The Big Guy Blog

Reports: Tiger Woods Hires Ari Fleischer

2010-03-12T01:18:20Z

Ari Fleischer laughing all the way to Tiger's bankThe interwebs were blazing with rumors that Tiger Woods has hired Ari Fleischer.

Of course, this isn't the Ari that the Entourage crew rolls with, but it's pretty close.

After all, as ESPN writer Gene Wojciechowski pointed out, this is the same Ari that botched Mark McGuire's re-entry into baseball; pimps the BCS (colleges weak attempt at a championship series); and, the guy who hand-held the Green Bay Packers through their very public and nasty divorce with fan-favorite and hall-of-famer, Brett Farve.

Social Media Landscape

2010-03-07T15:59:13Z

Below is a very good graphic that outlines the various social media tools and their various uses (good and bad) for business.

2010 Census Advertising

2010-03-07T15:34:44Z

Feds pushing hard for census participationThe federal government has been doing a pretty decent job in promoting the 2010 census. They have used a variety of on and offline marketing channels.

One of the more effective channels has been social media and specifically YouTube.

Check out this video that targets the Taiwanese population. According to the video, only 800 Taiwanese residents filled out the form — that's missing about 80 percent.

Rapportive Brings Social Intel to Gmail

2010-03-05T15:35:11Z

Gmail users are used a lot of little add-ons that make the experience of regular email much richer than other web-based solutions.

At the same time, they are used to the slew of ads that pop up in the right hand side of the page. While blended into the experience, it's still advertising.

Why not remove the ads and replace it with social content related to the sender of the email you're reading?

That's the premise behind a new tool making the social web rounds called Rapportive.

Things That Make You Feel Old

2010-03-05T14:00:05Z

I was on my way home from driving my daughter to school this morning and slapped on the radio.

Immediately, Steve Perry was yelling at me, "Don't Stop Believin'" -- the classic rock song that, unless you're a robot, has to get you amped up.

So, as I sang along like a fool, I found myself thoroughly enjoying the beats. As the song came to an end, I felt pretty amped up after the song was over until the call ad came on for the radio station. You know, the little advertisement that the station uses to promote the brand. In this case, the promo was for Oldies 103.

OLDIES? WHAT? HUH? Journey? Oldies?

Man, I felt old. This lead me to think about what other things make me feel old, so here they are:

Pitching the Media

2010-03-04T17:56:40Z

I love being in a business that has this sort of rep. However, it's also nice to know that i'm not one of these douche bags "professionals" who are the brunt of these jokes.

Kudos to Newsweek for the link.

Bogus Bridal Show Warning

2010-03-01T23:35:39Z

Bogus Ad for Bogus Bridal Show

I wrote the piece below for Technorati earlier today, but wanted to add a little more to the upfront -- really just a simple warning to you brides out there: do your homework. Research every vendor you work with. Get references. Be smart. Trust your gut. Ask for documentation, receipts and customer references. The day is too important to simply trust the internet.

Post originally appeared on Technorati.com

Later this week, thousands of people could descend upon the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, MA for a bridal show that doesn't exist.

Boston Police tell the Boston media that someone set up a bogus website and created accounts on Twitter and Facebook, all to promote "The Boston 411 Bridal & Home Show 2010." The promotions claimed it would be held at the convention center March 5-7.

Camera Recommondations for the Family

2010-02-28T17:57:39Z

Canon G11Being a photography enthusiast and a gadget geek has its advantages. Simply put, I don't skimp out on gear because my photos and the photos I take for my clients are too precious.

However, not everyone can go out and afford a camera and lenses that equal to paying your mortgage for four months. Even so, there comes a time where the big gear is just too much to carry around. Believe me, I've done the Disney-type vacation with the pro gear and while the quality of the pictures are top notch, you're going to end up with a sore back even if you have comfortable traveling gear.

One of the questions I always get is what sort of camera should families invest in that are in the point and shoot category, won't break the bank, but take photos that are worthy of framing.

Here's the straight answer: the Canon GX (fill in X for one of any models from the 9, 10 or 11).

Repeat Performance for USA Hockey?

2010-02-28T17:33:48Z

Do you believe in two miracles?Article originally posted on Technorati.com

Today the USA will face off against Canada for the gold medal for hockey in the 2010 Olympic games. There hasn't been a hockey game of this magnitude since 1980, better known as the "Miracle on Ice."

When Team USA beat the ever-mysterious Russian team — who up to that point, set the gold standard of hockey around the world — patriotic pandemonium ensued at Lake Placid, NY.

Game Changers: iPhone and iPad Video Chat

2010-02-21T20:00:40Z

Video icons rumored to be included in the development "stuff" for codersMashable is reporting a pretty good rumor that the iPhone 4G and the iPad (second generation) will both have front facing cameras.

To me, these are game changing features and prove yet again, why mobile devices will grab more and more market share over traditional computing devices.

This also tells me to wait to upgrade my iPhone 3G to the 3Gs and hold off on getting my wife's new phone until the 4G comes out. And yea, maybe I'll get that iPad...once the second version comes out with the front facing camera.

Six Things I've Learned in Six Years of Parenting

2010-02-21T17:09:14Z

Six things I've learned in six years of parentingSince my oldest daughter was born six years ago, there have been six key things I've learned as a parent that still hold true today. And as time goes by, I imagine that these six things will hold true as my kids get older.

Patience

As Axl Rose sang, patience is a virtue. Kids are going to have their cranky days and those days where they are bouncing off the walls. Match those days with moments when you're trying to do something (work, maintenance around the house, paying bills, relaxing, etc) and it's like oil and water. They just don't mix. Kids don't have an off switch so you need patience to get you through those situations where you want to explode.

Thank You Eddie House

2010-02-18T23:48:33Z

Just a quick shout out to Eddie House who was traded to the Knicks today. Eddie was a core member of the Celtics for the past few years and was instrumental in the run to the 2008 championship. He's going to basketball purgatory in NY.

Ironically enough, I took this picture during the '08 championship parade. And as the sign reads, Eddie House, departing.

Thanks Eddie.

The Big Sleep Over

2010-02-18T22:54:03Z

Client Incentives and Your Help

2010-02-18T19:44:27Z

Everyone needs a little motivationBeing that I'm off this week from my real job, I've been thinking about a number of non-work related things, one of them being my photography business.

You see, I don't push it too much. I typically get a handful of jobs throughout the year that suck up some weekend time, but that's ok. The money is good and the people I meet and connect with are great.

However, my referral-well has dried up as of late and I've thinking of ways to re-engage with existing clients as well as ones that are on the verge of being clients.

One of the things I've been thinking of doing is offering incentives. For example, if someone hires me for a family portrait session and refers me to another family who also hires me, I'm thinking about throwing the initial family a $25 iTunes gift card or maybe gift certificate to a restaurant. For more referrals or bigger referrals (job wise), the bigger the incentive.

Happy Birthday Kayla

2010-02-17T13:57:37Z

Today my oldest turns six. She was 8 pounds, 10 ounces and 21.5 inches long. When she came into this world, my first thought was, "Oh man, she has a cone head. Will it always be like that?"

Then I quickly got over my immaturity and cried just like I was watching the last scene of Field of Dreams, "Dad, you wanna have a catch?"

However, while Kayla was balling because she was ripped from a comfortable, warm and secure place, I was balling because I just became a dad. There's no feeling in this world -- natural or unnatural -- that can replicate it. Ever.