Colin's Blog

Campaign Information

Colin Carmichael — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:29:22 +0000

I've decided to officially put this blog on hiatus for the duration of my campaign for public school trustee in Cambridge.

If you've come here looking for information about me or about the campaign, please visit my campaign website at www.CambridgePublicSchools.ca

Thanks!

Exciting News

Colin Carmichael — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 18:53:28 +0000

I have two bits of exciting news to share with my readers.

1) On Monday, May 31st, I registered as a candidate for Public School Board Trustee for Cambridge and North Dumfries. I don't intend to write much about the campaign here on this site, so if you want to follow my campaign, please visit the official campaign site at www.cambridgepublischools.ca.

2) My sister and I finally went public with a little side project we've been working on for several months. We are partners in a new venture called Carmichael Digital with a mandate to improve digital literacy in organizations and individuals. You can find out more about what we do at www.carmichaeldigital.com.

It will be another busy and exciting summer for me and I'm looking forward to it!c

The Revolutionary Aspect of Technology is its Ownership

Colin Carmichael — Sat, 01 May 2010 20:28:27 +0000

photo credit: Peter-Duke

This morning, I heard a conference keynoter say the following:

The biggest difference between the youth of the 80s and 90s and the youth of today is the introduction of technology.

This is a pretty common characterization of today's technology as something new. I've argued with myself before about whether or not we are in an era of technological revolution as it relates specifically to the internet. In the moments that followed the delivery of the above statement, however, I had an epiphany. Here it is.

The biggest difference between the youth of today and the previous generations of youth is not the introduction of technology. New technologies have been introduced during every generation's youth. What is different now is the ownership of the technology. The emergence of personal computing is the first technological advancement that is owned by the younger generation. That ownership is literal and figurative - the youth not only own the physical devices, they own, almost exclusively, the knowledge to operate them. Even further, the younger generations, for the first time, own the attention of the manufacturers and marketers of the technology.

The television, the radio, the telephone were all household technologies own by the middle generation - the power generation. They were introduced to homes by the owners of those homes - the parents. The children and youth were exposed to these technologies not on their own terms, but on the terms of their parents. The technologies were owned not by the youth, but by the adults.

So let me say it again succinctly for you.

The revolutionary aspect of today's technology is not the technology itself. What is revolutionary is that the newest technologies are owned, both literally and figuratively, by the youngest generations.

A Tweetup for Canada’s Technology Triangle

Cambridge Reporter Revisited

Colin Carmichael — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 20:56:14 +0000

It seems that my foray into community publishing in 2008 has garnered some interest on the Twitter... There is some confusion, understandably, about who was doing what when and under what when.

I may do an in-depth post sometime on the whole experience, but for now I'll offer a simple timeline to clear the air:

(I'm doing this from memory, so I may revise these a bit after publishing)

June 2008: I launch CambridgeReporter.ca. it's a community-driven site where anyone can submit stories and opinion. It's intended to be more news than opinion - similar to NowPublic.com but on a smaller scale.

October 2008: TorStar sends me a friendly email about how they still own the Reporter name and they'd appreciate it if I could stop using it. Important to note that in Sept 2008 TorStar did not own any of the relevant URLs, but in October, CambridgeReporter.com suddenly appeared with syndicated content from the K-W Record. Update: Rabble.ca did a story about this here: http://www.rabble.ca/news/cease-and-desist-i-dont-think-so

Later in October 2008: CambridgeReporter.ca becomes CambridgeVoice.ca.

Spring 2009: The Cambridge Voice becomes The Cambridge Advocate under new ownership. (I'm totally drawing a blank on the timing here, so I'll update after a little research)

There it is - my best recollection of the events surrounding my involvement with the Cambridge Reporter.

On the Twitter, there's already talk about trying again to create a community-driven local news & opinion website. Stay tuned.

Clay Shirky on Institutions vs. Collaboration

Colin Carmichael — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:33:49 +0000

This video is now a half decade old - but is still every bit as revolutionary now as it was then.

On The Twitter This Week: 2010-02-06

Colin Carmichael — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:00:00 +0000

RT @dotboom: Apple should've sold iPad first, then iPhone: "we shrunk the iPad so it can fit in your pocket ... and we added a phone. BOOM." #
Google's decision to drop IE6 support for Apps will have zero impact on its zombie-like refusal to die. IE6 users are not Google Apps users. #
Elegant Themes Icon Pack, For Free!-Elegant Themes Blog http://bit.ly/bZBtbE (via @twttimes) #
Ok, I give up... Multiple trojan alerts from AVG and hijacked Google results on Firefox. AVG/SpyBot/HiJackThis seem unable to clear. Ideas? #
http://twitpic.com/10s3mw - I love this 1875 "bird's eye" map of Galt... Going to try to get a hi-res capture of it. #
http://twitpic.com/10s414 - Detail of the downtown area of Galt. #
http://twitpic.com/10s4u5 - @mdenny, your neighbourhood was a little sparse in 1875 #
RT @ikepigott: I might be willing to watch the Pop-Up Video version of the Grammys, with the pop-ups coming from select Twitter humorists. #
RT @andybeal: Sorry Grammys, I'm really happy for you, and I'm gonna let you finish, but the VMAs had the best Taylor Swift award ever! #
RT @andrewhyde: omg rt @dannynewman iPad spotted at walmart! http://bit.ly/dwMcgP #
RT @joetech: RT @DotSauce: 13 Useful WordPress SQL Queries You Wish You Knew Earlier http://lnk.gd/03n - Truth! #
Hangin' out with Hannah (and getting some work done) (@ Melville Cafe) http://4sq.com/7yn7la #
http://twitpic.com/10wkk8 - The next generation of cafe workers. ;) #
anyone have examples of good social media practices at a Canadian hospital? #
damn. Something is still hijacking Google search results in Firefox. AVG & Spybot come up clean... guess I should rip out and re-install FF? #
anyone have demographic data on mobile SMS donation usage? or just texting in general? #
Anyone know if Foursquare allows for biz owners, etc. to 'claim' their venues and be notified of activity? That would be very useful. #
.@saffyre9 @mikedriehorst closest I've found is the promotions form which *could* be used as a claimed/verification process... #
CIRA says carmichael.ca is reserved for a Canadian municipality. This was all I could find: http://bit.ly/bBZbPR - Really CIRA? #
trying to decide whether or not to make the trek to Waterloo tonight for StartupDrinks... need some social. #
I'm heading up to Waterloo early to beat the traffic but need to get some work done ... suggestions? (@melle, @jrodgers) #
I'm listening to AgeOfPersuasion at double-speed. Pretty sure there should be a law against this. #
I'm at Coffee Culture (King St) (31 King St North, at Dupont St E, Waterloo). http://4sq.com/8nqOvT #
I think I've asked this before but here goes anyway. I'm looking for a self-hosted alternative to Ning. Suggestions? #
I noted today's predictions of 6 weeks of winter. Well, that'll be a nice change. #
http://twitpic.com/112z4g - I'm strangely amused by this... #
I'm early for StartupDrinks and being anti-social while I get some food... (@ McMullan's) http://4sq.com/4I3fCG #
Do you think they know? http://www.wtfgroup.com/ #
Early night tonight folks. I'm signing off. 'Nite. #
Writing, writing, writing... (Reports, nothing exciting) (@ Melville Cafe) http://4sq.com/7yn7la #
Do you think they know? http://www.wtfgroup.com/ #
RT @jrodgers: Have been saying this for a long while: http://bit.ly/9n5av2 #coworking #waterloo (cc: @ENBdavies @soma__ ) #
RT @kitestring: The Chamber of Com promotes your biz by mailing your biz card to 500 people. COME ON! Why don't they just drop from a plane. #
Apparently anything funded by Trillium has a 60-page minimum. They coulda said it in six pages. http://bit.ly/9n5av2 #coworking #
This G&M article slamming cafe workers is still grating on me... Trying to #ignore... not working. http://bit.ly/cIOfDH #
ooh... good idea... RT @seyDoggy: debating whether I should make a beatles day. #
Anyone know if this oft-repeated Gretzky quote is verifiable? http://bit.ly/c2IQKn #
RT @BiancaFreedman: remind me not 2 go 2 zoots cafe. I try not to complain too much but this article really offends me: http://bit.ly/cIOfDH #
heh... RT @Szczepko: Why do we want to "own the podium"? I would rent it, as the value is going to fall way off in March. #
RT @unbrelievable: Any web designers out there looking for contract work available immediately? (cc: @slideawaymedia ) #
Session meeting - wonder if I'll be home by 10:00pm... (@ Central Presbyterian Church) http://4sq.com/4UrK6T #
Um... That's a joke, right? RT @isfan: "websites are like bilboards with buttons" - Allan Isfan #
i love a little irony... RT @sarahcasm: Valentine's Day has been shortened to VD? Really? VD... #
RT @davefleet: OH: "Apparently Ashley Maddison is the new preferred supplier for the PGA Tour." [LOL] #
minimalism to the extreme... http://bit.ly/8XZw1O #
RT @ENBdavies: RT @wendyhoomo: I'd like to see where this hash tag will go. Please RT! Thanks #hashtagDemo #
RT @jrbizzy Know any small non-profit orgs pushing a green initiative in an urban neighborhood? I want to write a news story about them. #
RT @jaybaer 11 Mind-Blowing Reasons Your Company Needs Facebook http://bit.ly/cyuhoE #
anyone know off-hand how much of GM & Chrysler the CDN and US governments own? #curious #alreadygoogledit #
Wow... Kitchener-Waterloo MP Peter Braid gets smoked on CTV: http://bit.ly/d98Ine #
And in the category of missed opportunities, http://bit.ly/aQLXJS #
RT @noprorogue ChangeCampTO: Designing a Civic Engagement Toolkit http://bit.ly/aysvuO #
about to try AppMakr - are there better options before I click the go button? #iphone #
Watching CPAC... wow this guy talks fast... has he taken a breath yet? #cdnpoli #
On a few Facebook fan pages I admin, imported notes are showing up in fans' newsfeeds but not on page wall. Is this normal? #

Facebook just keeps growing (with grey hair)

Colin Carmichael — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:51:28 +0000

Eric Eldon over at InsideFacebook.com has a great post outlining the growth trends at Facbook for January 2010. There are lots of pretty charts to look at, but I think the most interesting one is this:

Facebook Growth by Age and Gender (InsideFacebook.com)

It's getting harder and harder to dismiss Facebook as the domain of young people. Indeed, according to Eric's post, a full 60% of Facebook users are over 25. Some have suggested that the influx of older folks will drive the kids away and we'll see something new crop up for them - MySpace 2.0? For my money, this won't happen - at least not in the foreseeable future. The ubiquity of Facebook just makes things easier for everyone - if a little uncomfortable at times when you get a friend request from dear Aunt Agnes. Young Facebookers have figured out (mostly) how to manage these little inconveniences.

Pranav Mistry on SixthSense Technology (TED Tuesday)

Colin Carmichael — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:00:05 +0000

Welcome to TED Tuesdays on the blog. Each Tuesday, I will post a video from TED with a little commentary from me on why I think it's worth sharing. I don't want to compete with TED itself, so I'll be reaching back several months for these.

This absolutely blew my mind. The video pretty much speaks for itself, so I'll shut up now and let you watch.