These auctions benefit something called Saving Animals Across Borders, and is brokered by a company called Mission Fish. This is a great idea, and the auctions seem to be getting a bit of press.
I'd be inclined to buy stuff Skilling owned. He was way more interesting and evil in Smartest Guys in the Room. Perhaps the winner of his desk will find a switch for a trap door to the dungeon or something.
A friend of mine at an interactive agency sent this viral video to me today. Is it a clever and subtle ad for Nokia, or just a cool raw recording of the band Naturally7 doing an acapella version of their hit on the Paris Metro to get attention? Regardless, now I know three new things: Naturally7 is big in Europe, Daily Motion is kinda cool, and it is indeed possible to make a Phil Collins cover sound good.
One of my former co-workers liked to quote me in conversations about web2.0: "In the end, the 'net is about hooking up". Yes I said that.
While you're surfing on your lunch hour finding new ways to hook up, check out Hitchsters--a social network designed to help travelers share cab fare to the airport.
It's a similar idea to Peter Shankman's AirTroductions. Peter--a relentless networker--created a social network in attempt to maximize those dead hours spent flying by finding people to talk to ahead of time. I usually use the time to GTD the sh*% in my bag and catch up on leisure reading. I'm looking forward to using these networks together the next time I fly.
The previous post took 11 minutes to show up on a Google alert via the word "Chupick". If that doesn't illustrate the value of blogging to put the right results on Google, I don't know what does.
Do you ever wonder where journalists find those amazing people who do the darndest things? For example, the much-shared, debated, and flamed House & Home article yesterday on couples who practice, or suffer from "co sleeping," or the woman who furnished her 15,000 square foot home entirely with furniture from 1stDibs.
Many of these sources are found through posts on ProfNet, the wonderful service connecting journalists with publicists for over a decade. It's invaluable. Beat reporters can call their sources and get comment as needed, but what if you're a columnist who needs to find people who've tried a certain diet, or have taught their infant sign language? Profnet. The reason it works so well is because good PR people are also connectors. PR people can use it to build relationships with writers, slot in their clients when relevant, or do it for the fun of it. I attemped to hook up Jamis McNiven, owner of Buck's in Woodside CA for a business feature about cutting deals over breakfast. Jamis is certainly the godfather of that trend--he's been helping VCs and startups connect over pancakes for ages. We'll see if it works.
--Jason Chupick
PS: The quote above is from a prominent columnist. She's right, we're all placing ourselves in stories far too often! Shankman, that means you. LOL
