Guagua Pública

Follow along with me as I apply keyword search gymanastics with Paper.Li...

When examining the advanced search options for Twitter Search, I begun to see the strong possibility to really do some culture hacking. After seeing a few examples I hope you see why!

Here are some of the examples so far, each with a little bit of the reasoning behind each experiment:

• This was my first basic experiment. I thought to my self, let's use this auto-content generator to phish for followers using important keywords that support Guagua Pública. The result was: "Guagua Pública: Cross Media Authors." That was a simple mash-up between (free culture OR open source OR transmedia).
• Another riff off of the same topic, more or less, was a mash-up on (storycube OR storytelling OR narrative OR transmedia): "Story Cube Dialogue."
• And here's a bunch where I just did the first things that popped into my mind, and got just plain stupid:
  
  • When looking at the advanced Twitter Search screen I noticed that you could search for "positive" tweets and I decided to mash that up with tweets with a question and a link, what do you get? Well, you get "Positively Random Questions," but of course, you saw that coming, right? Oh yeah, apparently the search string for that is ":) ? filter:links".
  • To give an opposing viewpoint, I decided to go with negative retweets; that search string is ":( include:retweets". The result was the  "Fear Mongers United."
  • Then in homage to one of my favorite movies, "Dude, where's my car?" I created "Dude, you've got a tattoo!" which just looks for any tweet with either "su-weeeeet-ta" or "duuuud-da," well more like sweet or dude, but you get the point. 
  • On What The Trend, I found that hashtags (#verysexy, #notsexy, #thatssexy) were trending, so I dropped not sexy, cause who really wants to see that, and produced: "Sex, sex, and more sex."
• I finally got around to trying out some location based examples. First I realized that the locatin based search strings don't yet work in Paper.li, so I had to go with a location keyword. My first attempt was:
• "San Juan Daily Links," where I just included ("San Juan" filter:links) in the search string.
• Followed quickly by "Joe Blow from Kokomo," which I tried to give as positive of a spin as possible, because heaven knows, Kokomo needs all the help it can get.
• My latest experiment was built off of the top trend #thingsthedevilinvented, I call it: Sex, Drugs & Rock n Roll

While I'm still trying to iron out the kinks in a few, most of my experiments have been successful, and produced an interesting result. However, my experiments came to a halt when I ran into a small obstacle. The number of papers is limited per account. I bet if I think hard, I can figure out a way to keep this experiment running....stay tuned to find out if I do.

I was following along with a discussion on the StoryWorld forum on LinkedIn when the example of the BBC's "Being human" was thrown out as a good starting point. The comment thread was discussing "I was just saying that I think I'm becoming transmedia ready... are you already ?"

Since, I'm actively becoming transmedia ready, already, I was naturally interested in seeing another transmedia case study, unfortunately this is what I got when I went to the BBC page:

In an intense battle for attention, how could it possibly be in your best interest to limit your exposure? Fundamentally I think this is what companies don't "get." You can't be just half way on the bus. Although, through quantum mechanics I could potentially describe you as being both on the bus and off the bus, remember that at the point of measurement you're still either on or off the bus.

What this means for companies is that they can't hope to embrace free culture while simultaneously creating artificial barriers (scarcity) on what is essentially a commodity. The biggest and final hurdle for any company to clear when it comes to social networks is that it can't be done without a full commitment to sharing.

There's too much competition, if you create obstacles, then your would be audience will route around your obstacle and find the next entertaining thing in the queue. These days, unless your persistent, you have to capitalize on every connection with a potential fan. He who has the biggest social network of dedicated fans will succeed, never give them a reason to switch to another tribe.

I'm excited to have on my agenda a meeting with Caitlin Burns from Starlight Runner. She will be the first person I can talk freely with about transmedia, especially its impact on social networking. Caitlin is a transmedia producer, and writes frequently about the subject.

If you haven't read "Fandom and Social Networks: the Key to Evergreen Franchises, " you should. I think this a great piece that starts to touch on some of the critical conceptual jumps I have in mind for Mis Tribus. Caitlin does a great service to everyone when she notes:

The more often fans are validated by the properties they adore, the more loyal they become.

She also notes:

Social Media is all about interactivity, and modern audiences crave a sense of connection to characters and stories they love. Expanding the universe of a narrative into and around social networks, providing additional content and creating inroads for fans to feel ownership in a property’s fictional world is a sure way to extend the life of a property into a world-class, franchise that stands the test of time.

I think here though, maybe Caitlin prefers not to scare away her customer base by not telling them, "your fans already own your brand." Here's the thing: it doesn't matter whether you think you are giving them ownership or realizing that they already own it, they do own your brand. It's a numbers game, with enough engagement, there's more fans than there are producers; which is the ultimate level of permission. By recognizing their ownership you have the freedom to call for a sale at any time. Which is how and when everyone benefits.

Here's what I could grab of the O'Reilly TOC Webinar, Inside Google eBooks webinar, I thank O'Reilly for the opportunity to participate. I haven't had a chance to review it, I'll wait to go through it when the video is posted on O'Reilly's YouTube Channel.

Here's what I got:

Rick Werezak: Q: I don't see a Google eBook reader in the AppStore for iPad nor in the Google app. I have Kindle, Kobo, iBook, but can't find Google Books.

Herne Herne: @Jason I can't lend dead-tree books? If I bought it, I own it. Does that mean I can't loan my car to someone?

Jason Wallwork: unless it's computer or career related, i don't really need to own the book, reading it once is enough

Dean Blobaum 2: Google app is on iPad

Jason Wallwork: tell that to software companies, herne

Maria Droujkova: In what country is it illegal to lend paper books? When has it last been enforced?

Herne Herne: @Jason Software is a different thing all together

Jason Wallwork: it's like music, you essentially own a license for yourself

Jason Wallwork: you don't have the right, though nobody enforeces it, to resell or lend the book to others

Herne Herne: @Jason I buy CDs... I own them, I can lend them to someone else.

Nancy Johnson: yes we do!

Ronald Patrick Santos: Where is sir paul?

Jason Wallwork: you can't legally, herne

Herne Herne: Does that mean if I buy a CD and play it, that nobody else can listen to it?

Dean Blobaum 2: So, all used bookdealers are violating alw?

Alphonse MacDonald: do you hav e/capita data?

Maria Droujkova: Seemed in-sync for me

Jason Wallwork: yeah, legally they are, but like I said the publishers don't really enforce it

Matt Blair: Q: What about buying e-versions of orphan works? E.g. Millay translation of Baudelaire out of print, costs $600 used...

Jason Wallwork: that's also why some publishers hate libraries

Tom Nastas: How does one create an e-book?

Dean Blobaum 2: Look up the term first sale doctrine.

Herne Herne: ''Some publishers'' need to stop dreaming

O'Reilly Media: You can follow google ebooks on twitter at @googlebooks

Kat Meyer: ?many in the romance ebook world r wondering if you were really seriously surprised to see romance as leading category. or were you being facetious?

Jason Wallwork: Q: Can you lend Google ebooks?

Maria Droujkova: Thank you, Dean

Herne Herne: Hi Kat!

Marsee Henon: http://books.google.com/support/partner

Mona Proctor: can public libraries lend Google ebooks?

Susanna Leers: Did they skip a bunch of slides? Why is the ending slide showing?

Marlon Ramal: what is the process of buying books in e books in free?

Chris Palma: No lending right now, but we are talking with our publishers about allowing this

Tom Nastas: How do we take our content, create an eabook with design, layout, etc?

Jason Wallwork: Thanks Chris

haley: Q. Would anyone elsehave access to your ebooks? Would your reading interests be made available to other companies?

Herne Herne: @Tom PDF is your only option for Layout and Design

Eric Collins: Q: How long do you expect books in clouds to persist? Dead trees are inherrently stable.. What happens to our purchased content when eBooks in the cloud become obsolete or the provider no longer provides access/support?

O'Reilly Media: If your question is for Abe and Chris, please preface it with a Q.

Maria Droujkova: @Chris Palma - !Q: How does a small publisher start with you?

Alphonse MacDonald: Q: How many sales partners?

Connie Crandall: Q. How do we create e-books? Is there a program or some training available?

Stephen Carter: Q: Is there an affiliate program as with Amazon, where I get paid for driving traffic/sales to Google books?

Patrick Hogan: Q: Could you speak to the level of activity, sales, coming from independent booksellers?

Herne Herne: @Connie InDesign CS5 will do the bulk of the work...

Marlon Ramal: @chris what is the process of buying books in e books in free?

Tom Nastas: Sure I understand that PDF is the format, but how do we take our documnt in Word, decide how to lay it out for visual appeal, add picutres, etc

Connie Crandall: Thanks Herne.

Dean Blobaum 2: Q. Enhanced e-books supported?

Herne Herne: @Tom Word is not especially a ''layout'' program... InDesign would be a better option

Rick Werezak: Q: I can't find it. What would I search for in AppStore? Is it just not available in the Canadian Store?

Chris Palma: Hey Alphonse-- 4k plus Google ebooks partners

Dean Blobaum 2: Maybe not in Canada; I'm in US

Herne Herne: @Tom Word is a very simplistic text program. Word is a pig for trying to create engaging layouts...

Tom Nastas: Are there rules of tumb, # of words/page for e-books, creating a design and layout? I've written for Harvard BBiz Review, but e-books are different

Dean Blobaum 2: Q Sales volume direct vs. through partners?

Herne Herne: @Tom eBooks don't really have pages...

Tom Nastas: No pages? Sure they do. Seth Godin'shave pages

Alphonse MacDonald: Q -@ Chris How do we get in sales partner program?

Herne Herne: @Tom if I increase or decrease my font size, the number of pages change... they're not static

Jason Wallwork: of course they have pages

Martin Taylor: Where is the info on how to integrate Google Ebooks on your website

Martin Taylor: Q: Where is the info on how to integrate Google Ebooks on your website

Connie Crandall: Q. I don't have an e-reader yet. Any recommendations?

Dean Blobaum 2: Q. When will Google sales data to publishing partners improve?

Herne Herne: @Connie I would go for a Sony...

Patrick Hogan: Do publishers supply metadata? What are metadata sources used? Or does Google create through algoritms?

Herne Herne: Q: Do you have a solution for complex math?

Eileen: You have the program via ABA. Are you working with any organization for online-only indies?

Randy Kennedy: Q - If we embed XMP/metadata in our eBook/PDFs, ie. reviews, supplemental texts in a custome field or a regular XMP panel will Goopgle reveal this in the search data?

James Davies: Q Can readers outtside the US purchase Google ebooks?

Kristopher Mejia: nice thanks for the answer :)

Melvin Chester Lui: @Mejia: Hey

Peter Fitchett: Restarted browser, but sound not much better

Kat Meyer: i thought it was funny.;)

Jason Wallwork: thanks for the answer :)

Rick Werezak: Q: Google Books iPad app is not available in the Canadian Store. What's the plan for rolling it out to places outside the USA?

Herne Herne: Q: What sort of policy does Google have on censoring or revoking content that has already been purchased? (a la Amazon)

Alexander Noveno: bounce,csb?

Colleen Greene: Q: I didn't hear the response to inquiry about e-textbooks. Anyone?

Dean Blobaum 2: Publishers already work with library suppliers of both physical and e books.

Jason Wallwork: he said they already have many texts available in their preview view and are working with publishers to add more

haley: textbooks are in the works

Michalis Kalamaras: Q: will it be possible to upload our ebooks or PDFs to Google ebooks? In order to have one integrated livrary in the cloud

Colleen Greene: Thank you.

Herne Herne: He's also still catching up

Jason Wallwork: interesting question, Herne

Dean Blobaum 2: But do students actually want to pay for e-textbooks?

Herne Herne: @Dean Not really... students want to be able to re-sell their textbooks

Alphonse MacDonald: @Dean, no resale value = no beer money at the end of the semester

Jason Wallwork: do students have any choice?

Dean Blobaum 2: @alphonse exactly!

Jason Wallwork: oooh I get what you're saying now

Jason Wallwork: good point

Alphonse MacDonald: Q Whats the difference between resellers and affiliates

Royce Florentino: Great :)

Dean Blobaum 2: E-textbook price would have to be less than 25% of physical list.

Stephen Carter: Q: I can't find the information about affiliate program on the partner site...

Colleen Greene: Q: Can/will custom embeddable Google Search widgets be able to filter on just eBooks?

Herne Herne: @Dean I work in textbook design... publishers aren't going to sell them for <25%. They need to start thinking print books WITH eBooks

Herne Herne: ''page image'' is a bit of a workaround... ePub3 is supposed to incluce MathML

Dean Blobaum 2: Q. In general terms, what's the Google algorithm for arriving at the consumer price of the e-book?

Jason Wallwork: Q: Will Google be introducing their own ebook reader (hardware, not software)

Herne Herne: (include, rather)

Alexander Noveno: ahhh i see...

Adrian Brion: agree.. agree...

I wrote this poem for a new ebook I've finished. It's called "A Bus Trip to Further." Why is it called that? Well, one of the themes for Guagua Pública is that of community and inclusion. I demonstrate that through the tag line that I borrowed from Ken Kesey and his Merry Band of Pranksters: "You're either on the bus, or you're not."

Ken had a fundamental belief that you were either cool with what he was trying to do or you weren't. The bus that they took their electric kool-aid acid test was lovingly called "Further." Further was the destination indicated on the exterior of the bus they traveled around trying to get everyone to tune in to their message.

I got the inspiration from an old friend who reached out to me through Facebook. It had been nearly 25 years since we had last talked or saw each other. Through this poem, I wanted to share with you what I remember about what we had once felt for each other. It's highly influenced by my research into quantum physics for the comic book I'm working on. In the end, I felt it represented what it feels like when you know that your part of something bigger; something made better through a shared experience; something only possible through open collaboration. Enjoy!

"A Bus Trip to Further."

Come with me I can take you there
I remember
how close our spirits felt
when we were together

When there was no distance
between what you call you
and I call me

Our energies flowed together
leaving a trace of the union
we once felt

I know how to get there
just follow my lead
I can take you there
when time almost stopped

For you see we are both body and spirit
We are both mass and energy
So it doesn't matter if our bodies
can no longer be together

Because I'll always be with you
as you are always with me
We are gregarious bosons

And when my temple crumbles
in that precious moment before I
get on that bus again
I'll burn the memory of your spirit
into my very nature

So the first chance I get
I'll find my way back to you
just as if time had indeed stopped