What's the point about writing a blog, reading others, commenting, contributing to social networking? Is there a link between blogging and reality? Or is it just like blowing in the wind of virtual authority, ephemeral popularity? If some of you still have these questions in a corner of their minds, here is a wonder-full (yes, full of wonders!) angle to look at it.
Yesterday, David Armano published a very touching post. He was sharing with the community that he was in contact with a family obviously going through very difficult times. Daniela (pictured above with her family - Brandon, age 6, Daniela, age 9 and little Evelyn age 4) is divorcing her spouse after years of abuse. In recent years her mortgage went unpaid and she's lost her house. As of this moment, Daniela's family is staying at David & his wife Belinda's house and they are trying to help her find a one bedroom apartment for her family to live in (read more about the story here).
So, for the very first time since he began blogging David raised a call for help to the community, starting from his readers to... whoever the message can be carried to. I can't help remembering one (now) famous graphic David posted back in 2006, trying to illustrate how valuable content can travel and be carried through the Influence Ripples of social networking. The ripples are indeed there through, within and sometimes way beyond the internet. Some blogger getting more influence every day, some loosing influence... some simply not caring about influence, but still "being there".
Well here is a fact : David, with his simple, genuine, authentic call dropped a tiny little stone in his blog pond. The ripples started to move, but this time something different happened. A wave jumped out of the waters and spread the social networking ocean with a self propelled very positive energy. That energy is the one making things jump from the virtual (ideas) world into reality. And in less time than it takes to realize what's happening, David raised above 10.000 USD for Daniela's family!
Well, what I'm writing here is indeed very personal... but when I see David's thank you video, it touches me. I mean, it really touches me. I think there is something greater in this film than a blogger saying "Hey guys, thanks!". The compression codec of this video is filled with sincere emotions. The common wave length is wrapped around the POSITIVE VALUES embedded into the little stone he dropped on L&E.
Thumbs up David! Thank you for the inspiration you brought to Daniela's family and to us at all at the same time. This gem is what makes me believe that there is a human treasure hidden behind this age of conversation. I trust people will get it... it's probably just a matter of time.
PS : And of course... it's not too late to participate! Just do it! : )
Or how can animated words and music carry a simple message and touch, fascinate and let's really hope... push to action. Besides a content that is by definition extremely important, I love when stories are told that way. Well, as far as I am concerned, the film... does have an effect.
"Adolescent girls are uniquely capable of raising the standard of living in the developing world. Girls are the most likely agents of change, but they are often invisible to their societies and to our media.
When everyone -girls, parents, teachers, executives, artists, hairdressers, forest rangers, rock stars, presidents, investors, advertisers, skateboarders, truckers, cowboys, organizations, chefs, teenagers- knows about The Girl Effect, then real change can happen. This site is just the beginning. The end is nothing less than ending poverty."
Heart. Not the organ pounding in your chest. But something much more precious -- a piece of our soul.
As human beings, we bond and connect because we allow ourselves to care. Care enough that we want to share a bit of our soul.
Few events trigger that desire more than someone among us is hurting deeply. There's something in our psyche that connects with the depth of those feelings and we need (because it is much more than a want) to reach out and take their hand.
When word began to trickle out that our dear friend Arun Rajagopal had lost his mum, we collectively reached out to take his hand. Please take a moment from your busy day and extend your hand as well.
It is the most human part of us. Reaching out with our true heart.
For those of you who really thought I was kidnapped by Aliens when I was out of blogging for while, here is the story. As a matter of fact, I was the one trying to make contact with them. And guess what... I found them. This is quite a long story. So I made a little pdf file to summarize and share this extra-ordinary encounter with you. All I can tell you is that although they may seem scary, Aliens are very nice beings. Hopefully they were open minded, and so really appreciated the Age of Conversation. Actually, with their help now, we may even reach Gavin Heaton's secret dream... and make the incredible come true (right Drew?).
Well, I'm afraid the sky is NOT the limit anymore... so if you have not bought a copy yet, here is another reason for you to do it : it'll help you engage conversation with Aliens (how about that?) and help a good cause. Talking about Aliens, did you know that they eat tangerine (I mean, just like "us"), dream about Big Macs (they do, they do), and use Twitter (yeah, without any device, actually) to communicate? But please... know that they are not waiting for planes anymore... they use flying saucers, I mean... tractors (woops! Call me "lunatic").
PS : This picture is not a Photoshop job... my Alien friend holds a printed copy of the AoC, because at that time I had not yet received a hardback book. : )
PPS : Huge thanks to Gareth the Alien, without his passion and trust telling you this story would have never been possible. If you ever are looking for an Alien... I do recommend calling him -and unfortunately I can't show you the film we made out of this as it is not "on air" yet-
The "Age of Conversation" the collaborative project of 100 authors, is now available on Lulu.com (ebook, paper and hardback). As a reminder, the editors of this project are Drew McLellan and Gavin Heaton. Note that all proceeds will be donated to Variety, the Children's Charity, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of children around the world.
Drew McLellan's latest words on the ebook.
Gavin Heaton's latest post.
Arun Rajagopal's description of all the authors.
Matt Dickman's Google Map locating all the authors.
The Age of Conversation site.
Age of Conversation alphabetic list and info.
Some great posts from everywhere started to spread and so is the press coverage. I hope a lot of money will be raised to help children in need. This link between blogging and reality is what touches me the most. So, don't wait... click here and buy the ebook, a paper copy of a hardback one.
This is the dawn of The Age of Conversation.
My chapter is entitled : "The Dawn of Shared Consciousness".
Let this new era begin.
Last week, I was tagged twice by the “8 random things about me” meme. Lewis Green was the first to hook me with the love link and David Reich did it too a few days later. Thank you (for your patience) guys... Ok then, here you go :
1. - The agency I work for once organized corporate “Highland games” in Scotland. Most of the challenges were adapted for team spirit/team building. One of them was throwing a Haggis (typical Scottish sausage) on a long distance (about 100 feet) with a bottle of exquisite whisky as target (you hit it, you get it). You get 3 shots to try. Guess what, I did it... and got the bottle : twice in a row! Well... motivation I guess.
2. - Ever seen parachutes pulled by offshore boats? Well while trying that thing, I made a free fall of about 80 feet, when the boat tried to turn into a too strong winds. Hopefully fell into the water. I was OK, but the shock blew my helmet away.
3. - Feel connected to Garfield : I just LOVE Lasagna (fresh home made ones, of course!). “Hi Mom... would you please consider this as a special request from your son?” – Sorry I had to have this personal message here - ; )
4. - After travelling 7 years through space, in 2004, my signature landed on the Moon... Titan. It was on the CD-ROM traveling with ESA's Cassini-Huygens.
5. - When I was student a friend and I were radio animators for a small local radio. The audience was so low that we asked friends to call us for live quiz games. The prices to win were a bottles of strawberry milk (please don’t laugh, this is true!). We got kicked out after broadcasting an advertising experiment: “a one minute of pure white –understand complete silence- sponsored by a fake brand of washing powder”.
6. – I named my company after seing this movie. From a creative point of view, I thought going to the Moon was a fantastic challenge. Loved the idea that one day a man said "...what if we bring a buggy there... and drive it?".
Company name : Moon Buggy.
Motto: "Drive your dreams".7. – I often listen to film soundtracks. I enjoy letting my imagination dive into their moods and surf the images they inspire. Favorites are from Lalo Schifrin, John Barry, John Williams, Henry Mancini, Michel Magne, Umebayashi Shigeru, etc.
8. – In summer time I ride an electric skateboard. 1 HP (horsepower), speed up to 35 km/h (22 mph) on a maximum distance of 16 km (10 miles). A lot of fun when riding uphill and passing bikes by (... ok, ok, I know I wouldn’t make it with you Tim). ; )
Did you ever have the feeling that there were blogs you missed for a reason or another and would like to read on a more regular basis? Well, this is the message of my tagging meme, since many of you have already been tagged. Here is my “8 stars list” : Caroline Maerten, Kris Hoet, Philippe Deltenre, Pieter Ardinois, Arun Rajagopal, Ryan Karpeles, Matt Dickman, Mark Goren.
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