Okay, so I can post today. But we’re still moving to a new server. In the meantime I’ve acquired a new agriblogging tool.
The ZimmComm iPhone has landed. It’s a white 16GB monster that’s ready to rock this week on the road. I also got a new bluetooth headset since I guess I just wore out the old one which was about 2 years old. I like being hands free when I can.
I hope you’ve all had a very happy Thanksgiving weekend. It’s back to work tomorrow.
This weekend we’re moving to a new server. Doesn’t that sound like fun? It does mean that I won’t have any posts up after later on today until tomorrow night though.
So why are we doing it? Because we’ve continued to grow and are now hosting 26 different websites! Of course that doesn’t count others we manage on client servers.
So, basically we’re doubling our capacity and upgrading to some fantastic new server software which means our sites will perform even more reliably and faster. You shouldn’t notice anything during this move since we’ll have all sites up and running on both servers. I just thought you should know.
The International Federation of Agricultural Journalists’ new website kind of snuck up on me but it’s now live.
The IFAJ has a new website. The site carries many of the same features as before, but with a fresh new look, and in a format that is much easier to nativigate. Work is still being done on expanding and refining the content. In the meantime, we would be pleased to hear your thoughts and suggestions.
But that’s what the IFAJ newsletter is for. To let us know what’s going on. You can find the latest edition here. In it is a link to new IFAJ President, Mike Wilson’s first column.
I’m deeply honored and humbled to be taking on the leadership reins of the IFAJ following the successful terms of our past president David Markey. I plan to give this challenge my best effort and I know I can count on the support of my colleagues here at home as well as overseas. I’m really looking forward to working with the new IFAJ presidium, as well as the new executive committee. Read More
I’m just guessing that most of you are either on vacation or thinking so much about being on vacation that you might as well be on vacation.
I’m kind of in that mood myself. So . . .
Have a Happy Thanksgiving from ZimmComm New Media.
And just in case you want to know more, here’s what Wikipedia says about it:
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a harvest festival. Traditionally, it’s a time to give thanks for the harvest and express gratitude in general. Thanksgiving is a North American holiday with the dates and whereabouts of the first Thanksgiving celebration a topic of modest contention. It has generally become a national secular holiday with religious origins. Though the earliest attested Thanksgiving celebration was on September 8, 1565 in what is now Saint Augustine, Florida[1][2], the traditional “first Thanksgiving” is venerated as having occurred at the site of Plymouth Plantation, in 1621.
Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. Thanksgiving dinner is held on this day, usually as a gathering of family members.
What turkey week would be complete without a turkey post? Cindy and I watched the History Channel’s Modern Marvels – Turkey and since Butterball was mentioned so prominently I visited them this morning.
You can find some recipes for turkey for dinner here. If you’ve got questions you can call their Turkey Talk-Line – 1-800-Butterball.
Another option is to have turkey cooking information texted to you phone. I’m signed as you can see in the picture. So here’s what I’ll be getting:
Once you’ve signed up, you will receive text messages from November 3 to December 31, 2008.* Each message will include:
* Tips on how to prep and cook a turkey.
* Reminders on when to buy and start thawing your turkey.
* Shopping list alerts for new recipes.
* Features to instantly connect to the Butterball Experts
o Click to call 1-800-BUTTERBALL∗ directly from within the text message to speak with an expert.
o Or, click through to the mobile site to quickly get more information.
We haven’t even kicked off the first event in the John Deere Drive Green Utility Tractor Show and I’m already so excited I can hardly wait. It all starts next week in Middleburg, FL. I’m also very proud of our web guru, Robert, who built the blog for this project. We’re trying to incorporate a number of social media mechanisms into it and the latest is the Show Widget. Perhaps you’ll want to use it, perhaps not, but here it is anyway.
So, you know where I’ll be next week. BTW. I think it’s cool that the first two video clips I uploaded to the Show’s YouTube account have already been viewed over 150 times and we’re just getting started!
Since most of what I’ve been asked to speak about or consult on lately has been social media/networking I have to share this. To start with, the inspiration for this post comes from my latest follower on Twitter, David Alston. So, by being on Twitter and looking at what a follower is doing I came across his blog, tweetpr, and a post titled, “Debunking the Social Media Barriers.” You need to read this if you’re in agricultural marketing.
I’d love to copy the whole thing but picked out a few choice parts for you:
David is right on the money with his thoughts on the corporate use of social media. And as he points out in his post, there are a growing number of companies (like ZimmComm New Media) that can help you navigate this bold new world.
The Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation (AEF) has been announced as a result of cooperation between the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).
The foundation is a manufacturer-led effort to advance global adoption of ISOBUS and electronics standards, which provide a means for greater electronic compatibility between equipment from different manufacturers. The initial focus is data communications between tractors and implements.
An industry wide, global approach for integration of complex electronic systems and software will improve machine functionality and efficiencies, for the benefit of agricultural equipment customers. Projects to achieve that integration can be accomplished faster and more efficiently because of AEM and VDMA funding and staffing of AEF.
Although there is no website for the new AEF you can find North American information on the AEM website.
