Have you ever fit two weeks into one? That’s how this week has felt, but I have to say that, without Patti Knight, I’d still be digging through emails and would have accomplished nothing. But, because she is a saint and filed emails, answered ones that she could, and left me the ones that could only be answered by me, I got through them all of them on Monday. Which also means I was able to stay caught up on my Google Reader (I actually use the Reeder app on my iPad) and found some really, really good stuff for you! It’s going to be hard to narrow it all down to just five.

But I’m going to try so following are the top five stories for week ending Oct. 29, 2010.

5. Why It’s Time to Say Goodbye to Free WiFi. If you haven’t heard about Firesheep, it is a Firefox extension that allows you to see other people’s private information over unsecured WiFi networks. I’m not entirely sure why it’s OK to create an add-on that allows anyone (and I mean anyone) to access private information, other than making people more aware of the instability of unsecured networks (which is what the creator is stating). Even though this blog post by Peter Shankman talks about free WiFi networks, it’s really only accessible to the free networks that aren’t secured (so if you’re on the free WiFi at Starbucks, you need not worry). Read the blog post and be aware that, if you log onto a free and unsecured WiFi network, someone sitting next to you could have Firesheep installed and see ALL of your passwords and login information. Scary stuff…and it’s not just for hackers anymore.

4. Destroying the Myths of B2B Social Media. When I speak, I hear ALL THE TIME comments such as, “my customers don’t use the Internet” or “my business is unique and my customers aren’t consumers.” Uh huh. What’s the stat? 4.2 billion people in the world have toothbrushes and 4.6 billion people have smart phones. But your customer isn’t a consumer nor do they use the Internet because your business is so unique. Suuuuuure. That’s why I love this post from Jay Bear that dispels myths you have in your head about your unique B2B business and the web.

3. Unicorns, Rainbows, and Work-Life Balance. How can you not click on a blog post with that title?! Don’t we all want unicorns, rainbows, and work-life balance? I know I do, but I’d also add monkeys into my title. Because, well, monkeys make everyone laugh. But this is about Pamela Slim, not about me (or monkeys) and her quest for work-life balance and everything in between. Her husband travels for work six days a week so she’s left to not only work full-time, but also manage the house and the kids by herself. For any of you who get frustrated or exhausted by wanting to have it all, this is a great “stop and smell the flowers” post.

2. Gross Rating Points are for TV, Not Online Video. Well, it seems we can all become networks and syndicate our work now. Kanter Video, a company held by WPP (one of the largest holding companies for PR, marketing, and ad agencies) is launching Vidieolytics. The platform is open-source and it measures video in its own right, not in the old television model. They say the measurement is effectiveness and engagement, which I’m not sure I agree with, but the concept is interesting. Pay attention to what this means for you in your video work in the next year.

1. Memo to Malcolm Gladwell: Nice Hair, But You Are Wrong. Remember at the beginning of the month when Malcolm Gladwell wrote in the New Yorker that social media isn’t a tool for starting or building relationships and that nothing will be accomplished through the people you meet online? Well, the New York Times has a response that is created from an essay that Twitter co-founder, Biz Stone, wrote in The Atlantic. You can read and form your own opinion, but I’ve seen A LOT of good and a lot of change through social media, beginning with helping the Haitian victims to helping a little girl get a wheelchair after an airline broke hers. And the play on Gladwell’s hair? Well, that’s just funny!

And, before anyone asks, you cannot borrow Patti. But you can mark your calendars for Nov. 3 at 2:00 CT to join Joe Hackman, Shonali Burke, Danny Brown, and me for PRapalooza on BlogTalkRadio. If anything, it’ll prove to be interesting as Shonali speaks intelligently, Danny tries to keep up, and I provide color commentary (otherwise known as me making fun of Danny while helping Shonali shine).

Have a great weekend!

Gini Dietrich

Gini Dietrich is the founder, CEO, and author of Spin Sucks, host of the Spin Sucks podcast, and author of Spin Sucks (the book). She is the creator of the PESO Model and has crafted a certification for it in partnership with Syracuse University. She has run and grown an agency for the past 15 years. She is co-author of Marketing in the Round, co-host of Inside PR, and co-host of The Agency Leadership podcast.

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