Can I get to 100 posts of no GYM?

by on November 13, 2005

Yesterday a reader gave me crud about only writing about Microsoft. Usually when that happens that is an early-warning sign that I’m in a rut. So, how do you get out of a rut? Force yourself to.

So, here’s a little experiment; Can I get to 100 posts without mentioning Google, Yahoo, or Microsoft? (GYM)

That’s going to be tough. Let’s try.

How hard will it be? Well, over on Shawn Morrissey’s blog I just learned that the Whole Foods Market’s CEO is now blogging. Would it break the rules to comment that Shawn is a coworker of mine? Nah, but it gets close.

So, why do this? Cause I had an entrepreneur last night tell me that when I linked to his company recently his company’s sales doubled.

That reminded me of my time working in marketing for Winnov and I was frustrated by trying to get anyone to pay attention to what our company was doing. I remember what it was like to have all the press pay attention only to Microsoft.

So, let’s see if I can do 100 posts without talking about the big three companies.

  • Christopher Coulter
    Well more relevant M would be nice too. But 'No GYM' thus far seems to mean 'Web 2.0'. ;)
  • If you run out of topics, feel free to blog about us. :)
  • I think that if GYM does something worth talking about than it should be talked about. I think the answer is not "no GYM" but more attention to other companies or people. This is not a zero sum game.
  • You can't.

    And you haven't.

    Simply by titling each post "No GYM" you've already mentioned it. Am I the only person to see the irony in this silly pretense?
  • Jason
    lol Barry, and good luck Robert. We'll ignore the GYM in the title.
  • How about not using buzzwords for 100 posts instead? ;)
  • Christopher Coulter
    Meme? Oh dear me. Random weekend thoughts with a TLA, and you bloggers, churn it into a MEME? Man, wonders never cease. Now totally safe to assume, no real danger of any outside world impact. It's not that the topic is "GYM", it's just that it's such a narrow slice of it. As MFST's Chief Blogger, they should demand their money back, as you hardly cover real MFST news.

    M weekend news good-fodder for say an 'Evangelist': WinHEC 2006 dates announced, Gamers at 'Zero Hour' -- Xbox 360 party in the Mojave Desert, still 9 days away and 98% of the non-gaming world knows not and also the first Backwards Compatibility List was released...MS Office 12 for Mobile Products...Microsoft urges users to update Flash Player...new Microsoft Certifications, program redesigned, getting raves...Cameroon Conference, Gates gives millions to combat malaria...Microsoft Does Scrum (yet another "new" methodology. I call a total spade, but it's good blog fodder)...Visual Studio 2005 backlash heavy (that Service Pack announced BEFORE release bit)...Microsoft joins the Bush Administration’s Anti-Piracy STOP Initiative...

    And so on, and that's not from even trying that hard.
  • Drop the "GYM" from the titles of your posts... I simply skim them with this addition (makes it seem like a series of posts).
  • "GYM" (and particularly "M") is what makes Scobleizer interesting and distinctive. Your schtick leverages insider information about Microsoft with a humorous and often fresh take on the big M. Let other people babble about Web 2.0 (and http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/11/11/web_two... is so far my favorite take on it)...
  • Hey Scoble, why not take this no GYM chance to talk about another M - Macromedia. You don't seem to mention them much and I'm not sure if its because you think they're not doing anything interesting or because they don't seem to be the kind of competition that Google and Yahoo are for Microsoft.
  • Anona
    "Yesterday a reader gave me crud about only writing about Microsoft."

    So? You are paid to be a MSFT propagandist, you're doing your job. What's his problem?
  • Brian
    Better get to your 100 fast, cause you're gonna have to make a mention when Virtual Earth drops their new version next week.
  • Heh, Brian, I'm racing the Virtual Earth team! First one to 100 posts wins.

    I'm doing my research. Went to Fry's with Maryam and Buzz and Patrick. Here's a prediction: 2006 is the year of HDTV. The energy around HDTV is increasing every weekend. Sony had a tent in the parking lot.
  • I'll drop the GYM in the headlines.

    Christopher: good points. I disagree with your Xbox 360 naysaying, though. Best Buy here in Silicon Valley has one on display and I had to wait in line to play it.
  • A Best Buy in Silicon Valley, yeah that is representative of the general population....

    I really can't see HDTV taking off until the price point becomes a little sweeter.
  • Scoble, you're forgetting the one part about HDTV that's limiting it. Content!

    Yes hd-dvd and blueray are going to come out, but you know that the first devices will be cost prohibative. That's why I say wait till 2007 when direct tv has more channels and blueray/hddvd becomes cheaper.
  • jaseone: HDTV pricing is on a Moore's law style curve. If you can't afford it today, just stay alive. :-)

    Stefan: who needs physical media? BitTorrent!
  • hehe but consumers don't know about bit torrent, that's the sad thing.

    here's hoping dvd john cracks the drm in hd-dvd's and blueray media. down with drm and hdcp!
  • Hey Rob
    here is a non GYM addition

    A sons efforts to help his poor family after Katrina

    http://operationeden.blogspot.com/

    John Piercy
  • A note about DTV/HDTV. Yes, 2006 is going to be a big year for HDTV -- largely because Congress has finally declared that NTSC and standard def. analog broadcast goes away in 2009.

    I've seen big tube (30") HDTV sets with DTV tuners under $700. By the time the switch is mandatory, it will be affordable.

    And, the content will be there, even if it's only up-converted standard def. stuff. Even the little government-run cable station I work for is moving into the digital realm, starting with DTV and HDTV cameras, editors and servers within the next few months.
  • /pd
    Hey nothing should stop you from trolling and spitting out thoughts on googs, yahoo and msft wherever ts mentioned !!
  • JODI
    hAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF GYM-BUSTERS?
    J.
  • For obvious reasons I love the acronym (I write a techy fitness blog).... however with that said, I'm more of a "G" girl. I visit google daily... I visit Yahoo as a second option only when I didn't find enough on a subject... and I visit Microsoft once or twice a year only to verify links... oh, and other than this comment, I never have the need to talk about any!
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