A few years ago, I heard that a guy named Tom Davis was going to be in Charlotte for some kind of celebrity sports event, a fundraiser for the organization he led called Children’s HopeChest. I knew we had a number of friends in common at the time (193 at the latest count, according to Facebook), so I hit him up for a meeting, and he agreed to meet me for coffee in the restaurant of the hotel he was staying in downtown (or uptown, as we say here in the Queen City).

I think we hit it off, because on one of his next trips through Charlotte, he invited me to a small, private dinner in the basement wine cellar room of Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House — paid for by our host (well, to be accurate, Tom’s host – Tom just invited me along for the ride!), the CEO of Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated. It was a beautiful night, just getting to hear Tom share in that intimate setting his story and his heart for orphans around the world.

Novels on the Edge of the World

Tom quickly became a hero of mine. Not only for his tremendous work on the behalf of the poor across the globe, but also because he’s managed to do one of the things I’d most love to do: publish a novel.

His first novel, Scared, opens a window onto the HIV&AIDS epidemic in the country of Swaziland — a place Tom has spent a good deal of time and where Children’s HopeChest is doing remarkable work. By the end of chapter two, I was in tears. It’s just a fantastic book.

Now Tom has a new novel coming out called Priceless. This book promises to shine a light on the tragedy of sex trafficking and human slavery in Russia and Eastern Europe.

Tom was recently in Moldova—where I had the opportunity to travel with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in 2005—with a group that included blogger Anne Jackson (aka Flowerdust). Anne wrote a riveting blog post called “The Sex Cafe” that instantly transported me back to Chisinau, the capital city of Moldova. I was excited to learn that Tom had connected with my Moldovan friends Oleg and Vitali Turlac, whom I met in 2005.

This issue of human trafficking—or, let’s call it what it really is, modern-day slavery—was really driven home for me when I read David Batstone’s groundbreaking book Not For Sale: The Return of the Global Slave Trade—And How We Can Fight It. Batstone’s book sparked the Not For Sale Campaign that is one of a growing number of organizations, including Children’s HopeChest, that are part of the movement to end slavery in our day and time.

Just as Not For Sale opened eyes through its non-fiction stories of pain and suffering, I hope that Tom’s new novel Priceless will reach an even wider audience and open more eyes to the tragedy unfolding on the world stage.

By the way, Tom is now blogging about social justice over at Beliefnet — just another thing to make me envious but really just appreciate him more.

Sex Trafficking in the U.S.

On a related note, Halogen is getting set to air a new TV series later this year on the subject of sex trafficking, called Tainted Love. The same tragedy that’s happening in Russia and Eastern Europe and Asia is happening right here at home, as well, and Tainted Love will be telling that story to raise awareness and prompt people to take action.

You can watch a full episode of Tainted Love over at HalogenTV.com, if you like, but here’s a preview to get you started:

My friend Tamara Park is a producer on a new show on Halogen called “Noble Exchange: Africa.” The concept of the show is “What the West can learn from Africa.” The show features interviews with African artists, businesspeople, entrepreneurs, filmmakers, writers, etc. — and the wisdom they have to share with the rest of the world.

You can actually watch full episodes of the show online (usually on Wednesdays) after they air on Tuesday nights at 9:30pm ET. Here’s a short clip from an episode to give you an idea of what the show is like:

Remember Apple vs. Microsoft? Yeah, me neither. I mean, personal computer wars are so 2002. The real competition has moved on—to Apple vs. Google (iPhone vs. Nexus One, iAds vs. Adwords, etc.), Apple vs. Adobe (HTML5 vs. Flash), Apple vs. Nintendo (gaming devices), etc.

With the launch of the iPad, there’s now Apple vs. Sony/HP/Amazon and every other ebook/tablet PC maker. A leaked HP comparison chart shows how HP views their Slate stacking up against the iPad.

I haven’t heard much of it yet, but I predict the Apple iPad backlash is soon to begin. And it’ll be driven by two types of people: 1) people who really want an iPad and can’t afford it (like me) so they’re frustrated and want to take their frustration out on someone (in this case, Apple); and 2) competitors of Apple who believe they have a superior product and want to try and convince everyone of that fact.

Here’s the problem, competitors: The game is already over. Apple is already winning, and, I predict, Apple will win. Why? It’s simple: Apple was the first to market with their elegant, well-designed, well-marketed device. They’ve gained huge market share, and once they have market share (like they did with iPod and iPhone) now developers have to create for the iPad first and the rest of the market has to follow. Every other device will be compared to the iPad, and the first question will be, “But is it as cool as the iPad?” (Answer: No. Impossible. No other company/brand has the cache of Apple.)

Apple has figured out what other companies haven’t seemed to figure out: Be the first out of the gate, get the farthest out ahead of the competition, and the race is over.

I don’t doubt there are superior devices being produced that’ll soon be coming out (or are already out), and those devices will sell thousands of units as well. But the iPad will dominate, because it’s already gone very far, very fast.

People will argue that Apple is creating a repugnant “closed” environment, that the iPad isn’t “open” enough. That forcing everyone to purchase through the iBookstore and iTunes is “bad for the Internet.” That people should rebel against this monopoly that should be antithetical to Apple’s own hippy dippy Cupertino culture.

And there’s merit to all of those arguments. But in the final analysis, none of that really matters. The vast majority of users just want a product that is sexy and cool (a status symbol), that works right out of the box, that is simple to setup and use. We’re really willing to pay more for such a device and pay more for content and applications for such a device.

Sorry, competitors, your device may have more great features (e.g., flexibility of expanding memory, what-have-you) and it may even be cheaper (which should be key in a down economy, right?), but no, you lose.

One caveat: The only thing that could stop the iPad from dominating in the same way and to the same degree as iPod and iPhone is if there’s an Achille’s heal, e.g., a fatal hardware flaw in the device that causes these things to spontaneously catch on fire or electrocute people or some other freak thing. Apple can still blame a third party manufacturer for whichever part is to blame, but it’ll kill the device itself and erase all the gains it’s already made in the market. That’s the only I can see bringing down Apple at this point.

What do you think? Please leave me a comment if you have an opinion on Apple, the iPad, or business. Surely you know more than I do, so please set me straight!

Photo by Steve Mays

So let’s see if I can pull all these disparate threads together …

I took my Strengthsfinder survey this week, and discovered that my #1 strength is Ideation. What does this mean? It proves what I’ve always said … about myself … I’m an incorrigible idea person.

So here’s one idea that I just couldn’t shake: Foursquare Time Machine.

“What is it?” you ask. Well, first, let me tell you how it came about.

Todd Hertz is actually the Al Gore of Foursquare Time Machine. He invented it, but I’m the Steve Jobs, who has taken the idea and stylized it and branded it and am selling it now to you.

Here’s how it works: Instead of checking in on Foursquare (the latest and greatest location-based technology – just ask anyone who was at SXSW), you pretend like you’re checking in on Foursquare in the past … or … in the future!

For example,

Bummer. Beethoven kicked the bucket. (@ Vienna 1872) #4sqtm

Yeah! Celebrating the birth of Robert Frost! (@ San Francisco 1874) #4sqtm

The Heaven’s Gaters are riding out on Hale Bopp now in their Nikes. (@ Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. 1997) #4sqtm

The hashtag #4sqtm is Twitter shorthand for Foursquare Time Machine. Tag your tweets and then you can follow along as others check in from other places and times.

It’s an exciting new innovation that I hope will quickly become the latest “trending topic” and Internet meme. You can make that happen! Start time traveling in Twitter today.

For further Twinspiration: historicaltweets.com

Bonus points: Today’s the opening of “Hot Tub Time Machine,” which is IMHO the greatest movie title/idea since “Snakes On A Plane.”

I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the Theology After Google conference last week at Claremont School of Theology.

As one of the presenters, I was challenged to follow the TED Commandments and present something original and entertaining and funny and succinct (I had 10-12 minutes). With at least one TED fellow in the audience, the pressure was pretty intense to deliver. Well, let’s just say I had fun despite having to work through some technical difficulties (I could’ve definitely planned better than I did). You can see the results by watching my presentation:

Philip Clayton is the main proponent behind Theology After Google and the broader Transforming Theology project at Claremont, which I’m tremendously excited about. Philip interviewed me following my presentation to dig deeper into the question of whether online community is “real community” and what practices we can bring to our online interaction that can lead to a better world. Here are my responses:

Highlights from Theology After Google (#tag10 on Twitter) for me include the brilliance of Callid Keefe-Perry, Monica Coleman, Dwight Friesen, Jeff Jarvis, and Barry Taylor; the fun of competitive cornhole; the rare opportunity to sit in conversation with John Cobb and Glen Stassen; and most of all the joy of new connections and friendships.

And from now on, I can say I spoke at the same conference as Jeff Jarvis. That’s a dream come true.

Bonus: Watch more presentations from Theology After Google »

Action: Leave a comment with your thoughts on “theology after Google” »

This is just a quick update to say I’m having fun working with the team at Halogen, a new socially conscious cable television network based here in Charlotte. It’s also a shameless attempt to get the most views on my Halogen staff video! (Click to watch above)

Seriously, since I joined Halogen three weeks ago, we’ve done an online survey that gave away 7 iPads, co-sponsored two local events, and there’s some other really exciting things coming up.

And my new title (Social Media Manager) hasn’t resulted in too many people asking me that inevitable question, “So you just play on Facebook all day, right?” Sure I’ve gotten that a couple of times, but Facebook has 400 million users worldwide! (If Facebook were a country, it’d be the third largest country in the world.) With numbers like that, you have to spend a good amount of time and thought and energy there.

What can I say? I’m living the life—loving my job, learning a lot, and playing a part in an exciting new venture.

I’m positively geeking out at this point about the Theology After Google conference, March 10-12, in Claremont, California, because one of my all-time heroes of the Web and journalism—Jeff Jarvis (BuzzMachine.com)—is now planning to participate in the conference via Skype.

Jarvis is a former TV critic for TV Guide and People magazine, and he’s the creator of Entertainment Weekly magazine. He’s currently an associate professor at City University of New York’s Graduate School of Journalism (directing its new media program), the author of What Would Google Do? (in which he reverse engineers Google the company to apply its genius to all sorts of different spheres), and co-host on This Week in Google.

I must admit to being a bit of a fanboy of Jeff’s, and his obsession with Google is partly what inspired me to start Googlewatchers last year (although that hasn’t quite taken off yet—maybe if Jeff got behind it …). Sure, I butted heads with Jeff during the last election (he was for Hillary, I was for Obama), but who didn’t I butt heads with during the last election?

Anyway, Jeff’s been through prostate cancer—something that I have a high risk factor for, as well. (In fact, my father’s PSA numbers just jumped again so he’s going in for another biopsy. “Another,” meaning, he’s been down this road before, so far, without any “positive” results for cancer.) Jeff has lived his life on the open Web, well, openly and often obnoxiously honestly, but it’s that incessant drive for transparency that has endeared him to me. And he’s just right about a lot of things a lot of the time.

Also Skyping in for Theology After Google is Ori Brafman, co-author of The Starfish and The Spider, which is another phenomenal ground-breaking book. There may be other additions to the lineup, as well, but the in-person and via-video participants so far are shaping up to be a really exciting gathering that I’m super geeked to be a part of.

If you can get yourself to L.A. next month, for just $99 you can have fun geeking out with me at this theology and technology geek-fest.

No, I didn’t buy a new car. It’s something even better! I’m excited to finally be able to share that I’ll be starting my new job next week as Social Media Manager for the Halogen TV network, based here in Charlotte. Halogen’s tagline is “socially conscious empowering entertainment,” and all of the station’s content revolves around the themes of justice, purpose, connect, and beauty. Those are themes that really resonate with me.

When I left my position with SIM International at the end of November, I knew that I wanted to find a full-time social media marketing position, so that I could use what I know and continue to grow. I’m excited to be working for Kyle Chowning, who is relocating from Nashville to continue his role as Halogen’s VP of Marketing. I’ve known Kyle for a number of years, back when he worked for Voxcorp and I was a contributing editor to one of its publications.

I want to invite you to keep up with me in my new gig by following @HalogenTV on Twitter and becoming a fan of Halogen on Facebook. And you should find out where you can get Halogen in your area, because it is a cable TV network after all, so please watch and let me know what you think!

I’ve been watching Halogen for a while now, and I’m really digging the programming (and I think you will too). Here are some of my favorites so far:

• Pop Goes The Culture (from the creators of Paste Magazine)
• Food Jammers (three guys making food in wild ways)
• Start Up (a half-hour scripted drama about a social networking start-up)
• Jump Shipp (starring the inimitable Josh Shipp)
• The New Heroes (hosted by Robert Redford)
• and [coming soon] Noble Exchange: Africa (produced by my friend Tamara Park)

There’s a poll going on right now to decide which original series will go from pilot to production. Take a look, watch the pilots online (and/or on TV), and then place your vote by March 21.

In Other News

I’ve been busy working on some freelance projects that I’m excited about as well. I recently joined the board of Fireside International, which is continuing to tell the story of what’s happening in Haiti.

There’s also a few events coming up that I’m excited about being a part of:

• Theology After Google conference, March 10-12 in Claremont, California
• TransFORM East Coast Gathering coming up April 30-May 2 in Washington, D.C.
• Vox Emergente, May 29-30 in Brazil

I’m hoping to connect with a lot of people in person when I go to these events.

Thank You Thank You Thank You

I want to say a huge thank you to all my friends who are reading this (you know who you are) for your prayers and support and encouragement over these past few months. I’m excited about the future, and I hope you are too!

Last week, I had the privilege of speaking, via Skype, with the “Theology After Google” class at Claremont School of Theology. Tripp Fuller, who is co-leading the class with Phillip Clayton, recorded my abbreviated talk on “The Theology of Twitter,” and I’m grateful to him for posting it online:

I’m extremely excited to be speaking at the “Theology After Google” conference, March 10-12, at Claremont. I’ll be joining Tony Jones, Adam Walker Cleaveland, Spencer Burke, John Franke, Dwight Friesen, Jon Irvine, and others. If you’re interested in learning more about using social media in communicating ideas (especially folks on the West Coast), I hope you’ll consider coming out to this unique conference!

My Take on the Apple iPad
The big news last week was the launch of Apple’s much-anticipated iPad tablet computer. I wrote up the story for the Halogen TV website with my prediction: “It’s not the device itself that’s magical. It’s the innovation that the device now allows—the new interactive games/applications and multimedia ebooks/e-publications (magazines and newspapers) that are going to be developed—which will make the iPad a ‘revolutionary,’ must-have device.”

“Theology After Google” student Wesley Menke nicely synthesized the iPad news with my presentation in his blog post “Apple’s ‘Magical Realism.’” His take on the “magical” language employed by Apple in its marketing of the iPad and contrasting it with the “liturgical” (“work of the people”) concept of Web 2.0/new media is a great observation. This is, in fact, one of the big criticisms of the iPad—that it is a device for consuming media rather than creating media.

I don’t think this is in any way an “accident.” Apple is, no doubt, banking on the market being ready for a consumer device for reading/experiencing multimedia e-books and e-publications (magazines and newspapers). Other companies are quickly joining the e-reader/tablet PC race, but their offerings will now have to stack up against the iPad. And, besides, Apple’s computers are built for creating, while their other mobile devices (iPod, iPhone) are not. In that sense, iPad fits perfectly with Apple’s other mobile devices, and this makes perfect sense now that Steve Jobs is calling Apple “a mobile devices company.”

On Wednesday, I had the privilege of speaking with Luke Renner, the founder and president of Fireside International, a non-profit media company based in Haiti. He’s been in Port-au-Prince since the day after the massive earthquake there, reporting on the situation and sending back photos and videos telling the stories of what’s going on.

Luke was actually one of the first people to report the Haiti earthquake on Twitter. Since he began sending regular tweet updates from Haiti, his Twitter account has grown from a handful of followers to over 3,000.

Ann Curry of NBC News connected with Luke via Twitter and later met and interviewed him in person, calling him a “Twitter rock star.” Luke tells me that he and Curry are now scheduled to appear together at the 140 Characters conference in New York in April to discuss the role of social media in the Haiti earthquake response!

This was also my first article for the Halogen TV website. A number of my friends here in Charlotte are now working with Halogen, which produces “socially-conscious empowering entertainment.” The four major themes of Halogen programming (inspired in part, I’m told, by the writings of N.T. Wright) are justice, purpose, connection, and beauty—now, those are themes that resonate with me!

If you haven’t heard of Halogen, please check out the website, curated beautifully by Cara Davis, and find where you can get Halogen in your area.

Photos courtesy of www.FiresideInternational.org