Hoi Polloi

And when I die would you Twitter my buddies?

A story in the Arizona Republic yesterday about a Tucson company creating graveside memory capsule may seem a bit awkward, but the technology got me thinking. If you could make a digital tribute downloadable at the grave, it opens up many other possibilities.

Indeed John Stevenson's product is more low tech than the competition, which the article says, is a digital headstone that plays a video. A sort of a flat screen atop one's final resting place.

Ten years ago, we would have never thought the media or digital content would visit this fine and private place but let's get real. If we use digi-formats to preserve everything we do while we are around (Flickr family albums, Facebook profiles, digital photo frames, and people who Twitter about everything they do in life) someone might as well put these profiles to use after we have hit the final escape button. It seems to me these are opportunities waiting to be tapped. Some free advice:

1. MySpace, FaceBook, LinkedIn and Plaxo memorials

2. Turning expired (no pun intended, honest!) domains into permanent markers that redirect to online memorials. Perhaps an idea for GoDaddy.

3. Archiving of Google search results for a person's name as a legacy (OK, vanity) item to stuff into the graveside memorial.

4. Preserving tweets from a heavy Twitter user.

5. WiFi for cemeteries. I bet this exists.

6. Bluetooth connectivity on headstones --to download those digital memories. Right now one needs to bring a laptop and cable to the grave.

7. The ability for people to text message condolences to the family from anywhere and turn these into a card or book.

Stop slamming Arizona!

While I was away on vacation, taking pictures of some amazing cities, celebrating their positive side, the Economist magazine trashed my stomping ground and I am not a happy puppy. I am particularly annoyed, since they conveniently ignored so many good things that are happening here.

If you haven't seen the Economist's July 26th article on Arizona ("Into the Ashes") go read it and come back.

Going by some letters in response to its editorial last Wednesday in the Republic, readers were as critical. Two out of three letters criticized the editorial for not facing reality. One, however was a letter from a couple who thought the criticism was undeserved. They signed off as being "London by birth, Arizona by choice."

Why such a paucity of positive commentary? More pertinently, where was our PR clout when this kind of 'rubbish,' as the Brits say, was in the works? How does someone from a magazine like this get to slant an article so bad, when some of the points raised are actually good: less smog than LA, new schools emerging, the opportunities that Light Rail will bring etc. They paint us as a "crime ridden mess" apparently because of the Light Rail system construction , snowbirds who leave their homes unattended, and clueless visitors.

That's like saying London is the armpit of England because of the overcrowded subway system, clueless tourists, constant terrorism issues, and Crossrail construction --conveniently ignoring the amazing positive sides of this colorful, cosmopolitan city.

Why are positive stories hidden from view, tucked in the back of the paper --like this today, about the growing state economy? It's time we started telling telling our own stories, if no one else will.

Podcasts go to hospital ---and college!

Portable lectures? Just like online universities, TV lectures, and homework on Blackboard, we have to assume this is what the digital age will bring.

Six universities are working with Apple, to get their lectures available via iTunes. See story here.

Likewise, here in Arizona, the Arizona Heart Institute & Hospital, a media savvy organization, is making available video podcasts through CVMD.Org, a medical information network it has created for patient education . See story here.

Hope for Haley campaign gains momentum

Haley Knutsen, the 9-year-old girl  from Arizona, suffering from leukemia, is now in San Diego awaiting a liver transplant.  The Arizona Republic ran a story today about her progress.

I featured the Hope For Haley campaign month ago, and have been asked if there is an alternative way to contribute. So far the only mechanism is via PayPal. As a PayPal user I have not had any problems. Even non PayPal users may use the service, with a credit card.

"Hope For Haley" campaign in Arizona

I have been asked by a good friend what we could do to help the daughter of someone he knows, who is fighting Leukemia. Haley is a eleven year old from Chandler, Arizona. See this web page.

We often  strategize and execute  'campaigns' for our companies. What if a few of us could donate some time to raising some money for Haley? By all means, buy a wristband, or a car magnet, or donate via the site. But is there anything else we could do as a community?

Please post your suggestions by clicking on the COMMENTS tab, below, or email me here.