It’s Gonna be one of those posts…..
As many of you know, I’ve been involved in local politics seriously since 2014. I became a local democratic zone leader in 2022. It’s been a big job, but it’s largely akin to running the PTO, but with more far-ranging consequences. You’ve got planning for events, wrangling volunteers, and keeping…
Guide to Gift Giving
It’s close to Christmas, and as we finish up our shopping, it’s worth reflecting on the purpose of gifts in the first place. I read an article this am about how millenial parents are frustrated that their Boomer parents are showering their kids with useless stuff that just ends up…
FFS
We’re living in interesting times. The lead candidate for the republican nomination for presidency just wants everyone to give up and anoint him their candidate now, despite finally starting to face the consequences of years of fraud and treating the legal system as a cudgel to use against anyone he…
AI is Going to Change Everything
Working in digital marketing, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and what it can and should be used for is all the rage right now. If you want to understand AI better, the best source is really Chris Penn– who has an excellent set of videos and regularly explains what’s happening in AI…
Podcamp 2023
A small group of us, die hards from Podcamp Philly and Podcamp East, came together this past weekend for Podcamp 2023 in Philadelphia. There were amazing sessions talking about how AI and Chat GPT will pose challenges to those of us who are involved in digital marketing, or looking to…
Glad to Leave Office? I get it.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney is getting into trouble because he spoke his truth, saying he’s looking forward to a time when he’s not mayor. As someone who was a Township Supervisor for 6 years, I understand this sentiment perhaps as much as anyone. Being a local elected official may look…
Almost 80 Best Movies of the 80’s
Rolling Stone just put out a post of the 100 best movies of the 1980’s- and there are a lot of obscure movies that as a teenager/college student during the 80’s I never heard of. As a child of divorced parents, I spent a ridiculous amount of time at the…
Losing but not Lost
I lost my bid for re-election as a Township Supervisor. Elections are like the world’s longest job interview. I knocked 946 doors, speaking with friends and neighbors; sending mail out to people about what I stood for, and what I believed. I chose not to attack my opponent, even though…
Running for Office
I am a local Township Supervisor in Pennsylvania, running for re-election this year. Supervisor is a part-time position, and comes with a statutory stipend of $2,500.00 a year. that equates to about $5.20 or less an hour of meeting time, and other work we put in to help guide the…
Dementia
My mother-in-law has dementia. She had been pretty good at hiding her slow cognitive decline for a long time, but gradually, not even those of us who would have preferred to be in denial could avoid the truth. We needed to move Nancy out of her home and into a…
Revisiting the Long Tail
When we were out shopping recently, I found a copy of The Long Tail by Chris Anderson in the discount bin of audiobooks and picked it up. The Long Tail had a profound effect on my thinking when I first read it, and it seemed time to revisit this book again. So this...
Judging Risk
I've been thinking about risk, and how we make the decision about the cost/benefit of our actions. Having gone to law school, I think and act like a lawyer in much of my life, and that can drive some people crazy. You think you're asking a simple question, and I give...
How Technology Changes Things
Back in early 2001, I heard about something called the Audrey by 3Com. This was the first "internet appliance" meant for different parts of the house, like having the internet on an intercom system of sorts. It was not fancy, heavy at 4.5 lbs, and it never took...
Apple as a Monopolist?
This morning, I heard a report that anti-trust enforcers might be considering an investigation against Apple. So I started to do a little research. Business Week reported the story as follows: U.S. antitrust enforcers are considering an investigation of Apple Inc....
Making Sense of Diets
I have always had a struggle of one sort or another with my weight. Hitting middle age and feeling my metabolism slow down hasn't helped much. But finding something that works and works consistently over a long period is difficult. Some diets require a ridiculous...
Filling Niches
One of my favorite concepts from all of those years studying biology was the concept of the niche. An organism or creature finds a spot where the competition isn't too intense, and raw materials they can work with, and decides to set up shop. They work with their...
The Multi-touch Revolution
Wired Magazine just published an article about large multi-touch displays entering production. I first saw the multi-touch display on Jeff Han's TED Talk, embedded here: And subsequently, I've had a chance to meet and talk with Jeff twice, at Educon 2.1 and 2.2 in...
Blogging About Parenting- GNM Parents
For over the past four years, I've been blogging over at GNM Parents. Started originally b y Chris Brogan, it's always been one of my favorite projects, where I can write about kids, parenting, and family issues that are important to me, but don't fit as well over...
Gator 911 – I’ve been there
This post is a bit unusual, but it gives me a chance to tell some fun stories from my days in Florida, so come for a walk with me down memory lane. My friend, CC Chapman, in working with the folks at CMT to promote their new show, Gator 911. Normally, as someone who...
The Future of Mobile Computing
This probably should be entitled the future of hands-on computing, but the two are closely related. After playing with the iPad for a few days now, and experimenting with different apps, I think this does present a big step forward in mobile computing, and how this...
Whitney Hoffman
Hi There! I’m Whitney Hoffman. I currently work for Mingl Marketing and Comfort Media Group in Philadelphia, PA
