This post has been removed in accordance with the P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act.

Just dropped by Technorati home page and see that it now features scrolling display of latest blog posts. I like the new interface!

I know it seems I’ve been hating on Facebook a bit lately, but that’s the way it is with cultural icons. I’ve been hammering away at the pre-eminent social networking app, and in the true spirit of blogging, freely criticizing its features and user interface (while keeping my Facebook home page up constantly and eagerly checking to see if anyone has sent me a message or written on my wall).

I had a technical question recently and was of course unable to contact Facebook directly, so I went to the official Facebook blog. The writing is quite good, and the topics are clearly of interest to many Facebook users, but I think Facebook is missing a real opportunity by having what is little more than a marketing blog.

I did notice a candid September 5, 2006 post by Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook founder, in which he discusses the Mini-Feed and News Feed and acknowledges user discontent with the implementation of these features.

However, the posts on the current blog home page are mostly self-congratulatory and completely non-controversial and non-provocative. I was also surprised to see that current blog posts do not permit commenting (though this was a feature that appears to have been previously available.)

A corporate blog ought to have a point of view (other than “Facebook kicks ass.”) It should deal with issues, not just features and subscriber stats. I imagine the Facebook party line on this would be that Facebook itself offers much more in the way of online social interaction than can be found on a decidedly old school platform like a blog. Given Facebook’s recent surge in popularity and membership, and its emergence as the latest social networking phenomenon, one would expect more interesting discussions on the company’s blog.

The Street.com* reports: SEC to Look at Whole Foods CEOs Internet Activity

“The Securities and Exchange Commission has reportedly begun an informal inquiry into the Internet message board postings of Whole Foods Market.
The online version of The Wall Street Journal reported late Friday that regulators will likely examine whether Web comments by Mackey during an eight-year stint of posting company-cheering entries under a pseudonym had contradicted official Whole Foods statements.

The SEC also will likely look at whether Mackey selectively disclosed material corporate information in violation of securities laws, the Journal said.

In a Whole Foods blog post following the disclosure by the Federal Trade Commission of Mackey’s Web writings, the CEO said he never revealed any ‘proprietary’ information about the company.”

Wow. What an idiot.

* The original report was in the Wall Street Journal but I do not like linking to articles that are, or may become, subscription only

Earlier this year, Eric Jackson, investor activist and blogger, played a major role in fomenting a shareholder revolt that led to the resignation of former Yahoo CEO Terry Semel. Now Jackson is at again as he calls for the resignation of Motorola CEO Ed Zander after Motorola issued a warning that it would report a second-quarter loss, and lowered sales forecasts. According to Forbes:

“On Monday, Jackson posted a YouTube video message on his blog Breakout Performance to his fellow Motorola shareholders with a five-point plan on turning the company around. Replacing Zander was at the top of his list.”

Clearly, the game is changing (as one comment on YouTube notes) when shareholder revolts are carried out, and apparently with great effectiveness, through blogs and YouTube video. Apparently social media has grown up and corporate America needs to understand what it’s all about and put in place blog and video strategies of their own, particularly in executive communications.Motorola will report earnings July 19, so quiet period regulations most likely bar Zander from recording a video in response to Jackson, at least for the next seven days. It may be too late for Zander, I don’t know, and truthfully, the man shouldn’t be judged on whether he records a video, but on his performance as CEO and whether he’s fulfilled his obligations to shareholders. Arguably, though, Zander can either respond, which might serve to validate Jackson’s clout with investors, or remain mute, possibly telegraphing that he doesn’t have a strong response to the charges.

I have been so busy over at Eastwick Communications getting the new agency blog set up, that I have not been blogging here on Techneuroti. My dad has been on me to write something new here, because he can’t stand the phrase “pimp-slapping” used in my previous post and wants it to disappear off the top of the blog.

There you go, dad. As you have often said, “don’t say I never did anything for you.”

David Pogue takes Microsoft and bloggers to task for a program in which bloggers were given free Acer Ferrari laptops as part of a Windows Vista promotion. Pogue quotes a Times article:

“Several bloggers reported last week that they had received Acer Ferrari laptops, which can sell for more than $2,200, from Microsoft. A spokeswoman for Microsoft confirmed on Friday that the company had sent out about 90 computers to bloggers who write about technology and other subjects that could be affected by the release of Windows Vista, Microsoft’s new operating system.”

I agree with Pogue’s conclusion that the bloggers are 

“exploiting the lawless, Brave New World of the blogsophere, where, since they’re Not Quite Journalists, they don’t feel constrained by any of those pesky journalistic ethics guidelines. Like the one that says, ‘You don’t keep $2,200 gifts from the subject of your review. You might think you can still write an impartial review, but it’s highly unlikely-and either way, nobody will believe it.’

But Microsoft gets much of the blame, too. It deliberately exploited a weak spot in today’s court of public opinion: how bloggers influence consumers, but generally don’t have conflict-of-interest policies.”

Acer Ferrari Laptop, shiny and bright red, but does not influence bloggers

Recognizing that these laptops have no inherent value, I am announcing a laptop disposal program to relieve the bloggers of the nuisance of owning a computer that is of no use and does not in any way influence their attitudes toward Microsoft, Acer or Windows Vista. I urge all of the bloggers to contact me as soon as they are done reviewing Windows Vista. I will send, at no charge, a prepaid Fed Ex box so that they can send me these unwanted/unneeded laptops. I will in turn sell them on eBay and donate the full proceeds to Oxfam’s Sudan Crisis Relief and Rehabilitation Fund.

In Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman says his problem is “he’s liked, but not well liked.” In PR, it seems, it is increasingly important to be well liked, and to be well liked, one needs to be a trusted participant in the conversation.

Consider this post by Shel Israel on the selection of David Parmet as ScrapBlog’s new PR manager largely because they liked him, and because he blogged:

“(David’s) blog, and a previous telephone talk was enough to make Carlos (Garcia) feel enthusiastic about the thought of David having conversations on behalf of Scrapblog. That’s what PR is now about. The PR guy needs to be a trusted participant in conversations. These conversations can help a client only if the person bringing that client into a community is already a trusted resource. David is not alone. There are lots of PR people who get this. They tend to know and respect each other and enjoy each other’s company. They will compete against each other if they have to, but in fact they would much prefer to collaborate.”

Today was my last day at Hewlett-Packard. I worked with many great executives while I was at HP, including Peter Blackmore, Mike Winkler, Ann Livermore, Tom Hogan, Andy Mattes and others, and I have seen nothing but change in my two-and-a-half years there. Mark Hurd’s the third CEO I’ve served under, after Carly and then CFO Bob Wayman as interim CEO. The Customer Solutions Group, which I joined in May, 2004, no longer exists, having been absorbed by the Technology Solutions Group.

So I’m on to the next big thing. I have been extremely fortunate to have been offered a position with Eastwick Communications as Executive Vice President, Emerging Media, where I’ll be responsible for developing social media strategy for the agency’s clients. I’ll also be working on the editorial side of the house, building on Eastwick’s recognized focus on content excellence and domain knowledge.

I’ve been in Fortune 500 corporate communications for eight years, first at Sun Microsystems and now at HP, and my position with Eastwick will allow me to apply what I’ve learned to the agency side of the business, and to learn from some of the best PR people in the industry. I was attracted to Eastwick by its stellar reputation and high integrity; by Elaine and Barbara, its brilliant principals; and by the wonderfully balanced culture of excellence and sanity I found there.

It is only fitting that I start a new blog, Techneuroti, more suited to my new position and interests. I am putting my original blog, Hyde Park, in storage, perhaps to be brought back to life in another time and place.