the mother of all muck

Eww.

BERLIN (Reuters) – A Bavarian village was flooded by liquid pig manure after a tank containing the fertilizer burst, German police said Wednesday.

Sewage rose to 20 inches in the courtyards and streets of Elsa after gushing from the tank, which held some 240,000 litres of pig manure.

“The village was swamped with green-brown liquid and it was pig manure — the mother-of-all muck,” said Rainer Prediger, a police spokesman in the nearby town of Coburg.

Reuters

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The SPITcast!

I’d like to congratulate my friend and fellow Southridge alumnus Gabe Mercado and SPIT (The Silly Peoples Improv Theater) and his wife for launching their first podcast!

Gabe Mercado has been juggling his career as TV and movie actor, stage performer, and one of the founding members of the award-winning band Dapulis. He has also found a niche in improvisational comedy, together with his wife they founded an improved comedy troupe, called SPIT.

Recorded February 9, 2006 at mag:net cafe Katipunan. Gynecologist spelunking. Sta-LAC-tites and Sta-LAG-mites. Miss Gay Animal Welfare. Guess the Song. The three headed singer serenades Jun and Tess. Unisong. Fax Machine.

Listen in here

The Cluetrain: Markets are conversations

I’ve been following a huge block of text online lately. Since I can’t afford the book, I just decided to download its pertinent parts. Welcome to The Cluetrain Manifesto,

Imagine for a moment: millions of people sitting in their shuttered homes at night, bathed in that ghostly blue television aura. They’re passive, yeah, but more than that: they’re isolated from each other.

Now imagine another magic wire strung from house to house, hooking all these poor bastards up. They’re still watching the same old crap. Then, during the touching love scene, some joker lobs an off-color aside — and everybody hears it. Whoa! What was that? People are rolling on the floor laughing. And it begins to happen so often, it gets abbreviated: ROTFL. The audience is suddenly connected to itself.

excerpt from The Cluetrain

One of the core statements of the manifesto is that markets shouldn’t be seen as segments or demographics, but as individuals who have needs. There has been a rogue campaign of putting a face to your market.

With the dawn of the Internet (I’m making it sound like the web came yesterday), anybody can post anything about whatever. But more than that, people who work for companies are using the Internet as a voice to say what they wish, albeit with some regulation.

Some developments over the past year:

1. Companies themselves are shifting from impersonal corporate websites to a more personal blog-like CMS. We’re tired of reading your corporate mission-vision. Somehow, blog like content at least seems more sincere. I want a face to associate with a brand and I dont want a sexy booth chick.

2. Companies are reviewing blogging policies. I mean, look at Scoble. Microsoft doesn’t seem to care what he writes. You know a company is paranoid when they have strict blogging rules for their employees.

3. Open source marketing via blogs, forums, et al – I’d rather have a maven market my stuff than the sales guy in the retail outlet. On a personal note, I’m glad the local tech groups (for Palm, Apple and even Windows Mobile) aren’t being ignored by Microwarehouse. Investing in industry mavens attracts other mavens, reduces marketing costs, and reaches a more targeted market.

the political situation from my point of view

It’s 4:51 PM and I’m just walking distance from the commotion that is Ayala Avenue. I guess it is about time that the people have realized how innefective rallies have become and that force is necessary – from both sides of the fence.

You know what the difference was from the very first EDSA People Power with these franchise rallies? The difference was that in EDSA I, people were sincerely united in Prayer.

Blogging, Podcasting and Politics

One of the things I love about the Internet is the immediate freedom bestowed on any joe or jane to make their thoughts heard. In the realm of politics, I’m personally tired of hearing the same old faces hog the podium to talk about the state of the country. I’d rather hear it from … well … YOU.

Anne asked me to post this (because she assumes a lot of cool people read my blog, TYVM.). It’s actually quite interesting. Check it out.

Have you ever thought about publishing your own weblog so that everyone can read about your take on the issues confronting the world? Do you download podcasts and wish you had your own voice in the internet as well? If your answer is ‘yes’ to these questions, then we would like to invite you to apply to the Friedrich Naumann Foundation’s “Express Yourself” workshop with hands on tutorials on blogging and podcasting on 9-10 March 2006 in Makati City.

There, you will learn about:

* The best practices in the field of blogging and podcasting with a special emphasis on the Philippine political context
* How to craft a clear message that will define your blog
* The basic editorial and writing guidelines regarding online communications and apply them and
* How to produce and maintain your own blog and podcast

Well-known names from the Philippine blogosphere like Manuel L. Quezon III and Abe Olandres will be speakers during the workshop.

Apply now by sending your resumé, a short note or essay on why you want to participate, and samples of previous work (if any) through email at [email protected] or by fax at (63 2) 8101431. Applications will be accepted until 2 March 2006 only.

As this is a workshop with many practical, hands-on exercises, only 15 successful applicants will be invited to participate in “Express Yourself!”. Please take note that participation is free of charge and inclusive of materials and lunch. FNF may also cover transportation costs and accommodations for participants traveling from outside Metro Manila.

For more info, visit www.fnf.org.ph