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…
Online Business Relationships
"Business Relationships" used to sound like an oxymoron- there was business, and then there were relationships, friendships, you had outside of the business or work world. Companies classically (and probably still do in many places) discourage workplace romantic...
Patriotism In Question
As a lawyer, I have always been reverential about the first amendment. I may not agree with what you say, but I have always felt comfortable defending your right to say it. Our Country was founded under the principals of being able to hold our government accountable...
The Disavowal Problem
I was checking ou the news on the election this morning, and there's a "rush transcript" of the interview Sarah Palin did with Sean Hannity. In it, they talk about whether or not Barak Obama should "disavow" ACORN and its voter registration drives. This got me...
Taxation, Respresentation and DIY
My kids are in 5th and 8th grade, and both are taking American History. As a result, I have been steeped in long discussions about tax policy with my kids, enough to give political pundits a run for their money, and I'm talking about tax policy back before our Country...
Carpe Diem
This has almost become a cliched phrase that means simply "Seize the day". But it takes on more and more meaning to me every day. A relative, 69 years old, went in to the hospital for a relatively minor procedure, and found out they have a much more serious...
The Knack- an Entrepreneur’s Manual
I picked up a book the other day that sounded intriguing- The Knack- How Street-Smart Entrepreneurs Learn to Handle Whatever Comes Up, by Norm Brodsky and Bo Burlingham. The authors both work for Inc. magazine, and Norm writes their Street Smarts column. Norm also...
Common Sense isn’t Always Common
I'm interviewing Marcus Buckingham for my podcast, and I got to thinking about a quote from an old book of his that can be best paraphrased as what's common sense and obvious to you, isn't always obvious to the next person. Your insights seem like "Well, of course,...
Women and New Media
For those of you who may be new here, I've been "embedded" in social media now for almost three years. Not as long as some, longer than others. I never saw myself as doing anything radical, or against the tide. I always saw new media as a way to express and publicize...
When the Worst Happens-Foreclosures and Evictions
Seeing foreclosures and evictions happening right and left makes people feel vulnerable. They identify with the people having to move, and it makes them feel more and more nervous about their own personal security. While I feel for people who have to go through the...
Pixelated Podcamp
Mitch Joel had a great idea- to create his own "conference" through his favorite online videos. Chris Brogan, in turn, challenged each of us to do the same, and create a stream of personalized pixelated conferences. I thought I would take this one step further, since...
Whitney Hoffman
Hi There! I’m Whitney Hoffman. I currently work for Mingl Marketing and Comfort Media Group in Philadelphia, PA
