Author: Aaron Brazell

  • Twitter as a Protocol

    Twitter as a Protocol

    Yesterday, I had lunch with a guy who was picking my brain about various topics. One of the conversations we ended up having was about the longevity of Twitter as a company. It hearkens back to conversations I had years ago when Twitter was barely making it as a service. It was down seemingly half…

  • Politics: It’s the Journey, not the Destination

    Politics: It’s the Journey, not the Destination

    It’s been a long time since I discussed politics here. I occasionally get into politics over on Twitter, but rarely do I write about it. I don’t consider myself a political wonk so I leave the blogging to the wonks. However, I am not exactly a political outsider either. With years under my belt in…

  • TUTORIAL: Using WordPress’ Ajax API

    WordPress has tons of APIs to do tons of things. It really does. One of the cool ones that I’ve been using a lot lately, has been around for a bit. It’s the Ajax API. Sure, you could write your own Ajaxy thing but why do that when WordPress lets you do it all very…

  • Game Planning Super Bowl XLVI: Giants vs. Patriots

    Game Planning Super Bowl XLVI: Giants vs. Patriots

    Super Bowl XLVI is upon us and everyone is bloviating about what needs to happen in this game for either team to win. I’m on the record as rooting for the Giants, which sets up the third year in a row of abandoning the AFC. I will always root for the AFC unless it’s the…

  • Blackouts, Boycotts and Regressing From Progress

    Blackouts, Boycotts and Regressing From Progress

    A couple of weeks ago, the United States, and in fact, the world saw the internet grow up. Namely, through the use of blackouts – a previously unused tactic of protest and grassroots organizing – we saw the evil Stop Online Privacy Act (SOPA) and it’s evil twin Protect IP (PIPA) anti-piracy legislation fail in…

  • Congratulations, Internet. We Won the Day.

    Congratulations, Internet. We Won the Day.

    Today, I feel like a proud poppa. I don’t want to get too celebratory and put out some kind of aura that our battle against SOPA and PIPA are over. In fact, neither are over. But I’ll get to that in a minute, because yesterday was AMAZING! Yesterday, we saw the Internet come of age.…

  • Open Letter to Congressman Lamar Smith Regarding SOPA Championing

    An email sent to the House Judiciary Committee Chairman, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), who insists on pushing the SOPA bill through committee. Dear Mr. Smith- This is an open letter which will be published online, and promoted on Facebook, Twitter and other networks. As a Texas resident, I find it egregious that you have decided…

  • Welcome to Baltimore! (Or a Playoff Weekend Guide to Charm City)

    Welcome to Baltimore! (Or a Playoff Weekend Guide to Charm City)

    It’s no secret that I’m a Ravens fan. Even sitting here in a coffee shop deep in the heart of Texas (with my cowboy hat, boot, deep Texas drawl and a ‘preciation for all those who venture into our fair area of heaven). So, it’s with deep pride that I send Houston Texans back to…

  • Your Fiefdom Doesn’t Matter (Or Get your Head out of Your Regional Startup Ass)

    Your Fiefdom Doesn’t Matter (Or Get your Head out of Your Regional Startup Ass)

    There’s this thing called Protectionism. Protectionism is largely a political word used to describe the retreat to self-isolationism for the sake of preserving well-being. It was a word tossed around in late 2008 and 2009 after the market crash when the international community joined together to try to stave off a global economic failure. There…

  • Dude, Shut Your Effing Social Media Mouth.

    Dude, Shut Your Effing Social Media Mouth.

    It’s been awhile since I ranted. Like really ranted. I’m about to change that. <rant> It’s no secret that social media marketing has turned largely douchey. Self-important blowhards show up at SXSW, Blog World Expo and many other industry events every year with the sole purpose of being socialites and schmoozing with their peers and getting…