A Look Back at Blog World

I'm back home in Brooklyn after a jam-packed trip to Las Vegas for Blog World. Each session was valuable for both bloggers & PR/Marketing pros. Highlight sessions from day two and three would have to be...
>> Stand Out from the Crowd: Investigative Journalism Tips for Bloggers, featuring Evan Hansen, Greg Ferenstein & Jay Rosen
>> Working w/Brands featuring Lori Falcon, Jessica Randazza, Beth Rosen & Adam Harris
>> The Business of Product Reviews, featuring Carleen Coulter
>> Social Media & Sports: Game On, featuring Matt Cerrone, Mike Germano & Greg Tedesco
>> Ethics & Social Media Marketing, featuring Jeremy Wright, Brandon Eley & Jay Baer

See you next year, Vegas!

BlogWorld -- Day 1

Greetings from Vegas!

I'm attending the Blog World & New Media Expo 2010, and have a few minutes to write before heading out to tonight's party at Aria.

Day 1 of BlogWorld was busy and exhausting. I got some great tips from the Art & Science of Social Media session (thanks @maggiefox) and the keynote chat between Brian Solis and producer Mark Burnett (Survivor, The Apprentice, etc) was highly entertaining. At one point, Burnett (who is British, btw, did you know that? I didn't); anyway, at one point he said "I'm a mental midget when it comes to social media, but I know it's important." He shared his insight on knowing what makes great content, how to connect with people and grow your audience.

More to come tomorrow -- hoping I don't lose big (again) in blackjack tonight.

Wordless Wednesday

Riley - Halloween 2009

Iron Chef Michael Symon Tells Us What's New on the Food Network Next Month

I could sit and watch the Food Network all day long. Between that and HGTV, I always have something interesting to watch.

Next month, the Food Network is introducing a brand new show, Food Feuds, hosted by Iron Chef Michael Symon. In this video, Chef Symon gives us a sneak peek at his new show, the new season of The Next Iron Chef and more... love him!

Mashable & 92Y Social Good Summit (#socialgood)

This afternoon, I had the pleasure of attending the Mashable & 92Y 2010 Social Good Summit.

I missed the first session, which featured guest speakers Howard Buffett, Geena Davis and Soledad O'Brien, but I did make it to the second. Doc Hendley's story was particularly interesting: a former bartender who founded the Wine to Water organization, which provides clean drinking water to impoverished regions all over the world, funded by the proceeds of the sale of wine. He had no experience in philanthropy or fundraising - he was just a regular guy who had a great idea on how to provide something that most of us take for granted - water that won't make you sick.

Actor Edward Norton spoke about Crowdrise, a social fundraising/volunteering organization he founded. Soon after his talk ended, a large number of people exited the event, and missed what turned out to be the most entertaining part of the day: Mashable founder Pete Cashmore interviewing Ted Turner.

I knew Ted Turner was a bit eccentric, but his comments were friggan priceless (and made a lot of sense, for the most part). If I didn't have HORRIBLE AT&T mobile service I would have tweeted everything he said as he spoke. Since I do have AT&T and it DOESN'T WORK IN MANHATTAN, I'm going from memory here, but some of the more memorable comments were:
"we don't need armed forces here"
"war is obsolete"
"I don't wanna bomb anybody. Do you wanna bomb anybody?"
"all you with your twitter, or twinkle, or whatever"
"print itself is going to fade away"
"I don't like media that talks about who's dating who"
"I was a scrapper. We scrapped"
"We sweated every payroll in our first seven years" (re the first years of CNN)
"I had a guy have a heart attack in my office. I've never seen anyone have a heart attack before. I said 'you don't look so good', he said 'I don't feel so good' and that was it. We called the ambulance, then I yelled for someone to find me a new chief finance officer."
"There are over seven billion people in the world. When I was born there were two billion, and that was only 70 yrs ago. Well... 72."

In all, a great event that made you think, laugh and feel inspired. If you're inspired to DO something, check out the UN's Millenium Goals and find a cause that inspires you: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/getinvolved.shtml


taken from the back of the auditoreum

National Weather Service Confirms that a Tornado hit Brooklyn

The National Weather Service has confirmed that a tornado hit Brooklyn, NY near Park Slope on Thursday evening.

Up on Prospect Park West, it just seemed like a brief, powerful thunderstorm passing through at approx 5pm. I saw a few trees down in Prospect Park later that night and the next day, but no major damage up here. Yesterday, I went down to 7th Ave and was shocked: trees uprooted, branches strewn across the sidestreets and sidewalks and several cars were completely destroyed.

HGTV to Give Away $1.5 Million NYC Apartment

I'm a little bit obsessed with HGTV's House Hunters, so I find myself watching the network a lot.

This week, HGTV launched it's annual Dream Home giveaway. In the past I haven't been too excited by this (New Mexico? no thanks). BUT this time they're giving away a $1.5 million apartment in Manhattan! It's downtown on Washington St -- check out the video and enter today (or don't, so my chances of winning will improve).