Merredith Branscombe

Spain tries to do right by the 100,000+ victims of Franco; but some complain that the government is violating a treaty to "not stir up any old bitterness" that could lead to civil war. Fascinating. - Merredith Branscombe via Bookmarklet

First ValleyWag's, then Tom Foremski's posts got me thinking about the synergies between the content of newspapers and online content -- they really need each other. Looking for more comments and insights on how to "save" newspapers and magazines. Ike Pigott has a great comment. - Merredith Branscombe via Bookmarklet

Okay, I hate the name -- it sounds like an uncomfortable medical device. But the idea of an OpenSocial toolbar even for non Open Social apps like FB is interesting. Plus it is supposedly customizable. Let it not be the next Cuil. - Merredith Branscombe via Bookmarklet

Just reading the tags and categories (21, including Complex Attacks) is enough to make your stomach clench a little. The exploit itself is fascinating and scary. - Merredith Branscombe via Bookmarklet

Why do companies insist on going out with a product or service when it's clearly not ready? Well, there are reasons... but when you get a *terrible* review like this one in RWW, you wonder whether those reasons were so valid, after all. - Merredith Branscombe via Bookmarklet

So Apple is recalling "faulty" chargers in US, Japan, Canada and Mexico -- but not in the "further 10 Latin American nations" where they are also faulty? Is there an assumption that they will figure it out for themselves? Or that they're unwilling to pay shipping? That is the weirdest little slipped in sentence I've seen in a while. - Merredith Branscombe via Bookmarklet

This is so amazing -- not just the technology, byut the job RWW did explaining it, and the images Cognition provided. I can actually wrap my brain around this and explain it coherently to someone else, thanks to this article. Kewl. - Merredith Branscombe via Bookmarklet

Apparently I'm on the texting jag today -- but I didn't see this (NY Times Regional doesn't reach me). This makes sense to me; you'd think you don't have to legislate it... but the question is, will people stop looking at their texts long enough to pay attention? - Merredith Branscombe via Bookmarklet

My own teenagers would think nothing of texting anyone, anywhere - but would assume it's the recipient's responsibility to decide whether it's safe to answer back. I have a sense this will grab headlines for a while.... - Merredith Branscombe via Bookmarklet

What I like about this is that in theory, the Wiki community will vet the "green" claims of the references. The debates should be enlightening and even informative... if anyone wants to take the time to really troll through them. Smart idea. - Merredith Branscombe via Bookmarklet

Daft Punk / Alive 2007, Underworld / Dubnobasswithmyheadman, DJ Tiesto / Just Be, Armin Van Buuren / Shivers, Blonde Redhead / 23, Information Society / Information Society, Paul Van Dyk / Out There and Back, Depeche Mode / Violator, Paul Oakenfold / Resident, New Order / Best Of - Louis Gray

Close to the Edge (Yes), Chase the Kangaroo (The Choir), Slow Train Coming (Bob Dylan), Ten Songs (Adam Again), Awaiting Your Reply (Resurrection Band), Master and the Musician (Phil Keaggy), Relayer (Yes), 666 (Aphrodite's Child), Joshua Tree (U2), Under Fire (Gato Barbieri), 77s (Seventy Sevens) - Bob Lozano

Mmhmm (Relient K), blink-182 (blink-182), RIOT! (Paramore), Cities (Anberlin), We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. (Jason Mraz), Plans (Death Cab For Cutie), Southern Weather (The Almost), The Black and White Album (The Hives), Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends (Coldplay), Do You Feel (The Rocket Summer). - Geoff Girardin

Not immediately recoupable, but people don't seem to care. Cool? - Merredith Branscombe via Bookmarklet

"How-to video wizard Bre Pettis is taking his home-brew science experiments from YouTube to the boob tube. Pettis recently announced a partnership with the History Channel to create History Hacker, a science show that's a cross between Mr. Wizard and MythBusters. The show follows the 36-year-old DIY guy as he re-creates groundbreaking technological inventions using everyday materials and equipment stashed around his house in Brooklyn, New York. For the one-hour pilot airing Sept. 26, Pettis zeroed in on engineer Nikola Tesla. To conduct Tesla's landmark experiments with electricity, Pettis powered hand-blown silicon neon tubes using a bicycle-powered AC generator." - Nice Fish Films via Bookmarklet

sounds pretty cool. good science shows rock. - Stephanie•CogSciLibrarian

Bre's Blog- http://brepettis.com/blog/2008... - Nice Fish Films

One of those moments of ingenuity and creativity where you are left just squinting at the screen, thinking: "how the heck did they do that?" - Merredith Branscombe via Bookmarklet

Such an interesting perspective on trolls and trolling; maybe more than you want to know, but definitely worth reading. - Merredith Branscombe via Bookmarklet

Think this should have started a year earlier. Such a great rivalry, but too bad it had to start with Lemieux and Draper. Erin, you should join our Fantasy Hockey League w/journalists, bloggers and PR peeps -- heavy on Red Wings vs. CO. Ask @Riparian. - Merredith Branscombe

ooooh yes..... - Erin Kotecki Vest

This is huge news for corporate bloggers and proponents of them. - Robert Scoble

Wow, this is a big step. However, I don't think this is the end of the Press Release. Corporate Blogs would still require people to go to them to read the information, Press Releases get sent to the media, which means you know who your information is going to. - Aram Zucker-Scharff via twhirl

It's big news for corporations; they have to be doubly careful what they say on their blogs, that it does (or doesn't) meet Reg FD standards.The press release isn't dead-- it's useful as a push tool and great for journalists (citizen or otherwise) to get basic facts in one place so they can have real conversations w/out having to ask minutiae like title, spelling, etc. But are press releases evolving? Oh yes. The post makes good points re SM but it will be interesting to see how it plays beyond the digerati - Merredith Branscombe

I sent this over to our Executive Communication Director at my work today (Nelnet, Inc.) I am curious what her response will be. This is HUGE!!! Brian Solis did a terrific job on this blog post over at TC today. - Susan Beebe

Hilarious. Brilliant. One of those, "wish I'd thought of this" feeds. - Merredith Branscombe via Bookmarklet

I think this is a really interesting approach; but fair disclosure, this is one of my clients. One of the things that's true, but not noted in the article, is that there are students/sellers from North America included in Serebra -- over 2000 of them. So it's not strictly an outsourcing solution. But what's really almost more interesting than the story, are the comments. Check it out: - Merredith Branscombe via Bookmarklet

Classic. - Merredith Branscombe via Bookmarklet

What I love about this post is that @jowyang is so gracious -- yet also so concisely accurate -- about piercing the veils of meaning that the industry tries to weave about itself. He's just so darned nice about it, while being quite accurate. Grey area, indeed. Thanks for pointing out the nuances. - Merredith Branscombe via Bookmarklet

"Although the Craig story and the John Edwards story, currently unfolding thanks to the National Enquirer, aren't directly analogous, they have a bit in common. " - newsjunk.com

It would never occur to me to believe any story "broken" by the Enquirer... - Nathan Rein

If Edwards' aide Andrew Young says that *he* is the father of this child, then why is this really a story? Or really, why did I just spend three minutes reading about it in Slate, when I would have ignored it in the Enquirer? Sigh. - Merredith Branscombe

Jon Stewart: Sen. Obama should in no way be offended or upset by a cartoon depicting him as a Muslim extremist, of which he is not one. Because you know who gets upset about cartoons? Muslim extremists. The media protested a little too loudly, given that the cover depicted pretty much the same allegations they'd roundly hinted at. - Merredith Branscombe via Bookmarklet

What Obama should have said about the New Yorker Cartoon: Sen. Obama is in no way upset about a cartoon depicting him as a Muslim extremist because you know who gets upset about cartoons? Muslim extremists... - Merredith Branscombe via Bookmarklet

Yes, I know we try to stay apolitical here (or I do, sort of badly); but this just makes me wince. It's one of those stories that makes you consider the Geneva Convention, the justice system, and wonder where it all ends... - Merredith Branscombe via Bookmarklet

Sometimes, it's the plainest speaking post -- no sarcasm, no double entendres -- that's like finding a quarter in the dirt. A must-read, for the day. - Merredith Branscombe via Bookmarklet

I'm glad Corvida did this and reported why she did this. Please be sure you read it. - Louis Gray

Well done for taking a brave stand, Corvida. - Sally Church

Corvida, Thank you. - ha3rvey

Trying to make his speech more grassroots -- on the anniversary of MLK's "I Have A Dream" speech -- Obama considers moving his speech to the venue (where Broncos play) where more "regular people" could bear witness. - Merredith Branscombe via Bookmarklet

Really interesting take on why social computing -- not just social networking -- aids knowledge management *in the enterprise.* Oh, and check out the rise of expert networks... - Merredith Branscombe via Bookmarklet