What’s the difference between 51 votes?

When Democrats use that tactic, it’s called “Reconciliation“. Sounds like something you do in church.

When Republicans do it, it’s called The Nuclear Option!

Remembering Dean Barnett

I can’t believe that it has been one year since our friend and frequent guest host Dean Barnett passed away after a lifelong battle with Cystic Fibrosis. I love this picture of Dean and this is exactly how I remember him, laughing, having a great time and making everyone around him feel great.

Dean spoke and wrote eloquently about his illness, especially in this pamphlet that has such a classic Dean title, The Plucky, Smart Kid With The Fatal Disease: A life with Cystic Fibrosis

As I grew sicker, I had what for me was an extremely comforting insight. I came to view serious and progressive illness as an ever constricting circle with oneself at the center. The interior of the circle represents the contents of one’s life. As the circle gets smaller, things that were inside get forced out. Some of these things are dearly missed; others that were once thought precious get forced to the exterior and turn out to go surprisingly unlamented.

At the innermost point of the circle are the things that really matter: family, faith, love. These things stay with you until the day you die. At the very end, because the circle has shrunk down to its center, they’re all you have left. But as we approach that end, we finally realize that all along, they were what mattered most. As a consequence, life often remains beautiful and worthwhile right up until the end.

There have been so many stories in the past year where I have thought, damn, I really wish Dean were here to have at it on this topic. His passing has left a huge hole in the political blogosphere. I truly feel fortunate to have had the chance to get to know him both personally and professionally. Dean was a great man, a good friend and an inspiration to countless others who are battling the terrible disease. He is in my thoughts and prayers today, as is his wonderful wife Kirstan.

The weekend after Dean passed away, on November 2, 2008, we did a tribute to him on the radio show. This segment starts with a great piece that Producer Rob put together. It is a series of clips and quips from Dean’s appearances on the show. It is so great to hear his voice again (Chowdah!) and especially to remember his incredible sense of hiumor, prescient political analysis and all around spirit and energy. Following Rob’s tribute, Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol joined us to remember his friend and colleague. Having relistened to this a few times yesterday, it is truly a fantastic tribute to Dean!

Thank you for supporting the Jared C. Monti Scholarship

I want to say thank you to the guys from Blue Mass Group, and all the local bloggers who put politics aside to raise money for the Jared C. Monti Scholarship Fund. As most of you know by now, Raynham, MA native Jared Monti KIA in Afghanistan in 2006 and he was recently awarded the Medal of Honor for his immensely selfless service to this country.

It has been a great two weeks, focusing on something that we can all agree on and support without reservation. Our collective efforts helped generate 35 donations totaling nearly $3000 for the scholarship fund. On behalf of all participating bloggers, THANK YOU!

Last night I was joined in studio by Blue Mass Group co-founder David Kravitz. We were honored and humbled that Jared’s father Paul, along with two of Jared’s best friends, Darin Souza and Janell Holmes were able to join us as well.

Paul wants Jared remembered for the man he was, not for the soldier he was, and it’s easy to see why. As we learned last night, through some highly entertaining stories, Jared was one hell of man. His loss is a big one for the military, but more so for humanity.

JARED C. MONTI SCHOLARSHIP FUND
MAILING ADDRESS:
Jared C. Monti Scholarship Fund
c/o Bristol County Savings Bank
108 N. Main Street
Raynham, MA 02767

The Pundit Review Radio Podcast RSS feed can be found here.

What is Pundit Review Radio?

On Boston’s Talk Station WRKO since 2005, Pundit Review Radio is where the old media meets the new. Each week we give voice to the work of the most influential leaders in the new media/citizen journalist revolution. Called “groundbreaking” by Talkers Magazine, this unique show brings the best of the blogs to the radio every Sunday evening from 8-10pm on AM680 WRKO, Boston’s Talk Station.

Help support Medal of Honor recipient Jared Monti’s legacy by donating to his scholarship fund

I have to say it has been refreshing to put politics aside and work with our friends from the other side of the aisle on a project that we all can truly agree on and support. Pundit Review and Blue Mass Group, along with a number of other local bloggers of all political persuasions, are joining forces (such as they are.:) to help raise money for the Jared C. Monti Scholarship Fund.

Jared was KIA in Afghanistan in 2006 and was recently awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest and most rare award this nation has to offer. His family will receive the award from President Obama in a White House ceremony next month.

This Sunday evening at 8pm, it will be our honor to welcome Jared’s father Paul, along with two of Jared’s best friends who administer the scholarship, as well as David Kravitz from Blue Mass Group, to the WRKO studios.

I know times are tough for many, many people. If you can do so, I urge you to consider making a donation to this truly worthy cause. Thank you in advance.

PAYPAL ONLINE DONATION:

JARED C. MONTI SCHOLARSHIP FUND

MAILING ADDRESS:
Jared C. Monti Scholarship Fund
c/o Bristol County Savings Bank
108 N. Main Street
Raynham, MA 02767

Entering its fourth year of operation, the Jared C. Monti Scholarship Fund helps deserving young people with funds for college. You can learn about previous scholarship winners here.

Join us supporting the Jared C. Monti Scholarship Fund

Sergeant First Class Jared C. Monti of Raynham, MA was killed in action on June 21st, 2006, while deployed with the 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan. On July 24, 2009 Jared was posthumously awarded the highest honor our country has to give, the Medal of Honor. What, exactly, did Jared do to deserve such an honor?

When SFC Monti realized that a member of the patrol, Private First Class (PFC) Brian J. Bradbury, was critically wounded and exposed 10 meters from cover, without regard for his personal safety, he advanced through enemy fire to within three feet of PFC Bradbury’s position. But he was forced back by intense RPG fire. He tried again to secure PFC Bradbury, but he was forced to stay in place again as the enemy intensified its fires.

The remaining patrol members coordinated covering fires for SFC Monti, and he advanced a third time toward the wounded Soldier. But he only took a few steps this time before he was mortally wounded by an RPG. About the same time, the indirect fires and CAS he called for began raining down on the enemy’s position. The firepower broke the enemy attack, killing 22 enemy fighters. SFC Monti’s actions prevented the patrol’s position from being overrun, saved his team’s lives and in spired his men to fight on against overwhelming odds.

At a time when partisan bickering over healthcare reform is at a fever pitch, Pundit Review and Massachusetts leading liberal blog Blue Mass Group are putting politics aside to try to raise money for to support Jared’s legacy and Scholarship Fund. Jared fought and died for all Americans, and supporting his scholarship fund seems like the least we can do in return.

Won’t you join us, by contributing and spreading the word through your blog and social network? We invite any other bloggers who would like to to join us to please do so. Just send me a note at punditreview at hotmail dot com or @punditreview on Twitter. We’ll update them with your logo as soon as possible.

PAYPAL ONLINE DONATION:

JARED C. MONTI SCHOLARSHIP FUND

MAILING ADDRESS:
Jared C. Monti Scholarship Fund
c/o Bristol County Savings Bank
108 N. Main Street
Raynham, MA 02767

Entering its fourth year of operation, the Jared C. Monti Scholarship Fund helps deserving young people with funds for college. You can learn about previous scholarship winners here.

RIP Jerry Garcia: The Godfather of social networking

The best example I could find explaining what Jerry Garcia meant to Deadheads comes from legendary venture capitalist Roger McNamee, of all people. From the New York Times on the day Garcia died, August 9, 1995,

“I feel like a member of my family died,” said Roger McNamee, a general partner at Integral Capital Partners in Palo Alto. He also said that the day was one of emotional contrast for him. As a technology investor, he had been elated by the early success of Netscape Inc., a hot new Internet company that had its first public stock offering. But when he learned that Mr. Garcia had died, he felt devastated, he said.

Just how big of a deal was that hot new Internet company?

FORTUNE Magazine
Remembering Netscape: The Birth Of The Web

It was the spark that touched off the Internet boom. On Wednesday, Aug. 9, 1995, a 16-month-old Silicon Valley startup called Netscape tried to go public, but demand for the shares was so high that for almost two hours that morning, trading couldn’t open. The stock, which had been priced at $28 a share, zoomed as high as $75 that day and closed at $58.

And he felt devatstated.

Garcia understood the connection. In today speak, Garcia and the Grateful Dead launched multiple, synergistic initiatives to leverage their installed base. He was a visionary leader who understood social networks, marketing and monetization. I’m making him sound like a dot-com CEO! Have I completely lost my marbles? I don’t think so and here’s why…

P2P File Sharing, 1965
Fifteen years before Shawn Fanning was born and 33 years before Napster was invented, Jerry Garcia launched a P2P file sharing network. The files of the day were cassette tapes and the people sharing them were Deadheads who were free to record and trade the music. Over time, so many people wanted to record each concert, the band established a “tapers section” that allowed for great recordings and minimal interruption to the audience. Last month Forbes, of all places, actually published an article on this topic titled, Grateful to the Dead,

Like the Grateful Dead, Phish and Widespread Panic are notorious for their open recording policies, encouraging fans to record their shows for free. “Music once spread through word of mouth. Now it happens on the Internet–very quickly,” says John Bell, the lead singer of WSP. While Internet downloads bite into record sales, it’s plausible that if these bands had enforced their copyright, they never would have achieved such popularity.

Self Publishing, 1973
After several less than satisfying experiences working for “the man”, Garcia and the Dead decided to bypass record companies and start their own label. They self-published. Just like bloggers, tweeters and Facebook friends.

Built social network, 1973
From Sandy Troy’s 1994 biography of Garcia,

Part of the band’s confidence in starting their own label was rooted in the Dead Freaks Unite campaign initiated by Garcia on the inside of Grateful Dead (album), which had the following notice, “DEAD FREAKS UNITE: Who are you? Where are you? Send us your name and address and we’ll keep you informed.”

The response was overwhelming and the band quickly built up a list of twenty-five thousand names. With this direct mail list and a newsletter to communicate information, the band had an effective link with their fans, now known as Dead Heads.”

Garcia and the Dead didn’t just build a social network, they monetized it. Out of that list grew a business empire that eventually included music, a full line of merchandise, even ice cream, designer neckware and art. Ten years after his death, in 2005, the New York Times wrote,

The Jerry Garcia company and Grateful Dead Productions are separate businesses each generating millions of dollars of revenue a year. Just how many millions is not publicly known. But consumers still buy more than a million J. Garcia-brand neckties each year, and Cherry Garcia is often the top-selling brand of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, each pint generating royalties for the Garcia heirs.

He helped to build a durable, thriving band brand and he did it by harvesting and building on the community of Deadheads by using innovative means of communication and information sharing.

Like I said, the Godfather of Social Networking.

Since this is a Jerry Garcia post, I think we need a little music as well.
Franklin’s Tower from Radio City Music Hall, 10-31-80

The goddess of Naval blogging

Bruce McQuain joined us once again for our weekly tribute to the troops. Before we got to SYSK, we talked briefly about politics first. It was last call for GatesGate on Pundit Review Radio, so we started there.

We also talked about social networks and some of the amazing things you can learn by following interesting people. One of those interesting people that I follow is Boston Maggie, a great blogger who is focused on Navy issues. This week at Boston Maggie, I learned that John Quincy Adams is tweeting about his 1809 trip to Russia, via his personal diaries and the Massachusetts Historical Society. I also learned that the remains of Captain Scott Speicher, who has been missing since the first Iraq war, have been found and returned home. Finally, Maggie had tons of great coverage of the christening of the USS Jason Dunham in Bath Maine. Dunham, a former SYSK subject in May 2006, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his amazing service and sacrifice for our nation.

BostonMaggie was listening and called in and spiced up the conversation greatly. It was entirely our pleasure.

The Pundit Review Radio Podcast RSS feed can be found here.

What is Pundit Review Radio?

On Boston’s Talk Station WRKO since 2005, Pundit Review Radio is where the old media meets the new. Each week we give voice to the work of the most influential leaders in the new media/citizen journalist revolution. Called “groundbreaking” by Talkers Magazine, this unique show brings the best of the blogs to the radio every Sunday evening from 8-10pm on AM680 WRKO, Boston’s Talk Station.