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Stephen Fox

San Francisco
As seen in: Medium, HuffPost, Nature, Law.com, Houston Chronicle, The Architect's Newspaper, JD Supra, Architectural Record, Honolulu Civil Beat, PaperCity Magazine and
Covers:  enterprise software, soccer, florida, politics, elder-care, twitter, aging, elections, metal, security software, music
Doesn't Cover: facebook, baseball, smooth jazz, kardashians, snakes, mint chocolate chip ice cream
I used to change this. 
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The Paralysis of Perfect

The Paralysis of Perfect

medium.com — In the fall of 1999, I saw an MTV news report about the Foo Fighters dropping out of Woodstock because Franz Stahl had left the band. “Huh,” I thought. “I wonder how they’re going to replace him?” I looked up the Foo Fighters’s publicist, got someone at Nasty Little Man to take my call, and found out that the band was going to be holding auditions. After a few more phone calls, I got the address to the Foo’s management company, G.A.S. Entertainment, put together a package of stuff I had played on, wrote a short letter, and shoved it all in a FedEx envelope headed to Los Angeles.
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Making Music Your Business

Making Music Your Business

medium.com — If music is in your blood, to paraphrase Dickens, it is the best of times, it is the worst of times … we have everything before us, we have nothing before us. But let’s not confuse making music with getting paid to make music. That still is, and always has been, a Sisyphean task. Most of the people I know, however, toil to record the sounds in their heads not because they want to make money?—?they do it because they have to. They do it because they love it. They do it because they don’t know how not to. They are more complete people because of the melodies they create.
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It's never wrong to write.

It's never wrong to write.

medium.com — Writing well is a skill. And like many skills, it takes practice; you only get better at writing by writing. But not all of your sentence construction is ready for ribbon cutting. Some of the ideas that started on scraps of paper in your pocket deserve to stay there. Maybe until the ideas are more fully thought out. Maybe until they have better context. Maybe forever.
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I wrote a terrible eulogy because I'm a terrible friend-and it's all Facebook's fault.

I wrote a terrible eulogy because I'm a terrible friend-and it's all Facebook's fault.

medium.com — My friend, Scott, is dead. I think I could have prevented it. But thanks to Facebook, I'll never know.
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Kick-off: 1994

Kick-off: 1994

medium.com — The start of a decades-long World Cup ritual.
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Who Broke the News?

Who Broke the News?

twittard.blogspot.com — I've written here before about the tenuous equilibrium some news organizations have when trying to balance speed with accuracy. The news coming second-by-second out of Boston is no different. But with the increasing importance-and use-of social media, these institutions are proving less and less reliable. I won't get into a long discussion of the accounts from Boston since they are still evolving so rapidly, but here are a few collections from others about how news outlets brought us facts that weren't. Next, here's Andy Carvin 's Storify collection of incorrect reports that authorities had suspects in custody.
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Editors Needed

Editors Needed

twittard.blogspot.com — Yesterday's post was part recounting, part judgement, and part therapy. But today, as reality sinks in for everyone, the role of social media is being discussed with as much vigor as the types of bombs used and the stories of people helping each other in Boston. There are a couple of these social media discussions I want to point you to before we get into their validity. "Twitter is the first rough draft of journalism." Jeremy Stahl- Slate Social Media Editor, 15 April 2013 Mr. Stahl was also a guest Tuesday on NPR's " Talk of the Nation," which you can listen to below.
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News Break

News Break

twittard.blogspot.com — Today's post is going to be brief because I've been a bit distracted. I just want point to three things I've seen over the last week or so that I think are interesting illustrations of Twitter's continued march toward dominating the way we'll get our news and information. First, Twitter and the Weather Channel have entered a partnership which leverages the recently expanded capabilities of Twitter Cards. The deal, according to All Things D, will allow users to, "see video clips of local forecasts, severe-weather coverage, or user-generated content."
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Off the Post

Off the Post

twittard.blogspot.com — View the story "Off the Post" on Storify] Just a few of the Twitter questions for Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber that ESPN failed to ask. Storified by Stephen R. Fox · Sat, Dec 01 2012 15:58:58 #MLSCup chat 4 p.m. ET @JamesTylerESPN PLUS: Got a question for Don Garber, send to #FCBootroom, he'll answer at HT. http://tinyurl.com/cmcduzzESPN FC @bigkeeper. Hey Garber. You do know there are three solid teams in Canada right? Class it up Commish! #fcbootroom. #tfcArnold deVries Commish Garber, if more teams will enter MLS, will the league adopt to a one table format rather than split into two divisions?
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Educating Twitta’

Educating Twitta’

twittard.blogspot.com — Twitter is being used in many different ways. For business, news, and just plain fun, it has become the default sharing engine for many of us. We are able to create our own little information bubbles based in the topics we're interested in, and tailor conversations around each of our points of preference. But how are we preparing our next generation to harness this resource? In 2006, I started working with the Intel Education Foundation team showing teachers around the globe how to incorporate emerging technology into their classrooms. While developing ways to reinvent established pedagogy to include emerging and evolving advancements, I discovered Twitter.
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Harnessing Complexity

Harnessing Complexity

twittard.blogspot.com — Twitter's importance in Cannes continued on Wednesday as CEO Dick Costolo presented a seminar called, " Harnessing the Power of Real-time Connections." During his talk, Mr. Costolo reportedly presented examples and advice on how to turn cultural events into real-time marketing opportunities. "We live in a world where the conversation-if we pay attention to it-can lead to a campaign." Dick Costolo- Cannes Lions, 20 June 2012 T he recent introduction of hashtag pages gives brands, marketers, and event organizers a consolidated presence within the Twitter framework to promote a real-time discussion. They also give Twitter a potentially huge new source of income.
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Selecting a Social Solution

Selecting a Social Solution

twittard.blogspot.com — Today's post is only tangentially related to Twitter. Embedded below, thanks to Storify, is something I constructed quickly for a client who was recently contemplating whether or not to implement a social media campaign. They were asking a lot of the same questions about adding a social layer to their existing marketing and public relations efforts that many non-profit organizations are finally asking. I want to share it with you for a couple of reasons: I want to know what you think. I want you to use it for yourself. I want you to improve on it.
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More than Twinfluence

More than Twinfluence

twittard.blogspot.com — We can no longer ignore Twitter's growing influence in recording-and affecting- world events. We have bee using Twitter to follow breaking news more and more. Today, as the questions around the stability and infrastructure of Egypt's government began to get answered, Twitter hosted a live discussion of world events with Susan Rice, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Egypt has been dominating the news for almost two weeks now, with Twitter, Facebook, and other social media platforms an integral part of the coverage. And the coverage of the coverage. On these platforms, we are building better sources.
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Getting the Message

Getting the Message

twittard.blogspot.com — Yesterday's dawn of a new political reality in Egypt grew in no small part from the ingenuity of its people. When President Hosni Mubarak sealed off channels of transmitting communications out of the country, he thought he had contained the growing tide of rebellion against him. Through innovation, determination, and courageousness, the enraged Egyptian people were able to dodge the digital blockades put in place by their repressive government. Sharing opinions, preparing plans, executing action, they forced the world to take notice. Right? How many populations of repressed people were able to follow what was happening in Tahrir Square?
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Following Distinctions

Following Distinctions

twittard.blogspot.com — Did you notice a change on your favorite Twitterer's home page today? Initially, I didn't (because I use Brizzly, most of the time), but I did get a heads-up from The Next Web. The new feature helps put any user into greater context for you. By adding a little insight into common connections, you get a better perspective of any interests you may share. But Connections doesn't yet go far enough. Maybe this is the first step to a followers recommendation engine? Before we go on, let's clarify one important thing: Connections does not show you users who are following you both.
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Tweeting a More Perfect Union

Tweeting a More Perfect Union

twittard.blogspot.com — By now you know that I have an affinity for using Twitter as a platform for a more open democracy. There are two events today that I want to point you to which use Twitter to bridge the gap between the people and our government. First, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs again took questions from followers for about an hour today. An interesting answer Mr. Gibbs gave concerned the Twitter account he's currently using: François Larouche asked about the status of the account after Mr. Gibbs leaves his post in early February.
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Making Facebook Make News

Making Facebook Make News

twittard.blogspot.com — Facebook is playing catchup. At least that's what it feels like. After visiting them last night for the " ONA SF - Facebook Strategies for Online Journalists Meetup," I get the impression that Facebook wants desperately to be a part of journalists' lives. But, unlike Twitter, Facebook has yet to be integrated into most news organizations' daily operation for anything more than promotion. One exception to that rule is NPR. During his portion of the evening, NPR Senior Strategist Andy Carvin shared some of the many ways they are using Facebook, as well as other social tools, to create, evaluate, and circulate stories to their audience.
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Sifting Circumstances and Shifting Sources

Sifting Circumstances and Shifting Sources

twittard.blogspot.com — As the U.S. turned its collective attention to Arizona today, I was struck by how some news services were gathering and distributing information on the circumstances, victims, and shooter. On television, most of the coverage was comprised of speculation, assumption, and-at times- inaccurate information. Citing "sources close to the investigation" and "some of my contacts in law enforcement," reporters on the scene, and on telephones thousands of miles away, kept misinforming their audiences during the early hours of news breaking about the attack on U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords. As I caught up on the story, I turned to Twitter to find out the truth.
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Hero Wanted; Apply Now!

Hero Wanted; Apply Now!

blogs.oracle.com — Are you an Oracle OpenWorld veteran? Have you taken the tips you've learned at the show and used them to transform the way you do business? Do you think you have what it takes to be the CIO of a multi-billion dollar business owned and run by businessman Anthony Edward "Tony" Stark? Then we have good news for you. Oracle and Marvel have teamed up for the upcoming release of to give you a chance to " change the world for a better future." In your new role, you could become an Honorary CIO of Stark Industries, attend the U.S.
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Tri-ing Toward Victory

Tri-ing Toward Victory

blogs.oracle.com — Did you see the scale model of BMW Oracle Racing's Extreme 40 catamaran staged outside of the Howard Street Tent when you visited Oracle OpenWorld 2009? Did you get a chance to meet the BMW Oracle Racing tem members at the SLAM retail shop? Did know that those guys are taking the BMW ORACLE giant trimaran to the waves off the coast of Valencia, Spain, this week to compete for the 33rd America's Cup? Of course you did-that's why you read this blog! Race 1 for the Cup was scheduled for Monday, but race officer Harold Bennett and the race committee team were unable to identify an appropriate wind for the first 20-mile leg.
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A Day of Honor

A Day of Honor

blogs.oracle.com — Here in the United States, we are observing Veterans Day. In Europe, today is Armistice Day or Remembrance Day. We commemorate the end of major hostilities of World War I by honoring all military veterans. At Oracle OpenWorld 2009, you may have met some servicemen and women participating in Oracle's Injured Veteran Job and Training Program who took the time to share their stories with the Oracle community during the show. Oracle's Injured Veteran Job and Training Program is specifically designed to help women and men injured in the Afghanistan and Iraqi wars transition to civilian employment.
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Twitter Turns Followers Into Winners

Twitter Turns Followers Into Winners

blogs.oracle.com — Attendees tuned to Twitter updates received instructions on how to get passes to the VIP section when Aerosmith turns up the volume at the Appreciation Event this Wednesday night. Our winners simply showed up at the Callaway Experience in booth #3623, spotted the Over-Dressed for Oracle OpenWorld actor, whispered the secret password, and walked away with prizes including golf equipment and premium passes to the upcoming concert. Among the winners was Geoff Garcia (pictured left), a Web tech with March of Dimes in New York. Geoff scored a sleeve of Callaway golf balls inscribed with the logo of sponsor Tata Consultancy Services along with golden tickets for the Epic venue on Treasure Island.
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V.I.P. Tweetment

V.I.P. Tweetment

blogs.oracle.com — Twitter followers and blog readers may be among the lucky few in the V.I.P. section when Aerosmith turns up the volume at Wednesday night's Appreciation Event. Here's how you can get your hands on a pair of passes that'll open up access to prime positioning and primo refreshments at the Treasure Island concert.
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Converting Challenges into New Opportunities

Converting Challenges into New Opportunities

blogs.oracle.com — Although this blog focuses on Oracle OpenWorld, we want to congratulate Oracle President Charles Phillips on being named to President Barack Obama's Economic Recovery Advisory Board. The board-modeled after the Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board created by President Dwight D. Eisenhower-will provide independent, nonpartisan information, analysis, and advice through regular briefings to President Obama and Vice President Biden. Phillips, and the other board members named last week, joins Paul Volcker, Chair of the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board and Austan Goolsbee, Staff Director and Chief Economist of the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board.
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