Star Date: 20061005 … Commander Hoeg, the Northstar Nerd at the helm. We have entered n space, the dangerous region between Suomi and the Adirondack Mountains. For a full report, link to:

• Star Trek … In the Pirkinning (from Finland / Suomi)

But wait …. the Americans fight back … created by the fans themselves deep in the Adirondack Mountains of New York state:

• c|Net Video: Star Trek – New Voyages (behind the scenes)
• Star Trek – New Voyages – Official Web Site

No …. this is not a wild party of engineers! Instead, for you Americans … take a walk across the pond to the U.K. and subscribe to a neat show, the Naked Scientist!

• Downloadable Show Archives
• Subscribe to Future Shows

Give the show a try … with a name like this … it’s got to be interesting!

Everyone reads about mySpace, or FaceBook … but how many of you are using professional Web 2.0 networks? Anyhow, I had an interesting experience which validated the rise of social networks. I met my new boss via Linkedin!

• 3:43 pm – I receive an email announcement about my new boss. He is an external hire, and has started work the same day
• 3:45 pm – I send an email to my new manager welcoming him to my company
• 3:46 pm – I Google my new manager’s name
• 3:49 pm – I discover my new manager has a Linkedin profile
• 3:50 pm – I invite my new manager into my Linkedin network
• 3:55 pm – My new manager accepts my Linkedin invitation
• 4:05 pm – After reading my new manager’s profile, I then call and meet him for the first time by phone.

Thus, my first experience was via Google and LinkedIn. My second experience was via the phone. Next week I will be out East for a business trip, and will complete cycle (i.e. meet in person). I think the fact that this kind of scenario plays out at all is significant. Are you using the web to your advantage?

Here is my own Linkedin "public profile". Please note that my private profile is much longer. One only gains access to the private profile once "linked in".

And my body is in pain this morning … However, the Milwaukee Marathon was a success. My finishing time was 4 hours 2 minutes. Not bad for a fifty year old! Oh yeah … my wife beat me by 20 minutes and took 3rd place in her age classification. … my daughter beat me by 30 minutes and took 6th place in her age classification. Cool!

Here are three photos … Before … At the End … Just After!