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Who Are You?
Happy holidays and best wishes for 2009 to everyone out there in cyberspace! I thought today was the perfect day to ask the following question:
Who are you?
Everyday ya’all stop by and read CN content (thank you!) and over the last 2 years I am sure you have learned something about me. But I don’t know anything about you. So what I am asking is that you leave a comment with something about yourself. Could be as simple as a link to your blog or a full overview of your background and experience. Feel free to include your hobbies or things you do when you are away from the machine. I would ask you to leave your location as I am very interested on where all the awesome CN readers are located.
If you create a video overview, leave a link to the video in the comment and I will embed it into the comment stream.
Thanks for all of your support over the past year. We have some exciting surprises coming for 2009 around these parts so stay tuned!
don’t worry Mike your secret (reading enemy blogs) is safe with me!
Congrats on your award! I will let the Blogger King know you like his videos the next time he comes over to the office.
Hi, my name’s Nicola Quinn and I’m an author, composer, artist and co-created a revolutionary energy healing modality that helps people change the way they feel by eliminating negative emotions. My specialist area is helping people overcome panic attacks and anxiety.
I’ve been creating websites for over 10 years and enjoy coding and (rather embarrassingly) have only recently discovered the power of social media.
Also recently got into photography and have been taking photos of the beach where I live.
All in all life is pretty good and I wish everyone a very happy and prosperous New Year.
:)
Nicola
Hi Allen,
By day I’m a high school history teacher. At night I write a blog, Free Technology for Teachers, which just won the 2008 Edublog Award in the category of best resource sharing blog.
When I’m not teaching or writing I enjoy shoveling mounds of snow around my house in Maine.
Richard
p.s. I love the music videos and Blogger King videos.
Hey, don’t belittle yourself, people need to eat! :)
Hey Allen,
I’ve been reading CN for a couple years, it’s good stuff. I’m a software developer in the bay area, but its nice to see an east-coast perspective. Keep it up!
At this point, you probably know at least a little bit about me, as I’ve been a guest poster here two or three times, but I spend most of my time working as the Webmaster at a community college in Virginia.
Most of the time, when I’m not doing that, I’m either working for clients of my Web development company (Ten-321 Enterprises – http://www.ten-321.com/) or clients of another small company that does marketing work for institutions of higher learning (I won’t currently mention the name of that firm, as we are still just starting up and only working with one or two clients at a time). I also try to maintain (though I’ve had very little time over the last year or two) two hobby sites related to software development for the Dreamcast (http://www.dcevolution.net/ and http://www.dchelp.net/).
In the tiny bit of spare time I actually have, I spend time with my family (wife, three kids and extended family), hang out on Facebook, help people in the HTMLCenter forums (http://forums.htmlcenter.com/), post on the HTMLCenter blog (http://www.htmlcenter.com/) and play video games on the Wii and the Dreamcast.
I also enjoy testing different builds of Linux (currently I’m running Mint Elyssa 5 and Mandriva 2009.0) and all of the various applications available for those systems.
To put it bluntly, I spend about 80% of my time in front of a computer, doing various things; and about 20% of my time hanging out and playing with my friends and family.
Yay! I have missed them.
another ny’er – awesome!
well then welcome – hope ya stay a while!
Aah – the old offline and online merge – I used to do that for a fortune 50 company – it’s loads of fun :)
nice to meet you – will certainly check out your startup! When I was 15 I worked in a grocery store :)
Hi, my name is Tony , but on the internet I usually go by the name shytalk, some say its because I’m shy and don’t talk much, others say its because i talk sh*te.
both of which are true but not the reason I am called shytalk.
I live in LEEDS, UK . but my home is on the internet, and i love it here.
I also edit the http://diystartupnews.com/ Blog,( shameless plug :-) which you are kind enough to have a link widget to on Centernetworks , thanks for that.
Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you and all of the Centernetworks readers.
Thanks for sharing Milos – you are now the second person I know who is into that Muay Thai – Calley Nye who used to write on Techcrunch is also into it. I should do it – I hear its a great stress reliever!
I am a PR / New Media marketing professional living and working in NYC. I started out doing PR for rock bands (have worked with Nickelback, 3 Doors Down, Godsmack, Slipknot, Down, Lordi, The Dillinger Escape Plan and more) and have expanded my horizons to working with many other types of organizations in many different ways (media training, social media setup, etc) – like Garmutt.com and The African Childrens’ Choir among many others.
I love all the info I get from your Twitter posts and from the site… thanks for all you do!
ha ha Amy – haven’t done the lyrics in a while – let me see what I can whip up for ya!
do you have one of those commercials on tv where i can send you my gold and get cash for it?
see you in la la land!
My name is Sean, I recycle tin and other non-precious metals. Sometimes I build things for that new Internet thing.
Merry Xmas Allen from lala land!
Sorry about the formatting there! I wish I could edit my comment! Feel free to delete because i accidentally pressed “add comment” before deleting the 1st “I’m at” part.
I’m a tech PR/marketing prof currently living in Portland, Ore. Worked with startups here in the NW for a couple of years, but looking to make a move to San Francisco very soon. I like to write, weightlift, hike the beautiful mountains we have here in the NW and drink tea.
I love reading everything about tech – particularly consumer Internet co’s – and CenterNetworks is also a great stop on my RSS reader. AND can I just say, Allen, it makes my day when you recite cheesy 80s/early 90s lyrics on Twitter. More please :)
Twitter
My tech PR/marketing blog
PS: I’m Somali and for anyone who missed it, you can tweet me up as @genieyclo.
I’ve been in Northern New Jersey since 1998, but originally from Belgrade, Serbia. I’m an IT Pro with broad range of IT related experience. Outside work, I love my family, friends, traveling, real football (aka. soccer) and Muay Thai. :)
You can read more about me here.
Have a great day!
Hi Allen,
I hope by now you kinda know who I am…but here it is all the same:
I’m half Iraqi/half British – based in London, creative director at WeDoCreative, creator of Unwrapp & an editor at TheNextWeb and ReadWriteWeb.
I’m an European tech blogger, design aficionado social media junkie & web application devotee. Early Adopter, yet, late in life geek.
Big into health, fitness, sports and all round life balance.
Above all of course – i’m just a big fan of this smart little blog of yours. :)
I’m at:
Friendfeed: My Lifestream
Flickr:
My Photo Gallery
Vimeo:
My Video Library
Facebook:
You know FB…
I’m at:
Zee.me
Twitter
Friendfeed
I’m a 15 year old web developer, I run a startup I founded this summer called SocialDecks, and have a few other things up my sleeve. I’m big into social media, and you can find me practically anywhere online with the name genieyclo. You can check out my LinkedIn profile here.
Hi Guys,
I’m Rob Walker — I’ve been involved with internet marketing and business development over the last 10 years. I’m currently working with Crayola looking to merge offline and online creative play. And I recently started my own blog at http://www.internet-marketing-db.com
Merry Christmas,
Rob
Am Chetan, a dental student and a blogger since 3 years. Am into blogging both to learn newer things in the tech world, and also to earn something out of it.
My blog can be viewed here – http://www.thewwwblog.com/
Reached here always through twitter, so here is my profile – http://twitter.com/sizzler_chetan
New to your post.
http://www.trancemarketinggroup.com
http://twitter.com/TroyScheerTMG
Check me out on LinkedIn as well.
I’m Drea Avellan a graphic designer with a huge passion for social media, video games, comic books and all things geek. I am a blogger at Beetstro.com and a contributor at gaminangels.com.
Freelance designer and Twitter addict — follow me!
http://twitter.com/pinksage
Alan, we met at Blog|Philadelphia. Always good reading you. Keep up the good work :)
I am Tony and have become an unemployed medical student since moving to Tampa. Used to work for a few prestigous tech companies but I had to change up my profession after becoming homeless with family. The VA is doing us a great service but i would prefer to be working while going to school. Visit my blog and post your twitter name if you can.
Ashraf Mansoor based in Khartoum, Sudan
I’m a technopreneur, social media addict and currently running a friendly recruitment website
for women in the Middle East twffaha.com
blog: http://www.twffaha.com/blog
I’m a 40-something semi-retired Corporate Webmaster, recidivist CTO, nextNY gadfly, dog walker and slacker.
Welcome anonymous!
My name is Anonymous!
Never heard of it sorry.
Damn that gilmore gang and its crappy information :p
nope no trolls here
Hi, I’m Dimitris from Greece. I live in Athens and work as IS/IT Generalist – Consultant. Design and implement new innovative tech-oriented products and services.
http://www.dimitrisrakopoulos.com
Happy and prosperous year 2009 to everyone!
Greetings from Greece!
Dimitris Rakopoulos
I am Darren and I like the internet, by day I work on my projects and by night I hunt trolls. Someone said I could find one here :p
yep plug away – I want to check out what ya’all do :)
Hi Pete!
Hey, Pete Vlastelica here. I’m the CEO and one of the founders of Yardbarker. Keep up the great work!
Hi Allen,
I’m Jimmy. You may know me as an occasional guest writer on CenterNetworks. I also own a weight tracking graph site called Skinnyr.
My new venture though, is CarNinja, which will be a competitor to AutoTrader and Cars.com, but we’re working on other things at the moment — Less public eye and more profit, so it’s not worth mentioning. (DealerNinja)
Have a good one! And Merry Christmas!
Oh yeah, and I tweet at http://twitter.com/dtunkelang
Allen, you actually want us to use the comments to plug our own blogs? You twisted my arm…
The Noisy Channel – http://thenoisychannel.com/ – where I talk about all aspects of interaction between people and computers in the pursuit of information. I’m Chief Scientist of Endeca – http://endeca.com/ — so this is what I do for a living.
I am learning web analytics and checking out the providers out there, whether they are paid or free. Nice blog, I like reading.
My name is AJ Kohn and I’m a Marketer. That sort of sounds like AA doesn’t it? I’m sure some might think Marketing deserves that type of forum, but I’m proud of my profession.
I’m currently VP of Online Marketing at Caring.com but also consult on a wide range of marketing initiatives, though specializing in SEO and SEM. Full employment history can be found at LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/ajkohn
I maintain two blogs, one on books and one as my personal brand. See if you can figure out which is which.
http://www.blindfiveyearold.com
http://www.usedbooksblog.com
To learn more about me it’s best to check me out on FriendFeed.
http://friendfeed.com/ajkohn
I have diverse interests from Marketing to Business to Art to Books to Bicycling. I live in Walnut Creek with my beautiful wife and daughter.
Health, wealth and happiness to you in the New Year!
Hey, I go by deepikaur. I’m a student who has no idea on what she wants to do – just that she wants to do something big. You know, make a difference, help someone out, and all that. =)
I enjoy biking, reading, reviewing, and running in my free time (which doesn’t come by too often). Would love to travel the world. Just an idealist lost in a world filled with talents.
You can find my [somewhat] complete online card at Retaggr.
And on Twitter
And on FriendFeed
And on Last.FM
And on theblog I’m working on.
And probably on any and every other Social Media site. Because I love getting a taste of everything. =)
Thanks for always delivering great content and discussions [on FriendFeed], Allen!
Happy Holidays, everyone!
My name is Jennifer Mitchell. I am a public relations/social media practitioner located in San Diego, CA. I am also the mother of a crazy 4 year old girl. :)
I can be found here:
http://socialmediapr.wordpress.com
http://www.twitter.com/JenMitch
I have really enjoyed Center Networks and look forward to more in 2009!
Aah, sorry for the horrible formatting! Guess I forgot to close the tag. =(
For the click inclined:
AJ Kohn’s LinkedIn Profile
AJ Kohn’s FriendFeed
Blind Five Year Old
Used Books Blog
I am a middle age, Midwestern mother of 3 who is just trying to stay informed on technology. I started the blog, http://www.imomzone.com, to help other non-techy moms stay in-step with their kids and maybe even integrate more technology into their lives. CN is a great resource. Thanks so much. Look for to 2009.
Allen, this was a genius idea. I loved seeing who else was here. I’m an ex-Yahoo who is now working on “projects.” I work with the guys at http://Koombea.com developing awesome web applications for our clients, recently started http://purplepeoplecollective.com to help laid off tech workers find new jobs, am working on my startup Neighborsville to help neighbors know what’s going on in their neighborhood.
In my freetime, I love playing with my kids, grilling meat, and running. And in the spirit of oversharing, here are seven things you may not know about me: http://www.ryankuder.com/2008/12/7-things-about-me/
Thanks for the fun this morning, Allen!
Hi Allen,
I’ve been enjoying the site as a new reader this year and I discovered the site initially on FriendFeed. I’m a big fan of your videos and hope you continue to make them next year.
I’ve been working in the online field for over ten years and am currently managing all of the websites and services for the X PRIZE Foundation. I’m also the author of Lifestream Blog.
Keep up the great work. I look forward to many more visits in the coming year.
Hey Allen!
I am Craig as you know already from Boca Raton Florida. I am the editor of http://www.scommerce.com and the lead writer for http://www.rev2.org. I have also helped co-found http://www.jicka.com and http://www.vois.com
Hey Craig – looking forward to seeing you at sxsw?
sorry about the yahoo thing – i will tell you what a person told me many years ago when they lost a job and i kept saying sorry to them – she said, "never worry about a job loss, because a better door will be there to be opened as long as you have the key"
oh cool – i think you are our first midwest person! Nice blog – the template made me think i was reading a pdf! And you use ny-based squarespace for publishing -very cool
Hi,Allen! I’m a tech lifestreamer.
Greetings from Hong Kong!
ppmartin
I think you win for reader furthest away from nyc!
Hello! I’m Matthew Wayne Selznick, an author, podcaster and social media authority living in Hesperia, California — that’s east of Los Angeles.
In my small sea in the larger Internet ocean in which we all swim, I’m best known as a veteran podcaster (October 2004!) and as the author of “Brave Men Run – A Novel of the Sovereign Era.”
“Brave Men Run” was the first book to utilize a true cross-media approach in marketing and distribution with its initial simultaneous release in print, five DRM-free e-books and free podcast editions. Today, “Brave Men Run” is also available as an MP3 CD audiobook and in Kindle and iPhone / iPod Touch editions. I’m honored that the book in all its forms has earned me a world-wide audience in the tens of thousands and the #53 slot on the Amazon.com Bestseller list.
Folks who keep an eye on Web 2-point-whatever know me through my former association with Mahalo.com, where from April of 2007 until October of 2008 I ran their freelance pool and served as product evangelist. At Mahalo, I was responsible for creating the Mahalo Greenhouse program from scratch and was integral to the development of Mahalo’s editorial direction and style. I also recruited Centernetworks friend and social media gadfly Sean Percival, for which he still remembers me in his prayers, I have no doubt.
These days, I’m available for consulting and speaking on social media and podcasting. I also provide voice-over, voice acting and dramatic reading, create podcasting solutions for new and existing websites and provide fiction and non-fiction editing and story coaching.
And of course, you can buy my fiction and my music on my site.
Yep, little bit of everything!
Thanks for the site, Allen, and thanks for the plug space!
Hi Allen,
I’m Elena. I’m in my late twenties and have recently moved back to my hometown Skopje in Macedonia after 9 years of living and working in Greece. My most recent job was working as a Marketing Coordinator for an American school in Thessaloniki, Greece. I’m primarily interested in that dark, still not-fully-explored spot connecting social media and education. And as a New Year’s present, I’m finally giving myself my first blog (it only took me 2 years to start!)
Greetings from the other side of the world and Happy Holidays!
Elena
http://www.linkedin.com/in/elenakostovska
http://elenakostovska.wordpress.com/
Hi Allen,
I am a musician and internet entrepreneur from Belgium. I like reading your blog as a alternative voice to Mashable. And I read The Next Web to hear the European perspective.
Everything started with my band Colorless Green Ideas. This brought me to the opportunities of the internet and social media. and that made me working on a start-up for musicians to take more advantage of social media. I have a blog at mmmotion.wordpress.com. Most posts are in Dutch but I just started writing in English. I also tweet.
Hilke
Allen – I’m a NYC-based venture capital associate at L Capital Partners. I spend most of my time looking at the IT sector, which could include any combination of software, hardware, wireless, and digital media!
Prior to joining L Capital I worked for VMware, FOXSports.com, and Scient in a variety of tech and management roles. I’m married w/twin infant daughters and also own an American Hairless Terrier!
I am enjoying your blog – please keep up the good work!
Thanks for stopping by John – I think I know Roi who works with you out of your Israel office. Hope we get a chance to meet at an event sometime!
Philip James, CEO of Snooth. A NYC based startup thats now the largest online marketplace for wine.
Have a great New Year Allen
I run Create Digital Media and publish two sites for creative visualists and musicians:
http://createdigitalmusic.com
http://createdigitalmotion.com
We also do events, I do various workshops on creative tech, and coming in 09 a number of other things: think blog-driven ebooks, hopefully more support for open source hardware for music and visuals, and a new community site called noisepages.com
Cheers,
Peter
Hey Allen, sorry for the late comment (just catching up on my blog reading after the holidays…). I’m JR and I work at a digital agency in Manhattan. As someone new to digital marketing, I love your blog – I started reading during my job search, and I’ve kept reading since. I particularly enjoy reading about cool companies that I wouldn’t have heard of elsewhere.
Keep up the posting!
welcome my ny’er! :) we should go for a slice sometime
Hi Allen,
I’m from Philadelphia (also a member at IndyHall) and I’m a serial tech geek lover and I like to think of myself as a social, network security consultant. I have worked in almost all areas of IT from the business systems to the network hardware down to the desktop support positions.
I have started a few small companies but I have mostly watched, guided and supported numerous friends and associates in their ventures. I live online at srcasm.com and I am usually fairly active on Twitter.
That’s just a little bit about me and I hope you keep up the great work during the ’09 year.
Sincerely,
Jesse Middleton
go IndyHall!!
I’m a student at SMU in Dallas, TX. I follow you on twitter and usually prefer your take on things :D
http://twitter.com/smujesse
http://www.jessefornear.com
Thanks Jesse!
My name is Maggie and I am a behavior analyst in Florida. No blog but I enjoy reading your content because it is helping me to learn more about the Web and about all the new companies.
I work for midVentures.com in Chicago. I love twitter and friendfeed. I used to work forthr clicky web analytics team.
Hey my name is Adam and I am an entrepreneur, and the CEO of http://www.octabox.com. I am from Israel and I read your blog on a daily basis.
I usually enjoy reading your insights, and learn about new companies but also since I have my own internet firm (focusing on consulting, technologies and marketing), I like to expand my knowledge about the market, the trends and whatever you write about.
You’re doing a good job and my wish for 2009 is that your visitors (and I know they’re numerous) will be more vocal and will leave more comments, enriching each post of yours.
Merry Xmas,
Adam
I’m a part-time entrepreneur, part-time code ninja and part-time student from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. Allen, you’re a blogger worthy of following RSS updates :)
P.S. They say you can judge a man based on the length of his cons; I must be one heck of a guy.
Hi Allen – not sure any blogger has ever asked me who I am but here goes… I am mid-40s, live in London and work in social media. I help mostly big companies use social media to get their message out. I love the work and am finding more businesses in London wanting to get more involved online. Happy holidays to you too!
I’m Antje, straddling Silicon Valley and Euro-trash land (mostly in Germany) :) – a writer/editor for STORY OF MY LIFE and part-time code ninja too. I used to work with a lot of start-ups in a technology non-profit, know their pain, and love love LOVE my job now.
I now search the web seeking people with interesting life stories to feature. Young, old, any background, any religion, everyone has stories once you get to know them.
One of my personal passions is to help get more Boomers (and older) onto the web. Still a vast majority of them are barely online. Preserving their stories feels like important work to me and I’m proud to be helping do that.
I appreciate all the hard work and effort you put into this blog Allen. I’ve been a reader since darn near the beginning when I thought “start-ups- in New York???” and was intrigued, and was hooked when you called me Mrs. Pacman :)
Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanza and to a GREAT 2009!
Antje Wilsch
http://www.storyofmylife.com/antje
twitter: twitter.com/SOML
Carl Morris here. I am based in Cardiff, Wales, UK.
I am an entrepreneur and blogger (isn’t everybody?). I am also a DJ and deviser/popularizer of Sleeveface!
All the best!
no no, everyone is a social media expert!
I’m an Austrian Developer/Consultant in my late twenties. When I’m not in front of the box, I’m a paramedic and ambulance driver, travel a lot and work with the production crew on the biggest music festivals in Austria.
Find out more on: http://blog.no-panic.at
oh very interesting! that’s some mix!
I’m an entrepreneur who believes that anthropology needs to be an equal partner to technology when designing Internet-dependent products and services such as social networks. My blog is at http://dawnsplan.wordpress.com/ Thanks.
Happy 2009!
I’m a MAS 90/200 consultant, husband, and father of two crazy children…but I repeat myself.
Hi Allen,
I’m Frederic Guarino, French-born but have lived in the US for the last 10+ years.
I work for an advertising/marketing services group, the Hemisphere Group (www.hemisphere-nobrainer.com), and specialize in mobile and social media marketing.
I’ve been involved with mobile technology since 2000 and am an early adopter of sorts -)
I can be found online at:
fredericguarino.tumblr.com
twitter.com/fredericguarino
friendfeed.com/fredericguarino
Best wishes to all for 2009 !
My name is Darren Bounds of Cliqset; a new social platform company.
You’ll be happy to know we had a successful experience chopping garlic with the magic bullet yesterday evening.
Hi,I’m Mia and I am an aspiring writer. I’m from the midwest,Illinois.I am trying to get a blog together,but it’s coming along.
James Bruni/ Bruni PR here – forge ahead in 2009 Allen / CN is the “paper of record” for Alley startups
ps: you fooled Rubel but not us in the Alley
Hi Allen,
New to the social media arena but love the interaction and want to learn to effectively use.
I am a 31 year career Realtor with Realty Executives Northern Arizona located in Prescott, AZ
Visit my blog at http://blog.PrescottFineHomes.net. I look forward to following CN.
The best to all in 2009!
I am serial entrepreneur that hasn’t ever seen VC money (this is both good and bad) and hasn’t had his first exit. I have kept all the successful businesses I have co-founded and their profits are now paying for the investment I am doing on my third business. I co-founded Voice123.com and Language123.com. My current venture is LetMeGo.com, which is still far from going live. These companies are all part of the “The Torrenegra Group”.
I am based out of New York City and my main hobby is to road travel… preferably with my wife and off the beaten path.
Hi Allen,
I work in the accounting field of the Hospitality industry right now. Have taken the Hemingway/Thompson approach to life. Been a banker, been a bouncer, bartender, music production assistant, learned some sound rein-forcement theory, worked in the Securities arena for EDJ, love kayaking. Picked up on you thru Yuvi on FF. Like your work. I have an evolving blog that can be found at http://matik72.blogspot.com/ You also might see me on Twitter as Matik72. Dichotomy of a human. Not quite sure what religion that I completely belong to. Have been disappointed in many of the directions are country has been taking. Nature nut, learning nut, connection-building nut. Great idea!
Thanks,
Mati