Monthly Archives: May 2013

May 24, 2013 · 8:08 pm

Jake Tapper honors veterans with a #MemorialMessage

CNN anchor Jake Tapper has long been adept with online media, going back to his work at Salon.com. On the Friday before Memorial Day Weekend, Tapper showed how powerful a platform Twitter can be for collective remembrance when he catalyzed an outpouring of family memories from his followers.
  1. Tapper introduced the premise to his followers with a single tweet, sharing a hashtag, #MemorialMesssage, to organize the replies and modeling the response himself.
  2. jaketapper

    Jake Tapper@jaketapper
    Our hashtag game today is for those who serve. Send us your Memorial Day message. Mine? Thank you. We will not forget. Use #MemorialMessage

    Fri, May 24 2013 12:55:59

  3. Tapper received just one reply, at first.
  4. rramsey6

    Mona Ramsey@rramsey6
    @jaketapper #MemorialMessage Remembering Captain Jeb Franklin Seagle a dear friend and hero who made the ultimate sacrifice in Grenada.

    Fri, May 24 2013 13:49:22

  5. Then he came back to Twitter, and shared more personal remembrances of those who served.
  6. jaketapper

    Jake Tapper@jaketapper
    This Memorial Day weekend i’ll be thinking about fallen heroes such as Lt. Col. Joe Fenty, Lt. Ben Keating, and Capt. Tom Bostick.

    Fri, May 24 2013 14:17:59

  7. jaketapper

    Jake Tapper@jaketapper
    RIP heroes of COP Keating: Kevin Thomson, Justin Gallegos, Chris Griffin, Michael Scusa, Vernon Martin, Stephan Mace, Josh Kirk, Josh Hardt.

    Fri, May 24 2013 14:20:21

  8. jaketapper

    Jake Tapper@jaketapper
    RIP this Memorial Day to Captain Robert Yllescas.

    Fri, May 24 2013 14:20:53

  9. jaketapper

    Jake Tapper@jaketapper
    Another fallen soldier I will be thinking about this weekend, PFC Chris Pfeifer projects.militarytimes.com/valor/army-pfc…

    Fri, May 24 2013 14:34:00

  10. jaketapper

    Jake Tapper@jaketapper
    And Pfc. Brian Moquin, who was killed in a helicopter crash in 2006 projects.militarytimes.com/valor/army-pfc…

    Fri, May 24 2013 14:35:31

  11. jaketapper

    Jake Tapper@jaketapper
    And SSG Ryan Fritsche sites.google.com/site/wryanfrit…

    Fri, May 24 2013 14:39:02

  12. jaketapper

    Jake Tapper@jaketapper
    And SGT Buddy Hughie projects.militarytimes.com/valor/army-sgt…

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:08:25

  13. More of his followers began chiming in — and Tapper began retweeting their memories of fallen service members to his more than 1 million followers
  14. swbaker324

    Spence Baker@swbaker324
    @jaketapper CPL Robert Taylor McDavid KIA March 10, 2008. OIF. My brother-in-law.

    Fri, May 24 2013 14:41:02

  15. TROOPER8341

    CAPN RON@TROOPER8341
    @jaketapper I’ll remember CTO2 Steve TESMER the sole operator type on board the EC121 shot down by NK in 68. my room mate and friend

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:04:51

  16. GeekDeb

    Debie White@GeekDeb
    @jaketapper My daddy 1SGT Robert Scholz Died 2/7/2010 Served Vietnam and Korea twice each. Not in action but served our country for 20 yrs.

    Fri, May 24 2013 14:49:17

  17. TChadbourne

    Traci Chadbourne@TChadbourne
    @jaketapper Remembering Maj Charles Creech who passed away 2yrs. Ago after a distinguished career flying for the US Air Force. Dear friend!

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:12:48

  18. brucearmstrong1

    Bruce Armstrong@brucearmstrong1
    @jaketapper My great-uncle, MAJ Stanley Holmes, US Army, POW in Philippines during WWII, killed aboard the hellship Oryoku Maru, 12-15-44

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:14:09

  19. PeteyTheRef

    Greg Petersen@PeteyTheRef
    Thank you to my late grandfathers John A Petersen, Harry Gabbard #wwiiVets #memorialmessage @jaketapper

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:17:15

  20. TheRealDPK

    Dan Kelly@TheRealDPK
    @jaketapper CPT David Boris … Commander, A TRP 1/91 CAV, 12 Nov 2007

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:17:38

  21. JusticeWillett

    Don Willett@JusticeWillett
    .@jaketapper My wife’s bro, @USArmy Cpt Shane Mahaffee passed in ’06. 4 mournful Mondays in a row: death, burial, Memorial Day, b’day. #hero

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:18:52

  22. MomMilkshake

    Milkshakes Anytime@MomMilkshake
    @jaketapper My Uncle, Maj. Kenneth P. Tanner. Killed In Vietnam in last major battle, Operation Ripcord. Left 4 children behind.

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:34:06

  23. savorysalmon

    Andy@savorysalmon
    .@jaketapper I’m remembering LT John Valek, USN. Served ’38-’52 – WW2/Korea. Survived the sinking of the USS Wasp in ’42. Passed in 2000 RIP

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:34:40

  24. sasssv

    Diplotweet@sasssv
    @jaketapper Two Flight School classmates. ENS Ryan Anthony USN, LTJG Robert Roch, USN. Great friends.

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:36:02

  25. FigDrewton

    Ken Drewcinelli@FigDrewton
    @jaketapper Sgt. Josh Madden, December 6, 2006, Hawija, Iraq.

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:36:53

  26. StDruckenmiller

    Steven Druckenmiller@StDruckenmiller
    @jaketapper SSG Lillian Clamens. Saddest one I ever encountered. She was leaving the next day. 10/10/07 projects.militarytimes.com/valor/army-sta…

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:43:50

  27. SALSENDIK44

    Sal Sendik@SALSENDIK44
    @jaketapper Lt. Jami Danko, IRAQ September 19th 2005

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:42:44

  28. michelle_117

    Michelle Renee @michelle_117
    @jaketapper I’m remembering my grandfather, Raymond Sanfilippo, who served on the USS Lake Champlain during WWII. #MemorialDayHeroes

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:42:10

  29. NolaTalk

    Kim@NolaTalk
    @jaketapper My Dad, Sgt William Lieder, served in US Army & Navy. Saw action in Korean War. Said he never should have left service, loved it

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:42:35

  30. antelogarusic

    Ante Logarusic@antelogarusic
    @jaketapper Remembering Jerry Zovko. Killed in Fallujah. Still angry.

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:41:22

  31. bobchavis

    Bob Chavies@bobchavis
    @jaketapper RIP Jack Thurston-Bataan Death March survivor POW til MacArthur liberated-renaissance man from Corbin,KY #memorialmessage

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:40:42

  32. leapoffaith_13

    Melanie@leapoffaith_13
    @jaketapper #memorialmessage Remembering my late Grandfather Edward and late Uncle Ricky; Ed – WWII, Marine Corps. Ricky – Korea, Air Force

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:40:22

  33. midnite479

    Captain Midnite@midnite479
    @jaketapper My father, SFC. Benjamin Davis Sr. US Army. 30yrs. WW2 Vietnam

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:45:35

  34. emily_chauncey

    Emily@emily_chauncey
    @jaketapper Specialist Theodore Matthew Glende – K.I.A. July 27, 2012 in Afghanistan. (23 years old. Husband of my best friend.)

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:46:47

  35. nessmith911

    Jordan Nessmith@nessmith911
    @jaketapper CPL Pruitt Rainey, 173rd ABCT, Chosen Company. One of 9 US KIA 7/13/08 at the Battle of Wanat. #ChosenFew

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:47:08

  36. rmanion

    ryan manion@rmanion
    @jaketapper my bro 1stLT Travis Manion USMC and his best friend SEAL Brendan Looney. Buried next to each other in Arlington. @TMFoundation

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:48:50

  37. northsidestjoe

    David George@northsidestjoe
    @jaketapper My grandfather: Lt. Col. LeRoy Skaith. Passed in 1997. Bronze Stars WWII: Battle of Hurtgen Forest and Battle of the Bulge

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:49:05

  38. EricDKoch

    Eric Koch@EricDKoch
    @jaketapper Uncle Al, 1st infantry division, Normandy, the Bulge, Germany

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:50:53

  39. jjc129

    Jeff Chamberlain @jjc129
    @jaketapper My “Grandpop” Lt Walter Catanzarita. Wounded WWII, passed 1980.

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:54:37

  40. jumper705

    Mike Whiskey@jumper705
    @jaketapper CIA Paramilitary Officer & former USMC Johnny Spann, KIA 11/25/01, Qala-I-Jangi, Afghan;1st KIA in country & a great guy. RIP

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:55:07

  41. MWTIDE1

    Mason Wallace@MWTIDE1
    @jaketapper RIP Jimmie “Sonny” Davis…Korean Conflict

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:55:24

  42. ArizonaLiberal

    AZLib@ArizonaLiberal
    @jaketapper Remembering my great grandpa, Jesus Briseno – Navy – Pearl Harbor survivor. RIP.

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:55:55

  43. mdreynolds11

    Matthew Reynolds@mdreynolds11
    @jaketapper my grandfather, SSgt James Reynolds, 3rd US Army, Battle of the Bulge

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:56:17

  44. cbusbj99

    John G@cbusbj99
    @jaketapper I’ll be remembering my friend, Capt Matthew Mattingly, Army 82nd Airborne, KIA in Iraq, 9/13/2006

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:56:46

  45. mickipeel

    Micki Peel Solomita@mickipeel
    @jaketapper #memorialmessage remembering my CA grandpa, Captn (marines) WWII-Pacific & the brave woman he wrote love letters to back home.

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:56:49

  46. michelle_117

    Michelle Renee @michelle_117
    @jaketapper Remembering my Great Uncle, Salvatore Sanfilippo, Purple Heart recipient, Battle of the Bulge, WWII. #MemorialDayHeroes

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:57:07

  47. modernmiagarden

    Modern Mia Gardening@modernmiagarden
    @jaketapper My Uncle Billy Knight, who died in ’82 from cancer caused by Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. Our memories are warm & vibrant.

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:57:21

  48. paiceman

    Bud R@paiceman
    @jaketapper Spc Ross McGinnis, December, 4 2006 – Medal of Honor

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:57:28

  49. dmjessey

    Deborah Jessey@dmjessey
    @jaketapper Remembering my dad. He was so proud to have served in the Navy in WW2. Love you, Daddy, and thank you. #MemorialMessage

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:57:38

  50. DickYoungsGhost

    Young Ideas@DickYoungsGhost
    .@jaketapper Anthony Marangiello, Glen Cove, NY. Bataan Death March, WWII. Came back with the respect of all. #memorialday

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:57:54

  51. MattMurszewski

    Matt@MattMurszewski
    @jaketapper H.S. classmate Lance Cpl. Howard March killed in Iraq 9/24/06

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:58:32

  52. marc_solomon

    Marc Solomon@marc_solomon
    @jaketapper TY for sharing all these memories, very powerful. My late grandfather served in WW2. Father-in-law served in USN Korea(surgeon)

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:59:30

  53. HeatherDearly

    Heather Dearly@HeatherDearly
    @jaketapper Remembering my grandpa, James C. Evans – Navy – Pearl Harbor survivor. #memorialday

    Fri, May 24 2013 15:59:43

  54. jermsguy

    John@jermsguy
    @jaketapper RIP my grandpa Robert W. English. Navy. Battle of Midway survivor. 1918-2013

    Fri, May 24 2013 16:00:08

  55. jackbrazen

    Mr. Sunshine@jackbrazen
    @jaketapper CW4 Phil Garvey died flying a rescue mission that wasn’t supposed to be his.He volunteered so pilots w young kids didn’t have to

    Fri, May 24 2013 16:00:26

  56. greenkayak73

    Matt Richardson@greenkayak73
    @jaketapper remembering my Pappy: James I “Jack” Martin. Combat Medic, US Army WWII – Pelilieu and other hot rocks. Never talked about it.

    Fri, May 24 2013 16:00:40

  57. Shawnrfreeman

    Shawn.r.Freeman@Shawnrfreeman
    @jaketapper : I honor Lance Cpl Bob W. Roberts. Died OIF Fallujah. May 2004. Childhood friend.

    Fri, May 24 2013 16:16:17

  58. perryjefferies

    Perry Jefferies@perryjefferies
    @jaketapper I #GoSilent for SSG Christopher Cutchall, KIA Baghdad Sept 2003. Best scout, wonderful father, husband, & friend ever.

    Fri, May 24 2013 16:16:22

  59. I’m remembering my grandpa, Carl Conrad, Army, WWII, both Pacific & European Theatres. @JakeTapper pic.twitter.com/CC9VJmgAK3
    Niki@NikiConrad
    ·

    Fri, May 24 2013 16:16:23

  60. MamaPhan

    MamaPhan@MamaPhan
    @jaketapper Cpl George Anthony “Tony” Lutz II, killed December 29, 2005, 6 weeks into his first deployment.

    Fri, May 24 2013 16:16:33

  61. dmartinmassage

    Donna Martin@dmartinmassage
    @jaketapper my great uncle Leslie Fleming 200th Coast Artillery. Survivor of the Bataan Death March.

    Fri, May 24 2013 16:17:19

  62. NordeastB

    NordeastB@NordeastB
    @jaketapper RIP Sgt. Arvid Strand, WWII, grandfather.

    Fri, May 24 2013 16:17:28

  63. JeremyASmith1

    Jeremy A Smith@JeremyASmith1
    @jaketapper in memory of my grandfather, Hugo Smith, survived the Battle of the Bulge

    Fri, May 24 2013 16:17:53

  64. leftoverleftist

    Elizabeth Caplan@leftoverleftist
    @jaketapper Remembering my grandmother Rifka Frank, Yeoman First class, enlisted May 1, 1918 WWI. 1900-1986.

    Fri, May 24 2013 16:18:42

  65. DemocracyDame

    DemocracyDame@DemocracyDame
    @jaketapper My dad – Army Air Corps Flight Engineer – China, Burma, India WWII. I still wear his wings as a bracelet. He died in 1990

    Fri, May 24 2013 16:18:48

  66. skijoey

    Joanne @skijoey
    @jaketapper My mom Sgt. Ellen Shanahan, Women’s Army Corp, WWII. Very proud of her service.

    Fri, May 24 2013 16:19:01

  67. Chrisnnc

    Chris Nnc@Chrisnnc
    @jaketapper my dad, CWO Hank Meadows, Headquarters Company, 8th Air Force, Bushy Park, London, England

    Fri, May 24 2013 16:19:07

  68. leftoverleftist

    Elizabeth Caplan@leftoverleftist
    @jaketapper remembering my father, Stanley Caplan, WWII 1922-2011

    Fri, May 24 2013 16:19:45

  69. c_w_morrison

    Christopher Morrison@c_w_morrison
    @jaketapper : CPL Wesley Wells, 2-27th Infantry USA Libertyville,IL KIA Naka, Afghanistan 09/04 #memorialmessage

    Fri, May 24 2013 16:20:03

  70. kccatdr

    Diana @kccatdr
    @jaketapper Remembering my dad, Leslie N Webster, served in WWII with 535th Engineers building bridges. Miss you Dad.

    Fri, May 24 2013 16:20:18

  71. tess46

    Tess46@tess46
    @jaketapper my father PFC John T Henley WW2 Mindinao Philippines. Henley Wilson Merrills marauders

    Fri, May 24 2013 16:20:23

  72. karaewatkins

    Kara W. Owen@karaewatkins
    @jaketapper Remembering both my papaws & hubby’s grandad-all served our country. Grateful 4 & blessed because of their service @JustinDOwen

    Fri, May 24 2013 16:20:32

  73. At the end of that outpouring, Tapper signed off and suggested that his followers use the hashtag if they continue to share memories, sustaining the distributed conversation he’d sparked and empowered.
  74. jaketapper

    Jake Tapper@jaketapper
    Signing off now tweeps… Use #MemorialMessage if you tweet more remembrances so we can all follow by clicking on the hashtag… God bless

    Fri, May 24 2013 16:25:43

  75. And they did:
  76. JohnVanHaecke

    John Van Haecke@JohnVanHaecke
    #MemorialMessage Corporal Harry Vanderkloot, USMC, Viet Nam, 1968

    Fri, May 24 2013 16:56:52

  77. johnpneedham

    John Needham@johnpneedham
    @jaketapper #MemorialMessage thinking of Patrick V. Needham, #USArmy in Korea, 31 yrs #ChicagoPolice, passed away 1984, too young.

    Fri, May 24 2013 16:58:19

  78. aeisman

    amy eisman@aeisman
    @jaketapper Miss WWII dad; taught us 2 “police the area” -clean the yard & sing Army songs(Dirty Bill lived on Garbage Hill)#MemorialMessage

    Fri, May 24 2013 17:01:12

  79. This was one of the best uses of Twitter I’ve seen this year. Well done, Mr. Tapper.

    And thanks to all those who have served and sacrificed.

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May 22, 2013 · 3:40 pm

Hi! Click here to stop from getting phished on Twitter

Today, Twitter finally started rolling out dual-factor authentication for its users. Twitter will allow users to use text messaging to a mobile phone to confirm their identity upon log-in.

In a post and accompanying video on the company blog, Twitter product security team member Jim O’Leary (@jimeo) explained how Twitter’s version of 2-factor authentication will work:

…when you sign in to twitter.com, there’s a second check to make sure it’s really you. After you enroll in login verification, you’ll be asked to enter a six-digit code that we send to your phone via SMS each time you sign in to twitter.com.

To get started, visit your account settings page, and select the option “Require a verification code when I sign in”. You’ll need a confirmed email address and a verified phone number. After a quick test to confirm that your phone can receive messages from Twitter, you’re ready to go.

Twitter has lagged behind Google, Microsoft, Facebook and institutions that allow online banking in providing this additional layer of protection. It’s showed: Twitter has been plagued by phishing scams for years.

Recently, however, high profile hacks of Twitter accounts at the Associated Press, the Financial Times and The Onion have put more focus on adding this feature. As Twitter adds more e-commerce deals and becomes more integrated into politics and business, improving security will only become more important.

Today’s announcement is a much-needed improvement. Here’s hoping it gets rolled out quickly to the hundreds of millions of users who can’t get someone at Twitter on the phone after they clicked on the wrong link.

Hat tip: The Verge

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Filed under article, government 2.0, journalism, microsharing, security, social media, technology, Twitter

May 20, 2013 · 5:00 pm

On Corrections: Why fixing the rough draft of history matters

Last week, Slate published my article on a recent executive order on open data issued by President Obama. Unfortunately, it contained an error, which has since been corrected.
After an alert reader commented on the article, I responded with a clarification of the history. That didn’t address the integrity of the article itself, however, and since the editors had heard from another reader, I sent in a correction.
Unfortunately, I elided a rich and compelling history into a few short sentences and apologize for any misunderstanding that readers of the syndicated version may take away. I regret the error.
I ran the correction by Craig Silverman, of Poynter’s excellent “Regret the Error” blog, who generally gave high marks to the approach taken here and suggested that I tweet it out. (Done.)
For those interested in the backstory and some thoughts on corrections, read on.
Originally, the piece suggested that President John Quincy Adams agreed with Naval Observatory Superintendant Matthew Fontaine Maury about the importance of collecting and publishing astronomical data and implied that that the Naval Observatory was endowed after the publication of Maury’s book, in 1955.
Searching on the road, I found some useful history on John Quincy Adams, the Smithsonian bequest and the founding Naval Observatory. (Thank you, Google!) Here’s the correction I sent in:
While Adams signed a bill to create a national observatory before leaving office in 1829, it wasn’t until 1830 that a “Depot of Charts and Instruments” was created by the Secretary of the Navy. This eventually became the U.S. Naval Observatory, a decade later.
The institution was funded by Congress 1842, in no small part due to the efforts of President John Quincy Adams, who served for nearly two decades in Congress after he left the White House. Adams was perhaps the Naval Observatory’s strongest contemporary political supporter and spent considerable time there with Maury, looking up at the stars.
So, that’s the history, replete with interesting details (a former president …serving in Congress! Funding scientific research and infrastructure in the 19th century!) and retrieved from the side of the road using a mobile device and network that I imagine both Maury and Adams would marvel at on many levels.
If it seems like I’m taking extra time on this, understand that it’s because I believe corrections really matter. I’ve written thousands of articles and tens of thousands of tweets over the past 7 years, the vast majority of which haven’t needed to be fixed.
Whenever there has been an error of fact, omission, broken links or misattribution, I’ve been deeply grateful for alert readers who let me know via email, phone, tweets and comments about the issue. Online communities that care enough about the source material to comment are valuable, both on their own and to me.
I don’t like being wrong and, candidly, experience embarrassment or even shame when I err. When I do make mistakes — and it’s inevitable that it will happen — I appreciate hearing about error from the networks of people in my life and am glad to fix it. I hope that doing so builds trust, particularly at a time our faith in institutions of all sorts is at historic lows.
Please keep those corrections coming.

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Yahoo buys Tumblr. Keep calm and reblog on?

Yahoo buys Tumblr. Keep calm and reblog on?

Yahoo’s board has approved a $1.1 billion all-cash deal to buy Tumblr, a New York City-based technology company.

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer tweeted that this is the first acquisition announced by an animated GIF and promised “not to screw it up,” keeping the team in place and offering support and integration, not re-invention. Yahoo famously acquired delicious, Flickr and Upworthy, amongst other hot online properties, only to let them moulder. Many users still haven’t forgiven Yahoo for its 2009 decision to close Geocities, an popular online community from the 1990s, without archiving it.

Tumblr CEO David Karp tumbled the news and sought to allay user concerns: “We’re not turning purple,” he wrote. “Our headquarters isn’t moving. Our team isn’t changing. Our roadmap isn’t changing. And our mission – to empower creators to make their best work and get it in front of the audience they deserve – certainly isn’t changing.”

$1.1 billion dollars is a lot of money for a (re)blogging network with tens of millions of users but scant revenue but it buys Yahoo a foothold in mobile social networking and, at least for the moment, many more young users — as long as the community doesn’t flee.

That’s likely one reason that both CEOs took such lengths to be reassuring this morning. Mayer joined Tumblr and has been posting cheeky animated GIFs that allude to seamier side of the social blogging service.

In the months ahead, Tumblr users will see more ads — “native ads” and dashboard ads from Yahoo’s ad network and perhaps in-line ads on the mobile app — much as Facebook users do. That’s no surprise, although finding the right mix of relevancy, frequency and intrusiveness for mobile advertising will be a delicate dance.
Mayer says that the two companies will work together to create “advertising opportunities that are seamless and enhance user experience.”

It will be interested to see if that means more sponsored posts and advertorial from “brand journalists” and corporate media writing for business tumblrs. John Battelle’s looks at on displays, streams and native advertising concludes that this move gives Yahoo “an asset that its branded display sales force can sell as sexy: native, content-driven advertising at scale.”

In an attention economy, ads need to be independently entertaining on their own to avoid the click away or being tuned out by the glazed, jaded eyes of young people exposed to an unprecedented bath of media before adulthood.

That’s a dynamic that WordPress founder Matt Mullenwag alluded to in a comment on his post on “Yahooblr“:

In an advertising business a lot of it comes down to attention: how much and where advertisers spend to get your attention usually lags 3-5 years from where people are actually spending their time, and when that gap closes it can be very impressive. Of course it doesn’t happen for free, there are lots of organizational changes needed to execute on that opportunity, and probably as many people screw it up as get it right.

I believe there is also an even-larger-than-advertising opportunity around subscriptions and products. The big shift from older forms of media is that people aren’t just passively consuming as they might in front of a TV, they’re creating. It’s a hobby and a passion, not a vice. In that context I think subscriptions are more aligned with users than advertising, and that’s the direction Automattic is pointed in.

The big question most technology pundits and business analysts will be asking today is whether this makes sense for Yahoo and puts them on a stronger course. The initial market reaction put Yahoo stock up nearly 1% at 11 AM.

On a personal note, I expect to keep tumbling, though I find WordPress to be a superior blogging platform. That said, my attention is spread across many different social platforms and media organizations, not to mention my inbox and iPhone.

If I’m confronted by too many ads on the Tumblr mobile app, I’m going to spend less time consuming and creating there. I’m sure I’m not alone.

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May 20, 2013 · 11:00 am
May 5, 2013 · 10:33 am

So long, and thanks for all the fish

Thursday was my last day at O’Reilly Media. The past three years have been extraordinary. No other professional experience I’ve had even comes close to matching it.

Tim gave me the opportunity to have an impact on the world in the spring of 2010 and I took it and ran with it for all that I was worth.  I started my career at O’Reilly by interviewing Tim Berners-Lee, live on the Internet, and I finished by sharing the stage with Al Gore and Madeline Albright at Stanford, albeit in a non-speaking role. (Recognize that young looking fellow below?)

As I’ve navigated the corridors of power in DC,  statehouses, boardrooms and legislatures around the world, O’Reilly’s name and reputation opened doors everywhere. I lost count of the number of times that I pinched myself during my travels.

I also lost count of the number of the hundreds of articles I wrote over the years, bracketed by videos, annotated pictures, and tens of thousands of tweets and status updates on Facebook, Google+, Tumblr and other services. My wonderful editor, Mac Slocum, encouraged me to use the Web and social media as a platform for narrative expression, increasing the surface area for ideas and amplifying the work of people innovated at the edges of society and social change.

I was blessed with brilliant, supportive colleagues who approached collaboration and work with purpose, good humor and wit. I’m deeply grateful for all of the advice, mentorship, teamwork and wisdom that they  offered over the years.

I enjoyed the support of an amazing executive team when I spoke truth to power and pushed for change on important issue.  Few companies would have provided the degree of editorial freedom and institutional support that I had from my very first day. I saw the work we did together had a positive effect upon the world, from Israel to Africa to Australia to Australia to San Francisco — and I heard about it from people in those places and many more. I’m deeply honored to have spent this time with O’Reilly.

Briefing the president and cabinet of Moldova about the Internet and the next generation of open government remains a highlight, as was my interview of the prime minister of Georgia and delivering remarks in front of the Brazilian Congress. There are also  thousands of other moments and memories that I treasure that will never be as public but will be remain important to me in the years to come. Thank you all for your confidence and trust.

My email address at oreilly.com may no longer be a secure direct connection to me but I welcome your news, tips and ideas through more than a dozen social media channels.

I’ll have more to share with the world about “what’s next” for me in the days and weeks to come. For now, I’m looking forward to becoming a father for the first time in about 40 days.

Thank you to each and every one of you who have read, commented, replied, retweeted, reshared, picked up the phone and offered your time for interviews and reflections.

I look forward to seeing you online and around the world.

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May 4, 2013 · 6:03 pm

On unwiring


For the last decade, I’ve thought about going offline like Paul Miller. Turn off, drop off, tune in to life offline.

I’ve never done it. Thinking back, I don’t think I’ve been fully offline more than a month since 1999. I do periodically unwire. A night out here, a long bike ride there, a long weekend in the woods.

The last time it truly happened for more than 24 hours was in January in Anguilla, where I took long hikes, paddles, swims or went sailing without a connection. (I didn’t attempt a tweet during my kite boarding lesson.) Or last August, up in Cape Cod. Vacation is now virtually defined for me as being offline, without commitments. Before that trip, the last truly offline time was my honeymoon, in Greece, where, again, there was (often) no connection to be had.

I may still choose to share my experience and stay connected while I’m on vacation, or “paid time off,” as my former employer calls it, but doing so was always on my own time, at my own choosing. Each time I disconnect, I’ve learned something valuable about myself, both in terms of the person I’ve always been and the man I’ve become.

I’m glad Paul Miller did this and shared his experience. I think such reflection is important and the insight derived from it has always helped to shape and guide my subsequent choices about using technology.

In particular, his shift to finding other distractions, from games to television, was a reminder that we have agency in our own lives. We can choose whether and how to maintain our relationships, our minds, our bodies and our professional, intellectual or recreational pursuits, whether we’re connected or not.

It’s tempting to blame “the Internet” for poor choices or bad habits — and there are reasons to be cautious about how games or social networks tap into certain innate aspects of human behavior — but my personal experience with the network of networks has been enormously empowering and uplifting.

Your mileage, of course, may vary.

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