Test Segment/ Area Light Explores

[Nascent Dynamics ( )]

Here we go!

We have been doing a series of explorations both online and in our local community. We have run into so many interesting things and people, yet have not organized any of our notes yet. We had thought about doing a single thread for each subject or site we visitted, and then we realized the full complexity of what we found and all the tangients we might take could not be satisfactorily organized this way. So here we go starting over. To start, we want to direct your attention to our wiki that is not much more than a seed as we speak. http://arealight.wikidot.com You can also find a link that will open the Collective in a new window below our MAIN tab. We are going to make an attempt to begin listing everything we do in our exploration mode on this wiki. Organizing it is another matter we are covering on our group Holonic Organization. You are welcome to join us and contribute. Should be fun.

Plus we are going to be putting some special exploration activity into social networks on Ning. Check out the Ning Blog RSS feed below our group. We just may join some of these sites and create a bridge to Area Light. This will support our project of networking by social network. Maybe Area Light and the Area Light Collective are not of much interest now. However, we are certainly going to take a stab at making them special as we go. We hope to make Area Light an online social network of choice- perhaps the best in the world. So perhaps then these will be at the top of a lot of explorers' lists to look into!

Check it out! Area Light Explorer

[Nascent Dynamics ( )]

Today we were pleased to look into Clark's Eye On Books www.clarkisaacs.ning.com. We learned about Clark when he commented to us as we began exploring another network at someone else's invitation. There's the power of social networking for you and a great reason to get out there and explore. Clark was interested in the fact we are doing site reviews because he reviews books. So we took him up on his invitation to explore his site and were pleased with what we found. Clark has also been kind enough to join the Area Light community so please be sure to say hi to him.

Clark writes regular reviews of books on his site. They are informative and well written. The review is a wonderful service to connect members to the hard print world of writing. A little added insight into what is behind a book's cover might reveal aspects that otherwise might not have caught your attention. We read a couple of his reviews and were pleased with how he helps to develop the plots through summary without giving away the endings. It helps you consider the entertainment value of reading that book, whether or not it fits within your preferences, and sometimes makes you look forward to finding out about what happens at the end.

We were also pleased to learn of Clarks new blogtalkradio program where he reads his reviews and invites people to call in and discuss the related topics. The radio show and social network application for book reviews is really making this activity very interactive and engaging. We saw one member comment on one of Clark's reviews. It was interesting how he commented back to let the reader know the author lived right in her town. So this takes the review into more of a user specific discussion where lines of thoughts can actually be explored before reading the book with the benefit of someone who has taken the time to go through the material. Whether you decide to read the book or not, it's great food for thought and talk. We expect this site will do fairly well for just getting started. It's a really enjoyable concept Clark is developing.

We also noted how other authors or people associated with publishing have joined the site and talk about their works in progress. It's neat to see someone ask for feedback about a new cover before it's been decided on and released. Clark suggests he also does some writing and we look forward to checking that work out too. How interesting is it though to see writing and perhaps even get to have a chance to be a part of it. The written media still has a place in our society and that is where some of the best entertainers- especially on intellectual and wordly subjects- are to be found. It rubs off on you too. Some of Clark's commentary on his reviews or even on his discussions has that great balance of humor, characterization, description, and story telling it seems a lot of people forget about in their online interactions. These things are certainly worth sharing in themselves and there is something of value this can add to your lifestyle and interactions with people. Even better when you can interact with others who offer the same quality and discussions.

Check it out! Area Light Explorer

[Nascent Dynamics ( )]

Today we want to highlight a really cool find...www.alphainventions.com. Nascent Dynamics ( ) has a home blog on MSN's Spaces Live and found he had some hits on his blog from the site.

Alphinventions is a blog browser that shows blogs that have been recently updated. The basic idea is that is the best time to reach out to a blogger that catches your interest...while they are still online and have just posted. The screens cycle based on latest blog entries primarily for blogs that have been submitted to the site. There is a limitation to how many blogs in a cycle. You can notify readers of your blog which essentially bumps someone else out of rotation. The nice part is they suggest then you contact that blogger as a courtesy and you can submit your blog as many times as you like. The screens are portals directly to those blogs. So you can literally reach out and interact on them.

The creator of this platform comes across as just some average guy with a common sense idea and some coding skills. However, we think the concept is a cut above and a lot of others are starting to come on board with this as possibly one of the next hot apps. In our view, the best part is he is approachable! He blogs too and responds to engagement about what he is doing. If you comment on your blog about alphainventions.com, that comment is posted to his blog and comes up in search results for alphainventions as surely a lot of people will look into upon exposure. Other features include a simple button to see who's online at the site. If you are, then your blog shows. Also, there is an alert feature where you can view recently updated blogs that contain your search terms/ interests.

We think this is so cool! The site has a value statistic close to 11 points- a target to increase SEO ratings. alphainventions.com makes it clear the things you can do to increase exposure to the site and thus yourself by way of mutually beneficial blogging and interaction. We think you will be impressed both by the simplicity of the site and the elegance of the concept.

Check it out! Area Light Explorer

[Nascent Dynamics ( )]

I wanted to get down Laurie Mackenzie's Traveler into Area Light Explorer. One of our themes on this network is networking by geographic location. We're still putting this together, but the tie ins to travel and what can be found in a place should lead to some really enjoyable conversations...and perhaps our own explorations and networking into those areas.

Laura Mckenzie has a t.v. show we see every Saturday where she travels the world and offers insights onto interests, where to go, how to go, and what to make sure to check out. We also noticed she has a website where you can view her latest episodes www.lauramckenzietv.com. She's a renowned travel expert and her travel tips and ability to "tell it like it is" are simply terrific. Her shows and writings are featured on major networks and publications. We particularly like her emphasis on indulging. If you are going to travel somewhere, then why not make it as much of a pleasure as possible. Far too often, people travel and then orient themselves on the familiar or spend their time and money on things they could find at home. Her exploration into shops and contemplation of purchases are great. So when you go somewhere, why not indulge yourself on some special entertainment, spa's, or gifts. Just like we want to enjoy networking, if you are going to travel, then make sure you are enjoying yourself.

You can also learn a lot about travel. Some of her advice tells you what you need to know in order to plan. For instance, perhaps you take a canal trip and go past all kinds of great destinations that are within walking distance if you just stepped off and explored. You might want to be familiar with how to travel from one location to another. From her experience, she makes suggestions on what you should look for or what you should avoid. She also lays out tips that are little treasures to the traveler. For instance, take a card from your hotel so you can show it to taxi drivers who don't speak english.

Check it out! Area Light Explorer

[Nascent Dynamics ( )]

O.K. schools out for summer and I have some time to get back into this mode of activity.

I plan on revisiting some earlier explorations who I know are up to interesting things, checking on my external member profiles modified as Area Light Explorer, and getting around to some members I have been thinking about.

Pierre Tavliski has a new Art Network Directory that I think is alot like Area Light in set up with Ning in mind, except with more of a focus on art as an interest area.

Mari Torres continues to be an online social networking phenomena. Her latest project features a suite of highly professional services for Ning creators who want to present and deliver their sites better.

Stephane Dube has introduced me to The Red Road, a terrifically managed social network around the theme of Native Americans. We may invite him to co-explore with us on that site. he's also a network creator with a site worth exploring again.

United In Spirit, now there is a social networking team of people who put a lot of time and attention into their site as well as really appeal to the esoteric and emotional environments. I'd like to see if we couldn't get Jodie onsite to join in on some of our dialogues about social networking and network creation.

Gerald Simmons, also known as Mr. Positivity continues to pursue his business vision with consistent outreach and motivation. I think we need to make a feature out of his Motivational Corner project on Area Light and abroad. Interestingly, he's featured on the Ning Network Directory and I think there's some potential to work alongside him motivating and outreaching through that directory site. Perhaps he can cohost an exploration with us. He's also a network creator with a site worth exploring.

Jared O'Toole: Here's a fellow entrepreneur I miss talking to. We met mover Mind Frenzy and he has evolved his activities around other priorities. I'm still a big beleiver in his ideas and work, so want to make sure I take the time to explore what he's up to.

There are so many other people, places, and things I look forward to exploring. We're going to need to get others involved in the activity! Also, I'm going to be integrating the idea of Area Light Explorer as a modern social media feature of content to be found on this site and Ning in general. The project and areas of interest are something we will be thinking out loud about on our blog Area Light Explorer.

Finally, as Pierre pointed out, directory building is a hot practice emerging in social networking. I think that is something we need to revisit with the Area Light Collective extension of Area Light Explorer. So perhaps it's time to build out that idea as a directory service of everything we explore on Area Light. So stay tuned!

Check it out! Area Light Explorer