No comment? Facebook “Like” button (aka the “Lazy” button) is for you!
In 2009 Facebook introduced the “Like” feature and in April 2010, unleashed the power of the “like” button into the world at large. Any website or blog, big or small could install “Like” buttons to their heart’s content. In the first week alone, over 50.000 sites added the like button.
Now Facebook has added the option of “I Like your comment”, especially useful for people who do not seem to have a single original thought of their own. They can simply click that they “Like” your status update, link, video, photo or news item and now with the new feature, click that they “Like” each comment that third parties make about your post. The opportunities to “Like” are endless, but is this a good thing?
As a content publisher, I have to admit that the simplicity of the “Like” button does translate into more people sharing content. It is a thrill to reach new audiences. The other bright spot is the possibility that the “Like” button will bring Facebook Lurkers out of the shadows; even those too shy or too lazy to comment might dare to dip a toe in with a “Like” here or there.
The danger of accommodating people with nothing to add to the conversation? The result could be about as much fun as people at a party standing around nodding their heads in agreement. No comment? “Like” it or not, prepare yourself for the onslaught of “so and so likes so and so’s comment” notifications!
What will come next? My prediction is the Facebook “No Comment” button.
Filed under Tech | Comment (1)
Search team fails to rescue Abby Sunderland from her own selfish attitude
16 year old American Abby Sunderland’s sailboat yacht went missing in the Indian Ocean during her attempt to break the record for youngest to sail solo, unassisted around the world. How could anyone be surprised by this? Regardless of her age or gender, the Indian Ocean is treacherous for any experienced sailor, especially during the current winter weather conditions.
The family posted this message on Abby’s blog about the massive search effort in progress:
“We are working closely with American, French and Australian Search & Rescue authorities to coordinate several ships in the area to divert to her location. There are several ships in her area, the earliest possible contact is 40 hours. We are actively seeking out some sort of air rescue but this is difficult due to the remoteness of her location. Australian Search & Rescue have arranged to have a Quantas Airbus fly over her location at first light (she is 11 hours later). They will not be able to help her other than to talk via marine radio if they are able to get close enough. Hopefully, they will be able to assess her situation and report back to us.”
Marianne and Team Abby
Early on the morning she was spotted by a Quantas Jet sent to search for her, the Australian government announced that they will not seek reimbursement for the extensive rescue costs.
Now Abby has been rescued by the fishing vessel Ile de la Reunion and in the process the Captain of the fishing boat fell in and had to be rescued himself in dangerous conditions.
According to the New York Times, Abby’s father, Laurence Sunderland in an interview on “The Early Show” on CBS, Mr. Sunderland praised his daughter’s skills as a sailor. He said he not only would let her try the voyage again, but would also “absolutely endorse that wholeheartedly.”
A new storm is brewing as the Sunderland Family not only go on the defensive about their decisions and actions; they are on the offensive attacking every bit of criticism.
Now is the moment for Abby Sunderland and the rest of the Sunderland family to turn to the heroes who risked their lives to save Abby and simply say thank you and then shut up. Stop being selfish for once.
But no, stubbornness prevails. Abby updated her blog from the fishing vessel, where she complains about having to use a french keyboard and then goes straight into how unfair it is of the press to pounce on her because of her age. This initial post is all about her, not a single word of gratitude. This speaks volumes of her maturity level, how dare anyone have questioned it?
My original interest in this story was related to the rescue costs, based on my firm belief that constraints and consequences are both important drivers of behavior. If she, or the next one who comes along to break the record, hasn’t raised enough money to cover costs of a possible rescue; then it should be a no go. (It was quite admirable that the American sailing Association rejected her sponsorship request due to their risk assessment.) Merely wanting to do the trip, should not be enough.
The problem with the existence this record of “youngest” is obviously that the obsession with beating it will continue to bring the age down to, what? Abby’s mother is reportedly pregnant with her eighth child. We can only hope that the newborn baby will not be involved in a sailing stunt in the very near future.
Filed under Adventure, In the news | Comments (8)
Dutch Municipalities “go local” in the mail-order bride business
The Northern Dutch villages of Dongeradeel and Dantumadiel have introduced a shocking new initiative to cut spending on welfare payments; their aim is for jobless women to meet and “be kept” by rich men. The local governments make a special payment of 1,400 euros to each eligible jobless woman. This money is not for education or career services, it is to be spent exclusively for a makeover. The restyled women are then registered with a local matchmaking agency, Mens en Relatie.
Local officials look to save 400,000 euros annually, by marrying off 70 jobless women. Prostitution is famously legal here in the Netherlands, but this is an outrage! If local governments want women to prostitute themselves, they would be better off investing in these women to set up legal businesses in the sex trade. Then the women could get off of welfare and become financially independent at the same time.
The percentage of Dutch women who are financially independent is dismal, according to the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics, less than half of Dutch women earn over 10,000 Euros annually. While the outside world often views the Dutch as progressive in their social policies; take a closer look at Dutch Villages and Dutch households, and you will find the conservative, old-fashioned reality is starkly different. This bizarre policy is simply a new way to keep women where Dutch Society deems appropriate, at home and off the career track.
If “Operation Makeover” doesn’t work, maybe the local governments will sweeten the pot with a dowry?
Here’s a link to the Dutch article on de Telegraf.nl
Here’s a link to the article on DutchNews.nl
Filed under In the news, Social Issues, Women | Comments (3)
REWORK: Reduce, Reread
If you read other reviews of Rework that refer to the content as common sense, they are simply wrong. The advice of Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson is counter-intuitive and therefore genius.
I read REWORK for the first time this weekend, all in one go. With 270 plus pages, it is a surprisingly quick read; partly due to illustrations and mostly due to the fact that this book was created in the same way the authors approach business and life; edit, edit, simplify, cut some more and you’re half way there. I haven’t Reread REWORK today; not entirely; not yet anyway, but it is a book to Revisit regularly.
The authors are partners in 37Signals, an intentionally lean and wildly successful company that creates invaluable web based tools for business and individuals; simplicity is their secret weapon. Building a business the 37 signals way is about resisting growth, expansion and excess at all costs. Simply build a product that fulfills a need (preferably your own) and get out in the market as fast as you can. Take away features, don’t add them. Less is more, always simplify, say no.
Rework is a great reminder at any stage of your business. Productivity is not about trying to figure out how to get it all done, the secret is realizing that most of it should be strategically skipped and scrapped entirely!
Instead of providing new answers to the same old questions on business models and entrepreneurship, I love that Rework pushes you to ask a completely different set of questions. There is one point in the book regarding “less is more” where I completely disagree. No amount of ketchup could ever be “too much” and ruin the fries.
I’d love to hear how you apply REWORK to your own business and simplify your way to success!
Filed under Entrepreneurship | Comment (0)
