Innovating Leadership Through Failure

It seems the spark of innovation is best seen through the dulling pain of failure. Ā The sum of my failures has often uncovered the path to success as those sparks turn into lights in a very dim-lit alley. Ā Through my fearless attitude towards failure, I still have theĀ audacityĀ to continue. Ā Ā It’s the team that gives up…

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Once Upon a Timing: Retrospective of Critical Importance

Once upon a time, a group of friends and I set out to utilize a local Universities student web accounts to host our own sites. Ā These sites weren’t typical class assignments (like they were supposed to be). Ā They consisted of journal like entries, photo galleries and were mostly made of static HTML. Ā We ranted about…

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Speaking: 'Social Media Workshop' at Columbus State University Center for Career Development

I will be speaking at Columbus State University Center for Career Development about how social media can improve your job search and professionalism online. Join us at 12:30-1:30pm Wednesday Schuster Student Success Center, Room 101 (9/7/2011)…and FREE PIZZA! Social Media Workshop with Lucas Shafer 12:30-1:30 Schuster Student Success Center, 101   More about the Career…

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Speaking: The Third Annual Summit for Threat Preparedness and Response at CVCC

http://standandstretch.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/1.jpg” rel=”nofollow”>MKXMG26H98PUĀ Come listen to me on July 28 as I will be speaking at the Third Annual Summit for Threat Preparedness and Response for the PublicĀ SafetyĀ Academy. Ā I have been invited to attend the summit to help encourage use of digital channels to build trusted andĀ reliableĀ sources of urgent information. I will be speaking about building awareness…

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Technology Deprived: Treading Water in a Big Pond with Big Fish

I was sitting in a Chamber of Commerce meeting one afternoon and it just dawned on me. Why am I the only IT professional in the room? Yes. Ā In a room of professionals I was surrounded by bankers, real estate pros or some type of service industry business owner related to everything but Information Technology.…

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Saying Goodbye To A Smartphone: A Novella On Pride

f=”https://www.lucaslshaffer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/T-Mobile-G2_Landscape.jpg”>It has come to my saddest attention that my G2 is now suffering from an ailment that is not covered by our insurance ($130 replacement fee?) nor my patience. Ā For the past few weeks, my smartphone has been overshadowed by my android tablet and since then it has been “having issues”. Much like any relationship,…

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The Almost iPad 2 Owner And His New Android Tablet

f=”https://www.lucaslshaffer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/original.jpg”>I must say it was a close one. Ā There is little doubt the choice I made to buy an iPad 2 was ramped up by “live” video conferences, refresh rates on live blogging site sand just plain ol” fashioned marketing. Ā I really like Apple and think they make great hardware and I am, by trade…

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Concierge Medicine – The New Social Medicine Culture

f=”https://www.lucaslshaffer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/social_media_in_health_and_medicine.jpg”>So many buzz words have been struck into the minds of american”s over the past decade. Ā Much of the information has left people with littleĀ knowledgeĀ about a lot. Ā While terms like “social medicine”, “socialism” and “social media” and “social (append edgy cool name here)” have uplifted a world community debate, we have yet to deliver this…

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The Perspective Of A Small Business Owner In Social Media

https://www.lucaslshaffer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/people_perspective_1.jpg”>It’s a great feeling to consult to another small business owner and see the fire in the eyes and the hear theĀ excitementĀ in their voice while they describe their business and why they are the best at what they do. Ā It’s great because I sit next to them sharing same adrenaline dream of making it work.…

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Remembering the Milkā€¦Time To Make Another List

https://www.lucaslshaffer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/To-do-list-blog-770354.jpg”> I am a huge list maker and have little notes laying everywhere… Ā  If you do too then look no further. A colleagueĀ recently turned me onto a little application that in just the past few days has allowed me a little ‘peace’ of mind. Ā I spin around all day in different roles and speak…

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My ‘Awesome’ Experiment – Fiverr.com

http://blog.lucaslshaffer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/fiverr_post.jpg”>As most you know, I offer a http://www.fiverr.com/users/lucaslshaffer” target=”_blank”>few services at Fiverr.com to experiment with micro-commerce exploration. Ā My first thought of this service was motivated to do something fun, not make money so I set-up several ‘gigs’. The idea of Fiverr is novel and the ‘gigs’ that are available now are all $5; no more,…

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Nexus One Waterproof? This Is Why My Phone Is So Much Better Than Yours!

Yes. Ā I am serious. Ā It is better. Ā I will prove it with this story. My story here begins with a tragedy and ends with a thrilling moment of triumph and luck! Ā It all begins with a good idea to spend time with my family… It was Wednesday afternoon, June 16th, and I came home early…

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Twitter Identity Crisis: Multiple Account Management

http://blog.lucaslshaffer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/multi.jpg”>In the age of the http://standandstretch.com/2010/05/is-twitter-doomed/” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”>auto-tweet and the fact there are http://mashable.com/2010/06/08/twitter-hits-2-billion-tweets-per-month/” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”>2 billion tweets a month, I consistently engage users who have a line, or two, drawn in the sand. Ā They make bold statements about what twitter ‘should’ be used for and how it’s utilized the best. Ā I say, twitter is…

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Google Just Got A Little More Awesome: Enter Background Image

To my surprise, Google is now allowing you to upload your own background image. Ā I have read about theĀ geniusĀ behind theĀ minimalisticĀ white background everyone has come to expect but now Google has become just a little more “Gus” = Awesome! As you can see below a new item popped up this morning and I began looking for…

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Google Alerts

Monitoring The Web Using Google Alerts

http://blog.lucaslshaffer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/alerts.jpg”>In a past http://blog.lucaslshaffer.com/2010/02/please-rob-me-8-ways-to-be-more-responsible-online/” target=”_blank”>post on how to be more responsible on the web, I brought up http://www.google.com/alerts” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”>Google Alerts as a tool to help locate information on yourself to build awareness to what others would see. Ā I think it’s time to dive a bit further and discover how to monitor the web for…

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Gist Logo

@Gist And The Social Importance Factor

http://blog.lucaslshaffer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/gist-logo1.png”>Have no fear, Gist is here! On the tail end of my conversations on Social Media and it’s impact on our behavior, I end up bringing awareness to a growing, and exhaustive, amount of time our social networks require and how ‘that’ time is becoming just as valuable as the information and interactions we seek.…

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Death To The DVD

It is not surprising the film industry is showing strain while trying to compete with the fast nature of the growing copyrightĀ infringers. Ā You need only look up the wiki on the term ‘torrent’ to find how and why digital movie promotions and direct to DVD patterns are changing. Ā While stealing a movie is illegal, I…

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Fiverr image

What Would YOU Do For $5? Fiverr.com Asks Everyone

f=”http://blog.lucaslshaffer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/fiverr.jpg”> In the world of quip communication and information abundance, f=”http://Fiverr.com” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”>Fiverr.com has found a way to maximize your cash.Ā  Users of Fiverr can post services to the world where for a not-to-shabby $5 you can get everything from motivational words, website help and even lyrics to a song. How exciting is this?Ā  Well,…

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I know it's in there somewhere...

Is Twitter Doomed? Uprising of the Auto-tweet

I recently studied the predator-prey model for a grad class this Spring and found that it’s properties couldĀ possiblyĀ foretell an upcoming Doomsday for Twitter. Ā In this model, the simulations concluded that with each corresponding variable change to either animal there is a diverse effect on both populations. Ā For instance, if the birth rate of the prey…

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Facebook Tip Alert: Linked Accounts

If you are like me, you often find yourself at a computer opening up your first internet browser and checking your email. Ā This is great. Ā You log in and see a few hits from your facebook page, blog comments and twitter follower DMs. Ā The next step? Ā You open a new tab/window in the browser and…

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3 Data Storage Ideas For Every Need

It has come to my attention that there are many needs for storage. Ā Some users need an immediate, working storage while others need to store data long term. Ā After doing a bit of research for a friend, I came across some very intuitive solutions for three individual needs. At some point, you have to make…

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Why You Should Go Social…No, I Mean All The Way

In the waves of online identities and our need to communicate, we are having a rebirth of society.  Societies functional aspect is beginning to open the door to many avenues of being connected.  I have been passing an idea back and forth in my head and it is becoming a common thread in which I…

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@Foursquare And Why It Should Succeed

I join a few sites here and there and check them out just to taste the diverse flavors the web has to offer.  One of my new favorites is @foursquare.  Combine all the ‘dwindling’ geotagging sites that are dull and uneventful and add a reward system and you have Foursquare.  Include a few goal-driven perks…

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Web Awareness: How To Protect Yourself Against The Web

is safe.  Frequently, attackers hide bugs in files that look like valid files.  What to do?  When it doubt, delete it out! I am always asked by friends and family who have “unknowingly” obtained a nasty bug and my first question is always, “What did you last install?”  Ha!  Don”t shrug your shoulders.  If you…

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Nexus One: Day 14 – Andoird 2.1 & my Fav Apps

Here we are again.  Only this time, I am no longer overwhelmed by my thick thumbs and have conquered the touchy-feely HTC touchscreen.  I now utilize the haptic feedback for the keyboard and can navigate this device with my eyes closed. Well…..almost. In this demo I take 4 examples of ways to help yourself with the Nexus…

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Please Rob Me?! 8 Ways To Be More Responsible Online

What?  Really?  A site dedicated to informing the public of your adventures?  You can not just walk out of the house and take the same non-precautions your parents did.  C’mon people, this is the 10’s….uh, ok.  šŸ˜‰   I fall into the range of kids that our parents rarely locked the door so this could…

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Nexus One: Day One

I am glad to say I now own the nexus one.  I saw an interesting piece of data come across the twitter feeds that said that only 80k have been sold.  So, of course, this means that not many people have it.  I must admit, I know of no other in my circle of tech geek friends.…

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#FollowFriday – Downfall of a SuperTag…

If you know anything about Twitter you know about #FollowFriday.  This hashtag is one of the most commonly used on Twitter along with other favorites including #musicmonday and #fail.  This search pattern (#hashtag) allows the user to profile their favorite twitterers.  In many cases, this allows a follower to see other users that may be…

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How to create a Yahoo Pipe to add to @HootSuite RSS/Atom feed

I briefly touched on the realm of spamming when I decided to look into adding content, or more specifically value, to my twitter accounts.  I strung several RSS feeds into usable outputs that helped me transmit new blog posts moments after they are posted.  To my surprise, this worked very well and I wanted more.…

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Discussion – Understanding the explanations of rule-based expert systems.

The most significant disadvantage of a rule-based expert system is its inability to justify a conclusion from a sequence of rules. Due to the expertise required for a solution, the cost of a wrong decision can be costly and understanding the decision making process can be complicated, but worth diagnosing. If we have a basic…

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Agile Testing

excerpt from research paper – 12/7/09 |  I have chosen a segment of my paper to address Agile Testing.  If you would like to see complete paper please request by email at lucaslshaffer@gmail.com How is Agile testing used? Standalone Testing Agile testing consists more of a method in which to handle the testing process and…

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@HootSuite and the Social Media captive

You might wonder why I am taking the time to profile @HootSuite as I have only used it for one day.  Well, that’s the reason.  I have only used this for one day and I already feel like I have a better hold on my reputable status in my social circle.  I have been held…

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What is an original experience when programming an intelligent system?

A class mate in my Artificial Intelligence class wrote about AI possibly being able to create something uniquein which I responded below. I agree expectations can be a bit diluted by the fact that a system can only contain rules or ā€œintelligenceā€ from experiences it has consumed and ultimately learned from. Presumption or ā€˜pre-programmingā€™ of…

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