This is not a man with a blog.

Spock, it’s not logical at all

By Shabbir | August 16, 2007 | Comments Off on Spock, it’s not logical at all

There’s a lot of chatter amongst the digerati about Spock, the beta people search engine that aggregates things online and tries to tag and describe people without human intervention.  Note that I said "beta".  This thing is clearly not fully baked yet. As computers often do, it has made plenty of mistakes in it’s descriptions,…

New data from Harris Interactive / Mindshare Interactive

By Shabbir | August 16, 2007 | Comments Off on New data from Harris Interactive / Mindshare Interactive

Harris Interactive (a polling firm) and Mindshare Interactive (us!) are about to release data about Americans’ attitudes towards giving and nonprofits.  The survey, which comprised hundreds of questions about prospective and existing donor’s patterns and beliefs about nonprofits should be useful information for any organization crafting a fundraising strategy over the next twelve to eighteen…

Maximizing your results by trading direct mail for e-mail

By Shabbir | August 15, 2007 | Comments Off on Maximizing your results by trading direct mail for e-mail

In a recent non-profit case study published by Marketing Sherpa, the National Philanthropic Trust’s Breast Cancer Day compiled two lists, one for direct mail and one for e-mail, sent both similar creative, and then measured the results.  The results? The Trust sent three e-mails to each person on the e-prospect list, and two direct mail…

AdAge discovers Facebook

By Shabbir | August 14, 2007 | Comments Off on AdAge discovers Facebook

AdAge, sensing that there are still a few people who’ve never heard of Facebook but don’t feel like trying it, recently put up a Facebook video introduction.  The speaker rambles a bit but it’s a good enough introduction that if you’re curious it will quickly tell you if you should go try it or forget…

How guys show emotion

By Shabbir | August 13, 2007 | Comments Off on How guys show emotion

Me: "I’m going to pretend like this isn’t the last time I talk to you before you hop on a plane and leave for two years."Him: "I don’t know why you’d even mention that."Me: "You’re breaking my heart, you fucker."Him: "I’ll see you soon."

Cindy Sheehan decides to run against Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi, confirms suspicions that she’s selfish

By Shabbir | August 11, 2007 | Comments Off on Cindy Sheehan decides to run against Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi, confirms suspicions that she’s selfish

I’m flabbergasted: Former anti-war leader Cindy Sheehan announced on Thursday that in 2008 she will run as an independent candidate against Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). "I dedicate my candidacy to the people of Iraq and Afghanistan," Sheehan said, weeping. from "Sheehan announces independent run against Pelosi" (the raw story) Displacing one of…

Tonight we go on lockdown

By Shabbir | August 10, 2007 | Comments Off on Tonight we go on lockdown

Sarah, Moishe, and I are going to be homebound for the weekend.  We’re training Moishe out of diapers which basically means we’re going to be glued to the house watching him for 3 straight days while he runs around with no pants and learns to use the plastic commodes we have strewn throughout the house.…

Blackbaud to Convio, “Can you freakin’ hear me now?”

By Shabbir | August 10, 2007 |

For a long time now, the non-profit technology marketplace has been primed for consolidation.  Lots of little vendors splintered the customer community.  The normal confusion of a world of increasing technology complexity was made worse by competing vendors’ "walled gardens".  Then the consolidation started. Convio, a leader in online fundraising, bought it’s nearest competitor GetActive. …

Baby Einstein videos debunked

By Shabbir | August 8, 2007 | Comments Off on Baby Einstein videos debunked

I long ago made a vow not to be that parent that railroaded my kid into some form I predetermined.  I refused to choose his day care in order to choose the right pre-school in order to choose the right primary to get into the right high school to send him to the Ivy League…

A brilliant Julia Child quote

By Shabbir | August 8, 2007 | Comments Off on A brilliant Julia Child quote

So I turned 40 this year.  Also this year, a lot of friend’s parents (and my own) are wrestling with cancer.  Others are dealing with dying relatives and mysterious illnesses.  Several are grappling with the years of cumulative partying that are finally starting to take their toll.  I’ve started cutting risk averse behavior in order…