Where is the Love, The Black Eyed Peas
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Sucking in Syria
Syrian protesters are dying. Everyday, it seems. Maybe, eight were killed yesterday. Four, the day before. More Syrians will die, tomorrow. Through links on Twitter, I’m getting to see some videos of the dead and dying. There’s blood. Tears. Crying. There’s the crack of AK47s.
The protesters are demanding Freedom. Change. Opportunity. Reform. They want to make a better world.
Syrians are not just dying. They are being murdered. The killing is intentional.
Protesters are being murdered by soldiers or police who have been ordered to do so by their government. They might not look like you or me. They may not even speak the same language. But, unless, you are hopelessly all wrapped up in you, you know that other people are losing the people that they love and care about. In an instant.
In a gruesome, grim, split-second instant, love seems to be cancelled.
Oh – The Grapes of Wrath are spreading across Facebook Games like Kudzu
Social Games
Wildly embraced initially, Facebook games have become a huge disappointment to players. Hundreds of millions of farms have been abandoned, crops have withered, propeller capped sheep are on the verge of extinction, and farmers aren’t talking to their friends. The good news is that the flood of game-related wall spam has passed. But it didn’t just happen to Farmville. It happened across the board; Facebook games are failing to retain and entertain a restless market of 500+ Million Facebook gamers.
Game industry experts like Playdom Creative Director David Rohrl somehow got it wrong about what casual game play should be in a social game. As Rohrl himself noted, the social gaming space is not straightforward. One of the obvious fails was that social game companies fell into trap of thinking that graphics can substitute for game play. If only that were true, the economics would be unreal! On the other hand, players wanted more cuteness. They demanded it in the forums. Clicks confirmed it.
Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company, however, cautioned against falling into the rut of crowd sourcing. “If I had asked my customers what they wanted, they would have told me, ‘A faster horse,’” observed the American industrialist. According to Jay Elliot, Ford’s caution is often quoted by Steve Jobs, founder of Apple. Read the rest of this entry »
Finally, I’m going to do it. It’s all JackB’s fault. I was reading his blog post, Dear Son. Then my eyes started to get wet.
JackB’s post reminded me of all the times I wanted to get started on a blog just for my son, John Thomas Faryna. Because the way things are going, I might be going away. For whatever reason. So the least I can do, is let him know that I thought of him. And I have thought of him, always and often.
So I can start off with a few blog posts and if I can keep it going, it will truly become, A blog just for Johnny. Read the rest of this entry »
Alpha Investment LLC, an Abu Dhabi company, is suing Zynga, a Facebook Game company, for Zynga’s attempt to block it’s purchase of shares from Zynga co-founder Andrew Trader.
Zynga, known for popular Facebook games such as Farmville, Cityville, Mafia Wars, etc. isn’t talking about why they’ve given Trader the boot. But it’s obvious that the parting was not friendly considering Zynga didn’t offer to buy Farmer Trader’s shares. Nor is Zynga allowing him to sell his shares to the Abu Dhabi company.
Alpha Investment is understandably upset, but this may be a boon in disguise. Zynga has some significant challenges to overcome before they can round third base and come home for a Billion dollar valuation. The Facebook game honeymoon is over, player defection exceeds registrations, and, frankly, Facebookers are getting tired of the pathetic, poor game play.
I have a vision of the next milestone for the web. It may or may not be original, insightful, feasible, useful or amazing. I call it Social Web 3.0. It’s emerging in attitudes, ambitions and technologies. My new friend, Ben Barden, a blogger, thinks I’m mistaken. But also old friends like Mihai Fanache, Yahoo!’s ad man in Romania, believe I’m mistaken.
Triberr, a blog promotion Twitter app, may (or may not) become an app that helps us move forward to a more social web. Unlike those quick to ignore it’s potential, I’m willing to give Triberr the benefit of the doubt – until it’s shortcomings overcome it’s potential. But it doesn’t have to go down like that. JackB and I seem to agree that it’s worthwhile to see where Triberr goes. But that’s another blog post.
Before we can get into what signals Social Web 3.0 as the next milestone in the evolution of the web, let’s review Web 2.0.
Web 2.0
Try to imagine this with me: the sound of an angry (blue) bird being launched.
Apple is on a roll and we want to know how Steve Jobs does it. The Steve Jobs way is, in a word, passion.
Passion drives his perseverance and momentum through setbacks.
Passion obliges his attention to detail.
Passion necessitates his intense focus.
Passion fuels his outbursts.
Passion compels him to encourage those around him.
Passion urges him to compete with himself.
Passion informs his decisions.
I’m beta-testing an app that could be. Huge. Killer. The stuff VCs line up for! It’s called Triberr.
Once you’re signed up and set up, Tribber automatically promotes new blog posts through the Twitter feeds of everyone in your tribe. Yours too.
My blog reach went from 10,000-ish to 100,000-ish in sixty seconds. Ok, 60 seconds may be an exaggeration. It’s more like 24 hours if you get an invite into the right tribe. In other words, my blog posts are being seen by 10 times more people on Twitter this week than last week. Can you say, WOW, with me? I knew you could… Read the rest of this entry »
This blog post is not about Jack. This blog post is about Randy Pausch. I mention Jack and his blog because Jack’s blog introduced me to the story of Professor Randy Pausch.
At the age of 47, former Carnegie Mellon University Professor Randy Pausch died of complications from pancreatic cancer on July 25, 2008. He is survived by his wife, Jai, and their three children, Dylan, Logan, and Chloe.
I want to share Randy Pausch with you because Randy made a difference. It’s a difference that continues to unfold after his death. I believe that it is a difference that will continue for many more years. Read the rest of this entry »
Where are the leaders of Arab nations? Who is dressed in the armor of Islamic righteousness? Who stands against their Muslim brothers who do evil? I don’t see them anywhere, do you?
Below, a little background music: Eminem, The Real Slim Shady
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Muslim unity has a LOUD hollow ring to it and it’s being heard – and discussed – around the world. Many centuries ago, Westerners learned that shared religious views are no substitute for cooperation backing up a firm will and commitment to effect positive change. Even when the different prayers of peoples are formulated with the same words, intentions and aspirations, religion is separate from statesmanship. If the two-faced Pan-Arab commentary and confusion continue, American and European empathy for the Pan-Arab cry for freedom, democracy and justice may wane, even disappear. Read the rest of this entry »
Recently, I turned up the volume on the problematic regarding the corporate bias of the modern news organization-media empire. I have questioned the privilege of media agents who do not represent the public interest, health, welfare, hope and aspiration for a better country – agents that serve the interests of the corporate bottom line. They pass themselves off as the press. As journalists. And it’s really that bad. But there are also those who measure up. They stand above. They are an example to follow.
Mohammed Nabbous stands among several recent heroes of the press.
Mohammed Nabbous (Mo to many) may have been the first citizen journalist to share the terror and horror of Gaddafi’s attempt to silence Feb 17th protesters in Libya. Mo broadcast live from Benghazi from the beginning of the Libyan revolution. He captured the world’s attention with his online video, commentary and blogging. He founded Libya Alhurra TV. You can watch some of Mo’s reports here. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Stan Faryna 
Follow me on Twitter: @Faryna
The unofficial blog of Stan Faryna 
Arab leadership: Will the real slim shady please stand up!
March 21, 2011Where are the Arab leaders?
Where are the leaders of Arab nations? Who is dressed in the armor of Islamic righteousness? Who stands against their Muslim brothers who do evil? I don’t see them anywhere, do you?
Below, a little background music: Eminem, The Real Slim Shady
……………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………….
Muslim unity has a LOUD hollow ring to it and it’s being heard – and discussed – around the world. Many centuries ago, Westerners learned that shared religious views are no substitute for cooperation backing up a firm will and commitment to effect positive change. Even when the different prayers of peoples are formulated with the same words, intentions and aspirations, religion is separate from statesmanship. If the two-faced Pan-Arab commentary and confusion continue, American and European empathy for the Pan-Arab cry for freedom, democracy and justice may wane, even disappear. Read the rest of this entry »