One of the TV interviews about DiabetesHandprint

Here is one of the TV interviews I did last Tuesday morning about the launch of the DiabetesHandprint.com web site. Geez... I look pretty tired!




P.S. This is Bob that I was looking at during the interviews... it is a way to keep you smiling while looking at the camera. :)

Presenting TuDiabetes.com @ Health 2.0

Amazon.com Reviewer Ranks Shift

This morning I realized that my good ole Top 100 Amazon.com reviewer status had been shifted as a result of a change of the way Amazon calculates the rankings of reviewers. Based on the new method, I am reviewer #148 (though they say the reviewer standings would be recalculated on a daily basis).

Actually, that seems more fair and a reflection of the fact that (due to all other things going on in my life these days) I am not as prolific in my Amazon.com reviewing as I used to be.

Here is how Amazon summarizes the changes:
* Review helpfulness plays a larger part in determining rank. Writing thousands of reviews that customers don't find helpful won't move a reviewer up in the standings.
* The more recently a review is written, the greater its impact on rank. This way, as new customers share their experiences with Amazon's ever-widening selection of products, they'll have a chance to be recognized as top reviewers.
* Amazon has changed the way they measure review quality to ensure that every customer's vote counts. Stuffing the ballot box won't affect rank. In fact, such votes won't even be counted.

I am very glad with these changes: the wisdom of the masses playing an even MORE important role.

Some amazing guitar playing...

Justin King playing "knock on Wood":


(Thank to my bro Henkel for the link)

Writing 'Ning For Dummies'

Yep! It's happening... I couldn't believe it when I learned about it, but it's happening: I am starting to write the official "Ning For Dummies" title.

The next few months will be PACKED with work but full of excitement too. And topping that excitement will be the work producing this book that will be published in the Spring.

If you see me posting updates on Twitter late @ night, you know what I am doing after the day is over: writing "Ning for Dummies". :)

What is most important in times like these?

April_Sunrise_2
Originally uploaded by shoebappa

It is not hard to hear bad news these days. What is more: it is HARD to find good news. No matter where you turn, things are getting more expensive, the potential for the economy to get even worse is there every day... you can FEEL the tension in the air.

So, I wonder: what is most important in times like these? When life as we know it has changed and is bound to be very different for a good while, what matters most?

My wife goes nuts when I sorta joke about the bad news and I say "funny" comments to try to make her laugh. But the truth is we cannot change what is happening around us now: it is the result of events that were unleashed a long time ago, many of which are tied to the sadly greedy nature of many.

So what can we do? Take things and do the best we can with them. Here are some ideas:
1) Vote: exercise your right to express your opinion and, regardless of who you prefer, go out and cast your vote.
2) Take the chance to adapt to new circumstances and see it as a good thing: for every thing you can see negatively, there is a positive you can find. If you can't drive as much (can't afford as much gas, perhaps), you can walk and take public transportation... and get more fit. If you can't go out as much, you will find yourself spending more quality time at home with the family... which you should, anyway. If you can't buy a book, get it from the library: you pay for it with your taxes...
3) Realize how lucky you are to be alive in this day and time... yes, in this same day that you may find so inconvenient... because the alternative is being dead.

See where I am heading? My point is: we are in the midst of a nasty economic time. But it doesn't mean you need to need to be negative. Because no matter how bad things get, there will ALWAYS be a better day later: the sun will rise again. Just let go of the things that hold you down and see the good things in the life around you... you will be surprised, and realize then what is most important in times like these and at all times.

Big hug, everyone!

Kindergarteners Talk About the Candidates

Thanks to ninjabetic for the link...

IKEA Reimbursed Us: Long Live IKEA!

IKEA came through
Originally uploaded by Manny Hernandez

Those of you who follow this blog may have read about our bad experience with IKEA. Just like I shared that, I wanted to share what they did today.

After my last previous about IKEA, we had been trying to find the time to disassemble the faulty bed. We did so yesterday and today we headed in to return it. They gave us a full refund in the form of a Gift Card, which is fine by us since indeed we didn't have the receipt with us any more.

So, regardless of whether we buy any beds in IKEA in the future or not, we will definitely be going back. Tina @ the East Palo Alto store saved our faith in them.

Ask Google for a World Diabetes Day Doodle

Managing Online Forums: A Great Book!

Much needed advice for those who run online communities
As many online forums as there are, sadly there are only very few titles out there that deal with the topic.

Until now, the best one (now out of print) was Design for Community. But Patrick O'Keefe has changed this for good with this amazingly comprehensive title that is packed with great (and fairly timeless) advice about how to start, develop, promote and manage your online community. Two chapters at the end deal with tips on how to keep your online forum interesting and how to monetize it.

Personally, the only downside I found in the book is that it has a very heavy emphasis on forums (phpBB, more specifically), leaving outside some of the aspects specific to social media. However, the knowledge that the author has included in here can be relatively easily ported to help folk wanting to manage social networks or other social applications.

As for me, I am getting a copy of "Managing Online Forums" for each of the Administrators in my communities.

Awareness Test... very true

Comentario sobre la semana en Economia y Finanzas

Mi amigo del alma y compadre, Henkel Garcia, da clases en la actualidad en a Bolsa de Caracas y mantiene un Blog sobre Economia y Finanzas.

Aqui comenta sobre los acontecimientos de esta semana que concluyo...

Sigur Ros: waiting seven years was well worth it

Last night we were transported by the incredible performance of Sigur Ros here in the Bay Area. We saw them at the Greek Theater (first time we went to this venue... actually this was the first concert we've been to since we moved here). Parachutes, also from Iceland, opened for them.

The band delivered an impeccable show (you can see the playlist here). They showcased a sensibility that is extremely rare in the music scene these days, with the guitar playing with a bow by lead singer Jonsi being only one of the traits that make them stand out.

I took some photos @ the show, but if you want to see some really amazing pics, visit this page. This was, without a doubt, one of the most incredible concerts we have been to: the seven year wait was well worth it.

Thank you for your support of TuDiabetes!

We raised $7,000 in funds for the Diabetes Hands Foundation.

Thank you SO MUCH for all your support and your generous contributions!!

The DLT TuDiabetes Radio Interview MP3

The MP3 of the interview @ Diabetes Living Today is now available for download.

It was an honor to be a guest of Kitty and Dr. Fallon @ Diabetes Living Today.