Author: Witzke

Blogging in the enterprise: Tips for Success

by  on  in collaboration, enterprise, web 2.0

Melanie Turek provides some good tips on blogging: Blogging in the Enterprise: Tips for Success. There are still many organizations that are not taking advantage of blogs behind the firewall.

In the increasingly virtual workplace, it’s important for employees to make virtual connections—and blogs are one way to help them do that.

In the enterprise, there are two ways to use blogs. One is a corporate-supported (and approved) blog that’s meant to be read by the outside world; the other is an internal blog for employees’ eyes only, for sharing information and creating job and interest-related connections. (There are also lots of blogs out there penned by individuals who use the space to discuss their companies and the markets they are in, among other interests, but these are not technically “enterprise blogs,” as they are not established or supported by the companies themselves.)

Frankly, I don’t see a lot of either type of enterprise blog being used today, and I rarely talk to people who have even considered an internal version. But I think that’s actually the type that has the most promise for the enterprise.

Internal blogs can provide tremendous benefits if developed and supported by the culture change that is necessary: 

Internally-focused blogs are easier to maintain and serve a more relevant purpose. Companies with large numbers of remote or virtual employees can use enterprise blogs to keep those staffers connected to the company and one another. By setting up a variety of blogs tagged to specific topics, companies allow employees to share ideas for new products, IT fixes and best practices, better business processes, strong customer service.

Are you taking advantage of blogging in your organization?

Santa Claus lifts spirits of Canadian troops on front line in Afghanistan

by  on  in human interest

The CBC reported that Santa paid a visit to the Canadian troops in Afghanistan. But this was not your everyday Santa.

Santa

Santa Claus, aka Warrant Officer Jean Blain of Montreal, visits a Canadian soldier whose name is witheld for security reasons at forward observation base Mas’um Ghar on Sunday, Dec. 24. (CP/Bill Graveland)

It had a Canadian look to it but the red and white uniform worn by the visitor to Canadian troops at forward operating base Mas’um Ghar was definitely not regulation.

However, the government-issued flak jacket worn underneath certainly was.

“Santa may be silly, Santa may be jolly, but Santa is certainly not stupid,” said the famous old gentlemen

Vancouver Windstorm

by  on  in Around Vancouver

On December 15, 2006 a once in a lifetime windstorm rolled through Vancouver and Victoria. This was the 3rd storm to hit our region in the last month. All through the night the wind howled across the city. In Vancouver the winds reached 110+ kph and around Victoria it reached 150 kph.

There’s been major damage on all across our region. Stanley Park has been devastated, with hundreds of centuries old trees uprooted. Old trees along the waterfront, in parks and on city streets are no more.

I’ve included some pictures taken in the following days.

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beat up tempo, originally uploaded by punkasz.
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2006_12_15__15_10_55, originally uploaded by freedryk.

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double trouble, originally uploaded by SqueakyMarmot.

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Callister Park, originally uploaded by SqueakyMarmot.

Distribution of Income

by  on  in Around the world, Church and family, Personal development

We have all heard it before – North American’s and European’s are the wealthiest in the world. Just how wealthy are you in comparison to 6+ billion people on this earth? The Global Rich List shows you just how skewed the distribution of income has become. Enter your income and you’ll see how you rate. Try $50,000, $20,000, $8,000. This is a real eye opener. It should make us realize that we in North America live in untold abundance.