
… maybe it’s just me.
The Shrimp Po Boy is a bunch of fried shrimp on a roll. Sounds simple? You’d think so, but the location of the really good shrimp po boys is hotly contested. This particular po boy came from the 49 restaurant in Gulfport, oddly enough located on highway 49.
To help you northerners understand, the shrimp po boy is the Cheesesteak of the south. Everybody makes one, and everyone disagrees over where to go to get the best one.
…maybe it’s just me
My friend D’Arcy sent me this blog post about learning English as a second language and using children’s blocks to illustrate the language.
Everything starts out innocently enough:
And moves on to some interesting translations:
Then a little stranger:
Where’s your epidiascope anyway?
After that, it just gets scary.
