Gaia: Web 2.0 for Good

Web 2.0 wine club! (Wine is for good, right?)

http://boundlessenthusiast.gaia.com — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 02:33:14 GMT

Hello everyone!

I wanted to show you a Web 2.0 website I just launched with my partner and fellow Zaadzer, Joshua.

Basically, you can queue up wines like you queue up movies! Think Netflix for Wine (which is of course just a metaphor, as we have no affiliation with Netflix). This makes it the most customizable wine club on Earth! We ship premium wines directly from wineries and are so nice as to offer free shipping on orders over $35!

Our Web 2.0 features include tags on wines and member reviews and ratings. We will be expanding this feature set as time goes by, (one of the next features to come allows you to view other members' queues) and we plan to use the information we garner about peoples wine preferences to help make future recommendations -- the power of collaborative filtering!

I've created a coupon code especially for Zaadz users that will give you $10 off your first order. This covers the cost of one month of membership, so you can try out our service risk-free (including free shipping!). Just use coupon code 'ZAADZ' when signing up.

Check it out, and don't be hesitant to drop me a comment or use the suggestions form on the site to send your feedback. After all, this is Web 2.0! Make the most of it! :)

Also, be sure to check out this review by Wine 2.0 blogger Tim Elliot:

WineQ: Wine Club 2.0?

Re: Collaboration

Wed, 18 Oct 2006 17:28:01 GMT

Forgive my ramblings if I head off in a horizontal direction myself. I agree with Jim that the myriad of approaches, techniques, pods, and very importantly, other online forums continues to spread us even thinner., I believe the biggest obstacle to pulling more of us together is just the many avenues to building conscious community. There are so many discussions I would like to participate in, but the fact is I spend a lot of time out in the world doing the work I think I'm in this life to do. I nurture people and families, cook and feed people, and teach them how to do the same for themselves in sustainable ways. I am all about building community, I'm very social so I put people together that have common visions or interests, and I believe I raise consciousness by spreading the love, having compassion, and trying to make people more aware of just the moment they are in.

Granted, I live in Portland, Oregon, and also a very progressive, community-minded part of Portland. I feel that I am in a fantastic place for building community, and teaching things like sustainability and compassionate communication. I am very focused on doing and teaching these things as part of the sustainable life I'm developing. So how does this fit into the larger picture I often ask myself. Am I supposed to teach people in other places that are not as far along how to do what I do here? And if that is so, what is the right method of doing that, leading people to a blog, participating in online discussions? I have a very full life already, much of which is doing the work we are all talking about. How much time should I devote to helping this vision grow on a more global scale, which I am totally interested in doing?

So two questions come to mind, first, what is a good balance between doing the actual work we are all talking about, and talking about doing that work? I have participated in many online discussions, usually with people too far away to actually meet in person, and have always wondered if any of us took anything away from the discussion that we put into actual practice. Sadly, I know from discussions with people that many of us spend lots of time online discussing and don't seem to have time to do something like volunteer in our communities.

The second question is where do you spend your time online to be most effective? I am or have been an active participant in several online communities, and most seem to be effective at what they do. I have met good people and participated in good efforts from all these communites, but I can't possibly be active in all of them as much as I'd like to. So where do I spend my time to be most effective, and touch others that will be inspired to go do their own good work? Yes I know Zaadz is the easy answer, but I am in other groups that have manifested good things so that is not such an easy answer for me.

I understand that leveraging technology is an important tool in bringing people together. I support the efforts such as Web 2.0 from my limited understanding of what it's all about. But technology doesn't usually reach out and touch someone, that takes people. I am building community every day by being out in the world and seizing the moments I have to interact with others in a positive way. All that takes is a phone and/or email. And if the people involved in developing technology to serve this purpose have a vision of how this will all work and not be just another portal that people are too busy to support, then I applaud you and would like to learn what your vision is. I am also not against technology or computers in any way. I was a project manager and developer for a software company in a former life, but the message I learned over and over is that it is the content that matters mostly, more than the machine or the software.

So what I want to know is what will we all talk about when we connect with each other? I have been asked to participate in a state wide Sangha (or Zangha as it is connected with Zaadz). I'm all for it, I would love to meet other people who are doing some conscious community building and learn from them. But as I'm connected with other groups that gather for particular reasons, community service, art and performance, spiritual growth, I wonder if these Zangha gatherings have a particular focus. Is it more than just another discussion, albeit a face to face one? Will we accomplish something concrete that day, or develop definite plans to do something concrete? I'm just wondering how to make this an effective gathering next spring, and not yet another discussion about enlightenment techniques, and much motivating each other without something with tangible results coming out of it.

Thanks for listening.

Peace and Blessings,
Robyn

Re: Web 2.0 EZ Build Software

http://revolution.gaia.com — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 07:23:43 GMT

Well, I've begun the journey on my own, using WordPress and vBulletins as my two CMS platforms. They've each got a myriad of plugins. (www.visionforce.com)

Yet, I've come up against the dilemma you are speaking of... how to integrate with other sites, without needing to convince my members to "go deep" in my site by creating an extensive profile and building an extensive network, etc. I'm finding ways to integrate with Zaadz and MySpace, and for now am setting it up such that I practically force them to do the social networking at Zaadz, not at VisionForce.

Right now, building a social networking site that could compare to what Zaadz has would require more resources than I have at my disposal.

The question of how to join a ton of sites without always recreating your identity is generating some new solutions, which are going to different forum and membership sites and integrating people's identities across sites. It's exciting to see what develops!

btw, I know Sam, the originator of this pod, is planning/building a kind of generic model for a kind of social networking site (or at least highly interactive web 2.0 site) using Drupal. He's offering to build such sites for people as part of a larger scope consultation arrangement.

Sam, what's the latest on this?

Re: Web 2.0 EZ Build Software

http://jandles.gaia.com — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 14:24:18 GMT

Pashmina
This is an interesting concept and something that has also been discussed with regard to virtual world's such as Second LIfe etc. How to maintain your base identity (or even a created identify of your choosing as in the character in a game) and easily export this from one site/world to another.

Sounds like a two part process...
1) Create a standard that takes a base set of information. Given the social network type sites this would include, Name, Age, Fav Movies, Fav Books etc etc, Photos, blog entries etc etc
2) Convince all the existing (and new sites) to support this standard and the ability to create an account by importating your identity and viola - you can plug in and out to any number of different frameworks. Each may have a different user base, common interest or functionality that your ID would then build on but your base info could be plugged in and out.

I think as virtual worlds and social networks converge we will also see a convergence in how to access this metaverse concept regardless if you are in MySpace land or zaadz land.

links for cool apps... start sharing.

http://pashmina.gaia.com — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 03:49:29 GMT

hey, a discussion board just does not seem like the ideal place to share cool apps.

how about sharing identities on social bookmarking site?

Here's mine: pashmina bookmarks

And more specifically here are apps that I've bookmakred and think are cool:
web service tools

Re: Web 2.0 EZ Build Software

http://pashmina.gaia.com — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 03:44:03 GMT

Michael,

You're scratching at the surface of a very important concept. You said:

"a Zaadz site of your own" (my caps)

This wave of attention on sites such as MySpace, Friendster, and yes Zaadz too, has just peaked. People will eventually find social network sites limiting, as they did their Hotmail or Yahoo account.... ALL these network sites limit an individual's identity and creative expression. (The only possible exception I see with some promise is the 43 network sites.) An individual's identity is partially dependent on the digital spaces they inhabit and interact in. And yet my identity on Zaadz (or any other social network) does not exist outside of Zaadz. If Zaadz were to go down, I would go down with it. This does not follow the way we network in the real tangible world.

Let's say Zaadz were an actual physical place where our community got together to interact. When I leave Zaadz, I retain every single aspect of my identity (my body/thoughts/content/etc). It does not "stay" at Zaadz. I can also take that same identity to any place of my choosing, and connect with other people outside of Zaadz. The way these social networks sites are structured does not allow for this kind of interpolation or interconnecting. This does not mirror how we interact with people in physical spaces.

If I go to a Starbucks to meet a friend, Starbucks does not own or retain my identity in any way. My choice to interact with another person at a Starbucks does add to my identity. The very experience of actively being there does inform and influence my identity. (E.g. I hear a song they play, buy the album, and become a jazz fan.) My choices as to what I can consume there may be limited. And the experience of the environment may be specific. But the individual expression of my own personal identity is limitless and unbound.

So how does a "web 2.0" site start? First of all you must own and host your own domain. (E.g. Michael.com) Then you build or find the tools and services you need to express yourself and include them on your own domain. (E.g. wordpress, flickr, del.icio.us) I would add a quality factor to all the tools of your choosing, and add that they must all allow for easy publishing, importing, exporting, porting/pushing/pulling of any kind really.

Now the second part takes some thinking. (I think this is the killer biz opp.) Once you have your own website (your own digital identity), how do you connect to another website? Certainly not through these old methods, where you'll need over a gazillion different logins/passwords for each type of service...yech! There must be some overall one meta-identity that I can use, as say my agent. And that agent knows who Michael is, and always grants Michael certain privleges that I deem appropriate, no matter what services we are using. And that same agent should also allow for connecting Myspace with Zaadz. Or Google photos with Flickr. And on and on....

Pashmina

THE PERSONAL MEETS THE GLOBAL: ZAANGHAS + WEB 2.0

Sun, 03 Sep 2006 18:32:35 GMT

THE PERSONAL MEETS THE GLOBAL: HOW & WHY TO BUILD LOCAL ZAANGHAS.

I have A PASSIONATE need to 'be' where the front line of consciousness is unfolding - manifesting in real time - I see Zaadz as just that place, & my needs are strong to be the best player I can be in this unfolding.

What is going on inside an individual that desires to be an integral part of another entity?

First of all, there is no other, so it must be recognition of self.….

My notion is that I recognize in Zaadz those aspects of my self that are, essentially, the best part of this being: compassion for all, a driving unfolding into Higher Possibilities, dynamic creativity welcoming growth & change for the better of all, inclusiveness, openness - wide openness of heart & mind, & I am sure that there is more that I do not see, & certainly there is more that I am just not mentioning (like spiritual family)……

Zaadz is my mirror of potential, my own never ending unfolding. Zaadz is my center of focus in planning my day, planning the activities that will contribute to the ongoing unfolding of this self & of Zaadz. Oh singing songs of gratitude, I am, for this wondrous Village of Zaadz!

BTW, just dropping hints here on how to build Zaanghas locally: Visit your local library & offer a proposal to teach a class in ZAADZ WEB 2.0 - Next, visit your local senior center & make the same offer & in schools, & at churches, where-ever there is opportunity to gather around even one computer…….. just offer this proposal everywhere including coffee houses. This will build your local Zaanghas, friendships & spread the seeds all around. Whaaaaa Hooo!

Tagged with: passion, spirituality, consciousness, mirrors, inclusiveness, gratitude, spiritual potential, dynamic family, zaanghas, growing strong, library computers

Re: My Vote is for Austin!

http://revolution.gaia.com — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 23:10:32 GMT

hmmm... that's a bit soon, as the date has passed, I believe.

Sam, what is your time frame for this? Still up to it?

August 12, 2006 Zaanghas

http://lovejasmine.gaia.com — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 03:36:00 GMT

guess what...

3 Zaanghas so far on August 12, 2006: Sunday

Cape Town, South Africa

Denver, CO, USA

Los Angeles, CA, USA

so do u wonna be the change u want to see in the world....

great...

then be the next person to organize a Zaangha in your area on August 12 so we can all be united

post the details on zEvents and don't forget to add a tag zaangha so we can all find u

PS. post your location and if u have any questions on Local Zaanghas pod

~ fun ~ fun ~ fun ~

PHOTOS from Zaangha in New York

http://lovejasmine.gaia.com — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 14:58:00 GMT

New York Zaangha July 14th (vie Little Dree)

Zaadzsters from friday (in alpha order)

It's 2:30 AM and I'm still jumpin' up and down in my chair with post-excitement.

From what??!!!

Our New York City Zaanghas get-together. It was a feast for all senses....

Yummy pre-movie-dinner for some at Souen.

A brilliant movie, Peaceful Warrior.

Yummy post-movie dinner for some at Caravan of Dreams.

And lots of great conversation and fluffy Zaadz love all the way through. Home is where the heart is!

Thanks guys, for a great evening! And thank you Zaadz team, for planting the seeds!

And now I REALLY have to try and get some sleep. (Little Dree)

Peaceful Warrior

Re: My Vote is for Austin!

http://avatar2020.gaia.com — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 10:47:44 GMT

How about in Austin either before or after the Don Beck event?

Re: My Vote is for Austin!

http://verticality.gaia.com — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 21:15:12 GMT

I'm down for Austin! We could possibly integrate it into the SXSW conference. Any ideas, my peoples?

Re: My Vote is for Austin!

http://revolution.gaia.com — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 21:10:12 GMT

Other locals are:

EnterpriseTeaming.com, in the process of building a progressive team planning web 2.0 tool/site working from Fernando Flores' concepts. Their model was formed as a grassroots mobilization tool for Flores' Chilean presidential campaign.

HearThis.com, podcasting for marketers.

...

Bootstrap Austin

http://revolution.gaia.com — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 20:46:05 GMT

We could easily bring together groups such as Bootstrap Austin to discuss this. These are generally tech-saavy startup entrepreneurs looking to do things on a small budget. Web 2.0... why not?

My Vote is for Austin!

http://revolution.gaia.com — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 20:44:21 GMT

Austin's hip, hi-tech and happenin! The Fundable.org founders are here as is the VisionForce.com founder. ;)

I'm sure there are others.

And a crazy idea... maybe we could get one of the big local boys to come deliver a keynote... Michael Dell, John Mackey, Lance Armstrong?

Web 2.0 EZ Build Software

http://revolution.gaia.com — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 20:41:28 GMT

Hi Sam,

One thing I am on the lookout for are easier ways to build out a Web 2.0 site that has a lot of different design templates and functionality. It seems that on the super easy yet low functionality/design side we have blogging software and on the not so easy yet high functionality side we have Drupal, Bryght, etc., which often require custom coding or technical saavy to use on the design/build end.

There are a zillion ways for novices to build web 1.0 web sites, but what about web 2.0 sites? I am sure these sorts of platforms are right around the corner. I think it's a killer biz opp for someone with the passion for it.

Think about it... a way to have a Zaadz site of your own, built quite simply by filling in the specific features and functionalities on an admin menu. What if? Why not? I'd be all over it!

Re: Verticality

http://voyager.gaia.com — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 05:41:32 GMT

Hi Sam,

its a complex thing. Right now we have not even one single theory which comprehends all the existing integral, evolutionary and proto integral approaches. The whole Nexus.

Web 2.0 , social networks, meshworking, Tetra meshes of all kind, Micro and Macro flows , documentary filmmakaing, mastering new and old media, Online/Offline integration etc.etc. is an emerging new continent where everybody can contribute his or her own Genius.

Why not aligning web 2.0 with other already existing elements of P2P communication?

or what exactly is your intention here?

Rainy greetings from Teutonia,

Albert

Re: Verticality

http://verticality.gaia.com — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 19:11:15 GMT

Thanks for the responses, guys. I'm afraid I didn't label this topic correctly, as it seems a more appropriate conversation for the SDi listerserv or pod. Would it be all right with you if I took it down?

Re: Verticality

http://voyager.gaia.com — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 05:13:17 GMT

Yes, the heavy lifting and responsibilities are integral criteria too.

Would love to participate for example in Dons Middle East initiative in documenting, communicating and catalyzing the whole process with all forms of viral meshworking, web 2.0 and even meshing the complex horizontal forms of Media communication with them.

Its not only about verticality -some spiral wizards even deny the central importance of it - but the skillful and complex integration of all approaches in real world problems outside the security of little integral circles and sanghas.

To build constellations of virtually hundreds of thousands of people -or more -on a global large scale which are moving into different edges....See the model of stratified Democracy...and as good example Dons presentation for the Worldbank in Afghanistan in 2001.

In whatever constellation or circles or campaigns integral leadership is in high demand. See here Peter Merry `s blog on Zaadz. Peter is founder of Dutch Center of Human Emergence. He has written a beauitiful book on Evolutionary Leadership. Right now only in Dutch. Translation into English is in preparation.

Cheers,

Albert

Re: Verticality

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 23:26:59 GMT

I think this is the problem right here:

How can one person spark an idea...

Too many visionaries, too many people wanting to be sparks and catalysts, not enough people wanting to do the heavy lifting. I include myself in this description.