BMW's Media Twitter List: "The Ocho" Invades Twitter -- New Usernames to follow

The Portland-area Twitterati know @KGWNewsChannel8, @TheSquare and @StephStricklen from local NBC-affiliate KGW Newschannel 8. Well get ready Twitter users, a flood of folks from "The Ocho" joined Twitter last night. Here's a rundown of the names I've (my Twitter name is @BMW, add me!) collected from KGW (and other Pacific Norhwest media), of course -- let me know who I've missed and I'll update this post:

• @KGWNewschannel8 - general Twitter account for KGW (headlines, station news)
  
• @TheSquare - producer account for Live at 7 show (show prep, notes, feedback)
  
• @StephStricklen - anchor of KGW's Live at 7 (personal goings-ons, behind-the-scenes)
  
• @Aweiss - mostly personal account of "Producer Aaron", freq. voice behind @TheSquare
  
• @pdxpeacock - KGW anchor Joe Donlon
  
• @lauralKGW - KGW anchor Laural Porter
  
• @zaffino - KGW Chief Meteorologist Matt Zaffino (get it "..at Zaffino"?)
  
• @burton_scott - KGW "Night Team" reporter Scott Burton

If you use TweetDeck (or similar?) you can toss the following query into a search box to follow the KGW-related conversation in one handy column:
KGW OR TheSquare OR StephStricklen OR AWeiss OR pdxpeacock OR OR lporter2009 OR zaffino or "burton_scott"

Other Northwest Media Twitter accounts you might find interesting to follow:

• @KXL - Newsradio 750 KXL (home of my weekly radio segments!)
  
• @FOX12Oregon - KPTV FOX (general station account)
  
• @ORMediaInsiders - Lynne from OregonMediaInsiders.com
  
• @siliconflorist - Rick Turoczy's blog about local startup and tech communities
  
• @NWCN - Northwest Cable News
  
• @NWCNtech - Northwest Cable News: "Talkin' Tech"

Fans (or professionals) of broadcast journalism may also want to follow:

• @newmediajim -- NBC News photojournalist. Lots of insight into Nightly, other broadcasts.
  
• @davidgregory -- David Gregory, Meet the Press
  
• @todayshow -- Official Today Show twitter, mostly promotional, but some behind-scenes stuff too.
  
• @nbcnightlynews -- Mostly videos of show clips, but sometimes interesting.
  
• @msnbc
  
• @tvnewser -- very "inside baseball"
  
• @NBCNewsCrew -- "Network Photojournalist with NBC News covering stories for NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, MSNBC and CNBC."
• @Verso suggests: @APNewsAlert, @BreakingNewsOn, @ThePolitico, @NewsHour (yes with Jim Lehrer!), @NPRpolitics, @NPRNews
• @maddow, @willatwork (maddow's producer), and @shuster1600 (MSNBC's David Shuster). Oh, and there's always @ricksanchezcnn suggests: @maddow, @willatwork (maddow's producer), @shuster1600 (MSNBC's David Shuster), @ricksanchezcnn
  

...of course there are HUNDREDS more. What media-related or local outlets are considered "must-follow"? Drop your own list in the comments (or Twitter me, I'm @BMW) and I'll update the list with your suggestions.

Twestival Comes to Portland, V-Day Viruses to Your PC

KXL Tech Expert Segment for 12 February 2009

It's called "Twestival" and it's coming to 175+ cities near you to benefit a worthy cause. A meetup of Twitter users, and others concerned about providing clean drinking water to regions of the world that would otherwise go without, the event happens today at The Goodfoot Pub on 2845 SE Stark Street. For more information, visit the Portland site or learn more about the global campaign.

It wouldn't be Valentine's Day without the annual reminder... be cautious about e-greeting cards! Those saying "I love you" this year via. email will join 2.5% of all spam -- some containing malicious spyware, nasty computer infections, or other dangerous software. Be skeptical when opening attachments, cautious when clicking links, and -- as always -- be sure your anti-virus software is up-to-date.

Thanks for listening and don't forget to check out my appearance today on KATU-TV's AM Northwest where we'll be checking out gadgets to make your life easier...

Listen to this segment, as broadcast on Newsradio 750 KXL on 12 February 2009.

Ignite Portland and Other PDX Tech Events

UPDATE: Ignite Portland 5 tickets were gone in 5 min. 29 seconds! If you didn't get yours, add yourself to the waiting list here or show up (early!) to the Bagdad Theater on the 19th for "general admission".

Why should you play bridge? Have you ever wanted to learn the history of fonts? These topics and more are among the 18 slated for the fifth installment of Ignite Portland. Held a few times a year, the free event at the Bagdad Theater highlights inspiring talks, educational presentations, and a fun evening of networking -- all with McMenamin's-level hospitality (read: good beer!).

I'll be at Ignite Portland 5 coming up in two weeks and look forward to seeing as many listeners (and viewers!) there as I can! Get your tickets now or show up on the 19th.

The event takes place Thursday, February 19th at the Bagdad Theater at 3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd from 7-10pm. If you have a ticket (free), you can take your seat as early as 5:15pm. Those without tickets (lots of seats held for non-ticketholders and there's even a "waitlist") line up early and enter at 6pm.

Get your tickets (FREE) starting at 10AM Thursday: IgnitePortland.com

Other area tech events I'm attending where you can catch up with me (feel free to buy me a beer!) and say hello:

Thu 19 Feb 09 -- Ignite Portland 5 (free) at Bagdad Theater. Doors at 5:15pm w/tickets, Doors at 6:00pm for non-ticketholders.

Fri 20 Feb 09 -- Beer & Blog (weekly, free) at The Green Dragon. Weekly tech scene happy hour. Get help with your blog or just come mix and mingle with felow Portland techies.

Mon 23 Feb 09 -- Social Media Club PDX.

For more information on area tech events, be sure to visit: calagator.org, Portland's Tech Calendar.

To hear this story, as broadcast on Newsradio 750 KXL on 5 February 2009, click here (MP3).

Personal data safe? Microsoft's Data Privacy Day

Microsoft invaded traditionally Hallmark turf earlier this week with their "Data Privacy Day" public-awareness campaign. The software giant encourages us to think about how we reveal personal information in a fun, if not somewhat corny, online quiz.

The quiz, which not surprisingly didn't work well in my Firefox browser, asks questions about your online activities and ranks your performance between "Your cover's blown" to "You're in deep cover", complete with secret agent icons.

Now, don't expect this campaign to change your world, make you a security and/or privacy expert... but it does serve as a great reminder that there are risks to sharing your personal information with online sites.

Here are some important tips to remember everyday, not just the so-called "Data Privacy Day":

• Be aware of what information you are sharing and how it will be used. If in doubt, refuse to give it out.
• Review a website's privacy policy and site terms. Sure, they're long legal documents and often a checkbox away from getting what you came for... but these agreements contain important details about what a website may and may not do with your data. (Of course, scrupulous sites will take advantage of your data anyway!)
• Review your accounts, passwords, and social networking profiles often for revealing (and incorrect) information.
• Change your passwords often. When was the last time you changed a password? Do it now!
• Be careful what you click. Emails may contain attachments that are ticking time bombs, websites that look sketchy -- probably are. And the IRS will never send you unsolicited email. A healthy dose of skepticism could save your identity and major headaches to follow.

Microsoft has also released a much-less corny video documentary with some solid recent data about online privacy from a variety of perspectives. It's five minutes, but worth watching. (Use some of that time you save each time you quickly and click 'Accept' on a website's privacy policy.)

My Privacy: Safely Navigating Life Online

For more information, visit Microsoft's "Data Privacy Day" website. While you're joining me in a collective eye-roll at the idea of a Microsoft holiday -- if you really want to get into the spirit of things -- hop on over to my Amazon wishlist and feel free to buy me a Data Privacy Day gift. (What, you didn't know buying me presents was part of Data Privacy Day?!?)

Microsoft.com: Server Error in '/careers' Application.

In light of layoffs for the first time in Microsoft's history, there's a certain irony to Sunday's error message on the Microsoft.com "Careers" page:



Server Error in '/careers' Application.

Indeed.

Need some help guys? (Screenshot created 6:45am 25 January 2009, repro steps: Visit Microsoft.com, click "careers" in bottom footer. Result: Error as shown above. Expected: Microsoft's Careers database. Browser: Firefox.)


Complete error text, for those who might be able to help restore the page (of course, I suppose you'd already need to have a job at Microsoft to offer assistance)...

Server Error in '/careers' Application.
The log file for database 'Careers' is full. Back up the transaction log for the database to free up some log space.
Description: An unhandled exception occurred during the execution of the current web request. Please review the stack trace for more information about the error and where it originated in the code.

Exception Details: System.Data.SqlClient.SqlException: The log file for database 'Careers' is full. Back up the transaction log for the database to free up some log space.

Source Error:

An unhandled exception was generated during the execution of the current web request. Information regarding the origin and location of the exception can be identified using the exception stack trace below.

Stack Trace:

[SqlException (0x80131904): The log file for database 'Careers' is full. Back up the transaction log for the database to free up some log space.]
MSArm.UI.Common.XpSession.CreateNew(HttpContext Context) +461
MSArm.UI.Common.XpPage.CreateNewSession(String redirectUrl, Boolean signout) +81
MSArm.UI.Common.XpPage.CheckSession() +4333
Microsoft.HRIT.Staffing.Web.External.Pages.HomePage.Page_Load(Object sender, EventArgs e) +43
System.Web.UI.Control.OnLoad(EventArgs e) +99
System.Web.UI.Control.LoadRecursive() +47
System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequestMain(Boolean includeStagesBeforeAsyncPoint, Boolean includeStagesAfterAsyncPoint) +1436


Version Information: Microsoft .NET Framework Version:2.0.50727.1433; ASP.NET Version:2.0.50727.1433

Microsoft: 5,000 jobs cut, tough times ahead

KXL Tech Expert Segment for 22 January 2009

Proving even software giants are not immune to the effects of this troubled economy, Microsoft has announced today 5,000 job cuts – 1400 expected today.

The Redmond, WA-based company released a press release just after 6am this morning warning of lower profits sending shares in pre-market trading down 7 percent. They’ve also advised investors not to expect “quantitative revenue and EPS guidance for the balance of this fiscal year”, due to market volatility. (Microsoft’s fiscal year ends in June annually.)

The most troubling news for those heading to work at various campus locations worldwide today:

Microsoft will eliminate up to 5,000 jobs in R&D, marketing, sales, finance, legal, HR, and IT over the next 18 months, including 1,400 jobs today.”

Previously this week, Intel Corp. announced cutbacks in its Hillsboro, OR workforce, among other locations.

For more on this story, listen to my report (MP3), as heard on Newsradio 750 KXL during Portland's Morning News 22 Jan 2009.

Updated - Airchecks from today's Microsoft layoffs story:
KXL-AM: Tech Expert 6:40am Live - Microsoft Layoffs & Whitehouse.gov transition
The Lars Larson Show (regional) - Microsoft Layoffs, Intel Impact analysis and local impact
KOMO-AM: Microsoft Layoffs - What Microsoft and Intel layoffs have in common

Inauguration 2009: Whitehouse.gov Makes Smooth Transition

The 56th Inauguration of the President of the United States of America is underway and clearly will be a day to remember.

While millions gathered at the Nation's Capitol -- a tiny army of web workers, including Macon Phillips incoming Director of New Media, unveiled the new website of for the new Adminstration.

Here is what whitehouse.gov looked like just before the transition:


And here is a screenshot of the new whitehouse.gov while Obama gave his Inaugural address:


And eight years ago? The online transition wasn't so successful, as I noted in my 2001 post just after the previous shift of Presidential power.