Please help us figure out which direction to head with our ServiceGuy logo design project (go to Flickr to comment or just comment below):

John Moore speaks to the Social Media clubs about social media. Check out the video on YouTube:

Our favorite blogging platform has released version 2.2 according to Matt.  Here are the features:

• WordPress Widgets allow you to easily rearrange and customize areas of your weblog (usually sidebars) with drag-and-drop simplicity. This functionality was originally available as a plugin Widgets are now included by default in the core code, significantly cleaned up, and enabled for the default themes.
• Full Atom support, including updating our Atom feeds to use the 1.0 standard spec and including an implementation of the Atom Publishing API to complement our XML-RPC interface.
• A new Blogger importer that is able to handle the latest version of Google’s Blogger product and seamlessly import posts and comments without any user interaction beyond entering your login.
• Infinite comment stream, meaning that on your Edit Comments page when you delete or spam a comment using the AJAX links under each comment it will bring in another comment in the background so you always have 20 items on the page. (I know it sounds geeky, but try it!)
• We now protect you from activating a plugin or editing a file that will break your blog.
• Core plugin and filter speed optimizations should make everything feel a bit more snappy and lighter on your server.
• We’ve added a hook for WYSIWYG support in a future version of Safari.

…you will know why. Most of the team will be in Portland at the much hyped Ruby on Rails conference (RailsConf). We should remember to take photos and maybe even some video (updates to be posted here). In any event, it should be a blast. In the mean time, thought you might be interested in a funny Java meet Rails video I found on Rails Envy:

I am listening to DMZ – Dallas Marketing Zoo with Cam Beck, Scott Baradell and Paul Mcenany. Check it out here. Oh, if you are interested, you can call in: 646.652.4815

More about the show: The DMZ is a biweekly marketing gabfest featuring Brian Clark of Copyblogger, Scott Baradell of Spin Thicket, Paul McEnany of Hee-Haw Marketing, and Cam Beck and Paul Herring of Chaos Scenario. Listen here.

My pool guy stopped showing up a month ago.  I tried Craigslist, but it was too hard to reach an actual pool guy.  I guess most of them are cleaning pools and not answering their phones.  It only makes sense.  Yesterday I thought about the system we built for Architel and thought it might help me with my pool guy problem.

Architel’s referral system allows the sales team to transfer non-qualified prospects looking for immediate IT support to independent contractors.  We entered the cell phone numbers of more than 25 computer guys into a dedicated phone system and when we find someone who need help now (i.e. help Architel can’t provide) the system calls all 25+ engineers at the same time.  The first person to pick up their phone and press one (i.e. indicating their ability to take an immediate support request) is connected to the caller.  There is always atleast one guy available to take a call.  Neat huh?

Well, Mike built this system for Architel and I thought, “why don’t we apply this same idea to other ‘service’ business like pool guys?  It seemed simple enough and since we already built it, why not create a referral network for a number of services in each city.  The system is NOT a matching engine, but rather a system that allows for immediate connections between people who need service and those who provide it.  No emails or voice mail messages ~ just live connections.  We call it ‘ServiceGuy’ (guy is gender neutral in my world).
This evening Jeremy laid out a simple design and after RailsConf, the guys plan to populate Dallas.  LogoWorks is doing the logo (cross fingers).  Thoughts?  Ideas?

Turns out you can buy your iPhone now for June 14th delivery. TechCrunch has the article here.

Google has allowed some internet famous people to say, "I don’t carry cards, just google me."  For the rest of us, business cards are still a great way to keep track of the people we meet and a great way for the people who meet us to remember our names.  Yea, you can google me, but only if you can remember my name. 

Looking for some great ideas for business cards?  (fyi – they don’t need to be boring) Check out: The Business Card pool on Flickr.  Here is my card:

Here is the link.

…falling out of your chair. Mike was busy working on an Asterisk/Ruby mashup and leaned back just a little far and stripped the screws holding the back of his chair on.  Needless to say, he fell over: