July 07 2008

Why YES for a National ID Card

Okay, so many of my closest friends, colleagues et al, reading only that headline would deny it came from me. I can hear David now, ” … there’s no way that Demo-lib-tree-hugging-pacifist Rob Mineo would say ‘Yes’ to a National ID Card!” However, if Hurricane Katrine forever blemished my view of the current presidential administration, it forever swayed my view for the need of a National ID Card.

As I joined hundreds of millions of world-wide citizens looking on in horror at the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, feeling hopeless to do anything except give what we could to the Red Cross, I became convinced that a National ID Card would have greatly aided the thousands of families left wondering about their loved ones. As people entered into the stadium, other shelters, or even other cities, FEMA representatives or local officials could have easily tracked our fellow citizens’ well-being and whereabouts as necessary under the circumstances. Imagine walking into an American Red Cross shelter, swiping your ID card, no different than you swipe a card at the airport to prove identity, and immediately being put into a database showing your location (New Orleans, Houston, etc.). That same information also acts, unfortunately, as a list of who may yet not be accounted for or found as of yet.

July 06 2008

Monty Python Link Baiting

Wink, wink - nudge, nudge!

Let’s face it, cute is memorable and it even sales.

What’s the last thing you sent or forwarded to a friend or colleague? Probably not a news story about the latest election coverage, but more likely a funny story, song or picture.

So what do you offer "off the cuff" for your users to enjoy, and more importantly, send to others to bring into your site to check it out?

Maybe you just want to share a rant ?