4.20 - Google Presentation

Cloud Computing Notes:

Google pretty much the poster child of cloud computing.

Cloud runs upon whether or not it can be trusted, and the decisions are very split.

Cloud computing functions by removing data off an important computer and onto the "cloud" which is managed by many other systems.

"Cloud computing typically outshines the company's internal abilities to store information."

"The ingredients are the same, but the receipe is different."

"The cloud will not be trusted with all aspects of computing."

Blog:

Started in 2005 with benefits mainly focused on cost savings vs. features and functions. In 07, speed and innovations became the larger concerns vs customization, reliablitity, integration. Now, tectonic shifts where it's changing the "game" vs trust.

Cloud computing is a hosted applications and platforms built on shared infrastructure delivered via a web browser.

Google has taken the role of becoming the poster child for supporting cloud computing. It allows others to post much of their information upon a google server where it can be stored. Google's specialization is now focusing upon Google applications almost all of which function by working off the cloud, take for instance the Android phones (such as the Motorola Droid) which runs almost entirely off google applications many of which are now synchronizing with many other service providing web sites such as Facebook or Twitter.

The debate for the effectiveness of the cloud still rages and will continue to rage on until a general consensus can be reached amongst all users, which currently seems to be a fifty fifty debate.

But one thing (according to Google and many other experts) the cloud computing is here to stay and it will continue to evolve.

Eric Summers

4.13

It's no secret that we've become dependent on our technology as a nation, so much so that there are times that we seem incapable of living without it at our constant finger tips.

Yesterday, I went to Zanies in Nashville to see Lewis Black perform as part of his new tour.

It is important to realize this fact, I don't go to Nashville very often. While in Tennessee I have lived in either suburban towns or for the majority of the time, in a small country town in the middle of nowhere. Given how it was an hour drive away from Nashville, making trips into the larger city was an extremely rare occurence. I therefore know very little about the layout of Nashville which is excerbated even more by the fact I typically do not travel there until it is already late at night, hardly the time for one to try to catalog mental landmarks to make navigating the city easier.

Fortunately for me, I have a smart phone with a GPS option. I used this function for the first time yesterday, turning it on as I passed the Briley Parkway enterance ramp on 24 in addition to my hand written instructions that I brought as a 'just in case' measure. I missed my ramp to 210B after for some strange reason driving North has the 210s in the following order C, A, and then B. By the time I realized this, it was too late for me to get in my lane. I turned on the first exit and the GPS came to my rescue and directed me to my destination from there, even after I accidentally ran a few red lights.

On the way back I decided to use the GPS again to find my way back to the interstate. It froze up on me for the remainder of the trip. I ended up in a fury of frustration having to turning around about three different times before exitting the GPS mode to the normal map locator and planned my drive by looking at the map rather than it telling me what to do (which ended up being taking 65 to 440 to 24 east).

Oddly enough one of Black's core materials was how the population of this country has a completely inane sense of what's important. In his example, he stressed "we can't agree over a health care policy that's meant to help us, but we know how many useless applications we can get on our iPhones. I have an application on this that allows me to come to a city like this, and the phone will tell me where the best place to get a slice of pizza is and how to get there by walking. I could always ask the people on my way to the place where the best place is, but f**k that, I have a phone doing it for me."

Our technology is great, but once it stops working, we need to be able to rely on ourselves.

Cheers,
Eric Summers

Only a Month away...

As today draws to a close, I will be exactly one month away to my graduation date.

Nervous?

You bet your ass I am.

Excited?

Less than you’d think.

Relieved?

More than you can imagine.

Today after rushing about from work to class to help one of my group members to construct our power point presentation for tomorrow before our night classes, I somehow managed to find enough time to make an essential trip for food at the Quiznos in the KUC.

It was an extremely beautiful partly sunny day with a breeze just strong enough blowing north to play with my hair and to be pestering enough for me to have to carefully hold the notebook while I write this to prevent the pages from turning.

Turn the page.

Yeah, one month left and another page of the book of the life of Eric Shane Summers will be finished.

I digress in thoughts of anticipation…

I decided to eat my sandwich outside in the courtyard of the BAS to take advantage of the weather while it was still pleasant.

As I set on a bench against the west wall allowing me to overlook the entirety of the courtyard I couldn’t help but think about all the countless times I’ve strode through this courtyard. Granted most of the times I was just in a rush from one class to another, and at the time it was just an obstacle in my way. But if I reflect as I survey what lay before me I can recall memories. On those steps I did work group work in one of my previous groups for a class in my minor. I even wrote one of these notes on that bench over there when those trees were in full bloom last summer during my Maymester.

And I am not alone, neither the first nor the last. As I stare I must think about how many hundreds, thousands walked through this courtyard before me and hopefully the countless numbers to come after my time.

I sigh and take another bite of my Italian sub, half ashamed to admit to myself.

“I’m really going to miss this place.”

Cheers,
Eric Summers

4.6 - Neural Networks

Neural network applications

Brain maker

http://www.calsci.com/Applications.html#Stock Applications

Brain maker isn’t so much an application as much as it is a provider of many different neural network applications ranging from ones that focus specifically on stocks, commodities, and futures to pattern recognition (such as speech, numerical, and working with natural chaos).
It is a user friendly company that specializes in smart applications that generate spreadsheet based results based upon patterns in collected data that will then allow the computer to recognize, forecast, and predict. It allows for users to import lotus, excel, Dbase, and ASCII and binary files into the software for its statistical processes.

http://www.nd.com/apps/business.html

NeuroDimension

NeuroDimension offers a wide variety of Neural Network applications from the most basic of pattern recognition software to those that are more specifically designed for a specific process such as stock prediction. Similar to other Neural Networks, it uses statistical processes that mimic learning much as the way the human mind does.


Cheers,
Eric Summers

4.6

As the semester winds down it shifts into what I refer to as "hell month." This is the period of the final rush when those of us wonderful procrastinators must break our backs and sacrifice all the free time of our social life and sleep schedules to complete the projects that have piled upon us in addition to the projects that are being assigned and required at the end of the month.

My semester is divided amongst four classes, this one, ASP.Net, and 4790 Database which comprise the final steps of my major and I am enjoying the challenge they represent and the knowledge I am gaining from them.

The fourth class is BUAD 4980, Business Policy, the last class of my minor under the instruction of Dr. Myopi. To all readers who are on the business path I urge you to take anyone other than Dr. Myopi. Dr. Myopi is one of those instructors that go against everything I've come to love as an INFS major. In a casual explanation I have created, he is "out of touch with reality." He is completely opposed to the use of technology in the class room and it shows. His lectures are completely disjointed and unorganized. There is a required text book, but he rarely follows it. Instead he seems to be going off his notes using an outdated book, and another problem then arises as his notes lack the detail needed for a student to learn or more importantly use the information for the papers we are required to write.

And speaking of papers,

Dr. Myopi is clearly one of those professors who have no problem assigning work to his students without first trying it out him. As a for instance we are required to write papers, but unlike most professors when they assign papers his follow a very strict outline that offers really no room for creativity or independent thought on the side of the student who is to be writing this paper. The paper must include a predefined concept portion which he defines which input must be included. The concept portion is nothing more than book definitions and in the case this last paper took up six pages of my paper. Oh yes, he also has the gall to say in the guidelines for these reports that "a report is supposed be about five pages long." Upon the completion of my last report, I had twelve individual pages, now I may be stepping on some toes but I firmly believe that twelve is not "about five."

Cheers,
Eric Summers

Neural Networks

From my experience with neural networks (based entirely upon a very brief experience while using Neural classifier) the easiest description I can think of using to describe the neural network technology is that is very closely resembles a vaguely human thought process by implementing various logarithms, statistical processes, and limited artificial intelligence software.

Using Neural Classifier we have the ability to adjust certain constraints in a CSV file which determines the final output of the product based entirely upon which constraints are implemented. If I were to ask to compare it to any other type of similar tool, I would compare it to the Solver function of Microsoft excel which involves a similar statistical process of constraints and logarithms to determine the best fitting solution.

Cheers,
Eric Summers

Thoughts on Public Healthcare - Part 2

I am for the government option. I know far too many people who are uninsurable, a list that includes my own father a retired psychologist with six Ph. Ds in the various fields who cannot afford health insurance because he is a polio survivor which puts him in the high risk group. He like the rest of my immediate family has chosen to do without health insurance so they can afford to keep a roof over their head and the food on the table.

My mother is the owner of a small private Montessori school. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this teaching philosophy, it is a school in which students learn at their own individual pace rather than the pace of the group as a whole. Many of her students were withdrawn from public schools due to an inability to learn at the speed of the group and many of whom ended up causing disruptions in the class room as a result. Then there are students like my younger brother who is the rare type of student who learns at a much greater pace than those his age, to the point that his academic peers are only found at a college level.

Of my entire family only my little brother and myself have health insurance. I have health insurance through my place of work and Adam has government health benefits due to his age. My mother has no health insurance. She works sixty-plus hours a week and makes less money than I do, a part-time dairy sales associate at Wal-Mart, I’m not even the lowest rank of manager. My parents own and work at the school because of the fulfillment they get from the job. My mother has only handful of employees because she can only afford to hire the state required number of workers given the amount of children enrolled (for a certain number of students require additional employees). She cannot even afford to pay them more than minimum wage and they have no health care benefits. The only benefit she can offer her help is if they have children, they either get free tuition or greatly discounted rates.

As I stated previously, I have health insurance through Wal-Mart, which charges me thirty-six dollars a month (a thirty dollar increase from the insurance option that I had last year for the exact same care I might add) for the most basic of health insurances, namely a high deductible accident insurance and a limited discount on medical visits and pharmacy materials, and in comparison to a great many insured individuals I am considered to have GOOD insurance. While I have been fortunate enough to have a surprisingly healthy medical constitution, I have been to the doctor enough times to see how inflated the cost of each visit is. A visit in which a doctor performs no tests, uses only the most basic of disposables for examination purposes to prevent contamination can cost a person over $100.

I have observed and even studied countries that do have a government option, and I have discovered in my research that the benefits outweigh the costs.

So yes, based upon the information I have gathered, government healthcare is something that is long overdue in a country that is as prosperous as ours.

You want to know what I do know about the bill?

First of all, it was not forced down your throat on the basis that The Patriot Act, The War in Afghanistan, and The War in Iraq were not forced down this country’s throat when it was under the watchful eye of a different regime leader.

Second, there is no such thing as “Death Panels” in the bill that will determine whether or not your grand parents will be allowed to continue living if something happens to them. In fact, just to prove this point I place my own surviving grandparent’s lives on the line. Grandpa Bob and Grandma Cookie front and center! If there is a death panel I will personally feed the two of them into a cremation furnace at this very moment. Wait, what’s this? They’re alive, and not covered in fire?

Finally, the government health care bill creates the option of public health care. Let me repeat that because I personally think it’s pretty important, it creates the OPTION of public healthcare. That means it does not require everyone to go to a government sanctioned health center so a government assigned medical czar can perform medical experiments upon you for the motherland. What it means is it gives you the OPTION of public healthcare. You have a choice to have whatever private insurance you want and if you are uninsured, then comrade Obama will step in and take the burden of medical costs off your back.

We are all allowed to have our own opinions. I mean why else would we be able to have two competing groups on Facebook one titled “One Million Against Government Healthcare” and the other “One Million for Government Healthcare?” We are allowed to share our thoughts, our information to anyone who will listen without consequence…

Save one.

Information, be it a statement, a choice to join a group, or even the “liking” of someone’s status message is there for everyone to see or hear, and when they do they will judge you for it and that will alter their opinion of you in some way, shape, or form; whether it is intentional or not. What you do is what creates the perceptions others have for you.

Even if you are a million strong for or against an action, if 99 percent of you are misinformed, than you are nothing more than a million misinformed buffoons. Think very carefully before you act, especially when it’s about something you may know nothing about.

Cheers,
Eric Summers

Thoughts on Public Healthcare - Part 1

Let’s talk about something controversial.

Politics and religion are two most controversial things to immediately come to mind.

As almost everyone who follows my writings have no doubt concluded I am an opinionated individual and absolutely nothing is sacred in the view of my analyses.

That’s one the things that I love about his country, it allows me to not only think about whatever I want whenever I want it also allows me to publicly state exactly what’s on my mind as I do on this site without punishment, even when they go against the public norm.

Almost everyone upon sites like this partake in the exact same freedom I am exercising, whether or not they choose to take advantage of it is their choice.

Why?

Because we are free to do so.

We are free to publicly call out individuals and publically criticize or praise them as we see fit, no matter how biased or rude we choose to be in doing so.

We are free to publicly incite talks of sedition (with the small caveat that you are not organizing or planning activities that can cause physical harm to others or their property).

We are free to publicly criticize or praise the religions and personal beliefs of others.

We are free to publicly criticize or praise the government and their decisions.

Aside from social backlash and the opinions of others for us, we are free to think or say anything we want.

Our thoughts, beliefs, and actions are determined by information. It is upon information that we make our judgment. All information impacts our decisions, even if it is inaccurate information, it’s all fair game.

Take the public healthcare bill which just passed. From my observations, everyone has an opinion and almost all of them fall into one of two categories, they’re either for it or they’re against it and it is exceedingly rare that I see a topic such as this where the response is so black and white. Furthermore I would bet money that ninety-nine percent of those with an opinion have failed to read the entire bill, if any, myself included.

The majority of us have no complete knowledge of everything that is in the bill. So where do get our information that we use to make the judgments we base our decisions upon?

There are three ways that I know are most often used (excluding “gut” responses).

The first is to observe how public healthcare (I’d say socialized, but then I’d have to define the word since its meaning “socialized - to take part in social activities, or behave in a friendly way to others; to give somebody the skills required for functioning successfully in society or in a particular society; or to place something under public ownership or control” and inform everyone how things like social security benefits, Medicare, Medicaid, the public parks, etc. are all socialized systems) works in other countries. For those who are very determined to access information will likely ask citizens about how they feel about the public healthcare in their countries.

The second method involves observing the current situation of privatized health care (at the time of this writing the public option has yet to be implemented), and see how many people are unable to obtain health insurance due to preexisting conditions, lack of finances for the necessary insurance, and/or working for employers who do not or are unable to provide health insurance. Perhaps in this observation they can also see the excessive costs involved in an uninsured medical visit.

Lastly, there is the option of hearing about what is in the bill by listening to what others say about the bill.

While these are all valid options, every option has its own areas where information can be distorted.

Referring to other countries or individuals for guidance can lead to misinformation based upon a lack of substantial research on the observer’s part or differences in sociocultural and political values between the citizens of two different countries.

Observing the current situation leaves one privy to their own observational abilities, be they good or bad. Depending upon a person’s personality or commitment to maintaining an unbiased observation, the quality of what they observe is going to be questionable at best.

But, by far the most inaccurate and misleading of the three methods is the last, the opinions of others.

Think about this for a moment, but only if you can do it by yourself without the input of others.

Just how informed are these “experts” you are basing your opinion upon? Have they read the bill or did they base their opinion upon the three observational methods I have just described? And do they have anything to PERSONALLY GAIN from the outcome of their opinion or from their opinion itself?

A sole fact remains: If your opinion is based entirely upon the opinions and interpretations of others, you are making a judgment on bad information.

I have news for all of you; the following people are not experts on the healthcare bill:

Bill O’Rielly
Glenn Beck
Rush Limbaugh
Ann Coulter
Sarah Palin
The hosts of Fox and Friends
Joe Scarborough
Keith Olbermann
Jon Stewart
Stephen Colbert
ME

The only difference is the last three, at the risk of comparing myself too favorably to satirists who I consider to be masters of their craft, publicly admit and know they are not experts.

Not satisfied with that list?

Chances are:

Your minister
Your priest
Your physics teacher
Your government teacher
Your principal
Your parents
Your brothers
Your sisters
Your friends
And YOU

ARE NOT EXPERTS.


To be Concluded Tomorrow!

Cheers,
Eric Summers

3.23

While I am still under the effects of the sinus infection, it's severity has greatly diminished. I am still having many problems breathing (i.e. my nose is completely clogged in addition to some drainage still in my throat), but at least I am able to attend my classes today. Penicillin to the rescue it would seem.

Wonderful...another exam coming up this Thursday. It would appear that I will be a busy man on Thursday with on ASP.NET project to finish before Friday, my general education exam, and an exam in this class over groundswell. Don't expect to see a blog for Wednesday or Thursday.

Cheers,
Eric Summers

3.22

This marks day two of a sinus infection the likes of which has left me completely drained mentally and physically. I was able to go into work on Saturday despite the fact that my cough and nose left me practically disabled throughout the day. Sunday I was rendered completely useless to the point that I was forced to call out lest I get any worse (this was after I ended up falling asleep in my car as I started it while in my apartment complex). I scheduled a visit online Sunday to go to the health center in the Rec center in hopes of gaining a prescription to some stronger medications to fight this infection.

I am quite pleased with my visit. The health center in the Rec. Center was an extremely good deal. I spent $4 when it was all done, and that was just for the medication. My visit and the filling of the prescription was completely free. All students who do find themselves in need of medical attention I will gladly recommend a visit to the health center.

Cheers,
Eric Summers

3.18

As an Information Systems major in the throngs of my last few weeks, I must admit I have become accustomed to the teaching style of Information Systems professors over those who are not.

I like graduating Senior have to take Business Policy which is offered by a variety of business professors as practically everyone in the colleges of business are required to take this class.

It is this fact that reminds me that not every teacher is as technology savvy as your standard Information Systems professor.

Most notably and the one that most affects my ability to learn is the differences in organization between an information systems professor and one who is not. Almost all the IS profs I have had teach using the use of powerpoints. Powerpoints make note taking much easier on the student, and do one even more important thing, it keeps the teacher from drifting to other topics.

I have a teacher in my business policy who is completely opposed to the use of powerpoint or even D2L. His lecture style is best described as disjointed. He lacks the order and organization that I as an IS major demand of my professors. To be completely honest, I have pretty much stopped taking inclass notes out of frustration due to his teaching methodology.

Now, just to attempt to prove that I am not acting like a spoiled brat, I do keep up with the lectures in class by reading the book chapters, which is what his exams are based off of as well as making sure I meet all the requirements for the two papers he assigns in the class. I'm not stupid after all.

Cheers,
Eric Summers

Isn't it obvious I can't think of anything to write for these blogs at this point?

3.17 - St. Patrick's Day - SFW Edition

Happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone of Irish descent like myself and to those who believe that they can drink themselves to that state.

Please enjoy this day of feast responsibly and for the love of coffee, please refrain from saying "I'm going to drink until I'm Irish."

Cheers,
Eric Summers

For those of you who have befriended me on Facebook, you can find a more amusing and NSFW version in my notes.

3.16

Today and next week I will be taking my major field study and general education exams. So long as I take them, these exams will have no bearing on whether or not I'll graduate or will impact my transcript, so why take them?

Because the campus MAKES us take them. I'm sure that this rule probably comes from a higher power than the campus (my guess would be the Board of Regents). They are used as a statistical evaluation of the campus's effectiveness and efficiency in their training of us students. They use the rhetoric that our involvement is important because our involvement will help strengthen the power behind our diplomas.

The process is not something that I agree with. I am not a fan of tests, because I feel that they are an inaccurate evaluation of the taker's skill. I have known extremely intelligent people who are extremely skilled in a certain area, yet they fail the tests they are required to take for a variety of reasons. On the other hand, I've watched fools who could memorize a list of terms make high scores on such evaluations without understanding the subject matter.

But to get the information they need, they must create standardized tests. Like it or not, they're a necessary evil. But at least, we the students are not being graded upon it.

Cheers,
Eric Summers

3.15

The quest for graduation is a long and arduous process or so the college would like you to believe.

It's amusing the amount of fear "The End" inspires in my fellow students.

We are all (particularly students though one would logically assume that the same fear applies to teachers) pressured to fear the graduation.

There are off the top of my head three different forms I had to turn in to graduate. One of them was due two semesters before you graduate, the other three semesters before you graduate. I turned mine in THIS semester, the semester I intend to graduate, and I have had absolutely no problem with getting closer and closer towards "The End" despite the tardiness of my paper work, namely because I am of the mind that realizes the uncertainty the future represents. Think about it, life is unpredictable, one serious illness and you might find yourself having to graduate a semester later than you intended. Therefore, I bided my time and waited until I was positive I would graduate, and it has paid off.

Ultimately, I have proven what I set out to prove at the start of this semester when I looked over the graduation requirements last semester. No matter how much trouble the graduation paperwork seems to suggest, you have absolutely nothing to fear. Keep your head held high and your mind alert, believe it or not, this college really does want you to graduate if only so you can come back for your masters and Ph. D.


Cheers,
Eric Summers

I will however suggest that you make copies of all your paperwork after it gets signed or before you turn it in to the administration just in case they lose your information or forget they approved it.

3.4 - Weekday Update

This blog has absolutely nothing to do with the SNL segment...


The midterms are over now *confetti and streamers shoot out from unexpecting areas as multiple Hollywood esque explosions of flaming joy rip through carefully placed pyrotechnics* and after we present I will be done with school for the break.

Only to have a large database, a complete website, and two papers to do by the end of the semester...

At least I won't have any more presentations.

Hopefully during the break and over the next few days I can get back into a routine blogging schedule since my cramming days are now (temporarily) over.

Cheers,
Eric Summers

3.2 - Groundswell, Chapter 6 Summary/Outline

Marketing funnel
- Awareness – Consideration - preference - action – loyalty = buyers
Talking with the groundswell
1. Viral videos
Best utilized when using an interesting approach and/or niche specific advertising methods.
BlendTec uses a unique approach to display just how effective their blenders are in their series, Will it Blend?
Will it Blend, iPhone: Will it Blend, iPhone

Tibco, a software company created its own viral miniseries called Greg the Architect.

Tibco, Greg the Architect

To be most effective viral videos must allow people to interact. Optimally they should direct people to a social network, a blog, or community with they can form further relationships with each other or with the company.

2. Social Networks (pre existing)
Statistics: 25% of online adults in North America, 21% of Europeans, and 35% of South Koreans are members of social networks.
On Facebook, 85% of all college students (America) have a profile.

Case Study: Ernst and Young
- E&Y are a global accounting firm that has to hire thirty-five hundred college grads every year to meet their client’s needs.
- E&Y uses Facebook as a means for connecting with college students and potential future employees allowing them to not only communicate with these users but also allow the users to interact in an environment that also encourages student to student communication.
- When Brands should use social networking:
o Use the Social Technographics Profile to verify that your customers are in social networks.
o Move forward if people love your brand.
o See what’s out there already
o Create a presence that encourages interaction.

3. Blogosphere
Blogs are most effective for companies who have complex issues revolving around their products.

Case Study: HP
- HP sells hundreds of different electronic and software based products to almost every type of marketing group from small consumer to large businesses.
- Most of their products are very complex, and therefore many buyers want to have more details available to them before they commit to a purchase.
- This is where HP’s blogs help their company.
- HP has nearly fifty executive blogs; each blog is targeted to a specific area of their business, allowing HP to respond to their consumer’s questions and concerns.
- Blogs generate trust in the consumers because of the fact that these are personal statements from the executives of HP.
- HP has used these blogs in the past to help consumers resolve compatibility issues (ex. A problem that occurred between Windows Vista and HP printers) and even to avert PR distractions (ex. Sun Solaris’s attempt to goad HP into starting an advertising feud).
Tips for successful blogging:
1. Start by listening.
2. Determine goal of the blog
3. Estimate the ROI
4. Develop a plan
5. Rehearse
6. Develop an editorial process (have someone proofread and review the blog)
7. Design the blog and its connection to your site
8. Develop a marketing plan so people can find the blog
9. Remember, blogging is more than just writing
a. Blogging is a form of communication, make sure to respond to comments, but be sure to use moderation
10. BE HONEST

4. Create a Community
Case Study: Proctor and gamble’s beinggirl.com

-P&G was tasked with marketing feminine care products to young girls (preteen-adolescents), a topic most people do not wish to discuss and then an age group that is extremely uncomfortable discussing such topics.
-P&G created a community site, beinggirl.com, which is about everything young girls deal with.
-The site was created based on categories young girls would be interested in, rather than those that would sell their product.
-The site allows the users to communicate with one another, share embarrassingly humorous stories, and ask questions to a psychologist who will answer their questions.
-The site features subtle branding rather than direct marketing, instead of advertising their product they attempt to help the users and then mention the company as the sponsor of the site.
-It attracts more than 2 million visitors a month worldwide.

When communities make sense:
1. Figure out whether your market really is a community or could be one.
2. Check for already formed communities before you create one. It’s cheaper to sponsor such a site than build your own.
3. Once you’ve figured out whether your can form a community and what the central attraction will be, ask yourself:
a. What are we going to get out of this?
b. How will talking with this community benefit us?
4. Do not continue unless you can support the community for the long term.


Talking with the groundswell, what it means to you.
When is it best to use each method?
Do you have an awareness problem where people don’t know about you?
If so, then viral videos are the best way of getting your consumer’s attention.

Do you have a word-of-mouth problem where you need people to talk to one another?
If so then social networks are the best solution.

Do you have a complexity problem where you have complicated messages to communicate?
Then the blogosphere can help you solve this problem.

Do you have an accessibility problem where your consumers are insistent on depending upon one another rather than listening to you?
In that case, create an environment in which they can do that in the form of a community.

3.1

Due to the amount of school work taking place this week in my life, there is the distinct possibility that there will be days that I will be unable to post blogs.

This is what's on my academic plate at this very moment:

Two midterms

Several projects in various classes

A presentation for this class

All of that must be completed by Thursday.


Cheers,
Eric Summers

2.26 - This Blog Exceeds Twitter's 140 Character Limit Almost Nine Times

Let’s get one thing very clear before we even began to contemplate proceeding into the juicy meat of this blog…


I DESPISE TWITTER.


If I had the ability and power I would abolish the site not only from the internet but from the annals of history assuming that I did not hang its metaphorical destroyed corpse of damaged and corrupted code upon a metaphorical wall with a metaphorical three foot long, six inch wide, barbed rusty spike for the world to see. (Un) fortunately, I am not the brutal draconian tyrant of the Internet with an almost anal attention to detail so such things are completely out of my power.


Like every topic I choose to focus my loathing upon, I do at least have the common decency and intelligence to have my reasons which I establish after I have gone through the trouble of trying to see the benefits and flaws with any system.


Twitter like many societal phenomena that are a blight upon this Earth, started out on paper as something beneficial. Even someone with as much hatred for the site as me, has to admit that when used properly it can be good. Twitter is a free service that allows users to update their Twitter account from a computer or cellular phone with Internet access. It’s a “free” advertising outlet, and is actually a good way to allow a business and/or individual. There are several examples I can think of to illustrate this (and there are many more as I’m sure a productive reader is bound to point out) involve someone or a small group such as a musical band, comedian, or anyone who will be making a public appearance linking their Twitter account upon their own website (a service Twitter and Facebook both offer) which they can use to post status updates that directly affect an upcoming public appearance, such as a sudden schedule change. Or for a real life example, this unique on wheels restaurant in Austin, Texas which uses Twitter to let their customers know where their one location will be each day. Doing this will let those who follow their web site or even their “followers” on Twitter see a small description that directly affects them, those who are paying –not just financially but also donating their time– to see them. Other positive uses could include a company setting up a company-wide Twitter account in which all their employees could access the account for sudden updates that pertain to them.


When a person in a society succeeds greatly, they are idolized by that society. The more prosperous the country, the more this seems takes place if only because of the greater amount of media coverage that seems to go along with more prosperous countries. Look at our culture, who do we idolize? Famous movie stars, pro-athletes, musicians, the list goes on. These are people who in many cases make more money a year than the President of the United States makes per year counting all the government benefits that come with the job (free healthcare for the rest of their life, a life time salary, etc). These are people who are idolized to the point of worship by the public. As John Lennon sardonically said during one infamous interview when he was asked about how popular The Beatles had become, “It’s like we’re bigger than Jesus.” There are countless tabloid magazines focusing entirely on the daily lives of these people. And every day average Americans BUY and READ this trash every day. These are magazines that have paid paparazzi (another lovely byproduct of scum we humans have created) millions for one picture as an example: the first pictures of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s baby went for a selling price of four million dollars. Let’s take a break to do some simple math. Let us assume that we have a class room of thirty college students who work part time jobs that pay them a very good salary that allows them to make twenty thousand a year. These college students combined income would have been a mere fifteen percent of the selling price for those baby pictures. If that amount of money were divided among those thirty students it would give each student $133,333.33; so much for school loans, huh?


Sites like Twitter that are designed for people who have a following will of course draw such people to it, so among the first people to begin using service are the celebrities. Thanks to major stars joining and others continuing to join daily Twitter’s popularity grows exponentially. In order to follow their idols, people join Twitter to both follow and as is most often the case, stalk.


Twitter, as I have stated is an extremely useful tool for those people/companies who use it properly. There is however, one topic that has yet to be discussed in this note when it comes to new and readily available technologies and a group of people such as Americans. Americans LOVE instant gratification and due to what some would call an information overflow with so much information and technology available to us at every moment of our lives, we are getting to the point where we feel the need to constantly be entertained. When a site like Twitter comes into contact with this type of behavior, you will end up having celebraties post their tweets that is of no serious value to anyone but themselves. These are entries that involve details of their personal lives that most people, wait make that most INTELLIGENT people don’t care about although the throngs of stalkers –I mean fans– will wait with abated breath for every detail this person posts.


So what does this say for the average Twitter user? Assuming this individual does not use their Twitter account for anything other than their business oriented uses, they do what the stars do, “tweet” about their day. The only difference is the average Twitter user is about as interesting as a blank piece of paper, but how we do love to emulate our role models. In fact if you were to compare the tweets of a regular user and a celebrity and remove the names of each user, almost every time the reader would not be able to distinguish one user from the other. During Conan O’Brien’s short run as the host of the Tonight Show, there was a segment on the show that illustrated just this called Twitter Tracker in which an annoying, testosterone fuelled announcer would constantly yell “Twitter Tracker” and boast that there was an “amazing” or “mind-blowing” tweet that a certain celebrity posted on Twitter that would “change the world” only for the tweet to be something mundane such as “I’m doing laundry.”


Twitter despite its useful features is most commonly reduced to a stage where the a celebrity can post all the common place events of their normal lives that anyone with a life would pay no attention to just so their stalkers can follow them for that mild ego boost these people have become accused to crave. As for normal people, it’s an outlet for their boredom and a chance to give them an ego boost by imitating the celebrities even if it is just a pointless waste of time.


I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating, there’s a reason the word “Twit” is the key word in the construction of the word Twitter.


Cheers,
Eric Summers

2.25 - "Enjoy Working at WalMart?" - Part III

Sunday, I reached a breaking point as I usually do when it comes to matters like these. This last weekend we had been understaffed during the bulk of it where we were just barely getting by each day, and on Sunday it was not entirely clear whether or not we’d have a closer in the department. Being a responsible associate, I decided to take matters in my own hands. There is a very limited stock of people in that grocery store who has the knowledge of how to appropriately run the dairy department I work in. That knowledge is the product of experience, it is not something you can merely be shown and pick up immediately, there are too many nuances that must be learned by actually performing them daily. During the facing hour, I took a telezon (the hand-held scanning computers we use) with me as I faced the department. ANY item that was empty or that had the capability of fitting a full case I created a pick for. This way, if we did have a closer, they wouldn’t have to worry about creating and catching picks in the system all night in addition to having to stock milk and eggs hourly. If we didn’t have a closer, then I could leave a note telling whoever was given the task of filling in to run the carts with the picks upon them since they’d go out. At the end of our facing at about 3:30 there were seventy-three picks. I went to the dairy department to pull them. Seventy-three picks may seem like a lot to pull, but it actually isn’t. It can be done in about ten minutes provided the telezon does not freeze up. There were already several people from grocery pulling them in my back room and one zone manager who was not a happy camper. I smiled as she complained about the picks, and said you’re welcome. This was the start of a very long argument as we finished up the job. I would like to point out that despite the fact she and I argued, she had some very good points and what she revealed to me was rather enlightening to noticing the larger problem, which allowed me to see that what we associates were dealing with also included the zone managers. Out of my respect for her, who has always worked very hard and has always been polite to everyone, I allowed her to hear my long series of complaints regarding the current strategies our store was implementing.

“Why did you create so many picks?! They have to be out of the system at two!” she said freaked out.

I calmly replied, “I work this department. I was out there, I saw the holes. They needed to be filled; this system doesn’t generate them fast enough. While we’re out there zoning, we have to see every product that we have missing, it gives us a chance to get a very good look at what we need. Why not take advantage of that time and create a list of everything that’s needed and kill two birds with one stone?”

“WE CAN’T DO THAT!”

“I just did. Besides what’s this about the picks having to be done by 2? You realize that that rule contradicts itself, between 3 and 4 we’re on constant watch for picks the system generates. You can’t tell me that management expects there not to be a single pick between those times when we all have to catch them daily.”

“No you don’t understand; I have to be over on the GM (general merchandise) side, as do all these ICS (inventory control specialist) people so we can take care of a truck on that side. Management won’t let us over there until all the picks are cleared on THIS side of the store.”

I was at a loss for words in my surprise at her honesty and my increasing disgust with management.

Through gritted teeth I responded, “You mean to tell me, that all the responsibility of the associates, the ones who are running the department are voided and transferred over to you guys? That’s not exactly what I would call fair. Not for you zone managers or for us. Since when did management decide that all the associates are ineffective incompetents who don’t know how to work their own departments?”

It would seem at this point we each found common ground.

She sighed in the same contempt that I seemed to have for the same problem, “You should see how hard it is for me to get help at times like this. This system is designed to keep guys like you from running around like a chicken with their heads cut off, and don’t try to argue you don’t do that Eric. I’ve watched you work, you run yourself ragged.”

“I at least have a method to my madness, and it works better than any policy management has ever enforced. As for me being overworked, if that’s the problem, then they should hire more help at the associate level. The associates are smarter than they’re given credit for; all they need is a chance to prove it.”

As we neared the end of the list after less than five minutes later, I smirked and asked her the thought that had been bubbling in my mind for the past few weeks, “B, Don’t you just love how effectively this system’s taken away everyone’s voice?”

Wally World’s well more than half the reason I’m so determined to get my bachelor’s degree, just so I can leave this type of situation. No one should be reduced to a level where they have to question their own value in the eyes of their managers. The bond between manager and associate should be something of an honor. A manager should EARN the respect an associate has for them. As it stands, the managers are doing everything in their power to lose anything to respect them for, and unfortunately those who do go against the system in place, those who do talk back about the problems, are shot down by those who give their silent consent.

It is a sickening environment.

But even in the darkest of times there are those among those that I work with who radiate in such a way that the days do not seem quite as dark as they could be. It is thanks to people like them that I still stand up and fight against policies like the ones I’ve described. These are my friends, they are on my friends list, and for what it’s worth, they’d make better managers than practically every single one of the ones currently in power. I would list their names, but as management has already warned during one of their store meetings, you can be fired for what’s posted upon your facebook pages. In the off chance that one of the managers should read this and attempt to use it against me, I will not give them any ammunition to drag others into it.

As for myself, I am not afraid.

An integral part of the evolution of a company is the differences of opinion amongst those working inside it. If you’re going to be successful, you must tolerate criticism.

I am relatively insignificant in the larger scheme of things. I’m just an associate who refuses to let his voice go unheard. Perhaps I have inspired my coworkers who might be reading this to realize that I think they’re worth more than what the company is suggesting they’re worth. Perhaps, I have even inspired others (customers) who are not Wally World employees to see how the other half lives.

I have taken the time in this entry to ensure that every complaint that I have has been backed up by facts, and I have made sure not to specify any names so as not to shift all the blame upon an individual. I gave respect where respect was due.

And it was because I respect my employer that I had the need to point out where they were failing not only me as their worker or their employees, but themselves.

Cheers,
Eric Summers

2.24 - "Enjoy Working at WalMart?" - Part II

Fortunately, there was this revolutionary idea that Wally World had designed years prior that they have implemented called the “Grass Roots Meetings.” In these meetings, associates were given the chance to speak directly to the store manager about the problems they were encountering. I attended each of these meetings and explained and pleaded for more help in my department. It was here that I also learned of the problems with the managers.

Our store manager held these meetings for a week, and then things began to change. Several managers ended up transferring to different stores, reducing the number of managers. The store seemed to be better run, and employee morale was up. However, cogs were turning in the minds of the corporate levels.

It is a well stated fact that wally world has one of the most efficient inventory systems known to date. About a year ago, they found a way to better optimize it. I won’t go into details due to the complexity of the system (and trust me as an information systems major I can pick the system’s logical components apart piece by piece and drag it out for several pages), but what it essentially accomplishes is track each and every product. When a case is sold, the system will allow the associates to know that they can fill the shelf with their back stocked product. It also allows associates to scan a product and then give them the exact location in the backroom of where it is.

While the system is actually quite remarkable, it is not without its flaws. The problems start occurring when you realize the key problem with any information system, the fact there will be humans using it. No system created for humans is without flaws, and humans will find them all. There are countless ways of causing errors in the system, from a cashier double scanning a similar product of the same price (but not the same flavor) to an associate pulling a product from a bin without scanning it out properly or likewise forgetting to scan something in properly to the warehouse sending fewer products than their order listed.

Wal-Mart’s answer to this is to create a new line of managers, the zone managers. So now the authoritative pecking order goes from associate – department manager – zone manager – assistant manager – co-manager – store manager. The mind reels. When faced with the problem of too much bureaucracy two years before, wally world eliminated the problem by removing some of the ranks of management. Now they’ve brought the problem right back, only with three times the middle men. As anyone with any knowledge in business (or a required business administration minor) will tell you, THAT’S A RECEIPE FOR DISASTER.

One key element that almost every corporation seems to struggle with are its levels of bureaucracy. Bureaucracy, while in small amounts allows the business to be managed, what inevitably ends up happening is there becomes an overload of people. The work required is spread about amongst too many people. Lines of communication become crossed and in the mix, the messages are lost. Confusion settles in, and what happens at the top is exponentially harder for those on the bottom. Those on the bottom as a result of bureaucracy, lose their voice as their voice lacks to power to move up all the new rungs of the ladder. At least now those at the top no longer have to hear the complaints of those below them.

Let’s now leave this textbook lesson in bureaucracy and return to my store. The system has now been implemented in almost all the store (excluding the fresh departments due to the nature and perishable nature of their product, they are on a completely separate system). Each zone manager is assigned to a specific area of the store on paper anyway. The problem I at least have with the system is its speed of generating picks for areas where an item can be stocked. While it will generate them on its own, the relay speed can take hours. It’s typically much faster for an associate to manually go through the department and manually create a “pick” for each item that can be stocked on the shelf. This problem wouldn’t be a problem at all really, more of a minor inconvenience. That way the people who run the department, the associates and department manager have control over their department, they do their tasks and get what they need when they need it. Management doesn’t seem to agree with that philosophy. To make sure those in top are in control, rigid time restrictions have been put in place. From 2 PM to 4 PM each day, there are to be no picks in the system. Strange considering that’s when our business is typically picking up each day, which would make sense for there to be MORE picks in the system so the associates can fill the holes the customers are creating upon the shelves to ensure that each product stays full.

Then management does something that I have opposed at every grocery store. Managers prefer style over substance. While appearances are important, it is my personal professional belief that there needs to be something backing up an appearance. In order to make their store look good, management has started over these past few months a completely rigid time slot where from 2 PM to 3 PM all associates are to drop whatever it is they are doing and do nothing but zone the store (facing the product or pulling everything from the back to the front). NO EXCEPTIONS and that is no exaggeration. I have had managers after I have drawn them out into a verbal argument tell me that they would rather have me leave a shelf space unfilled, our ability to make a potential sale, so I can do nothing but pull product towards the front of the shelf for an hour. I have been chastised by managers for running highest demanded products in the store which are my eggs and milk when they were empty during the two to three time slots. Associates have been called out for taking their lunches during this time slot because their department was backed up with product that wasn’t ran the night before, and since they would be unable to try to catch up during 2 – 3 they decided to take their mandatory lunch hour then so they could better optimize their time. Keep in mind that this is also the hour that most department managers in the store are beginning to leave in which they must leave responsibility of the department to the associates under them. Instead of being allowed to prepare the department for the closing shifts, they are expected to waste their time making sure it looks “pretty” for the managers when they do their store inspection. I cannot recall when I joined an organization with more in common with the military than a civilian grocery store, but apparently it changed without my say, which leads right into my next source of contention.

Remember the talk about bureaucracy and its effects on organizational communication? How has that affected the grocery store? NO ONE UNDER A CO-MANAGER RANK HAS A VOICE ANYMORE. If you are not one of three managers (the store or the two co-managers) you have no voice for disagreement, none. It just gets worse as it travels down the ranks. An associate now has five managers who are capable of issuing them orders. Attempts to offer suggestions about certain orders are treated with the sickening response, “I’ll ask *insert a person of greater rank than this person* about it, but in the meantime do what you’re told.” All responsibility is lifted off that person’s shoulders they’ve given you your orders, thereby completing their job, and you are still in the same position you were before. To make matters worse, somewhere along the way, there is no longer any way of expressing your contempt for the way things are being run, because the grass roots meetings are now extinct. Cut down by the lawn mower of bureaucracy. For those who are brave enough to express their complaints to the high ranking managers have had their jobs passive-aggressively threatened:

“If you don’t like it, why don’t you just quit?”

2.23 - "Enjoy Working at WalMart?" - Part I

I'd to point out the irony of the title comes from one of the ads on the right hand side of the page of Facebook which was displayed as I went to post this very long entry. Life is amusing to say the least.

Before I even begin this very long rant, I’d like to take this time to say that I do appreciate everything my current place of employment has done for me. It is thanks to them for these last three years that I have been able to afford to put food on the table, have a place of my own to live, I can pay off all my bills, and have enough money left over to satisfy all my needs and most of my wants. As far as college students go, financially I’m ahead of most of them and that is without any supplemental income from my parents or legal guardian. I am now making a little over ten dollars an hour thanks to a mixture of being in the right place at the right time (like starting at the company when they were still doing 90 day raises), previous work experience (being hired immediately after being a frozen department manager), and a lot of sheer luck (a substantial cost of living raise when I transferred from a very poor district in Kentucky to Murfreesboro). Even during this recession, I have not gone a single day without having a job, something many people regretfully cannot say. My employer has provided for me and has in fact taken care of me very well.

And it is for that exact reason that I am compelled to write about the problems and inexcusable actions I am seeing them commit.

And those of you who are my coworkers who read this, even though I will inevitably refer indirectly to people that I dislike in this entry, I have enough respect for them as a person not to name them and I will be the first to admit that it is usually not one person who is at fault. Anyone who I mention by name in this entry will be named because of the admiration I have for them both as a person and as a genuine worker. So if you do read your name in this, feel honored, because for what it’s worth I think highly of you.

When I started at Wally World, I was constantly seeing posters of Sam Walton pasted all over the break room filled with some of his most famous quotes. The one that most stuck out in my mind, paraphrased to the best of my ability, was “Listen to your workers; they are the true idea generators.” This was merely three years ago. This was when I first started with the company and from what I had noticed immediately was the best run departments were those who allowed motivated employees manage the department. The less manager involvement the better the departments were ran, even the managers at this relatively small store in Kentucky which due to location was constantly busy thanks to its location on the state line which drew people from Tennessee across it so they could take advantage of Kentucky’s drastically lower sales tax (when I was working there it was 6%, compared to the 9.25% sales tax on food items and the 9.75% on nonfood items we have to pay in Tennessee).

I was working in the best department in the store, dairy. I am not saying that as a matter of opinion, but rather fact. Every single manager: assistant, co-manager, and even the store manager told us in dairy that we were the best run department. We were the department that they knew they wouldn’t have to worry about, in large part thanks to the efforts of myself, Andy, and our department manager Steven who all worked tirelessly to ensure that whatever needed to be done, was done, and on time. We were a self managed unit, almost completely separate from the rest of the store. The only times we were even called to do something out of our normal routines was to help unload our trucks or to answer calls for returns (and since it was a dry county we didn’t have to worry about keg orders like we do in Murfreesboro).

When I transferred to the Murfreesboro store I’m currently stationed at in the late summer of 2007 when I transferred colleges to continue my education at MTSU, I transferred into a store in complete disarray. Once again, that is a statement of fact, not an opinion. This was a store that at the time of my transfer had no set store manager (the assigned one at the time seemed to be on a permanent hiatus); just to keep the store running a manager from one of the nearby stores was having to do double duty by floating to and fro their store and our store. The frozen department for months within my being there had no department manager even. No one in charge knew what to do. I fell back on my days with Food Swine back when I was a department manager and tried to offer my guidance. But being a part time associate who at that time didn’t have the chance to prove myself to everyone else, there was only so much I could do for my own department. It was chaos at its purest form, disorder. Eventually, the dust began to settle. We eventually had a store manager take over the vacant slot and John Hill ended up getting the frozen department manager position. When the dust began to settle, the employees for the most part seemed to become complacent with their jobs once again, the confusion was over.

It was during this time that I transferred back to the dairy department, which was my wish ever since I was forced to go into frozen due to there being no open positions in dairy at the time of my store to store transfer. The dairy department at that time was horribly understaffed. This period marked the first time since my days at Food Lion that I would voluntarily start working ten hour days just to make sure the job was completed. Please note that these ten hour days were not at a manager’s request, but my own personal drive to ensure that the job was done so the next person would not have as much work to do on their own.

At this time, though my department at the time was not so much as affected as other areas of the store, there was a significant problem that takes place in many large corporations where there are simply too many managers. This is not a statement of their skills as a manager, but when you enter into the “too many chiefs, not enough Indians” scenario there comes a point that orders of each leader begin to contradict one another. Miscommunication runs rampant. Jobs are left unfinished or worst finished only to have another manager tell the associates to redo it a certain way. Discontent was running high store wide.

To be continued tomorrow...

Cheers,
Eric Summers

2.22 - And Now for Something Completely Different...

This entire semester I have done nothing but work. It has always been for a purpose, be it for my own personal career development or as the general consensus seems to suggest the menial almost indentured servitude that is quickly the replacing the ways Wally World is being ran these days. I am sick of it. I have had no option for personal reflection, no respite from the rigors of my routine.

We all need an escape, something to simply gratify our overwhelming desires to be free from the routines we MUST do. We need something to do for our own enjoyment.

At this time last year I was in excellent shape thanks to a daily workout regimen. I was eating properly. I was writing notes like this either daily or semi-daily with what my work/school/social schedules would allow. Though I’d get the occasional sinus infection from Tennessee’s weather being schizophrenic, they were not very severe and were very brief. I may have been in a roommate situation that I couldn’t stand, but other than that I was emotionally satisfied.

Look at me now or rather about a week or two ago. I have not had a day off both class and work since before January 14 when classes started back. Aside from the few nights, friends and I have gone out for a drink or two -I’ve cut back- I have had no social life to break the constant struggle. I have lost much of my figure thanks to never having the time to work out. I have almost lost all desire to cook and struggle to find the time to do so or even have the chance to go out to buy the ingredients that a meal would require. I have had two sinus infections so far this year, each of which are the worst ones I have had my entire life whose severity on several days have led me to believe I had the flu. Even the completely innocent and spontaneous act of blogging has become a school related activity for my knowledge management class, in which I’m limited to writing about topics that have to deal with either school or knowledge management in general.

And of all the times for a potential downhill breakdown, why'd it have to be my last semester of college?

Well, guess what?

I’m not going to let that happen.

I hit the breaking point over the course of last week. A sinus infection as powerful as the one I had earlier this year developed, causing me to have to skip one of my most important classes for a second time. I was wracked with cold and hot chills all hours of the day and night. I could barely move my back or neck, and I had no appetite. One good look in a mirror and it was obvious I was hemorrhaging weight thanks to my still overactive metabolism.

I realized, I had to change this or I simply wouldn’t survive mentally or physically.

I have been overworked this entire semester between my classes and especially work where I am still as Chris so eloquently put it “an overachiever” who is constantly at arms with the most ineffective and callous group of morons who have dubbed themselves leaders in an environment where those in power are avidly trying to silence the voices of the individuals amongst all the ranks. In college I am still striving my hardest because my end is in sight, and I simply cannot allow it to delay any longer.

On Friday after suffering through the turmoil of the second sinus infection on Thursday, I woke up and did something I rarely do, I called out of work. That’s right, the overachiever called out. This was partly due to medical reasons of trying to beat this infection before this weekend where I would need to be in top shape since we have been constantly understaffed in that great time of need. But the medical reasons was simply a veneer hiding my true intentions, I needed a break in the routine. Friday was a day of almost meditative reflection and healing. In order to try to vitalize my body, I doubled up on my daily dosages of vitamins in an attempt to gain back the vitamins and minerals my poor eating habits were not providing. It helped, it helped a lot.

As the second sinus infection settled in, began to restart my workout routine, and although I am still blowing blood ridden mucus and sinus slime out of my nose and have a nasty cough, I’m sticking to it. My muscles are remembering their potential and are coming back. My appetite is returning, and with it, so is my desire to cook.

With those two most important subjects out of the way, I am going to start writing again. This is not going to be just for a class. This is going to be for myself. I need a creative outlet. I have to have something like this to define who I am, even if the only person who reads it is myself.

I return to where I was a year ago, only this time more travel worn (with a beard to prove it) and experienced. Strong-willed and as determined as ever. I am the one who finds solace in the chaos in the chaos around me. I am the one who challenges the complacent. I am the one who attacks those who consider themselves my superior. And I do it all, with a smirk on my face and determined glare in my eyes.

I am me.

Cheers,
Eric Summers
And there’s no stopping me.

2.16 - How to Blog: Part III

Only two suggestions left now; find your zone and muse. Writers will often have an “Ah-ha!” moment when they write when all of a sudden their mind generates an interpretable version of their thoughts. This is what I refer to as “the zone.” When you enter that state of mind, the words will seem to flow from your head and onto the paper/screen. Achieving this state isn’t always easy and must sometimes be induced. This is where the “muse” comes into play. Muses by definition are what motivates and inspires us. For my purposes they are what allow the writer to help enter their zone. Of everything discussed in this blog, it is the muse that will vary the most from person to person. Using myself as an example, I find that my main muse is usually music which I frequently play as I write, but can range from anything from certain TV shows, video games, or even exercise.

Most importantly, Practice, practice, practice. Blogging will become easier the more you do it. If at all possible try to set an allotted time aside each day just so you can write. Practice will guide your hand. It will help you create a routine and the more you do it, the faster you can do it and the better it will be.

Cheers,
Eric Summers

2.15 - How to Blog: Part II

The key component to blogging (or anything in life for that matter) is motivation. Motivation varies from person to person. It is what drives us; when we succeed our motivation increases and when we perceive ourselves as failing with no end in sight we tend to lose our motivation. When it comes to writing, the degree of motivation is instantly apparent the moment you begin, and it shows clearly in your work.

When it comes to writing or even a form of the visual arts, the sight of a blank page can seem to be an impossible barrier having a similar effect as stage fright. One method for overcoming this if you do suffer from this problem is to simply write/type whatever immediately comes to your mind. It can be complete nonsense. It could be “blah” posted over and over and over again. The act of simply covering a page in random letters and numbers while you are trying to think can help you overcome this barrier.

The second most important component of blogging is finding the time to do so. Time, as full time college students and as many of us also have full times jobs to juggle in addition to our school work. There are several methods that can be used to optimize the time spent writing a blog. One approach is to develop an outline for the blog and build upon it from there. Another strategy and one that I most frequently use has more in common with psychology than writing at first glance. Often referred to as the back burner theory, it involves you choosing the topic of your blog you wish to write in advance and let it develop in your head while you go about your day. From time to time come back to that thought, you’ll find that over time you’ll start to accumulate more and more material for it. This method essentially allows the subconscious part of your mind to work on the topic while you do other things. The final method to using your time wisely requires you to set aside an allotted time each day to blog. If you can do this on a daily basis, you will eventually develop a routine.

This one might seem obvious, but write about what interests you. Granted for this class we are forced to keep our blogs either school related or have something to do with this class, but try to take something of your own personal interest or something you have a passion for and see if you cannot tie that interests into school or something knowledge management related.

Part III, the final part will come out tomorrow.

Cheers,
Eric Summers

2.12 - How to Blog: Part I

Writing is the art form of conveying the thoughts and intentions of the writer in a meaningful form that can be interpreted by others with the use of grammar. Like the painter with their brushes and oils, a a writer’s work is always unique; whose quality is judged on the subjective levels of those who read the writer’s works.

I am a writer and I have been experimenting and optimizing my craft on a regular basis since my middle school years which coincides with the time that I began writing blogs. As I mentioned in one of my earlier posts for this class, this is the third blog I am updating regularly, and it is no small secret that this class as a whole is having considerable trouble with updating their blogs on a five day a week schedule (myself included). Of all the blogs I have had to keep up with, this is arguably the most difficult that I have worked on, and I often find myself relying upon posting entries that are below sub-par in comparison to my traditional methods. As a writer I am my own worst critic and each small entry or regurgitated entry from something posted for the class feels as if I’m slapping myself in the face.

Despite my disgust in some of the measures I find myself using merely to meet a schedule requirement, it has become apparent upon inspection that many of my class mates are also struggling because they do not know how to blog. Blogging requires a person to sit down and record their thoughts. Even for people who do it on a regular basis merely sitting down and recording their thoughts can be a difficult and daunting process. In order to help my classmates I will share some of my own knowledge and techniques that I use to help me write.

Cheers,
Eric Summers

In order to attempt to take this very long entry that I have written out last I shall be posting it over the course of several days in order to catch up on my weekly quotas. Time has not kind to those of us students who have to work full time and go to school full time.

2.11

I've begun to delve into the book Groundswell during some of my free time away from school and work, and must admit I'm generally impressed with the premise of the book.

Like many of the males in my age with similar interests as me inadvertently found ourselves finding a "home" on the internet. It was a place of freedom when we were children. There was seemingly unlimited knowledge to be found on it and unlimited ways for us to waste our time rather than create a meaningful social life. Ultimately, we found on the internet something we were lacking in our normal lives, we could have a voice. As the angst ridden teens many of us were we were always searching for a way to revolt against the society which chagrined us. On the internet we could vent our frustrations.

The internet eventually became the new portal for the reemergence of a social anarchism movement of sorts. While many turned to the thought of anarchism as the ultimate way of rebelling like many of the bands from the late eighties/early nineties punk bands, most simply wanted to bring down the "system." The system as it was called was nothing more than the authority systems that were blamed for preventing people from getting ahead. It could range anything from the corporate level, such as the large corporations such as Wal-Mart eliminating small, independently owned businesses, to the political stand points, such as powerful corrupt politicians.

More often than not these revolutionary movements were/are misinformed in their facts and rarely expanded beyond a simple internet forum. They were completely harmless in most cases and achieved nothing more than giving their members an option for redirecting, venting, and/or talking about their frustrations in the world. However, there were times that these groups could do some lasting damage. As the years passed, the internet evolved and sites like Digg became to take shape. Occasionally, something would happen similar to what happened in the first chapter of the book where one proficient hacker managed to obtain the decryption code to a new DVD format which they then posted on Digg. As one can imagine, this post was spread throughout the members of Digg's site like a virus.

And what did Digg do to stop this? Nothing, they supported it in fact.

Innovation has become the new tool of a social anarchism. Innovation is eliminating the old ways, and giving the people as a mass a voice that can overthrow the titans of corporation and law in a way that they have never seen before. Those in power are slowly learning that their power is no longer in their hands, but in the hands of the countless masses.

Viva la Revolution

Sorry I couldn't resist

Cheers,

Eric Summers

2.10

Ikujiro Nonaka's Organizational Knowledge Creation: Notes and Reflection

There are two types of knowledge: tacit and explicit. Tacit knowledge is defined as the type of knowledge that is experience and context based, which includes cognitive skills such as beliefs, images, intuition and mental models as well as technical skills such as craft and knowhow. Explicit knowledge is defined as objective and rational knowledge which can be expressed in words, sentences,
numbers or formulas (context free). Its demonstration includes theoretical approaches, problem solving, manuals, and databases.

Nonaka theorizes that knowledge can be transferred as a spiral process allowing the transfer of knowledge to take place using either form of knowledge through the use of four different transfer processes.

The first transfers tacit knowledge between two different people in socialization. One form of this is simply communication or working together. Usually this process is limited to individuals.

The second involves the transfer of tacit knowledge to explicit in externalization. The transfer of tacit knowledge in this example is the articulation of one's tacit knowledge such as the usage of analogies, examples, or metaphors, or can be performed by elicitation and translation.

The third involves the transfer of explicit knowledge to explicit knowledge in the form of combination. This is the type of knowledge where many information systems are based, as much of this type of knowledge is transferred via documents, meetings, email, etc.

The fourth and final method involves the transfer of explicit to tacit knowledge via internalization. This is a largely experimental knowledge type and the ease at which a person can do this depends heavily on each person(s) involved, such as the person who has the explicit knowledge's ability to explain to the other person (the tacit recipient) and the tacit person's own ability to internalize and understand the knowledge they are receiving.

Cheers,
Eric Summers

2.9

What is About.com?

About.com is an online community site in which volunteering experts called "guides" help others on specific topics to relay information to people who are sending in questions about a variety of topics.

How does About.com do its business?

Content is written by a network of writers called Guides are all assigned to one and only one topic/subject which they are considered to be an expert. Each guide is given a base stipend on top of bonuses based on web traffic.

How do they create and manage their community?

Guides are evaluated based on their education, personal experience, and writing abilities. They are often recognized authors or professionally certified experts in their given subject area. All content provided by a guide is evaluated by editors and each Guide gets further training from about.com that helps them to maintain their subject area's content in accordance to their audience's interest.

Cheers,
Eric Summers

2.5

I have been the member of online communities for years now, let's go back to where it all began by taking a look at an older blog I made about a year ago...

My first social networking site began late in my middle school years with http://www.livejournal.com which I dub LJ. LJ has largely remained unchanged throughout my years with it, offering one of the most reliable blog systems I've ever used. I was on LJ before Myspace and its ilk hit the net. It was from LJ that I was persuaded to create a MySpace account, and from there, my Facebook. I've always been more interested in he ability to blog rather than applications or an immature "let's see who can get the most friends" system that MySpace is so famous for, both of which are reasons I approve of the new Facebook format.

I'm using Facebook currently as I have the most friends and readers who use it instead of LJ. What most of you probably do not realize is after I post these blogs/notes on Facebook I will typically copy and paste the non-chain mail/surveys notes to my LJ, as I did with MySpace until I became disgusted of the bureaucracy, immaturity, and uncountable phishing, virus, and porn bot intrusions. There were enough successful attempts that I had to permanently shut down one of my mail clients because of the sheer amount of pornographic Spam mail that made it around the spam guards. It was at that moment that I condemned MySpace and have boycotted it ever since. I am prepared to do the same to Facebook the moment it begins to do the same as I have LJ to fall back on.

It was from Live Journal that I developed one of my signature styles of my blog writing, most notably ending each note with "Cheers." It was LiveJournal that I started writing blogs for my own personal enjoyment and later personal improvement.

Cheers,

Eric Summers

2.4

Congratulations Matt, Khanh, and James, the presentation is over. Good job guys.

Cheers,
Eric Summers

2.3

Our presentation's powerpoint is now complete, and all that's left is to present it tomorrow. Here's hoping it all goes to plan...

Cheers,
Eric Summers

2.1

Communities are abound on the internet, many of us are members of at least one web based community, but when the number of members exceeds a certain point does the sense of community collapse?

Let's take a look at a hypothetical real life community, a cul-de-sac neighborhood. For the sake of simplicity let's assume everyone knows everyone else on this cul-de-sac. These members as a group decide that they should do some type of project that will improve the looks of their little community. You are sure to find some members of the community are going to be much more passionate about the improvements while others are likely to remain silent or nonparticipative. Let's expand upon this model and look at the city this cul-de-sac's located in. The city decides to promote a city wide improvement effort calling upon volunteer service. There will be similar results, there will be some who are going to be much more passionate about the request, while others will be nonparticipative or only respond to certain types of volunteer work/discussions.

It's highly unlikely that everyone in the city knows everyone else or even a large enough cross section of the city to say they know at least one person from every individual community in it, yet the outcome of the city planned event will closely resemble the event of the cul-de-sac. What would not be found in the city event however as opposed to the cul-de-sac event is, is that due to the size of the city, even though the city could be considered a community one thing that is more than likely to happen, is the members in the larger community will form a series of smaller communties.

A similar outcome happens on community web sites. It is rare that you will find a community online with a very limited number of members, but in those types of communties there is a much stronger sense of everyone being part of one (and just one) community. When you branch out into a larger community such as facebook, myspace, Livejournal, or even sites dedicated to a product or franchise such as Rooster Teeth Productions you are almost sure to find that the members of the vast all encompassing community will inexplicitly branch off within the community to form their own smaller communities.

Do these smaller communities negate the overall feeling of community?

The answer is, at least in this context, no. While the members may join into a smaller community, they still refer to themselves as a member of the larger community. If the larger community was to ask something from its members, the smaller communities would also respond in kind. The size of a community is not always a good measure of how much particpation it has, it's merely a number of how many people they have who may participate.

Cheers,
Eric Summers

2.2

Innovation = Connectivity + Content + Culture, according to "Building a Knowledge Community at Hallmark Cards."

Connectivity - it describes as the condition of the internal and external information networks.

Content - it describes this as the "nature, availability, and procedures for creating, owning, managing, and valuing content which can be both explicit and tacit...and dynamic and static"

Culture - culture is what is the internal workings and people within the organization. Every work place has its own unique culture, after all everyone is different, and differing opinions.

(I'm sorry for the lack of enthusiasm, I've had a really long day).

Cheers,
Eric Summers

1.29

The terms data, information, knowledge, and wisdom are tossed around so often that they are at times assumed to be one in the same (typically data and information and knowledge and wisdom). This is a fool’s assumption.

Data is raw facts. It has no meaning or context by itself. Take for example a list of people. The list itself has yet to be titled, so all it is at the moment is a collection of data. Now if you were to title that list you would give that data context. It would mean something; in other words, it would become information. Knowledge and wisdom suffer a similar fate. Knowledge is how well the information is known by an individual. Staying with the example of the list of people, let’s assume it is a class list. A professor could very easily memorize this list of people, and he or she could be said to be knowledgeable of that information. Wisdom, however, is the ability to utilize that knowledge. A professor with wisdom would know which name corresponded with what person in their class, and might even remember some things about those people that the list might not tell him such as what they are struggling with in class.

May that clear those definitions.

Cheers,
Eric Summers

1.28

A knowledge management system is simply put a system that allows for the transfer of knowledge throughout a group (or more commonly) an organization. It’s a very organic process requiring the input of all the members to share what knowledge they have obtained with others. When working properly it greatly reduces redundant work, keeps the flow of new ideas fresh allowing the business to adapt and evolve more readily, and in theory would lead to a more satisfied work environment since every person’s opinion matters.

As I have mentioned before I work at Walmart, and I can honestly say as a worker at Wal-Mart the fact that they have managed to achieve (and keep) such success in this world is absolutely mindboggling. When Sam Walton started the company and would encourage management listening to their employees for advice “for they are the true idea generators.” Sadly, with Sam’s death he took his view points with him. Walton promoted, whether they realized it or not, a knowledge management system. Since his death, the employees have been viewed as mindless incompetents who are completely incapable of performing their functions unless a member of management is there to instruct them. Never mind the fact that most of the time the managers in charge of doing this have never worked in the associates department and are completely incapable of understanding why an associate tells them why they do things a certain way. When Walton was alive there would be yearly “grass roots” meetings in which the associates would be given a chance to voice their opinions. These meetings have been abolished due to the negative feedback about the managers they receive on a yearly basis.

A knowledge management system is an incredible thing, but only when it is properly implemented. In the case of my employer, we have an example of how to prevent it from working.

Cheers,
Eric Summers

1.27

As far as the network effect is concerned, our society is more than likely most familiar with it while using social networking sites such as Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter.

On Facebook alone there are millions of users and many of varying ages. When social networking sites like this started out they were prey to teenagers joining them (ie my generation during the time) who simply found the sites, lied about their ages and began to create a circle of friends who they would stay in contact with. Eventually, they would move on from network to network, especially when more and more adults began to become users of the network they were on. Now it is not at all rare to find on Facebook people in their seventies (proof: my grandparents) on Facebook using the site to keep in touch with their families and friends. I've witnessed daily friends from the past finding one another and communicating once more.

Sometimes I think we seem to forget amidst all the pointless 140 character meanderings that comprise Twitter or the automated posts on the Facebook homepage about how someone did on a Facebook application and the numerous suggestions sent to other users to play these asinine creations, is that these sites were founded to create a network of people.

It is just one of the many ways we are all connected.

Cheers,
Eric Summers

1.26

From a historical perspective as early as 1800s we have always had some type of network effect. Then it started with the postal service, and soon after with the railroad system and telegraph which allowed for both speedy transportation and communication.

Over these last one hundred and sixty-plus years we have done nothing but increase and improve just how connected as a world we are to a network. I live about eighty miles from my parents, but with modern transportation I can be there in under two hours if I desired. I can communicate with them instantly using the cell phone resting in my pocket or send them a message via email that they would receive in a matter of seconds. Take my friends living in Florida for example, using free messaging software software and inexpensive cameras we can talk to each other face to face instantly.

In my own short twenty three years of life I have watched what was considered science fiction when I was a child become reality. I've heard people make the claim that our inventive process is stagnating. The technology that we carry with us on our day to day basis is reason enough to realize how untrue that statement is.

Cheers,
Eric Summers

1.25

Personal thoughts on crowds after reading The Wisdom of Crowds's Wikipedia page.

So as not to confuse anyone, when I refer to the "crowd" I am defining it in an ambiguous manner so that it may describe a group of random individuals who do not know one another, yet are all participating in an activity for the same purpose (such as the example given in the book and quoted in the wiki page where a group of fair attendees guess the weight of an ox) or one in which they are part of a group formed entirely for the purpose of making a decision.

From my personal experience and much like some of the studies referenced in the book, I have noticed that a group of completely random individuals will often come to majority decision closely resembling the "correct" decision (if applicable to the situation of course). I have far more intimate experience working with a crowd designed to accomplish some goal, be they a work organization or a group in school. I have noticed that just as the page said, the success of these crowds depends on the members comprising the crowd.

Unfortunately, much of my personal experience with this type of group often lead to somewhat disastrous or unintended negative outcomes. Each and every time it did fail, it could almost always be attributed to certain members comprising the crowd. From a work perspective, an incompetent leader will produce a greater catastrophe than any other member of the group can possibly imagine. On the other hand, a good leader can lead a crowd to the best outcome the crowd is attempting to achieve.

The same applies to the normal members of the crowd. Typically there will always be some degree of members in the crowd who do not contribute as much as the others, this of course can be due to various reasons such as shyness or apathy, but provided the other members of the crowd are capable they can usually pick up the slack imposed by these members.

Cheers,

Eric Summers

1.22

On the Wikipedia page Knowledge Economy it specifies that knowledge and information are not one in the same as they are often described. I personally believe this to be true as well. We (as CIS students in particular) are taught to differentiate between the the definitions of data and information. As many of you will recall data is nothing more than raw facts. Information gives those facts a purpose, a meaning. Likewise it is my understanding while you cannot have knowledge without information, knowledge is the practice of using that information.

Knowledge is a very peculiar concept simply because of how abstract it truly is. Most commonly knowledge is referred to as the product of experience, much like wisdom. Yet the knowledge one gains over the course of years can be taught to another in a matter of seconds in some cases. That is what I believe the basis of the knowledge economy. Since knowledge sometimes takes years to gain, but can be passed on a matter of seconds it has become a demand with a limitless quantity. There is nothing more organic than the human mind and therefore there is always new discoveries that can aid others in some manner. Thanks to the high level of connectivity through technology, knowledge can be transported from person to person, and it is from that demand and flow that the economy arose.

Cheers,
Eric Summers

1.21

An amusing little fact: I never thought I'd hear one of my professors say, "Let's go to wikipedia" other than for the purpose of making an example of how flawed or inferior it is compared to more traditional methods of research.

To be perfectly honest, I'm not completely sure I consider this class so much as a class as I do an experiment. Yes, we (the students) are being taught by a professor (Dr. Jih) in a class room environment (use your imagination for this description), yet it would seem as if we are turning our noses to the traditional methodologies of teaching what I can best describe as theories for lack of a better word in my rather capable vocabulary. We are the mice running through the maze constructed entirely of Web 2.0 tools. We are in uncharted territory, being taught by the tools not two years ago we as the students would be punished for using if caught implementing it in our class work and it's not considered cheating.

Is this the future of teaching?

Perhaps, unfortunately I cannot see into the future. All I can do is, what all human beings can do, make a prediction. We as humans our typically reluctant change, but every single technological development in our history is the result of a change and each of these changes eventually changed the way we lived.

And that is how we evolve.

Cheers,

Eric Summers