Launchpad for many a great discussion
595753
In the few weeks since I finished reading this book, I've had several marvelous, thought-provoking discussions with friends on the ideas presented here.

This book reminds me of one of the most important lessons:  I make mistakes.  I overestimate how often events which receive big media coverage actually happen. I magically find patterns in random data.  I believe things I want to believe while sharply questioning contradictory information. "How We Know What Isn't So" explains why, and gives me tools to improve.  Very useful in our times where every idea gets a convincing web site.

Short, readable, worthwhile.
3323413
The Novation Launchpad controller is a great midi controller! Its really fun to use. The only thing I didn't like, was  that its not at all like the app. which is the reason I bought it. The app is perfectly line out to make a song, but with this thing you  can spend hours trying to find sounds and clips that go good together.
3062207
This book is written in a clear, approachable style. There are many interesting ideas which I look forward to sharing with my synagogue colleagues.
 I am "studying" this book -- and I am hopeful that we can adopt some of the ideas contained therein-- in the near term. How to engage our membership is the never ending question, and I think Rabbi Uram has some ideas which, if executed properly, can be very helpful to our community!  I envision some great discussions as a result of "Next Generation Judaism." Wonderful!
649800
This book is a collection of articles, interviews, talks given by Neil deGrasse Tyson. As he has become one of the most popular advocates for Space Exploration in the U.S. much of this material will be familiar to those who have seen and heard him on other media. In it he makes a strong case against the narrow-minded foolishness that has let to the curtailing of the Space Program. He shows just how small an amount of money is required to renew Space Exploration in an appropriate way. He makes an interesting argument about the real reasons for major projects of exploration in human history. He says that the U.S. did not go to the Moon primarily out of a search for scientific knowledge but because of Cold War rivalry with the Russians. He points out how many of the great building and exploration projects of History are products of War, or of grandiose searches for Power. He on the other hand champions Exploration as a value in itself, and argues that it is the Scientific Revolution that has enabled Humanity to know Nature in a true way, and technologically transform it. He is not afraid to take a minority view and is a strong advocate of manned- space-exploration. He is as anyone who has seen and heard him knows an especially effective 'communicator'.He is quick- minded, tremendously knowledgeable on scientific matters, has great personality and humor. He also has a crusader's passion and believes in regard to Space Exploration that is an important element in the education of young people in getting them  to dream and hope. Although he repeats himself often this can be excused because he like all good salesmen uses certain mantras and slogans to get his message across.
He makes a dramatic proposal as to how the space- progam should be renewed. He advocates a Space Program which is building multiple options. Among these are an eventual manned landing on Mars, but there are also other targets involved.
There are however certain questions which are raised by his most repeated messages. One of these is that it is human egoism which makes us 'despair' when we consider how small our place is in Space and Time. His own message is that we should be buoyed by the idea that we are of star-stuff made and share our atomic being with a good share of the universe. As Mr. Tyson has a quite properly deserved very large ego I do not know if his criticism of the rest of us who are troubled by our minor place in the Universe, makes much sense. I also wonder about the Egoism involved in not admitting that humans probably cannot do it, and would be best to leave it to their instruments, or the 'descendants of the artificial intelligences they invent to explore the universe.
This does not relate specifically to this book but I also have trouble with the demeaning approach Tyson has taken in other venues to the Divine. It is true as Tyson has said that Science has given answers to many questions which once were considered divine mysteries. But the question of our ultimate origin and end remains one open to Faith and Hope. For those like myself  who need and believe in a personal God Tyson's precluding a religious option seems uncharacteristically arrogant and small- minded.
2108713
Today we are going to be taking a look at Michael Hyatts book Platform:How to get noticed in a noisy world. This book is a moderate length coming in at 288 pages long and just over 60 chapters. Each chapter is 5-8 pages long give or take a few. Many of his chapters are based off of blog posts he has published on his website. I wanted to share this book with you because at this point in my journey it has been very helpful.

As many of you know I am trying to build my blog in to a place where people come to see Jesus in the midst of everyday life. From time to time I do book reviews either of books I have chosen to read personally or for class. This is one I've chosen to read for pleasure and it was definitely enjoyable.

In this book you will find tons of tiny little nuggets of great information. If you are trying to launch anything to the next level I would highly suggest you look into getting this book. The version I read was the kindle edition. So in my references there will be locations and not page numbers.

Hyatt give us a very simple definition, "a platform is the thing you stand on to get heard". (loc. 297) That sounds simple enough doesnt it. But it begs the question of what then is my platform? He spends the  next several chapters outlining what a persons platform may actually look like. He tells us, "As in times past, success today is not so much about what you know; its about who you know. And the who is your platform. (loc. 304)

So now we know our platform is not our product, our blog, or even our service. Its people. Building relationships with people and serving them is one way to build your platform.  He goes on to tell the reader, If you want to build a platform, its time to get the passion back. (loc. 417).

If you don't push yourself and others to expect excellence you are doomed to failure. You need to be excited about what it is you are offering, if your not you may want to reconsider what you are doing.  You want to offer your customer/client a wow experience. He goes on to list about 9-10 different things a wow experience entails.

After spending several chapters talking about having a wow product. He discusses the why? Why do you need to do this and what will happen if you dont. We should set S.M.A.R.T. goals, and think of was we can achieve them. He says, "before you can find your way, you must discover your why. (loc. 903)  After that he gives five reasons why you should commit your goals to writing.

Later in the book he moves into a section on how to work with and use Twitter.  I found this section to be very helpful since i am new to the twitterverse. He gives a great tutorial on how #s work and just a great overall introduction to the outlet.

This was a great book for someone just starting out on their exploration into trying to build a brand. This is a book you need if you want to be a better blogger, businessman, or general sales person.

I highly recommend this book to everyone. Especially to those looking for a place to start building their platform and brand recognition. I chose to write this review just because I have enjoyed so much of Mr. Hyatts work, not only this book but his blog as well.
4197165
The start of an important conversation.. The answers will come when we start working together on the many issues and ideas in this book. Funny and written by a man who inspires but don't claim to be better or smarter than the people he interview or talk about. Well worth the read. Look up some of the people mentioned in this book if you want more practical information.
2095889
This book is very well written and I've found it to be a great launching point for conversations with my husband on several difficult topics. The statistics are fascinating and add to its readability. Granted I'm listening to it on tape, and the quizzes are a little difficult to utilize, but it's good enough that I'm planning to purchase it on Kindle. Highly readable and entertaining (!).
3812975
Excellent to discuss options with your team and external parties
4108024
We recently used this book in a management discussion group. As the facilitator of the group I initially feared the book's short length and simple story might be too lightweight to generate sufficient discussion to sustain us for our two hour meeting.  My fears were unfounded.  The discussion ranged from how we might think differently about change as an institution to how change in one part of the organization affects another to how we can better manage those on our teams who are either averse to change (or who grasp it a bit too enthusiastically) to reflecting on how our own personal response to change can be both situational and ingrained.  It was a lively and worthwhile discussion.  Whether you use this book to generate self-reflection or to assist you in change management on a grander scale, it is a worthwhile read, despite the somewhat silly plot device.  And for those who say you can get this same advice in other books, I say of course you can.  What makes this book unique is its focus on this singular concept and the opportunity it provides the reader to think about it deeply.
2331088
I just got this book last week.  It looks like a great resource for someone creative, innovative, entrepreneurial who wants to approach an experience with knowledge, support, and some well placed suggestions.  The book provides a basckground in the culture of helping incubate startups.  It does seem to cut itself short - from a historical perspective.  The nature and the type of program they describe seems to go back to the settlement house of the early 1900.  People from the "old" country would get help from others already here who learned the language, could help with contacts, and shared trust with the newcomers.  It would be nice for their tech incubation to spread to the community to help develop new  models for businesses and communities.  Hybrid cooperatives or?  with the blockchain the potential seems outstanding.  keep your mind open - the potential in diversity and opportunity is great!
3945209
I had always thought Wattpad the vehicle for fan fiction, but after reading the essays contained in this reference, I see how much more there is to the platform.  The essays contained in The Writer's Guide to Wattpad are entertaining, informative and encouraging. I will be adding this to my writer's reference recommendations, and as a suggestion for writer's groups.  I think it's important to explore a variety of methodologies for sharing your work, and Wattpad looks to be a strong and well read platform.
4256999
Great dev board... I'd recommend this for anyone who wants to play around with ideas... refine and perfect on here and then convert to one of the smaller less expensive versions if possible for your final product.
3837146
Before there was the Web, there was on-line conferencing.  Stewart Brand (originator of The Whole Earth Catalog) and Larry Brilliant (the philanthropic doctor who underwrote the enterprise and orginally conceived of it) combined to develop the Whole Earth 'Lectric Link (thus, WELL).  This was a time-sharing service offered on a VAX computer with a monthly membership charge and hourly on-line fees as well.  As such, it was one of the first attempts to build a virtual community and create a business at the same time.  The book recounts the optimistic origins of the service, the problems it experienced, and its decline in the days of free chat rooms.  There do seem to be a number of important lessons here for those who want to build businesses involving on-line communities.
I have never read or participated in the Well (in fact, I had never heard of it until I picked up this book).  I am astonished that people would pay $8 a month and $2 an hour in the 1980s to basically put posts on a bulletin board.  The group had a cachet in the Bay area.  It was "smart and left-leaning without being self-consciously politically correct, [and] it had become something of a club."  It had been designed to evolve, and that was its strength.  Each person was responsible for their own words, discussions were moderated, and posters could also erase what they had written.  Predictably, sex was the first topic of a discussion.
The book focuses around one very active participant, Tom Mandel, a futurist at SRI.  Mr. Mandel conducted his life very publicly on the Well, and there are more ups and downs than in most soap operas.  I won't steal the book's thunder, but you will find him to have been a most unique individual.
I especially enjoyed hearing about the community's problems, such as when people began to try to hurt the community.
The community's successes were of interest as well.  Clearly, the Well benefited from having subscribers meet one another in person.  That deepened the connections in a way that typing fast for hours could not have done.
The book also suggests that those who spent the most time there were shy, but felt comfortable letting it all hang out electronically.  That is now a well-known phenomenon.  I can certainly attest to that, as someone who has little to say about a particular book in person but likes to write long book reviews.
The author includes long sections from actual posts, to give you a feel for the interaction.  I didn't particular enjoy reading these, but found them helpful.
Ms. Hafner was a long-time participant, mostly as an observer.  The Well provided free subscriptions to journalists from the beginning.
The descriptions of trying to turn this into a long-term business are very interesting.  Clearly, those who manage and own such a business need to be comfortable with as well as be part of the very community they serve.  Any dissonance from executives or owners towards the community will clearly be harmful.
I also came away with a personal opinion that on-line communities will probably rise and fall quite often, much like physical communities do.  I suspect that these will not be the basis of long-term businesses.  The connections are too fleeting, and the temptations to go on to something better are too great.
After you read this book, think about how well you communicate your most important thoughts.  Who knows them?  Who should know them?  What reactions would you enjoy having to those thoughts?  What feedback do you need?  Where can you get it?
Avoid becoming addicted to on-line activities!  There's a real world still out there waiting for you.
573506
Working Great. Friendly UI.

(but if it is possible, i want to get more advance menu which can control more details)
1892434
I have often participated in group discussions wherein personal sharing and exploration are the key goals but often fall short due to the difficulty in opening up and going deep in such an environment. "Decxplore" is the best tool I have come across that breaks down barriers and removes obstacles typically experienced in group dynamics, and does so in a thoroughly enjoyable manner.
857672
This book provides an excellent platform for having a challenging conversation with young children, mostly regarding visible differences you might see in people (such as an amputated limb, tattoos, birthmarks, hearing aids, etc.). The author's text emphasizes showing kindness and respect to people who appear different and I found it easy to edit with my own choices of explanations anywhere I saw fit (which I do with many books; I don't mean that as a critique - this is well written). I ordered this about a month ago and have been meaning to read it with my children (ages 6 & 3). We just had a nice chat through it in anticipation of a social gathering where one of the other guests is blind (which is not covered in the book but there are several other-abilities which lent themselves towards that discussion).

All of the illustrations and topics were useful and/or easily edited by an adult. For example, we live in a rural area and are not likely to ever meet a drag queen so I did not read that page aloud (I do consider myself infomed now as to the Shakespearian roots!) but we remarked on the fancy costume and I said while we probably wouldn't see anyone on the street dressed in an outfit like that, if we did, we could compliment them on their sparkly costume.

I would love a sequel - this is beautifully illustrated and a broader segue into the notion of celebrating our differences (such as a group of people with various skin tones, a group of people with various hairstyles, cultural dress, physical abilities, etc) would be so fantastic for the youngest ones. Kudos to the author/illustrator for creating this book; we even enjoyed getting to "meet" her through her paragraph at the end.
3618378
New users and the average user will find this a good read and very helpful. For users beyond their first device looking for in-depth guides, it provides direction but not specifics.

The Echo is expanding with logarithmic growth and is almost impossible to cover in a paper published product. Amazon has many options to solve this quandary but hasn't gotten around to it yet.

Advanced users, as always, make your own way. Novices, this is a very good starting point.

As a point of information, I have been a part of the ecosystem for 18 months with an Echo, Dot, Show, and Plus Hub. I have two smart home  hubs for switches, lights, and other functions. It's a great day to be a techie.