Dirkmonster

Tribes: Free download of Seth Godin's new book

One giant of the social marketing space, Steve Rubel, tipped me off to a free audio download of another giant, Seth Godin.

Here's the teaser:

According to Godin, Tribes are groups of people aligned around an idea, connected to a leader and to each other. Tribes make our world work, and always have. The new opportunity is that it's easier than ever to find, organize, and lead a tribe. The Web has enabled an explosion of all kinds of tribes - and created shortage of people to lead them. This is the growth industry of our time.

Joel, can I borrow a CD to burn this on?

Predators top Stars 3-1

I saw the Predators beat the Dallas Stars 3-1 tonight in Nashville's home opener before a sold out crowd at the Sommet Center.  I enjoyed the game with Ross and friends from work.

The team and the crowd had more than a little intensity as everyone shook off the ugly loss from the night before in St. Louis.

Just as they had in St. Louis, the Predators lit the lamp within the first few minutes.  But they gave one right back and I wondered if Ellis was going to be shaky again.  But he wasn't and the D was stout. That was to be the last tally for the Stars Saturday night.

Jordin Tootoo is a bona fide "X" factor.  Once again, he irritated his opponent into taking a penalty...actually one more penalty than we incurred after a three ring circus broke out in the first period.  That lead to the eventual game winner.

My seats in the "All You Can Eat Zone" are the best value in the arena.  Check em out.

"The New Frugality"

I came across this week's cover story in Business Week on a new movement towards frugality in America.

As a kid, I noticed my Grandma Lettie's approach to their household finances.  She was very frugal as a byproduct of her managing through the Depression.  But by the time I came along, they were solidly middle class and could've spent more than they did.  But they did not.  Instead, Grandma kept track of every penny in a ledger she kept nearby the kitchen table.

This post by Dave Ramsey reminds us that it's our responsibility to manage our money and Washington is not going to solve your problems no matter who is elected President.

Sports Illustrated is wrong on Predators prediction

This week's issue of Sports Illustrated contains a NHL preview section in which the Nashville Predators are picked to finish 10th in the Western Conference - out of the playoffs for the first time in four seasons.  "Horse Hockey", as Colonel Sherman T. Potter was fond of saying.

Essentially SI has Chicago getting in instead of Nashville.  The magazine doubts Dan Ellis' ability to carry the load in goal with an inexperienced backup.  It also notes the loss of Alexander Radulov and the ongoing injury to Steve Sullivan.  However, Radulov wasn't a team player and won't be missed.  Sully wasn't part of the team the made an improbably push into the 8th spot last season.

Conversely, Ellis played well in the playoff series against Detroit.  It wasn't his fault.  The Predators D is young and very talented.  We'll be in almost every game this year.  Tootoo is a legitimate threat to score in addition to dictating the action.  I liked what I saw in the preseason out of the young offensive players that move up this year.  The Predators have toughness, defense, scoring ability and are well coached.  The fan base is excited and headed in the right direction.  They will be very tough to beat in Nashville. 

The Predators will be in the playoffs. Sports Illustrated is not showing any deep thinking in picking the Red Wings to win it all again.  Wow - way to go out on a limb. 

"Barack Lock" traffic jam in Nashville

Hey Barack! I'm a fan and all but you have a lot of nerve leaving town during rush hour this morning.  I have half a dozen team members and one wife stuck in "Barack-Lock" traffic on the Interstate.

I think you have your own plane so you could've scheduled the flight for, say, 6am.  Want to sleep in?  Late check out?  No problem!  How about wheels up at 11am then?

Between 7-9am on a rainy Wednesday?  Bad call.  You should've called Al Gore. The former Vice President from Tennessee would've told you, even though he did it all the time too.

Vanderbilt beats Auburn 14-13

My wife Lyn had her revenge tonight.  When she was at Vanderbilt (1984-88), her car was vandalized one weekend when Auburn was in Nashville to play the Commodores.  Someone wrote "War Damn Eagle" on her Dodge Omni in shoe polish.  When she cleaned it off, it took the finish off the car.  TAKE THAT, War Eagle!